US3520088A - Gem stone polishing machine - Google Patents

Gem stone polishing machine Download PDF

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Publication number
US3520088A
US3520088A US690915A US3520088DA US3520088A US 3520088 A US3520088 A US 3520088A US 690915 A US690915 A US 690915A US 3520088D A US3520088D A US 3520088DA US 3520088 A US3520088 A US 3520088A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
chuck
stone
tang
polishing
axis
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US690915A
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English (en)
Inventor
Alec Leibowitz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Spectrum Diamonds Pty Ltd
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Spectrum Diamonds Pty Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
    • B24B—MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING; DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS
    • B24B9/00—Machines or devices designed for grinding edges or bevels on work or for removing burrs; Accessories therefor
    • B24B9/02—Machines or devices designed for grinding edges or bevels on work or for removing burrs; Accessories therefor characterised by a special design with respect to properties of materials specific to articles to be ground
    • B24B9/06—Machines or devices designed for grinding edges or bevels on work or for removing burrs; Accessories therefor characterised by a special design with respect to properties of materials specific to articles to be ground of non-metallic inorganic material, e.g. stone, ceramics, porcelain
    • B24B9/16—Machines or devices designed for grinding edges or bevels on work or for removing burrs; Accessories therefor characterised by a special design with respect to properties of materials specific to articles to be ground of non-metallic inorganic material, e.g. stone, ceramics, porcelain of diamonds; of jewels or the like; Diamond grinders' dops; Dop holders or tongs

Definitions

  • This invention relates to gem stone shaping, in art which is concerned with processing a stone until it is ready for sale to the public.
  • the words gemstone include such elements as natural or artificial rubies, emeralds, semi-precious stones, diamonds, hard glasses and the like.
  • the uncut stone is firstly equipped with a girdle zone which distinguishes the top of the stone from the base area. Thereafter the stone is gripped in a pot for subsequent attachment to a dop which in turn is anchored to a tang.
  • the tang is then used as a means of maintaining the gem in contact with a polishing wheel which is usually made of cast iron impregnated with diamond particles.
  • a facet is developed in the gem, the next facet can only be started by changing the location of the stone relative to the wheel. It is customary practice for the polishing of a facet to be accompanied by a zooting motion of the gem over the wheel surface. This means that the tang is given a radial oscillating movement over the wheel surface.
  • the present invention consists in apparatus for faceting a gem stone comprising a tang, a chuck mounted on the tang, the chuck being adapted to carry a gem stone or a gem stone in a holder with the stone axis inclined to the tang, and the chuck being adapted for rotational motion about the stone axis and orbital motion about another axis substantially perpendicular to the tang and control means for automatically and cyclically effecting a sequence of operations to facet the stone including allowing the stone to contact a polishing surface to develop one facet on the stone, moving the tang away from said surface when said one facet has been polished to a predetermined depth, indexing the chuck about the stone axis through a predetermined range of movement suitable for developing another facet on the stone, causing the tang to move towards said surface and contact said surface to develop said another facet and again moving the tang away from said surface when said another facet has been polished to the same predetermined depth as said one facet.
  • the apparatus includes means for continuously reciprocating the chuck over the polishing surface during polishing to effect a smoothing action conveniently in the form of automatically reversing motor means for reciprocating the tang in its longitudinal direction.
  • This reciprocating motion of the tang may be accompanied by reciprocatory orbital motion of the chuck about said another axis.
  • control means may include means establishing an electrical conducting path by contact of the chuck or stone holder with the polishing surface and tang lifting means operative in response to the establishment of said conducting path.
  • control means may include means for automatically coordinating the orbital position of the chuck relative to said another axis with the rotational position of the chuck relative to the stone axis so that each facet will be polished in a predetermined polishing direction which is necessaly in diamond polishing.
  • means to index the movement of the chuck about the stone axis includes a suitable form of electric circuit coupled to the chuck in such a way as to ensure only unidirectional stepped rotational motion of the chuck.
  • the means to move the chuck about the stone axis is adapted to operate on an automatic basis according to a predetermined pattern but is capable of being controlled by an operator with a view to amending the pattern.
  • An auxiliary control arrangement may be provided at a strategic point for an operator so that movement of the stone above the two axes may be adjusted to suit requirements.
  • the control arrangement includes a switch bank, the bank allowing any selected zone of the gem to be worked through rotation of the chuck about the stone axis and which allows for changes to be made in the direction of polishing by moving the gem in the orbit about said another axis.
  • the auxiliary control arrangement may be subordinate to the control means which automatically moves the stone around its axis in a step-by-step movement, each step corresponding to a particular facet on the stone.
  • movement of the chuck can also be accomplished by the operator through the switch bank or the like independently of the operation of the control means.
  • the lowering of the chuck is an automatic step following adjustments in the angular setting of the stone relative to the abrading surface and in regard to the means for lowering the chuck a cushioning arrangement such as a dashpot control system may be employed to ensure that the stone makes a gentle contact with the surface.
  • An electric motor may be employed to oscillate the tang over the grinding surface.
  • the arrangement is one in which a carriage is oscillated in or on a track and the tang engages a carriage element, tongue and groove fashion, so that the tang may be removed to inspect the progress made on the gem without having to stop the device.
  • a tang 1 includes a metal bar 2 which at one end is equipped with a claw arrangement 3 for engaging over a bar 4 on a carriage 5 and at the other end provides a pivot 6 perpendicular to the tang for a depending chuck.
  • the chuck 7 is capable of moving in an orbit about the axis defined by the pivot -6 through the agency of an electric motor 8 anchored to the tank, the axis being perpendicular to a grinding wheel 9.
  • the chuck is capable of rotating about a further axis 10 which is inclined to the surface of a polishing, abrading or grinding wheel or disc located beneath the chuck.
  • the inclined axis passes through the centre of a gem held by a holder in the chuck and the purpose of rotating the leading end of the chuck about the inclined axis is to present different parts of the gem to the abrading surface for the production of different facets on the stone.
  • a gem holder of the type described in South African patent application No. 66/0624 may be used to hold a stone in the chuck.
  • the chuck is mounted on a pivoted bracket 11 to provide means for adjusting the inclination of the chuck, i.e. the inclination of the stone axis to the tang so that different rings of facets requiring different polish ing angles can be developd.
  • the carriage is mounted on a base 12 through rollers 13 guided in tracks 14, and an automatically reversing double acting hydraulic piston and cylinder 15 is connected to the carriage for reciprocating the latter across base 12 to effect continuous reciprocation of the stone across the wheel during polishing.
  • a trip can be arranged to be operated by the piston at each end of its stroke to reverse the cylinder valving arrangements.
  • a single acting pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly 16 anchored to the base 12 is provided for lifting the tang between faceting operations as will be described.
  • the arm 2 of the tang has a downwardly depending follower 17 adapted to press on a dashpot assembly 18 as the tang is being lowered towards the wheel to cushion the downward motion of the tang, the arrangement being such that a floating member 18a of the dashpot is depressed by the tang as the tang is lowered and this member rises when the tang is lifted.
  • facets F2 to F8 can each be polished in a particular direction relative to a direction suitable for polishing facet F1. Accordingly, having established this polishing direction for facet F1, the remaining facets can each be polished at a particular orbital position of the chuck about axis 6 relative to the orbital position about this axis for polishing facet F1. Therefore, the machine can be programmed to correlate the position of the chuck about its own axis with its position about the vertical axis 6 between each polishing operation. This aspect of the invention, and the control system as a whole, will be described with reference to the working cycle of the machine.
  • section B of a control unit C.U. which section controls the chuck position, will be programmed to index the chuck in steps of 45 degrees about axis 10 between each facet polishing operation to develop adjacent facets successively, and to index the chuck about vertical axis 6 in unidirectional steps, the magnitude of which and interval between which are dependent on the polishing direction required for the successive facets.
  • an operation positions a stone in a holder in the chuck and sets bracket 11 at an inclination suitable for the polishing angle required for the ring of eight facets.
  • the carriage 5 is set reciprocating through an actuating mechanism D of the control units which effects automatic and continuous reciprocatory operation of the piston and cylinder 15.
  • the tang is gently lowered onto the wheel by pressing on dashpot 18, and then a suitable polishing direction is established manually for the first facet and the orbital position of the chuck relative to vertical axis 6 is manually set accordingly.
  • the automatic control sections A, B and C can be operated because the polishing directions for the remaining facets will all have fixed angular relationships 4 to that of the original facet which will be established by the control system.
  • Polishing of the first facet continues until the gem holder contacts the polishing wheel.
  • the holder has an electrical connect a through the chuck to section A of the control system, and the wheel also has a connection b to section A.
  • a circuit is established which through a suitable relay and a circuit C signals piston and cylinder 16 to rise, to lift the tang off the wheel.
  • section B of the control system When the tang has lifted, another relay, which could be operated directly from piston 16, activates section B of the control system to index the chuck about axis 10 through 45 degrees for polishing the succeeding facet, and to index the chuck about axis 6 by an amount suitable for establishing the correct polishing direction for this succeeding facet. Should a pair of succeeding facets be capable of being polished in the same direction or if the chuck is indexed about axis 10 in steps of more than one facet then the orbital position of the chuck would not be altered between succeeding polishing operations. This would be taken care of by suitable programming of section B of the control system. Any known form of automatic programmer can be used.
  • the programmer can be operated on a time base with controls d and 2 leading respectively to constant speed motors 8 and 20 adapted through the programmer to rotate the chuck about the respective axes for a set time.
  • the motors can be coupled to the chuck through speed reduction means.
  • section B When section B has completed the indexing movements of the chuck, it operates a further relay actuating section C of the control unit which signals cylinder 16 to lower and thus again bring the tang down onto the wheel to polish the next facet.
  • a relay operated by piston 16 can then again activate section A of the control unit so that when the holder again touches the wheel, signifying the completion of polishing of the second facet, the tang will again lift.
  • the process is automatically repeated for all eight facets.
  • a counting mechanism can be included in the control unit to stop the machine when all facets have been polished and/or to actuate a visible or audible signal on completion of all eight facets to alert the operator.
  • Apparatus for automatically developing a plurality of facets on a gem stone comprising a tang, a chuck mounted on the tang adapted to carry a gem stone or a gem stone in a holder with the stone axis inclined to the tang, the chuck being capable of rotational motion about the stone axis and orbital motion about another axis substantially perpendicular to the tang, means for lowering the tang towards a polishing surface, means for lifting the tang away from the polishing surface, first indexing means for rotating the chuck in faceting steps about the stone axis, second indexing means independent of the first indexing means for orbiting the chuck about said another axis to alter the polishing direction and automatic control means for repeatedly operating the lifting and lowering means of the first and second indexing means to successively develop a plurality of facets on the stone, the control means including means for automatically operating the tang lifting means when each facet has been polished to the same predetermined depth,means for automatically operating the first indexing means between each successive faceting operation
  • control means includes programmed means establishing a preset pattern of movements of the chuck about the stone axis and said another axis between successive faceting operations means for operating the first indexing means between each successive faceting operation and means for operating the second indexing means between at least some successive faceting operations if required in accordance with said pattern.
  • Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including means for continuously reciprocating the chuck over the polishing surface during polishing to effect the smoothing action.
  • Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the means of continuously reciprocating the chuck comprises automatically reversing motor means for reciprocating the tang in its longitudinal direction.
  • control means includes means establishing an electrical con- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1948 Spira 5l--229 8/1944 Simons 51-122 HAROLD D. WHITEHEAD, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Finish Polishing, Edge Sharpening, And Grinding By Specific Grinding Devices (AREA)
  • Grinding Of Cylindrical And Plane Surfaces (AREA)
  • Grinding And Polishing Of Tertiary Curved Surfaces And Surfaces With Complex Shapes (AREA)
US690915A 1966-12-20 1967-12-15 Gem stone polishing machine Expired - Lifetime US3520088A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB56978/66A GB1207315A (en) 1966-12-20 1966-12-20 Faceting gem stones

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3520088A true US3520088A (en) 1970-07-14

Family

ID=10478030

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US690915A Expired - Lifetime US3520088A (en) 1966-12-20 1967-12-15 Gem stone polishing machine
US40571A Expired - Lifetime US3624968A (en) 1966-12-20 1970-05-26 Gem stone polishing machines

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US40571A Expired - Lifetime US3624968A (en) 1966-12-20 1970-05-26 Gem stone polishing machines

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (2) US3520088A (fr)
BE (1) BE708308A (fr)
DE (1) DE1652184A1 (fr)
ES (1) ES349076A1 (fr)
FR (1) FR1548066A (fr)
GB (1) GB1207315A (fr)
IL (1) IL29123A (fr)
NL (1) NL6717191A (fr)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3650074A (en) * 1969-04-11 1972-03-21 Ernst Fr Weinz Methods and apparatus for cutting, grinding and polishing single-crystal workpieces
US3811229A (en) * 1973-03-05 1974-05-21 American Standard Inc Gem faceter
US3863395A (en) * 1974-02-19 1975-02-04 Shugart Associates Inc Apparatus for polishing a spherical surface on a magnetic recording transducer
US20060258266A1 (en) * 2005-05-15 2006-11-16 Noam Gleicher Apparatus and article for polishing gemstones
CN103842131A (zh) * 2011-08-31 2014-06-04 高知Ｆｅｌ株式会社 金刚石研磨机
CN107855910A (zh) * 2017-11-07 2018-03-30 中国兵器科学研究院宁波分院 双面抛光机驱动结构
CN108081082A (zh) * 2017-06-13 2018-05-29 晋江双吉装饰工程有限公司 一种石材打磨器
CN109567332A (zh) * 2018-12-27 2019-04-05 成都鑫扬锦睿合成材料有限公司 一种宝石加工圆棒治具及方法
CN112139926A (zh) * 2020-10-22 2020-12-29 方红兵 一种高效型水晶打磨抛光设备
CN113500501A (zh) * 2021-07-24 2021-10-15 深圳市宝丰首饰设备有限公司 基于珠宝加工的智能装配
WO2022192344A1 (fr) * 2021-03-11 2022-09-15 Board Of Trustees Of Michigan State University Appareil de polissage pour un polissage final de diamants

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2519172C3 (de) * 1975-04-30 1980-01-31 Ted Bildplatten Ag Aeg-Telefunken- Teldec, Zug (Schweiz) Bildplattenspieler mit einer Poliereinrichtung für den Abtaster
US4287687A (en) * 1978-04-26 1981-09-08 Wilson Hugh R Variable work holding device for grinding gemstones
GB2088759B (en) * 1980-11-26 1985-03-06 Gersan Ets Gemstone polishing machine
IL69576A (en) * 1982-09-16 1986-08-31 Colliva Giovanni Apparatus for the cutting of spherical-faceted gems and gems thus obtained
US4561215A (en) * 1984-03-26 1985-12-31 Rca Corporation Stylus lapping control
GB8408544D0 (en) * 1984-04-03 1984-05-16 Gersan Ets Working facets on gemstone
US4603512A (en) * 1984-12-24 1986-08-05 Rca Corporation Apparatus for lapping a facet on a tip of a workpiece
ZA885545B (en) * 1987-10-20 1989-04-26 Prodiamatic Cc A gemstone polishing machine
RU2187420C1 (ru) * 2000-11-22 2002-08-20 Олег Григорьевич Лысытчук Станок для ручной огранки драгоценных камней
CN103042462B (zh) * 2012-12-20 2015-09-09 方杰敏 一种精密数控双磨头宝石滚磨成型机

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2356184A (en) * 1942-06-03 1944-08-22 Simons Aaron Automatic facet forming machine
US2449423A (en) * 1943-09-01 1948-09-14 Spira Josef Hillel Bezel dop and grinding device

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2356184A (en) * 1942-06-03 1944-08-22 Simons Aaron Automatic facet forming machine
US2449423A (en) * 1943-09-01 1948-09-14 Spira Josef Hillel Bezel dop and grinding device

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3650074A (en) * 1969-04-11 1972-03-21 Ernst Fr Weinz Methods and apparatus for cutting, grinding and polishing single-crystal workpieces
US3811229A (en) * 1973-03-05 1974-05-21 American Standard Inc Gem faceter
US3863395A (en) * 1974-02-19 1975-02-04 Shugart Associates Inc Apparatus for polishing a spherical surface on a magnetic recording transducer
US20060258266A1 (en) * 2005-05-15 2006-11-16 Noam Gleicher Apparatus and article for polishing gemstones
CN103842131A (zh) * 2011-08-31 2014-06-04 高知Ｆｅｌ株式会社 金刚石研磨机
CN108081082A (zh) * 2017-06-13 2018-05-29 晋江双吉装饰工程有限公司 一种石材打磨器
CN107855910A (zh) * 2017-11-07 2018-03-30 中国兵器科学研究院宁波分院 双面抛光机驱动结构
CN109567332A (zh) * 2018-12-27 2019-04-05 成都鑫扬锦睿合成材料有限公司 一种宝石加工圆棒治具及方法
CN109567332B (zh) * 2018-12-27 2020-11-06 成都鑫扬锦睿合成材料有限公司 一种宝石加工圆棒治具及方法
CN112139926A (zh) * 2020-10-22 2020-12-29 方红兵 一种高效型水晶打磨抛光设备
WO2022192344A1 (fr) * 2021-03-11 2022-09-15 Board Of Trustees Of Michigan State University Appareil de polissage pour un polissage final de diamants
US11897087B2 (en) 2021-03-11 2024-02-13 Board Of Trustees Of Michigan State University Polishing apparatus for smoothing diamonds
CN113500501A (zh) * 2021-07-24 2021-10-15 深圳市宝丰首饰设备有限公司 基于珠宝加工的智能装配
CN113500501B (zh) * 2021-07-24 2022-06-17 深圳市宝丰首饰设备有限公司 基于珠宝加工的智能装配设备

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL6717191A (fr) 1968-06-21
ES349076A1 (es) 1969-04-01
US3624968A (en) 1971-12-07
BE708308A (fr) 1968-05-02
DE1652184A1 (de) 1971-01-14
GB1207315A (en) 1970-09-30
FR1548066A (fr) 1968-11-29
IL29123A (en) 1970-12-24

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