EP0234493B1 - Ink pen for drawing or writing - Google Patents

Abstract

In an ink writing instrument, the ink storage space is divided into individual chambers that are inside the housing and are arranged axially one behind one another. The chambers are connected with the writing point by an ink guide. The ink-filled chambers are emptied one after the other by capillaries in the ink guide, air entering the chambers by a ventilation duct in the mouthpiece and the capillary ventilation openings. When ink is removed, no enclosed air volume is formed inside the storage space. In a second embodiment, the chambers are emptied simultaneously, the ventilation duct being opposite the writing point.

Description

The invention relates to an ink or ink writing or drawing device of the type specified in the preamble of the main claim.

In such devices, two different systems of ink or ink storage are used.

In the case of cartridge or piston fountain pens, the ink is located in a chamber or a storage space from which it is drawn via an ink conductor of the writing tip, e.g. the pen. This system has the advantage that the ink can be written out almost completely.

A decisive disadvantage of this system is that the volume of the air in the ink supply space, which flows in when the ink is consumed, changes as a result of external pressure and temperature fluctuations. These changes in volume must be compensated for by a control system. The usual temperature and pressure fluctuations require a regulator volume that makes up at least a third of the ink container volume. This controller volume is no longer available for ink storage. Despite such a sized controller, major temperature or pressure changes, such as z. B. occur during a flight at higher altitudes, volume changes in the amount of air entail, which lead to the leakage of the ink from the writing instrument.

Another disadvantage of this system is that the writing tip must always point downwards when writing.

These disadvantages are at least partially avoided in the other storage system for writing instruments, in which the writing liquid is held capillary in a fiber storage between the fibers. With this storage system, the use of a controller can be dispensed with. However, with this system, the security against dripping under temperature, pressure or impact stress is inversely proportional to the filling quantity. In addition, this system is not suitable for pigmented inks or inks.

A major disadvantage of this system is that the ink cannot be written out completely because 10 to 15% of the ink in the memory is retained by capillary forces. In contrast to an ink writing device with non-capillary bound ink, the ink delivery is not constant over the writing length. Rather, the ink delivery and thus the line width decrease to the same extent as the memory empties. Ink delivery is proportional to the amount of ink.

Last but not least, the mechanically unstable fiber storage creates difficulties for technological reasons: since it can only be manufactured with large tolerances in terms of dimensions and in particular capillarity, the writing length of such writing instruments is subject to considerable tolerances. Furthermore, fiber storage of this type can change its volume, ie swell or shrink, if storage or composition are unfavorable, which can lead to rejects during or after production.

The aim of the present invention is to create a device with a memory which combines the advantages of the two systems mentioned above while avoiding the disadvantages.

The writing instrument according to the invention is intended to ensure constant ink or ink delivery regardless of location, temperature and pressure with the largest possible storage volume.

The invention is based on a writing instrument construction, as is known in principle from US Pat. No. 2,681,041 and as specified in the preamble of the main claim. In this case, an insert located in the storage chamber of the writing instrument housing serves as the ink store, the fixed chamber partition walls of which delimit a plurality of chambers which are connected to one another and to the writing tip via an ink conductor carrying the nib. This chamber insert is dimensioned such that the ink is held within the individual chambers by capillary forces, while the ventilation groove between the individual chambers does not act capillary.

This dimensioning has the decisive disadvantage that the individual chambers are emptied at the same time when the writing instrument is actuated, and that due to the capillarity of the chambers, as with the fiber stores, an ink residue is always retained. The disadvantageous consequence, as with writing implements with fiber memories, is that a uniform and complete emptying of the ink reservoir and thus a uniform font size is not guaranteed until the memory is emptied. In addition, use with capillary-acting chambers is more difficult to produce because of the small spacings of the chamber partition walls, the large number of partition walls necessary taking up a not inconsiderable part of the storage volume.

The permanent ventilation of the chambers via a non-capillary ventilation channel in the known writing instrument has the further disadvantage that due to external influences, for. B. can be formed as a result of impacts, air bubbles and stored in the chambers, which can further promote the leakage of the ink when the temperature rises.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention proposes to modify the writing and drawing device designated in the top handle, that is, the device according to US Pat. No. 2,681,041, in the manner indicated by the characterizing part of claim 1.

In contrast to the known solution, the invention thus proposes to dimension the individual chambers so that they do not exert any capillary forces on the writing fluid. and to form the ventilation channel between the chambers capillary.

A ballpoint pen with a memory is known from US Pat. No. 3,129,696, which is divided into individual chambers with fixed partition walls. The chambers are connected to one another via concentric openings, which act capillary for the writing means customary in ballpoint pens. There is no ink conductor connecting the memory to the writing tip with at least one axially extending capillary as in the subject matter of the invention.

This known writing instrument, in contrast to the writing instrument according to the invention, is not suitable for low-viscosity ink or ink, since when this writing medium is used, the openings connecting the chambers no longer act capillary on the low-viscosity ink or ink, and these each due to the hydrostatic pressure of the ink or ink column depending on the position of the writing instrument through the writing tip or through the opening located at the rear end of the writing instrument. In contrast, the device according to the invention is suitable for writing with low-viscosity ink or India ink, as is usually used in fountain pens. The measure according to the invention ensures that the chambers of the memory are emptied one after the other individually via the ink line. The air flowing into the emptied chambers always remains in contact with the atmosphere, so that changes in volume due to temperature or pressure fluctuations do not result in any relative pressure changes within the accumulator. There is no need for a controller system. Since the chambers of the memory designed according to the invention do not keep the ink capillary, it can be almost completely emptied, which ensures constant ink delivery and high utilization of the stored ink.

With the same dimensions, the memory according to the invention enables a 50% higher fill quantity and a 30% higher fill quantity compared to systems with free-standing ink, e.g. B. a fountain pen.

The operation of the device is largely independent of the position, since the ink is transported exclusively by the capillary forces acting in the ink conductor. A writing instrument designed in this way can also be used with the writing tip pointing upwards or without gravitational forces, that is to say in space. Structural details and design options are given in the subclaims.

According to the proposal according to claim 2, the chamber insert consists of ring disks with connecting webs corresponding to the chamber height, which are lined up on the concentrically arranged ink conductor.

According to a second variant according to claim 3, only the chamber partition located at the front with respect to the writing tip is designed as an annular disc, while the remaining chamber partition walls are in the form of a circular disc, the ink conductor ending in the chamber located at the front.

As stated in claim 4, in both cases the panes forming the chamber partition walls can be firmly connected to one another via their connecting webs and thus form a one-piece chamber insert.

It is also within the scope of the invention to arrange several such one-piece inserts one behind the other in the shaft housing, if this is more expedient for production-related or functional reasons.

The connecting webs can here be located freely within the annular chambers or limit the annular chamber according to claim 7 on the side facing the ink conductor to form capillary openings.

In any case, it must be ensured that only a capillary gap remains between the chamber partition walls and the inner wall of the shaft housing and the ink conductor. With regard to the function of the writing instrument according to the invention, it would also be possible to connect the chamber partition walls firmly to the inner wall of the shaft housing, that is to say absolutely tightly, and in the area of the connection merely to provide a capillary ventilation opening for connecting the adjacent chambers to one another, insofar as this design is rational is finished.

As mentioned above, the ventilation channels between the chambers must act capillary.

The ventilation channel connecting these ventilation openings with the atmosphere, which itself does not have to be capillary, can be provided in the mouthpiece according to claim 8 or in the rear plug in the proposal according to claim 9.

As indicated by claims 11 and 12, the ink conductors can consist of fiber bundles with capillary action or else of a solid plastic rod with at least one capillary axial channel.

All common writing tips are suitable for applying the writing fluid, e.g. B. writing tips with writing balls according to claim 14, felt or fiber writing tips or tips made of extruded plastic according to claim 15, nibs according to claim 16 or writing tubes according to claim 17.

The device according to the invention is basically intended for writing and drawing, that is to say for applying ink or ink to a writing pad. However, it is also suitable with the appropriate dimensions for applying liquids of different viscosity and composition, such as. B. for applying paints, gels, oils or liquid cosmetic agents, such as. B. Perfumes.

• Figur 1 - Axialschnitt eines erfindungsgemäßen Schreibgerätes nach einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel,
• Figur 2 - Radialschnitt längs der Linie 11-11 in Figur 1,
• Figur 3 - Axialschnitt eines erfindungsgemäßen Schreibgerätes nach einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel,
• Figur 4 - teilweise geschnittene Seitenansicht eines Kammereinsatzes nach einem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel,
• Figur 5 - Stirnansicht des Kammereinsatzes gemäß Fig. 4 von links gesehen,
• Figur 6 - teilweise geschnittene Seitenansicht einer Ringscheibe zur Bildung eines Kammereinsatzes nach einem vierten Ausführungsbeispiel und
• Figur 7 - Stirnansicht der Ringscheibe gemäß Figur 6 von links gesehen.

The subject matter of the invention is explained in detail below with the aid of particularly preferred exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the drawing. The drawing shows:

• Figure 1 - axial section of a writing instrument according to the invention according to a first embodiment,
• Figure 2 - radial section along the line 11-11 in Figure 1,
• FIG. 3 - axial section of a writing instrument according to the invention according to a second exemplary embodiment,
• FIG. 4 - a partially sectioned side view of a chamber insert according to a third exemplary embodiment,
• FIG. 5 - end view of the chamber insert according to FIG. 4 seen from the left,
• Figure 6 - partially sectioned side view of an annular disc to form a chamber insert according to a fourth embodiment and
• Figure 7 - Front view of the ring disc according to Figure 6 seen from the left.

The ink writing device has a barrel housing 10, in the interior of which the writing fluid is stored. The rear end of the shaft housing 10 is closed with a plug 12, which rests flush with an annular shoulder 13 on the housing edge and projects into the housing with a sealing and support collar 14.

In the front end of the shaft housing 10, a mouthpiece 15 is inserted, which likewise lies flush with an annular shoulder 16 on the edge of the shaft housing and projects into the interior of the housing with a sealing and support collar 17. A chamber insert 30 forming the chambers is clamped between the stopper 12 and the mouthpiece 15, the structure and mode of operation of which will be explained below. Chamber insert 30 and mouthpiece 15, in particular its mouthpiece tube 21, are penetrated by a coaxially arranged ink conductor 27 which extends into a writing tip 22. The writing tip 22, which rests flush with an annular shoulder 23 on the front end of the mouthpiece tube 21 and projects into it with a collar 26, has a writing ball 24 which is mounted in a ball bed provided with feed capillaries 25. The supply capillaries 25 located between the front end of the ink conductor 27 and the writing ball 24 supply the writing ball 24 with the supplied writing liquid, namely the ink.

In this exemplary embodiment, a chamber insert 30 consisting of a one-piece molded part has chamber partition walls 31 which are arranged parallel to one another and are connected to one another via connecting webs 32 and which delimit individual annular chambers 35 for receiving the ink. The ink is not held between the chamber partitions 31 with capillary forces, while the chamber partitions 31 themselves lie as close as possible to the inner wall of the shaft housing 10 and to the surface of the ink conductor 27. Since a firm and liquid-tight connection between the partition walls 31 and the shaft housing 10 or the ink conductor 27 is generally not possible for manufacturing reasons, only capillary annular gaps 33 and 34 may be present between these parts. The annular chambers 35 are open to the ink conductor 27, which receives the ink present via the capillaries open to the chambers and, thanks to the capillary forces, conveys them to the writing tip 22. A solid plastic rod, in which at least one capillary axial channel 28 is incorporated, serves as the ink conductor 27.

To ventilate the individual chambers 35, the chamber partition walls 31 are also provided with capillary ventilation openings 36. When ink is used, air flows through a ventilation channel 18 and a ventilation chamber 19 of the mouthpiece 15 into a ventilation chamber 11 and from there via the respective ventilation openings 36 into the annular chamber 35, which is still filled with ink the chamber insert 30 and, on the other hand, allows air to pass to the chambers 35 via the ventilation openings 36.

In the arrangement according to the invention, the chamber 35 closest to the writing tip 22 is first emptied via the ink conductor 27. The ink liquid removed from this chamber 35 is replaced by inflowing air, with no air passing through the capillary passage opening 36 into the subsequent chamber 35, which is still filled with ink.

After the first chamber 35 has been emptied, the second chamber etc. follows until all of the chambers 35 have released the stored ink almost completely.

When the volume of the air changes, e.g. B. by temperature or pressure change in the surrounding atmosphere, the compensation always takes place via the ventilation channel 18 and the ventilation chambers 19 and 11, so that, unlike in known writing instruments, the ink cannot escape from the ink container under the effect of the pressure.

The ink writing device according to the invention according to the second exemplary embodiment, the axial section of which is shown in FIG. 3, corresponds in structure and mode of operation to the first exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

To simplify the understanding and to avoid repetitions in the description, identical parts are designated with the same numbers in structure and mode of operation and similar parts with numbers provided with line indices.

As a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 3 shows, the second exemplary embodiment differs from the first essentially by a differently designed chamber insert 30 ', by a shorter-sized ink duct 27' and by the arrangement of the ventilation channel 18 'in the sealing plug 12'.

In this embodiment too, the distance between the chamber partition walls 31 is so large that they do not hold the ink capillary, while the chambers 35 are connected to one another and to the ventilation chamber 19 'via capillary ventilation openings 36, 37 and 38 or capillary annular gaps 33.

The shorter-dimensioned ink conductor 27 'ends in the one located at the front in relation to the writing tip 22 NEN annular chamber 35 and connects this via one or more capillary axial channels 28 with the writing tip 22. When writing or drawing with this writing instrument, the ink is also removed from the annular chamber 35 located at the front. However, since the ventilation takes place via the ventilation channel 18 'located in the rear plug 14' and the ventilation chamber 19 'which is also located in the plug, the respective front chambers are supplied with ink via the capillary ventilation openings 36, 37 or the outer capillary annular gaps 33, so that, unlike in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the chambers 35 are emptied one after the other from behind.

Since, in this embodiment of the writing instrument, too, there is no closed air space, but rather it is always connected to the surrounding atmosphere via the ventilation duct 18 ', temperature or pressure changes likewise do not lead to an undesired leakage of ink.

Because of the shorter ink conductor 27 ', which cannot be passed through all of the annular chambers, this exemplary embodiment has manufacturing advantages over the previously explained exemplary embodiment. The shortening of the ink line also reduces the risk of dripping, since a trapped air may be less effective when the temperature or pressure is increased than with a longer ink line.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a slightly modified chamber insert 30 ″, which can optionally be used instead of the chamber insert 30 or 30 ′ in FIGS. 1 and 3 and offers manufacturing advantages.

In this chamber insert too, the annular chambers 35 are formed by annular partition partition walls 31 ″ which are connected to one another via cylindrical connecting webs 32 ″ which enclose the channel 40 for receiving the ink conductor (not shown) and thus lie closely against the ink conductor in the installed state. These connecting webs 32 ″ are penetrated by axially parallel openings 39 which form the connection between the annular chamber 35 and the ink conductor located in the channel 40. In this way, compared to the arrangement according to FIGS and more uniform ink flow between the annular chambers 35 and the ink guide.

Otherwise, the structure and mode of operation of the chamber insert 30 "correspond to the chamber insert 30 according to FIG. 1.

According to a last proposal shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a chamber insert similar to that shown in FIG. 4 can also be formed from individual annular disks 31 "'with integral and integral cylindrical connecting webs 32'" which are connected to the ink line, not shown in FIG required number can be lined up. The annular disks 31 '"with the connecting webs 32'" here correspond to the chamber partition walls 31 "and the connecting webs 32" of the chamber insert 30 "according to FIGS. 4 and 5.

Furthermore, it is possible to arrange several sections 30 "according to FIG. 4 to form a longer chamber insert in the same way as the individual elements 31" ', 32 "' one behind the other on an ink conductor.

The first filling of the writing instrument acc. 1 and 3 with ink is caused in that a negative pressure is generated within the housing 10 and the ink is sucked in through the mouthpiece 15. In this way, simple and safe filling in series production is possible.

Figure legend

• 10 shaft housing
• 11 ventilation chamber
• 12,12 'plug
• 13 ring shoulder
• 14, 14 'sealing and support collar
• 15, 15 'mouthpiece
• 16 ring shoulder
• 17 sealing and support collar
• 18, 18 'ventilation duct
• 19.19 'ventilation chamber
• 20 inner margin
• 21 mouthpiece tube
• 22 writing tip
• 23 ring shoulder
• 24 writing ball
• 25 feed capillaries
• 26 fret
• 27, 27 'ink line
• 28 capillary axial channel
• 29
• 30, 30 ', 30 "chamber insert
• 31, 31 ", 31" 'chamber partition
• 32, 32 ", 32 connecting bridge
• 33 outer capillary annular gap
• 34, 34 'inner capillary annular gap
• 35 ring chamber
• 36 capillary ventilation opening
• 37, 38 capillary vents
• 39 capillary breakthrough
• 40 channel

Claims (17)

1. A device using ink or a coloured fluid for writing or drawing comprising a storage container for writing fluid, which comprises several chambers (35) communicating with one another and having fixed chamber-separating walls separating the chambers (31, 31", 31'"), a writing tip (22), an ink conduit (27, 27') connecting the storage container and writing tip and comprising at least one axially-extending capillary (28), and also a ventilation channel (18, 18'), characterized in that the chambers (35) of the storage container are connected to the ventilation channel (18, 18') and to one another through capillary ventilation openings (36) and in that the distance between the chamber-separating walls (31, 31", 31''') is sufficiently large that the writing fluid is not held between them by capillary action.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the chamber-separating walls (31, 31", 31"') consist of annular discs comprising connecting pieces (32, 32", 32"') which correspond to the height of the chambers (35) and concentric bores through which the ink conduit (27) passes.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the chamber-separating wall (31) closest to the writing tip (22) is formed as an annular disc through which the ink conduit (27') passes with the formation of an annular capillary gap (34'), in that the other chamber-separating walls (31) are formed as circular discs, and in that chamber-separating walls (31) bear against one another by means of the (sic) connecting pieces (32) which correspond to the height of the chambers.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the chamber-separating walls (31, 31") are connected together permanently by means of their connecting pieces (32, 32") and form a unitary, preferably injection moulded, chamber insert (30, 30', 30") inside the shaft housing (10).

5. A device as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the chamber-separating walls (31 "') comprising integral connecting pieces (32"'), in order to form a chamber insert are arranged in sequences, individually or in groups, on an ink conduit.

6. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the connecting pieces (32) facing one another are disposed parallel to the ink conduit (27) or, as the case may be, to one another extending inside the annular chambers (35).

7. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the connecting pieces (32", 32"') are cylindrical in shape, they border a channel (40) for containing the ink conduit (27), and they are penetrated by capillary through holes (39) extending parallel to the axis and connecting the annular chambers (35) and the channel (40) to one another.

8. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the ventilation channel (18) is provided in a mouth element (15) and preferably is connected to the chambers (35) through ventilation chambers (19, 11) in the mouth element (15) and the shaft housing (10), in addition to ventilation openings (36) in the chamber-separating walls (31).

9. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the ventilation channel (18') is provided in a rear cap element (12') of the shaft housing (10) and is connected to the chambers (35) through a ventilation chamber (19') in the cap element (12') and ventilation openings (36, 37, 38) in the chamber-separating walls (31).

10. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that annular capillary gaps (33, 34, 34') are provided between the edge faces of the chamber-separating walls (31) and the inner wall of the shaft housing (10) and also the surface of the ink conduit (27, 27').

11. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the ink conduit (27, 27') consists of two portions, made of the same or different materials and with the same or different shape, arranged axially behind one another.

12. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the ink conduit (27,27') consists of bundles of fibres.

13. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the ink conduit (27, 27') consists of a solid plastic rod comprising at least one axial capillary channel (28).

14. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the writing tip (22) comprises a writing ball (24).

15. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the writing tip (22) comprises a felt or fibre writing tip or a tip made of extruded plastic.

16. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the writing tip (22) comprises a stylus.

17. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the writing tip (22) comprises a small writing tube.

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