Intermediate side slot vertical ink constraint with offset support

A solid ink stick loader for a phase change ink printer comprising:

• an insertion key plate for excluding ink sticks without features conforming to a keyed opening in the insertion key plate;
• a plurality of feed channels, each feed channel receiving ink sticks through a keyed opening in the insertion key plate and each feed channel including a bottom surface;
• a plurality of push blocks, one push block in the plurality of push blocks being aligned with a feed channel to move ink sticks longitudinally through the feed channel;
• a lower support mounted parallel to and laterally offset from a central longitudinal axis of the feed channel, and a portion of the lower support that supports a mass of an ink stick is vertically displaced from the bottom surface of the feed channel;
• and
• a protruding longitudinal feed channel rail located at an elevated position relative to the lower support at a lateral side wall of the feed channel.

A method for delivering solid ink sticks to a melt plate through a feed channel comprising:

• receiving ink sticks through keyed openings in an insertion plate;
• pushing the ink sticks along a longitudinal axis of a feed channel;
• supporting a bottom portion of the ink stick only at a position that is laterally offset from a lateral center of gravity for the ink sticks and vertically offset from a bottom of the ink sticks;
• and
• limiting skewing of the ink stick with a guide rail in the channel to reduce steering effects from pushing the ink sticks along the longitudinal axis of the feed channel.