US2907858A

US2907858A - System for treating shell casings and the like

Info

Publication number: US2907858A
Application number: US716324A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward C Distler
Original assignee: Jennings Machine Corp
Current assignee: Jennings Machine Corp
Priority date: 1958-02-20
Filing date: 1958-02-20
Publication date: 1959-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 1976-10-06

Description

Wpm

Oct. 6, 1959 E. c. DISTLER 2,907,858

SYSTEM FOR TREATING SHELL CASINGS AND LIKE Filed Feb. 20, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 SYSTEM FOR TREATING sum. CASINGS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 20, 1958 Oct. 6, 1959 E. c. DISTLER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 6, 1959 E. c. DISTLER 2,907,858

SYSTEM FOR TREATING SHELL CASING-S AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 20, 1 958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 2,907,858 SYSTEM FOR TREATING swam. CASINGS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 20, 1958 E. C. DISTLER Oct. 6, '1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 \Q r J n v E. c. DISTLER SYSTEM FOR TREATING saw, CASINGS AND THE LIKE Filed-Feb; 20. 1958 5 Sheeis-Sheet 5 W 1. m w m a M m 1 m n O: mm .ID -5m m 2 WV Q R. m in. Z i= =T 8 wuifiYmm mm m3. 3 m :n lllll Il|l|l\lllll|l|ll|l|lllI'll Ilnllll (Ill-l l6 Hm now a d x x a r.

SYSTEM For: TREATING SHELL CASINGS AND THE LIKE Edward C. Distler, Rydal, Pa., assignor to Jennings Machine Corporation', Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 20, 1958,- Serial No. 716,324

14 Claims. (Cl. 21910.69)

This invention relates to systems suited for rapid handling of shell casings and the like as part of a hardening, annealing or other treating operation requiring controlled orientation and positioning of the casings with avoidance of dents, scratches, bends or other deformations.

In accordance with the present invention, the easings to betreated are held in vertical position with predetermined spacing for movement in an arcuate path through a treating station, such as an induction heater,

. by a conveyor rotated step-by-stcp about a vertical axis and having rim structure provided with a circular array of vertical bores dimensoned to fit the casings. More specifically, the casings are retained in the conveyor bores by retractable bottom slides or gates which are with drawn to permit the treated casings to fall .from the bores. a

Further in accordance with the invention, successive groups of casings are'supplied to the bores by a drum stepped about a horizontal axis and having groups of sockets, each group when in upper position receiving a group of casings and when in lower position-discharging a group of inverted casings into a corresponding group of conveyor bores. The supply of casings to the inverter drum is controlled by an intermittently-operating feeding mechanism whichsegregates the lowermost group of casings from a plurality of supply streams and permits them to drop toward and into the thenuppermost group of drum sockets. An ejector between the segregating means and the inverter drum prevents any improperly oriented casing from reaching thetr'eati'ng conveyor,

Further in accordancewith the invention, a detector responsive to abnormal projection of any casing beyond the periphery of the inverter drum precludes both further stepping of the drum and furtheroperation of the segregating mechanism but permits continued stepping of the rotary conveyor for completion of treatment of casings alreadyisuppli'edtoit.

Also in accordance with the invention, 'a detector, responsive to abnormal projection of any casing above its rotary-conveyor bore, is disposed in advance of the treating station -to preclude further stepping both of the conveyor and the inverter drum and to preclude further operation of the segregating means.

The invention further resides in features of construction, combination and arrangement hereinafter described and claimed.

For a more detailed understanding of the invention, reference is made in the following description of apr'eferred embodiment thereof to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view, in perspective, of a'system for heat-treating shell casings;

Fig. 2 is" a side- View, in perspective, of apparatus shown'in Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a side view in section and on enlarged scale of the inverter drum and of the ejecting and segregating mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

ted States Patent 0 ICE Figs. 3A and 3B respectively illustrate operation of the ejector mechanism for properly and improperly oriented casings;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear view of the ejector mech anisn'i;

Fig, '5 is a rear view, on enlarged scale, partly in section, of the conveyor of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view, on further enlarged scale, of conveyor components shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmenary perspective view of the discharge side of the apparatus;

Fig. 8 schematically illustrates an electrical control arrangement for the system of Figs. 1 and 2 and Fig. 9 diagrammatically illustrates the stepping mechanism for the inverter-drum and rotary conveyor of the apparatus.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the tubes 10 are supplied by a hopper arrangement 9 with shell casings disposed end-to-ef1d with their closed or primer ends normally downward. Since suitable hopper arrangements are, per se, known, it here suflices to say that so long as motor 8 is in operation and hopper 7 contains casings, the gravity-feed tubes 10 are continuously supplied with casings.

For each cycle of the segregating mechanism 11, a group of casings, one from the lower end of each tube 10, is released to fall into an inverter mechanism 19. During transit of the group of casings to the inverter mechanism, any reversely oriented casing is ejected from the apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 3, with the slide 12 of mechanism 11 in the position shown, the bores 13 of the slide are positioned with their open upper ends in alignment with the supply tubes 10 and with their lower ends closed by the plate 14. Thus, the bottom casing of each row or column in the tubes 10 rests upon the plate 14. When the slide 12 is moved to the left, the bores 13 of the slide come into alignment with the passages 16 extending through plate 14 so that the group of casings is-segregated from the streams and permitted to fall. During this motion of the slide, the casings in the supply tubes 10 rest upon the upper face of the slide 12. When the slide is moved to the right (back to the position shown in Fig. 3), all of the casings in the tubes drop one casing-length and the columns of casings again come to rest with the bottom casing of each column in the corresponding bore 13 of the slide 12'with its lower ends resting on plate 14. This completes one cycle of the segregating or group-feeding mechanism. The motor 15 for effecting reciprocation of the slide 12 may be an air-solenoid controlled as later herein described in connection with Fig. 8.

The group of casings falls through passage 16 into a corresponding number of open-front chutes 10A defined by the partitions 17 and a backplate 17A. An ejector finger 18 extends into eachchute 10A through backplate 17A (Fig. 3). The fingers 18 are pivotally mounted on a pivot pin21 extending transversely of the backplate 17A and each finger is biased against an adjustable stop 22 to the position shown in Fig. 3.

A bar 20 extends across the open-front walls of the chutes'10A and is adjustably held by the screws '23, or equivalent, in position suitably below the pivotal axis of the ejector fingers 18. I

As indicated in Fig. 3A, a properly oriented casing C, i.e., one having its closed or primer-end lowermost, merely rocks the finger 18 about its pivot and continues its downward movement through an extension 10B of,

3 through the open front of the chute 10A. This movement continues until the casing strikes the cross-bar 20, whereupon the casing pivots about the cross-bar, swings clear of finger 18 and falls out of the rear of the machine. The finger -18 thereupon returns to its orlginal biased position. By ejecting any improperly oriented casing, it is insured that all casings forming the output of the apparatus willbe heat-treated at the proper end. The inverting mechanism, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is a drum 19 intermittently stepped by motor 29 about a horizontal axis in timed relation to actuation of the feeding mechanism 11. The drum 19 is provided with a number of rows of radial pockets 27, the number of pockets in each row corresponding with the number of supply tubes. At the end of a stepping cycle of the drum 19, the pockets of the topmost row are disposed in alignment with the delivery tube extensions 103 to receive a group of casings released by the mechanism 11, as above described.

In a subsequent stepping cycle of drum 19, this row of casings is advanced to the second position adjacent the detector plate 30. If any casing of the row is of abnormal length, or for any reason projects to undue extent beyond the periphery of drum 19, the plate 30 is moved by such casing to actuate a control which, as later described in connection with Fig. 8, precludes further operation of the drum-stepping motor 29 and the actuator 15 of the segregating mechanism 11.

Assuming the casings are all of proper length, the drum is periodically stepped to advance the successive rows of casings through the first and second quadrants of a complete revolution of the drum. The guard plate 28 (Fig. 3) prevents the casings from sliding out of the pockets as they are swung through the second quadrant into the fully inverted or discharge position. As each row of casings approaches the discharge position of the inverter, this group of casings passes beyond the guard plate 28 and comes into alignment with a corresponding number of vertical bores 34 in the peripheral flange of one of the casing holders 33 of the conveyor 31.

To assist gravity-discharge of the casings from the lowermost row of pockets 27, pressurized air is supplied to those pockets through passages in the stationary shaft 26 of drum 19 and communicating with the passages 25 of that row (Fig. 3).

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6, the rotary conveyor 31 comprises a circular array of holders 33 attached as by bolts 48 to an annular ring 47 which in turn is secured to disc 46 which is intermittently stepped by pneumatic motor 32. Each holder 33 is provided with a radial slide or gate 35 which is operated, as hereinafter described, to close the bottom lower ends of the holder bores before the holder arrives in position below the inverter mechanism 19. The inner end of each slide or gate is provided with a cam-follower or roller 37 which engages the periphery of a stationary cam 36. The slides remain in their closed position as the conveyor 31 is stepped to advance the holders and the casings within them, through a heating tunnel or chamber 51, preferably of the high-frequency induction heating type. Thus, for a number of stepping cycles of the conveyor, each group of casings is subjected to the highfrequency field which raises the temperature of the upper, open ends of the casings to a temperature suitably high for annealing or hardening purposes.

As the holders advance to the discharge station 41 (Fig. 1) beyond the heating tunnel 51, their cam rollers 37 enter a track or passage (Fig. 6) defined by the periphery of cam 36 and the inner edge of a trackmember 38 supported beyond the periphery of the cam by the plate 52. As each holder is stepped to the discharge station 41, its cam roller 37 rides off the fall 54 of the cam 36 and the slide 35 is moved inwardly by the lever 39 and biasing spring 40 to the position shown at the.

right-hand side of Fig. 5 and in the upper right portion of Fig. 6.

The heat-treated casings are thus free to fall out of the holder bores. To assist gravity-discharge of the treated casings from the holder, pressurized air is supplied, as by block 56 (Figs. 1 and 2) having air-discharge orifices positioned for alignment with the upper ends of bores 34 of each holder 33 when in turn at rest at station 41. In the particular arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the casings are discharged at station 41 from the underface of conveyor 31 into a quench tank 53.

As each holder 33 is stepped toward its loading position below the invertermechanism 19, the cam-follower 37 of the corresponding slide or gate engages the rise 55 (Fig. 6) of cam 36 so forcing the slide outwardly to re-close the bottom of the holder (left-hand side of Fig.5).

The cam 36 ,for operating the holder slides 35 is attached to the lower end of column 45 supported by the arm 44 which overhangs the conveyor 31 and is supported above it by the column. or standard 43 (Fig. 5).

In normal operation of the apparatus, the rotary conveyor 31 is stepped by its motor 32 in timed relation to stepping of the inverter-drum 19 by its motor 29. The stepping

motors

29 and 32 are, per se, of known type and need not be described. Generally, as shown in Fig. 9, each of these motors includes a pawl and ratchet mechanism operated by a pneumatic cylinder which is controlled by a solenoid-actuated valve. The actuation of these motors in timed relation to each other is eliected by the electropneumatic control system of Fig. 8, later described.

The casings are removed from quench tank 53 by an endless conveyor 60 (Figs. 2 and 7) driven by motor 61. Normally, the casings as discharged from conveyor 60 are directed by chute 62 to a good casing bin for the next stage of manufacture. If for any reason the casings have not been properly treated, they are diverted, as by swinging the chute 62 to another position, for delivery to a spoiled-casing bin. Such diversion may be effected automatically by motor 63 as later described in connection with Fig. 8.

To initiate operation of the system, the master relay 70 (Fig. 8) is energized by momentary closure of the start switch 71. This completes .a circuit which can be traced from power line conductor L1 to line conductor L2 though the start switch 71, the

back contacts

72, 73 of the time-delay relays 74, 75, the air-pressure switch 76 and the long-casing switch 77 of the detector 30 of the inverter mechanism. The resulting closure of contacts 78 of relay 70 completes a seal-in cir-. cuit in shunt with the start switch 71 for continued energization of relay 70 after release of the start switch. This seal-in circuit includes the movable contact 79 and fixed contact 80 of selector switch 81. The closure of

contacts

82, 82 of the master relay 70 con- ,nects the line conductors L1, L2 to the control buses With the control buses connected to the supply lines, the contactor 83 is energized though a circuit which can be traced from bus 1L to bus 2L through the manually operable hopper switch 84 and the normally closed contacts 85 of the overload circuit-breaker 86. The resulting closure of contacts 87 of contactor 83 energizes the hopper motor 8 from the power lines L3, L4 for delivery of casings to the feeder mechanism 11.

With the control buses connected to the supply line, the contactor 90 is energized through a circuit which can be traced from bus 1L to bus 2L through the manually operable out-conveyor switch 91 and the normally closed contacts 92 of overload circuit-breaker 93. The resulting closure of contacts 94 of contactor 90 energizes the driving motor 61 of the endless conveyor 60 from the power lines L3, L4 for transport of casings :from the quench tank 53.

aco nsss The aforesaid energization of

contactors

83, 90 also efiects closure of their

contacts

95, 96 to effect ene'rgization of relay 97 from control buses 1L, 2L through a circuit including the manually-operable heater switch 98. The resulting closure of contacts 99 of relay 97 energizes the supply source 100 for the induction heater coil 51. The closure of contacts 101 of relay 97 energizes relay 102 from the control buses 1L, 2L through a circuit including

closed contacts

118, 119 of the spoiledcas-ing" switch 103.

The energization of relay 102 effects closure of its contacts 104 to energize the control solenoid 105 of the pneumatic motor 63 of the discharge chute 62 of the endless conveyor 60. The chute 62 is thereupon moved to its normal position for directing casings to the good-casing bin.

The aforesaid energizationof contactor 90 also 'efiects closure of its contacts 106 to energize the timer motor 107 through a bus-to-bus circuit including the manual-lyoperable timer switch 108. The timer motor 107 efiects periodic closure of its contacts 109 periodically to ener- -gize the relay 110. Each time relay 110 is energized, its

contacts 111 close to energize the air-control solenoid 112 for the stepping motor 32 of the rotary conveyor 31. During each stepping movement of conveyor 31, it closes and re-opens the cam-operated switch 113 to energize and then deenergizelthe air-control solenoid 114 for the pneumatic motor 15 which actuates the slide 12 of the feed mechanism 11.

i As thus far described, the momentary closure of the start switch 71 has resulted in operation of the motors for the hopper mechanism 9 and the out conveyor 60, energization of the induction heater 51, stepping of the rotary conveyor 31, and operation of the feed mechanism 11. However, as yet no casings are delivered to the rotary conveyor 31 as the inverter-drurn19 is not in operation. After the start switch 71 has been momentarily closed, the feed switch 115 is momentarily closed to energize the relay 116 through a bus-to-bus circuit including a normally closed long-casing switch 117 disposed above the rotary conveyor 31 somewhat beyond ,the inverter-drum.

The closure of contacts 121 of relay 116 completes a seal-in circuit, so that this relay remains energized after the feed switch 115 is released by the operator. The now closed contacts 122 of energized relay 116 are in a bus-to-bus circuit for relay 123. This circuit includes the timer switch 108, the closed contacts 106 of relay 90 and cam-operated switch 124 operated by rotary conveyor 31 during each of its stepping cycles. Thus, for each stepping operation of rotary conveyor 31, the relay 123 is energized to close its contacts 125 to energize the air-control solenoid 126 for the stepping motor 29 of the inverter-drum 19.

It will be understood from the foregoing description of Fig. 8 that so long as normal conditions exist, all of the relays, contactors and circuit-

breakers

70, 74, 75, 97, 83, 86, 93, 90, 116 and 102 remain energized and that :for each cycle of the timer 107, the

relays

110 and 112 are energized and deenergized to effect synchronized one- .step operation of the feed mechanism 11 of inverter mechanism 19, and of the rotary conveyor 31. Thus, as above described, the hopper mechanism 9 maintains a supply of casings in the gravity-feed tubes the mechanism 11 segregates and feeds successive groups of casings to the inverter mechanism 19; the inverter delivers the successive groups of casings to the successive holders 33 ,of rotary conveyor 31; the conveyor 31 transports the casings through the heater 51 and discharges them into quench tank 53; and the endless conveyor 60 transports the casings from tank 53 to the good-casing bin.

Should the pressure of the air supply for operation of the

motors

15, 29 and 32 fail or fall below proper value, the pressure switch 76 opens to deenergize the master relay 70'. The opening of contacts 82 of relay 70 dis- 6 connects the control system buses 1L, 2L from the supply lines L1, L2, whereupon contactor 83 is deenergized to stop the hoppermotor 8; contactor 90 is energized to stop the endless conveyor motor 61; and contactor relay 70 with resulting shut-down of the system.

The energizing circuit of the master relay 70 also includes the normally closed contacts 73 of time-delay relay 75. The switch 131 (Figs. 2, 6, 8) for energizing relay 75 is closed by the slide-retracting arm 39 as each casing holder 33 of conveyor 31 arrives at its discharge position. Under normal conditions, the excitation interval of relay 75 is too short to eflect opening of its contacts 73. If, however, the rotary conveyor 31 for any reason fails to take its next step within say twice the usual step-cycle period, the contacts 73 of relay 75 open to deenergize master relay 70 with consequent shut-down of the system.

The master relay 70 is also deenergized when a long or stuck casing in the inverter drum 19 rocks the detector plate 30 to open the switch 77. Under this circumstance also, the apparatus is completely shut down for corrective action by the operator.

A long or stuck casing in a holder 33 of rotary conveyor 31 opens the normally closed switch 117 (Figs. 1, 2 and 8) to deenergize the relay 116. The resultant opening of contacts 122 of relay 116 prevents the energization of relay 123 by the conveyor-actuatedswitch 124 and so precludes any further energization of the control solenoid 126 for the inverter motor 29. Thus, the conveyor 31 continues to step under control of timer 107 to complete the heat-treatment and discharge of casings in the conveyor, but no further casings are supplied to it by the inverter-drum until the operator momentarily depresses the feed switch 115 to re-energize the relay 116. It is to be noted that operation of this longcasing detector does not shut down the whole apparatus, but only the inverter mechanism.

If the operator desires to stop the rotary conveyor 31, the inverter 19 and the feed mechanism 11 without shutting down the complete apparatus, the timer switch 108 is actuated to its oil position. This prevents relay 110 from being energized. Consequently, motor 32 of conveyor 31 remains at rest; and since conveyor 31 then cannot operate switch 113, the feed slide 12 remains inactive.

If the operator desires to stop the endless conveyor 60, the switch 91 is actuated to its 0 position to deenergize contactor 90. The opening of contacts 94 of relay breaks the circuit of the conveyor motor 61. The opening ofcontacts 96 of relay 90 deenergizes the relay 97 and so shuts off the heater 51 by opening of the contacts 99. It may also here be noted that if the motor 61 is excessively overloaded, its circuit-breaker 93 opens the circuit of relay 90 to actuate the

aforesaid contacts

94 and 96 to open position, so to break the circuits of motor 61 and heater 51.

If the operator desires to stop the hopper feed mechanism, the switch 84 is actuated to its off position to deenergize the contactor 83. The resultant opening of contacts 87 deenergizes the hopper motor 8. The opening of contacts of contactor 83 deenergizes relay 97 and so elfects deenergization of the heater by opening of contacts 99. It may also here be noted that if the hopper motor is excessively overloaded, the circuitbreaker 86 opens contacts 85 to deenergize contactor 83 and so similarly results in deenergization of motor 8 and heater 51..

'If the operator desires to shut off the heater'51, leaving the rest of the apparatus in operation, the switch 98 is thrown to open position to deenergize relay 97 whose contacts 99 thereupon open. When, for example, it is desired to provide for transport of casings from the quench tank to the good-casing bin, after the heater 51 has been so manually shut off, the switch 103 is thrown to eifect engagement of its,

contacts

120, 118. Switch 103 now completes an energizing circuit for the chute-control relay 102 independently of the contacts 101 of relay 97;

In the foregoing, it has been assumed, or originally stated, that switch 81 is in the manual position shown in Fig. 8 with its movable contacts 79 in engagement with contact 80. In such case, the seal-in circuit for the momentarily closed start switch 71 includes only the seal-in contacts 78 of the master relay 70. However, with the switch 81 thrown to its so-called timer position with its movable contact 79 in engagement with contact 134, the seal-in circuit of the start switch 71 additionally includes the contacts 135 of relay 97. Thus, when any of the

switches

98, 81, 84 or 91 are thrown to off position, the master relay 70 is deenergized and the whole apparatus is shut down.

The manually-operated

switches

71, 81, 98, 84, 91, 103, 108 and 115 may be conveniently located on a control panel or box 136(Fig. 2) at the front of the machine. The emergency shut-down

switches

137, 138 are strategically located at other points on the apparatus. It is now evident from Fig. 8 that when either of these switches is opened, the master relay 70 is deenergized and the whole apparatus stops operating.

What is claimed is:

1. A system for treating shell casings and the like comprising a conveyor rotatable step-by-step about a vertical axis and having rim structure defining bores dimensioned to receive individual shell casings, which bores are disposed with their axes parallel to said axis and in angularly spaced relation about said axis, transfer means disposed at a station above the path of said bores and operative during successive dwells of said conveyor successively to drop casings into said bores upon their arrival at said station, a treating tunnel disposed beyond said station and dimensioned to embrace a portion of the path of movement of the upper ends of casings in said bores, detecting means beyond said station and in advance of said tunnel for response to any casing which to abnormal amount extends above said rim structure, and means for discharging the casings from said bores after movement within said treating tunnel.

2. A system for treating shell casings and the like comprising a conveyor rotatable step-by-step about a vertical axis and having rim structure defining bores dimensioned 'to receive individual shell casings, which bores are disposed with their axes parallel to said axis and in angularly spaced relation about said axis, transfer means disposed at a station above the path of said bores and operative during successive dwells of said conveyor 3. A system suited-for treating shell casings and thelike comprising a conveyor rotatable step-by-step about,

a vertical axis and having structure defining bores dimensioned to receive individual shell casings, said bores being disposed with their axes parallel to said axis and 8 v in angularly spaced relation about said axis, transfer means disposed at a station above the path of said bores and operative during'successive dwells of said conveyor successively to dropjcasings into said bores upon their arrival at said station, said conveyor including reciprocable gates for closure of the bottoms of said bores in time to retain therein the casings received from said trans fer means, a treating tunnel disposed beyond said station and dimensioned'to embrace a portion of the path of movement of the upper ends of casings in said bores, and means comprising cam structure for effecting retraction of said gates from their closed position for discharging the casings from said bores after movement within said treating tunnel.

4. A system suited for treating shell casings and the, like comprising a transfer drum rotatable ,about a horizontal shaft and having at'least one row of radial sockets spaced angularly about said shaft and dimensioned to receive individual casings, a conveyor rotatable step-bystep about a vertical axis and provided with vertically extending bores dimensioned to receive individual shellcasings, means for stepping said drum during successive dwells of said conveyor successively to drop casings from said drum sockets into said conveyor bores, each of said angularly spaced sockets having an air passage extending from the bottom thereof to said shaft and the under surface of said shaft having for each row of angularly spaced sockets a port successively in communication with said passages as the corresponding socket is stepped to its lowermost position, means for supplying air under pressure through said shaft port to assist the gravity-discharge of casings from said drum sockets into' said conveyor bores, a treating tunnel disposed and dimensioned to embrace the path of movement of the upper ends of casings in said bores, and means for discharging the casings from said bores after movement within saidtreating tunnel. i

5. A system suited for treating shell casings and the like comprising a transfer drum rotatable about a horizontal axis and having at least one row of radial sockets spaced angularly about said axis and dimensioned to receive individual casings, a conveyor rotatable step-by-' step about a vertical axis and provided with vertically extending bores dimensioned to receive individual shell casings, means for stepping said drum during successive dwells of said conveyor successively to drop casings from said drum sockets into said conveyor bores, means adjacent the periphery of said drum for detecting any casing which to abnormal amount extends therefrom, a treating tunnel disposed and dimensioned to embrace the path of movement of the upper ends of casings in said bores, and means for discharging the casings from said bores after movement within said treating tunnel.

6. A system suited for treating shell casings and the like comprising a transfer drum rotatable about a horizontal axis and having at least one row of radial sockets spaced angularly about said axis and dimensioned to receive individual casings, a conveyor rotatable step-bystep about a vertical axis and provided with-vertically extending bores dimensioned to receive individual shell casings, means for stepping said drum during successive dwells of said conveyor successively to drop casings from' said drum sockets into said conveyor bores, means adjacent the pen'phery of said drum for detecting any casing which to abnormal amount extends therefrom, a treat ing tunnel disposed and dimensioned to embrace the path; of movement of the upper ends of casings in said bores, means controlled by said detecting means to disable said drum-stepping means during continued stepping of said conveyor for completion of treatment of casings pre-" viously transferred from the drum to said conveyor, and means for discharging the casings from said bores after, movement Within said treating tunnel.

7. A system suited for treating shell casings and the, like comprising a transfer drum rotatable about a horitreating tunnel disposed and dimensioned to embrace the path of movement of the upper ends of casings in saidbores, means controlled by said detecting means to disable said drum-stepping means during continued stepping of said conveyor for completion of treatment of casings previously transferred from the drum to said conveyor, a second detecting means disposed adjacent said conveyor between said drum and said tunnel for response to abnormal projection of any casing beyond the corresponding conveyor bore, means controlled by said second detecting means for terminating the stepping both of said drum and said conveyor, and means for discharging the casings from said bores after movement within said treating tunnel.

8. A system suited for treating shell casings and the like comprising a transfer drum rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and having a plurality of rows of radial sockets, the sockets of each row being spaced angularly about saidaxis and the corresponding sockets of the rows being spaced axially of the drum to define groups of sockets; a conveyor rotatable step-by-step about a substantially vertical axis and having vertically extending bores dimensioned to receive individual shell casings and spaced angularly about said vertical axis to match the axial spacing of the sockets of said drum-socket groups, the horizontal axis of said dnum being above said conveyor and at right angles to the vertical axis thereof at a distance for which the lowermost group of sockets of the drum is in alignment with a corresponding number of angularly spaced bores of said conveyor, means for stepping said drum between successive stepping movements of the conveyor to drop a group of casings from a group of drum sockets into a corresponding number of conveyor bores, a treating tunnel disposed and dimensioned to embrace the path of movement of the upper ends of casings in said bores, and means for discharging the successive groups of casings from said bores when each group in turn has been treated in said tunnel.

9. A system suited for treating shell casings and the like comprising a transfer drum rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and having a plurality of rows of radial sockets, the sockets of each row being spaced angularly about said axis and the corresponding sockets of the rows being spaced axially of the drum to define groups of sockets; a conveyor rotatable step-by-step about a substantially vertical axis and comprising a circular array of blocks each having vertically spaced bores dimensioned to receive individual shell casings, in number corresponding with the drum sockets per group and spaced to match the axial spacing of the drum sockets; reciprocable gates, one for each conveyor block, for closnre'of the bottoms of the bores of the corresponding blocks; means for stepping said drum between successive stepping movements of the conveyor to drop a group of casings from a group of drum sockets into the bores of one of said conveyor blocks, a treating tunnel disposed and 10 gates to release successive groups of casings from said blocks after treatment in said tunnel.

10. A system for treating shell casings and the like comprising a transfer drum rotatable step-by-step about a horizontal axis and having a plurality of radial sockets spaced about and along said axis to define groups of axially spaced sockets with similar angular spacing, guide means for directing streams of end-to-end casings toward the topside of said transfer drum, segregating means operative between successive stepping movements of said drum to release a group of casings, one from each stream thereof, for delivery to the then topside group of axially spaced sockets of said drum, a conveyor rotatable about a vertical axis and provided with vertically extending bores whose spacing corresponds with the axial spacing of the drum sockets of a group thereof, said conveyor being stepped during each dwell of said drum to position a group of its bores to receive a group of inverted casings from the next bottomside group of sockets of said drum,-

ejector means between said segregating means and said transfer drum for diverting improperly oriented casings, whereby all casings in said conveyor bores are similarly oriented, a treating tunnel disposed beyond said drum and dimensioned to embrace the path of movement of the upper ends of the similarly oriented casings in said bores, and means fordischarging the casings from said bores after movement within said treating tunnel.

11. A system as in claim 10 additionally including means responsive to abnormal extent of projection of any casing from said transfer drum for terminating operation of said segregating means and stepping of said transfer drum.

12. A system as in claim 11 additionally including means responsive to abnormal extent of projection of any casing above its conveyor bore for terminating stepping of both said transfer drum and said conveyor and'for terminating operation of said segregating means.

13. A system suited for treating shell casings and the like comprising a conveyor rotatable step-by-step about a vertical axis and having structure defining angularly spaced boresdimensioned to receive individual casings, the axes of said bores being parallel to said axis of rotation; a treating tunnel adjacent a portion of the path of said conveyor structure to embrace the upper ends of casings in said bores; means for supplying casings to said conveyor bores comprising an intermittently stepped inr verter drum, casing guiding means, and an intermittentlydimensioned to embrace the path of movement of the operated casing-segregating means, said inverter drum having radial sockets which for one angular position of said drum receive casings released by said segregating means from said casing guiding means and which for a subsequent angular position of said drum drop such casings in inverted position from the drum sockets into the conveyor bores; and means for releasing the treated casings from the conveyor bores in advance of return of the bores to position below said inverter drum.

'14. A system as in claim 13 in which said casing supply means additionally includes ejector means between said inverter drum and said segregating means to prevent reception by said drum sockets of reversely oriented casings so to insure similar orientation of all casings moved by said conveyor into said treating tunnel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS