Apparatus and method for thermographic printing

A thermographic printing apparatus comprising:

• means for transporting a substrate having first and second sides and wet ink on the first side thereof, wherein the means for transporting contacts the substrate on the second side of the substrate;
• means for positioning the substrate in the apparatus to provide at least one substantially contained area between the means for positioning and the substrate, wherein the means for positioning does not contact the substrate;
• and
• means for providing powder particles for application to the first side of the substrate capable of adhering an amount of the particles to the wet ink on the substrate.

A method of thermographic printing which comprises:

• transporting a substrate having first and second sides, two edges, and a powder adhering liquid on the first side thereof from a continuous web along a path;
• providing powder particles onto at least a portion of the first side of the substrate, whereby at least some of the powder particles adhere to the liquid on the substrate;
• and
• circulating the powder particles that do not adhere to the liquid on the first portion of the substrate for application to further portions of the substrate, wherein the substrate is directed along a substantially circular path with the first side of the substrate that contains the powder adhering liquid positioned inside of the circular path and the non-adhering powder particles are positioned along the path adjacent the substrate for deposition onto further portions thereof.