Guide for solid ink stick feed
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsBrent R. Jones, Frederick T. Mattern
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ink stick for a phase change ink jet printer has a guide element formed in one portion of the ink stick body (such as the lower portion) for engaging a feed channel guide rail in a feed channel of a solid ink feed system of the printer. The guide element is substantially offset from the lateral center of gravity of the ink stick body. The guide element engages a feed channel guide rail in the printer. The feed channel guide rail is substantially narrower than the width of the feed channel. A second guide element is formed on the opposite side of the lateral center of gravity of the ink stick body. The second guide element engages a second feed channel guide rail in the feed channel.
Claims24
An ink stick for use in a solid ink feed system of a phase change ink jet printer, wherein the feed system comprises a feed channel having a feed channel guide rail, the ink stick comprising:
- an ink stick body having a lateral dimension;
- a first ink stick guide element;
- and
- a second ink stick guide element;
- wherein:
- the ink stick body has a lateral center of gravity along the lateral dimension of the ink stick body;
- the first ink stick guide element is formed as a part of the bottom portion of the ink stick body;
- the first ink stick guide element is laterally offset between a first lateral side extremity and the lateral center of gravity of the ink stick body;
- and
- the second ink stick guide element is laterally offset to a second side from the lateral center of gravity of the ink stick body, opposite the first side.
An ink stick for use in a solid ink feed system of a phase change ink jet printer, the ink stick comprising:
- a three dimensional ink stick body having lateral center of gravity and a vertical center of gravity;
- and
- guide means formed in the ink stick body for guiding the ink stick in the solid ink feed system;
- wherein the guide means is asymmetrical about the lateral center of gravity.
An ink stick for use in a solid ink feed system of a phase change ink printer, the ink stick comprising:
- a body having a generally bottom surface;
- and
- a guide element in the bottom surface of the ink stick for interacting with a guide rail in the ink stick loader to guide the ink stick along a defined path in the ink stick loader;
- wherein the guide element is positioned so that the weight of the body is offset to one side of the guide element.
A method of loading an ink stick into a solid ink feed system of a phase change ink jet printer, the method comprising:
- providing an ink stick, wherein the ink stick includes:
- a bottom surface;
- a lateral center of gravity;
- and
- a guide element in the bottom surface, laterally offset from the lateral center of gravity;
- aligning the guide element with a feed channel guide rail in the feed system;
- inserting the ink stick into the feed system;
- and
- resting the guide element on the feed channel guide rail so that contact between the guide element and the feed channel guide rail is substantially the only contact between the bottom surface of the ink stick and the feed system.
A solid ink feed system for a phase change ink jet printer, the feed system comprising:
- a longitudinal feed channel;
- a first feed channel guide rail in a lower portion of the feed channel;
- wherein the width of the feed channel guide rail is substantially less than the width of the feed channel;
- and
- wherein the guide rail is substantially offset from the center of the feed channel;
- a second feed channel guide rail in an upper portion of the feed channel:
- wherein the second guide rail is offset from the center of the feed channel;
- and
- wherein the first and second guide rails are offset on opposite sides of the center of the feed channel;
- and
- an ink stick having at least a bottom surface;
- wherein the ink stick has a first longitudinal guide element substantially offset in one direction from the lateral center of the ink stick;
- wherein the shape of the first guide element in the ink stick and the shape of the guide rail in the feed channel are substantially compatible with one another;
- and
- wherein the ink stick has a second guide element substantially offset in a second direction from the lateral center of ink stick, opposite the first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.