Segmentiertes flexibles Heizelement zum Trocknen eines gedruckten Bildes

Described herein is a segmented flexible heater (50) disposed adjacently to a paper path in a printing apparatus (10) for heating a recording medium (16) both before printing and during printing. The heater (50) includes a curved first portion forming a preheat zone (52) for preheating the medium (16) and a substantially planar second portion forming a heat zone (54) for heating the medium (16) in a print zone (38) wherein the second portion generates heat energy having a temperature greater than the heat energy generated by the first portion. The heater (50) is fixed at one end (58) to a mounting member (60) and is maintained in a curved configuration in the preheat zone (52) by means of inner and outer guide sections (30,32). A tensioning mechanism (64) is provided at the other end (62) of the heater so that the heat zone (54) is supported between first and second support portions (76,78) of a heater support (56).