US 11,884,081 B2
Thermal processing drum and methods
Joel C. Marsh, New Richmond, WI (US); Bradley R. Sahr, Lake Elmo, MN (US); and Kent R. Struble, Woodbury, MN (US)
Assigned to Carestream Health, Inc., Rochester, NY (US)
Appl. No. 17/611,303
Filed by CARESTREAM HEALTH, INC., Rochester, NY (US)
PCT Filed Apr. 17, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/028609
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 15, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/247076, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 10, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/856,298, filed on Jun. 3, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0234362 A1, Jul. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. B41J 2/335 (2006.01); B41M 5/26 (2006.01); B41J 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 2/335 (2013.01) [B41J 11/0015 (2013.01); B41M 5/26 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. 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.