Line marking apparatus, system and method
First Claim
1. A line marking apparatus for use in a system that includes a source of a narrow beam of radiation which extends substantially horizontally along or parallel to a line to be marked, comprising:
- a chassis provided with wheels and with means for propelling the apparatus along a line to be marked;
a line marking head adapted to dispense line marking material so as to mark the line to be marked;
means supporting the line marking head such that the line marking head is movable relative to the chassis laterally on the line marking apparatus; and
means for controlling lateral movement of the line marking head and including a detector, movable with the line marking head laterally on the line marking apparatus, and positioned and directed to detect a beam of electromagnetic radiation which extends substantially horizontally along or parallel to the line to be marked, and control means for moving the line marking head with the detector in response to detection of the beam by the detector, whereby lateral movement of the line marking head with the detector relative to the chassis is controlled such that the line marking head and the detector substantially follow the line to be marked irrespective of whether the chassis deviates from the direction of such line.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A line marking apparatus, for use in a system that includes a source of a narrow beam of radiation which extends substantially horizontally along or parallel to a line to be marked, includes a wheeled chassis and a line marking head for dispensing line marking material. The marking head is supported on the chassis for lateral movement relative thereto, which movement is controlled by a controller that includes a detector which is movable with the marking head and is positioned and directed to detect such a beam of radiation, the marking head being movable together with the detector in response to a detected beam. Lateral movement of the marking head is thereby controlled such that the head and the detector substantially follow the line to be marked irrespective of whether the chassis deviates from the line direction.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A line marking apparatus for use in a system that includes a source of a narrow beam of radiation which extends substantially horizontally along or parallel to a line to be marked, comprising:
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a chassis provided with wheels and with means for propelling the apparatus along a line to be marked; a line marking head adapted to dispense line marking material so as to mark the line to be marked; means supporting the line marking head such that the line marking head is movable relative to the chassis laterally on the line marking apparatus; and means for controlling lateral movement of the line marking head and including a detector, movable with the line marking head laterally on the line marking apparatus, and positioned and directed to detect a beam of electromagnetic radiation which extends substantially horizontally along or parallel to the line to be marked, and control means for moving the line marking head with the detector in response to detection of the beam by the detector, whereby lateral movement of the line marking head with the detector relative to the chassis is controlled such that the line marking head and the detector substantially follow the line to be marked irrespective of whether the chassis deviates from the direction of such line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A line marking system comprising line marking apparatus and a source of a narrow beam of electromagnetic radiation which extends along or parallel to a line to be marked, the line marking apparatus comprising:
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a chassis provided with wheels and with means for propelling the apparatus along a line to be marked; a line marking head adapted to dispense line marking material so as to mark the line to be marked; means supporting the line marking head such that the line marking head is movable relative to the chassis laterally on the line marking apparatus; and means for controlling lateral movement of the line marking head and including a detector, movable with the line marking head laterally on the line marking apparatus, and positioned and directed to detect a beam of electromagnetic radiation which extends substantially horizontally along or parallel to the line to be marked, and control means for moving the line marking head with the detector in response to detection of the beam by the detector, whereby lateral movement of the line marking head with the detector relative to the chassis is controlled such that the line marking head and the detector substantially follow the line to be marked irrespective of whether the chassis deviates from the direction of such line.
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20. A method of marking a line comprising:
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providing a source of a narrow beam of electromagnetic radiation and arranging the source such that the beam extends along or parallel to a line to be marked; providing a line marking apparatus comprising; a chassis provided with wheels and with means for propelling the apparatus along a line to be marked; a line marking head adapted to dispense line marking material so as to mark the line to be marked; means supporting the line marking head such that the line marking head is movable relative to the chassis laterally on the line marking apparatus; and means for controlling lateral movement of the line marking head and including a detector, movable with the line marking head laterally on the line marking apparatus, and positioned and directed to detect a beam of electromagnetic radiation which extends substantially horizontally along or parallel to the line to be marked, and control means for moving the line marking head with the detector in response to detection of the beam by the detector; positioning the line marking apparatus on or adjacent to the line to be marked; moving the line marking apparatus along the line to be marked so as to mark the line, whereby lateral movement of the line marking head with the detector relative to the chassis is controlled such that the line marking head and the detector substantially follow the line to be marked irrespective of whether the chassis deviates from the direction of such line.
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Specification