Patent ID: 7798621

Claim:
An inkjet printer comprising a cartridge for holding ink pellets and means for separating and releasing a single ink pellet at a time and feeding it to an ink-supply unit of a printing head, the cartridge having at least one exit for releasing an ink pellet, and a separating and releasing mechanism, comprising: a rotatable shaft having a core extending in a first transport direction and containing a spiralling member provided at the circumference of said shaft for transporting the ink pellet in the first transport direction; and an ink pellet tangential movement confining member extending in a parallel direction with respect to said rotatable shaft and positioned at a distance from said spiralling member for forming with said spiralling member a stable area in which said ink pellet is transported in said first transport direction toward the at least one exit, and for confining movement of the pellet in a direction tangential to the outer circumference of the spiralling member.