AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR CUTTING DIAMONDS AND OTHER PRECIOUS STONES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR CUTTING DIAMONDS AND OTHER PRECIOUS
STONES." A communication from abroad by Henry Daws Stover, of the City
and State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 8th August 1876, and dated the 23rd February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd February 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR CUTTING DIAMONDS
AND OTHER PRECIOUS STONES." A communication.
This Invention is designed to facilitate the operation and make more perfect the
work of cutting precious stones.
The arrangement of this machine is such that any number of stones can be
operated upon at one and the same time, or they can be acted on in single pairs.
The heads in which the stones are secured may be revolved each independently of
the other, or both may be revolved in opposite directions, bringing each stone into
contact with all the others, or one of the heads may oscillate by any suitable means
while the other is held stationary, thus bringing the same pairs into frequent
contact. The device for holding the stones is so constructed that they may be held
at any angle of rotation up to 45° without readjusting the stones, and the heads may
contain any number of stones from one upwards, depending only on the size of head
required to receive them.
The construction of the said machine is as follows:-On the bed plate are placed
two frames or headstocks to support the shafts. These shafts have on the ends
nearest to each other a head in which are secured the stones to be operated upon.
The stones are held and adjusted to any required angle. The headstocks have
attached to them bearings to receive the shafts, and also a standard which is used
as a stop to prevent the moving of either of the heads. On the said shafts are
secured pulleys which may be used when the heads are to make a complete revolu-
tion, and also to make a connection with the standard when the beads are to remain
stationary. On one headstock is attached an adjusting screw by which the lateral
motion of the shaft may be prevented. The headstocks are so arranged that they
Ponies 21

page_text: may be adjusted to any required angle in a horizontal plane in relation to the bed
plate, and the bed plate has slots in the direction of its length for allowing the
headstocks to be set at the right distance apart. One of the headstocks has an arm
which carries a pulley and crank. The crank is connected with one of the heads
by a connecting rod when the head is to be oscillated.
For securing the stones to the heads I prefer the following method:-A. ball
having a projection to which the stones are secured in the ordinary way is fitted
into a socket or bearing which allows the ball to move in any direction. Behind
the ball and in a tube is a concave washer fitted to the surface of the ball, and
behind this washer is a screw fitting into the tube, forcing the washer upon the ball
and holding the ball in any required position. The tube is screwed over its whole
outer surface, and has two nuts, one on each side of the head for adjusting the
stones.
The advantages of this machine over others are the ease and accuracy with which
the stones to be operated upon may be adjusted in relation to each other as regards
angle and distance apart; also the number of stones that can be operated on at the
same time.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
August 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR CUTTING DIAMONDS
AND OTHER PRECIOUS STONES." A communication from abroad by Henry Daws
Stover, of the City and State of New York, United States of America.
This Invention is designed to facilitate the operation and make more perfect the
work of cutting diamonds and other precious stones.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a machine constructed according to this Inven-
tion, showing the heads placed at an angle.
Figure 2, a plan or top view of the said machine with the heads in line with
cach other and with an attachment for an oscillating head.
Figure 3 is a transverse section showing an end view of one head with the
oscillating attachment connected to the same.
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 shew modified means for holding and securing the sockets
which contain the stones to be cut.
The arrangement of this machine is such that any number of stones can be
operated upon at one and the same time, or they can be acted on in single pairs.
The heads in which the stones are secured may be revolved each independently of
the other, or both may be revolved in opposite directions, bringing each stone into
contact with all the others; or one of the heads may oscillate by any suitable
means while the other is held stationary, thus bringing the same pairs into frequent
contact. The devices for holding the stones are so constructed that they may be
held at any angle of rotation up to 45° without readjusting the stones, and the
heads may contain any number of stones from one upwards, depending only on the
size of head required to receive them.
The construction of the said machine is as follows, that is to say, on the bed
plate A are placed two frames or headstocks B to support the shafts C; these
shafts C have each of them on the ends nearest to each other a head D in which
are secured the stones to be operated upon in number from one upwards according
to the size of the head. The stones are held and adjusted to any required angle in
either of the ways shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7. The headstocks B have attached
to them bearings to receive the shafts C, and also a standard E which is used as a
stop to prevent the moving of either of the heads D. On the shafts C are secured
pulleys which may be used when the heads D are to make a complete revolution;

page_text: and also to make a connection with the standard E when the heads D are to remain
stationary. On the headstock is secured an adjusting screw F by which the lateral
motion of the shaft C may be prevented. The headstocks B are so arranged that
they may be adjusted to any required angle in a horizontal plane in relation to the
bed plate A, and the bed plate A has slots in the direction of its length for allowing
the headstocks B to be set at the right distance apart, which distance varies with
the angle of the heads. One of the headstocks B has attached to it an arm G which
carries a pulley H and crank J; the crank J is connected with one of the heads D
by a connecting rod H¹ when the head is to be oscillated. Only one of the head-
stocks is so arranged in the Drawing, but both may be so fixed if thought best.
The manner of securing the stones to the heads is shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7,
but I prefer the method shown in Figure 5. A ball K. having a projection L to
which the stones are secured in the ordinary manner is fitted into a socket 'or
bearing M that allows the ball to move in any direction. Behind the ball K and in
a tube N is a concave washer O filled to the surface of the ball, and at the back of
this washer O is a screw P fitting into the tube N for forcing the washer O upon
the ball K and holding the ball K in any required position. The tube N is screw-
threaded over its whole outer surface, and lias two nuts R, one on each side of the
head D, and which form the means for adjusting the stones to or from the heads D
in relation to each other.
Figures 6, and 7 shew other devices constructed on the same principle for
holding the stones in position, but these do not require further description.
The operation of this machine is as follows:-The stones to be operated upon are
secured in the projections L of the balls K, and then the balls K are adjusted to the
required angles. If the balls do not allow of the required angle the headstocks may
then be turned also and adjusted to the proper distance apart and then secured.
When the machine has been so adjusted the heads may be put in motion in either
manner as desired, that is to say, making a full revolution or an oscillation with
both heads in operation or with one of them stationary by means of the stop E.
The advantages of this machine over others are the ease and accuracy with which
the stones to be operated upon may be adjusted in relation to cach other as regards
angle and distance apart; and that any number of stones can be operated on at the
same time, the limit depending only on the size of the machine.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,-
First. In a machine for cutting precious stones the adjustable headstocks carrying
revolving or oscillating heads constructed to receive one pair or two or more pairs of
stones, to be operated upon as above set forth.
Second. The ball to which the stones are secured, arranged, adjusted, and secured
in the head, or disc, or threaded tube as above described.
Third. The combination of the washer, screw, and ball with the tube and nuts,
whereby the stones are secured or held at the required angle, as above described.
Fourth. The combination of the pulley, crank, and connecting rod whereby the
heads are oscillated with one or both of the adjustable headstocks constructed to
operate as above specified and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
W ROB, LAKE. (L.S.)