A ballpoint A ballpoint penpen

How does it work?How does it work?

In the tip of the pen there In the tip of the pen there is a small metal sphere. is a small metal sphere. OneOne internal tube filled internal tube filled with a viscous ink is with a viscous ink is above the ball. When above the ball. When you move the pen back you move the pen back and forth, the ball get and forth, the ball get wet by the rolling wet by the rolling action, and puts the ink action, and puts the ink on the paper like a trail.on the paper like a trail.

.. A ballpoint pen works exactly the same way like an antiperspirant roll-on. A ballpoint pen works exactly the same way like an antiperspirant roll-on. The ball is held in a socket, and the back of the ball is exposed to the liquid The ball is held in a socket, and the back of the ball is exposed to the liquid so it can transfer from the inside to the outside. The ball fits into the socket so it can transfer from the inside to the outside. The ball fits into the socket with just enough space to move freelywith just enough space to move freely

HistoryHistory

Before the biro there were some models of Before the biro there were some models of fountain pens for writing, but they had fountain pens for writing, but they had several disavantages:several disavantages:

Durabillity: the pens had to be refilled frequentlyDurabillity: the pens had to be refilled frequently The leaking of the water based ink on the paperThe leaking of the water based ink on the paper The slow drying of the inkThe slow drying of the ink

How was it developed a new pen?How was it developed a new pen?

The story begins in 1888 when Jhon Loud an American The story begins in 1888 when Jhon Loud an American leather tanner patented a roller-ball-tip marking pen. leather tanner patented a roller-ball-tip marking pen. Loud´s invention featured a reservoir of ink and a roller Loud´s invention featured a reservoir of ink and a roller ball that applied the thick ink to leather hides. ball that applied the thick ink to leather hides.

About 1930 an Hungarian called Laszlo Bíró (who About 1930 an Hungarian called Laszlo Bíró (who worked like an newspaper editor) was frustrated by the worked like an newspaper editor) was frustrated by the amount of time wasted filling fountain pens and the amount of time wasted filling fountain pens and the problems with the leakage of the pens. problems with the leakage of the pens. He got an idea of making a new pen during He got an idea of making a new pen during the visit to a printing press, where the ink the visit to a printing press, where the ink dries quickly at the paper, because it was an dries quickly at the paper, because it was an oil based ink, instead of water based ink like oil based ink, instead of water based ink like fountain pens. He and his brother George, a fountain pens. He and his brother George, a chemical professional, began to work on the chemical professional, began to work on the first commercially successful ballpoint first commercially successful ballpoint pen. That occurred in 1938.pen. That occurred in 1938.

The brothers Biro emigrated with a friend Jorge The brothers Biro emigrated with a friend Jorge Meyne to Argentina in the II World War Meyne to Argentina in the II World War because they were Jews. They patented their because they were Jews. They patented their invention and then opened the first ballpoint invention and then opened the first ballpoint manufacturing plant there.manufacturing plant there.

During the War the biro was used by the British During the War the biro was used by the British Air Force an American flyers because it let Air Force an American flyers because it let write under lower atmospheric pressures, so write under lower atmospheric pressures, so the biro was introduce in American and the biro was introduce in American and European markets.European markets.

Some companies, like Eversharp and Parker Some companies, like Eversharp and Parker acquired the exclusive rights to Biro pens and acquired the exclusive rights to Biro pens and manufactured several models.manufactured several models.

But, the invention was renewed at late 1950´s But, the invention was renewed at late 1950´s by French Baron, Marcel Bich, who developed by French Baron, Marcel Bich, who developed a simple, disposable and very cheap ballpoint a simple, disposable and very cheap ballpoint pen, the BIC. Since then, BIC dominate the pen, the BIC. Since then, BIC dominate the market and a daily world wide sales figure of 20 market and a daily world wide sales figure of 20 millions of pieces.millions of pieces.

How many pieces has the biro How many pieces has the biro BIC?BIC?

Manufacturing processManufacturing process

The basic steps include:The basic steps include: ink compoundingink compounding metal component formation,metal component formation, plastic component molding,plastic component molding, piece assembly,piece assembly, packaging,packaging, labelinglabeling shipping.shipping.

All the process is performed in a highly All the process is performed in a highly technology plant with high speed technology plant with high speed machines, pens can go from raw machines, pens can go from raw material to finished product in less than material to finished product in less than five minutes. five minutes.

Perfect spheresPerfect spheres

An alloy much harder than steel: An alloy much harder than steel: tungsten carbide (an inorganic tungsten carbide (an inorganic chemical compound containing equal chemical compound containing equal parts of tungsten and carbon atoms)parts of tungsten and carbon atoms)

Like an example of the precision in the Like an example of the precision in the manufacturing process is how to achieve the manufacturing process is how to achieve the highly resistant ball: the tungsten carbide balls are highly resistant ball: the tungsten carbide balls are first hardened in an oven (by heat) and then the first hardened in an oven (by heat) and then the balls are put between two flat diamond surfaces balls are put between two flat diamond surfaces during 60 hours of work to become perfect during 60 hours of work to become perfect spheres. spheres.

100% of the balls are checked by line inspectors 100% of the balls are checked by line inspectors for roundness and resistance (dimensions: 1 and for roundness and resistance (dimensions: 1 and 0,5 mm of diameter with an accuracy of one tenth 0,5 mm of diameter with an accuracy of one tenth of a micron)of a micron)

-It has hexagonal shape to avoid go round to the table or -It has hexagonal shape to avoid go round to the table or other surfacesother surfaces

- Its transparent polystyrene barrel shows the ink level- Its transparent polystyrene barrel shows the ink level

- A tiny hole drilled in the barrel´s body keeps the same - A tiny hole drilled in the barrel´s body keeps the same air pressure both inside and outside the penair pressure both inside and outside the pen

- The thick ink is pulled down by gravity and a capillary - The thick ink is pulled down by gravity and a capillary action from a tube to the ball of the tipaction from a tube to the ball of the tip

- Its propylene cap clip has a small hole to prevent - Its propylene cap clip has a small hole to prevent children from sucking it into the throat.children from sucking it into the throat.

Why this pen has had a such Why this pen has had a such success?success?

Because it's a simple and perfect Because it's a simple and perfect designdesign

CuriositiesCuriosities

Can the ballpoint pen work in the space? Can the ballpoint pen work in the space? No, because in the space there is not No, because in the space there is not enough pressure and it’s necessary to flow enough pressure and it’s necessary to flow the ink. the ink. There is a common urban legend claiming There is a common urban legend claiming that the Americans spent millions of dollars that the Americans spent millions of dollars developing the Space Pen, whereas the developing the Space Pen, whereas the Russians are still used a pencil in their Russians are still used a pencil in their Spaces trips.Spaces trips.

The Space penThe Space penIt is a pen that uses a viscous and pressurized ink It is a pen that uses a viscous and pressurized ink

It can write in zero gravity, upside down, It can write in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, over wet and greasy paper, at any underwater, over wet and greasy paper, at any

angle, and in extreme temperature ranges.angle, and in extreme temperature ranges.

Challenge BICChallenge BICThe BIC is part of the collection of the MOMA (Museum The BIC is part of the collection of the MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) in New Yorkof Modern Art) in New York

You can see this video, I was amazed when I saw it, and You can see this video, I was amazed when I saw it, and I discovered a lot of masterpieces drawn with this pen .I discovered a lot of masterpieces drawn with this pen .

I think it´s incredible!I think it´s incredible!http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=R6r9LhbQxvk=R6r9LhbQxvk

The reproduction of "The Girl with a Pearl Earring" by The reproduction of "The Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Johannes Vermeer, took artist James approx 90 hours to Johannes Vermeer, took artist James approx 90 hours to complete, but thanks to its long writing length and oil complete, but thanks to its long writing length and oil based ink, just a based ink, just a single pensingle pen was needed to finish the was needed to finish the work.work.