Abstract: A writing instrument has an elongated hollow barrel having a front end formed with a longitudinally extending tip passage centered on and defining an axis, an ink reservoir in the barrel, and a rigid synthetic-resin tip extending along the axis, formed with longitudinal capillaries, and having a front pointed end which projects axially forwardly from the barrel and a rear pointed end which is in the reservoir. This tip is centrally formed with a radially outwardly open groove having axially spaced front and rear flanks and is substantially symmetrical about a plane bisecting the groove. A plurality of radially inwardly projecting holding ribs formed in the passage radially engage the tip and each form a forwardly directed shoulder bearing axially forward on the front flank of the groove.

Abstract: A reusable thermocolor ribbon for thermal transfer printing is described comprising a layer of a melt-applied color on one side of a plastic foil as carrier, where the melt-applied color contains a wax or wax-like substance, a pigment and an organic binder. A coating liquid which contains a thermoplastic binding agent in solution and the meltable wax or wax-like substance in finely dispersed solid form, is applied to the carrier of the thermocolor ribbon, where the coating liquid represents as solvent agent a mixture of a solvent and non-solvent for the thermoplastic binding agent at room temperature. The non-solvent/solvent mixture is evaporated while simultaneously its solvent capability for the plastic binding agent is reduced. This thermocolor ribbon can be used more than 20 times without impairment of the print quality. A process for preparing the thermocolor ribbon is also detailed herein.