JPH036000B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a pencil with a lead feeding function capable of feeding a recording lead to a pen tip.

Pencils with a lead feed function can be used in the fields of various plotters and recorders, but conventional pencils with a lead feed function are large-scale devices that use motors, solenoids, or air pressure to push out the lead. It was hot. Therefore, their shape and weight are large, and their control is complicated, making them unsuitable for small-sized blotters.

The present invention was made against the above-mentioned background, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a pencil which is compact in shape and whose lead extrusion length can be controlled by electrical signals.

To summarize the present invention, the present invention includes means for pressing the core in the axial direction, and a core holder made of a piezoelectric material that holds the core so that the core is not moved in the axial direction by the means, and made of the piezoelectric material. Applying an electric signal such as an alternating current to the core holder to generate vibration,
The holding force of the core is weakened so that the core is pushed out by the pressing means.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of the structure of a pencil with a lead feeding function according to the present invention. In the same figure, 1
is a rod-shaped lead made of a recording material similar to that used in, for example, a so-called pencil. 3 represents a lead case, which has a cylindrical shape as shown in Fig. 1, has an inner hole large enough to allow the lead 1 to move in the axial direction within the cylinder, and the lead 1 is protected in this case. are doing. Reference numeral 5 denotes a case in which means for pressing the lead 1 against the pen tip is provided. The case 5 is coupled to the core case 3 at a threaded portion 51. 7
1 is a push rod, 9 is a spring, and 11 is a piston, which constitute means for pressing the lead 1 toward the pen tip as described above. However, the configuration of the pressing means is not limited to that shown in FIG. 52 represents the guide, pushy rod 7
This is for positioning so that the tip of the tip presses the lead 1 accurately. Although the guide 52 is depicted in FIG. 1 as forming a part of the case 5, it may be constructed as an independent component. Reference numeral 13 represents a core holder, which is a member having a hole-shaped portion through which the core 1 passes, and is made of a piezoelectric material. This core holder 13 will be described in detail later using FIG. 3. 15
is a cap corresponding to a so-called pen nib portion, and is connected to the lead case 3 at a threaded portion 31.
As shown in the figure, the core 1 penetrates in the axial direction. In the figure, the lead holder 13 is shown to be housed in the cap 15, but the structure is not limited to this. As described above, in FIG. 1, the lead case 3, case 5, and cap 15 form a pencil shape, and the lead 1, the lead pressing means, and the lead holder 13 are accommodated therein.

When loading lead 1 into the pencil shown in FIG. Case 3 and case 5 are connected by threaded portion 51.

As described above, the core holder 13 is made of a piezoelectric material, such as piezoelectric ceramic having an appropriate d constant. Of course, it is not limited to piezoelectric ceramics. This lead holder 13 is composed of one block or multiple blocks. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of the structure of the lead holder 13, which is formed from one block, a portion of which is shown in a sectional view. is an external view of one formed by three blocks. Both have a hole-like portion 13a, and this 13a
Core 1 penetrates through. The shape of this hole-like portion 13a is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and any shape may be used as long as the core 1 can be held or passed through this hole-like portion 13a. When a pulse or alternating current voltage as shown in FIG. 2 is applied to such a lead holder, the lead holder 13 expands and contracts in the radial direction, causing the hole-shaped portion 13a to vibrate as its diameter expands or contracts. do. Whether it vibrates to expand or to contract depends on the polarity of the applied pulsed voltage and the composition of the piezoelectric material.

The operation of the pencil shown in FIG. 1 with such a configuration is as follows. When the pencil shown in Fig. 1 is attached to, for example, a plotter (not shown), a pulse voltage signal such as A or B in Fig. 2 is sent to the lead holder.
3, and the hole-shaped portion 13a expands and contracts by the operation described above. Also, unlike A or B in Fig. 2, a simple AC signal is transmitted to the core holder 13.
The present invention can also be applied in addition to the above. Therefore, the hole-like part 1
The holding force at 3a weakens, and the spring 9
Core 1 is pushed out by the force. The pushed-out length of the lead 1 is detected by a detection means (not shown), and when the lead 1 is pushed out to a predetermined length, the applied voltage signal is stopped and the lead 1 is moved to the lead holder 13.
is held by In this state, the plotter records with the pencil shown in FIG. 1, and when the lead 1 decreases and becomes short to a certain level, the above-mentioned detection means operates and sends the above-mentioned voltage signal to the lead holder 13 again. is applied to push lead 1 toward the pen tip.

As described above, according to the pencil with lead feeding function according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(A) Since it can be made in the same shape as a drafting pen, it can be used interchangeably with other pens such as plotters.

(B) It can be configured to be small and lightweight, and the extrusion of the core can be controlled extremely easily.

Note that although the above description does not mention the means for applying an electric signal to the lead holder 13, it can be configured by a normal and common method.

For example, as a means for applying an electric signal to the lead holder 13, a current conducting path may be provided in the lead case 3 or the cap 15 by vapor deposition or plating, or a conductive path may be provided through the spring 9, the push rod 7, and the lead 1. It may also be used as an electric path.

Further, as an embodiment of the present invention, the case 5 may be provided with a slit or a transparent case so that the remaining amount of the core 1 can be determined from the position of the piston 11. Alternatively, the drive circuit and battery for the lead holder 13 may be housed in the upper part of the case 5. Further, in order to prevent the core from being scraped due to vibration of the piezoelectric material, an elastic membrane may be provided in the hole-shaped portion 13a.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of the structure of a pencil with a lead feeding function according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an example of an electric signal applied to the lead holder, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the shape of the lead holder. . 1...core, 3...core case, 5...case, 7
...Pushy Rod, 9...Spring, 11
...Piston, 13... Core holder, 15... Cap.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A rod-shaped core made of a recording material, a core holder made of a piezoelectric material having a hole through which the core passes, means for applying an electric signal to the core holder, A pencil with a lead feeding function, comprising means for pressing the lead in an axial direction, and extruding the lead by applying an electric signal to the lead holder and exciting the lead holder. 2. The pencil with lead feeding function according to claim 1, characterized in that a pulsed or AC waveform voltage signal is used as the electrical signal.