Ink drying apparatus

Apparatus for drying printed ink comprises an emitter of infra-red radiation at a wavelength of between 2.5 mu m and 12.5 mu m. The preferred wavelength emitted is between 3 mu m and 6 mu m, and the infra-red emitter is advantageously a ceramic radiation element heated to a temperature between 300 DEG C and 700 DEG C. The apparatus comprises a conveying means 1 for transporting T-shirts and other garments to be printed with ink past the emitter 4, and the conveying surface is advantageously sloped off each of its opposite longitudinal edges so as to present for example the printed front of the garment closer to the emitter than the unprinted arms of the garment. Uniform curing of the ink is promoted by a fan which circulates air over the printed material. A barrier of refractory material 6 encircles the emitter to maintain a constant temperature across the face of the emitter. The barrier is constructed of firebrick or clinker incorporating concrete.