Ball Point Pen

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Ballpoint Pen

Introduction

The following information is a description of a ballpoint pen. This will identify all the parts to a

pen and how they work. In 1954 the first successful ballpoint pen was sold in stores. It was

important to create a pen that didn’t need to be refilled and didn’t leave smudgy blobs.

Ranging from a size of four to five inches, pens are typically made out of plastic to form a

cylinder. This cylindrical instrument is used for writing and drawing. Using a small rotating ball

allows the pen to grip most writing surfaces. The ball can be made out of brass, steel, or

tungsten carbide. Ballpoint pens were created because the preceding types of pens had problems

with uneven ink flow and the ink was slow to dry. Earlier versions of the pen needed to be held

completely vertical in order to get the ink to flow properly. World War II pilots found this

invention of the ballpoint pen useful because when they flew at high altitudes the regular

fountain pen would leak. This straightforward design makes the ballpoint pen a highly used

writing instrument.

Figure 1

Parts of the Ballpoint Pen

Function Overview

A ballpoint pen is a spring loaded device that pushes the refill (see figure 1) out far enough to




extend the tip. Certain ballpoint pens are not spring loaded and the refill remains outside the nip

at all times. Ink is stored inside the reservoir located in the refill inside the front tube. To get the

ink on the paper, the pen is tilted so the point is touching the paper. When the pen moves across

the paper, the ball turns and gravity forces the ink down the reservoir, coats the ball, and onto the

paper.

Cap and spring

The cap is located at the back end of the tube. The cap is attached to the refill and a compressed

spring inside the tip. When the cap is pressed in, force is applied to the spring allowing the refill

to extend out the tip. After the refill is pushed far enough it is locked into place. A second push

on the cap will release the spring and the nip will retract back inside the tip. In other designs of

the ballpoint pen the cap has no function other than to seal the back end of the cylinder. The

spring function is not necessary for all pens it is the manufacturers’ preference.

Rear/Front Tube

The long cylindrical shape of the pen comes from the tube. Both the font and the rear tube are

connected by a twist mechanism. A band is placed over top of the twist mechanism in between

both tubes in order to give the tube a smooth look. The purpose of the rear and front tube is to

house the ink refill inside of the tube. Instead of having a rear and front tube some pens only

have one elongated tube. The tube can come in different lengths and diameters depending on the

manufacturer.

Reservoir

Located inside of the front tube is the reservoir where the ink is stored. The reservoir keeps

oxygen out in order to keep the ink from drying out and getting clogged. Original marketing

strategies claimed that the pen could write for two years before drying out.

Nip and Ball




The nip is connected to the end of the reservoir. When the pen is pointed towards the paper the

ink makes its way to the ball. The ball has enough room inside the nip to roll around. Ink flows

around the ball in an even pattern on the paper. Although this design is simple it allows the ink

to flow easily.

Conclusion

A cylindrical ballpoint pen is commonly used for writing because the ink does not come out until

force is applied on the ball. This simple mechanism makes it easy to use. The ink is slow

enough to dry that it does not clog, however, it is faster drying then previous inks to prevent

smearing. Ballpoint pens are highly used by people in all professions. They are extensively

produced because of their popularity.

Ball Point Pen

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