Patent ID: 7976144

Claim:
A solid ink delivery system comprising: a chute having a first end and a second end, the first end of the chute being positioned proximate a surface of a printer and the second end of the chute being positioned proximate a melting device located within the printer, the first end of the chute having an opening formed in the first end, the opening being configured with a width and a height that are larger than a width and a height, respectively, of a solid ink stick by an amount that enables only one solid ink stick having the solid ink stick width and the solid ink stick height to be inserted into the opening at a single time, the chute having a length that is longer than a length of the solid ink stick having the solid ink stick width and the solid ink stick height; an outlet formed in the second end of the chute to enable the solid ink stick having the solid ink stick width and the solid ink stick height to be delivered from the second end of the chute to a melting device positioned below the outlet; and a channel within the chute that forms a continuous path from the opening in the first end of the chute to the outlet in the second end of the chute, the channel having a first arcuate portion that is longer than the solid ink stick length and a second linear portion that is longer than the solid ink stick length, the opening and the first arcuate portion of the channel being higher than the second linear portion of the channel, and the first arcuate portion and the second linear portion of the channel being configured to enable the solid ink stick having the solid ink stick width and the solid ink stick height to travel by gravity alone from the opening through the first arcuate portion of the channel, the second linear portion of the channel, and the outlet to the melting device positioned below the outlet.