Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Infoprintsolutions Company, LLC

Ricoh Production Print Solutions LLC

Stuart James Boland

Scott Richard Johnson

Casey Ethan Walker

William Edward Manchester

Dilan Nirushan Fernando

Sean K Fitzsimons

David M Price

Carl Robert Bildstein

Larry Mason Ernst

Robert F Jessen

John Davis Allison

Lucas Michael Stahler

Wataru Sakamoto

Constantino J Tadiello

John R O'Toole

Graham James Carson

Richard Bell

Scott Johnson

Carl R Bildstein

Carl Bildstein

A web handling apparatus is disclosed. The web handling apparatus includes a first web guide to engage a print medium, a second web guide to engage the print medium to adjust a contact area between the first web guide and the print medium upon moving between a plurality of points on a guide path and a third web guide to engage the print medium to form a web path with the first web guide.

Adjustable web handling mechanism

Systems and methods for dryer rollers of a print system with increasing wrap angles. In one embodiment a dryer includes a turning device configured to rotate about an axis, and to guide a web of print media. The dryer also includes rollers configured to transport the web from an entrance of the dryer to the turning device. The rollers include a series of three or more rollers positioned in the dryer to consecutively increase an amount of contact area with the web as the web travels toward the turning device.

Dryer rollers of a print system with increasing contact area

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

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.

Reflectors for evenly heating a drum dryer of 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

Systems and methods are provided for enhanced dryers for printing systems. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes a dryer for a continuous-forms printing system. The dryer includes heating elements located within an interior of the dryer that radiate infrared energy onto a web of printed media as the web travels through the interior, and an air knife that is interposed between the heating elements. The air knife includes a shell that directly absorbs infrared energy from the heating elements and also defines a passage for air to travel through the air knife onto the web. The shell directly absorbs infrared energy from each heating element that would otherwise overlap on the web with infrared energy from another heating element.

Infrared-heated air knives for dryers

Systems and methods for concentric duct system for a dryer of a printing system. One embodiment includes a dryer of a printing system and a duct system. The dryer includes web conditioners sources to condition a web of print media, intake ports to supply air for the web conditioners, and outlet ports to remove air for the web conditioners. The duct system includes a supply hub and a return hub. The supply hub includes a tubular body with a lower portion and an upper portion, and supply nodes around the lower portion. The return hub includes a body around the upper portion of the supply hub, and return nodes around the body. The duct system further includes supply ducts to connect the supply nodes and the intake ports, and return ducts to connect the return nodes and the outlet ports.

Concentric duct system for a dryer of a printing 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 adjustable path length of print media in a dryer of a printing system. In one embodiment, the dryer includes a drum that applies heat to a web of print media. The dryer also includes first rollers positioned in an arc around the drum to define a path of travel of the web along the arc when the web is between an entrance of the dryer and the drum. The dryer further includes second rollers positioned inside the arc from the first rollers to reverse the path of travel of the web inside the arc when the web is between the drum and an exit of the dryer. A first roller and a second roller transport the web around the drum. A location of the first roller and the second roller relative to the arc defines a length of the web inside the dryer.

Adjustable path length of print media in a dryer of a printing system

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.

Growing community of inventors

Denver, CO, United States of America

Stuart James Boland