	US 12,202,250 B2
	Method of inkjet printing onto aligners
Michael Christopher Cole, Longmont, CO (US)
Assigned to Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/855,599.
Application 17/855,599 is a continuation of application No. 17/066,963, filed on Oct. 9, 2020, granted, now 11,383,529.
Application 17/066,963 is a continuation of application No. 16/859,749, filed on Apr. 27, 2020, granted, now 10,899,146, issued on Jan. 26, 2021.
Application 16/859,749 is a continuation of application No. 16/780,162, filed on Feb. 3, 2020, granted, now 10,668,745, issued on Jun. 2, 2020.
Application 16/780,162 is a continuation of application No. 16/400,991, filed on May 1, 2019, granted, now 10,589,545, issued on Mar. 17, 2020.
Application 16/400,991 is a continuation of application No. 15/945,224, filed on Apr. 4, 2018, granted, now 10,336,102, issued on Jul. 2, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/481,491, filed on Apr. 4, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0332128 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B41J 11/00 (2006.01); A61C 7/08 (2006.01); B41J 2/01 (2006.01); B41J 3/407 (2006.01); B41M 5/00 (2006.01); C09D 11/101 (2014.01); C09D 11/322 (2014.01); B41M 7/00 (2006.01)

CPC B41J 11/002 (2013.01) [A61C 7/08 (2013.01); B41J 2/01 (2013.01); B41J 3/4073 (2013.01); B41J 11/00216 (2021.01); B41J 11/0022 (2021.01); B41J 11/0024 (2021.01); B41M 5/0011 (2013.01); B41M 5/0017 (2013.01); B41M 5/0047 (2013.01); B41M 5/0064 (2013.01); C09D 11/101 (2013.01); C09D 11/322 (2013.01); B41J 3/407 (2013.01); B41M 7/0081 (2013.01); B41M 7/009 (2013.01)]

20 Claims

1. A method of printing ink onto a dental appliance, the method comprising:

heating a dental appliance to an elevated temperature;

applying a printable ink to an exposed surface of the heated dental appliance;

maintaining the heated dental appliance and the printable ink at the elevated temperature for a soak time; and

curing the printable ink.