| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
