FILLING SYSTEM FOR A FOUNTAIN PEN

Abstract

A filling system for a fountain pen includes a pump unit, an air channel connected to the pump unit and to a first connection for connecting to the fountain pen, and an ink channel separate from the air channel and having an immersion end for immersing in ink and which is connected to a second connection for connecting to the fountain pen. The pump unit is designed to introduce a specified air volume into the air channel with positive pressure in order to flush ink out of the fountain pen and subsequently apply a negative pressure to the air channel such that a specified ink volume is suctioned out of the ink channel into the fountain pen.

Claims

1-18. (canceled)

19. A filling system for a fountain pen, comprising: a pump unit attachable to an ink container having an ink volume; an air channel connected to the pump unit and terminating at a first connection configured to connect to the fountain pen; and an ink channel separated from the air channel, the ink channel having immersion end for immersing into the ink volume and a second connection opposite the immersion end configured to connect to the fountain pen; wherein the pump unit is operable to introduce a first air volume into the air channel with a positive pressure for flushing ink out of the fountain pen, and to evacuate a second air volume from the air channel with a negative pressure for drawing a predetermined volume of ink out of the ink channel and into the fountain pen.

20. The filling system according to claim 19, wherein the pump unit is a piston pump.

21. The filling system according to claim 20, wherein the pump unit comprises: a cylinder with a lower section configured to be positioned in the ink container and an opening opposite the lower section; a piston axially movable in the cylinder, wherein the piston is radially sealed from the cylinder such that the positive pressure acting on the first connection is created by moving the piston in a first direction toward the lower section and the negative pressure acting on the first connection is created by moving the piston toward the opening in a second direction opposite the first direction; and a spring element biasing the piston in the second direction; wherein the air channel extends through the piston from an air chamber formed between the piston and the lower section, and the ink channel extends through the lower section and the piston.

22. The filling system according to claim 21, wherein the spring element comprises a compression spring arranged between the lower section and the piston.

23. The filling system according to claim 21, wherein the piston comprises a first sealing member arranged on a side facing the lower section.

24. The filling system according to claim 21, wherein the immersion end is guided in an axially sliding manner through a second sealing member arranged in the lower section.

25. The filling system according to claim 24, wherein the immersion end includes a sealing section that seats in the second sealing member when the piston is moved in the first direction beyond a neutral position, and an overflow section arranged adjacent to the sealing section and having a taper for passing ink from the air chamber through the lower section when the piston is in the neutral position.

26. The filling system according to claim 21, wherein the immersion end includes a first section arranged on a side of the lower section facing away from the air chamber and having a larger outer diameter than a second section arranged in the air chamber when the piston is in a neutral position.

27. The filling system according to claim 21, wherein the air channel and the ink channel are arranged in the piston in a radially offset configuration.

28. The filling system according to claim 21, wherein the cylinder comprises a shoulder on an outer side for flush placement of the cylinder on the ink container.

29. The filling system according to claim 19, wherein the first connection and the second connection are configured concentrically to one another.

30. The filling system according to claim 29, wherein the first connection is arranged within the second connection and extends beyond an end of the second connection.

31. The filling system according to claim 19, further comprising an insertion sleeve arranged on a side of the pump unit facing away from the air chamber, wherein the first connection and the second connection are supported in the insertion sleeve.

32. The filling system according to claim 31, further comprising a third sealing member arranged between the insertion sleeve and the piston.

33. A refillable writing instrument system, comprising: a filling system having a pump unit attachable to an ink container having an ink volume, an air channel connected to the pump unit and terminating at a first connection configured to connect to the fountain pen, an ink channel separated from the air channel, the ink channel having immersion end for immersing into the ink volume and a second connection opposite the immersion end configured to connect to the fountain pen, wherein the pump unit is operable to introduce a first air volume into the air channel with a positive pressure for flushing ink out of the fountain pen, and to evacuate a second air volume from the air channel with a negative pressure for drawing a predetermined volume of ink out of the ink channel and into the fountain pen; and a fountain pen having an ink tank with a first section and a second section, a coupling arrangement in fluid communication with the first section and the second section, wherein the coupling arrangement is connectable to the first connection to establish a fluid connection between the first connection and the first section and is connectable to the second connection to establish a fluid connection between the second connection and the second section.

34. A method for filling a fountain pen comprising: providing an ink container having ink in an ink volume with a pump unit; connecting a first connection of a pump unit to a first section of an ink tank in the fountain pen; connecting a second connection of the pump unit to a second section of the ink tank in the fountain pen; immersing the second connection into the ink; operating the pump unit to introduce a first air volume with a positive pressure into the first connection for flushing any ink present in the ink tank out into the ink container via the second connection; and operating the pump unit to evacuate a second air volume with a negative pressure into the first connection for drawing a predetermined volume of ink out of the ink volume and into the ink tank.

35. The method according to 34, wherein operating the pump comprising axially moving a piston in a first direction to introduce the first air volume and axially moving the position in a second direction to evacuate the second air volume.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0038] Further features, advantages and possible applications of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the embodiment examples and the figures. In this, all described and/or illustrated features on their own or in any combination form the object of the invention, including independently of their composition in the individual claims or their references. Furthermore, in the figures the same reference numbers refer to the same or similar objects.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a filling system in a cross-sectional view.

[0040] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3a show an ink container with a filling system without an attached fountain pen (FIG. 2) and with an attached fountain pen (FIG. 3a).

[0041] FIG. 3b schematically shows the equipment of a fountain pen for use of the filling system.

[0042] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show the process of placing a fountain pen on the filling system.

[0043] FIG. 6 shows a detailed section of an overflow in the filling system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a filling system 2 for a fountain pen 100. The filling system 2 has a pump unit 6 that can be placed on an ink container 8. The pump unit 6 has a cylinder 10, which has a lower section 12 and an opening 14 opposite the lower section 12.

[0045] There is an axially movable piston 16 arranged in the cylinder 10. This piston, by way of example, comprises a radial projection 18 which can slide in a groove 20 of the cylinder 10. In this manner, an anti-rotation protection of the cylinder 16 is achieved.

[0046] A first sealing member 24 is arranged on a bottom side 22 of the piston 16.

[0047] This first sealing member 24 is connected in a form-fitting manner to the piston 16. For this purpose, the first sealing member 24 has a circumferential radial groove 26 into which a circumferential radial projection 28 of the piston 16 extends. The first sealing member 24 has two annular and spaced-apart, radially circumferential sealing lips 30 that bring about a surface contact with an interior wall 32 of the cylinder 10. This forms an air chamber 34 between the lower section 12 and the bottom side of the piston 16, in which air chamber air is pressurized by moving the piston 16.

[0048] The piston 16 is in a neutral position in FIG. 1, in which position the piston 16 is substantially flush with the opening 14 of the cylinder 10. A compression spring 36 is located between the lower section 12 and the piston 16, which spring 36 always forces the piston 16 back into the neutral position. By way of example, it is configured as a helical spring.

[0049] An air channel 38 extends from the air chamber 34 through the piston all the way to a first connection 40. This air channel 38 may be in the form of a small tube. An ink channel 42 separated from the air channel 38 extends through the lower section 12 and the piston 16 all the way to a second connection 44. The second connection 44 is preferably configured concentrically to the first connection 40, wherein the openings of both connections 40, 44 are spaced apart. The opening of the first connection 40 projects beyond the opening of the second connection 44. This can, however, also be the other way around.

[0050] The ink channel 42 has an immersion end 46 that projects from the piston 16. The immersion end 46 is provided to protrude into the ink container 8, in which container an ink volume is located. When the piston 16 is pressed by a user in the direction of the lower section 12, the volume of the air chamber 34 decreases. In order to equalize the air pressure, air can flow into the air channel 38 and there can be directed all the way to the first connection 40. An air line 102 of the fountain pen 100 is provided there, which is here brought into fluid connection with the air channel 38, such that air from the air channel 38 flows into it.

[0051] An ink tank of the fountain pen 100, which is not shown here (see FIG. 3b), is connected to the air line 102 and is also in fluid connection with an ink line 104. Residual ink from the ink tank of the fountain pen 100 is directed via this ink line 104 into the second connection 44 and thereby into the ink channel 42. It then flows in the ink container 8. Upon release of the piston 16, a negative pressure is created at the air channel 38 due to the push back of the piston 16 into the neutral position, such that ink is suctioned into the ink tank of the fountain pen 100 through the fluid connection with the ink line 104 and the ink channel 42. As a consequence, the fountain pen 100 can be filled by simply attaching it to the filling system 2, pressing it in and releasing the piston 16.

[0052] The immersion end 46 is guided in an axially sliding manner by a second sealing member 50 integrated in the lower section 12. This makes it possible to achieve a sealing of the air chamber 34 from the ink container 8. The first section 52 of the immersion end 46 comprises a larger outer diameter than a second section 54, which section is arranged on a side of the immersion end 46 facing the piston 16. This forms a type of shoulder 56 by means of which the immersion end 46 can nestle flush against the second sealing member 50 or an additional stop 58.

[0053] The cylinder 10 has a shoulder 62 on an outer side 60 for flush placement of the cylinder 10 on an opening rim 64 of the ink container 8. A part of the cylinder 10 projecting into the ink container 8 has an outer diameter that is adapted to an inner diameter of the ink container 8 so that the cylinder 10 is seated in the ink container 8 with as little play as possible.

[0054] By way of example, the fountain pen 100 comprises two third sealing members 106.1, 106.2 through which the first connection 40 and the second connection 44 extend when the fountain pen 100 is attached to the filling system 2. These sealing members 106.1, 106.2 can also be part of the filling system 2.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows the filling system 2 on the ink container 8. Here, a screw ring 68 is provided to fasten the filling system 2 to the ink container 8. For this purpose, the ink container 8 has a thread 70 (see also FIG. 1). To simplify the guiding of the fountain pen 100 onto the filling system 2, it has an insertion sleeve 72 that projects over the opening 14. When the fountain pen 100 is inserted, a connection can be made with the connections 40 and 44.

[0056] In FIG. 3a it can be seen how the process of connecting the fountain pen 100 to the filling system 2 takes place. This is shown in somewhat more detail in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 below. The fountain pen 100 there has the two third sealing members 106.1, 106.2, which are not yet connected to the two connectors 40 and 44 in the position of FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, the fountain pen 100 is placed flush onto the filling system 2, so that a lower edge 108 of the fountain pen 100 abuts on a receiving surface 76 of the filling system. The piston 16 can then be pressed down to initiate the filling process.

[0057] FIG. 3b shows an ink tank 110 in a very schematic manner with a first section 112 and a second section 114, which sections are arranged, in this example, at opposite ends of the ink tank 110. The first section 112 is connectable to an air line 102, the second section 114 is connectable to an ink line 104. The air line 102 and the ink line 104 can be brought together in a coupling arrangement 116, which are couplable to the first connection 40 and the second connection 44. In this way, the air line 102 and the first connection 40 are connected to one another and the ink line 104 is connected to the second connection 44. The illustration is understood to be schematic. The coupling arrangement 116 may also provide for a concentric arrangement of the two lines 102, 104.

[0058] Lastly, FIG. 6 shows that the immersion end 46 has an overflow section 78. This is arranged in the direction of the piston 16 adjacent to the sealing section 80 and is located in the second sealing member 50, such that a gap is open in the neutral position of the piston 16. When the piston 16 is actuated, the sealing section 80 moves into the second sealing member 50 and thereby seals the air chamber 34. The overflow section 78 comprises, at least in part, a taper so that ink can pass into the ink container from the air chamber 34 through the lower section 12 via the overflow section 78. If, during filling of the fountain pen 100, an excessive amount of ink is suctioned from the ink container 8 into the ink line 104, this excess amount of ink can enter the air chamber 34 and run off again from there if the piston 16 has not yet returned to its neutral position.

[0059] In addition, it should be noted that the term comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and a or one does not exclude a plurality. It should further be noted that features described with reference to any of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features of other embodiments described above. Reference numbers in the claims are not to be regarded as a limitation.