Gemstone machining center and/or method

Abstract

A gemstone machining center includes a set-up station adapted to deliver onwards loaded-dops each comprising a dop holder and a gemstone bonded to the dop holder, a bruting/cutting station for receiving loaded-dops from the set-up station, and at least one polishing station for receiving gemstones after being detached from their dop holders.

1 . A gemstone machining center comprising:
 a set-up station adapted to deliver onwards loaded-dops each comprising a dop holder and a gemstone bonded to the dop holder,   a bruting/cutting station for receiving loaded-dops from the set-up station, and   at least one polishing station for receiving gemstones after being detached from their dop holders.   
     
     
         2 . The gemstone machining center of  claim 1  and being of a transfer type comprising a combination of individual stations, arranged in sequence and connected by work transfer devices. 
     
     
         3 . The gemstone machining center of  claim 2 , wherein the set-up station comprising a loading section and a curing section. 
     
     
         4 . The gemstone machining center of  claim 3 , wherein the loading section is arranged to receive capsules each comprising a gemstone cemented to its respective dop holder and the curing section being arranged to harden the cement attaching each gemstone to its dop holder to form loaded-dops. 
     
     
         5 . The gemstone machining center of  claim 4  and comprising a conveyer belt for carrying the dop holders with cemented gemstones through the curing section. 
     
     
         6 . The gemstone machining center of  claim 1 , wherein the bruting/cutting station comprises an incoming hub for receiving loaded-dops from the set-up station. 
     
     
         7 . The gemstone machining center of  claim 6 , wherein the bruting/cutting station comprises a holder center for clamping onto a loaded-dop and at least one bruting/cutting site for machining the gemstone of the loaded-dop. 
     
     
         8 . The gemstone machining center of  claim 7 , wherein the holder center comprises a centering arrangement for centering a gemstone to be machined along an axis of rotation of the holder about which the gemstone is arranged to rotate during machining. 
     
     
         9 . The gemstone machining center of  claim 8 , wherein the bruting/cutting station is arranged to perform girdle and/or pavilion machining action(s) to the gemstone. 
     
     
         10 . The gemstone machining center of  claim 1 , wherein transfer from the bruting/cutting station to the at least one polishing station comprises dissolving and/or removing the glue/cement holding a gemstone of a loaded-dop in its dop holder. 
     
     
         11 . The gemstone machining center of  claim 10 , wherein holding onto a gemstone after removing the glue/cement is by suction applied from a side of a machine/holder of the at least one polishing station holding onto the gemstone. 
     
     
         12 . The gemstone machining center of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one polishing station comprises a clamp and the clamp being arranged to apply a clamping force to secure the gemstone against the machine/holder after initially holding onto the gemstone by suction, wherein preferably the clamp is applied during machining/bruting/polishing possibly when suction is shut-down. 
     
     
         13 . A capsule securing a gemstone for use in a gemstone machining center, the capsule comprising:
 a dop-holder and a gemstone secured to an upper tip of the holder,   a base, and a lower side of the dop holder being placed on the base, and   a sleeve extending up from the base and formed about the dop-holder,   wherein   the sleeve comprises an opening through the sleeve to permit viewing and/or physical access to the gemstone from outside.   
     
     
         14 . The capsule of  claim 13 , wherein the tip comprises a small recess and the gemstone overlays the recess, and the capsule possibly comprising cement for securing the gemstone to the tip of the holder. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The capsule of  claim 13  and comprising a retaining mechanism for bearing downwards upon the gemstone to press the gemstone against the dop-holder. 
     
     
         20 . A method for transferring a gemstone between machining/polishing stations comprising the steps of:
 providing a source machining/polishing station initially holding onto a gemstone,   providing a destination machining/polishing station comprising a dedicated seat arranged for receiving the gemstone,   urging at least one of the source and destination machining/polishing stations towards each other to bring the gemstone into contact with the dedicated seat, and   applying suction at the dedicated seat to at least temporarily hold onto the gemstone.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the destination machining/polishing station comprises a clamp for applying a clamping force against the gemstone to securely press it against the dedicated seat. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein suction initially holds onto the gemstone until the force by the clamp is applied against the gemstone, and possibly suction is terminated after clamping is applied. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  and comprising an indexing step of rotating the dedicated seat when already seating a gemstone to position a new region of the gemstone at a position suitable for machining/polishing, wherein the indexing step comprises: applying suction at the dedicated seat, retreating the clamp away from applying the clamping force against the gemstone and then rotating the dedicated seat, and possibly re-applying the clamping force by the clamp against the gemstone after rotation is completed 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  and comprising a step of providing a tool changer for changing the type of dedicated seat and/or clamp at the destination machining/polishing station prior to receiving a gemstone, for example according to the geometry of gemstone being transferred to the destination machining/polishing center.