Supply system for devices that operate with the aid of capillary forces and are used to apply liquids

In a supply system for a device that operates with the aid of capillary forces and is used to apply liquid, said system including a supply receptacle means that accommodates said liquid and is closed off relative to the atmosphere, and also including an application element that communicates with said supply receptacle means via a feed mechanism and serves for the application of said liquid, for which purpose said application element has a discharge means, the improvement wherein:

• said supply receptacle means comprises a plurality of supply receptacles, each of which is provided with an inlet means and an outlet means, with said supply receptacles being interconnected in the manner of a series connection by having said outlet means of one of said supply receptacles communicating with said inlet means of another one of said supply receptacles;
• the capillarity of said inlet means and said outlet means is greater than the capillarity of said supply receptacles in the vicinity of said inlet and outlet means thereof;
• said capillarity of said inlet means and said outlet means is less than the capillarity of said discharge means of said application element;
• and
• in an operating position of said device, said inlet and said outlet means of said supply receptacles are disposed in a lower portion of each supply receptacle.