Ball Pen

Contents…….  Pen’s Technology…………………………...  History of Ball Pen…………….....................  How Does a Ball Pen Work………………...  Key to a Ball Pen…………………………...  Mechanism of Ball Pen……………………..  The Ink……………………………………...

Pen’s Technology • •

A pen is a tool – Used for writing or drawing – Filled with a colored fluid, such as ink. A ballpoint pen is a pen that – Uses a small rotating ball made of brass, steel or tungsten carbide – To disperse ink as you write.

History of the Ball Pen • • • •

Hungarian journalist Laszlo Biro was well aware of the problems with normal pens. Biro used a quick drying ink in a new type of writing instrument. To avoid clogging his pen up with thick ink, he proposed a tiny metal ball that rotated at the end of a tube of this quick drying ink. The ball would have two functions: – It would act as a cap to keep the ink from drying. – It would let ink flow out of the pen at a controlled rate.

How Does a Ball Pen Work • •

The tip of a ballpoint pen, the part that writes, is very tiny metal ball in a socket. As you write, the ball spins, so that the ink is put evenly on to the paper.

Key to a Ball Pen • • • •

The key to a ballpoint pen is, of course, the ball. The ball rotates freely and rolls out the ink. The side of the ball which you can’t see is in contact with a narrow plastic tube filled with ink. So that ink always moves evenly over the ball and makes the pen write smoothly.

Mechanism of Ball Pen • •

The tiny ball is held in a socket. The back of the ball is exposed so it can pick up ink from the reservoir.

The Ink • •

Ink is a fluid or paste that comes in a variety of colors -usually black or dark blue -- used for writing and printing. Modern quick-drying inks usually contain three things: – The vehicle – Coloring ingredients • Pigments • Agents • Lacquers – Additives