I dropped a pen down the lint catcher. When I started it, there was a grinding sound and then it stopped.

The vent might be clogged or the heating element could be broken or is having issues and needs replacement or the cycling thermostat is bad. You should get your dryer repaired from someone that repairs major appliances.

if there is no water any where I would first use the wand of a vacuum cleaner that is going ( not the head just the pipe section)

check the tention on the belt that drives it sounds like it may need adjusted

The lint screen may be too long, is it the original part? With all the fussing around, the screen holder may have gotten knocked out of place. Probably going to have to open the machine to get things straight.

First, remove the top and see if the belt is really lose.

The gasket on the lint filter is not very important, but you can get a replacement lint filter. There is a screw at the center bottom area of the lint filter area which can catch on the gasket. If you replace it with a shorter screw or remove it, grind it down a bit, and replace it you will help avoid a repeat condition.

I would be very careful if you are doing so. Every dryer has a fan that is used to expel your moisture and air out to the outside, and the fan is usually in the same pipe as the lint catcher. I wouldn't recommend using the dryer until you get the screwdriver out but if you want to try it I would listen very carefully for the sound of the screwdriver hitting the fan blades, because if the fan blades are ruined moisture will remain in the dryer and your clothes will not dry.

The pen has fallen into the blower housing and is hitting the fan blades.

Unplug the dryer!! Remove the two screws at the top of the lint trap. Remove the rear panel. Remove the four screws at the bottom that attach the lint filter housing to the blower housing. Then, remove the pen from the blower housing.

its not too hard to get out.
you will need a #2 phillips screwdriver and or a 1/4" socket driver
remove lint trap
remove 2 screws at lint trap
unplug unilt
open the top (2 clips between lid and front panel in the crack, push them with a butter knife or putty knife to release top) opens like a hood
pull out dryer and pull off rear panel
on the left hand side there is a metal duct like thing lol
that leads to the lint trap at the top.
there should be 4 screws at the bottom where it gets round.
remove them, and wiggle the duct open. your pen should be there..

Your going to have to remove the back panel and then access the filter air chamber. Or get a couple of strong fellows and have them un plug it and then flip it over and bump it a few times and hope it falls out. Dont reast its weight on the control console. Best o Luck
:?) DRRXR
TIP OF THE DAY--To reduce the suction draft and drying time your drier and save some cash, remove the lint catcher and take it to the sink. Run water into it, if there is excessive pooling of the water (water not running straight through) then fabric softener is fouling the lint screen. Use a small brush and dish detergent to clean it and then shake off all the water and dry the screen. Remember this tip on future driers and you will make the dryer blower motor last much longer.