AU2005203019B1

AU2005203019B1 - Ring engraving apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2005203019B1
Application number: AU2005203019A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Filomena Garcia
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-07-11
Filing date: 2005-07-11
Publication date: 2006-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 2025-07-11

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Name of Applicant: Filomena Garcia Actual Inventor: Filomena Garcia Address for Service: IP Monopoly Services P.O.Box 321 MOOREBANK NSW 2170 Invention Title: RING ENGRAVING APPARATUS Details of Associated Application Nil The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing the invention known to the inventor:- The present invention relates to ring engraving apparatus and, in particular, to an adjustable diameter tool for mounting a jewelry ring thereon for the purpose of engraving its outside surface with the use of a computer controlled engraving machine. The present invention also relates to a ring engraving machine.

In this specification and claims, the term "ring" is intended to include areference to a jewelry ring adapted for wearing on a finger, from an ear, or from another part of the body, to a wrist bangle or the like ornament, or to Sany other ring structure for which it is desirable to engrave its outside surface.

Machines for engraving the inside surface or inner periphery of finger rings are known. For instance, US Patent Nos. 4,146,966; 3,718,072; 5,203,088; and 4,166,319 disclose various forms of engraving machines, but none of these are suited for engraving the outside surface of a ring. Generally, these engraving machines have the ring gripped in an engraving position by locking pins that apply force radially inwardly against the ring outside surface, and an engraving needle is locatable in the bore of the ring and presses against the inside surface with a required force during the programmed engraving operation.

Engraving the outside surface of finger rings has been problematic.

Mandrels used for externally mounting (and sizing) such rings are tapered and ill suited to use with known engraving machines. Furthermore, in seeking to engrave the outside surface of rings, considerable difficulties arise in determining how to reliably immobilize the ring during the engraving operation so that undesirable movement between the ring and the engraving needle is avoided. The ring must be gripped against its inside surface with a strong force maintained radially outwardly during the engraving operation, but which must be withdrawn after the engraving operation to release the ring. Mechanically movable locking pins or the like operating in the very limited space defined within the inside surface of the ring may not have the desired precision and strength to reliably immobilize the ring.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least substantially ameliorate, the shortcomings of the aforementioned prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ring Zmounting tool for engraving the outside surface of a ring with the use of a ring engraving machine, the tool comprising: a ring adaptor member having a hollow body with at least one cylindrical holding portion for concentrically holding a ring of corresponding inner diameter thereon, an adaptor gripping member having an elongated body with at least one cylindrical receiving portion for concentrically receiving the ring adaptor member thereon, and tt means for adjusting the outer diameter of the or each receiving portion of Sthe adaptor gripping member, the arrangement being such that, in use, a ring is mounted on a holding portion of the ring adaptor member, and the ring adaptor member is concentrically received on a receiving portion of the adaptor gripping member, so that by increasing the outer diameter of the receiving portion of the adaptor gripping member, the ring is gripped with a sufficiently strong force to prevent relative movement of the ring with the tool during the engraving of its outside surface, and by decreasing the outer diameter of the receiving portion, the ring may be released from the tool.

Preferably, the ring adaptor member includes a cut seam line extending longitudinally from a front end to a rear end of the hollow body to thereby define opposed first and second edges across the cut seam line for enabling the ring adaptor member to resiliently expand and contract sufficiently to accommodate the adjustment of the outer diameter of the receiving portion of the adaptor gripping member.

In a preferred form, the ring adaptor member has three cylindrical holding portions and a cylindrical base portion of progressively larger outer diameters from the front end to the rear end.

It is preferred that the ring adaptor member is made of a plastic material, such as TEFLON (tm).

Preferably, the elongated body of the adaptor gripping member has two cylindrical receiving portions, a cylindrical adjusting portion, a cylindrical spacer portion, and a cylindrical base portion of progressively larger diameters from a front end to a rear end thereof.

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It is preferred that the means for adjusting the outer diameter of the or each receiving portion of the adaptor gripping member includes a continuous slit extending longitudinally within the cylindrical adjusting portion and the or 0each receiving portion to thereby define opposed first and second split parts thereof.

Preferably, the adjusting means further includes a screw fastener threadably O engaged within an aperture formed across a first split part in the cylindrical Sadjusting portion, the screw fastener having a head portion adapted for ,i engaging a screwing device and a tip portion which, upon screwing the ascrew fastener in a first direction, will move across the slit to contact the second split part and cause the first and second split parts to move away from each other, and, upon then screwing the screw fastener in a second direction opposite the first direction, will move back across the slit to no longer contact the second split part and so allow the first and second split parts to move back towards each other.

In a preferred form, the adjusting means further includes a tapered insertion member having a pointed end for inserting into the slit at the front end of the elongated body of the adaptor gripping member so as to cause the first and second split parts to move away from each other.

The tapered insertion member may be part of a clamping means of a ring engraving machine.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ring engraving machine when used with the above described ring mounting tool, the engraving operation of the machine being controlled by instructions from a computer, and comprising: a frame means, an engraving head movably supported on the frame means, a track means secured to the frame means, clamping means slidably supported on the track means and comprising first and second clamp devices slidable to positions where they clampingly receive the ring mounting tool in an operative position therebetween, means connected to the clamping means for moving the ring mounting tool with respect to the engraving head when it is in the operative position, means connected to the frame means for moving the engraving head with Zrespect to the ring mounting tool when it is in the operative position to _allow the engraving head to engrave the outside surface of a ring mounted thereon whilst the ring mounting tool is being moved, and a computer for instructing the movement of the engraving head and the ring mounting tool.

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e In order that the invention may be better understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a ring mounting tool according to a preferred -I embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention with a ring mounted thereon, Fig. 2 is a side view of a ring adaptor member used in the tool of Fig. 1, and a ring to be held thereon, Fig. 3 is a side view of an adaptor gripping member used in the tool of Fig.

1, and a key used in the adjustment of the outer diameter thereof, Fig. 4 is an isometric view of a preferred ring engraving machine according to a second aspect of the present invention, and Fig. 5 is an isometric view of track means and clamping means of the machine of Fig. 4, and the ring mounting tool of Fig. 1 about to be clampingly received by the clamping means and held in an operative position for engraving the outside surface of the ring.

The ring mounting tool 10 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a ring adaptor memberl2 (also shown as isolated in Fig. an adaptor gripping member 14 (also shown as isolated in Fig. and means for adjusting the outer diameter of the adaptor gripping member 14. The ring mounting tool 10 is adapted for use with a ring engraving machine 100 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 for engraving the outside surface of a ring 16 mounted on the tool The ring adaptor member 12 has a stepped, hollow body 18 with three cylindrical holding portions 20,22,24 and a cylindrical base portion 26 which are coaxial and of progressively larger outer diameters from a front end 28 to a rear end 30. Each of the cylindrical holding portions 20,22,24 are adapted to concentrically hold a ring of corresponding inner diameter thereon. The ring adaptor member is, in this instance, made of TEFLON but may be made of any suitable plastic material, the desired _characteristics of which will become apparent in light of the following description of its use as part of the ring mounting tool The ring adaptor member 12 also has a cut seam line 32 extending from the front end 28 to the rear end 30 of the hollow body n 18. The seam line 32 defines opposed first and second edges thereacross for enabling the ring adaptor member to resiliently expand and contract tit sufficiently to accommodate the adjustment of the outer diameter of the Sadaptor gripping member 14 in the manner to be described hereinafter.

The adaptor gripping member 14 has a stepped, elongated body 36 with two cylindrical receiving portions 38,40, a cylindrical adjusting portion 42, a cylindrical spacer portion 44, and a cylindrical base portion 46 which are coaxial and of progressively larger outer diameters from a front end 48 to a rear end 50. Each of the cylindrical receiving portions 38,40 are adapted to concentrically receive a ring adaptor member of corresponding inner diameter thereon. The ring adaptor member 12 is, in this instance, adapted to be concentrically received on the rearmost cylindrical receiving portion The adaptor gripping member 14 is, in this instance, made of stainless steel, but may be made of any suitable metal or metal-like material, the desired characteristics of which will become apparent in light of the following description of its use as part of the ring mounting tool Means are provided to adjust the outer diameter of the cylindrical receiving portions 38,40 of the adaptor gripping member 14. These include a continuous slit 52 extending longitudinally within the cylindrical adjusting portion 42 and the cylindrical receiving portions 38,40 that defines opposed first and second split parts 54,56 thereof, a screw fastener 57 threadably engaged within an aperture 58 formed across a first split part 54 in the cylindrical adjusting portion 42, a screwing device in the form of an Allen key 60 for screwably moving the screw fastener 57 within the aperture 58, and a tapered insertion member 62 which is part of a clamping means of the ring engraving machine 100.

In use, the ring 16 is mounted on the cylindrical holding portion 22 of the ring adaptor member 12 (and abuts the adjoining step to the cylindrical holding portion 24), and the ring adaptor member 12 is then concentrically received on the cylindrical receiving portion 40 of the adaptor gripping member 14 (and abuts the adjoining step to the cylindrical adjusting portion 42).

The outer diameter of the receiving portion 40 is then increased in a first step by using the Allen key 60 to engage a head portion of the screw fastener 57 and screw the fastener in a forward direction through the aperture 58 so as to cause a tip portion 64 of the fastener 57 to move across the slit 52 to n contact the second split part 56 and, in turn, cause the first and second split parts 54,56 to move away from each other.

SThe outer diameter of the receiving portion 40 can, alternatively, be CI decreased by screwing the fastener 57 in a rearward direction through the aperture 58 so as to cause the tip portion 64 of the fastener 57 to move back across the slit 52 to no longer contact the second split part 56 and, in turn, allow the first and second split parts 54,56 to move back towards each other.

After the first step of increasing the outer diameter of the receiving portion the tapered insertion member 62 of a clamping means of the ring engraving machine 100 is then used in a second step to further increase the outer diameter of the receiving portion 40. The tapered insertion member 62 has a pointed end 64 which is inserted into the slit 52 at the front end 48 of the elongated body 36 of the adaptor gripping member 14 so as to cause, by a wedge-like action, the first and second split parts 54,56 to move further away from each other.

During the time when the outer diameter of the receiving portion 40 of the adaptor gripping member 14 is increasing, the outer diameter of the holding portion 22 of the ring adaptor member 12 is also increasing by virtue of its resilient expansion across the cut seam line 32, but only to an extent allowable by the rigid structure of the ring 16 mounted thereon. As a result, the ring 16 is gripped with a sufficiently strong force to prevent relative movement of the ring 16 with the tool 10 during the subsequent engraving of its outside surface by the ring engraving machine 100.

The ring 16 can, alternatively, be released from the tool 10 by decreasing the outer diameter of the receiving portion 40 of the adaptor gripping member 14 by reversing the aforementioned steps.

In order for the ring engraving machine 100 to engrave the outside surface of the ring 16 when mounted on the tool 10, the cylindrical base portion 46 of the adaptor gripping member 14 is clampingly received by a first clamp Sdevice 102 of a clamping means of the machine 100, and the front end 48 of the adaptor gripping member 14 is received by a second clamp device 104 thereof which includes the tapered insertion member 62. As described earlier, the insertion of the pointed end 64 of the tapered insertion member 62 in the slit 52 at the front end 48 of the adaptor gripping member 14 causes the first and second split parts 54,56 to diverge and thus enable the c front end 48 to be clampingly received by the second clamp device 104.

The first and second clamp devices 102,104 are slidably supported on track means 106 secured to frame means 108 of the machine 100, and are slidable to positions where they clampingly receive the ring mounting tool 10 in an operative, horizontally orientated, position therebetween. Ring mounting tools of various lengths may be accommodated by slidably adjusting the positions of the clamp devices 102,104 along the track means 106. The second clamp device 104 is also able to independently slide along the track means 106 for minor adjustment of its position with respect to the first clamping device 102 by operation of a rotating handle 109, such as would be required for insertion of the pointed end 64 of the tapered insertion member 62 in the slit 52.

The machine 100 also includes an engraving head 110 movably supported on the frame means 108, and means connected to the frame means 108 for moving the engraving head 110 with respect to the ring mounting tool when it is in the operative position to allow the engraving head 110 to engrave the outside surface of the ring 16 mounted thereon.

There are means connected to the clamping means for moving the tool with respect to the engraving head 110 when it is in the operative position, such as the rotatable clamp head 112 which grips the base portion 46.

The engraving operation of the machine 100 is controlled by instructions from a computer which receives and processes input instructions from a user operating a keyboard for the computer.

The engraving head 110 is thus caused to move in various directions, such as sideways, up, down, and rotatably. Via the clamping means, the ring mounting tool 10 is caused to move, such as by rotation about its longitudinal axis. The overall effect of these movements is to enable the engraving head to engrave the outside surface of the ring 16.

r It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that various modifications Smay be made in details of design and construction of the above described ring mounting tool and ring engraving machine for use with that tool without departing from the scope or ambit of the invention.

For instance, the present invention envisages the use of the at least nine sized ring adaptor members that are commonly employed to Cc accommodate rings of different diameters. In this regard, the invention can be used with a ring adaptor member that is so sized to have three stepped t portions that accommodate rings of A, B and C sizes respectively, and which can also accommodate A+1/4, A+1/2, A+3/4, B+1/4, B+1/2, B+3/4, C+1/4, C+1/2 and C+3/4 sized rings when suitably expanded as described earlier.

The same applies for the seven, three stepped, ring adaptor members that accommodate rings of D, E and F sizes; G, H and I sizes; J, K and L sizes; M, N and O sizes; P, Q and R sizes; S, T and U sizes; and V, W and X sizes respectively; and the single, two stepped, ring adaptor member that accommodates rings of Y and Z sizes. Less commonly employed, but still useful in the present invention, are the two ring adaptor members that accommodate extremely large sized rings of Y, Z and Z+1 sizes; and Z+2 and Z+3 sizes respectively.

Claims

2. The ring mounting tool of claim 1 wherein the ring adaptor member includes a cut seam line extending longitudinally from a front end to a rear end of the hollow body to thereby define opposed first and second edges across the cut seam line for enabling the ring adaptor member to resiliently expand and contract sufficiently to accommodate the adjustment of the outer diameter of the receiving portion of the adaptor gripping member.
3. The ring mounting tool of claim 2 wherein the ring adaptor member has three cylindrical holding portions and a cylindrical base portion of progressively larger outer diameters from the front end to the rear end.
4. The ring mounting tool of claim 3 wherein the elongated body of the adaptor gripping member has two cylindrical receiving portions, a cylindrical adjusting portion, a cylindrical spacer portion, and a cylindrical base portion of progressively larger diameters from a front end to a rear end thereof. The ring mounting tool of claim 4 wherein the means for adjusting the outer diameter of the or each receiving portion of the adaptor gripping 11 O member includes a continuous slit extending longitudinally within the cylindrical adjusting portion and the or each receiving portion to thereby define opposed first and second split parts thereof. 00
6. The ring mounting tool of claim 5 wherein the adjusting means further includes a screw fastener threadably engaged within an aperture formed across a first split part in the cylindrical adjusting portion, the screw fastener 0 having a head portion adapted for engaging a screwing device and a tip 0 portion which, upon screwing the screw fastener in a first direction, will move across the slit to contact the second split part and cause the first and asecond split parts to move away from each other, and, upon then screwing the screw fastener in a second direction opposite the first direction, will move back across the slit to no longer contact the second split part and so allow the first and second split parts to move back towards each other.
7. The ring mounting tool of claim 6 wherein the adjusting means further includes a tapered insertion member having a pointed end for inserting into the slit at the front end of the elongated body of the adaptor gripping member so as to cause the first and second split parts to move away from each other.
8. The ring mounting tool of claim 7 wherein the tapered insertion member is part of a clamping means of a ring engraving machine.
9. A ring engraving machine when used with the ring mounting tool of any one of claims 1 to 8, the engraving operation of the machine being controlled by instructions from a computer, the machine comprising: a frame means, an engraving head movably supported on the frame means, a track means secured to the frame means, clamping means slidably supported on the track means and comprising first and second clamp devices slidable to positions where they clampingly receive the ring mounting tool in an operative position therebetween, means connected to the clamping means for moving the ring mounting tool with respect to the engraving head when it is in the operative position, means connected to the frame means for moving the engraving head with respect to the ring mounting tool when it is in the operative position to allow the engraving head to engrave the outside surface of a ring mounted thereon whilst the ring mounting tool is being moved, and 12 00 a computer for instructing the movement of the engraving head and the ring mounting tool. A ring mounting tool substantially as hereinbefore described with O reference to the accompanying drawings. ¢C 11. An engraving machine when used with the ring mounting tool of any one of claims 1 to 8, the machine being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 13 April 2006 FILOMENA GARCIA Patent Attorneys for the Applicant I.P. Monopoly Services.