Abstract: Solids which are soluble in a common solvent or solvent mixture, possibly containing a common high-boiling substance of common marker liquids for writing instruments with a common capillary feeder opening, with a melting point .gtoreq.30.degree. C. and a molecular weight .ltoreq.1000 daltons, and which, when they are the sole ingredient in the solvent or solvent mixture, crystallize on the feeder opening, forming outwardly growing crystallites, can be used as antiblocking additives for such marker liquids in a proportion of at leat 1% in weight, relative to the final composition of the marker liquid, for protective and anti-evaporating closure of the capillary feeder opening when it is unprotected and not in use.

Abstract: An ink supply system for writing instruments which operate with liquid ink. The writing instrument has a large-volume ink reservoir which communicates via a recharge valve with a small-volume ink reservoir which is adjacent to the writing element. The transmission of ink from the large-volume ink reservoir to the secondary reservoir is controlled by a sensor as a function of the quantity of ink which is present in the secondary ink reservoir. In order to simplify the recharging of the ink, and to be able to operate with the least possible electrical energy, the present invention utilizes as a recharge valve a tube pump which is rotatably driven by an electric motor and also can generate the pressure necessary to convey the ink to the secondary ink reservoir.

Abstract: An ink supply system for writing instruments which operate with liquid ink. The writing instrument has a large-volume ink reservoir which communicates via a recharge valve with a small-volume ink reservoir which is adjacent to the writing element. The transmission of ink from the large-volume ink reservoir to the secondary reservoir is controlled by a sensor as a function of the quantity of ink which is present in the secondary ink reservoir. In order to simplify the recharging of the ink, and to be able to operate with the least possible electrical energy, the present invention utilizes as a recharge valve a tube pump which is rotatably driven by an electric motor and also generate the pressure necessary to convey the ink to the secondary ink reservoir.

Abstract: An ink supply system for writing instruments which operate with liquid ink or writing fluid. In order to make uniform the supply of ink or writing fluid independent of environmental influences, and to make possible a longer writing time with one filling, it is proposed to first store the writing fluid in a primary, permanently compressible, non-capillary and large-volume supply chamber. From this primary supply chamber, a small-volume, capillary secondary supply chamber, which communicates with the writing element, is supplied via an auxiliary charging valve which is controllable as a function of need for ink or writing fluid. The filling of the secondary supply chamber can be detected with a sensor, and the auxiliary charging valve can be controlled.

Abstract: To prevent transport of deleterious oxygen and moisture to liquid electrolyte in an aluminum electroplating vessel, workpieces move towards the vessel through an antechamber containing inert gas under pressure and comprising a plenum chamber opening downwardly into a lock chamber containing aprotic liquid. They move down into the liquid, then up out of it, into and through an inverted-U-shaped passageway containing higher pressure inert gas and which communicates with the lock chamber below the surface of the liquid therein and communicates with the electrolysis vessel above the surface of the electrolyte. At each connection between parts, where atmospheric oxygen might move towards the electrolyte, there are double mechanical seals defining a substantially annular chamber filled with aprotic liquid that forms a gas barrier, and such liquid is, where possible, shielded by inert gas.

Abstract: A pen nib provided with a slit for liquid inks, in which the front end of the nib is at its underside provided with a ball-point tip which extends substantially perpendicular to the writing plane, and the ball bed of which is associated with the slit in the nib in an ink transmitting manner.

Abstract: A closure cap which is held on writing instruments by a permanent magnet connected to the cap. The permanent magnet is arranged near the closed end of the cap, has a nearly cylindrical cross section, and has pole shoes on its pole faces, the free ends of the pole faces engaging ferro-magnetic annular parts of the writing instrument when the cap is placed on the latter.

Abstract: A socket structure for a ball point refill, which comprises a ball made of corundum and arranged inside an outer supporting shell provided in its interior with a compound bearing consisting of a backing shell having a hardness exceeding 800 kg/sq.mm Vickers and an inner lining facing the ball and having a hardness of less than 200 kg/sq.mm Vickers.