WO2012176219A2

WO2012176219A2 - An automatic method and device to manufacture jewelry

Info

Publication number: WO2012176219A2
Application number: PCT/IN2012/000450
Authority: WO
Inventors: Valmik MUNDKUR
Original assignee: Mundkur Valmik
Priority date: 2011-06-24
Filing date: 2012-06-25
Publication date: 2012-12-27
Also published as: WO2012176219A3

Abstract

An automatic method and device to manufacture jewelry is disclosed. Pre-calibrated metal is fed into metal melting means with the help calibrated metal feeding means. The molten metal is then conveyed to an extrusion chamber provided to facilitate extrusion of the metal into the shapes of the required cross sections by selecting and using extrusion grids. The metal crystals are marked with the identifying means during crystallization. The extruded metal is then conveyed to shaping and metal forming chamber so as to form parts needed to manufacture the jewelry. Filing and machining the formed parts / motifs is done with the help of different tools and computer aided instructions. The stones are evaluated and then subjected to the steps of cutting and polishing to get stone in the finished form for use in jewelry such that to provide maximum brilliance of the stone. The parts / designed motifs are then assembled and soldered to get the designed piece of the jewelry. The metal dust and stone shavings are collected separate by refining means so as to recycle the metal and to obtain stone shavings for use in the beauty enhancing products (FIG. 2).

Description

AN AUTOMATIC METHOD AND DEVICE TO MAUNUFACTURE JEWELRY FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an automatic method and a device to manufacture jewelry. The jewelry is made of metal, for example, precious metal like gold, silver, and platinum for use by human beings. Also, the jewelry is provided with precious stones, for example, diamond, ruby, sapphire, etc. fitted therewith.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Jewelry in most of the cases is manufactured manually. The designs of the jewelry are first shown to the user and then the jewelry is made as per the choice of the user. Now a day machines are also used to manufacture some of the components of the jewelry. Subsequently, these pieces are joined together either manually or by using machines in order to get the jewelry item of the chosen design. The machines used in the prior art for manufacturing jewelry comprises a work station having moulding / machining means to provide shape to the strips and /or wires of the metal and soldering means to join the moulded pieces together to get the jewelry item. Subsequently, precious stones of the required sizes and shapes are fitted manually to get the complete jewelry item.

There are disadvantages associated with the prior art. One of the disadvantages is that manufacturing of jewelry is a very difficult task. Another disadvantage is that a lot of precious material and stone is wasted due to manual working during the process of manufacturing of the jewelry. l Yet another disadvantage is that the manual soldering leaves a set of blemishes and thus perfection at the joints is architecturally and materially compromised.

Still another disadvantage is that exact design specifications, weight and shape of the jewelry item are difficult to achieve. A further disadvantage is that the stones are set without understanding the intrinsic and inherent characteristics, for example, colour, caratage, clarity, cut and refractory index of the individual stone and the location of where the stone is it to be set.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a seamless automatic method and device to manufacture the jewelry.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a seamless automatic method and device to manufacture jewelry having means to plan and control specific process steps / operation in advance as per the design of the jewelry. Yet another object of the present invention is provide a seamless automatic method and device to manufacture jewelry having means to evaluate, cut, polish and fit a precious stone at required location and angle in the jewelry.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a seamless automatic method and device to manufacture jewelry having means to select and fit the precious stones in the jewelry automatically. A further object of the present invention is to provide a seamless automatic method and device to manufacture stone studded jewelry capturing maximum possible brilliance of the stones.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

According to this invention there is provided an automatic process to manufacture jewelry comprising supplying pre-calibrated metal into a crucible of metal melting means, melting precious metal in the crucible and then conveying the same to an extrusion chamber provided to give elasticity to the molten metal needed for extrusion purposes, providing identification to crystal structure of the precious metal, selecting extrusion grid of the required shape and size to extrude the metal as per the design of the jewelry, conveying the extruded metal to shaping and metal forming chamber so as to form parts needed to manufacture the jewelry, filing and machining the formed parts with the help of different tools and instructions received from computer aided instructions means, evaluating precious stone, cutting and polishing the same for use in jewelry, placing the polished stone at an appropriate angle in the jewelry such that to provide maximum brilliance of the stone, assembling/soldering the different part of jewelry as per the design matrix, polishing the assembled jewelry so as to get the final piece of jewelry of the required design, and collecting metal dust and stone shavings with the help dust collector device and refining the same for recycling and use in beauty enhancing products respectively Further, according to this invention there is provided a jewelry manufacturing device comprising calibrated metal feeding means to supply metal in a metal melting means, an extrusion chamber being provided below the metal melting means to extrude metal in the forms of desired cross sectional shapes and sizes, a shaping and metal forming chamber provided below the extrusion chamber being provided to form artistic motifs as per the design of the jewelry to be manufactured, a manufacturing grid assembly being provided to facilitate manufacturing of the jewelry as per the contours of the design, robots being provided to help manufacturing of parts / artistic motifs of the jewelry and to place the artistic motifs at the desired locations on the manufacturing grid, a manufacturing table being provided such that to support the manufacturing grid assembly thereon, stone cutting, cleaning and polishing means provided to supply a cut and polished diamond as per the design of the jewelry, a tool box being provided to supply different tools required during jewelry manufacturing process, dust collection and refining means being provided to collect metal dust and stone shavings generated during jewelry manufacturing process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A jewelry manufacturing device according to a preferred embodiment is herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein;

Fig. 1 illustrates perspective view of the device

Fig. 2 illustrates different parts of the device housed inside the body of figure 1 Fig. 3 illustrates perspective view of the manufacturing table DETAILD DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A method and a device to manufacture jewelry is herein described and illustrated with numerous specific details so as to provide a complete understanding of the invention. However, these specific details are exemplary details and should not be treated as the limitation to the scope of the invention. The invention may be performed with slight modifications.

Referring to figures 1 and 2, a perspective view of the jewelry manufacturing device and different parts used to assemble the device are shown. The jewelry manufacturing device according to an embodiment comprises a calibrated metal, for example, precious metal of the required caratage like gold, silver, platinum, etc. feeding means (1) to supply metal into a metal melting means (2). An extrusion chamber (3) is provided below the metal melting means (2) to extrude molten metal in the form of bars, strips, wires of the desired cross sectional shapes and sizes. A shaping and metal forming chamber (4) is provided below the extrusion chamber (3) to form artistic motifs from such bars, strips, wires etc., as per the design of the jewelry to be manufactured. A manufacturing grid assembly (5) is provided below the shaping and forming chamber (4) such to facilitate manufacturing of the jewelry as per the contours of the design. A robot (6) is provided below the forming and shaping chamber (4) to place the artistic motifs at the desired locations on the manufacturing grid assembly (5). The manufacturing table (19) is provided to support the manufacturing grid assembly (5) provided thereon. Precious stones, for example, diamond cutting, cleaning, sorting, bruting and polishing means (8) along with evaluating means to evaluate is provided to evaluate rough diamond to obtain maximum pieces from the rough diamond and to supply a cut and polished diamond as per the design of the jewelry. A tool box (9) is provided to supply tools as required during jewelry manufacturing process. Dust collection and refining means (10) are provided to collect dust of the waste metal and shavings of the stone, generated during jewelry manufacturing process. The dust is recycled and stone shavings are collected separately after refining for use to manufacture other beauty enhancing products. In one embodiment, the calibrated metal feeding means (1 ) comprises a metal storage flute (1A) having a plurality of outlets (11 ) connected with a common passage (12) provided to supply required metal to the metal melting means (2). The metal melting means comprises a crucible (13) for containing the metal and heating coils (14) provided around the crucible (13) for heating the crucible so as to melt the metal contained in the crucible (13). The extrusion chamber (3) comprises a container (15) having an inner wall (15A) and an outer wall (15B). Heat gradient coils (16) are provided between the inner wall (15A) and outer wall (15B) such that to keep the molten metal in the elastic condition. An inlet (15C) and an outlet (15D) is provided at the at the top and bottom of the extrusion chamber so as to facilitate feeding of the molten metal into the chamber and passage of the molten metal in the elastic condition, respectively so as to facilitate extrusion of the metal into the, strips, bars, wires of the required cross sectional shape and size needed for manufacturing the jewelry.

Shaping and metal formation chamber 4 comprises a plurality of rolling and shaping tools (4A) and moulds (not shown) to facilitate manufacturing of different parts of the jewelry. The manufacturing grid assembly (5) comprises a plurality of manufacturing grids (5A) mounted on a rotatable co-ordinate grid exchanger table (18) adapted to be mounted on a manufacturing table (19) (see figure 3). The metal dust collection means (10) comprises a hopper (20) having a vacuum suction pump (21) provided to convey the metal dust for separating / refining metal from the metal dust.

The diamond cutting, cleaning, bruting and polishing means (8) comprises diamond library (8A) to store a plurality of diamonds therein. A hopper (21) is provided to receive diamonds from the diamond library (8A) and supply the same to a diamond scanner (22) provided to check the quality, for example, cut, clarity, colour, caratage and refractory index of the diamond to be used in the jewelry. A diamond cutting and polishing chamber (23) is provided to cut and polish the diamond as per design of the jewelry. The diamond cutting and policing chamber comprises a diamond cutting means and polishing means (not shown) so as to supply the finished stone to the diamond grid (24). A pick and place robot (25) is provided to pick the finished stone from the diamond grid (24) and placing the same onto the metal casing provided in the jewelry. In one embodiment, diamond scanner comprises, (i) an x-ray imaging system to see surface defects and internal structural of the rough diamond, (ii) a laser scanning device to identify deeper profiles of the diamond. These scanners are provided to facilitate sorting of the diamond into different categories. The categorized diamonds are then conveyed to cutting, cleaning, bruting and polishing means so as to obtain finished diamond for use in the jewelry.

Referring to figure 3, the manufacturing table is shown. The manufacturing table according to an embodiment of this invention comprises mobile work station (19A) mounted on plurality of movable legs (19B) such that to provide movement to the manufacturing assembly (5) to facilitate jewelry manufacturing. In one embodiment the movable legs (19B) comprises, for example, hydraulically operated legs (19B) supported on a base plate (19C) being to provide movement to the work station (19A) in the desired directions.

The device is used to manufacture jewelry with precious stones provided therewith and without precious stones provided with the jewelry. Also, the device of this invention works as per the instructions received from the computer.

The process of manufacturing jewelry according to a preferred embodiment of this invention comprises in feeding required amount of the calibrated precious metal, for example, gold, silver and platinum along with copper, into a crucible (12) of the metal melting means (2), through the calibrated metal filling means (1 ) upon receiving instruction from the computer aided instructions provided with the jewelry manufacturing device. The copper is added to lower the caratage of the precious metal and to strengthen metallurgical structure and to provide colour luster to the metal. The amount of the precious metal is fed for every part of jewelry as per the design of the jewelry. The metal accommodated in the crucible

(13) is then heated with the help of heating means, for example, heating coils

(14) provided around the crucible (13) for providing heat energy needed for melting the metal placed in the crucible (13). The crucible (13) is provided with an inlet (13A) at the top for facilitating feeding of the precious metal into the crucible (13) and an outlet / duct ( 3B) at the bottom of the crucible (13) to facilitate passage of the molten metal from the crucible (13). A flow control device (13C) is provided with the outlet ( 3B) for controlling the supply of the molted metal into an extrusion chamber (3) provided below the crucible (13). As discussed herein above, the extrusion chamber (3) is provided with heat gradient coils (16) to maintain the temperature of molten metal to keep it into elastic / molten stage inside the extrusion chamber (3) such that to facilitate extrusion. Crystal structure identification is done in the extrusion chamber to mark the crystals of the precious metal during elasticity providing process in the extrusion chamber. For the purpose of identification of the metal structure impurities are introduced at the regular intervals such that to identify the crystal. The crystal identification is provided to facilitate traceability of the jewelry and for investment purposes. The molten metal present in the extrusion chamber is then extruded in the form of bars, strips, wires of the required cross section. For this purpose a pressurized extrusion grid (3A) is provided with the outlet (15C) of the extrusion chamber (3) for facilitating extrusion of the precious metal into various cross sections as per the requirement of the jewelry to be made. Extrusion means, for example, mouth pieces (3B) of different cross sections are secured with the extrusion grid (3A) in order to facilitate extrusion of the precious metal in the form of various required cross sections and shapes needed to manufacture different pieces of the jewelry as per the design of the jewelry. The extruded bars are then conveyed to shaping and forming chamber (4) to form different parts / pieces of the jewelry. The forming chamber (4) has forming means, for example, rolling and shaping means (4A), moulding means (not shown) provided therein to form pieces of the jewelry of the required shape and size as per the design of the jewelry. The rolling and shaping means (4A) and moulding means receives the extruded cross sections in different forms such as wire, strips, bars etc. of various cross sections and forms required pieces of the jewelry, as instructed by the computer means. The rolling and shaping means (4A) are provided with different contours on outer surface thereof such that to provide impressions on the outer surface of the formed parts of the jewelry as per the design instruction received from computer.

Rough diamond evaluation is done as per predefined specifications and instructions received from a computer and intrinsic characteristics of the diamond for cutting, cleaning, bruting and polishing of the diamond. In one embodiment, the precious stone is evaluated based on the refractive index of the stone so as to form small pieces of diamond from the rough pieces of diamond. The pieces / parts of the jewelry so formed are then conveyed to a manufacturing table 19 provided to support a manufacturing grid assembly (5) thereon. A plurality of manufacturing grids (5A) are secured on a rotatable grid exchange table (18). A tool box (9) having different kinds of tools and a set of robotic arms with gripers are provided to supply required tool needed to provide particular orientation to the parts of the jewelry as per the instructions received from the computer means. The manufacturing table (19) is provided in such a manner that it provided movement to the manufacturing grid (5A) in all possible directions as per the instructions received from computer means in order to perform all type of machining operations such as filling, cutting, etching, scooping and drilling required to prepare designed components / parts of the jewelry. The manufacturing table (19)^' and manufacturing tools (not shown) are adapted to move in all directions / ways, for example, uninterrupted, rotational movement, to and fro movement, angular movement, and holding etc. of the jewelry, needed to perform all filing, machining and pressurized operation during jewelry manufacturing process. A plurality of robots 25, for example, six leg robot for small precise movement, 6 degrees of freedom robotic arm for random pick and place of objects and cartesian coordinate robot for transfer of different parts on an xyz matrix so as to facilitate process of manufacturing of the jewelry. In one embodiment, set of robotic arms provided with the tool box may comprise holding means to hold the tools during machine operation. The holding means or placement means may comprise vacuum operated means or a mechanical means. The desired designed part is obtained on the manufacturing grid assembly (5) with the help of computer means. The designed parts so obtained are then assembled on the manufacturing grid assembly (5) and are secured with each other thereon through a set of sequential step instructions received from the computer means. In one embodiment, the tool may comprise a twisting device needed to provide twist to the components of the jewelry. Soldering gun is used for securing different parts / components of the jewelry to get the desired design of the jewelry piece.

According to an embodiment the process is useful to manufacture jewelry with precious stones provided therewith and without precious stones provided with the jewelry. The above process works as per the predefined process steps and as per the instructions received from the computer.

According to an embodiment of the process of this invention different colours may be applied on different parts / components of the jewelry as per the instructions received from the computer means.

In one embodiment, the precious stones are stored in the library (8A) at the desired places as defined based on the characteristic details such as weight, refractive index, angle of the stone. The stone is set into the jewelry casings in such a manner to give maximum brilliance. The pre-design jewelry has the specific place for the specific stone and the computer means provide instructions for the maximum brilliance of the stone by employing various machining tools to plot the desired design and thereafter using characteristic in the data base of the stone to place the stone at the best location of the jewelry.

Certain features of the invention have been described with reference to the example embodiments. However, the description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the example embodiments as well as other embodiments of the invention, which are apparent to the persons skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, are deemed to lie within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An automatic method of manufacturing jewelry comprising,

(a) supplying pre-calibrated metal into a crucible of metal melting means,

(b) melting precious metal in the crucible and then conveying the same to an extrusion chamber provided to give elasticity to the molten metal needed for extrusion purposes,

(c) providing identification to crystal structure of the precious metal,

(d) selecting extrusion grid of the required shape and size to extrude the metal as per the design of the jewelry,

(e) conveying the extruded metal to shaping and metal forming chamber so as to form parts needed to manufacture the jewelry ,

(f) filing and machining the formed parts with the help of different tools and instructions received from computer aided instructions,

(g) evaluating precious stone, cutting and polishing the same for use in jewelry,

(h) placing the polished stone at an appropriate angle in the jewelry such that to provide maximum brilliance of the stone,

(i) assembling/soldering the different part of jewelry as per the design matrix, (j) polishing the assembled jewelry so as to get the final piece of jewelry of the required design, and

(k) collecting metal dust and stone shavings with the help dust collector device and refining the same for recycling and use in beauty enhancing products respectively.

2. The automatic method of manufacturing jewelry as claimed in claim 1 , wherein pre-calibrated metal is supplied as per the requirement of each part of the jewelry to be made.

3. The automatic method of manufacturing jewelry as claimed in claim 1 , wherein crystals structure of the precious metal are marked with identification numbers in the extruding chamber so to identify the jewelry at the later date.

4. The automatic method of manufacturing jewelry as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the parts of the jewelry are formed with the help of different tools provided in the tools box as per the instructions received from the computer means.

5. The automatic method of manufacturing jewelry as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising evaluating precious stone, cutting and polishing the same for use in jewelry, placing the polished stone at an appropriate angle in the jewelry such that to provide maximum brilliance of the stone.

6. The automatic method of manufacturing jewelry as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the precious stone is evaluated based on the refractive index of the stone so as to form small pieces of diamond from the rough pieces of diamond.

7. The automatic method of manufacturing jewelry as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the dust of the metal and diamond are refined to obtain metal and diamond separately and to recycle the metal and to use the diamond shavings in beauty enhancing products.

8. The automatic method of manufacturing jewelry as claimed in claim 1 further comprises in colouring part of the jewelry with different colours.

9. An automatic device to manufacture jewelry comprising calibrated metal feeding means to supply metal in a metal melting means, an extrusion chamber being provided below the metal melting means to extrude metal in the forms of desired cross sectional shapes and sizes, a shaping and metal forming chamber provided below the extrusion chamber being provided to form artistic motifs as per the design of the jewelry to be manufactured, a manufacturing grid assembly being provided to facilitate manufacturing of the jewelry as per the contours of the design, robots being provided to help manufacturing of parts / artistic motifs of the jewelry and to place the artistic motifs at the desired locations on the manufacturing grid, a manufacturing table being provided such that to support the manufacturing grid assembly thereon, stone cutting, cleaning and polishing means provided to supply a cut and polished diamond as per the design of the jewelry, a tool box being provided to supply different tools required during jewelry manufacturing process, dust collection and refining means being provided to collect metal dust and stone shavings generated during jewelry manufacturing process.

10. The automatic device to manufacture jewelry as claimed in claim 9, wherein the metal melting means comprises a crucible having heating means provided around it, an inlet and an outlet are provided at the top and bottom ends of the crucible respectively for facilitating feeding the metal therein and supplying molten metal there from into an extrusion chamber provided for facilitating extrusion of the metal into shapes of the desired cross sections as per the instructions received from the computer aided instructions.

11. The automatic device to manufacture jewelry as claimed in claim 9, wherein extruding chamber comprises an inner wall and outer wall having heat gradient coils disposed there between such that to keep the molten metal into elastic condition, an inlet and an outlet is provided at the at the top and bottom of the extrusion chamber so as to facilitate feeding of the molten metal into the chamber and passage of the molten metal to facilitate extrusion of the metal into the, strips, bars, wires of the required cross sectional shape and size

12. The automatic device to manufacture jewelry as claimed in claim 9, wherein shaping and metal forming chamber comprises roller means, shaping means, moulding means, etc. such that to form parts / components of the jewelry as per the instructions received from the computer means.

13. The automatic device to manufacture jewelry as claimed in claim 9, wherein manufacturing grid assembly comprises plurality of manufacturing grids mounted on a rotatable co-ordinate grid exchanger table adapted to be mounted on a manufacturing table.

14. The automatic device to manufacture jewelry as claimed in claim 13, wherein manufacturing table comprises a mobile work station mounted on plurality of movable legs such that to provide movement to the manufacturing assembly to facilitate jewelry manufacturing.

15. The automatic device to manufacture jewelry as claimed in claim 14, wherein movable legs comprises, for example, hydraulically operated legs to provide movement to the work station in the desired directions.