# US 11,076,937 B2 · Workpiece unit and method of producing same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,076,937 B2 - Document ID: US11076937B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/559,335 - Filed: 2016-03-18 - Published: 2018-04-26 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-19 - Assignees: Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. - Applicants: Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc. - Inventors: Yoshihisa Ito; Tetsuo Yamada - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076937B2 ## CPC - A61C 13/083: Porcelain or ceramic teeth {(A61C13/081 takes precedence; preparations A61K6/80)} - A61C 5/77: Methods or devices for making crowns - A61C 7/14: Brackets (A61C7/28 takes precedence); Fixing brackets to teeth - A61C 8/00: Means to be fixed to the jaw-bone for consolidating natural teeth or for fixing dental prostheses thereon; Dental implants; Implanting tools (fastening of peg-teeth in the mouth A61C13/30) - A61C 13/0003: {Making bridge-work, inlays, implants or the like} - A61C 13/0022: {Blanks or green, unfinished dental restoration parts} - B23P 11/02: by first expanding and then shrinking or vice versa, e.g. by using pressure fluids; by making force fits - B23Q 3/10: Auxiliary devices, e.g. bolsters, extension members {(devices for holding usually unilaterally-held tools at a second side, devices supporting a workpiece against cutting forces B23Q1/76)} - B24B 41/06: Work supports, e.g. adjustable steadies (B24B37/27 takes precedence) - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT - B24B: MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING (grinding of gear teeth B23F, of screw-threads B23G1/36; by electro-erosion B23H; abrasive or related blasting B24C; tools for grinding, buffing or sharpening B24D; polishing compositions C09G1/00; abrasives C09K3/14; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F3/00; grinding arrangements for use on assembled railway tracks E01B31/17); DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS ## Abstract Disclosed herein is a workpiece unit containing a workpiece body, and a holding member which is arranged at least at a part of an outer circumferential portion of the workpiece body and directly contacts with at least a part of the outer circumferential portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A workpiece unit, comprising: a workpiece body formed from a first material with a first thermal expansion coefficient; and a holding member formed from a second material with a second thermal expansion coefficient, the second thermal expansion coefficient being larger than the first expansion coefficient, wherein the workpiece body has a first face, a second face arranged opposite to the first face, and outer circumferential sidewalls between the first face and the second face; wherein the holding member has a first holding face, a second holding face opposite to the first face, and inner circumferential sidewalls between the first holding face and the second holding face, the inner circumferential sidewalls sized and shaped to surround the workpiece body and substantially match at least a portion of the outer circumferential sidewalls; wherein the holding member is configured to thermally expand by heating to allow the workpiece to be inserted inside the holding member and thermally contract with the removal of heat and secure the inner circumferential sidewalls to at least a portion of the outer circumferential sidewall with contraction stress of the holding member against the workpiece body without adhesive; and wherein the holding member is configured to be removable from the workpiece body by thermally expanding the holding member by heating both the holding member and the workpiece body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The workpiece unit according to claim 1, wherein the holding member has a ring-shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The workpiece unit according to claim 2, wherein the holding member is smaller in thickness than the workpiece body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The workpiece unit according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is smaller in thickness than the workpiece body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The workpiece unit according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is arranged centrally in the direction of the thickness of the workpiece body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The workpiece unit according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is made up of two or more components. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The workpiece unit according to claim 6, wherein: each of the individual components of the holding member has a concave or convex portion, and the individual components are so arranged that the concave portion and the convex portion are fitted with one another. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The workpiece unit according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece body is ceramic, metal or resin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The workpiece unit according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece body is a pre-sintered body in which zirconia crystal grains have not completely been sintered. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The workpiece unit according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is plastic. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The workpiece unit according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece body has at least one worked item which is formed by working the workpiece body and is connected with an outer edge portion of the workpiece body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The workpiece unit according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece body has at least one first positioning portion on the outer circumferential sidewalls, and wherein the holding member has at least one second positioning portion on the inner circumferential sidewalls. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The workpiece unit according to claim 12, wherein the at least one first positioning portion of the workpiece body is one of a projection or a recess, and wherein the at least one second positioning portion of the holding member is the other one of a projection or a recess. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The workpiece unit according to claim 13, wherein the at least one first positioning portion of the workpiece body and the at least one second positioning portion of the holding member are arranged at a corresponding position on the outer circumferential sidewalls and the inner circumferential sidewalls respectively so that the projection of one of the workpiece body or holding member and the recess of the other one of the workpiece body or holding member are fitted with one another. ### Claim 15 A method of producing a workpiece unit, the workpiece unit, comprising: a workpiece body formed from a first material with a first thermal expansion coefficient; and a holding member formed from a second material with a second thermal expansion coefficient, the second thermal expansion coefficient being larger than the first expansion coefficient, wherein the workpiece body has a first face, a second face arranged opposite to the first face, and outer circumferential sidewalls between the first face and the second face; wherein the holding member has a first holding face, a second holding face opposite to the first face, and inner circumferential sidewalls between the first holding face and the second holding face, the inner circumferential sidewalls sized and shaped to surround the workpiece body and substantially match at least a portion of the outer circumferential sidewalls; wherein the holding member is configured to thermally expand by heating to allow the workpiece to be inserted inside the holding member and thermally contract with the removal of heat and secure the inner circumferential sidewalls to at least a portion of the outer circumferential sidewall with contraction stress of the holding member against the workpiece body without adhesive; and wherein the holding member is configured to be removable from the workpiece body by thermally expanding the holding member by heating both the holding member and the workpiece body, the method comprising: expanding the holding member by heating, said holding member of a ring shape; inserting the workpiece body into the ring of the holding member; and mounting the holding member at the outer circumferential sidewalls of the workpiece body by contracting the holding member by cooling. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of producing a workpiece unit according to claim 15, wherein, during the expanding of the holding member, the holding member is heated to 60° C. to 150° C. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of producing a workpiece unit according to claim 15, wherein the holding member comprises engineering plastic.