Machine and method for manufacturing pieces of jewellery

Abstract

A machine for the automated manufacturing of pieces of jewellery, in particular jewellery chains, where each said piece of jewellery comprises an elongate member having a first end, said machine comprising: a cutting machine configured to automatically cut the elongate member of each said piece of jewellery from an unbroken elongate member; a crimping mechanical portion configured to automatically crimp an end portion of each cut elongated member and / or to crimp a spacer member to each cut elongated member at a desired position of the elongated member; a chamfering mechanical portion configured to reshape an outer surface of the end cap; and an induction welding mechanical portion configured to automatically inductively weld the end cap to each of the cut elongated members.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to machines and methods for the automated manufacture of jewelry pieces, particularly jewelry chains, potentially flexible jewelry chains. Background Art

[0002] Jewelry such as bracelets and necklaces traditionally include one or more elongated members that are used to hold decorative components (such as beads or ornaments) thereon. The elongated member may be a chain, wire, string, thread, or the like.

[0003] The jewelry production process typically includes the front-end process and the finishing process. During the front-end process, the rubber is usually molded, the wax is injected and mixed, and then dewaxed. Subsequently, casting is performed, followed by the cleaning process and cutting process.

[0004] After that, the finishing process takes place, where the item is ground, polished, assembled and tumbled. The next step is the soldering process, followed by gem setting, enamel coating and electroplating.

[0005] The production process involves several steps, many of which require manual labor. Handcrafting is typically done manually, with skilled operators involved throughout the entire process. The manual assembly and finishing of numerous jewelry pieces is labor-intensive and associated with long production times, high electricity consumption, and, consequently, increased CO2 emissions.

[0006] Conventional cutting of elongated members, such as chain, involves placing the chain on a cutting board, manually checking the chain dimensions, and manually cutting to the desired length, followed by manual inspection.

[0007] Conventional finishing processes for the end portions of the chain typically include manually grinding the end portion and manually reshaping the end portion to the desired finish.

[0008] If external components are to be crimped onto the chain, the chain should be manually aligned, marked at the desired crimping locations, crimped, and then manually inspected.

[0009] In the case of manual soldering, the operator would have to hold the items in position and apply a relatively wide, high-temperature flame to the spaced-apart joints to be joined. Consequently, this method requires a skilled operator, and even then, particular care must be taken to ensure that adjacent areas of the jewelry item (such as the chain itself, its ornaments, or the spring rings) are not exposed to the flame for an excessive length of time, thereby annealing or discoloring them.

[0010] In addition to the skills required for these manual processes, manual operations also have the inherent disadvantages of being relatively slow, difficult to control, and having variable, uneven results in terms of the quality of the final product.

[0011] Examples of jewelry chains are disclosed in US 7,007,507 B2 or WO 2021197656 A1. SUMMARY

[0012] It can therefore be an object of the inventive concept of the present disclosure to provide an automated machine and a method for accelerating the time required for the finishing process of a jewelry piece, thus improving the accuracy of the final product and the safety of the manufacturing process.

[0013] It can be a further object of the inventive concept of the present disclosure to provide a machine and a method that allow significant energy savings and / or an increase in the productivity of the manufacturing process and / or a reduction in the number of defective jewelry pieces produced.

[0014] It can be a further object of the present concept to provide a jewelry piece produced by a manufacturing process in which a plurality of jewelry articles can be sequentially welded, chamfered and crimped.

[0015] The machine and the method disclosed herein can satisfy one or more of these and other objects.

[0016] There is hereby disclosed a machine for the automated manufacturing of jewelry pieces, in particular jewelry chains, wherein each of said jewelry pieces comprises an elongated member having a first end, the machine comprising: a cutting mechanical portion configured to automatically cut each of said jewelry pieces from an endless elongated member; a crimping mechanical portion configured to automatically crimp the end of each cut elongated member and / or to crimp a spacer part to each cut elongated member at a desired location of said elongated member; a chamfering mechanical portion configured to reshape the outer surface of the end cap; and an induction welding mechanical portion configured to automatically induction weld said end cap to each cut elongated member.

[0017] In this context, the machine comprises several different mechanical portions, so it can also be considered as a system.

[0018] The order of the manufacturing steps can be changed so that cutting, crimping, chamfering and induction welding can be performed in a different order in the machine and the method provided herein.

[0019] The machine can further comprise a control unit configured to receive user settings and operate the control means so that the control means are adapted to control the mechanical portions, so the mechanical portions are automated according to the signals from the user settings.

[0020] In an embodiment, the time required to process a jewelry piece in any of the induction welding, chamfering, crimping, and chain cutting mechanisms is less than 11 seconds. This can be attributed to the automation of manufacturing steps and / or to components that automate the manufacturing process (i.e., are configured to receive automation settings and execute or operate the automated steps). This can be understood as a cycle time of less than 11 seconds for each mechanism. The cycle time is the time required to complete the cutting, crimping, induction welding, and / or chamfering process of a jewelry piece in any of the corresponding mechanisms.

[0021] In one embodiment, the machine further comprises a first feeder configured to automatically feed the continuous elongated member to a cutting mechanism, wherein the cutting mechanism comprises an automated gripper configured and shaped to engage a free end of the continuous elongated member to retain a portion of the continuous elongated member. The cutting mechanism comprises a cutting tool adapted and shaped to automatically perform the cutting of each elongated member of the jewelry piece from the continuous elongated member. The first feeder and / or the cutting tool are automated according to predefined settings (e.g., the length of each elongated member of the jewelry piece). The machine further comprises a second feeder configured to automatically feed the cut elongated members to the crimping mechanism, and potentially a third feeder configured to automatically feed the spacer components to the crimping mechanism. The crimping mechanism comprises a crimping tool adapted and shaped to automatically perform the crimping of the elongated member or the spacer components. The second feeder, the crimping tool, and possibly the third feeder are automated according to predefined settings (such as the crimped spacer components to the desired position on the elongated member). The machine includes a fourth feeder configured to automatically feed the crimped elongated member to the induction welding mechanical part. The machine further includes a fifth feeder configured to automatically feed the end caps and / or welding rods to the induction welding mechanical part. The induction welding mechanical part includes a welding module that is suitable and shaped to automatically perform the induction welding. The induction welding mechanical part includes a detection module and an optional unloading tray that is used to automatically test the tensile strength of the welded portion of the elongated member. The operation of the fifth feeder, the welding module, and the unloading tray is automated according to predefined settings. The machine includes a sixth feeder configured to feed the elongated member and / or the end caps to the chamfering mechanical part. The chamfering machine includes a chamfer cutting tool and an optional unloading tray. The chamfer cutting tool is adapted and shaped to chamfer the surface of injection-welded elongated components. The feeder, chamfer cutting tool, and optional unloading tray are automated according to predefined settings, and the machine further includes an inspection module for automated quality inspection of jewelry pieces and / or end caps.

[0022] In this context, "automatic" and "automated" are used to refer to processes or operations that do not require a user to perform the process, as opposed to a "manual" process. The two terms "automatic" and "automated" can be used interchangeably.

[0023] Definitions In embodiments where terms such as automated or automatic are used anywhere, the machine may be "fully" automated, ie, without requiring any manual steps.

[0024] The elongated member may be or include a chain (e.g., a snake chain), a wire, a string, a thread, a chord, or the like. The elongated member may be a snake chain. A snake chain may include rounded, wavy, and / or smooth metal links that are joined to form a flexible chain. A flexible chain may refer to a chain having multiple links and / or joints that enable a link to move relative to another link in the chain.

[0025] The elongated member and / or jewelry piece may comprise or consist of metal (e.g., silver, iron, gold, brass, or a metal alloy (which may include one or more of these, such as steel or a silver alloy)), plastic or plastic polymer material, glass, precious or gemstones, wood, or any other suitable material. The jewelry piece may also be coated or plated, such as with gold. The elongated member may also be coated or plated, such as with gold. The terms "elongated member," "chain," and "jewelry piece" may be used interchangeably when describing the steps of the manufacturing process.

[0026] The elongated member, particularly its middle portion, can be flexible and / or elastic and / or resilient. The elongated member can be cylindrical and / or rigid and / or hollow. The elongated member can be flat and / or can be a ribbon-like member. The elongated member can include or consist of interconnected or hinged joints (possibly chain joints). The elongated member has a first end and a second end.

[0027] The end cap may be a shaft or cap adapted to be positioned adjacent to the middle flexible portion of the elongated member. The cap may cover the end of the middle flexible portion. The first end of the elongated member may be or may include a head portion, which may form part of the cap. Alternatively, the first end or cap may be fixed to the middle flexible portion of the elongated member or may be integral or one-piece therewith and / or may extend in a longitudinal continuation of the middle flexible portion of the elongated member and / or the elongated member. The first end or cap, or in particular the head portion, may have a conical, annular, spherical, cylindrical and / or parallelepiped shape, which may be configured to fit into the opening of a jewelry clasp. The first end or head portion may have a truncated cone or truncated cone shape. The first end may be or may include a magnetically attractable material, or may be or may include a magnet.

[0028] The elongated member of the jewelry piece may further be connected to a jewelry clasp.

[0029] A first end of a middle portion of the elongated member (e.g., a chain) can be attached to and / or positioned in the cover portion. The elongated member can have a second end that, in a jewelry piece comprising a clasp and the elongated member, can be positioned adjacent to the first end of the elongated member when the first end is inserted into the clasp in an assembled condition.

[0030] Alternatively, the elongate member may be continuous, meaning that it has a first end and an indefinite length.

[0031] The jewelry piece may include a spacer member and / or a clip mounted to at least one point on the chain.

[0032] The clip can be a threaded or non-threaded retainer configured and arranged to be selectively placed around an elongated member. The clip can have dimensions complementary to the cross-section of the elongated member so that when mounted on the elongated member, the clip abuts and holds the elongated member in place. The clip can have a spherical, cylindrical, round, or flat shape. It can be made of silver, stainless steel, copper, brass, bronze, gold, or plastic.

[0033] In another embodiment, the cutting, crimping, welding and / or chamfering machine includes a control unit having a user interface adapted to receive automated predefined settings or signals and operate a device adapted to control the cutting, crimping, welding and / or chamfering tool. The user interface may include a computer screen, a touch screen, buttons, a joystick and / or a keyboard.

[0034] Each of the above-mentioned manufacturing steps can be performed in a separate machine. Alternatively, a combined machine can be implemented that performs two or more of the above-mentioned steps; for example, cutting and crimping can be performed in one machine.

[0035] The cutting, crimping, welding and / or chamfering machines may be located adjacent to one another so that the final product (jewellery piece) from one manufacturing step of one machine is automatically loaded onto the next machine for a subsequent manufacturing step.

[0036] Alternatively, in the induction welding machine section, the elongated member can be loaded from the crimping machine, while the end cap can be loaded from the chamfering machine. Thus, the finished jewelry piece can be unloaded from the induction welding machine.

[0037] The cutting, crimping, welding and / or chamfering machinery may further include sensors for automatically sensing irregularities, dimensions, size, etc. of the jewelry piece and / or component. The sensors may be connected to a control device adapted to engage and / or operate based on a specified signal from the sensors. A machining unit may further be included in one or more of the machinery sections.

[0038] According to a second object of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for automatically manufacturing jewelry pieces, such as flexible jewelry chains, each of the jewelry pieces comprising a continuous elongated member having a first end, the method comprising the steps of:

[0039] a) cutting the elongated member to the desired length,

[0040] b) crimping the first end and / or the second end of the elongated member and / or crimping a spacing member onto the elongated member at a desired position on the elongated member,

[0041] c) chamfering the outer surface of the end cap, and / or

[0042] d) induction welding the end of the elongated member to the end cap, or induction welding the spacer member to the end cap,

[0043] Wherein, any one or more of step a), step b), step c) and step d) are automated.

[0044] In an embodiment, all method steps a to d are automated, and the time for processing the jewelry piece in any of the above method steps is less than 11 seconds.

[0045] In an alternative embodiment, step d) may precede step c) such that chamfering the outer surface of the end cap is performed after induction welding the ends of the elongate members or the spacer components to the end cap.

[0046] Step a) may comprise the steps of feeding the jewelry piece to the cutting tool via a first feeder, gripping the first end of the elongated member, and wherein the feeding, gripping and cutting of the elongated member are automated according to predefined settings.

[0047] In an embodiment of the manufacturing process, an elongated member is loaded, gripped, and cut to a desired length. The elongated member is preferably gripped at its first end by a gripper adapted and shaped to engage the elongated member to retain a portion of the elongated member. Subsequently, the elongated member is cut to the desired length and / or position using a cutting tool. The user can input the desired length or position into the machine as a signal or setting. The gripping and cutting of the elongated member is fully automated. The cut jewelry piece can then be loaded for the next manufacturing step.

[0048] Automated cutting results in evenly and accurately cut long components, reducing defective items, errors and accidents, and reducing production time.

[0049] Step b) may comprise feeding the jewelry piece and / or the spacing component into the crimping tool via a feeder, and wherein the loading and crimping of the jewelry piece is automated according to predefined settings.

[0050] In an embodiment of the manufacturing process, an elongated member is loaded into the machine via a feeder, wherein the ends of the elongated member are crimped using a crimping tool. Optionally, a spacer component is also loaded into the machine via another feeder and subsequently crimped into the desired position on the elongated member using a crimping tool. The loading and / or crimping of the elongated member and / or spacer components is fully automated based on predefined settings or signals received by a control unit and set by a user.

[0051] Step b) may further include testing the tensile strength of the crimped jewelry via a detection module.

[0052] The result of automated crimping is a reduction in defective items or errors, thereby increasing the tensile strength of the elongated member and its attachments (such as spacers), and reducing production time.

[0053] Step d) may include feeding the end caps and / or welding rods to a welding module, and wherein the feeding and induction welding of the jewelry piece is automated according to predefined settings.

[0054] Induction welding involves introducing an electromagnetic field into metal bodies to heat the joint between components and melt alloys that have lower melting temperatures than the component parts. Compared to joints made using flame heating techniques, induction welding produces higher-quality air- and water-tight joints with less oxidation and cleaning requirements.

[0055] In an embodiment of the manufacturing process, end caps and welding rods are loaded into the machine. The end caps and welding rods can be loaded into the machine using two different feeders. The welding rods are inserted into the end caps. An elongated member is then loaded into the machine, and the end portion of the elongated member is welded to the end caps. Welding is performed using induction welding and is fully automated according to predefined values ​​set in the machine. These predefined values ​​can include parameters related to the desired result, the duration of the process, the size of the welded portion, and so on. After the welding process is complete, the tensile strength of the welded portion is tested by an inspection module. The welded jewelry piece can then be unloaded from the machine via an unloading tray.

[0056] Step d) may further include testing the tensile strength of the welded portion of the elongated member and the end cap via a detection module.

[0057] Step c) may comprise loading the jewelry pieces and / or end caps and optionally unloading the jewelry pieces, and wherein the loading, chamfering and optional unloading of the jewelry pieces are automated according to predefined settings.

[0058] In an embodiment of the manufacturing process, the jewelry pieces and / or end caps are loaded by a feeder, chamfered at the ends by a chamfer cutting tool, and subsequently loaded onto step d).

[0059] Alternatively, when step c) is the final step of the manufacturing process after step d), the jewelry piece can be unloaded from the pallet upon completion of the process. The loading, unloading, and / or chamfering process is fully automated. The chamfering step is automated based on user-input settings or signals received by the control unit. These settings may include the size of the surface to be chamfered, the desired inclination of the chamfered surface, the amount of stepping of the chamfered surface, the smoothness of the surface, and the like.

[0060] The result of the automated chamfering is a symmetrically chamfered outer surface of the end cap, which may facilitate its secure attachment into the jewelry clasp and reduce production time.

[0061] Alternatively, the chamfering step may be replaced by grinding or reshaping the outer surface of the end cap and / or other parts of the jewelry piece. The chamfering or reshaping step is intended to polish, reshape and finish the outer surface of the end of the elongated member to facilitate its attachment to a lock, pendant or any other mechanism.

[0062] In an embodiment, the method further comprises automatically feeding the jewelry piece from one method step to another method step.

[0063] In an embodiment, the cycle time for the end cap chamfering step is about 9 seconds. The cycle time for the crimping step is about 11 seconds. The cycle time for the chamfering step is about 1 second. The cycle time for the induction welding step is about 9 seconds.

[0064] According to a third object, there is provided a jewelry piece comprising an elongated member (such as a flexible chain) and an end cap, the end cap being attached to the end of the elongated member and / or wherein the end of the elongated member is welded to the end cap via induction welding, and / or wherein the outer surface of the end cap is symmetrically chamfered.

[0065] At least one spacer or clip may be crimped onto the elongate member.

[0066] A jewelry piece may be provided, the jewelry piece comprising an elongated member (such as a flexible chain) and an end cap, wherein the end cap is attached to an end of the elongated member, the jewelry piece being manufactured by the manufacturing method.

[0067] Finally, the use of the machine according to the aforementioned embodiments for the automated production of jewelry pieces, in particular jewelry chains, is disclosed.

[0068] Further embodiments and advantages of jewelry pieces, machines, and methods according to the present disclosure are disclosed in the detailed description and accompanying drawings that follow. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0069] Hereinafter, embodiments of the machine and method according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0070] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a jewelry piece manufactured by the method mentioned below in a finished condition;

[0071] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a manufacturing machine according to the present disclosure;

[0072] Figure 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cutting machine according to the present disclosure;

[0073] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A close-up view of an embodiment of the cutting machine is shown;

[0074] Figure 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a crimping machine according to the present disclosure;

[0075] Figure 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an induction welding machine according to the present disclosure;

[0076] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 a close-up view of the illustrated embodiment of an induction welding machine; and

[0077] Figure 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a chamfering machine according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0078] Figure 1 A jewelry piece produced by the disclosed method is shown. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a manufacturing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figures 3 to 8 An embodiment of a mechanical part included in a manufacturing machine is shown.

[0079] exist Figure 1 In FIG, a manufactured jewelry piece 1 is shown. The jewelry piece is here a flexible chain bracelet comprising an elongated member 2. Figure 2 , the two ends 3, 4 of the elongated member 2 of the jewelry piece 1 are shown. The ends can be connected to a jewelry clasp 6 (not shown). The jewelry clasp 6 (not shown) brings the two ends 3, 4 together in a closed state and keeps the jewelry piece 1 locked. The jewelry piece 1 further includes an end cap 5 attached to each of the two ends 3, 4 of the elongated member 2. The ends 3, 4 of the elongated member 2 are welded to the end cap 5 via induction welding. The outer surface of the end cap 5 is symmetrically chamfered. In this embodiment, two spacers 7 are crimped onto the elongated member 2 at a distance from each other. In addition, the ends 3, 4 of the elongated member are crimped.

[0080] exist Figure 2, a machine 100 for automatically manufacturing jewelry pieces is shown, the machine comprising a first feeder 1011 configured to automatically feed a continuous elongated member 2 to a cutting mechanism 101. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As best shown in FIG, the cutting mechanism 101 includes an automated gripper 1013 configured and shaped to engage the free end of the elongated member to hold a portion of the continuous elongated member. The cutting mechanism 101 further includes a cutting tool 1014 adapted and shaped to automatically cut the elongated member of each jewelry piece from the continuous elongated member 2. The first feeder 1011 and the cutting tool 1014 are automated according to predefined settings, such as the length of the elongated member of each jewelry piece.

[0081] The machine 100 further comprises a second feeder 1021 configured to automatically feed the cut elongated members to the Figure 5 1 and a third feeder 1024 configured to automatically feed the spacer components to the crimping mechanism 102. The crimping mechanism 102 is positioned adjacent to the cutting mechanism 101. The crimping mechanism 102 includes a crimping tool 1022 adapted and shaped to automatically crimp the elongated member or spacer components. The second feeder 1021, the crimping tool 1022, and possibly the third feeder 1024 are automated according to predefined settings, such as the desired position of the crimped spacer components on the elongated member.

[0082] The machine 100 includes a fourth feeder 1032 configured to automatically feed the crimped elongated members to the Figure 6 and Figure 7 The induction welding mechanism 103 is shown. The machine 100 further includes a fifth feeder 1031 configured to automatically feed the chamfered end caps from the chamfering mechanism 104; and / or an additional feeder 1033 that feeds welding rods to the induction welding mechanism 103. The induction welding mechanism 103 includes a welding module 1036 that is adapted and shaped to automatically perform induction welding. The induction welding mechanism 103 includes a detection module 1035 for automatically testing the tensile strength of the welded portion of the elongated member 2. The fifth feeder 1031 and the welding module 1036 are automated according to predefined settings. The induction welding component 103 is disposed adjacent to the crimping mechanism 102.

[0083] The machine 100 includes a sixth feeder 1041 configured to feed the end caps to the Figure 8The chamfering machine section 104 is shown. The chamfering machine section 104 includes a chamfer cutting tool 1042 and an unloading tray 1044. The chamfer cutting tool 1042 is adapted and shaped to chamfer the surface of the induction welding part. The chamfering machine 104 is adjacent to the induction welding machine section 103. The feeder 1041, the chamfer cutting tool 1042, and the unloading tray 1044 are automated according to predefined settings. The machine further includes an automated safety protection detection module 1045 for quality inspection of the end caps. The detection module 1045 can operate in a machine protection mode, in which the detection module can support the safety tool before it is damaged.

[0084] Figure 2 and Figure 3 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 6 and Figure 8 Each of the illustrated mechanical parts includes a control screen 1012, 1023, 1034, 1043 configured to receive user settings or signals. The control screen is connected to the control unit and configured to operate a control device (not shown). The control device is suitable for controlling the mechanical part so that the mechanical part is automated according to the signals set by the user.

[0085] exist Figure 2 and Figures 3 to 8 In the illustrated embodiment, the jewelry piece manufacturing process begins with a cutting step performed in a cutting mechanism 101 and ends with an induction welding step performed by an induction welding mechanism 103. The cutting mechanism 101 is configured to automatically cut the elongated member 2 of each jewelry piece 1 from a continuous elongated member (not shown). Subsequently, the crimping mechanism 102 is configured to automatically crimp the ends of each cut elongated member 2 and crimp the spacer 7 onto each cut elongated member 2 at a desired position. The chamfering mechanism 104 is configured to reshape the outer surface of each end cap 5. Finally, the induction welding mechanism 103 is configured to automatically induction weld the end cap 5 to each cut elongated member 2.

[0086] List of Reference Numerals

[0087] 1 jewelry piece

[0088] 2 long members

[0089] 3 First end

[0090] 4 Second end

[0091] 5 End cap

[0092] 6 jewelry buckles

[0093] 7 Spacers

[0094] 100 machines

[0095] 101 Cutting Machinery Department

[0096] 1011 Feeder for loading long components

[0097] 1012 Control Screen

[0098] 1013 Gripper

[0099] 1014 Cutting Tools

[0100] 102 Crimping Machinery Department

[0101] 1021 Feeder for loading long components

[0102] 1022 Crimping Tool

[0103] 1023 control screen

[0104] 1024 Feeder for loading spacer components

[0105] 1025 Detection Module

[0106] 103 Induction Welding Machinery Department

[0107] 1031 Feeder for loading end caps

[0108] 1032 Feeder for loading long components

[0109] 1033 Feeder for loading silver bars

[0110] 1034 Control Screen

[0111] 1035 Detection Module

[0112] 1036 welding module

[0113] 104 Chamfering Machinery Department

[0114] 1041 Feeder for loading end caps

[0115] 1042 Chamfering Tool

[0116] 1043 Control Screen

[0117] 1044 Tray for unloading jewelry pieces

[0118] 1045 Detection Module

Claims

1. A machine for the automated production of jewelry pieces, in particular jewelry chains, wherein: Each of the jewelry pieces includes an elongated member having a first end, the machine comprising: a cutting mechanism configured to automatically cut each of the elongated members of the jewelry piece from a continuous stream of elongated members; a crimping mechanism configured to automatically crimp the ends of each cut elongated member and / or to crimp a spacer member to each cut elongated member at a desired position on the elongated member, a chamfering mechanism configured to reshape an outer surface of the end cap, and An induction welding mechanism is configured to automatically induction weld the end cap to each cut elongated member.

2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein The time for processing one jewelry piece in any one or more of the induction welding mechanical part, the chamfering mechanical part, the crimping mechanical part, and the cutting mechanical part is less than 11 seconds.

3. The machine according to claim 1 or 2, in, The machine further comprises a first feeder configured to automatically feed the continuous elongated member to the cutting mechanism, wherein the cutting mechanism comprises an automated gripper configured and shaped to engage a free end of the elongated member so as to hold a portion of the continuous elongated member, wherein the cutting mechanism comprises a cutting tool adapted and shaped to automatically perform the cutting of each of the elongated members of the jewelry piece from the continuous elongated member, wherein the first feeder and / or the cutting tool are automated according to predefined settings, such as the length of each elongated member of said jewelry piece, wherein the machine further comprises a second feeder configured to automatically feed the cut elongated members to the crimping mechanism; and a potential third feeder configured to automatically feed the spacing member to the crimping mechanism, wherein the crimping mechanism comprises a crimping tool adapted and shaped to automatically perform the crimping of the elongated member or the spacer component, wherein the second feeder, the crimping tool and potentially the third feeder are automated according to predefined settings, such as a desired position of the crimped spacing member to the elongated member, wherein the machine comprises a fourth feeder configured to automatically feed the crimped elongated members to the induction welding mechanical portion, The machine further comprises a fifth feeder configured to automatically feed the end cap and / or welding rod to the induction welding mechanical part. The induction welding machine comprises a welding module and an optional unloading tray, wherein the welding module is adapted and shaped to automatically perform the induction welding. The induction welding machine comprises a detection module for automatically testing the tensile strength of the welded portion of the elongated member. wherein the fifth feeder and the welding module are automated according to predefined settings, wherein the machine comprises a sixth feeder configured to feed the elongated members and / or end caps to the chamfering mechanical part, The chamfering mechanism comprises a chamfering cutting tool and an optional unloading tray, wherein the chamfering cutting tool is suitable for and shaped to chamfer the surfaces of the elongated members and / or end caps. wherein the feeder, the chamfer cutting tool and optionally the unloading tray are automated according to predefined settings, and The machine further comprises a detection module for automated quality inspection of the jewelry piece.

4. The machine according to claim 3, wherein: The cutting mechanism part and / or the crimping mechanism part and / or the welding mechanism part and / or the chamfering mechanism part comprises a control unit having a user interface adapted to receive these automated predefined settings and / or signals and to operate a device adapted to control the cutting, crimping, welding and / or chamfering tools.

5. A method for automatically manufacturing jewelry pieces, such as a flexible jewelry chain, each of said jewelry pieces comprising a continuous elongated member having a first end, the method comprising the steps of: a) cutting the elongated member to the desired length, b) crimping the first end and / or the second end of the elongated member and / or crimping a spacing member onto the elongated member at a desired position on the elongated member, c) chamfering the outer surface of the end cap, and / or d) induction welding the end of the elongated member to the end cap, or induction welding the spacer member to the end cap, Wherein, any one or more of these steps a), b), c) and d) are performed in a continuous automated process.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein: All method steps a) to d) are automated, and the time for processing the jewelry piece in any of the above method steps is less than 11 seconds.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein: Step a) comprises the steps of feeding the jewelry piece to a cutting tool via a first feeder, gripping a first end of the elongated member, and wherein the feeding, gripping and cutting of the continuous elongated member are automated according to predefined settings.

8. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein Step b) comprises feeding the jewelry piece and / or the spacing component into a crimping tool via a feeder, and wherein the loading and crimping of the jewelry piece is automated according to predefined settings.

9. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein Step d) comprises feeding the end cap and / or welding rod to a welding module via a feeder and optionally unloading the jewelry piece, and wherein the feeding of the jewelry piece, induction welding and optionally unloading of the jewelry piece are automated according to predefined settings.

10. The method according to claim 5, wherein Step c) comprises loading the jewelry piece and / or end cap into a chamfering tool via a feeder and optionally unloading the jewelry piece, and wherein the loading, chamfering and optional unloading of the jewelry piece are automated according to predefined settings.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein Step d) further includes testing the tensile strength of the welded portion of the elongated member via a detection module.

12. The method according to claim 5, wherein: The method further includes automatically feeding the jewelry piece from one method step to another method step.

13. A jewelry piece comprising an elongated member, such as a flexible chain, and end caps, in, The end cap is attached to the end of the elongate member, and / or wherein the ends of the elongated member are welded to the end cap via induction welding, and / or Wherein, the outer surface of the end cover is symmetrically chamfered.

14. A piece of jewellery manufactured by the method according to any one of claims 5 to 12.

15. Use of a machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4 for the automated production of jewellery pieces, in particular jewellery chains.

Images