Patent ID: 7891792
Filing Date: 2011-02-22
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An ink stick for use in an ink loader of an imaging device, the ink stick comprising: an ink stick body configured to be received in a feed channel of an ink loader of a phase change ink imaging device and to be moved in the feed channel in a feed direction from an insertion end to a melt end of the feed channel, the ink stick body including a leading end and a trailing end, the ink stick body being configured for insertion into the ink loader with the leading end oriented in the feed direction and the trailing end oriented opposite the feed direction; a plurality of first sensor actuators located proximate the leading end of the ink stick body, the first sensor actuators comprising insets into an exterior surface of the ink stick body, the plurality of first sensor actuators being positioned on the ink stick body to interact with at least one sensor in the feed channel as the ink stick body is moved toward the melt end to generate a first signal corresponding to a first portion of a code word, the first signal corresponding to an order in which the sensors in the feed channel are actuated by the plurality of first sensor actuators of the tracks; a plurality of second sensor actuators located proximate the trailing end of the ink stick body and arranged on the ink stick body, the second sensor actuators comprising insets into an exterior surface of the ink stick body, the plurality of second sensor actuators being positioned on the ink stick body to interact with the at least one sensor in the feed channel as the ink stick body is moved toward the melt end to generate a second signal corresponding to a second portion of the code word, the code word corresponds to variable control information pertaining to the ink stick body and the second signal corresponds to an order in which the sensors in the feed channel are actuated by the plurality of second sensor actuators, the plurality of first sensor actuators and the plurality of second sensor actuators being arranged in tracks along the ink stick body, each track forming a path substantially parallel to the feed direction of the ink loader positioned on the ink stick body to interact with a separate sensor in the feed channel; and a transition indicator positioned on the ink stick body between the plurality of first sensor actuators and the plurality of second sensor actuators, the transition indicator comprising a relief formed in the exterior surface of the ink stick between the plurality of first sensor actuators and the plurality of second sensor actuators, the relief being configured to interact with the sensors in the feed channel to generate a transition signal indicative of a transition from the generation of the first signal to the generation of the second signal.