Back to results
US 7,682,010 B2Granted
Solid ink stick with coating
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsPaul Christopher Lucas, Heinz Erwin Grellmann, Brent Rodney Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ink stick for use in a phase change ink imaging device is provided, the phase change ink device having an ink stick feed system. The ink stick has a solid ink body having an exterior surface, and a light responsive overcoat that overlays at least a portion of the exterior surface of the ink stick body.
Claims8
An ink stick for use in a phase change ink printer, the ink stick comprising:
- a solid ink body having an exterior surface;
- and
- an overcoat comprised of at least one solid ink composition material and at least one dye that absorbs radiation at a first wavelength and emits radiation at a second wavelength that is different than the first wavelength, the overcoat overlays at least a portion of the exterior surface of the ink stick body.
A method of feeding ink sticks in an ink loader of a phase change ink imaging device, the method comprising:
- inserting an ink stick into an ink loader of a phase change ink imaging device, the ink stick having an exterior surface, and an overcoat comprised of at least one solid ink composition material and at least one dye that absorbs radiation at a first wavelength and emits radiation at a second wavelength that is different than the first wavelength, the overcoat overlays at least a portion of the exterior surface of the ink stick body;
- directing radiation at the first wavelength onto the overcoat;
- and
- detecting radiation at the second wavelength emitted from the overcoat.
1 more element
A feed system for a phase change ink imaging device, the feed system comprising:
- an ink loader for receiving a solid ink stick having a coating comprised of at least one solid ink composition material and at least one dye that absorbs radiation at a first wavelength and emits radiation at a second wavelength that is different than the first wavelength, the coating overlays at least a portion of the exterior surface of the ink stick body;
- an emitter in the ink loader for emitting radiation at the first wavelength onto the coating of an ink stick in the ink loader;
- a detector for detecting radiation at the second wavelength emitted from the coating in response to the radiation of the first wavelength being absorbed by the coating;
- and
- a controller configured to identify information pertaining to the ink stick based on the detected radiation at the second wavelength.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.