The present invention relates to a knock-type applicator.
Knock-type writing instruments and knock-type makeup tools in each of which a refill is movable between a state in which a nib is projected from an outer tube to write and a housed state in which the nib is housed in the outer tube have been known. (Hereinafter, the knock-type writing instruments and the knock-type makeup tools are collectively referred to as knock-type applicators.)
For example, the knock-type applicator described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-22138 includes an inner cap for forming a sealed space around the nib in the housed state. Since this inner cap is provided with a slit, the nib directly abutting against the inner cap causes the slit to be in an open state in which the nib can pass through the slit. On the other hand, the nib moved away from the inner cap causes the slit to be in a closed state. When the slit is in the closed state, the sealed space is formed around the nib.
The inner cap having such a slit can prevent ink from being dried in the nib even when the housed state is kept for a long time. Thus, it is possible to make the ink last long.
In the above-described knock-type writing instrument, however, the inner cap needs to be pushed directly by the nib in order to open and close the slit. Thus, when the refill is reciprocated multiple times between the projecting state and the housed state, the nib wears every time the inner cap is pushed thereby. Thus, the product life is shortened.
Moreover, when the inner cap is pushed directly by the nib, ink is attached to the inner cap. Thus, in addition to such an ink stain in the inner cap, a problem arises such as that the ink attached to the inner cap hinders a smooth opening and closing operation of the slit. In particular, the ink attached to the vicinity of the slit prevents the inner cap from transitioning to its predetermined closed state. In such a case, as a result of being left in the housed state, the ink is dried and it is therefore impossible to make the ink last long.
This applies not only to the knock-type writing instruments but also to the knock-type makeup tools.
In consideration of such circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a knock-type applicator having a long product life.
Owing to hard studies by the present inventor, the above-described object can be achieved by the following means.
The present invention provides a knock-type applicator including an applicator body having a paint outlet part for outputting a paint housed in a paint housing part to the outside, the knock-type applicator configured to feed the paint outputted from the paint housing part to a material to be applied by causing the paint outlet part to abut against the material to be applied. The knock-type applicator includes: an outer tube that houses the applicator body; an applicator body moving mechanism configured to allow the applicator body to be movable between a housed state in which the paint outlet part is positioned in the outer tube and a projecting state in which the paint outlet part is projected from the outer tube; and a paint outlet housing space forming mechanism configured to form a space in which the paint outlet part is housed. When the applicator body is in the housed state, the space in which the paint outlet part is housed assumes a sealed state. When the applicator body is in the projecting state, the space in which the paint outlet part is housed assumes an open state opened to an external space.
When the applicator body is in the housed state, a pressure change in the space in which the paint outlet part is housed is preferably restricted. Moreover, when the applicator body is in the housed state, a volume change in the space in which the paint outlet part is housed is preferably restricted.
A state in which a relative position between the applicator body and the paint outlet housing space forming mechanism is changeable and a state in which the relative position is restricted from changing is preferably switchable therebetween.
Moreover, switching between the state in which the relative position between the applicator body and the paint outlet housing space forming mechanism is changeable and the state in which the relative position is restricted from changing is preferably performed by relative movement of the applicator body with respect to the outer tube.
When the applicator body is in the housed state, a relative position between the applicator body and the paint outlet housing space forming mechanism is preferably restricted from changing. Moreover, when the paint outlet part is in the projecting state, the relative position between the applicator body and the paint outlet housing space forming mechanism is preferably changeable. Furthermore, when the applicator body is in the housed state, the relative position between the outer tube and the paint outlet housing space forming mechanism is preferably changeable. When the applicator body is in the projecting state, the relative position between the outer tube and the paint outlet housing space forming mechanism is preferably restricted from changing.
The paint outlet housing space forming mechanism preferably includes: an opening and closing device having an opening and closing port configured to allow the space in which the paint outlet part is housed to be switchable between the sealed state and the open state; and an airtight tube having the opening and closing device at one of opening ends thereof and the applicator body inserted from the other one of the opening ends thereof. The opening and closing device and the airtight tube are preferably fixed to each other.
The paint outlet housing space forming mechanism preferably includes: an opening and closing device having an opening and closing port configured to allow the space in which the paint outlet part is housed to be switchable between the sealed state and the open state; and an airtight tube having the opening and closing device at one of opening ends thereof and the applicator body inserted from the other one of the opening ends thereof. The opening and closing device is preferably formed integrally with the airtight tube.
The paint outlet housing space forming mechanism preferably includes an opening and closing device having an opening and closing port configured to allow the space in which the paint outlet part is housed to be switchable between the sealed state and the open state and formed in a slit shape.
The present invention provides a knock-type applicator including an applicator body having a paint outlet part for outputting a paint housed in a paint housing part to the outside, the knock-type applicator configured to feed the paint outputted from the paint housing part to a material to be applied by causing the paint outlet part to abut against the material to be applied. The knock-type applicator includes: an outer tube that houses the applicator body; an applicator body moving mechanism configured to allow the applicator body to be movable between a housed state in which the paint outlet part is positioned in the outer tube and a projecting state in which the paint outlet part is projected from the outer tube; a paint outlet housing space forming mechanism configured to form a space in which the paint outlet part is housed; and an opening and closing switching mechanism configured to allow the space in which the paint outlet part is housed to be switchable between a sealed state and an open state. The paint outlet housing space forming mechanism includes an opening and closing device having an opening and closing port configured to allow the space in which the paint outlet part is housed to be switchable between the sealed state and the open state and formed in a slit shape. The opening and closing switching mechanism includes a release device that performs an opening and closing operation of the opening and closing device. The opening and closing port assumes an open state in which the paint outlet part can pass therethrough by the opening and closing operation.
The opening and closing device is preferably disposed in the outer tube so as to traverse a moving path of the paint outlet part between the housed state and the projecting state, and the release device is preferably disposed at a position in the outer tube closer to one side than the opening and closing device so as to be deviated from the moving path of the paint outlet part, and performs relative movement to the opening and closing device. Moreover, the relative movement of the release device with respect to the opening and closing device is preferably performed along with movement of the applicator body.
The knock-type applicator preferably further includes: an airtight tube having the opening and closing device at one of opening ends thereof and the applicator body inserted from the other one of the opening ends thereof; and a sealing part provided in a gap between the airtight tube and the applicator body, and the opening and closing device in a closed state, the airtight tube, and the sealing part preferably cause the space in which the paint outlet part is housed to be a sealed space. Moreover, the applicator body moving mechanism preferably includes: an outer tube-side moving mechanism configured to allow the applicator body, together with the airtight tube, to be movable relative to the outer tube between an abutting position at which the opening and closing device abuts against the release device and a separated position at which the opening and closing device is away from the release device; and an airtight tube-side moving mechanism configured to allow the applicator body to be movable relative to the airtight tube between the housed state and the projecting state when the opening and closing port is turned to the open state by the abutting. Furthermore, the outer tube-side moving mechanism is preferably provided between the outer tube and the airtight tube, and the airtight tube-side moving mechanism is preferably provided between the airtight tube and the applicator body.
The knock-type applicator preferably includes an outer tube-side movement restricting member provided between the outer tube and the airtight tube, the outer tube-side movement restricting member restricting movement of the applicator body based on the outer tube-side moving mechanism, and the outer tube-side moving mechanism is preferably configured to allow the applicator body at the abutting position to be movable between a state in which the applicator body is locked with the outer tube-side movement restricting member and a state in which the applicator body is away from the outer tube-side movement restricting member.
When the applicator body is locked with the outer tube-side movement restricting member, movement of the applicator body based on the airtight tube-side moving mechanism preferably takes precedence over movement of the applicator body based on the outer tube-side moving mechanism. When the applicator body is away from the outer tube-side movement restricting member, movement of the applicator body based on the outer tube-side moving mechanism preferably takes precedence over movement of the applicator body based on the airtight tube-side moving mechanism. Moreover, when the applicator body moves from the separated position toward the abutting position, a resistance force generated in the airtight tube-side moving mechanism is preferably larger than a resistance force generated in the outer tube-side moving mechanism. When the applicator body in the projecting state moves toward the housed state, a resistance force generated in the airtight tube-side moving mechanism is preferably smaller than a resistance force generated in the outer tube-side moving mechanism.
The opening and closing device is preferably formed so as to protrude toward the other side.
The knock-type applicator preferably further includes an opening and closing port lock mechanism provided between the outer tube and the opening and closing device, the opening and closing port lock mechanism restricting the opening and closing port in the closed state from transitioning to the open state. When the applicator body is at the separated position, the opening and closing port lock mechanism preferably keeps the opening and closing device in the closed state. When the applicator body is at the abutting position, on the other hand, the opening and closing port lock mechanism preferably causes the opening and closing device to be capable of transitioning to the open state. Moreover, when the opening and closing port lock mechanism engages with an outer peripheral portion of the opening and closing device, the applicator body is preferably at the separated position. When the opening and closing port lock mechanism is away from the outer peripheral portion of the opening and closing device, on the other hand, the applicator body is preferably at the abutting position. Furthermore, the opening and closing port lock mechanism preferably includes a first locking member and a second locking member provided between the outer tube and the opening and closing device so as to be separated from each other, and the first locking member and the second locking member are preferably disposed so as to face each other with the opening and closing port in a straight shape interposed therebetween.
The knock-type applicator preferably includes: a one-side outer tube locking protrusion provided so as to protrude from an inner peripheral surface of the outer tube; an other-side outer tube locking protrusion provided so as to protrude from the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube at a position closer to the other side than the one-side outer tube locking protrusion; an applicator body locking protrusion protruded from the applicator body between the one-side outer tube locking protrusion and the other-side outer tube locking protrusion; a housed state-side biasing member for biasing the applicator body toward the housed state with both ends thereof abutting against the one-side outer tube locking protrusion and the applicator body locking protrusion; and a projecting state-side biasing member for biasing the applicator body toward the projecting state. The applicator body is preferably capable of transitioning between a buffer state in which the applicator body receives a biasing force toward the projecting state from the projecting state-side biasing member and a retracted state in which the applicator body is retracted from the buffer state.
Moreover, when the applicator body is in the projecting state, the projecting state-side biasing member is preferably away from the applicator body. When the applicator body is in the housed state, the projecting state-side biasing member preferably gives the biasing force toward the projecting state to the applicator body.
A housing space for housing the opening and closing device in the open state is preferably formed between the outer tube and the release device, and a communication hole configured to allow communication between the housing space and an external space of the outer tube is preferably formed in the outer tube.
According to the present invention, the knock-type applicator having a long product life can be provided.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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Any paint housing part 310 may be employed such as of an ink absorber type in which an ink is held in a member such as a sponge, a porous material made of urethane, or a filling material formed by bundling fibers, or of a raw ink type in which an ink is directly housed in an ink tank.
The paint outlet part 320 includes: a nib 321; a guiding core (not shown) for feeding an ink from the paint housing part 310 to the nib 321; and a core holding part 322 for holding the nib 321 and the guiding core (intermediary core). This guiding core allows the flow of the paint between the paint housing part 310 and the nib 321. Examples of the nib 321 include a ballpoint pen type, a felt pen type using a fiber bundle, a plastic pen type having an ink guiding hole therein, a sintered pen type, a brush type, and a nib made of porous urethane.
Note that when the paint is solid, a refill having a solid paint provided at a tip thereof and a paint holding part for holding the solid paint may be employed.
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The inner tube 600 includes a sliding tube 610 and an airtight tube 620. The airtight tube 620 is fixed to the sliding tube 610 with the rear end side thereof being inserted into an opening end of the sliding tube 610 on the front end side thereof.
The opening and closing device 710 is provided at an opening end of the airtight tube 620 on the front end side thereof. The opening and closing device 710 is formed in a circular disc shape and includes a linear slit 711 formed in a central portion thereof (see
The slit 711 extends so as to traverse a moving path 300R of the refill 300 by the refill moving mechanism 400. A material for forming the opening and closing device 710 is preferably an elastic material such as rubber or a silicone resin.
Note that materials for forming other parts such as the outer tube 100, the end cap 200, the sliding tube 610, the knocking operation part 530, and the release device 720 include synthetic resins such as PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PET (polybutylene terephthalate), nylon, polyester, PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), ABS (acrylonitrile), POM (polyacetal), and PC (polycarbonate), for example.
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In conjunction with the refill moving mechanism 400 (see
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The refill-side protruded rib 432 extends in a circumferential direction of the refill 300.
A connection between the sliding tube 610 and the sliding tube-side locking piece 433 has a thickness thinner than those of the sliding tube 610 and the sliding tube-side locking piece 433. Thus, the sliding tube-side locking piece 433 is deformable so as to spread outward in a radial direction with respect to the sliding tube 610. In other words, the sliding tube-side locking piece 433 is deformable between a state in which the sliding tube-side locking piece 433 is positioned on a moving path of the refill-side protruded rib 432 and a state in which the sliding tube-side locking piece 433 is deviated from the moving path of the refill-side protruded rib 432. In the state in which the sliding tube-side locking piece 433 is positioned on the moving path of the refill-side protruded rib 432, the sliding tube-side locking piece 433 can engage with the refill-side protruded rib 432, and the refill 300 is thus locked on the front side thereof (see
Since the refill-side guide protrusion 434 can engage with the sliding tube-side guide groove 435, the refill-side guide protrusion 434 and the sliding tube-side guide groove 435 together allow the refill 300 in a state held by the inner peripheral surface 611 of the sliding tube 610 to be movable in the direction of the axis 300AX (see
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Thus, the outer tube-side moving mechanism 420 allows the refill 300 to be movable among a separated position (see
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Thus, when the refill 300 is at the separated position (see
By the way, there is a case where an opening and closing operation of the slit 711 by the slit opening and closing lock mechanism 760 is not performed smoothly. For example, if a force from a direction oblique to the slit 711 is generated in the opening and closing device 710 by the slit opening and closing lock mechanism 760, the closed state for forming the sealed space may not be obtained. In such a case, the outer tube-side protruded part 762 is formed with the use of first and second outer tube-side protruded pieces 762A and 762B positioned away from each other (see
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Operations of the above-described embodiment will be described next. First, resistance forces M1x to M4x are defined as follows.
M1x: a frictional force of the opening and closing device 710 against the release device 720
M2x: a frictional force of the airtight tube 620 against the outer tube 100
M3x: a frictional force of the airtight tube 620 against the refill 300
M4x: a frictional force of the sliding tube 610 against the refill-side protruded rib 432
When the identifier “x” is replaced by “F,” it indicates a frictional force generated during a forward movement of the refill 300. When the identifier “x” is replaced by “B,” it indicates a frictional force generated during a backward movement of the refill 300.
<From housing locked state to separated position> If an operation of pushing the knocking operation part 530 is performed when the refill 300 is in the housing locked state, the locking of the knocking operation part 530 is released while maintaining the separated position (see
<From separated position to first abutting position> If the knocking operation part 530 is pushed further so as to move the refill 300 at the separated position (see
<From first abutting position to second abutting position> If the knocking operation part 530 continues to be pushed further so as to move the refill 300 at the first abutting position (see
Here, at the second abutting position, the airtight mechanism 650 side parts (e.g., the airtight tube-side guide protrusion 421, the opening and closing device-side protruded ring 761, and the like) and the outer tube 100 side parts (e.g., the movement restricting protrusion 423 and the inner peripheral portion of the outer tube 100) engage with each other. Consequently, the refill 300 is locked with respect to the front side. Thus, when the refill 300 is moved from the first abutting position to the second abutting position, the resistance force (M1B+M2B) in the outer tube-side moving mechanism 420 increases.
<From second abutting position to projecting state> Furthermore, when the knocking operation part 530 is pushed further so as to move the refill 300 at the second abutting position (see
<From projecting state to projecting locked state> Thereafter, when the operation of pushing the knocking operation part 530 is released, the refill 300 assumes the projecting locked state (see
<From projecting locked state to projecting state> Next, when the operation of pushing the knocking operation part 530 is performed with respect to the refill 300 in the projecting locked state (see FIG. 3(B)), the refill 300 assumes the projecting state (see
<From projecting state to second abutting position> If the operation of pushing the knocking operation part 530 is released, the refill 300 is biased toward the housed state by the main spring 510. At this time, the movement restricting protrusion 423 engages with the airtight tube-side guide protrusion 421. Thus, when the refill 300 transitions from the projecting state to the second abutting position, the resistance force {M1F+M2F} in the outer tube-side moving mechanism 420 in the backward movement of the refill 300 increases. Thus, the resistance force {M1F+M2F} in the outer tube-side moving mechanism 420 in the backward movement of the refill 300 in the projecting state (see
<From second abutting position to first abutting position> If the refill-side guide protrusion 434 is locked with the rear end locking part 437 while the refill 300 is at the second abutting position (see
<From first abutting position to separated position> Also in a case where the refill 300 at the first abutting position (see
At this time, the refill 300 is biased toward the housing locked state by the main spring 510. Since the knock-type writing instrument 2 includes the buffer spring 780, the refill 300 having been biased toward the housing locked state is biased toward the projecting position by the buffer spring 780 without colliding against the farthest position in the outer tube 100 at high speed. Thus, the refill 300 moves slowly to the farthest position in the outer tube 100 and the refill 300 is prevented from colliding against the farthest position in the outer tube 100 at high speed. Therefore, a pressure fluctuation in the refill 300 due to such collision can be prevented, and thus ink leakage and scattering induced by such a pressure fluctuation in the refill 300 can be reliably prevented from occurring.
In this manner, according to the knock-type writing instrument 2, the movement of the refill 300 can achieve formation and removal of the sealed state around the paint outlet part 320 and switching between the housed state and the projecting state. Thus, when the knock-type writing instrument 2 is not used, the paint outlet part 320 can be housed in the outer tube 100 and the sealed space can be formed around the paint outlet part 320 by the operation of the knocking operation part 530. Consequently, it is possible to make the paint last long. Moreover, the operation of forming and removing the sealed state can be performed by causing the release device 720 provided in the outer tube 100 to abut against the opening and closing device 710. Thus, an ink is prevented from attaching to the opening and closing device 710 due to such an operation. Therefore, it is also possible to prevent a problem such as that the ink attached to the opening and closing device 710 hinders the smooth opening and closing operation of the slit 711.
During the movement of the refill 300 between the separated position (see
Moreover, since the opening and closing device 710 as a whole has the shape protruding toward its rear end side, a relatively small force is sufficient when the release device 720 disposed on the front end side thereof is used for the transition of the opening and closing device 710 in the closed state to the open state. Furthermore, even if a pressure in the sealed space around the paint outlet part 320 is increased and therefore the portion which forms the slit 711 tries to deform forward, the closed state does not easily transition to the open state as a result of the engagement between the opening and closing device 710 and the release device 720. Thus, ink leakage or ink scattering due to the pressure increase in the sealed space around the paint outlet part 320 can be prevented from occurring.
Although the release device 720 is fixed to the outer tube 100 and the opening and closing device 710 is configured so as to be movable in the outer tube 100 in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. The opening and closing device 710 may be fixed to the outer tube 100, and the release device 720 may be configured so as to be movable in the outer tube 100. Then, in order to move the release device 720 in the outer tube 100, a separate moving mechanism different from the refill moving mechanism 400 for moving the refill 300 may be provided.
Although the opening and closing device 710 is switched between the open state and the closed state by switching between the state in which the release device 720 directly abuts against the opening and closing device 710 and the state in which the release device 720 is away from the opening and closing device 710 in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, if ink drying does not matter, an opening and closing device 716 shown in
The first and second opening and closing protrusions 716FA and 716FB are configured so as to be swingable by the first and second swing shafts 716DA and 716DB between a rising state (see
When the first and second opening and closing protrusions 716FA and 716FB are in the rising state (see FIG. 7(A)), the first and second engagement protrusions 716GA and 716GB extend toward the opening and closing device 720, i.e., the front side as compared to the first and second opening and closing protrusions 716FA and 716FB. Moreover, since the first and second engagement protrusions 716GA and 716GB are rotatably attached to the first and second swing shafts 716DA and 716DB, respectively, the first and second engagement protrusions 716GA and 716GB swing integrally with the first and second opening and closing protrusions 716FA and 716FB. Furthermore, in both of the rising state (see
In addition to writing instruments such as stationery, the knock-type writing instrument 2 of the present invention can be used also as a makeup tool such as an eyeline marker. Thus, writing objects include a variety of objects such as paper, skin, and body hair. Note that both of the front and rear ends of the buffer spring 780 may be formed as free ends. When both of the front and rear ends of the buffer spring 780 are formed as fixed ends, the biasing force of the buffer spring 780 is preferably made smaller than that of the main spring 510. Furthermore, the buffer spring 780 may be disposed between the projecting and retracting guide protrusion 412 and the rear end engagement part 414 instead of being disposed in the end cap 200.
Although the refill 300 having been biased toward the housing locked state is biased toward the projecting position by the buffer spring 780 as shown in
Furthermore, the knocking operation part 530 preferably includes a tube part 530B provided posterior to the locking protrusion 530T, and an inner peripheral surface of the elastic tube 790 preferably slides with an outer peripheral surface of the tube part 530B. A frictional force between the inner peripheral surface of the elastic tube 790 and the outer peripheral surface of the tube part 530B can reduce the moving speed of the refill 300 biased toward the housing locked state.
A portion of the tube part 530B which slides with the inner peripheral surface of the elastic tube 790 is preferably provided in a front end of the tube part 530B. For example, an outer diameter of the tube part 530B is preferably decreased gradually, starting from a size capable of sliding with the inner peripheral surface of the elastic tube 790, from the front end side toward the rear end side.
The refill 300 including the paint housing part 310 and the paint outlet part 320 has been described in the above-described embodiment (see
With reference to
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The paint feeder 840 is formed in a rod shape, and extends from an inner space of the paint tank 830 to the nib 820 through the inner space of the barrel 810. A front end of the paint feeder 840 is stuck into the nib 820, and a rear end of the paint feeder 840 is exposed to the inner space of the paint tank 830. Thus, the paint feeder 840 can feed the paint housed in the paint tank 830 to the nib 820. Any material such as a sponge or a porous material made of urethane may be employed as the paint feeder 840.
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The connected space forming members 881 are provided side by side in the paint feeder holding tube 860 with a predetermined interval therebetween in an axial direction A. For example, the first connected space forming member 881 is provided in a front end portion 860F of the paint feeder holding tube 860, and the second connected space forming member 881 is provided in an intermediate part 860C of the paint feeder holding tube 860. These connected space forming members 881 rise from an outer peripheral surface of the paint feeder holding tube 860 and extend toward an inner peripheral surface of the barrel 810. Thus, the connected space K is formed over a range from the outer peripheral surface of the paint feeder holding tube 860 and the inner peripheral surface of the barrel 810 between the two connected space forming members 881.
The plurality of protruded plates 883 are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals in the axial direction A. The plurality of protruded plates 883 rise from the outer peripheral surface of the paint feeder holding tube 860 and extend toward the inner peripheral surface of the barrel 810. In the connected space K, circumferential grooves 883S are each formed between adjacent two of the protruded plates 883. As shown in
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Thus, when the refill 800 including the pressure fluctuation buffering part is employed, the paint communication groove and the air communication groove are formed in the connected space K of the knock-type writing instrument. Therefore, even if a factor which causes a pressure increase in the paint housing part 310 (e.g., a temperature increase in the external environment or a pressure increase) is generated, excess paint flows into the paint communication groove. Consequently, a pressure in the paint housing part 310 is prevented from increasing. Moreover, even if a factor which causes a pressure decrease in the paint housing part 310 (e.g., a temperature decrease in the external environment or a pressure phenomenon) is generated, excess air flows into the air communication groove. Consequently, a pressure in the paint housing part 310 is prevented from increasing. Thus, even if a factor of a pressure fluctuation in the paint housing part 310 is generated, paint leakage in the paint outlet part 320 or a phenomenon in which an amount of paint sufficient for writing cannot be fed can be prevented from occurring.
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It is to be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2013-087071 | Apr 2013 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2014/061028 | 4/18/2014 | WO | 00 |