Patents by Inventor Kent R. Struble
Kent R. Struble has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11914280Abstract: A drum for processing a thermal image medium has first and second end plates that extend orthogonally to an axis of rotation and enclose an inner core. First and second inner partitions along the axis define a first end zone between the first partition and the first end plate, a second end zone between the second partition and the second end plate, and a middle zone between the first and second partitions. Each inner partition has sleeve portions that extend outward from the partition, in an axial direction. A first lamp heater extends parallel to the axis and through one or more sleeve portions and has a first filament within the first end zone and a second filament within the second end zone. A second lamp heater extends parallel to the axis and through one or more sleeve portions and has a central filament within the middle zone.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2018Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.Inventors: Kent R. Struble, Joel C. Marsh, Daniel J. Peick
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Patent number: 11884081Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2020Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.Inventors: Joel C. Marsh, Bradley R. Sahr, Kent R. Struble
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Publication number: 20220234362Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2020Publication date: July 28, 2022Inventors: Joel C. MARSH, Bradley R. SAHR, Kent R. STRUBLE
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Publication number: 20200319544Abstract: A drum for processing a thermal image medium has first and second end plates that extend orthogonally to an axis of rotation and enclose an inner core. First and second inner partitions along the axis define a first end zone between the first partition and the first end plate, a second end zone between the second partition and the second end plate, and a middle zone between the first and second partitions. Each inner partition has sleeve portions that extend outward from the partition, in an axial direction. A first lamp heater extends parallel to the axis and through one or more sleeve portions and has a first filament within the first end zone and a second filament within the second end zone. A second lamp heater extends parallel to the axis and through one or more sleeve portions and has a central filament within the middle zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2018Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Kent R. STRUBLE, Joel C. MARSH, Daniel J. PEICK
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Patent number: 9372390Abstract: A thermal processor including a rotatable hollow drum including a drum core having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a radiant heater positioned within an interior of the drum and configured to provide radiant energy to heat the drum, wherein at least one radiant energy absorption characteristic of the interior of the drum varies across its longitudinal width Wd so that selected areas of the interior of the drum absorb more radiant energy than other areas of the interior of the drum so as to compensate for non-uniform heat loss from the drum and to provide the exterior surface of the drum core at a desired temperature which is substantially uniform across the longitudinal width of the drum core.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2014Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.Inventors: Robert R. Brearey, John T. Olson, Kent R. Struble
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Patent number: 9195185Abstract: A method of thermally developing an image from a latent image recorded in an image formation layer of a photothermgraphic imaging media. The method includes heating the imaging media to a development temperature as the imaging media is transported along a surface of a first heated drum, the first heated drum having a diameter providing the imaging media with a radius of curvature that provides the imaging media with cross-web stiffness sufficient to prevent wrinkling of the imaging media when being heated to the development temperature. The method further includes maintaining the imaging media at the development temperature for a first portion of a development duration of the imaging media, transferring the imaging media to at least one second heated drum at the development temperature, and maintaining the imaging media at the development temperature for a remaining portion of the development duration as the imaging media is transported along a surface of the at least one second heated drum.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2015Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.Inventors: Kent R. Struble, Joel C. Marsh, Daniel J. Peick
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Publication number: 20140126895Abstract: A thermal processor including a rotatable hollow drum including a drum core having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a radiant heater positioned within an interior of the drum and configured to provide radiant energy to heat the drum, wherein at least one radiant energy absorption characteristic of the interior of the drum varies across its longitudinal width Wd so that selected areas of the interior of the drum absorb more radiant energy than other areas of the interior of the drum so as to compensate for non-uniform heat loss from the drum and to provide the exterior surface of the drum core at a desired temperature which is substantially uniform across the longitudinal width of the drum core.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2014Publication date: May 8, 2014Applicant: Carestream Health, Inc.Inventors: Robert R. Brearey, John T. Olson, Kent R. Struble
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Patent number: 8660414Abstract: A thermal processor including a rotatable hollow drum including a drum core having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a radiant heater positioned within an interior of the drum and configured to provide radiant energy to heat the drum, wherein at least one radiant energy absorption characteristic of the interior of the drum varies across its longitudinal width Wd so that selected areas of the interior of the drum absorb more radiant energy than other areas of the interior of the drum so as to compensate for non-uniform heat loss from the drum and to provide the exterior surface of the drum core at a desired temperature which is substantially uniform across the longitudinal width of the drum core.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2011Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.Inventors: Robert R. Brearey, John T. Olson, Kent R. Struble
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Patent number: 8203584Abstract: A thermal processor including an oven and a cooling section. The oven is configured to heat an imaging media to a development temperature. The cooling section is configured to cool the imaging media from the development temperature to a desired exit temperature as imaging media moves along a transport path from an entrance to an exit. The cooling section provides a varying rate of heat transfer from the imaging media along the transport path so as to create a varying cooling temperature gradient in the imaging media substantially equal to and not exceeding a varying maximum cooling temperature gradient of imaging media.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2011Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.Inventors: Kent R. Struble, David J. McDaniel, Duane A. Preszler, Paul Stelzig
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Publication number: 20120128335Abstract: A thermal processor including a rotatable hollow drum including a drum core having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a radiant heater positioned within an interior of the drum and configured to provide radiant energy to heat the drum, wherein at least one radiant energy absorption characteristic of the interior of the drum varies across its longitudinal width Wd so that selected areas of the interior of the drum absorb more radiant energy than other areas of the interior of the drum so as to compensate for non-uniform heat loss from the drum and to provide the exterior surface of the drum core at a desired temperature which is substantially uniform across the longitudinal width of the drum core.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2011Publication date: May 24, 2012Inventors: Robert R. Brearey, John T. Olson, Kent R. Struble
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Publication number: 20110187808Abstract: A thermal processor including an oven and a cooling section. The oven is configured to heat an imaging media to a development temperature. The cooling section is configured to cool the imaging media from the development temperature to a desired exit temperature as imaging media moves along a transport path from an entrance to an exit. The cooling section provides a varying rate of heat transfer from the imaging media along the transport path so as to create a varying cooling temperature gradient in the imaging media substantially equal to and not exceeding a varying maximum cooling temperature gradient of imaging media.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2011Publication date: August 4, 2011Inventors: Kent R. Struble, David J. McDaniel, Duane A. Preszler, Paul Stelzig
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Patent number: 7924300Abstract: A thermal processor including an oven and a cooling section. The oven is configured to heat an imaging media to a development temperature. The cooling section is configured to cool the imaging media from the development temperature to a desired exit temperature as imaging media moves along a transport path from an entrance to an exit. The cooling section provides a varying rate of heat transfer from the imaging media along the transport path so as to create a varying cooling temperature gradient in the imaging media substantially equal to and not exceeding a varying maximum cooling temperature gradient of imaging media.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2006Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.Inventors: Kent R. Struble, David J. McDaniel, Duane A. Preszler, Paul Stelzig
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Patent number: 7510596Abstract: A thermal processor includes an oven for thermally developing an imaging media which produces gaseous contaminants during development. The gaseous contaminants includes odorous portions and condensable portions which have a condensation temperature. A contaminant removal cartridge has a housing configured to couple to the oven, a heat exchanger, and a filter module. The heat exchanger receives from the oven at least a first air flow at a first temperature, wherein the first temperature is above the condensation temperature, and including gaseous contaminants. The heat exchanger cools the first air flow to a desired filtering temperature, which is below the condensation temperature, to condense and collect the condensable portion of the gaseous contaminants and form a filtering air flow. The filter module receives the filtering air flow, to collect the remaining condensed contaminants, and to absorb the odorous portion of the gaseous contaminants to form an exhaust air flow.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2005Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.Inventors: Kent R. Struble, David J. McDaniel, John M. Nutter
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Patent number: 7397058Abstract: A method and system for controlling image quality in processing radiographic photothermographic sheet media. A cassette removably contains radiographic photothermographic sheet media and also has an information member. The information member stores information including size of the sheet media stored in the cassette and calibrated conditions for processing the sheet media. A thermal media processor processes an exposed sheet media in accordance with the calibrated processing conditions.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2005Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.Inventors: Kent R. Struble, Graham F. Nelson, Duane S. Olmsted
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Publication number: 20080028968Abstract: A thermal processor including an oven and a cooling section. The oven is configured to heat an imaging media to a development temperature. The cooling section is configured to cool the imaging media from the development temperature to a desired exit temperature as imaging media moves along a transport path from an entrance to an exit. The cooling section provides a varying rate of heat transfer from the imaging media along the transport path so as to create a varying cooling temperature gradient in the imaging media substantially equal to and not exceeding a varying maximum cooling temperature gradient of imaging media.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2006Publication date: February 7, 2008Inventors: Kent R. Struble, David J. McDaniel, Duane A. Preszler, Paul Stelzig
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Patent number: 7317468Abstract: A thermal processor for thermally developing an image in an imaging media. The thermal processor includes a drum processor and a flatbed processor. The drum processor forms an arcuate transport path and is configured to move the imaging media along an arcuate transport path. The flatbed processor forms a generally planar transport path and is configured to move the imaging media along a generally planar transport path. The flatbed processor is coupled to the drum processor such that the arcuate transport path and the generally planar transport path together form a processing path through the thermal processor along which the imaging media moves from the drum processor to the flatbed processor during development.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2005Date of Patent: January 8, 2008Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.Inventors: Kent R. Struble, John M. Nutter
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Patent number: 6979802Abstract: A preheat chamber for conditioning an imaging material having a conditioning threshold temperature and a developing threshold temperature. The preheat chamber includes a chamber housing and a heating system. The heating system is configured to heat imaging material to a desired conditioning temperature above the conditioning threshold temperature and below the developing threshold temperature as the imaging material is moved through the chamber housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2004Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Kent R. Struble, Duane A. Preszler
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Patent number: 6051813Abstract: A method useful for thermally developing an image in an imaging material. The imaging material can be transported through a first heating zone within a thermal processor to heat the imaging material from an initial temperature to within a developing temperature range. The imaging material may then be transported through a second heating zone within the thermal processor to maintain the temperature of the imaging material within the developing temperature range.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 1999Date of Patent: April 18, 2000Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Kent R. Struble
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Patent number: 6041516Abstract: An article for cooling an imaging material which has been heated to a first temperature by a thermal processor. The article includes a first cooling section on which the imaging material rides after the imaging material exits the thermal processor. The first cooling section is at a lower temperature than the first temperature. The first cooling section has a curved shape such that the imaging material is curved when riding on and being cooled by the first cooling section.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1998Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: Minnesota Mining & ManufacturingInventors: Duane A. Preszler, Kent R. Struble, David J. McDaniel, George G. Lunde
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Patent number: 5986238Abstract: A thermal processor and method for using the same which is particularly useful for developing a sheet of imaging material, such as photothermographic film. The thermal processor includes means for transporting the imaging material through the apparatus. The thermal processor also includes means for heating the imaging material to develop the image in the imaging material. The thermal processor also includes means for reducing fogging on the imaging material as the image is developed on the imaging material.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1996Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Assignee: Imation CorporationInventor: Kent R. Struble