Patent Description:
Micro-glass beads are used to increase the visibility of road marking in the dark by applying to the surface of road marking in a variety of techniques, for example, manually or using dedicated devices.

The closest technical solution (prototype) is an apparatus for applying micro-glass beads (Japanese application <CIT>), comprising of a feeding device and an inclined plate with holes disposed thereunder. Metering of the micro-glass beads in the feeding device is provided by two parallel rotating rolls, between which the distance can be adjusted. Micro-glass beads fall from the feeding device on the inclined plate with holes (the holes are located almost all over the plate) and, as they roll down the plate, they gradually fall through the holes on a pre-applied road marking layer.

The disadvantage of the known technical solution is a low durability of the resulting road marking as a result of the detachment of the micro-glass beads from the road marking layer when in service. This is due to the fact that the mass of each micro-glass bead is low, whereas the viscosity of the material of a road marking layer is quite high. Hence the micro-glass beads immerse by gravity slightly in the road marking layer and thereafter easily detach from the road marking layer under external influence, as the adhesion force to the road marking material is low as a result of a small contact area. A further disadvantage is the weak retroreflection of road marking as a result of the slight immersion of the micro-glass bead in the road marking material.

The technical result of the subject invention is to increase the durability of the resulting road marking when in service.

Above mentioned technical result is achieved due to the fact that in the apparatus for applying micro-glass beads for forming the road marking on the road surface, comprising a transportation means with mounted thereon a container with a base provided with a free edge, with a scraper, an inlet and an outlet, a belt with holes, two drums, a feeding device, a blowing means, the belt is configured closed, is stretched on the drums that are mounted to rotate them around the axis thereof and disposed at a distance from each other so that the axes thereof are parallel, with the formation of the lower portion of the belt between the drums and with the provision of capability to move the belt from drum to drum, wherein the holes are configured through and disposed on the belt in a certain order, the inlet and the outlet are disposed in the container opposite to each other, the outlet is disposed directly against the base, the lower portion of the belt is passed successively through the inlet, the base and through the outlet, the feeding device is attached to supply the micro-glass beads onto the lower portion of the belt in the container, the scraper is mounted in the container to obstruct the passage of the micro-glass beads present at the lower portion of the belt to the free edge of the base, disposed near the outlet, the blowing means is disposed at the free edge to blow the micro-glass beads present in the holes in the lower portion of the belt in the direction of the road surface, in a particular embodiment, the holes in the belt are disposed in a staggered order, in a particular embodiment, the holes in the belt are disposed one behind the other in the direction of travel of the belt, in a particular embodiment, the axes of the drums are disposed parallel to the road surface.

The drawings show: a drum <NUM>, belt <NUM>, hole <NUM>, container <NUM>, feeding device <NUM>, micro-glass bead <NUM>, scraper <NUM>, gas supply device <NUM>, blowing means <NUM>, device for applying road marking material <NUM>, road marking layer <NUM>, road surface <NUM>, free edge <NUM>, outlet <NUM>, base <NUM>, transportation means <NUM>, inlet <NUM>.

Road marking in general represents signs on the roadway, artificial structures and elements of road furniture that inform road users about the traffic conditions and modes on a road section (according to par. GOST R <NUM>-<NUM> "Road marking. Classification. Specifications"). According to Appendix <NUM> of the decree of the Russian government dated Oct <NUM>, <NUM> N <NUM> (as amended on <NUM>. <NUM>) "On road traffic regulations", horizontal road marking represents lines, arrows, writings and other designations on the roadway. Vertical road marking as a combination of black and white stripes on road structures and elements of road furniture indicates the dimensions thereof and serves as a way of visual orientation. It is most preferable to use the described technical solution in case of applying the horizontal road marking, but it is also possible to use it in case of applying vertical road marking when making the appropriate changes to the design.

The road surface is the upper portion of the road dressing and consists of one or more layers of a corresponding material, for example, concrete, or asphalt-concrete and asphalt (according to par. <NUM> of the Code <NUM>. <NUM> "Automobile roads", approved by the order of the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation (Minregion of Russia) dated June <NUM>, <NUM> N266).

The road marking layer <NUM> is disposed on the road surface in the required configuration (in the form of lines of a desired width or symbols). The road marking layer <NUM> is a formation of road marking material (paint, thermoplastic or cold plastic). One linear dimension (thickness) of above-mentioned formation is much smaller than the other two linear dimensions. In the described example of using the technical solution, the road marking further comprises micro-glass beads <NUM> partially immersed in the road marking layer <NUM>.

The micro-glass bead <NUM> is an element that is similar in shape to a sphere. The size of the micro-glass bead <NUM> is less than the thickness of the road marking layer <NUM>. The micro-glass beads <NUM> are typically made of transparent glass, but can further be made of transparent polymer material or any other material having the required strength and optical characteristics. The micro-glass beads <NUM> are disposed on that side of the road marking layer <NUM> that faces away from the road surface. Herewith the micro-glass beads <NUM> are partially immersed in the road marking layer <NUM> and partially protrude above it. The micro-glass beads <NUM> can also be additionally coated with a layer of easily removable material, which is washed off or removed mechanically after being applied to the road marking layer.

The apparatus for applying micro-glass beads is rigidly connected to the apparatus for applying road marking material <NUM>.

The main elements of the apparatus for applying micro-glass beads onto road marking are tension and pulling drums <NUM>, belt <NUM> with holes <NUM>, container <NUM> with a base <NUM>, inlet <NUM>, outlet <NUM> and a scraper <NUM>, a feeding device <NUM>, as well as a gas supply device <NUM>, and blowing means <NUM>. In the description the adjectives vertical, horizontal, upper, lower and similar to them are hereinafter given in accordance with the direction of gravity where an object is positioned as normally used (as shown in <FIG>).

The belt <NUM> is a strip of some material of small thickness, wherein the other two dimensions are significantly larger than the thickness. The width of the belt <NUM> is close to the width of the road marking line(s), typically slightly larger than the width of the road marking lines. Depending on a particular design used, the belt <NUM> can be configured flexible, as it is in the disclosed embodiment of the technical solution, or it can be configured as a rigid plate. Further in the description, the flexible tape option <NUM> is considered. The flexible belt <NUM> can be configured closed when it is constantly unidirectionally moved by using two drums <NUM> (as it is in a belt conveyor). Furthermore, the belt <NUM> can be configured open when it is alternately oppositely moved; in this case, the movement is performed due to the winding of the belt <NUM> first on one drum <NUM>, and then on the other one.

The belt <NUM> can be made of polymer materials, plastic, metal materials, wherein the material has to ensure that there is no significant change in the size of the belt <NUM> during the operation.

The belt <NUM> is provided with through, close to round holes <NUM> disposed in a way that the axis of each hole <NUM> coincides (or almost coincides) with the normal to the two opposite larger surfaces of the belt <NUM> at the point where the hole <NUM> is disposed. The diameter of the holes <NUM> is typically slightly larger than the diameter of micro-glass beads <NUM> (when the diameters of the micro-glass beads <NUM> are different, the diameter of the largest micro-glass beads <NUM> is selected), but also can be significantly larger. The holes <NUM> are disposed on the belt <NUM> in a certain order (corresponding to the desired disposition of the micro-glass beads <NUM> on the road marking layer <NUM>), for example, in a staggered order or one behind the other in the direction of belt <NUM> travel. The provided options for the disposition of the holes <NUM> ensure a uniform distribution of micro-glass beads <NUM> on the road marking layer <NUM>, and, accordingly, a constant level of retroreflection of the applied road marking on any portion thereof. The holes <NUM> can be made both on the entire belt <NUM> (typically in the case of a closed belt <NUM>) and on distinct sections thereof (in the case of a plate or an open belt <NUM>, when distinct portions of the belt <NUM> are constantly used for attachment and/or movement thereof and are not used for distribution of the micro-glass beads <NUM>).

To move the flexible belt <NUM>, typically used are two (pulling and tension) drums <NUM> disposed at a distance from each other so that the axes thereof are parallel to each other, and further the axes of the drums <NUM> can be parallel to the surface of road dressing. The parallelism of the axes of the drums <NUM> to the surface of road dressing provides uniform distribution of micro-glass beads <NUM> from the feeding device <NUM> in the holes <NUM> of the belt <NUM>, and, accordingly, prevents a situation when the micro-glass beads <NUM> roll down to one of the edges of the belt such that some holes <NUM> in the belt <NUM> are left non-filled with the micro-glass beads <NUM>, thereby obtaining a uniform distribution of micro-glass beads <NUM> over the road marking layer. The drum <NUM> in this embodiment is typically generally a hollow or solid round cylinder with a height that is close to the width of the belt <NUM>. The diameters of the drums <NUM> can be either identical or different from each other. The distances from the surface of road dressing to the axes of the drums <NUM> may also be identical or different. The drums <NUM> can further be provided with side walls extending above the cylindrical surface to prevent significant movement of the belt <NUM> along the axis of the drums <NUM>. Each of the drums <NUM> is disposed on a rotary axis or on a drive shaft (in this case, the drum <NUM> can be referred to as a driving drum) coupled to the engine, and is configured to rotate around own axis thereof. One of the drums <NUM> is configured as a driving drum, or further introduced into the apparatus is a driving roller or similar mechanism that provides rotation of the drums <NUM> and/or movement of the belt <NUM>.

In the case of a closed belt <NUM> (the most preferred embodiment considered further in detail in this description), the belt <NUM> partially covers two drums <NUM> from opposite sides thereof by being adjacent thereto along the cylindrical surface (portion thereof). Therein, the belt <NUM> is stretched between the drums <NUM> to prevent it from sagging and is disposed so that one of its largest surfaces is always oriented inside the figure formed by the closed belt <NUM>, and the other one is always oriented outside (i.e. without twisting the belt <NUM>). In this case, the belt <NUM> can be conveniently divided into two flat portions, the upper one and lower one, i.e. the upper portion of the belt <NUM> is disposed farther from the surface of road dressing as compared to the lower one.

In the case of an open belt <NUM>, the belt <NUM> is attached at each of the ends thereof onto the corresponding drum <NUM> (typically onto the cylindrical surface thereof). Depending on the position of the belt <NUM> at a particular moment in time, the belt <NUM> partially, completely or multiply covers each of the drums <NUM>. A portion of the belt <NUM> that is not wound on the drums <NUM> is typically disposed below the axes of the drums <NUM>, but can also be disposed higher. The belt <NUM> is also stretched between the drums <NUM> to prevent sagging and disposed such that one larger surface of wound on the drums <NUM> the portion of the belt <NUM> is completely oriented upwards and the other portion is oriented downwards (i.e. the belt <NUM> is not twisted).

The container <NUM> is a vessel for micro-glass beads <NUM> that are supplied from the feeding device <NUM> (in accordance with the Dictionary of construction terminology in <NUM> languages, the container is a vessel for gaseous, liquid and bulk materials, https://technical_translator_dictionary. ru/<NUM>/<IMG>, or on page <NUM> of the document http://www. complexdoc. ru/ntdpdf/<NUM>/terminologicheskii_slovar_po_stroitels tvu_na_12_yazykakh. pdf, accessed on Feb <NUM>, <NUM>). The specific design of the container <NUM> may be different if the design features described below are observed; however, for illustration purposes, the drawings show and further describe the container <NUM> configured as a rectangular box.

The container <NUM> is provided with a base <NUM> (typically its function is performed by the flat bottom of the container <NUM>, or the base <NUM> itself functions as above mentioned bottom), along which the belt <NUM> travels (the lower portion of the belt <NUM> in the case of a closed belt <NUM>). The base <NUM> is typically a close to flat rectangular plate.

The container <NUM> is also provided with a through inlet <NUM> and through outlet <NUM>, whose shapes coincide with that of the cross-section of the belt <NUM>, i.e. are configured rectangular. The inlet <NUM> is intended for the entry of the belt <NUM> into the container <NUM>, and the outlet <NUM> is intended for the exit of the belt <NUM> from the container <NUM>. The dimensions of the inlet <NUM> are equal to or slightly larger (no more than the diameter of the smallest micro-glass bead <NUM> larger) than the dimensions of the cross-section of the belt <NUM>. The width of the outlet <NUM> is equal to or slightly larger than the width of the belt <NUM>, and the height of the outlet <NUM> may be equal to, slightly larger than, or several times larger than the thickness of the belt <NUM>. The inlet <NUM> and outlet <NUM> are disposed in opposite walls (in the case of a rectangular container) adjacent to the base <NUM>. Therein the outlet <NUM> is disposed close to the base <NUM>, and the inlet <NUM> can be disposed either directly against or at a distance from the base <NUM>.

As a result of disposing the outlet <NUM> directly against the base <NUM>, the base <NUM> is provided with a free edge <NUM> disposed along the largest dimension of the outlet <NUM> and being not in contact with other walls of the container <NUM>. Furthermore, the size of the base <NUM> may be chosen so that the free edge <NUM> of the base <NUM> is in the plane of the side wall with the outlet <NUM>, or so that the free edge <NUM> is beyond the container <NUM> (including due to rigid attachment an extra plate outside the container <NUM> to the bottom of the container <NUM>, wherein the base <NUM> includes a bottom and an additional plate).

The container <NUM> can further be provided with a scraper <NUM>. The scraper <NUM> is a device that prevents the escape of the micro-glass beads <NUM>, which are not in the holes <NUM> of the belt <NUM>. The feeding device <NUM> is connected via main line to the metering hopper of the micro-glass beads <NUM>, which structurally ensures a uniform distribution of the beads across the width of the container <NUM>.

The scraper <NUM> can be configured as a flat or curved plate made of plastic, rubber, silicone or other materials, or as a brush with bristles made of plastic, rubber, silicone or other materials. The scraper <NUM> is attached to the container <NUM> (from inside or outside) so as to cover that portion of the outlet <NUM> which is not covered by the belt <NUM>. Furthermore, the lower edge of the side wall with the outlet <NUM> can be used as the scraper <NUM>, provided that the height of the outlet <NUM> is approximately equal to the thickness of the belt <NUM>. It is preferred to use the scraper <NUM> configured as a brush in addition to the scraper <NUM> configured as a plate, wherein the scraper <NUM> configured as a brush has to be disposed upstream of the scraper <NUM> configured as a plate in the direction of travel of the belt <NUM>.

The container <NUM> is oriented with the base <NUM> (i.e. the bottom) downwards and is disposed between the drums <NUM> so that the inlet <NUM> faces one drum <NUM> and the outlet <NUM> faces the other drum <NUM>. The lower portion of the closed belt <NUM> is at least partially disposed inside the container <NUM>, being rightly fit on the base <NUM>, the belt <NUM> passing through the inlet <NUM> and outlet <NUM>. The scraper <NUM> touches the surface of the lower portion of the belt <NUM>, which is opposite to the base <NUM>.

The feeding device <NUM> is a device of any design that provides the supply of the micro-glass beads <NUM> into the container <NUM> at a pre-set flow rate. For example, the feeding device <NUM> can be configured as a continuous or batch dispenser, of the hopper type or belt type (in accordance with the Great Soviet encyclopedia https://dic. nst7bse/<NUM>/<IMG>, accessed on Feb <NUM>, <NUM>). Furthermore, the feeding device <NUM> can be configured as a screw feeder, lock feeder, plate feeder or plunger feeder (<NPL>).

The gas supply device <NUM> is a device that supplies gas (for example, air, including compressed air) at a pre-set flow rate to the blowing means <NUM>. For example, a fan, gas blower, or compressor can be used as the gas supply device <NUM>. The gas supply device <NUM> is hermetically connected directly or via a pipe to the blowing means <NUM>.

The blowing means <NUM> is a device that provides blowing of the micro-glass beads <NUM> from holes <NUM> in the belt <NUM> (in a certain area) under increased pressure. The blowing means <NUM> can be configured as a hollow structure of any shape (in particular, a box-shaped structure) to generate an area of increased pressure or as a gas flow generator to generate a gas flow.

In the first embodiment (<FIG>, <FIG>), the blowing means <NUM> is a hollow structure that is open from two adjacent sides. The shape of the blowing means <NUM> can be arbitrary, for example, the blowing means <NUM> can be configured in the form of a quarter of a right cylinder with bases, a right triangular prism or quadrangular prism. The blowing means <NUM> is disposed on the side of the container <NUM> from the side of the outlet <NUM> and above the base <NUM>. The blowing means <NUM>, with all the ends of the walls from one open side, fits tightly to the surface, that is opposite to the base, of the belt <NUM> travelling along the base <NUM>, and the blowing means <NUM>, at the ends of the walls from the other open side, is connected to the outer surface of the container <NUM>. To tightly fit the ends of the walls to the belt <NUM>, special pads made of elastic material, such as rubber or silicone, can be disposed on the ends (tight fitting is further facilitated by stretching the belt <NUM> on the drums <NUM>). Therein, the smallest distance between the free edge <NUM> of the base <NUM> and the line of contact between the belt <NUM> and the wall, which is farthest from the container, of the blowing means <NUM> must be not less than the diameter of the largest micro-glass bead <NUM>. One of the walls of the blowing means <NUM> is provided with a hole for gas supply from the gas supply device <NUM>.

In the second embodiment (<FIG>, <FIG>), the blowing means <NUM> (gas flow generator) is a structure that provides the generation of a directed gas flow. The gas flow generator can be configured in the form of a narrowing nozzle of a rectangular profile, the largest size of the nozzle cross-section being constant as the nozzle narrows and being not less than the width of the belt <NUM>. The characteristic size of the narrowing nozzle is not less than one and a half of the expected minimum diameters of the micro-glass beads <NUM> in the batch being fed. The gas flow generator is located on the side of the tank <NUM> from the side of the outlet <NUM> so that the gas flow is directed to the road marking layer <NUM> perpendicular (almost perpendicular) to the latter and is oriented along the free edge <NUM> of the base <NUM>. Therein, the gas flow generator is disposed as close as possible to the free edge <NUM> of the base <NUM> so that the gas flow passes by the base <NUM>. The use of a gas flow generator as the blowing means <NUM> reduces gas consumption for blowing micro-glass beads <NUM>.

The apparatus for applying micro-glass beads is also equipped with a transportation means <NUM> that allows the apparatus to move along the road marking layer <NUM> at a pre-set speed. As a transportation means <NUM>, one can use wheels or rollers disposed on drive shafts, wheels or rollers on the axles coupled with a traction device, or a support frame attached to a traction device. The apparatus for applying micro-glass beads can be a distinct apparatus or can be a part of a marking machine.

The invention is explained by drawings (<FIG>), where <FIG> shows a general view of the apparatus for applying micro-glass beads with a box-shaped blowing means, <FIG> shows a scaled-up image of the container area with the outlet, base and scraper, and the box-shaped blowing means, <FIG> shows a general view of the apparatus for applying micro-glass beads with the blowing means configured in the form of a gas flow generator, <FIG> shows a scaled-up image of the container area with the outlet, base and scraper, and the blowing means configured in the form of a gas flow generator.

When the above mentioned elements and means are used, the invention is implemented as follows (the provided description of the object illustrates a particular embodiment, whereas other embodiments using the features of the subject technical solution are further possible).

Almost all elements of the apparatus for applying micro-glass beads are known and do not require special manufacturing or any explanation of manufacturing methods. For example the following sources provide a plain belt <NUM> and a belt <NUM> with premade holes <NUM> (https://www. ru/konvejernaya-lenta, http://www. conveyerbelt. html, accessed on Feb <NUM>, <NUM>), driving and non-driving drums <NUM> (https://intmash. com/barabany/, https://cficom. ru/katalog/roliki-motor-barabany/roliki-i-motor-barabany-rulmeka/motor-barabany/, accessed on Feb <NUM>, <NUM>), gas flow generators (http://www. directindustry. ru/prod/meech-international/product-<NUM><NUM>-<NUM><NUM>. html, http://www. directindustry. ru/prod/elektror-airsystems/product-<NUM>-<NUM>. html, accessed on Feb <NUM>, <NUM>), gas supply devices <NUM> (http://www. ru/catalog, accessed on Feb <NUM>, <NUM>), scrapers <NUM> (http://www. directindustry. ru/prod/tanis-brush/product-<NUM>-<NUM>. html, http://polimer-ug. com/skrebki-dlya-skrebkovogo-konveiera/, https://www. com/blank-bh2y7, accessed on Feb <NUM>, <NUM>), feeding device <NUM> (http://nevskiishnek. ru/catalog/dozatory-sypuchikh-materialov, accessed on Feb <NUM>, <NUM>).

The holes <NUM> in the belt <NUM> can be made, for example, by punching with a press. The belt <NUM> with holes <NUM> (considered is an embodiment with a flexible closed belt <NUM>) is disposed on the drums <NUM> with the desired tension.

The container <NUM> without the base <NUM> and the base <NUM> of the design as described above (so that after assembly, the container <NUM> is provided with the inlet <NUM> and the outlet <NUM>) are separately made, for example, by cutting out the desired elements from sheet steel and welding them. The lower portion of the belt <NUM> is disposed between the base <NUM> and the container <NUM> without the base <NUM> so that, after complete assembly of the container <NUM>, the belt <NUM> passes through the inlet <NUM> and outlet <NUM>, and the base <NUM> is attached to the container <NUM> without the base <NUM>, for example, using fasteners. The scraper <NUM> is thereafter rigidly attached to the container <NUM> (when manufactured separately), partially covering the outlet <NUM>. The container <NUM> and the drums <NUM> with a stretched belt <NUM> are disposed and installed so that the container <NUM> and the drums <NUM> are stationary relative to each other. The blowing means <NUM> is attached, as described above, rigidly relative to the container <NUM> from the side of the outlet <NUM>. The blowing means <NUM> is connected to the gas supply device <NUM>, which can be installed either stationary relative to the container <NUM>, or movable. The feeding device <NUM> is configured to continually or periodically supply the micro-glass beads <NUM> to the container <NUM>. A transportation means <NUM> is attached via a suspension system or similar apparatus to the container <NUM> and/or to the supports of the rotary axes (shafts) of the drums <NUM>, preferably so that between the base <NUM> and the surface of the road marking layer <NUM> there is provided a minimum distance which enables normal movement of the apparatus along the road surface. All elements which operation requires actuating the component parts (typically a driving drum <NUM>, a feeding device <NUM>, a transportation means <NUM>, a gas supply device <NUM>) are connected to the engines, including using various gears.

The device for applying micro-glass beads is used together with the device for applying road marking material. When applying horizontal road marking, a road marking layer <NUM> is first applied using a device for applying road marking material. As a device for applying road marking material, one can use a roller or sprayer, to which the road marking material is supplied automatically at a pre-set flow rate or manually. For example one can use various known marking machines, in particular an extruder, a carriage for applying thick-layer materials, or a spray gun.

Thereafter immediately, before the road marking material has had time to harden, the micro-glass beads <NUM> are applied to the road marking layer <NUM> by way of using the subject apparatus for applying micro-glass beads, which operates as follows.

The container <NUM>, and, accordingly, the apparatus in whole, can be oriented in various ways: with the outlet <NUM> oriented both in the direction of travel of the apparatus for applying micro-glass beads along the road marking layer <NUM>, and in the opposite direction. Therein, the belt <NUM> is always moved using the drums <NUM> so that the belt <NUM> enters the container <NUM> through the inlet <NUM>, and leaves the container <NUM> through the outlet <NUM>, i.e. the lower portion of the belt <NUM> travels from the inlet <NUM> to the outlet <NUM>. When a variable direction of travel of the belt <NUM> is desired, it is preferable to configure the inlet <NUM> in the same manner as the outlet <NUM>, i.e. with the same dimensions, and to attach further an additional scraper <NUM>.

The desired speed of travel, along the road marking layer <NUM>, of the apparatus for applying micro-glass beads and the desired speed of travel of the lower portion of the belt <NUM> relative to the base <NUM> are set. By way of changing the ratio of said speeds one can further adjust the density of applying micro-glass beads <NUM> to the road marking layer <NUM> along the road marking layer <NUM>.

When the belt <NUM> with holes <NUM> travels through the container <NUM>, the micro-glass beads <NUM> are supplied from the feeding device <NUM> onto the lower portion of the belt <NUM> with holes <NUM> inside the container <NUM> (onto the surface thereof opposite to the base <NUM>). As the diameter of the holes <NUM> is equal to or slightly larger than that of the micro-glass beads <NUM>, some micro-glass beads <NUM> enter the holes <NUM> and travel relative to the base <NUM> together with the lower portion of the belt <NUM> (the thickness of the belt <NUM> is typically greater than the diameter of the micro-glass beads <NUM>; therefore, the micro-glass beads <NUM> are entirely disposed in the holes <NUM> of the belt <NUM>). Therein, due to the adjoinment of the lower portion of the belt <NUM> to the base <NUM> (i.e. there is no gap therebetween), the micro-glass beads <NUM> remain in the holes <NUM> of the belt <NUM> until reaching the free edge <NUM> of the base <NUM>. Some micro-glass beads <NUM> remain on the surface, which is opposite to the base <NUM>, of the lower portion of the belt <NUM> or are partially present in the holes <NUM> by virtue of disposing several micro-glass beads <NUM> in one hole <NUM>. When the lower portion of the belt <NUM> with micro-glass beads <NUM> in the holes <NUM> and on the surface passes through the outlet <NUM> with the scraper <NUM>, those micro-glass beads <NUM> that are entirely present in the holes <NUM> of the belt <NUM> pass freely through the outlet <NUM> and further travel along the base <NUM> together with the lower portion of the belt <NUM>. When traveling on the belt <NUM> through the outlet <NUM>, the micro-glass beads <NUM> which are present on the surface, which is opposite to the base <NUM>, of the lower portion of the belt <NUM> or partially present in the holes <NUM> get stuck on the scraper <NUM> and can not escape the container <NUM>. This is due to the fact that a portion of the cross-section of the outlet <NUM> is covered by the belt <NUM> itself, and the remaining portion is covered by the scraper <NUM>, and, accordingly, the passage of the micro-glass bead <NUM> through the outlet <NUM> is possible only if the micro-glass <NUM> is present in the hole <NUM> in the belt <NUM>. The presence of the scraper <NUM> enables reduced inappropriate consumption and loss of the micro-glass beads <NUM>, as only those micro-glass beads <NUM> escape from the container <NUM>, which thereafter most certainly (with a very high probability) fall on the road marking layer <NUM> and attach thereto. This is further facilitated by configuring the holes <NUM> in the belt <NUM> in a certain order. The combination of said features prevents the loss of the micro-glass beads <NUM> as a result of the fact that the micro-glass beads <NUM> are distributed only over the road marking layer <NUM> (i.e. there are present no micro-glass beads <NUM>, which fell on the road bed without the capability of attaching thereto and which are not used to improve the visibility of road marking) and are distributed in a single layer (i.e. there are present no micro-glass beads <NUM> which fell, without the capability of attaching to the road marking layer <NUM>, on another micro-glass bead <NUM> already present in the road marking layer <NUM>). The provision of the holes <NUM> in the belt <NUM> in a certain order also ensures a certain and/or uniform disposition of the micro-glass beads <NUM> over the road marking layer <NUM>.

After leaving the container <NUM> through the outlet <NUM>, the lower portion of the belt <NUM> with the micro-glass beads <NUM> in the holes <NUM> crosses the free edge <NUM> of the base <NUM> and ceases to contact therewith (the micro-glass beads <NUM> in the holes <NUM> of the belt <NUM> also cease to rest on the base <NUM>). Under action of gravity, the micro-glass beads <NUM> fall downwards (in the direction of the road marking layer <NUM>) and leave the holes <NUM> in the belt <NUM>. The falling of the micro-glass beads <NUM> is further accelerated by increased pressure from the blowing means <NUM>. The increased pressure can be generated using two methods corresponding to the two embodiments of the blowing means <NUM>. In the first embodiment of the blowing means <NUM>, the increased pressure is generated due to the fact that gas is pumped into the hollow structure of the blowing means <NUM>. Therein, the walls of the blowing means <NUM>, the wall of the container <NUM> to which there is attached the blowing means <NUM>, the base <NUM> and a portion of the belt <NUM> between the free edge <NUM> of the base <NUM> and the most remote from the container <NUM> wall of the blowing means <NUM> does not allow the pumped gas to escape from the area of space restricted by said elements. The escape of gas from this area is preferably possible through the holes <NUM> in the portion of the belt <NUM> between the free edge <NUM> of the base <NUM> and the wall of the blowing means <NUM>, which wall is the most remote from the container, the micro-glass beads <NUM> being disposed in said holes <NUM>, which beads will be blown out of the holes <NUM> by gas. In the second embodiment of the blowing means <NUM>, the increased pressure is generated by a directed gas flow. As a result, the micro-glass beads <NUM> present in the holes <NUM> of the belt <NUM> on the path of the gas flow are blown out of the holes <NUM> of the belt <NUM>.

The increased pressure generated by the blowing means <NUM> and acting on the micro-glass beads <NUM> that do not rest on the base <NUM> reduces the probability of the micro-glass bead <NUM> getting stuck in the hole <NUM>, and, furthermore, by way of selecting the value of the increased pressure it is possible to provide a various degree of immersion of the micro-glass bead <NUM> in the road marking layer <NUM>. As the mass of each micro-glass bead <NUM> is low and the viscosity of the material of the road marking layer <NUM> is quite high, the micro-glass beads <NUM> typically immerse by gravity in the road marking layer <NUM> much less than by the radius. This may lead to the removal of the micro-glass beads <NUM> from the road marking layer <NUM> when in service. Under the action of increased pressure, it is possible to immerse the micro-glass beads <NUM> in the road marking layer <NUM> by more than the radius, which fact significantly reduces the probability of removing the micro-glass beads <NUM> from the road marking layer <NUM> by increasing the adhesion force between the micro-glass bead <NUM> and the road marking layer <NUM>. Higher durability of the road marking further facilitates to reduce the consumption of the micro-glass beads <NUM>, as there is no need to apply on the road marking layer <NUM> the spare micro-glass beads <NUM> in the case of detachment from the road marking layer <NUM> the individual micro-glass beads <NUM> (so as to maintain the desired level of retroreflection). Greater (as compared to the known technical solution) immersion of the micro-glass beads <NUM> in the road marking material further contributes to increased retroreflection of road marking.

Thereafter, the road marking layer <NUM> with micro-glass beads <NUM> is hardened naturally or by further exposure, for example, to cold air.

All the described actions are repeated continuously when the belt <NUM> is constantly moved by the drums <NUM> and when the apparatus for applying the micro-glass beads constantly travels along the road marking layer <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An apparatus for applying micro-glass beads (<NUM>) for forming the road marking (<NUM>) on the road surface (<NUM>), comprising a transportation means (<NUM>) with mounted thereon a container (<NUM>) with a base (<NUM>) provided with a free edge (<NUM>), with a scraper (<NUM>), an inlet (<NUM>) and an outlet (<NUM>), a belt (<NUM>) with holes (<NUM>), two drums (<NUM>), a feeding device (<NUM>), a blowing means (<NUM>), the belt (<NUM>) is configured closed, is stretched on the drums (<NUM>) that are mounted to rotate them around the axis thereof and disposed at a distance from each other so that the axes thereof are parallel, with the formation of the lower portion of the belt (<NUM>) between the drums (<NUM>) and with the provision of capability to move the belt (<NUM>) from drum (<NUM>) to drum (<NUM>), wherein the holes (<NUM>) are configured through and disposed on the belt (<NUM>) in a certain order, the inlet (<NUM>) and the outlet (<NUM>) are disposed in the container (<NUM>) opposite to each other, the outlet (<NUM>) is disposed directly against the base (<NUM>), the lower portion of the belt (<NUM>) is passed successively through the inlet (<NUM>), the base (<NUM>) and through the outlet (<NUM>), the feeding device (<NUM>) is attached to supply the micro-glass beads (<NUM>) onto the lower portion of the belt (<NUM>) in the container (<NUM>), the scraper (<NUM>) is mounted in the container (<NUM>) to obstruct the passage of the micro-glass beads (<NUM>) present on the lower portion of the belt (<NUM>) to the free edge (<NUM>) of the base (<NUM>), disposed near the outlet (<NUM>), the blowing means (<NUM>) is disposed at the free edge (<NUM>) to blow the micro-glass beads (<NUM>) present in the holes (<NUM>) in the lower portion of the belt (<NUM>) in the direction of the road surface (<NUM>).