Device for spreading mixtures of primary colors in fluid form

#The method according to the invention is mainly characterized in that two or more colours and possibly thinner are simultaneously fed from the respective containers under a suitable pressure in desired amounts to the spreading element and the ratio of the colours in the mixture, and thus the tone of the mixture, is changed by degrees or continuously during the spreading.

#The main advantage of the method of the invention is the fact that a change from one color mixture and tone into another is achieved by degrees or continuously very fast while it is not necessary to lift the painting element off the spreading base at all.

#The invention also relates to a spreading device for carrying out the above method, the characteristics of the device are set forth in the claims.

#The method of the invention, and the device will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

#FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal view of one embodiment of the device according to the invention, in the form of a pen, where the upper part is not shown, partially in section,

#FIG. 2 shows similarly a longitudinal view, the section being taken perpendicularly to the view of FIG. 1,

#In the following specification, the lower or front end of the device means the end provided with a spreading element, and the upper or rear end means the opposite end of the device.

#The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 has a frame 1, arranged coaxially inside a sleevelike outer casing comprising a protecting sleeve 2, a protecting point 3 at the lower end of the protecting sleeve, and an upper protecting sleeve 4 connected to the upper end of the protecting sleeve 2. The upper end of the upper protecting sleeve 4 can be provided with a button for a cleaning device for the color discharge openings. Tubular, longitudinal containers for color and thinner, made of plastic material, for instance, are fitted in the upper end of the frame 1. Each two containers are arranged adjacent to each other and on top of each other. Seen from the upper end, a container 5a for blue color is on top on the left, a container 6a for yellow color is next to it on the right, a container 7a for red color is below the container 5a, and container 8a for thinner is next to the container 7a. The lower end of each container is connected with an adjustment cavity formed by a tube of elastic material. The container 5a for blue color continues as an adjustment cavity 5, the container 6a for yellow color continues as an adjustment cavity 6, the container 7a for red color continues as an adjustment cavity 7, and the container 8a for thinner continues as an adjustment cavity 8. These adjustment cavities continue as tubes 9 attached to the lower end of the frame 1, and then as ducts 10 through a duct support sleeve 11 attached to the tubes 9, and open into discharge openings 12 in the upper surface of the sleeve 11. In the embodiment shown, the discharge openings 12 are arranged so that an opening for blue color is furthest in the point, openings for red and yellow colors are next to each other behind it, and an opening for thinner is at the rear.

#Back pressure valves, each comprising a common transverse valve piece 13 for each pair of adjacent adjustment cavities 5, 6 and 7, 8, are arranged at the upper ends of the adjustment cavities 5 to 8. These valve pieces are in contact with the outer surfaces of the adjustment cavities through openings 14 in the frame. The ends of two bow springs 15 are connected to the adjacent ends of the valve pieces 13 on the opposite sides. The lower end of each container is closed and extends into the upper end of an adjustment cavity and has a flat section 16. At this point, there is a hole 17 in the wall of the container. When the back pressure valves are closed, the bow springs 15 press the valve pieces 13 against the said flat sections 16 of the adjustment cavities, and the holes 17 are closed. In order to open the back pressure valves, each valve piece 13 is provided with an opening projection 18, the functioning of which will be described later.