Dual-mode printer for flexible and rigid substrates

A dual-mode printer for printing on both flexible and rigid substrates, the printer comprising:

• (a) a table providing a substantially planar support surface for supporting a substrate;
• (b) a flexible-substrate feed system including at least one roller, said flexible-substrate feed system being configured to feed a flexible substrate in a given feed direction across said support surface;
• (c) a print head deployed in facing relation to said support surface and configured for depositing a printing medium on a substrate as part of a printing process, said print head being configured for printing while moving in a scanning motion relative to the substrate;
• and
• (d) a motion system associated with said print head and said table, and configured to generate relative displacement between said print head and said support surface in at least a first direction parallel to said feed direction,
• wherein said flexible-substrate feed system, said print head and said motion system are configured to operate alternatively in a flexible-substrate mode in which a scanning motion of said print head relative to the substrate is generated at least in part by said flexible-substrate feed system and in a rigid-substrate mode in which a scanning motion of said print bead relative to the substrate is generated exclusively by said motion system.