Method and apparatus for explosives assembly

Abstract

A method for assembling a blast initiation device is provided. The method comprises providing a length of signal transmission line having first and second ends, mounting a tag to the line and mounting a first detonator to the first end of the line wherein all of the steps are each performed at a single operator station by a single operator. Also provided is an apparatus for utilizing the method. The apparatus comprises a tagger device for mounting a tag to a length of signal transmission line having first and second ends. A crimp device is adjacent the tagger device for mounting a first detonator to the first end of the line. A blocker device is adjacent the detonator crimp device for locking a connecting block to the first detonator. The tagger, crimp and blocker devices are spatially arranged adjacent an access position for ease of operation by a single operator. Further provided is a kaizen cell comprising a plurality of workstations.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.