公开(公告)号：US20240140031A1

公开(公告)日：2024-05-02

申请号：US18495159

申请日：2023-10-26

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Shawn Scott Stromenger ,  Michael Christopher Cole ,  Peter Dorfinger

IPC: B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/124 ,  B29C64/214 ,  B33Y30/00

CPC classification number: B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/124 ,  B29C64/214 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B29L2031/753

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for additive manufacturing of objects are provided. In some embodiments, a system for fabricating an object includes a flexible substrate, a carriage coupled to the flexible substrate, an actuator, at least one recoater supported by the carriage, and an energy source. The flexible substrate can be configured to carry a precursor material. The carriage can vertically displace an active region of the flexible substrate away from a remaining region of the flexible substrate and toward a build platform. The actuator can be configured to move the carriage relative to the flexible substrate. The at least one recoater can be configured to apply the precursor material to the flexible substrate. The energy source can be configured to output energy toward the precursor material at the active region of the flexible substrate to form a portion of an object on the build platform.

公开(公告)号：US20240051246A1

公开(公告)日：2024-02-15

申请号：US18449593

申请日：2023-08-14

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Peter Dorfinger ,  Michael Christopher Cole

IPC: B29C71/04 ,  A61C13/14 ,  A61C13/15

CPC classification number: B29C71/04 ,  A61C13/14 ,  A61C19/003 ,  B33Y80/00

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing objects are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a dental appliance formed using an additive manufacturing process, the dental appliance including a plurality of appliance portions. The method can include identifying, based on sensor data, a location of a subset of the appliance portions on the dental appliance. The method can further include applying energy to a subset of the appliance portions to selectively modify one or more material properties of the subset of the appliance portions.

公开(公告)号：US11845868B2

公开(公告)日：2023-12-19

申请号：US17200617

申请日：2021-03-12

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Michael Christopher Cole

IPC: C09D133/06 ,  B33Y70/00 ,  C08F220/18 ,  A61C7/08 ,  A61C7/10 ,  C09D4/00

CPC classification number: C09D133/062 ,  A61C7/08 ,  A61C7/10 ,  B33Y70/00 ,  C08F220/1804 ,  C09D4/00 ,  C08F2800/20 ,  C08F2810/20

Abstract: This disclosure provides polymeric materials comprising weak crosslinking covalent bonds and/or weak crosslinking units comprising a weak covalent bond. Weak covalent bonds can be used in place of hydrogen bonds present in traditional polymeric materials (e.g., polyurethanes). Advantageously, the toughness can be controlled by varying the strength of weak covalent bonds and/or by varying the number of weak covalent crosslinks. Crosslinked materials applying the weak covalent crosslinking bonds can be used to create tough materials able to resist stress relaxation. Further, the present disclosure provides polymer chains and polymeric materials comprising inchain loops (also referred to herein as rings). The inchain loops comprise weak bonds and/or weak bridges comprising at least one weak bond. This disclosure also provides compositions comprising the polymer chains, materials comprising the polymer chains, monomer units that can react to form inchain loop-comprising polymer chains, resins comprising the monomer units, and related materials, appliances, and uses.

公开(公告)号：US11661468B2

公开(公告)日：2023-05-30

申请号：US17458192

申请日：2021-08-26

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Michael Christopher Cole ,  Peter Dorfinger

IPC: B29C64/124 ,  C08F283/01 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  A61C7/08 ,  A61C7/10 ,  B29C64/223 ,  B33Y70/00 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B29C64/295 ,  B29C64/314 ,  B33Y40/10 ,  B33Y50/02

CPC classification number: C08F283/01 ,  A61C7/08 ,  A61C7/10 ,  B29C64/124 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B29C64/223 ,  B29C64/295 ,  B29C64/314 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y40/10 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B33Y70/00 ,  B33Y80/00

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and processes to control multiple temperatures in additive manufacturing. Such temperature control adjusts polymer properties and facilitates processing of materials to form 3D objects. The systems and processes disclosed herein also facilitate the processing of typically difficult-to-process materials and deliver such materials to a photocuring zone configured to photopolymerize materials into 3 dimensional objects with a layer-by-layer process. Such processes can include the steps of heating a resin to a flowable temperature, applying the resin to a carrier, cooling the film to increase viscosity or to solidify the resin, and applying the film containing the resin onto an area being printed, then photocuring the film. Also provided herein are resins and related polymer materials having properties that are tunable with exposure to more than one temperature zone. The formed polymers can include multiple regions of polymer material, each independently having distinct properties. Processes and systems are also provided herein that are configured to produce polymeric materials having multiple regions with distinct properties from a single-component formulation.

公开(公告)号：US11383529B2

公开(公告)日：2022-07-12

申请号：US17066963

申请日：2020-10-09

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Michael Christopher Cole

IPC: B41J3/407 ,  B41J2/01 ,  B41J11/00 ,  B41M5/00 ,  A61C7/08 ,  C09D11/101 ,  C09D11/322 ,  B41M7/00

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of obtaining good photocured-ink adhesion to low surface energy materials. The methods have greatly improved adhesion of photocured ink on low surface energy materials, including those that are subjected to high humidity or wet environments. The methods take into account the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the materials and the onset for the glass transition temperature, including ink applied to an exposed surface of the material at an elevated temperature that is close to the Tg of the material. The ink is allowed to sit briefly or soak, such as for more than 1 second, before the ink is cured. The ink may be photocured. Furthermore, the methods do not require solvents or surface treatment, including plasma or corona treatments, to obtain good ink adhesion.

公开(公告)号：US20220193986A1

公开(公告)日：2022-06-23

申请号：US17689854

申请日：2022-03-08

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Mehdi Mojdeh ,  Michael Christopher Cole ,  Peter Dorfinger ,  Shiva P. Sambu

IPC: B29C64/118 ,  B29C64/264 ,  B29C64/307 ,  B29C64/188 ,  B29C64/232 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/295 ,  B29C64/209

Abstract: A 3D printer comprises a platform, a dispenser and a light source. A heating element heats a material and a nozzle extrudes the heated material onto the platform to form a first layer, having a first shape specified by one or more digital files. The first shape corresponds to a first minimum line width based on a diameter of the nozzle. The light source emits a light beam that is directed onto the first layer according to the one or more digital files to cure a portion of the first layer to create a first cured layer that corresponds to a second shape of a 3D object specified by the one or more digital files. The light beam has a beam diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the nozzle, and the second shape has a second minimum line width that is smaller than the first minimum line width.

公开(公告)号：US11106135B2

公开(公告)日：2021-08-31

申请号：US16849282

申请日：2020-04-15

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Michael Christopher Cole

IPC: G03F7/20 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  C08F220/18 ,  C08F2/44 ,  B33Y70/00 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  C08F218/04 ,  C08F2/48 ,  B29C64/106 ,  A61C7/08 ,  C08F220/14 ,  C08F222/14 ,  G03F7/029 ,  B29K105/00

Abstract: Provided herein are processes for the generation of composite polymer materials utilizing a single resin. The processes utilize diffusion between a region undergoing a polymerization reaction preferentially polymerizing one monomer component and an unreactive region. Diffusion and subsequent/concurrent polymerization results in a higher concentration of the more reactive monomer component in the reacting region and a higher concentration of the less reactive monomer components in the unreactive region. The unreactive region may be later polymerized. In embodiments, photopolymerization is used and the regions are generated by a mask or other mechanism to pattern the light.

公开(公告)号：US10899146B2

公开(公告)日：2021-01-26

申请号：US16859749

申请日：2020-04-27

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Michael Christopher Cole

IPC: B41J3/407 ,  B41J11/00 ,  B41M5/00 ,  A61C7/08 ,  C09D11/101 ,  C09D11/322 ,  B41M7/00

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of obtaining good photocured-ink adhesion to low surface energy materials. The methods have greatly improved adhesion of photocured ink on low surface energy materials, including those that are subjected to high humidity or wet environments. The methods take into account the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the materials and the onset for the glass transition temperature, including ink applied to an exposed surface of the material at an elevated temperature that is close to the Tg of the material. The ink is allowed to sit briefly or soak, such as for more than 1 second, before the ink is cured. The ink may be photocured. Furthermore, the methods do not require solvents or surface treatment, including plasma or corona treatments, to obtain good ink adhesion.

公开(公告)号：US10788753B2

公开(公告)日：2020-09-29

申请号：US16667556

申请日：2019-10-29

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Michael Christopher Cole

IPC: G03C5/00 ,  C08F2/46 ,  C08F2/50 ,  C08G61/04 ,  G03F7/20 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  B33Y70/00 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  C08F220/18 ,  C08F218/04 ,  C08F2/44 ,  C08F2/48 ,  B29C64/106 ,  A61C7/08 ,  C08F220/14 ,  C08F222/14 ,  G03F7/029 ,  B29K105/00

Abstract: Provided herein are processes for the generation of composite polymer materials utilizing a single resin. The processes utilize diffusion between a region undergoing a polymerization reaction preferentially polymerizing one monomer component and an unreactive region. Diffusion and subsequent/concurrent polymerization results in a higher concentration of the more reactive monomer component in the reacting region and a higher concentration of the less reactive monomer components in the unreactive region. The unreactive region may be later polymerized. In embodiments, photopolymerization is used and the regions are generated by a mask or other mechanism to pattern the light.

公开(公告)号：US10589545B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-17

申请号：US16400991

申请日：2019-05-01

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Michael Christopher Cole

IPC: B41J3/407 ,  B41J11/00 ,  B41M5/00 ,  A61C7/08 ,  C09D11/101 ,  C09D11/322 ,  B41M7/00

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of obtaining good photocured-ink adhesion to low surface energy materials. The methods have greatly improved adhesion of photocured ink on low surface energy materials, including those that are subjected to high humidity or wet environments. The methods take into account the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the materials and the onset for the glass transition temperature, including ink applied to an exposed surface of the material at an elevated temperature that is close to the Tg of the material. The ink is allowed to sit briefly or soak, such as for more than 1 second, before the ink is cured. The ink may be photocured. Furthermore, the methods do not require solvents or surface treatment, including plasma or corona treatments, to obtain good ink adhesion.