| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a loading and feeding system with a solid ink stick in a phase transition ink printer. SOLUTION: An ink stick delivery system 200 comprises a solid ink stick loader 214 and a solid ink stick feeder 218 that cooperate to provide the solid ink sticks 228 to an ink melter. The loader 214 has a moving belt 220 which transports the ink stick from a loading area. The feeder 218 includes moving belts 240 and 244 engaged with the ink stick received from the moving belt 220. The moving belt of a feeding device remains in engagement with an ink stick when the ink stick is delivered to the ink melter and converted into a liquid ink. The members of the loader and a gripper interact with the ink sticks provided with drive engagement structures at each counter side face thereof. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT |
