Patent ID: 7887173

Claim:
A system for transporting solid ink in a solid ink printer comprising: a housing having an opening through which solid ink is inserted, the opening including a mechanical coupler that mates with an outlet port of a solid ink container and is configured to operate as a gravity feed to move solid ink from within the solid ink container into the opening; a first transportation path coupled at one end to the housing opening and configured to operate as a gravity feed to move the solid ink from the housing opening along the first transportation path; at least one other transportation path coupled at one end to the other end of the first transportation path, the solid ink being moved along the at least one other transportation path primarily by a mechanically generated force that is generated by a rotational output of an electrical motor coupled to a helical device; and a melting device coupled to an exit of the at least one other transportation path to receive the solid ink moved along the at least one other transportation path.