EP1852028A1 - Method and device for preparation for gems setting - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves selecting a circular location pellet e.g. adhesive patch, of precious stone i.e. gem. The selected circular location pellet (1) is gripped and the pellet is deposited on a surface of setting by an electrostatic/suction effect using a needle point (4). The selection of the pellet is made such as that diameter of the pellet corresponds to diameter of housing of the stone to be set, where the pellet has color representative of the color of the stone to be set or color representative of the diameter of the stone to be set. The pellet is made of paper, plastic or coherent fiber. An independent claim is also included for a locating kit.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to the field of the preparation of stone setting in jewelery, jewelery and watchmaking. More specifically, it relates to a method of multiple identification of the seat of the stones on a crimping surface, in particular on a middle case of a watch case and a kit for use in a method of multiple tracking of the invention.

PRIOR ART

In a well-known manner, in the field of jewelery, jewelery or watchmaking, the crimping of stones in a frame of any shape is obtained by the realization in the frame itself of holes intended to receive the crimping stone. .
The formation of the holes in the frame requires first a precise location of the position of the stone and a marking of its location to indicate the location of the hole, usually corresponding to the center of the hole to be made. In the case of multiple crimps, the formation of the holes also requires a prior distribution of the stones (definition of the stone) on the frame, distribution all the more complicated as the size and possibly the shape of the stones used vary. Generally, the marking of the location of the holes is carried out using a tip, for example needle or chisel. The crimping surface is then subjected to strafing at the marked location for the holes, then the stones are placed in the cavities and then crimped.

The current manual methods of identifying the location of stones before crimping have the disadvantage of not allowing the visual distribution of all the stones on the crimping support during the marking work and to provide only an indication of the position from the center of the crimp stone.

As part of the preparation work for crimping stones, the three-dimensional modeling (computer-aided design or CAD / CAM) of the object of jewelery, jewelery or watchmaking was developed. This technique ensures the management of 5-axis simultaneous machining of the housing of stones (strafing holes) by numerical control. This technique is used for the realization of the holes intended to receive the stones as well as the development of the holes or cross-cuts. The stonework is finished by hand, usually using chisels.

However, the use of this system presupposes that the shape of the middle part of the final object is definable in terms of primitive geometric shapes available in CAD / CAM (planes, cones, cylinders, spheres, etc.) (patent application no. FR 2545241 ). If this is not the case, the CAD model does not correspond exactly enough to the size of the desired object. An alternative in the previous case is to manually make a prototype where the crimping is also done by hand, to then perform a molding or casting that is used to model the virtual model, the virtual model can thus be used for the manufacture of several models in series by numerical control.

As a result, computer-assisted crimping techniques are not suitable for producing complex shapes, pieces with variable stone sizes and shapes, prototypes or single pieces, or very limited series. investment in numerical modeling is not desirable in terms of cost and time of realization.

Thus, it is desirable to develop new techniques for accurately identifying the seating of the stones on a crimping surface, particularly suited to the production of prototypes or small series.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes to overcome the unresolved problem of the multiple precision marking of the entire foundation of the stones on a crimping surface, suitable for the production of prototypes or small series.

1. (1) sélection d'une pastille de repérage de la pierre;
2. (2) préhension de la pastille de repérage choisie;
3. (3) dépôt de la pastille de repérage sur la surface de sertissage;

dans lequel la sélection de la pastille de repérage se fait de sorte que le diamètre de la pastille de repérage corresponde au diamètre du logement de la pierre à sertir.The object of the invention is achieved by a process for preparing the crimping of stones allowing the identification of all the stones on the crimping surface comprising the following steps:

1. (1) selecting a stone locating pellet;
2. (2) gripping the chosen tracking pad;
3. (3) depositing the registration pad on the crimping surface;

wherein the selection of the registration pad is such that the diameter of the registration pad corresponds to the diameter of the housing of the crimp stone.

The solution to the problem is also achieved by a marking kit containing marking pellets of different diameters, the diameter of which corresponds to that of the housing crimping stones and comprising different compartments separating the marker pads according to their diameter and / or their color .

The tracking method of the invention subsequently allows a strafing of the holes for crimping at the location materialized for each stone.

The method of locating the invention is temporary, that is to say, it allows a repositioning of the benchmarks of the seat stones at any time during the process of the invention and before the final strafing . This allows in particular a creation work facilitated in the realization of the prototype by allowing to change the choice of the type of stones and their location before the strafing.

The tracking method of the invention is particularly suitable for producing prototypes or small series of elements of jewelery, jewelery or timepieces.

The spotting method of the invention is also suitable for the production of jewelery, jewelery or horological pieces of complex shapes, including crimped stones.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• la figure 1 illustre le procédé de l'invention où les pastilles de repérage de différentes couleurs et de différents diamètres (2) matérialisent l'assise des pierres sur une surface de sertissage d'un boîtier de montre (1) ainsi que l'étape de préhension (3) d'une pastille de repérage à l'aide de la pointe d'un pointeau (4) avant son dépôt de manière sur la surface de sertissage.
• la figure 2 illustre le procédé de l'invention où les pastilles de repérage de différentes couleurs et de différents diamètres (2) matérialisent l'assise des pierres sur une surface de sertissage d'un boîtier de montre en vue latérale.
• La figure 3 illustre le kit de l'invention comprenant des pastilles de repérage de diamètres, de formes et de couleurs différentes. Un exemple de marquage de la position du centre des pastilles est matérialisé.
• La figure 4 illustre une pastille de repérage du kit de l'invention.

The present invention and its advantages will be better understood with reference to the appended figures and to the detailed description of a particular embodiment, in which:

• FIG. 1 illustrates the method of the invention in which the marking pellets of different colors and diameters (2) materialize the seating of the stones on a crimping surface of a watch case (1) as well as the step gripping (3) a marker pad with the tip of a needle (4) before deposition so on the crimping surface.
• FIG. 2 illustrates the method of the invention in which the marking pellets of different colors and diameters (2) materialize the seat of the stones on a crimping surface of a watch case in lateral view.
• Figure 3 illustrates the kit of the invention comprising marker pads of different diameters, shapes and colors. An example of marking of the position of the center of the pellets is materialized.
• Figure 4 illustrates a locating pad of the kit of the invention.

MANNER OF REALIZING THE INVENTION

• Par «sertissage » ou « serti », on entend un procédé qui consiste à sertir ou enchâsser une pierre dans une monture métallique. Le sertissage s'effectue typiquement sur l'acier, l'or, le platine ou l'argent ou sur des alliages à base de ces métaux. Les techniques principales de sertissage comprennent le serti à griffes, le serti clos, le serti fermé, le serti à grains, le serti clous, le serti rails, le serti cloisonné, le serti massé et le serti illusion.
  Dans le contexte de l'invention, l'expression «sertissage » comprend également le maintien des pierres dans un logement par collage ou par pression comme par exemple une immobilisation des pierres entre plaques transparentes dont la plaque inférieure comprend un évidement de sa surface pour loger les pierres (technique décrite dans la demande de brevet n° FR 2646759 ).

The present invention will be better understood with reference to the following definitions:

• By "crimping" or "crimped" is meant a process of crimping or embedding a stone in a metal mount. Crimping is done typically on steel, gold, platinum or silver or on alloys based on these metals. The main crimping techniques include the claw set, the closed set, the set seam, the grain set, the set nails, the serti rails, the cloisonné setting, the set crimped and the set illusion.
  In the context of the invention, the expression "crimping" also includes the maintenance of the stones in a housing by gluing or by pressure such as immobilization of the stones between transparent plates whose lower plate comprises a recess of its surface to accommodate stones (technique described in the patent application no FR 2646759 ).

The crimping technique is chosen according to the desired aesthetic effect, the use of the final object, the nature and the shape of the stone and the crimping support. For example, for soft stones to be crimped on a hard support such as steel, a crimping technique such as that described in patent application no. FR 2792508 can be used and in the crimping box in malleable materials, a crimping technique as described in EP 955821 can be used. Other examples of crimps that can be used are described in US Pat. FR 2580155 , EP089906 and EP 367923 .
The preparation, that is to say, the location of the stones and the placement of the stones in their location is also called "setting stone".

By "strafing" means the marking by mechanical action of the location of housing for the stones but also the drilling of these housing in the support. These housings or cells may have various shapes and are generally made by drilling a drill and milling for digging properly positioned holes.

By "stone" is also meant "gemstone" that is to say the so-called "precious" stones such as diamond, emerald, ruby and sapphire, so-called "fine" stones such as aquamarine , amethyst, citrine, rock crystal, cordierite, geode, garnet, peridot, tanzanite, topaz, tourmaline and zircon and so-called "ornamental" stones such as agate, amber, azurite, chalcedony, coral, carnelian, hematite, jade, jet, jasper, lapis lazuli , malachite, marcasite, obsidian, onyx, pearl, moonstone, sardoine, spinel, quartz, opal, iolite and turquoise, as well as synthetic stones such as moissanite .

By "pellet" is meant a definite shaped element, the diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the cavity necessary to accommodate the crimping stone, that is to say that the diameter of the pellet may be exactly the same size as the diameter of the housing of the crimping stone or take into account the space between housing. Generally of circular shape, the pellet may also be for example oval, hexagonal, square or rectangular. The pellet may be colored and its color may either be representative of the color of the stone, or correspond to a color code associated with the diameter of the pellet or crimp stone. In the case where the pellet has a color representative of the color of the crimping stone, a better visualization of the final color appearance of the stone of the support is obtained. In the case where the pellet has a color representative of the diameter of the crimping stone, it is easier to calculate the necessary number of stones of a certain diameter as well as for example the final cost of the stonework before strafing.

"Gripping" means grasping an element so that it can be moved and positioned at a desired location.

By "compartment" in the context of the kit of the invention means a separation mode as a physical separation (for example a division, a box or a locker) in the kit itself or a physical division (for example to using a removable element such as a sheet, film or separator).

1. (1) sélection d'une pastille de repérage de la pierre;
2. (2) préhension de la pastille de repérage choisie;
3. (3) dépôt de la pastille de repérage sur la surface de sertissage;

dans lequel la sélection de la pastille de repérage se fait de sorte que le diamètre de la pastille corresponde au diamètre du logement de la pierre à sertir.The method for preparing the crimping of stones for locating all the stones on the crimping surface according to the invention comprises the following steps:

1. (1) selecting a stone locating pellet;
2. (2) gripping the chosen tracking pad;
3. (3) depositing the registration pad on the crimping surface;

wherein the selection of the marker pad is such that the diameter of the patch corresponds to the diameter of the housing of the crimp stone.

According to one aspect of the method of the invention, the diameter of the pellet takes into account the space between the housing crimping stones. In this case, the deposit of the pellets is contiguous.

The steps (2 to 3) are repeated as many times as necessary with a new pellet selected in (1) in order to materialize part or all of the stonework on the crimping surface.

According to one aspect of the method of the invention, each pellet deposited in step (3) can at any time be seized again and repositioned at another location on the crimping surface or removed.

According to one aspect of the method of the invention, the method of the invention comprises an additional step of strafing or marking the crimping support in the center of each pellet, preferably after the pelletization of the whole of the pellet. stoning on the crimping surface.

According to another aspect of the method of the invention, the selected marking pellet is a color pellet and the color of the pellet is representative of the color of the crimp stone.

The tablet may be of different materials such as paper, plastic or agglomerated fibers.

Depending on the nature of the pellet, its thickness and its possible impregnation of binding agents, a choice of pellets of different stiffnesses can be obtained to provide good adhesion of the pellet on the crimping surface. such as on vertical surfaces and non-planar surfaces as well as easy gripping and depositing. A pellet is typically of a thickness selected from 0.05; 0.06; 0.07; 0.08; 0.09 and 0.1 mm.
Typically, the marker pads of the invention have a diameter selected from 0.9; 1.0; 1.1; 1,2; 1.3; 1.4; 1.5; 1.6; 1.7; 1.8; 1.9; 2.0; 2.1; 2.2; 2.3 and 2.4 mm.

According to another aspect of the method of the invention, the pellets may comprise a marking of the position of their center on at least one of their face (for example by a micro-hole, a recess, a printed marking such as for example a cross ).

According to the method of the invention, the steps for gripping and depositing the marking pellet can be done by various techniques, for example by electrostatic effect in the case of a plastic pellet using an instrument. metal for accurately positioning the pellet, by suction effect using a micro-pipette or a vacuum micro suction cup, by contact effect with a tip, for example a needle or chisel or by pinching with tweezers.

According to a particular mode of use of the method of the invention, it is possible to use different methods of reversibly fixing the marking pad on the crimping surface, for example an electrostatic fixing method or a reversible adhesive effect .

An electrostatic fixing mode may either result from the interaction of the pellet and the crimping surface depending on the nature of the pellet chosen, or may be induced by the use of an electrostatic spray on the surface of the pellet. crimping before the step of depositing the pellet on the surface.

A reversible adhesive method of attachment may result from the use of a reversible adhesive material on the support, for example by the use of a spray containing a reversible adhesive on the crimping surface before the step of depositing the pellet on this surface, or the presence of an adhesive on the pellet (adhesive pellet) itself, preferably only on the face to be deposited on the crimping surface.

In the case of an adhesive marker, the adhesive may be for example a repositionable adhesive or a thermo-adhesive whose adhesive properties are activated by the action of heat (eg flame, lamp or bench heater). The repositionable adhesive is particularly suitable for the development of a prototype while the thermo-adhesive is particularly suitable in the case where the prototype or the piece is not strafed on the spot and must be sent to another place for the machining for example.

According to the method of the invention and in the case where the pellet selected in (1) is a heat-adhesive pellet, the method of the invention comprises an additional step of heating the pellet between the steps of gripping and deposition of the pellet on the crimping surface.

The crimping surface prepared according to the method of the invention can then be easily subjected to a method of conventional strafing and machining of housing for stones.

In a complementary embodiment according to the invention, it is also possible to provide, after the step of depositing each of the marker pads on the crimping surface, a system for optically registering the position of the pellets, preferably of color ( for example a binocular), coupled to a system for digitizing and memorizing the position of the tracking pads according to the invention. This identification is all the easier as the pellets include a marking of the position of their center on their visible face. The digitized positions can then be used for the numerical control of the trajectories of a multi-axis machining tool as for example described in patent application no. FR 2545241 for the purpose of strafing, without resorting to a stony or strafed prototype.

The invention also comprises a marking kit containing marking pellets of different diameters, the diameter of which corresponds to that of the housing crimping stones and comprising different compartments separating the marker pads according to their diameter and / or their color.

According to one aspect of the invention, the kit comprises color marker pads where the color is representative of the diameter of the crimp stone.

According to one aspect of the invention, the kit includes color-coding pellets wherein the pellets may be all of the same color or different colors and where the color is representative of the color of the crimp stone.

According to another aspect of the invention, the kit comprises marker pads wherein the pellets are adhesive pads, wherein the adhesive is a repositionable adhesive and is present only on one side.

In one aspect, the kit includes marker pads where the pellets are thermo-adhesive pellets and where the thermo-adhesive is present on only one side of the tablet.

According to another aspect, the kit comprises diameter marking pellets selected from 0.9; 1.0; 1.1; 1,2; 1.3; 1.4; 1.5; 1.6; 1.7; 1.8; 1.9; 2.0; 2.1; 2.2; 2.3 and 2.4 mm and where the pellets can all be of the same diameter or different diameter.

In another aspect, the kit includes registration pads of selected thickness between 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09 and 0.1 mm.

According to the kit of the invention, the locating pellets may include a marking of the position of their center on at least one of their face (for example micro-hole, recess, printed marking such as a cross).

According to the kit of the invention, the marking pellets are made of materials selected from paper, plastic or agglomerated fibers.

According to another aspect, the kit comprises marker pads presented in a case, typically from 10 to 200 pellets of repositionable adhesive pellets, the pellets being for example presented in the kit so that their adhesive surface adheres to a support in the case of the kit. The invention is obviously not limited to the application to timepieces such as watches or pendulums but also applies to the manufacture of jewelry items, such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, necklaces earrings, brooches, hairstyle ornaments and pendants, and eyeglasses as well as ornamental elements such as mirror frames.

Naturally, other modes of implementation within the reach of those skilled in the art could have been envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

Example 1: Method of marking stones on the crimping surface of a watch case:

1. (1) Des pastilles de papier d'épaisseur de 0,05-0,1 mm dont le diamètre correspond au diamètre des logements des pierres (0,9-2,4 mm) à sertir ajouté à l'espace inter logements sont sélectionnées une à une. La couleur des pastilles correspond à un diamètre donné de pastille.
2. (2) Chaque pastille est saisie à l'aide d'une pointe (Figure 1).
3. (3) Chaque pastille est ensuite déposée à l'endroit souhaité correspondant à la position de sertissage de la pierre, de sorte que les pastilles soient jointives (Figures 1 et 2).
4. (4) Les étapes (2 à 3) sont répétées autant de fois que nécessaires avec une nouvelle pastille sélectionnée en (1) afin de matérialiser une partie de l'empierrement de la surface du boîtier (Figures 1 et 2).

The method of the invention is illustrated by the realization of a crimping preparation of stones on a watch case according to the method of the invention.

1. (1) Paper pellets 0.05-0.1 mm thick with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the crimped stone (0.9-2.4 mm) housing added to the inter-dwelling space are selected one by one. The color of the pellets corresponds to a given pellet diameter.
2. (2) Each pellet is captured with a point (Figure 1).
3. (3) Each pellet is then deposited at the desired location corresponding to the crimping position of the stone, so that the pellets are joined (Figures 1 and 2).
4. (4) Steps (2 to 3) are repeated as many times as necessary with a new pad selected in (1) in order to materialize a portion of the bedrock of the casing surface (Figures 1 and 2).

Claims (17)

1. A process for preparing the setting stones that locates all the stones on crimping surface comprising the steps of: (1) selecting a stone locating pellet; (2) gripping the chosen tracking pad; (3) depositing the registration pad on the crimping surface; wherein the selection of the registration pad is such that the diameter of the registration pad corresponds to the diameter of the housing of the crimp stone. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the registration pad is such that the diameter of the registration pad is determined according to the diameter of the housing of the crimping stone and the space between housings. 3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that step (3) is followed by an additional step of straightening or marking the crimping support in the center of each pellet, preferably after locating by the pellets the entire stonework on the crimping surface. 4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the selected pellet is a color marker pad. 5. Method according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the steps of gripping and depositing the locating pellet are by electrostatic effect, by suction effect, using a tip or by pinching. 6. Method according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the locating pellet is an adhesive pellet. 7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the selected tracking pellet is a thermo-adhesive pellet and
characterized in that step (3) is preceded by an additional step of heating the pellet. 8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that step (3) is preceded by the use of an electrostatic spray or adhesive repositionable on the crimping support. 9. Method according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the locating pellet is a pellet whose material is selected between paper, plastic and agglomerated fibers. 10. Locating kit containing marker pads of different diameters, the diameter of which corresponds to that of the housing crimping stones and comprising different compartments separating the marker pads according to their diameter and / or their color. 11. Kit according to claim 10 characterized in that the marking pellets are colored and where the color of the pellets is representative of the color of the crimp stone or the diameter of the pellet. 12. Kit according to one of claims 10 to 11 characterized in that the pellets comprise a location of the position of their center on at least one of their face. 13. Kit according to one of claims 10 to 12 characterized in that the marker pads have a diameter selected from 0.9; 1.0; 1.1; 1,2; 1.3; 1.4; 1.5; 1.6; 1.7; 1.8; 1.9; 2.0; 2.1; 2.2; 2.3 and 2.4 mm and where the pellets are all the same diameter or different diameters. 14. Kit according to one of claims 10 to 13 characterized in that the marker pads have a thickness selected from 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09 and 0.1 mm. 14. Kit according to one of claims 10 or 14 characterized in that the marker pads are made of selected materials from paper, plastic and agglomerated fibers. 15. Kit according to one of claims 10 or 15 characterized in that the registration pellets are adhesive pads, wherein the adhesive is a repositionable adhesive and is present on one side. 16. Labeling kit according to one of claims 10 to 16 characterized in that the pellets are repositionable adhesive pellets and presented in the kit so that their adhesive surface adheres to a support in the housing of the kit.

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