US 5,325,840 AGranted

Watch crystal cutting machine

OwnerHenry V. Schohlinventor

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Abstract

A pattern holding assembly and a crystal material holding assembly are paired on opposed ends of a shaft passing transversely through a base unit such that the pattern and the crystal material are simultaneously rotated with a driven shaft through 360 degrees of angle, or multiples thereof, by an exterior drive mechanism. A second shaft, directed through the base unit to be parallel to the first axis, and to pivot about its longitudinal axis, is adapted to carry a stylus bit for tracing the pattern and a cutter bit for scribing the pattern onto the crystal material. The two shafts are offset sufficiently to enable rotation of the second shaft to completely follow the pattern, the stylus and the cutter bit being continuously in transverse alignment. Provision is made for holding and releasing both the pattern and for the crystal material, and for translating the stylus and cutter shaft longitudinally to enable engagement of the stylus into the pattern, and then for engaging the cutter bit onto the crystal material with an appropriate inscribing pressure.

A watch crystal material inscribing mechanism, comprising:

a base unit, having a width, an elevation, and a horizontal depth, providing structural support, from a substantially horizontal planar surface;
a driven shaft, extending through the width of the base unit and outwardly beyond the width of the base unit, said driven shaft being journalled through the base unit to enable driven rotation of the driven shaft about a longitudinal axis thereof;
means, supported by, and coupled to, a first end of the driven shaft so as to rotate therewith, for releasably clamping and holding an appropriately sized blank of planar mineral glass crystal material;
means, supported by, and coupled to, a second end of the driven shaft, obverse to said first end, so as to rotate with said driven shaft, for releasably clamping and holding a desired watch bezel pattern;
a cutter/stylus shaft, extending parallel to said driven shaft appropriately outwardly beyond the width of the base unit, said cutter/stylus shaft being journalled through the base unit to enable manual pivoting of the cutter/stylus shaft about a longitudinal axis thereof, said cutter/stylus shaft being further adapted to be translatable along its longitudinal axis between a plurality of lockable positions therealong;
means, supported by, and coupled to, a first end of the cutter/stylus shaft, on a same side of the base unit as the first end of the driven shaft, and extending perpendicularly from the cutter/stylus shaft for releasably holding a crystal material inscribing tool against the surface of the crystal material throughout inscription of a desired pattern;
means, support by, and coupled to, a second end of the cutter/stylus shaft, obverse to said first end thereof, for following the watch crystal bezel pattern, said means extending perpendicularly from the cutter/stylus shaft, parallel to said means for releasably holding an inscribing tool, said means for following the shape of the watch crystal bezel pattern extending from the cutter/stylus shaft through a distance enabling the entire bezel pattern to be followed by pivoting of the cutter/stylus shaft;
and
means for driving said driven shaft through at least one complete revolution.

6 more elements

Abstract

Claims20