Patents by Inventor James Clete Culp

James Clete Culp 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: 20230356264
    Abstract: Methods for controlling the sorting and sequencing of objects are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving sensor data of a plurality of dental appliances, each dental appliance associated with an identifier including (a) group data indicating a group to which the dental appliance belongs, and (b) sequence data indicating a sequential position for the dental appliance within the group. The method can include controlling a sorting cell to direct each dental appliance into one of a plurality of buffer locations based on the group data for the dental appliance, where each buffer location is configured to hold a set of dental appliances belonging to the same group; and controlling a sequencing cell to sequence the set of dental appliances associated with each buffer location by placing each dental appliance into a position within the corresponding set of dental appliances based on the sequence data for the dental appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: James Clete Culp, Stanley E. Sankaran
  • Patent number: 11752523
    Abstract: Methods for sorting and sequencing objects are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a plurality of objects, each object associated with an identifier including group data identifying a group to which the object belongs, and sequence data identifying a sequential position for the object within the group. The method can include determining the group data and the sequence data for each object by reading the identifier associated with the object; sorting the plurality of objects by directing each object into one of a plurality of buffer locations based on the group data for the object; and sequencing the set of objects associated with each buffer location by placing each object into a position within the corresponding set of objects based on the sequence data for the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Clete Culp, Stanley E. Sankaran
  • Publication number: 20220126327
    Abstract: Methods for sorting and sequencing objects are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a plurality of objects, each object associated with an identifier including group data identifying a group to which the object belongs, and sequence data identifying a sequential position for the object within the group. The method can include determining the group data and the sequence data for each object by reading the identifier associated with the object; sorting the plurality of objects by directing each object into one of a plurality of buffer locations based on the group data for the object; and sequencing the set of objects associated with each buffer location by placing each object into a position within the corresponding set of objects based on the sequence data for the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: James Clete Culp, Stanley E. Sankaran
  • Patent number: 11247242
    Abstract: A system and associated method is provided for sorting parts, which includes a conveyor system for receiving and circulating a plurality of randomly presented parts, a sorting buffer for accumulating selected parts from the plurality of randomly presented parts in an assigned buffer location, and a sequencing system for sequencing the accumulated selected parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James Clete Culp, Stanley E. Sankaran
  • Publication number: 20200398315
    Abstract: A system and associated method is provided for sorting parts, which includes a conveyor system for receiving and circulating a plurality of randomly presented parts, a sorting buffer for accumulating selected parts from the plurality of randomly presented parts in an assigned buffer location, and a sequencing system for sequencing the accumulated selected parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James Clete Culp, Stanley E. Sankaran
  • Patent number: 10766055
    Abstract: A system and associated method is provided for sorting parts, which includes a conveyor system for receiving and circulating a plurality of randomly presented parts, a sorting buffer for accumulating selected parts from the plurality of randomly presented parts in an assigned buffer location, and a sequencing system for sequencing the accumulated selected parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James Clete Culp, Stanley E. Sankaran
  • Publication number: 20190039100
    Abstract: A system and associated method is provided for sorting parts, which includes a conveyor system for receiving and circulating a plurality of randomly presented parts, a sorting buffer for accumulating selected parts from the plurality of randomly presented parts in an assigned buffer location, and a sequencing system for sequencing the accumulated selected parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James Clete Culp, Stanely E. Sankaran
  • Patent number: 10099256
    Abstract: A system and associated method is provided for sorting parts, which includes a conveyor system for receiving and circulating a plurality of randomly presented parts, a sorting buffer for accumulating selected parts from the plurality of randomly presented parts in an assigned buffer location, and a sequencing system for sequencing the accumulated selected parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Clete Culp, Stanley E. Sankaran
  • Publication number: 20160023249
    Abstract: A system and associated method is provided for sorting parts, which includes a conveyor system for receiving and circulating a plurality of randomly presented parts, a sorting buffer for accumulating selected parts from the plurality of randomly presented parts in an assigned buffer location, and a sequencing system for sequencing the accumulated selected parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Clete Culp, Stanley E. Sankaran
  • Patent number: 9152145
    Abstract: A system and associated method is provided for sorting parts, which includes a conveyor system for receiving and circulating a plurality of randomly presented parts, a sorting buffer for accumulating selected parts from the plurality of randomly presented parts in an assigned buffer location, and a sequencing system for sequencing the accumulated selected parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Clete Culp, Stanley E. Sankaran
  • Patent number: 8383977
    Abstract: A system and associated method is provided for sorting parts, which includes a conveyor system for receiving and circulating a plurality of randomly presented parts, a sorting buffer for accumulating selected parts from the plurality of randomly presented parts in an assigned buffer location, and a sequencing system for sequencing the accumulated selected parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Clete Culp, Stanley E. Sankaran
  • Publication number: 20110301745
    Abstract: A system and associated method is provided for sorting parts, which includes a conveyor system for receiving and circulating a plurality of randomly presented parts, a sorting buffer for accumulating selected parts from the plurality of randomly presented parts in an assigned buffer location, and a sequencing system for sequencing the accumulated selected parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: James Clete Culp, Stanley E. Sankaran
  • Patent number: 8030588
    Abstract: A system and associated method is provided for sorting parts, which includes a conveyor system for receiving and circulating a plurality of randomly presented parts, a sorting buffer for accumulating selected parts from the plurality of randomly presented parts in an assigned buffer location, and a sequencing system for sequencing the accumulated selected parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Clete Culp, Stanley E. Sankaran
  • Publication number: 20080099381
    Abstract: A system and associated method is provided for sorting parts, which includes a conveyor system for receiving and circulating a plurality of randomly presented parts, a sorting buffer for accumulating selected parts from the plurality of randomly presented parts in an assigned buffer location, and a sequencing system for sequencing the accumulated selected parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: James Clete Culp, Stanley E. Sankaran