EP1218204B1 - Device for applying liquids used in writing, drawing, printing or painting or the like to a background - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for applying writing, drawing, printing, painting fluid and the like on a substrate according to the preamble of the main claim.

Such generic devices are characterized in that their capillary liquid conductor, if held with the applicator up, with liquid fills and with the device held down, i.e. in the order placement by the capillary Liquid conductor absorbed liquid can be applied, wherein in this state, the connection between the capillary liquid conductor and in the liquid container existing liquid is interrupted. The devices are thus at simple construction very reliable.

In a known generic device (EP 0 459 146 B1) practically the entire Interior of the housing the liquid reservoir. The air supply line is formed as a tube that from the application element into the interior of the housing protrudes. The length of the air supply pipe and the maximum fill level of the liquid container must be coordinated with each other in such a way that with the order element do not immerse the air supply pipe in the liquid, as otherwise the There is a risk of liquid entering the air supply pipe when the container is heated enters and goes outside. With the device held down with the application element the end of the air supply pipe must protrude above the liquid level, otherwise the There is a risk that if the device heats up or is accidentally vigorously Shake liquid spilled outside. Thus, the housing interior of the known Only fill the device with liquid up to about half.

A writing instrument is known from EP 0 624 483 A1, whose capillary liquid conductor is constantly connected to the liquid in the liquid container and in which the air supply into the liquid container through a compensation chamber, which with the liquid container is connected via a capillary annular gap. The capillary Annular gap should be dimensioned such that it due to the surface tension or Capillary forces hold liquid in them. One problem with this writing instrument is that when the air is heated above the liquid supply in the liquid chamber, especially in the vertical position of the device, there is a risk that liquid from the writing tip emerges. The reason for this is that there is no writing on the tip of the pen can form a stable meniscus of the writing fluid, the pressure of those above it Liquid column withstands. Only the higher flow resistance of the Liquid conductor compared to that of the capillary connection between the liquid chamber and the compensation chamber can prevent leakage to a certain extent.

The invention has for its object to develop a generic device such that it has a large liquid absorption capacity and at the same time based on its size has a high level of leakage security.

This object is achieved with the features of the main claim.

In the writing instrument according to the invention, for example, it sucks in its lying position Position the capillary fluid guide full of fluid, making the volume of the the liquid chamber absorbed liquid is compensated by air that through the air passage in the form of bubbles with a smaller capillarity nachströmt. This creates a negative pressure in the liquid chamber, which ensures that the capillary liquid conductor does not overfill with liquid in such a way that, for example With the writing instrument lying slightly obliquely downwards, liquid from the application element expires. The capillary body, which is directly connected to the capillary air outlet cannot soak up liquid because its capillarity is less than that of the capillary air passage.

If, for example, again when the writing instrument is lying down, it heats up the negative pressure in the liquid chamber decreases, causing the one with less capillarity than the air passage formed capillary body is able to pass through the air passage absorb liquid escaping through it and thereby one according to his Capillarity maintain reduced vacuum in the liquid without causing it to an overfill of the capillary liquid line comes. If the temperature drops again the capillary body empties through the air outlet.

When writing, in which the connection between the capillary liquid conductor and If the liquid supply is interrupted, there may be pressure drops in the liquid or the volume of air above the liquid is also not harmful with regard to Dabbing or leaking of the device will affect the capillary body in a similar way excess liquid is available for temporary absorption and a vacuum remains safely in the writing instrument.

The provided in the device according to the invention, with the liquid chamber over the Capillary air passage connected compensation chamber, based on the content of the Liquid container, have a relatively small volume, so that the interior of the housing to an essential part for receiving a liquid supply can be used.

The subclaims relate to advantageous embodiments and developments of the device directed according to the invention.

The invention is described below with reference to schematic drawings, for example and explained with further details.

The figures represent longitudinal sections through six embodiments of devices, wherein the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 6 have a capillary body, which in direct Connection with a capillary air outlet leading into the liquid chamber is.

1, a device has a housing 2 with a cylindrical outer wall 4, the according to the figure is open on the right and on the left via a conical region 6 into a cylindrical end portion 8 with a reduced diameter merges with an order opening 9 forms in which an application element 10 protruding from the housing 2 is received is.

The interior of the housing 2 is through two partitions 12 and 14 in a liquid chamber 16, a compensation chamber 18 and a storage chamber 20 divided.

In the storage chamber 20, a capillary storage 22 is arranged, which is the application element 10 connects to a capillary liquid conductor 24 which is received in a tube 26 is and together with the tube through the two partitions 14 and 12 extends to a bottom part 28 with which the liquid chamber 16 according to the figure is locked to the right. The tube 26 is open on the right side, so that the capillary liquid conductor 24 at its end facing the bottom part 28 for access to the Liquid chamber 16 received liquid 30 is exposed. To ensure that a connection between the capillary liquid conductor 24 and the liquid 30 also then there is still, if in the horizontal state of the device shown the liquid level lies below the tube 26, the base part 28 is formed with riser capillaries 32, when the liquid level drops, the capillary liquid conductor 24 liquid respectively.

For ventilation of the liquid chamber 16, an air supply line is used, which is from the outer Atmosphere between the application element 10 and the end region 8 of the housing 2 leads into the storage chamber 20. The air supply line leads from the storage chamber 20 through the partition 14 through between a pipe 26 surrounding Ring extension 34 of the partition 14 and the tube 26 into the equalization chamber 18th and from there by one or preferably several, distributed along the circumference in the Partition 12 formed capillary air passages 36 into the liquid chamber 16. The capillary air passages 36 can form an annular gap overall.

The function of the device is as follows:

Fills in the position shown or in a position on the right side that is tilted downwards the capillary liquid conductor 24 and through the capillary liquid conductor 24 the capillary storage 22 and from this in turn the application element 10 Liquid. The liquid chamber 16 is through the air supply line described ventilated through. If the device is now tilted into the order position, i.e. with the Application element 10 held down, so the connection between capillary Liquid conductor 24 and liquid 30 interrupted. That in the capillary liquid line 24, the capillary storage 20 and the application element 10 contained liquid volume can then be applied, prescribed or painted. At the Tilt the device back into a position in which the fluid connection between the Liquid 30 and the capillary liquid conductor 24, possibly through the riser capillaries 32 through, is restored, the capillary liquid conductor 24, the capillary reservoir fill 22 and the application element 10 again with liquid, which in turn then can be prescribed.

If the temperature increases in the "refill state" of the device or the As the ambient pressure decreases, the volume of air within the liquid chamber expands 16, whereby liquid through the capillary air passages 36 into the compensation chamber 18 exits. Because of the greater flow resistance of the capillary liquid conductor 24 in comparison to that of the capillary or air passages 36, no liquid occurs from the order element 10. Does the pressure increase again or the temperature from, the leaked liquid in the compensation chamber 18 through the capillaries Air passages 36 in turn are supplied to the liquid chamber 16. The same applies to an increase in temperature or a decrease in pressure during application. By the liquid entering the compensation chamber 18 through the capillary air passages 36 is when the capillary liquid conductor 24 is refilled by the capillaries Air passages 36 in turn are supplied to the liquid chamber 16. By Forming the partition 14 with the ring shoulder 34 ensures that none in the Compensation chamber 18 entering liquid in contact with the application element 10 comes or somehow emerges from the housing 2.

The application element 10 can be designed in a wide variety of ways, for example as a fiber tip, brush tip, feather, ball tip, printer element or otherwise.

The device described as an example in its training as a marker can be used in many different ways Modified way:

The volume of the outlet chamber 18 and the storage chamber 20 can be in relation to Volume of the liquid chamber 16 may be significantly smaller than shown. The outer wall 4 need not be cylindrical, but can have any other shape. The housing with the partition walls can be formed in several parts or in one piece and advantageously exists made of plastic. The device can be designed as a disposable item or refillable be, for example, in the bottom part 28 refill openings (filling opening and Vent opening) are provided or the entire liquid supply in an exchangeable Cartridge is added. The liquid 30 can be in a in the housing 2 recorded collapsible element, for example a sack, which is pushed onto the tube 26. The capillary memory 22 can be made in one piece with the capillary liquid conductor 24 and / or the application element 10 or with appropriate training of the capillary liquid conductor, are not required. The partition 14 can be omitted, the housing then advantageously around the application element 10 has inwardly projecting baffles that prevent it from the liquid chamber 16 escaping liquid directly in contact with the application element comes or gets outside the housing. The tube 26 can somehow Kind of sheathing of the capillary liquid conductor 24 are replaced, the a direct contact between the capillary liquid conductor 24 and the liquid 30 prevented outside the floor area. The capillary liquid conductor can be together with the sheathing in any geometrical arrangement of the application element 10 lead to the bottom area of the liquid chamber 16. The partition 12 can overall porous or with a capillary slot.

The capillarities are advantageously matched to one another such that the capillarity the order tip 10 is largest and the capillarity of the capillary reservoir 22 and of the capillary liquid conductor 24 is larger than that of the capillary air passage 36. This ensures that the components 10, 22 and 24 are completely complete in the filling phase fill with liquid. The capillary dimensions of the air inlet are, for example at 0.15 mm.

In the device described with reference to FIG. 1, the safety against leakage depends, as explained, primarily from the smaller flow resistance compared to that of the liquid conductor of the capillary air outlet. The flow resistance plays a role dynamic processes play a certain role; for slow or permanent Operations lose their importance, so there is a certain risk of leakage remains.

FIG. 2, in which, as in the other figures, for with the embodiment according to FIG. 1 functionally identical components the same reference numerals are used, shows one according to the invention Improved embodiment of the device according to FIG. 1. Below only the changes compared to Fig. 1 are described.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, a capillary body is located in the compensation chamber 18 40 made of capillary material with a capillarity smaller than that of the capillary Air passage 36. The capillary body 40 is arranged in the compensation chamber in such a way that its capillaries are connected directly to the capillary air passage 36. The capillary body 40 takes out of the liquid chamber 16 when the temperature rises or liquid escaping when there is a decrease in pressure and gives it up when the pressure drops Lowering the temperature, increasing the pressure or a subsequent filling process. Due to the presence of the capillary body 40 through which the liquid conductor passes 24 is guided with the tube 26, the ring shoulder 34 (Fig. 1) can be omitted.

As explained above, an essential function of the capillary body 40 is that he constantly liquid through the capillary air passage 36 accordingly sucks its capillarity so that in the event of a decrease in pressure in the liquid chamber 16 Absorbs liquid and thereby maintain a negative pressure in the liquid chamber remains, which reliably prevents liquid from the liquid conductor 24 drips. If the negative pressure in the liquid chamber increases, liquid will be expelled the capillary body sucked back into the liquid chamber.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the compensation chamber 18 is on the side of the liquid chamber 10 facing away from the application element 10. The partition 14, through which the pipe 26 is tightly sealed, separates the storage chamber 20 from the Liquid chamber 16. The right-hand partition 12 separates the liquid chamber 14 from the compensation chamber 18 and is with the capillary air passage 36 and the riser capillaries 32 provided.

The bottom part 28 of the housing 2 closing the compensation chamber 18 on the right-hand side has a cylindrical projection 42 which is formed with an axial passage 44 via a radial channel 46 into a between the housing 2 and the bottom part 28 trained helical groove 48 is connected, which via a passage 50 to the outside Atmosphere.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the air inlet leads to the ventilation of the liquid chamber 16 from the passage 50 through the helical groove 48, the radial channel 46 and the axial passage 44 into the compensation chamber 18 and from there through the capillary air passage 36 into the liquid chamber 16. The function of the device according 3 corresponds to that of the device of FIG. 1.

Similar to the embodiment according to FIG. 2, a capillary body 40 in the Compensation chamber 18 of FIG. 3 can be arranged in order to ensure maximum leak protection guarantee.

The embodiment of the device according to FIG. 4 differs from that of FIG. 1 in that that the storage chamber 20 is missing and the compensation chamber 18 to the front Area 6 of the housing 2 is sufficient. The front end portion of the housing 2 is the one Tube 26 surrounding ring shoulder 52 is formed. The inside diameter of the ring approach 52 widens conically to the left according to FIG. 4. The tube 26 is this conical expansion adapted so that the capillary liquid conductor 24 a conically widening Has area 54, via which it is connected to the application element 10 or passes into the order element 10. In this way the fluid absorption capacity of the capillary liquid conductor 24 is enlarged so that it functions as capillary memory with and each has a sufficient write or order volume is available.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 5, in contrast to that of FIG. 1, this projects the capillary Liquid tube 24 receiving tube 26 not to the bottom part 28 through the entire Liquid chamber 16 through, but already ends in the region of the partition 12. On the side of the partition wall 12 facing the liquid chamber 16 is a valve 56 provided that the connection from the liquid chamber 16 to the capillary liquid conductor 24 closes when the device is held down with the application element 10 and opens as soon as the device is tilted significantly. The valve has a valve member Ball 60, which is received in a cage 62 formed with passages and is in the closed position on the edge of the tube 26. It is understood that other valve designs can be used, which preferably work with gravity.

Similar to the embodiment according to FIG. 2, in order to ensure maximum leak protection to ensure, in the embodiments according to Figures 4 and 5 in the compensation chamber 18 a capillary body can be arranged whose capillarity is less than that of the air passage 36 and that is directly connected to the air passage 36.

Another embodiment of the device is shown in FIG. 6. This embodiment corresponds in a way to that of FIG. 3, with in the compensation chamber 18 Capillary body 40 is arranged. The partition 12 is tightly connected to the outer wall 4, which has a central through opening 60. The through opening 60 is closed by a capillary conductor 62 between the wick, which in the capillary body 40 introduced and in direct contact with it. The ends advantageously Capillary conductor 60 to the liquid chamber 16 in such a way that it is in fluid communication with the riser capillaries 32 formed in the partition 12. The through the opening 60 passed through capillary conductor 62 or its capillaries with the lowest Capillarity forms the capillary air inlet into the liquid chamber 16 and takes over the function of the capillary air passages 36 of FIG. 2.

The liquid conductor 24 is guided with the jacket tube 26 to an auxiliary wall 64, between the and the outer wall 4 openings 66 are formed so that the liquid chamber 16 effectively extends to the partition 12 and the liquid level on both sides of the Auxiliary wall 64 is the same height. Similar to the partition 12, the auxiliary wall 64 is included Rising capillaries 32 are formed, so that the liquid conductor 26 is also refilled a small, still existing amount of liquid is guaranteed.

The capillarities of the capillary liquid conductor 24, that of the air passage Capillary conductor 50 and capillary body 40 are in turn coordinated with one another in such a way that that the capillarity of the capillary conductor 60 is less than that of the liquid conductor 24 and the capillarity of the capillary body 40 is smaller than that of the capillary conductor 60.

The function of the device of FIG. 6 corresponds to that of FIG. 2: the liquid conductor 24 fills up by sucking in liquid due to its great capillarity and air through the one with a smaller capillarity, at least partially filled with liquid Capillary conductor 62 is sucked through. A develops in the interior of the liquid chamber 16 vacuum defined by the capillarity of the capillary conductor 62, which by suitable The choice of capillarity is such that liquid drips out of the application element 10 is safely prevented. When the vacuum in the liquid chamber decreases 16, for example as a result of heating, the capillary body 40 is corresponding its capillarity is able to absorb liquid, leaving it in the liquid chamber 16 a negative pressure is maintained, which guarantees the leak-proofness of the device.

The capillaries of the liquid conductors 24 and 62 and of the capillary body 40 do not have to necessarily be uniform or homogeneous. If these capillaries are size distributions have, it must be ensured that the liquid conductor 24 capillaries with a has greater capillarity than the capillarity of the capillary conductor 62 and the capillary body 40 has at least a large part of capillaries, the capillarity of which is smaller than those of the capillaries of the capillary conductor 62 which form the air inlet, that is capillaries of the capillary conductor 62 with a smaller capillarity.

The capillary conductor 62 and the capillary body 40 of FIG. 6 do not necessarily have to be separate components, but can be designed with a suitable capillarity Capillary body can be formed, which is an approach to closing the opening 62nd having. Alternatively, the partition 12 could be integrated with such a capillary body his.

The capillary 22 is gem in the embodiment. Fig. 6 as the liquid conductor 24 surrounding disk storage shown, the at least partially a smaller capillarity than the liquid conductor 24 has. Another buffer volume is thus temporary Absorption of liquid created, which increases the functional safety of the device is increased. Any other capillary storage can be used. The Air is supplied to the compensation chamber 18 in the embodiment according to. Fig. 6 similar as in the embodiment according to FIG. 3, but lacking approach 42.

In the description above, capillarity refers to the capillary force (corresponding Rise) understood, which results from the surface tension of the ink and the size the capillary and the wetting angle between the liquid and the surface of the capillary material results. In the functional description, good wetting of the relevant Materials provided by the liquid.

The structural features of the guided embodiments can be in different Can be combined with each other.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

casing

4

outer wall

6

conical area

8th

end

9

job opening

10

applicator

12

partition wall

14

partition wall

16

liquid chamber

18

compensation chamber

20

storage chamber

22

capillary

24

capillary fluid line

26

pipe

28

the bottom part

30

liquid

32

Steigkapillaren

34

annular shoulder

36

capillary air passage

40

capillary

42

approach

44

Passage

46

channel

48

groove

50

Passage

52

annular shoulder

54

Area

56

Valve

58

Bullet

60

Through opening

62

Kapillarleiter

64

auxiliary wall

66

opening

Claims (10)

1. An implement for applying writing, drawing, printing or painting liquid or the like to a substrate, including
      a liquid chamber (16) arranged in a casing (2),
      an applicator element (10),
      an air feed conduit which communicates the external atmosphere with the interior of the liquid chamber,
      a capillary body (40) which is so arranged that liquid issuing from the liquid chamber through the mouth opening of the air feed conduit and passing into the capillary body does not come into contact either with the capillary liquid conductor member (22, 24) or with the applicator element (10) or with the external space of the casing, and
      a liquid conveyor connection (22, 24, 26) which extends from the applicator element (10) into the liquid chamber (16) and which has a capillary liquid conductor member (22, 24), wherein a liquid communication between the liquid in the liquid chamber and the capillary liquid conductor member is interrupted when the implement is in a position with the applicator element directed downwardly,
      characterised in that
      the air feed conduit opens by way of a capillary air passage (36; 62) into the liquid chamber (16) and is connected to the liquid in the liquid chamber (16) at least when said liquid is in communication with the capillary liquid conductor member (24), wherein the capillaries of the capillary air passage are directly connected to the capillary body (40) and the capillarity of the capillary air passage (36) is less than that of the capillary liquid conductor member (22, 24) and the capillarity of the capillary body (40) is less than that of the capillary passage.
2. An implement according to claim 1 characterised in that the capillary liquid conductor member (22, 24) is surrounded by a liquid-tight sheathing (26) and is exposed only in the region of its end remote from the applicator member (10), for contact with the liquid in the liquid chamber (16), wherein the capillary liquid conductor member together with the sheath extends through the liquid chamber to its bottom region which is downward when the implement is directed with the applicator element (10) downwardly.
3. An implement according to claim 1 characterised in that there is provided a valve (56) which, when the implement is directed with the applicator element (10) downwardly, separates the end of the capillary liquid conductor member (22, 24), which is normally exposed for liquid access, from access of the liquid.
4. An implement according to claim 2 or claim 3 characterised in that riser capillaries (32) lead from the end of the capillary liquid conductor member (24), which end is exposed for contact with the liquid, to the outside walls (2) of the liquid chamber (16).
5. An implement according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the capillary body (40) is accommodated in a compensating chamber (18) separated from the liquid chamber (16) by a partition (12).
6. An implement according to claims 2 and 5 characterised in that the compensating chamber (18) is arranged on the side of the liquid chamber (16), that is towards the applicator element (10), and the liquid conductor member (24) with the sheath (26) is passed through the compensating chamber.
7. An implement according to claim 5 characterised in that the compensating chamber (18) is arranged on the side of the liquid chamber (16), that is remote from the applicator element (10), and the air feed conduit passes through a wall (28) of the compensating chamber into the external atmosphere.
8. An implement according to one of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that the capillary air passage (36) is formed by a capillary opening in a wall (12) of the liquid chamber (16).
9. An implement according to one of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that the capillary air passage is formed by a capillary conductor member (62) which is passed through a hole (60) in a wall (12) of the liquid chamber (16) and is in indirect mechanical communication with the capillary body (40).
10. An implement according to one of claims 1 to 9 characterised in that provided in the casing (2) is a storage chamber (20) in which there is arranged a capillary storage means (22) forming a part of the capillary liquid conductor member (22, 24).

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