Multiple segment keying for solid ink stick feed

An ink stick for use in a solid ink feed system of a phase change ink jet printer, wherein the ink feed system comprises a feed channel having a feed direction and an insertion opening permitting insertion of an ink stick in an insertion direction, different from the feed direction, into the feed channel, the ink stick comprising:

• an ink stick body having an ink stick insertion perimeter in a plane substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction;
• wherein the ink stick insertion perimeter includes at least three nonlinear key elements;
• wherein a first of the nonlinear key elements is along a first portion of the ink stick insertion perimeter that is substantially perpendicular to the feed direction;
• wherein a second of the nonlinear key elements is along a portion of the ink stick insertion perimeter that is substantially perpendicular to the feed direction;
• and
• wherein the first and second nonlinear key elements do not intersect one another.

An ink stick for use in a solid ink feed system of a phase change ink jet printer, wherein the ink feed system comprises a feed channel having a feed direction and an insertion opening permitting insertion of an ink stick in an insertion direction, different from the feed direction, into the feed channel, the ink stick comprising:

• an ink stick body adapted to be inserted in the insertion direction into the feed channel, and having an ink stick insertion perimeter in a plane substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction;
• wherein the ink stick insertion perimeter includes two substantially parallel lateral perimeter segments;
• wherein the ink stick insertion perimeter includes two substantially parallel end perimeter segments;
• wherein the end perimeter segments are substantially perpendicular to the lateral perimeter segments;
• wherein the ink stick insertion perimeter includes at least three nonlinear key elements;
• wherein a first of the nonlinear key elements is on a first one of the lateral perimeter segments of the ink stick insertion perimeter;
• wherein a second of the nonlinear key elements is a second one of the lateral perimeter segments of the ink stick insertion perimeter;
• and
• wherein a third of the nonlinear key elements is on one of the end perimeter segments of the ink stick insertion perimeter.

An ink stick for use in a solid ink feed system of a phase change ink jet printer, wherein the ink feed system comprises a feed channel having a feed direction and an insertion opening permitting insertion of an ink stick in an insertion direction, different from the feed direction, into the feed channel, the ink stick comprising:

• an ink stick body adapted to be inserted in the insertion direction into the feed channel, the ink stick body having an ink stick insertion perimeter in a plane substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction;
• wherein the ink stick insertion perimeter includes two substantially parallel lateral perimeter segments;
• wherein the ink stick insertion perimeter includes at least one end perimeter segment;
• wherein the end perimeter segment is oriented at an angle with respect to the lateral perimeter segments;
• wherein the ink stick insertion perimeter includes at least three nonlinear key elements;
• wherein a first of the nonlinear key elements is on a first one of the lateral perimeter segments of the ink stick insertion perimeter;
• wherein a second of the nonlinear key elements is on a second one of the lateral perimeter segments of the ink stick insertion perimeter;
• and
• wherein a third of the nonlinear key elements is on the end perimeter segment of the ink stick insertion perimeter.

A solid ink feed system for a printer, the feed system comprising:

• a longitudinal feed channel having an insertion end and a feed direction;
• an insertion key plate having a key plate opening through it to provide access in an insertion direction to the feed channel;
• wherein the insertion direction is different from the feed direction;
• wherein the key plate opening has an insertion opening perimeter;
• wherein the insertion opening perimeter includes two lateral opening
• perimeter segments and a transverse opening perimeter segment;
• wherein the transverse opening perimeter segment intersects at least one of the lateral opening perimeter segments at an angle other than 180°;
• wherein the insertion opening perimeter includes a first nonlinear key element on a first one of the lateral perimeter segments of the ink stick insertion perimeter;
• wherein the insertion opening perimeter includes a second of the nonlinear key elements on a second one of the lateral perimeter segments of the ink stick insertion perimeter;
• and
• wherein the insertion opening perimeter includes a third nonlinear key element on the transverse perimeter segment of the ink stick insertion perimeter.

A method of inserting a solid ink stick into a feed channel of a solid ink printer, the method comprising:

• providing an ink stick having an ink stick insertion perimeter;
• aligning the ink stick insertion perimeter with an insertion opening of a key plate;
• inserting the ink stick in an insertion direction through the insertion opening;
• moving the ink stick in a feed direction in the feed channel, wherein the feed direction is different from the insertion direction;
• wherein aligning the inks stick insertion perimeter with the insertion opening comprises aligning at least three non-linear key element shapes;
• and
• wherein at least one of the non-linear key element shapes is oriented at least partially transverse to the feed direction.