Abstract: An ink stick comprises an ink stick body configured for insertion in an insertion direction into an ink loader of the phase change ink imaging device. The ink stick body has an insertion perimeter in a plane substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction and has a longitudinal dimension for aligning with a feed direction of the ink loader. A symbol contour is formed in a first position on the perimeter of the ink stick body. The symbol contour defines a portion of a perimeter of a visually recognizable symbol shape and extends at most partially along the perimeter of the ink stick in the longitudinal dimension of the ink stick body. At least one key contour is formed in a second position on the perimeter of the ink stick body corresponding to a color of the ink for the ink stick body.

Abstract: An ink stick for use in a phase change ink imaging device is provided, the phase change ink imaging device having an ink stick feed system comprising at least one ink stick feed channel for receiving the ink stick and for moving the ink stick through the ink stick feed channel. The ink stick comprises a three dimensional ink stick body configured to fit within a feed channel of a phase change ink imaging device. The ink stick has an exterior surface with an interface element formed in the exterior surface of the ink stick body. The interface element interfaces with an appropriately equipped ink loader to provide a reference signal to a control system. The controller receives the reference signal and then may translate the reference signal into control information pertaining to the ink stick.

Abstract: A set of ink sticks includes multiple ink sticks, each adapted to be inserted in an insertion direction into one of the feed channels of a phase change ink jet printer. Each ink stick has a keyed surface substantially aligned with the insertion direction, and each of the keyed surfaces has a key feature having a position relative to the keyed surface that corresponds to the position of the feed channel relative to an aspect of the printer. A method of inserting an ink stick into the delivery system of a phase change ink jet printer includes orienting the ink stick with a keyed surface facing a particular direction and identifying the position of the key feature relative to the remainder of the keyed surface. An ink feed channel of the feed system having a coinciding position in the ink delivery system is identified, and the ink stick is inserted into the identified ink feed channel.

Abstract: A melt assembly that includes a drip plate; and a self regulating heating device thermally connected to the drip plate, wherein the heating device is a positive temperature coefficient material (PTC material). Also, a drip plate having an open interior into which a heating device may be inserted or molded.

Abstract: An ink stick for use in a phase change ink imaging device having a leading end; a trailing end; and a plurality of longitudinal surfaces extending between the leading end and the trailing end. Each longitudinal surface of the plurality has a leading edge adjacent the leading end and a trailing edge adjacent the trailing end. At least one of the leading edge and the trailing edge is configured as a clearance edge that enables the at least one longitudinal surface to clear a wall of a feed chute as the at least one longitudinal surface progresses through the feed chute.

Abstract: A plurality of ink sticks for use in phase change ink imaging devices includes a first ink stick configured for insertion through an insertion opening of an ink loader for a first phase change ink imaging device and configured for insertion through an insertion opening of an ink loader for a second phase change ink imaging device. The plurality of ink sticks also includes a second ink stick configured for insertion through the insertion opening of the ink loader for the second phase change ink imaging device and configured to be excluded from insertion through the insertion opening of the ink loader for the first phase change ink imaging device.

Abstract: An ink stick for use in a phase change ink imaging device comprises an ink stick body having a leading surface, a trailing surface, and a top surface. The top surface has a front edge that is rearwardly offset from a top edge of the leading surface, and a back edge that is at least partially rearwardly offset from the top of the trailing surface. A leading canted face extends between the top edge of the leading surface and the front edge of the top surface. A trailing canted face extends between the top edge of the trailing surface and the back edge of the top surface. The back edge includes a key that is complementary to an insertion opening key of an ink loader.

Abstract: A system is provided for forming solid ink sticks comprising a molten ink delivery station for introducing molten ink material into a forming tub to form a solid ink stick. The forming tub includes an open top for receiving the molten ink material and a cavity defining a lower portion of a solid ink stick shape. The system includes a top surface conditioning station for altering the top surface of the ink material introduced into the cavity of the forming tub.

Abstract: A system for an ink delivery system comprises a feed path having an insertion end and a melt end, and an ink stick transport for moving at least one ink stick between the insertion end and the melt end of the feed path. At least one sensor is positioned along the feed path. A controller is configured to actuate the transport to move at least one ink stick in a first direction from the insertion end toward the melt end of the feed path so that a coded sensor feature of the at least one ink stick actuates the at least one sensor to generate a signal. The controller is configured to actuate the transport to move the at least one ink stick in one of the first direction and a second direction toward the insertion end of the feed path in response to the signal.

Abstract: An ink loader for a phase change ink imaging device includes at least one guide member for maintaining alignment and orientation of ink sticks as the ink sticks feed to a melt area of an ink loader. The ink loader also includes a keyed opening through which ink sticks are inserted into the ink loader. The keyed opening is positioned with respect to the at least one guide member such that keying elements of ink sticks are spatially separated from the at least one guide member during and after insertion.

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.

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 stick for use in a phase change ink printer includes a first portion of a solid ink stick body, the first portion being formed of a first material of a phase change ink composition. The ink stick also includes a second portion of the solid ink stick body, the second portion being formed of a second material. The first material and the second material combine when the ink stick body is melted.

Abstract: A solid ink stick incorporates structural features and aspect ratios that facilitate movement of the ink stick through a feed channel. The ink stick includes an ink stick body having a width, a length, and a height, a first skew limiter in a lateral side of the ink stick, the first skew limiter having a length substantially equal to the length of the ink stick and a width that is less than one-half of the width of the ink stick, and a second skew limiter in a lateral side of the ink stick opposite the lateral side in which the first skew limiter is located, the second skew limiter having a length substantially equal to the length of the ink stick and a width that is less than one-half of the width of the ink stick.

Abstract: An ink stick cooperates with structure in a feed channel of a phase change ink printer to reduce steering effects from pushing the ink sticks along the longitudinal axis of the feed channel. The ink stick includes an ink stick body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a lateral dimension between two partial sides of the ink stick, and a lateral center of gravity within the lateral dimension, a support in a bottom surface of the ink stick body, the support being located at a position that is laterally offset from the lateral center of gravity within the lateral dimension, and a skew limiter in a side of the ink stick body that is opposite the lateral offset position of the support, the skew limiter being in the side of the ink stick body intermediate the bottom surface and the top surface of the ink stick body.

Abstract: A media support stand includes a top surface incorporated into a housing of an imaging device. A plurality of media slots are formed in the top surface. Each media slot in the plurality is configured to support at least one print media oriented vertically. Each media slot in the plurality includes a plurality of arc inducing vector transitions in a plane transverse to the planar extent of the vertically oriented print media. The plurality of arc inducing vector transitions are configured to impart alternating arcs to the print media inserted into the respective media slot.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ink stick for use in a phase change ink jet imaging device includes heating phase change ink material to an extrusion temperature at which the phase change ink material is in a malleable state. The ink is then extruded through an extrusion orifice to form at least one extruded ink filament having at least one cross-sectional dimension transverse to the extrusion direction that is less than approximately 12 mm. The at least one ink filament is then accumulated.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting media in a printer helps reduce vibration and noise in the printer. The apparatus includes a pair of brackets secured to a printer surface, a shaft, a first portion of the shaft being secured within one of the brackets and a second portion of the shaft being secured within the other bracket, a roller mounted about the shaft for rotation about the shaft, and a pair of vibration dampeners, one vibration dampener being interposed between the first portion of the shaft and the one bracket, and the other vibration dampener being interposed between the second portion of the shaft and the other bracket.

Abstract: An ink stick support for use in an ink loader of a phase change ink imaging device includes an ink stick carrier for receiving and supporting an ink stick. The ink stick carrier includes a loading platform for receiving the ink stick thereon and a substantially vertically oriented back wall extending from a back edge of the base plate. A coupler for removably attaching the ink stick carrier to a drive mechanism of an ink loader.

Abstract: An ink stick having a solid ink stick body adapted for insertion in an insertion direction into an ink loader of a phase change ink device. The solid ink stick body includes a top and bottom surface that are oriented substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction and a plurality of side surfaces that are substantially parallel to the insertion direction. The plurality of side surfaces define a plurality of corner edges that extend from the top surface to the bottom surface where adjacent side surfaces meet. A corner guide element extends at least partially along at least one corner edge in a feed direction of the feed channel. The corner guide elements are configured to engage guide members in the feed channel to restrain movement of the ink stick body in at least one direction other than the feed direction. The insertion direction is parallel to the feed direction.