EP1301356B1 - Pen, writing unit and a device for holding a writing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a pen comprising a first casing ( 32 ) and a writing unit ( 12 ), which is inserted into said first casing. According to the invention, the pen comprises the following: a first stop ( 24, 42 ), which is coupled to the writing unit and acts in a peripheral direction about the longitudinal axis (L) of said writing unit; a second stop, which is coupled to the first casing ( 32 ), acts in a peripheral direction about the longitudinal axis and interacts with the first stop ( 24, 42 ) in a predetermined first rotational position of the writing unit with respect to the first casing, the first and second stops ( 24, 42, 26 ) abutting each other in the first predetermined rotational position; a third stop ( 28 ), which is coupled to the writing unit and acts in the longitudinal direction, in addition to a fourth stop, which is coupled to the first casing ( 32 ), acts in the longitudinal direction and interacts with the third stop ( 28 ). Said third stop ( 28 ) is configured as a guide device for the fourth stop. The fourth stop can be displaced in relation to the first casing along said guide device during the rotation of the writing unit, until the predetermined first rotational position has been attained.

Description

The invention relates to a pen having a first sleeve and a writing unit which is inserted into the first sleeve.

Pins of the above type are known. The writing unit is a mine or a writing fluid storage.

In the known pins, there is often the requirement to keep the writing unit with respect to the sleeve in a predetermined rotational position about the longitudinal axis of the writing unit. Reasons for such demands may be, for example, a non-rotationally symmetrical design of a writing tip formed on the writing unit or information or a decoration on the surface of the writing unit, wherein the information and / or the decor should be visible through a window on the pen.

For non-rotatable coupling of the first sleeve with the writing unit, therefore, conventionally, for example, a nose is provided on the writing unit, which engages in a corresponding notch in the first sleeve. The nose and the notch are aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the writing unit, so that in the case of engagement of the nose in the notch while an axial movement of the writing unit with respect to the first sleeve is possible, but no rotational movement. To introduce the nose in the notch, but the writing unit with respect to the first sleeve already have the desired rotational position. Therefore, it is difficult to automate the insertion of the writing unit into the first sleeve.

From EP 606 561 A1 a writing instrument with two sleeves 1 and 2 is known, wherein an anti-rotation device in the form of locking means 13, 14 or 23, 24 is provided. In the two sleeves, a writing unit in the form of a cartridge is to be used.

US-A-5, 445, 466 discloses a pin with two sleeves 10 and 12 screwed together, wherein an anti-rotation device for unambiguous positioning of the two sleeves is provided to each other. In the two sleeves, an ink reservoir 14 can be used.

The invention has for its object to provide a pin of the type mentioned, in which the insertion of the writing unit in the first sleeve, including the transfer to a desired rotational position of the writing unit with respect to the first sleeve can be done automatically.

According to the invention this object is achieved by
a first stop coupled to the writing unit and acting circumferentially about the longitudinal axis of the writing unit,
a second stopper coupled to the first sleeve and acting circumferentially about the longitudinal axis and cooperating with the first stop at a predetermined first rotational position of the writing unit with respect to the first sleeve, the first and second stops abutting each other at the first predetermined rotational position,
a third, coupled to the writing unit and acting in the direction of the longitudinal axis stop and
a fourth, coupled to the first sleeve, acting in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal axis and cooperating with the third stop stop, wherein
the third stop is designed as a guide device for the fourth stop, along which the fourth stop is displaceable with a rotation of the writing unit with respect to the first sleeve until the predetermined first rotational position is reached.

The stated object is also achieved by
a first stop coupled to the writing unit and acting circumferentially about the longitudinal axis of the writing unit,
a second stopper coupled to the first sleeve and acting circumferentially about the longitudinal axis and cooperating with the first stop at a predetermined first rotational position of the writing unit with respect to the first sleeve, the first and second stops abutting each other at the first predetermined rotational position,
a third, coupled to the writing unit and acting in the direction of the longitudinal axis stop and
a fourth, coupled to the first sleeve, acting in the direction of the longitudinal axis and cooperating with the third stop stop, wherein
the fourth stop is designed as a guide device for the third stop, along which the third stop is displaceable with a rotation of the writing unit with respect to the first sleeve until the predetermined first rotational position is reached.

In the pen according to the invention, the angle of rotation appropriate insertion of the writing unit in the first sleeve can be easily automated. It must namely only (at any rotational position), the writing unit are pushed so far into the first sleeve that the third and the fourth stop abut each other. Since the third and / or the fourth stop is / are formed as a guide means for the fourth and the third stop, the first predetermined rotational position can easily be achieved by turning the writing unit with respect to the first sleeve. Since the guide device allows, while maintaining the system between the third and the fourth stop of At any initial rotational position to reach the predetermined first rotational position, it does not matter which rotational position the writing unit with respect to the first sleeve initially, ie at the time when the writing unit is inserted into the first sleeve until the third and fourth stop to strike each other.

In the case of the pen according to the invention, it is therefore not necessary to keep the writing unit in the first predetermined rotational position when it is pushed into the first sleeve. Rather, the first predetermined rotational position is automatically achieved by simply twisting under installation of the third at the fourth stop.

According to the invention, it is preferably provided that the guide device at least in sections describes the path of a helical coil. As a result, a particularly uniform and resistance-free displacement of the third on the fourth or the fourth on the third Anschlag'möglich.

It is conceivable that the writing unit with respect to the first sleeve has not only one, but two or more predetermined rotational positions in which it can be installed.

Therefore, the pin according to the invention preferably at least a fifth, coupled to the writing unit acting in the circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis and at a second predetermined rotational position of the writing unit with respect to the first sleeve cooperating with the second stop stop, wherein the fifth stop and the second stop at the second predetermined rotational position abut one another.

Alternatively or additionally, the pin according to the invention preferably at least a sixth, coupled to the sleeve, acting in the circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis and at a third predetermined rotational position of the writing unit with respect to the first sleeve with the first stop cooperating stop, wherein the sixth stop and the first Stop abut each other at the third predetermined rotational position.

As already mentioned above, it can be provided according to the invention that the pin has at least one viewing window through which information and / or decoration on the surface of the writing unit at the predetermined first rotational position, at the predetermined second rotational position and / or at the predetermined third Rotary position of the writing unit with respect to the first sleeve is visible. The decoration or the information may be, for example, a color specification. In other words, the inscription "black" can be visible through the viewing window. But it can also be just a black colored field visible. In addition, through the viewing window, for example, a mark may be visible.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the pin has a second sleeve, which is coupled to the first sleeve and serves to hold the writing unit used in the first sleeve in the first sleeve. In other words, for example, the first sleeve is closed by the second sleeve at that end over which the writing unit is inserted into the first sleeve. In particular, when the guide means describe the path of a helical coil, the second sleeve can help to maintain the predetermined rotational position. Namely, the sleeve can not be further rotated in a first direction of rotation because of the abutment of the first and the second stop. The reverse direction of rotation is her but denied example, in the case of the guide device in the form of a helical coil when the second sleeve prevents axial displacement of the writing unit from the first sleeve out.

In addition to the pen, the invention also relates to the writing unit contained therein, which is offered individually as a wear replacement part in the trade.

According to the invention, it is provided that the writing unit has at least one stop acting in the circumferential direction about a longitudinal axis of the writing unit and a stop acting in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

As a result, the writing unit according to the invention can be used together with the pen according to the invention described above, in particular it can be used automatically.

Again, it is inventively preferred that the stop acting in the direction of the longitudinal axis is formed as a guide device.

More preferably, the guide device describes at least in sections, the path of a helical coil.

According to the invention, it is further preferred that information and / or decoration on the surface is / are provided for each stop acting in the circumferential direction.

According to the invention, the writing unit can be, for example, a refill or a writing fluid reservoir.

With the invention, not only the insertion of the writing unit into the first sleeve can be automated, but also the application of information and / or decoration to the writing unit, the information / decor being visible through the viewing window already mentioned above on the pen should. For this purpose, it is of course required that the information / decor is applied in the correct rotation angle range of the writing unit.

For this purpose, a device for holding a writing unit is provided according to the invention, which has at least one acting in the circumferential direction about a predetermined axis stop and at least one acting in the direction of the predetermined axis stop.

• Dabei wird die Schreibeinheit von einem drehbaren und axialverschieblichen Werkzeug bei beliebiger Drehstellung der Schreibeinheit axial verschoben, bis der in Richtung der Längsachse wirkende Anschlag der Schreibeinheit an dem in Richtung der vorbestimmten Achse wirkenden Anschlag an der Haltevorrichtung anschlägt. Dabei wird die Schreibeinheit von dem Werkzeug derart gehalten, dass die Längsachse der Schreibeinheit mit der vorbestimmten Achse zusammenfällt.

In other words, the holding device for the writing unit, for example, the same attacks as the first sleeve of that pen, in which the writing unit is to be used later. The insertion into the holding device is therefore the same as the insertion into the first sleeve, which has already been described in detail above:

• In this case, the writing unit is axially displaced by a rotatable and axialverschieblichen tool at any rotational position of the writing unit until the acting in the direction of the longitudinal axis stop the writing unit on the in the direction of the predetermined Axis acting stop abuts the holding device. In this case, the writing unit is held by the tool such that the longitudinal axis of the writing unit coincides with the predetermined axis.

At the latest when the two axially acting stops abut each other, the writing unit is rotated by means of the tool until the provided on the writing unit and acting in the circumferential direction stop abuts the likewise acting in the circumferential direction stop on the holding device. If this is the case, the rotation is stopped. This stopping can for example be realized by a torque limiter (slip clutch) on the tool.

Of course, it is conceivable that the stop provided on the writing unit and acting in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the writing unit is designed as a guide device. However, according to the invention, it is furthermore preferred that the stop acting on the holding device in the direction of the predetermined axis is designed as a guide device.

The guide device describes according to the invention preferably at least in sections, the path of a helical coil. As already stated above, a particularly uniform and almost resistance-free rotation of the writing unit with respect to the holding device is possible until the stops acting in the circumferential direction abut each other, i. until the predetermined rotational position is reached.

As already mentioned above, the predetermined axis of the holding device should coincide with the longitudinal axis of a writing unit held by the holding device.

Fig. 1

schematisch eine Vorrichtung zum Halten einer Mine zum Zwecke des Bedruckens nach einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Explosionszeichnung eines Stiftes nach einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung und

die Fig. 3 bis 5

vergrößerte Einzelheiten der Figuren 1 und 2.

In the following the invention with reference to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings with further details is explained in more detail. Show

Fig. 1

schematically a device for holding a mine for the purpose of printing according to an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2

a schematic exploded view of a pin according to an embodiment of the invention and

FIGS. 3 to 5

enlarged details of Figures 1 and 2.

In Fig. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a device for holding a refill 12 for the purpose of printing. The holding device 10 is fixed to a stationary bearing 14. It is tubular and dimensioned such that the mine 12 can be inserted in Fig. 1 from right to left in the interior of the holding device 10. The purpose of this is a tool 16, which is indicated only schematically in the drawing. The tool 16 has a receptacle 18, which is designed in the form of a blind hole. The receptacle 18 is dimensioned such that the end of the mine shown on the right in FIG. 1 can be plugged in to form a frictional connection.

The holding device 10 has a positioning aid 20. The mine 12 has a positioning aid 22. The positioning aids 20 and 22 are shown enlarged in FIG.

The positioning aid 22 has a stop 24 designed in the form of a step and acting in the circumferential direction about a longitudinal axis L. In the same way, the positioning aid 20 has a stop 26 acting in the circumferential direction. In addition, an acting in the direction of the longitudinal axis L stop 28 is provided on the positioning aid 22, which describes the path of a helical coil. A corresponding helical stop 30 is also formed on the positioning aid 20.

If the refill 12 shown in FIG. 1 is to be printed, then - as shown in FIG. 1 - it is inserted into the recess 18 of the tool 16. The tool 16 is set in rotation about the longitudinal axis L of the mine 12. Furthermore, the tool 16 with the lead 12 held thereon in FIG. 1 is moved to the left and thus into the holding device 10 until the stop 28 abuts against the stop 30. Even after striking the tool 16 continues to exert pressure in the direction of the Haltevrorrichtung 10. Since the stop 28 slides along the stop 30 as a result of the rotation of the tool 16 and thus of the lead 12, the lead 12 will gradually move further to the left and thus into the fixture 10 until the stop 24 abuts against the stop 26 strikes. The mine 12 can no longer rotate now. The rotary drive of the tool 16 does not have to be turned off, however. Rather, the frictional engagement within the recess 18 is selected such that the tool 16 can continue to rotate while the lead 12 is held in place. The frictional connection thus forms a slip clutch.

Since the mine 12 now has a defined rotational position with respect to the holding device 10 because of the abutment of the abutment 24 on the abutment 26, it can be printed on in the predetermined direction of rotation. For this purpose, a pressure tool not shown in the figure is moved against the mine 12.

Fig. 2 shows the marked with the mark STABILO mine 12 and a sleeve 32 with a viewing window 34 through which the mark STABILO is then visible when the mine 12 is inserted in a predetermined rotational position in the sleeve 32. In order to ensure the correct rotational position, the sleeve 32 has a positioning aid 36, which corresponds to the positioning aid 20 in the illustrated embodiment. The lead 12 can thus be automatically inserted into the sleeve 32 after printing with the mark STABILO from the tool 16 or a similar tool, the sleeve 32 then of course having to be held in a suitable manner. The respective rotational position of the sleeve 32 plays no role in the holder. Namely, the lead 12 will always be inserted in the correct rotational position with respect to the sleeve 32 by the tool 16, because the positioning pads 22 and 36, like the positioning pads 22 and 20, cooperate to automatically position the lead 12 correctly. Again, it is only necessary that the tool in Fig. 2 is moved from right to left and rotated.

After the automatic insertion of the refill 12 into the sleeve 32, a sleeve 38 with an external thread 40 is screwed into an internal thread, not shown in the figure, on the sleeve 32. In the screwed state, the mine 12 abuts with its rear end to the closed rear end of the sleeve 38 at.

By screwing the sleeve 38 with the sleeve 32, the lead 12 is finally brought into the predetermined rotational position or held in the predetermined rotational position, wherein the predetermined rotational position is selected such that the mark STABILO appears in the window 34.

The pitch of the thread 40 is at most equal to the pitch of the helices 28 and 30, rather flat, so that a forced screwing of the two sleeves 38 and 32 is avoided in any case. In other words, the thread 40 may only grip when the mine 12 has reached within the sleeve 32, the predetermined rotational position.

Figures 4 and 5 show alternative embodiments of positioning aids. In this case, the embodiment according to FIG. 4 differs from that according to FIG. 3 in that two stops 42 and 44 acting in the circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis are provided. This allows the mine 12 to assume two different rotational positions, which are offset by 180 ° to each other in this example. Such a configuration is particularly useful if two viewing windows and two imprints are provided.

In the embodiment of the positioning aids according to FIG. 5, not two helical spirals slide on one another, but a stop 46 with a comparatively small surface acting in the direction of the longitudinal axis L slides on the helical coil 28 until a stop 48 acting in the circumferential direction strikes against its counter stop 24.

Of course, the ratios shown in Figures 4 and 5 can also be chosen just vice versa. In other words, it would then be provided, for example, that the two stops 42 and 44 are provided on the holding device 10 and / or on the sleeve 32. In addition, for example, the stops 46 and 48 may be formed on the mine 12, which then cooperates with the positioning aid 20 or 36 on the holding device 10 and the sleeve 32.

As the above shows, the invention not only allows automatic loading of the fixture 10 with the refill lead 12 for printing, but also the subsequent automatic insertion of the refill 12 into the mandrel 12 Sleeve 32, in turn, with a predetermined rotational angular orientation of the lead 12 with respect to the sleeve 32, so that the imprint STABILO appears exactly in the viewing window 34.

The features of the invention disclosed in the foregoing description, in the claims and in the drawings may be essential both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments.

Claims (16)

1. Pen having
   a first casing (32) and
   a writing unit in the form of a refill or writing fluid storage means which is inserted in the first casing (32),
   characterised in that
   the writing unit (12) has a first stop (24, 42) which is operative in the peripheral direction about the longitudinal axis (L) of the writing unit (12),
   a second stop (26) is provided, which is coupled to the first casing (32), is operative in the peripheral direction about the longitudinal axis (L) and cooperates with the first stop (24, 42) in a predetermined first rotational position of the writing unit (12) with respect to the first casing (32), the first and second stops (24, 42, 26) butting against each other in the first predetermined rotational position,
   the writing unit (12) has a third stop (28) which is operative in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L), and
   a fourth stop (30) is provided, which is coupled to the first casing (32), is operative in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) and cooperates with the third stop (28),
   the third stop (28) being constructed as a guide device for the fourth stop (30), along which device the fourth stop (30) is displaceable, upon rotation of the writing unit (12) with respect to the first casing (32), until the predetermined first rotational position is reached.
2. Pen having
   a first casing (32) and
   a writing unit (12) in the form of a refill or writing fluid storage means which is inserted in the first casing (32),
   characterised in that
   the writing unit (12) has a first stop (24, 42) which is operative in the peripheral direction about the longitudinal axis (L) of the writing unit (12),
   a second stop (26) is provided, which is coupled to the first casing (32), is operative in the peripheral direction about the longitudinal axis (L) and cooperates with the first stop (24, 42) in a predetermined first rotational position of the writing unit (12) with respect to the first casing (32), the first and second stops (24, 42, 26) butting against each other in the first predetermined rotational position,
   the writing unit has a third stop (28) which is operative in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L), and
   a fourth stop (30) is provided, which is coupled to the first casing (32), is operative in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) and cooperates with the third stop (28),
   the fourth stop (30) being constructed as a guide device for the third stop (28), along which device the third stop (28) is displaceable, upon rotation of the writing unit (12) with respect to the first casing (32), until the predetermined first rotational position is reached.
3. Pen according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the guide device (28, 30) describes, at least in certain portions, the path of a spiral helix.
4. Pen according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by at least a fifth stop (44) which is coupled to the writing unit (12), is operative in the peripheral direction about the longitudinal axis (L) and cooperates with the second stop (26) in a second predetermined rotational position of the writing unit (12) with respect to the first casing (32), the fifth stop (44) and the second stop (26) butting against each other in the second predetermined rotational position.
5. Pen according to claim 4, characterised by at least a sixth stop which is coupled to the casing (32), is operative in the peripheral direction about the longitudinal axis (L) and cooperates with the first stop (24, 42) in a third predetermined rotational position of the writing unit (12) with respect to the first casing (32), the sixth stop and the first stop (24, 42) butting against each other in the third predetermined rotational position.
6. Pen according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it has at least one viewing window (34) through which an item of information and/or decoration on the surface of the writing unit (12) is visible in the predetermined first rotational position, in the predetermined second rotational position and/or in the predetermined third rotational position of the writing unit (12) with respect to the first casing (32).
7. Pen according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by a second casing (38) which is coupled (40) to the first casing (32) and which serves to hold the writing unit (12) inserted in the first casing (32) in said first casing (32).
8. Writing unit in the form of a refill or writing fluid storage means for a pen according to one of the preceding claims, having at least one stop (28) which is operative in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the writing unit, characterised by at least one stop (24; 42, 44) which is operative in the peripheral direction about the longitudinal axis (L) of the writing unit (12).
9. Writing unit according to claim 8, characterised in that the stop (28) which is operative in the direction of the longitudinal axis is constructed as a guide device.
10. Writing unit according to claim 9, characterised in that the guide device describes, at least in certain portions, the path of a spiral helix.
11. Writing unit according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterised in that an item of information and/or decoration is/are provided on the surface for each stop (24; 42, 44) which is operative in the peripheral direction.
12. Writing unit according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterised in that it is a refill or a writing fluid storage means.
13. Device for holding a writing unit (12) in the form of a refill or writing fluid storage unit of a pen according to one of claims 1 to 7, and/or a writing unit (12) according to one of claims 8 to 11, having at least one stop (30) which is operative in the direction of a predetermined axis,
    characterised by at least one stop (26) which is operative in the peripheral direction about the predetermined axis.
14. Device according to claim 13, characterised in that the stop (30) which is operative in the direction of the predetermined axis is constructed as a guide device.
15. Device according to claim 14, characterised in that the guide device describes, at least in certain portions, the path of a spiral helix.
16. Device according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterised in that the predetermined axis coincides with the longitudinal axis (L) of a writing unit (12) held by the device.

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