DE202018004141U1 - Refill system for ink-filled markers and markers - Google Patents

Abstract

Refill system for ink-filled felt pens, characterized in that one or more pens suck in refill ink with negative pressure.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Felt-tip pens, highlighters and whiteboard markers usually only have a limited supply volume for inks and therefore have to be replaced or refilled frequently.

STATE OF THE ART

In the beginning there were types that had a screwed opening in the storage volume and that could be refilled with ink.

However, these are now uncommon, because even with great care in the handling and use of medical syringes and needles, dirt that is difficult to remove from the hands and the environment is almost inevitable when refilling.

This also applies to do-it-yourself processes, in which the ink is injected from outside under the felt with a cannula and even more so to devices that do not work with retractable syringes as in medicine, but compressible storage containers as described under USD 743 488.

Even processes in which the felt pen or marker is pressed into an enclosing seal and ink is pumped through as described in US 2009 0142 128 A1 are not certain. If the sealing ring is damaged or the operator does not place the pen carefully and precisely in the center, the ink can splash next to the pen.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the object of the present invention to demonstrate a method with which the refilling of inks into felt-tip pens and markers can be carried out easily, quickly and safely.

SOLUTION

The inventive step here is not to fill the inks with pressure, but to evacuate the reservoir in the pen and then let the ink soak in. This automatically limits the filling quantity and prevents contamination.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The execution is preferably carried out with a commercially available mini vacuum pump; such as. those used to evacuate plastic bags for food storage. However, hand pumps of all kinds are also conceivable, which bring about a vacuum of at least 0.5 bar.

They are connected to a housing in which vacuum is created and the pen to be filled is pressed into a sealing ring in the suction opening so that its ink chamber is evacuated through the felt.

By pushing the pen into the seal of an ink chamber in the device housing, it sucks up with fresh ink.

In the case of different pre-used and refillable inks, the process can be supplemented by an intermediate cleaning cycle with the same technology and solvents.

However, a combination of several units is preferred, one for each color, which requires little or no intermediate cleaning.

OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM USING THE EXAMPLE IN FIG. 1

The empty marker pen ( 8th ) is put into the application area by hand ( 12 ) of the filling module ( 6 ) introduced and held. With the other hand, the vacuum pump ( 7 ) activated, the valve ( 14 ) opens and in the filling module ( 6 ) and subsequently in the marker pen ( 8th ) creates a negative pressure. The marker pen ( 8th ) in the field of application ( 12 ) firmly anchored.

After deactivating the vacuum pump ( 7 ) the valve closes ( 14 ), by actuating the pressure relief valve ( 20 ) the pressure in the filling module ( 6 ) balanced again with the ambient air. Through the in the marker pen ( 8th ) existing negative pressure, the refill ink is through the pen tip ( 19 ) sucked into the marker pen. The pen can then be removed.

list of figures

• 1 shows the refill system ( 1 ) in an exemplary version, consisting of a storage tank ( 2 ), a filling module ( 6 ), a vacuum pump ( 7 ), a shut-off valve ( 9 ) between storage tank ( 2 ) and filling module ( 6 ) and a marker pen to be filled ( 8th ).

The storage tank ( 2 ) has a filling device ( 4 ), a level indicator ( 10 ), a pressure relief valve ( 5 ) and is in ink ( 3 ) filled.

The filling module ( 6 ) has a level indicator ( 11 ), the area of application ( 12 ) for the Marker pen ( 8th ), a supply line ( 13 ) for the ink, a pressure relief valve ( 20 ) and a valve ( 14 ) to the vacuum pump ( 7 ).

The vacuum pump ( 7 ) is via a suction line ( 15 ) with the valve ( 14 ) connected to the filling module and has a ( 16 ) and switch ( 17 ).

The marker pen ( 8th ) consists of the ink reservoir ( 18 ), the housing ( 21 ) and the tip of the pen ( 19 ).

2 shows the refill system ( 1 ) in another version, consisting of an exchangeable ink tank ( 2 ), a filling module ( 15 ), a vacuum pump ( 8th ), a seal ( 9 ) between vacuum pump ( 8th ) and filling module ( 15 ), a seal ( 3 ) between marker pen ( 4 ) and ink tank ( 2 ) and a marker pen to be filled ( 4 ).

The exchangeable ink tank ( 2 ) has a feed line designed as an insert ( 2 ).

The filling module ( 6 ) has the area of application ( 12 ) for the marker pen ( 4 ), a seal ( 3 ), a pressure relief valve ( 5 ) and a valve ( 14 ) to the vacuum pump ( 7 ).

The vacuum pump ( 8th ) has an on / off switch ( 6 ), a suction line ( 15 ) and a pressure relief line ( 19 ) leading to a pressure relief valve ( 18 ) leads.

The marker pen ( 4 ) consists of the ink reservoir ( 14 ), the housing ( 20 ) and the tip of the pen ( 10 ).

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• US 20090142128 A1 [0005]

Claims (4)

Refill system for ink-filled felt pens, characterized in that one or more pens suck in refill ink with negative pressure. Refill system for ink-filled felt pens Claim 1 , characterized in that the negative pressure is produced in one or more filling modules, in which one or more pins are to be inserted in a sealing ring. Refill system for ink-filled felt pens and markers Claim 1 and 2 , characterized in that the negative pressure is applied with a pump to a valve attachment of a filling module. Refill system for ink-filled felt pens and markers Claim 1 to 3 , characterized in that a filling module is connected to a storage tank.

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