Workpiece carrier for an automated production line for ammunition having at least two ammunition parts

Abstract

The present invention relates to a workpiece carrier for an automated production line for ammunition having at least two ammunition parts, comprising a carrier base, such as a carriage, which is configured to be conveyed along the production line, and at least one receptacle arranged on the carrier base for holding at least two ammunition parts of the same type, such as two ammunition cases, two ammunition projectiles, two ammunition cartridges or two ammunition lighting caps, wherein the at least one ammunition part receptacle is mounted so as to be movable relative to the carrier base.

1 . Workpiece carrier ( 1 ) for an automated production line ( 100 ) for ammunition having at least two ammunition parts, comprising
 a carrier base ( 3 ), such as a carriage, which is configured to be conveyed along the production line ( 100 ), and   at least one receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ) arranged on the carrier base ( 3 ) for holding at least two ammunition parts ( 15 ,  17 ) of the same type, such as two ammunition cases ( 119 ),   two ammunition projectiles ( 121 ), two ammunition cartridges or two ammunition primers,   characterized in that the at least one ammunition part receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ) is mounted movably relative to the carrier base ( 3 ).   
     
     
         2 . Workpiece carrier ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one ammunition part receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ) can be moved from a receiving position, in which the at least two ammunition parts ( 15 ,  17 ) can be supplied in particular simultaneously, into a processing position, in which the at least two ammunition parts ( 15 ,  17 ) can be processed in particular simultaneously. 
     
     
         3 . Workpiece carrier ( 1 ) according to  one of the preceding claims , characterized in that the ammunition part receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ) is mounted movably on the carrier base ( 3 ) in such a way that the ammunition part receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ) can carry out a combined pivoting and translational movement relative to the carrier base ( 3 ). 
     
     
         4 . Workpiece carrier ( 1 ) according to  one of the preceding claims , characterized in that the carrier base ( 3 ) has a catch which is designed to transmit the drive conveying force of the production line ( 100 ) to the workpiece carrier ( 1 ). 
     
     
         5 . Workpiece carrier ( 1 ), in particular according to  one of the preceding claims , for an automated production line ( 100 ) for ammunition having at least two ammunition parts, comprising
 at least two receptacles ( 5 ,  7 ) for holding in each case at least two ammunition parts ( 15 ,  17 ) of the same type, such as two ammunition cases ( 119 ), two ammunition projectiles ( 121 ), two ammunition cartridges or two ammunition primers,   characterized in that at least one of the ammunition part receptacles ( 5 ,  7 ) can be moved from a receiving position, in which the at least two ammunition parts ( 15 ,  17 ) can be supplied in particular simultaneously, into a processing position, in which the at least two ammunition parts ( 15 ,  17 ) can be processed in particular simultaneously.   
     
     
         6 . Workpiece carrier ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the at least one movable receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ) can be moved relative to the other receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ) in such a way that the movable receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ) can engage a processing position, in which the at least two ammunition parts ( 15 ,  17 ) of the movable receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ) and the at least two ammunition parts ( 15 ,  17 ) of the other receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ) can be processed together, in particular can be joined together. 
     
     
         7 . Workpiece carrier ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 or 6 , characterized in that the at least two receptacles ( 5 ,  7 ) can be moved independently of the other receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ), wherein in particular the receptacles ( 5 ,  7 ) can each carry out a pivoting and/or translational movement relative to the respective other receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ). 
     
     
         8 . Workpiece carrier ( 1 ) according to one of  claims 5 to 7 , characterized in that the at least one first movable ammunition part receptacle ( 5 ) can be moved along a first movement path and the at least one further movable ammunition part receptacle ( 7 ) can be moved along a further movement path, wherein the two movement paths intersect. 
     
     
         9 . Workpiece carrier ( 1 ) according to one of  claims 5 to 8 , further characterized by a carrier base ( 3 ), such as a carriage, which is designed to be conveyed along the production line ( 100 ), wherein at least one of the receptacles ( 5 ,  7 ) is mounted movably on the carrier base ( 3 ) via a movement arm, wherein in particular the movement arm is mounted movably on a support arm of the other receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ), in particular on the bearing surface ( 27 ,  29 ) thereof which faces the respective receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ). 
     
     
         10 . Workpiece carrier ( 1 ) according to one of  claims 5 to 9 , further characterized by a carrier base ( 3 ), such as a carriage, which is designed to be conveyed along the production line ( 100 ), wherein the workpiece carrier ( 1 ) has at least two axes of rotation, wherein both receptacles ( 5 ,  7 ) can each be pivoted relative to the carrier base ( 3 ) and to the other receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ) with respect to a first or second axis of rotation independently of the respective other receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ), wherein in particular the at least two receptacles ( 5 ,  7 ) can be pivoted relative to the carrier base ( 3 ) with respect to a common third axis of rotation. 
     
     
         11 . Workpiece carrier ( 1 ), in particular according to  one of the preceding claims , for an automated production line ( 100 ) for ammunition having at least two ammunition parts, comprising
 at least one receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ) for holding at least two ammunition parts ( 15 ,  17 ) of the same type, such as two ammunition cases ( 119 ), two ammunition projectiles ( 121 ), two ammunition cartridges or two ammunition primers, which can be moved from a receiving position, in which the at least two ammunition parts ( 15 ,  17 ) can be supplied in particular simultaneously, into a processing position, in which the at least two ammunition parts ( 15 ,  17 ) can be processed in particular simultaneously, and   a coupling interface ( 9 ) for connecting to a motor of the production line ( 100 ) in order to move the receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ) from the receiving position into the processing position,   characterized in that the coupling interface ( 9 ) is adapted and/or orientated with respect to a motor-side coupling interface ( 107 ) in terms of shape in such a way that the workpiece carrier ( 1 ) can be retracted into the motor-side coupling interface ( 107 ) for connecting to the motor.   
     
     
         12 . Workpiece carrier ( 1 ) according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the coupling interfaces ( 9 ,  107 ) are designed to engage in one another in a form-fitting manner. 
     
     
         13 . Workpiece carrier ( 1 ) according to  claim 11 or 12 , characterized in that the workpiece-carrier-side coupling interface ( 9 ) has a rectilinear depression and/or a rectilinear projection, the longitudinal extent of which is/are orientated parallel to a movement direction for coupling workpiece carrier ( 1 ) and motor to one another. 
     
     
         14 . Workpiece carrier ( 1 ) according to  one of the preceding claims , characterized in that the at least one receptacle ( 5 ,  7 ) has a pretensioning device which is configured to apply a pretensioning force to the at least two ammunition parts ( 15 ,  17 ) when they are held. 
     
     
         15 . Workpiece carrier ( 1 ) according to  one of the preceding claims , characterized in that the carrier base ( 3 ) is designed in such a way that it can be guided in a magnetically levitating manner along the production line ( 100 ), in particular along a rail of the production line ( 100 ). 
     
     
         16 . Automated production line ( 100 ) for ammunition having at least two ammunition parts, comprising at least one workpiece carrier ( 1 ) designed according to  one of the preceding claims . 
     
     
         17 . Production line ( 100 ) according to  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of production stations, in particular an ammunition part insertion station, preferably a case insertion station ( 111 ) and/or a projectile insertion station ( 155 ), for inserting at least one of the plurality of ammunition parts into the production process of the production line ( 100 ), a plurality of quality testing stations ( 133 ), at least one ammunition part processing station, for example a case forming station ( 17 ), a propellant charge filling station ( 117 ), a projectile assembly station ( 151 ), a projectile marking station and/or a discharge station ( 135 ) for transporting the produced ammunition ( 101 ) out of the production process of the production line ( 100 ), wherein the workpiece carrier ( 1 ) is designed for holding the plurality of ammunition parts and for transporting the plurality of ammunition parts from, to and/or between the plurality of production stations. 
     
     
         18 . Production line ( 100 ) according to  claim 17 , wherein the production stations can be displaced, in particular individually, between a production position, in which the production stations can act on the ammunition parts and/or the workpiece carrier ( 1 ), and a passive position, such as a maintenance position, in which the production stations are set back in relation to the ammunition parts and/or the workpiece carrier ( 1 ). 
     
     
         19 . Line ( 1 ) according to  claim 18 , wherein the production stations each have a drive for displacing the respective production station, wherein in particular the drive is independent of a respective production-station-specific manipulation device for acting on the ammunition parts and/or the workpiece carrier ( 1 ). 
     
     
         20 . Line ( 1 ) according to  one of the preceding claims , wherein the workpiece carrier ( 1 ) is mounted movably, in particular guided, on a rail ( 63 ) defining a conveying track ( 29 ) and is held on the rail ( 63 ) by a magnetic holding force oriented in the horizontal direction. 
     
     
         21 . Line ( 1 ) according to  claim 20 , wherein the workpiece carrier ( 1 ) is mounted removably on the rail ( 63 ), in particular by overcoming the magnetic holding force between workpiece carrier ( 1 ) and rail ( 63 ). 
     
     
         22 . Line ( 1 ) according to  claim 20 or 21 , wherein the rail ( 63 ) has at least one bearing and/or guide surface ( 83 ,  85 ) for the workpiece carrier ( 1 ), wherein in particular a guide surface ( 83 ,  85 ) oriented in particular in the horizontal direction provides the in particular magnetic holding force. 
     
     
         23 . Line ( 1 ) according to one of  claims 16 to 22 , wherein the workpiece carrier ( 1 ) and a rail ( 63 ) defining a conveying track ( 29 ), on which the workpiece carrier ( 1 ) is mounted movably, in particular guided, form a magnetic levitation system.