Abstract An ink reservoir element for use in a marking instrument is disclosed, which combines good ink holding capacity and good ink release properties with a wide variety of inks. The ink reservoir element is formed from a coherent sheet of flexible thermoplastic fibrous material, such as a spunbonded polyester fabric or a foam-attenuated extruded polyester fabric, which has been uniformly embossed with a series of parallel grooves. The embossed sheet is compacted and bonded into a dimensionally stable rod-shaped body whose longitudinal axis extends parallel to the embossed grooves. A method and apparatus is disclosed for continuous production of the ink reservoir elements from a continuous web of the fibrous sheet material.
An ink reservoir element for use in a marking instrument, comprising a coherent sheet of flexible thermoplastic fibrous material compatible with formic acid compacted together and bonded into a dimensionally stable rod-shaped body, said fibrous material being composed of an interconnecting network of randomly arranged, highly dispersed, continuous-filament thermoplastic fibers which are bonded together at the filament junction; at least one surface of said sheet being uniformly embossed with a series of parallel grooves extending longitudinally with respect to said rod-shaped body, forming capillaries capable of transporting ink which extend longitudinally from end to end of the finished element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
An ink reservoir element for use in a marking instrument, comprising a coherent sheet of flexible thermoplastic fibrous material compatible with formic acid compacted together and bonded into a dimensionally stable rod-shaped body, said fibrous material being composed of an interconnecting network of randomly arranged, highly dispersed, continuous-filament thermoplastic fibers which are bonded together at the filament junction; at least one surface of said sheet being uniformly embossed with a series of parallel grooves extending longitudinally with respect to said rod-shaped body, forming capillaries capable of transporting ink which extend longitudinally from end to end of the finished element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The ink reservoir element of claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic fibers are polyester fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The ink reservoir element of claim 1, wherein said embossed grooves have a width within the range of from about 0.005 inch to about 1/8 inch, and a depth of at least about 0.0015 inch but less than the tearing point of said sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ink reservoir element of claim 1, wherein said rod-shaped body is provided with at least one longitudinal peripheral slot extending continuously the entire length of said body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ink reservoir element of claim 1, wherein said fibrous material is a spunbonded fabric.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ink reservoir element of claim 1, wherein said fibrous material is a foam-attenuated extruded fabric.