Mobile printer

1. A mobile printer comprising:

a casing configured to receive a power supply;

a sensor configured to detect movement of the casing;

a print head configured to discharge ink containing a thermochromic colorant; an interface configured to acquire image data;

a controller configured to cause the ink to be discharged from the print head based on the image data acquired by the interface and the movement of the casing detected by the sensor; and

a decolorizing device configured to couple to the casing and comprising a translucent film configured to generate heat when a voltage is applied; and

a translucent substrate configured to be heated to a temperature at which the thermochromic colorant is decolorized by the heat generated by the translucent film.

2. The printer of claim 1 , further comprising:

a support mechanism configured to hold the decolorizing device to the casing so as to be movable between an accommodating position and a discoloration position.

3. The printer of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the decolorizing device is in a usable state when the decolorizing device is in the decolorizing position.

4. The printer of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the decolorizing device is in an unusable state when the decolorizing device is in the accommodating position.

5. The printer of claim 1 , further comprising:

a temperature switching button configured to designate temperature.

6. The printer of claim 5 , wherein the controller controls a value of the voltage to be applied to the translucent film of the decolorizing device according to the temperature designated by the temperature switching button.

7. The printer of claim 1 , further comprising:

a roller configured to regulate a moving direction of the casing in a sub-scanning direction with respect to a main scanning direction of the print head.

8. The printer of claim 7 , wherein the controller applies the voltage to the translucent film of the decolorizing device located upstream of the print head in the sub-scanning direction.

9. The printer of claim 8 , wherein

the decolorizing device is configured so that the width of the translucent substrate in the main scanning direction when coupled to the casing is the same as the print width of the print head in the main scanning direction.

10. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cause a voltage A to be applied to the translucent film to increase the temperature of the translucent film and the translucent substrate, and to cause a voltage B larger than the voltage A to be applied to the translucent film to increase the temperature of the translucent film and the translucent substrate.

11. The printer of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the voltage A to be applied to cause the temperature of the translucent substrate to reach 70° C. after six to seven seconds.

12. The printer of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the voltage B to be applied to cause the temperature of the translucent substrate to reach 90° C. after five to six seconds.

13. A method of operating a mobile printer, the method comprising:

detecting movement, via a sensor, of a casing;

acquiring image data, via an interface;

discharging ink, via a print head, based on the image data acquired by the interface and the movement of the casing detected by the sensor;

applying a voltage to generate heat at a translucent film when the voltage is applied; and

heating a translucent substrate to a temperature by the heat generated by the translucent film to decolorize a thermochromic colorant of the ink.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

holding the decolorizing device to the casing, via a support mechanism, so as to be movable between an accommodating position and a discoloration position.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising determining the decolorizing device is in a usable state when the decolorizing device is in the decolorizing position and in an unusable state when the decolorizing device is in the accommodating position.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

designating a temperature, via a temperature switching button; and

controlling a value of the voltage to be applied to the translucent film of the decolorizing device according to the temperature designated by the temperature switching button.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

regulating a moving direction of the casing, via a roller, in a sub-scanning direction with respect to a main scanning direction of the print head; and

applying the voltage to the translucent film of the decolorizing device located upstream of the print head in the sub-scanning direction.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein

the decolorizing device is configured so that the width of the translucent substrate in the main scanning direction when coupled to the casing is the same as the print width of the print head in the main scanning direction.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising applying a voltage A to the translucent film to increase the temperature of the translucent film and the translucent substrate, and applying a voltage B larger than the voltage A to the translucent film to increase the temperature of the translucent film and the translucent substrate.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising applying the voltage A to cause the temperature of the translucent substrate to reach 70° C. after six to seven seconds, and applying the voltage B to cause the temperature of the translucent substrate to reach 90° C. after five to six seconds.