# US 11,998,957 B2 · Device for spinning a workpiece > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,957 B2 - Document ID: US11998957B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/309,909 - Filed: 2020-01-21 - Published: 2022-04-14 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-24 - Assignees: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company - Applicants: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company - Inventors: Korbinian Gerlach; Stefan K. Welker; Christian A. Richter; Thomas K. Müller; Bastian P. Kirchner; Rudolf Schmid; Malte Korten - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998957B2 ## CPC - B08B 7/00: Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass - B33Y 40/00: Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling - A61C 13/0013: {using stereolithographic techniques} - A61C 13/0019: {using three dimensional printing} - B08B 7/02: by distortion, beating, or vibration of the surface to be cleaned {(B08B7/0007 takes precedence)} - B08B 11/02: Devices for holding articles during cleaning {(B08B9/42 takes precedence)} - B08B 13/00: Accessories or details of general applicability for machines or apparatus for cleaning - B22F 3/24: After-treatment of workpieces or articles {(B22F3/1146 takes precedence)} - B25J 9/04: by rotating at least one arm, excluding the head movement itself, e.g. cylindrical coordinate type or polar coordinate type - B25J 19/002: {using counterweights} - B29C 64/35: Cleaning - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 40/20: Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing - B22F 2003/247: {Removing material: carving, cleaning, grinding, hobbing, honing, lapping, polishing, milling, shaving, skiving, turning the surface} - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - 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) - B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) ## Abstract A device (1) for spinning a 3D printed workpiece (100). The device has a rotor (2) for spinning about a spinning axis (A) and a receptacle (8) for holding the workpiece (100). The receptacle (8) is pivotally attached to the rotor (2) for swiveling about a swivel axis (B) that is transverse to the spinning axis (A). The pivotal attachment enables swiveling of the receptacle (8) between a first angular orientation relative to the spinning axis (A) and a different second angular orientation relative to the spinning axis (A). The device (1) further has a balancing weight (9) that is movably arranged relative to the receptacle (8). The balancing weight (9) is lockable at different distances relative to the receptacle (8). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for spinning a workpiece, comprising a rotor for spinning about a spinning axis and a receptacle for holding the workpiece, the receptacle being pivotally connected to the rotor for swiveling about a swivel axis that is transverse to the spinning axis, such that swiveling of the receptacle is enabled between a first angular orientation relative to the spinning axis and a different second angular orientation relative to the spinning axis, wherein the device comprises a balancing weight that is movably arranged relative to the receptacle and being lockable at different distances relative to the receptacle, a sensor for sensing an imbalance occurring in response of spinning the rotor, and an actuating drive for positioning the balancing weight at the different distances relative to the receptacle wherein the actuating drive comprises a motor and a spindle drivable by the motor, wherein a rotation of spindle via the motor is translated in a corresponding proportional linear displacement of the balancing weight. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, being configured for locking the receptacle in at least the first angular orientation against swiveling. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the actuating drive for positions the balancing weight at the different distances relative to the receptacle by computer control. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, further comprising a sensor for sensing an imbalance occurring in response of spinning the rotor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the sensor is based on an acceleration sensor that is arranged for measuring an acceleration in a dimension radial of the spinning axis, or based on a force sensor that is arranged for measuring a force exerted by the rotor on the force sensor in a dimension radial of the spinning axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the actuating drive is controlled for positioning the balancing weight based on an output of the sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, comprising a swivel arm being pivotally connected to the rotor for swiveling about the swivel axis and having a first end and a second end, wherein the receptacle is arranged at the first end and wherein the swivel axis is arranged at a distance from the second end. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the balancing weight is displaceably mounted at the swivel arm for a linear displacement in a dimension through the first and the second end. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the swivel arm has an axis of inertia extending in a dimension through the first and second end, wherein in the first angular orientation the swivel arm is oriented such that the axis of inertia of the swivel arm is arranged in line with the spinning axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9 comprising the workpiece, wherein the workpiece has an axis of inertia, wherein the workpiece is mounted to the receptacle such that the axis of inertia of the workpiece is in line with the axis of inertia of the swivel arm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein in the second angular orientation the swivel arm is oriented such that the axis of inertia of the swivel arm is arranged inclined relative to the spinning axis at an inclination angle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 comprising a workpiece, the workpiece being selected from a dental dentition model, a dental aligner or a dental restoration, the workpiece having preferably been built up in an additive manufacturing process, wherein the workpiece comprises a light hardenable material located on the surface of the workpiece. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 further comprising a vacuum chamber formed by a collecting vessel and a closure for openably closing the collecting vessel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 further comprising a spinning drive for driving the rotor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A process for cleaning a workpiece, the process comprising the steps of providing the device as described in claim 1 with the workpiece having light curable material located on its surface being placed or fixed to the receptable, spinning the workpiece at a rotation speed resulting in the removal of the light curable material from the surface of the workpiece.