Patents by Inventor Christian A. Richter

Christian A. Richter 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).

  • Publication number: 20250195191
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for post-curing an article, as well as a system, methods, and post-cured articles. The apparatus includes a housing, a chamber disposed in the housing, at least two light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed within the housing, and a user interface disposed on an exterior of the housing. The chamber is adaptable to each of an open, closed, and hermetically sealed configuration. The chamber includes a material transparent to actinic radiation and light from the LEDs enters the chamber from more than one direction. The user interface includes a display and program switches configured to adjust at least three operational parameters of the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a vacuum pump operatively coupled to the chamber. The system includes the apparatus and an article. An article includes layers of at least one photopolymerized crosslinked composition and a low extractable component content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2025
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Inventors: Rudolf Schmid, Ralf M. Kelz, Christian A. Richter, Anja Friedrich, James D. Hansen, Saswata Chakraborty, Benjamin C. Mac Murray, Daniel D. Oberpertinger
  • Patent number: 12268567
    Abstract: The apparatus (1000) includes a housing (110), a chamber (120) disposed in the housing, at least two light emitting diodes (LEDs) (130) disposed within the housing (110), and a user interface (140) disposed on an exterior (112) of the housing. The chamber (120) is adaptable to each of an open, closed, and hermetically sealed configuration. The chamber (120) includes a material transparent to actinic radiation and light from the LEDs (130) enters the chamber from more than one direction. The user interface (140) includes a display (142) and program switches (144) configured to adjust at least three operational parameters of the apparatus. The apparatus (1000) further includes a vacuum pump (150) operatively coupled to the chamber (120). The system includes the apparatus (1000) and an article (180). An article includes layers of at least one photopolymerized crosslinked composition and a low extractable component content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Rudolf Schmid, Ralf Kelz, Christian A. Richter, Anja Friedrich, James D. Hansen, Saswata Chakraborty, Benjamin C. MacMurray, Daniel D. Oberpertinger
  • Patent number: 11998957
    Abstract: A device (1) for spinning a 3D printed workpiece (100). The device has a rotor (2) for spinning about a spinning axis (A) and a receptacle (8) for holding the workpiece (100). The receptacle (8) is pivotally attached to the rotor (2) for swiveling about a swivel axis (B) that is transverse to the spinning axis (A). The pivotal attachment enables swiveling of the receptacle (8) between a first angular orientation relative to the spinning axis (A) and a different second angular orientation relative to the spinning axis (A). The device (1) further has a balancing weight (9) that is movably arranged relative to the receptacle (8). The balancing weight (9) is lockable at different distances relative to the receptacle (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Korbinian Gerlach, Stefan K. Welker, Christian A. Richter, Thomas K. Müller, Bastian P. Kirchner, Rudolf Schmid, Malte Korten
  • Publication number: 20240157642
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for manufacturing three-dimensional objects. Each additive manufacturing apparatus (1000, 2000, 3000) includes: a) a reservoir (1100, 2100, 3100) for receiving hardenable material; b) a first movable light engine (1200, 2200, 3200) providing a first light radiation configuration; a second light engine (1300, 2300, 3300) providing a second light radiation configuration that is different than the first light radiation configuration; and d) a light altering structure (1400, 2400, 3400). The light altering structure is located between the reservoir and light radiated from at least one of the first movable light engine or the second light engine. The first movable light engine is configured to radiate light onto a first focal plane (2220) within the reservoir containing the hardenable material and the second light engine is configured to radiate light onto a second focal plane (2320) within the reservoir containing the hardenable material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Malte KORTEN, Nicholas S. WREN, Gareth A. HUGHES, Benjamin C. MAC MURRAY, Kyle C. PICHA, Jesse J. GILLES, Leif J. ERICKSON, Eric H. TSAI, Matthew T. LINGSCHEIT, Gioacchino RAIA, Bastian P. KIRCHNER, Christian A. RICHTER, Jeffrey N. BARTOW
  • Publication number: 20240090974
    Abstract: A method of forming a dental restoration for a tooth having an outer surface includes acquiring a first three-dimensional representation representative of the outer surface of the tooth; generating a design of a first part of the dental restoration based on the first three-dimensional representation of the tooth; forming the first part of the dental restoration; preparing the tooth to form a prepared tooth while forming the first part of the dental restoration; obtaining a second three-dimensional representation of the prepared tooth; generating a design of a second part of the dental restoration based on at least the second three-dimensional representation of the prepared tooth; merging the design of the second part of the dental restoration to the first part of the dental restoration; and forming the second part of the dental restoration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Malte Korten, Bastian P. Kirchner, Christian A. Richter, Gioacchino Raia, Bernhard C. Hofmann, Rudolf Schmid
  • Publication number: 20230311410
    Abstract: The invention relates to a 3D printing system comprising a 3D printing device for manufacturing at least two workpieces. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing at least two workpieces by means of the 3D printing system. Furthermore, the invention relates to an adapter set for attaching workpiece holders to a 3D printing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Malte Korten, Andreas G. Herrmann, Bastian P. Kirchner, Gioacchino Raia, Daniel D. Oberpertinger, Christian A. Richter, Anja Friedrich, Richard E. Raby, Dietmar Blees, Ralf M. Paehl, Thomas K. Müller
  • Publication number: 20230301750
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating device 10 for heating a dental material and a method for controlling the temperature of a dental material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Christian A. Richter, Korbinian Gerlach, Ralf M. Kelz, Rudolf Schmid, Stefan K. Welker
  • Publication number: 20230302723
    Abstract: A 3D printing system (10) for manufacturing at least one physical object comprises at least one reservoir (12) for receiving hardenable material; at least one light engine (22) configured to irradiate light onto a focal plane within the reservoir of the hardenable material to form a layer of hardened material; at least one build platform (18) for carrying the physical object to be manufactured; and a controller configured to select at least one or at least two optical resolutions from two or more optical resolutions available in the 3D printing system for irradiating the hardenable material based on a predetermined surface quality of the physical object to be manufactured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Malte Korten, Bastian P. Kirchner, Christian A. Richter, Korbinian Gerlach, Rudolf Schmid, Thomas K. Müller
  • Patent number: 11738372
    Abstract: A system (1) for washing a 3D-printed object (4). The system (1) has a washing device (2) and a workpiece (3) that includes the 3D-printed object (4). The washing device (2) has a container (7) that forms a process chamber (8) for receiving a liquid cleaning agent (9), and the container (7) has an inlet (10) into the process chamber (8). The workpiece (3) further has a support structure (6) that supports the 3D-printed object (4) and a base (5) supporting the support structure (6). The base (5), in a mating relationship with the inlet (10), forms a restraint preventing the workpiece (3) from passing through the inlet (10) in a situation in which the workpiece (3) is placed with the 3D-printed object (4) located within the process chamber (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Anja Friedrich, Michael Jahns, Malte Korten, Christian A. Richter, Bastian P. Kirchner, Gallus Schechner, Daniel D. Oberpertinger, Wolfgang Weinmann
  • Patent number: 11723757
    Abstract: A dental material dispensing device has a plunger means which for dispensing the dental material is movable for urging at least one component of a dental material toward a dispensing area. The device further has cure control means with an energy source and a flow path on which the dental composition and/or the dental material flows past the energy source during dispensation. The device is operable for exposing the dental composition and/or the dental material to a specific energy by control of the energy source and/or by control of the speed of the flow of the dental composition and/or the dental material on the flow path. The device is configured for dispensing a coherent strand of dental material in a dispensing cycle. The device is further configured for operating in a first dispensing mode and additionally in a second dispensing mode during the same dispensing cycle. The ratio between the specific energy in the second dispensing mode and the specific energy in the first dispensing mode is smaller than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Christian A. Richter, Anja Friedrich, Thomas Müller, Rudolf Schmid
  • Publication number: 20220287800
    Abstract: A heating device for heating a dental material. The heating device has a body and a socket. The socket is removably received within the body and has a socket wall that forms a receptacle for positioning a container for the dental material therein. The body has a light source for emitting light toward the socket wall in a direction toward the receptacle. The socket wall is at least partially transmissive for infrared light. The heating device allows for heating the dental material within the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Christian A. Richter, Korbinian Gerlach, Rudolf Schmid, Stefan K. Welker, Ralf Kelz
  • Patent number: 11433658
    Abstract: A method of making a physical object by additive manufacturing. In the method a hardenable primary material is provided, the object is built up by successively hardening layers of the hardenable primary material, and the object is cleaned from excess material by moving the object and thereby generating a mass inertial force in the excess material. The invention facilitates the making of objects by additive manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Anja Friedrich, Christian A. Richter, Malte Korten, Bastian Kirchner, Michael Jahns, Karin Zanklmaier, Gioacchino Raia, Hans R. Schnagl, Andreas G. Herrmann, Daniel D. Oberpertinger
  • Publication number: 20220273409
    Abstract: The apparatus (1000) includes a housing (110), a chamber (120) disposed in the housing, at least two light emitting diodes (LEDs) (130) disposed within the housing (110), and a user interface (140) disposed on an exterior (112) of the housing. The chamber (120) is adaptable to each of an open, closed, and hermetically sealed configuration. The chamber (120) includes a material transparent to actinic radiation and light from the LEDs (130) enters the chamber from more than one direction. The user interface (140) includes a display (142) and program switches (144) configured to adjust at least three operational parameters of the apparatus. The apparatus (1000) further includes a vacuum pump (150) operatively coupled to the chamber (120). The system includes the apparatus (1000) and an article (180). An article includes layers of at least one photopolymerized crosslinked composition and a low extractable component content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Rudolf Schmid, Ralf Kelz, Christian A. Richter, Anja Friedrich, James D. Hansen, Saswata Chakraborty, Benjamin C. Mac Murray, Daniel D. Oberpertinger
  • Patent number: 11345087
    Abstract: A device for progressively building up an object from a light hardenable material. The device has a perforated build platform for the object. The build platform forms a build surface that faces a light source. The build platform and the light source are positionable relative to each other by computer control. The device is further configured for supplying the light hardenable material through the perforation of the build platform for building up the object. The invention enables the making of colored objects by stereolithography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Malte Korten, Gioacchino Raia, Adrian S. Eckert, Bernhard Hofmann, Christian A. Richter, Bastian P. Kirchner, Anja Friedrich, Helmar B. Mayr, Carsten Franke, Gallus Schechner
  • Publication number: 20220111424
    Abstract: A device (1) for spinning a 3D printed workpiece (100). The device has a rotor (2) for spinning about a spinning axis (A) and a receptacle (8) for holding the workpiece (100). The receptacle (8) is pivotally attached to the rotor (2) for swiveling about a swivel axis (B) that is transverse to the spinning axis (A). The pivotal attachment enables swiveling of the receptacle (8) between a first angular orientation relative to the spinning axis (A) and a different second angular orientation relative to the spinning axis (A). The device (1) further has a balancing weight (9) that is movably arranged relative to the receptacle (8). The balancing weight (9) is lockable at different distances relative to the receptacle (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Korbinian Gerlach, Stefan K. Welker, Christian A. Richter, Thomas K. Müller, Bastian P. Kirchner, Rudolf Schmid, Malte Korten
  • Publication number: 20200405454
    Abstract: A dental material dispensing device has a plunger means which for dispensing the dental material is movable for urging at least one component of a dental material toward a dispensing area. The device further has cure control means with an energy source and a flow path on which the dental composition and/or the dental material flows past the energy source during dispensation. The device is operable for exposing the dental composition and/or the dental material to a specific energy by control of the energy source and/or by control of the speed of the flow of the dental composition and/or the dental material on the flow path. The device is configured for dispensing a coherent strand of dental material in a dispensing cycle. The device is further configured for operating in a first dispensing mode and additionally in a second dispensing mode during the same dispensing cycle. The ratio between the specific energy in the second dispensing mode and the specific energy in the first dispensing mode is smaller than 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Christian A. Richter, Anja Friedrich, Thomas Müller, Rudolf Schmid
  • Publication number: 20200324479
    Abstract: A system (1) for washing a 3D-printed object (4). The system (1) has a washing device (2) and a workpiece (3) that includes the 3D-printed object (4). The washing device (2) has a container (7) that forms a process chamber (8) for receiving a liquid cleaning agent (9), and the container (7) has an inlet (10) into the process chamber (8). The workpiece (3) further has a support structure (6) that supports the 3D-printed object (4) and a base (5) supporting the support structure (6). The base (5), in a mating relationship with the inlet (10), forms a restraint preventing the workpiece (3) from passing through the inlet (10) in a situation in which the workpiece (3) is placed with the 3D-printed object (4) located within the process chamber (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Anja Friedrich, Michael Jahns, Malte Korten, Christian A. Richter, Bastian P. Kirchner, Gallus Schechner, Daniel D. Oberpertinger, Wolfgang Weinmann
  • Publication number: 20200215811
    Abstract: A method of making a physical object by additive manufacturing. In the method a hardenable primary material is provided, the object is built up by successively hardening layers of the hardenable primary material, and the object is cleaned from excess material by moving the object and thereby generating a mass inertial force in the excess material. The invention facilitates the making of objects by additive manufacturing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Anja Friedrich, Christian A. Richter, Malte Korten, Bastian Kirchner, Michael Jahns, Karin Zanklmaier, Gioacchino Raia, Hans R. Schnagl, Andreas G. Herrmann, Daniel D. Oberpertinger
  • Publication number: 20190176394
    Abstract: A device for progressively building up an object from a light hardenable material. The device has a perforated build platform for the object. The build platform forms a build surface that faces a light source. The build platform and the light source are positionable relative to each other by computer control. The device is further configured for supplying the light hardenable material through the perforation of the build platform for building up the object. The invention enables the making of colored objects by stereolithography.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Malte Korten, Gioacchino Raia, Adrian S. Eckert, Bernhard Hofmann, Christian A. Richter, Bastian P. Kirchner, Anja Friedrich, Helmar B. Mayr, Carsten Franke, Gallus Schechner
  • Publication number: 20180132979
    Abstract: A dental material dispensing device has a plunger means which for dispensing the dental material is movable for urging at least one component of a dental material toward a dispensing area. The device further has cure control means with an energy source and a flow path on which the dental composition and/or the dental material flows past the energy source during dispensation. The device is operable for exposing the dental composition and/or the dental material to a specific energy by control of the energy source and/or by control of the speed of the flow of the dental composition and/or the dental material on the flow path. The device is configured for dispensing a coherent strand of dental material in a dispensing cycle. The device is further configured for operating in a first dispensing mode and additionally in a second dispensing mode during the same dispensing cycle. The ratio between the specific energy in the second dispensing mode and the specific energy in the first dispensing mode is smaller than 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Christian A. Richter, Anja Friedrich, Thomas Müller, Rudolf Schmid