Automatic powder filling for automatic production line for ammunition

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically filling at least two ammunition cases with propellant powder for an automatic production line for ammunition, the apparatus comprising: a dosing housing to which at least two ammunition cases can be docked such that the at least two ammunition cases are arranged along a path; and a dispensing device movable along an image of the path of the ammunition cases to dispense propellant powder into the dosing housing, the apparatus further comprising a guide for guiding the dispensing device along the image of the path of the ammunition cases.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically filling at least two ammunition cases with propellant charge powder for an automatic production line for ammunition having at least two ammunition parts, such as ammunition cartridges, which combine in one unit the components necessary for firing a projectile, such as ammunition cases, ammunition projectiles, ammunition primers, and / or propellant charge powder.Furthermore, the present invention relates to an automatic production line for ammunition having at least two ammunition parts, which comprises a propellant charge powder filling apparatus according to the present invention.

[0002] The present invention relates principally to the technical field of ammunition assembly operations, which involves the provision and assembly of individual ammunition components to form a complete ammunition unit. [Background technology]

[0003] For decades, this was accomplished in successive processing stations separated from one another, which roughly summarized the following processes: providing a cartridge case, projectile, primer, and propellant charge powder at each separate processing station; inserting the primer into the cartridge case; filling the cartridge case with the propellant charge powder; inserting the projectile into the cartridge case; and performing additional sealing, painting, and / or inspection steps. From each processing station, the individual parts were discharged as bulk material, then separated again from this bulk material in a separation station preceding the subsequent processing station, and fed to the subsequent processing station.

[0004] In particular, the filling of propellant charge powder into ammunition cases constitutes the pinhole of automation and is a process where safety is of paramount importance. Attempts have already been made to automate powder filling during ammunition assembly operations. For example, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 1020170156329 describes an apparatus for automated parallel filling of multiple ammunition cases. The apparatus includes a silo having a discharge opening that can be translated to fill measuring cavities in a similarly movable weighing plate disposed below the silo. In this case, the silo is positioned directly above the weighing plate and moves back and forth on the weighing plate. A further filling plate is disposed below the weighing plate, having multiple filling passages, each of which is assigned a cartridge case. The filling of propellant charge powder from the measuring cavities into the cartridge case is performed by aligning the filling passage with the measuring cavity, so that the propellant charge powder can fall into the cartridge case under the influence of gravity. However, it has been found that the device according to Korean Patent Application Publication No. 1020170156329 does not allow for a sufficiently accurate setting of the desired powder amount due to a conflict between the objectives of a high cycle rate and accurate metering. A further drawback of the device of Korean Patent Application Publication No. 1020170156329 is that the propellant charge powder may become clogged, which may have serious safety consequences. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent Application Publication No. 1020170156329 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, in particular to design an automatic powder filling system with more reliability and more accurate metering without reducing cycle speed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a workpiece carrier for an automated production line for ammunition having at least two ammunition parts.

[0009] An automated production line can include all joining and assembly steps necessary to produce a complete ammunition unit, including ammunition cases, ammunition primers, ammunition projectiles, and propellant charge powder. Such a production line can therefore be referred to as an ammunition assembly plant. Individual ammunition components can be manufactured in upstream production steps and / or stations and ultimately added to an ammunition assembly facility, where they are assembled, in principle, according to proven techniques, to form complete ammunition or cartridges that are ready for sale after passing through the automated production line. The automated production line is preferably realized as a rotating or circulating system in which individual processing stations for assembling ammunition are arranged in succession along the rotating or circulating system, assembling ammunition units in an automated manner according to the transport cycle of the production line.

[0010] The plant comprises a number of manufacturing or processing stations where different assembly or manufacturing steps are performed. For example, the number of manufacturing stations may comprise an ammunition part insertion station, preferably a case insertion station and / or a projectile insertion station, for inserting at least one of the number of ammunition parts into the manufacturing process of the plant, a number of quality testing stations, at least one ammunition part processing station, such as a case forming station, a propellant charge filling station, a projectile assembly station, a projectile marking station, and / or a rejection station for transporting manufactured ammunition from the manufacturing process of the plant. The rejection station may also serve to reject rejected products from the manufacturing process. The number of manufacturing stations is arranged with respect to the manufacturing process so that ammunition parts can be supplied to the manufacturing stations one by one to enable manufacturing steps that build on each other to be performed.

[0011] The plant further comprises one or more transport devices, each configured to hold several of the ammunition components and transport several of the ammunition components from, to, and / or between the multiple manufacturing stations. The transport devices thus perform at least two functions: on the one hand, they can hold the ammunition components required for the ammunition and enable access to or processing of the ammunition components at the individual manufacturing stations; and, on the other hand, they are responsible for the automated transport or transportation of the individual ammunition components along the manufacturing process defined by the multiple manufacturing stations. The transport device defines a closed, circulating transport track along which the individual ammunition components are at least partially transported depending on their impact on the manufacturing process, and which defines an interior space enclosed by the transport track and an exterior space defined from the interior space. The transport track can have an endless racetrack-like structure or shape. In particular, the plant comprises several transport devices, such as carriages, distributed along the transport track and having, in particular, identical configurations. In this case, multiple transport devices can be independently actuated to move along the transport track, each with its own movement profile to access the manufacturing stations, resulting in a manufacturing process that is much more flexible than if the transport devices were fixed to one another along the transport track.

[0012] At least one, particularly several, of the multiple production stations can be arranged in the interior and / or exterior space and can act on munitions components transported or transported from the inside and / or outside of the transport device, particularly along the transport device. The resulting lateral or horizontal working surface of the production stations on the transport device or on the transported munitions components allows for a space-saving and clean design of the plant. Such lateral access to the transport device allows for better fulfillment of high production capacity requirements. This is because, as a result of the lateral arrangement of the production stations with lateral access to the transport device, the individual production stations can be designed completely independent of the transport device and can be freely or flexibly positioned, repositioned, and exchanged relative to the transport device.

[0013] Furthermore, the transport devices can be moved independently from and / or between the production stations. In particular, the plant comprises a plurality of transport devices, such as carriages, distributed along a transport track, and in particular of identical configuration. In this case, the transport devices can be individually actuated and moved along the transport track so that each transport device can approach the production stations with an individual movement profile. As a result, the production process is much more flexible than if the transport devices were fixed to one another along the transport track.

[0014] Furthermore, the plant can have at least two propellant charge filling stations arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction. The propellant charge filling stations are generally designed to fill ammunition components, especially cases, with propellant charge powder. The propellant charge filling station according to the present invention can be designed based on gravimetric measurement or can operate based on volumetric weighing. Gravimetric weighing can achieve advantages in terms of the accuracy of the metered amounts. Volumetric weighing can achieve clear advantages in terms of processing speed, which has a positive effect on cycle speed, especially when the propellant charge filling station according to the present invention is incorporated into a plant, especially one according to the present invention, for the automated production of ammunition. The device according to the present invention is particularly useful for simultaneously filling at least two ammunition cases with propellant charge powder. This means that the filling of at least two ammunition cases is carried out in a filling operation, especially without a change in direction of more than 90°. Simultaneous, in this case, does not necessarily mean that at least two ammunition cases are filled at exactly the same time, but rather that there is a fairly specific time offset between the filling, especially the complete filling, of ammunition cases arranged along a trajectory. The apparatus according to the present invention can be designed to fill at least two cartridge cases with predetermined, particularly substantially identical, quantities in each case, taking into account the inherent imprecision of the process. The propellant charge powder can be, for example, a propellant charge powder for small-caliber ammunition, particularly those with calibers ranging from 4.5 mm to 13 mm, typically having a mono- or di-basic spherical, tubular, rod-like, or flake shape and / or formed like a powder. Alternatively, extruded propellant charge powder can be used. When spherical propellant charge powder is involved, the powder can be, for example, rolled, with a sphere diameter of 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm. In the case of rod-shaped propellant charge powder, for example for 5.56 mm caliber ammunition, the rod can have a length of up to 1.1 mm and / or a diameter of up to 0.7 mm. In the case of nitrocellulose (NC), the density of the propellant charge powder used can be, for example, within the range of 0.5 to 1 g / cm3.For such propellant charge powders, the bulk density ranges from 0.6 to 1 g / cm3 for ammunition cartridges and up to 0.4 g / cm3 for subsonic or blank cartridges.

[0015] Furthermore, one of the multiple production stations can be an ignition element insertion station, which introduces the ignition elements into the production process of the plant and in each case inserts the ignition elements into the cases. The ignition element insertion station can be designed to insert multiple, in particular at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, ignition elements simultaneously, in particular in one insertion operation, into a corresponding number of cases.

[0016] Furthermore, one of the manufacturing stations can be a fluid application station, in which a sealing compound is applied to the annular joint between the case and the ignition element housed therein and / or between the case and the projectile inserted therein to seal and / or mark the annular joint. It has been found that integrating the application of the sealing compound into an automated manufacturing process entails considerable advantages in terms of production capacity and manufacturing precision. Due to the fact that the plant ensures that the individual components are aligned relative to one another, the fluid application station can benefit from this predetermined alignment of the individual components relative to one another and apply the sealing compound very precisely.

[0017] Furthermore, one of the production stations can be a quality monitoring station, where the cases and projectiles are individually monitored, in particular before assembly in each case, monitoring being understood to mean quality control with respect to predetermined parameters.

[0018] Furthermore, the transport device and the manufacturing station can be coordinated with one another in a clock cycle, such that at least two, at least five, at least ten, or at least twelve ammunition components are processed into ammunition at the manufacturing station per clock cycle. The manufacturing capacity of the present invention is achieved, inter alia, by the parallel processing of multiple ammunition components per clock cycle.

[0019] Furthermore, the conveying track can have rails, which are oriented towards the interior space and / or the exterior space, extend along the conveying track and fix the coupling interface of the conveying device in the presentation position.

[0020] The filling device according to the present invention can be designed based on gravimetric measurement or can operate based on volumetric measurement. Gravimetric measurement can achieve advantages in terms of the accuracy of the measured amount. Volumetric measurement can achieve clear advantages in terms of processing speed, which has a positive effect on cycle speed, especially when the filling device according to the present invention is incorporated into a plant according to the present invention for the automated production of ammunition. The device according to the present invention is particularly useful for simultaneously filling at least two ammunition cases with propellant charge powder. This means that the filling of at least two ammunition cases is carried out in a filling operation, especially without a change in direction of more than 90°. In this case, simultaneous does not necessarily have to be understood to mean that at least two ammunition cases are filled exactly at the same time, but rather that there is a fairly specific time offset between the filling, especially the complete filling, of ammunition cases arranged along a trajectory. The device according to the present invention can be designed to fill at least two ammunition cases in each case with a predetermined, especially substantially identical, amount, taking into account the inaccuracies inherent in the process. The propellant charge powder may be, for example, a propellant charge powder for small-caliber ammunition, typically having a mono- or di-basic spherical, tubular, rod-like, or flake shape and / or formed like a powder, particularly for ammunition with a caliber ranging from 4.5 mm to 13 mm. Alternatively, extruded propellant charge powders may be used. When spherical propellant charge powders are involved, the powders may be, for example, rolled, with a sphere diameter of 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm. In the case of rod-shaped propellant charge powders, for example for 5.56 mm caliber ammunition, the rods may have a length of up to 1.1 mm and / or a diameter of up to 0.7 mm. In the case of nitrocellulose (NC), the density of the propellant charge powder used may be, for example, 0.5 to 1 g / cm. 3 For such propellant powders, the bulk density may be in the range of 0.6 to 1 g / cm for ammunition cartridges. 3 and for subsonic or blank cartridges, up to 0.4 g / cm 3 is.

[0021] According to one aspect of the invention, the device, also referred to as a loading device, comprises a docking housing to which at least two ammunition cases can be docked so that the at least two ammunition cases are arranged along a trajectory, and a dispensing device that can move along the image of the trajectory of the ammunition cases to dispense propellant charge powder into the dosing housing. For example, the device can fill at least three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, or at least twelve, and particularly up to fifteen, eighteen, or twenty, ammunition cases with propellant charge powder, particularly simultaneously and / or in one work step or filling operation, in order to fill the ammunition cases in each case with a specifically defined, particularly substantially identical, amount of propellant charge powder. The dosing housing can have predetermined docking positions for the at least two ammunition cases. For example, a connecting device, such as a latch, clip, plug-in, or other connecting device, can be provided at the docking position, so that the at least two ammunition cases are temporarily secured to the docking housing for the loading operation in the docked state. The ammunition cases can be docked to the dosing housing so that they are arranged along a track along which the dispensing device can move, particularly in a reciprocating motion, to allow at least two ammunition cases to be filled in one working step or filling operation. The dispensing device can be connected to a silo, or generally to a propellant charge powder source, from which the dispensing device obtains or from which the dispensing device can supply propellant charge powder. For example, the dynamic pressure in the propellant charge powder source can be kept substantially constant so that a substantially uniform dynamic pressure also exists in the dispensing device. For example, the dispensing device is designed to dispense the propellant charge powder into the dosing housing, particularly exclusively under the influence of gravitational forces. Simultaneous filling means that the filling of at least two ammunition cases is carried out in one working step or operation, precisely in direct temporal succession. The track can define a linear, curved, or wavy row along which at least two ammunition cases are docked to the dosing housing, particularly arranged at equidistant distances. For example, the dosing housing may define a dosing space into which the dispensing device fills the propellant charge powder.At least two cartridge cases can be allocated to the dosage space such that the propellant charge powder can flow through the dosage space or from the dosage space to the cartridge case.

[0022] The dispensing device can move along the image of the trajectory of the ammunition case to dispense the propellant charge powder into the dosing housing. The image of the movement trajectory can be the trajectory itself, meaning that the dispensing device moves along the trajectory of the ammunition case or along a movement trajectory of a corresponding shape, but at a different local position. For example, the trajectory image can be a planar projection of the trajectory of the ammunition case.

[0023] According to a first aspect of the present invention, the apparatus includes a guide for guiding the dispensing device along the image of the trajectory of the ammunition case. Due to the fact that the dispensing device is guided along the image of the trajectory during movement, significantly more accurate metering of the dispensed propellant charge powder can be achieved. For example, the dispensing device can be actively guided along the movement trajectory, limiting, and in particular preventing, deviations from the image of the trajectory. Due to the predetermined guided movement trajectory, reproducible results can be achieved in a more efficient and simple manner than in the prior art, thereby improving suitability, particularly for mass production. Using knowledge of the type of propellant charge powder, e.g., its flowability, density, particle size, and / or surface characteristics, the amount of propellant charge powder to be dispensed can be very accurately metered via the predetermined guidance of the dispensing device during the dispensing operation.

[0024] According to an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, the guide is shaped according to an image of the trajectory of the ammunition case. In other words, the guide can be shaped in cross-sectional profile according to a planar projection of the trajectory image. This reliably ensures that the dispensing device follows or moves along the path image with optimal precision. Alternatively or additionally, the guide can be configured to limit, in particular prevent, deviations of the dispensing device from the image of the trajectory of the ammunition case.

[0025] According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the guide is designed as a slotted link control or slotted link guide. It has been found that the mutual adjustment of the guide on the metering housing and the dispensing device helps to optimize the metered amount in a structurally simple manner. In an exemplary development, the dispensing device has a dispensing tube guided in a slot in the metering housing. For example, the slot can open into the dosing space and / or be fluidly connected to the dosing space. For example, the slot, in particular the slot wall, forms a positive guide for the dispensing tube of a slotted link guide forming a slotted link block. In a further exemplary development, the slot and the dispensing tube are adapted to each other in terms of shape so that the dispensing tube is guided on two sides by the slot walls of the metering housing. The two slot walls can face each other and / or face the same direction. Thus, during movement of the dispensing device, the dispensing tube can move along a movement path such that it is guided and / or slides on the metering housing wall or the slot wall, in particular without having to move away from the movement path or being able to move laterally into the slot area. In a further exemplary development, the guide has end stops for limiting the movement of the dispensing device along the image of the trajectory of the ammunition case. For example, the guide can have two opposing stops that represent the beginning and end of the movement trajectory or trajectory image. The end stops can also be realized by metering the housing wall, in particular by a slot wall that limits the slot in the slot range direction.

[0026] According to a further aspect of the invention, which may be combined with the above-described aspects and exemplary embodiments, there is provided an apparatus for automatically filling at least two ammunition cases with propellant charge powder for an automated production line for ammunition.

[0027] The filling device according to the present invention can be designed based on gravimetric measurement or can operate based on volumetric measurement. Gravimetric measurement can achieve advantages in terms of the accuracy of the measured amount. Volumetric measurement can achieve clear advantages in terms of processing speed, which has a positive effect on cycle speed, especially when the filling device according to the present invention is incorporated into a plant according to the present invention for the automated production of ammunition. The device according to the present invention is particularly useful for simultaneously filling at least two ammunition cases with propellant charge powder. This means that the filling of at least two ammunition cases is carried out in a filling operation, especially without a change in direction of more than 90°. In this case, simultaneous does not necessarily have to be understood to mean that at least two ammunition cases are filled exactly at the same time, but rather that there is a fairly specific time offset between the filling, especially the complete filling, of ammunition cases arranged along a trajectory. The device according to the present invention can be designed to fill at least two ammunition cases in each case with a predetermined, especially substantially identical, amount, taking into account the inaccuracies inherent in the process. The propellant charge powder may be, for example, a propellant charge powder for small-caliber ammunition, typically having a mono- or di-basic spherical, tubular, rod-like, or flake shape and / or formed like a powder, particularly for ammunition with a caliber ranging from 4.5 mm to 13 mm. Alternatively, extruded propellant charge powders may be used. When spherical propellant charge powders are involved, the powders may be, for example, rolled, with a sphere diameter of 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm. In the case of rod-shaped propellant charge powders, for example for 5.56 mm caliber ammunition, the rods may have a length of up to 1.1 mm and / or a diameter of up to 0.7 mm. In the case of nitrocellulose (NC), the density of the propellant charge powder used may be, for example, 0.5 to 1 g / cm. 3 For such propellant powders, the bulk density may be in the range of 0.6 to 1 g / cm for ammunition cartridges. 3 and for subsonic or blank cartridges, up to 0.4 g / cm 3 is.

[0028] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the apparatus includes a dispensing device having a discharge opening through which propellant charge powder can be dispensed. The dispensing device can be connected to a silo, or generally to a propellant charge powder source, from which the dispensing device obtains or supplies propellant charge powder to the dispensing device. For example, the dynamic pressure in the propellant charge powder source can be kept substantially constant so that a substantially uniform dynamic pressure also exists in the dispensing device. For example, the dispensing device can be designed, for example, to dispense the propellant charge powder into the dosing housing, particularly exclusively under the influence of gravity. Simultaneous filling means that the filling of at least two ammunition cases is performed in one step or working operation, precisely in direct temporal succession. The discharge opening can have a predetermined opening cross-section adapted to the amount of propellant charge to be dispensed for the desired metering.

[0029] According to a further aspect of the invention, the device further comprises a dispenser for intermediate storage of the propellant charge powder dispensed by the dispensing device and for passing the propellant charge powder to the ammunition cases. The dispenser can, in principle, have any desired configuration, as long as it allows for intermediate storage of the propellant charge powder, so that the latter can be further processed or passed. The dispenser can have a dispensing surface that is at least partially planar. In an exemplary development, the device comprises a dispensing housing to which at least two ammunition cases can be docked. In particular, at least two ammunition cases can be docked to the dispensing housing so that the at least two ammunition cases are arranged along a trajectory. In this case, the dispensing device can be movable along the image of the trajectory of the ammunition cases. For example, the dispenser forms a base section of the dispensing housing or a dispensing space defined by the dispensing housing.

[0030] According to a further aspect of the invention, during dispensing of the propellant charge powder, the discharge opening and the dispenser can be positioned at a particular vertical distance from each other so that a predetermined dispensing amount of the propellant charge powder can be set by utilizing the self-locking between the particles of the propellant charge powder. For example, the propellant charge powder is dispensed under the exclusive influence of gravity. A counterflow metering or flow control created according to the invention allows the amount of propellant charge powder to be metered or dispensed to be determined or set in a simple manner by influencing the distance between the discharge opening and the dispenser. In this aspect of the invention, the device utilizes the inherent properties of the powder and the knowledge that the distance between the discharge opening and the dispenser can be set so that particles or components of the propellant charge powder mutually or independently block further gravity-dependent flow from the discharge opening. For example, the dispensing device can be movably positioned with its discharge opening within a defined dispensing space, so that a certain amount of propellant charge powder flows out of the discharge opening depending on the distance between the discharge opening and the dispenser, and the dispensing space is filled with propellant charge powder until self-locking occurs. It has been found that the time for self-locking can be set via a predetermined distance between the discharge opening and the dispenser. The invention is based in particular on the finding that the flow properties of solid propellant charge powder differ from those of liquids in this respect, and that the effect of self-locking can be used to measure blockages or control the flow. In particular, the distance between the discharge opening and the dispenser can be set so that the dispensed amount of propellant charge powder that causes self-locking exceeds the total amount of propellant charge powder required to fill at least two cartridge cases. When referring to the amount in this case, this can mean the volume, in particular the volume, of the cartridge case to be filled as a whole, or the volume occupied by the dispensed propellant charge powder.

[0031] The volume V within the dosing space is advantageously greater than the total volume of the ammunition cases to be filled.

number

[0032] According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the device has a dosing housing to which at least two ammunition cases can be docked so that the at least two ammunition cases are arranged along a trajectory, and the dispensing device can move along the image of the trajectory of the ammunition cases. In this respect, reference is made to the preceding embodiments, which equally apply to this aspect of the present invention. According to a further exemplary embodiment, the dispensing device is at a particular vertical distance from the dispenser in the rest position before and / or after the movement along the image of the trajectory. According to an exemplary development, a self-locking effect occurs in the rest position. For example, particles of the propellant charge powder block each other in the rest position so that they are prevented from flowing out of the dispensing device.

[0033] According to a further aspect of the invention, which may be combined with the above-described aspects and exemplary embodiments, there is provided an apparatus for automatically filling at least two ammunition cases with propellant charge powder for an automated production line for ammunition.

[0034] The filling device according to the present invention can be designed based on gravimetric measurement or can operate based on volumetric measurement. Gravimetric measurement can achieve advantages in terms of the accuracy of the measured amount. Volumetric measurement can achieve clear advantages in terms of processing speed, which has a positive effect on cycle speed, especially when the filling device according to the present invention is incorporated into a plant according to the present invention for the automated production of ammunition. The device according to the present invention is particularly useful for simultaneously filling at least two ammunition cases with propellant charge powder. This means that the filling of at least two ammunition cases is carried out in a filling operation, especially without a change in direction of more than 90°. In this case, simultaneous does not necessarily have to be understood to mean that at least two ammunition cases are filled exactly at the same time, but rather that there is a fairly specific time offset between the filling, especially the complete filling, of ammunition cases arranged along a trajectory. The device according to the present invention can be designed to fill at least two ammunition cases in each case with a predetermined, especially substantially identical, amount, taking into account the inaccuracies inherent in the process. The propellant charge powder may be, for example, a propellant charge powder for small-caliber ammunition, typically having a mono- or di-basic spherical, tubular, rod-like, or flake shape and / or formed like a powder, particularly for ammunition with a caliber ranging from 4.5 mm to 13 mm. Alternatively, extruded propellant charge powders may be used. When spherical propellant charge powders are involved, the powders may be, for example, rolled, with a sphere diameter of 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm. In the case of rod-shaped propellant charge powders, for example for 5.56 mm caliber ammunition, the rods may have a length of up to 1.1 mm and / or a diameter of up to 0.7 mm. In the case of nitrocellulose (NC), the density of the propellant charge powder used may be, for example, 0.5 to 1 g / cm. 3 For such propellant powders, the bulk density may be in the range of 0.6 to 1 g / cm for ammunition cartridges. 3 and for subsonic or blank cartridges, up to 0.4 g / cm 3 is.

[0035] According to a further aspect of the invention, the device further comprises a movably, in particular translationally, mounted metering buffer, such as a drawer with metering recesses, in which the propellant charge powder can be stored intermediately. The number of metering recesses can be adapted to the number of ammunition cases to be filled. The metering recesses can be configured, for example, as passages in the metering buffer, so that filling is possible from above and the propellant charge powder is dispensed vertically downward.

[0036] The device further comprises a stripping wall arranged relative to the metering buffer so that excess propellant charge powder can be stripped off while the metering buffer moves relative to the stripping wall. As a result of the stripping at the stripping wall, the propellant charge powder that is not located in the metering recess after the filling operation is substantially completely stripped off, in order to make the desired amount of propellant charge powder available for accurate metering, in particular for filling the ammunition case. For example, the stripping wall can be in stripping contact with the metering buffer or can be arranged at a small distance, in particular less than 1 mm, from the metering buffer.

[0037] According to a further aspect of the invention, the cross-sectional dimension of the stripping wall in the direction of movement of the metering buffer is dimensioned to be smaller than the diameter of the metering recess. This reliably ensures that no safety-critical clogging occurs. As a result of the fact that the diameter of the metering recess is selected to be larger than the relevant cross-sectional dimension of the stripping wall, it is always ensured that in all operating positions the propellant charge powder is not completely enclosed but is always free or open to the environment. According to this aspect of the invention, the stripping wall is dimensioned in each case to be smaller than the metering recess, which cooperates with the metering buffer to strip off excess propellant charge powder, and the stripping wall can further have a different, in particular thicker, cross-sectional dimension.

[0038] According to a further exemplary embodiment of the filling device according to the invention, the cross-sectional dimension of the stripping wall in the direction of movement of the metering buffer is at least 20%, in particular at least 25% or at least 30% smaller than the diameter of the metering recess. This safety factor can be ensured by a reliable operation of the powder filling device. For example, the cross-sectional dimension of the stripping wall should be set depending on the powder sensitivity, the shape, in particular the diameter and / or height, of the metering recess, and / or the composition of the propellant charge powder.

[0039] According to a further exemplary embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the device has a docking housing with a peelable wall, and at least two ammunition cases can be docked with the docking housing so that the at least two ammunition cases are arranged along a trajectory, and the dispensing device can move along the image of the trajectory of the ammunition cases. For example, at least three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, or at least twelve, particularly up to fifteen, eighteen, or twenty, ammunition cases can be filled with propellant charge powder by the device, particularly simultaneously and / or in one work step or filling operation, in order to fill the ammunition cases with a particularly defined, particularly substantially identical, amount of propellant charge powder in each case. The docking housing can have predetermined docking positions for the at least two ammunition cases. For example, a connecting device, such as a latch, clip, plug-in, or other connecting device, can be provided at the docking position, so that the at least two ammunition cases are temporarily fixed to the docking housing for the docked loading operation. The ammunition cases can be docked to the dosing housing in such a way that they are arranged along a trajectory along which the dispensing device can move, particularly in a reciprocating motion, to enable filling at least two ammunition cases in one work step or filling operation. The dispensing device can move along an image of the trajectory of the ammunition case to dispense the propellant charge powder into the dosing housing. The image of the movement trajectory can be the trajectory itself, meaning that the dispensing device moves along the trajectory of the ammunition case or along a movement trajectory of a corresponding shape, but at different local positions. For example, the trajectory image can be a planar projection of the trajectory of the ammunition case.

[0040] The direction of movement of the metering buffer is in this case oriented transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the movement trajectory of the dispensing device. For example, the dispensing device moves in a horizontal plane, in particular horizontally, and the metering buffer moves transversely, in particular vertically oriented horizontally relative thereto. For example, the trajectory of the ammunition case is oriented substantially parallel to the stripping wall.

[0041] According to a further aspect of the present invention, which may be combined with the above-described aspects and exemplary embodiments, there is provided an apparatus for automatically filling at least two ammunition cases with propellant charge powder for an automatic displacement line of ammunition.

[0042] The filling device according to the present invention can be designed based on gravimetric measurement or can operate based on volumetric measurement. Gravimetric measurement can achieve advantages in terms of the accuracy of the measured amount. Volumetric measurement can achieve clear advantages in terms of processing speed, which has a positive effect on cycle speed, especially when the filling device according to the present invention is incorporated into a plant according to the present invention for the automated production of ammunition. The device according to the present invention is particularly useful for simultaneously filling at least two ammunition cases with propellant charge powder. This means that the filling of at least two ammunition cases is carried out in a filling operation, especially without a change in direction of more than 90°. In this case, simultaneous does not necessarily have to be understood to mean that at least two ammunition cases are filled exactly at the same time, but rather that there is a fairly specific time offset between the filling, especially the complete filling, of ammunition cases arranged along a trajectory. The device according to the present invention can be designed to fill at least two ammunition cases in each case with a predetermined, especially substantially identical, amount, taking into account the inaccuracies inherent in the process. The propellant charge powder may be, for example, a propellant charge powder for small-caliber ammunition, typically having a mono- or di-basic spherical, tubular, rod-like, or flake shape and / or formed like a powder, particularly for ammunition with a caliber ranging from 4.5 mm to 13 mm. Alternatively, extruded propellant charge powders may be used. When spherical propellant charge powders are involved, the powders may be, for example, rolled, with a sphere diameter of 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm. In the case of rod-shaped propellant charge powders, for example for 5.56 mm caliber ammunition, the rods may have a length of up to 1.1 mm and / or a diameter of up to 0.7 mm. In the case of nitrocellulose (NC), the density of the propellant charge powder used may be, for example, 0.5 to 1 g / cm. 3 For such propellant powders, the bulk density may be in the range of 0.6 to 1 g / cm for ammunition cartridges. 3 and for subsonic or blank cartridges, up to 0.4 g / cm 3 is.

[0043] According to a further aspect of the invention, the device, also referred to as a loading device, comprises a docking housing to which at least two ammunition cases can be docked so that the at least two ammunition cases are arranged along a track, and a dispensing device that can move along the image of the trajectory of the ammunition cases to dispense propellant charge powder into the dosing housing. For example, the device can fill at least three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, or at least twelve, and particularly up to fifteen, eighteen, or twenty, ammunition cases with propellant charge powder, particularly simultaneously and / or in one work step or loading operation, in order to load the ammunition cases with a specifically defined, particularly substantially identical, amount of propellant charge powder in each case. The dosing housing can have predetermined docking positions for the at least two ammunition cases. For example, a connecting device, such as a latch, clip, plug-in, or other connecting device, can be provided at the docking position, so that the at least two ammunition cases are temporarily secured to the docking housing for loading in the docked state. The ammunition cases can be docked to the dosing housing so that they are arranged along a track along which the dispensing device can move, particularly in a reciprocating motion, to allow at least two ammunition cases to be filled in one working step or filling operation. The dispensing device can be connected to a silo, or generally to a propellant charge powder source, from which the dispensing device obtains or from which the dispensing device can supply propellant charge powder. For example, the dynamic pressure in the propellant charge powder source can be kept substantially constant so that a substantially uniform dynamic pressure also exists in the dispensing device. For example, the dispensing device is designed to dispense the propellant charge powder into the dosing housing, particularly exclusively under the influence of gravitational forces. Simultaneous filling means that the filling of at least two ammunition cases is carried out in one working step or operation, precisely in direct temporal succession. The track can define a linear, curved, or wavy row along which at least two ammunition cases are docked to the dosing housing, particularly arranged at equidistant distances. For example, the dosing housing may define a dosing space into which the dispensing device fills the propellant charge powder.At least two cartridge cases can be allocated to the dosage space such that the propellant charge powder can flow through the dosage space or from the dosage space to the cartridge case.

[0044] The dispensing device can move along the image of the trajectory of the ammunition case to dispense the propellant charge powder into the dosing housing. The image of the movement trajectory can be the trajectory itself, meaning that the dispensing device moves along the trajectory of the ammunition case or along a movement trajectory of a corresponding shape, but at a different local position. For example, the trajectory image can be a planar projection of the trajectory of the ammunition case.

[0045] According to a further aspect of the invention, the dispensing device is pivotally mounted to perform a pendulum movement. The dispensing device may have a pendulum tube extending from a stationary fulcrum and oscillating relative to the stationary fulcrum about a rest position.

[0046] In an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the pendulum angle of the dispensing device, particularly the pendulum tube, is less than 90°, particularly at least 45°. In particular, the angle is in the range of 60°-80°, for example, approximately 70°. A preferred pendulum angle allows for both optimally maximizing the number of ammunition cases filled simultaneously or in one working step and for energy-saving loading of the propellant charge powder. It has been found that for optimal functioning of the dispensing pendulum, the pendulum angle should be selected so that the propellant charge powder can still be reliably dispensed at the reversal point, particularly under the influence of gravity alone.

[0047] In a further exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, the speed profile of the pendulum movement is controlled depending on parameters such as the pendulum angle, the fill level of the propellant charge powder, the volume of the ammunition case, and / or the density, flowability, particle size and / or surface properties of the propellant charge powder.

[0048] According to a further exemplary embodiment, which can be combined with all the above-described embodiments and aspects of the present invention, the device according to the present invention has a sensor system for detecting the propellant charge powder filling level and / or the volume of the ammunition case and / or a drive assigned to the dispensing device, which can be controlled to activate the dispensing device. For example, the propellant charge powder filling level is measured at multiple points in the dosing housing, particularly in the dosing space, and the movement profile of the mobile dispensing device is adapted to the propellant charge powder height and / or its distribution, which can be derived based on the multiple measurement points, resulting in a uniform and constant propellant charge powder height in the dosing space. In this way, it can be reliably ensured that all filled ammunition cases always receive sufficient propellant charge powder, thereby increasing the reliability of the process.

[0049] In a further exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, the dispensing device is designed to perform continuous back-and-forth movements, in particular along the image of the trajectory of the ammunition cases. In this case, the movement cycle of the dispensing device can be synchronized with the timing of an automatic production line. For example, the back-and-forth movements of the device are designed in such a way that in each backward movement and each forward movement, a separate filling operation or work step is performed. In other words, the dispensing device is designed so that during each backward and each forward movement, a sufficient amount of propellant powder is dispensed to be able to fill at least two ammunition cases.

[0050] According to an exemplary development of the device according to the invention, the device has a metering buffer, which is attached in particular to the dosing housing and has metering recesses in which the propellant charge powder can be stored temporarily and whose receiving volume can be set. The number of metering recesses can be adapted to the number of ammunition cases to be filled. The metering recesses can be configured as passages in the metering buffer, for example, so that filling is possible from above and the propellant charge powder is dispensed vertically downward.

[0051] According to exemplary developments, the height and / or cross-sectional measurement, in particular the diameter, of the metering recess can be set. For example, the metering buffer can be made of several parts and have a movably mounted part for setting the volume of the metering recess. In this way, it is possible to adapt the receiving volume of the metering recess depending on the volume, in particular the caliber, of the ammunition case to be filled and / or depending on further parameters, such as the propellant charge powder-specific parameters.

[0052] According to a further exemplary development, the metering recess has an internal cross section that is at least partially tapered, in particular in the form of a funnel, so that firstly, reliable filling of the metering recess can be achieved, and secondly, targeted filling of the propellant charge powder into the ammunition case assigned to the metering recess can be achieved, resulting in the most accurate metering possible.

[0053] In a further exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, the latter is configured to fill at least two ammunition cases substantially simultaneously and / or in one work step. This means that the filling of at least two ammunition cases is carried out in a filling operation, particularly without a change in direction of more than 90°. In this case, simultaneous does not necessarily have to be understood to mean that at least two ammunition cases are filled at exactly the same time, but rather that there is a fairly specific time offset between the filling, particularly the complete filling, of ammunition cases arranged along a trajectory. The device according to the invention can be designed to fill at least two ammunition cases in each case with a predetermined, particularly substantially identical, amount, taking into account the inaccuracies inherent in the process.

[0054] The device according to the invention may further be configured to fill at least two ammunition cases, in particular 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 ammunition cases, in particular orbitally arranged ammunition cases, in less than 5 seconds, in particular less than 4 seconds or less than 3 seconds.

[0055] In a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the device according to the invention can have a rotary cycle table on which dosing recesses are arranged, in particular radially relative to the rotary cycle table along the image of the trajectory of the ammunition case. In this case, the dispensing device can be moved radially and translationally, in particular back and forth, relative to the rotary cycle table in order to fill the dosing recesses with propellant charge powder. At least two ammunition cases are fed, in particular radially, from a downstream rotational position of the rotary cycle table 51 so that the dosing recesses are assigned to the ammunition cases and the propellant charge powder can be dispensed into the dosing recesses of the ammunition case.

[0056] According to a further aspect of the present invention, which may be combined with the above-mentioned aspects and exemplary embodiments, there is provided a plant for the automated production of ammunition consisting of a plurality of ammunition parts, in particular cases, ignition elements, projectiles and propellant charges, comprising an apparatus according to the present invention.

[0057] According to a further aspect of the present invention, which can be combined with the above-mentioned aspects and exemplary embodiments, there is provided an automated production line for ammunition, also called a plant for the automated production of ammunition, having at least two ammunition parts, which has at least one workpiece carrier designed according to any one of the preceding claims.

[0058] Preferred embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims.

[0059] Further characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention based on the accompanying exemplary drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0060] [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention; [Figure 2] 2 shows a further view of the device according to FIG. 1; [Figure 3] A schematic diagram is shown to clarify the function of the present invention. [Figure 4] A schematic diagram is shown to clarify the function of the present invention. [Figure 5] A schematic diagram is shown to clarify the function of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 shows a further schematic diagram to clarify the functioning of the device according to the invention; [Figure 7] 1 shows a further schematic diagram to clarify the functioning of the device according to the invention; [Figure 8] 1 shows a further schematic diagram to clarify the functioning of the device according to the invention; [Figure 9] 3 shows a schematic diagram of a further exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention; [Figure 10] 1 shows a side view of a further exemplary embodiment of a device according to the present invention; [Figure 11] 11 shows a detailed cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. [Figure 12] 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an ammunition manufacturing plant; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0061] In describing an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a powder filling device according to the invention, which can be used in a plant 100, also called an ammunition assembly plant, for the automated production of ammunition consisting of a plurality of ammunition parts, in particular a case 119, an ignition element 127, a projectile 121 and a propellant charge, is generally given the reference number 1.

[0062] 1 and 2, an exemplary embodiment of a loading device 1 according to the present invention is shown in a perspective view. The loading device 1 is configured to load ammunition cases 13 arranged in a row in a work step or loading operation 12 (see FIG. 2). The loading device 1 comprises a dosing housing 5, also called a framework, which performs several functions. On the one hand, the dosing housing 5 assumes a housing or carrying function and comprises two support legs 19, 21, by means of which the dosing housing 5 can be placed and fixed on a base. On the other hand, the dosing housing 5 is configured to allow docking of at least two ammunition cases 13 for loading the propellant charge powder 11. Furthermore, the dosing housing 5 defines a dosing space 23 (FIG. 3) into which the propellant charge powder 11 is dispensed before a predetermined amount of the propellant charge powder 11 is dispensed into the ammunition cases 13. The dosing space 23 is configured in a block-shaped housing part 25 having a planar guide surface 27 oriented vertically upward. Proceeding from the guide surface 27, an elongated, in particular linear, slot 29 extends vertically downwards through the dosing housing 5 and finally opens into the dosing space 23. In Figures 1 and 2, the slot 29 is of linear design and is defined transversely to its longitudinal extent by two opposing slot walls 31, 33 which are in each case concavely curved and open on both sides in the extent direction into one common end stop 35, 37 which is likewise formed by the housing wall of the dosing housing 5.

[0063] The slot 29 and the housing walls 31, 33, 35, 37 defining the slot 29 not only function to allow the loading of the propellant charge powder 11, but also serve as a guide for a dispensing device 3, designated by the reference numeral 3, for dispensing the propellant charge powder 11 into the dosing housing 5. The dispensing device 3 is movable and can move along the slot 29 in a translational and reciprocating manner. The dispensing device 3 is actively guided during its movement, so that the metering is as reliable and accurate as possible. The dispensing device 3 comprises, for example, a funnel-shaped dispensing pre-container 39, which opens into a dispensing tube 41 projecting into the housing 5. For optimal guidance of the dispensing device 3 along the filling process, the dispensing device 3 further comprises a guide plate 44, such as a guide adjuster, attached to the dispensing device 3 in the region of the dispensing tube 41, in this case the guide plate 44 resting on the guide surface 27 and thus jointly determining the vertical position of the dispensing device 3. The dispensing device 3 can further be connected to a propellant charge powder charge, not shown, such as a silo 57 and / or a supply pipe.

[0064] The filling operation, which will be explained in more detail with reference to the schematic diagrams 3 to 8, is essentially carried out as follows: First, the propellant charge powder 11 is introduced into the dosing housing 5 via the dispensing device 3 and stored there. For this purpose, a housing structure for the dosing housing 5 is provided. Second, a weighing buffer 9 is provided. The weighing buffer 9 is movably and translationally mounted relative to the dosing housing 5, particularly in the form of a drawer, and has several weighing recesses 15 corresponding to the number of cartridge cases 13. During the filling operation, the weighing buffer 9 at least partially defines a dosing space 23 below, so that the propellant charge powder 11 is placed on the weighing buffer 9, which is preferably configured as a flat plate with the weighing recesses 15 configured as passage openings. After the intermediate storage of the propellant charge powder 11 in the weighing buffer 9, the propellant charge powder 11 is dispensed into the cartridge cases 13 by a perforated weighing plate 43, which is assigned to the weighing buffer 9 and to which several cartridge cases 13 are attached.

[0065] The filling device 1 may further comprise a collection tray 45 which serves to collect excess and unfilled propellant charge powder 11, indicated by reference numeral 11'. Via a pressing device 47, a pressing force may be applied to the metering buffer 9, so that a resulting force is generated between the metering buffer 9 and the perforated metering plate 43 in order to keep the amount of unnecessary propellant charge powder 11 as small as possible.

[0066] 3-5 should be understood as schematic side views of the device 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 and show the interior of the device 1 according to the present invention during a filling operation. The 12 ammunition cases 13 to be filled are arranged along a track arranged in a row and docked to a perforated metering plate 43 (schematically shown in FIG. 3). As can be seen from the combined view of FIGS. 3-5, the dispensing device 3 can move along a translational direction T to move along the track or row of ammunition cases 13. The dispensing device 3 can translate between two rest positions a) and b) visible in FIGS. 3-5, where, for example, rest position b) should be understood as the start position and rest position a) as the end position for the filling operation. During the filling operation, the dispensing device 3 cooperates with both the dispenser 7 in the dosing housing 5 and a metering buffer 9, which is movably mounted in the dosing housing 5 like a drawer. At the start of a metering operation or after each metering operation, the configuration of the dispensing device 3 of the filling device 1 is established, as shown by way of example in FIG.

[0067] The dispensing device 3 is filled with the propellant charge powder 11 and is positioned facing the dosing device 7 at a distance therefrom, so that the discharge opening 45 of the dispensing tube 41 is positioned at a vertical distance (a) from the dosing device 7 so as to create a self-locking effect. This means that due to the small distance (a) between the discharge opening 45 and the dosing device 7 and the properties of the propellant charge powder 11, the propellant charge powder 11 itself prevents further outflow. As can be seen in FIG. 3, a certain amount of the propellant charge powder 11 is placed on the dosing device 7, a further remaining amount of the propellant charge powder 11' is placed on the metering buffer 9, which was not needed during the preceding filling operation, and a further amount of the propellant charge powder 11 is placed in the area of a further rest position of the dispensing device 3.

[0068] Now, when the dispensing device 3 is moved between the two rest positions (FIG. 4) and the dispensing device 3 is moved out of the area of self-locking relative to the dosing device 7, the propellant charge powder 11 flows, in particular exclusively under the influence of gravity, from the discharge opening 45 into the dosing space 23, the base of which is formed by the metering buffer 9, and fills the dosing space 23 during the filling operation, i.e. the movement back and forth from a) to b) or vice versa, so that a substantially constant and uniform height of the propellant charge powder is set (see FIG. 5). In the area of the rest position a), the self-locking effect is established again and the propellant charge powder 11 is blocked against further outflow.

[0069] 3 to 5, the downstream metering operation shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 for filling the ammunition case 13 with the propellant charge powder 11 will now be described. During the filling operation, the metering recess 15 of the metering buffer 9 is in a passive position, i.e. is not assigned to the dosing space 23, so that the propellant charge powder 11 can be dispensed onto the flat surface of the metering buffer 9 (FIG. 6).

[0070] After the filling operation of the dispensing device 3, the metering buffer 9 is finally moved so that the metering recess 15 is oriented relative to the dosing space 23, in particular so that it is positioned vertically below the dosing space 23, and the propellant charge powder 11 moves into the metering recess exclusively under the influence of low gravity forces and completely fills the metering recess 15 (Figure 7).

[0071] The metering buffer 9 is then returned to the starting position shown in Figure 6 in order to fill the propellant charge powder 11 dosed in the metering recess 15 into the ammunition case 13. By setting the size of the metering recess, in particular its volume, for example over its height and / or diameter, by means of the setting device 47, ammunition cases 13 of different sizes can be filled with the propellant charge powder amount provided in each case.

[0072] 8, the essential features of the device 1 according to the invention can be seen due to the dimensioning of the metering recess relative to the housing wall 17, which cooperates with the metering buffer 9 during its movement relative to the dosing housing 5 and functions as a stripping wall 17 for removing excess propellant charge powder 11, indicated by reference numeral 11' in FIG. 8. Firstly, the stripping wall 17 strips off excess propellant charge powder 11' during the movement of the metering buffer 9 so that the amount of propellant charge powder required to fill the ammunition case 13 remains substantially exclusively in the metering recess 15, and residual propellant charge powder 11' remains in the dosing space 23. Furthermore, the cross-sectional dimension (e) of the stripping wall 17 relative to the diameter (d) of the metering recess is configured so that clogging cannot occur, thereby ensuring reliable operation of the filling device 1. For example, the cross-sectional dimension (e) of the stripping wall 17 in the direction of movement of the metering buffer 9 is at least 20% smaller than the diameter (d) of the metering recess.

[0073] FIG. 9 shows a further schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of the filling device 1 according to the present invention, illustrating another type of intermediate storage and metering of the propellant charge powder 11. As in the previous embodiment, at least two ammunition cases 13 can be supplied to the device 1 by a workpiece carrier 49, generally designated by the reference numeral 49. The workpiece carrier 49 can therefore fulfill two functions. On the one hand, the workpiece carrier can hold the ammunition components required for the ammunition and enable access to or processing of the ammunition components at the individual processing stations. On the other hand, the workpiece carrier 49 can form an interface with an automated production line, allowing at least two ammunition components to pass through the automated production line by the workpiece carrier 49. The workpiece carrier 49 has a carrier base, such as a carriage, configured to be transported along the production line. The carrier base can therefore be configured to be releasably coupled to the automated production line, in order to be transported from one processing station to the next in an automated manner by the automated production line. The carrier base can, for example, be configured to form a tongue-and-groove system with the connecting components of the automated production line. The workpiece carrier 49 further comprises at least one receptacle arranged on, and particularly preferably releasably fastened to, the carrier base for holding at least two ammunition components of the same type, such as two ammunition cases 13, two ammunition projectiles, two ammunition cartridges, or two ammunition primers. An essential aspect of the workpiece carrier 49 according to the present invention is that it is designed to receive a plurality of ammunition components held therein for simultaneous or parallel processing. For example, the receptacle may be designed to hold at least three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, or fifteen ammunition components of the same type. For example, the multiple ammunition components are held by the receptacle in a predetermined, particularly invariable, arrangement, e.g., in a row and / or parallel arrangement, such as in an array field.Furthermore, at least one ammunition component receptacle is movably mounted relative to the carrier base. Furthermore, at least one of the ammunition component receptacles can be moved from a receiving position, in which at least two ammunition components can be fed, in particular simultaneously, to a processing position, in which at least two ammunition components can be processed, in particular simultaneously. Furthermore, the workpiece carrier 49 also has a coupling interface, in particular a motor-side coupling interface, for connection to a motor of the production line in order to move the receptacle from the receiving position to the processing position, in particular vice versa. Therefore, the workpiece carrier 49 itself can be of drive-free and / or motorless design. The actuation or movement energy required to move the at least one ammunition component receptacle can be completely provided externally, in particular by a motor or drive of the production line.

[0074] In contrast to the previous embodiment, the weighing buffer 9 and the associated perforated weighing plate 43 (not shown) are designed as a rotary cycle table 51 having a plurality of units or rows of metering recesses 15 distributed circumferentially at a particularly uniform distance (a) from one another, each unit or row being oriented radially with respect to the rotation direction R of the rotary cycle table 51. Furthermore, the dispensing device 3 can perform a translational movement according to a reciprocating movement T in order to intermediately store the propellant charge powder 11 on the weighing buffer 9. After the filling operation, the rotary cycle table 51 is further rotated in the rotation direction R in such a way that the units or rows of metering recesses 15 are fed successively, one after the other, to the workpiece carriers 49 to be fed to the device 1, i.e., in a rotational position tilted by 45°. Further basic principles and concepts of the device 1 according to the invention are further realized in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 9.

[0075] 10 and 11 show a further exemplary embodiment of the filling device 1 according to the invention, which, in contrast to the preceding embodiments, is characterized by a pendulum movement P of the dispensing device 3 rather than a translational back-and-forth movement. The basic principle of automated simultaneous filling of multiple ammunition cases 13 remains the same. First, the propellant charge powder 11 is fed, for example, from a propellant charge powder source 53 via a filling tube 55 into a silo 57 to which the dispensing device 3 is connected. The dispensing device 3 comprises a dispensing tube 41 which is pivotally mounted relative to a pendulum center Z and which can move back and forth through a pendulum angle P between two settings.

[0076] 10, it can be seen that the device according to the invention can also comprise several parallel sub-units, each of identical design, in order to allow the simultaneous filling of several units or packs of in each case several ammunition cases 13. The embodiment shown by way of example on the basis of FIG. 10 for variant 3 of the pendulum dispensing device applies equally to variant 3 of the translational dispensing device according to the preceding figures.

[0077] 3 to 8, the propellant charge powder 11 is first stored intermediately, for which purpose a metering buffer 9, which is mounted in a translational manner, in particular like a drawer and has a metering recess 15, can be moved relative to the dosing housing 5. Via the metering recess 15, the propellant charge powder 11 is moved into metering holes or metering channels 44 to which ammunition cases 13 are assigned, which are then held in place by workpiece carriers 49.

[0078] The ammunition assembly plant 100 according to FIG. 12 comprises in each case the following production stations: a case insertion station 111 designed to insert the cases 119 into the conveying device 113; a projectile insertion station 115 designed to insert the projectiles 121 into the conveying device 113; a propellant charge filling station 117 designed to fill the cases 119 with the propellant charge powder 11, 123; a case mouth widening station; an ignition element supply station 125 for supplying ignition elements 127; an ignition element insertion station 129 at which the ignition elements 127 are inserted into the conveying device 100; an ignition element crimping station; several quality monitoring stations 131 and a quality testing station 133 for optically and / or tactilely ensuring the quality of the ammunition; and a discharge station 135 for the final discharge of the manufactured ammunition.

[0079] The conveying device 113 for holding a plurality of munitions parts and transporting a plurality of munitions parts from, to, and / or between a plurality of manufacturing stations defines a closed, circulating conveying track 137 that defines an interior space 139 surrounded by the conveying track 137 and an exterior space 141 defined from the interior space. According to the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 1, the conveying track 137 is composed of two parallel straight sections 143 connected by a curved section 145 to form a racetrack-shaped conveying track profile. The manufacturing stations 11, 13, 15, 59, 59, 25 are arranged transversely to the conveying track 137 in the interior space 139 (Fig. 12) or the exterior space 141 of the conveying track 137.

[0080] FIG. 12 shows a plant configuration in which ammunition components are introduced into the plant 1 from the outside. Alternatively, they can be brought into the carrier 100 from the interior 139. The basic production sequence is the same in both plant configurations. Both plant concepts have the following production sequence: The carrier 113, located in the buffer zone 147, is fed into the case insertion station 111 via the curved section 145. This is followed by the projectile insertion station 115, where the projectile 121 is fed into the carrier 113. The entire carrier 113, with the projectile 121 and case 119 placed thereon, then undergoes optical inspection at the quality control station 131. In subsequent stations, the ignition element 127 is first introduced into the plant 1 via the ignition element feed station 125, then transferred together with the slide 51 to the ignition element insertion station 129, and finally inserted into the rear of the case 119. After insertion, the fired case 119 is calibrated in the case-forming station 153 and then sealed with an annular joint lacquer in the fluid application station 149. The conveying device 100 then passes through a second curved section 145, followed again by a straight section 143 with several production stations. Before the case 119 is filled with the propellant charge powder 11, 123 in the propellant charge filling station 117, a quality monitoring station 131 checks whether the ignition element 127 is properly seated in the case 119. After filling, the filling level is checked, particularly tactilely, in the quality testing station 133. The actual assembly of the projectile 121 and the case 119 takes place in two stages: first, the projectile 5 is slightly brought onto the case 119 in the projectile insertion station 155, and then in a subsequent step it is finally pushed into the case 119 in the projectile assembly station 151. The resulting completed ammunition 101 is then checked at a quality monitoring station 131 and / or a quality testing station 133 and then discharged via a discharge station 135 .

[0081] The features disclosed in the above description, in the drawings and in the claims may be important both individually and in any desired combination for realizing the invention in its various configurations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1 device 3. Dispensing device 5. Dosing Housing 7 Dosage Machine 9 Weighing Buffer 11.123 Propellant charge powder 13 Ammunition Case 15 Weighing Buffer 17 Peeling wall 19, 21 Support legs 23 Administration Space 25 Housing section 27 Guide Wall 29 slots 31, 33 Slot wall 35, 37 End stopper 39 Pre-dispensing container 41 Aliquot tube 43 Weighing perforated plate 44 Guide plate 45 Discharge opening 47 Pressing device 49 Workpiece Carrier 51 Rotating Cycle Table 53 Source 55 Filling tube 57 Silo 100 Ammunition Assembly Plant 111 Case Insertion Station 113 Conveyor equipment 115 Projectile Insertion Station 117 Propellant Charge Filling Station 119 cases 121 Projectile 125 Ignition Element Supply Station 127 Ignition element 129 Ignition Element Insertion Station 131 Quality Monitoring Station 133 Quality Testing Station 135 Discharge Station 137 Transport Track 139 Interior Space 141 Exterior Space 143 Straight Section 145 curved section 147 Buffer Zone 149 Fluid Application Station 151 Projectile Assembly Station 155 Projectile Insertion Station a), b) rest position a distance e. Cross-sectional dimensions of peeling wall d Diameter of the metering recess T translation P Pendulum movement R Rotational movement

Claims

1. A device (1) for automatically filling at least two ammunition cases (13, 119) with propellant powder (11) for an automatic production line for ammunition, comprising: a dispensing housing (5) to which the at least two ammunition cases (13, 119) can be docked so that the at least two ammunition cases (13, 119) are arranged along a path; a dispensing device (3) that can be moved along the image of the path of the ammunition case (13, 119) to dispense propellant powder (11) into the dosing housing (5); In an apparatus (1) comprising: The device (1) is characterized by a guide for guiding the dispensing device (3) along the image of the path of the ammunition case (13, 119).

2. 2. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide is shaped according to the image of the path of the ammunition case (13, 119) and / or is designed to limit, in particular prevent, deviations of the movement of the dispensing device (3) from the image of the path of the ammunition case (13, 119).

3. 3. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide is designed in the manner of a slotted link control, in particular the dispensing device (3) has a dispensing tube (41) guided in a slot (29) in the dosing housing (5), in particular the dispensing tube (41) and the slot (29) coincide with each other in terms of shape so that the dispensing tube (41) is guided on both sides by slot walls (31, 33) of the dosing housing (5), and / or the guide has end stops (35, 37) for limiting the movement of the dispensing device (3) along the image of the path of the ammunition casing (13, 119).

4. A device (1) for automatic filling of at least two ammunition cases (13, 119) with propellant powder (11) for an automatic production line for ammunition, in particular according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising: a dispensing device (3) having a dispensing opening (45) through which a propellant powder (11) can be dispensed; a dispenser (7) for intermediate storage of the propellant powder (11) dispensed by the dispensing device (3) and for transferring it to the ammunition case (13, 119); In an apparatus (1) comprising: During the dispensing of the propellant powder (11), the dispensing opening (45) and the dispenser (7) can be positioned at a distance (a) from each other so that a predetermined dispensed amount of propellant powder (11) can be set by utilizing self-locking between the particles of the propellant powder (11).

5. 5. The device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the distance between the dispensing opening and the dispenser (7) is less than 15 mm and at least 0.1 mm and / or in the range of 0.05 to 7.5 times the particle size of the propellant powder.

6. 6. The device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, further characterized by a dosing housing (5) to which the at least two ammunition cases (13, 119) can be docked so that the at least two ammunition cases (13, 119) are arranged along a path, the dispensing device (3) being movable along the image of the path of the ammunition cases (13, 119) and engaging at a particular vertical distance from the dispenser (7) in a rest position before and / or after the movement along the image of the path, in particular in said rest position, particles of the propellant powder (11) block each other and are therefore prevented from flowing out of the dispensing device (3).

7. A device (1) for automatic filling of at least two ammunition cases (13, 119) with propellant powder (11) for an automatic production line for ammunition, in particular according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising: a movably mounted dosing buffer store (9) having a dosing recess (15) capable of temporarily storing propellant powder (11); a stripper wall (17) positioned relative to the dosing buffer store (9) so as to be able to remove excess propellant powder (11) during movement of the dosing buffer store (9) relative to the stripper wall (17); In an apparatus (1) comprising: The device (1) is characterized in that the cross-sectional dimension (e) of the stripper wall (17) in the direction of movement of the dosing buffer store (9) is dimensioned to be smaller than the diameter (d) of the dosing recess (15).

8. 8. The device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the cross-sectional dimension (e) of the stripper wall (17) in the direction of movement of the dosing buffer store (9) is dimensioned to be at least 20% smaller than the diameter (d) of the dosing recess (15).

9. 9. The device (1) according to claim 7 or 8, further characterized in that a dosing housing (5) comprises the stripper wall (17), to which at least two ammunition cases (13, 119) can be docked so that the at least two ammunition cases (13, 119) are arranged along a path, and the dispensing device (3) is movable along an image of the path of the ammunition cases (13, 119), and the direction of movement of the dosing buffer store (9) is oriented transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the movement path of the dispensing device (3).

10. A device (1) for automatic filling of at least two ammunition cases (13, 119) with propellant powder (11) for an automatic production line for ammunition, in particular according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising: a dispensing housing (5) to which the at least two ammunition cases (13, 119) can be docked so that the at least two ammunition cases (13, 119) are arranged along a path; a dispensing device (3) movable along the image of the path of the ammunition case (13, 119) to dispense propellant powder (11) into the dispensing housing (5); In an apparatus (1) comprising: Apparatus (1), characterized in that the dispensing device (3) is pivotally mounted to perform a pendulum movement.

11. 11. Apparatus (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the pendulum angle of the dispensing device (3) is less than 90°, in particular at least 45°.

12. 12. The device (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the speed profile of the pendulum movement is adjusted as a function of parameters such as the pendulum angle, the filling level of the propellant powder (11), the volume of the ammunition case, and / or the density, flowability, particle size and / or surface quality of the propellant powder (11).

13. 13. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further characterized in that a sensor system for detecting the filling level of the propellant powder (11) and / or the volume and / or drive of the ammunition case is assigned to the dispensing device (3), preferably adjustable.

14. 14. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the dispensing device (3) is designed in particular to perform a continuous back and forth movement along the image of the path of the ammunition casings (13, 119), in particular the movement cycle of the dispensing device (3) being coordinated with the cycle of the automatic production line.

15. 15. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, further characterized by a dosing buffer (9) movably mounted in particular relative to the dosing housing (5), having a dosing recess (15) in which the propellant powder (11) can be temporarily stored and whose receiving volume can be set.

16. 16. Device (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 9 or 15, characterized in that the dosing recess (15) has an internal cross section that is at least partially tapered, in particular funnel-shaped.

17. 17. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the device (1) is designed to fill the at least two ammunition cases (13, 119) substantially simultaneously and / or in one working step, in particular the device (1) is further designed to fill the at least two ammunition cases (13, 119) in less than 5 seconds, in particular less than 4 seconds or less than 3 seconds.

18. 18. A system for the automated production of ammunition consisting of a number of ammunition parts, in particular a case (13, 119), an ignition element (127), a projectile (121) and a propellant, the system comprising a device (1) designed according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

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