Laser etching or inscribing of a diamond surface for the purpose of permanently identifying a diamond is well known. U. S. PatentNo. 4,392, 476; No. 4,467, 172; No. 5,753, 887 ; No. 5,932, 119; No. 5,149, 938 ; No. 5,410, 125; No. 5,573, 684; No. 6,211, 484 and Application Serial. 09/785,631 filed February 16,2001 are representative of the prior art of laser marking systems that employ lasers, beam delivery and imaging components, gemstone fixtures, servomotors, optical encoders, and programmed computers for controlling the marking procedure.

Such marking systems not only occupy a large volume of space to accommodate all of their various components, but also are costly to purchase and operate. As a result, such systems are typically installed at one or more authorized sites, such as a gemological laboratory or institute. Jewelers and like customers desiring gemstones to be marked send the gemstones to the site of the marking system, and wait for the marked gemstones to be returned.

Many jewelers dislike sending precious items out of their hands and, hence, out of their sight and control, but perhaps, more importantly, dislike having to wait for their return.

Yet, the size and cost of laser marking systems dictate against the average small jeweler's purchasing and installing such a system at the jeweler's premises. Such systems also require skilled, trained personnel to operate the system. This requirement is typically difficult for the average jeweler to meet.

I previously proposed in U. S. Patent Application SerialNo. 09/858, 846, filed May 16, 2001, a flame marking system and method in which a flammable substance filled cutouts in a tape, and was thereupon ignited to scorch a gemstone in a burn pattern corresponding to the cutouts and the indicia to be marked. This technique required close monitoring of the flame produced after ignition to avoid the risk of fire. I also earlier proposed in U. S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/909,174, filed July 19, 2001, a gemstone marking system and method in which a radiant energy source caused a fusible coating to be fused on and in the surface of a gemstone in a marking pattern. In one embodiment, the fusible coating filled cutouts in a stencil. The energy source was preferably a laser, but could have been a radio frequency or microwave source. In both of my earlier applications, the marking was achieved at a jeweler's premises.

It is also known to drill or bore holes through or in objects by using a high energy laser, or by ultrasonic drilling especially with brittle objects. The size of the ultrasonic drill bit dictates the size of the hole and, hence, such techniques are unsuitable for complex machining patterns or indicia patterns.

I also previously proposed in U. S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/035, 715, filed October 22,2001, a vibratory material removal system and method in which an ultrasonic vibrator agitated a liquid mixture containing abrasive particles that filled cutouts in a mask applied to an object from which material was to be removed. The use of liquid was messy, under certain circumstances, and evaporated after prolonged agitation. Also, the mixture tended to seep under the mask and resulted in some unwanted material being removed from the object.

One object of this invention is to enable gemstones to be marked with identifying indicia without using large sized, costly laser or flame marking systems.

Another object of this invention is to reduce the skill level required for personnel to mark gemstones.

Still another object of this invention is to enable gemstone marking on-site at a jeweler's premises.

Yet another object of this invention is to increase the use of gemstone marking by making the procedure more available and affordable to jewelers.

A further object of this invention is to mark diverse objects, not necessarily a gemstone, in a safe, reliable and permanent manner.

An additional object of this invention is to machine diverse objects with complex machining patterns.

In keeping with the above objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a vibratory system and method in which an apertured mask is mounted on a surface of an object from which material is to be removed. The mask has cutouts arranged in a pattern. A plurality of abrasive particles, such as aluminum oxide, boron carbide, silicon carbide, diamond grit, or mixtures of these and/or other particles, fills the cutouts. A molten metal is applied over the mask and forms a solid backing that is fused to the particles. A vibrator, preferably an ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer, agitates the backing and propels the abrasive particles through the cutouts against the surface of the object in the pattern corresponding to the cutouts.

In one preferred application, the object is a gemstone, for example, a diamond, and it is desired to mark a surface, such as a table or girdle of the diamond, with identifying indicia. In this application, the pattern of the cutouts in the mask is configured to correspond with the indicia. The marking can be performed at a jeweler's premises. No costly and large- sized machines for directly marking the diamond with a laser beam need be purchased or operated. No flames need be monitored. No costly radiant energy sources are used to fuse coatings at elevated temperatures. No messy liquids are used.

In another application, the pattern of the cutouts is arranged in a machining pattern for objects to be machined. Such objects may include, by way of non-limiting example, microfluidic devices, DNA microarrays (DNA chips), microelectromechanical (MEM) devices, semiconductor wafers, lenses, substrates and, in general, any object to be drilled, cut, shaped or otherwise worked by material removal.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a marked gemstone according to this invention ; FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a process for making an apertured mask according to this invention ; FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a vibratory arrangement for marking a gemstone according to this invention ; FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the surface of the gemstone in FIG. 3 during marking; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another vibratory arrangement for marking or machining multiple gemstones according to this invention ; and FIG. 6 is an enlarged view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

Reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 schematically depicts a diamond having a crown 12, a girdle 14, and a pavilion 16. The girdle 14 is a peripheral band between the crown and the pavilion and, in the preferred embodiment, an identifying indicium or mark 18 is formed on the girdle. The mark 18 can be a machine-readable indicium, such as a one-or a two-dimensional bar code symbol, or can be a human-readable indicium, such as an alphabetical and/or numerical indicium, or can be a logo or image, for example, a certification mark of quality or of source of origin. The mark is permanently inscribed and is substantially imperceptible to the naked eye, although clearly visible under magnification such as by a ten power loupe.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, the mark 18 is formed as follows: First, as depicted in FIG. 2, a generally planar mask 20 is mounted on a table 22 that is independently movable by two DC servomotors along mutually orthogonal directions (X, Y) by microprocessor control. The mask 20 is preferably constituted of a polymer material having a thickness on the order of 1-5 mils, but may be thicker. A bottom side of the mask may bear an adhesive layer. The mask is preferably constituted of a polyamide plastic, such as Kapton.

Next, a laser 24, also under control of the microprocessor, is actuated to direct its laser beam at the mask to form one or more cutouts 30, such as the depicted numerals 1,2, 3.

The laser beam is focused by a lens 26 to form a spot on the mask. The spot burns entirely through the mask. Movement of the mask and the table under microprocessor control relative to the spot causes the spot to form a cutout in the desired shape such as the numerals 1, 2,3.

Numeral 1 is shown in solid lines already formed. Numeral 2 is in the process of being formed.

Numeral 3 is shown in dashed lines and is waiting to be formed. Rather than moving the mask, the laser beam may be moved by moving beam-steering mirrors along the mutually orthogonal directions relative to a stationary table.

Instead of forming the indicia in the mask with a laser beam, the cutouts can be formed using other techniques such as photolithographically applying a photoresist layer and exposing selected portions to light, such as ultraviolet light.

The manufacture of the resulting apertured mask is preferably performed not by the jeweler or ultimate user, but instead, by an authorized supplier who has the facilities and equipment to make the mask. Thus, a jeweler may pre-order a supply of apertured masks, for example, with sequential numbers in a series, or with a logo, from the supplier.

With the supply of apertured masks on hand at the j eweler's premises, the j eweler selects a mask 20 and applies it, as shown in FIG. 4, along the girdle 14 of a gemstone 10 to be marked. Preferably, the mask has an adhesive surface that adheres to the girdle. The mask need not be adhered to the girdle, but can be applied anywhere on the gemstone, especially on the table or top of the crown 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the diamond 10 is fixedly mounted in a fixture 32 which is, in turn, mounted on a frame 34 that is movable in a horizontal plane along two mutually orthogonal axes by an X-Y stage controller 36, typically a microprocessor that controls two DC servomotors, relative to a stationary support 38.

A multitude of abrasive particles 28, such as aluminum oxide, boron carbide, silicon carbide, diamond grit, or mixtures thereof, is deposited in the cutouts. Each particle is preferably about 1-50 microns in diameter. Other abrasive particles of different shapes, harnesses and sizes may be employed. A molten metal is poured over the mask and solidifies in sitv thereon to form a solid backing 40. The metal penetrates the particles and fuses thereto.

As shown in FIG. 4, the backing 40 overlies the mask 20 which is adhered to and along the girdle.

The deposition of the abrasive particles 28 and the pouring and solidification of the molten metal can be performed by the jeweler but, as discussed above, is preferably performed by the authorized supplier. The mask with the fused backing and abrasive particles constitute a tool which is ordered by the jeweler for the use described below.

Reference numeral 44 identifies a tip of a horn 46 of a piezoelectric transducer 48. The tip 44 is lowered into contact with the backing 40 by a Z-axis controller 50, which is a DC servomotor under microprocessor control. Alternately, the tip 44 can be manually lowered.

The tip 44 may also be raised above the backing at a distance up to about 500 microns.

A transducer controller 52 applies an electric potential of opposite sign on opposing faces of the transducer 48 to induce a mechanical strain between the opposing faces.

The transducer can be a natural crystal, such as quartz, or a synthetic crystal, such as barium titanate. In the preferred embodiment, lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is used. The controller 52 converts a DC voltage from a power supply to an alternating voltage at an ultrasonic frequency, preferably in the range of 20 kHz-130 kHz, which causes the transducer 48 to mechanically vibrate. The vibrations of the transducer are intensified by the horn 46. The tip 44 creates pressure waves in the backing 40. Specifically, millions of microscopic bubbles (cavities) expand during a negative pressure excursion, and implode violently during a positive pressure excursion. The tip 44 sets up this cavitation in the backing and the abrasive particles, causes the molecules therein to become intensely agitated, and propels the abrasive particles through the cutouts 30 against the surface of the diamond.

This invention is not intended to be limited to piezoelectric transducers since other vibrators could equally well be used. For example, magnetorestrictive and electrorestrictive transducers may be employed.

The diamond surface is penetrated as a result of this hammering and battering action. If the surface is hard, as it is in the case of a diamond, the diamond surface resists, thereby forming a machined bore or a mark 54. If the surface is soft, then a bore or mark is not readily formed because the soft surface absorbs and dampens the vibrations and yields under the battering action.

It is preferred to make the mask of a material softer than a diamond. A soft material mask is preferably only used once and then discarded. However, hard material masks, including masks made of diamond material, could be used for longer wear. Preferably, a plastic mask is used to help damp the vibrations.

An acceptable mark 54 has been made in a time period of 3 0 seconds to 2 minutes.

The amplitude of vibrations is a function of the amplitude and frequency of the alternating voltage applied to the transducer, as well as the shape of the horn itself. The controller 52 is preferably provided with controls for adjusting the frequency and amplitude of the alternating voltage. A booster is typically positioned between the horn and the transducer.

The tip 44 wears with prolonged use and, hence, in the preferred embodiment, the tip 44 is designed to be replaceable, typically by threading a rear post on the tip into the horn.

The last step is to remove the tool and clean the gemstone, preferably in an acetone or acid wash. The resulting marked gemstone conforms to that shown in FIG. 1.

The tools can be supplied in various ways. For example, a plurality of tools can be provided in rows and columns on a sheet material, and each tool can be removably peeled therefrom prior to application on the object. In another embodiment, the tools can be successively arranged in a row along a supply reel. In still another technique, the tools can be provided in rows and columns on a master sheet which is then indexed with the object to be marked.

The marking or machining can be performed on any object, and not necessarily on the outer surface of the gemstone, and not necessarily on the girdle. The gemstone need not necessarily be a diamond.

Thus, marking is achieved at a jeweler's premises. The skill involved in applying the tool, then operating the vibrator, and then cleaning the marked gemstone, is well within the expertise of the jeweler. Costly and large-sized machines for directly marking the gemstone with a laser beam are not used.

FIG. 5 depicts a system analogous to that shown in FIG. 3. A keypad 62 for enabling manual entry of data into a transducer controller 64 is shown, together with a display 66. Another keypad 68 for enabling manual entry of data into a Z-stage controller 70 is depicted.

A piezoelectric transducer 72 and its horn 76 are positioned above a workstation at which six objects, for example, diamonds 10, are mounted in two rows. Each diamond 10 is mounted, as best seen in FIG. 6, with its upper flat surface, or table, of the crown 12 facing upwardly toward a tip 74 of the horn 76. In this embodiment, each upper surface is to be marked or machined, rather than the girdle and, in addition, multiple diamonds are to be simultaneously marked or machined, rather than one diamond at a time, with a single tip 74.

Hence, a master tool 80 is placed on all the objects to be marked. The tool 80 is depicted in FIG. 6, but not in FIG. 5, so as not to unduly encumber FIG. 5. A pattern of cutouts 30 is aligned with each object 10, each pattern being either the same (in the case of a logo) or different (in the case of sequential indicia).

With the tip 74 lowered into contact with the backing 40, and upon actuation of the transducer 72, each pattern is transferred (by machining or marking) as the abrasive particles are propelled through the cutouts as described above. It will be noted that the shape and size of the tip 74 does not dictate the size and shape of each mark or bore formed in the object inasmuch as it is the pattern of the cutouts that determines the configuration of the pattern to be transferred to the object.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.