IL292257A

IL292257A - Gemstone machining center and/or method

Info

Publication number: IL292257A
Application number: IL292257A
Authority: IL
Inventors: Socolovsky Eviatar
Original assignee: Socolovsky Eviatar
Priority date: 2018-10-22
Filing date: 2019-10-15
Publication date: 2022-07-01
Also published as: CN114585476A; WO2020084394A1; EP4045227A1; EP4045227A4; US20230271292A1

Description

GEMSTONE MACHINING CENTER AND/OR METHOD TECHNICAL FIELD[001] Embodiments of the invention relate to a gemstone machining center and/or method, in particular for performing substantial automatic machining.

BACKGROUND [002] Machining facets on gemstones such as diamonds requires attention to various aspects. For example, the hardness of the diamond and a diamond’s grain should be taken into consideration, where grain dictates that e.g. a facet should be presented to a scaife in such a way that the direction of movement of the scaife forms an appropriate angle with a given crystallographic or grain direction in that facet. id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3" id="p-3"

[003] Typically when working facets a machining member contacts the gemstone being worked in a working plane, where such machining member may be a polishing member in the form of a wheel or disc of a scaife made of thick cast iron. A gemstone polishing member includes measures for holding and driving a moving machining member and at least one polishing machine. id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4" id="p-4"

[004] While working facets of a gemstone, the stone is typically held in a relative long-shaped holder with an axis normally parallel with that of the stone. Thus when working a facet, the holder may have its axis inclined to the working plane at an angle that defines the angle of the facet. id="p-5" id="p-5" id="p-5" id="p-5" id="p-5" id="p-5" id="p-5" id="p-5"

[005] GB2037196 describes a gemstone polishing machine that has a rotatable grain shaft for mutually orientating a gemstone and a rotating scaife. A signal dependent on drag between the stone and scaife is generated and a drive rotates the grain shaft to orientate the stone so as to give a high drag. Drag is generally related to polishing efficiency and the stone can thus be polished efficiently. In an arrangement a signal dependent on the rate of stone feed is generated to confirm efficient polishing.

SUMMARY[006] The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7" id="p-7"

[007] In an embodiment there is provided a gemstone machining center comprising: a set-up station adapted to deliver onwards loaded-dops each comprising a dop holder and a gemstone bonded to the dop holder, a bruting/cutting station for receiving loaded-dops from the set-up station, and at least one polishing station for receiving gemstones after being detached from their dop holders. id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8" id="p-8"

[008] The set up station may include automatic and/or manual steps for setting up a gemstone on a dop holder, and may include moving dop holders with gemstones upon a conveyor between various stations, such as curing stations, where the gemstones bond to their respective dop holders to form loaded-dops. [009] In an embodiment there is also provided a capsule for securing a gemstone for use in a gemstone machining center, comprising a dop-holder and a gemstone secured to an upper tip of the holder. id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10" id="p-10"

[010] Such capsule may be formed in the set up station, and may function to house the loaded dop until transferred for further machining of its gemstone in a machining center, possibly of a transfer type. id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11" id="p-11"

[011] In an embodiment there is also provided a method for transferring a gemstone between machining/polishing stations comprising the steps of: providing a source machining/polishing station initially holding onto a gemstone, providing a destination machining/polishing station comprising a dedicated seat arranged for receiving the gemstone, urging at least one of the source and destination 30 machining/polishing stations towards each other to bring the gemstone into contact with the dedicated seat, and applying suction at the dedicated seat to at least temporarily hold onto the gemstone. id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12" id="p-12"

[012] Such handling and transferring ay permit moving a gemstone between various machining stations and forming preferably automatically required shapes I the gemstone. id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13" id="p-13"

[013] In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the figures and by study of the following detailed descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES[014] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative, rather than restrictive. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures, in which: id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15" id="p-15"

[015] Fig. 1A schematically shows a perspective view of a gemstone machining center in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [016] Fig. 1B schematically shows a top view of the gemstone machining center of Fig. 1A; id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17" id="p-17"

[017] Figs. 2A and 2B schematically show various views of an embodiment of a loading and curing station generally marked by the dashed rectangle indicated as II in Fig. 1B; id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18" id="p-18"

[018] Figs. 3A to 3C schematically show various views of a capsule according to an embodiment of the present invention holding in place a gemstone rough cemented to a dop holder; id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19" id="p-19"

[019] Figs. 4A to 4D and Fig. 8 schematically show various views of embodiments of a bruting/cutting station generally marked by a dashed rectangle indicated as IV in Fig. 1B; 30 id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20" id="p-20"

[020] Figs. 5A to 5M , 9A to 9C and 10 schematically show various views in particular of embodiments of a polishing station of the invention, such as that generally marked by the dashed rectangle indicated as V or VI in Fig. 1B; id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21" id="p-21"

[021] Fig. 6 schematically shows one possible example of transfer of a gemstone from one polishing station to a possible other polishing station, such as from that marked by dashed rectangle V to the other marked by dashed rectangle VI in Fig. 1B; id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22" id="p-22"

[022] Figs. 7A to 7D schematically show in Figs. 7A, 7B and 7C one possible example of transfer of a gemstone from first or second polishing station to a grading and packaging station, and in Fig. 7D an embodiment of a storage buffer station – where both the grading and packaging station and the storage buffer station are generally marked by the dashed rectangle indicated as VII in Fig. 1B; id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23" id="p-23"

[023] Figs. 11A and 11B schematically illustrate an embodiment of a dressing assembly possibly used in conjunction with at least certain embodiments of gemstone machining centers; id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24" id="p-24"

[024] Figs. 12A to 12 Bprovide more representative side and section views, respectively, of a gemstone possibly suitable to be secured to at least certain machining stations; id="p-25" id="p-25" id="p-25" id="p-25" id="p-25" id="p-25" id="p-25" id="p-25"

[025] Figs. 13A to 13G schematically show certain embodiments of dedicated seats suitable for use in at least certain machining center embodiments; and [026] Fig. 14 schematically shows an embodiment of a clamp suitable for clamping a gemstone to at least certain dedicated seat embodiments. id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27" id="p-27"

[027] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated within the figures to indicate like elements.

Claims

- 24 -

1.CLAIMS: 1. A gemstone machining center comprising: a set-up station adapted to deliver onwards loaded-dops each comprising a dop holder and a gemstone bonded to the dop holder, a bruting/cutting station for receiving loaded-dops from the set-up station, and at least one polishing station for receiving gemstones after being detached from their dop holders.

2. The gemstone machining center of claim 1 and being of a transfer type comprising a combination of individual stations, arranged in sequence and connected by work transfer devices.

3. The gemstone machining center of claim2, wherein the set-up station comprising a loading section and a curing section.

4. The gemstone machining center of claim 3, wherein the loading section is arranged to receive capsules each comprising a gemstone cemented to its respective dop holder and the curing section being arranged to harden the cement attaching each gemstone to its dop holder to form loaded-dops.

5. The gemstone machining center of claim 4 and comprising a conveyer belt for carrying the dop holders with cemented gemstones through the curing section.

6. The gemstone machining center of claim 1, wherein the bruting/cutting station comprises an incoming hub for receiving loaded-dops from the set-up station.

7. The gemstone machining center of claim 6, wherein the bruting/cutting station comprises a holder center for clamping onto a loaded-dop and at least one bruting/cutting site for machining the gemstone of the loaded-dop.

8. The gemstone machining center of claim 7, wherein the holder center comprises a centering arrangement for centering a gemstone to be machined along an axis of rotation of the holder about which the gemstone is arranged to rotate during machining.

9. The gemstone machining center of claim 8, wherein the bruting/cutting station is arranged to perform girdle and/or pavilion machining action(s) to the gemstone. 30 - 25 -

10. The gemstone machining center of claim 1, wherein transfer from the bruting/cutting station to the at least one polishing station comprises dissolving and/or removing the glue/cement holding a gemstone of a loaded-dop in its dop holder.

11. The gemstone machining center of claim 10, wherein holding onto a gemstone after removing the glue/cement is by suction applied from a side of a machine/holder of the at least one polishing station holding onto the gemstone.

12. The gemstone machining center of claim 11, wherein the at least one polishing station comprises a clamp and the clamp being arranged to apply a clamping force to secure the gemstone against the machine/holder after initially holding onto the gemstone by suction , wherein preferably the clamp is applied during machining/bruting/polishing possibly when suction is shut-down.

13. A capsule securing a gemstone for use in a gemstone machining center, comprising a dop-holder and a gemstone secured to an upper tip of the holder.

14. The capsule of claim 13, wherein the tip comprises a small recess and the gemstone overlays the recess.

15. The capsule of claim 14 and comprising cement for securing the gemstone to the tip of the holder.

16. The capsule of claim 15 and comprising a base and a lower side of the dop holder is placed on the base.

17. The capsule of claim 16 and comprising a sleeve extending up from the base and formed about the dop-holder.

18. The capsule of claim 17, wherein the sleeve comprises an opening through the sleeve to permit viewing and/or physical access to the gemstone from outside.

19. The capsule of claim 18 and comprising a retaining mechanism for bearing downwards upon the gemstone to press the gemstone against the dop-holder.

20. A method for transferring a gemstone between machining/polishing stations comprising the steps of: providing a source machining/polishing station initially holding onto a gemstone, - 26 - providing a destination machining/polishing station comprising a dedicated seat arranged for receiving the gemstone, urging at least one of the source and destination machining/polishing stations towards each other to bring the gemstone into contact with the dedicated seat, and applying suction at the dedicated seat to at least temporarily hold onto the gemstone.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the destination machining/polishing station comprises a clamp for applying a clamping force against the gemstone to securely press it against the dedicated seat.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein suction initially holds onto the gemstone until the force by the clamp is applied against the gemstone, and possibly suction is terminated after clamping is applied.

23. The method of claim 21 and comprising an indexing step of rotating the dedicated seat when already seating a gemstone to position a new region of the gemstone at a position suitable for machining/polishing, wherein the indexing step comprises: applying suction at the dedicated seat, retreating the clamp away from applying the clamping force against the gemstone and then rotating the dedicated seat, and possibly re-applying the clamping force by the clamp against the gemstone after rotation is completed

24. The method of claim 23 and comprising a step of providing a tool changer for changing the type of dedicated seat and/or clamp at the destination machining/polishing station prior to receiving a gemstone, for example according to the geometry of gemstone being transferred to the destination machining/polishing center.