Thermal processing drum and methods
AssigneeCarestream Health, Inc.
InventorsJoel C. Marsh, Bradley R. Sahr, Kent R. Struble
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drum (10) and thermal control system (180) in this disclosure are suitable for use in systems for thermally processing imaging media. The drum comprises a cylindrical surface (11) disposed around and parallel to an axis of rotation (A) of the drum, end plates (12) each extending orthogonally to the axis of rotation of the drum, and lamp heaters (14A-14B) extending parallel to the axis of rotation within the interior of the drum. By making use of thermal sensor measurements, the lamp heaters may be controlled to maintain a uniform dmm surface temperature.
Claims20
A drum for processing a thermal image medium, the drum comprising:
- a cylindrical surface disposed around and parallel to an axis of rotation of the drum;
- first and second end plates each extending orthogonally to the axis of rotation and, with the cylindrical surface, defining an inner core of the drum;
- a first lamp heater extending parallel to the axis of rotation, the first lamp heater comprising within the inner core a first left heating segment, a first right heating segment, and a first center heating segment disposed between the first left heating segment and first right heating segment;
- a second lamp heater extending parallel to the axis of rotation, the second lamp heater comprising within the inner core a second left heating segment, a second right heating segment, and a second center heating segment disposed between the second left heating segment and second right heating segment;
- and
- at least one temperature sensor in thermal communication with the cylindrical surface;
- wherein the at least one temperature sensor is disposed within the inner core;
- the first center heating segment, the second left heating segment, and the second right heating segment are not energizable for heating;
- the first left heating segment and first right heating segment are configured to be simultaneously energizable for heating;
- and
- wherein the second center heating segment is energizable for heating.
A drum for processing a thermal image medium, the drum comprising:
- a cylindrical surface disposed around and parallel to an axis of rotation of the drum;
- first and second end plates each extending orthogonally to the axis of rotation and, with the cylindrical surface, defining an inner core of the drum;
- a first lamp heater extending parallel to the axis of rotation, the first lamp heater comprising within the inner core a first left heating segment, a first right heating segment, and a first center heating segment disposed between the first left heating segment and first right heating segment;
- a second lamp heater extending parallel to the axis of rotation, the second lamp heater comprising within the inner core a second left heating segment, a second right heating segment, and a second center heating segment disposed between the second left heating segment and second right heating segment;
- and
- at least one temperature sensor in thermal communication with the cylindrical surface;
- wherein the at least one temperature sensor consists of a single temperature sensor;
- the first center heating segment, the second left heating segment, and the second right heating segment are not energizable for heating;
- the first left heating segment and first right heating segment are configured to be simultaneously energizable for heating;
- and
- wherein the second center heating segment is energizable for heating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.