Patent ID: 8684481
Filing Date: 2014-04-01
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A printer comprising: a feeder configured to feed a print-receiving object; a thermal head comprising a plurality of heating elements configured to form dots on each print line where said print-receiving object is divided into print resolutions in a feed direction; an energizing device configured to selectively energize said plurality of heating elements of said thermal head in accordance with print data; a driving device configured to control a driving of said feeder; a battery storage part configured to store a battery configured to supply power to said energizing device and said driving device; a voltage detecting device configured to detect an output voltage value of said battery; a display device; and a control device configured to control said energizing device and said driving device so that said thermal head forms print corresponding to the print data on said print-receiving object fed by said feeder, generating a printed object; said control device executing: a dot count identification process where a dot count, which is a number of said plurality of heating elements simultaneously energized by said energizing device, is identified at a first timing to provide a relatively high dot count and a second timing to provide a relatively low dot count, in a predetermined time range during generation of a single printed object via coordination of said feeder and said thermal head; a dot voltage fluctuation value calculation process where a voltage fluctuation value per dot is calculated by dividing a difference between said output voltage value detected by said voltage detecting device at said first timing and said output voltage value detected by said voltage detecting device at said second timing by a difference between said dot count identified by said dot count identification process at said first timing and said dot count identified by said dot count identification process at said second timing; a maximum load voltage estimation process where a voltage value of said battery is estimated at a time equivalent to maximum load for said energizing device and said driving device, based on said voltage fluctuation value per dot calculated by said dot voltage fluctuation value calculation process, said output voltage value at said first timing, and said output voltage value at said second timing; a consumption level determination process where a consumption level of said battery is determined based on a comparison result of a voltage value at said time equivalent to maximum load estimated by said maximum load voltage estimation process and a consumption level determination threshold value determined in advance; and a display process where a predetermined display indicating a consumption level in stages is executed on said display device, based on a determination result of said consumption level determination process.