公开(公告)号：US11958248B2

公开(公告)日：2024-04-16

申请号：US17530346

申请日：2021-11-18

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Peter Dorfinger ,  Siobhan O'Leary ,  Yan Chen ,  Zhou Yu ,  Jun Sato

IPC: B29C64/00 ,  A61C7/00 ,  A61C7/08 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/35 ,  B29C71/00 ,  B33Y40/20 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  B29L31/00

CPC classification number: B29C64/35 ,  A61C7/002 ,  A61C7/08 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C71/0009 ,  B33Y40/20 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  B29C2071/0027 ,  B29L2031/753

Abstract: The present application relates to components, such as dental apparatuses, having geometrical features to facilitate post-fabrication cleaning, including methods of fabricating the same. In one embodiment, a dental apparatus, such as a retainer, an aligner, or a dental attachment placement appliance, comprises one or more concave surfaces for which one or more apertures is formed therethrough at or near a maximum depth of a given concave surface.

公开(公告)号：US20240051225A1

公开(公告)日：2024-02-15

申请号：US18449589

申请日：2023-08-14

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Peter Dorfinger ,  Michael Christopher Cole

IPC: B29C64/264 ,  B29C64/386

CPC classification number: B29C64/264 ,  B29C64/386 ,  B33Y10/00

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing objects are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a digital data set representing an object, and applying energy to a curable material based on the digital data set to form the object. The object can include at least two object portions formed from the curable material using different energy application parameters. The method can further include removing residual curable material from the object. A different amount of the residual curable material can be removed from each of the at least two object portions. After the residual curable material is removed, the at least two object portions can each have different material properties.

公开(公告)号：US20230123480A1

公开(公告)日：2023-04-20

申请号：US17963964

申请日：2022-10-11

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Viswanath Meenakshisundaram ,  Peter Dorfinger ,  Umesh Upendra Choudhary ,  Michael Christopher Cole

IPC: B29C64/255 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/214 ,  B29C64/223 ,  B29C64/321 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y40/00

Abstract: A system includes a partial enclosure configured to hold resin. The system further includes one or more structures configured to at least partially cover the resin. The one or more structures are configured to prevent evaporation of the resin. The system further includes a build platform configured to support an object that is being formed from layers of the resin. A first blade is configured to provide the layers of the resin to form the object on the build platform.

公开(公告)号：US20200086553A1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-19

申请号：US16571029

申请日：2019-09-13

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

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

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

Abstract: A method of three-dimensional (3D) printing includes heating a photo-curable material and extruding the photo-curable material from a nozzle to form a first layer of an object according to a digital file, wherein the first layer has a first shape specified by the digital file, and wherein the first shape has a first minimum line width based on a diameter of the nozzle. The method further includes directing a light beam onto the first layer according to the digital file or an additional digital file to cure a portion of the first layer, wherein the cured portion of the first layer has a second shape, wherein the second shape may comprise features that are smaller than the first shape.

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：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：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：US12208577B2

公开(公告)日：2025-01-28

申请号：US17963964

申请日：2022-10-11

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Viswanath Meenakshisundaram ,  Peter Dorfinger ,  Umesh Upendra Choudhary ,  Michael Christopher Cole

IPC: B29C64/214 ,  A61C7/08 ,  A61C7/10 ,  B29C64/124 ,  B29C64/223 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/255 ,  B29C64/321 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y40/00 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B29L31/00 ,  B33Y80/00

Abstract: A system includes a partial enclosure configured to hold resin. The system further includes one or more structures configured to at least partially cover the resin. The one or more structures are configured to prevent evaporation of the resin. The system further includes a build platform configured to support an object that is being formed from layers of the resin. A first blade is configured to provide the layers of the resin to form the object on the build platform.

公开(公告)号：US12098227B2

公开(公告)日：2024-09-24

申请号：US17462884

申请日：2021-08-31

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Peter Dorfinger ,  Michael Christopher Cole

IPC: C08F2/46 ,  A61C7/08 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y70/00 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  C08F2/50 ,  C08F220/30 ,  C08G61/04 ,  C08L33/14

CPC classification number: C08F220/303 ,  A61C7/08 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y70/00 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  C08L33/14

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, systems, devices, and kits for creating composite materials from a single resin, the composite materials having multiple continuous phases. The disclosure includes a process to three-dimensionally print objects (e.g., orthodontic appliances) with composite properties. In some aspects, the composite properties are formed from a single formulation with components that, when processed, have hard and soft continuous phases. In some aspects, the composite properties are formed by separately processing the hard phase components and the soft phase components. In some aspects, the composite materials and devices are three-dimensionally printed using the processed material.