TWO-SIDED THERMAL PRINT CONFIGURATIONS

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for two-sided direct thermal printing are disclosed. In one embodiment, a dual-sided direct thermal printer comprising a first thermal print head and a second thermal print head is provided wherein a surface of the first thermal print head acts as a platen for the second thermal print head.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A provides a schematic of a dual-sided imaging direct thermal printer useable for dual-sided printing of thermal media.

FIG. 1B illustrates detail of a first example print head and platen configuration for use with a dual-sided imaging direct thermal printer.

FIG. 2A illustrates a second example print head and platen configuration for use with a dual-sided imaging direct thermal printer.

FIG. 2C illustrates a third example print head and platen configuration for use with a dual-sided imaging direct thermal printer.

FIG. 2D illustrates a fourth example print head and platen configuration for use with a dual-sided imaging direct thermal printer.

FIG. 2E illustrates a fifth example print head and platen configuration for use with a dual-sided imaging direct thermal printer.

FIG. 2F illustrates a sixth example print head and platen configuration for use with a dual-sided imaging direct thermal printer.

FIG. 2G illustrates a seventh example print head and platen configuration for use with a dual-sided imaging direct thermal printer.

FIG. 3A shows a two-sided receipt with transaction detail printed on the front side.

FIG. 3B shows the receipt of FIG. 3A with supplemental information printed on the reverse side, such as variable stored information selected on the basis of the transaction detail.

FIG. 3C shows a two-sided receipt with a portion of the associated transaction detail printed on the front side of the receipt.

FIG. 3D shows the reverse side of the receipt of FIG. 3C on which the remaining portion of the associated transaction data is printed.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an exemplary dual-sided direct thermal receipt printer for retail Point of Sale (POS) application.

FIG. 5 schematically shows a partial centerline cross-sectional view of the dual-sided direct thermal receipt printer of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 schematically shows a partial gear plane cross-sectional view of the dual-sided direct thermal receipt printer of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 schematically shows a partial centerline cross-sectional view of the dual-sided direct thermal receipt printer of FIG. 4, with a cover in an open position.

FIG. 8 schematically shows a partial centerline cross-sectional view of a variation of the dual-sided direct thermal receipt printer of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 schematically shows a partial gear plane cross-sectional view of the dual-sided direct thermal receipt printer of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 schematically shows a partial centerline cross-sectional view of a variation of the dual-sided direct thermal receipt printer of FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 schematically shows a partial gear plane cross-sectional view of the dual-sided direct thermal receipt printer of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 schematically shows a partial centerline cross-sectional view of a further variation of the dual-sided direct thermal receipt printer of FIG. 4.

FIG. 13 schematically shows a further variation in a dual-sided direct thermal printer print head and platen orientation, and media feed path.

FIG. 14 schematically shows a further variation in a dual-sided direct thermal printer print head and platen orientation, and media feed path.

Claims

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; anda 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.

2. The dual-sided direct thermal printer of claim 1, wherein a surface associated with the second thermal print head acts as a platen for the first thermal print head.

3. The dual-sided direct thermal printer of claim 1, wherein the surface associated with the first thermal print head comprises a printing surface of the first thermal print head.

4. The dual-sided direct thermal printer of claim 2, 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.

5. The dual-sided direct thermal printer of claim 4, 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.

6. The dual-sided direct thermal printer of claim 1, 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.

7. The dual-sided direct thermal printer of claim 5, 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.

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

9. The dual-sided direct thermal printer of claim 1, wherein the surface associated with the first thermal print head includes a friction reducing material.

10. The dual-sided direct thermal printer of claim 9, wherein the friction reducing material comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

11. The dual-sided direct thermal printer of claim 10, wherein the friction reducing material comprises polytetrafluoroethylene particles dispersed in an electroless nickel matrix.

12. The dual-sided direct thermal printer of claim 1, further comprising: a first arm; anda 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.

13. The dual-sided direct thermal printer of claim 12, further comprising: a pivot,wherein the first arm is pivotable about the pivot with respect to the second arm.

14. 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; andone or more media sensors,wherein a printing surface of the first thermal print head acts as a platen for the second thermal print head and a printing surface of the second thermal print head acts as a platen for the first thermal print head.

15. The dual-sided direct thermal printer of claim 14, wherein the one or more media sensors comprises at least one of a media type sensor, a media size sensor, a media quantity sensor, and a media installed sensor.

16. 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.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: utilizing a surface associated with the second thermal print head as a platen for the first thermal print head.

18. The method of claim 16, 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.

19. The method of claim 17, 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.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising: reducing heat generated for printing by the first thermal print head when heat is generated for printing by the second thermal print head.

21. The method of claim 19, 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.

22. The method of claim 21, 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.

23. The method of claim 20, 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.