Ballpoint Pen Tip Ink Flow Groove Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ballpoint pens experience ink drying in the ball holding chamber when left unused for long periods, leading to blurred handwriting and inability to write, due to inadequate ink supply.
Innovation Solution
A ballpoint pen tip design with a ball holding chamber, rear hole, ink flow hole, and ink flow groove, where the ink flow hole and groove are optimized in size and shape to ensure a sufficient volume of ink is maintained near the ball, with a resilient member to bias the ball and seal the gap during non-use, preventing ink evaporation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ballpoint pen is left for a long period without writing, then the ink dries and solidifies in the ball holding chamber, but the ink supply to the ball is interrupted causing blurred handwriting or inability to write
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient member is pre-installed in the tip body to automatically push the ball forward upon assembly, sealing the gap between the ball and tip body before any writing occurs. This preliminary sealing action prevents ink evaporation and drying during storage periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of the gap between the ball and tip body from open to sealed by introducing the resilient member. This parameter change (gap closure) transforms the ink environment from evaporative to protected, preventing drying during non-use periods.
2Reliability
If the gap between the ball and tip body is sealed during non-use, then ink drying is suppressed, but the ball mobility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient member provides dynamic sealing that automatically adjusts based on ball position. During non-use, the resilient member maintains contact to seal the gap and prevent ink drying. During writing, the ball's movement naturally opens the gap, allowing ink flow without requiring active sealing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the ball's own movement to control the sealing mechanism. When the ball is pushed forward by the resilient member during storage, it automatically seals the gap. During writing, the ball's forward motion naturally opens the gap, eliminating the need for separate sealing and unsealing actions.
3Quantity of substance
If the ink flow hole and groove are enlarged to maintain sufficient ink volume, then ink supply is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ink flow groove is strategically positioned only in the region where the ball contacts the tip body during writing. This localized groove design provides sufficient ink supply to the critical area without requiring complex ink delivery systems throughout the entire tip body, thus reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-dimensional ink flow path to a multi-dimensional ink delivery system by adding the radial ink flow groove. This groove extends in the radial direction from the ink flow hole to the ball contact region, creating a three-dimensional ink distribution pathway that efficiently supplies ink without increasing structural complexity.
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
Effectively suppresses ink drying in the ball holding chamber, ensuring consistent handwriting quality even after extended periods of non-use by maintaining a sufficient ink supply and reducing ink flow resistance.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient member having a spring portion and a rod portion extending forward from the spring portion and coming into contact with the ball from the rear
Data Source
AI summary
A ballpoint pen tip comprises: a ball having a diameter of 0.5 mm or less; and a tip body, wherein the tip body has a ball holding chamber, a rear hole, an ink flow hole, and an ink flow groove opening to the ball holding chamber, and not reaching the rear hole. A ratio of an ink consumption per 100 m of handwriting to a diameter of the ball is 200 mg/mm or more and 800 mg/mm or less, and when a front end of the ink flow groove is set as a start point and a position of 0.3 mm rearward from the front end of the ink flow hole is set as an end point, a volume of a first space in the ink flow hole and the ink flow groove from the start point to the end point is 0.02 mm3 or more.