LINE STRIPER WITH DEPLOYABLE SWEEPER

• US 20160222607A1
• Filed: 02/02/2016
• Published: 08/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Wagner Spray Tech Corporation (Wagner Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wagner Spray Tech Corporation (Wagner Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zientara, Daniel R., Kieffer, Joseph W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,253,463 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/22 by spraying E01C23/206 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/056 having horizontal axes

Abstract

A line striper is disclosed. The line striper comprises a material deployment system configured to receive a material from a material source and deliver the received material to a deployment mechanism, wherein the deployment mechanism is configured to apply the received material to a surface. The line striper also comprises a mechanical debris removal system configured to, when actuated, move along an application path ahead of the deployment mechanism such that debris is dislodged from the surface, wherein the mechanical debris removal system comprises a contact mechanism configured to facilitate dislodging of the debris from the surface.

Claims

1. A line striper comprising:

a material deployment system configured to receive material from a material source and deliver the received material to a deployment mechanism, wherein the deployment mechanism is configured to apply the received material to a surface; and

a mechanical debris removal system configured to, when actuated, move along an application path ahead of the deployment mechanism such that debris is dislodged from the surface, wherein the mechanical debris removal system comprises a contact mechanism configured to facilitate dislodging of the debris from the surface.

2. The line striper of claim 1, and further comprising a controller configured to facilitate actuation of the mechanical debris removal system.

3. The line striper of claim 1, and further comprising a user interface configured to an indication of an operator command.

4. The line striper of claim 1, wherein the mechanical debris removal system is configured to move between a storage position and a deployed position.

5. The line striper of claim 4, wherein moving between the storage position and the deployed position comprises rotational movement.

6. The line striper of claim 4, wherein moving between the storage position and the deployed position comprises vertical movement.

7. The line striper of claim 1, wherein the contact mechanism is configured to rotationally contact the surface.

8. The line striper of claim 7, and further comprising a mechanical driver configured to drive rotation of the contact mechanism.

9. The line striper of claim 1, and further comprising a sensor configured to detect debris in an intended path of the material deployment system.

10. The line striper of claim 9, wherein the sensor, in response to detecting debris, is configured to trigger deployment of the mechanical debris removal system.

11. A method for applying material to a surface using a line striper, the method comprising:

deploying a sweeper system ahead of a material deployment system within an application zone such that debris within the application zone is dislodged from the surface;

actuating the sweeper system, wherein actuating comprises a portion of the sweeper system;

contacting, with a contact mechanism of the sweeper system, the surface;

dislodging the debris from the surface; and

removing the debris from the application zone; and

applying material, using the material deployment system, to the substantially debris-free application zone.

12. The method of claim 11, and further comprising:

detecting debris within the application zone.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein detecting comprises a sensor detecting debris within the application.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein deploying the sweeper system comprises rotationally moving the sweeper system about a pivot point from a storage position to a deployed position.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein deploying the sweeper system comprises vertically moving the sweeper system from a storage position to a deployed position.

16. A sweeper system for a line striper, the system comprising:

a contact mechanism configured to contact a surface;

a movement mechanism configured to cause the contact mechanism to move such that, when in contact with the surface, debris on the surface is dislodged; and

an actuator configured to move the sweeper system between a deployed position and a to storage position on the line striper.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein actuation comprises rotationally moving the sweeper system between the deployment position and the storage position.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the contact mechanism comprises a roller, and wherein the movement mechanism causes rotation of the roller.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the contract mechanism comprises a circular brush, and wherein the movement mechanism comprises rotational movement of the circular brush.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the movement mechanism comprises a mechanical driving force.