US 12,319,002 B2
Systems for post-processing additively manufactured objects
Viswanath Meenakshisundaram, Santa Clara, CA (US); Srinivas Kaza, Mountain View, CA (US); Chunhua Li, Cupertino, CA (US); Lance Robert Pickens, Campbell, CA (US); Shawn Stromenger, Milpitas, CA (US); Jun Sato, San Jose, CA (US); Siobhan O'Leary, Santa Clara, CA (US); Peter Webber, San Francisco, CA (US); Brett E. Kelly, Oakland, CA (US); and Jennifer Chavez, Fremont, CA (US)
Assigned to Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/050,807.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/263,212, filed on Oct. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0133005 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. A61C 7/08 (2006.01); B08B 7/00 (2006.01); B08B 7/04 (2006.01); B29C 35/08 (2006.01); B29C 64/30 (2017.01); B29C 64/35 (2017.01); B29C 64/357 (2017.01); B29C 64/379 (2017.01); B29C 64/386 (2017.01); B29C 71/04 (2006.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01); B33Y 50/00 (2015.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01); B29C 64/124 (2017.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 64/35 (2017.08) [B08B 7/0071 (2013.01); B08B 7/04 (2013.01); B29C 35/0805 (2013.01); B29C 64/30 (2017.08); B29C 64/357 (2017.08); B29C 64/379 (2017.08); B29C 64/386 (2017.08); B29C 71/04 (2013.01); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01); B33Y 50/00 (2014.12); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12); A61C 7/08 (2013.01); B29C 64/124 (2017.08); B29L 2031/753 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for processing additively manufactured objects, the system comprising:
a plurality of containers configured to receive a plurality of additively manufactured object having excess material thereon;
a rotor comprising:
a central shaft,
a plurality of arms, each arm comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of each arm is coupled to the central shaft, and
a plurality of mounting structures, each mounting structure coupled to the second end of a respective arm of the plurality of arms, wherein each mounting structure extends upward relative to the respective arm, and wherein each mounting structure is coupled to a respective container of the plurality of containers;
an actuator configured to spin the rotor and the plurality of containers around an axis of rotation so as to remove the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects received within the plurality of containers; and
at least one heat source carried on the rotor, wherein the at least one heat source is configured to heat the excess material to decrease a viscosity thereof.