Abstract: A heating device for heating at least one printing agent on a printing material which is moved along a transport path through said heating device includes a microwave applicator. A microwave absorber element is located in an outer perimeter of the microwave applicator. The microwave absorber element is an irradiation device that absorbs microwave radiation and emits electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation can be applied to the printing agent or the printing material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heating device (1) for heating at least one printing agent provided on a printing material (10), said heating device comprising at least one microwave applicator (5) for bombarding the printing material (10) with microwave radiation, and comprising at least one irradiation arrangement (8) for irradiating and melt-depositing the printing agent by means of electromagnetic radiation; as well as to an appropriate method for heating at least one printing agent. A heating device (1) and a method are to be provided which allow a design that is less complex overall. In accordance with the present invention this object is achieved, considering the apparatus, in that the radiation arrangement (8), as well as the printing material (10) and the printing agent, are bombarded by the microwave radiation of the microwave applicator (5), so that the irradiation arrangement (8) is excited to emit electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a heating device for heating at least one printing agent on a printing material (4), which is passed along a transport path through said heating device, comprising at least one microwave applicator (2) and at least one microwave absorber element in the outer perimeter of said microwave applicator. The object of the present invention is to reduce the loss of energy due to microwave radiation exiting from the microwave applicator (5). The object of the invention is achieved in that the minimum of one microwave absorber element is an irradiation device that absorbs microwave radiation and emits electromagnetic radiation, in which case said irradiation device, in accordance with the method herein, is energized by microwave radiation, applies radiation to the printing agent and/or the printing material (4), and thus at least aids the heating process.