# US 10,500,873 B2 · Reflectors for evenly heating a drum dryer of a print system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,873 B2 - Document ID: US10500873B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/954,297 - Filed: 2018-04-16 - Published: 2018-08-16 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-29 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Applicants: John Davis Allison; Stuart James Boland; Scott R. Johnson; Lucas Michael Stahler; Casey Ethan Walker - Inventors: John Davis Allison; Stuart James Boland; Scott R. Johnson; Lucas Michael Stahler; Casey Ethan Walker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500873B2 ## CPC - B41J 11/002: {Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating} - B41J 11/00216: {using infrared [IR] radiation or microwaves} - F26B 3/20: the heat source being a heated surface {, e.g. a moving belt or conveyor}(F26B3/22 takes precedence) - F26B 13/008: {Controlling the moisture profile across the width of the material} - F26B 13/183: {Arrangements for heating, cooling, condensate removal} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - F26B: DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM (drying devices for combines A01D41/133; racks for drying fruit or vegetables A01F25/12; drying foodstuffs A23; drying hair A45D20/00; body-drying implements A47K10/00; drying household articles A47L; drying gases or vapours B01D; chemical or physical processes for dewatering or like separating liquids from solids B01D43/00; centrifugal apparatus B04; drying ceramics C04B33/30; drying yarns or fabrics in association with some other form of treatment D06C; drying frames for laundry without heating or positive air circulation, domestic laundry-or spin-driers, wringing or hot pressing laundry D06F; furnaces, kilns, ovens F27) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dryer of a printing system comprising: a thermally conductive drum configured to rotate about an axis oriented in a lateral direction, to contact a web of print media at a central portion of the drum along the lateral direction for drying ink applied to the web, and to house a radiant energy source inside the drum that extends between each lateral end of the drum in the lateral direction; and a reflective element at a lateral end of the drum, wherein at least a portion of the reflective element is configured to direct radiant energy towards the portion of the drum in contact with the web. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dryer of claim 1 wherein: the reflective element comprises a surface with a rotational symmetry of order N where N is greater or equal to two. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dryer of claim 1 wherein: the reflective element comprises multiple panels each extending in a radial direction toward an interior circumference of the drum. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The dryer of claim 3 wherein: at least one of the panels includes multiple sections attached to one another about a hinge joint; and each section in the at least one of the panels is configured to adjust independently from other sections in the at least one of the panels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The dryer of claim 3 wherein: the panels are offset from one another in the lateral direction and configured to collapse on one another in a circular direction about the axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The dryer of claim 1 wherein: the reflective element comprises multiple concentric circumferential portions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The dryer of claim 6 wherein: the concentric circumferential portions are configured to adjust independently within drum. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The dryer of claim 7 further comprising: at least one concentric circumferential portion includes multiple sections configured to adjust independently from other sections in the at least one concentric circumferential portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The dryer of claim 1 further comprising: a thermal insulation structure disposed between the reflective element and the lateral end of the drum. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The dryer of claim 9 further comprising: a positioning system configured to adjust the reflective element; and a controller configured to direct the positioning system based on a determined amount of heat to supply to a section of the drum. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A printer to apply the ink to the web that enters the dryer of claim 1.