System and method for printing on mailpieces using a fixed print head

A printer for printing markings along tops of inverted mailpieces comprising:

• a print head in a fixed position, where the print head receives print instructions and prints one or more markings onto the mailpiece;
• a memory containing data representative of one or more markings;
• and
• an inverted print module, coupled to the memory, that receives marking requests and, in response to the marking requests, reads data representative of one or more markings from the memory and inverts the one or more markings on the print head during printing on to the mailpiece, the mailpiece being inverted.

A method for printing along tops and bottoms of mailpieces comprising:

• printing, with a fixed print head, one or more first markings on a side of a mailpiece, the mailpiece in a first orientation;
• receiving the mailpiece in a second orientation which is about 180 degrees from the first orientation;
• and
• printing on the side of the mailpiece, with the fixed print head, one or more second markings that are rotated on the print head about 180 degrees from the first orientation of the mailpiece.

A system for printing markings along a top and a bottom of a mailpiece comprising:

• a print head in a fixed position, where the print head receives print instructions and prints one or more markings onto the mailpiece;
• a memory containing data representative of a first markings having a first orientation and a second markings having a second orientation;
• and
• a print module, coupled to the memory and to the print head, for receiving marking requests, and based upon the marking requests reading data representative of the first markings or the second markings from the memory, and converting the data to print instructions.