Patent ID: 8210671

Claim:
A solid ink loading system for a phase change ink imaging device, the system comprising: an ink loader of an imaging device, the ink loader including at least one feed channel having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal chute extending between the first end and the second end, the longitudinal chute defining a feed direction from the first end toward the second end, an insertion opening through which ink sticks are inserted into the feed channel; an access structure that provides access to the insertion opening; a push block movably supported in the at least one feed channel for translational movement between the first end and the second end of the feed channel; a drive member operatively connected to the push block and configured to move the push block between the first end and the second end; an actuator operatively connected to the drive member, the actuator being configured to actuate the drive member to move the push block toward the first end of the feed channel to at least one retracted position in response to a first signal, and to actuate the drive member to move the push block to an urging position for applying an urging force to ink sticks in the feed channel in the feed direction in response to a second signal; a load request signal generator configured to generate a load request signal; and a controller operatively connected to the actuator and the load request signal generator, the controller being configured to determine an operating state of the imaging device in response to the load request signal and to generate the first signal selectively with reference to the operating state.