JPH0952490A - Ink refilling tool for marking pen and board equipped therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink refilling tool with which excellent ink flowing state in a pen can be maintained all the time without complicated operation, clear characters can be written, and wastes of used pens scarcely generated, and to provide a board having the ink refilling tool. SOLUTION: An ink and an ink-penetrating body 4 are housed in an ink container 2. When a pen 1 is inserted into a pen inserting opening 3, the pen 1 and the inserting opening 3 seal the container 2 completely so as to prevent evaporation of the ink. At the same time, a writing tip 9 comes into contact with the ink-penetrating body 4 and the ink penetrates the ink-penetrating body in the pen through the writing tip. An ink refilling tool is attached to a part of a board.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink supply tool for a pen for marking a white board, an electronic blackboard, paper, cardboard, metal, plastic, etc. and a board having the ink supply tool.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art White boards that are widely used in conference rooms, etc.
An electronic blackboard or the like (hereinafter collectively referred to as a board) generally includes a white board and a marking pen for writing characters on the white board. In the case of an electronic blackboard, a copy device for copying characters is further added. A marking pen for writing characters on a board (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a pen) is a container that stores an ink absorber of a felt-like body or a fiber bundle-like body that absorbs ink, It consists of a pen tip in the form of a formed fiber bundle and a cap. Since the ink absorber and the pen tip are in contact with each other, the ink contained in the ink absorber can be transmitted to the pen tip to write characters on the board. When not in use, a cap is attached to prevent evaporation of ink.

When writing with a pen, the ink is consumed by adhering to the board, and at the same time the solvent in the ink (usually alcoholic) evaporates from the tip of the pen to reduce the ink in the pen. Alternatively, the pen tip may dry even if the ink is sufficiently left in the pen. Once the pen tip has dried, the dried ink will not easily dissolve even with a cap. With these things, when I try to write with a pen in the pen area of the board, I often experience fading. I often experience that the ink does not come out well when I try to write it by replacing it with another pen. On a board that is frequently used, a large number of pens with poor ink output are discarded, which is not preferable from an environmental point of view. Furthermore, if the characters were faint, the characters in the copy could not be read.

The board pen has been described above as an example. In addition to this, a magic ink using a ketone-based solvent, a water-based marking pen, a felt-tip pen, etc. can be used for paper, cardboard, metal, plastic, etc. The same applies to marking. In the present invention, all these pens are simply referred to as pens.

[0005]

As described above, the conventional marking pen has a problem in that the ink is difficult to come out and characters are blurred. In addition, there is a problem that it is unfavorable to the environment because the pen that has run out of ink is frequently discarded. The present invention is intended to solve such a problem, and a first object of the present invention is to provide an ink replenishing tool which prevents characters from being blurred due to a decrease in ink remaining in the pen. . A second object of the present invention is to provide an ink replenishing tool which prevents letters from being blurred due to drying of the pen tip. A third object of the present invention is to provide an ink refilling tool for reducing the frequency of pen disposal. A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a board having the above ink supply device.

[0006]

The first to third objects of the present invention are an ink container for containing ink, a marking pen insertion port formed in a part of the container, and the inside of the container from the insertion port. It is composed of an ink absorber extending to the bottom, and there is no gap between the marking pen and the insertion port in a state where the pen tip of the marking pen inserted from the insertion port is in contact with the ink absorber. This is achieved by an ink replenishing tool for a marking pen, which has a structure in which a pen and an insertion opening are fitted to prevent evaporation of ink.

The fourth object of the present invention is achieved by a board in which the ink supply device is attached to a part thereof or integrally formed.

The ink container of the ink supply device of the present invention is made of metal,
It is formed of plastic, glass, ceramics or the like, but it is particularly preferable to use plastic in terms of cost, handleability, and the like. The ink container may be provided with an injection port for injecting ink. The ink contained in the ink container may be the same as the conventional one. The ink absorber is a substance capable of absorbing or permeating ink and storing it, and a felt, a sponge, a fiber bundle, a cloth, a non-woven fabric, cotton, and the like are used.

The insertion opening of the pen is closed when the pen is not inserted to prevent the ink in the ink container from evaporating, and is opened in conjunction with the insertion of the pen to be fitted with the pen. There is no gap between the two, so it prevents the ink inside from evaporating,
When the pen is pulled out from this state, the insertion opening may be automatically closed. That is, the mechanism may be such that the insertion opening is opened and closed in association with the insertion and removal of the pen.

For example, the plastic or metal piece forming the lid of the insertion port is pressed against the sealing from the inside of the ink container by the spring force, and the lid seals the ink container when the pen is not inserted. When the pen is inserted against the spring force, the lid is pushed inward and opens, and the pen tip contacts the ink absorber in the container and stops. If left in this state, the ink in the ink absorber will seep into the ink absorber in the pen from the pen tip. At this time, in order to prevent the evaporation of the ink, it is important that the structure has no gap between the pen and the insertion port. When the pen is pulled out, the lid automatically closes to seal the ink container. In order to improve the airtightness of the lid, it is effective to apply grease to the contact portion between the lid and the sealing.

The lid is not limited to a structure that opens inside the ink container, but may have a structure that slides sideways or opens upward. In addition, as described above, the lid does not automatically open and close in conjunction with the insertion / removal of the pen.The lid is opened manually or electrically, then the pen is inserted, and the pen is removed manually or electrically. The structure may be such that the lid is closed with. In addition, when there is a possibility that the sealing by the lid may be incomplete, a cap may be further covered over the lid to completely seal the ink container.

The pen may be used as the lid of the ink replenishing tool without using the special lid as described above. If the pen insertion port of the ink replenishing tool has the same cross-sectional shape as the cap of the pen, the ink replenishing tool is completely sealed by the pen at all times when the pen is inserted, and the evaporation of ink can be prevented. That is, a spare pen is prepared, and when the ink-supplied pen is pulled out, the spare pen is inserted. It is also possible to provide a large number of pen insertion openings in one ink container and insert a large number of pens that are difficult to write due to low ink levels for reproduction.

When there are plural kinds of pen thicknesses, plural kinds of ink replenishing tools having different insertion opening sizes may be prepared. In addition, a plurality of types of attachments for changing the size of the insertion opening may be prepared, and an attachment suitable for the thickness of the pen may be fitted in the insertion opening. Further, the diameters of the insertion openings may be provided in different stages so that they can be fitted in a plurality of types of pens having different diameters. Further, the pen may be screwed into the insertion port to be hermetically sealed.

The pen insertion port can be provided on the upper surface or the side surface of the ink container. Therefore, the pen can be inserted vertically, horizontally or diagonally into the ink container.

The ink replenishing device of the present invention can be used alone, but a plurality of ink replenishing devices of the same or different colors may be put together and used as an integrated type. Also, the inside of one ink container may be partitioned into a plurality of chambers to accommodate different colors of ink, and a pen insertion port may be provided for each. In order to prevent the ink pens of different colors from being inserted, it is desirable that the fitting portions of the pens and the insertion openings are different depending on the colors so that only the pens of the same color and the ink replenishing tool are fitted.

The ink replenishing tool of the present invention may be attached to a part of the board (for example, side surface, back side, front surface, lower end) by screwing, fitting, or integrally formed with the board by adhesion, welding or the like. You may. A box-shaped ink supply tool receiver may be provided on a part of the board. Further, the ink supply device may be fixed to the front surface of the board by a magnet. Other,
It can be attached in any suitable way.

The ink replenishing tool of the present invention has a side surface (front surface,
(Including the rear surface) may be made transparent so that the amount of remaining ink inside can be visually confirmed.

The ink replenishing tool of the present invention may have its insertion opening fitted to a commercially available pen, or may be combined with a dedicated pen which fits only the ink replenishing tool of a specific shape.

[0019]

[Function] When the pen is inserted into the ink replenishing tool, the ink contained in the ink absorber inside the ink container travels down the pen tip and bleeds into the ink absorber inside the pen. Is always like new. If it is troublesome to insert the used pen into the ink replenishing tool every time, the pen may be capped as in the conventional case, and when the ink does not run out easily, the pen may be inserted into the ink replenishing tool. If the amount of ink to be injected into the ink supply device is appropriately determined, the number of conventional pens is equivalent to several tens to 200 or more,
One pen can be used. If the ink of the ink replenishing tool is used up, the waste can be almost eliminated if the ink can be replenished.

[0020]

Specific Examples Specific examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a specific example of an ink replenishing tool 10 for a marking pen of the present invention and a pen 1 inserted and fitted therein. In the figure, 2 is an ink container, 3 is a pen insertion port, 4 is an ink absorber, 5 is a fitting portion between the pen and the insertion port, 6 is a holding cylinder for the ink absorber 4, and 7 is ink.
The fitting portion 5 of the insertion opening has the same shape as the fitting portion 8 of the pen and the cap, and completely seals the ink container when the pen is inserted into the insertion opening to prevent ink evaporation. . The holding cylinder 6 prevents the ink absorber 4 from collapsing or deforming, and has a lattice shape, a net shape, a porous shape, or the like so that the ink 7 easily penetrates into the absorber 4. The insertion port 3 and the holding cylinder 6 may be integrally formed of plastic, or one may be metal and the other may be plastic. Both may be metal.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the pen 1 is inserted in the ink replenishing tool of FIG. The pen tip 9 is in contact with the upper surface of the ink absorber 4 and slightly digs into the ink absorber 4. The ink absorber 4 is preferably made of a soft material. While the pen is inserted many times, the upper surface of the ink absorber 4 gradually shifts downward, but this is prevented by the frictional force between the inner surface of the holding cylinder 6 and the ink absorber. If left for several tens of minutes or longer, preferably for several hours in the state of FIG. 2, the ink is sufficiently supplied to the ink absorber (not shown) in the pen 1.

When the pen is inserted many times, the portion of the upper surface of the ink absorber 4 which is hit by the pen tip may be irreversibly deformed and contact with the pen tip may become insufficient. It is desirable to use a material that is as elastic as possible. Alternatively, an elastic material such as sponge may be used only on the upper portion of the absorbent body 4. Alternatively, a coiled spring may be inserted into the absorber 4 so that the absorber 4 always receives an upward force.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of another embodiment of the ink supply device 10 of the present invention. In this example, a sheet-shaped spring is used to always bring the ink absorber into good contact with the pen tip. Reference numeral 11 denotes a sheet-shaped spring made of metal, plastic, or the like, one end of which is fixed to the inner wall of the container 2, the side wall, and the like, and the other end of which is located near the pen insertion opening 3 At one end of the ink absorber 12 is attached. The other end of the ink absorber 12 is fixed to the bottom surface inside the ink container. The ink absorber 12 may be made of the same material as the ink absorber described above.

The ink supply device of FIG. 3 is used as follows. The ink 7 in the ink container permeates the ink absorber 12 and wets the whole. When the pen is inserted, the pen tip comes into contact with one end of the ink absorber 12, and the ink penetrates through the pen tip into the ink absorber in the pen. Since one end of the ink absorber 12 is constantly pressed against the pen tip by the sheet-shaped spring 11, the contact with the pen tip is always good. The ink absorber 12 may have a sheet shape, a string shape, a column shape, or any other shape. The strength of the spring 11 may be within a range in which the spring 11 is pushed down without damaging the pen tip by inserting the pen and returns to the original position when the pen is pulled out.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of still another embodiment of the ink supply device of the present invention. In this example, the ink absorber is always brought into good contact with the pen tip by utilizing gravity. Reference numerals 13 and 13 ′ are guide columns that suspend the ink absorber 12 and allow the ink absorber 12 to slide smoothly along it. The guide columns 13 and 13 'are fixed to the ink container wall so as to be horizontal and parallel to each other. The material and shape of the guide columns 13 and 13 'are poles having a smooth surface such as metal and plastic that are not corroded by ink, and the diameter thereof is preferably in the range of about 1 to 5 mm.
Reference numeral 14 is a substance having a larger specific gravity than ink, for example, a metal (iron, copper, brass, lead, solder, etc.).

The ink supply device of FIG. 4 is used as follows. When the pen is inserted, the ink absorber 12 between the guides 13 and 13 'is pushed downward by the pen tip, and the weight 14 moves slightly upward. Since the tension is applied to the ink absorber 12 by the weight 14, the pen tip and the ink absorber 12 are in good contact with each other. When the pen is pulled out, the ink absorber 12 between the guides 13 and 13 'is stretched by the action of the weight, and the slack disappears. The weight of the weight may be within a range such that when the pen is inserted, the ink absorber is pushed down without damaging the pen tip, and when the pen is removed, the ink absorber returns to the original position. A spring may be used instead of the weight 14 to pull the ink absorber downward.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side sectional view in the vicinity of a pen insertion opening of still another specific example of the ink supply device of the present invention. This example is a specific example of a structure in which the lid of the ink replenishing tool is opened and closed in conjunction with the insertion and removal of the pen. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 15 is an annular sealing made of soft rubber, plastic, or the like, the cross-section of which has a tip whose tip is narrowly pointed inward. Reference numeral 16 denotes a disk-shaped lid made of metal, plastic or the like having a gently convex central portion, which is rotatably mounted around a hinge 17 and is pressed against the sealing 15 by a spring (not shown). It is important that the portion where the lid 16 and the sealing 15 contact each other has a smooth surface in order to maintain airtightness. It is effective to grease this contact area. A soft rubber O-ring, a hollow O-ring, or the like may be used as the sealing 15. The ink absorber 12 may be arranged at a position where a portion 19 of the lid 16 farthest from the hinge 17 comes into contact with the ink absorber 12 during movement.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which a pen is inserted in the ink supply tool of FIG. First, the lid 16 is pushed down a little by the pen tip, and when the pen is further inserted, the tip portion 1 of the pen body 1
8 contacts the central convex portion of the lid 16 and pushes down the lid 16 almost vertically. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the pen is almost completely inserted. The farthest portion 19 from the hinge of the lid 16 moves along the arc 20, and the ink absorber 12 fixed to the sheet spring 11 is exposed. The pen tip comes into contact with the ink absorber 12. When the pen is pulled out, the lid 16 returns to the original position by the operation reverse to the above, and the ink replenishing tool is automatically covered.

FIG. 7 shows an improved type of the ink supply device of FIG. In the example of FIG. 5, since the pen tip comes into contact with the lid 16, the pen tip may be damaged while being inserted and removed thousands of times.
In the example of FIG. 7, the tip of the pen body comes into contact with the protrusion 21 located at a position displaced from the central portion of the lid before the pen tip comes into contact, and pushes down the lid, so there is no risk of damaging the pen tip. The top of the protrusion 21 has a cylindrical curved surface, and even if it contacts the pen body, it slides smoothly without being caught. Protrusion 21
The top portion of may be a cylinder or a sphere itself, or any other structure that smoothly slides on the pen body. The protrusion 21 may be formed integrally with the lid 16 or may be attached by screwing, bonding, welding or the like.

In the example of FIG. 7, a funnel-shaped guide 2 is provided at the insertion port 3.
2 is provided to prevent the pen tip from hitting the insertion opening. As a result, the pen tip always passes through the central portion of the insertion port, so that the pen tip is protected. Other embodiments can be provided with such a funnel-shaped guide. In the present example, the inclination angle of the funnel-shaped guide 22 is substantially equal to the inclination angle of the main body of the pen, but the inclination angle is not limited to this and can be arbitrarily determined.

If a hole is formed in a part of the board pen and board erasure storage area, an ink replenishing tool is attached to the lower part of this hole, and the pen is inserted into the ink replenishing tool through this hole, the pen is refilled with the ink replenishing tool. There is an advantage that the ink powder that has been wiped off by the board eraser and collected in the storage space when it is taken out from the board can be dropped into this hole and melted in the ink replenishing tool for reuse.

[0032]

According to the present invention, the ink can be easily replenished by inserting the pen whose ink has deteriorated into the ink replenishing tool. Can write Therefore, the user is not frustrated and a clear copy can be obtained.
It is also environmentally desirable as it produces almost no pen waste. Further, according to the board of the present invention, the pen can be inserted and removed with one hand into and from the ink supply tool fixed to the board, which is very convenient.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a side sectional view of a specific example of an ink replenishing tool for a marking pen according to the present invention and a side view of a specific example of the pen.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a state where a pen is inserted in the supply tool.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of another specific example of the replenishing device.

FIG. 4 shows a side sectional view of still another specific example of the replenishing device.

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a pen insertion opening of still another specific example of the replenishing device.

FIG. 6 is a partial side sectional view showing a state where a pen is inserted in the ink supply device of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a pen insertion opening of still another specific example of the replenishing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Pen 2 ... Ink container 3 ... Insertion port 4, 12 ... Ink absorber 5 ... Pen fitting part 6 ... Holding tube 7 ... Ink 9 ... Pen tip 10 ... Ink supply tool 11 ...... Sheet-shaped spring 13, 13 '...... Guide 14 …… Weight 15 …… Annular seal 16 …… Lid 17 …… Hinge 18 …… Pen body tip 21 …… Protrusion 22 …… Funnel guide

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A container for containing ink, a marking pen insertion opening formed in a part of the container, and an ink absorber extending from the insertion opening to the inner bottom of the container, and inserted through the insertion opening. While the pen tip of the marking pen and the ink absorber are in contact with each other, the structure is such that there is no gap between the marking pen and the insertion port to prevent ink evaporation. Characteristic ink supply tool for marking pen. 2. A board, wherein the marking pen ink replenishing tool according to claim 1 is attached to a part of the ink replenishing tool, or integrally formed with a part of the ink replenishing tool.