(57) A system and method is provided for drying ink deposited onto an printing medium
(12) by a printer. The printer includes therewithin primary heat generating modules
(126,30) which generate excess heat within the printer when the ink is printed onto
the printing medium (12), a thermally conductive platen (22) over which the printing
medium moves within the printer during the printing of the ink onto the printing medium
(12), and heat conductive contacts (24). It also includes heat conductive contacts
for conductively attaching the primary heat generating modules (26,30) to the thermally
conductive platen (22). The primary heat generating modules are conductively attached
to the thermally conductive platen through heat conductive contacts. The primary heat
generating modules (26,30) generate excess heat for conductively heating the thermally
conductive platen. Then, the printing medium is moved into contact with the heated
thermally conductive platen (22) thereby heating the printing medium (12). Next, the
printing ink is deposited by the printer onto the heated printing medium. The ink
on the heated printing medium is dried by effects of the elevated temperature imparted
to the printing medium (12) by the heated thermally conductive platen (22). In this
way, faster printing throughput and improved print quality are provided.
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