Oscillating Walls for Gemstone Orientation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The manual orientation of gemstones for screening and measurement is time-consuming and inefficient, requiring each diamond to be individually placed on screening equipment, which hinders the process of distinguishing synthetic from natural gemstones.
Innovation Solution
An automated method and apparatus that utilize oscillating walls to progressively orient gemstones into their most stable position, with a circular path and oscillatory movement to control lateral movement, and a system for checking and adjusting orientation using image processing to ensure accurate positioning for subsequent testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual orientation of gemstones is used, then each gemstone can be individually positioned for screening, but the process is time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The gemstones automatically orient themselves table-down through the oscillating channel mechanism without requiring manual intervention. The oscillation causes gemstones to progressively knock from unstable to stable orientation, with the table facet naturally positioning downward due to gravity and geometry, enabling self-orientation and significantly increasing throughput
Solution Approach 2:
An oscillator generates relative oscillatory movement between the pair of walls and the translatable surface in a direction transverse to the direction of the path. This mechanical vibration progressively knocks gemstones from unstable to stable orientation, achieving both automatic positioning and high-speed processing
2Productivity
If oscillating walls are used to orient gemstones automatically, then processing speed increases, but control over lateral movement must be precisely managed
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillator provides periodic oscillatory movement between the walls and translatable surface, creating controlled cycles of lateral motion that progressively orient gemstones. This periodic action ensures reliable table-down positioning while maintaining high processing speed through rhythmic, predictable mechanical cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The translatable surface provides a circular travelling path for gemstones, and the oscillator generates movement in a direction transverse to this circular path. The curved geometry of the circular path combined with transverse oscillation creates controlled lateral movement that reliably orients gemstones without ejection
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The automated system significantly speeds up the orientation process, allowing for the efficient handling and testing of large volumes of gemstones, with the ability to accurately determine whether gemstones are synthetic or natural using instruments like DiamondSure™ and DiamondView™, thereby improving the screening efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an oscillator arranged to generate relative oscillatory movement between said pair of walls and said translatable surface
Implementation Method 2
the relative oscillatory movement is such that a central portion of the pair of walls oscillates along a radius of the travelling path
Implementation Method 3
the lateral force provided by the oscillating walls will effectively and progressively knock the gemstones from a relatively unstable orientation into a relatively stable orientation. Accordingly, the gemstones will be urged into an orientation in which they have their lowest potential energy
Implementation Method 4
The travelling path is circular and the relative oscillatory movement is such that a central portion of the pair of walls oscillates along a radius of the travelling path
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A method and apparatus for orientating discrete objects, such as gemstones, is described. The method comprises providing the objects on a travelling path; providing a pair of opposed walls (38) extending generally along the direction of the path; and generating relative oscillatory movement (14) between the pair of walls (38) and the travelling path (in a direction generally transverse to the direction of the path), so that the pair of walls (38) imparts lateral force to the objects to thereby urge them into their most stable orientation as they progress along the path. A device for checking the orientation of the discrete objects is also described.