The application relates to a charging system for charging at least one charging hole. The system comprises a charging boom, sensors of the boom, a movement mechanism of the boom, a charging head of the boom for charging the at least one hole, and a controller for controlling the boom. The sensors obtain location information relating to the boom. The controller defines locations of the charging head in a co-ordinate system of the boom on the grounds of at least the obtained location information. The controller also operates the movement mechanism to move the charging head between the defined locations in accordance with precalculated movements.

The application relates to a charging system for charging at least one charging hole. The system comprises a charging boom, sensors of the boom, a movement mechanism of the boom, a charging head of the boom for charging the at least one hole, and a controller for controlling the boom. The sensors obtain location information relating to the boom. The controller defines locations of the charging head in a co-ordinate system of the boom on the grounds of at least the obtained location information. The controller also operates the movement mechanism to move the charging head between the defined locations in accordance with precalculated movements.

Disclosed is a system that includes a magazine. The magazine is configured for holding and dispensing initiation devices or initiation device components having respective non-contact readable identification (ID) codes. The magazine includes one or more initiation device tracking unit(s) configured for reading the non-contact codes of the initiation devices or initiation device components for tracking the initiation devices or the initiation device components.

Disclosed is a system that includes a magazine. The magazine is configured for holding and dispensing initiation devices or initiation device components having respective non-contact readable identification (ID) codes. The magazine includes one or more initiation device tracking unit(s) configured for reading the non-contact codes of the initiation devices or initiation device components for tracking the initiation devices or the initiation device components.

The invention provides an apparatus and method for preventing surrounding loose rock fragments from falling or collapsing into a blast hole. The apparatus includes a flexible sheet including a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending side edges and a pair of spaced apart laterally extending end edges. The sheet has a curved form defining a longitudinal passage extending between openings at longitudinally opposite ends, one end of the curved sheet being insertable into the open end of a blast hole whereby the curved sheet closely faces an internal surface of the blast hole and forms a barrier preventing surrounding loose rock fragments from falling or collapsing into the open end of the blast hole. The invention also provides a bench blasting method and a deployment device for deploying the apparatus into a blast hole.

The invention provides an apparatus and method for preventing surrounding loose rock fragments from falling or collapsing into a blast hole. The apparatus includes a flexible sheet including a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending side edges and a pair of spaced apart laterally extending end edges. The sheet has a curved form defining a longitudinal passage extending between openings at longitudinally opposite ends, one end of the curved sheet being insertable into the open end of a blast hole whereby the curved sheet closely faces an internal surface of the blast hole and forms a barrier preventing surrounding loose rock fragments from falling or collapsing into the open end of the blast hole. The invention also provides a bench blasting method and a deployment device for deploying the apparatus into a blast hole.

An explosives delivery vehicle for delivering a booster for initiating an explosion of an explosive material in a hole in a floor of a mine pit to an operative depth in the hole. The vehicle comprises a storage assembly for storing a plurality of the boosters, a booster loading assembly for (i) supporting the booster in a delivery position above the hole and (ii) moving the booster downwardly into the hole and inserting the booster at an operative depth in the hole; and a delivery assembly for transporting the booster from the storage assembly to the loading assembly.

An explosives delivery vehicle for delivering a booster for initiating an explosion of an explosive material in a hole in a floor of a mine pit to an operative depth in the hole. The vehicle comprises a storage assembly for storing a plurality of the boosters, a booster loading assembly for (i) supporting the booster in a delivery position above the hole and (ii) moving the booster downwardly into the hole and inserting the booster at an operative depth in the hole; and a delivery assembly for transporting the booster from the storage assembly to the loading assembly.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a robot automated mining method. In one embodiment, a method includes a robot positioning a charging component for entry into a drill hole. In one embodiment, a method includes a robot moving a charging component within a drill hole. In one embodiment, a method includes a robot filling a drill hole with explosive material. In one embodiment, a method includes operating a robot within a mining environment.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a robot automated mining method. In one embodiment, a method includes a robot positioning a charging component for entry into a drill hole. In one embodiment, a method includes a robot moving a charging component within a drill hole. In one embodiment, a method includes a robot filling a drill hole with explosive material. In one embodiment, a method includes operating a robot within a mining environment.