Solid ink melt tub with corrugated melt region and offset outlet

A phase change ink handling system comprising:

• at least one solid ink feed channel having an insertion end and a melt end, the solid ink feed channel being configured to move solid ink sticks from the insertion end to the melt end;
• a solid ink melting assembly for each solid ink feed channel, each solid ink melting assembly including a melt tub having an open top, a bottom surface, and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the bottom surface, the bottom surface including a solid ink melt region and a melted ink outlet offset from the solid ink melt region, at least one melted ink channel extends between the solid ink melt region and the melted ink outlet, the solid ink melt region being positioned proximate the melt end and including a three dimensional area extending from the bottom surface, the solid ink melting assembly including a heater for heating the tub to a phase change ink melting temperature;
• and
• at least one constraining surface positioned proximate the open top of the melt tub above the solid ink melt region and thermally isolated from the melt tub, the at least one constraining surface being configured to prevent lateral movement of an ink stick as the ink stick is being fed downwardly into contact with the solid ink melt region.

A phase change ink imaging device including:

• a plurality of solid ink feed channels, each feed channel in the plurality being configured to move ink sticks toward a melt end of the feed channel;
• a solid ink melting assembly for each solid ink feed channel in the plurality, each solid ink melting assembly including a tub having an open top, a bottom surface, and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the bottom surface, the bottom surface including a solid ink melt region and a melted ink outlet offset from the solid ink melt region, the solid ink melt region being positioned proximate the melt end and including a three dimensional area extending from the bottom surface, the solid ink melting assembly including a heater for heating the melt tub to a phase change ink melting temperature;
• at least one constraining surface positioned proximate the open top of the melt tub above the solid ink melt region and thermally isolated from the melt tub, the at least one constraining surface being configured to prevent lateral movement of an ink stick as the ink stick is being fed downwardly into contact with the solid ink melt region;
• and
• at least one printhead configured to receive melted ink from at least one of the melt assemblies and to eject melted phase change ink onto an imaging surface.