# US 12,005,698 B2 · Heating device and liquid discharge apparatus

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- Number: US 12,005,698 B2
- Document ID: US12005698B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/958,450
- Filed: 2022-10-03
- Published: 2023-04-13
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2021-10-11
- Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
- Applicants: Yuuta Kanda
- Inventors: Yuuta Kanda
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005698B2

## CPC

- B41J 11/00218: {Constructional details of the irradiation means, e.g. radiation source attached to reciprocating print head assembly or shutter means provided on the radiation source}
- B41J 11/0022: {using convection means, e.g. by using a fan for blowing or sucking air}
- B41J 11/0024: {using conduction means, e.g. by using a heated platen}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

A heating device includes a heater and a heating range variable member. The heater heats an object to which a liquid is applied. The object is conveyed in a conveyance direction. The heating range variable member changes a heating range of the heater in a width direction of the object. The width direction is orthogonal to the conveyance direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A heating device comprising:
a heater configured to heat an object to which a liquid is applied, the object being conveyed in a conveyance direction; and
a heating range variable member configured to change a heating range of the heater in a width direction of the object, the width direction being orthogonal to the conveyance direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The heating device according to claim 1,
wherein the heater includes a non-contact heater configured to emit heating energy to heat the object in a non-contact manner,
wherein the heating range variable member includes a shield configured to move between a shielding position, between the non-contact heater and the object, and a retracted position retracted from the shielding position, and
the shield at the shielding position partially blocks the heating energy in the width direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The heating device according to claim 2,
wherein the shield moves in response to a size of the object in the width direction to change the heating range of the non-contact heater.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The heating device according to claim 2,
wherein the shield moves in response to a thickness of the object in a height direction orthogonal to each of the conveyance direction and the width direction to change the heating range of the non-contact heater.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The heating device according to claim 2, further comprising a temperature detector configured to detect an environmental temperature,
wherein the shield moves in response to the environmental temperature detected by the temperature detector to change the heating range of the non-contact heater.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The heating device according to claim 2, further comprising an elapsed time measuring device configured to measure an elapsed time after the non-contact heater starts heating the object,
wherein the shield moves in response to the elapsed time measured by the elapsed time measuring device to change the heating range of the non-contact heater.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The heating device according to claim 1,
wherein the heater includes a contact heater configured to contact and heat the object, and
the contact heater includes multiple heating sources configured to respectively heat different heating ranges in the width direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The heating device according to claim 7,
wherein each of the multiple heating sources turns on or off in response to a size of the object in the width direction to change the heating range of the contact heater.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The heating device according to claim 7,
wherein each of the multiple heating sources turns on or off in response to a thickness of the object in a height direction orthogonal to each of the conveyance direction and the width direction to change the heating range of the contact heater.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The heating device according to claim 7, further comprising a temperature detector configured to detect an environmental temperature,
wherein each of the multiple heating sources turns on or off in response to the environmental temperature detected by the temperature detector to change the heating range of the contact heater.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The heating device according to claim 7, further comprising an elapsed time measuring device configured to measure an elapsed time after the contact heater starts heating the object,
wherein each of the multiple heating sources turns on or off in response to the elapsed time measured by the elapsed time measuring device to change the heating range of the contact heater.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A liquid discharge apparatus comprising
a conveyance device configured to convey an object;
a liquid discharge unit configured to discharge a liquid onto the object; and
the heating device according to claim 1, to heat the object onto which the liquid is discharged by the liquid discharge unit.