| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080218548 | Digital solid ink stick identification and recognition - A system for an ink delivery system comprises a feed path having an insertion end and a melt end, and an ink stick transport for moving at least one ink stick between the insertion end and the melt end of the feed path. At least one sensor is positioned along the feed path. A controller is configured to actuate the transport to move at least one ink stick in a first direction from the insertion end toward the melt end of the feed path so that a coded sensor feature of the at least one ink stick actuates the at least one sensor to generate a signal. The controller is configured to actuate the transport to move the at least one ink stick in one of the first direction and a second direction toward the insertion end of the feed path in response to the signal. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080225096 | Solid ink stick with canted surface - An ink stick for use in a phase change ink imaging device comprises an ink stick body having a leading surface, a trailing surface, and a top surface. The top surface has a front edge that is rearwardly offset from a top edge of the leading surface, and a back edge that is at least partially rearwardly offset from the top of the trailing surface. A leading canted face extends between the top edge of the leading surface and the front edge of the top surface. A trailing canted face extends between the top edge of the trailing surface and the back edge of the top surface. The back edge includes a key that is complementary to an insertion opening key of an ink loader. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080237940 | Sold ink stick formation with flexible molding tool - A molding tool is provided for forming solid ink sticks. The molding tool comprises a vessel having at least one sidewall defining a cavity for receiving molten phase change ink material. The molding tool includes a lid for covering an opening over the cavity of the vessel. The lid has an interior surface for at least partially enclosing the cavity. The enclosed cavity has a shape corresponding to at least a portion of an ink stick shape. The at least one sidewall of the vessel and/or the interior surface of the lid are configured to flex to facilitate release of an at least partially solidified ink stick from the cavity. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20090066769 | Solid ink stick delivery system with static constraints, strategic barriers and breakage controls - A system for an ink delivery system of a phase change ink imaging device comprises a feed chute having an insertion end and a melt end. An ink stick transport is configured to move at least one ink stick between the insertion end and the melt end of the feed chute. At least one sensor is positioned in the feed chute for detecting a coded sensor feature of the at least one ink stick moving along the feed chute between the insertion end and melt end. The system includes at least one nudger positioned in the feed chute that is configured to influence a position of the at least one ink stick moving along the feed chute so that the coded sensor feature of the at least one ink stick is in a sensing position with respect to the at least one sensor. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090066770 | Solid ink stick with anti jam edge bevel - An ink stick for use in a phase change ink imaging device comprises a leading end; a trailing end; and a plurality of longitudinal surfaces extending between the leading end and the trailing end. Each longitudinal surface of the plurality has a leading edge adjacent the leading end and a trailing edge adjacent the trailing end. At least one of the leading edge and the trailing edge is configured as a clearance edge that enables the at least one longitudinal surface to clear a wall of a feed chute as the at least one longitudinal surface progresses through the feed chute. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090073475 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF UTILIZING PRINT DEVICE CONSUMPTION INFORMATION FOR PRICING AND SERVICE - A method of providing a discount may include monitoring at least one resource via a communication network. A usage profile may be received from the at least one resource. The usage profile may include a measurement of consumption of a consumable over a period of time for the at least one resource. A first factor may be determined based on the usage profile. A second factor may be determined based on one or more of an ownership level and a participation level of the at least one resource. A discount for a future purchase may be provided based on the first factor and the second factor. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090091609 | Solid ink stick with visual orientation indicator - An ink stick for use in a phase change ink imaging device comprises an ink stick body configured for insertion in an insertion orientation into an ink loader of the phase change ink imaging device. The ink stick body has a plurality of surfaces. A visual orientation indicator is formed on at least one surface in the plurality of surfaces. The visual orientation indicator is configured to visually indicate a direction of orientation of at least one surface of the plurality of surfaces to place the ink stick body in the insertion orientation. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090115824 | Solid ink stick with transition indicating region - An ink stick comprises an ink stick body having a plurality of tracks formed in one or more side surfaces extending from a leading surface to a trailing surface substantially parallel to a feed direction of the ink loader. Each track forms a path corresponding to a track sensor in the ink loader and includes a leading sensor actuator and a trailing sensor actuator for actuating the respective track sensor. The leading sensor actuators and the trailing sensor actuators are configured to actuate the respective track sensors in an actuation sequence indicative of variable control/attribute information pertaining to the ink stick. A transition indicating region is formed between the leading sensor actuators and the trailing sensor actuators in the plurality of tracks. The transition indicating region is configured to interact with the track sensors to generate a signal indicative of a transition between the leading sensor actuators and the trailing sensor actuators. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090160123 | OUTPUT TRAY NUDGING MECHANISM - A printing device includes a recessed output tray having a nudging mechanism including a nudger component that engages a stack of paper such that when the nudger moves, the stack will move with it and an actuating mechanism to move the nudger, thereby moving the stack of papers. The nudger may be automatic or may be controlled manually. The stack may be moved in a particular direction or may be rotated. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090160919 | System for delivering solid ink through a feed channel having non-linear sections - A system facilitates transport of solid ink by a motorized feed drive through a feed channel in a solid ink printer. The system includes a feed channel, a motorized feed drive in at least a portion of the feed channel, a meltable ink body having a drive coupler that is offset from a surface of the meltable ink body, the drive coupler having an opening to receive a portion of the motorized feed drive to enable the motorized feed drive to urge the meltable ink body, along the feed channel. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090160922 | Solid ink stick having a feed drive coupler - A solid ink unit enables facilitates coupling of the solid ink unit to a drive mechanism. The solid ink unit includes a meltable ink body having a longitudinal axis, a coupler support extending from the meltable ink body, and an opening in the coupler support that extends along a portion of the longitudinal axis of the solid ink body. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090185016 | Transport System Having Multiple Moving Forces For Solid Ink Delivery In A Printer - A solid printer includes a solid ink transportation system that uses multiple forces to direct solid ink to a melting assembly within the printer. The solid ink transportation system includes a housing having an opening through which solid ink is inserted, a first transportation path coupled at one end to the housing opening and configured to operate as a gravity feed to move the solid ink from the housing opening along the first transportation path, at least one other transportation path coupled at one end to the other end of the first transportation path, the solid ink being moved along the at least one other transportation path primarily by a mechanically generated force, and a melting device coupled to an exit of the at least one other transportation path to receive the solid ink moved along the at least one other transportation path. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090185017 | Visual Identification Of Solid Ink Sticks - An ink stick comprises an ink stick body configured for insertion in an insertion direction into an ink loader of the phase change ink imaging device. The ink stick body has an insertion perimeter in a plane substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction and has a longitudinal dimension for aligning with a feed direction of the ink loader. A symbol contour is formed in a first position on the perimeter of the ink stick body. The symbol contour defines a portion of a perimeter of a visually recognizable symbol shape and extends at most partially along the perimeter of the ink stick in the longitudinal dimension of the ink stick body. At least one key contour is formed in a second position on the perimeter of the ink stick body corresponding to a color of the ink for the ink stick body. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090207219 | Mechanized Feed Channel Barrier In A Solid Ink Printer - A method is implemented to control movement of a solid ink stick from an insertion port to a corresponding feed channel to help ensure that each feed channel in a plurality of feed channels contains only ink sticks corresponding to the feed channel. The method includes receiving solid ink sticks in an insertion port located at one end of a feed channel in the solid ink printer, identifying each ink stick received in the insertion port, and removing a passage barrier from the feed channel in response to the ink stick being identified as corresponding to ink configured for passage through the feed channel. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090213196 | Transport System Having Single Insertion Port For Solid Ink Delivery In A Printer - A method is implemented to deliver a solid ink stick from a single insertion port to a corresponding feed channel to help ensure that each feed channel in a plurality of feed channels contains only ink sticks corresponding to the feed channel. The method includes receiving solid ink sticks in a single insertion port, identifying each ink stick received in the single insertion port, and transporting each identified ink stick from the single insertion port to one feed channel in a plurality of feed channels to enable delivery of the identified ink stick to the melting assembly appropriate for the identified ink stick. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20100013898 | Ink Sticks with Visually Discernible Feature Patterns - A solid ink stick is comprised of an ink stick body formed of a phase change ink material. The ink stick body is configured for inclusion in a first set of ink sticks and has substantially a same size and shape as other ink sticks in the first set of ink sticks and ink sticks in a second set of ink sticks. The first set of ink sticks is of a different series than the second set of ink sticks. An identification pattern is formed on the ink stick body. The identification pattern is one identification pattern in a set of identification patterns. The identification pattern formed on the pattern area of the ink stick body is visually discernible from the other identification patterns in the set. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100020143 | Solid Ink Stick with Reflection Features - An ink stick for use in an imaging device comprises an ink stick body formed of a phase change ink material; and a reflection surface formed in the ink stick body. The reflection surface is configured to receive light from a light source associated with the reflection surface in an ink delivery system of a phase change ink imaging device. The reflection surface is configured to direct the light from the light source away from or onto one or both a first light detector and a second light detector associated with the reflection surface in the ink delivery system. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100026741 | USER ADAPTABLE INK STATUS CONVEYANCE SYSTEM - An ink status conveyance system comprises a maximum monitored ink level sensor operable with respect to an ink source for holding a supply of ink and delivering the ink to a printhead. The ink level sensor is configured to detect when an available amount of ink in the ink source corresponds to an ample ink level. A notification controller is configured to track the available amount of ink in the ink source between an ample ink level and an ink out level. A user interface is configured to enable a user to designate a low ink notification set point for the ink source at any ink level between the ample ink level and the ink out level. The notification controller is configured to compare the user designated low ink notification set point to the available ink volume value to generate a low ink notification when the available ink volume value corresponds to the user designated low ink notification set point. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100045756 | Method Of Feeding Solid Ink Sticks Into An Ink Loader Of A Phase Change Ink Printer - A method of feeding ink sticks into an imaging device enables identification of data useful for device control. The method includes inserting at least one ink stick into an ink loader, the at least one ink stick including a plurality of code element patterns formed in the ink stick, each code element pattern having a plurality of code elements that include a first code element identifying a start of a code element pattern and a second code element identifying an end of the code element pattern, each code element pattern being configured to generate a same coded signal pattern; urging the ink stick toward a melt device; actuating at least one sensor in the imaging device with the plurality of code element patterns to generate a predetermined coded pattern of signals; and comparing the predetermined coded pattern of signals to identify a code word. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100053282 | Method for Reconfiguring Ink Loaders to Accept Different Ink Stick Identifiers - A method of using a phase change ink imaging device includes receiving an n | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100073443 | System And Method For Verifying Position Of An Object Before Identifying The Object - A solid ink stick loader verifies position and orientation of an ink stick prior to an ink stick identification operation. The solid ink stick loader includes an identification code detector located proximate an ink stick insertion area, the identification code detector being oriented to obtain an identification code positioned on the ink stick in a predetermined location, a first displaceable member located proximate the ink stick insertion area, the first displaceable member being movable between a first position and a second position, a second displaceable member located proximate the ink stick insertion area, the second displaceable member being movable between a third position and a fourth position, and a sensor coupled to at least one of the first displaceable member and the second displaceable member to generate a verification signal in response to the ink stick being in a position and orientation in the ink stick insertion area that enables the identification code detector to obtain the identification code from the ink stick, the sensor being coupled to the identification code detector to provide the verification signal to the identification code detector and enable the identification code detector to obtain the identification code from the ink stick. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100073447 | Solid Ink Sticks Having A Verification Interlock For Verifying Position Of A Solid Ink Stick Before Identifying The Ink Stick - A solid ink stick facilitates verification of the position and orientation of a solid ink stick prior to an ink stick identification operation. The solid ink stick includes a solid ink stick body configured for insertion in a solid ink stick printer in a predetermined orientation, and a verification interlock in at least one surface of the solid ink stick body, the verification interlock and the at least one surface being located in the solid ink stick body to engage at least two displaceable members arranged in an insertion area of the solid ink printer to push one displaceable member away from the solid ink stick body and to enable the other displaceable member to move towards the solid ink stick body when the solid ink stick body is in the predetermined orientation in the insertion area. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100090390 | Apparatus And Method For Reducing Vibration And Noise In A Printer - An apparatus for transporting media in a printer helps reduce vibration and noise in the printer. The apparatus includes a pair of brackets secured to a printer surface, a shaft, a first portion of the shaft being secured within one of the brackets and a second portion of the shaft being secured within the other bracket, a roller mounted about the shaft for rotation about the shaft, and a pair of vibration dampeners, one vibration dampener being interposed between the first portion of the shaft and the one bracket, and the other vibration dampener being interposed between the second portion of the shaft and the other bracket. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100123066 | Imaging And Recording Device Media Staging Support - A media support stand includes a top surface incorporated into a housing of an imaging device. A plurality of media slots are formed in the top surface. Each media slot in the plurality is configured to support at least one print media oriented vertically. Each media slot in the plurality includes a plurality of arc inducing vector transitions in a plane transverse to the planar extent of the vertically oriented print media. The plurality of arc inducing vector transitions are configured to impart alternating arcs to the print media inserted into the respective media slot. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100194834 | Ink Melt Device with Solid State Retention and Molten Ink Pass-Through - A phase change ink melting assembly for use in a phase change ink imaging device includes an ink melt perimetric constraint having an open top and a melted ink egress positioned at a bottom of the perimetric constraint. The open top is sized to receive a leading end of an ink stick fed downwardly therethrough. The perimetric constraint includes an interior through path with egress at the bottom and a plurality of melted ink flow paths intermediate the open top and the melted ink egress. The assembly includes a heater for heating the perimetric constraint to a phase change ink melting temperature. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100194835 | Solid Ink Melt Tub with Corrugated Melt Region and Offset Outlet - A phase change ink melting assembly includes a tub having an open top, a bottom surface, and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the bottom surface. The bottom surface has a solid ink melt region and a melted ink outlet offset from the solid ink melt region. The solid ink melt tub includes a three dimensional area extending from the bottom surface in the solid ink melt region. At least one constraining surface is positioned proximate the open top of the melt tub above the solid ink melt region tub and thermally isolated from the melt tub. The at least one constraining surface is configured to prevent lateral movement of an ink stick as it is being fed downwardly into contact with the solid ink melt region. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20110032318 | Solid Ink Stick with Interface Element - An ink stick for use in a phase change ink imaging device has a protrusion with a predetermined height that is configured to enable a sensor in an ink loader of the imaging device to detect the height of the protrusion. The predetermined height of the protrusion corresponds to a control parameter for the imaging device. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110164100 | Solid Ink Stick Delivery System with Static Constraints, Strategic Barriers and Breakage Control - An ink delivery system of a phase change ink imaging device more effectively guides properly configured solid ink sticks from a first end of a feed chute to a melting device at a second end of the feed chute. The feed chute may include a sensor to detect coded sensor features on the properly configured solid ink sticks traveling along the feed chute and an obstructor configured to block improperly configured solid ink sticks inserted into the first end of the feed chute. | 07-07-2011 |
