Visible identification of solid ink stick
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsBrent R. Jones, Frederick T. Mattern
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Each ink stick of a set of ink sticks for a phase change ink jet printer has formed on the top of the ink stick a three dimensional visually recognizable symbol. At least a portion of the visually recognizable symbol on each of the ink sticks is different, so that the printer user can distinguish which ink stick is intended for each of the ink feed channels of the ink jet printer.
Claims13
A set of ink sticks for use in a solid ink feed system of a phase change ink jet printer, wherein the solid ink feed system has a plurality of feed channels, the set of ink sticks comprising:
- a plurality of ink sticks;
- wherein each of the ink sticks comprises:
- an ink stick body having a general top surface;
- and
- one or more visually recognizable symbols formed on the top surface of the ink stick;
- and
- wherein at least a portion of each of the visually recognizable symbols has a vertical dimension.
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 top surface;
- and
- a visually recognizable symbol imprinted on the top surface;
- wherein the visually recognizable symbol has a vertical dimension.
A method of forming a set of ink sticks for use in a solid ink feed system of a phase change ink jet printer, the method comprising:
- forming a plurality of ink sticks, wherein each of the ink sticks comprises an ink stick body having a substantially horizontal top surface;
- forming onto the horizontal top surface of each of each ink stick of the set a unique visually recognizable symbol.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.