Ink level sensing

In an ink printer in which ink is received as discrete substantially solid ink sticks, an apparatus comprising:

• an ink feed system for conducting ink sticks along an ink stick feed channel;
• a movable counting mechanism;
• wherein at least a portion of the movable counting mechanism is positioned to engage a predetermined portion of an ink stick that is being conducted along the ink stick feed channel;
• and
• wherein the movable counting mechanism is adapted to change positions when the movable counting mechanism engages an ink stick sensing element at the predetermined portion of the ink stick;
• an ink stick follower;
• wherein the ink stick follower includes a detect portion;
• wherein the movable counting mechanism is adapted to engage the detect portion of the ink stick follower;
• and
• a controller for determining when the movable counting mechanism has engaged the detect portion of the ink stick follower.

An apparatus for use in a solid ink feed system of a printer, the apparatus comprising:

• a first feed channel for conveying solid ink sticks in a first feed direction;
• a second feed channel for conveying solid ink sticks in a second feed direction;
• a first ink follower in the first feed channel adapted to follow solid ink sticks in the first feed direction;
• a second ink follower in the second feed channel adapted to follow solid ink sticks in the second feed direction;
• a first detector adapted to detect when an ink stick passes a predetermined location in the first ink feed channel;
• wherein the first detector is adapted to detect when the first ink stick follower passes the predetermined location in the first ink feed channel and to measure a duration of time in which the first detector detects the first ink stick follower;
• and
• a second detector adapted to detect when an ink stick passes a predetermined location in the second ink feed channel;
• wherein the second detector is adapted to detect when the second ink stick follower passes the predetermined location in the second ink feed channel and to measure a duration of time in which the second detector detects the second ink stick follower.

In a solid ink feed system for a printer, a method comprising:

• inserting into each feed channel of a plurality of feed channels of a solid ink feed system a plurality of solid ink sticks;
• moving an ink stick follower in each feed channel to direct the solid ink sticks along each feed channel independently of the solid ink sticks being directed in other feed channels of the plurality of feed channels;
• detecting with an ink stick counter in each feed channel when each ink stick passes a predetermined location in each feed channel;
• counting the ink sticks that pass the predetermined location in each feed channel with reference to the measured periods of time during a predetermined length of time;
• and
• detecting with each ink stick counter when the ink stick follower passes the predetermined location in the feed channel in which the ink stick counter is detecting ink sticks by measuring a period of time corresponding to the ink stick follower detection.