Abstract: An inductive charging device includes a housing having a compartment and a charging plate covering the compartment, the charging plate having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inductive charging device has a transmitting coil disposed within the compartment. The transmitting coil can be configured to receive an electrical current and generate a magnetic field from the electrical current. The transmitting coil can be configured to move along the inner surface of the charging plate to align with a receiving coil of an electronic device placed on the outer surface of the charging plate. The transmitting coil can be configured to pivot about at least one axis when moving along a curved portion of the inner surface.

Abstract: An ink stick for use in a phase change ink imaging device has a protrusion with a predetermined height that is configured to enable a sensor in an ink loader of the imaging device to detect the height of the protrusion. The predetermined height of the protrusion corresponds to a control parameter for the imaging device.

Abstract: A fluid transport apparatus facilitates flow of fluid from a source to a receptacle. The fluid transport apparatus includes a fluid transport conduit for transport of fluid through the conduit, the conduit being coupled between a fluid supply and a fluid receptacle, a compressor conduit proximate the fluid transport conduit along a portion of the fluid transport conduit between the fluid supply and the fluid receptacle, and a pump coupled to the compressor conduit for injecting fluid into the compressor conduit, and a vent that is operated to selectively enable pressurization and venting of the compressor conduit to compress and decompress the portion of the fluid transport conduit proximate the compressor conduit to pump fluid through the fluid transport conduit.

Abstract: A fluid transport apparatus maintains temperature of a fluid transported through a conduit. The fluid transport apparatus includes a fluid transport conduit that is selectively deformed by a pressure within a compressor conduit and allowed to return to its original shape by venting the pressure through a venting valve. The alternating pressurization and release of pressure from the compressor conduit moves fluid through the fluid transport conduit. A thermal conductor is associated with the fluid transport conduit to maintain the temperature of the fluid in the fluid transport conduit within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A heater for preheating media in an imaging device including a substantially planar polymeric carrier having an exterior surface. A channel is recessed into the exterior surface of the carrier. A resistance heating element is disposed in the channel, the resistance heating element having a first and second end for coupling to a power source. The heater includes an over molded polymeric layer disposed in the channel such that the resistance heating element is substantially encapsulated in the channel and such that an exterior surface of the over molded layer is substantially flush with the exterior surface of the carrier.

Abstract: An ink stick for use in a phase change ink imaging device has a protrusion with a predetermined height that is configured to enable a sensor in an ink loader of the imaging device to detect the height of the protrusion. The predetermined height of the protrusion corresponds to a control parameter for the imaging device.

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 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: A fluid transport apparatus maintains temperature of a fluid transported through a conduit. The fluid transport apparatus includes a fluid transport conduit for transporting fluid, the fluid transport conduit having an inlet end that is coupled to a fluid supply and an outlet end that is coupled to a receiving port, a compressor conduit configured to pump fluid through the fluid transport conduit by pressurizing and venting the compressor conduit, and a thermal conductor configured to achieve a non-ambient temperature for the fluid within the fluid transport conduit as the compressor conduit is operated to move the fluid through the fluid transport conduit.

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: An ink stick for use in a phase change ink imaging device is provided. The ink stick comprises a three dimensional ink stick body having an exterior surface. Two or more interface tracks are formed in the exterior surface of the ink stick parallel to a feed direction of an ink loader. Each interface track includes one or more actuation portions for actuating one or more sensors in the feed channel. The ink mass of the ink stick body may be substantially the same between actuation portions of a first interface track. A second interface track includes at lease one predetermined characteristic corresponding to a distance between an actuation portion of the second interface track and another feature of the ink stick, the predetermined characteristic being sized to correspond to variable control information pertaining to an ink stick.

Abstract: A heater for preheating media in an imaging device comprises a substantially planar polymeric carrier having an exterior surface. A channel is recessed into the exterior surface of the carrier. A resistance heating element is disposed in the channel, the resistance heating element having a first and second end for coupling to a power source. The heater includes an over molded polymeric layer disposed in the channel such that the resistance heating element is substantially encapsulated in the channel and such that an exterior surface of the over molded layer is substantially flush with the exterior surface of the carrier.

Abstract: A fluid transport apparatus maintains temperature of a fluid transported through a conduit. The fluid transport apparatus includes a fluid transport conduit for transporting fluid, the fluid transport conduit having an inlet end that is coupled to a fluid supply and an outlet end that is coupled to a receiving port, a compressor conduit configured to pump fluid through the fluid transport conduit by pressurizing and venting the compressor conduit, and a thermal conductor configured to achieve a non-ambient temperature for the fluid within the fluid transport conduit as the compressor conduit is operated to move the fluid through the fluid transport conduit.

Abstract: A plurality of ink sticks for use in phase change ink imaging devices comprises 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 comprises 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 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 fluid transport apparatus facilitates flow of fluid from a source to a receptacle. The fluid transport apparatus includes a fluid transport conduit for transport of fluid through the conduit, the conduit being coupled between a fluid supply and a fluid receptacle, a compressor conduit proximate the fluid transport conduit along a portion of the fluid transport conduit between the fluid supply and the fluid receptacle, and a pump coupled to the compressor conduit for injecting fluid into the compressor conduit, and a vent that is operated to selectively enable pressurization and venting of the compressor conduit to compress and decompress the portion of the fluid transport conduit proximate the compressor conduit to pump fluid through the fluid transport conduit.

Abstract: An ink stick for use in a phase change ink imaging device is provided. The ink stick comprises a three dimensional ink stick body having an exterior surface. Two or more interface tracks are formed in the exterior surface of the ink stick parallel to a feed direction of an ink loader. Each interface track includes one or more actuation portions for actuating one or more sensors in the feed channel. The ink mass of the ink stick body may be substantially the same between actuation portions of a first interface track. A second interface track includes at lease one predetermined characteristic corresponding to a distance between an actuation portion of the second interface track and another feature of the ink stick, the predetermined characteristic being sized to correspond to variable control information pertaining to an ink stick.

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.