Abstract: A phase change ink melting assembly includes a tub having an open top, a bottom surface, and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the bottom surface. The bottom surface has a solid ink melt region and a melted ink outlet offset from the solid ink melt region. The solid ink melt tub includes a three dimensional area extending from the bottom surface in the solid ink melt region. At least one constraining surface is positioned proximate the open top of the melt tub above the solid ink melt region tub and thermally isolated from the melt tub. The at least one constraining surface is configured to prevent lateral movement of an ink stick as it is being fed downwardly into contact with the solid ink melt region.

Abstract: An ink status conveyance system comprises a maximum monitored ink level sensor operable with respect to an ink source for holding a supply of ink and delivering the ink to a printhead. The ink level sensor is configured to detect when an available amount of ink in the ink source corresponds to an ample ink level. A notification controller is configured to track the available amount of ink in the ink source between an ample ink level and an ink out level. A user interface is configured to enable a user to designate a low ink notification set point for the ink source at any ink level between the ample ink level and the ink out level. The notification controller is configured to compare the user designated low ink notification set point to the available ink volume value to generate a low ink notification when the available ink volume value corresponds to the user designated low ink notification set point.

Abstract: An ink loader for a phase change ink imaging device includes an automated access control system that enables ink stick insertion based on user initiated ink load requests with reference to the operating state of the imaging device.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a quiet mode management system in which a control system of an imaging device selectively reduces print speed based on print job attributes such as job size, repetitions and media in use.

Abstract: A solid ink stick facilitates verification of the position and orientation of a solid ink stick prior to an ink stick identification operation. The solid ink stick includes a solid ink stick body configured for insertion in a solid ink stick printer in a predetermined orientation, and a verification interlock in at least one surface of the solid ink stick body, the verification interlock and the at least one surface being located in the solid ink stick body to engage at least two displaceable members arranged in an insertion area of the solid ink printer to push one displaceable member away from the solid ink stick body and to enable the other displaceable member to move towards the solid ink stick body when the solid ink stick body is in the predetermined orientation in the insertion area.

Abstract: A phase change ink melting assembly for use in a phase change ink imaging device includes an ink melt perimetric constraint having an open top and a melted ink egress positioned at a bottom of the perimetric constraint. The open top is sized to receive a leading end of an ink stick fed downwardly therethrough. The perimetric constraint includes an interior through path with egress at the bottom and a plurality of melted ink flow paths intermediate the open top and the melted ink egress. The assembly includes a heater for heating the perimetric constraint to a phase change ink melting temperature.