GB2067474A

GB2067474A - Ink transfer cores

Info

Publication number: GB2067474A
Application number: GB7940406A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Waite and Son Ltd
Current assignee: Waite and Son Ltd
Priority date: 1979-11-22
Filing date: 1979-11-22
Publication date: 1981-07-30

Abstract

A capillary action ink transfer core of fibrous resin bonded material for a writing or marking instrument is formed from an extruded rod which is extruded with longitudinally extending recesses 1 spaced apart around its periphery. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ink transfer cores This invention relates to capillary action ink trans fez cores of fibrous resin bonded material for writing or marking instruments.

Such cores may form the nib of the instrument and act to transfer ink by capillary action from a source thereof in the instrument directly to the writing or marking surface or they may act to transfer ink within the instrument during writing or marking for example from an ink source to a ball-point writing tip.

It is known to form these cores from an extruded rod which is sized for example by plunge form grinding. The extruded rod and core formed therefrom are usually circular in cross-section and sometimes rectangular.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a capillary action ink transfer core of fibrous resin bonded material for a writing or marking instrument, said core being formed from an extruded rod which is extruded with longitudinally extending recesses spaced apart around its periphery.

Extruding the rod with longitudinally extending recesses around its periphery enables several advantages to be achieved. A more uniform curing of the resin throughout the cross-section of the rod can be achieved since the centre of the rod is closer to the outer surface. The raw material content of the rod is reduced and this can result in significant cost savings. A greater tolerance between the external dimensions of the core formed from the rod and the bore of the instrument in which the core is fitted is possible because contact of the bore by the core is not continuous. The need for a vent in the instrument is eliminated since the recesses form vents.

In orderthatthe invention may be better understood, two embodiments thereof, which are given by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 are cross-sections of extruded rods from which capillary action ink transfer cores are to be formed.

The cross-sections illustrated are theoretical as they correspond to the shape of the die through which the rod material is extruded. In practice the shape of the cross-section of the rod will notcorres- pond exactly with that of the die.

The rod is extruded with longitudinally extending recesses 1 spaced apart around its periphery and in the illustrated embodiments the regions 2 or the rod between the recesses 1 extend outwardly to the surface of an imaginary cylinder represented by circle 3 which would be the outer surface of the equivalent rod of circular cross-section. For the reasons stated above the provision of the recesses 2 provides for a more uniform curing of the resin of the rod than in the equivalent circular cross-section rod; it reduces the raw material - i.e. resin and man-made fibres content; it enables greater tolerances between the core and its bore in the instrument, and eliminates the need for vents to be formed in the instrument.

With regard to the reduction of raw material, it is envisaged that reductions of 30% or more can be readily achieved. That is, the cross-sectional area of the extruded rod could be 70% or less of the crosssectional area of the above-mentioned imaginary cylinder represented by the circle 3.

Preferablythe rod should be provided with at least three recesses and although it could be provided with more we believe that 5 or, as illustrated in both embodiments, 6 recesses provides the best arrangementwhen the core is used as a nib.

The Figures show possible recess configurations.

In Figure 1, each recess 1 is defined by a substantially arcuate surface 4. In Figure 2, each recess is defined by substantially flat surfaces 5.

The rods of resin bonded fibrous material are formed into ink transfer cores by, for example, plunge form grinding during which operation a pointed writing or marking end would be formed if the core were to form a nib.

1. Acapillaryaction inktransfercoreoffibrous resin bonded material for a writing or marking instrument, said core being formed from an extruded rod which is extruded with longitudinally extending recesses spaced apart around its periphery.

2. A core as claimed in claim 1, wherein the regions of the rod between said recesses extend outwardly to the surface of an imaginary cylinder.

3. A core as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rod has at least three said recesses.

4. A core as claimed in claim 3, wherein said rod has five or six said recesses.

5. A core as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein each said recess is defined by substantially arcuate surface.

6. A core as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein each said recess is defined by substantially flat surfaces.

7. Acore as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the cross-sectional area of the rod is 70% or less of the cross-sectional area of the imaginary cylinder.

8. A core as claimed in any one of the preceding claims having a pointed writing or marking end.

9. A capillary action ink transfer core of fibro us resin bonded material for a writing or marking instrument, said core being formed from an extruded rod substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompany ing drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Ink transfer cores This invention relates to capillary action ink trans fez cores of fibrous resin bonded material for writing or marking instruments. Such cores may form the nib of the instrument and act to transfer ink by capillary action from a source thereof in the instrument directly to the writing or marking surface or they may act to transfer ink within the instrument during writing or marking for example from an ink source to a ball-point writing tip. It is known to form these cores from an extruded rod which is sized for example by plunge form grinding. The extruded rod and core formed therefrom are usually circular in cross-section and sometimes rectangular. In accordance with the present invention there is provided a capillary action ink transfer core of fibrous resin bonded material for a writing or marking instrument, said core being formed from an extruded rod which is extruded with longitudinally extending recesses spaced apart around its periphery. Extruding the rod with longitudinally extending recesses around its periphery enables several advantages to be achieved. A more uniform curing of the resin throughout the cross-section of the rod can be achieved since the centre of the rod is closer to the outer surface. The raw material content of the rod is reduced and this can result in significant cost savings. A greater tolerance between the external dimensions of the core formed from the rod and the bore of the instrument in which the core is fitted is possible because contact of the bore by the core is not continuous. The need for a vent in the instrument is eliminated since the recesses form vents. In orderthatthe invention may be better understood, two embodiments thereof, which are given by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 are cross-sections of extruded rods from which capillary action ink transfer cores are to be formed. The cross-sections illustrated are theoretical as they correspond to the shape of the die through which the rod material is extruded. In practice the shape of the cross-section of the rod will notcorres- pond exactly with that of the die. The rod is extruded with longitudinally extending recesses 1 spaced apart around its periphery and in the illustrated embodiments the regions 2 or the rod between the recesses 1 extend outwardly to the surface of an imaginary cylinder represented by circle 3 which would be the outer surface of the equivalent rod of circular cross-section. For the reasons stated above the provision of the recesses 2 provides for a more uniform curing of the resin of the rod than in the equivalent circular cross-section rod; it reduces the raw material - i.e. resin and man-made fibres content; it enables greater tolerances between the core and its bore in the instrument, and eliminates the need for vents to be formed in the instrument. With regard to the reduction of raw material, it is envisaged that reductions of 30% or more can be readily achieved. That is, the cross-sectional area of the extruded rod could be 70% or less of the crosssectional area of the above-mentioned imaginary cylinder represented by the circle 3. Preferablythe rod should be provided with at least three recesses and although it could be provided with more we believe that 5 or, as illustrated in both embodiments, 6 recesses provides the best arrangementwhen the core is used as a nib. The Figures show possible recess configurations. In Figure 1, each recess 1 is defined by a substantially arcuate surface 4. In Figure 2, each recess is defined by substantially flat surfaces 5. The rods of resin bonded fibrous material are formed into ink transfer cores by, for example, plunge form grinding during which operation a pointed writing or marking end would be formed if the core were to form a nib. CLAIMS