Patent ID: 7690775
Filing Date: 2010-04-06
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An ink stick for use in a phase change ink imaging device, the ink stick comprising: a solid ink stick body having a leading face that is both a bottom surface of the solid ink stick body and a first surface of the solid ink stick body to contact a melting plate in a phase change ink imaging device, and a trailing end that is both a top surface of the solid ink stick body and a last surface of the solid ink stick body to contact the melting plate in the phase change ink imaging device, the ink stick body from the leading surface to the trailing end being configured for insertion through an insertion opening of an ink loader with the leading face entering the ink loader first and the trailing end entering the ink loader last; and a guide element extending at least partially between the leading face and the trailing end of the ink stick body, the guide element being configured to engage a guide member of a feed channel to restrain movement of the ink stick body in at least one direction substantially perpendicular to movement of the ink stick body through the insertion opening and along the feed channel.