Direct thermal and inkjet dual-sided printing

Abstract

In one embodiment there is provided a dual-sided printer including a direct thermal print head positioned proximate to a first platen and an inkjet print head positioned proximate to a second platen. The direct thermal print head is in a substantially opposed relation to the second platen and the inkjet print head is in a substantially opposed relation to the first platen to facilitate thermal printing on a first side of installed media and inkjet printing on a second side of the installed media.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various features and attendant advantages of the example embodiments will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic of an example direct thermal and inkjet dual-sided printer for dual-sided direct thermal and inkjet printing; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section of an example combination direct thermal and inkjet print media for use in a printer in accordance with FIG. 1.

Claims

1. A dual-sided printer comprising: a direct thermal print head positioned proximate to a first platen; andan inkjet print head positioned proximate to a second platen, wherein the direct thermal print head is in a substantially opposed relation to the second platen and the inkjet print head is in a substantially opposed relation to the first platen.

2. The dual-sided printer of claim 1, wherein the direct thermal print head is at an angular orientation with respect to the inkjet print head.

3. The dual-sided printer of claim 2, wherein the angular orientation is selected from the group consisting of: 45 degrees; 90 degrees; 135 degrees; and 180 degrees.

4. The dual-sided printer of claim 1, wherein the inkjet print head is disposed in a fixed position.

5. The dual-sided printer of claim 1, wherein the inkjet print head is moveable.

6. The dual-sided printer of claim 1, wherein the direct thermal print head is adapted to image in a single color.

7. The dual-sided printer of claim 1, wherein the inkjet print head is adapted to print in full color.

8. The dual-sided printer of claim 1, further comprising a controller adapted to: receive printing data; anddelineate the printing data to be imaged by the direct thermal print head and to be printed by the inkjet print head.

9. The dual-sided printer of claim 8, further comprising a central processing unit adapted to: receive the delineated the printing data; andactivate the direct thermal print head to image and the inkjet print head to print respective portions of the delineated printing data.

10. A dual-sided printer comprising: a direct thermal print head adapted to image a first side of a print medium; andan inkjet print head adapted to print a second side of the print medium.

11. The dual-sided printer of claim 10, wherein the direct thermal print head is at an angular orientation with respect to the inkjet print head.

12. The dual-sided printer of claim 11, wherein the angular orientation is selected from the group consisting of: 45 degrees; 90 degrees; 135 degrees; and 180 degrees.

13. The dual-sided printer of claim 10, wherein the inkjet print head is disposed in a fixed position in relation to the print medium.

14. The dual-sided printer of claim 10, wherein the inkjet print head is moveable across a width of the print medium.

15. The dual-sided printer of claim 10, wherein the direct thermal print head is adapted to image the first side of the print medium in a single color.

16. The dual-sided printer of claim 10, wherein the inkjet print head is a adapted to print the second side of the print medium in a plurality of colors.

17. The dual-sided printer of claim 10, further comprising a controller adapted to: receive printing data; anddelineate the printing data to be imaged by the direct thermal print head and to be printed by the inkjet print head.

18. The dual-sided printer of claim 17, further comprising a central processing unit adapted to: receive the delineated the printing data; andactivate the direct thermal print head to image a first portion of the delineated printing data on the first side of the print medium, andactivate the inkjet print head to print a second portion of the delineated printing data on the second side of the print medium.

19. A print medium comprising: a substrate including a first side and a second side;a direct thermal coating on the first side of the substrate; andan inkjet receptive coating on the second side of the substrate.

20. The thermal medium of claim 19, further comprising: a first primer disposed between the substrate and the direct thermal coating on the first side; anda second primer disposed between substrate and the inkjet receptive coating on the second side.

21. The thermal medium of claim 19, further comprising a top coating disposed over the direct thermal coating or the inkjet receptive coating, or both the direct thermal coating and the inkjet receptive coating.

22. The thermal medium of claim 19, wherein the substrate is generally opaque to inhibit thermal imaging on the first side from being visible on the second side and to inhibit inkjet printing on the second side form being visible on the first side.

23. The thermal medium of claim 19, wherein the substrate is sufficiently thermally resistant to inhibit thermal imaging on the first side from affecting inkjet printing on the second side.

24. The thermal medium of claim 19, wherein the substrate is sufficiently ink resistant to inhibit inkjet printing on the second side from affecting thermal imaging on the first side.

25. A method of imaging a print medium including a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the method comprising: receiving printing data;delineating the received printing data into at least a first portion and at least a second portion;activating a direct thermal print head to image the first portion of the delineated printing data on the first side of the print medium, andactivating an inkjet print head to print the second portion of the delineated printing data on the second side of the print medium.

26. A method of claim 25, further comprising imaging the first portion of the delineated printing data on the first side of the print medium in a single color.

27. A method of claim 25, further comprising printing the second portion of the delineated printing data on the second side of the print medium in a plurality of colors.