Automatic reloading device for a weapon with a double ammunition magazine, and weapon system comprising it

An automatic reloading device for a weapon, the weapon being mounted on a weapon support and the weapon being configured to be fed with ammunition by two ammunition magazines that are carried by the weapon support and that each have a collection area having a longitudinal axis along which, in use, a piece of ammunition to be loaded extends, the collection areas being symmetric on either side of a vertical plane of symmetry passing through an axis of the weapon, the automatic reloading device including:

• a first ammunition conveyor and a second ammunition conveyor, each movable between a collection position, in which the ammunition conveyor is able to collect a piece of ammunition from a collection area of a respective one of the two ammunition magazines, and a ready-to-load position, in which the ammunition conveyor is able to load said piece of ammunition into a breech of the weapon,
• drive means for moving the first and second ammunition conveyors between the collection and ready-to-load positions in such a way as to ensure alternating feeding of the weapon by the first and second ammunition conveyors, the first and second ammunition conveyors following trajectories that are symmetric with respect to said plane of symmetry, the movements of the first and second ammunition conveyors from the collection position to the ready-to-load position, and vice versa, being identical, except for the symmetry,
• wherein the drive means include:
• a single actuator, secured to the weapon support and able to output an alternating motion, and
• movement means for transmitting the alternating motion to the first and second ammunition conveyors and converting the alternating motion into movements of the first and second ammunition conveyors for an alternating feeding of the weapon.