Process for diamond covering bodies having essentially a spherical or prismatic shape, being used in jewelry and a machine to carry out said process

Abstract

Process for diamond covering bodies of substantially spherical or prismatic shape being used in jewelry, of the type which does not require removal of material are described. The single object is deposited within a seat which acts as a container and is successively subjected to a punching action. The process is characterized by the fact that the single object is automatically positioned at each punching action with a different portion of the surface of the object to be diamond covered.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Automatic processes for diamond covering essentially spherical objects such as small balls, polyhedral objects, anyhow prismatic such as bars, tubes, straps, chains and similar objects for use in the jewelry field of the type which avoids the removal of any material, in which a single object is deposited within a seat as a container and afterwards the same object is subjected to a punching action whereby a plurality of microcavities is generated on the surface of said object whereby the surfaces of each cavity are differently oriented thus increasing the plays of light, characterized by the fact that a single object is positioned automatically at each punching action with a different portion of its surface up to a complete treatment of the entire surface being diamond covered.  
     
     
         2 . A process according to  claim 1  characterized by the fact that the different automatic positioning of said object in the seat prior to each punching action occurs due to fact that said object is immersed in a turbulent flux of compressed air.  
     
     
         3 . A process according to  claim 1  characterized by the fact that the different automatic positioning of said object in the seat prior to each punching action occurs due to the fact that the base of the seat which contains said object is made of a material which has a certain amount of elasticity, even a minimum amount.  
     
     
         4 . A process according to  claim 1 , characterized by the fact that during the punching action, the object to be diamond covered which has a spherical or anyhow a polyhedral shape so that it may be called with the generic term a small ball, said ball is pushed upwardly in order to continuously bounce against the punching tool because of the combined effect of two actions, one action due to the turbulent motion of the compressed air and another action due to the reaction of the base which is slightly elastic and said ball after each punching is pushed downwardly by the vibrating motion of the top of said punching tool.  
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 4 , characterized by the fact that during the upward and downward micromotion of the ball within the seat containing the ball, said ball rotates on itself in casual manner whereby said ball offers to the punching tool a different and new surface to be punched whereby after a determined number of punching established by the operator the entire surface is completely diamond covered.  
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 3 , characterized by the fact that during the punching action the ball remains still and the pushing force of the tool on the surface of the ball which is necessary to generate the microcavity pushes the ball against the base and the base undergoes a micrometric deformation.  
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 6 , characterized by the fact that at the end of each punching action, when the tool moves away from the surface of the ball, the ball remaining free is projected upwardly by the push generated by the elastic action of the deformed base whereby during the motions upwardly and downwardly, the ball rotates on itself whereby the ball is deposited again on the base in a position different from the preceding one thus offering to the tool a new portion of surface to be punched.  
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 7 , characterized by the fact that the degree of rotation of said object on itself is casual and different in each action whereby after a certain number of punching, established by the operator, the entire surface is completely diamond covered.  
     
     
         9 . A machine for diamond covering bodies which have a spherical or polyhedral shape which may be called with the generic term small balls, characterized by the the fact that it comprises a storehouse ( 7 ) for balls ( 1 ) to be diamond covered, conduit ( 8 ) provided with pneumatic bulkheads ( 9 ) whereby the balls are deposited singularly within seat ( 2 ), said seat being capable of undergoing a displacement due to the action of a pneumatic cylinder ( 10 ) whereby each ball ( 1 ) is positioned corresponding to punch ( 4 ) above the elastic base ( 3 ) and after the punching operation of the entire surface of the ball has ended, the seat is displaced further to unload the ball into collector ( 11 ).  
     
     
         10 . The machine for diamond covering bodies having a prismatic shape with a substantially circular section as bars, threads, tubes and similar bodies, functioning to carry out the process according to  claim 1 , characterized by the fact that body ( 1 .A) located within seat ( 20 ) is placed in motion in order to offer always a new portion of the surface of said body to the punch ( 4 ) due to the action of two wheels ( 30 ) disposed with the axes of rotation arranged reciprocally which do not belong to the same plane whereby said object ( 1 ) has a combined motion of axial advance associated with axial rotation.  
     
     
         11 . The machine for diamond covering bodies which have a prismatic shape having a substantially planar section such as straps, ribbons, chains and similar articles, functioning according to the process described in  claim 1 , characterized by the fact that body ( 1 .B) located within seat ( 20 ) offers always a new portion of the surface of the body to the punch ( 4 ) due to the combined action of the axial displacement of said body due to the pulling wheels ( 60 ) associated with the special displacement of the apparatus.  
     
     
         12 . The machine for diamond covering bodies which have an annular shape, eventually hollow, such as rings, bracelets and similar articles, functioning according to a process according to  claim 1 , characterized by the fact that body ( 1 .C) is mounted on a hub ( 70 ) and is placed in motion in order to offer always a new portion of the surface of said body to the punching apparatus ( 4 ) due to a combined motion of axial advance associated with axial rotation of said hub ( 70 ).  
     
     
         13 . The machine for diamond covering bodies which have an annular or toroidal shape, according to  claim 12 , characterized by the fact that the insertion between hub ( 70 ) and the annular object ( 1 .C) is made with a material having a certain amount of elasticity, even of minimum value.  
     
     
         14 . The machine according to  claim 9 , characterized by the fact that the seat containing the object to be diamond covered is made of a material as PVC or similar material which has a significant hardness value but does not harm the diamond covered surface of the object which moves in the interior of said container.  
     
     
         15 . The machine according to  claim 10 , characterized by the fact that the seat containing the object to be diamond covered is made of a material as PVC or similar material which has a significant hardness value but does not harm the diamond covered surface of the object which moves in the interior of said container.  
     
     
         16 . The machine according to  claim 11 , characterized by the fact that the seat containing the object to be diamond covered is made of a material as PVC or similar material which has a significant hardness value but does not harm the diamond covered surface of the object which moves in the interior of said container.  
     
     
         17 . The machine according to  claim 12 , characterized by the fact that the seat containing the object to be diamond covered is made of a material as PVC or similar material which has a significant hardness value but does not harm the diamond covered surface of the object which moves in the interior of said container.  
     
     
         18 . The machine according to  claim 13 , characterized by the fact that the seat containing the object to be diamond covered is made of a material as PVC or similar material which has a significant hardness value but does not harm the diamond covered surface of the object which moves in the interior of said container.