Real time detection of ink stick jams in phasing printing systems

摘要

A method and system for detecting an ink stick jam in a solid liquid ink phasing delivery system for supplying ink to a printer. The phasing system includes a heater plate disposed to engage a solid ink stick and heat an engaging portion of the ink stick to a liquid phase. A temperature sensing device associated with the heater plate detects the temperature thereof. A control system selectively supplies power to the heater plate. The method comprises supplying a predetermined amount of power through the control system to the heater plate intended to achieve the desired melt rate of the ink stick during a phase change from solid to liquid. The desired melt rate is associated with the predetermined desired temperature of the heater plate. The temperature of the heater plate is sensed with the sensing device during the supply of power thereto. When a sensed temperature of the heater plate varies from the predetermined desired temperature by a selected amount, the supply power is interrupted, whereby heater damage and printer ink starvation can be avoided.