Importance

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Abstract

Ink jet apparatus including a print head having at least one chamber, an inlet opening to the chamber, and a droplet ejection orifice from the chamber, a transducer coupled to the chamber for ejecting droplets of ink in liquid form therefrom through the orifice, a manifold for supplying ink in its liquid form to the at least one chamber, and a cartridge, coupled to the manifold, for containing a supply of ink in solid form. The ink includes a wax-based vehicle to provide it with a hot melt capability, and a conductive pigment substantially dispersed throughout the wax-based vehicle to adapt it for self-melting. Accordingly, the cartridge includes a source of electrical current for energizing the conductive pigment on demand, wherein such supply of ink in solid form can be melted to a jettable liquid form upon energization of the conductive pigment by the source.

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First Claim