Patents by Inventor Michael K. Schaaf

Michael K. Schaaf 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).

  • Method and device for making a dental workpiece
    Patent number: 9138302
    Abstract: A method of making a dental workpiece is provided. The method comprises the steps of suspending machining of the workpiece, exposing the workpiece to a first air jet; and causing relative movement between the first air jet and the workpiece under numeric control. The method may facilitate manufacturing of dental workpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael K. Schaaf, Christian A. Richter, Sebastian Guggenmos, Michael Knee, Bastian P. Kirchner, Bernd K. Burger
  • Device for producing a dental workpiece
    Patent number: 9060831
    Abstract: The invention includes a support frame for producing a dental workpiece. The frame has a Z axis and comprising wall sections defining a hole that extends along the Z axis through the frame. At least one of the wall sections comprises an adhesive-directing surface extending along the Z axis in a non-parallel relationship. Such a configuration provides optimized methods for affixing a blank to the support frame and optimized properties of the blank after fixation to the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Sebastian Guggenmos, Michael A. Kraemer, Michael K. Schaaf, Stefan Hoescheler, Thomas Sprengart, Martin Goetzinger
  • System for making a dental restoration providing ventilation of a control unit of the system, and a corresponding method
    Patent number: 8597388
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for making a dental restoration is provided. The system includes a machine unit for processing a dental material to form the dental restoration, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the machine unit. An air channel for discharging a process-originated material from the machine unit provides an air connection between the machine unit and the control unit. Certain embodiments of invention are advantageous in that they help to increase the reliability of the machining operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael K. Schaaf, Christian A. Richter, Sebastian Guggenmos, Günter Hertlein, Erich Sendelbach
  • METHOD OF PRODUCING A DENTAL RESTORATION, DENTAL RESTORATION AND USE THEREOF
    Publication number: 20110272837
    Abstract: A system for making a dental restoration is provided. The system comprises a machine unit for processing a dental material to form the dental restoration, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the machine unit. An air channel for discharging a process-originated material from the machine unit provides an air connection between the machine unit and the control unit. The invention is advantageous in that it helps to increase the reliability of the machining operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Michael K. Schaaf, Christian A. Richter, Sebastian Guggenmos, Gunter Hertlein, Erich Sendelbach
  • METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MAKING A DENTAL WORKPIECE
    Publication number: 20110211929
    Abstract: A method of making a dental workpiece is provided. The method comprises the steps of suspending machining of the workpiece, exposing the workpiece to a first air jet; and causing relative movement between the first air jet and the workpiece under numeric control. The method may facilitate manufacturing of dental workpieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Michael K. Schaaf, Christian A. Richter, Sebastian Guggenmos, Michael Knee, Bastian P. Kirchner, Bernd K. Burger
  • System and method for manufacturing dental prostheses
    Patent number: 7708560
    Abstract: The present invention is related to systems and methods for manufacturing dental prostheses, such as bridges and crowns. In particular, the present invention is directed to novel methods for managing machining jobs for manufacturing dental prostheses in a system having a plurality of machining devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Kraemer, Michael K. Schaaf, Thomas Sprengart
  • DEVICE FOR PRODUCING A DENTAL WORKPIECE
    Publication number: 20100000677
    Abstract: The invention includes a support frame for producing a dental workpiece. The frame has a Z axis and comprising wall sections defining a hole that extends along the Z axis through the frame. At least one of the wall sections comprises an adhesive-directing surface extending along the Z axis in a non-parallel relationship. Such a configuration provides optimized methods for affixing a blank to the support frame and optimized properties of the blank after fixation to the support frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Sebastian Guggenmos, Michael A. Kraemer, Michael K. Schaaf, Stefan Hoescheler, Thomas Sprengart, Martin Goetzinger
  • Milling machine
    Patent number: D592686
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rainer Schmitz, Wolf-Dieter Krause, Sebastian Guggenmos, Michael K. Schaaf, Christian A. Richter, Erich Sendelbach