PRINTING APPARATUS

• US 20130258394A1
• Filed: 03/27/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: ISHIYAMA, Tetsuya
• Application Number:
  US13/851,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20130258394A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.14
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4075 Tape printers; Label printers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/46 Printing mechanisms combined with apparatus providing a visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/4055 Managing power consumption, e.g. standby mode computer driven power saving management for a printer G06F3/1221; power saving in a data processing device in general G06F1/32

Abstract

When a power switch key is operated to turn off a printing apparatus currently set in power-on state and voltage value of a battery in this situation lowers 6.9 V, a display of LCD is turned out and operation keys except for the power switch key are locked so that the printing apparatus is placed in seeming power-off state. If the operation key is thereafter operated under seeming power-off state and voltage value of the battery in this situation lowers 6.9 V, the display of LCD is turned on and the operation keys are unlocked so that the printing apparatus is placed in power-on state from seeming power-off state. Accordingly, even if the printing apparatus is set in seeming power-off state due to significant drop in voltage of the battery, the printing apparatus can be placed in power-on state immediately upon operation of the power switch key.

Claims

1. A printing apparatus that uses a battery as drive source for printing and allows a processor to control the printing in such a manner that, even if a power switch key is operated to turn on the printing apparatus being set in power-off state, the processor maintains the power-off state of the printing apparatus when voltage value of the drive source lowers predetermined value,

wherein, when the power switch key is operated to turn off the printing apparatus being set in power-on state, depending on the voltage value of the drive source, the processor executes one of operations to:

(1) set the printing apparatus in power-off state if the voltage value of the drive source is equal to or higher than the predetermined value;

or

(2) turn out a display of the printing apparatus and lock operation keys thereof except for the power switch key if the voltage value of the drive source lowers the predetermined value, and

wherein, after the display is turned out and the operation keys except for the power switch key are locked, depending on conditions including the voltage value of the drive source, the processor executes one of operations to;

(A) set the, printing apparatus in power-off state if the voltage value of the drive source gets back to the predetermined value;

or

(B) turn on the display and release lock of the operation keys if the voltage value of the drive source lowers the predetermined value and the power switch is operated to turn on the printing apparatus.

2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the power switch key is operated to turn off the printing apparatus being set in power-on state, the processor executes an operation to place the printing apparatus in power-off state if predetermined length of time has passed since last-done printing.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case that the power switch key is operated to turn off the printing apparatus being set in power-on state, after the display is turned out and the operation keys except for the power switch key are locked and even if the voltage value of the drive source lowers the predetermined value, the processor executes an operation to place the printing apparatus in power-off state on condition that the predetermined length of time has passed since last-done printing.

4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined value is voltage value for detecting incorrect loading of the battery as the drive source.

5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined value is voltage value for securing normal quality in the printing with use of the battery as the drive source.

6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the battery as the drive source is a nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery.

7. A printing apparatus that uses a battery as drive source for printing and allows a processor to control the printing in such a manner that, even if a power switch key is operated to turn on the printing apparatus being set in power-off state, the processor maintains the power-off state of the printing apparatus when voltage value of the drive source lowers predetermined value,

wherein, when the power switch key is operated to turn off the printing apparatus being set in power-on state, the processor turns out a display of the printing apparatus and locks operation keys thereof except for the power switch key, depending on conditions including the voltage value of the drive source, thereafter the processor executes one of operations to:

(A) set the printing apparatus in power-off state if the voltage value of the drive source gets back to the predetermined value;

or

(B) turn on the display and release lock of the operation keys if the voltage value of the drive source lowers the predetermined value and the power switch is operated to turn on the printing apparatus.

8. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, in a case that the power switch key is operated to turn off the printing apparatus being set in power-on state, after the display is turned out and the operation keys except for the power switch key are locked and even if the voltage value of the drive source lowers the predetermined value, the processor executes an operation to place the printing apparatus in power-off state on condition that the predetermined length of time has passed since last-done printing.

9. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined value is voltage value for detecting incorrect loading of the battery as the drive source.

10. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined value is voltage value for securing normal quality in the printing with use of the battery as the drive source.

11. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the battery as the drive source is a nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery.