Ball Point Tip Leaf Spring Ink Flow and Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ball point tips often experience ink leakage and writing smoothness issues, particularly when using gel ink.
Innovation Solution
A ball point tip design featuring a ball holder with an ink conduit and a ball house, where a leaf spring is axially disposed between the ball and the ink conduit, creating ink passages between the leaf spring's tongues to connect the ink conduit and the ball house, thereby improving ink flow and retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If gel ink is used in ball point tips, then ink flow is improved, but ink leakage and writing smoothness problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the ball point tip system by introducing a leaf spring with specific mechanical properties (elasticity, pre-stress) and controlling the contact geometry (single punctual contact) to optimize the interaction between gel ink and the writing surface, achieving both smooth ink flow and writing quality
2Reliability
If the ball is tightly retained in the ball house, then ink leakage is prevented, but writing smoothness deteriorates due to increased friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a single punctual contact point between the ball and the leaf spring, concentrating the retention force at one specific location rather than distributing it across a larger surface area, thereby minimizing friction while maintaining effective ink retention
3Quantity of substance
If a leaf spring with multiple tongues is introduced, then ink passage control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The leaf spring structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical retention of the ball, controls ink flow through its tongues, and maintains pre-stress for optimal contact. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing complexity while achieving precise ink flow control
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enhances writing smoothness by reducing friction and wear through a single punctual contact between the ball and the leaf spring, while also preventing ink leakage by ensuring a tight fit between the ball and the tip.
Implementation Method 1
the leaf spring may be pre-stressed (i.e. the ball bears against the leaf spring)... The leaf spring may tend to press the ball toward the tip
Implementation Method 2
The ball cooperates with the leaf spring on a single contact point. Such a punctual contact between the ball and the leaf spring improves the tribological aspects and reduces wear. Indeed, reducing the contact surface may reduce friction.
Data Source
AI summary
A ball point tip comprising a ball holder having an ink conduit and a ball house, a ball accommodated into the ball house and a leaf spring axially disposed between the ball and an axial end of the ink conduit, the leaf spring having a main body and a plurality of tongues extending radially from the main body, ink passages being formed between the tongues in order to fluidly connect the ink conduit and the ball house, wherein the ball holder and the leaf spring are made of plastic and unitary formed.