公开(公告)号：US20230242286A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-03

申请号：US18296917

申请日：2023-04-06

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Stanley E. Sankaran ,  Eric Kuo ,  Kevin M. Conlon ,  Josh Van Riper

IPC: B65B5/04 ,  B65B43/12 ,  B65B61/02 ,  B65B43/26 ,  B65B57/00 ,  B65B61/20 ,  B65B65/00 ,  B65B35/10 ,  B65B43/34

CPC classification number: B65B5/045 ,  B65B43/123 ,  B65B61/025 ,  B65B43/267 ,  B65B57/00 ,  B65B61/20 ,  B65B65/003 ,  B65B35/10 ,  B65B43/34

Abstract: Systems for packaging orthodontic appliances are provided. In some embodiments, a system includes a processor and a memory operably coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform operations including: receiving a plurality of orthodontic appliances, each orthodontic appliance associated with an identifier; receiving a plurality of containers, each container associated with at least one identifier of at least one orthodontic appliance; matching each orthodontic appliance to a corresponding container that is associated with the identifier of the orthodontic appliance; and loading each orthodontic appliance into the corresponding container for the orthodontic appliance.

公开(公告)号：US09522750B2

公开(公告)日：2016-12-20

申请号：US13864020

申请日：2013-04-16

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Stanley E. Sankaran ,  Eric Kuo ,  Kevin M. Conlon ,  Josh Van Riper

IPC: B65B5/04 ,  B65B57/00 ,  B65B61/02 ,  B65B43/26 ,  B65B43/12 ,  B65B61/20 ,  B65B65/00

CPC classification number: B65B5/045 ,  B65B35/10 ,  B65B43/123 ,  B65B43/267 ,  B65B43/34 ,  B65B57/00 ,  B65B61/025 ,  B65B61/20 ,  B65B65/003

Abstract: A system for packaging mass-customized items includes a computer system including a database containing item identification information unique to each item; (2) outer container identification apparatus that applies the item identification information received from the database to each outer container in a plurality of outer containers; (3) inner pack identification apparatus that applies the item identification information received from the database to each inner pack in a plurality of inner packs; and (4) inner pack filling apparatus that fills each inner pack with a specific item matched to that inner pack by the item identification information received from the database. Each item is associated with its unique item identification information and is inserted into an inner pack with matching item identification information, and each outer container is presented for loading with one or more inner packs matched to that outer container by the item identification information received from the database.

Abstract translation: 用于包装大量定制物品的系统包括计算机系统，其包括包含每个物品唯一的物品识别信息的数据库; （2）外部容器识别装置，其将从数据库接收的物品识别信息应用于多个外部容器中的每个外部容器; （3）内包装识别装置，其将从数据库接收到的物品识别信息应用于多个内包装中的每个内包装; 和（4）内包装填充装置，通过从数据库接收到的物品识别信息，填充与内包装相匹配的特定物品的每个内包装。 每个项目与其唯一的项目识别信息相关联，并且被插入到具有匹配项目识别信息的内部包装中，并且每个外部容器被呈现为通过从该外部容器接收到的物品识别信息来装载与该外部容器相匹配的一个或多个内部包装 数据库。

公开(公告)号：US11247242B2

公开(公告)日：2022-02-15

申请号：US17011577

申请日：2020-09-03

Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Inventor： James Clete Culp ,  Stanley E. Sankaran

IPC: B07C5/34 ,  B07C3/02 ,  G05B19/418

Abstract: A system and associated method is provided for sorting parts, which includes a conveyor system for receiving and circulating a plurality of randomly presented parts, a sorting buffer for accumulating selected parts from the plurality of randomly presented parts in an assigned buffer location, and a sequencing system for sequencing the accumulated selected parts.

公开(公告)号：US11077966B2

公开(公告)日：2021-08-03

申请号：US16678699

申请日：2019-11-08

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Stanley E. Sankaran ,  Eric Kuo ,  Kevin M. Conlon ,  Josh Van Riper

IPC: B65B5/04 ,  B65B43/12 ,  B65B61/02 ,  B65B43/26 ,  B65B57/00 ,  B65B61/20 ,  B65B65/00 ,  B65B35/10 ,  B65B43/34

Abstract: A method for inserting mass-customized items into bags includes the steps of (a) identifying each individual item of a plurality of mass customized items using item-specific identification information associated with each individual item in a computer system database; (b) conveying the plurality of identified individual items on an item conveyor; (c) conveying a plurality of bags on a bag conveyor, each of the bags being associated with the item-specific identification information associated with least one of the individual mass-customized items; (d) associating each of the bags with the item identification information associated with each of the identified individual mass-customized items; (e) receiving the plurality of mass-customized items from the item conveyor; and (f) inserting each individual mass-customized item into one of the bags that has been associated with the individual mass-customized item using the item-specific identification information in the database identifying the individual mass-customized item.

公开(公告)号：US20160023249A1

公开(公告)日：2016-01-28

申请号：US14874083

申请日：2015-10-02

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： James Clete Culp ,  Stanley E. Sankaran

IPC: B07C5/34 ,  G05B19/418

CPC classification number: B07C5/3412 ,  B07C5/34 ,  G05B19/41865 ,  Y02P90/20

Abstract: A system and associated method is provided for sorting parts, which includes a conveyor system for receiving and circulating a plurality of randomly presented parts, a sorting buffer for accumulating selected parts from the plurality of randomly presented parts in an assigned buffer location, and a sequencing system for sequencing the accumulated selected parts.

公开(公告)号：US20230356264A1

公开(公告)日：2023-11-09

申请号：US18354406

申请日：2023-07-18

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： James Clete Culp ,  Stanley E. Sankaran

IPC: B07C5/34 ,  B07C3/02 ,  G05B19/418

CPC classification number: B07C5/3412 ,  B07C3/02 ,  G05B19/41865 ,  B07C5/34 ,  Y02P90/02

Abstract: Methods for controlling the sorting and sequencing of objects are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving sensor data of a plurality of dental appliances, each dental appliance associated with an identifier including (a) group data indicating a group to which the dental appliance belongs, and (b) sequence data indicating a sequential position for the dental appliance within the group. The method can include controlling a sorting cell to direct each dental appliance into one of a plurality of buffer locations based on the group data for the dental appliance, where each buffer location is configured to hold a set of dental appliances belonging to the same group; and controlling a sequencing cell to sequence the set of dental appliances associated with each buffer location by placing each dental appliance into a position within the corresponding set of dental appliances based on the sequence data for the dental appliance.

公开(公告)号：US09152145B2

公开(公告)日：2015-10-06

申请号：US13775692

申请日：2013-02-25

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： James Clete Culp ,  Stanley E. Sankaran

IPC: B07C5/00 ,  G05B19/418 ,  B07C5/34

CPC classification number: B07C5/3412 ,  B07C5/34 ,  G05B19/41865 ,  Y02P90/20

Abstract: A system and associated method is provided for sorting parts, which includes a conveyor system for receiving and circulating a plurality of randomly presented parts, a sorting buffer for accumulating selected parts from the plurality of randomly presented parts in an assigned buffer location, and a sequencing system for sequencing the accumulated selected parts.

Abstract translation: 提供了一种用于分类部件的系统和相关方法，其包括用于接收和循环多个随机呈现的部分的输送机系统，用于在分配的缓冲器位置中从多个随机呈现的部分累积所选部分的排序缓冲器，以及排序 用于对累积的所选部件进行排序的系统。

公开(公告)号：US12076754B2

公开(公告)日：2024-09-03

申请号：US18354406

申请日：2023-07-18

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： James Clete Culp ,  Stanley E. Sankaran

IPC: B07C5/34 ,  B07C3/02 ,  G05B19/418

CPC classification number: B07C5/3412 ,  B07C3/02 ,  B07C5/34 ,  G05B19/41865 ,  Y02P90/02

Abstract: Methods for controlling the sorting and sequencing of objects are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving sensor data of a plurality of dental appliances, each dental appliance associated with an identifier including (a) group data indicating a group to which the dental appliance belongs, and (b) sequence data indicating a sequential position for the dental appliance within the group. The method can include controlling a sorting cell to direct each dental appliance into one of a plurality of buffer locations based on the group data for the dental appliance, where each buffer location is configured to hold a set of dental appliances belonging to the same group; and controlling a sequencing cell to sequence the set of dental appliances associated with each buffer location by placing each dental appliance into a position within the corresponding set of dental appliances based on the sequence data for the dental appliance.

公开(公告)号：US11752523B2

公开(公告)日：2023-09-12

申请号：US17647333

申请日：2022-01-06

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： James Clete Culp ,  Stanley E. Sankaran

IPC: B07C5/34 ,  B07C3/02 ,  G05B19/418

CPC classification number: B07C5/3412 ,  B07C3/02 ,  B07C5/34 ,  G05B19/41865 ,  Y02P90/02

Abstract: Methods for sorting and sequencing objects are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a plurality of objects, each object associated with an identifier including group data identifying a group to which the object belongs, and sequence data identifying a sequential position for the object within the group. The method can include determining the group data and the sequence data for each object by reading the identifier associated with the object; sorting the plurality of objects by directing each object into one of a plurality of buffer locations based on the group data for the object; and sequencing the set of objects associated with each buffer location by placing each object into a position within the corresponding set of objects based on the sequence data for the object.

公开(公告)号：US20200071006A1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-05

申请号：US16678699

申请日：2019-11-08

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Stanley E. Sankaran ,  Eric Kuo ,  Kevin M. Conlon ,  Josh Van Riper

IPC: B65B5/04 ,  B65B43/34 ,  B65B35/10 ,  B65B65/00 ,  B65B61/20 ,  B65B57/00 ,  B65B43/26 ,  B65B61/02 ,  B65B43/12

Abstract: A system for packaging mass-customized items includes a computer system including a database containing item identification information unique to each item; (2) outer container identification apparatus that applies the item identification information received from the database to each outer container in a plurality of outer containers; (3) inner pack identification apparatus that applies the item identification information received from the database to each inner pack in a plurality of inner packs; and (4) inner pack filling apparatus that fills each inner pack with a specific item matched to that inner pack by the item identification information received from the database. Each item is associated with its unique item identification information and is inserted into an inner pack with matching item identification information, and each outer container is presented for loading with one or more inner packs matched to that outer container by the item identification information received from the database.