Patent ID: 8783839
Filing Date: 2014-07-22
Classification: B41F,B41J

Abstract:
1. A system for delivering solid-ink pellets in an image forming device, the system comprising: a hopper for retaining solid-ink pellets, the hopper having inwardly sloped sides defining a vent between their closest edges for passage of solid-ink pellets therefrom; a rotary vane, disposed in the vent, including a spindle comprised of multiple vanes, space between adjacent vanes being sized to accept the solid-ink pellets; a roll restrainer disposed beneath the hopper vent, having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface including spreading members, and the second surface heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the solid-ink pellets disposed on the first surface; and a spreader baffle slantingly disposed between the hopper vent and the roll restrainer, having a first edge and a second edge such that the first edge is fixed to one of the sloped sides of the hopper and the second edge is suspended above the roll restrainer.