Patent ID: 7854501
Filing Date: 2010-12-21
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A set of solid ink sticks for insertion into a phase change ink jet printer having first, second, third, and fourth solid ink stick feed channels having first, second, third, and fourth channel positions, the set of solid ink sticks comprising: a first solid ink stick having at least a first side surface, a second side surface, and a third side surface and a first key feature at a position on the first side surface of the first solid ink stick; a second solid ink stick having a number of side surfaces equal to the number of side surfaces of the first solid ink stick and a second key feature at a second position on a same side surface of the second solid ink stick that corresponds to the first side surface of the first solid ink stick on which the first key feature is located, the position of the second key feature on the same side surface of the second solid ink stick being offset by a first distance from the position of the first key feature on the first side surface of the first solid ink stick so a perimeter of the second solid ink stick formed by the side surfaces of the second solid ink stick corresponds to a perimeter of the first solid ink stick formed by the side surfaces of the first solid ink stick except for the positions of the key features on the corresponding side surfaces of the first and second solid ink sticks; a third solid ink stick having a number of side surfaces equal to the number of side surfaces of the first and the second solid ink sticks and a third key feature at a position on a same side surface of the third solid ink stick that corresponds to the first side surface of the first solid ink stick on which the first key feature is located and the same side surface of the second solid ink stick on which the second key feature is located, the position of the third key feature on the same side surface of the third solid ink stick being offset by the first distance from the position of the second key feature on the side surface of the second solid ink stick and by a second distance from the first key feature on the first side surface of the first solid ink stick so a perimeter of the third solid ink stick formed by the side surfaces of the third solid ink stick corresponds to the perimeter of the first solid ink stick formed by the side surfaces of the first solid ink stick and to the perimeter of the second solid ink stick formed by the side surfaces of the second solid ink stick except for the positions of the key features on the corresponding side surfaces of the first, second, and third solid ink sticks; and a fourth solid ink stick having a number of side surfaces equal to the number of side surfaces of the first, the second, and the third solid ink sticks and a fourth key feature at a position on a same side surface of the fourth solid ink stick that corresponds to the first side surface of the first solid ink stick on which the first key feature is located, the same side surface of the second solid ink stick on which the second key feature is located, and the same side surface of the third solid ink stick on which the third key feature is located, the position of the fourth key feature on the same side surface of the fourth solid ink stick being offset by the first distance from the position of the third key feature on the side surface of the third solid ink stick, by the second distance from the second key feature on the side surface of the second solid ink stick, and by a third distance from the first key feature on the first side surface of the first solid ink stick, the first distance being less than the second distance and the second distance being less than the third distance so a perimeter of the fourth solid ink stick formed by the side surfaces of the fourth solid ink stick corresponds to the perimeter of the first solid ink stick formed by the side surfaces of the first solid ink stick, to the perimeter of the second solid ink stick formed by the side surfaces of the second solid ink stick, and to the perimeter of the third solid ink stick formed by the side surfaces of the third solid ink stick except for the positions of the key features on the corresponding side surfaces of the first, second, third, and fourth solid ink sticks.