# US 10,118,411 B2 · Drying device and printing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,411 B2 - Document ID: US10118411B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/462,183 - Filed: 2017-03-17 - Published: 2017-09-21 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-18 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Applicants: Toshihiro Yoshinuma; Ken Onodera; Sho Sawahata; Junji Nakai - Inventors: Toshihiro Yoshinuma; Ken Onodera; Sho Sawahata; Junji Nakai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118411B2 ## CPC - B41J 11/0024: {using conduction means, e.g. by using a heated platen} - B41J 11/00242: {Controlling the temperature of the conduction means} - B41J 11/0045: {Guides for printing material (curl smoothing B41J11/0005; platens B41J11/02, B41J11/06; guiding webs B41J15/046)} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A drying device includes a plurality of heaters and a conveyance path. The plurality of heaters is disposed side by side in a direction of conveyance of a medium to contact and heat the medium to which liquid is applied. The medium is conveyed on the conveyance path while contacting the plurality of heaters. The conveyance path includes a first path and a second path. On the first path, the medium is conveyed while contacting the plurality of heaters. On the second path, the medium is conveyed while contacting again at least one of the plurality of heaters having contacted on the first path. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drying device comprising: a plurality of heaters disposed side by side in a direction of conveyance of a medium to contact and heat the medium to which liquid is applied; and a conveyance path on which the medium is conveyed while contacting the plurality of heaters, the conveyance path including: a first path on which the medium is conveyed while contacting the plurality of heaters in a first contact, and a second path on which the medium is conveyed while contacting again in a second contact at least one of the plurality of heaters having contacted on the first path, wherein the second contact of the medium with the at least one of the plurality of heaters is not continuous with the first contact of the medium with the at least one of the plurality of heaters. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drying device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of heaters are a plurality of first heaters, wherein the drying device further comprises a second heater having a curved contact face with a curvature smaller than a contact face of each of the plurality of first heaters, wherein the second heater is disposed at a position downstream from the plurality of first heaters on the first path and upstream from the plurality of first heaters on the second path, and wherein a contact distance between the second heater and the medium in the direction of conveyance of the medium is longer than a contact distance between each of the plurality of first heaters and the medium in the direction of conveyance of the medium. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The drying device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of first heaters are disposed around the second heater in a circular arc arrangement. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The drying device according to claim 3, wherein the first path is an outer path of the plurality of first heaters disposed in the circular arc arrangement with respect to the second heaters, and wherein the second path is an inner path of the plurality of first heaters disposed in the circular arc arrangement with respect to the second heater. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drying device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of heaters are disposed to contact another surface of the medium opposite to the surface of the medium to which the liquid is applied. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A printing apparatus comprising: a liquid applicator to apply the liquid to the medium; and the drying device according to claim 1 to dry the medium to which the liquid is applied. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The drying device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of heaters are disposed side by side in a curved arrangement or in an arcuate arrangement, wherein the first path is a path outside the plurality of heaters disposed in the curved arrangement or the arcuate arrangement, and wherein the second path is a path inside the plurality of heaters disposed in the curved arrangement or the arcuate arrangement. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The drying device according to claim 1, further comprising a contact guide to guide the medium to contact the plurality of heaters when the medium is conveyed on the second path. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The drying device according to claim 8, wherein the contact guide is disposed between adjacent heaters of the plurality of heaters. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The drying device according to claim 8, wherein two or more heaters of the plurality of heaters are disposed between the contact guide and another contact guide adjacent to the contact guide. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The drying device according to claim 8, wherein the contact guide contacts a surface of the medium to which the liquid is applied. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The drying device according to claim 8, wherein the contact guide is movable between a first position at which the contact guide presses the medium against the plurality of heaters and a second position at which the contact guide does not press the medium against the plurality of heaters. ### Claim 13 A drying device comprising: a plurality of heaters disposed side by side in a direction of conveyance of a medium to contact and heat the medium to which liquid is applied; and a conveyance path on which the medium is conveyed while contacting the plurality of heaters, the conveyance path including: a first path on which the medium is conveyed while contacting the plurality of heaters, and a second path on which the medium is conveyed while contacting again at least one of the plurality of heaters having contacted on the first path, wherein the plurality of heaters are disposed side by side in a curved arrangement or in an arcuate arrangement, wherein the first path is a path outside the plurality of heaters disposed in the curved arrangement or the arcuate arrangement, and wherein the second path is a path inside the plurality of heaters disposed in the curved arrangement or the arcuate arrangement. ### Claim 14 A drying device comprising: a plurality of heaters disposed side by side in a direction of conveyance of a medium to contact and heat the medium to which liquid is applied; a conveyance path on which the medium is conveyed while contacting the plurality of heaters, the conveyance path including: a first path on which the medium is conveyed while contacting the plurality of heaters, and a second path on which the medium is conveyed while contacting again at least one of the plurality of heaters having contacted on the first path; and a contact guide to guide the medium to contact the plurality of heaters when the medium is conveyed on the second path. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The drying device according to claim 14, wherein the contact guide is disposed between adjacent heaters of the plurality of heaters. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The drying device according to claim 14, wherein two or more heaters of the plurality of heaters are disposed between the contact guide and another contact guide adjacent to the contact guide. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The drying device according to claim 14, wherein the contact guide contacts a surface of the medium to which the liquid is applied. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The drying device according to claim 14, wherein the contact guide is movable between a first position at which the contact guide presses the medium against the plurality of heaters and a second position at which the contact guide does not press the medium against the plurality of heaters. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A printing apparatus comprising: a first liquid applicator to apply liquid to a first surface of the medium; a first drying device constituted of the drying device according to claim 1, the first drying device disposed downstream from the first liquid applicator in the direction of conveyance of the medium; a second liquid applicator to apply liquid onto a second surface of the medium, which is opposite to the first surface of the medium, the second liquid applicator disposed downstream from the first drying device in the direction of conveyance of the medium; and a second drying device constituted of the drying device according to claim 1, the second drying device disposed downstream from the second liquid applicator in the direction of conveyance of the medium, wherein, in the first drying device, the second surface of the medium contacts the plurality of heaters on the first path, and wherein in the second drying device, the first surface of the medium contacts the plurality of heaters on the first path.