Printer with printhead replacement detection and method for printhead replacement detection

A printer, comprising:

• a printhead including a plurality of heaters arranged a row;
• a roll-type paper feeder configured to supply paper from a roll to the printhead for printing;
• a memory device configured to store information indicating an accumulated amount of printing performed by the printhead;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• acquire a measured resistance value for each of the heaters in the plurality of heaters;
• detect whether the printhead has been changed since a previous use based on differences in the measured resistance values from reference resistance values;
• and
• update the information in the memory device to reset the accumulated amount of printing performed by the printhead if it is detected that the printhead has been changed.

A method for a printer with a thermal printhead that includes a plurality of heaters, the method comprising:

• measuring a resistance value of each of heater in a plurality of heaters in a thermal printhead;
• detecting whether the thermal printhead has been changed since a previous use based on differences in the measured resistance values from reference resistance values;
• and
• updating utilization information stored in a memory device to indicate the thermal printhead has been replaced if it is detected that the thermal printhead has been changed, the utilization information indicating an accumulated usage amount of the thermal printhead.