US 11,667,412 B2
Methods for packaging orthodontic appliances
Stanley E. Sankaran, Granite Bay, CA (US); Eric Kuo, San Jose, CA (US); Kevin M. Conlon, Berthoud, CO (US); and Josh Van Riper, Berthoud, CO (US)
Assigned to Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/304,731.
Application 15/364,767 is a division of application No. 13/864,020, filed on Apr. 16, 2013, granted, now 9,522,750, issued on Dec. 20, 2016.
Application 13/864,020 is a division of application No. 12/787,288, filed on May 25, 2010, granted, now 8,438,817, issued on May 14, 2013.
Application 12/787,288 is a division of application No. 11/670,897, filed on Feb. 2, 2007, granted, now 7,748,199, issued on Jul. 6, 2010.
Application 17/304,731 is a continuation of application No. 16/678,699, filed on Nov. 8, 2019, granted, now 11,077,966.
Application 16/678,699 is a continuation of application No. 15/364,767, filed on Nov. 30, 2016, granted, now 10,501,214, issued on Dec. 10, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/867,571, filed on Nov. 28, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2021/0387755 A1, Dec. 16, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65B 5/04 (2006.01); B65B 43/12 (2006.01); B65B 61/02 (2006.01); B65B 43/26 (2006.01); B65B 57/00 (2006.01); B65B 61/20 (2006.01); B65B 65/00 (2006.01); B65B 35/10 (2006.01); B65B 43/34 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 5/045 (2013.01) [B65B 35/10 (2013.01); B65B 43/123 (2013.01); B65B 43/267 (2013.01); B65B 43/34 (2013.01); B65B 57/00 (2013.01); B65B 61/025 (2013.01); B65B 61/20 (2013.01); B65B 65/003 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for packaging orthodontic appliances, the method comprising:
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 using a computer system, wherein the matching comprises:
reading the identifier associated with each orthodontic appliance using a first reader device communicably coupled to the computer system,
reading the at least one identifier associated with each container using a second reader device communicably coupled to the computer system, and
comparing the identifier associated with each orthodontic appliance and the at least one identifier associated with each container using the computer system to verify that each orthodontic appliance is properly matched with the corresponding container; and
after verifying that each orthodontic appliance is properly matched with the corresponding container, loading each orthodontic appliance into the corresponding container for the orthodontic appliance using an insertion mechanism.