Patent ID: 7066589

Claim:
An ink stick for use in a solid ink feed system of a phase change ink jet printer, wherein the solid ink feed system includes at least one longitudinal feed channel having a longitudinal feed direction and having a longitudinal guide rail extending in the longitudinal feed direction, the ink slick comprising: a three dimensional ink stick body for insertion in an insertion direction into the longitudinal feed channel; wherein the insertion direction is different from the longitudinal feed direction; wherein the ink stick body has an insertion perimeter encompassing the outermost surfaces of the ink stick body in a plane substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction; wherein the outermost surfaces are oriented in a direction substantially aligned with the insertion direction; wherein the ink stick body has a vertical center of gravity relative to the direction of gravity when the ink stick is being inserted in the insertion direction into the longitudinal feed channel; and a guide element formed along a portion of the insertion perimeter of the ink stick body; wherein the guide element is adapted to slidingly engage a guide rail surface of the longitudinal guide rail; and wherein the guide element is adapted so that when the ink stick is placed in the longitudinal feed channel of the solid ink feed system, the guide element is above the vertical center of gravity of the ink stick body relative to the direction of gravity.