WO1992020531A1 - Device for filling writing, drawing, printing or painting instruments - Google Patents

Abstract

The proposal is for a device (10) for filling writing, drawing, printing and painting instruments or writing fluid reservoirs (writing instruments) (11) with writing, drawing, printing or painting fluid (writing fluid) (13), comprising a container (14) with an aperture to hold the writing fluid (13), the interior (15) of which communicates with the atmosphere (19) and a capillary fluid transport connection (16) through which the writing fluid is conveyed from the inside of the container to the writing instrument. A device (17) to take the writing instrument (11) is sealed in the container aperture and one end of the capillary fluid transport connection (16) opens into the instrument (17) and contacts a writing point (12) or an aperture in the writing instrument (11). The connection to the atmosphere (19) is provided via a line (18) passing through at least one chamber (23; 183).

Description

Device for filling writing, drawing, printing or painting devices

Description

The invention relates to a device for filling writing, drawing, printing and painting equipment or writing fluid reservoirs (writing utensils) with writing, drawing, printing or painting fluid (writing fluid), comprising a container for Recording of the writing liquid, the interior of the container of which is connected to the atmosphere, and a capillary liquid delivery connection through which the writing liquid is transported to the writing instrument.

Writing, drawing, printing and painting devices and / or writing liquid reservoirs of such devices, hereinafter briefly called writing devices, are known in their most varied embodiments and are in use. In the case of writing instruments of this type, the writing fluid is in most cases stored in a writing device's own capillary reservoir which, in the case of so-called disposable writing instruments, is also not intended for refilling with writing fluid, although this refilling is generally also carried out in the vast majority Disposable writing devices would be possible. Other writing instruments, in which the writing fluid is received in a device-specific capillary reservoir and which are basically intended and suitable for refilling with writing fluid, show problems in that the degree of filling of the capillary reservoir is generally not recognizable from the exterior of the writing device and Too much writing fluid is often filled in during the filling process, with the extremely disadvantageous consequence that the writing instrument drips during use.

There are also writing instruments known in which the writing fluid is received in a cartridge which can be refilled by means of a displaceable piston (piston cartridge). This gives rise to the problem which occurs by immersing it in a conventional inkwell, which areas of the cartridge are wetted with writing fluid which later come into contact with the user's fingers and contaminate them.

Another problem when refilling writing utensils with liquid storage is that the container with the refilling writing liquid can tip over during the refilling process, which causes irreparable damage to clothing, carpets, furniture and the like. Finally, it is disadvantageous that the writing liquid is frequently contaminated during the refilling process.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for filling writing implements of the type mentioned at the outset, in which it is not possible to overfill the reservoir and the refilling process for certain writing implements is fully automatic and simple and easy is inexpensive to manufacture and also intended to refill disposable writing devices not intended for refilling with liquid, in which the writing device or areas thereof are not soiled by writing liquid during refilling, and that! is more likely, even if it comes to lie with the opening facing down.

The object is achieved according to the invention in that a device for receiving the writing instrument is accommodated in a sealed manner in the container opening, that one side of the capillary liquid conveying connection opens into this device and touches a writing tip or opening of the writing instrument and that the Ver ¬ bond to the atmosphere via a line that leads through at least one chamber.

The advantage of the device according to the invention consists essentially in the fact that the writing instrument to be refilled or a writing liquid reservoir simply needs to be plugged into the device and subsequently the refilling process takes place completely independently in writing instruments with a capillary reservoir, without any action on the part of the user any measures need to be provided by the user of the device or of the writing instrument.

Finally, it is advantageous that both disposable writing devices that are not actually intended for refilling with writing liquid and refilling certain writing utensils can be refilled, so that the device advantageously also takes into account the environmental protection concept to the extent that so-called disposable writing devices that have so far been thrown away after proper emptying, can be refilled as often as desired. It is also advantageous that the screaming liquid flow is interrupted by the capillary conveying connection when the position is essentially directed downwards, so that improper handling of the device, which, for example, results in tipping over, does not become disastrous Consequences of irreparable soiling of clothing, carpets and the like leads. When the device tips over or shakes, no writing fluid escapes from it, ie it is leak-proof.

It is also advantageous that when a writing liquid reservoir is filled, its inlet opening for the writing liquid can cover the mouth of the liquid conveying connection without any air, so that the writing liquid can be moved by moving the piston of a writing liquid reservoir designed as a cartridge can be sucked out of the container without secondary air.

It is advantageous to provide a capillary means in the chamber, in which, as a result of the expansion of the air volume in the container due to heating or the like or by shaking, dropping or the like, penetrating writing liquid can be absorbed into the air supply line from the container interior without that even drops leave the receiving device and thus the device.

For the transport and storage of the device, it is advantageous to make at least the end of the capillary liquid delivery connection sealable from the atmosphere by a closure. Preferably, the point of contact of the writing tip or opening of the scream liquid reservoir is connected to the capillary liquid delivery connection above the liquid level.

A screaming liquid flow is advantageously interrupted by the capillary liquid delivery connection when the container is in an essentially downward position.

In order to ensure, in any configuration of the container for receiving the writing fluid, that an outlet for safety is actually constantly guaranteed, the air supply opening of the air supply line located in the container interior is arranged in the region of the container axis.

For this purpose, it is also advantageous for the air supply opening to be above the writing liquid level with respect to the maximum possible writing liquid level when the position of contact is pointing upwards (normal position).

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the capillary liquid delivery connection is provided with a sheathing which serves on the one hand for the mechanical stability of the liquid delivery connection and on the other hand excludes an interaction of the writing liquid received in the capillary liquid delivery connection with the interior of the container.

In order to ensure that approximately the entire volume of writing liquid in the container can actually penetrate into the capillary liquid delivery connection, the capillary extends Liquid delivery connection advantageously up to the vicinity of the bottom of the container, optionally with a capillary connection to the outer wall of the container.

As already mentioned, the device, in particular the container, is not bound to any fixed external or internal geometry, i.e. in principle, it can be designed in any suitable manner, for example in the form of a bottle, and the cross-sectional shape of the container can also be selected in any suitable manner. Advantageously, because it is easy to manufacture and can be accommodated in a relatively small space, the capillary liquid delivery connection has a tubular cross section, the tube wall being able to form the liquid delivery connection. The sheath mentioned above can surround the capillary liquid delivery connection on the inside and / or outside.

As mentioned, the receiving device itself is advantageously accommodated in a container-filling opening in a seal-tight manner, the receiving device being removed from the opening of the container for filling the container and being reinserted into the opening after the container has been filled. The receiving device is preferably designed as an essentially one-piece, cylindrical molded part with an essentially circular cross-section and essentially forms with its axis a common axis with the container. This recording device stabilizes and thus automatically holds a writing instrument inserted in the recording device for carrying out the refilling process.

In order to ensure that during the refilling process, that is to say when the insert is in the receiving device, the writing instrument actually has its writing tip in the If the end of the liquid conveying connection directed into the receiving device essentially touches planarly, a plurality of projections essentially directed towards the axis of the receiving device, which stabilize the writing instrument in this position, are advantageously arranged on the inner surface of the receiving device hold firmly. The projections also have the advantage that different writing utensils of different writing device housing dimensions can be used, axially correspondingly aligned, so that different writing utensils can also be kept essentially stabilized for the refilling process.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the device, the line between the air inlet opening on the container side and its mouth directed towards the atmosphere is formed by a plurality of interconnected chambers. In this embodiment of the device, it is again difficult for the writing liquid to escape from the line open to the environment, i.e. the container can be shaken extremely without fear of writing fluid escaping. The multi-chamber-like structure is designed in the manner of a labyrinth, the labyrinth emptying itself when a vacuum is created in the interior of the container.

Although it is in principle mög¬ Lich in any suitable manner, the connection of individual chambers mitein¬ other to design, it has proved ^{advantageous'} er¬ reported to form the connections between the chambers through openings in the chamber dividing walls.

Basically, in the previously described embodiments of the device, the compensation of the Negative pressure in the container happens by writing liquid from the chambers connected in series until they are completely emptied again. In an embodiment of the device in which the chambers are adjacent to one another, capillary channels extending from the chamber bottoms advantageously open into the connections. The writing fluid rises in them and closes the connecting openings between the chambers as long as there is still writing fluid in the chambers. Then the air can pass through the labyrinth unhindered.

In principle, it is possible to interconnect the chambers in any way. However, in addition to the arrangement of the chambers next to one another, it has also proven to be advantageous to arrange the chambers essentially one behind the other, in which case the writing liquid closes the openings due to their gravity.

In order to also ensure that the interior of the receiving device, in which a part of the writing instrument to be refilled is normally accommodated, is protected from the leakage of writing fluid during transport and storage, the closure in another is advantageous Embodiment of the device is provided with a projection which can be introduced into the receiving opening and which, in the closed position, closes the mouth of the air supply line and / or the end of the capillary liquid delivery connection which serves to touch the writing tip.

The invention will now be described with reference to the following schematic drawings using an exemplary embodiment. In it show: 1 is a side view in section of a device with a cry inserted into the receiving device of the device,

2 shows a section along the line A-B of FIG. 1,

3 shows a device as in FIG. 1, without a writing instrument inserted into the receiving device,

4 shows a device provided with a closure,

5 shows a side view in section of a device with a writing instrument inserted into the receiving device of the device, the receiving device having a plurality of chambers arranged next to one another, which form part of the air supply line,

5a shows a section along the line C-D of Fig. 5th

5 shows an illustration like FIG. 5, but with a further expansion vessel in front of the air supply opening, and

5 shows an air supply line on average with, in contrast to FIGS. 5, 5a, chambers which are not arranged next to one another but one behind the other as part of the air supply line.

The device 10 consists essentially of a container 14, which is bottle-shaped in the embodiment shown in the figures. However, it should be noted that the container 14 can in principle have any suitable shape with any suitable cross section. The device 10 also has a receiving device 17 which, in the embodiment shown in the figures, has an essentially cylindrical structure with an essentially circular cross section, which fits into one at the upper end of the container 14, cf. 2, trained container tereinfüll 1 opening 27 is used air and liquid-tight removable. In the embodiment of the device 10 shown here, the container axis 21 and the receiving device axis 28 are axially aligned with one another, although this is not necessary in all cases. Arranged axially to the receiving device 17 from this into the container interior 15 is a capillary liquid conveying connection 16, which is also essentially cylindrical here and which can consist of a tubular capillary or of any suitable porous material, for example of materials as used for tips and memories of conventional writing devices 11. The upper end 160 of the capillary liquid delivery connection 16 projects into the area of the mouth 20 of the air supply line 18 into the container interior 15, while the other end 161 projects into the area of the container bottom 25 into the container interior 15. A space 23, which is filled with a capillary 22, is inserted into the air supply line 18 between the mouth 20 and the direct entry of the air supply line 18 into the container interior 15.

From its inner surface 170, the receiving device 17 has a plurality of projections 171 which are oriented essentially towards the axis 28 and which either act as circumferential projections, cf. Fig. 3, or as noppenar¬ term egg projections, cf. Fig. 1, can be formed.

When the device 10 itself is filled, the receptacle 17 is first taken out of the opening 27, which is hermetically sealed by it, and the container 14 is filled with writing fluid 15 up to a maximum of half its volume. Subsequently, the receiving device 17 is reinserted into the container opening 1 so that it is in turn hermetically closed. The capillary liquid conveying connection 16 immersed in the container interior 15 or in the writing liquid 13 almost touches the container bottom 25 with its lower end 161. The capillarity of the capillary liquid conveying connection 16 makes writing liquid 13 up to the upper end 160 of the capillary liquid conveying connection 16 promoted, which projects into the receiving device 17 in the region of the mouth 20 of the air supply line 18.

For the filling 1 process of a writing instrument 11, the writing instrument 11 is inserted into the receiving opening 29 of the receiving device 17 until the writing instrument 11 touches the upper end 160 of the capillary liquid conveying connection with its writing tip 12. The writing liquid 13 now, conveyed via the capillary liquid conveying connection 16, reaches the capillary memory inside the writing device via the writing tip 12. The writing fluid 13 also easily overcomes the transition from the high capillarity of the writing tip 12 of the writing instrument 11 to be refilled to the lower capillarity of the internal capillary memory, since the working conditions are independent of capi 11 the writing fluid 13 rises until the capillary rise is reached.

The capillary rise height results from the length of the capillary liquid delivery connection 16 of the device 10, added to the length of the writing tip 12 and the length of the capillary memory internal to the writing device. Since the writing instrument to be refilled is dimensioned by itself so that the writing liquid 13 accommodated in it does not run out, only the length of the capillary liquid conveying connection 16 is included in the capillary rise height. For this reason, the capillary liquid delivery connection 16 is dimensioned so long that the writing device 12 to be refilled can at least be filled up to half with writing liquid 13. The capillary liquid delivery connection 16 can therefore be up to 50 mm long in all conventional writing instruments 11.

If the writing instrument II is automatically filled with writing fluid 13 after a certain time, it can be removed from the receiving device 17, but it can also always be left there, for example acting as a suitable stand. An overfill is due to the relation shown above with regard to the capillary rise is not possible.

Instead of filling a writing instrument 11 via the writing tip 12, it is also possible to fill the writing fluid reservoir 21 directly if it is either removable as a cartridge or the like. is formed, or if, for example, a connection point for refilling the reservoir is provided on the back of the writing device 11. The writing liquid reservoir 21 can also be a writing liquid container, in which, due to the suction force of a piston, the writing liquid is sucked out of the device 10 via the liquid conveying connection 16.

The position of the container 14 shown in FIG. 1 shows the vertical position of the device when the container 14 is parked on a base (not shown here). The liquid delivery connection 16 is interrupted when the container 14 is in a substantially horizontal position when the container 14 was originally only up to half of its volume has been filled with writing liquid 13, since then writing liquid can no longer get into the liquid delivery connection 16. If the liquid conveying connection 16 is provided with a casing 24, writing liquid 13 still adhering to the casing 24 can also adhere to the liquid conveying connection 16 over its end 160 even when the container is tilted by 180 °, starting from the position shown in FIG. 1 do not drip. The capillary means 22 arranged in the space 23 is also still able to absorb writing fluid 13 which penetrates through the air supply opening 180 in the container interior 15 into the air supply line 18. This even makes it possible to shake the device 10 for a limited time without writing liquid 13 escaping.

As shown in FIG. 4, the device 10 can be closed by a closure 30. The closure 30 is provided with a projection 300 protruding into the interior 172 of the receiving device 17, which protrudes both the mouth 20 of the air supply line 18 and the end 160 of the capillary liquid delivery connection 16 protruding into the interior 172 eats. However, any other closure is also conceivable which protects the interior 172 from wetting by writing liquid 13. It is also possible for the air supply line 18 to emerge from the device 10 or the receiving device 17 at another point.

The closure 30, which can be removed from the device 10 including the projection 300, is opened for transport and storage purposes via the container opening 1, i.e. closing the container 15 and the receiving device 17.

5 and 6 show modifications of the device 10. In the embodiment of the device 10 shown in FIG. 5, there is a plurality in the line 18 between the air supply opening 180 on the container side and its mouth 20 directed towards the atmosphere 19, in the present case three chambers 181, 182 connected to one another via a connection 184 , 183 inserted. The connection 184 itself is cf. also Fig. 5a, formed by openings in the chamber partitions 185, 186. Capillary channels 189 extending from the chamber bottoms 187, 188 open into the connections 184. The chambers 181, 182, 183 connected in series form a labyrinth through which writing fluid 13 does not get through, even after the container 14 has been shaken extremely, and thus does not reach the outside the environment 19 or atmosphere 19 can enter. In principle, the same applies to the design of the device 10 according to FIG. 5 and according to FIG. 7, which, for reasons of simplification, only shows the arrangement of the chambers 181, 182, 183 selected as part of the air supply opening 18 that the writing liquid 13 which has entered the chambers 181, 182, 183 by shaking the container 14 can empty itself again can, if a vacuum occurs in the interior 15 of the container 14. The compensation of the negative pressure is created by writing fluid 13 from the chambers 181, 182, 183 until they are completely emptied again.

Emptying takes place in the embodiment of the device according to FIGS. 5, 5a in that the writing liquid 13 rises in the capillary channel 189 and the connection 184 (opening) between the chambers 181, 182, 183 closes as long as it is still open Writing fluid 13 is found in the chambers 181, 182, 183. After that, air can freely pass through the chambers 181, 182, 183.

7, the writing fluid 13 closes the respective connections 184 (openings) due to gravity.

It applies to all configurations of the devices 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 7 that they are particularly protected against leakage of the writing liquid 13 if the container 14 is filled with writing liquid 13 only to a maximum of half its volume, since then the maximum possible scream liquid level 139 does not reach the air supply opening 180.

The container 14 can, however, also be filled over half of its volume or also completely with writing liquid 13 if the liquid volume that can be taken up in the space 23 with the capillary means 22, see FIG. 1, or the volume of the containers 181, 182, 183 , cf. 5, 7 taken together or the volume of the expansion tank 174, cf. Fig. 6, is dimensioned large enough in relation to the volume of the container 14. When the air expands above the writing fluid 13, these spaces 23, 181, 182, 183, 174 serve as a whole as a surge tank with the volume V for the displaced writing fluid 13.

The following relationship applies to the determination of the volume V of the expansion tank:

0.5 V, = stx α x 0.5 V _Q ,

where V _{Q is} the fillable volume of the container 14, δt is equal to the permissible temperature change at constant air pressure and a temperature of, for example, 30 ° C. and rx is the expansion coefficient of the air at 1/273 per ⁰ C. The volume V _j is thus 30 / 273 x V _Q

V _j = approx.0.1 V ₀ .

All parts of the device 10 can consist of any suitable materials, for example plastic materials, glass materials or even metal materials, in whole or in part.

B e z u g s z e i c h e n l i s t e

Device 20 Mouth of writing instrument 21 Container axis writing tip 22 Capillary medium writing fluid 23 Space writing liquid level 24 Sheathing container 25 Container bottom Container interior 26 Pipe wall capillary liquid filling 27 Container filling opening conveyor connection 28 Receiving device upper end axis lower end 29 Receiving opening receiving device 30 Closure inner surface 300 Projection projection interior contact point expansion tank air supply line air supply opening chamber chamber chamber connection chamber partition chamber partition wall chamber floor chamber floor capillary spaces atmosphere

Claims

Claims 1. Device for filling writing, drawing, printing or painting devices (writing devices) with writing, drawing, printing or painting fluid (a writing, drawing, printing or painting tip (writing tip)) ( Writing liquid), comprising a container for holding the writing liquid, the container interior of which is connected to the atmosphere, and a capillary liquid delivery connection through which the writing liquid is transported from the container interior to the writing instrument or a writing fluid reservoir of a writing instrument, characterized in that a device (17) for receiving the writing instrument (11) or the writing liquid reservoir is received in the container opening so as to be sealed so that its side of the capillary liquid delivery connection (16) opens into this device (17) and a writing tip (12) of the Writing instrument or a writing liquid inlet opening of the Sc touches reservoirs of friction and that the connection to the atmosphere is made via a line which passes through at least one chamber (23; 181) leads. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that in the chamber (181) a capillary means (22) is arranged an¬. 3. Device according to one or more of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least the end (160) of the capillary liquid delivery connection (16) is sealable by a closure (30) against the atmosphere. 4. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the point of contact (173) of the writing tip (12) or the scream liquid opening with the capillary liquid feed connection (16) above the liquid level (130) 1 . 5. The device according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a writing liquid flow through the capillary conveying connection (16) is interrupted when the position of the container (14) is directed substantially downward. 6. The device according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the air supply opening (180) of the air supply line (18) located in the container interior (15) is arranged in the region of the container axis (21). 7. The device according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the air supply opening (180) with respect to the cry liquid level (130) with the contact point (173) upward position (normal position 1 ung) lies above the writing liquid level (130). 8. The device according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the capillary liquid conveying connection (16) is provided with a casing (24). 9. The device according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the capillary liquid delivery connection (16) extends into the vicinity of the bottom (25) of the container (14). 10. The device according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the capillary liquid delivery connection (16) has a tubular cross section, the tube wall (26) forming the liquid delivery connection (16). 11. The device according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the receiving device (17) is designed as a substantially one-piece molded part with a substantially cylindrical cross section. 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that from the inner surface (170) to the receiving device (17) a plurality of substantially to the axis (18) of the receiving device (17) directed projections (171) arranged is. 13. The device according to one or more of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the line (18) between the container-side air supply opening (180) and its atmosphere (19) directed mouth (20) through a plurality of interconnected (184) chambers ( 181, 182, 183) is formed. 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the connections (184) between the chambers (181, 182, 183) through openings in the chamber partitions (185, 186) are formed. 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that in the connections (184) from the chamber floors (187, 188) extending capillary channels (189) open. 16. The device according to one or more of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the chambers (181, 182, 183) are arranged substantially one behind the other. 17. The device according to one or more of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the receiving opening (29) for the writing instrument (11) can be closed with a releasable closure (30). 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the closure (30) has a into the receiving opening (29) insertable projection (300) which in the closed position both the mouth (20) of the Luftzufuhr¬ line (18) and also closes the end (160) of the capillary liquid delivery connection (16) which serves to touch the writing tip (12).