Printer media preheater and method

A method of preheating printer media in a printer having a printing station including a print head and a supporting member comprising the steps:

• drawing a sheet of media from a media supply;
• advancing the sheet toward a heater surface;
• generating heat in the heater surface;
• contacting a plate to the heater surface to heat the plate;
• sliding the sheet across the heater surface;
• while sliding the sheet across the heater surface, biasing the sheet against the heater surface and the plate toward the heater surface so the sheet is heated from both sides;
• advancing the sheet toward a printing assembly;
• and
• generating an image on the sheet by:
• 1. applying a liquid transfer layer to the supporting member;
• 2. applying a phase change ink to the liquid transfer layer to form the image thereon;
• and
• 3. transferring the image to the sheet.

A method of preheating printer media in a printer comprising the steps:

• drawing a sheet of media from a media supply;
• heating a first heated element;
• contacting an opposingly positioned second heated element to the first heated element to conduct heat to the second heated element;
• advancing the sheet toward the first heated element and the second heated element;
• contacting opposite sides of the sheet respectively with the first and the second heated element, such that the sheet is heated on both sides;
• advancing the sheet toward a printing station;
• and generating an image on the sheet by;
• 1. applying a liquid transfer layer to a supporting member;
• 2. applying a phase change ink to the liquid transfer layer to form the image thereon;
• and
• 3. transferring the image to the sheet.