Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ wo 94,2~2g3 2 1 6 1 ~ 3 3 PCT~L94/~089
METHOD FOR FILLING A CARTRIDGE ~ITH FL~ID
AND CARTRIDGE FOR U8E T~R~T~
The present invention relates to a method for
filling with fluid a cartridge which is open on at least one
side and which has at least one capillary element debouching
on the open side, by placing the cartridge with the open
S side so far into a container containing the fluid and like-
wise having a capillary element that the capillary element
of the cartridge makes contact with the capillary element
present in the container and ret~i n i~ the cartridge in this
position until its capillary element is at least partially
10 filled with fluid. Such a method is known from W0-A-9220531.
Past known methods for filling for instance ink
cartridges consisted of injecting a quantity of ink into the
cartridge and subsequently closing the cartridge, for in-
stance by welding. The cartridge filled with ink could then
15 be opened by the user arranging it in a pen, and was not re-
closable. All the ink present in the cartridge therefore had
to be used without a prolonged delay. This method did not
lend itself to application by a user and the cartridges
filled in this manner were not refillable and/or reusable.
Methods for filling a cartridge of a fountain pen
were further known wherein the cartridge was placed in a
container with ink and subsequently filled by displacing a
piston present in the pen. This method was complicated and
required an expensive filling me~h~nism in the pen.
The method described in W0-A-9220531 represents an
improvement to the above cited conventional filling method.
Use is made in this method of a container filled with ink in
which a capillary element is received. This capillary ele-
ment debouches with its one end in the vicinity of the
30 bottom of the container, while its other outer end debouches
into an insert arranged in the neck of the container. Into
the insert can be placed a pen or an ink cartridge which
then comes to lie on the free outer end of the capillary
element. Further arranged in the insert is a venting apertu-
35 re which connects the interior of the container to the
W094l25293 21 61 43 3 PCT~L94/00089
ambient air. Ambient air can hereby penetrate into thecontainer when the ink is drawn therefrom by the capillary
action of the capillary element and the connecting pen or
cartridge. Filling of the cartridge by making use of its own
5 capillary action enables dispensing with complicated and
costly filling me~h~n;c~c.
The invention now has for its object to provide a
capillary filling method for cartridges with an improved
transfer of the fluid. According to the invention this is
10 achieved in that from the point of contact of the capillary
elements the cartridge is carried further into the container
with resilient deformation and/or displacement of at least
one of the capillary elements. A better contact is hereby
obtained between the capillary elements, whereby the fluid
15 transfer can take place more simply and rapidly than in the
known method, where the capillary elements only rest on each
other.
Preferably applied variants of the method accor-
ding to the invention form the subject-matter of the sub-
20 claims 2-5.
The invention further relates to a container which
can be applied in the above described method. Already known
from the stated publication WO-A-9220531 is a container
which is provided with a housing having a closable access
25 opening and with a capillary element accessible through the
access opening. The container for use in the method accor-
ding to the present invention is distinguished from this
known cont~i ner by resilient means connected to the capilla-
ry element for enhancing the fluid transfer. Due to the
30 presence of such resilient fluid transfer enhancing means a
cartridge or pen can be filled rapidly and simply with fluid
using this container.
Further preferred embodiments of this container
are described in the sub-claims 7-12.
The invention also has for its object to provide
an improved cartridge with which the above described method
can be performed. For this purpose the invention provides a
cartridge provided with a sleeve open on at least one side
~ wo 94/25293 ~ 1 ~ 1 4 3 3 PCT~L94/00089
and at least one capillary element received therein and
debouching on the open side. A very efficient cartridge is
characterized by a number of parallel fibres which are
arranged with mutual interspacing and which form a number of
5 capillary elements. The capillary action is very considera-
ble due to the large surface area of the fibres.
In order to reduce as far as possible the environ-
mental impact when the user no longer wishes to refill a
cartridge, the sleeve and the capillary elements are prefe-
10 rably each manufactured from a biodegradable material.
Finally, the invention also relates to applicati-
ons of the above described cartridges.
The invention is now elucidated in the light of a
number of embodiments, wherein reference is made to the
15 annexed drawing, in which corresponding components have the
same reference numerals, and in which:
fig. 1 shows a partly cut away perspective view of
a cartridge and a container for use in the method according
to the invention,
fig. 2 is a view corresponding with fig. 1 of the
cartridge and the container during filling,
fig. 3 is a view corresponding with fig. 1 of a
pen with an ink cartridge according to the invention and a
container,
fig. 4 shows the pen and container of fig. 3
during filling,
fig. 5 is a partly cut away perspective view with
exploded parts of a pen and a second embodiment of the
cartridge according to the invention,
fig. 6 is a view of the parts shown in fig. 5 in
assembled state,
fig. 7 shows schematically the filling of the car-
tridge according to the second embodiment of the invention,
fig. 8 is a perspective view of an item of jewel-
35 lery with a third embodiment of the cartridge according to
the invention,
fig. g is a perspective view of a fourth embodi-
ment of the cartridge according to the invention,
WOg4/25293 21 6 1 4 3 3 PCT~L94/00089
fig. lO shows in partial cross section a side view
of a second embodiment of the container according to the
invention,
fig. 11 is a top view of the container shown in
5 fig. 10, and
fig. 12 shows in partial cross section a side view
of the container of fig. lO and 11 in combination with a pen
and a fifth embodiment of the cartridge according to the
invention.
A refillable cartridge 1 (fig. 1) comprises a
sleeve 2 and a filling 3 consisting of at least one capilla-
ry element. The filling 3 is formed by a large number of
parallel fibres 4 arranged with mutual interspacing which
together form the capillary elements. Sleeve 2 is open on
15 the underside and the capillary elements debouch into the
open side of sleeve 2. Further arranged on the open side of
sleeve 2 is a resiliently deformable, liquid-transferring
contact element 5, for instance in the form of a felt cushi-
on. The cartridge 1 is received in a carrier 6 which is
20 closed with a cap 7. Cartridge 1 can be filled with a fluid,
for example ink 9 from a container 8. Container 8 has a neck
11, which defines a filling opening, and a capillary element
14 which protrudes into this filling opening. The container
8 is closed with a cover lO. Like cartridge 1, the capillary
25 element 14 has a resiliently deformable and liquid-transfer-
ring contact element 15. Due to the presence in container 8
of a capillary element 14 a cartridge 1 for filling only has
to be placed so far into container 8 that it makes contact
with the capillary element 14. The insertion depth is there-
30 fore independent of the fluid level in container 8. For an
optimum capillary action from the first point of contact of
cartridge 1 with capillary element 14, the cartridge 1 is
pressed in slightly further, thus deforming the contact
elements 5,15.
The distance through which cartridge 1 is inserted
into container 8 is determined by stop elements connected to
cartridge l and container 8. These stop elements are formed
by ribs 13 arranged in the neck 11 of container 8 and a
~ W094/25293 2 ~ 6 1 ~ 33 PCT~L941~089
widened portion 12 of carrier 6 (fig. 2). The height of theribs 13 and of the widened portion 12 are adapted to the
lengths of cartridge 1 and capillary element 14 and the
thickness of their corresponding contact elements 5 and 15
5 respectively in non-deformed state such that these contact
elements 5,lS are pressed firmly against each other and make
good fluid-transferring contact when the widened portion 12
rests on ribs 13. Because the contact elements 5,15 are
resiliently deformable, variations in the distance between
10 cartridge 1 and capillary element 14 can be compensated
within determined limits. An excellent fluid transfer is
thus also ensured when cartridge 1 is not fully inserted in
container 8 or when as a result of production tolerances
there are length differences between cartridges and/or
lS capillary elements. The widened portion 12 further fits
closely-sized in the neck 11 of container 8. A venting
aperture 16 in neck 11 provides the supply and discharge of
air essential for a rapid transfer of ink from container 8
to cartridge 1. After cartridge 1 has been filled the car-
20 rier 6 is pulled out of the neck 11 of container 8, whereincontact elements 5,15 spring back to their non-deformed
starting position, and carrier 6 and container 8 are closed
with their covers 7,10. Cartridge 1 can be stored thus until
it has to be used in the case of an ink cartridge, for
25 instance in a writing implement.
Cartridge 1 can then be removed from carrier 6 and
inserted into the writing implement, for instance a fountain
pen 17 (fig. 3). A capillary connecting part 20 therein
protrudes into the upper part of cartridge 1 and provides
30 transport of the ink out of cartridge 1 via another capilla-
ry 21 to the pen point 22. The capillary connecting part 20
can, like cartridge 1, be formed by a sleeve and a number of
fibres present therein, while the main capillary 21 is an
injection moulded component normally employed in fountain
35 pens. When the ink cartridge 1 according to the invention is
applied this main capillary 21 can take a considerably
smaller form than in conventional fountain pens.
W094/25293 21 6 1 4 3 3 PCT~L94/00089
When the ink cartridge 1 is exhausted it can be
refilled simply by removing a cap 19 on the underside of a
housing 18 of fountain pen 17 and inserting fountain pen 17
with cartridge 1 into the neck 11 of a refilling container 8
5 (fig. 4). The underside of the body 18 of fountain pen 17
and the neck 11 of refilling container 8 once again have co-
acting stop elements. The stop elements 13 in the neck 11 of
container 8 can be identical to those shown in fig. 1 and 2,
but can also be adapted to the form of the pen body 18. For
lO this purpose the refilling container 8 can be simply provi-
ded with an PxchAngeable neck 11 so that it can be used for
refilling cartridges 1 accommodated in a fountain pen 17 as
well as for filling new cartridges received in a carrier 6.
Because filling and refilling of cartridge 1 with
15 the method according to the invention takes place by making
use of the capillary action, the filling operation can be
performed easily by the user of the cartridge itself. The
user will hereby be more likely to refill the cartridge and
use it again, whereby a saving of material and reduction in
20 waste is achieved relative to the conventional disposable
cartridges. There is moreover no necessity herein for a
complicated, costly filling ~?Ch~ic~ with moving parts
which is susceptible to disturbance.
In order to reduce as far as possible the impact
25 on the environment when a cartridge 1 is nevertheless final-
ly thrown away, it can be manufactured from biodegradable
material. The sleeve 2 of cartridge 1 can for instance be
wrapped with cardboard (fig. 5), while its filling 3 can be
made from a natural fibre, for example cotton. Cartridge 1
30 can further have a contact element 5 made of paper for
closing the open side. Such a cartridge can be applied in a
fountain pen as shown in fig. 3 and 4 as well as in any
other random fountain pen, for instance as shown in fig. 5
and 6. Cartridge 1 can also be refilled simply by being
35 dipped in an ink container 8 without capillary element or
stop element.
Cartridge 1 can, as stated above, be filled with
ink, but other fluids also lend themselves to containment in
~ wo 94/25293 2 ~ 6 i ~ 33 PCT~L94/00089
such a cartridge. The cartridge 1 can for instance be filled
with a cosmetic preparation, such as eau de toilette or
perfume for instance, or with any other type of fluid which
has to be spread via surface contact, such as cleaning
5 fluids and the like. In the applications of fig. 8 and 9 the
cartridge 1 is filled with a cosmetic preparation and packa-
ged such that it is always easily accessible. The cartridge
can for instance be received in an item of jewellery 24 such
as a watch, with a strap 25 and a casing 26 in which a
lO recess 27 is arranged for receiving cartridge 1. The car-
tridge 1 can then be provided with a hand-grip 28 with which
it can be pulled out of recess 27, after which the user can
apply the fluid present in cartridge 1 for instance by
dabbing or brushing on.
The cartridge 1 can also be embodied flat and pro-
vided with a slightly spherical filling 3 and accommodated
in mutually facing recesses 27 in the lower and upper half
30,31 of a container 29 in credit card format mutually
connected by a hinge 32. The user can thus unobtrusively
20 carry with him the fluid held in cartridge 1.
In a second embodiment of container 8 according to
the invention (fig. 10) the fluid transfer enhancing means
comprise a member 33 which supports the capillary element 14
and which is movable from and to an access opening defined
25 by the neck 11 in container 8. For this purpose the support
member 33 is arranged slidably in a cylindrical sleeve 35
and is held therein by spring biasing means 34 in its shown
position closing the access opening. Sleeve 35 is received
in fluid-tight manner in the neck 11 of container 8 and
30 rests thereon with an overhanging flange 36, while a snap-in
edge 37 provides fastening of sleeve 35. Support member 33
is provided with an annular gasket 39 which is pressed in
the position shown against a bottom flange 38 of sleeve 35,
whereby the interior of container 8 is closed off in air-
35 tight manner from the environment. Support member 33 furthercomprises a substantially cylindrical body 41 in which the
capillary element 14 is received and in which a number of
slots 42 are arranged, whereby, when support member 33 is
W094/25293 2 t 61 4 3 3 PCT~L94/00089
moved downward counter to the biasing force of spring 34,
air can flow from the outside into the interior of container
8. Support member 33 is further provided with a stop 40 to
limit its movement.
Arranged on the upper part of sleeve 35 is an
insert 44 which has a central aperture 45 into which a pen
or cartridge can be inserted to gain access to the capillary
element 14. The central aperture 45 is arranged in a central
plate 46 of insert 44, wherein venting apertures 16 are
lO further present between central plate 46 and the edge of
insert 44. The air flows through these venting apertures 16
to the slots 42 of support member 33.
A storage location 43 for the cover lO of contai-
ner 8 is further arranged on the upper side of container 8,
15 on which location the cover can be fixed so that it will not
be lost. This storage location 43 consists of a recess in
the wall of container 8 and a peripheral rib 50 protruding
therefrom, the dimensions of which correspond with those of
the neck ll of the cont~; ner . The cover lO is fixed onto the
20 rib 50 in the same manner as on neck 11, for instance by
screw or snap-in means.
In this embo~;-?nt the container is not filled
with ink 9 through the access opening, but a separate fil-
ling opening 48 is present which is formed for example
25 during blow-molding of the container 8 and through which the
container can be filled st~n~;ng on its opposite end. The
filling opening 48 is then closed with a cover 49.
With use of the container 8 for filling a cartrid-
ge 1 of a pen 17, the latter is placed with its neck 47 into
30 the aperture 45 of insert 44, wherein the pen tip 53 makes
contact with capillary element 14. The pen is then pressed
in further, wherein support member 33, in which capillary
element 14 is arranged, is pressed downward into container
8. The spring 34 is herein compressed between the bottom
35 flange 38 of sleeve 35 and an upper flange 52 of support
member 33. By pressing downward the support member 33 the
seal between gasket 39 and flange 38 is broken, whereby air
can flow as according to arrows A into the container 8 via
W094/25293 ~ 6 1 ~ 33 PCT~L94/00089
the apertures 16 in insert 44 and the slots 42 of support
member 33. Due to the capillary action fluid 9 is drawn
simultaneously as according to arrows F out of container 8
via the capillary element 14 and the pen tip 53 into the
5 cartridge or filling 1. The dimensions of the neck 47 of pen
17 and the central aperture 45 in sleeve 35 are adapted to
each other such that pen 17 is clamped in sleeve 35 and
therefore remains in place despite the force exerted by
spring 34. A snap-in system or a screwing system for instan-
lO ce could of course be used instead of a clamping system.
Container 8 is preferably manufactured from a
resiliently flexible material, so that when cartridge 1 or
pen 17 is inserted therein it can be pressed in to build up
pressure in the interior of the cont~; nPr and thus further
15 accelerate the fluid transfer.
Due to the presence of the resiliently movable
support member 33 not only is an excellent fluid transfer
effected, but a good sealing of the container is also achie-
ved when this is not in use. This prevents ~or instance
20 leakage if the container tips over.
*****
. ' ;, t ! ~
