Technology for automated marking of dental instruments

Abstract

This disclosure describes a technique for marking dental instruments. Dental models and dental instruments are placed on a conveyor tray that is transported to a scanning station. Each dental model and conveyor tray contains an identification code. The scanning station includes a camera and a barcode reader for reading the identification codes on the dental models and conveyor tray, and these codes are associated with each other. The conveyor tray then moves to a marking station, where a barcode reader reads the codes on the conveyor tray and then marks the dental instruments with appropriate markings.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications This application claims the priority and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 456,072, entitled "Techniques for Automated Markings of Dental Appliances," filed on March 31, 2023, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This technology relates to the manufacturing technology of dental appliances. More specifically, this technology relates to techniques for the automated marking of dental appliances.

Background Art

[0003] Dental aligners are devices intended to perform a series of individual tooth position corrections aimed at accurately aligning teeth. Aligners have many advantages over conventional bracket / wire braces for orthodontic treatment. For example, aligners are often transparent or translucent, more comfortable than wire braces, and removable for cleaning and eating. The manufacture of aligners conventionally begins by generating a digital model of the patient's teeth by scanning the patient's teeth or by creating a dental impression of the patient's teeth and then scanning the impression. Once a digital model of the patient's teeth is obtained, a physical dental model can be fabricated (e.g., using 3D printing technology) to provide a positive model of the teeth.

[0004] [[ID=2I]] When using an intraoral scanning device (IOS device) to scan a patient's teeth, a three - dimensional computer - aided design (CAD) representation can be imported by custom software. The custom software enables an operator, such as a dental technician or dentist, to move individual teeth in several stages with specific individual movements according to a treatment plan to achieve the final dental arch of the aligned teeth.

[0005] A 3D-printed model of the dental arch is created at each stage of the patient's treatment plan. This model can be cleaned and dried. Once dry, a polymer sheet can be thermoformed onto the 3D-printed arch model to form a clear aligner.

[0006] Next, the thermoformed parts are marked with part identification. The marked and thermoformed parts are then cut by one of several methods, so that the aligner delivered to the customer can be separated from the excess aligner material.

[0007] The aligners are then polished to remove burrs and sharp edges, inspected, packaged, and shipped to the patient's orthodontist or directly to the patient. [Overview of the project]

[0008] This technology relates to marking of orthodontic appliances such as transparent or translucent aligners, dental splints, and retainers. These orthodontic appliances can be made from polymer materials and, in some embodiments, can be manufactured using thermoforming or direct manufacturing (3D printing or other additive manufacturing) processes. Some advantages of this disclosure include the ability to automatically mark multiple appliances simultaneously and the ability to expand or scale the automated marking system to include more or fewer laser marking stations.

[0009] In one embodiment, the technology relates to a method for marking dental instruments. The method includes the steps of positioning a dental model and a dental instrument on a conveyor tray, and moving the conveyor tray to a scanning station. The dental model includes a first code corresponding to a part number associated with the dental instrument, and the conveyor tray includes a second code unique to the conveyor tray. The scanning station includes a camera for reading the first code and a first barcode reader for reading the second code. The method also includes the step of reading the first code using a camera associated with a computing system to identify the part number associated with the dental instrument. The method also includes the step of reading the second code using the first barcode reader to identify the conveyor tray. The method also includes the steps of associating the first code corresponding to the part number with the second code corresponding to the conveyor tray, and moving the conveyor tray to a marking station. The marking station includes a laser source and a second barcode reader. The method also includes the steps of reading a second code using a second barcode reader to identify a part number based on the association between a first code and a second code, and marking a dental instrument using a laser source.

[0010] In some embodiments, the dental instrument is a transparent aligner thermoformed onto a dental model. In some embodiments, the conveyor tray can be sent to one of several laser marking stations by associating a first code with a second code. In some embodiments, moving the conveyor tray to a marking station includes moving the conveyor tray to one of several laser marking stations. In some embodiments, the marking station is shielded using one or more opaque barriers and one or more transparent laser shielding panels. In some embodiments, the dental instrument is placed on the conveyor tray of the placement station. In some embodiments, moving the conveyor tray includes transporting the conveyor tray along a linear conveyor system or along a conveyor belt. In some embodiments, moving the conveyor tray includes transporting the conveyor tray two-dimensionally on the surface of a magnetized table conveyor system. In some embodiments, the first code is a serial number printed on a portion of the dental model during the 3D printing process. In some embodiments, the first barcode reader and the second barcode reader can read two-dimensional barcodes or three-dimensional barcodes.

[0011] In another embodiment, the technology relates to a system for marking orthodontic aligners. The system includes a mounting station, a scanning station, a marking station, a computing system, and a conveyor system. The mounting station includes a conveyor tray for holding dental models and dental instruments. The dental models include a first code corresponding to a part number associated with the dental instruments, and the conveyor tray includes a second code unique to the conveyor tray. The scanning station includes a camera for reading the first code and a first barcode reader for reading the second code. The marking station includes a laser source and a second barcode reader. The computing system communicates with the camera, the first barcode reader, the second barcode reader, and the laser source. The computing system is configured to associate a first code corresponding to a part number with a second code corresponding to a conveyor tray, to identify the part number at the marking station using information obtained from a second barcode reader, and to instruct a laser source to mark the dental instrument with the appropriate marking. The conveyor system moves the conveyor tray between the loading station, the scanning station, and the marking station.

[0012] In some embodiments, the marking station also includes a fume extractor for discharging fumes or debris generated during the laser marking process. In some embodiments, the dental instrument is a transparent aligner thermoformed onto a dental model. In some embodiments, a conveyor tray can be sent to any one of several laser marking stations by associating a first code with a second code. In some embodiments, moving a conveyor tray to a marking station includes moving a conveyor tray to any one of the laser marking stations. In some embodiments, the system also includes one or more opaque barriers and one or more transparent laser shielding panels for shielding the marking stations. In some embodiments, the conveyor system includes a linear conveyor system or a conveyor belt. In some embodiments, the conveyor system includes a magnetized table conveyor system. In some embodiments, a first barcode reader and a second barcode reader can read two-dimensional or three-dimensional barcodes.

[0013] In another embodiment, the disclosure relates to an automated laser marking system comprising a mounting station, a scanning station, several marking stations, a conveyor system, and a computing system. The mounting station is for mounting a plurality of conveyor trays, each having 3D printed dental models and dental instruments. Each dental model includes a first code corresponding to a part number associated with the dental instrument, and each conveyor tray includes a second code unique to the conveyor tray. Each dental instrument is thermoformed on a dental model and placed on a conveyor tray. The scanning station includes a camera for reading the first code and a first barcode reader for reading the second code. Each marking station includes a laser source, a second barcode reader, and a fume extractor. The conveyor system moves each conveyor tray between one of the mounting station, the scanning station, and the marking station. The computing system communicates with a camera, a first barcode reader, a second barcode reader, and a laser source. For each conveyor tray in the scanning station, the computing system is configured to associate a first code corresponding to the part number with a second code corresponding to the conveyor tray. For each conveyor tray located in each of the marking stations, the computing system is configured to identify the part number of the marking station using information obtained from the second barcode reader. For each marking station, the computing system is configured to instruct the laser source to mark the dental instrument with the appropriate marking.

[0014] This technology will be better understood from the following detailed explanation in conjunction with the attached drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This figure shows an exemplary automated laser marking system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This figure shows an exemplary 3D printed dental model 201, on which a transparent aligner material 203 is thermoformed, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] This is a top view of an exemplary scan station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] This is an alternative diagram of the scan station in Figure 3 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] This figure shows an exemplary user interface for operating an automated laser marking station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] Additional diagrams of an automated laser marking system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure are shown. [Figure 7] Additional diagrams of an automated laser marking system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure are shown. [Figure 8] A flowchart of a method 800 for marking dental instruments according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. [Figure 9] A schematic diagram of the structure of a computer system in a terminal device or server, suitable for implementing one embodiment of this application, is shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] This disclosure relates to an automated laser marking system for marking dental instruments. Dental instruments can include a number of different devices such as aligners, splints, and retainers. In some cases, various government or regulatory bodies may require specific markings on dental instruments, which may also include manufacturer or brand information. These markings may be applied to dental instruments using a laser source, which can etch information into polymer dental instruments. An automated and scalable laser marking system is needed.

[0017] This technology is significantly more versatile and scalable than conventional marking systems, while requiring less space and labor resources. According to embodiments of this disclosure, dental instruments can be placed on conveyor trays at a placement station, and then the codes placed on the dental instruments and conveyor trays can be scanned and matched with each other, so that it is possible to identify which instrument is placed on which conveyor tray. The conveyor trays can then be transported to one of several laser marking stations, which can scan the codes on the conveyor trays to identify which markings need to be applied to the corresponding dental instruments. Since the codes on the dental instruments (and in some cases, dental models) and the codes on the conveyor trays match, the marking stations only need to scan the codes on the conveyor trays. Such a system is scalable and allows for the addition of any desired number of marking stations without the need to adjust other parts of the system or any of the underlying operating software.

[0018] Dental instruments disclosed herein may be made from polymer materials such as thin thermoformable materials. In some cases, the dental instruments are thermoformed around a dental model of a patient's teeth. The thickness of the polymer material is not particularly limited, but should be thick enough to thermoform around the dental model. Preferably, the polymer material is less than 5 mm thick. More preferably, the thickness of the polymer material may be about 0.05 to about 5 mm.

[0019] Examples of thermoforming materials include, but are not limited to, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and other biocompatible polymers with elastic and plastic properties suitable for thermoforming.

[0020] The polymeric material can include, for example, a multilayer polymeric material described in U.S. Patent No. 10,549,511, U.S. Patent No. 10,870,263, U.S. Patent No. 10,987,907, U.S. Patent No. 11,325,358, U.S. Patent No. 10,946,630, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2022 / 0118747, PCT Application No. PCT / US2020 / 065928, PCT Application No. PCT / US2022 / 025306, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 354,998, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0021] When the thermoformed material is exposed to heat, the material becomes more flexible and can be shaped into the imprint shape when appropriate pressure is applied.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an exemplary automatic laser marking system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this example, the laser marking system includes a conveyor tray 101 that can hold dental models and dental instruments (shown in more detail in FIG. 2). Each conveyor tray is transported to different stations using a conveyor system. In an exemplary embodiment, the conveyor system includes a magnetized table 103 that can interact with the magnetic portion of the conveyor tray to relocate the conveyor tray to various positions and locations along the surface of the magnetized table. An exemplary magnetized system can include the Xplanar Conveyor System developed by Beckhoff Automation. Alternatively, a conventional conveyor belt or conveyor system can be used to transport the conveyor tray to the various stations described herein without the need to modify the underlying control software.

[0023] In one embodiment, the automated laser marking system includes, among other components, a placement station 105, a scanning station 107, and one or more marking stations 109. In an exemplary embodiment, the placement station is an area on which dental models and thermoforming materials can be placed on a conveyor tray. The placement station can be configured to handle the placement of several parts at any given time. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the placement station can accommodate the placement of three dental models on their respective conveyor trays at once. In some embodiments, matching physical features on the tray and the aligner material and / or dental model can be used to position the dental model and thermoforming material on the conveyor tray. In one embodiment, during the thermoforming process, a portion of the aligner material is thermoformed into the shape of a groove or cone formed on the thermoforming base. These features can help the dental model and thermoforming material fit with the conveyor tray.

[0024] In one exemplary embodiment, the conveyor tray includes a barcode, such as a three-dimensional barcode, which corresponds to a specific conveyor tray and identifies that tray from other trays in the marking system and production line. The dental model also includes one or more codes incorporated into the model. In some cases, the code may include a part number, which is an alphanumeric code printed on the model as embossed or notched lettering. In some embodiments, this code may be printed on a tab portion located within a recessed portion of the dental arch. An example of such a code is shown as element 207 in Figure 2. Those skilled in the art will understand that various different types of computer-readable or camera-readable codes can be used for the codes on the conveyor tray and the codes on the dental model.

[0025] Once dental models and thermoforming materials are placed on a conveyor tray at a placement station, the conveyor tray may be transported to a scanning station. In one embodiment, the scanning station includes one or more code readers, such as a barcode reader and a camera, capable of reading barcodes on the conveyor tray and part codes on the dental models. These code readers can then associate part codes corresponding to specific dental instruments being manufactured with conveyor tray codes corresponding to specific trays in the production line. The computing system can then generate a table or database that associates specific part codes with specific trays. In other words, the scanning station can read part codes associated with dental instruments and link them to conveyor tray codes. In some embodiments, two computing systems are implemented, one located at the scanning station that checks parts and creates correlations between conveyor trays and parts, and the other located at a laser marker that includes custom software using a second barcode scanner. In such embodiments, the second computing system at the laser marker can use the second barcode scanner to ping the first computing system to obtain appropriate information to be marked.

[0026] Once the scanning station reads the codes on the dental model and the codes on the conveyor tray, the conveyor tray can be transported to the marking station. In some embodiments, several laser marking stations can be implemented to increase or expand the capacity of the system. Each laser marking station may include a code reader capable of reading barcodes or computer-readable codes on the conveyor tray and a laser source capable of emitting a laser to mark thermoformed aligners. In some embodiments, the marking station also includes a suction device capable of removing vapors or gases generated from the laser marking process from the marking area. Since the scanning station has read the codes on the dental model and the conveyor tray and associated the codes on the conveyor tray with specific part numbers connected to dental instruments, the laser marking station only needs to read the barcodes on the conveyor tray to know what markings need to be made on the dental instruments. This provides significant technical advantages by requiring only one code reader per marking station and allowing the system to be expanded to any number of marking stations. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the system includes three marking stations. However, the system can be expanded to more marking stations, as long as the codes on the conveyor trays match the codes associated with individual dental instruments.

[0027] The main embodiments discussed in this application involve laser marking on a thermoforming aligner, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the systems and processes described herein can also be implemented in other marking systems (such as printing marking systems) and other manufacturing systems (such as additive manufacturing or 3D printing processes, rather than thermoforming processes).

[0028] In some embodiments, when the marking station is a laser marking station, a colored laser shielding panel 111 and an opaque barrier 113 can be used to protect the operator from laser light emitted from the laser source. The specific barrier design and orientation shown in Figure 1 allows the system to be used without a moving gate or door, thus reducing processing time. Since the barrier prevents laser light from leaving the marking station except through the laser shielding panel 111, a moving gate or door is not required to protect the operator. In some alternative embodiments, the marking station may include other types of marking devices besides the laser source, such as a printer.

[0029] After being marked at the marking station, dental instruments can be transported to a removal station or exit the marking system. In some embodiments, the removal station may be the same as the placement station. In alternative embodiments, the marked dental instruments and dental models may be transported by conveyor trays to other processing stations, such as a cutting or trimming station or a quality control station.

[0030] Figure 2 shows an exemplary 3D-printed dental model 201, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, on which a transparent aligner material 203 is thermoformed. Figure 2 also shows alphanumeric lettering 207 that may be presented at various locations on the locator tab portion of the 3D-printed dental model 201. This lettering may be in the form of raised or notched lettering and may be presented at different locations on the locator tab around a pentagonal cutout. The alphanumeric lettering can be used to identify and match a particular 3D model. For example, a camera in a scanning station can scan the locator tab, read the lettering, and match a dental model based on the lettering. In some embodiments, the dental model and conveyor tray may include features disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Applications No. 63 / 428,923 and No. 63 / 428,967, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0031] In a specific embodiment shown in Figure 2, a thermoforming process was used to form three cones 205 within the thermoformed material that fit into a concave cone or recess in the conveyor tray. This technique allows the dental model and thermoformed material to be fixed onto the conveyor tray during the laser marking process as the tray moves between the various stations described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that various different shapes can be used for this fitting technique. In an alternative embodiment, feature portions or notches of the dental model can be used to fit into features of the conveyor tray.

[0032] In one example, alphanumeric lettering represents a case number and / or step / arch identifier, which may be in the form of an encrypted code. In some embodiments, the lettering is not raised but cut through the entire model to allow for more accurate reading from an optical character recognition camera. In a preferred embodiment, the length of the raised letters is at least 1 mm, which overcomes a potential problem in 3D printing. In another embodiment, the lettering is cut through the thickness of the locator tab. Cutting the lettering can further reduce the amount of material required during the 3D printing process.

[0033] As described above, the thermoforming process can generate several thermoformed cones 205 or other physical features that can be paired with features on the conveyor tray, thereby fixing the transparent aligner material 203 and dental model 201 onto the conveyor tray.

[0034] Figure 3 shows a top view of an exemplary scan station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the scan station includes two code readers, namely a barcode reader 301 and a camera 303. In some embodiments, the camera 303 can read any alphanumeric lettering 207 located on a dental model, as described with reference to Figure 2, while the barcode reader 301 can read a barcode 305 located on a conveyor tray. In some embodiments, the barcode 305 can be a two-dimensional barcode, such as a data matrix code, which can identify a particular conveyor tray. Once the alphanumeric characters associated with the aligner parts (e.g., part codes) and the barcodes associated with the conveyor trays are scanned or read, this information can be transmitted to a computing system, thereby associating the part codes with the conveyor tray codes. The computing system can generate a table or database associating specific part codes with specific trays. In the example shown in Figure 3, an additional conveyor tray can be seen, and a second dental model 307 is positioned in the staging area before being moved to the scan station. Figure 3 also shows how the protective transparent shield 309 and several opaque laser barriers 311 define the entrance to the laser marking area.

[0035] Figure 4 is an alternative diagram of the scanning station of Figure 3 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In this diagram, a conveyor tray 401 is clearly visible, having a dental model 403 on which aligner material has been thermoformed. The staging area 405 is empty in this diagram, as is one of the mounting areas 407.

[0036] Figure 5 shows an exemplary user interface for operating an automated laser marking station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the computing system can present an image 501 captured by a camera 303 at a scanning station, showing an alphanumeric code 503 located on a portion of a dental model. The computing device can also display a visual representation 505 of the laser marking system, including a representation of the positions of various conveyor trays within the system. Those skilled in the art will understand that the user interface can provide more or less types of information. For example, the user interface can provide information about the throughput of the laser marking system, the energy level of the laser, information about the type of marking being performed on the aligner material, whether there are any errors or delays in the system, etc.

[0037] Figures 6 and 7 show additional diagrams of an automated laser marking system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 6, a conveyor tray 601 without dental models or thermoforming materials is shown. This is an example of what the conveyor tray may look like before the dental models are placed on the placement station, and includes a number of recesses designed to fit thermoformed features (e.g., thermoformed cones 205 shown in Figure 2). In some embodiments, each marking station may include a fume extractor 603, which may be a suction device designed to suck up and discharge any fumes or debris generated during the laser marking process. Each marking station also includes a barcode reader and a laser source 605, which may be contained in any suitable housing or module. The laser source used in this machine is a 10-watt Vereo® UV integrated laser from Tykma Electrox with a laser wavelength of 355 nm. In some embodiments, the laser source and barcode reader may be arranged adjacent to each other, as a single module, or along the fume extractor 603. The barcode reader in the laser marking station may be, for example, the same type of barcode reader used in the scanning station described above.

[0038] In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 7, the laser marking system is actively marking three dental instruments 701 at three marking stations. As described above, the system can be expanded to include any number of marking stations. Figure 7 also shows one dental instrument 703 being scanned at a scanning station and another dental instrument 705 moving to a staging area near a marking station around a barrier 709. According to one embodiment, once one instrument is fully marked at one of the marking stations and moves to a removal station, the next dental instrument moves to an available marking station. In some embodiments, the placement station and the removal station may be the same station or may be in close proximity to each other.

[0039] Figure 8 shows a flowchart of Method 800 for marking dental instruments according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. While certain functional blocks are disclosed in Method 800, such blocks are examples, and those skilled in the art will understand that additional or fewer steps may be implemented in various embodiments, and that the order of the functional blocks may also be adjusted within the scope of the invention unless otherwise specified. Thus, the blocks of Method 800 may be performed in an order different from that presented, and not all blocks of Method 800 may be performed.

[0040] In block 801, dental models and dental instruments are arranged on a conveyor tray. As described above, in some embodiments, the dental instruments may include several thermoformed features (e.g., thermoformed cones 205 shown in Figure 2) which can be fitted to parts of the conveyor tray. The dental instruments may be, for example, dental aligners or splints thermoformed onto the dental models. The dental models may include a first code corresponding to a part number associated with the dental instruments, and the conveyor tray may include a second code specific to the conveyor tray. In some embodiments, the first code is a serial number printed on part of the dental models during the 3D printing process, as described above. In some embodiments, this code may be either embossed or notched lettering. The dental instruments may be arranged on the conveyor tray in one of several placement stations.

[0041] In block 803, the conveyor tray is moved to a scan station, which may include a camera for reading a first code and a barcode reader for reading a second code. As described above, the conveyor tray can be moved to the scan station using a magnetized table conveyor system or a conventional conveyor belt system in various embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be realized by various different types of conveyor systems. In some embodiments, the barcode reader can read various different types of barcodes, such as two-dimensional and three-dimensional barcodes. Before moving the conveyor tray to the scan station, the conveyor system may move the conveyor tray to one or more staging areas located between the loading station and the scan station. This may be done, for example, to allow scanning of one or more portions at the front of a queue.

[0042] In block 805, the first and second codes are read using a camera and a barcode reader at the scan station. In some embodiments, the camera of the scan station can read the first code incorporated into the dental model to identify the part number associated with a dental instrument thermoformed onto the dental model. As described above, the first code may include alphanumeric lettering incorporated into the dental model during the 3D printing process. In some embodiments, the barcode reader of the scan station can read a second code located on the conveyor tray to identify the conveyor tray.

[0043] In block 807, a first code corresponding to a part number is associated with a second code corresponding to a conveyor tray. By associating part number codes with conveyor tray codes, conveyor trays can be sent to any of several different marking stations, each of which only needs to read the second code located on the conveyor tray to mark the dental instruments with the appropriate markings. This provides significant technical advantages, as only one code reader is required at each marking station, and the entire system can be scalable to any desired number of marking stations. In some embodiments, associating the first and second codes may involve generating a database that can contain data reflecting which part numbers are associated with which conveyor trays at any given time.

[0044] In block 809, once the first code and the second code are associated with each other, the conveyor tray moves to one of the marking stations, each containing a laser source and a barcode reader. As described above, the conveyor tray can move between the scanning station and the marking station using any suitable type of conveyor system. One or more staging areas may be present between the scanning station and the marking station to facilitate the flow of the conveyor tray through the system. In some embodiments, the marking station is shielded using an opaque barrier and a transparent laser shielding panel, thereby allowing the conveyor tray to pass around the opaque barrier without requiring the movement of a gate or door, protecting the user from the laser beam. This reduces the number of moving parts required in the system and enables faster transport of the conveyor tray from the scanning station to the appropriate marking station.

[0045] In block 811, the barcode reader of the laser marking station reads the second code to identify the part number based on the association between the first code and the second code. In some embodiments, this block includes querying a database formed between blocks 807 to retrieve appropriate information to be marked on the dental instrument.

[0046] In block 813, dental instruments are marked using a laser source at a marking station. In some embodiments, the laser source may include a UV laser, which can blend well with the user's teeth and make the marking less noticeable. The laser marking system can be used to mark part numbers or product numbers, company names or logos, or any other appropriate designs or symbols on dental instruments. In some examples, various government or regulatory bodies may require specific markings on dental instruments. In some embodiments, the marking station also includes a fume extractor, which may be a suction device designed to suck up and discharge any fumes or debris generated during the laser marking process. In some cases, the marking station may also mark codes on excess aligner material that does not constitute part of the dental instrument, and these codes may be used in a trimming process before the aligner and model are separated from each other, but after the aligner and model have been removed from the conveyor tray.

[0047] As described above, the technology described herein enables the simultaneous marking of multiple dental instruments. This allows a single system to operate multiple marking stations simultaneously. In one example, it was disclosed that an automated laser marking system can reduce the labor required at the laser marking station by 62% (from 21 operators to 8), resulting in significant financial savings and a 75% reduction in the floor space required to complete the marking process.

[0048] Referring to Figure 9, a schematic diagram of a computer system 900 adapted to implement the server of the embodiment of this application is shown. The computing systems described below may be designed to implement the methods disclosed herein.

[0049] As shown in Figure 9, the computer system 900 may include a central processing unit (CPU) 901, which can perform various actions and processes in response to the execution of programs stored in read-only memory (ROM) 902 or programs loaded from storage section 908 into random access memory (RAM) 903. The RAM 903 can also store various programs and data required for the operation of the system 900. In some embodiments, the CPU 901, ROM 902, and RAM 903 may be connected to each other via a bus 904. The bus 904 may also be connected to an input / output (I / O) interface 905 (e.g., a touchscreen, keyboard, mouse, microphone with voice recognition capabilities). The bus 904 may include one or more buses connected to each other via various bridges, controllers, and / or adapters, as is well known in the art.

[0050] In some embodiments, the input section 906 (e.g., keyboard, touchscreen, mouse, etc.), output section 907 (e.g., speaker, screen, etc.), storage section 908 (e.g., hard disk, flash drive, etc.), and communication section 909 (e.g., network interface card, etc.) are all connected to the I / O interface 905. The communication section 909 can perform communication processing over a network such as the Internet. A drive 910 can also be connected to the I / O interface 905 as needed. Removable media 911 such as magnetic disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, flash drives can be placed on the drive 910, and computer programs can be searched from the removable media 911 and installed in the storage section 908 as needed.

[0051] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the process described above with reference to Figure 8 may be implemented in a computer software program. For example, one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a computer program product, which includes a computer program tangibly embedded in a machine-readable medium. The computer program includes program code for performing the method of Figure 8. In such an embodiment, the computer program may be downloaded and installed from a network via a communication unit 909 and / or installed from removable media 911.

[0052] It will be understood that the present invention can utilize non-volatile memory located remotely from the system, such as a network storage device coupled to a data processing system via a network interface such as a modem, Ethernet interface, or wireless network.

[0053] Some of the above may be implemented by logic circuits, such as dedicated logic circuits, or by microcontrollers or other forms of processing cores that execute program code instructions. Thus, the processes taught by the above description may be executed using program code, such as machine-executable instructions that cause a machine executing these instructions to perform a specific function. In this context, “machine” may be a machine that translates intermediate forms (or “abstracts”) of instructions to processor-specific instructions (e.g., abstract execution environments such as (e.g., Java Virtual Machine), interpreters, common language runtimes, high-level language virtual machines, etc.), and / or electronic circuits located on semiconductor chips (e.g., “logic circuits” implemented with transistors) designed to execute instructions, such as general-purpose processors and / or dedicated processors. The processes taught by the above description may be executed (in place of or in combination with a machine) by electronic circuits designed to execute the process (or part thereof) without the execution of program code.

[0054] The present invention also relates to an apparatus for performing the operations described herein. This apparatus may be configured specifically for a particular purpose, or it may comprise a general-purpose computer that is selectively started or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, for example, any type of disk including, but not limited to, floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, and magneto-optical disks, read-only memory (ROM), RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions, each coupled to a computer system bus.

[0055] Machine-readable media include any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a format readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). For example, machine-readable media include read-only memory ("ROM"), random-access memory ("RAM"), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, and the like.

[0056] A product can be used to store program code. A product for storing program code may be embodied as one or more memories (e.g., one or more flash memories, random access memories (static, dynamic, or otherwise)), optical discs, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, or other types of machine-readable media suitable for storing electronic instructions, but is not limited to these. Program code may also be downloaded from a remote computer (e.g., a server) to a requesting computer (e.g., a client) by data signals embedded in a propagation medium (e.g., via a communication link (e.g., a network connection)).

[0057] The foregoing is merely a description of preferred embodiments and applied technical principles of this application. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of the invention of this application is not limited to technical solutions formed by specific combinations of the above technical features. The scope of the invention also includes, without departing from the concept of the invention, other technical solutions formed by any combination of the above technical features or their equivalents, for example, technical solutions formed by replacing (but not limited to) the features disclosed in this application with technical features having similar functions.

Claims

1. A method for marking dental instruments, A step of arranging dental models and dental instruments on a conveyor tray, wherein the dental models include a first code corresponding to a part number associated with the dental instruments, and the conveyor tray includes a second code specific to the conveyor tray, A step of moving the conveyor tray to a scan station, wherein the scan station includes a camera for reading the first code and a first barcode reader for reading the second code. The steps include reading the first code using the camera associated with the computing system in order to identify the part number associated with the dental instrument, The steps include: reading the second code using the first barcode reader to identify the conveyor tray; The steps include associating the first code corresponding to the part number with the second code corresponding to the conveyor tray, A step of moving the conveyor tray to a marking station, wherein the marking station includes a laser source and a second barcode reader. The steps include reading the second code using the second barcode reader and identifying the part number based on the association between the first code and the second code, A method comprising the step of marking the dental instrument using the laser source.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dental instrument is a transparent aligner thermoformed on the dental model.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of associating the first code with the second code makes it possible to send the conveyor tray to any one of the plurality of laser marking stations.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of moving the conveyor tray to the marking station includes the step of moving the conveyor tray to one of the plurality of laser marking stations.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the marking station is shielded using one or more opaque barriers and one or more transparent laser-shielding panel glass.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the dental instruments are placed on the conveyor tray in the placement station.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the step of moving the conveyor tray includes the step of transporting the conveyor tray along a linear conveyor system or a conveyor belt.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the step of moving the conveyor tray includes the step of transporting the conveyor tray in two dimensions on the surface of the magnetized table conveyor system.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first code is a serial number printed on a part of the dental model during the 3D printing process.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first barcode reader and the second barcode reader are capable of reading a two-dimensional barcode or a three-dimensional barcode.

11. This is a system for marking orthodontic aligners. A mounting station comprising a conveyor tray for holding dental models and dental instruments, wherein the dental models include a first code corresponding to a part number associated with the dental instruments, and the conveyor tray includes 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 that communicates with the camera, the first barcode reader, the second barcode reader, and the laser source, The first code corresponding to the part number is associated with the second code corresponding to the conveyor tray. Using the information obtained from the second barcode reader, the part number at the marking station is identified. The computing system is configured to instruct the laser source to mark the dental instrument with appropriate markings, A system comprising a conveyor system for moving the conveyor tray between the placement station, the scanning station, and the marking station.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the marking station further includes a fume extractor for discharging any fumes or debris generated during the laser marking process.

13. The system according to any one of claims 11 to 12, wherein the dental instrument is a transparent aligner thermoformed on the dental model.

14. The system according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the conveyor tray can be sent to any one of the plurality of laser marking stations by associating the first code with the second code.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein moving the conveyor tray to the marking station includes moving the conveyor tray to one of the plurality of laser marking stations.

16. The system according to any one of claims 11 to 15, further comprising one or more opaque barriers and one or more transparent laser shielding panels for shielding the marking station.

17. The conveyor system according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the conveyor system includes a linear conveyor system or a conveyor belt.

18. The conveyor system is the system according to any one of claims 11 to 17, wherein the conveyor system includes a magnetized table conveyor system.

19. The system according to any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein the first barcode reader and the second barcode reader are capable of reading two-dimensional barcodes or three-dimensional barcodes.

20. An automated laser marking system, A mounting station for mounting multiple conveyor trays, each having a 3D printed dental model and dental instrument, wherein the dental model includes a first code corresponding to a part number associated with the dental instrument, the conveyor tray includes a second code unique to the conveyor tray, and the dental instrument is thermoformed onto the dental model, A scan station including a camera for reading the first code and a first barcode reader for reading the second code, Multiple 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 aforementioned placement station, the aforementioned scanning station, and one of the plurality of marking stations, The system comprises the camera, the first barcode reader, the second barcode reader, and a computing system that communicates with the laser source, wherein the computing system For each of the plurality of conveyor trays in the scan station, the first code corresponding to the part number is associated with the second code corresponding to the conveyor tray. For each conveyor tray located in each of the multiple marking stations, the part number of the marking station is identified using the information obtained from the second barcode reader. A system configured to command the laser source to mark the appropriate marking on the dental instrument for each of the plurality of marking stations.

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