Granted Patent B2

US 7,710,442 · App. 11/678,216 · Granted May 4, 2010

Abstract

Claims (49)

1. A dual-sided direct thermal printer comprising:

a first thermal print head on a first side of a media feed path;

a second thermal print head on a second side of the media feed path; and

a printing function switch adapted to control printing by the first and the second thermal print heads,

wherein a surface associated with the first thermal print head acts as a platen for the second thermal print head; and

wherein heat generated for printing by the first thermal print head is reduced when heat is generated for printing by the second thermal print head.

2. A dual-sided direct thermal printer comprising:

a first thermal print head on a first side of a media feed path;

a second thermal print head on a second side of the media feed path; and

a printing function switch adapted to control printing by the first and the second thermal print heads,

wherein a surface associated with the first thermal print head acts as a platen for the second thermal print head;

wherein a surface associated with the second thermal print head acts as a platen for the first thermal print head;

wherein the surface associated with the first thermal print head comprises a printing surface of the first thermal print head and the surface associated with the second thermal print head comprises a printing surface of the second thermal print head;

wherein one or more print elements associated with the first thermal print head are substantially in-line with and across the media feed path from one or more print elements associated with the second thermal print head; and

wherein heat generated for printing by the first thermal print head is reduced in a region of the first thermal print head proximate to where heat is generated for printing by the second thermal print head.

3. The dual-sided direct thermal printer of claim 2 , wherein heat generated for printing by the second thermal print head is reduced in a region of the second thermal print head proximate to where heat is generated for printing by the first thermal print head.

4. A dual-sided direct thermal printer comprising:

a first thermal print head on a first side of a media feed path;

a second thermal print head on a second side of the media feed path; and

a printing function switch adapted to control printing by the first and the second thermal print heads,

wherein a surface associated with the first thermal print head acts as a platen for the second thermal print head; and

wherein the surface associated with the first thermal print head includes a friction reducing material.

5. The dual-sided direct thermal printer of claim 4 , wherein the friction reducing material comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

6. The dual-sided direct thermal printer of claim 5 , wherein the friction reducing material comprises polytetrafluoroethylene particles dispersed in an electroless nickel matrix.

7. A dual-sided direct thermal printer comprising:

a first thermal print head on a first side of a media feed path;

a second thermal print head on a second side of the media feed path; and

a printing function switch adapted to control printing by the first and the second thermal print heads,

wherein a surface associated with the first thermal print head acts as a platen for the second thermal print head;

the dual-sided direct thermal printer further comprising:

a first arm; and

a second arm,

wherein the first thermal print head is coupled to the first arm, and the second thermal print head is coupled to the second arm.

8. The dual-sided direct thermal printer of claim 7 , further comprising:

a pivot,

wherein the first arm is pivotable about the pivot with respect to the second arm.

9. A method of operating a two-sided direct thermal printer comprising a first thermal print head on a first side of a media feed path, a second thermal print head on a second side of the media feed path, and a printing function switch adapted to control printing by the first and the second thermal print heads, the method comprising:

utilizing a surface associated with the first thermal print head as a platen for the second thermal print head; and

reducing heat generated for printing by the first thermal print head when heat is generated for printing by the second thermal print head.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

decreasing a number of print elements associated with a first thermal print head activated for printing in reducing heat generated for printing by the first thermal print head.

11. A method of operating a two-sided direct thermal printer comprising a first thermal print head on a first side of a media feed path, a second thermal print head on a second side of the media feed path, and a printing function switch adapted to control printing by the first and the second thermal print heads, the method comprising:

utilizing a surface associated with the first thermal print head as a platen for the second thermal print head; and

utilizing a surface associated with the second thermal print head as a platen for the first thermal print head;

wherein utilizing a surface associated with the first thermal print head as a platen for the second thermal print head comprises utilizing a printing surface of the first thermal print head as a platen for the second thermal print head, and utilizing a surface associated with the second thermal print head as a platen for the first thermal print head comprises utilizing a printing surface of the second thermal print head as a platen for the first thermal print head;

the method further comprising:

reducing heat generated for printing by the first thermal print head in a region of the first thermal print head proximate to where heat is generated for printing by the second thermal print head.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

reducing heat generated for printing by the second thermal print head in a region of the second thermal print head proximate to where heat is generated for printing by the first thermal print head.

Assignments (13)