Method for applying identification marks to a bullet tip during ammunition manufacturing process

• US 10,466,019 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2017
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hernon Manufacturing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hernon Manufacturing, Inc.
• Inventors: Arnon, Harry, Arnon, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Evanisko, Leslie J
• Application Number:
  US15/656,036
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 101 36, 101 41
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/001 Pad printing apparatus or machines
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/28 for printing on curved surfaces of conical or frusto-conical articles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4073 Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects B41J3/283, B41J3/286 take precedence; building up a 3D object using individual droplets from jetting heads B29C64/112
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/0058 on metals and oxidised metal surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/0082 Digital printing on bodies of particular shapes sublimation or volatilisation of pre-printed design B41M5/035
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/0081 using electromagnetic radiation or waves, e.g. ultraviolet radiation, electron beams
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/80 Coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/14 Surface treatment of cartridges or cartridge cases F42B33/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/025 characterised by the dimension of the case or the missile

Abstract

A system for printing a bullet tip identification includes a bullet support apparatus for holding and rotating a bullet about its longitudinal axis and a print head configured to be positioned in close proximity to a tip of a bullet. The print head is configured to apply an identification around the circumference of the bullet tip while the bullet is rotating about its longitudinal axis. A method of applying identification marks on bullet tip includes positioning a bullet tip in close proximity to a print head and rotating the bullet about a longitudinal axis of the bullet. An identification mark is then applied around the circumference of the bullet tip by the print head as the bullet rotates.

Claims

1. A method of applying identification marks on a bullet tip during an ammunition manufacturing process, the method comprising:

receiving a cartridge from an automatic sealing machine, the cartridge including a bullet sealed in a case;

positioning a bullet tip of the bullet in close proximity to a print head;

rotating the bullet about a longitudinal axis of the bullet;

applying UV-curable paint around the circumference of the bullet tip to form an identification mark by the print head as the bullet rotates; and

advancing the catridge with the identification mark on the bullet tip to a UV-curing machine for UV curing of the identification mark.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bullet tip is positioned approximately horizontally.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of colors are applied to the bullet tip simultaneously.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the paint is applied by a spray print head.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the paint is applied by a pad print head.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the print head along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the bullet while rotating the bullet tip.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the bullet tip along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the bullet while rotating the bullet tip.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising advancing the cartridge with the identification mark on the bullet tip to an exit station of the automatic sealing machine.