FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules 2003

PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
(see sections 10 & rule 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION
"MULTIPLE GEMSTONE PROCESSING MACHINE"

2. APPLICANT (S)
NAME NATIONALITY ADDRESS
SAHAJANAND TECHNOLOGIES Indian Sahajanand House, Parsi Street,
PVT LTD Company Saiyedpura, Surat-395003,
Gujarat, India
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTI ON
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
The following specification describes the nature of the invention

1 AUG 2008
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TECHNICAL FIELD:
The subject matter described herein, in general, relates to a machine for processing a plurality of gemstones and in particular, relates to a multiple gemstone processing machine.
BACKGROUND:
Typically, a raw gemstone i.e. a gemstone as found in its natural state has a highly irregular geometry and includes many contaminations. A series of steps are involved in processing the raw gemstone to obtain a finished gemstone. Major steps involved in the processing are planning, cleaving or sawing, bruting, polishing, and final inspection. A 3D profile of the raw gemstone is obtained during the planning process and a best shape for the finished gemstone to be cut from the raw gemstone is selected. Once the best shape of the gemstone is finalized, the gemstone is sent to sawing machine for sawing.
Precise sawing and bruting according to a selected best shape is especially important in case of gemstones, such as diamonds, where the monetary value of the gemstone depends on its size. To achieve precise cutting of a diamond, predetermined marking are made on the surface of the diamond prior to processing and actual processing of the diamond is performed in accordance with the markings.
Once the diamond is cut, it is sent to a bruting machine that brutes the girdle of the diamond. Conventionally, the bruting was done by rubbing the diamond with another diamond. With recent advancement in technology, numerous computer assisted systems are employed to cut and brute a diamond by laser. Such systems perform the various
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steps involved in the diamond processing. Such computerized laser cutting systems work effectively without or with very little human intervention.
Generally, a non-contact process is employed for sawing and bruting of a diamond. In the non-contact process, a laser beam is utilized for performing the desired function. The diamond sawing or bruting machines are calibrated in such a manner that the path of the laser beam is not affected. However, such machines can process one diamond at a time, which is time consuming and may delay the processing of the diamonds in line. Moreover, in case of an urgency of processing multiple diamonds, multiple sawing or bruting machines are required to be installed, which could be uneconomical and unaffordable to small and medium enterprises.
SUMMARY:
The subject matter described herein is directed to a multiple gemstone processing machine. The multiple gemstone processing machine includes a laser source for generating a laser beam. A first reflective member is provided on a first side of the laser source for completely reflecting the laser beam. A pair of beam benders is provided on the other side of the laser source for diverting the laser beam from a straight path. Preferably, the beam benders are positioned in such a manner that the laser beam follows a U-shaped path. The laser beam, diverted from the beam benders, is partially reflected by a second reflective member. The second reflective member allows a partial laser beam to pass through it for performing the desired processing operation by various operating assemblies.
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The gemstone processing machine utilizes a beam splitter that splits the laser beam into multiple beams and directs these beams to the operating assemblies. Each of the operating assemblies and includes the safety shutter that blocks the path of the laser beam. The safety shutter is a mechanical device that closes and blocks the laser beam in case of any electronic failure in the multiple gemstone processing machine.
By providing more than one operating assemblies, it is possible to process multiple diamonds at a time, thereby speeding up the processing of diamonds in an efficient and economical manner.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present subject matter will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified form. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
The above and other features, aspects and advantages of the subject matter will be better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
Fig. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a multiple gemstone processing machine in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
Described herein is a gemstone processing machine that is compact and efficient to performing various operations on a gemstone. For example and by no way limiting the scope of the present subject matter, the gemstone processing machine is a multiple gemstone processing machine. The multiple gemstone processing machine of the present subject matter includes a pair of beam benders for diverting a laser beam from a straight path. The laser beam in the present subject matter utilizes a beam splitter for splitting the laser beam into multiple beams and for directing these beams to different operating assemblies.
Fig. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a multiple gemstone processing machine 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter. The multiple gemstone processing machine 100 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of components. For example the multiple gemstone processing machine 100 includes a laser source 102. a front minor 104, a rear minor 106, a pair of apertures 108 and 110, a Q-switch 112, an expander 114, a polarizer 116, a pair of beam benders 118 and 120, a beam splitter 122, and at least one operating assemblies 124 and 126. The above mentioned components are disposed on a rail 128 that acts as a base for these components. Fig. lb illustrates a side view of the multiple gemstone processing machine depicting various components mounted on the rail 128.
In one preferred embodiment, the rear mirror 106, the rear aperture 110, and the Q-switch 112 are placed on one side of the laser source 102 whereas other components like polarizer 116, the front aperture 108, the front mirror 104, and the operating assemblies 124 and 126 are placed offset from the laser source 102.
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The laser source 102 generates a laser beam 130 that is to be used for processing of a diamond stone 132. The rear mirror 106, also referred to as a first reflective member hereinafter, is disposed on a first side of the laser source 102. The rear mirror 106 receives the laser beam 130 coming from the laser source 102 and is fully reflective i.e. it completely reflects the laser beam 130. In one preferred embodiment, the Q-switch 112 and the rear aperture 110 are positioned between the laser source 102 and the rear mirror 106. However, in other embodiments, the Q-switch 112 and the rear aperture 110 can be positioned anywhere between the front mirror 104 and the rear mirror 106. The Q-switch 112 is a device that produces a pulsed laser output by alternately blocking and unblocking the path of reflection of laser beam 130 between two mirrors. In other words, the Q-switch 112 stores the laser beam 130 and emits as a burst of high peak power. The aperture 110 controls the light amplification and provides the sharp frequency band i.e. the aperture restricts the path of reflection between the two mirrors 104 and 106.
A pair of beam benders 118 and 120 is provided on the second side of the laser source 102 to divert the laser beam 130 to the polarizer 116. In one preferred embodiment, the beam benders 118 and 120 are reflective mirrors. In the present embodiment, the laser beam follows a U-shaped path while passing from the laser source 102 to the polarizer 116.
The polarizer 116 converts the mixed polarization laser beam 130 into a single polarization beam. The polarized laser beam 130 from the polarizer 116 is directed to the front mirror 104, also referred to as a second reflective member hereinafter. The front mirror 104 is a partially reflective mirror i.e. the front mirror 104 allows only a partial laser beam 130 to pass through it.
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The laser beam from the partially reflective front mirror 104 is then directed to the operating assemblies 124 and 126 through the expander 114 for processing the diamond stone 132. The multiple gemstone processing machine 100 of the present subject matter includes two operating assemblies 124 and 126. However, more than two such operating assemblies can be used in a multiple gemstone processing machine 100 as obvious to a person skilled in the art.
The beam splitter 122 splits the laser beam 130 into two beams and directs these beams to the operating assemblies 124 and 126. Each of the operating assemblies 124 and 126 includes the safety shutter 134 that blocks the path of the laser beam 130. The safety shutter 134 is a mechanical device that closes and blocks the laser beam 130 in case of any electronic failure in the multiple gemstone processing machine 100.
The operating assembly 124 and 126 includes a plurality of components for processing the diamond stone 132 with the help of the laser beam 130. For example, the operating assembly 124 and 126 includes a beam bender 136, a focal lens 138, and a camera 140. The beam bender 136 diverts the laser beam 130 at 90 degrees to direct the laser beam towards the diamond stone 132 placed on a fixture 142. The diverted laser beam 130 is focused onto the diamond stone by means of the focal lens 138. The focal length of the focal lens 138 can be changed to alter the power density and depth of the laser beam 130. The camera 140 is used to monitor and optionally record the movement of the diamond stone 132 during processing.
The multiple gemstone processing machine 100 of the present subject matter can
be embodied in many other ways as would be clear to a person skilled in the art. To give
example, the beam bender 136 may divert the laser beam 130 at an angle other than 90
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degrees as obvious to a person skilled in the art. Similarly, the diamond processing machine as described above can be used for gemstone sawing, gemstone bruting and for other gemstone processing techniques.
A CNC interface is used to actuate the multiple gemstone processing machine 100. The inputs provided in the CNC interface decides the motion of the fixture 142 and hence the movement of the diamond stone 132 during processing.
The multiple gemstone processing machine of the present subject matter has many advantages, including those mentioned below. The multiple gemstone processing machine can process more than one diamond at a time, thereby reducing the inline time for processing a diamond. Thus, such a machine enables an efficient and timely processing of different diamonds at a time without a need to deploy different machines for processing each diamond, thereby making the machine economical and unaffordable. particularly to small and medium enterprises.
Although the subject matter has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other embodiments are also possible. As such, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiment contained therein.
Dated this 01 day of August, 2008
T. SRIN1VASAN Agent for the Applicant
T. SRIN1VASAN Agent for the Applicant To,
The Controller of Patents The Patent office at Mumbai
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