AMMUNITION ASSEMBLY APPARATUS

Abstract

The invention relates to ammunition assembly apparatus and in particular to an apparatus for the automated and progressive assembly of cartridges for firearms such as rifles, guns, revolvers and pistols. The apparatus comprises a conveyor subsystem to transport ammunition past the working stations, wherein the working stations and the conveyor subsystem are mounted to a mounting plane such that the conveyor subsystem extends linearly at least sectionwise through the ammunition assembly apparatus and the working stations are arranged rectilinearly along the assembly direction.

Claims

1. Ammunition, in particular cartridge, assembly apparatus (1) comprising a conveyor subsystem (4) and working stations (5), the conveyor subsystem (4) being adapted to transport ammunition (2, 3) past the working stations (5), characterized in that the assembly apparatus (1) comprises a mounting plane (62) onto which the working stations (5) and the conveyor subsystem (4) are mounted such that the conveyor subsystem (4) extends linearly at least sectionwise through the ammunition assembly apparatus (1) and the working stations (5) are arranged rectilinearly along the assembly direction (6).

2. Ammunition assembly apparatus (1) according to the previous claim, characterized in that the ammunition assembly apparatus (1) comprises a horizontal bulkhead (66) and the working stations (5) and the conveyor subsystem (4) are mounted to the mounting plane (62) such that an empty space (63) remains between the surface of the horizontal bulkhead (66) and the working stations (5) and the conveyor subsystem (4).

3. Ammunition assembly apparatus (1) according to the previous claim, characterized in that one of the working stations (5) is a powder filling station (18).

4. Ammunition assembly apparatus (1) according any one of the previous claims, characterized in that one of the working stations (5) is a projectile insertion station (27).

5. Ammunition assembly apparatus (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that one of the working stations (5) is a crimp station (65).

6. Ammunition assembly apparatus (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the conveyor subsystem (4) comprises a conveyor belt (41), comprising compartments (42), which are separated by vertical ribs (45) and the conveyor belt (41) is assembled as a loop (55) around two pulleys (50), which lie on an axis and are rotated by means of a driver (57).

7. Ammunition assembly apparatus (1) according the previous claims, characterized in that the apparatus (1) comprises a stationary transport guide (48) through which shells (2) are moved by the conveyor belt (41) and wherein said transport guide (48) comprises powder release slots (98).

8. Ammunition assembly apparatus (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the working stations (5) and the conveyor subsystem (4) are mounted to a mounting plane (62) by means of mounting frames (94).

9. Ammunition assembly apparatus (1) according to the previous claim, characterized in that the mounting frame (94) comprises a bottom support plane (95), a top support plane (97) and a middle support plane (96), wherein the conveyor subsystem (4) is supported by the middle support plane (96).

10. Ammunition assembly apparatus (1) according to any one of the previous claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the mounting plane 62 comprises a horizontal support edge (102) onto which the mounting frames (94) are mounted.

11. Ammunition assembly apparatus (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the mounting plane (62) comprises fixing aids (103) that can be fixable translated along the assembly direction (6) and the mounting frames (94) comprise corresponding grooves.

12. Ammunition assembly apparatus (1) according to any one of the previously claims characterized in that the apparatus (1) comprises at least two assembly lines (111) comprising working stations (5) and a conveyor subsystem (4) and where the assembly lines (111) are attached to the same side of the mounting plane (62) on the same side and arranged parallel and side-by-side.

13. Ammunition assembly apparatus (1) according to any one of the previously claims characterized in that the apparatus (1) comprises at least two assembly lines (111) comprising working stations 5 and a conveyor subsystem 4, wherein a first of the two of the assembly lines (111) is attached on one side of the mounting plane (62), while a second of the two assembly lines (111) is attached on the opposite side of the mounting plane (62).

14. Ammunition assembly apparatus (1) according to any one of the previously claims characterized in that the apparatus (1) comprises at least four assembly lines (111) comprising working stations 5 and a conveyor subsystem 4, wherein a first pair of the assembly lines (111) is attached on one side of the mounting plane (62), while a second pair of the assembly lines (111) is attached on the opposite side of the mounting plane (62).

15. Ammunition assembly apparatus (1) according to any one of the previously claims characterized in that the apparatus (1) comprises at least six assembly lines (111) comprising working stations 5 and a conveyor subsystem 4, wherein at least three of the assembly lines (111) are attached on one side of the mounting plane (62), while another at least three of the assembly lines (111) are attached on the opposite side of the mounting plane (62).

16. Ammunition assembly apparatus (1) according to any one of the previously claims characterized in that the apparatus (1) comprises at least eight assembly lines (111) comprising working stations 5 and a conveyor subsystem 4, wherein at least four of the assembly lines (111) are attached on one side of the mounting plane (62), while another at least four of the assembly lines (111) are attached on the opposite side of the mounting plane (62).

Description

[0065] In the drawings:

[0066] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention.

[0067] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention in which two assembly lines are attached to the same side of the mounting plane.

[0068] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the system of FIG. 2.

[0069] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention in which a first pair of assembly lines is attached to one side of the mounting plane, while a second pair of assembly lines is attached to the opposite side of the mounting plane

[0070] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention in which the working stations and the conveyor subsystem are mounted to the mounting plane by means of mounting frames.

[0071] FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention in which two assembly lines are attached to the same side of the mounting plane using mounting frames.

[0072] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention in which two assembly lines are attached to the opposite sides of the mounting plane using mounting frames.

[0073] FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention comprising four assembly lines attached by means of mounting frames, in which one pair of assembly lines is attached to one side of the mounting plane, while a second pair of assembly lines is attached to the opposite side of the mounting plane

[0074] FIG. 1 depicts a preferred embodiment of the apparatus 1 according to invention for the manufacturing of ammunition.

[0075] The general principal of working function of the apparatus shall be illustrated with respect to the FIG. 1. The apparatus 1 uses shells 2 to produce cartridges 3. To this end the shells 2 are filled with a propellant, i.e. ammunition powder, and a projectile 11. Commonly the end products, i.e. shells 2 comprising the propellant and the projectile 11, are referred to as cartridges 3. For the sake of simplicity the terms shells 2 and cartridges 3 may however be used synonymously, except where a clear differentiation seems to be more appropriate.

[0076] The conveyor subsystem 4 is adapted to move linearly, i.e. in a straight line from one working station 5 to the next. Thus, the working stations 5 are lined up linearly in an assembly direction 6, in which the shells 2 are transported. The conveyor subsystem 4 is adapted to move intermittently between the stations by switching between a transport cycle, in which the shells 2 are moved, and a working cycle, in which the shells 2 rest and are being worked upon. The transport and the working cycle are constant throughout the manufacturing process of at least one variant or type of cartridge 3. Each working station 5 completes one step during the assembly. For instance a component, such as a propellant or powder or a projectile 11, may be added to a shell 2 or a particular measurement or control step may be performed.

[0077] Between the assembly steps the shells 2 are transported by means of a conveyor subsystem 4. The conveyor subsystem 4 comprises a conveyor belt 41 which extends at least sectionwise rectilinearly in the assembly direction 6 through the apparatus 1. Each compartment 42 is adapted to receive loosely a single shell 2 in a standing position. The bottom of the shell 2 slides on a transport plane of the transport guide 48. Thus, the shells 2 are simply pushed by the conveyor belt 41 in the assembly direction 6. Each compartment 42 is separated from the neighboring compartments 42 in the assembly direction 6 by a vertical rib 45. The conveyor belt 41 and the ribs 45 are preferably made from rubber and/or resin material. Vertically, the compartments 42 are open, preferably such that a shell 2 may fall through a compartment 42. Each compartment 42 defines a niche-shaped receptacle for a shell 2. In the conveyor subsystem 4, the conveyor belt 41 is looped around two pulleys (not shown in FIG. 1) of which the axes are oriented vertically, i.e. parallel to the longitudinal axis of the upright shells 2 in the conveyor belt 41. The loop of the conveyor belt 41 defines a plane which extends parallel to the transport plane. A drive (not shown in FIG. 1) of the conveyor subsystem 4 is preferably located above the transport plane 44.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 1 preferably in a first step shells 2, which already may have been provided with a primer are fed and placed into the compartments 42 of the conveyor belt 41. This is done in a shell-feeding station. There, a feeder tube 59 may be extended from a shell reservoir 40 downwards to the location where a compartment 42 comes to rest between two subsequent transport cycles of the conveyor subsystem 4. The shells 2 may be fed through the feeder tube 59 passively by the force of gravity, and simply fall into the compartment 42. However it is also possible to use let shells 2 fall into a supply device situated next to the conveyor belt 41 and subsequently push the shells 2 into a compartment 42. To allow the feeding, the inner width of a compartment 42 should be larger than the largest outer width of the shell 2. The feeding rhythm of the shell feeding station is synchronized with the intermittent motion of the conveyor subsystem 4.

[0079] The shells 2 are then transported in the assembly direction 6 along a straight path to the powder filling station 18. In the powder filling station 18 the ammunition powder is filled from a powder reservoir 40 into the shells 2. The amount of powder may be controlled by means of a feedback control mechanism that is based on the weight measurements of the shell 2 prior to (net weight W.sub.N) and after the powder dosing (gross weight W.sub.G) using the weighing apparatus 20a and 20b. Unlike the other units of the working stations 5 the weighing apparatus 20a, 20b are preferably not attached to the mounting plane 62 in order to decouple the weighing process from vibrations. In the example the weighing apparatus 20a, 20b are situated on the bulkhead 66. However it may also be preferred to position the weighing apparatus on to the ground in a gap of the horizontal bulkhead 66 to decouple the weighing apparatus completely from the base frame.

[0080] Subsequently the shells 2 are moved along the sectionwise linear conveyor belt 41 and are worked upon by additional working stations 5 that are arranged in a rectilinear manner along the assembly direction 6. The projectile insertion station 27 serves to press the projectiles 11 into the shells 2. To this end the projectiles 11 are provided by a projectile reservoir 60 and preset into the shell 2. Subsequently the projectiles 11 are pressed-in using a press-in subsystem. By means of a cartridge length measurement apparatus 28 the projectile insertion may be monitored and adapted by a feedback control.

[0081] A crimp station 65 may be provided, where the shell 2 is crimped onto the projectile 11. The crimp station 65 may be located as shown between the projectile insertion station 27 and the length measurement apparatus 28. In case a crimp station 65 is present it is thus preferred to measure the length of the cartridges 3 after said crimp station 65.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 1 the working stations 5 as well as the conveyor system 4 are mounted to the mounting plane 62 of the apparatus 1. The means for a control and energy supply (not shown) of working stations 5 may also be supplied via the mounting plane 62. Due to the mounting of the stations to the mounting plane 62 the working stations 5 and conveying system 4 are hanging above the bulkhead 66 surface. In particular an empty space 63 is formed between these components of the apparatus 1 and the upper surface of the horizontal bulkhead 66. The working stations 5 and the conveyor system 4 are therefore situated in a manufacturing space 67 above the bottom space of the apparatus 68. The horizontal bulkhead 66 may be made for instance of metal and is preferably constructed in a dust-tight manner: The bottom space 68 may be adapted to receive supply equipment, such as electric supply units. It is however preferred to leave the bottom space empty. Thereby it can be avoided that electrical or magnetically fields have an impact on ammunition powder situated on top of the surface of the bulkhead 66. Leaving the bottom space 68 underneath the bulkhead 66 surface void thus additionally enhances the security of apparatus.

[0083] As shown in the particular embodiment of FIG. 1 a weighing apparatus 20a and 20b may extend into the bottom space 68. However the weighting cells 69 are also concealed in a dust-tight manner.

[0084] Due to the mounting of the working stations 5 and the ammunition powder will remain on the upper surface of the bulkhead 66 and can be easily removed due to the empty space 63. In the prior art the machinery for the assembly is located in a bottom space underneath the working stations and connected by breaches through a cover. By mounting the working stations 5 to the mounting plane 62 advantageously, no such breaches occur. Due to the mounting of the working stations 5 onto the mounting plane 62 a particular safe assembly apparatus 1 can be provided in which the manufacturing space 67 is separated from a bottom space 68 in a dust tight manner. In this embodiment the risk of ammunition powder entering sensitive machinery is minimized. Furthermore the attachment of the working stations 5 to the mounting plane 62 allows for a fast mounting and demounting of the working stations 5. The embodiment is therefore also characterized by a modular design allowing for a high degree of functional flexibility.

[0085] FIG. 2 depicts a preferred embodiment of an ammunition assembly apparatus 1 according to invention that comprises two assembly lines 111, comprising working stations 5 and conveyor subsystems 4, which are attached to a single mounting plane 62 on the same side. The working stations 5 and the conveyor system 4 of the two assembly lines 111 depicted in FIG. 2 correspond to the assembly line 111 of the apparatus 1 depicted in FIG. 1. In the preferred embodiment the assembly lines 111 exhibit identical arrangements of the working stations 5. In particular the working stations 5 are mounted to the mounting plane 62 in a parallel fashion side-by-side. However it may also be preferred that the two assembly lines 111 possesses different working stations 5 and/or one of the assembly lines 111 possesses an additional working station 5. It is however preferred that the transport planes 44 of the two assembly lines 111 exhibit an similar empty space 63 to the upper surface of the bulkhead 66. By scaling up the apparatus 1 depicted in FIG. 1 to an apparatus 1 comprising two assembly lines 111 as depicted in FIG. 2 productivity can be doubled, while a compact construction of the apparatus 1 is maintained. For instance if an apparatus with a single assembly line is set to assemble 125 ammunitions per minute an apparatus comprising two assembly lines will be advantageously capable of assembling 250 ammunitions per minute.

[0086] FIG. 3 shows the side view of the apparatus 1 depicted in FIG. 2. In this perspective the empty space 63 is particularly visible. In this case only the weighting apparatus 20a and 20b may extend into the bottom space 68 of the apparatus 1. Components such as the working stations 5 and the conveyor system 4 are situated in the manufacturing space 67 allowing for a modularity of the apparatus 1 and accessibility for cleaning and/or repair.

[0087] FIG. 4 depicts a preferred embodiment of an ammunition assembly apparatus 1 according to the invention that comprises four assembly lines 111. In the preferred embodiment two assembly lines 111 are mounted on one side of the mounting plane 62, while two other assembly lines are mounted on the other side of the mounting plane 62. The preferred apparatus 1 depicted in FIG. 4 corresponds to a scale-up of the preferred apparatus 1 depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. By symmetrically extending the system depicted in FIG. 2 along the symmetry axis of the mounting plane 62 a doubling of the producible ammunition can be achieved. Moreover this arrangement constitutes a particularly compact construction that allows for a flexible use. For instance ammunition of a first caliber can be produced on one side of the apparatus 1 using two assembly lines 111, while on the other side of the mounting plane 62 the apparatus 1 produces ammunition of a different, second caliber using the two other assembly lines. Moreover the mounting plane 62 forms a security barrier between the two pairs of assembly lines 111. Therefore it is possible to repair and/or clean a pair of assembly lines on one side of the mounting plane 62, while the other pair is operating

[0088] FIG. 5 depicts another preferred embodiment of an ammunition assembly apparatus 1. The working principle of the apparatus 1 depicted in FIG. 5 is identical to the one described for the apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1.

[0089] Briefly, the apparatus 1 uses shells 2 to produce cartridges 3 by means of different assembly steps accomplished by the working stations 5. Between the assembly steps the shells 2 are transported by means of a conveyor system 4. The conveyor subsystem 4 comprises a conveyor belt 41, which extends rectilinearly in the assembly direction 6 through the apparatus 1. Each compartment 42 is adapted to receive loosely a single shell 2 in a standing position. The bottom of the shell 2 slides on a transport plane of the transport guide 48. Thus, the shells 2 are simply pushed by the conveyor belt 41 in the assembly direction 6. Each compartment 42 is separated from the neighboring compartments 42 in the assembly direction 6 by a vertical rib 45. In the conveyor subsystem 4, the conveyor belt 41 is looped around two pulleys 50. The loop of the conveyor belt 41 defines a plane which extends parallel to the transport plane 44 respectively. A drive 57 of the conveyor subsystem 4 is located above the transport plane 44.

[0090] Preferably in a first step shells 2, are fed and placed into the compartments 42 of the conveyor belt 41. To this end a feeder tuber 59 extends from a shell reservoir 40 to the compartments 42. The shells 2 are then transported in the assembly direction 6 along a straight path to the powder filling station 18. In the powder filling station 18 the ammunition powder is filled from a powder reservoir 40 into the shells 2. The amount of powder may be controlled by means of a feedback control mechanism that is based on the weight measurements of the shell 2 prior to (net weight W.sub.N) and after the powder dosing (gross weight W.sub.G) using weighing apparatus (not shown in FIG. 5).

[0091] Subsequently the shells 2 are moved along the sectionwise linear conveyor belt 41 and are worked upon by additional working stations 5 that are arranged in a rectilinear manner along the assembly direction 6. The projectile insertion station 27 serves to press the projectiles 11 into the shells 2. Furthermore a crimp station 65 may be provided, where the shell 2 is crimped onto the projectile 11. By means of a cartridge length measurement apparatus 28, which is preferably installed after the crimp station 65, the correct projectile insertion may be monitored and adapted by a feedback control.

[0092] In addition as shown in FIG. 5 at the end of the assembly line 111 a sorting station 104 may be provided. Said sorting station 104 may be installed. Said sorting stations 104 can be used to select the produced cartridges 3 based upon previous measurements of physical parameters such as the powder weight or length of the cartridges 3. As described above the weight of the added powder can be preferably measured using weighing apparatus before and after the filling of a powder, while a cartridge length measurement apparatus 28 can be used to determine the length of the cartridges 3. The measured parameters are preferably stored and tolerances ranges are set for each of the physical parameters. Suited cartridges 3, i.e. cartridges 3 for which a physical parameter within the preset tolerance range has been measured, are placed into a collector container 101, while unsuited cartridges 3 are sorted towards a waste container 99. A storage and control subsystem 24 can be used to operate and control the apparatus 1 as well as for data analysis of measured and/or set parameters. It is noted that the depicted storage and control subsystem 24 can be attached to the apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. 5, but can also be installed in a different location and/or in a place away from the apparatus 1 depending on the preference of the user.

[0093] Similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 also the working stations 5 and the conveyor subsystem 4 are mounted to the mounting plane 62 of the apparatus 1. However in case of the embodiment of FIG. 5 the mounting is achieved by means of mounting frames 94. The cross section of the mounting frame 94 exhibits preferably an outer rectangular shape. However other shapes may be preferred as for instance a round or elliptical shape. Furthermore the mounting frame 94 comprise a bottom support plane 95, a middle support plane 96, and a top support plane 97. As shown preferably functional subunits of the working stations 5 or each working station 5 is installed into separate mounting frames 94. Like the working stations 5 the mounting frames 94 are preferably arranged rectilinearly along the assembly direction 6. The conveyor subsystem 4 comprising the conveyor belt 41 and the transport guide 48 are preferably mounted sectionwise onto the middle support planes 96. The working stations 5 may be installed with the mounting frames 94 by different means. Means of the components of the working stations 5 such actuators are preferably attached to the top or bottom support planes 95, 97. Preferably the mounting frames 94 exhibit a closed configuration. Therefore reciprocal forces exerted by the working stations 5, while working upon the shells 2, may be advantageously contained within the mounting frames 94. For instance the projectile insertion station 27 preferably comprise a press-in subsystem for the assembly of the projectiles 11 onto the shells 2. After presetting the projectiles 11 on top of the shells 2 the press-in subsystem exerts two reciprocal forces to press the projectiles 11 into the shells 2. A vertical upward force is established onto the bottom of the shell 2, while a vertical downward force presses onto the tip of the projectiles 11. The respective actuators of the subsystem are mounted to the bottom and top support planes 95, 97 of the mounting frame 94, such that respective counter forces are taken up by the top and bottom support plane 95, 97, respectively. The configuration of a closed mounting frame 94 therefore allows to contain reciprocal forces exerted during the assembly steps.

[0094] In comparison to a configuration in which the reciprocal actuators for the projectile insertion station 27 are mounted directly to a mounting plane 62, the mounting of the projectile insertion station 27 by means of a mounting frame 94, considerably diminishes possible strains onto the mounting plane 62. This allows for a particular stable operating conditions and a reduction of wear.

[0095] Moreover using mounting frames 94 the mounting and demounting of the working stations 5 is facilitated. The mounting frame 94 may be mounted to the mounting plane 62 by different fixation means. It is however particularly preferred that to this end the mounting plane 62 exhibits a horizontal support edge 102. The support edge 102 extend horizontally along the length of the mounting plane 62 and is adapted to receive a bottom edge of the mounting frame 94 such that the vertical position of all mounting frame 94 are aligned with respect to each other. After setting the mounting frames 94 onto the horizontal support edge 102 the mounting frames 94 are preferably attached to the mounting plane 62 for instance by means of screws. Furthermore, it is particularly preferred that all mounting frames 94 exhibit an identical system dimension for the distance between the bottom edge of the mounting frames 94 and the middle support planes 96 on which the transport guide 48 is installed.

[0096] Along the assembly direction 6 the mounting frames 94 can be mounted at different locations on to the horizontal support edge 102. In order to facilitate the mounting procedure between different configurations of the assembly apparatus 1 fixing aids 103 are installed at the mounting plane 62 and are configured to communicate with corresponding grooves of the mounting frames 94. It is preferred that the fixing aids 103 can be fixable translated along the assembly direction 6. Thereby after demounting a mounting frame 94, i.e. in case the particular working station 5 is not necessary, the fixing aid 103 may remain and allow for a fast and precise remounting of the mounting frame 94 and the working station 5 at the previous position.

[0097] Similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 1 depicted in FIG. 5 exhibits an empty space 63 between the surface of a bulkhead 66 and the manufacturing space 67 in which the working stations 5 and the conveyor subsystem 4 are present. In the preferred embodiment the empty space 63 remains preferably between the bottom of the mounting frame 94 and the upper surface of the horizontal bulkhead 66. The working stations 5 and the conveyor system 4 are therefore situated in a manufacturing space 67 above the bottom space of the apparatus 68. Due to the hanging of the working stations 5 onto the mounting plane 62 the ammunition powder will remain on the upper surface of the bulkhead 66 and can be easily removed. Thereby a safe operating condition can be provided in which the manufacturing space 67 is separated from a bottom space 68 in a dust tight manner. The risk of ammunition powder entering sensitive machinery is minimized.

[0098] Since ammunition powder is allowed to fall downwards onto the upper surface of the horizontal bulkhead 66 the transport guide 48 may comprise powder release slots 98. The powder release slots 98 are preferably located in the bottom of the transport guide 48 thus within the transport plane. Furthermore the powder slots 98 have a width, such that the shells 2 may traverse the powder release slots 98, while ammunition powder within the transport guide 48 can fall onto the bulkhead 68. Thereby an accumulation of ammunition powder within the transport guide 48 can be impeded. It is preferred that the powder release slots 98 have to this end a width between 1 to 3 mm. Moreover it is particularly preferred that the powder release slots 98 are oriented within the transport plane 44 with an angle that is not perpendicular to the transport direction of the shells 2. Instead an angle of the powder release slots 98 between 30 and 60, most preferably about 45 is preferred to yield a smooth transport of the shells 2 within the conveyor subsystem 4.

[0099] FIG. 6 depicts a preferred embodiment of an ammunition assembly apparatus 1 according to invention that comprises two assembly lines 111, comprising working stations 5 and conveyor subsystems 4, which are mounted to single mounting plane 62 by means of mounting frames 94 on the same side. The working stations 5 and the conveyor system 4 of the two assembly lines 111 depicted in FIG. 6 correspond to the assembly line 111 of the apparatus 1 depicted in FIG. 5. In the preferred embodiment the two assembly lines 111 exhibit identical arrangements of the working stations 5. In particular two working stations 5, one of each assembly line 111, are mounted in a parallel fashion side-by-side within the same mounting frame 94. The mounting procedure for the mounting frames 94 in which two working stations 5 are mounted is identical to the procedure described for the embodiment of FIG. 5. Also in this case it is preferred that the mounting frame 94 is mounted on to the mounting plane 62 by means of a support edge 102. Fixing aids 103 facilitate the mounting and demounting of the mounting frames 94 at determined positions along the assembly direction 6.

[0100] By scaling up the apparatus 1 depicted in FIG. 5 to an apparatus 1 comprising two assembly lines 111 as depicted in FIG. 6 productivity can be doubled, while a compact construction of the apparatus 1 is maintained. For instance if an apparatus with a single assembly line is set to assemble 125 ammunitions per minute an apparatus comprising two assembly lines will be advantageously capable of assembling 250 ammunitions per minute.

[0101] FIG. 7 depicts a preferred embodiment of an ammunition assembly apparatus 1 according to the invention that comprises two assembly lines 111. In the preferred embodiment an assembly lines 111 is mounted on one side of the mounting plane 62, while the other assembly line 111 is mounted on the other side of the mounting plane 62. The preferred apparatus 1 depicted in FIG. 7 corresponds to a scale-up of the preferred apparatus 1 depicted in FIG. 5. By symmetrically extending the apparatus 1 depicted in FIG. 5 along the symmetry axis of the mounting plane 62 a doubling of the producible ammunition can be achieved. Moreover this arrangement constitutes a particularly compact construction that allows for a flexible use. For instance ammunition of a first caliber can be produced on one side of the apparatus 1 using the one assembly line 111, while on the other side of the mounting plane 62 the apparatus 1 produces ammunition of a different, second caliber using the other assembly lines 111. Moreover the mounting plane 62 forms a security barrier between the assembly lines 111. Therefore it is possible to repair and/or clean an assembly line 111 on one side of the mounting plane 62, while the other assembly line 111 is operating.

[0102] FIG. 8 depicts a preferred embodiment of an ammunition assembly apparatus 1 according to the invention that comprises four assembly lines 111. In the preferred embodiment a pair of assembly lines 111 is mounted on one side of the mounting plane 62, while a second pair of assembly lines 111 is mounted on the other side of the mounting plane 62. FIG. 8 corresponds to a scale up of the preferred embodiment of an apparatus 1 according to FIG. 6. Instead of having two assembly lines 111 mounted within mounting frames 94 on one side of the mounting plane 62, a similar configuration of two assembly lines 111 is mounted on the other side of the mounting plane 62. The separation of the two pair of assembly lines 111 by means of the mounting plane 62 allows for a particular flexible operation as described for the embodiment of the apparatus 1 depicted in FIG. 7.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0103] 1 ammunition assembly apparatus [0104] 2 shell [0105] 3 cartridge [0106] 4 conveyor subsystem [0107] 5 working station [0108] 6 assembly direction [0109] 11 projectile [0110] 18 powder filling station [0111] 20a net weighing apparatus [0112] 20b gross weighing apparatus [0113] 24 storage and control subsystem [0114] 27 projectile insertion station [0115] 28 cartridge length measurement apparatus [0116] 39 powder reservoir [0117] 40 shell reservoir [0118] 41 conveyor belt [0119] 42 compartment of conveyor belt [0120] 43 bottom of cartridge or shell [0121] 44 transport plane an which cartridges or shells stand upright during transport [0122] 45 ribs between compartments [0123] 46 longitudinal axis of cartridge or shell [0124] 48 transport guide [0125] 50 pulley for conveyor belt [0126] 57 drive of conveyor subsystem [0127] 59 feeder tube [0128] 60 projectile reservoir [0129] 62 mounting plane [0130] 63 empty space [0131] 65 crimp station [0132] 66 bulkhead [0133] 67 manufacturing space of apparatus [0134] 68 bottom space of apparatus [0135] 94 mounting frame [0136] 95 bottom support plane [0137] 96 middle support plane [0138] 97 top support plane [0139] 98 powder release slots [0140] 99 waste container for unsuited cartridges [0141] 101 collector container for suited cartridges [0142] 102 horizontal support edge [0143] 103 fixing aids [0144] 104 sorting station [0145] 111 assembly line