KR101845880B1 - Automated System for manufacture jewelry - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system to automatically manufacture jewelry by using noble metal. The present invention has a technical feature of comprising: a central computer which has an input unit of being formed with a keyboard or a touch pad and a database of managing, generating, and updating data for product design and data for plating; a secondary computer which is connected with the central computer through a communication hub, provides data to utilize data received from the database for product design, receives plating-required data from the central computer, and provides data for temperature, time, concentration, pH, voltage, and plating method required for a plating in preparation for design products; a 3D printer which performs a modeling of design and processes a mandrel by being combined with the modeling; a vacuum sputtering which attaches silver or copper adding conductivity to the surface of the mandrel; an electrolyzer which plates gold, silver, or other metals on the mandrel to which conductivity is added; a pH meter and a plating solution concentration measuring unit which are connected to the electrolyzer; and a control module which is connected with the secondary computer and a central communication unit, processes a signal received from the secondary computer, and converts the same into an electrical signal to control a plating process. The present invention is able to reduce production costs.

Description

{Automated System for manufacture jewelry}

The present invention relates to an automation system for manufacturing jewelry.

More particularly, the present invention relates to an automation system for manufacturing jewelry by using a precious metal in conjunction with a series of processes from designing to plating to product completion. The automation system satisfies the needs of consumers, And more particularly, to an automation system for manufacturing jewelry that can reduce cost without wasting such expensive materials.

Generally, jewelry is a collection of ornaments made of precious metal or natural gem. It is classified into fine jewelry and custom jewelry. Fine jewelry is made of expensive natural jewelry such as diamond and ruby, precious metal such as gold and platinum, It is also called fashion jewelry. It is a product that is designed to fit various fashion styles by using metal ornaments such as imitation jewelry, synthetic jewelry or metal made of zinc, iron and brass with precious metal such as gold, silver, rhodium and palladium .

The traditional jewelry manufacturing process is divided into two stages: the finishing process of the whole process, the detailed design and the styling work (3D wax modeling), the plaster mold making and original production, the engraving rubber mold making, The manufacturing process such as post-treatment quality inspection and packaging such as plaster burial and metal replica molding (waste model casting method), polishing, plating and surface treatment, jewel setting, etc. is considerably complicated and requires considerable time and skilled technicians.

Moreover, the surface treatment process is also complicated processes such as polishing-ultrasonic degreasing-electrolytic degreasing-undercoating-noble metal plating-coating,

The casting process using the loss casting method also has the problem that waste water, gypsum sludge, dust and the like are generated due to the characteristics of the casting process, so that the workers are exposed to harmful environment and environmental pollution occurs due to wastewater and the like.

In recent years, unlike the metal casting method, an electrolytic casting method in which a casting mold is manufactured using wax or a rubber material, a conductive fluid is applied to the casting mold, and the casting mold is immersed in an electrolytic bath to deposit a metal have.

For example, Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2013-0025634 discloses a method for manufacturing a porous metal material using electrolytic casting,

A forming step of preparing a forming mold by using a resin which is vaporized or liquefied at a high temperature; A conductive layer forming step of uniformly applying a conductive fluid to the outer surface of the prepared mold; An electrodeposited layer forming step of immersing the forming mold having the energizing layer formed thereon in an electrolytic bath and applying electricity to electrodeposition the metal; And a molded article extraction step of heating the molding die having the electrodeposited layer formed thereon to remove the resin, and is used for the manufacture of accessories and accessories.

As another example, there is also a method of forming a hollow jewelery using electrolytic casting technology of domestic patent 10-2004-0046608.

This method comprises the steps of casting a low-melting-point alloy using a silicone rubber as a mold; Polishing using a rotating barrel; Plating the precious metal by electrolytic casting using pre-treatment and copper plating or electrolytic casting plating solution in the plating rack; A copper plating step after precious metal plating; An elution step of removing an internal low melting point alloy; Copper peeling step; And drying and heat treatment process steps, and is used to make jewelry, accessories and accessories such as hollow pendants, medals, earrings, and the like.

However, jewelry ornaments, especially precious metals, are not finished using specific technologies, but systems that minimize defects in the manufacturing process are needed in consideration of consumer needs, diversity, and manufacturing costs. However, in the past, It is a fact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to manage a series of processes from the design stage to the completion of a precious metal product, to accumulate data and to control the time, temperature, To thereby provide an automation system for manufacturing jewelry in which the defect due to the manufacture of jewelry can be minimized, the cost can be reduced, and further, the surface of the product can be smooth and the appearance can be beautiful, particularly, a precious metal product can be obtained.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an auxiliary computer for use in production and management of a product, the auxiliary computer providing control data according to electrolytic casting, wherein when an abnormality occurs in one of the auxiliary computers, And to provide an automation system for manufacturing jewels that is easy to manage.

The present invention relates to a system for manufacturing jewelry,

An input unit configured by a keyboard or a touch pad; a central computer having a database for managing, generating, and updating data for product design and data for plating; The central computer is connected to the central computer via a communication hub. The data received from the database is used to provide data for product design. The central computer receives data necessary for plating. The temperature, time, an auxiliary computer for providing data on pH, voltage and plating method; A 3D printer for modeling a design and machining a mandrel in conjunction with the modeling; Vacuum sputtering to attach silver or copper to impart conductivity to the mandrel surface; An electrolytic bath in which gold or silver or another metal is plated on a conductive mandrel; A pH meter and a plating solution concentration measuring unit connected to the electrolytic bath; And a control module connected to the auxiliary computer and the central communication unit for processing a signal received from the auxiliary computer and converting the signal into an electrical signal to control the plating process.

The present invention firstly investigates the desires and tastes of consumers, stores the survey data in the main computer and classifies them, determines the product design based on the data, determines the precious metals to be plated, Concentration and pH of the electrolytic solution can be set based on the input data, thereby enabling the electrolytic casting to be performed automatically.

Second, since the present invention manages the entire process from the design of the jewelry product to the completion of the product, and the precious metal is plated through the automatic control, the precious metal is not wasted and the cost can be reduced. have.

Third, the present invention is configured such that even if an abnormality occurs in one computer in the plating process, another auxiliary computer can be used so that there is no error that may occur during the plating process, and further, safe and product-free.

1 is a block diagram showing a manufacturing process using a system according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a diagram of the opening of the system according to the invention,
3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the present invention;
4 is an enlarged view of a main part of a system applied to the present invention,

Before describing the present invention, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular forms as used herein include plural forms as long as the phrases do not expressly express the opposite meaning thereto. Means that a particular feature, region, integer, step, operation, element and / or component is specified, and that other specific features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / And the like.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Commonly used predefined terms are further interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the relevant technical literature and the present disclosure, and are not to be construed as ideal or very formal meanings unless defined otherwise.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing a manufacturing process using the system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an opening view of a system according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the present invention, Shows an enlarged view of a main part of a system applied to the present invention.

In the drawings, the system of the present invention enables a series of operations from design to plating and product completion to be managed, and the pre-plating process is monitored and can be automatically executed. In the system, a precious metal such as gold, It is preferably used in product manufacture, but in some cases it can be applied to plating of ornaments of different materials, semiconductor wafers, common metals or various other products.

The system according to the present invention includes an input unit 100 for inputting data, a central computer 200 having a built-in data base 210 for storing and classifying input data, a communication hub 302, A secondary computer 300 that receives data classified by the central computer 200 through the hub 302 and a control module 500 that is connected to the secondary computer and controls the plating process based on the data of the secondary computer And a central communication unit 400 for connecting the auxiliary computer and the control module.

The present invention also relates to a 3D printer 600 for processing a mandrel that is the basis of a product designed on the basis of a database, a vacuum sputtering 700 for imparting conductivity to the mandrel surface to enable electrolytic casting, Or silver plating, and includes a temperature detecting unit, a plating liquid concentration detecting unit, a pH meter, and a timer.

The input unit 100 is for inputting various data and for inputting basic information necessary for plating in plating, and the input information is stored in a central computer.

The input unit 100 may include a keyboard or a touch pad, and it is natural that a monitor is provided. The monitor 102 includes not only a general monitor but also a touch screen type monitor. In the touch screen type, information necessary for starting plating or plating may be input.

In the monitor 102, the entire plating process is displayed, and in particular, the plating temperature, the speed, the plating solution concentration, the pH, and the like are displayed so that the reference data input through the input unit and the currently detected data are simultaneously displayed and compared It is also possible.

The data base 210 embedded in the central computer 200 is composed of a design data base for providing information necessary for designing and a plating data base for providing information necessary for plating. And stores it.

The design data base according to the present invention is inputted and classified into various information such as a customer's need-type jewelry for product design, recent jewelry trend, as well as processing technology, usability, ornamentality depending on the product material.

The plating database is stored by classifying the plating temperature, the plating rate, the plating solution concentration, the pH, the basic additive, the plating material, and the material for imparting conductivity, which are the bases of plating, based on noble metals such as gold or silver plating .

For example, analysis of the influence of surface factors such as pH, temperature, voltage and waveform, and surface treatment of metal ions, additives, etc. Updates, and manages data, and builds a database in the central computer 200 so as to find conditions optimized for plating.

Data may be input according to product, size, and morphological characteristics obtained in the manufacturing process or through the test.

In addition, the central computer 200 stores the material of the jewelry, the degree of curvature, and the product type inputted by the operator through the input unit before the start of plating, stores the detected values detected by the detection unit described later, So that they can be compared with previously inputted data received from the database in the auxiliary computer.

The communication hub 302 connects the database and the auxiliary computer so that the input data can be received by the auxiliary computer 300.

The auxiliary computer 300 is designed for design and plating, and the present invention includes a first computer 310, a second computer 320, and a third computer 330.

First, the first computer 310 is for designing a product. The first computer 310 receives the requisite jewelry, product material, processing technology, usability, ornamentality, etc. of the consumer received from the central computer and provides basic information of the product design .

In the present invention, a design product is input through a design input unit connected to the 3D printer 600, and the 3D printer processes the mandrel based on the design input.

The mandrel is made of a designed noble metal, that is to say, embossed, embossed according to the jewelry product, and processed through the 3D printer 600.

In other words, when the design is completed, the data based on the mandrel is input to the program of the 3D printer 600 through the design input unit, and the 3D printer 600 processes the mandrel by stacking the materials based on the input data .

The mandrel may be made of rubber, wax, plastic and other materials, and the rubber type may be silicone rubber and latex rubber, and they may be determined according to various characteristics such as elasticity, strength and fixation time, The silicone rubber may be used alone or in combination of two or more, and synthetic vulcanized rubber may be used.

Wax is the most commonly used material as a mandrel material in the jewelry industry together with zinc alloy. The wax developed for electrolytic casting dissolves near 90 °, so even if the temperature of the plating solution exceeds 40 ° It has the advantage of being.

Plastic, PVC, ABS, etc. can be used. After electrolytic casting, appropriate solvent is removed by top and bottom. PVC can also be used and it is soft and softly removed by applying heat.

As other materials, natural materials such as wood, gypsum, and fiber may be used.

The second computer 320 and the third computer 330 constituting the auxiliary computer 300 receive the data necessary for electrolytic casting plating in the central computer 200 and compare the temperature, , Concentration, pH, and voltage are calculated and transmitted to the control module.

The second computer 320 and the third computer 330 receive the same information and connect the second computer 320 and the control module 500 to one of the two computers, In the case of controlling the electrolytic cell, the third computer is prepared for the failure of the second computer.

The central communication unit 400 according to the present invention connects the control module 500 with the second or third computer 320 or 330 or the control module with the first computer 310 in a wired or wireless manner, An IP method or a Bluetooth method may be selected.

In the present invention, the central communication unit 400 is implemented in a wireless manner so that the control module 500 can be configured as a portable operation console.

That is, according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, a precious metal product (jewelry) is designed, a mandrel is manufactured, a conductivity is imparted by using vacuum sputtering, and then the resultant is put into an electrolytic bath for plating. At this time, the electrolytic bath and the vacuum sputtering are completely different Place or at a completely different factory. Accordingly, the present invention provides the control module 500 with a receiving unit of the central communication unit 400 so that data of the second computer 320 or the third computer 330 can be received at any time.

Naturally, the second computer 320 and the third computer 330 are provided with a transmitter of the central communication unit 400, and on the other hand, the second computer, the third computer, and the control module are each provided with a transmitter / The control program of the second computer 500 may be received and stored in the second and third computers 320 and 330 and may be stored in the central computer for monitoring.

The control module 500 includes a controller 510 and a control unit 520. The controller 510 processes a signal received from the second computer or the third computer, and the control unit converts the signal into an electric signal again to control a motor and a valve installed in an electrolytic cell to be described later. This will be described later.

The vacuum sputtering (700) provides conductivity to the mandrel after manufacturing the mandrel, thereby enabling electrolytic casting.

In the vacuum sputtering applied to the present invention, an inert gas such as argon (Ar) is injected into a vacuum chamber, and a pressure of 1 to 100 mTorr The glow discharge causes the ionized gas atoms in the plasma to collide with the target (e.g., copper) material to which the bias voltage is applied, and the target surface atoms are sputtered and deposited on the mandrel.

The vacuum sputtering 700 may have a coating effective zone of 750 to 1650 mmφ × 500 to 700 mm H, preferably 1000 mmφ × 600 mm H, and may be made of copper, titanium or stainless steel as well as noble metals such as gold, , Titanium nitride, and metal-nonmetal compounds to a thickness of several nanometers to several micrometers.

In addition, the vacuum sputtering 700 according to the present invention has a surface roughness of 0.03 to 0.05, which corresponds to 1/200 of the Z-axis resolution 10 of the product output by 3D printing, So that the surface detail crushing phenomenon can be overcome.

The electrolytic bath 800 according to the present invention is for plating, and includes a pump (not shown) and a valve 810 through which a plating liquid is introduced / discharged, and a detection unit is provided to detect the plating liquid. The detection unit includes a temperature detector 820 for detecting the temperature of the plating liquid in the electrolytic bath and a separate transfer pipe 802 in the electrolytic bath and a pH meter 830 and a plating solution concentration measuring unit 840 are connected to the transfer pipe And a discharge pump 860 for pumping and supplying the plating liquid.

Reference numeral 870 denotes a recovery tank for recovering the plating solution after the concentration and pH test. A circulation pipe for connecting the recovery tank and the electrolytic cell is provided so as to be supplied to the electrolytic cell at the time of concentration control.

Reference numeral 850 denotes a timer, which is connected to the control module to set the plating time.

Preferably, the system of the present invention establishes a database of jewelry according to precious metal electrolytic casting, and uses the database to enhance the perfection of jewelry products. Therefore, the system of the present invention is equipped with an inspection equipment, tests a product which is completed with plating through the inspection equipment, and builds a database based on the test.

Meanwhile, the present invention is a method of constructing a database, wherein a product that has been plated is tested to determine whether it meets a preset reference value, and if not, the plating temperature, plating solution concentration, plating time, pH, The purpose of this study is to construct a database to reduce the waste of expensive noble metal and to produce superior products by classifying the products according to product type, curve, and size.

In addition, the product standard according to the present invention is subjected to a corrosion test for 1000 hours or more by a neutral salt spray (NSS) test method in accordance with KS D 9502 for plated products, and a salt spray test for confirming corrosion is carried out.

The plating thickness is preferably tested according to KS D 0246 and preferably has a plating thickness of at least 0.5 mm and the surface hardness is preferably at least 100 Hv hardness value for plating thickness of 0.5 mm in accordance with KS B 0811 .

In addition, according to the Samsung reliability evaluation, the thermal shock test is performed. After 30 cycles in the chamber (-40, 1 hr 85, 1 hr) under 1 cycle, the test is carried out at room temperature for 4 hours. After 30 cycles, the discoloration and crack , And whether there is a warpage.

The porosity test shall be carried out in an atmosphere of nitric acid vapor in accordance with Annex 3 of KS D 8336 (23) for 1 hour. The test shall be free of defects such as pinholes of the test surface plating. (38) and humidity (95% RH) for 24 hours, then taken out and cooled at room temperature, and then the surface of the plating should be inspected and the surface should be free from tarnishing, discoloration and corrosion.

In another environmental test, put in the environmental chamber (45) and humidity (75% RH) for 168 hours according to KS C 0214 (environmental test), take out, cool at room temperature and inspect plating surface. No tarnish, discoloration or corrosion of the specimen surface (Tarnish test)

Hazardous material analysis is carried out in accordance with IEC 62321, and there is a requirement that Pb, Cd, Hg, C ⁺⁶ hazardous substances should not be detected.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be described.

Design stage

The system of the present invention provides design-required information to the first computer 310 through the design database of the central computer 200, and the designer can design products based on the information.

For example, the product is designed by referring to the processing technology, usability, ornamentality, etc., by receiving various information such as product, product material, color, and size shape that can satisfy the needs of the market surveyed consumers.

Here, the first computer 310 is composed of one or more computers, and it is natural that a plurality of designers can use the computers together.

Mandrel  Production stage

The design is completed, and the design is modeled with Auto CAD or other programs and combined with a 3D printer, and a mandrel is made through a 3D printer by selecting a material, for example wax.

Conductivity imparting step

When the design is developed, the shape, shape, color, and size of the product are determined. When the data is input to the central computer 200 through the input unit, the second or third computer 320 (330) The conductive material is selected by comparing the database, and based on this material, the material selected by vacuum sputtering is deposited and deposited on the mandrel surface to impart conductivity.

Condition setting step

After the conductivity imparting operation, the plating condition of the electrolytic bath is set for main plating.

The second computer 320 or the third computer 330 receives the basic values of the plating thickness, the plating temperature, the plating time, the plating solution concentration, the pH, the voltage and the plating method according to the noble metal plated in the database, , And transmits the data to the control module in search of the optimum condition necessary for plating in comparison with the data of the design product inputted, for example, size, material and curved surface.

Detection step

The central computer outputs a discharge pump operation signal to the control module 500 and activates the discharge pump 860. The discharge pump 860 pumps the plating liquid of the electrolytic bath 800 to control the pH meter 830 and the concentration measuring unit 840, And the measured values are received by the central computer 200. [0053]

In addition, the central computer 200 receives the temperature of the plating solution through the temperature detection unit, and the received value is output to the second computer when the measured value is out of a predetermined error range as compared with the basic value.

Adjustment step

If the pH or the concentration of the plating solution is excessive or insufficient, the second computer outputs an adjustment signal to the central computer so that the operator can see the result on the monitor. The control module opens or closes the electrolytic bath valve, Adjustment fluid should be supplied.

After adjustment of temperature, pH and concentration, after the detection step is completed, the plating is started.

Plating step

The plating is based on the data received from the second computer, and the plating is finished according to the signal of the timer. The second computer transmits the process to the central computer to display the progress of the plating as well as the progress of plating .

The time lapse, the concentration of the plating solution, the pH, and the voltage so that the operator can know at any time.

Mandrel  Removal and Inspection Steps

The product is completed by applying heat to the mandrel of the finished product.

The finished product is subjected to a series of tests such as plating thickness, surface hardness, salt spray test, thermal shock test, porosity test, constant temperature and humidity test, and environmental test. 100 Hv or more, brine spray test 48 h, thermal shock test 30 cycles, porosity and constant temperature and humidity test, and the set conditions described above are stored and used for the next plating.

Of course, if the conditions are not met, the temperature, plating solution concentration, time, and pH are reset, and plating is performed again.

Input step

In the case where the conditions are not met in the inspection step, the present invention is to re-plating the substrate by changing the temperature, plating solution concentration, pH, voltage and plating method, and then inputting the adjusted values to the central computer to construct a database.

As described above, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. It is therefore to be understood that the embodiments described above are all illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention.

100: input unit 200: central computer
300: auxiliary computer 400: central communication unit
500: Control module 600: 3D printer
700: vacuum sputtering 800: electrolytic bath

Claims (6)

As a system for manufacturing jewelry,
An input unit configured by a keyboard or a touch pad; a central computer having a database for managing, generating, and updating data for product design and data for plating;
The central computer is connected to the central computer via a communication hub. The data received from the database is used to provide product design data. The central computer receives data necessary for plating. The temperature, time, and concentration a secondary computer for providing data on pH, voltage and plating;
A 3D printer for modeling a design and machining a mandrel in conjunction with the modeling;
Vacuum sputtering to attach silver or copper to impart conductivity to the mandrel surface;
An electrolytic bath in which gold or silver or another metal is plated on a conductive mandrel;
A pH meter and a plating solution concentration measuring unit connected to the electrolytic bath;
And a control module connected to the auxiliary computer and a central communication unit, for processing a signal received from the auxiliary computer, and converting the signal into an electrical signal to control the plating process.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary computer comprises: a first computer for providing information for product design; a second computer for receiving and providing optimal conditions for plating from a database; And a third computer coupled to the central computer for providing data.
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pH meter and the plating solution concentration measuring unit are connected to an electrolytic bath and a transfer pipe, and a pump is connected to the transfer pipe to supply a plating solution to the pH meter and the plating solution concentration measuring unit, To a central computer. ≪ RTI ID = 0.0 > [0002] < / RTI >
The automation system according to claim 1, wherein the electrolytic bath is provided with a temperature detecting unit for detecting the temperature of the plating liquid, and a timer for indicating the plating time is provided.
The automation system according to claim 1, wherein the central communication unit comprises one of a TCP / IP system and a Bluetooth system or a wired system.
As a system for manufacturing jewelry,
A data base for inputting and storing consumer needs and latest trends for product design, an input unit including a keyboard or a touch pad, a database for providing information necessary for plating according to size, material and form of the design product A central computer with built-in;
A first computer connected to the central computer via a communication hub and receiving data from a design data base among the data base including a design data base and a plating data base to provide data for product design utilization; A second computer connected to the hub and providing data on a temperature, a time, a concentration, a pH, a voltage and a plating method necessary for plating; and a second computer connected to the plating database through a communication hub in case of failure of the second computer, A secondary computer comprising a third computer;
A 3D printer for modeling a design and machining a mandrel in conjunction with the modeling;
Vacuum sputtering to attach silver or copper to impart conductivity to the mandrel surface;
An electrolytic bath in which gold or silver or another metal is plated on a conductive mandrel;
A detection unit connected to the electrolytic cell by a transfer tube and configured to detect a concentration of the plating liquid supplied by the pump; and a temperature detection unit having a pH meter for measuring pH and measuring the temperature of the plating liquid;
A valve connected to the second or third computer and a central communication unit for processing a signal received from the second or third computer and converting the electrical signal into an electric signal to supply and discharge the plating liquid to the electrolytic bath; And a control module for controlling a timer for setting a plating time,
The second computer operates the pump through the control module to measure the plating solution concentration and pH and then detects the temperature and compares the data with the data received from the plating database to output an adjustment signal to the monitor And opening or closing the valve through the control module to adjust the concentration and to introduce the pH adjustment liquid.

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