Patent ID: 8136933
Filing Date: 2012-03-20
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A phase change ink melting assembly for use in a phase change ink imaging device, the assembly comprising: a melt tub having an open top, a bottom surface beneath the open top, and a plurality of side walls extending between the bottom surface and the open top, the bottom surface including a solid ink melt region and a melted ink collecting region offset from the solid ink melt region, the solid ink melt region including a three dimensional area extending from the bottom surface in the solid ink melt region, and the melted ink collecting region including at least one melted ink outlet, at least one melted ink channel extends between the solid ink melt region and the melted ink outlet; at least one constraining surface positioned proximate the open top of the melt tub above the solid ink melt region and thermally isolated from the melt tub, the at least one constraining surface being configured to prevent lateral movement of an ink stick as the ink stick is being fed downwardly into contact with the solid ink melt region; and a heater for heating the tub to a phase change ink melting temperature.