Loading machine for cartridges with a metal case

Abstract

Disclosed is a loading machine for cartridges with a metal case including a frame structure; a feed unit for a plurality of cases having a longitudinally extending axis; a first operating beam having an alternating vertical translation movement, provided with working tools having a vertical axis, adapted to load the cases; feed and a conveyor of the cases and element for ejecting the loaded cartridges; a motor and a control unit. The feed unit includes a race and a conveyor guide comb defining a plurality of seats, containing the cases conveying them along the race. The conveyor guide includes bushings, each including at least a first conical surface and a hole to house one of the bushings and being housed in one of the seats. The machine includes a second operating beam, having an alternating vertical translation movement, provided with a plurality of hollow centering cylinders having a vertical axis.

Claims

1. A loading machine (1) for cartridges with a metal case (2) comprising: a frame structure (3) with a feeder provided thereon, the feeder configured for feeding a plurality of cases (2) having a given caliber (c) and a longitudinally extending axis (x); a first operating beam (5), mounted on said frame structure (3), having an alternating vertical translation movement and provided with working tools (6) each extending along a vertical axis (y), adapted to load said cases (2); and a control unit (24) in operative communication with the frame structure (3) and adapted to control a functioning of the loading machine; wherein said feeder includes: a race (10) adapted to support and to allow feed of said cases (2) in a given direction, and a conveyor guide (11), arranged parallel to said race (10) and comb shaped to define a plurality of seats (12)adapted to contain said cases (2), the conveyor guide (11) configured to convey said cases (2) along said race (10), and to position said cases (2) under the working tools (6), wherein said conveyor guide (11) includes a plurality of bushings (16), each bushing (16) having at least a first conical surface (21) and a hole (17) adapted to house one of said cases (2) and being housed in one of said seats (12), an outer diameter (D) of said bushing (16) being less than an inner dimension (d) of said seats (12) to provide a minimum freedom of movement between the bushing (16) and a corresponding seat (12), wherein said machine (1) further comprises a second operating beam (7) mounted on said frame structure (3), having an alternating vertical translation movement that is coordinated with the alternating vertical translation movement of said first operating beam (5), said second operating beam (7) provided with a plurality of hollow centering cylinders (8) each having a vertical axis (z) and a second conical surface (23) therein, each centering cylinder (8) being arranged so that the vertical axis (z) thereof coincides with the vertical axis (y) of a corresponding one of said tools (6), and wherein coupling between the first conical surface (21) of each bushing (16) and the second conical surface (23) of a corresponding centering cylinder (8) causes shifting of said bushing (16) in said seat (12), and consequently shifting of the case (2) housed in said bushing (16), to obtain coaxiality between the longitudinal axis (x) of said case (2) and the vertical axis (z) of said centering cylinder (8).

2. The loading machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein each of said bushings (16) has at least one radial cut (22) adapted to allow an elastic deformation of the bushing during insertion of the case (2) into the hole (17).

3. The loading machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor guide (11) comprises means for reversibly retaining said bushings (16) in said seats (12), to allow said bushings to be removed and replaced as a function of the caliber (c) of the cases (2) to be loaded.

4. The loading machine (1) according to claim 3, wherein each seat (12) is U-shaped, and wherein said retaining means comprise pins (19), the head (19) of which at least partially engages a space between the arms (14) of each U-shaped seat (12).

5. The loading machine (1) according to claim 4, wherein said bushing (16) comprises an annular groove (18) obtained on an outer surface of said bushing, and wherein the arms (14) of said U-shaped seat (12) are adapted to engage said groove (18) to sustain said bushing (16).

6. The loading machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein said frame structure (3) comprises vertical guides (9) engaged by both said first (5) operating beam and said second (7) operating beam, so that planes to which said beams respectively belong remain parallel to each other during respective vertical translation movements of said first and second operating beams.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an axonometric view of a loading machine for cartridges with a metal case according to the invention;

(2) FIGS. 2 and 3 show, in transversal cross-section along a vertical plane, a part of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1, in two different working stages;

(3) FIGS. 4-6 show, respectively, a side view, in transversal cross-section along a horizontal plane, and an axonometric view, of a detail of the machine according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 7 shows an axonometric view of a possible variant of FIG. 6;

(5) FIGS. 8-10 show, transversal cross-section along a horizontal plane, a work station of the loading machine, with certain components not shown for the purpose of clarity, in three different working stages.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) With reference to FIGS. 1-3, there is illustrated a loading machine 1 for cartridges with a metal case 2, adapted for the preparation and production of ammunition with a single ogival ball used in the sporting and military sector.

(7) Said machine 1 essentially comprises: a frame structure 3 on which are provided feed means 4 for a plurality of cases 2 having a given caliber c and a longitudinally extending axis x, and feed means for a plurality of ogival balls and for gunpowder; a first operating beam 5 having an alternating vertical translation movement, provided with working tools 6 having a vertical axis y, adapted to load and process said cases 2; feed and conveying means of said cases 2 during loading; means for ejecting the loaded cartridges; motor means M for activation of kinematic mechanisms; a control unit 24 adapted to supervise all functions of the machine 1.

(8) Said machine 1 further comprises a second operating beam 7, also having an alternating vertical translation movement, coordinated with the alternating vertical translation movement of said first operating beam 5.

(9) Said second operating beam 7 is provided with a plurality of hollow centering cylinders 8, having a vertical axis z.

(10) Each centering cylinder 8 is arranged along said second operating beam 7 so that its vertical axis z coincides with the vertical axis y of one of said filling tools 6 provided on said first operating beam 5.

(11) Henceforth in the text, said first operating beam 5 is referred to as the striking beam, while said second operating beam 7 is referred to as the pushing beam, in relation to the work that each beam, and the respective accessory means 6, 8, perform on the cases 2 and on the case feed means.

(12) Said frame structure 3 comprises vertical guides 9 engaged simultaneously by said first 5 and said second 7 operating beam, so that the planes to which said beams 5, 7 belong remain parallel to each other during the translation movement, to ensure stable coaxiality between the vertical axis z of each centering cylinder 8 and the vertical axis y of the corresponding working tool 6.

(13) In the machine 1 subject of the invention, said feed means of said cases 2 extend along an elliptical trajectory and comprise: a race 10 adapted to support and to allow feed of said cases 2 in a given direction on a reference plane made perfectly horizontal and perpendicular to the vertical guides 9, so as to also guarantee perfect perpendicularity between the axes y and z and the reference plane itself; a conveyor guide 11, arranged parallel to said race 10, comb shaped to house each case 2 during its movement.

(14) In detail, said conveyor guide 11 comprises a plurality of U-shaped seats 12.

(15) With particular reference to the transversal cross-section shown in FIG. 5, each seat 12 comprises a curved central portion 13 and two side arms 14 parallel to one another. The distance D between the two arms 14 defines the inner dimension of the seat 12.

(16) In the variant illustrated, said comb-shaped conveyor guide 11 is obtained by means of a plurality of forks 15 arranged in sequence and connected to a feed kinematic chain that follows the elliptical trajectory of the race 10.

(17) Each fork 15 therefore delimits two seats 12, where said two adjacent seats 12 have one arm 14 of the U in common.

(18) Said conveyor guide 11 also comprises a plurality of bushings 16 adapted to support said cases 2 and to move them along said race 10, to position them, depending on the various filling steps, under respective working tools 6.

(19) FIGS. 4-7 show the bushings 16 in detail.

(20) Each bushing 16 comprises a central hole 17 adapted to host one of said cases 2.

(21) This hole 17 has a diameter that is compatible, with the tolerances required, with the caliber c of the case 2 that it has to host.

(22) The loading machine is adapted to be equipped with bushings 16 provided with holes 17 with adequate diameters to be able to adapt to the possible calibers c of the cases 2 being processed.

(23) Each bushing 16 also comprises an annular groove 18, obtained on its outer surface, adapted to be engaged by the arms 14 of one of said seats 12.

(24) So as to have a minimum freedom of movement of each bushing 16 in its respective seat 12, the outer diameter d of said bushings 16, measured at their annular groove 18, is smaller than the inner dimension D of said seats 12.

(25) Each bushing 16 also comprises a conical surface 21 and at least one radial cut 22 running the entire height of the bushing 16 (FIGS. 4-6). In the variant shown in FIG. 7, on the other hand, the bushings 16 comprise a plurality of cuts 22 arranged in a star-like pattern.

(26) Since said loading machine 1 must also be highly efficient in terms of preparation speed, every time there is a change in the caliber of the cases 2 to be loaded, the support bushings 16 for the cases 2 need to be easily replaceable.

(27) To that end, said conveyor guide 11 comprises means for reversibly retaining said bushings 16 in said seats 12, to allow them to be removed and replaced as a function of the caliber c of the cases 2 to be loaded.

(28) In particular, said retaining means comprise pins 19 the head of which 19 partially engages the free space comprised between the arms 14 of each U-shaped seat 12, defined by distance D.

(29) In the variant shown in FIGS. 4-7, where each fork 15 defines two seats 12, a single pin 19 arranged on the arm 14 common to the two seats 12, acts as a retaining means for both bushings 16. On the end of this arm 14, in fact, a hole 20 is provided, adapted to be engaged by the shank 19 of this pin 19, leaving the head 19 projecting above the arm 14, so as to act as a striker and stop for both bushings 16.

(30) Advantageously, said pin 19 is made of a ferro-magnetic material; its shank 19 is smooth and remains in position in the hole 20 by means of simple shape coupling, without the need for any threading; using a magnet it is therefore possible to extract the pin 19 from the hole 20 quickly and without difficulty.

(31) Once the pin 19 has been removed, and the seats 12 freed from the retaining means, the bushings 16 can be removed and replaced with other bushings 16 having a central hole 17 of the right diameter .

(32) With reference to the cross-sections shown in FIGS. 8-10, the particular geometry of the centering cylinders 8 is shown, and how they cooperate with the bushings 16.

(33) Each hollow centering cylinder 8 is provided with a conical surface 23 on the inside, having a flaring form complementary with the conical surface 21 of said bushings 16.

(34) In the non-conical portion of the cylinder 8, its internal diameter is such as to allow the precise movement inside it of the corresponding working tool 6 with which it is coupled.

(35) The cross-sections shown in FIGS. 8-10 are also useful for understanding the operation of the loading machine 1 as a whole.

(36) FIG. 8 shows a bushing 16 with the respective case 2 inserted, housed in a corresponding seat 12 with a certain freedom of movement given by the difference between the outer diameter of the bushing d, measured at its annular groove 18, and the internal dimension D of the seat 12.

(37) Above the case 2 a centering cylinder 8 is provided, supported by said second operating beam 7, coaxial to a working tool 6, provided even further above and supported by said first operating beam 5.

(38) Said centering cylinder 8 and said working tool 6 have their respective vertical axes y, z coinciding, while it is not yet strictly necessary for axis x of the case 2 underneath to do so.

(39) FIG. 9 shows the delicate phase of centering the case 2.

(40) Said second operating beam 7, controlled by the control unit and moved by the corresponding motor means, is vertically lowered until the centering cylinder 8 touches the bushing 16 underneath.

(41) At this point, said second operating beam 7 pushes downwards so that the conical surface 23 of the cylinder 8 cooperates, by means of shape coupling, with the conical surface 21 of the bushing 16.

(42) As the centering cylinder 8 descends along the body of the bushing 16, the latter is deformed and tightens, thanks to the cuts 22, around the case 2, and moves on the horizontal plane inside said seat 12 controlled by said centering cylinder 8.

(43) The case 2, held by the bushing 16, consequently moves until coaxiality is obtained between its longitudinal axis x and the vertical axis z of said centering cylinder 8.

(44) Once said coaxiality has been achieved, the case 2 is ready to be filled with the internal accessories and/or processed by the corresponding working tool 6 above.

(45) As shown in FIG. 10, during the phase of loading the case 2, said first operating beam 5 is lowered and said tool 6 slides inside the hollow centering cylinder 8 until it reaches the mouth of the case 2.

(46) Once the case 2 has been processed, said first operating beam 5 retreats, thereby freeing the centering cylinder 8 from the tool 6. The second operating beam 7 is then also raised, entirely freeing the bushing 16 and the case 2.

(47) The conveyor guide 11 can then translate horizontally to a position along the trajectory of the race 10, positioning the bushing 16 and the processed case 2 below another adjacent work station.

(48) Thanks to the automatic system for centering the cases 2 under the working tools 6 according to the invention, all operations to prepare the loading machine 1 require very little time, in the region of a few minutes, with no need for verification and alignment instruments, thereby considerably speeding up and simplifying operations that would take several hours using traditional technologies, and would also require the use of qualified personnel and specific instrumentation.