Method for achieving uniform media temperature and size throughout the pre-heat zone

1. An imaging device comprising:

a source of a substantially continuous web of media;

a web transport system configured to transport the continuous web from the source along a web path, the web path including a print zone;

at least one printhead positioned in the print zone adjacent the web and configured to deposit ink onto the web to form images thereon; and

a preheating system positioned along the web path between the source and the print zone, the preheating system including a first heating stage and a second heating stage, the first heating stage having at least one non-contact radiant heating unit positioned to emit thermal radiation onto the web at a level that enables the web to be heated to an initial preheat temperature prior to reaching the second stage, the second stage including a preheat roller having a heater configured to generate thermal energy to heat the preheat roller to a target temperature, the preheat roller being positioned to be partially wrapped by the continuous web after passing the first heating stage to generate a predetermined dwell time between the continuous web and the preheat roller as the continuous web is being transported, the predetermined dwell time being configured to enable conductive heat transfer to occur between the continuous web and the preheat roller to bring the temperature of the continuous web to the target temperature.

2. The imaging device of claim 1 , the ink comprising melted phase change ink.

3. The imaging device of claim 1 , the initial preheat temperature being 20° C. greater than the target temperature.

4. The imaging device of claim 1 , the target temperature being between approximately 30° C. and approximately 70° C.

5. The imaging device of claim 4 , the target temperature being 55° C.

6. The imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a spreader positioned downstream from the print zone and configured to apply pressure to the web and the ink deposited thereon in the print zone.

7. The imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the web prior to reaching the print zone and to generate a temperature signal indicative of the detected temperature; and

a controller configured to receive the temperature signal and to control power to at least one of the heater of the preheat roller of the second heating stage and the at least one radiant heating unit of the first heating stage.

8. A method of operating a continuous feed, direct marking imaging device, the method comprising:

transporting a substantially continuous web along a web path having a preheating system arranged adjacent thereto and a print zone arranged downstream from the preheating system;

emitting thermal radiation onto the web at a level that enables the web to be heated to an initial preheat temperature using at least one non-contact radiant heating;

reducing a temperature of the web from the initial preheat temperature to a target temperature for the web at a second heating stage of the preheating system by wrapping the continuous web partially around a preheat roller to generate a predetermined dwell time between the continuous web and the preheat roller after the continuous web has been heated to the initial preheat temperature at the first heating stage, the preheat roller including a heater configured to generate thermal energy to heat the preheat roller to the target temperature, the predetermined dwell time being configured to enable conductive heat transfer to occur between the continuous web and the preheat roller to bring the temperature of the continuous web to the target temperature; and

after reducing the temperature of the web to the target temperature, depositing ink onto the web in the print zone to form images thereon.

9. The method of claim 8 , the ink comprising melted phase change ink.

10. The method of claim 8 , the initial preheat temperature being 20° C. greater than the target temperature.

11. The method of claim 8 , the target temperature being between approximately 30° C. and approximately 70° C.

12. The method of claim 11 , the target temperature being 55° C.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

applying pressure to the web and the ink deposited thereon downstream from the print zone.

14. An imaging device comprising:

a source of a substantially continuous web of media;

a web transport system configured to transport the continuous web from the source along a web path, the web path including a print zone;

at least one printhead positioned in the print zone adjacent the web and configured to deposit melted phase change ink onto the web to form images thereon; and

a preheating system positioned along the web path between the source and the print zone, the preheating system including a first heating stage and a second heating stage, the first heating stage having at least one non-contact radiant heating unit positioned to emit thermal radiation onto the web at a level that enables the web to be heated to an initial preheat temperature prior to reaching the second stage, the second stage including a preheat roller having a heater configured to generate thermal energy to heat the preheat roller to a target temperature, the preheat roller being positioned to be partially wrapped by the continuous web after passing the first heating stage to generate a predetermined dwell time between the continuous web and the preheat roller as the continuous web is being transported, the predetermined dwell time being configured to enable conductive heat transfer to occur between the continuous web and the preheat roller to bring the temperature of the continuous web to the target temperature; and

a spreader positioned along the web path downstream from the print zone and configured to apply pressure to the web and the ink deposited thereon in the print zone.

15. The imaging device of claim 14 , the initial preheat temperature being 20° C. greater than the target temperature.