Patent Publication Number: US-2022214151-A1

Title: Projectile alignment and securement device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to projectile inspection, and more specifically to devices for preparing projectiles for inspection. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
     Ballistic comparison tests rely on the striations and impressions that are created on the surface of a projectile, such as a bullet or cartridge case. These striations have unique features that represent a unique signature of a firearm. By comparing the striations or impressed characteristics of two projectiles, it may be possible to conclude if they have been fired from the same firearm. 
     When performing projectile analysis, various visual inspection tools can be used to investigate the surface of the projectile. These analyses are often automated: a projectile is provided to an inspection tool which can then image or otherwise inspect the projectile to assess different characteristic thereof. However, comparison of different projectiles can be difficult if the methodology for retaining the projectile for investigation by the analysis device is not standardized. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with a broad aspect, there is provided a device for aligning and securing a projectile. A base defining a receptacle for receiving the projectile comprises a self-centering mechanism for aligning a longitudinal axis of the projectile with a reference axis. An upstanding support projects upwardly from the base. A head member extends from the upstanding support, disposed vertically above the base, and has defined therein an opening aligned with the reference axis. A rod member is slidably mounted in the opening, such that a longitudinal axis of the rod member is aligned with the reference axis. A mounting adapter has a first end configured for adhesively retaining the projectile and a second end defining a coupling mechanism selectively mateable with a distal end of the rod member and with an inspection device used for performing inspection of the projectile. 
     In at least some embodiments, the self-centering mechanism comprises: a plurality of spring-loaded fingers coupled to the base at respective proximal ends thereof and each having disposed at respective distal ends thereof a projectile-retaining member; and a retracting mechanism coupled to the plurality of spring-loaded fingers for retracting the spring-loaded fingers from a centre of the receptacle. 
     In at least some embodiments, the self-centering mechanism substantially encircles the receptacle defined by the base. 
     In at least some embodiments, the projectile-retaining members are rotatable. 
     In at least some embodiments, the base defines a slope tapering toward the centre of the receptacle. 
     In at least some embodiments, the device further comprises an alignment plate coupled to the upstanding support, the alignment plate having disposed thereon a visual reference for validating an alignment of the projectile within the mounting adapter. 
     In at least some embodiments, the visual reference comprises a plurality of spaced parallel lines along a length of the alignment plate. 
     In at least some embodiments, the rod member has defined therein one or more notches, and wherein the head member comprises a retention mechanism for securing the rod member at one or more predetermined heights via the one or more notches. 
     In at least some embodiments, the rod member is rotatably retained within the opening. 
     In at least some embodiments, the mounting adapter comprises an adhesive applied to the first end thereof. 
     In at least some embodiments, the adhesive is a wax-based adhesive. 
     In at least some embodiments, the adhesive is a glue. 
     In at least some embodiments, the mounting adapter is removably mountable to the rod member via the coupling mechanism. 
     In accordance with another broad aspect, there is provided a method for facilitating the positioning of projectiles for use with an inspection tool, comprising: placing a projectile in a receptacle; aligning the projectile with a reference axis; coupling a mounting adapter to a rod member via a coupling mechanism, the mounting adapter being couplable via the coupling mechanism to the inspection tool; retaining the projectile in the mounting adapter; and decoupling the mounting adapter from the rod member. 
     In at least some embodiments, aligning the projectile with a reference axis comprises actuating a retracting mechanism to move a plurality of spring-loaded fingers which displaces the projectile to be aligned with the reference axis. 
     In at least some embodiments, retaining the projectile in the mounting adapter comprises applying an adhesive to one of the projectile and the mounting adapter. 
     In at least some embodiments, the method further comprises, following retaining the projectile in the mounting adapter, inspecting the projectile against an alignment plate. 
     In at least some embodiments, inspecting the projectile against the alignment plate comprises rotating the rod member. 
     In at least some embodiments, decoupling the mounting adapter from the rod member comprises retaining the rod member via one of a plurality of notched formed therein using a retention mechanism. 
     In at least some embodiments, the method further comprises coupling the mounting adapter to the inspection tool after the projectile is retained in the mounting adapter. 
     Features of the systems, devices, and methods described herein may be used in various combinations, in accordance with the embodiments described herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features and advantages of embodiments described herein may become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an example projectile alignment and securement (PAS) device, in accordance with at least some embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of an example base of the PAS device of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with at least some embodiments; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of an example upstanding support and head member of the PAS device of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with at least some embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of an example alignment plate of the PAS device of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with at least some embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of an example rod retention mechanism of the PAS device of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with at least some embodiments; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example method for facilitating the positioning of projectiles for use with an inspection tool, in accordance with at least some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Visual inspection tools used for projectile analysis can include a variety of cameras, scanners, lighting sources, and other optical tools for accurately assessing the topography of a projectile under inspection. When inspection tools are automated, the reliability and repeatability of projectile positioning mechanisms impacts the speed and accuracy of inspection results. The present discloses devices, systems, and methods for facilitating the positioning of projectiles for use in inspection tools. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a projectile alignment and securement (PAS) device  100  is illustrated. The PAS device  100  is composed of a base  110 , a self-centering mechanism  120 , an upstanding support  130 , a head member  140 , a rod member  150 , and a mounting adapter  160 . The PAS device  100  can be used to align a projectile with the mounting adapter  160 , and then the projectile therein, for instance via a glue or other adhesive. Once the projectile is retained within the mounting adapter  160 , the mounting adapter  160  can be removed from the PAS device  100  and be coupled to an inspection tool to allow for inspection of the projectile in any suitable fashion. The mounting adapter  160  can be coupled to the PAS device  100  and to the inspection device via a common coupling mechanism, which provides for repeatable positioning of the projectile within the inspection device after having been retained within the mounting adapter  160 . 
     The base  110  has disposed thereon the self-centering mechanism  120 , and defines a receptacle  125  which is substantially surrounded by the self-centering mechanism  120 . A projectile for inspection can be placed into the receptacle  125 , and by operation of the self-centering mechanism  120 , caused to be aligned with a reference axis, illustrated at dashed line  105 . As used herein, the projectile is said to be aligned with the reference axis  105  when a longitudinal axis of the projectile is substantially aligned with the reference axis  105 . 
     Coupled to the base  110  is the upstanding support  130 . The upstanding support  130  is coupled at a first end thereof to the base  110 , and at a second end thereof to the head member  140 . The upstanding support  130  can be any suitable type of support, and can take on any suitable shape and size. In some embodiments, the upstanding support  130  is composed of two or more tubular members and a transverse connector. Other embodiments are also considered. The upstanding support  130  can have coupled thereto an alignment plate  132 , described in greater detail hereinbelow. 
     The head member  140  is coupled to the upstanding support  130  opposite the base  110 , such that the head member  140  is elevated vis-à-vis the base  110 . The head member  140  has defined therein an opening  146 , through which the rod member  150  is insertable. The opening  146  can be sized for accommodating the rod member  150 , which can be slidably and rotatably movable through the opening  146 . In some embodiments, the head member  140  includes a retention mechanism which can be used to retain the rod member  150  at one or more predetermined positions. The retention mechanism can be actuated by a knob  142  or other device. 
     The rod member  150  is movably retained within the head member  140  for moving along the aforementioned reference axis  105 . The rod member  150  includes a handle  152  or other gripping element which is coupled at a proximal end of the rod member  150 . The distal end of the rod member  150  is formed for mating with a coupling mechanism  162  of the mounting adapter  160 , by which the mounting adapter  160  can be coupled to the rod member  150 . 
     The mounting adapter  160  serves to retain the projectile placed in the receptacle  125  when brought into contact with the projectile. For example, the mounting adapter  160  defines an outer wall surrounding an opening for receiving at least part of the projectile therein. The projectile is then retained via friction and/or via an adhesive substance disposed within the opening. The mounting adapter  160  can be coupled to the rod member  150  via the coupling mechanism  162 . The coupling mechanism  162  can also be used to couple the mounting adapter  160  to an inspection tool or other device which is used to perform inspection of the projectile. That is to say, after the projectile is retained within the mounting adapter  160 , the mounting adapter  160  can be removed from the rod member  150  and coupled to the inspection tool to allow for inspection of the projectile. In some embodiments, the adhesive substance is a wax-based adhesive, a glue, or a similar substance, although other substances are also considered. For instance, the adhesive substance can be selected based on a softness of the material, which can assist in reducing the transfer of marks to the projectile by the mounting adapter  160 , or by other elements of the PAS device  100 . 
     In one example of operation, a projectile is placed within receptacle  125 . The self-centering mechanism  120  is used to align the projectile so that a longitudinal axis of the projectile is aligned with reference axis  105 . The rod member  150  is inserted in the opening  146  of the head member  140 , which causes the rod member  150  to be aligned with reference axis  105 . Once the projectile and the rod member  150  are aligned, the rod member  150  can be positioned such that at least part of the projectile is retained within the mounting adapter  160 . The rod member  150  can then be displaced to allow an operator to remove, from the distal end of rod member  150 , the mounting adapter  160  which retains the projectile. 
     Because the mounting adapter  160  can be coupled to both the rod member  150  and to the inspection tool that will be used to perform inspection of the projectile, the alignment of the projectile within the mounting adapter  160  can be substantially maintained from the PAS device  100  to the inspection tool. Put differently, once the PAS device  100  aligns the projectile within the mounting adapter  160 , that alignment is substantially maintained once the mounting adapter  160  is coupled to the inspection tool. This can assist in increasing reliability when performing inspection of projectiles. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the base  110  supports the self-centering mechanism  120 . The self-centering mechanism  120  can be disposed on the base  110  in any suitable fashion, and can be affixed thereto using any suitable means. For instance, the self-centering mechanism  120  can be affixed to the base using one or more screws. The base  110  and the self-centering mechanism  120  define a receptacle  125 , in which projectiles can be disposed. The self-centering mechanism  120  is then operative to cause the projectile to be aligned with the reference axis  105 . 
     In some embodiments, the self-centering device  120  is composed of a plurality of spring-loaded fingers  124  coupled to a frame  122  of the self-centering device  120  at respective proximal ends thereof. Disposed at respective distal ends of the fingers  124  are projectile-retaining members  126 . The fingers  124  can be retracted from a  121  centre of the receptacle  125  (at the intersection of the reference axis  105  and the receptacle  125 ) by action of a retracting mechanism  128 . When the retracting mechanism  128  is released, the fingers  124  extend such that the projectile-retaining members  126  are proximate the centre  121  of the receptacle  125 . In this fashion, the projectile-retaining members  126  can retain a projectile placed in the receptacle  125  at the centre  121  of the receptacle  125 . Although  FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of the self-centering mechanism  120  having three (3) spring-loaded fingers  124 , it should be understood that other embodiments can have any suitable number of spring loaded fingers  124 . 
     In some embodiments, the sizing of the projectile-retaining members  126  can be selected based on the size of the projectiles in use. For example, larger projectile-retaining members  126  can be used with smaller projectiles, and smaller projectile-retaining members  126  can be used with larger projectiles. In some other embodiments, the projectile-retaining members  126  can be composed of a soft and/or deformable material which compresses when retaining the projectile at the centre  121  of the receptacle  125 , for instance to avoid damaging the projectile when displacing the projectile within the receptacle  125 . The projectile-retaining members  126  can assume any shape or form suitable for retaining the projectile at the centre  121  of the receptacle  125 . 
     In some embodiments, the projectile-retaining members  126  are rotatable about respective axes  127  on spring-loaded fingers  124 . For example, when the rod member  150  is displaced to retain the projectile within the mounting adapter  160 , the rod member  150  may also be rotated to assist in retaining the projectile within the mounting adapter  160 . In order to avoid damaging the projectile, the projectile-retaining members  126  can be rotatable about axes  127  so that the projectile-retaining members  126  rotate along with any rotation of the projectile. 
     It should be noted that other embodiments of the self-centering device  120  are also considered. For example, the self-centering device  120  can include a sloped receptacle  125  and recess located at the centre  121  of the receptacle  125  for receiving the projectile. In some instances, differently-sized recesses can be provided for differently-sized projectiles. 
     The base  110  also couples to the upstanding support  130 . In some embodiments, the base  110  defines one or more openings  112  in which the upstanding support  130  can be inserted for retention within the base  110 . The openings  112  can be of any suitable shape, size, and number. In some embodiments, the upstanding support  130  can be coupled to the base  110  using additional elements, including screws, snap-fits, magnets, and the like. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the upstanding support  130  and the head member  140  are illustrated. In some embodiments, the alignment plate  132  is coupled to the upstanding support  130 . The alignment plate  132  has defined on a face thereof a visual reference which can be used by an operator of the PAS device  100  to determine whether the alignment of the projectile within the mounting adapter  160  is satisfactory. For example, the visual reference can be a plurality of spaced parallel lines  134 . The alignment plate  132  can be affixed to the upstanding support  130  in any suitable fashion. In some other embodiments, the alignment plate  132  can alternatively, or additionally, be affixed to the base  110 , the self-centering mechanism  120 , and/or the head member  140 . 
     With additional reference to  FIG. 4 , when a projectile  101  is retained within the mounting adapter  160 , an operator of the PAS device  100  can raise the rod member  150  to a height at which, when viewed from a front perspective, the alignment plate  132  is visible behind the projectile  101 . The lines  134  of the alignment plate  132  can then be used to determine whether the projectile  101  is appropriately positioned within the mounting adapter  160 . 
     For example, by rotating the rod member  150 , the positioning of the projectile  101  may vary the visibility of some of the lines  134 , depending on the alignment of the projectile  101 . The lines  134  are substantially parallel to the reference axis  105 . If the projectile  101  is aligned with the lines  134 , and thus with the reference axis  105 , rotation of the projectile  101  will not vary which of the lines  134  are visible to the operator. In contrast, if the projectile  101  is not aligned with the reference axis  105 , rotation of the projectile  101  will change which of the lines  134  are visible as the projectile  101  rotates. Other approaches for validating the alignment of the projectile  101  within the mounting adapter  160  are also considered. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , the rod member  150  has defined therein one or more notches  154 . The notches  154  can cooperate with a retention mechanism  145  of the head member  140  to lock or otherwise retain the rod member  150  at one or more predetermined heights. In some embodiments, the retention mechanism  145  is composed of the knob  142  and a projection  144  coupled thereto. The knob  142  and the projection  144  can be displaced, for example when an operator pulls on the knob  142 . The projection  144  can be partially or substantially completely inserted into one of the notches  154 , thereby retaining the rod member  150 . For example, a notch  154  can be provided at a predetermined location on the rod member  150  so that, when the rod member is retained by the particular notch, the alignment plate  132  is visible behind the mounting adapter  160  and/or the projectile  101 . Other notches  154  can be provided at other locations, for instance at height suitable for retaining the projectile  101  within the mounting adapter  160 , or at a height suitable for coupling/decoupling the mounting adapter from the rod member  150 . 
     It should be noted that, throughout the present discussion, references to an “operator” includes cases of robotized operators, equipped with suitable machine vision systems and motor functions for operating the PAS device  100 . For instance, a robotized operator can perform visual inspection of the projectile  101  against the alignment plate  132  using a machine vision system. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a flowchart illustrating a method  600  for aligning and securing a projectile, for instance the projectile  101 . At step  602 , the projectile  101  is placed in a receptacle, for instance the receptacle  125 . At step  604 , the projectile  101  is aligned with a reference axis, for instance the reference axis  105 . The projectile  101  can be aligned with the reference axis  105  using a self-centering mechanism, for example the self-centering mechanism  120 . 
     At step  606 , a mounting adapter is coupled to a rod member via a coupling mechanism, for instance the mounting adapter  160  which couples to the rod member  150  via the coupling mechanism  162 . The coupling mechanism  162  can be provided for coupling the mounting adapter  160  to the rod member  150  and to an inspection tool or other device which is used to perform inspection of the projectile  101 . 
     At step  608 , the projectile  101  is retained in a mounting adapter, for instance the mounting adapter  160 . The mounting adapter is coupled to a rod member, for instance the rod member  150 , and the rod member  150  can be moved to cause the mounting adapter  160  to be brought into contact with the projectile  101  for retaining the projectile  101 . In some embodiments, the mounting adapter  160  is provided with an adhesive or similar substance for retaining the mounting adapter  160 . 
     At step  609 , optionally the projectile  101  is inspected against an alignment plate, for instance the alignment plate  132 . The inspection process can include comparing an alignment of the projectile  101  to one or more reference disposed on the alignment plate  132 , for the instance spaced parallel lines  134 . The inspection process can also include rotating the projectile  101  by rotating the rod member  150 . Other types of inspection can also be performed, for instance confirming that the projectile  101  is properly retained within the mounting adapter  160 , or confirming that the adhesive has not damaged or dirtied the projectile  101 . 
     At step  610 , the mounting adapter  160  can be decoupled from the rod member, for instance via the coupling mechanism  162 . Optionally, at step  612 , the mounting adapter  160  can then be coupled to the inspection tool via the coupling mechanism  162 , for instance to perform inspection of the projectile  101 . The inspection tool can be any suitable type of inspection tool configured for receiving the mounting adapter  160  used for retaining the projectile  101 . 
     The above description is meant to be exemplary only, and one skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed. Still other modifications which fall within the scope of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in light of a review of this disclosure. 
     Various aspects of the devices, systems, and methods for facilitating the positioning of projectiles for use in inspection tools described may be used alone, in combination, or in a variety of arrangements not specifically discussed in the embodiments described in the foregoing and are therefore not limited in their application to the details and arrangement of components set forth in the foregoing description or illustrated in the drawings. For example, aspects described in one embodiment may be combined in any manner with aspects described in other embodiments. Although particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects. The scope of the following claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.