System and method for processing solid ink stick in a solid ink printer

A solid ink printer is configured to learn the identity of solid ink sticks for printer operation. The solid ink printer includes a feed channel 114 having an insertion opening 124 configured to receive solid ink sticks 126, a sensor 156 positioned near the insertion opening 124 of the feed channel and configured to obtain solid ink stick type to data from a solid ink stick inserted into the insertion opening of the feed channel. A controller 136 is communicatively coupled to the sensor 156 to receive the solid ink stick type data, the controller being configured to store the solid ink stick type data in a memory 182 in response to an initialization signal and to operate the solid ink printer with reference to the solid ink stick type data stored in the memory by the controller.