Alignment feature for solid ink stick

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:
• first and second side surfaces;
• and
• first and second end surfaces;
• wherein:
• the first end surface is between the first and second side surfaces;
• the second end surface is between the first and second side surfaces;
• the first end surface has at least one first end surface protrusion from the first end surface;
• the first end surface protrusion has a position on the first end surface relative to the first and second side surfaces;
• the second end surface has at least one second end surface recess into the second end surface;
• the second end surface recess has a position relative to the first and second side surfaces;
• and
• the position of the first end surface protrusion with respect to the first and second side surfaces corresponds to the position of the second end surface recess with respect to the first and second side surfaces so that when the ink stick is positioned in an ink stick feed channel adjacent a second identical ink stick with the second end surface of the first ink stick abutting the first end surface of the second ink stick, the protuberance from the second end surface of the first ink stick fits into the indentation in the first end surface of the second ink stick.

A method of feeding two or more solid ink sticks in an ink stick feed channel of a phase change ink jet printer, the method comprising:

• inserting into the feed channel a first ink stick, the ink stick having:
• a leading end surface;
• a trailing end surface;
• and
• a trailing nesting element formed in the trailing end surface;
• inserting into the feed channel a second ink stick, the second ink stick having:
• a leading end surface;
• a trailing end surface;
• a leading nesting element formed in the leading end surface;
• positioning the leading end surface of the second ink stick adjacent the trailing end surface of the first ink stick;
• and
• nesting the leading nesting element of the second ink stick with the trailing nesting element of the first ink stick.