JP2006181761A - Pressure applicator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a sure and tight sealing of an elastic sealing member with neither reacting with nor swelling by an organic solvent included in ink and, at the same time, a pressurizing function of the interior of an ink housing member even under a low temperature environment (or an environment of lower than -20°C). <P>SOLUTION: In this pressurizing type applicator, ink including at least the organic solvent is employed and its elastic sealing member, the absolute value of the difference between the solubility parameter of which and that of the organic solvent is at least 2.4 (MPa)<SP>1/2</SP>and the glass transition point of which is set to be not higher than -70°C. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention provides an applicator main body in which an application destination is connected directly or via a connecting member to the tip of a coating liquid containing member containing a coating liquid containing at least an organic solvent, and relative to the coating liquid containing member. A pressurization mechanism that compresses the air in the coating liquid storage member by a forward movement, and is installed in at least one of the pressurization mechanism and / or the coating liquid storage member, and the pressurization mechanism and / or the coating liquid storage member And an elastic sealing member capable of forming a sealed space in which the coating liquid exists by being in close contact with the other, and the coating liquid in a state where the sealed space in which the coating liquid exists is formed by operating the pressurizing mechanism. The present invention relates to a pressure applicator that compresses air in a housing member to press the application liquid and assists the discharge of the application liquid from the application destination. In addition, “application” in this specification is an operation intended to place an application liquid such as ink or glue on an object, and not only for the purpose of drawing drawings but also for writing characters and the like. This includes the case of so-called writing.

  An applicator that contains ink using a pigment with a heavy specific gravity such as titanium oxide cannot form a favorable continuous line, for example, the pigment settles and causes clogging, and the coating traces become discontinuous. There is. Therefore, there is known an applicator that incorporates a correction liquid to be used after the container is shaken well before the ink is stirred. As an ink which does not require such a stirring operation by the end user, an ink in which the fluidity of the ink itself is lowered and the viscosity of the ink is suppressed as much as possible with high viscosity is known. However, such high-viscosity inks are difficult to pass through the fine ink passages at the application destination, etc., and the required discharge amount can be obtained, for example, when a correction liquid is applied to the application or typographical surface. In some cases, ink discharge is supported by pressure. In addition, even if this is a coating solution that does not use a composition with a heavy specific gravity, it is highly viscous, such as when you want to obtain a swelled coating mark or when a coating solution such as a highly viscous paste is used. It is applicable also to what uses the coating liquid of this.

  On the other hand, a relatively thin line can be obtained, and unlike an applicator with a fiber nib or a resin nib having a continuous pore, there is little change in the writing width due to wear of the nib even after a long period of use. Ballpoint pens are known as things. However, the ballpoint pen is designed for the purpose of transferring and writing ink as a coating liquid on a writing surface of paper or the like by turning the tip of the pen downward and rotating a ball at the tip of the pen tip. . Therefore, when writing with the pen tip facing upward, the ink in the pen tip moves to the ink containing member side due to gravity, and the handwriting becomes distorted over time and the handwriting cannot be made. It has been known.

As a means for assisting the discharge of the coating liquid by pressure, there is a compressed gas sealed type applicator in which a pressurized gas is sealed in an ink containing member and the inside of the coating liquid containing member is constantly pressurized. This compressed gas-sealed applicator must use a material with less gas permeation for the member enclosing the compressed gas, which generally increases the cost and complicates the manufacturing equipment. Therefore, an applicator that temporarily pressurizes the inside of the coating solution containing member only at the time of application is known as one that does not use the member that transmits less gas. In the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-009645 (Patent Document 1), a pen tip protruding and retracting mechanism by operating the operation portion at the rear end of the applicator, and a pen tip by pressing the pen tip against a writing surface. There is disclosed a pressurizing applicator provided with means for retreating a connected coating solution containing member and pressurizing the inside of the coating solution containing member.
JP 2004009645 A

In the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228561, the ink discharge support is performed by pressing the rear end interface of the ink with the air in the sealed chamber by the forward operation of the pressure member relative to the ink containing member. However, the elastic valve for sealing the compressed air reacts or swells over time with the organic solvent contained in the ink. As a result, hardness decreases on the surface of the reacted elastic valve, and it cannot withstand the force of compressed air, and there is a gap on the surface of the elastic valve. The communication cannot be blocked. Further swelling causes the size to increase and the above-mentioned state becomes remarkable. Therefore, it becomes impossible to pressurize the inside of the ink containing member, and high viscosity ink passes through a fine ink passage and cannot be ejected from the pen tip. Moreover, it will be in the state which cannot write in the state which made the pen point upward.
The purpose of the present invention is to ensure that the organic solvent contained in the ink and the elastic sealing member do not react or swell, and can maintain the function of pressurizing the inside of the ink containing member. Even in a low temperature environment (an environment of −20 ° C. or lower), the above function is provided.

The present invention provides an applicator main body in which an application destination is connected directly or via a connecting member to the tip of a coating liquid containing member containing a coating liquid containing at least an organic solvent, and relative to the coating liquid containing member. A pressurization mechanism that compresses the air in the coating liquid storage member by a forward movement, and is installed in at least one of the pressurization mechanism and / or the coating liquid storage member, and the pressurization mechanism and / or the coating liquid storage member And an elastic sealing member capable of forming a sealed space in which the coating liquid exists by being in close contact with the other, and the coating liquid in a state where the sealed space in which the coating liquid exists is formed by operating the pressurizing mechanism. In a pressurizing applicator that compresses the air in the housing member to press the coating liquid and assists in discharging the coating liquid from the coating destination, the solubility parameter between the organic solvent and the elastic sealing member The absolute value of the difference between the value of Ta is 2.4 (MPa) ^1/2 or more, and a glass transition point of the elastic sealing member, it is an gist pressurized applicator is -70 ° C. or less.

The present invention uses an ink containing an organic solvent, and the absolute value of the difference in solubility parameter between the elastic sealing member and the organic solvent is 2.4 (MPa) ^1/2 or more, and the glass of the elastic sealing member By setting the transition point to −70 ° C. or less, the decrease in the hardness due to the slight reaction dissolution that occurs on the surface of the elastic sealing member suppresses the deterioration of the sealing due to the deformation of the elastic sealing member during the movement between the relative back and forth. Even in a low-temperature environment (an environment of −20 ° C. or lower), the degree of freedom of molecules of the material constituting the elastic sealing member is maintained, the flexibility is not lost, and an increase in hardness can be suppressed and a reliable sealing can be obtained. Furthermore, the organic solvent and the elastic sealing member surface do not react and dissolve excessively, and dissolution and adhesion to the pressurizing mechanism or the ink containing member is suppressed as much as possible, and the relative back and forth movement with respect to the pressurizing mechanism or the ink containing member is hindered. In addition, it is possible to move forward relative to the ink containing member due to a decrease in flexibility of the elastic sealing member in a low temperature environment (an environment of −20 ° C. or lower), and the inside of the ink containing member can be pressurized.

  The applicator main body is obtained by connecting a coating destination member to the tip of a coating liquid storage member that stores the coating liquid. As the application destination member, a member having a so-called ball-point pen tip structure consisting of at least a ball holder that rotatably holds a ball as a writing member can be preferably used. The discharge and non-discharge can be managed. Further, a coil spring that biases the ball forward so as to be pressed against the inner surface of the ball holder may be inserted. The coating solution containing member can be an extruded product or an injection molded product of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene cut into a suitable length, but may be a metal pipe or the like. In the coating liquid storage member, at least ink containing organic solvent, correction liquid, paste liquid, and the like are stored. Further, as a purpose other than sealing, a follower such as a gel-like substance or a solid may be disposed at the rear end interface of the coating solution so that the applied pressure can be efficiently applied to the coating solution.

  The pressurizing mechanism forms a pressurized state by further introducing air into the space in the coating solution containing member. Specifically, during the forward operation of the pressurizing mechanism, pressure is applied while sealing the space in the coating liquid storage member, and when the pressurizing mechanism maintains the forward position, pressure is applied unless the coating liquid is consumed. Maintain the state. Further, when returning to the state before releasing the forward position locking and performing the forward operation, an air passage communicating with the atmosphere is formed with respect to the coating solution containing member. The forward pressurizing operation of the pressurizing mechanism may be interlocked with the protrusion operation at the tip of the application destination.

The elastic sealing member is installed and fixed to at least one of the pressurizing mechanism and / or the coating liquid containing member, and the pressurizing mechanism is configured such that when pressurized, the air in the coating liquid containing member and the pressurizing mechanism is compressed. And / or close and tightly seal the other of the coating solution containing member to close the air passage. The material of the elastic sealing member is such that the absolute value of the difference in solubility parameter value with the organic solvent contained in the coating solution is 2.4 (MPa) ^1/2 or more and the glass transition point is -70 ° C. or less. Anything is acceptable.
A material in which the elastic sealing member is impregnated with a liquid lubricant such as silicone oil or fluorine oil, a solid lubricant such as carbon or molybdenum disulfide, or a material coated on the surface of the elastic sealing member can also be used.

Furthermore, it demonstrates in detail based on drawing.
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are examples of a retractable ballpoint pen using a so-called rotary cam mechanism that repeatedly locks the front and rear positions by the rotation of a rotor that slides by operation.
The exterior body is basically composed of three members including a front shaft 1, a middle shaft 2, and a rear shaft 3. The tip shaft 1 having the pen tip protruding hole 1 a urges the writing tool body 5 backward by interposing a first resilient member 7 between the connecting member 6 of the writing tool body 5 having the pen tip 4. The middle shaft 2 has a front small-diameter portion 2a inserted into the front shaft 1, and an elastic band 2b serving as a grip portion is attached to the outside. The front side small diameter portion 2a is in contact with the connecting member 6 at the front end, and the retraction of the writing instrument body 5 is restricted. The rear end of the middle shaft 2 is also a rear small-diameter portion 2c inserted into the rear shaft 3, and a second resilient member 8 is interposed between the rear end portion and the pressurizing mechanism to apply pressure. The mechanism is biased backward.
The writing instrument body 5 includes a pen tip 4 that is a ballpoint pen tip, a connection member 6, and an ink containing member 9 at the tip. An ink 10 containing an organic solvent is contained inside the ink containing member 9. Specific examples of the organic solvent to be contained include benzyl alcohol, benzyl glycol, and phenyl glycol.
Further, the rear portion of the ink containing member 9 is located in the rear shaft 3. These front shaft 1, middle shaft 2, and rear shaft 3 may be formed integrally with each other or all together.

As shown in FIG. 2 which is an enlarged view of a main part, a cylinder member 11 which is a pressurizing mechanism covers a rear portion of the ink containing member 9. The cylinder member 11 includes an annular spring receiver 11a, a cylinder body 11b, and an elastic sealing member 11c that is sandwiched and fixed between them. The elastic sealing member 11c is hermetically circumferential with respect to the outer wall of the ink containing member. It is an inner diameter that can be brought into contact with and slidable. The material of the elastic sealing member 11c is such that the absolute value of the difference in solubility parameter with the organic solvent contained in the ink 10 is 2.4 (MPa) ^1/2 or more and the glass transition point is -70 ° C. It is as follows. Specific examples of the material of the elastic sealing member 11c include silicone rubber, butyl rubber, and ethylene propylene rubber.
The cylinder body 11b has a locking projection 11d on the outer wall, and is slidably fitted in a cam groove 13b formed on the inner wall of the cam cylinder 13 having a clip 13a fixed to the rear end of the rear shaft 3. It has become. The rear end of the cylinder body 11b is in contact with the front end of the operation member 12 protruding from the rear end of the rear shaft 3 so that the inclined uneven portions 11e and 12a are engaged with each other. The cam cylinder 13 corresponds to the rotor, slider, and cam cylinder of the rotary cam mechanism, respectively.

Examples 1-5 and Comparative Examples 1-3 are shown in Table 1.
Table 1 shows an example in which the organic solvent contained in the ink 10 and the material used for the elastic sealing member 11c are combined. The results of the following test are shown in Table 2.

For the evaluation of the elastic sealing member alone, the following organic solvent immersion test and low temperature aging test were carried out.
<Organic solvent immersion test>
The organic solvent immersion test was performed based on JIS K 6301.
Using the same material as the elastic sealing members of Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3, dumbbell-shaped No. 3 test pieces (the shape of the test piece defined in JIS K 6301) are prepared, and a glass test container is used. The respective organic solvents used in Examples and Comparative Examples and the dumbbell-shaped No. 3 test piece are placed therein, and the test piece is completely immersed in the organic solvent. The glass test container was subjected to constant temperature aging at 70 ° C. for 72 hours, and then the dimensional change (length in the longitudinal direction of the test piece) was measured to calculate the rate of change (%) from the dimension before immersion.

<Low temperature aging test>
The low temperature aging test uses a test piece having the same shape as the organic solvent immersion test, measures the hardness after aging at -20 ° C. for 24 hours, and the rate of change from the hardness of the test piece before aging (%). Was calculated. The hardness was measured according to JIS K 6301 “Spring type hardness test (A type)”.

For the evaluation in the product form, the pen tip upward writing test after the following organic solvent immersion test and the pen tip upward writing test after the low temperature aging test were performed using the retractable ballpoint pen shown in FIG.
<Pen tip upward writing test after organic solvent immersion test>
The elastic sealing member 11c of Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 is placed in a glass test container with each organic solvent used in the Examples and Comparative Examples, and the elastic sealing member 11c. Soak completely in organic solvent. After the glass test container was kept at 70 ° C. for 72 hours, the elastic sealing member 11c was taken out and incorporated into the retractable ballpoint pen of FIG. Next, after penning the pen tip, a 1 cm square character was written at a writing angle of -30 degrees on a writing paper affixed to the wall, and the number of characters that could be written was evaluated.

<Pen tip upward writing test after low temperature aging test>
The elastic sealing members 11c of Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 were incorporated into the retractable ballpoint pen of FIG. Next, the intrusion-type ballpoint pen in the product form was kept at -20 ° C. for 24 hours, and then the pen tip was indented, and a 1 cm square character was written on the writing paper attached to the wall at a writing angle level of −30 degrees. The number of characters that could be written was evaluated.

The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows an example. The I section enlarged vertical sectional view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Front shaft 1a Pen tip protrusion hole 2 Middle shaft 2a Front side small diameter part 2b Elastic band 2c Rear side small diameter part 3 Rear shaft 4 Pen tip 5 Writing instrument main body 6 Connection member 7 First elastic member 8 Second elastic member 9 Ink Accommodating member 10 Ink 11 Cylinder member 11a Annular spring holder 11b Cylinder body 11c Elastic sealing member 11d Locking projection 11e Inclined uneven portion 12 Operation member 12a Inclined uneven portion 13 Cam cylinder 13a Clip 13b Cam groove

Claims (1)

An applicator main body in which a coating destination is connected directly or via a connecting member to the tip of a coating liquid containing member containing a coating liquid containing at least an organic solvent, and applied by a relative forward movement with respect to the coating liquid containing member Installed in at least one of the pressurizing mechanism for compressing the air in the liquid containing member and the pressurizing mechanism and / or the coating liquid containing member, and is in close contact with the other of the pressurizing mechanism and / or the coating liquid containing member And at least an elastic sealing member capable of forming a sealed space in which the coating liquid exists, and in the state where the sealed space in which the coating liquid exists is formed by operating the pressurizing mechanism. In a pressurizing applicator that compresses air and presses the coating solution to assist in discharging the coating solution from the coating destination, the solubility parameter of the organic solvent and the elastic sealing member The absolute value of the difference is 2.4 (MPa) ^1/2 or more, and a glass transition point of the elastic sealing member is pressurized applicator is -70 ° C. or less.

Images