Thermal printer and method for using

A thermal printer for printing a substrate, the printer comprising:

• a housing having an input/output end configured for both inputting the substrate into the housing and outputting the substrate from the housing;
• a print head positioned within the housing for printing the substrate;
• an input hopper positioned at the input/output end of the housing;
• an output hopper positioned at the input/output end of the housing below the input hopper;
• a stationary diverter ramp positioned between the input/output end of the housing and the print head, the diverter ramp having a front side generally facing the input/output end of the housing, and a back side generally facing away from the input/output end of the housing;
• a printing platform positioned adjacent to the print head, at least a portion of the printing platform being aligned along an output path plane that intersects the back side of the diverter ramp;
• and
• an intermediate ramp positioned between the diverter ramp and the printing platform for guiding the substrate as it travels between the diverter ramp and the printing platform.

A printer for printing a substrate, the printer comprising:

• a housing having an input/output end configured for both inputting the substrate into the housing and outputting the substrate from the housing;
• a print head positioned within the housing for printing the substrate;
• an input station positioned at the input/output end of the housing;
• an output station positioned at the input/output end of the housing;
• a stationary diverter ramp positioned between the input/output end of the housing and the print head, the diverter ramp having a sloped diverting surface generally facing away from the input/output end of the housing;
• means for feeding the substrate from the input station, past the diverter ramp, to the print head;
• and
• means for reversing direction of the substrate and feeding the substrate from the print head back towards the diverter ramp such that the substrate engages the sloped diverting surface of the diverter ramp and is diverted toward the output station.

A method for printing a substrate with a thermal printer, the printer including an input/output end having an input station and an output station, a print head, and a stationary diverter ramp positioned between the input/output end and the print head, the method comprising the steps of:

• inputting the substrate in the input station of the input/output end of the printer;
• moving the substrate from the input station of the printer toward the print head;
• guiding the substrate past the stationary diverter ramp to a print region located generally adjacent to the print head;
• printing the substrate at the print region;
• moving the substrate from the print region toward the input/output end of the printer;
• diverting the substrate with the stationary diverter ramp such that the substrate is directed toward the output station of the printer.