Mill blank mandrel

• US 20050276672A1
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: D4D Technologies L P (D4D Technologies)
• Original Assignee: D4D Technologies L P (D4D Technologies)
• Inventors: Duncan, Rod, Bem, Branko, Prince, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,789,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 409/234
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/0022 Blanks or green, unfinished dental restoration parts
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2265/12 Eccentric
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/103 Retention by pivotal elements, e.g. catches, pawls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/17769 Pivoted or rotary
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/17923 Transverse pin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/597 Swiveled bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7086 Wedge pin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/30868 Work support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/308736 with position indicator or stop
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/309016 with work holder or guide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/30952 with cutter holder

Abstract

A mill blank mandrel may rigidly secure machinable material for a machining process. The mandrel may be freely and easily inserted in a corresponding mandrel socket and secured without the use of a tool. The mandrel may be detected and verified when inserted in the mandrel socket.

Claims

1. A mill blank mandrel comprising:

(a) an elongated body having a longitudinal axis;

(b) a shoulder on the distal end of the elongated body, wherein the shoulder has a circumference greater than the elongated body.

2. The mill blank mandrel of claim 1 further comprising:

(c) a machinable blank removably engaged to the elongated body.

3. The mill blank mandrel of claim 1 wherein the elongated body has a keyway for receiving a pin, the keyway being orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body.

4. The mill blank mandrel of claim 1 wherein the keyway is located at a distance from the shoulder corresponding to a keyhole in an associated mandrel socket.

5. The mill blank mandrel of claim 1 wherein the machinable blank comprises a precious metal.

6. The mill blank mandrel of claim 1 wherein the machinable blank comprises a ceramic.

7. The mill blank mandrel of claim 1 wherein the machinable blank comprises a reduced diameter portion.

8. The mill blank mandrel of claim 1 wherein the elongated body has a face with an indent for receiving a fixative.

9. The mill blank mandrel of claim 1 wherein the elongated body has a triangular shaped cross-section over at least a portion of the length of the shaft.

10. The mill blank mandrel of claim 1 wherein the elongated body has a D-shaped cross-section over at least a portion of the length of the shaft.

11. The mill blank mandrel of claim 1 wherein the elongated body has a circular shaped cross-section over at least a portion of the length of the shaft.

12. The mill blank mandrel of claim 1 further comprising a sensor for detecting the presence of a shaft within the mandrel socket

13. A mill blank mandrel system for securing a machinable blank within a milling machine, said system comprising:

a mill blank mandrel having an elongated shaft having a shoulder on a distal end and presenting a surface for accepting a machinable blank;

a mandrel socket for insertably receiving the elongated shaft within a cavity, and having a keyway transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cavity and corresponding to the transverse bore of the shaft; and

a locking pin insertable to the keyway and manipulable within the keyway to secure the shaft within the cavity.

14. The mill blank mandrel system of claim 13 wherein the locking pin comprises a cam lock pin.

15. The mill blank mandrel system of claim 13 where the shaft has a triangular shaped cross-section over at least a portion of the length of the shaft.

16. The mill blank mandrel system of claim 13 where the shaft has a D-shaped cross-section over at least a portion of the length of the shaft.

17. The mill blank mandrel system of claim 13 further comprising a sensor for detecting the presence of a shaft within the mandrel socket.

18. The mill blank mandrel system of claim 13 further comprising a sensor for reading information provided on the face of the shaft.

19. The mill blank mandrel system of claim 13 where the sensor is an RFID reader and the information provided on the face of the shaft is stored on an RFID chip.

20. The mill blank mandrel system of claim 13 further comprises a security device coupled to the mandrel.

21. A mill blank mandrel comprising:

(a) an elongated body having a longitudinal axis;

(b) a first contact surface for engaging a travel limit in a mandrel socket; and

(c) a cam engaging groove.

22. The mill blank mandrel of claim 21 further comprising:

(d) a blank engaging surface having at least one indent for accepting a fixative.

23. The mill blank mandrel of claim 21 wherein the elongated body has a generally circular cross-section.

24. The mill blank mandrel of claim 21 wherein the elongated body has a generally non-circular cross-section.

25. The mill blank mandrel of claim 21 wherein the elongated body has a generally triangular cross-section.

26. A mill blank mandrel system for securing a machinable blank within a milling machine, said system comprising:

a mill blank mandrel having an elongated shaft having a surface for accepting a machinable blank;

a mandrel socket for insertably receiving the elongated body within a cavity, and having a cam transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cavity and corresponding to the transverse groove of the shaft.

27. The mill blank mandrel system of claim 26 wherein the cam has a reduced diameter portion.

28. The mill blank mandrel system of claim 26 where the elongated body has a triangular shaped cross-section over at least a portion of the length of the shaft.

29. The mill blank mandrel of claim 26 wherein the elongated body has a generally circular cross-section.

30. The mill blank mandrel of claim 26 wherein the elongated body has a generally non-circular cross-section.