Patents by Inventor Peter Fornoff

Peter Fornoff has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9958207
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sintering furnace for components consisting of sintering material, especially dental components and in particular components consisting of ceramic, and a method for sintering such components. The sintering furnace 1 comprises a heatable furnace chamber 2 for the component 9 to be sintered, the furnace chamber 2 having a wall section 6 to be opened for inserting the component 9 to be sintered into the furnace chamber 2. Drive means 10 are provided for mechanized opening and closing of the wall section 6, and a control 11 is provided for the drive means 10 that has an actuation element 12 for the drive means 10. Furthermore, a heating device 5 for the furnace chamber 2 is provided, and the control 11 causes the furnace chamber 2 to be heated. Actuating the control element 12 triggers the loading sequence of the control 11, and the drive means 10 are automatically actuated by the control 11 corresponding to the loading sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Schmidt, David Figge, Siegfried Gleditzsch, Peter Fornoff
  • Publication number: 20180051931
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sintering furnace (1) for components (15) made of a sintered material, in particular for dental components, comprising a furnace chamber (2) having a chamber volume (VK) and a chamber inner surface (OK), wherein a heat-up device (5), a receiving space (9) having a gross volume (VB) located in the chamber volume (VK) and delimited by the heat-up device (5), and a useful region (10) having a useful volume (VN) located in the gross volume (VB), are disposed in the furnace chamber (2). The furnace chamber (2) has an outer wall (3) consisting of a plurality of walls having a wall portion (7) to be opened for introduction into the receiving space (9) of a component to be sintered (15) and having an object volume (VO). In the furnace chamber (2) the heat-up device (5) has a thermal radiator (6) having a radiation field (13) which radiator is disposed on at least one side of the receiving space (9). Said thermal radiator (6) has a specific resistance of 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Applicant: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Peter FORNOFF, Christian SCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20170176103
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sintering furnace (1) for components (15) made of a sintered material, in particular for dental components, comprising a furnace chamber (2) having a chamber volume (VK), wherein a heating device (5), a receiving space (9) having a gross volume (VB) located in the chamber volume (VK) and delimited by the heating device (5), and a useful region (10) having a useful volume (VN) located in the gross volume (VB), are disposed in the furnace chamber (2). The furnace chamber (2) has an outer wall (3) consisting of a plurality of walls having a wall portion (7) to be opened for introduction of a component to be sintered having an object volume (VO) into the receiving space (9). In the furnace chamber (2) the heating device (5) has a thermal radiator (6) having a radiation field (13) which is disposed on at least one side of the receiving space (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Peter FORNOFF, Christian SCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20160317257
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for planning a heat treatment of a dental prosthesis part (1), in which a 3D model (9) of the dental prosthesis part to be produced (1) already exists. A temperature profile (16) for the heat treatment of the dental prosthesis part (1) is automatically determined by a computer (17) as a function of determined geometric parameters (10, 11, 12, 13) of the dental prosthesis part to be produced (1) and/or of determined material parameters of the dental prosthesis part to be produced (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Peter FORNOFF, Christian SCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20150247672
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sintering furnace for components consisting of sintering material, especially dental components and in particular components consisting of ceramic, and a method for sintering such components. The sintering furnace 1 comprises a heatable furnace chamber 2 for the component 9 to be sintered, the furnace chamber 2 having a wall section 6 to be opened for inserting the component 9 to be sintered into the furnace chamber 2. Drive means 10 are provided for mechanized opening and closing of the wall section 6, and a control 11 is provided for the drive means 10 that has an actuation element 12 for the drive means 10. Furthermore, a heating device 5 for the furnace chamber 2 is provided, and the control 11 causes the furnace chamber 2 to be heated. Actuating the control element 12 triggers the loading sequence of the control 11, and the drive means 10 are automatically actuated by the control 11 corresponding to the loading sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Christian Schmidt, David Figge, Siegfried Gleditzsch, Peter Fornoff
  • Patent number: 8957954
    Abstract: A method for recording an image of an object includes projecting a strip pattern onto the object, recording the projected strip pattern as raw image data using a camera, and calculating an image of the object from the raw image data. A strip pattern having a duty cycle of less than 1 can be used to increase measuring precision during measurement of a translucent object, and can eliminate a need for additional contrast agents for a recording of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Thiel, Peter Fornoff, Joachim Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 8893387
    Abstract: A method for producing a dental shaped part includes checking an outer contour of a tool of machining equipment, using least one gauge provided on a blank formed from a tooth restoration material from which a dental shaped part is to be machined using the machining equipment. The method also includes machining the dental shaped part from the blank using the tool of the machining equipment, when the outer contour of the tool corresponds to the at least one gauge provided on the blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Basler, Peter Fornoff
  • Publication number: 20140106290
    Abstract: A carrier for at least one fastening element (4) to be fabricated having an attachment area whereby the carrier is provided with a holding piece (3) for attachment in a receiving part of a finishing machine and whereby the carrier includes a carrier piece (2) for the fastening element (4) and the carrier piece (2) is embedded at least partially in the carrier piece (2) in a manner so that the attachment area (4b) of the fastening element (4) can be fabricated. A method for producing a fastening element (4) to be finished and to be attached to an individual surface whereby the contour of the attachment area is defined with the aid of data of the surface onto which the fastening element (4) is to be attached and whereby a pre-shaped, not yet individualized fastening element (4) is formed by removal of material to produce the specific contour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Fornoff
  • Patent number: 8673454
    Abstract: A blank and method for the production of dental shaped bodies in machining equipment having at least two tools located in the machining chamber of the machining equipment, including a corpus of tooth restoration material, from which the shaped body can be carved by means of at least one of at least two tools by material removal. The blank exhibits at least two gages, each of which is in the form of a recess, the geometry of which is such that the tool selected for the cutting operation can be recognized by means of at least one of the gages by reference to its outer contour, the at least two gages being disposed on the blank in such a way that they can be simultaneously engaged by the at least tools when the blank is clamped in the machining equipment for carving purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Basler, Peter Fornoff
  • Patent number: 8636505
    Abstract: A dental orthodontic apparatus includes a carrier and fastening elements having rear holding and front parts. The carrier includes an elongated carrier piece having two sections and a carrier holding part. The fastening elements are arranged along the sections such that the front part of each element is adjacent a front side of a section, and the rear holding part of each fastening means is adjacent a rear side of the section. Carrier piece material at the rear side of a section is removable by a fabrication tool. The rear holding part of each fastening element is embedded within and completely surrounded by a first section of the carrier piece, and the rear holding part of each fastening element is embedded within and completely surrounded by a second section of the carrier piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Fornoff
  • Patent number: 8488113
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for optical 3D measurement, wherein said device can be switched between a first mode for optical 3D measurement using a chromatic confocal measurement method or the triangulation measurement method and a second mode for colorimetric measurement. In the first mode, a broad-band illuminating beam is focused onto a first plane and in the second mode the broad-band illuminating beam is focused onto a second plane other than the first plane at a distance d from the surface of the object to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Thiel, Peter Fornoff
  • Publication number: 20120029682
    Abstract: A method for producing a dental shaped part includes checking an outer contour of a tool of machining equipment, using least one gauge provided on a blank formed from a tooth restoration material from which a dental shaped part is to be machined using the machining equipment. The method also includes machining the dental shaped part from the blank using the tool of the machining equipment, when the outer contour of the tool corresponds to the at least one gauge provided on the blank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: SIRONA DENTAL SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Basler, Peter Fornoff
  • Patent number: 8057912
    Abstract: The invention relates to a blank for producing dental shaped parts, comprising a blank body (1) made of tooth restoration material, from which the shaped part can be machined using a tool (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) for removing material. The aim of the invention is to enable a reliable verification or recognition of the tool fitting or of the type and state of wear of the used tool of a machine tool for the blank. To this end, the blank has at least one gauge (4, 5), whose dimensions are such that the tool present for the machining can be identified by the gauge on the basis of its outer contour. The invention also relates to a method for producing dental shaped parts with a blank body made of tooth restoration material, from which the entire shaped part can be machined in a machining device by a tool for removing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Basler, Peter Fornoff
  • Publication number: 20110250398
    Abstract: A blank and method for the production of dental shaped bodies in machining equipment having at least two tools located in the machining chamber of the machining equipment, including a corpus of tooth restoration material, from which the shaped body can be carved by means of at least one of at least two tools by material removal. The blank exhibits at least two gages, each of which is in the form of a recess, the geometry of which is such that the tool selected for the cutting operation can be recognized by means of at least one of the gages by reference to its outer contour, the at least two gages being disposed on the blank in such a way that they can be simultaneously engaged by the at least tools when the blank is clamped in the machining equipment for carving purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: SIRONA DENTAL SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Basler, Peter Fornoff
  • Patent number: 7985119
    Abstract: A blank and method for the production of dental shaped bodies in machining equipment having at least two tools located in the machining chamber of the machining equipment, including a corpus of tooth restoration material, from which the shaped body can be carved by means of at least one of at least two tools by material removal. The blank exhibits at least two gages, each of which is in the form of a recess, the geometry of which is such that the tool selected for the cutting operation can be recognized by means of at least one of the gages by reference to its outer contour, the at least two gages being disposed on the blank in such a way that they can be simultaneously engaged by the at least tools when the blank is clamped in the machining equipment for carving purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Basler, Peter Fornoff
  • Patent number: 7986415
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for optical 3D measurement, comprising a first beam deflector for deflecting an illuminating beam onto a measurement object and for deflecting the observation beam which is radiated back by the measurement object, wherein the first beam deflector can move along a path distance S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Thiel, Joachim Pfeiffer, Peter Fornoff
  • Publication number: 20110080576
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for optical 3D measurement, wherein said device can be switched between a first mode for optical 3D measurement using a chromatic confocal measurement method or the triangulation measurement method and a second mode for colorimetric measurement. In the first mode, a broad-band illuminating beam is focused onto a first plane and in the second mode the broad-band illuminating beam is focused onto a second plane other than the first plane at a distance d from the surface of the object to be measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Frank Thiel, Peter Fornoff
  • Patent number: 7855354
    Abstract: A scanning system for carrying out 3D scanning of dental models in a scanning direction V including a holding device for a whole jaw model which spans an occlusal plane E over a line-shaped mandibular arch, a base, a swivel bearing on a swivel axis normal to the scanning direction V and a stage mounted for rotation on the swivel bearing relatively to the base, on which the dental model to be scanned can be mounted. The stage can be rotated through an angular range ? of at least 150° about the swivel axis, and the whole jaw model can be mounted such that said occlusal plane E is aligned parallel to said scanning direction V. An evaluation unit receives data from a detector to generate a 3D data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Eiff, Peter Fornoff
  • Publication number: 20100309301
    Abstract: A method for recording an image of an object includes projecting a strip pattern onto the object, recording the projected strip pattern as raw image data using a camera, and calculating an image of the object from the raw image data. A strip pattern having a duty cycle of less than 1 can be used to increase measuring precision during measurement of a translucent object, and can eliminate a need for additional contrast agents for a recording of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Thiel, Peter Fornoff, Joachim Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: D614210
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Basler, Thomas Hasenzahl, Peter Fornoff, Gerd Helmreich