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US 2026/0233338 A1Published application
Techniques for automated marking of dental appliances
AssigneeInstitut Straumann AG
InventorMiguel Guerrero
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure discusses techniques for marking a dental appliance. A dental model and dental appliance are positioned onto a conveyor tray, which is transported to a scan station. The dental model and conveyor tray each include an identifying code. The scan station includes a camera and barcode reader to read the identifying codes on the dental model and conveyor tray, and these codes are associated with one another. The conveyor tray then moves to a marking station where a barcode reader reads the code on the conveyor tray, and then marks the dental appliance with the appropriate marking.
Claims20
A method of marking a dental appliance, comprising:
- positioning a dental model and a dental appliance on a conveyor tray, the dental model including a first code corresponding to a part number associated with the dental appliance, and the conveyor tray including a second code specific to the conveyor tray;
- moving the conveyor tray to a scan station, the scan station including a camera for reading the first code and a first barcode reader for reading the second code, reading the first code using the camera associated with a computing system to identify the part number associated with the dental appliance;
- reading the second code using the first barcode reader to identify the conveyor tray;
- associating the first code corresponding to the part number with the second code corresponding to the conveyor tray;
- moving the conveyor tray to a marking station, the marking station including a laser source and a second barcode reader;
- reading the second code using the second barcode reader to identify the part number based on the association between the first code and the second code;
- marking the dental appliance using the laser source.
4 more elements
A system for marking an orthodontic aligner, comprising:
- a loading station including a conveyor tray for holding a dental model and a dental appliance, the dental model including a first code corresponding to a part number associated with the dental appliance, and the conveyor tray including a second code specific to the conveyor tray;
- a scan station including a camera for reading the first code, and a first barcode reader for reading the second code;
- a marking station including a laser source and a second barcode reader;
- a computing system in communication with the camera, the first barcode reader, the second barcode reader, and the laser source, the computing system configured to:
- associate the first code corresponding to the part number with the second code corresponding to the conveyor tray;
- identify the part number at the marking station using information obtained from the second barcode reader;
- and
- instruct the laser source to mark the dental appliance with the appropriate marking;
- and
- a conveyor system for moving the conveyor tray between the loading station, the scan station, and the marking station.
7 more elements
An automated laser marking system, comprising:
- a loading station for loading a plurality of conveyor trays each with a 3D printed dental model and a dental appliance, the dental model including a first code corresponding to a part number associated with the dental appliance, and the conveyor tray including a second code specific to the conveyor tray, wherein the dental appliance is thermoformed over the dental model;
- a scan station including a camera for reading the first code, and a first barcode reader for reading the second code;
- a plurality of marking stations, each marking station including a laser source, a second barcode reader, and a fume extractor,
- a conveyor system for moving each of the plurality of conveyor trays between the loading station, the scan station, and one of the plurality of marking stations;
- and
- a computing system in communication with the camera, the first barcode reader, the second barcode reader, and the laser source, the computing system configured to:
- associate the first code corresponding to the part number with the second code corresponding to the conveyor tray for each of the plurality of conveyor trays at the scan station;
- for each conveyor tray located at each of the plurality of marking stations, identify the part number at the marking station using information obtained from the second barcode reader;
- and
- for each of the plurality of marking stations, instruct the laser source to mark the dental appliance with the appropriate marking.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.