Rollerball pen

A rollerball or English. rollerball pen is a writing instrument that emits a similar water-based ink on a writing ball the pen. In contrast to the pen, the oil-based ink paste has a high resistance, the ink of the ink roller is thinner, allowing easy, gliding writing.

Two systems are available:

  • The ink roller ball system, which combines the advantages of a fountain pen and easier handling of a pen.
  • The system of Gelschreibers, the gel-like ink color ( gel ink ) flows more easily than that of a pen, but also insoluble in water and most permanent ink according to ISO 14145-2 is.

History

The first ( Ink ) Rollerball systems were developed in 1963 by the Japanese manufacturer Ohto pens. Conductive ink and the ink were in a closed housing that resembled a ball point pen. In 1995, the Karl Bach Meis KG the system Ink Liner, which brought new benefits. The ink conductors and the writing ball must not be replaced in this case, is sufficient to replace the standard ink cartridge. This new ( Ink ) Roller ball system is also environmentally friendly; instead of the whole rollerball refill the much smaller and recyclable ink cartridge only needs to be replaced.

Technology

Writing tips

Common materials include stainless steel, nickel silver or plastic ( usually POM) for the frame and tungsten carbide or ceramics for the writing ball. The ball diameter is usually between 0.5 and 1.0 mm, and products to 0.17 mm ( especially in Japan ) are available.

Ink

For the ink storing two systems can be distinguished - fiber storage and free ink:

Fiber storage: This is the older and simpler of construction and design. The ink is held in a capillary made ​​of polyester fibers, and transmitted through a fiber rod (ink head ) to the writing tip. As in copying initially the larger capillaries are emptied at a lower retaining force of the ink flow decreases with increasing emptying of the pin.

Free ink: This ink is in a tank against unbound, but must be submitted via a control system that prevents uncontrolled leakage. Posted ink is replaced by air in the tank, and the temperature or pressure fluctuations, the expansion of the air drives the ink from the tank. So they do not expire at the writing tip, a stack of plates is placed in the spaces between them such excess ink is collected in front of the tank. Since the air can flow in the plates into the tank only through capillary slits, the ink is conveyed back into the tank, when the air in the tank contracts again. At the core of the plate stack (usually a single injection molded part ) there is an ink conductor connecting the tank with the writing tip. The advantage of this design is a uniform ink dispensing and a complete contest the ink contained in the pen. However, this system is not at all rollerball pens available, so some example with a pressurized cabin ( which is set in cruise flight at about 2,000 m cabin pressure altitude, causing the pressure in the pens during the flight is usually higher ) for flights on airplanes leaking begin. Some manufacturers also offer explicit " flight safe" pins on.

Countries of origin

The largest producer is Japan, where this type of pen was developed in the 1960s ( the major vendors are Pilot, Uniball and Pentel ). In recent years, China has established itself as the next important manufacturer of cheaper ink roller.

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