Automated Tying Machine for Propellant Sticks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual tying of propellant sticks is repetitive and strenuous, leading to potential injuries and inconsistent bundle quality, and poses risks of ignition and reduced efficiency in producing propellant charges.
Innovation Solution
A tying machine that automates the bundling process using a resilient ligature, such as TOM4-Twist F402 or CE Elasticated food twine, with a rotatable drum and shuttle mechanism to wind the ligature around propellant sticks, reducing operator involvement and ensuring consistent binding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual tying is used to bind propellant sticks, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but operator injury risk and inconsistency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical tying system with an automated tying machine that uses a shuttle mechanism to pass ligature material through propellant sticks. This substitution eliminates repetitive manual labor and associated injuries while ensuring consistent bundle formation through controlled mechanical action.
Solution Approach 2:
The tying machine is designed to automatically perform the tying operation without continuous human intervention. The operator simply places sticks in the aperture, and the machine autonomously completes the bundling process, reducing human exposure to harmful factors while maintaining reliability.
2Productivity
If automated tying machine is used, then productivity and consistency improve, but risk of igniting sensitive combustible materials increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies using inert or low-static materials throughout the machine construction. The housing, aperture, drum, and shuttle are all made from materials that do not generate static electricity or sparks, creating an inherently safe environment for handling sensitive combustible propellant materials while maintaining automated productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ligature material is specified as biodegradable or food-grade elasticated twine that can be easily replaced. This disposable approach allows for frequent replacement of tying material without requiring complex cleaning or maintenance procedures that could generate sparks or heat, thus maintaining both productivity and safety.
3Ease of operation
If resilient ligature is used instead of inextensible ligature, then ease of operation and consistency improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the ligature material from inextensible to resilient/elastic. This parameter change allows the ligature to stretch during the tying process and then contract to secure the bundle, simplifying the operation while the machine handles the complexity of managing the elastic material through its shuttle mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The machine mitigates the risks of repetitive strain injury and ignition, produces consistently tight and stable propellant bundles, improving production efficiency and reducing the need for manual handling, while ensuring consistent ballistics and safety standards.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient ligature (16), preferably TOM4-Twist F402 or CE Elasticated food twine
Data Source
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AI summary
There is disclosed a tying machine for forming bundles from a plurality of propellant sticks. Such bundles may be used to form a propellant charge for use in, for example, heavy artillery. The tying machine tends to comprise an aperture and a work surface such that the plurality of sticks may rest on the work surface and occupy a portion of the aperture. Further, a drum holding one end of a length of twine surrounds the aperture and can be rotated to wind the twine around the sticks. The twine can be secured once the sticks are bound.