Drawing method and drawing instrument

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of sensing the actual value of fluid pressure within said pen comprises measuring said pressure at the region of the front end of said tubular pen.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one tubular pen comprises more than one and said actual pressure value is sensed by a parallel pressure sensing of all of said pens.

Claim 5

The method according to claim 2, wherein said at least one tubular pen comprises more than one and said actual pressure value is sensed by a parallel pressure sensing of all of said pens.

Claim 6

An automatic drawing instrument comprising at least one tubular pen supported upon a holder assembly, said at least one tubular pen further comprising a cylindrical body having a writing tubule supported at its front end, said automatic instrument further including: A. a writing fluid source connected to said at least one tubular pen, having a pressure regulating feed mechanism; B. a comparison unit operable to generate a control signal for said feed mechanism when an input signal differs from a nominal value; and C. means to sense the actual writing fluid pressure of said at least one tubular pens and operable to generate said input value to said comparison unit whereby said actual pressure is sensed and said pressure regulating feed mechanism is actuated to adjust said sensed value to said nominal value when said actual differs from said nominal value.

Claim 7

An automatic drawing instrument comprising at least one tubular pen supported upon a holder assembly, said at least one tubular pen further comprising a cylindrical body having a writing tubule supported at its front end, said automatic instrument further including: A. a writing fluid source connected to said at least one tubular pen, having a pressure regulating feed mechanism; B. a comparison unit operable to generate a control signal for said feed mechanism when an input signal differs from a nominal value; and C. means to sense the actual writing fluid pressure of said at least one tubular pens and operable to generate said input value to said comparison unit whereby said actual pressure is sensed and said pressure regulating feed mechanism is actuated to adjust said sensed value to said nominal value when said actual differs from said nominal value.

Claim 8

An automatic drawing instrument according to claim 5 wherein said at least one tubular pen comprises more than one and each pen includes pressure lines in parallel connection to a pressure sensor comprising said means to sense actual pressure in each of said pens.

Claim 9

An automatic drawing instrument according to claim 5 wherein said means to sense actual writing fluid pressure comprises a pressure line proximate the front end of said at least one writing pen.

Claim 10

An automatic drawing instrument according to claim 5 wherein said at least one tubular pen comprises more than one and said means operable to sense actual writing fluid pressure and generate said input signal comprises individual pressure sensors for each of said pens operably connected to a single comparison unit.

Claim 11

An automatic drawing instrument according to claim 5 wherein said means to sense actual writing fluid pressure comprises a piezoresistive pressure sensor.

Claim 12

An automatic drawing instrument according to claim 5 wherein said comparison unit comprises a Wheatstone Bridge, said input signal is an electrical voltage from a piezoresistive pressure sensor; and one branch of said bridge is operable to be set corresponding to said nominal value.

Claim 13

An automatic drawing instrument according to claim 5 wherein said at least one tubular pen comprises more than one and said means operable to sense actual writing fluid pressure and generate said input signal comprises a single pressure connection to each of said pens and operably connected to a single comparison unit.

Claim 14

An automatic drawing instrument according to claim 5 wherein said at least one tubular pen comprises three in parallel fluid connection to said pressure regulating fluid source mechanism and said holder assembly supports said pens in side by side relation with the middle pen writing tubule arranged lower than the front ends of said other tubules, said holder further operable to be pivoted about a horizontal axis extending perpendicularly to a connecting plane of the three pens.

Claim 15

An automatic drawing instrument according to claim 12 wherein each of said three tubular pens includes within said actual pressure sensing means pressure lines proximate their respective front ends, each pressure lines operably connected in parallel to a single piezoresistive pressure sensor, wherein said pressure sensor generates said input signal to a Wheatstone Bridge wherein one branch of said bridge is operable to be set according to said nominal value.

Claim 16

An automatic drawing instrument according to claim 5 wherein said writing fluid source and pressure regulating mechanism comprises an electromagnetically controlled positive displacement pump.

Claim 17

An automatic drawing instrument according to claim 14 wherein said pump further comprises a plunger operable in response to said control signal to compress a bellows-type writing fluid storage chamber to thereby regulate the writing fluid pressure in said at least one tubular pen.