Patent ID: 7753512

Claim:
A phase change ink imaging device comprising: an ink melter for melting solid ink sticks to produce melted ink; a melted ink collector for collecting melted ink produced by the melting element; a melted ink transport apparatus for transporting melted ink from the melted ink collector; a melted ink reservoir for storing melted ink received from the melted ink transport apparatus; and a print head for receiving melted ink from the melted ink reservoir; the melted ink transport apparatus further comprising: a fluid transport conduit for transporting melted ink, the fluid transport conduit having an inlet end that is coupled to the melted ink collector and an outlet end that is coupled to the melted ink reservoir; a compressor conduit configured to pump fluid through the fluid transport conduit by pressurizing and venting the compressor conduit; a thermal conductor configured to achieve a non-ambient temperature for the fluid within the fluid transport conduit as the compressor conduit is operated to move the fluid through the fluid transport conduit; a fluid pump that is fluidly coupled to an inlet of the compressor conduit to inject fluid into the compressor conduit to a pressure that compresses the fluid transport conduit to pump melted ink through the fluid transport conduit; and a venting valve fluidly coupled to the compressor conduit for selectively relieving the pressure in the compressor conduit that compresses the fluid transport conduit, the venting valve being operated to vent the pressure in the compressor conduit that compresses the fluid transport conduit and to enable pressurization of the compressor conduit to compress and decompress the fluid transport conduit selectively to pump melted ink through the fluid transport conduit.