Pen Mechanics 2

Pen Mechanics 2

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	Site updated 30/7/04
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The Reservoir

A diagram of a complete fountain pen, including reservoir, feed, nib and section dThe mechanics of a fountain pen may be broken down into three general function categories: the reservoir, the feed system and the nib.

The reservoir or ink storage mechanism of most modern fountain pens stores ink two ways. One way to fill a fountain pen is to simply plug in the appropriate cartridge. The other way to fill a fountain pen is to plug in a piston converter. The converter is a closed container with a threaded rod running down the centre of its chamber and a plunger at the end. With the plunger in the downward most position, closest to the nib section of the pen, twisting a knob on the top of the converter siphons the ink into the container when the nib section is immersed in a bottle of ink.

Most pen makers create their pens to be compatible with their cartridges only, and all provide a reasonable selection of colours in high quality inks. The advantage to using cartridges is convenience. The advantage to filling the pen via converter is access to fresh bottled inks made by other companies.

The Feed

The feed system regulates the flow of ink to the nib by means of a series of canals and grooves. This system ensures the least possible incidence of leakage with the greatest amount of even flow. A cross section diagram of a feed and its components d

The feed, in conjunction with the nib, plays the vital role balancing the effects of gravity with atmospheric pressure and capillary action.

Capillary action pivots in its role, making sure the ink in the pen holds in position against any changes in air pressure where the ambient air pressure becomes lower than that of the ink reservoir or heat from the writers hand increases the internal pressure above that of the ambient air pressure.

Most pens have a series of secondary canals to handle any surplus of ink due to these atmospheric imbalances. Varying the size of the canals and conduits achieves the perfect balance necessary.

Mould injected synthetic resins, and in finer pens ebonite make up the materials of feeds. These materials suitably resist the corrosive agents present in inks.

Diagrams & information courtesy of Luttemans

Sunday August 08, 2004 17:52 +0200