WO1996024494A1 - Writing or colouring instrument using ink and having a nib consisting of a compact hydrophilic block made of porous material, and nib therefor - Google Patents

Writing or colouring instrument using ink and having a nib consisting of a compact hydrophilic block made of porous material, and nib therefor Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1996024494A1
WO1996024494A1 PCT/FR1996/000208 FR9600208W WO9624494A1 WO 1996024494 A1 WO1996024494 A1 WO 1996024494A1 FR 9600208 W FR9600208 W FR 9600208W WO 9624494 A1 WO9624494 A1 WO 9624494A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
writing
ink
nib
compact
hydrophilic
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FR1996/000208
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Philippe Chavatte
Guy Chochoy
José Duez
Didier Lange
Original Assignee
Conte (S.A.)
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Conte (S.A.) filed Critical Conte (S.A.)
Publication of WO1996024494A1 publication Critical patent/WO1996024494A1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
    • B43K—IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
    • B43K8/00—Pens with writing-points other than nibs or balls
    • B43K8/02—Pens with writing-points other than nibs or balls with writing-points comprising fibres, felt, or similar porous or capillary material
    • B43K8/026—Pens with writing-points other than nibs or balls with writing-points comprising fibres, felt, or similar porous or capillary material with writing-points comprising capillary material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
    • B43K—IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
    • B43K21/00—Propelling pencils
    • B43K21/006—Pencil-barrels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
    • B43K—IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
    • B43K5/00—Pens with ink reservoirs in holders, e.g. fountain-pens
    • B43K5/005—Pen barrels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
    • B43K—IMPLEMENTS FOR WRITING OR DRAWING
    • B43K8/00—Pens with writing-points other than nibs or balls
    • B43K8/003—Pen barrels

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a writing or coloring article comprising a body giving said article its rigidity, a reservoir for the ink and a writing tip which is supplied with ink from the reservoir.
  • the ink can either be stored in a fibrous reservoir or in the liquid state in a hollowed-out part of the body constituting the reservoir.
  • the various elements useful for the writing or coloring function namely the ink either in the liquid state or in a fibrous reservoir, the writing tip and possibly a buffer tank, all these elements are contained in a rigid body which gives said article its rigidity and its external presentation.
  • writing tip is understood to mean an element, one end of which, called the writing head, is applied to the support during the writing operation proper and therefore has sufficient hardness to resist friction.
  • the writing tip being in contact with the ink either liquid or in the fibrous reservoir, the element in question ensures the transfer of this ink to the writing head where the ink is consumed due to its deposit on the support during the writing operation.
  • transfer point The part of the writing point which is upstream of the writing head.
  • the rigid body is generally a metallic cylindrical body or a molded plastic body. This body is necessarily composed of a main part inside which the various aforementioned elements are introduced and a closing part. Said closure part can be either opposite the writing tip or possibly around the writing tip itself.
  • a writing or coloring article of this type is composed of at least four distinct parts: the two constituent parts of the co ⁇ s rigid, the writing tip in the simplified version where the ink is liquid it acts as both transfer tip and writing head, and the closing cap of the rigid body.
  • the ink is liquid
  • a buffer tank is known in particular from document EP-516,538 of the applicant.
  • such a buffer tank is not necessary when the ink is not in the liquid state, but stored in a fibrous tank, that is to say a set of fibers, in particular polyester fibers arranged around the tip. transfer so that the ink gradually migrates, as it is consumed by the writing head, from the fibers of the fibrous reservoir to the transfer point.
  • the writing tips are constituted by a capillary network of fibers allowing the diffusion of the ink by capillarity. It may, for example, be fibers, some of which are hot-melt, which are compacted hot: such an operation achieves both the bonding of the fibers together by surface fusion of the hot-melt fibers and the shaping of the tip. writing.
  • the extreme part of the point, forming a writing head, can undergo a treatment giving it greater hardness.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a writing or coloring article whose writing tip no longer has the fibrous structure of known tips.
  • the writing or coloring article which in known manner comprises on the one hand a body giving it its rigidity and containing a reservoir for the ink, and on the other hand a writing tip supplied with ink from said reservoir.
  • the writing tip is a compact porous, hydrophilic block of determined hardness, which is based on micro-beads, which is obtained by sintering by thermobonding micro-balls made of thermoplastic material and one end of which is shaped as a writing head.
  • the present invention also relates to the writing tip itself.
  • hydrophilicity and hydrophobia is a relative concept since it is linked to the nature of the ink, and in particular its viscosity and its surface tension.
  • a porous material in which said ink naturally diffuses under normal conditions of use is considered to be hydrophilic with respect to a specific ink; a porous material in which said ink does not diffuse under normal conditions of use is considered to be hydrophobic with respect to the same ink.
  • an excess of ink can diffuse into the hydrophobic material when the conditions of use are modified, in particular by abnormal increase in pressure.
  • the writing tip is made from micro-beads of a thermoplastic material already having a hydrophilic character, before the shaping and sintering operation.
  • a hydrophilic character may in particular have been provided by a suspension followed by a surface treatment by discharge plasma at atmospheric pressure, as described in the published document JO.6228739.
  • the writing tip is made from micro-beads of a hydrophobic thermoplastic material, said tip undergoing, after shaping and sintering, a treatment capable of rendering it hydrophilic.
  • Figures 1 and 2 are two schematic sectional representations of two articles, and Figure 3 is a perspective representation of a writing tip.
  • FIG. 1 there is shown an article 1 of writing or coloring in which the ink 2 is in the liquid state, which consists of a compact block 3, giving the article its rigidity and its shape general.
  • the compact block 3 has a generally cylindrical shape; it has one end
  • the compact block 3 has an interior recess 5, into which the liquid ink is injected 2.
  • the compact block 3 has two distinct zones, the first 6 is hydrophilic, while the second 7 is hydrophobic; these two zones are possibly separate parts which are assembled to form the compact block 3.
  • the first hydrophilic zone 6 extends from the central recess 5 to the writing head 4 and constitutes the writing tip according to the invention, capable of transferring the liquid ink 2 from the central recess 5 acting as a reservoir up to the writing head 4.
  • the second hydrophobic zone 7 surrounds the recess 5 serving as a reservoir for the liquid ink 2, except for the part connected to the first hydrophilic zone 6.
  • the compact block 3 is wrapped in a sheath 8 impermeable to ink and to solvents, except for a passage for the writing head 4.
  • the second zone 7 of the compact block 3 acts both as a container for the liquid ink 2 and as a buffer tank, as described in document EP-516,538 of the applicant. More precisely, under normal conditions of use, the liquid ink 2 remains exclusively inside the recess 5. On the other hand, in the event of a variation in the pressure prevailing in the recess 5, due for example to a heating of the article 1, the ink can diffuse, by capillary action, inside the pores of the second part 7 of the compact block 3. When the pressure conditions have returned to normal, this excess ink contained in the second zone 7 returns to the interior recess 5.
  • This pressure balancing is obtained, in the example illustrated in FIG. 1, by means of a hollow channel 9 which connects the second hydrophobic zone 7 to atmospheric pressure, passing along the first hydrophilic zone 6 allowing the air to escape and thus restore the pressure balance.
  • first hydrophilic zone and a second hydrophobic zone can be declined according to a multitude of variants.
  • the hydrophilic zone 6 of the compact block 3 acts as a writing tip, combining both the transfer function and the writing head function. It would possibly be possible for a writing tip, terminated by the writing head, to be a separate hydrophilic part, fitting into a compact porous hydrophobic block.
  • the porous compact block 3 and therefore in particular the zone 6 constituting the writing tip of article 1 is obtained by sintering by thermobonding micro-balls of thermoplastic material (polypropylene, polyethylene, teflon, polyacetal ... etc) used alone or as a mixture, and the grade, particle size and nature of which are determined according to the characteristics which it is desired to give to the various parts of the compact block.
  • thermoplastic material polypropylene, polyethylene, teflon, polyacetal ... etc
  • micro-beads which are themselves hydrophobic or hydrophilic are used for example by means of a suspension and a surface treatment by discharge plasma at atmospheric pressure, as described in the published document JO.6228739.
  • a compact block can be produced, having several zones of different character (hydrophilic and hydrophobic), in a single shaping and then sintering operation.
  • micro-beads having a given character are used, independently produced from each other each part corresponding to the different zones and the sintering operation is followed by a treatment making it possible to bring the surface energy of the materials to a determined value which can either be plasma treatment, for example fluorinated for a hydrophobic or oxidizing character for a hydrophilic character or else a treatment with a surfactant.
  • the compact sintered block can be obtained by molding or by extrusion followed by machining. These embodiments make it possible to produce compact blocks of all shapes, the cylindrical shape with conical tip given by way of example above not being limiting; it is conceivable that said block could have a triangular polygonal shape in cross section ... etc.
  • the choice of micro-balls is also determined so that the area of the compact block corresponding to the writing head has sufficient hardness.
  • the sintering operation is advantageously obtained in an installation where the mold is heated by microwave, thanks to the choice of one or more material (s) which constitute (s) said mold, graphite or silicon carbide for example.
  • the particularity of the use of microwaves is to allow a fast and heart processing of the material. It can also make it possible to obtain a differentiated sintering of the material over the height or in the thickness of the compact block.
  • the compact block can advantageously be obtained by extrusion, from a given porous material followed by the machining of the conical end terminated by the writing tip.
  • the pressure balancing is obtained not by a hollow pipe as in the first example but by a pipe 11 which consists of a porous compact block, similar to zone 7, in a thermoplastic material with hydrophobic character. More precisely, this pipe 11 is of annular shape and surrounds the first hydrophilic zone 6 constituting the writing tip, acting as a transfer tip and writing head 4. The end 11a of this pipe opens out with the head writing 4 beyond the impermeable envelope 8 so that air can penetrate through this end 1 back up through the porous network of this pipe 11 then into the porous network of the second hydrophobic zone 7 up to to the central recess 5 serving as a reservoir for the ink 2.
  • the two embodiments which have just been described relate to the use of a writing tip 6, in an article which consists of a compact block 3 wrapped in an impermeable sheath 8, said compact block conferring on the article both its general shape and its rigidity.
  • a writing tip consisting of a hydrophilic compact block made of a porous open-pore material based on microbeads of thermoplastic material, said block being obtained by sintering with thermobonding of the microbeads can be presented as a conventional writing tip 12, as illustrated in Figure 3, and be integrated in a writing or coloring article in which the ink tank is a fibrous tank or a writing or coloring article having the structure of that described in the document EP.516.538 of the applicant.
  • the transfer function and the writing head function for the writing tip of the invention have been dissociated. It should however be noted that in particular with regard to writing articles in which the ink is included in a fibrous reservoir, the writing tip mainly performs the function of a writing head, having a hardness making it possible to resist friction of the tip-cut end on the writing medium, thanks to a judicious choice of micro ⁇ balls.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Pens And Brushes (AREA)
  • Impression-Transfer Materials And Handling Thereof (AREA)
  • Recording Measured Values (AREA)

Abstract

A writing and colouring instrument including a stiffening body (3) and containing a reservoir (5) for the ink (2), as well as a nib (6) supplied with ink (2) from said reservoir. The nib is a compact hydrophilic block having a given hardness and made of an open-pore porous material based on thermoplastic microbeads, said compact block being produced by sintering and thermofusing the microbeads, and having one end shaped as a writing tip (4). The nib may be made hydrophilic by oxidation processing the sintered compact block using plasma, or by treating the block with a surfactant.

Description

ARTICLE D'ECRITURE OU DE COLORIAGE A ENCRE DONT LA POINTE D'ECRITURE EST UN BLOC COMPACT HYDROPHILE EN MATERIAU POREUX ET POINTE D'ECRITURE CORRESPONDANTE INK WRITING OR COLORING ARTICLE OF WHICH THE WRITING POINT IS A COMPACT HYDROPHILIC BLOCK OF POROUS MATERIAL AND CORRESPONDING WRITING POINT
La présente invention concerne un article d'écriture ou de coloriage comportant un corps donnant audit article sa rigidité, un réservoir pour l'encre et une pointe d'écriture qui est alimentée en encre à partir du réservoir. Dans ce type d'article, l'encre peut être soit stockée dans un réservoir fibreux soit à l'état liquide dans une partie évidée du corps constituant le réservoir.The present invention relates to a writing or coloring article comprising a body giving said article its rigidity, a reservoir for the ink and a writing tip which is supplied with ink from the reservoir. In this type of article, the ink can either be stored in a fibrous reservoir or in the liquid state in a hollowed-out part of the body constituting the reservoir.
Dans tous les articles d'écriture ou de coloriage connus du demandeur, les différents éléments utiles à la fonction d'écriture ou de coloriage, à savoir l'encre soit à l'état liquide soit dans un réservoir fibreux, la pointe d'écriture et éventuellement un réservoir tampon, tous ces éléments sont contenus dans un corps rigide qui confère audit article sa rigidité et sa présentation extérieure.In all writing or coloring articles known to the applicant, the various elements useful for the writing or coloring function, namely the ink either in the liquid state or in a fibrous reservoir, the writing tip and possibly a buffer tank, all these elements are contained in a rigid body which gives said article its rigidity and its external presentation.
Dans le présent texte, on entend par pointe d'écriture un élément dont une extrémité dénommée tête d'écriture est appliquée sur le support lors de l'opération d'écriture proprement dite et a de ce fait une dureté suffisante pour résister aux frottements. La pointe d'écriture étant en contact avec l'encre soit liquide soit dans le réservoir fibreux, l'élément en question assure le transfert de cette encre jusqu'à la tête d'écriture où l'encre est consommée du fait de sa dépose sur le support lors de l'opération d'écriture. On dénomme pointe transfert la partie de la pointe d'écriture qui se trouve en amont de la tête d'écriture.In the present text, the term “writing tip” is understood to mean an element, one end of which, called the writing head, is applied to the support during the writing operation proper and therefore has sufficient hardness to resist friction. The writing tip being in contact with the ink either liquid or in the fibrous reservoir, the element in question ensures the transfer of this ink to the writing head where the ink is consumed due to its deposit on the support during the writing operation. The part of the writing point which is upstream of the writing head is called transfer point.
Le corps rigide est généralement un corps cylindrique métallique ou un corps moulé en matière plastique. Ce corps est obligatoirement composé d'une pièce principale à l'intérieur de laquelle sont introduits les différents éléments précités et une pièce de fermeture. Ladite pièce de fermeture peut être soit à l'opposé de la pointe d'écriture soit éventuellement autour de la pointe d 'écriture elle-même.The rigid body is generally a metallic cylindrical body or a molded plastic body. This body is necessarily composed of a main part inside which the various aforementioned elements are introduced and a closing part. Said closure part can be either opposite the writing tip or possibly around the writing tip itself.
Ainsi de manière classique, un article d'écriture ou de coloriage de ce type est composé d'au moins quatre pièces distinctes : les deux pièces constitutives du coφs rigide, la pointe d'écriture dans la version simplifiée où l'encre étant liquide elle fait office à la fois de pointe transfert et de tête d'écriture, et le capuchon de fermeture du corps rigide. Lorsque l'encre est liquide, il est souhaitable de disposer d'un réservoir tampon destiné à absorber et à restituer l'excès d'encre de la pointe d'écriture par capillarité en cas de variation de la pression régnant dans le réservoir d'encre. Un tel réservoir tampon est connu notamment par le document EP-516 538 du demandeur.Thus, in a conventional manner, a writing or coloring article of this type is composed of at least four distinct parts: the two constituent parts of the coφs rigid, the writing tip in the simplified version where the ink is liquid it acts as both transfer tip and writing head, and the closing cap of the rigid body. When the ink is liquid, it is desirable to have a buffer reservoir intended to absorb and restore the excess ink from the writing tip by capillary action in the event of a variation in the pressure prevailing in the reservoir. ink. Such a buffer tank is known in particular from document EP-516,538 of the applicant.
Par contre un tel réservoir tampon n'est pas nécessaire lorsque l'encre n'est pas à l'état liquide, mais stockée dans un réservoir fibreux, c'est-à-dire un ensemble de fibres notamment polyester disposées autour de la pointe transfert de manière à ce que l'encre migre progressivement, au fur et à mesure de sa consommation par la tête d'écriture, depuis les fibres du réservoir fibreux jusqu'à la pointe transfert.On the other hand, such a buffer tank is not necessary when the ink is not in the liquid state, but stored in a fibrous tank, that is to say a set of fibers, in particular polyester fibers arranged around the tip. transfer so that the ink gradually migrates, as it is consumed by the writing head, from the fibers of the fibrous reservoir to the transfer point.
De manière conventionnelle, les pointes d'écriture sont constituées par un réseau capillaire de fibres permettant la diffusion de l'encre par capillarité. Il peut s'agir par exemple de fibres, dont certaines sont thermofusibles, qui sont compactées à chaud : une telle opération réalise à la fois le liage des fibres entre elles par fusion superficielle des fibres thermofusibles et la mise en forme de la pointe d'écriture. La partie extrême de la pointe, formant tête d'écriture, peut subir un traitement lui conférant une plus grande dureté.Conventionally, the writing tips are constituted by a capillary network of fibers allowing the diffusion of the ink by capillarity. It may, for example, be fibers, some of which are hot-melt, which are compacted hot: such an operation achieves both the bonding of the fibers together by surface fusion of the hot-melt fibers and the shaping of the tip. writing. The extreme part of the point, forming a writing head, can undergo a treatment giving it greater hardness.
Le but de la présente invention est de proposer un article d'écriture ou de coloriage dont la pointe d'écriture n'a plus la structure fibreuse des pointes connues.The object of the present invention is to provide a writing or coloring article whose writing tip no longer has the fibrous structure of known tips.
Ce but est parfaitement atteint par l'article d'écriture ou de coloriage, selon l'invention, qui de manière connue comprend d'une part un corps lui donnant sa rigidité et contenant un réservoir pour l'encre , et d'autre part une pointe d'écriture alimentée en encre à partir dudit réservoir.This object is perfectly achieved by the writing or coloring article, according to the invention, which in known manner comprises on the one hand a body giving it its rigidity and containing a reservoir for the ink, and on the other hand a writing tip supplied with ink from said reservoir.
De manière caractéristique, la pointe d'écriture est un bloc compact poreux , hydrophile, de dureté déterminée , qui est à base de micro-billes , qui est obtenu grâce au frittage par thermocollage de micro-billes en matière thermoplastique et dont une extrémité est conformée en tête d'écriture. La présente invention a également pour objet la pointe d'écriture proprement dite.Typically, the writing tip is a compact porous, hydrophilic block of determined hardness, which is based on micro-beads, which is obtained by sintering by thermobonding micro-balls made of thermoplastic material and one end of which is shaped as a writing head. The present invention also relates to the writing tip itself.
Dans le présent texte , la notion d'hydrophilie et d'hydrophobie est une notion relative puisqu'elle est en lien avec la nature de l'encre , et notamment sa viscosité et sa tension de surface . Est considéré comme hydrophile par rapport à une encre déterminée un matériau poreux dans lequel diffuse naturellement ladite encre dans des conditions normales d'utilisation ; est considéré comme hydrophobe par rapport à la même encre un matériau poreux dans lequel ladite encre ne diffuse pas dans des conditions normales d'utilisation . Cependant un excès d'encre peut diffuser dans le matériau hydrophobe lorsque les conditions d'utilisation sont modifiées , notamment par augmentation anormale de pression.In the present text, the concept of hydrophilicity and hydrophobia is a relative concept since it is linked to the nature of the ink, and in particular its viscosity and its surface tension. A porous material in which said ink naturally diffuses under normal conditions of use is considered to be hydrophilic with respect to a specific ink; a porous material in which said ink does not diffuse under normal conditions of use is considered to be hydrophobic with respect to the same ink. However, an excess of ink can diffuse into the hydrophobic material when the conditions of use are modified, in particular by abnormal increase in pressure.
Dans une première version , la pointe d'écriture est réalisée à partir de micro-billes d'une matière thermoplastique ayant déjà un caractère hydrophile, avant l'opération de mise en forme et de frittage. Un tel caractère hydrophile peut en particulier avoir été apporté par une mise en suspension suivie d'un traitement de surface par plasma de décharge à pression atmosphérique, comme cela est décrit dans le document publié JO.6228739.In a first version, the writing tip is made from micro-beads of a thermoplastic material already having a hydrophilic character, before the shaping and sintering operation. Such a hydrophilic character may in particular have been provided by a suspension followed by a surface treatment by discharge plasma at atmospheric pressure, as described in the published document JO.6228739.
Dans une seconde version,Ia pointe d'écriture est réalisée à partir de micro-billes d'une matière thermoplastique à caractère hydrophobe, ladite pointe subissant, après mise en forme et frittage, un traitement apte à la rendre hydrophile.In a second version, the writing tip is made from micro-beads of a hydrophobic thermoplastic material, said tip undergoing, after shaping and sintering, a treatment capable of rendering it hydrophilic.
Il peut notamment s'agir d'un traitement oxydant par plasma ou éventuellement d'un traitement par un agent tensioactif. La présente invention sera mieux comprise à la lecture de la description qui va être faite d' exemples de réalisation d'un article d'écriture ou de coloriage à encre, illustré par le dessin annexé dans lequel :It may in particular be an oxidative treatment with plasma or possibly a treatment with a surfactant. The present invention will be better understood on reading the description which will be given of exemplary embodiments of an article of ink writing or coloring, illustrated by the appended drawing in which:
Les figures 1 et 2 sont deux représentations schématiques en coupe de deux articles, et La figure 3 est une représentation en perspective d'une pointe d'écriture.Figures 1 and 2 are two schematic sectional representations of two articles, and Figure 3 is a perspective representation of a writing tip.
Sur la figure 1 , on a représenté un article 1 d'écriture ou de coloriage dans lequel l'encre 2 est à l'état liquide, qui est constitué d'un bloc compact 3, donnant à l'article sa rigidité et sa forme générale. Le bloc compact 3 a une forme globalement cylindrique.il a une extrémitéIn Figure 1, there is shown an article 1 of writing or coloring in which the ink 2 is in the liquid state, which consists of a compact block 3, giving the article its rigidity and its shape general. The compact block 3 has a generally cylindrical shape; it has one end
3a conique, terminée par une portion hydrophile taillée en pointe de plus grande dureté, formant tête d'écriture 4.3a conical, terminated by a hydrophilic portion cut into a point of greater hardness, forming a writing head 4.
Le bloc compact 3 comporte un évidement intérieur 5, dans lequel est injectée l'encre liquide 2. Le bloc compact 3 comporte deux zones distinctes, la première 6 est hydrophile, tandis que la seconde 7 est hydrophobe ; ces deux zones sont éventuellement des pièces distinctes qui sont assemblées pour former le bloc compact 3.The compact block 3 has an interior recess 5, into which the liquid ink is injected 2. The compact block 3 has two distinct zones, the first 6 is hydrophilic, while the second 7 is hydrophobic; these two zones are possibly separate parts which are assembled to form the compact block 3.
Dans l'exemple illustré , la première zone hydrophile 6 s'étend de l'évidement central 5 jusqu'à la tête d'écriture 4 et constitue la pointe d'écriture selon l'invention, apte à transférer l'encre liquide 2 depuis l'évidement central 5 faisant office de réservoir jusqu'à la tête d'écriture 4.In the example illustrated, the first hydrophilic zone 6 extends from the central recess 5 to the writing head 4 and constitutes the writing tip according to the invention, capable of transferring the liquid ink 2 from the central recess 5 acting as a reservoir up to the writing head 4.
La seconde zone 7, hydrophobe, entoure l'évidement 5 faisant office de réservoir pour l'encre liquide 2, exception faite de la partie reliée à la première zone hydrophile 6.The second hydrophobic zone 7 surrounds the recess 5 serving as a reservoir for the liquid ink 2, except for the part connected to the first hydrophilic zone 6.
Le bloc compact 3 est enveloppé dans une gaine 8 imperméable à l'encre et aux solvants, exception faite d'un passage pour la tête d'écriture 4.The compact block 3 is wrapped in a sheath 8 impermeable to ink and to solvents, except for a passage for the writing head 4.
La seconde zone 7 du bloc compact 3 fait office à la fois de contenant pour l'encre liquide 2 et de réservoir tampon, comme décrit dans le document EP- 516 538 du demandeur. Plus précisément, dans les conditions normales d'utilisation, l'encre liquide 2 séjourne exclusivement à l'intérieur de l'évidement 5. Par contre, en cas de variation de la pression régnant dans l'évidement 5, due par exemple à un échauffement de l'article 1, l'encre peut diffuser, par capillarité, à l'intérieur des pores de la seconde partie 7 du bloc compact 3. Lorsque les conditions de pression sont redevenues normales, cet excès d'encre contenu dans la seconde zone 7, retourne dans l'évidement intérieur 5. Cet équilibrage des pressions est obtenu, dans l'exemple illustré à la figure 1, grâce à un canal creux 9 qui relie la seconde zone 7 hydrophobe à la pression atmosphérique, en passant le long de la première zone 6 hydrophile permettant à l'air de s'évacuer et ainsi de rétablir l'équilibre des pressions.The second zone 7 of the compact block 3 acts both as a container for the liquid ink 2 and as a buffer tank, as described in document EP-516,538 of the applicant. More precisely, under normal conditions of use, the liquid ink 2 remains exclusively inside the recess 5. On the other hand, in the event of a variation in the pressure prevailing in the recess 5, due for example to a heating of the article 1, the ink can diffuse, by capillary action, inside the pores of the second part 7 of the compact block 3. When the pressure conditions have returned to normal, this excess ink contained in the second zone 7 returns to the interior recess 5. This pressure balancing is obtained, in the example illustrated in FIG. 1, by means of a hollow channel 9 which connects the second hydrophobic zone 7 to atmospheric pressure, passing along the first hydrophilic zone 6 allowing the air to escape and thus restore the pressure balance.
La combinaison d'une première zone hydrophile et d'une seconde zone hydrophobe peut être déclinée selon une multitude de variantes. On peut par exemple prévoir que la première zone 6 hydrophile entoure complètement l'évidement central 5.The combination of a first hydrophilic zone and a second hydrophobic zone can be declined according to a multitude of variants. One can for example provide that the first hydrophilic zone 6 completely surrounds the central recess 5.
Dans la version qui vient d'être décrite, la zone hydrophile 6 du bloc compact 3 fait office de pointe d'écriture , combinant à la fois la fonction de transfert et la fonction de tête d'écriture. Il serait éventuellement possible qu'une pointe d'écriture, terminée par la tête d'écriture, soit une pièce distincte hydrophile, s'insérant dans un bloc compact poreux hydrophobe.In the version which has just been described, the hydrophilic zone 6 of the compact block 3 acts as a writing tip, combining both the transfer function and the writing head function. It would possibly be possible for a writing tip, terminated by the writing head, to be a separate hydrophilic part, fitting into a compact porous hydrophobic block.
Le bloc compact poreux 3 et donc en particulier la zone 6 constituant la pointe d'écriture de l'article 1 est obtenu grâce au frittage par thermocollage de micro-billes de matière thermoplastique (polypropylène, polyéthylène, téflon, polyacétal ...etc) utilisée seule ou en mélange, et dont le grade, la granulométrie et la nature sont déterminés en fonction des caractéristiques que l'on veut donner aux différentes parties du bloc compact.The porous compact block 3 and therefore in particular the zone 6 constituting the writing tip of article 1 is obtained by sintering by thermobonding micro-balls of thermoplastic material (polypropylene, polyethylene, teflon, polyacetal ... etc) used alone or as a mixture, and the grade, particle size and nature of which are determined according to the characteristics which it is desired to give to the various parts of the compact block.
Pour réaliser les zones hydrophobes ou hydrophiles, deux voies sont possibles . Selon la première voie, on utilise des micro-billes elles-mêmes hydrophobes ou hydrophiles par exemple grâce à une mise en suspension et à un traitement de surface par plasma de décharge à pression atmosphérique,comme décrit dans le document publié JO.6228739. Dans ce cas on peut réaliser un bloc compact , ayant plusieurs zones à caractère différent (hydrophile et hydrophobe), en une seule opération de mise en forme puis de frittage. Selon la seconde voie, on utilise des micro-billes ayant un caractère donné, on réalise indépendamment les unes des autres chaque pièce correspondant aux différentes zones et on fait suivre l'opération de frittage par un traitement permettant d'amener l'énergie de surface des matériaux à une valeur déterminée qui peut être ou bien un traitement plasma par exemple fluoré pour un caractère hydrophobe ou oxydant pour un caractère hydrophile ou bien un traitement par un agent tensioactif.To achieve hydrophobic or hydrophilic zones, two ways are possible. According to the first route, micro-beads which are themselves hydrophobic or hydrophilic are used for example by means of a suspension and a surface treatment by discharge plasma at atmospheric pressure, as described in the published document JO.6228739. In this case, a compact block can be produced, having several zones of different character (hydrophilic and hydrophobic), in a single shaping and then sintering operation. According to the second route, micro-beads having a given character are used, independently produced from each other each part corresponding to the different zones and the sintering operation is followed by a treatment making it possible to bring the surface energy of the materials to a determined value which can either be plasma treatment, for example fluorinated for a hydrophobic or oxidizing character for a hydrophilic character or else a treatment with a surfactant.
Si l'on envisage plutôt un traitement à l'aide d'un agent tensioactif, dans ce cas, il peut y avoir des risques de dissolution dudit agent tensioactif dans l'encre, ce qui nuirait au bon fonctionnement de l'article, par une chute du débit d'encre au fur et à mesure de l'utilisation de l'article. Le bloc compact fritte peut être obtenu par moulage ou encore par extrusion suivi d'un usinage. Ces modes de réalisation permettent de réaliser des blocs compacts de toutes formes, la forme cylindrique avec pointe conique donnée à titre d'exemple ci-dessus n'étant pas limitative ; on peut concevoir que ledit bloc pourrait avoir en section transversale une forme triangulaire polygonale...etc. Le choix des micro-billes est également déterminé de manière à ce que la zone du bloc compact correspondant à la tête d'écriture ait une dureté suffisante.If a treatment with a surfactant is rather envisaged, in this case, there may be risks of dissolution of said surfactant in the ink, which would adversely affect the proper functioning of the article, for example. a drop in ink flow as the article is used. The compact sintered block can be obtained by molding or by extrusion followed by machining. These embodiments make it possible to produce compact blocks of all shapes, the cylindrical shape with conical tip given by way of example above not being limiting; it is conceivable that said block could have a triangular polygonal shape in cross section ... etc. The choice of micro-balls is also determined so that the area of the compact block corresponding to the writing head has sufficient hardness.
L'opération de frittage est avantageusement obtenu dans une installation où le moule est chauffé par micro-ondes, grâce au choix d'un ou des matériau(x) qui constitue(nt) ledit moule, graphite ou carbure de silicium par exemple. La particularité de l'utilisation des micro-ondes est de permettre un traitement rapide et à coeur du matériau. Elle peut également permettre d'obtenir un frittage différencié du matériau sur la hauteur ou dans l'épaisseur du bloc compact.The sintering operation is advantageously obtained in an installation where the mold is heated by microwave, thanks to the choice of one or more material (s) which constitute (s) said mold, graphite or silicon carbide for example. The particularity of the use of microwaves is to allow a fast and heart processing of the material. It can also make it possible to obtain a differentiated sintering of the material over the height or in the thickness of the compact block.
Dans une version la plus simple, le bloc compact peut avantageusement être obtenu par extrusion, à partir d'un matériau poreux donné suivi de l'usinage de l'extrémité de forme conique terminée par la pointe d'écriture.In a simplest version, the compact block can advantageously be obtained by extrusion, from a given porous material followed by the machining of the conical end terminated by the writing tip.
Dans le second mode de réalisation d'un article d'écriture 10 qui est illustré à la figure 2 , l'équilibrage des pressions est obtenu non pas par une canalisation creuse comme dans le premier exemple mais par une canalisation 11 qui est constituée d'un bloc compact poreux , similaire à la zone 7, dans un matériau thermoplastique à caractère hydrophobe. Plus précisément cette canalisation 11 est de forme annulaire et entoure la première zone hydrophile 6 constituant la pointe d'écriture , faisant office de pointe de transfert et de tête d'écriture 4. L'extrémité 1 la, de cette canalisation débouche avec la tête d'écriture 4 au-delà de l'enveloppe imperméable 8 de telle sorte que l'air puisse pénétrer par cette extrémité 1 la remonter à travers le réseau poreux de cette canalisation 11 puis dans le réseau poreux de la seconde zone hydrophobe 7 jusqu'à l'évidement central 5 faisant office de réservoir pour l'encre 2.In the second embodiment of a writing article 10 which is illustrated in FIG. 2, the pressure balancing is obtained not by a hollow pipe as in the first example but by a pipe 11 which consists of a porous compact block, similar to zone 7, in a thermoplastic material with hydrophobic character. More precisely, this pipe 11 is of annular shape and surrounds the first hydrophilic zone 6 constituting the writing tip, acting as a transfer tip and writing head 4. The end 11a of this pipe opens out with the head writing 4 beyond the impermeable envelope 8 so that air can penetrate through this end 1 back up through the porous network of this pipe 11 then into the porous network of the second hydrophobic zone 7 up to to the central recess 5 serving as a reservoir for the ink 2.
Les deux exemples de réalisation qui viennent d'être décrits concernent l'utilisation d'une pointe d'écriture 6 , dans un article qui est constitué d'un bloc compact 3 enveloppé dans une gaine imperméable 8 , ledit bloc compact conférant à l'article à la fois sa forme générale et sa rigidité.The two embodiments which have just been described relate to the use of a writing tip 6, in an article which consists of a compact block 3 wrapped in an impermeable sheath 8, said compact block conferring on the article both its general shape and its rigidity.
Cette utilisation n'est cependant pas limitative. Une pointe d'écriture, constituée d'un bloc compact hydrophile en un matériau poreux à pores ouverts à base de microbilles en matière thermoplastique, ledit bloc étant obtenu par frittage avec thermocollage des microbilles peut se présenter comme une pointe d'écriture classique 12 , comme illustrée à la figure 3, et être intégré dans un article d'écriture ou de coloriage dans lequel le réservoir pour l'encre est un réservoir fibreux ou encore un article d'écriture ou de coloriage ayant la structure de celui décrit dans le document EP.516.538 du demandeur.This use is not, however, limiting. A writing tip, consisting of a hydrophilic compact block made of a porous open-pore material based on microbeads of thermoplastic material, said block being obtained by sintering with thermobonding of the microbeads can be presented as a conventional writing tip 12, as illustrated in Figure 3, and be integrated in a writing or coloring article in which the ink tank is a fibrous tank or a writing or coloring article having the structure of that described in the document EP.516.538 of the applicant.
Dans le présent texte on a dissocié la fonction de transfert et la fonction de tête d'écriture pour la pointe d'écriture de l'invention. Il est cependant à noter que notamment s'agissant d'articles d'écriture dans lesquels l'encre est incluse dans un réservoir fibreux , la pointe d'écriture assure principalement la fonction de tête d'écriture, ayant une dureté permettant de résister au frottement de l'extrémité taillée en pointe sur le support à écrire, grâce à un choix judicieux des micro¬ billes. In the present text, the transfer function and the writing head function for the writing tip of the invention have been dissociated. It should however be noted that in particular with regard to writing articles in which the ink is included in a fibrous reservoir, the writing tip mainly performs the function of a writing head, having a hardness making it possible to resist friction of the tip-cut end on the writing medium, thanks to a judicious choice of micro¬ balls.

Claims

REVENDICA ΗONS REVENDICA ΗONS
1. Article d'écriture ou de coloriage qui comprend un coφs (3) lui donnant sa rigidité et contenant un réservoir (5) pour l'encre (2), ainsi qu'une pointe d'écriture (6) alimentée en encre (2) à partir dudit réservoir, caractérisé en ce que la pointe d'écriture (6) est un bloc compact, hydrophile , de dureté déterminée, en un matériau poreux à pores ouverts à base de microbilles en matière thermoplastique, ledit bloc compact étant obtenu par frittage avec thermocollage des microbilles et ayant une extrémité conformée en tête d'écriture (4).1. Writing or coloring article which comprises a coφs (3) giving it its rigidity and containing a reservoir (5) for the ink (2), as well as a writing tip (6) supplied with ink ( 2) from said reservoir, characterized in that the writing tip (6) is a compact, hydrophilic block, of determined hardness, made of a porous open pore material based on microbeads of thermoplastic material, said compact block being obtained by sintering with thermobonding of the microbeads and having one end shaped as a writing head (4).
2. Article selon la revendication 1 caractérisé en ce que le caractère hydrophile de la pointe d'écriture est obtenu par un traitement oxydant par plasma du bloc compact après frittage.2. Article according to claim 1 characterized in that the hydrophilic nature of the writing tip is obtained by an oxidative plasma treatment of the compact block after sintering.
3. Article selon la revendication 1 caractérisé en ce que le caractère hydrophile de la pointe d'écriture est obtenu par un traitement par un agent tensioactif.3. Article according to claim 1 characterized in that the hydrophilic nature of the writing tip is obtained by treatment with a surfactant.
4. Pointe d'écriture pour un article d'écriture ou de coloriage qui comprend un coφs lui donnant sa rigidité et contenant un réservoir pour l'encre , ladite pointe d'écriture (6) étant alimentée en encre à partir dudit réservoir et caractérisée en ce qu'elle est un bloc compact , hydrophile , de dureté déterminée en un matériau poreux à pores ouverts à base de microbilles en matière thermoplastique, ledit bloc compact étant obtenu par frittage avec thermocollage des microbilles et ayant une extrémité conformée en tête d'écriture (4).4. Writing tip for a writing or coloring article which comprises a co donnants giving it its rigidity and containing a reservoir for the ink, said writing tip (6) being supplied with ink from said reservoir and characterized in that it is a compact block, hydrophilic, of hardness determined in a porous material with open pores based on microbeads in thermoplastic material, said compact block being obtained by sintering with thermobonding of microbeads and having an end shaped as a head writing (4).
5. Pointe d'écriture selon la revendication 4 caractérisée en ce que son caractère hydrophile est obtenu par un traitement oxydant par plasma du bloc compact après frittage.5. Writing tip according to claim 4 characterized in that its hydrophilic nature is obtained by an oxidative plasma treatment of the compact block after sintering.
6. Pointe d'écriture selon la revendication 4 caractérisée en ce que son caractère hydrophile est obtenu par un traitement par un agent tensioactif. 6. Writing tip according to claim 4 characterized in that its hydrophilic nature is obtained by treatment with a surfactant.
PCT/FR1996/000208 1995-02-07 1996-02-07 Writing or colouring instrument using ink and having a nib consisting of a compact hydrophilic block made of porous material, and nib therefor WO1996024494A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9501592A FR2730188B1 (en) 1995-02-07 1995-02-07 WRITING OR COLORING ARTICLE WITH INK MADE FROM A COMPACT BLOCK OF POROUS MATERIAL
FR95/01592 1995-02-07

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AR (1) AR000874A1 (en)
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FR2793426B1 (en) * 1999-05-14 2001-08-17 Conte PROCESS FOR TREATING A LONGIFORM ELEMENT FOR FORMING A WRITING POINT AND WRITING POINT OBTAINED
US7481593B2 (en) * 2003-08-19 2009-01-27 Sanford, L.P. Combination hydrophobic/hydrophilic filters/reservoirs for controlling fluid flow

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FR2730188A1 (en) 1996-08-09
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EP0726166A1 (en) 1996-08-14
EA199600004A2 (en) 1996-07-01
AR000874A1 (en) 1997-08-06
FR2730188B1 (en) 1997-04-25
BR9600346A (en) 1998-01-27
CA2168911A1 (en) 1996-08-08

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