APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREPARING A BLAST HOLE IN A ROCK FACE DURING A MINING OPERATION
First Claim
1. An apparatus for preparing a blast hole in a rock face during a mining operation, the apparatus comprising:
- a support structure; and
a feed unit supported by the support structure, the feed unit comprising a plurality of tool stations in communication with a common tool outlet, each tool station comprising a drive mechanism configured to deploy a tool out of the common tool outlet to deliver the tool to the blast hole in the rock face and to retract the tool from the common tool outlet, each tool station being configured to retain its respective tool in the tool station when the respective tool is retracted from the common tool outlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for preparing a blast hole in a rock face during a mining operation are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises: deploying a first tool toward the blast hole in the rock face via a common tool outlet of a feed unit using a first tool station of the feed unit; retracting the first tool from the common tool outlet using the first tool station of the feed unit and retaining the first tool in the first tool station; and while the first tool is retained in the first tool station, deploying a second tool toward the blast hole in the rock face through the common tool outlet of the feed unit using a second tool station of the feed unit.
2 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for preparing a blast hole in a rock face during a mining operation, the apparatus comprising:
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a support structure; and a feed unit supported by the support structure, the feed unit comprising a plurality of tool stations in communication with a common tool outlet, each tool station comprising a drive mechanism configured to deploy a tool out of the common tool outlet to deliver the tool to the blast hole in the rock face and to retract the tool from the common tool outlet, each tool station being configured to retain its respective tool in the tool station when the respective tool is retracted from the common tool outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A feed unit for preparing a blast hole in a rock face during a mining operation, the feed unit comprising:
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a first tool station in communication with a common tool outlet, the first tool station comprising a first drive mechanism configured to deploy a first tool out of the common tool outlet to deliver the first tool to the blast hole in the rock face and to retract the first tool from the common tool outlet, the first tool station being configured to retain the first tool in the first tool station when the first tool is retracted from the common tool outlet; and a second tool station in communication with the common tool outlet, the second tool station comprising a second drive mechanism configured to deploy a second tool out of the common tool outlet to deliver the second tool to the blast hole in the rock face and to retract the second tool from the common tool outlet, the second tool station being configured to retain the second tool in the second tool station when the second tool is retracted from the common tool outlet. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for preparing a blast hole in a rock face during a mining operation using a feed unit, the method comprising:
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deploying a first tool toward the blast hole in the rock face via a common tool outlet of the feed unit using a first tool station of the feed unit; after a first operation has been performed at the blast hole using the first tool, retracting the first tool from the common tool outlet using the first tool station of the feed unit and retaining the first tool in the first tool station; and while the first tool is retained in the first tool station, deploying a second tool toward the blast hole in the rock face through the common tool outlet of the feed unit using a second tool station of the feed unit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification