Reflectors for evenly heating a drum dryer of a print system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9987859-B2
Application number	US-201615279921-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2016
Priority date	Sep 29, 2016
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

Systems and methods for evenly heating a drum dryer of a print system. In one embodiment, the dryer is configured to rotate about an axis oriented in a lateral direction, to receive a radiant energy source disposed inside the drum that extends between each lateral end of the drum in the lateral direction, and to receive a reflective assembly inside the drum that includes an inner portion and an outer portion. The inner portion surrounds the radiant energy source and removably attaches the reflective assembly to a lateral end of the drum. The outer portion extends from the inner portion in a radial direction of the drum that is perpendicular to the lateral direction. The outer portion includes a reflective surface that reflects radiant energy from the lateral end to the central portion of the drum in contact with the web.

First claim

We claim:

1. A dryer of a printing system comprising:
a thermally conductive drum configured to rotate about an axis orientated in a lateral direction, to contact a web of print media at an external circumference surface of the drum along the lateral direction for drying ink applied to the web, and to receive a radiant energy source inside the drum that extends between each lateral end of the drum in the lateral direction; and
a reflective assembly comprising:
an inner portion surrounding the radiant energy source and configured to removably attach the reflective assembly to a lateral end of the drum; and
an outer portion extending from the inner portion in a radial direction of the drum that is perpendicular to the lateral direction, wherein the outer portion includes a reflective surface configured to reflect radiant energy from the lateral end to a central portion of the drum in contact with the web.

2. The dryer of claim 1 wherein:
the inner portion of the reflective assembly includes a thermal insulation structure.

3. The dryer of claim 2 wherein:
the reflective surface of the outer portion comprises multiple reflective panels each extending in the radial direction toward an interior circumference of the drum; and
the thermal insulation structure of the inner portion includes receptacles positioned around its outer perimeter configured to grip ends of the reflective panels.

4. The dryer of claim 3 wherein:
the receptacles are rotatable to alter an angle of the reflective panels inside the drum.

5. The dryer of claim 3 wherein:
at least a portion of the reflective panels include a twisted surface to circulate air inside the drum.

Assignees

• Allison John
• Boland Stuart
• Johnson Scott R
• Stahler Lucas
• Walker Casey
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Allison John
• Boland Stuart
• Johnson Scott R
• Stahler Lucas
• Walker Casey

Classifications

• F26B13/008

  Controlling the moisture profile across the width of the material · CPC title

• F26B3/20

  the heat source being a heated surface {, e.g. a moving belt or conveyor}(F26B3/22 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F26B13/183

  Arrangements for heating, cooling, condensate removal · CPC title

• B41J11/002 Primary

  Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating · CPC title

• B41J11/00216

  using infrared [IR] radiation or microwaves · CPC title