Apparatus for polishing gemstones

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for working gemstones. The apparatus comprises an abrading article and a rotatable support with a guiding feature for holding and rotating the article. The abrading article has a mounting bore substantially larger than the guiding feature. A balancing arrangement facilitates balancing of the article, and an abrading article removal tool is operative to remove the abrading article from the rotatable support.

1 ) An apparatus for working gemstones, comprising: 
 a) an abrading article having a mounting bore therein;    b) a rotatable support having a guiding feature, wherein said support holds and rotates said article, wherein the diameter of the mounting bore is substantially larger than said guiding feature;    c) a balancing arrangement for balancing said article upon said support; and    d) an abrading article removal tool for removing said abrading article from said rotatable support.    
   
   
       2 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said article is held against a force selected from the group consisting of magnetic forces, electromagnetic forces, and atmospheric pressure forces.  
   
   
       3 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said balancing arrangement is removably mounted on said apparatus.  
   
   
       4 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said balancing arrangement is fixedly mounted on said apparatus.  
   
   
       5 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said balancing arrangement provides said article with sliding movement on a surface of said rotatable support.  
   
   
       6 ) The apparatus of claims  5  wherein said sliding movement of the article on the surface of the rotatable support balances said article and said support.  
   
   
       7 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said balancing of the article and support is achieved without the addition of balancing masses.  
   
   
       8 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said abrading article removal tool removes said article from said support.  
   
   
       9 ) The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said abrading article has a diamond coated working surface.  
   
   
       10 ) An apparatus for working gemstones, comprising: 
 a) an abrading article;    b) a rotatable support possessing retention forces;    c) a balancing arrangement for balancing said article; and    d) an abrading article removal tool for removing said article from said rotatable support.    
   
   
       11 ) The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said abrading article has no mounting bore.  
   
   
       12 ) A method of mounting and exchanging abrading article on a rotatable support of a gemstone working apparatus, comprising 
 a) mounting the abrading article on the support;    b) balancing the article by sliding it in a proper position on the support;    c) polishing at least one gemstone facet on said article; and    d) exchanging said article.    
   
   
       13 ) The method of  claim 12 , wherein the following facets of said gemstone are polished on the exchanged article.  
   
   
       14 ) The method of  claim 12 , wherein polishing of the following facets of said gemstone on the exchanged article does not require gemstone leveling (See section 0024).  
   
   
       15 ) An apparatus for working gemstones, comprising: 
 a) an abrading article;    b) a rotatable support having a guiding feature for guiding said article, wherein the abrading article has a mounting bore substantially larger than said guiding feature; and    c) a balancing arrangement positioned on the apparatus for balancing said article.    
   
   
       16 ) The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said article is held by forces that are magnetic, electromagnetic or by atmospheric pressure.  
   
   
       17 ) The apparatus of  claim 15 , comprising a balancing arrangement for balancing said article.  
   
   
       18 ) The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising an abrading article removal tool for removing said abrading article from said rotatable support.