Patent ID: 6893121
Filing Date: 2005-05-17
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A first set of ink sticks for use in a solid ink feed system of a phase change ink jet printer, the solid ink feed system having a plurality of solid ink feed channels, each solid ink feed channel having access through a corresponding keyed opening, with each keyed opening having a common printer key shape that is substantially identical in a plurality of the keyed openings, the first set of ink sticks comprising: a plurality of first ink sticks, each ink stick comprising a three dimensional ink stick body having an outer perimeter; wherein each of the first ink stick bodies has a printer key element formed in the outer perimeter of the ink stick body; wherein the shape of the printer key element is substantially identical on each of the first ink stick bodies of the set; wherein the position of the printer key element is substantially identical on each of the ink stick bodies of the set; wherein the printer key element of each ink stick substantially corresponds to the common printer key shape; wherein each of the ink stick bodies has an ink channel insertion key element formed in the outer perimeter of the ink stick body; and wherein the ink channel insertion key element of each ink stick of the set is unique within the set; and a second set of ink sticks comprising a plurality of ink sticks for use in a second solid ink feed system, the second solid ink feed system having a plurality of second solid ink feed channels, each of the second solid ink feed channels having access through a corresponding keyed opening, with each keyed opening having a second common printer key shape, wherein: each ink stick of the second set of ink sticks comprises a three dimensional ink stick body having an outer perimeter; each of the ink stick bodies of the second set of ink sticks has a second printer key element formed in the outer perimeter of the ink stick body; the shape of the second printer key element is substantially identical on each of the ink stick bodies of the second set; the position of the second printer key element is substantially identical on each of the ink stick bodies of the second set; the printer key element of each of the second ink sticks substantially corresponds to the second common printer key shape; the second printer key element is different from the first key element; each of the ink stick bodies of the second set of ink sticks has an ink channel insertion key element formed in the outer perimeter of the ink stick body; and the ink channel insertion key element of each ink stick of the second set is unique within the second set; and wherein at least one of the ink channel insertion key elements of an ink stick of the second set of ink sticks is substantially identical to at least one of the ink channel insertion key elements of an ink stick of the first set of ink sticks.