Guide for solid ink stick feed
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorBrent R. Jones
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ink stick for use in a solid ink feed system of a phase change ink jet printer includes an ink stick body that has a bottom surface and a lateral dimension. The ink stick body has a lateral center of gravity, and a guide element formed in the bottom surface of the ink stick body, which guide element is substantially vertically aligned with the lateral center of gravity of the body. The ink stick is used in a solid ink feed system for a phase change ink jet printer. The feed system includes a longitudinal feed channel, and a feed channel guide rail substantially centered in a lower portion of the feed channel. The guide element formed in the bottom surface of the ink stick body slidingly engages the central feed channel guide rail in the feed channel.
Claims18
A solid ink feed system for a phase change ink jet printer, the feed system comprising:
- a longitudinal feed channel;
- a feed channel guide rail substantially centered in a lower portion of the feed channel;
- and
- an ink stick having at least a bottom surface;
- wherein:
- the ink stick has a width substantially equal to the width of the feed channel;
- the ink stick has a longitudinal ink stick guide element substantially centered in the bottom surface of the ink stick;
- the width of the feed channel guide rail is substantially less than the width of the feed channel;
- and
- the shape of the ink stick guide element and the shape of the feed channel guide rail substantially complement one another.
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
- an ink stick guide element in the bottom surface,
- substantially aligned with the lateral center of gravity;
- aligning the ink stick guide element with a feed channel guide rail in the feed system;
- inserting the ink stick into the feed system;
- and
- resting the ink stick guide element on the feed channel guide rail so that contact between the ink stick 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.
An ink stick for use in a solid ink feed system of a phase change ink jet printer, the ink stick comprising:
- a body having a lower portion and at least two sides;
- and
- a longitudinal ink stick guide element formed in the lower portion of the body;
- wherein the longitudinal ink stick guide element is substantially centrally positioned between the sides of the body.
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 central feed channel guide rail, the ink stick comprising:
- an ink stick body having:
- a bottom;
- a lateral dimension;
- a lateral center of gravity along the lateral dimension;
- and
- an ink stick guide element,
- wherein the ink stick guide element is formed in the bottom of the ink stick body;
- and
- wherein the ink stick guide element is substantially symmetrical with respect to the lateral center of gravity of the ink stick body.
An ink stick for use in a solid ink feed system of a phase change ink jet printer, the ink stick comprising an ink stick body having a bottom surface, and symmetrically formed guide means formed in the bottom surface for guiding the ink stick body along a feed channel guide rail in the feed system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.