FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 OF 1970)
5 AND
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10; rule 13)
10
AUTONOMOUS GEMSTONE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD
15
20 Sahajanand Technologies Private Limited, a company organized and existing under the laws
of India, of A1, Sahajanand Estate, Vakhariawadi, Near Dabholi Char Rasta, Ved Road, Surat395004, Gujarat, India
25
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is
to be performed
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2
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present subject matter, in general, relates to automatic processing of gemstones and, in
particular, relates to an autonomous apparatus and method for processing gemstones.
BACKGROUND
5 Gemstones are naturally occurring deposits of minerals and include, for example, diamonds,
quartz, opals, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and topaz. Typically, gemstones are found in their
natural state and have highly irregular geometry. Since the gemstones are rare, they are
highly valued for use. The value grade, also referred to as commercial quality, of a gemstone
is generally assessed in accordance with weight, cut, clarity, color, luster and finish of the
10 gemstone. The value of a gemstone is also derived from manner in which it transmits, refracts,
or reflects rays of light.
For assessing the quality of a gemstone, the amount and type of impurities in the gemstone
are determined at an atomic level within the crystal lattice of carbon atoms. Based on amount
and type of impurities in a gemstone, diamonds are generally graded into four basic types,
15 namely type Ia, Ib, IIa, and IIb, and each grade is accordingly associated with a different range
of commercial value.
In order to obtain the best properties of a gemstone, it undergoes a series of processes like
planning, marking, cutting, bruting, faceting, conning, and polishing. The processing of the
gemstone imparts certain characteristics to a gemstone. For example, the value of a
20 processed gemstone is generally determined by the 4Cs, i.e., carat (weight), clarity
(transparency), color, and cut, which are directly or indirectly affected by the processing
techniques. Therefore, techniques for effective gemstone processing have been areas of
active research.
A rough gemstone may include structural imperfections, which may cause damage to the
25 gemstone while processing of the gemstone and may cause wastage of precious gemstones.
Such imperfections can include, for example, cracks, cleavages, knots, small included crystals
of different orientation with respect to the rest of the stone, or other internal physical defects
in some regions of the body. Usually, presence of structural imperfections within the
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gemstone is identified during planning phase in which the processing of the gemstone is
planned. The planning operation is a process in which the rough gemstone may be mapped
to develop a three-dimensional (3D) model depicting deformities and cavities on gemstone’s
surface. The 3D model of the rough gemstone may further be used to determine the number
5 of final gemstones, or planned gemstones, which can be produced from a rough gemstone
and also the geometry of each final gemstone, thus produced. The number, size and geometry
of the final gemstones determined during planning stage is determined keeping in mind
quality of gemstones to be determined and at the same time ensuring least wastage of
gemstone material
10 Based on the planning, the rough gemstone undergoes a cutting operation, in which the rough
gemstone may be cut based on a determined geometry of final gemstones to be produced.
Finally, the cut gemstone may be polished to obtain the processed gemstone.
Cutting of rough gemstones may depend on the structure and hardness of the rough
gemstone. Laser cutting technique is usually employed for cutting and shaping gemstones.
15 Generally, a gemstone cutting apparatus based on laser cutting technique may employ a laser
as a source for cutting the gemstones. Generally, prior to cutting of the gemstone, a rough
gemstone is aligned with respect to a point of reference in a gemstone cutting
apparatus. Conventional gemstone processing machines, particularly gemstone cutting
machines, are manually operated in which a user loads the gemstones into the machine and
20 sets a cutting plan. The cutting machine then performs the processing operation based on the
processing plan identified by the user. However, the conventional machines require manual
intervention of the user at regular intervals while the machine is in operation. Further, the
existing machines can process one gemstone at a time and the user operating said machines
is forced to sit idle and constantly monitor operation of the machines while the processing of
25 gemstone is in progress.
Conveyor assemblies are widely used to convey gemstone holders containing gemstones from
a feed area to a discharge area. A conveyor assembly may include a conveyor belt driven by
a set of pulleys to convey gemstones from the loading area to the discharge area. A conveyor
belt is a continuous moving strip or surface that is used for transporting objects or material
30 from one place to another constantly. The conveyor belt may be designed depending upon
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the size type and quantum of gemstones to be conveyed or transported. Generally, during
operation of the conveyor assembly, the gemstones are loaded either manually or with the
help of a loading machine. Thereafter, the conveyor belt transmits the gemstones from the
loading area to a discharge area where the gemstones are unloaded or transferred to the
5 cutting machine either manually, or with the help of an unloading machine. In the case of a
gemstone cutting machine, the discharge area of a conveyor assembly may be considered as
a location adjacent to the cutting machine. In some cases, the gemstones get unloaded from
the conveyor belt by simply falling off the end of the conveyor belt. However, such a task is
labor intensive, time-consuming and inefficient. Also, transfer of a gemstone from the
10 conveyor assembly to the cutting limits the throughput of the conveyor assembly as well as
the cutting machine.
Moreover, for holding and locating a rough gemstone in a gemstone cutting machine, the
rough gemstone is generally mounted on a gemstone holder. This gemstone holder
containing the rough gemstone is placed on a gemstone cutting machine so that the cutting
15 operation of the gemstone can be initiated. In conventional gemstone cutting machines, once
a rough gemstone mounted on the gemstone is cut to obtain one or more gemstone for
further processing like cutting, bruiting, shaping polishing etc., the cut gemstones are
dropped at a designated location in the gemstone cutting machine, from where the cut
gemstones are either picked up manually or conveyed to another machine for further
20 processing. Subsequently or simultaneously, the gemstone holder on which the rough
gemstone was mounted before cutting is also dropped at another location. Thereafter, the
cut gemstones as well as gemstone holder are collected either manually or conveyed to a
desired location.
However, sometimes it becomes difficult to track and correlate the final cut gemstones with
25 the rough gemstone from which these gemstones were derived. Further, conventional
conveying and transfer techniques for transfer of rough gemstones to a cutting machine are
ineffective and inefficient as those are largely dependent on human intervention. Further, the
techniques for placing a rough gemstone from the conveyor assembly at a desired location in
the cutting machine may not be accurate and require repeated adjustments. Furthermore,
30 one or more final gemstones obtained after cutting operation may be required to be
associated with the rough gemstone from which these were cut and also with the gemstone
5
holder on which said rough gemstone was mounted before performing cutting operation.
Moreover, collection of one or more final gemstones as well as the gemstone holder after
performing the cutting operation in a cutting machine is inefficient and time consuming,
further affecting the throughput of the gemstone. It may also be required to correlate the
5 final gemstones cut from a gemstone holder. However, conventional gemstone cutting
machines do not have this option and such correlation, if any, is possible manually. Even if
conventional gemstone machines are modified or configured to track the gemstones cut from
a gemstone holder, such tracking techniques would be inefficient, time consuming and prone
to error as they still would require human intervention. As can be seen from above, since the
10 steps involved in gemstone processing are manual-skill intensive and prone to errors, the
entire techniques of gemstone conveying, gemstone transfer and gemstone collection after
cutting are low on productivity.
In view of the above, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the
aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
15 SUMMARY
An object of the present subject matter to provide an efficient system and method for
conveying and transferring a rough gemstone into a cutting location in a cutting machine and
collecting the cut gemstones as well as the respective gemstone holder from the cutting
location.
20 Another object of the present subject matter is to provide an autonomous gemstone cutting
apparatus in which a rough gemstone is transferred into a cutting location in an efficient and
time sensitive manner.
Yet another object of the present subject matter is to provide an autonomous gemstone
cutting apparatus in which collection of one or more cut gemstones from a rough gemstone
25 as well as the gemstone holder on which the rough gemstone was attached before performing
the cutting is efficiently and simultaneously done.
Yet another object of the present subject matter is to provide an autonomous gemstone
cutting apparatus in which one or more cut gemstones from a rough gemstone as well as the
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gemstone holder on which the rough gemstone was attached before performing the cutting
can be efficiently correlated, tracked and tagged together.
Yet another object of the present subject matter is to provide an autonomous gemstone
cutting apparatus in which cutting of a rough gemstone is efficiently performed with
5 minimum requirements of setting and adjusting the gemstone.
Yet another object of the present subject matter is to provide an autonomous gemstone
cutting apparatus that automatically performs the steps of cutting rough gemstone, transfer
of rough gemstones to the cutting location and delivery of cut gemstones as well as
corresponding gemstone holders from the cutting location to the delivery station without any
10 manual intervention.
Yet another object of the present subject matter is to provide an autonomous gemstone
cutting apparatus that is capable of cutting multiple rough gemstones automatically without
any idling time required for monitoring operation of the autonomous gemstone cutting
apparatus.
15 Yet another object of the present subject matter is to provide an autonomous gemstone
cutting apparatus having an improved conveyor assembly for automatically conveying
gemstone holders containing rough gemstones to the cutting location in the autonomous
gemstone cutting apparatus and conveying cut gemstones and gemstone holders from the
cutting location to the delivery location.
20 Yet another object of the present subject matter is to provide an autonomous gemstone
cutting apparatus having high throughput.
Yet another object of the present subject matter is to provide an autonomous gemstone
cutting apparatus in which one or more cut gemstones as well as the gemstone holder on
which the rough gemstone was mounted before cutting are automatically collected together
25 and associated with each other.
Yet another object of the present subject matter is to provide an autonomous gemstone
cutting apparatus in which placement of the rough gemstone from the conveyor assembly at
a cutting location in the cutting apparatus is accurate and does not require repeated
7
adjustments. Yet another object of the present subject matter is to provide a gemstone
cutting apparatus that provides an efficient and time saving process of collection of one or
more final gemstones as well as the gemstone holder after performing the cutting operation.
The present subject matter relates to an autonomous gemstone processing apparatus
5 comprising a conveyor system for continuously conveying a plurality of gemstone holders
containing raw gemstones in the autonomous gemstone processing apparatus; and a
transport station for sequentially transporting the plurality of gemstone holders from the
conveyor system to a processing station for sequentially processing the plurality of raw
gemstones mounted on the plurality of gemstone holders, and for transporting the plurality
10 of gemstone holders back from the processing station to the conveyor system upon gemstone
processing.
In an embodiment, the autonomous gemstone processing apparatus comprises a gemstone
cutting apparatus.
In another embodiment, the conveyor system comprises a transport means for travelling in a
15 pre-determined path in a closed loop.
In yet another embodiment, the conveyor system comprises a plurality of gemstone holding
units for holding the plurality of gemstone holders containing raw gemstones.
In yet another embodiment, each gemstone holding unit comprises a gemstone seat portion
at the upper end for supporting the gemstone holder and a collection bin at the bottom end
20 for carrying the separated pieces of the processed gemstone.
In yet another embodiment, the autonomous gemstone processing apparatus further
comprises a belt and pulley mechanism for driving the conveyor system in the closed loop.
In yet another embodiment, the transport station comprises a robotic arm configured to
move in vertical direction and to rotate about its central vertical axis.
25 In yet another embodiment, the robotic arm comprises a gemstone carrying mechanism on
its either end for carrying the plurality of gemstone members from the conveyor system to
the processing station and vice versa.
8
In yet another embodiment, the gemstone carrying mechanism comprises a one or more
grippers for automatically holding and releasing the gemstone holders.
In yet another embodiment, each gemstone holder comprises a tapered or curved bottom
end along its length for easy insertion of the gemstone holder in the seat portion of the
5 gemstone holding unit as well as in the cutting fixture of the gemstone processing station, a
rotary indexing member for accurate positioning of the gemstone holder during positioning
of the gemstone holder in the seat portion of the gemstone holding unit, and a gemstone seat
at the top for securing the raw gemstone.
In yet another embodiment, the autonomous gemstone processing apparatus further
10 comprises a transfer member for transferring the separated pieces of the cut gemstone after
performing the cutting operation from the processing station to the collection bin of the
gemstone holding unit.
In yet another embodiment, the transfer member comprises a container having a low friction
inner bottom surface with a slope, a vibration mechanism and a funnel.
15 In yet another embodiment, the vibration mechanism is configured to vibrate the transfer
member for automatically shifting the separated pieces of the cut gemstone towards the
funnel due to slope of the bottom surface, and the funnel is configured to guide the separated
pieces of the gemstone into the respective collection bin of the gemstone holding unit.
In yet another embodiment, the autonomous gemstone processing apparatus further
20 comprises a processing means comprising one or more processors for operating the
components, assemblies, and sub-assemblies of the conveyor system, the transport station
and the gemstone processing station.
The invention also provides an autonomous gemstone processing method comprising the
steps of conveying, by a conveyor system, a plurality of gemstone holders containing raw
25 gemstones continuously in an autonomous gemstone processing apparatus; transporting, by
a transport station, the plurality of gemstone holders sequentially from the conveyor system
to a processing station for sequentially processing the plurality of raw gemstones mounted
on the plurality of gemstone holders; processing, by the processing station, the raw
9
gemstones mounted on the gemstone holders by cutting each raw gemstone into one or more
pieces; transporting, by the transport station, the plurality of gemstone holders back from the
processing station to the conveyor system upon completion of the step of gemstone
processing; and transferring the separated pieces of the cut gemstone from the processing
5 station to the conveyor system.
In an embodiment, the step of transporting the plurality of gemstone holders sequentially
from the conveyor system to the processing station comprises transporting the plurality of
gemstone holders sequentially from the gemstone seat portions of holding units
In another embodiment, the step of transporting the plurality of gemstone holders back from
10 the processing station to the conveyor system upon completion of the gemstone processing
comprises transporting the plurality of gemstone holders back from the processing station to
the respective collection bins of the holding units from which the respective gemstone
holders were picked up before gemstone processing.
In yet another embodiment, the step of transferring the separated pieces of the cut gemstone
15 from the processing station to the conveyor system comprises vibrating a transfer member
to automatically shift the separated pieces of the cut gemstone towards a funnel due to slope
of the bottom inner surface of the processing station and guiding the separated pieces of the
cut gemstone through the funnel to the collection bin of the gemstone holding unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
20 The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with
further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following
description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. These and other details of
the present invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which
are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which
25 drawings:
Figure 1 illustrates a front view of an autonomous gemstone processing apparatus in
accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
10
Figure 2 illustrates a left isometric view of an autonomous gemstone processing apparatus in
accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
Figure 2A illustrates a magnified view of the drive assemblies for rotational and vertical
movements of the robotic arm in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject
5 matter.
Figure 3 illustrates a right isometric view of an autonomous gemstone processing apparatus
in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
Figure 4 illustrates a left-side view of an autonomous gemstone processing apparatus in
accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
10 Figure 5 illustrates a right-side view of an autonomous gemstone processing apparatus in
accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
Figure 6 illustrates a top view of an autonomous gemstone processing apparatus in
accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
Figure 7 illustrates a rear isometric view of an autonomous gemstone processing apparatus
15 in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
Figures 8a to 8f depict rear view, side view, top view, bottom view, top isometric view and
bottom isometric view of the die carrying a raw gemstone in accordance with one
embodiment of the present subject matter.
Figure 9 illustrates an isometric view of a transfer station with funnel in accordance with one
20 embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following presents a detailed description of various embodiments of the present subject
matter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The embodiments of the present subject matter are described in detail with reference to the
25 accompanying drawings. However, the present subject matter is not limited to these
embodiments which are only provided to explain more clearly the present subject matter to
11
a person skilled in the art of the present disclosure. In the accompanying drawings, like
reference numerals are used to indicate like components.
The specification may refer to “an”, “one”, “different” or “some” embodiment(s) in several
locations. This does not necessarily imply that each such reference is to the same
5 embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of
different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.
As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms
as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms
“includes”, “comprises”, “including” and/or “comprising” when used in this specification,
10 specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or
components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,
integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will be
understood that when an element is referred to as being “attached” or “connected” or
“coupled” or “mounted” to another element, it can be directly attached or connected or
15 coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. As used herein, the
term “and/or” includes any and all combinations and arrangements of one or more of the
associated listed items.
The figures depict a simplified structure only showing some elements and functional entities,
all being logical units whose implementation may differ from what is shown.
20 The present invention relates to an autonomous gemstone processing apparatus that is
configured to process rough / raw gemstones with a minimum input of an operator. According
to a preferred embodiment, the autonomous gemstone processing apparatus comprises an
autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus. However, in another embodiment, the
autonomous gemstone processing apparatus may comprise an apparatus configured to
25 perform one or more other processes, including but not limited to bruting, shaping etc.
A raw gemstone in its natural state may be divided into two or more gemstones depending
upon the geometry of each final gemstone identified during planning process. A gemstone
may be understood as a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make
jewelry or other adornments. A raw gemstone is a rough gemstone that is available in nature
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and may include but is not limited to diamonds, quartz, opals, sapphires, rubies, emeralds,
and topaz.
The autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus according to the present subject matter is
configured to cut a raw gemstone into multiple pieces for producing multiple gemstones from
5 said raw gemstone. The present autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus is also configured
to remove undesired material from a raw gemstone when a single gemstone is desired from
the raw gemstone.
The autonomous gemstone processing apparatus according to the present subject matter
eliminates the need for constant monitoring of gemstone processing by an operator and
10 allows one operator to operate multiple apparatuses simultaneously. In an embodiment, an
average operator can operate up to four such autonomous gemstone processing apparatuses
simultaneously without any interruption. In another embodiment, an operator may be able
to operate more than or less than four autonomous gemstone processing apparatuses.
While the present embodiment is described with reference to a gemstone cutting apparatus
15 as the autonomous gemstone processing apparatus, it would be understood that the
autonomous gemstone processing apparatus can be configured as an apparatus used in other
processing steps of a gemstone, such as a gemstone bruting apparatus, a gemstone faceting
apparatus, a gemstone polishing apparatus etc., without deviating from the scope of the
present subject matter.
20 The autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus according to the present subject matter
comprises a conveyor assembly for conveying gemstone holders containing raw gemstones.
The conveyor assembly of the present subject matter is configured in a manner that it allows
for a continuous, undisrupted, and efficient feed of the gemstone holders without any
interruption or damage to the gemstones or gemstone holders.
25 The autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus according to the present subject matter is
configured to automatically feed gemstones affixed to respective gemstone holders to the
cutting location. The autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus overcomes the challenges
associated with conventional gemstone cutting machines and ensures that raw gemstones
13
are continuously fed and processed while the cut gemstones are continuously transferred out
safely with any interruptions.
In an embodiment, the raw gemstones are affixed to their respective holders and said
gemstone holders are mounted on gemstone holding units of a continuously moving conveyor
5 system. A transport station comprising a robotic arm is provided for transferring the
gemstone holders containing respective raw gemstone affixed thereto from the conveyor
assembly to a gemstone processing station of the autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus.
The gemstone processing station, upon receiving a gemstone holder containing raw
gemstone, performs cutting operation with the help of a cutting laser to cut the raw gemstone
10 into one or more pieces and detach all pieces of the gemstone from the gemstone holder.
These pieces of the gemstone get dropped in a container located below the gemstone
processing station. Meanwhile, the robotic arm of the transport station picks up the
gemstone holder without the raw gemstone from the gemstone processing station to place it
at the same gemstone holding unit of the conveyor system from where it was picked before
15 processing. Simultaneously, a new gemstone holder containing the gemstone is placed in the
gemstone processing station for cutting. Simultaneously or subsequently, the cut pieces of
the gemstone are transferred from the container to a bin in the same gemstone holding unit
where the gemstone holder is placed after processing gemstones. In an embodiment, the
gemstone holding unit comprises a gemstone seat portion on which the gemstone holder is
20 placed and the bin is located under the gemstone seat portion in the gemstone holding unit.
In an embodiment, an operator feeds a plurality of rough gemstones affixed to their
respective holders to the gemstone holding unit of the conveyor system. The feeding by the
operator is a one-time process and there is no further human intervention in the process of
gemstone cutting. After receiving the plurality of the rough gemstones affixed to holders, the
25 autonomous gemstone processing apparatus ensures uninterrupted supply and processing of
rough gemstones and delivery of cut gemstones. Thus, intervention by the operator is
eliminated during the gemstone processing and human dependency is substantially reduced.
Figures 1 to 7 illustrate different views of an autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus 100 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter. The autonomous gemstone
30 cutting apparatus 100 of the present subject matter comprises a plurality of components. For
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example, and by no way limiting the scope of the present subject matter, the autonomous
gemstone cutting apparatus 100 comprises a conveyor system 102 for continuously
conveying a plurality of raw gemstones attached to respective gemstone holders in the
autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus 100. In a preferred embodiment, the conveyor
5 system 102 comprises a transport means that travels in a pre-determined path in a closed
loop. In different embodiments, the transport means may comprise a conveyor belt
mechanism or a chain drive mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the transport means
comprises a chain drive mechanism comprising a chain member 102a that is configured to
travel in a pre-determined path in a closed loop.
10 In a preferred embodiment as depicted in Figures 1 to 7, the conveyor system 102 of the
present subject matter comprises a belt and pulley mechanism 103 to drive the conveyor
system 102 by rotating the transport means or chain member 102a in the closed loop. As
shown in Figures 2 to 7, the belt and pulley mechanism 103 comprises a drive pulley 103a
mounted on and rotated by a pulley drive 103b, a driven pulley 103c and a belt 103d that
15 surrounds the drive pulley 103a and the driven pulley 103b. In an embodiment, the pulley
drive 103b may comprise a stepper motor that provides high accuracy positioning over a short
distance and provides high torque even at low speeds. The pulley drive 103b rotates the drive
pulley 103a and the belt 103d transfers the rotational motion from the drive pulley 103a to
the driven pulley 103c. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in Figures 2 to 7, the drive pulley
20 103a is smaller in size than the driven pulley 103c. In other words, the diameter of the driven
pulley 103c is greater than that that the drive pulley 103a, which ensures that the driven
pulley 103c is rotated at a desired speed. Further, in an embodiment, the driven pulley 103c
is mounted on a rotatable shaft 103e provided at one end of the conveyor system 102 such
that driven pulley 103c is elevated and is in the same plane as that of the drive pulley 103a.
25 In a preferred embodiment, the driven pulley 103c is attached to the conveyor system 102 by
suitable means for rotating the conveyor system 102 in the closed loop.
In a preferred embodiment, the driven pulley 103c may be connected to the conveyor system
102 through the transport means. In this embodiment, the chain member 102a of the chain
drive mechanism is attached to the inner side of the conveyor system 102 that engages with
30 external spokes of a driving wheel (not shown) mounted on the rotatable shaft 103e for
transferring rotational motion from the driven pulley 103c to the conveyor system 102. A
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supporting spoked wheel 103f is provided on the other end of the conveyor system 102 that
also engages with the chain member 102a of the chain drive mechanism for providing motion
and tension to the conveyor system 102. In another embodiment, the driven pulley 103c may
be connected to the conveyor system 102 through a geared mechanism in which a gear
5 member (not shown) comprising external gears may be mounted on the rotatable shaft 103e
that engages with internal teeth (not shown) mounted on the inner side of the conveyor
system 102. In this embodiment, the chain member 102a of the chain drive mechanism may
be replaced with internal teeth. In other embodiments, any other mechanism may be
provided for transferring the rotational motion from the driven pulley 103c or the rotatable
10 shaft 103e on which the driven pulley 103c is mounted to the conveyor system 102. According
to a preferred embodiment, the conveyor system 102 further comprises a plurality of
gemstone holding units 104 mounted on the transport means 102a and travel in a predetermined path with the transport means 102a. In a preferred embodiment, each gemstone
holding unit 104 comprises a gemstone seat portion 106 for supporting a gemstone holder
15 108 carrying a raw gemstone and a collection bin 110 for carrying the sawed gemstone. In an
embodiment, the gemstone holding unit 104 comprises an elongated C-shaped member with
the gemstone seat portion 106 provided at the upper end and the collection bin 110 provided
at the bottom end. In an embodiment, the gemstone holder 108 for carrying a raw gemstone
is an elongated member that is removably mounted vertically in an opening provided in the
20 seat portion 106 of the gemstone holding unit 104.
In an embodiment, the gemstone holder 108 may also be referred to as an elongated die that
holds the rough gemstone. A preferred embodiment of the gemstone holder 108 according
to the present invention is shown in Figures 8a to 8f. As shown herein, each elongated die
108 comprises a tapered or curved bottom end 108a along its length for its easy insertion in
25 the opening provided in the seat portion 106 in an embodiment. In other words, each
elongated die 108 is tapered along its length or has a curve at its bottom, as shown in Figures
8a, 8b, 8e and 8f for the ease of placement of said elongated die 108 in the holder. In another
embodiment, the elongated die 108 may comprise other configuration or a combination of
multiple configurations for easy placement / insertion of the elongated die 108 in the opening
30 of the seat portion 106. In yet another embodiment, rotary indexing member 108b is provided
on each elongated die 108 for accurate positioning of the elongated die 108 during transfer
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of the elongated die 108 in the seat portion 106. In a preferred embodiment, gemstone holder
108 further comprises a gemstone seat 108c on which the raw gemstone is secured,
preferably stuck. In a preferred embodiment, the gemstone seat 108c is provided at the upper
end of the elongated die 108 and the raw gemstone may be by glue at the top of the gemstone
5 seat 108c in an orientation that enables optimum cutting of the raw gemstone during cutting
operation.
In a preferred embodiment, the gemstone holding units 104 are located adjacent to each
other so that the elongated die 108 containing the raw gemstone are sequentially brought to
a desired location in the autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus 100 for performing cutting
10 operation. The autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus 100 according to the present subject
matter further comprises a gemstone processing station 112 for processing the raw
gemstones. According to the present embodiment, the gemstone processing station 112
comprises a gemstone cutting station in which a raw gemstone is cut by means of a laser
beam. In a preferred embodiment, the gemstone processing station 112 comprises a fixture
15 114 that has a provision to hold the elongated die 108 carrying a raw gemstone in vertical
position when the gemstone is being cut such that the raw gemstone mounted on the
gemstone seat 108c is exposed to the laser beam.
According to a preferred embodiment, the autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus 100
further comprises a transport station 124 for sequentially transporting the elongated dies 108
20 carrying raw gemstones from the holding unit 104 of the conveyor system 102 to the
processing station 112. In a preferred embodiment, the transport station 124 comprises a
robotic arm 126 that is configured to rotate about its central vertical axis X by means of a first
drive mechanism 128 and is configured to move in vertical direction by means of a second
drive mechanism 129, as shown in Figures 2 and 2A. As shown herein, the first drive
25 mechanism 128 comprises but is not limited to a first belt and pulley arrangement 128B
operated by a first motor 128A. In an embodiment, the first belt drive mechanism 128B
comprises a first drive pulley (not shown) attached to the first motor 128A, a first driven pulley
(not shown) and a first belt B connecting the first drive pulley and the first driven pulley. The
first driven pulley of the first belt and pulley arrangement 128B is attached to a vertical single
30 shaft 128C in an embodiment and the vertical single shaft 128C in turn is attached to the
robotic arm 126. Therefore, once the first motor 128A is triggered, the rotational motion is
17
transferred to the vertical single shaft 128C through the first belt and pulley arrangement
128B, which in turn rotates the robotic arm 126. The first drive mechanism 128 further
comprises an encoder 128D that ensures correction in an error, if any, in belt movement of
the belt drive mechanism 128B with respect to the signal given by the motor 128A.
5 As shown in Figures 2 and 2A, the second drive mechanism 129 comprises but is not limited
to a second belt and pulley arrangement operated by a second motor 129A. In an
embodiment, the second belt and pulley arrangement comprises a second drive pulley 129B
attached to the second motor 129A, a second driven pulley 129C and a second belt (not
shown) connecting the second drive pulley 129B and the second driven pulley 129C. The
10 second driven pulley 129C of the second drive mechanism 129 is attached to a lead screw
129D in an embodiment and the lead screw 129D in turn is operatively connected to a
platform 129E on which the first drive mechanism 128 is mounted. Once the second motor
129A is triggered, the rotational motion is transferred to the lead screw 129D through the
second belt and pulley arrangement, which in turn moves the platform 129E linearly in the
15 vertical direction, thereby providing linear vertical motion to the robotic arm 126 during
operation.
Upon actuation, the drive mechanism 128 operates the robotic arm 126 to rotate said robotic
arm 126 about its central vertical axis X. In an embodiment, the robotic arm 126 comprises a
gemstone carrying mechanism 130 on either end for carrying the elongated die 108 from the
20 holding unit 104 of the conveyor system 102 to the fixture 114 of the processing station 112
and vice versa. The autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus 100 is configured such that the
robotic arm 126 is adjusted in the vertical position while carrying the elongated die 108 with
gemstone from the holding unit 104 and placing the said elongated die 108 in the fixture 114
of the processing station 112 for performing the cutting operation, and also while carrying
25 the elongated die 108 without the gemstone from the fixture 114 of the processing station
112 back to the seat portion 106 of the gemstone holding unit 104 after the cutting operation
has been performed. In other words, the robotic arm 126 is configured such that it first rotates
about its central vertical axis X so that the desired gemstone carrying mechanism 130 is
positioned adjacent to the gemstone holding unit 104. In an embodiment, the gemstone
30 carrying mechanism 130 comprises a gripping assembly for gripping the elongated die 108.
Once the elongated die 108 is gripped, the robotic arm 126 comprising the gemstone carrying
18
mechanism 130 is moved upwards so that the elongated die 108 gripped by the gemstone
carrying mechanism 130 is drawn out of the seat portion 106 of the gemstone holding unit
104. Once the elongated die 108 is drawn out of the seat portion 106, the robotic arm 126
rotates about the central vertical axis X to transfer the elongated die 108 picked up from the
5 seat portion 106 of the gemstone holding unit 104 towards the fixture 114 of the gemstone
processing station 112. At the same time, the fixture 114 shifts in the horizontal direction
towards the robotic arm 126 such that the elongated die 108 gripped by the robotic arm 126
is positioned above the fixture 114. In a preferred embodiment, the fixture 114 is mounted
on an XY linear stage and is capable of moving in X-direction, i.e., horizontal direction, and Y10 direction, i.e., vertical direction. In a preferred embodiment, the fixture 114 is configured to
move in XY plane independently from the conveyor system. The robotic arm 126 is then
moved downwards to locate the elongated die 108 on the fixture 114 of the gemstone
processing station 112. Thereafter, the robotic arm 126 moves upwards while the fixture 114
with the elongated die 108 comes back to its original position by moving in the horizontal
15 direction so that cutting operation can be performed in the processing station 112. In an
embodiment, the fixture 114 of the gemstone processing station 112 also comprises a fixture
seat (not shown) in which the elongated die 108 can be seated in the vertical position. The
vertical position of the elongated die 108 is the position of the elongated die 108 as shown in
Figures 8a to 8f. The tapered or curved bottom end 108a of elongated die 108 enables easy
20 insertion of the elongated die 108 in the fixture seat of the fixture 114 of the gemstone
processing station 112. For placement of the elongated die 108 in to the fixture 114 of the
gemstone processing station 112, the robotic arm 126 is lowered towards the fixture 114 such
that the elongated die 108 is automatically inserted in the fixture seat.
In an embodiment, each gemstone carrying mechanism 130 comprises a plurality of grippers
25 for gripping the elongated die 108. In an embodiment, the grippers of the gemstone carrying
mechanism 130 are configured to automatically hold or grip the elongated die 108 for picking
the elongated die 108 containing raw gemstone from the gemstone seat portion 106 and
automatically releasing the elongated die 108 containing raw gemstone while placing the
elongated die 108 containing raw gemstone in the fixture seat for performing the cutting
30 operation. In an embodiment, the grippers of the gemstone carrying mechanism 130 are
configured to automatically hold or grip the elongated die 108 for picking the elongated die
19
108 without raw gemstone from the fixture seat after the cutting operation has been
performed and releasing the elongated die 108 without raw gemstone while placing the
elongated die 108 without raw gemstone back into the same gemstone seat portion 106 from
which it was picked before cutting.
5 According to a preferred embodiment, the autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus 100 is
configured to pick the elongated die 108 carrying the raw gemstone from the holding unit 104
of the conveyor system 102 by means of a first gripper 130 of the robotic arm 126, place said
elongated die 108 containing the raw gemstone in the fixture 114 of the processing station
112, identify one or more cutting planes for cutting the raw gemstone, execute laser cutting
10 operation, and then place one or more pieces of the cut gemstone in the collection bin 110
of the same holding unit 104 from which the elongated die 108 carrying the raw gemstone
was picked up. In an embodiment, while performing the cutting operation, all the pieces of
the gemstone are cut and dropped in a transfer member 200 shown in figure 9, also referred
to as a transfer member. Simultaneously or subsequently, a second gripper 130 of the robotic
15 arm 126 picks up another elongated die 108 carrying another raw gemstone from the
adjacent gemstone holding unit 104 in the conveyor system 102. Once the cutting of the first
raw gemstone located in the fixture 114 of the processing station 112 is completed, the fixture
114 again moves towards the robotic arm 126 in the horizontal direction such that the first
gripper 130 of the robotic arm 126 is positioned above the fixture 114. The robotic arm 126
20 then moves downwards in the vertical direction to pick the first elongated die 108 with one
piece of the raw gemstone still attached to it from the fixture 114 of the processing station
112. Thereafter, the robotic arm 126 is rotated by about 180 degrees to place the second
elongated die 108 containing the second raw gemstone from the second gripper 130 into the
fixture seat. Simultaneously or subsequently, the first elongated die 108 carrying a piece of
25 the cut gemstone that is still stuck to the first elongated die 108 is picked up by the gripper
130 from the fixture 114 of the processing station 112 and placed at the same gemstone seat
portion 106 of the gemstone holding unit 104 from which it was picked up before gemstone
cutting.
In a preferred embodiment, the robotic arm 126 of the present subject matter comprises two
30 diametrically opposite grippers 130 located at about 180 degrees from each other. However,
more than two grippers may be provided in the robotic arm without deviating from the scope
20
of the present subject matter. Similarly, the robotic arm may contain only one gripper in an
embodiment.
In an embodiment, the autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus 100 comprises a processing
means comprising one or more processors for operating the components, assemblies, and
5 sub-assemblies of the conveyor system 102, the transport station 124 and the gemstone
processing station 112. According to a preferred embodiment, the processing means of the
autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus 100 is configured to operate the conveyor system
102 to bring the holding units 104 containing elongated dies 108 at a location from where the
transport station 124 can pick the elongated dies 108. In a preferred embodiment, the
10 processing means is also configured to operate the transport station 124 to pick the elongated
dies 108 carrying raw gemstones from the holding units 104 of the conveyor system 102 by
means of one of the grippers 130, place said elongated die 108 containing the raw gemstone
in the fixture 114 of the processing station 112, identify the cutting plane, execute laser
cutting operation, shift one or more pieces of the cut gemstone in the collection bin 110 of
15 the same holding unit 104 from which the die 108 carrying the raw gemstone was picked up,
and place the elongated dies 108 with a piece of the gemstone attached to said elongated die
after operation back to the same holding unit 104 of the conveyor system 102. In a preferred
embodiment, the processing means is also configured to operate the gemstone processing
station 112 for performing the cutting operation on the raw gemstone.
20 In an embodiment, the processor can be a single processing unit or a number of units, all of
which could also include multiple computing units. The processor may be implemented as
one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors,
central processing units, state machines, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate
signals based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the processor is
25 configured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions and data stored in a
memory. The functions of the processors may be provided through the use of dedicated
hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in association with appropriate
software.
In an embodiment, the processing means may further include one or more modules. The
30 module(s) may include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., which
21
perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. In an embodiment, the
processing means may include one or more interfaces having a variety of machine-readable
instructions-based interfaces and hardware interfaces that allow the processing means to
interact with different entities. The memory may be coupled to the processor and may,
5 among other capabilities, provide data and instructions for generating different requests. In
an embodiment, the memory can include any computer-readable medium known in the art
including, for example, volatile memory, such as static random-access memory (SRAM) and
dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), and/or non-volatile memory, such as read only
memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM, flash memories, hard disks, optical disks, and
10 magnetic tapes. The data serves, amongst other things, as a repository for storing data that
may be fetched, processed, received, or generated by one or more of the module(s).
According to a preferred embodiment, the processing means of the autonomous gemstone
cutting apparatus 100 is configured to operate timing of the conveyor system 102 such that
once a holding unit 104 carrying a gemstone holder approaches the gemstone picking
15 location, the movement of the conveyor system 102 is halted so that the robotic arm 126 is
able to grip and carry the elongated die 108 from the gemstone seat portion 106 of the
holding unit 104. The processing means is also configured to operate the robotic arm 126 such
that the robotic arm 126 carry the elongated die 108 from the gemstone seat portion 106 of
the holding unit 104 to the fixture 114 of the processing station 112 and vice versa. Further,
20 once the elongated die 108 containing the gemstone holder is placed in the fixture 114 of the
processing station 112, the processing means is configured to operate the processing station
112 for performing the cutting operation. In a preferred embodiment, the processing means
is also configured to dispense the cut gemstones from the processing station to the collection
bin 110 of the holding unit 104.
25 In an embodiment, one or more of the method(s) described herein may be implemented at
least in part as instructions embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and
executable by one or more computing devices. In general, a processor (for example a
microprocessor) receives instructions, from a non-transitory computer-readable medium, for
example, a memory, and executes those instructions, thereby performing one or more
30 method(s), including one or more of the method(s) described herein. Such instructions may
be stored or transmitted using any of a variety of known computer-readable media.
22
Before the operation of the autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus 100, a batch of a
plurality of gemstones mounted on their respective gemstone holders or elongated dies 108
is first loaded into a conveyor system of the autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus 100
and a cutting plan generated. The processing means automatically selects the cutting plane
5 in sequential order as per the gemstones loaded in gemstone holding dies. In an embodiment,
the autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus 100 is configured to load up to fifty gemstonesticked elongated dies 108 into the conveyor system. However, the number of elongated dies
loaded in the autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus may vary without deviating from the
scope of the present subject matter. In another embodiment, the cutting plan may be
10 generated separately and fed into the autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus. Once the
gemstones mounted on individual dies are loaded in the conveyor system of the autonomous
gemstone cutting apparatus, the autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus automatically
processes the loaded raw gemstones in respective elongated dies as per plan without any
human intervention.
15 In an embodiment, the autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus further comprises a transfer
member 200, as shown in figure 9, located below the fixture 114 of the gemstone processing
station 112 for transferring the separated pieces of the gemstone from the gemstone
processing station 112 to the respective collection bins 110 of the gemstone holding unit 104.
In a preferred embodiment, the transfer member 200 is configured as a bin or a container, as
20 shown in Figure 9. In a preferred embodiment, the bin or a container has a low friction bottom
surface 202 having a slope, a vibration mechanism and a funnel 204. The vibration mechanism
is configured to vibrate the transfer member 200 such that once the separated pieces of the
gemstone from the gemstone processing station 112 fall on the bottom surface of the transfer
member 200, said separated pieces automatically shift towards the funnel 204 due to the
25 slope of the bottom surface. The funnel 204 then guides the separated pieces of the gemstone
into the respective bin 110 of the gemstone holding unit 104. In particular, after completion
of cutting process of all planes or a completion of each cutting plane of the same stone, a Uaxis of the cutting fixture is rotated by the pre-determined degree. In an embodiment, the Uaxis of the cutting fixture is rotated by approximately 120 degree. However, this angle may
30 change in other embodiments. This leads to dropping of pieces of the cut gemstone on the
bottom surface 202 of the transfer member 200. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom
23
surface of transfer member 200 is covered with glass, to keep minimum possible friction when
the pieces of the cut gemstone are dropped on it. After rotation of the U-axis to approximately
120 degree, the vibration mechanism is triggered, thereby resulting in sliding of the pieces of
the cut gemstone into the funnel. In a preferred embodiment, vibration mechanism
5 comprises a vibration motor mounted on the transfer member 200 for vibrating the transfer
member 200.
The present subject matter also provides a method for processing raw gemstones in which a
plurality of elongated dies 108 with raw gemstones attached to them is loaded into a
conveyor system of an autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus 100 in a sequential order.
10 Simultaneously or subsequently, the cutting plan of raw gemstones generated in the planner
machine is fed into the autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus. The automatic operation of
the autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus 100 then starts in which the gemstone-stuck
elongated dies 108 move along a conveyor system 102. Once a first gemstone holding unit
104 containing a first gemstone-stuck die 108 arrives at the pickup station or location in the
15 conveyor system 102, a first gemstone carrying mechanism 130 comprising one or more
grippers of a robotic arm 126 of the autonomous gemstone cutting apparatus picks the first
elongated die 108 containing the first raw gemstone from the first gemstone holding unit 104
and places first elongated die 108 into a cutting fixture 114 of the gemstone processing station
112. Once the first raw gemstone is cut into one or more pieces, the pieces of said first raw
20 gemstone separated from the elongated die 108 fall into a transfer member 200 located
underneath the cutting fixture 114. In a preferred embodiment, the transfer member 200
comprises a low friction inner bottom surface 202 having a slope, a vibration mechanism and
a funnel 204 for transferring the separated pieces into the first collection bin 110 of the first
gemstone holding unit 104. While doing so, the conveyor system 102 is moved by a distance
25 so that the first gemstone holding unit 104 of the conveyor system 102 is aligned with the
outlet of the funnel 204 and the separated pieces of the first raw gemstone fall directly into
the first collection bin 110 of the first gemstone holding unit 104. Therefore, the gemstone
holding unit 104 from where the first elongated die 108 containing the first raw gemstone
was picked up by the robotic arm 126 moves to a location adjacent to the funnel outlet so
30 that the corresponding bin is located at the outlet of the funnel and the separated pieces of
24
the gemstone fall directly into the corresponding bin 110. In a preferred embodiment, a
unique bin is provided for each diamond to be cut.
Meanwhile, the second gemstone carrying mechanism 130 comprising one or more grippers
of the robotic arm 126 picks the second elongated die 108 containing the second raw
5 gemstone from the second gemstone holding unit 104 and places the second elongated die
108 into the cutting fixture 114 of the gemstone processing station 112. In the preferred
embodiment, the first gemstone holding unit and the second gemstone holding unit are
adjacent to each other in the conveyor system 102. In other words, the robotic arm 126 picks
the elongated dies 108 containing raw gemstone one by one from all adjacent gemstone
10 holding units.
Simultaneously or subsequently, the first processed die, i.e., the first elongated die carrying
one piece of the cut gemstone that is still stuck to it and remaining in the cutting fixture, is
picked up by the robotic arm 126 and placed at its initial location, i.e., in the gemstone seat
portion 106 of the first gemstone holding unit 104.
15 According to the present invention, in case the cutting plan fed into the autonomous
gemstone cutting apparatus does not match with the gemstone placed in the cutting fixture,
said gemstone-stuck die is designated as a rejected die by the processing means. Once an
elongated die is designated as a rejected die, the robotic arm 126 picks up the rejected die
from the cutting fixture and places it at its initial location in the conveyor system, i.e., the
20 gemstone seat portion 106 of the gemstone holding unit 104 from where it was picked up
initially before moving on to the next die.
While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described
hereinabove, it should be understood that various changes, adaptations, and modifications
may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the
25 appended claims. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the present invention
may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential
characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as
illustrative and not restrictive.
25
We Claim:
1. An autonomous gemstone processing apparatus comprising:
a conveyor system for continuously conveying a plurality of gemstone holders
containing raw gemstones in the autonomous gemstone processing apparatus; and a
5 transport station for sequentially transporting the plurality of gemstone holders from the
conveyor system to a processing station for sequentially processing the plurality of raw
gemstones mounted on the plurality of gemstone holders, and for transporting the
plurality of gemstone holders back from the processing station to the conveyor system
upon gemstone processing.
10
2. The autonomous gemstone processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises a
gemstone cutting apparatus.
3. The autonomous gemstone processing apparatus as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the
15 conveyor system comprises a transport means for travelling in a pre-determined path in
a closed loop.
4. The autonomous gemstone processing apparatus as claimed in any one of the previous
claims, wherein the conveyor system comprises a plurality of gemstone holding units for
20 holding the plurality of gemstone holders containing raw gemstones.
5. The autonomous gemstone processing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein each
gemstone holding unit comprises a gemstone seat portion at the upper end for supporting
the gemstone holder and a collection bin at the bottom end for carrying the separated
25 pieces of the processed gemstone.
6. The autonomous gemstone processing apparatus as claimed in any one of the previous
claims further comprises a belt and pulley mechanism for driving the conveyor system in
the closed loop.
30
26
7. The autonomous gemstone processing apparatus as claimed in any one of the previous
claims, wherein the transport station comprises a robotic arm configured to move in the
vertical direction and to rotate about its central vertical axis.
5 8. The autonomous gemstone processing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the
robotic arm comprises a gemstone carrying mechanism on its either end for carrying the
plurality of gemstone members from the conveyor system to the processing station and
vice versa.
10 9. The autonomous gemstone processing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
gemstone carrying mechanism comprises a one or more grippers for automatically
holding and releasing the gemstone holders.
10. The autonomous gemstone processing apparatus as claimed in any one of the previous
15 claims, wherein each gemstone holder comprises a tapered or curved bottom end along
its length for easy insertion of the gemstone holder in the seat portion of the gemstone
holding unit as well as in the cutting fixture of the gemstone processing station, a rotary
indexing member for accurate positioning of the gemstone holder during positioning of
the gemstone holder in the seat portion seat portion of the gemstone holding unit, and a
20 gemstone seat at the top for securing the raw gemstone.
11. The autonomous gemstone processing apparatus as claimed in any one of the previous
claims further comprises a transfer member for transferring the separated pieces of the
cut gemstone after performing the cutting operation from the processing station to the
25 collection bin of the gemstone holding unit.
12. The autonomous gemstone processing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the
transfer member comprises a container having a low friction inner bottom surface with a
slope, a vibration mechanism and a funnel.
30
13. The autonomous gemstone processing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the
vibration mechanism is configured to vibrate the transfer member for automatically
27
shifting the separated pieces of the cut gemstone towards the funnel due to slope of the
bottom surface, and the funnel is configured to guide the separated pieces of the
gemstone into the respective collection bin of the gemstone holding unit.
5 14. The autonomous gemstone processing apparatus as claimed in any one of the previous
claims further comprises a processing means comprising one or more processors for
operating the components, assemblies, and sub-assemblies of the conveyor system, the
transport station and the gemstone processing station.
10 15. An autonomous gemstone processing method comprising the steps of:
conveying, by a conveyor system, a plurality of gemstone holders containing raw
gemstones continuously in an autonomous gemstone processing apparatus;
transporting, by a transport station, the plurality of gemstone holders sequentially
from the conveyor system to a processing station for sequentially processing the plurality
15 of raw gemstones mounted on the plurality of gemstone holders;
processing, by the processing station, the raw gemstones mounted on the
gemstone holders by cutting each raw gemstone into one or more pieces;
transporting, by the transport station, the plurality of gemstone holders back from
the processing station to the conveyor system upon completion of the step of gemstone
20 processing; and
transferring the separated pieces of the cut gemstone from the processing station
to the conveyor system.
16. The autonomous gemstone processing method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step
25 of transporting the plurality of gemstone holders sequentially from the conveyor system
to the processing station comprises transporting the plurality of gemstone holders
sequentially from the gemstone seat portions of holding units.
17. The autonomous gemstone processing method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step
30 of transporting the plurality of gemstone holders back from the processing station to the
conveyor system upon completion of the gemstone processing comprises transporting
the plurality of gemstone holders back from the processing station to the respective
28
collection bins of the holding units from which the respective gemstone holders were
picked up before gemstone processing.
18. The autonomous gemstone processing method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step
5 of transferring the separated pieces of the cut gemstone from the processing station to
the conveyor system comprises vibrating a transfer member to automatically shift the
separated pieces of the cut gemstone towards a funnel due to slope of the bottom inner
surface of the processing station and guiding the separated pieces of the cut gemstone
through the funnel to the collection bin of the gemstone holding unit