Drying apparatus

摘要

An embodiment of a drying apparatus for drying ink deposited onto media includes an electromagnetic energy source to generate electromagnetic energy. The embodiment of the drying apparatus also includes a rectangular waveguide coupled to the electromagnetic energy source. The rectangular waveguide includes slots in the axial direction of the rectangular waveguide on opposite sidewalls corresponding to the largest sides forming a cross section of the rectangular waveguide. The electromagnetic energy source is configured to establish a TE01 mode within the rectangular waveguide, resulting in an electric field substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of fibers within the media and thereby reducing power dissipated within the media while providing sufficient power for drying the ink during a drying operation.