Patent ID: 6709193
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: E01C

Abstract:
Apparatus for automatically serially applying a plurality of pavement markers to a roadway surface as a result of said apparatus being attached to a roadwork vehicle and thereby moving along the roadway surface with the roadwork vehicle, comprising:a first primary conveyor comprising upstream end means, disposed at an upper elevational level so as to be accessible by an operator disposed upon the roadwork vehicle, for permitting a plurality of pavement markers to be serially placed upon said upstream end means of said first primary conveyor by the operator disposed upon the roadwork vehicle, a first primary conveyor belt movably mounted upon said first primary conveyor and having a plurality of carrier elements fixedly disposed upon said first primary conveyor belt for respectively seating the plurality of pavement markers thereon so as to convey the plurality of pavement markers along said first primary conveyor from said upstream end means to a downstream end portion of said first primary conveyor disposed at a lower elevational level closer to the roadway surface so as to enable the plurality of pavement markers to be applied to the roadway surface, and a first primary conveyor belt drive mechanism for moving said first primary conveyor belt along said first primary conveyor; a first applicator mechanism for operatively engaging individual ones of the plurality of pavement markers so as to serially apply the plurality of pavement markers to the roadway surface; and a first transfer mechanism for transferring individual ones of the plurality of pavement markers, conveyed by said first primary conveyor belt to said downstream end portion of said first primary conveyor, from a position disposed beneath said downstream end portion of said first primary conveyor to said first applicator mechanism, whereupon actuation of said first applicator mechanism, the plurality of pavement markers can be serially applied to the roadway surface.