APPARATUS FOR USE IN CENTERING OF UNFINISHED GEM STONE AND A METHOD FOR SUCH CENTERING OF UNIFINISHED STONES

摘要

This invention provides a method and apparatus for sorting and centering unfinished gem stones (15) for working in an automatic working machine including the steps of viewing the stone (15) in a direction parallel to the axis of centering and providing an image thereof, superimposing the image on a reference center image (26), providing a reference shape (28) centered about the reference center (26), changing the relative size of the reference shape (28), preferbly by computerized means (22), until it can fit within the image of the stone (15) and moving the stone (15) until it is centered about the reference center (26).