Centering apparatus for a gemstone
OwnerIlan Weisman, Roni Shapira +2inventors
InventorsIlan Weisman, Roni Shapira, Roni Shafir, Hanoh Shtark
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for sorting and centering unfinished gem stones for working in an automatic working machine includes the steps of viewing the stone in a direction parallel to the axis of centering and providing an image corresponding to the circumference thereof, superimposing the image on a reference center image, providing a reference circumference shape centered about the reference center, changing the relative size of the reference shape, preferably by computerized means, until it can fit within the image of the stone, and moving the stone until it is centered about the reference center.
Claims23
A method for sorting and centering unfinished gem stones comprising the steps of:
- viewing the stone in a direction parallel to the axis of centering and providing an image of the circumference thereof;
- superimposing the image of the circumference of the stone on a reference center image;
- providing a reference circumference shape centered about the reference center;
- adjusting the relative size of the reference shape until it can fit within the stone;
- and
- moving the stone until it is centered about the reference center.
A method for sorting and centering unfinished gem stones comprising the steps of:
- coupling a stone to an aperture in a base plate having suction means to retain the stone in place;
- viewing the stone in a direction parallel to the axis about which it is to be centered and transmitting an image signal corresponding thereto to the circumference thereof a computer to a screen for viewing;
- providing a reference center on the screen on which the image is superimposed, the reference center corresponding to the center of the aperture;
- providing a reference circumference shape on the screen centered about the reference center and superimposed on the stone image;
- varying the size of the reference shape until the largest shape which will fit inside the stone is determined;
- and
- moving the stone relative to the aperture until the stone image is centered about the reference center.
Apparatus to aid in manual centering and sorting of an unfinished gem stone comprising:
- means for viewing the stone in a direction parallel to the axis on which the stone is to be centered and providing an image corresponding to the circumference thereof to a computer and associated viewing screen;
- said computer comprising means for generating a reference center image, for providing a selected one of a plurality of reference circumference shapes centered about the reference center, and for superimposing the stone image on the reference center;
- means for automatically changing the size of the reference shape on command of an operator until it fits within the image of the stone;
- and
- means for providing an output signal corresponding to the final size of the reference shape.
Apparatus for centering and sorting unfinished gem stones comprising:
- a base plate defining at least one aperture coupled to a vacuum source, optical shape identification means for viewing a gem stone coupled to said aperture in a direction parallel to the axis about which said stone is to be centered and providing an output signal corresponding thereto;
- and
- computer means arranged for receiving said output signal and transmitting an image corresponding thereto to a visually observable monitor;
- providing a reference center on the monitor superimposed on said image;
- providing reference shapes corresponding to various configurations of circumferences of finished stones centered about the reference center and superimposed on said image with associated means for permitting alteration of the shape or relative size of the reference shape by an operator until the optimum size is reached;
- and
- receiving the signal corresponding to this shape and optimum size.
A method for sorting and centering unfinished gem stones comprising the steps of:
- viewing the stone in a direction parallel to the axis of centering and providing an image of the circumference thereof to a CPU in relation to said centering axis;
- automatically generating reference circumference shapes each centered about said centering axis;
- fitting within said stone image individual ones of said reference shapes until an optimal one thereof is determined;
- receiving a set of coordinates associated with said determined reference shape relating its displacement from said centering axis;
- and
- moving said stone towards the centering axis in accordance with said received set of coordinates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.