Abstract: The present invention relates to a print module for use with a thermal printer. The print module includes a carriage including fastening structure for detachably fastening the carriage to the printer. The carriage is sized and shaped to receive print heads of various sizes and geometries from any number of manufacturers. A specific print head is mounted on the carriage along with a source of non-volatile memory. The source of non-volatile memory contains operational values characteristic of the specific print head. The operational values can be utilized by the printer to make operational adjustments that are customized with respect to the specific print head.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal printer for printing a card. The printer includes a housing having an input/output end configured for both inputting the card into the housing and outputting the card from the housing. A print head is positioned within the housing for printing the card. A card input station and a card output station are located at the input/output end of the housing. A stationary diverter ramp is positioned between the input/output end of the housing and the print head. The diverter ramp has a sloped diverting surface generally facing away from the input/output end of the housing. The printer is also equipped with a mechanism for feeding the card from the input station, past the diverter ramp, to the print head. The printer further includes a mechanism for reversing direction of the card and feeding the card from the print head back towards the diverter ramp such that the card engages the sloped diverting surface of the diverter ramp and is directed toward the output station.