Patent ID: 7712886

Claim:
A composite heating system for use in a printing system, the printing system feeding a media web along a media path from a media cartridge, past a stationary printhead, to a printed media web exit region, the composite heating system comprising: a first heating system, disposed between the media cartridge and the printhead, comprising a pre-heater; and, a second heating system, disposed between the printhead and the printed media web exit region, comprising: an heating element provided within a first chamber positioned on one side of the media web; at least one fan positioned to force air past the heating element; the first chamber adapted to direct the heated air through an opening into a second heating chamber positioned on the other side of the media web; and, the media web being driven along the media path so that the printed media web extends from the media path as a loop which hangs into the second heating chamber through the opening from opposite sides of the opening.