Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Dilan Nirushan Fernando

Stuart James Boland

Scott Richard Johnson

Casey Ethan Walker

Robert F Jessen

Sean K Fitzsimons

Ronald Frederick Korsch

Carlton E Begeal

William Edward Manchester

Carl Robert Bildstein

Timothy Graham Bradley

David M Price

Spencer Robert Wasilewski

Ryan Warren Ransburg

Systems and methods for adjustable interlacing of drying rollers in a print system. One system is an apparatus that includes first rollers that conduct heat from a heat source, and dry a web of print media as the web travels over a front side of the first rollers in a first direction. A last roller of the first rollers turns the web in a second direction. The apparatus also includes second rollers disposed a distance above the first rollers and that transport the web in the second direction. The apparatus further includes a movement mechanism that reduces the distance between the second rollers and the first rollers to cause the second rollers to occupy spaces between the first rollers so that the web traveling in the second direction contacts a back side of the first rollers to further dry the web.

Adjustable interlacing of drying rollers in a print system

A web handling system is disclosed. The web handling system includes first dancer rollers coupled to engage and move a web of a print medium in a forward and backward direction upon stopping a printing operation and allow forward motion during the printing operation.

Curl resistant web handling system

A web handling system is disclosed. The web handling system includes a roller wheel including two or more rollers configured to engage a print medium, a motor to rotate the roller wheel and a controller to transmit a signal to the motor indicating which of the two or more rollers are to engage the print medium.

Web handling roller wheel mechanism

Systems and methods for concentric arrangement of web conditioning modules in a dryer of a printing system. In one embodiment a dryer includes a drum, first rollers positioned in an arc around the drum to define a web path between an entrance of the dryer and the drum, and second rollers positioned along the arc between the first rollers and the drum that reverse the web path between the drum and an exit of the dryer. The dryer further includes first web conditioners positioned along the arc and beyond the first rollers from the drum that direct energy toward a portion of the web path that is between the entrance of the dryer and the drum. The dryer further includes second web conditioners positioned along the arc between the second rollers and the drum that direct energy toward a portion of the web path that wraps around the drum.

Concentric arrangement of web conditioning modules in a dryer of a print system

Socket tool for servicing fluid connectors. In one embodiment, a tool includes a body having a hollow recess at one end. The hollow recess has non-circular dimensions for rotating a head fitting of the fluid connector about an axis. The tool further includes a pin that mounts to a surface inside the hollow recess so that the pin is disposed in an axial direction along a center of the axis. The pin enters an aligned opening of a nozzle of the fluid connector and occupies a conduit space in the nozzle when the hollow recess is engaged with the head fitting of the fluid connector.

Socket tool for servicing fluid connectors

Embodiments described herein provide rollers that cool a print medium downstream of a dryer while minimizing the temperature differentials across the print medium. In some embodiments, air is directed through the interiors of different rollers in opposing directions based on a pattern to reduce the temperature differential across a width of the print medium. In other embodiments, a controller alternates a direction of the air through the interior of a roller to reduce the temperature differential across the width of the print medium.

Cross-flow cooling systems for continuous-form print media

Embodiments described herein provide ink recirculation capabilities for Drop-On-Demand (DOD) printing systems. One embodiment comprises a system that includes a controller, a DOD print head, an ink tank, an ink pump, and a recirculation cap. The ink pump transports ink from the ink tank to the DOD print head, and the recirculation cap captures ink ejected by the DOD print head. The recirculation cap also transports the capture ink to the ink tank. In response to detecting a start of an ink recirculation cycle, the controller collocates the recirculation cap proximate to nozzles of the DOD print head, and directs the DOD print head to begin ejecting ink through the nozzles into the recirculation cap for transport of the captured ink to the ink tank. The controller detects an end to the ink recirculation cycle, and directs the DOD print head to stop ejecting ink into the recirculation cap.

Ink recirculation for Drop-On-Demand ink jet systems

Systems and methods for connector for supplying fluid to a print system. One system is an apparatus that includes a fluid supply station of a printer with a connector to couple with a fluid source for supplying fluid to at least one printhead of the printer. The connector includes an interface having a body with an end surface that corresponds with a face of a nozzle of the fluid source. The connector also includes an inlet protruding from the end surface and configured to enter an opening of the nozzle for receiving the fluid from the fluid source. The connector further includes communication circuitry disposed on the end surface and configured to establish a connection with corresponding communication circuitry disposed on the face of the nozzle of the fluid source when the inlet enters the opening of the nozzle and the end surface and the nozzle face align.

Connector for supplying fluid to a print system

System and methods for cleaning printheads and printhead wipers. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes a belt configured to rotate in a loop, and a wiper attached to the belt configured to wipe ink from a printhead. The apparatus also includes a tank configured as a reservoir for a cleaning solution, and a controller configured to drive the belt so that an end of the wiper drags across the printhead when in an upper portion of the loop and submerges in the cleaning solution of the tank when in a lower portion of the loop.

Printhead cleaning assembly

Systems and methods for collapsible energy source in a drum dryer of a print system. One system includes a dryer with a thermally conductive drum to dry a colorant applied to a web of print media in contact with the drum. A radiant energy source disposed inside the drum includes segments that transfer heat to a surface of the drum. Each segment is attached to another segment about a hinge that allows the segments to pivot with respect to one another. A movement mechanism applies a force to the radiant energy source toward a center of the drum to cause the segments to pivot to a folded position with respect to one another, and applies a force to the radiant energy source toward the surface of the drum to cause the segments to pivot to expand with respect to a circumferential direction of the drum.

Growing community of inventors

Thornton, CO, United States of America

Dilan Nirushan Fernando