62

Chapter 6

Maintaining the Printer

This chapter covers the care and maintenance of your Canon BJC-50 printer including instructions for transporting, storing, and cleaning the printer, replacing BJ Cartridges, and cleaning the print head.

Your printer requires little maintenance but to keep it in top operating condition, you should perform the following routine maintenance.

Recharging and replacing the battery pack

This section shows you how to recharge and replace your battery pack.

Install and use only a Canon Li-Ion Battery LB-50 in this printer. You must install the battery pack and leave it installed in the printer even if you intend to use the printer only with the AC adapter. If the battery pack is not installed, the printer CHARGE/ERROR lamp will light orange and the printer will beep six times.

Recharging the battery pack

When the power in the battery pack runs low, the CHARGE/ERROR lamp flashes orange and the printer beeps four times. When the power in the battery pack is depleted, the CHARGE/ERROR lamp lights orange and the printer beeps twice (one long and one short beep).

Follow this procedure to recharge the battery pack.

NEVER ATTEMPT TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY PACK WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE UNIVERSAL

AC ADAPTER AD-360U SUPPLIED.

For best results, charge the battery pack at room temperature 10°C to 30°C (50°F to 86°F). The battery pack will recharge very slowly at low temperature and will not charge fully at high temperature.

62

Page 64
Image 64
Canon BJC-50 user manual Recharging and replacing the battery pack, Recharging the battery pack

BJC-50 specifications

The Canon BJC-50 is a portable bubble jet printer that made waves in the early 1990s for its compact design and high-quality output. Launched by Canon in 1995, it appealed to both home and business users who required mobility without compromising on performance. This printer offered a unique blend of features that set it apart from traditional desktop printers of its time.

One of the standout features of the BJC-50 is its lightweight and compact form factor, making it an ideal choice for users on the move. Weighing in at a mere 3.5 pounds, it easily fits into a travel bag, allowing professionals to print documents wherever they are. Its small footprint means it can be used in tight spaces, a significant advantage for home offices or small workstations.

The technology behind the BJC-50 is rooted in Canon's bubble jet printing technology. This involved heating ink to create tiny bubbles, which then forced droplets of ink onto the paper to create sharp text and vibrant images. This method delivered higher resolution printing compared to many pen and dot matrix printers at the time. The BJC-50 produced prints at a resolution of up to 600 x 600 dpi, resulting in clear and detailed documents.

Additionally, the Canon BJC-50 featured a flexible inkjet cartridge system. Users could choose between different cartridges optimized for text or photo printing. This adaptability allowed for a range of printing tasks, from basic black and white documents to full-color graphics. The printer also supported both standard and high-capacity cartridges, providing users with options depending on their printing volume.

Connectivity was another strong point of the BJC-50. It came equipped with a parallel port and offered optional infrared capabilities, which facilitated wireless printing from compatible devices. This feature was particularly novel in the 1990s, showcasing Canon's commitment to advancing user convenience and technology.

In terms of usability, the BJC-50 had an easy-to-use interface with straightforward control buttons. It featured a compact and accessible paper tray that could handle various media types and sizes, which made the transition between different printing tasks seamless and efficient.

All in all, the Canon BJC-50 was a pioneering portable printer that encapsulated the demands of its era, balancing size, technology, and functionality. While newer models have since taken the stage, the principles that guided the design and features of the BJC-50 continue to influence portable printing solutions today.