SOLID INK STICK WITH OUTLINE FOR TRANSPORT IN PRINTER

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a solid ink stick which can be simply loaded by a large amount and is resistant to jamming. SOLUTION: A groove 250 is formed on a body external surface of the solid ink stick 206 used in a solid ink printer 202 to be nearly parallel to a major axis 294 of its body. At least a part 292 of the groove 250 is made nonlinear. The stick 206 loaded in a guide of an ink feeding system 204 is brought into contact with a drive belt 216 as a driving means, and is slid in the guide by the belt 216. The stick 206 is guided along a predetermined course to a liquefier. Working of loading the large amount can be simply carried out because a strong spring or the like is eliminated. Jamming is prevented even when the stick 206 is comparatively long. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT