FR2696538A1 - Target launcher, esp. for clay pigeons - Google Patents

Abstract

The launcher consists of a rotary barrel containing the targets (2) in columns between top and bottom plates. The targets move from the columns onto a launching plate (6), from which they are ejected by the launching arm (7).The launching plate (6) comprises fixed (9) and moving (8) sections, with the latter pivotable between upper and lower positions. When the moving section of the launching plate is in its lower position it lies flush with the fixed section and parallel to the trajectory of the launching arm.

Description

 The subject of the invention is an apparatus for launching targets or mobile targets for sport shooting.

 More specifically, the object of the invention is to provide an improvement in the supply of targets or moving targets.

 This improvement relates to a device for distributing said plates or targets, so that the breakage of the latter is as limited as possible.

The state of the art can be defined by the following documents
- the document FR-A-2,445,506 relates to a loader which comprises a transfer member situated in the plane of an intermediate reception stage and subjecting each target to a linear displacement until the vertical line of the launching arm of on the one hand, and a guide means carried by the arm, on the other hand.

 - the document FR-A-2,419,500 relates to a charger which comprises a plate, a turret mounted to rotate on the plate and composed of n magazines, a roller distribution device mounted on the plate, a transfer assembly suspended between the plate and the launching arm and a device for synchronously driving the turret and the movable member of the transfer assembly.

 the document FR-A-2.308.080 relates to an installation which comprises a target station and a shooting station, a transverse slide perpendicular to the firing direction, a target carriage movable along the slide between two extreme positions, and a transverse drive device for moving the carriage in both directions on the slide.

 Between the posts is a target transport system that connects to one end of the slide, and the cart can move from the slide to the system and vice versa.

The system includes a longitudinal drive device for moving the carriage in both directions between stations.

 - Document FR-A-2,266,139 relates to a raceway consisting of a profile whose core is vertical carried by posts whose feet are made integral with a profile whose core is placed horizontally on the ground.

 The same profile is used, a first time vertically to support the running rails and a second time to hold the feet of the posts. The height of the vertical profile is adjustable. No screws or nuts are required for mounting. Usable for moving moving targets, for target reminders, without being limiting.

 Finally, the document FR-A-2.114.069 relates to a projector for launching targets, comprising a magazine, a feed plate, a launch arm, a spring and means actuated by a motor for moving the plate and making rotate the arm by stretching the spring, the movement of the feed plate is positively controlled by a cam means provided on the external surface of a rotary cylindrical member driven by the motor, said member comprising a cooperating drive finger with the launch arm to rotate the latter during the loading phase and the launch arm being mounted so as to rotate freely relative to the cylindrical member during the launch phase.

 All of these launching devices have mobile target storage devices; these are generally stacks of said targets on top of each other.

 These devices also have devices for receiving the targets which are to be launched.

 Between these two types of devices, storage on the one hand and reception on the other hand, there is a space that the targets pass by simple gravity.

 However, some targets more fragile than others, by design or by manufacturing problems, do not support this air transition, and break, which leads to many problems.

 The devices of the state of the art do not effectively respond to the problems listed above because the use of gravity, to drop the targets, is always used in the manner described above, for example, they offer devices for transfer of targets that have linear displacements.

 The essential object of the present invention is to propose an improvement which still uses gravity, but without any risk of deterioration for the displaced targets.

 To this end, the target launching device for shooting, the speed and distance of which are variable, is of the type using a rotating barrel on which moving targets are loaded; the moving targets are superimposed on each other in columns, held by vertical tubes or rollers, arranged between an upper bored holding plate or having radiating arms for storing the moving targets and a lower holding plate bored at each column of targets, or having radiating arms between each column of targets; said lower plate being in an upper and parallel position with respect to a fixed base plate which has a single bore so as to allow the passage of mobile targets which are received on a launching plate placed in front of an ejection arm, one or more motors ensuring the rotation of the barrel and the movement of the ejection arm, characterized in that said launching platform is composed of a mobile launching ramp and articulated along a transverse pivot axis.

 The target launching device is further characterized by the fact that the launching platform is composed of a fixed launching ramp, the upper faces of which are at the same lower height and parallel to the trajectory of the entire arm of the target. and mobile and articulated launch pad.

 The apparatus is further characterized by the fact that the transverse pivot axis is directed substantially in the direction of the axis of rotation of the ejection arm, so that the mobile and articulated launching ramp pivots between two extreme positions, a position pivoted by an angle a where one of the two ends of said mobile launching ramp is opposite and at the height of the bore formed in the base plate in order to receive at least one target coming from the rotary barrel, said target being intended to be launched, and a launch position where the mobile launching ramp is at a lower height but parallel to the trajectory of the entire ejection arm.

 The apparatus is also characterized by the fact that the mobile and articulated launching ramp has in its lower part a longitudinal tilting axis, said axis being substantially parallel to the tangent of the trajectory of the ejection arm at the level of the ramp. mobile launch, so that said mobile and articulated launch ramp switches between two extreme positions, a launch position where the mobile launch ramp is at a lower height and parallel to the trajectory of the entire ejection arm, and a tilted position where the ramp is tilted by an angle g along the tilt axis.

 Another advantage of using the mobile ramp is to facilitate the evacuation of target debris which, despite all the precautions that are taken, would have broken.

 The attached drawings are given as indicative and non-limiting examples. They represent a preferred embodiment according to the invention. They will allow the invention to be easily understood.

 Figure 1 shows the ejection arm and the control mechanism of the pivot axis.

 FIG. 2 represents a top view of the mobile and articulated launching ramp when the ejection arm is upstream of said ramp with respect to the trajectory for throwing targets, the ramp being in the position for receiving a target.

 FIG. 3 represents a top view of the mobile and articulated launching ramp when the ejection arm is above said ramp in position just before the ejection of the target.

 FIG. 4 is a section along N-N in FIG. 2.

 FIG. 5 is a section along M-M of FIG. 3.

 Figure 6 is a section through the mobile and articulated launching ramp and the lower part of the rotary barrel, said ramp being pivoted about its pivot axis in order to receive a target as well as the movement of this target.

 FIG. 7 is a top view of the ramp according to FIG. 6.

 FIG. 8 is a section at the level of the mobile and articulated launching ramp and of the lower part of the rotary barrel, said ramp being in the launching position of the target whose movement is presented.

 FIG. 9 is a top view of the ramp according to FIG. 8.

 FIG. 10 is a top view of the mobile and articulated launching ramp in a position for receiving two targets as well as the movement of these targets.

 Finally, FIG. 11 is a section along P-P of FIG. 10, of the mobile and articulated launching ramp comprising two axes, one for pivoting, the other for tilting.

 According to Figure 1, an important element of the devices for launching trays or moving targets 2 is shown.

 It is the ejection arm 7, which is integral with its axis of rotation 11.

 A circular arrow moreover shows the rotational movement which is exerted on said arm 7 with respect to its axis 11.

 Located below the arm 7 and the axis 11 but still integral, a pivoting cam 13 makes it possible to generate a pivoting movement, as represented by the two arrows in opposite directions, on a roller 14 integral with the ramp of mobile and articulated launch, which is not shown here.

 FIG. 2 provides a better understanding of where the element of FIG. 1 is located in relation to the launching pad 6.

 The launching platform 6 is formed by two launching ramps, one which is mobile and articulated 8 and the other which is fixed 9.

 The roller 14 is fixed to the movable ramp 8 by its axis, but it is shown in dotted lines because the pivot cam 13 is placed above the latter.

 Still shown in dotted lines, the pivot axis 10 of the mobile and articulated launch pad 8 is positioned in the middle position.

 The functions of these different parts will be more explicitly developed in the sections of Figures 4 and 5.

 In this figure, the ejection arm 7 is in the standby position and four elements are present to allow the proper functioning of this throwing device.

 These are the retaining finger 15, the spring 16, a slide 17 and the stop 18.

 This stop 18 is adjustable, moreover several positions can be given to it according to the different small holes which are placed next to said stop 18.

 This is due to the fact that currently, there are mainly two types of clay trays or pigeons: the French or European tray, which has a diameter of 110 mm, and the American tray, which has a diameter of 107.5 mm. . This difference in diameter poses problems when using the same launcher.

 According to Figure 3, the ejection arm 7 has rotated about 90o about its axis of rotation 11 and comes to take the position which is hers.

 Figures 4 and 5 provide a better understanding of what has been described above.

 In FIG. 4, the roller 14 is in contact with the highest part in the figures of the cam 13.

 There is therefore a pivoting of the whole of the mobile launching ramp 8 around its axis 10 under the effect of the spring 16.

 The fixed launch pad 9 is always parallel to the cam 13, which causes asymmetry in the launch pad 6, which is not uniformly flat.

 Figure 5 is very different.

 As FIG. 3 shows, only the ejection arm 7 has been moved and therefore all the elements which are integral with said arm 7.

 Such is the case of the cam 13, which has moved, and the lowest part of which in the figures is now in contact with the roller 14, which allows the mobile and articulated launching pad 8 to pivot around its axis 10 against the force exerted by the spring 16, and thus come to be positioned in the extension of the fixed launching ramp 9.

 The launching plate 6 is uniformly flat, while the ejection arm 7 is in the position to launch from a target.

 The target launching apparatus is therefore characterized by the fact that the mobile launching ramp 8 has, in its downstream part relative to the direction of launching targets 2 and in its lower part, a roller 14 which cooperates with a cam 13 secured to the ejection arm 7, and in its upstream part relative to the direction of throwing targets 2, a spring 16; so that when the roller 14 is in contact with the part of the cam 13 furthest from the pivot axis 10, the spring 16 brings said movable ramp 8 into the pivoted position, while when the roller 14 is in contact with the part of the cam 13 closest to the pivot axis 10, said cam 13 pivots the movable ramp 8 around the pivot axis 10, and brings it into the launch position, that is to say say that the upper face of said movable ramp 8 is at the same height level as the upper face of the fixed launch ramp 9 which is downstream of the mobile ramp 8 relative to the direction of launching targets.

 Figure 6 shows the use made of the inclination of the movable ramp 8 by the play of the spring 16 and the cam 13, not shown here.

 The launching plate 6 is therefore constituted by the fixed ramp 9 which is parallel to the lower plate 4 of the rotary barrel 1, but also by the movable ramp 8, the downstream end of which is positioned at height and facing the bore 5 from the launch pad 4.

 Said plate 4 supports columns 3 of mobile targets 2 parallel to each other.

 In this position, the penultimate target 2 is held in the rotating barrel 1, while the last target 2, by simple gravity, falls on the downstream end of the mobile ramp 8 from a very low height, without any risk to break.

 Once the swallowed part of said movable ramp 8 in the high position, the target 2, still by gravity, will slide against the stop 18, the position of which has been adjusted as a function of the diameter of the target 2.

 FIG. 7 shows the same phenomenon, seen from above, that is to say without the rotary barrel 1.

 The target 2 slides on the mobile ramp 8 until the stop 18.

 So that this target 2 is well positioned, the slide 17 orients the target 2 so that it does not come out of the ramp 8 and the wedge with the help of the stop 18.

 The mobile and articulated launch pad 8 has, in its upstream part, different holes 21 which allow the fixing of at least one stop 18 adjustable in position.

 FIG. 8 shows the phase which follows that which has been described in the two preceding figures.

 The mobile launching ramp 8, under the effect of the displacement of the ejection arm 7 and of the cam 13 around their axis of rotation 11, is placed parallel to the lower plate 4, ie at the level of the fixed ramp 9 .

 On the other hand, the target 2 is then moved downstream of the movable ramp 8, in order to come into contact with the retaining finger 15.

 The launch pad 6 has a target holding finger 15 which is movable in rotation relative to its axis, and can return to its initial position by means of a spring.

 According to FIG. 9, the target 2, just before launching, is held in position on the launching plate 6, by the ejection arm 7 which can pass above the stop 18, by the retaining finger 15, and finally by the guide element 17, the respective heights of which are less than the space which exists between the upper face of the launching plate 6 and the trajectory of the ejection arm.

 The role of the retaining finger 15 is to ensure good contact between the target 2 and the ejection arm 7 just before the launch itself.

 This makes it possible to limit the breakage to a minimum.

 With FIGS. 10 and 11, the apparatus for launching targets 2 can be used for throws each comprising two mobile targets 2.

 To achieve this result, and according to FIG. 11, another axis, known as the tilting axis 12 makes it possible, thanks to a cam-roller 19, to tilt the entire mobile ramp 8 towards the interior of the device, it that is to say in the direction of the axis of rotation 11 of the ejection arm 7.

 In other words, the operation of the pivot axis 10 is always the same, except that before reaching the launch this movement is carried out twice.

 Inserted between these two movements, the tilting movement allows the first target 2, received on the movable ramp 8, to be offset towards the axis of rotation 11 and thus not to hinder the arrival of the second target 2 at side of the first target 2 already in place.

 Only then, the ejection arm 7 which had been disengaged from the cam 13, comes into contact with the two targets and slides them to the retaining finger 15.

 In order for all of this to be achievable, it is necessary to use, in place of the stop, a stop element 20 which uses the different fixing points of the adjustable stop.

 The abutment element has such a shape that it is impossible for the first target 2 which undergoes lateral tilting to fall to the ground; thus, said stop member 20 is L-shaped.

 The use of the stop element 20, for a throw from a single target 2, is of course possible.

 In the same way, to arrive at positioning two targets 2, one next to the other, the slide 17 is adjustable in arc and in radius with respect to the axis of rotation 11 of the ejection arm 7 said slide 17 is installed laterally on the outside of the mobile launch pad 8.

 Finally, to further facilitate the movement of the targets 2 on the mobile ramp 8, the adjustable slide 17 is arched.

 REFERENCES 1. Rotating barrel 2. Movable targets 3. Target columns 4. Lower plate 5. Base plate bore 6. Launching plate 7. Ejection arm 8. Movable and articulated launching ramp 9. Fixed launching ramp 10. Swivel axis 11. Rotation axis 12. Tilting axis 13. Swivel cam 14. Roller 15. Holding pin 16. Spring 17. Slide 18. Stopper 19. Roller cam 20. Stopper element 21. Holes

Claims (9)

 1. Apparatus for launching targets for firing of which the speed and the distance of projection are variable, of the type using a rotary barrel (1) on which are loaded moving targets (2); the moving targets (2) are superimposed on each other in columns (3), held by vertical tubes or rollers, arranged between an upper bored holding plate or having radiating arms for storing the moving targets and a lower plate (4) holding bored at each column (3) of targets (2), or having radiating arms between each column (3) of targets (2); said lower plate (4) being in an upper and parallel position with respect to a fixed base plate which has a single bore (5) in order to allow the passage of mobile targets (2) which are received on a launching plate (6) placed in front of an ejection arm (7), one or more motors ensuring the rotation of the barrel (1) and the movement of the ejection arm (7) characterized by the fact  that said launching plate (6) is composed of a mobile and articulated launching ramp (8) along a pivot axis (10) substantially transverse.  2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that  that the launching platform (6) is composed of a fixed launching ramp (9) and the mobile and articulated launching ramp (8), the upper faces of which are at the same parallel to the trajectory of the entire ejection arm (7) ..  3. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that  that the transverse pivot axis (10) is directed substantially in the direction of the axis of rotation (11) of the ejection arm (7), so that the mobile and articulated launching ramp (8) pivots between two extreme positions, a position pivoted by an angle a, where one of the two ends of said mobile launching ramp (8) is opposite and at the height of the bore (5) formed in the base plate in order to receive at least one target (2) coming from the rotating barrel (1), said target (2) being intended to be launched, and a launch position where the mobile launching ramp is at a lower height but parallel to the trajectory of the ejection arm assembly (7).  4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 characterized in that  that the mobile and articulated launching ramp (8) has in its lower part a tilting axis (12) longitudinal, said axis (12) being substantially parallel to the tangent of the trajectory of the ejection arm (7) at the mobile launching ramp (8) so that said mobile and articulated launching ramp (8) switches between two extreme positions, a launching position where the mobile launching ramp (8) is at a lower height and parallel to the trajectory of the ejection arm assembly (7), and a tilted position where the ramp is tilted by an angle p along the tilting axis (12).  5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 characterized in that  that the mobile launching ramp (8) has, in its downstream part relative to the direction of launching targets (2) and in its lower part, a roller (14) which cooperates with a cam (13) integral with the arm of ejection (7), and in its upstream part relative to the direction of launching targets (2), a spring (16); so that when the roller (14) is in contact with the part of the cam (13) furthest from the pivot axis (10), the spring (16) brings said movable ramp (8) into the pivoted position, while when the roller (14) is in contact with the part of the cam (13) closest to the pivot axis (10), said cam (13) pivots the movable ramp (8) around the pivot pin (10) and brings it into the throw position.  6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 characterized in that  that the mobile and articulated launching ramp (8) has, in its upstream part, different holes (21) which allow the fixing of at least one stop (18) adjustable in position.  7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 characterized in that  that the launching plate (6) has a target holding finger (15) (2) which is movable in rotation relative to its axis, and can return to its initial position by means of a spring.  8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 characterized in that  that a slide (17) adjustable in arc and in radius relative to the axis of rotation (11) of the ejection arm (7) is installed laterally on the side outside the mobile launching ramp (8).  9. Apparatus according to claim 8 characterized by the fact  that the adjustable slide (17) is arched.