US2628431A - Fountain pen cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 17, 1953 o. cmiPMAN FOUNTAIN PEN CLEANING DEVICE IN V EN TOR. (729mm 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sbpt L: 27, 1949 Feb. 17, 1953 v D. CHAPMAN FOUNTAIN PENCLEANING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 591315 27, 1-949 m i mm Feb. 17, 1953 D. CHAPMAN FOUNTAIN PEN CLEANING DEVICE 5 Shefis-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 27, 1949 Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOUNTAIN PEN CLEANING DEVICE Dave- Chapman, Chicago, 111., assignor to The Parker. Pen Company,-Janesville, Wis., a corporati'on of .Wisconsin Application September 27, 1949', Serial No. 118,100

13'0laims.

This invention relates 'to'fountain pen cleaningdevices andhasto' do particularly with adevice for ccntrifugally expellingink or-other liquid from a fountain'pen; lfl hile'the device is adapted'for use with substantiallyall types of foun tain pens, it is especially-useful in connection with fountainpens of: the type'having an-overflow ink collectorr'wherein ink. is held by capillary' action.

It is desirable to be able to remove substantially all of the ink. from a fountain pen when cleaning it or whenchanging from one type or color of ink to; another; his almost impossible to do so by operating the filling mechanism of a fountain pen. of the type having an overflow collector of the capillary type; Moreover, when a washingliquid suchas water or othersolvent is employed to flush the ink'from thepen, such liquid is itself retained in' the collector. It has been found that substantially all of the ink or other liquid which maybe in a fountain pen may be expelled by the application of considerable force on the ink or other liquid in the pen such as the centrifugal force resultingfrom rotating the pen withthe point disposed radially outwardly of the axisofrotation.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple andv effective device for centrifugally expelling ink or other. liquid. from, a. fountain pen.

Another object of the invention is tov provide a device of the foregoing character wherein the cleaning operationmay be visually observed during the cleaning. operation.

Another object'i's to provide a. device which. is attractive and which may be. employed, as an attentionsattracting display, as well. as serving the utilitarian. purpose of cleaning a fountain pen.

Another object is to provide a pen-cleaning device operating on the centrifugal principle and having effective means forconfining and collecting the ink or other liquid expelled-from the pen and preventing such ink or liquid from being thrown against the operator or observer, or adjacent objects.

Still another object is to provide a cleaning device wherein the fountain pen may be quickly and easily inserted for the cleaning operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a centrifugal cleaning device having simple driving means for manually rotating a fountain pen at sufiicient speed to centrifugally eject the ink or cleaning liquid therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described adapted for the display of other merchandise such as ink for fountain pens;

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fountain pen cleaning devicein the form of a display device wherein the cleaning operation may be observed as the device is mounted on a counter and the cleaningoperation performed by an operator behindthe-counter.

Another object is to provide a completely equipped pen cleaning station at which is located both a pen rotating mechanism, which is-attractively housed, and also the variouspencleaning and servicing supplies, such as cleaningliquid, wiping chamois and-bottles of :ink, whichare readily accessible to the operator but concealed from the observer.

Other objects and I advantages will appear. from the following description and the appended drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspectiveview illustrating.- the device of my invention;-

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view of the device of. Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is -a fragmentary, front elevationalview ofv the pen-holding means of the device of'Fig. 1 and a portion of the-associated casing;

Fig; 5 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional-view, partly in elevation, illustrating another embodiment of my device; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along line, 6-6 of- Fig. 5.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1- to 3 of the drawings, the cleaning device comprises a cabinet it for enclosing the mechanism for whirling the pen, which cabinet preferably is formed of plastic or wood and; so constructed as to serve also, as a display stand for merchandise, as for example, bottles of ink. The. cabinet H! is formed with a lower or base portion ll and an upper portion l2 upstanding from the base portion and. adapted to. house the pen rotatin or whirling mechanism hereinafter described more in detail. The base portion I lincludesside members 13 connected by a top member 1A, a front rail iii. and a floor member l6v (Fig. 3). Extending between the side members it are a plurality of inclined shelf members I! and an inclined partition 18 (Fig. 3). providing racks for displaying merchandise, such racks in the present illustrative embodiment being particularly adapted for supporting bottles of ink.

The rear of the base H is. open (Figs. 2 and 3) for permitting access to the interior so that the user can place'bottles of ink, cleaning fluid, pieces of chamois skin for wiping pens, and the like on the floor member. I5, as will hereinafterappear, the latter being provided with suitably shaped and arranged sockets, one of which I9 is shown (Fig, 3).

The upstanding cabinet portion l2 preferably is formed by an upstanding, inclined front wall 253, a generally vertical rear wall 2|, and a combined side and top wall 2'2 extending between the front and rear walls 20 and 2| respectively. Swingably mounted on the rear wall 2| as by hinges 23 is a door 24 adapted to form with the rear wall a closure for the rear of the upper portion of the cabinet, which door is adapted to be held in closed position by a suitable latch 25. The upper cabinet portion I2 is suitably secured on the base portion II as by gluing, and the top member 14 of the base portion ll thus serves as a bottom closure for the upper cabinet portion [2.

The inclined front wall member 2|) is formed with a large circular opening 38 for the purpose of permitting the cleaning operation to be observed, as will be described hereinafter. The mechanism for whirling the pen is arranged to support the pen in a generally upright posi-':

tion and the window is so arranged that when the display is located on a counter of customary height, the pen is in the normal line of vision of an observer standing before the counter and may be viewed conveniently. The opening 30 is closed b a dome-shaped window member 3| formed of transparent material, such as glass or a suitable plastic, molded to the desired shape. It may be explained at this point that all portions of the device which are normally subject to contact with the ink or cleaning liquids are formed of materials which are inert to the ink or other liquids. I.

The window member 3! is secured in position closing the opening 30, with the principal portion of the window member 3| projecting forwardly beyond the front wall 20. To this end the opening 3| preferably is formed complementally to the adjacent portion of the window member 3i and the latter is provided with a flat rim 32. In order to catch and collect the ink or other liquid which is expelled from a pen being whirled, an annular trough is provided within defining a cleaning chamber 3! containing the pen holder and a portion of its supporting shaft.

The aforesaid trough may be formed in various ways and in the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 it is formed by an annular portion 38 of the window member BI and by a ring 33 having the general shape of a portion of a cone disposed opposite the portion 38. In lieu of providing the separate metal ring 33, the window member may be formed with an integral, inwardly extending peripheral flange (not shown) generally similar in shape to the ring 33 and adapted to form with the adjacent portion of the window a trough generally similar to the trough just described. Where a window member having an integral, skirt-like flange is em- 2' ployed, the window member preferably is secured directl to the wall, as by cement.

The window member 3! is secured in position preferably by the annular ring 33, which preferably is formed of metal, and is spun or peened around the rim 32 and which ring 33 itself is secured to the front wall 20. The ring 33 preferably has a channel shaped rim 35 which is secured to the front wall 29 by cementing the forward flange of the channel to the rear face of the front wall 2B However, if desired the rim 34 instead of being channel-shaped may be generally Z-shaped in cross-section with an ou* wardly extending flange (not shown) adapted to be secured to the front wall 21] by screws, or the channel may be L-shaped and the window member secured directly to the wall 20 as by cement. An annular gasket or gaskets (not shown) of rubber or cork may be interposed between the rim 32 and the rim 34 or between the rim 34 and the front Wall '20, or both, in order to prevent vibration of the Window member 3 i. A bezel ring 35 preferably formed of metal is suitably secured in the opening 3!}, as by tacks 35, for decorative purposes and for preventing dust from lodg ing in the crevice formed between the Window member SI and the opening 30.

The aforementioned casing which defines the cleaning chamber 31 is formed in part by the window member 3! and ring 33 and is completed by a dome-shaped rear closure or partition member 48, preferabl formed of thin metal and suitably secured as by cement to a mounting block 4i carried by the door 2 3. The rear closure member 43 is of such dimensions and arrangement that its forward peripheral edge is disposed close to the innerperipheral edge of the ring so as to provide a substantially closed casing with the ring 33 and window member 3!. The member 40 preferably is formed with concentric circular steps or corrugations 42 which serve both to stiffen the member and to provide an attractive ornamental appearance. Inasmuch as the member 48 is mounted on the swingable door 24, access to the interior of the casing 31 may be had by swinging the door 24 to open position.

Mechanism is provided for supporting within the cleaning chamber 3! a fountain pen to be cleaned and for rotating. the fountain pen about an axis transversely to the longitudinal axis of the pen and inwardly of the writing end of the pen so that ink or any other liquid which is in the pen is centrifugally expelled therefrom. To this end a pen holder or support $5 is rotatably mounted in the casing 3i by a shaft 48 extend ing along the axis of the casing. The pen holder includes a spring clip 4'? adapted to receive a fountain pen P therein and a generally trough: shaped member 48 extending perpendicularly to the axis of the shaft if: and carrying at one end a socket 49 formed of rubber or other suitable soft and resilient material having an opening 5!) therein adapted to receive the writing end of the pen P. The member 58 preferably has upstanding sides 5| adjacent the clip 4! for maintaining the latter in the desired position with respect to the member 48. The member 48 also preferably extends on the opposite side of the axis of rotation from the end which carries the socket mem ber 49 to beyond the rear end of the pen P to provide a counterbalance for the socket-carrying end of this member. The member S8 and the clip 47 are secured to the end of the shaft in a suitable manner as by a screw 53.

The shaft 4%: has a reduced portion 55, which may be constituted by a separate member forcefitted into the forward shaft portion, journ.

in a needle bearing 56 force-fitted into a bearing sleeve 5'? which is soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the rear member 40 and which extends into an opening 58 in the mounting block 4|; The shaft portion 5.") is journ'aledin a needle bearing 59 force-fitted intoa su table-recess 60 formed in the door 2'4.

The shaft is adapted to be rotated by manual operation by the operator'and to this end a driving mechanism is provided whereby relatively rapid rotation of the shaft may be" accomplished. For this purpose a driven pulley 6Iis"'secured" to the shaft portion as by a set screw 62 -and is driven by a belt 63 -trained'over a driving pulley 64 of substantially greater diameter than the driven pulley 61. The driving pulley-64 is secured to a shaft as bya' set screw G6= The -shaft 65 extends perpendicularly through the door" 24 and is journaled in a needle'bearing "Bl'pressfitted in the door 24 andprojecting rearwardly therefrom. An actuating crank 68 is secured. to the shaft 65 as by a screw 69. Y

It will be seen from the'foregoing that rotation of the shaft 48 and consequent rotation of the pen holder 45 about the axis of the shaft 46 may be readily accomplished by actuation of the crank 68 by the operator. The turning of the crank 58 rotates theshaft' 65 and in turn the pulley it carried thereby. This, through the belt 53, rotates the shaft portion 55 which rotates the shaft 4e.

When the pen P is rotated in the manner above described, ink is expelled by centrifugal 1 force from the writing end of the pen and, if the door 24 is closed so that the pen holder is in its proper operating position; the ink impinges against the-'zone 33 of the. window member 3! Which is radially outwardly opposite the path of movement of the writing end of thepen and which forms a portion of the trough as wellas against the ring 33. The ink which thus impinges against the window member 31 drains downwardly into the trough-like space between the lower portion of the ring 33 andthe horizontally opposite portion 380ithe window member 3! from whence it passes through 'a drainhole '50 provided in the ring 33. 'Disposed under the drain hole H3 is a drainpipellsecured in the L top member M and having its upper end appropriately shaped to receive all the ink'passing through the drain hole. Disposed under the drainpipe H is a suitable collecting receptacle i2 such as an ink bottle which is seated in the socket It in the floor whereby the receptacle is maintained in proper position under the drainpipe H.

In order to assist in draining ink which has impinged against the window member 3!;a plurality of concentric circular grooves 13 preferably are formed, as by molding or etching. in the inner surface of the window -member 3| throughout the zone 33 against which ink-is apt to impinge. A circular flange or baflie 14 preferably is formed integrally with the window member 3! and projects rearwardly from the inner face thereof in position to prevent ink from impinging against the window member on a portion thereoff'forwardly of the normal zone ofimpin'ge'me'ntbf the ink. Thus the portion of the"windo'w" member 3! forwardly of the 'zone of normal impingement is maintained clear andtransp'a rent so that the cleaning operation may be readily observed and there is no detraction from the attractive appearance of the display. 'Preferably thezonefifi of the window member 3! rearwardly of the flange i4 is coated with colored lacquer; so that the ink or ink residue which lodges therein is concealed from the observer. It] should be exat the lower portion thereof.

" the socket to aid in'retaining the bottle '52.

'andthr-ir of such surfaces.

plained at this point that all of the inner surfaces of the members which define the ink the trough and does not spatter against portions 'of'the' device outside the trough.

In using the device to clean a fountain pen, the door 24 is swung open, after releasing the latch 25, which swings the rear wall member l!) as well as the pen holder'away from the cooperat- 'ing ring and renders the pen holder readily accessible. A pen is inserted in the holder by introducing the writing end into the socket 5i a'ndforcing the body of the pen into the spring clip 41' The door 24 is then closed, wh ch action swings the pen holder and pen'carried thereby into position within the cleaning chamber 37. The crank 68 is rotated, which rotates the pen about the axis of the shaft 56 and centrifugally expels from the pen any ink which may remain therein. The ink thus expelled is drainedfrom the" casing in the manner above described and deposited in the receptacle 1?. If it is desired to flush the pen it is removed from the holder and water or other flushing liquid is drawn into the pen by actuation of the filling mechanism of the pen. The pen is thereafter inserted in the holder and again introduced into the cleaning chamber 31 and rotated to expel the flushing liquid, whereaft'er the pen'may be removed and is substantial- 1y emptied of all flushing liquid.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, there is illustrated another embodiment of my inventionwhich is generally similar in construction and operation to'that hereinabove described but which diifersfromthe previously described embodiment incertain constructional details which will now be described. It will be understood that where the second embodiment is not 'described'in detail it is similar to the previously described embodiment.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and *6, the cabinet preferably is generally'similar to the cabinet illustrated in Figs. I to '3 inclusive and described in connection therewith, except, however, that the floor memher" (not shown) is adapted to carry only bottles of in and cleaning liquid and does not support the ink-collecting receptacle i2. Instead, the receptacle i2 is carried in a shelf-like rack mounted on the inner face of the rear door 8% The rack 8% is formed with a socket 3'! open on three sides; exceptat its extreme bottom portion, to permit ready insertion of the bottle 52, and a bail 33 is pivotedto the rack 89 adjacent the top of The top member 79 issuitably cut away as at 39 to permit the rack to be positioned suitably, as shown in Fig. 5. With this arrangement the receptacle' is swung out of the cabinet, when the doo'nis 'op'ened; for a purpose which will hereinafter ap earn The upstanding portion of the cabinet is providedwith a dome-shaped window'rne-mbcr in amann'er'gene'rally similar to" the window mem- 3i -eacept thatthe window mez'nber 32 is of simple dome shape a-ndpreferably does not extend r'earwardly beyond the opening 33 in which iti's located and does not form any portion of the'trough." The window member '82 issecured in position by a plurality of metal clips 84 secured to the inner face of the front wall member 85 as by screws 86.

Cooperating with the window member 32 to define a cleaning chamber 98 is a circular parti tion or baffle member 9! which for convenience in manufacture preferably is constituted by a dished circular member 92 and an annular ring member $23, both of which preferably are formed of metal. The member 92 is secured as by soldering to a. mounting plate 94 attached as by screws 95 and 93 to a mounting bracket 91, which screws 95 and 96 also extend through the door BI for securing the plate 9 3 and bracket 9'! thereto. Spacing bushings 98 are provided on the screws 35 83 respectively for spacing the plate 9t and bracket 91. The member 92 preferably is formed with a series of concentric, circular steps Hid for the purpose of stiffening the member and providing an attractive appearance.

At its periphery the member 92 is provided with an annular rim or flange lill adapted to telescopingly receive a circular flange portion H12 of the member 93. The body portion of the latter is of generally conical form which, when the member Qi is in the position shown in Fig. 5, extends into the window member 82 and is located closely adjacent'the rim of the latter. The member 93 is formed with an inturned lip HM surrounding the forward opening in this member. The member 93 and the adjacent portions of the member 9| thus together provide a trough shaped and positioned to receive and retain all of the ink which is expelled from the pen.

A pen holder H9 is rotatably mounted in the chamber 93 by a shaft ill journaled in a bearing sleeve H2 which extends through and is secured in the mounting plate 94 as by peening over the projecting end N3 of the sleeve H2.

The shaft ill also has a bearing in the mount- .1

ing bracket 97 to aid in maintaining its alignment.

The pen holder Hill which is secured to the outer end of the shaft Ill as by a screw H4 includes a metal strip formed at one end to provide a trough-shaped seat H5 for the writing end of the pen P. At this end the pen holder is provided with a ring H5 serving to retain the pen against the seat and against displacement. Inwardly of the end of the pen holder I H a ring l H is provided which is somewhat larger than the ring 118 and is adapted to receive the body of the pen therein. A leaf spring H8 is secured to the pen holder strip adjacent the ring HS and extends in an inward direction along the member with a portion inclined away from. the member and adapted to resiliently urge the pen body against the ring H! for yieldably holding the pen in position. At the end of the strip opposite the ring MS a counterweight H9 is attached for counterbalancing the weight of the opposite end of the holder and of the pen carried thereby.

It will be noted that the pen holder H is of such form and arrangement that when the pen P is disposed therein in normal position the pen is inclined slightly to the axis of rotation of the shaft Iii; however, the writing end of the pen is disposed a substantial distance outwardly of such axis. It will also be noted from inspection of Fig. of the drawings that the writing end of the pen is disposed within the trough formed by peripheral portion of the partition member 9| and the ring 93 whereby when the pen is rotated ink or other liquid which is ejected from the writing end of the pen impinges against the interior surface of the trough. The conical body I03 and the'inturned lip I04 serve as a baffle to prevent any ink from spattering against the window member 82 or the adjacent interior portions of the cabinet. Ink which impinges against the walls of the trough drains downwardly and is collected in the bottom portion thereof, from whence it flows through a drain hole I provided in the bottom portion of the member 92 and is collected in the receptacle l2.

Suitable driving means are provided for r0- tating the shaft I l I, which means in the present embodiment of the invention include a gear drive instead of a belt drive as illustrated in connection with the previously described embodiment. The gear drive includes a driven gear l secured on the shaft I II at the portion thereof which extends between the mounting plate 94 and the bracket 91'. A driving gear I26 of substantially greater diameter than the driven gear l25 is secured on a shaft l2! journaled in the mounting plate 94 and bracket 91 and extending through an opening H28 in the door 8i. The driving gear I 26 is positioned between the plate 94 and bracket 9'! by its hub i253 and a spacing collar [35]. Secured to the end of the shaft I21 which projects through the door 8| is a crank l3! for rotating the shaft I21.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the second described embodiment of the invention operates in a manner generally similar to the first described embodiment. However, it will be noted that the member 9! provides in effect a self-contained receptacle for confining and collecting the ink ejected from the fountain pen and the window member 82 serves only as a closure element for closing the opening in the front wall 85 of the cabinet. The member 9i as well as the receptacle 12 are swung out of the cabinet when the door 8| is opened. By reason of the construction of the member 9|, no ink is permitted to impinge upon the window member 82. However, in order to conceal the member 93, the adjacent peripheral zone of the window member 82 may be frosted or painted.

In both forms of the invention all of the metal surfaces of the pen holder, or at least those surfaces adapted to contact the fountain pen, preferably are flocked with rayon or other suitable soft material in order to prevent marring or scratching the polished surface of the fountain pen. The drive ratio of the driving mechanism is selected so that when the crank is manually operated at a speed which is comfortable and convenient to the operator, the writing end of the pen is caused to travel at a velocity sufficient to cause all of the ink or other liquid to be expelled from the pen but insufiicient to cause spattering of the ink. It has been found that a drive ratio of from about 3 to 1 up to about 5 to '1 provides a desired velocity where the crank is rotated at a comfortable speed of for example around up to around R. P. M.

The device of the present invention preferably is so constructed as to provide a neat and attractive appearance which will add to the value of the device as a display. Thus, the metal surfaces which can be observed through the window, as for example the surfaces of the members 40 and 9!, are polished and lacquered. Moreover, the bezel ring is suitably finished as by enameling or bronzing to present an attractive but unobtrusive appearance. The exposed surfaces of the cabinet are stained and varnished or otherwise suitably finished. 7

It will be seen from the foregoing that the present invention provides a pen-cleaning device" which not only has great utility for use in cleaning fountain pens but also has substantial value" as an attention-attracting display. The enstomer or-prospective customer is able to observe the fountain pen while it is'being whirled to eject ink or cleaning liquid therefrom and his 'atten-' tion is focused upon the pen while it is being whirled. The advantages of an active display device of this character as contrasted to a passive display are so well known as to require no de-- tailed discussion. The pen holder being mounted on the door, which may be swung to a fullyopen' position, is readily accessible to the operator and thus a pen may be inserted in or removed from the holder quickly, conveniently and without danger of impairing or marring the pen. Moreover, since all of the driving mechanism is also mounted on the door, both the holder and driving mechanism may be constructed as a selfcontained unit. we

The device is one which can be economically and easily constructed and assembled and re--- quires no particular skill upon the part of the operator in View of the simplicity of operation. The driving mechanism is such that it permits the pen to be rotated about an axis with the writing end traveling at a substantial linear velocity sufficient to eject by centrifugal force substam tially all of the ink or cleaning liquid which may be held within the pen, even where the pen is one of the type having a capillary type ink collector.

The arrangement of the ink receiving trough Y insures against spattering of ink against other portions of the display or against the observer.

The ink is conveniently channeled to a small receptacle which can be readily removed and emptied from time to time. The central portion of the window in the first form of the invention and the entire window in the second form'playno part in catching ink expelled from the pen inasmuch as the trough 'is so designed that all of the ink is retained therein, as explained hereinbefore.

The cabinet not only serves as an en closure for the cleaning mechanism but also as" a convenient means for mounting the various bottles of ink and cleaning liquids which are employed in cleaning pens and in changing from one type of ink to another. Moreover, the device not only serves as an active display of the pen being cleaned but also permits the display of other mechandise such as bottles of ink.

I claim:

1. A device for centriiugally expelling ink or other liquid from a fountain pen comprising a" fountain pen holder, means mounting said holder for rotation about an axis and in a position to support a fountain pen on said holder with its" writing end extending outwardly away from said axis, a casing substantially enclosing said holder" and at least a portion-of said mounting means,

and including a relatively fixed section and a relatively movable section, and common movable supporting means supporting said holder, mounting means and relatively movable'casing section for movement as a unit away from said relatively fixed section to re nder said holder accessible for attachment or removal of a fountain pen. 5

2. A device for centrifugally expelling ink or I other liquid from a fountain pen'comprisinga holder for a fountain pen, means mounting said" holder for rotation about an axis and in a position to support a fountain pen carried thereby with its writing" end'extending outwardly from said axis; mechanism fo1-rotating said holder, a

cabinet enclosing said holder mounting means" and'a portion of said'mechanism and including a wall having a transparent portion positioned to expose said holder to view 'anda partition meinber disposed'in said cabinet-and'forming with said wall a casing substantiallyenclosingsaid holder andat least'a portion of said mounting means.

3. A' device for centrifugally cleaning a foun-- tain pen, saiddevi'ce comprising a casing defining a substantially vertically positioned chamber,

means for mounting thepen to be cleaned in the 1 chamberfs'aid' chamber adapted to collect thefiuid'discharged from the pen in the cleaning operation, said mounting meansbeing adapted forsupporting the fountain pen substantially vertically for rotation about a transverse axis with the point of the pen contiguous to a portion of the outer periphery of the chamber surround ingthe axis during the cleaning operation, and

means for rotating said' mounting means whereby the fluid within the pen is centrifugally ejected,

saidcha'mber having an-opening in its lower portionior discharging the ejected fluid.

4. 'A device "-for centrifugally cleaning a fountain-pen, said device comprising a' casing defining a chamber inclined to the horizontal, means for mounting the pen to" be cleaned in the-chamber, said chamber formed with an annular recess": adapted to collect the fluid discharged from the pen the meaningoperation, said mounting means being adapted for verticallysupporting the f ountain pen substantially in a planeintermediate the front and rear ends of'the chamber'whereby the'pen is adapted to eject the "fluid withinthe chamber as said last-mentioned means is rotated, meanspperatively connected to said mounting means 'for rapidly rotating the fountain pen whereby the fluid within the pen is centrifugally ejected into the aforesaid annular recess, means adapted to discharge thefluid from the aforesaid recess, andmeans for receiving the fluid drained from the recess. K J v 5; 'A device for cleaning fountain pens comprisinga chamber inclined to' the horizontal and the chamber as said last-mentioned means is 1 rotated, means for rotatablymounting the pen supporting means on the movable wall surface of the chamber, said movable wall surface adapted when separated from-the chamber to permit the attaching and-detaching of the fountain pen to the pen supporting means, and in the closed posi-- tion of the movable'wall surface with the fountain pen positioned within the chamber permitting rotation of thefountain pen whereby the fluid within the fountain pen isejected." T

'6.-A device forcleaning fountain pens-comprising a'chamberinclined from the vertical and adapted formounting 'a pen to be cleaned therein, said chamber comprising atransparent wallf surface and a refiectirigire'elr wall'surface, one of said surfacesadaptedto be movable whereby the fountain pen to be cleaned may be positioned within the chamber, said chamber formed with an annular recess adapted to collect the fluid discharged from the pen in the cleaning operation, means adapted for rotatably supporting the fountain pen substantially in a plane intermediate the front and rear end of the chamber, means for detachably mounting the pen on the pen supporting means, and means for rotating the pen supporting means whereby the fluid within the fountain pen is centrifugally ejected.

7. A display device for accessories for a fountain pen comprising a cabinet structure including a base and an upwardly inclined housing adapted to receive a device for cleaning fountain pens, said device for cleaning fountain pens comprising a casing defining a chamber mounted Within the upwardly inclined housing and including a transparent front wall therefor and a reflecting rear wall surface, said transparent wall surface permitting the cleaning operation to be observed therethrough and through an opening in the upwardly inclined housing, one of said surfaces being movable whereby the fountain pen to be cleaned may be positioned within the chamber.

8. A displa device for accessories for a fountain pen comprising a cabinet structure including a, base and an upwardly inclined housing adapted to receive a device for cleaning fountain pens, said upwardly inclined housing includinga front transparent wall surface and a movable rear closure member, said device for cleaning fountain pens including a chamber, one wall of said chamber formed by the aforesaid transparent wall surface of the housing, said chamber including a rear wall surface, means for supporting the fountain pen substantially in a plane intermediate the front and rear ends of the chamber on said rear wall surface, said rear wall surface of the chamber and the movable rear wall closure for the housing being affixed together, whereby, as the closure for the housing is opened the rear wall surface of the chamber is moved to a position enabling mounting and dismounting of a fountain pen to be cleaned on said supporting means.

9. A display device for accessories for a fountain pen comprising a cabinet structure including a base and an upwardly inclined housing adapted to receive a device for cleaning fountain pens, said upwardly inclined housing including a front transparent wall surface and a movable rear closure member, said device for cleaning fountain pens including a chamber adapted 'to receive the fountain pen, one wall of said chamber formed by the aforesaid transparent wall surface of the housing, said chamber including an annular recess adapted to receive the fluid discharged from the fountain pen during the cleaning operation, said chamber including a rear wall surface, one of said wall surfaces of said chamber being movable whereby the fountain pen is adapted to be positioned within the chamber, means for supporting the fountain pen substantially in a plane intermediate the front and rear end of the chamber, means for rotating said supporting means, said rotating means being positioned intermediate the rear wall surface of the chamber and the movable rear closure member, means operatively connected to the rotating means extending exteriorly of the housing, and said rear wall surface of the chamber and the movable rear closure member being movable together, whereby, as the housing is opened and closed, the chamber is opened and closed permitting the mounting and dismounting of a fountain pen to be cleaned within the chamber.

10. A device for centrifugally cleaning a fountain pen comprising a chamber adapted for mounting the pen to be cleaned therein, said chamber comprising a front transparent wall surface and a rear wall surface, one of said surfaces being movable for permitting the mounting of a fountain pen within the chamber, means adapted for rotatably supporting the fountain pen to be cleaned in a plane within the chamber, means for resilientl clamping the fountain pen on said supporting means, whereby the fountain pen is positioned to discharge fluid outwardly against the outer periphery of the chamber, said chamber adapted to receive the discharged fluid, said fountain pen and said supporting means being substantially counterbalanced in the operating position, means for rotating said supporting means, and drive means interconnecting said rotating means and supporting means for rotating the supporting means at a greater rate of speed than said rotating means.

1 A device for centrifugally cleaning a fountain pen comprising a chamber adapted for mounting the pen to be cleaned therein, said chamber comprising a front transparent Wall surface and a rear wall surface, one of said sur-- faces being movable permitting the mounting of a fountain pen within the chamber, means adapted for rotatably supporting the fountain pen to be cleaned in a plane intermediate the front and rear wall surfaces of the chamber, said chamber having a recess adapted to receive the fluid discharged from the fountain pen formed contiguous to the front wall surface and intermediate the front and rear wall surfaces of the chamber, said recess adapted to discharge the fluid collected in the recess to a receptacle exteriorly of the chamber, said supporting means being adapted to be counterbalanced .by means of the fountain pen mounted therein, and drive means operatively connected to said supporting means, whereby a fountain pen mounted on said supporting means is rapidly rotated centrifugally ejecting any fluid retained within the pen, causing the fluid discharged to be collected in the recess and discharged therefrom during the cleaning operation.

12. A device for centrifugally cleaning a fountain pen comprising a chamber adapted to receive the fountain pen for rapid rotation therein, a movable wall portion for the chamber whereby a fountain pen to be cleaned may be positioned within the chamber, rotatable means for detachably supporting the fountain pen in the cleaning position with the point thereof contiguous to the outer periphery of the chamber, drive means for rotating said rotatable means, and common movable supporting means for supporting said drive means and movable wall portion of the chamber whereby the movable wall portion and the drive means move together in response to movement of the movable wall portion toward and from the remaining portion of the chamber in the operation of positioning of the fountain pen to be cleaned upon said rotatable means.

13. A device for centrifugally ejecting ink or other liquid from a fountain pen including a holder for the pen, means mounting said holder for rotation about an axis with the writing end of a pen in the holder outwardly of said axis, means defining a relatively stationary annular trough radially outwardly of the path of the Writing end 13 of the pen, and a cabinet having an outwardly movable wall portion carrying said holder and mounting means on its inner side for movement of said elements into and out of said cabinet as a unit.

DAVE CHAPMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Hinton June 28, 1904 Number Number Number

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