Patent Publication Number: US-6220780-B1

Title: Apparatus for translocating lane divider

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. Patent Provisional application Ser. No. 60/097,920 filed Aug. 25, 1998. All subject matter set forth in provisional application Ser. No. 60/097,920 is hereby incorporated by reference into the present application as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention pertains to lane dividers for roadways and more specifically, to an apparatus and method for laterally translocating lane dividers from one position on a roadway to another. The apparatus and method may be used for adjusting the position of the lane dividers on the roadway or may be used for moving the lane dividers from one lane to another lane on the roadway. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Lane dividers are presently utilized in a number of roadway applications. Most commonly, lane dividers are utilized in road construction and alter the number of lanes extending to and from urban areas on a multiple lane highway depending on the time of day and anticipated traffic flow. 
     For example, in a six-lane roadway, four lanes will be utilized to transport traffic into an urban area during morning hours. The other two lanes will be utilized to transport traffic out of the urban area. During the evening hours, four lanes will be used to transport traffic out of the urban area and two lanes will be used to transport traffic into the urban location. Accordingly, the lane dividers had to be moved for the morning traffic and had to be moved for the evening traffic. 
     A first type of lane divider is heavyweight and cumbersome for acting as a barrier. These heavyweight and cumbersome barriers provided impact resistance in the event that a driver inadvertently steers a vehicle into a lane of oncoming traffic. 
     A second type of lane divider is a more lightweight lane divider and is commonly used in situations where traffic moves at a slower rate such as a construction zone or a low speed roadway. Initially, the lightweight lane dividers were moved manually by a crew of workmen as often as twice a day. Subsequently, a number of vehicles have been developed to laterally transport the lightweight lane dividers from one lane to another. Many of these vehicles for laterally transporting the lightweight lane dividers from one lane to another are awkward to use and are extremely wide. Many of these vehicles for laterally transporting the lightweight lane dividers from one lane to another occupied a substantial portion of an oncoming lane during the operation of the vehicle. 
     Many of the vehicles for laterally transporting the lightweight lane dividers from one lane to another have certain problems associated with an uneven lateral transfer. Frequently, the lightweight lane dividers laterally transported by the vehicles are not exactly discharged to be parallel to the initial position of the lightweight lane divider location. In many instances, the vehicles discharged the lightweight lane divider in a slightly curved manner. When the slightly curved lightweight lane dividers in a slightly curved position were transferred multiple times, the curvature was amplified by the multiple transfer by the vehicle. The magnified curvature of the inappropriately placed lightweight lane divider became a driving hazard and had to be manually moved to a correct alignment. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,017,200 discloses a barrier for placement intermediate to two adjacent highway lanes and an apparatus for transferring the barrier from a location intermediate two lanes to a location intermediate two other lanes so as to accommodate differing traffic flow patterns for different times of day and different traffic conditions. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,225 discloses a roadway lane divider comprised of a plurality of interconnected divider sections each having a T-shaped upper end. Rollers of a mobile transfer apparatus are adapted for engagement under a pair of longitudinally extending undercut bearing surfaces, defined on the upper end of each divider section, to lift and suspend the divider sections as a unit on a first side of the apparatus, move them serpentine-like across the apparatus and deposit the divider sections on a second, opposite side of the apparatus. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,601 discloses transferable roadway lane dividers which consist of individual sections hingedly joined together. The lane dividers are picked up from one side of the lane by a transfer device mounted beneath a vehicle or trailer, traveling along the center of the lane, and are slid along the transfer device and are continuously deposited on the roadway at the desired new position on the other side of the lane. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,954 discloses an apparatus for moving laterally a traffic control barrier having a plurality of pivotally linked sections. The transfer vehicle includes means for picking up the sections on one side and depositing them on the other side as it moves along the roadway. The vehicle has front and rear guide drums around which the sections are moved through the vehicle in an S-shaped path and there are means for varying the space between the axes of the guide drums to compensate for disparity in lengths of the lane dividers around a curved roadway. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,753 teaches a roadway barrier system which provides a safe separation between opposing lanes of vehicular traffic and is capable of being moved across a lane to change the direction of traffic flow in the lane. A plurality of barrier sections are positioned end-to-end along one side of the lane, and a vehicle which travels along the lane has a transfer beam in the form of a figure-8 with a portion of the beam extending diagonally across the lane for transferring the barrier sections from one side of the lane to the other as the vehicle travels along the lane. Hinged connections between the barrier sections permit the sections to be positioned different distances apart and at different angles relative to each other, and striations on the side faces of the barrier sections help to prevent vehicles which contact the barrier sections from climbing over the barrier. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,704 discloses a roadway barrier system which provides a safe separation between opposing lanes of vehicular traffic and in some embodiments is capable of being moved across a lane to change the direction of traffic flow in the lane. In one disclosed embodiment, side plates bridge the gaps between the ends of adjacent barrier sections and provide a continuous surface along the sides of the sections. In some embodiments, striation panels help dissipate the energy of vehicles which contact the barrier and to assist in preventing such vehicles from bouncing off or climbing over the barrier. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,305 provides a mobile transfer and transport vehicle adapted to move a barrier system, having a plurality of interconnected and closely spaced modules, on a roadway or the like. The vehicle includes a conveyor having series of guide and support rollers for engaging, supporting, lifting and transferring the barrier system from a first side of said vehicle to a second side thereof. At least some of the rollers are spring-biased into engagement with the modules when they move through curved portions of a serpentine-like transfer path through the conveyor. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,951 discloses a mobile transfer and transport vehicle adapted to move a barrier system, having a plurality of pivotally interconnected and closely spaced modules, on a roadway or the like. The vehicle includes a conveyor having series of guide and support rollers for engaging, supporting, lifting and transferring the barrier system from a first side of the vehicle to a second side thereof. A drive system is mounted on the conveyor for frictionally engaging the modules to either pull or retard movement of the modules through the conveyor. The drive system aids in maintaining proper spacing between the modules, particularly when they are moved on a curved roadway. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,071 discloses a method of transferring a plurality of road elements. The method includes the steps of arranging a plurality of roller units on each of the road elements substantially centrally of each road element, pivotally connecting end portions of the adjacent road elements with one another, engaging the roller units of the road elements by a guiding element having a channel shape and two ends spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction, so that the roller units guidingly move inside the guiding element along the guiding element from one of the ends to the other of the ends and at the same time slightly pivot relative to one another, so that the road elements are transferred from a location at one end of the guiding element to the location at the other end of the guiding element. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,572 provides successive road elements of a road barrier. A partition or the like are turnable relative to one another by means of hinge elements connected to their facing walls. They can be transferred by a device having a substantially C-shaped hollow guiding element with opposite ends spaced from one another in a transverse direction, and a plurality of carts each having a substantially vertical shaft articulately connected with two successive road elements in the area of the two successive road elements, so that when the guiding element is longitudinally displaced, the carts are displaced inside the guiding element without engagement of the road elements with the guiding element, and the carts with the successive road elements are transferred from the area of one end to the area of the other end of the guiding element transversely. 
     Although the aforementioned vehicles have contributed to the lane divider art, none of the above-mentioned devices solve the problems discussed above which are presently faced in lateral displacement of roadway lane dividers. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for laterally translocating a lane divider from an initial position to final position on a roadway that accurately laterally translocates a lane divider from the initial position to the final position on the roadway. 
     Another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for laterally translocating a lane divider from an initial position to final position on a roadway that automatically translocates the lane divider without the use of excessive and costly manual labor. 
     Another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for laterally translocating a lane divider from an initial position to final position on a roadway without occupying an oncoming lane during the operation of the vehicle. 
     Another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for laterally translocating a lane divider from an initial position to final position on a roadway wherein the final position is parallel to the initial position. 
     Another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for laterally translocating a lane divider from an initial position to final position on a roadway wherein the final position is displaced at least one lane relative to the initial position on the roadway. 
     Another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for laterally translocating a lane divider from an initial position to final position on a roadway wherein the final position is aligned in the same lane as the initial position on the roadway. 
     The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the present invention. These objects should be construed as being merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention with in the scope of the invention. Accordingly other objects in a full understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention, the detailed description describing the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is defined by the appended claims with specific embodiments being shown in the attached drawings. For the purpose of summarizing the invention, the invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for translocating a lane divider from an initial position to a final position on a roadway. The apparatus comprises a conveyor connected to a vehicle. The conveyor includes a receiving segment for receiving the lane divider from the initial position on the roadway and a discharging segment for discharging the lane divider to the final position on the roadway. The receiving segment and the discharging segment are pivotally connected relative to one another. The receiving segment may be pivoted to enable the lateral movement of the receiving segment to accommodate for variation in the initial position of the lane divider on the roadway. The discharging segment may be pivoted for discharging the lane divider to a final position aligned on the roadway. The discharging segment may be pivoted for discharging the lane divider to a final position aligned in the same lane as the initial position on the roadway. 
     In a more specific example of the invention, a translocating segment is interposed between the receiving segment and the discharging segment for moving the lane divider from one lane to another lane on the roadway. The laterally translocation of the lane divider from the initial position to the final position on a roadway is displaced at least one lane relative to the initial position on the roadway. 
     In another specific example of the invention, the apparatus comprises a generally serpentine-shaped conveyor connected to a vehicle. The conveyor includes a receiving segment, a discharging segment, and a translocating segment. The receiving segment receives the lane divider from the initial position on the roadway. The discharging segment discharges the lane divider to the final location on the roadway. The translocating segment connects the receiving and discharging segments. The receiving segment and translocating segment are pivotally connected to one another so as to enable the lateral movement of the receiving segment to accommodate for variation in the initial positioning of the lane divider and to allow for the centered receipt of the lane divider onto the receiving segment. 
     The conveyor may further comprise a plurality of spaced rollers that assist in transporting the lane divider down the conveyor. The rollers may be disposed on both the sides and the bottom of the conveyor. The rollers facilitate the movement of the lane divider along the conveyor. 
     The pivoting of the receiving segment relative to the translocating segment may be activated by an optical sensor that automatically detects the initial position of the lane divider relative to the receiving segment. In the alternative, the pivot assembly for pivoting the receiving segment relative to the translocating segment may be manually activated by an operator. 
     The translocating segment and discharging segment may be pivotally connected to allow greater precision in discharging the lane divider to the final position on the roadway. The discharging segment may be pivoted with respect to the translocating segment for providing greater precision in discharging the lane divider. The pivoting of the discharging segment may be activated by an optical sensor that detects the location of the lane divider relative to the discharge segment. In the alternative, the pivot assembly for pivoting the discharge segment relative to the translocating segment may be manually activated by an operator. 
     The translocating segment may be pivoted with respect to the receiving and discharge segments so as to control the lane divider translocation distance. The pivoting of the translocating segment controls the lane width distance from an initial lane position to a final lane position. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It also should be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a prior art apparatus for laterally moving lane dividers from an initial position location to final position; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the prior art apparatus of FIG. 1 illustrating a wide lateral displacement of lane dividers; 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the prior art apparatus of FIG. 1 illustrating a more narrow lateral displacement of lane dividers than the lateral displacement illustrated in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of a first embodiment of the present invention illustrating an apparatus for laterally translocating lane dividers; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of FIG. 4 illustrating a first pivoting of the lane receiving segment of a conveyor with respect to the vehicle; 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of FIG. 4 illustrating a second pivoting of the lane receiving segment of the conveyor with respect to the vehicle; 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of FIG. 4 illustrating a first pivoting of the lane discharging segment of the conveyor with respect to the vehicle; 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of FIG. 4 illustrating a second pivoting of the lane discharging segment of the conveyor with respect to the vehicle; 
     FIG. 10 is a top view of FIG. 4 illustrating a first pivoting of a translocation segment and the discharging segment of the conveyor for increasing the lateral displacement of the lane dividers from the initial lane position relative to the final lane position; 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of FIG. 4 illustrating a first pivoting of a translocation segment and the discharging segment of the conveyor for decreasing the lateral displacement of the lane dividers from the initial lane position relative to the final lane position; 
     FIG. 12 is a side view of a second embodiment of the present invention illustrating an apparatus for adjusting the location of lane dividers; and 
     FIG. 13 is a top view of FIG. 12 illustrating the pivoting of the lane receiving segment and the pivoting of the lane discharging segment of the conveyor with respect to the vehicle. 
    
    
     Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several Figures of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DISCUSSION 
     FIGS. 1-3 are side and top views of a vehicle  10  supporting an apparatus  20  of the prior art for laterally moving lane dividers  30  on a roadway  40 . The vehicle  10  comprises a front end  11  and a rear end  12  with a cab  14  disposed in proximity to the front end  11  of the vehicle  10 . A bed  16  is posed in proximity to the rear end  12  of the vehicle  10 . Although the vehicle  10  has been shown as a flat bed truck, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the apparatus  20  may be utilized with a wide variety of vehicles. 
     The lane dividers  30  are used to divide or direct vehicle traffic on the roadway  40 . The lane dividers  30  comprises a plurality of divider sections  32  that are interconnected to one another in pivotal connections  34 . The plurality of divider sections  32  may include vertical markers  36  affixed to the lane dividers  30  to enhance the visibility of the lane dividers  30  to the vehicle traffic. 
     The vehicle  10  is located on the roadway  40  between first and second lane markings  41  and  42  shown as lines painted on the roadway  40 . The apparatus  20  laterally moves the lane dividers  30  from an initial position at the first lane marking  41  to a final position at the second lane marking  42  as the vehicle  10  moves forward on the road  40 . 
     The apparatus  20  comprises a generally serpentine-shape conveyor  50  having a receiving segment  60 , a translocating segment  70  and a discharge segment  80 . The receiving segment  60  extends between an input end  61  and an output end  62  with a plurality of horizontally disposed rollers  64  for assisting the movement of the lane dividers  30  thereupon. 
     The translocating segment  70  extends between an input end  71  and an output end  72  with a plurality of horizontally disposed rollers  74  for assisting the movement of the lane dividers  30  thereupon. Preferably, the translocating segment  70  is composed of a plurality of sections  76  that are fixably attached to one another. 
     Similarly, the discharge segment  80  extends between any input end  81  and an output end  82  with a plurality of horizontally disposed rollers  84  for assisting the movement of the lane dividers  30  thereupon. 
     The output end  62  of the receiving segment  60  is connected to the input end  71  of the translocating segment  70 . The output end  72  of the translocating segment  70  is connected to the input  81  of the discharge segment  80 . The receiving segment  60 , the translocating segment  70 , and discharge segment  80  are fixably attached to one another to create the serpentine-shape conveyor  50 . 
     A plurality of caster wheels  90  support the serpentine-shape conveyor  50  relative to the roadway  40 . In this embodiment, the plurality of caster wheels  90  comprise a plurality of caster wheel pairs  91 ,  92  and  93  for respectively supporting the receiving segment  60 , the translocating segment  70 , and discharge segment  80  relative to the roadway  40 . 
     A plurality of connectors  100  secure the serpentine-shape conveyor  50  to the vehicles  10 . In this embodiment, plural side connectors  102  and  104  connect the receiving segments  60  to the vehicle  10 . In addition, plural rear connectors  106  and  108  connect the translocating segment  70  to the vehicle  10 . Accordingly, the serpentine-shape conveyor  50  maintains a rigid serpentine-shape with the serpentine-shape conveyor  50  being rigidly connected to the vehicle  10 . 
     The forward movement of the vehicle  10  on the roadway  40  moves the lane dividers  30  into the input end  61  of the receiving segment  60 . The rollers  64  transfer the lane dividers  30  to the translocating segment  70  for laterally displacing the lane dividers  30 . The rollers  74  of the translocating segment  70  transfer the lane dividers  30  to the discharge segment  80 . The lane dividers  30  are moved on the rollers  84  to be discharged from the output end  82  of the discharge segment  80 . The lane dividers  30  are accordingly laterally displaced from the initial position at the first lane marking  41  to the final position at the second lane marking  42 . 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1 illustrating a wide lateral displacement of lane dividers. The translocating segment  70  contains a greater plurality of sections  76  of the translocating segment  70  to provide the wide lateral displacement of lane dividers. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 1 illustrating a narrow lateral displacement of lane dividers. The translocating segment  70  contains a lesser plurality of sections  76  of the translocating segment  70  to provide the narrow lateral displacement of lane dividers. 
     The removal or the addition of a section  76  within the translocating segment  70  varies the amount of lateral displacement of the lane dividers  30  from the first lane marking  41  to the second lane marking  42 . 
     The aforementioned apparatus  10  of the prior art functioned well but has certain disadvantages that are solved by the apparatus of the present invention. Firstly, the prior art apparatus tended to discharge the lane dividers  30  from the output end  82  of the discharge segment  80  in a twisted or warped manner. Accordingly, upon the translocation of the lane dividers  30  from the first lane marking  41  to the second lane marking  42 , the lane dividers  30  on the second lane marking  42  had variations or wiggles from a straight line. If the apparatus  10  of the prior art was used in the opposite direction in the translocating of the lane dividers  30  from the second lane marking  42  to the first lane marking  41 , the variation or wiggles from a straight line would be amplified by the second translocating process. 
     In many congested urban areas, the lane dividers  30  are changed on a roadway  40  several times a day for directing traffic inbound in the morning and for directing traffic outbound in the afternoon. Accordingly, the disadvantage of the variation or wiggles from a straight line in the translocating process created a significant problem in the prior art. 
     The second disadvantage of the aforementioned apparatus  10  of the prior art was the requirement of removing or adding one or more sections  76  to the translocating segment  70  to change the lateral displacement between the first lane marking  41  and the second lane marking  42 . The removal or the addition of one or more sections  76  to the translocating segment  70  was a time-consuming process. The improved apparatus of the present invention solves these problems of the prior art apparatus  10 . 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 are side and top views of the apparatus  120  for laterally translocating the lane dividers  30  incorporating a first embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus  120  comprises a generally serpentine-shape conveyor  150  having a receiving segment  160 , a translocating segment  170  and a discharge segment  180 . The receiving segment  160  extends between an input end  161  and an output end  162 . A plurality of horizontally disposed rollers  164  are located on the receiving segment  160 . A plurality of angularly disposed rollers  166  are disposed on opposed sides of the plurality of horizontally disposed rollers  164 . The plurality of horizontally disposed rollers  164  and the plurality of angularly disposed rollers  166  assisting the movement of the lane dividers  30  thereupon. 
     The translocating segment  170  extends between an input end  171  and an output end  172 . A plurality of horizontally disposed rollers  174  are located on the translocating segment  170 . A plurality of angularly disposed rollers  176  are disposed on opposed sides of the plurality of horizontally disposed rollers  174 . The plurality of horizontally disposed rollers  174  and the plurality of angularly disposed rollers  176  assist in the movement of the lane dividers  30  thereupon. 
     Similarly, the discharge segment  180  extends between an input end  181  and an output end  182 . A plurality of horizontally disposed rollers  184  are located on the discharge segment  180 . A plurality of angularly disposed rollers  186  are disposed on opposed sides of the plurality of horizontally disposed rollers  184 . The plurality of horizontally disposed rollers  184  and the plurality of angularly disposed rollers  186  assist in the movement of the lane dividers  30  thereupon. 
     The output end  162  of the receiving segment  160  is pivotably connected to the input end  171  of the translocating segment  170  by a first pivot  168 . The output end  172  of the translocating segment  170  is pivotably connected to the input end  181  of the discharge segment  180  by a second pivot  178 . The receiving segment  160 , the translocating segment  170 , and discharge segment  180  are pivotably attached to one another to create a variable serpentine-shape conveyor  150 . 
     A plurality of caster wheels  190  support the serpentine-shape conveyor  150  relative to the roadway  40 . In this embodiment, the plurality of caster wheels  190  comprise a plurality of caster wheel pairs  191 ,  192  and  193  for respectively supporting the receiving segment  160 , the translocating segment  170 , and discharge segment  180  relative to the roadway  40 . 
     A connector  200  pivotably secures the pivotable intersection of the output end  162  of the receiving segment  160  and the input end  171  of the translocating segment  170  to the vehicles  10 . In addition, a plurality of linear actuators connect the serpentine-shape conveyor  150  to the vehicles  10 . 
     A receiving linear actuator  210  interconnects to the receiving segment  160  to the vehicles  10 . A translocating linear actuator  220  interconnects to the translocating segment  170  to the vehicles  10 . A discharge linear actuator  230  interconnects to the discharge segment  180  to the translocating segment  170 . Although the linear actuators  210 ,  220  and  230  may take various forms, preferably, the linear actuators  210 ,  220  and  230  are hydraulic actuators incorporating hydraulic pistons located within hydraulic cylinders. Accordingly, the serpentine-shape conveyor  150  may be of various serpentine-shapes that are rigidly connected to the vehicle  10 . 
     The forward movement of the vehicle  10  on the roadway  40  moves the lane dividers  30  into the input end  161  of the receiving segment  160 . The rollers  164  and  166  transfer the lane dividers  30  to the translocating segment for  170  for laterally displacing the lane dividers  30 . The rollers  174  and  176  of the translocating segment  170  transfer the lane dividers  30  to the discharge segment  180 . The lane dividers  30  are moved on rollers  184  and  186  to be discharged from the output end  182  of the discharge segment  180 . The lane dividers  30  are accordingly laterally displaced from the initial position at the first lane marking  41  to the final position at the second marking  42 . 
     FIG. 6 is a top view similar to FIG. 5 of the apparatus  120  of the present invention illustrating pivoting the receiving segment  160  of the serpentine-shaped conveyor  150  with respect to the translocating segment  170  of the serpentine-shaped conveyor  150  towards the vehicle  10 . An inward movement of the receiving linear actuator  210  pivots the receiving segment  160  about the first pivot  168  towards the vehicle  10 . 
     FIG. 7 is a top view similar to FIG. 5 of the apparatus  120  of the present invention illustrating pivoting the receiving segment  160  of the serpentine-shaped conveyor  150  with respect to the translocating segment  170  of the serpentine-shaped conveyor  150  away from the vehicle  10 . An outward movement of the receiving linear actuator  210  pivots the receiving segment  160  about the first pivot  168  away from the vehicle  10 . 
     The receiving linear actuator  210  may be manually actuated by an operator to guide the input end  161  of the receiving segment  160  into proper alignment with the lane dividers  30 . In the alternative, a receiving sensor  250  may be positioned in proximity to the input end  161  of the receiving segment  160  for sensing the position of the lane dividers  30 . The receiving sensor  250  is connected to a controller  260  for controlling the receiving linear actuator  210 . 
     As the vehicle  10  moves forward, the receiving sensor  250  senses the position of the lane dividers  30  relative to the input end  161  of the receiving segment  160 . The controller  260  automatically actuates the receiving linear actuator  210  to move the input end  161  of the receiving segment  160  into proper alignment with the lane dividers  30 . Accordingly, the operator of the vehicle  10  is not required to make minute adjustments in the direction of the vehicle  10  to compensate for small variations in the initial position of the lane dividers  30  on the road  40 . 
     FIG. 8 is a top view similar to FIG. 5 of the apparatus  120  of the present invention illustrating pivoting the discharge segment  180  of the serpentine-shaped conveyor  150  with respect to the translocating segment  170  of the serpentine-shaped conveyor  150  away from the vehicle  10 . An outward movement of the discharge linear actuator  230  pivots the discharge segment  180  about the second pivot  178  away from the vehicle  10 . 
     FIG. 9 is a top view similar to FIG. 5 of the apparatus  120  of the present invention illustrating pivoting the discharge segment  180  of the serpentine-shaped conveyor  150  with respect to the translocating segment  170  of the serpentine-shaped conveyor  150  toward the vehicle  10 . An inward movement of the discharge linear actuator  230  pivots the discharge segment  180  about the second pivot  178  toward the vehicle  10 . 
     The discharge linear actuator  230  may be manually actuated by an operator to guide the output end  182  of the discharge segment  180  into proper alignment with the second lane marking  42  of the roadway  40 . An operator (not shown) may be positioned with the bed  16  of the vehicle  10  for manually actuating the output end  182  of the discharge segment  180 . In the alternative, a discharge sensor  270  may be positioned in proximity to the output end  182  of the discharge segment  180  for sensing the position of the second lane marking  42  on the roadway  40 . The discharge sensor  270  is connected to the controller  260  for controlling the discharge linear actuator  230 . 
     As the vehicle  10  moves forward, the discharge sensor  270  senses the position of the second lane marking  42  on the roadway  40  relative to the output end  182  of the discharge segment  180 . The controller  260  automatically actuates the discharge linear actuator  230  to move the output end  182  of the discharge segment  180  into proper alignment with the second lane marking  42  of the roadway  40 . Accordingly, an operator is not required to make minute adjustments in the output end  182  of the discharge segment  180  to properly align the lane dividers  30  with the second lane marking  42  of the roadway  40 . 
     FIG. 10 is a top view similar to FIG. 5 of the apparatus  120  of the present invention illustrating pivoting the translocation segment  170  and the discharging segment  180  of the serpentine-shaped conveyor  150  for increasing the lateral displacement of the lane dividers  30  from the first lane marking  41  to the second marking  42 . An inward movement of the discharge linear actuator  230  with an inward movement of the translocation segment  170  increases the lateral displacement of the lane dividers  30  from the first lane marking  41  to the second marking  42 . The translocation segment  170  pivots about the first pivot  168  whereas the discharging segment  180  pivots about the second pivot  178 . 
     FIG. 11 is a top view similar to FIG. 5 of the apparatus  120  of the present invention illustrating pivoting the translocation segment  170  and the discharging segment  180  of the serpentine-shaped conveyor  150  for decreasing the lateral displacement of the lane dividers  30  from the first lane marking  41  to the second marking  42 . An outward movement of the discharge linear actuator  230  with an outward movement of the translocation segment  170  decreases the lateral displacement of the lane dividers  30  from the first lane marking  41  to the second marking  42 . The translocation segment  170  pivots about the first pivot  168  whereas the discharging segment  180  pivots about the second pivot  178 . 
     The present invention solves the problems of the prior art apparatuses for laterally displacing of lane dividers. The present invention provides an apparatus that accurately laterally translocates a lane divider from the initial position to the final position on the roadway. The apparatus automatically translocates the lane divider without the use of excessive and costly manual labor. Furthermore, the apparatus laterally translocates a lane divider without occupying an oncoming lane during the operation of the vehicle. The first embodiment of the invention enables the lane divider to be moved from an initial position to a final position on a roadway wherein the final position is displaced at least one lane relative to the initial position on the roadway. The pivoting of the translocation segment  170  varies the lateral displacement of the lane dividers  30  from the first lane marking  41  to the second marking  42 . The pivoting of the translocation segment  170  eliminates the need of removing or adding one or more sections  76  to the translocating segment  70  to change the lateral displacement between the first lane marking  41  and the second lane marking  42  as required by the prior Art Apparatus of FIGS. 1-3. 
     FIGS. 12 and 13 are side and top views of the apparatus  320  for laterally translocating the lane dividers  30  incorporating a second embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus  320  comprises a generally linear conveyor  350  having a receiving segment  360  and a discharge segment  380 . The receiving segment  360  extends between an input end  361  and an output end  362 . A plurality of horizontally disposed rollers  364  are located on the receiving segment  360 . A plurality of angularly disposed rollers  366  are disposed on opposed sides of the plurality of horizontally disposed rollers  364 . 
     The discharge segment  380  extends between an input end  381  and an output end  382 . A plurality of horizontally disposed rollers  384  are located on the discharge segment  380 . A plurality of angularly disposed rollers  386  are disposed on opposed sides of the plurality of horizontally disposed rollers  384 . 
     The output end  362  of the receiving segment  360  is pivotably connected to the input end  381  of the discharge segment  180  by a first pivot  368 . The receiving segment  360  and the discharge segment  380  are pivotably attached to one another to create a variable linear conveyor  350 . 
     A plurality of caster wheels  390  support the linear conveyor  350  relative to the roadway  40 . In this embodiment, the plurality of caster wheels  390  comprise a plurality of caster wheel pairs  391  and  392  for respectively supporting the receiving segment  360  and the discharge segment  380  relative to the roadway  40 . 
     A connector  400  pivotably secures the pivotable intersection of the output end  362  of the receiving segment  360  and the input end  381  of the discharge segment  380  to the vehicles  10 . In addition, a plurality of linear actuators connect the linear conveyor  350  to the vehicles  10 . 
     A receiving linear actuator  410  interconnects to the receiving segment  360  to the vehicles  10 . A discharge linear actuator  420  interconnects to the discharge segment  380  to the vehicles  10 . Accordingly, the linear conveyor  350  may be bent into various shapes that are rigidly connected to the vehicle  10 . 
     The forward movement of the vehicle  10  on the roadway  40  moves the lane dividers  30  into the input end  361  of the receiving segment  360 . The rollers  364  and  366  transfer the lane dividers  30  to the discharge segment for  380  for aligning the lane dividers  30 . The rollers  384  and  386  of the discharge segment  370  transfer the lane dividers  30  to be discharged from the output end  382  of the discharge segment  380 . The lane dividers  30  are aligned from the initial position at the first lane marking  41  to the final aligned position at the first marking  41 . 
     FIG. 13 illustrates the pivoting of the receiving segment  360  of the linear conveyor  350  towards and away from the vehicle  10 . An inward and an outward movement of the receiving linear actuator  410  pivots the receiving segment  360  about the first pivot  368  towards and away from the vehicle  10  as illustrated by the arrows and in a manner similar to FIGS. 6 and 7. 
     The receiving linear actuator  410  may be manually actuated by an operator to guide the input end  361  of the receiving segment  360  into proper alignment with the lane dividers  30 . In the alternative, a receiving sensor  450  may be positioned in proximity to the input end  361  of the receiving segment  360  for sensing the position of the lane dividers  30  and for controlling the receiving linear actuator  410 . 
     As the vehicle  10  moves forward, the receiving sensor  450  senses the position of the lane dividers  30  relative to the input end  361  of the receiving segment  360 . The controller  460  automatically actuates the receiving linear actuator  410  to move the input end  361  of the receiving segment  360  into proper alignment with the lane dividers  30 . 
     FIG. 13 illustrates the pivoting of the discharge segment  380  of the linear conveyor  350  towards and away from the vehicle  10 . An inward and an outward movement of the discharge linear actuator  420  pivots the discharge segment  380  about the first pivot  368  towards and away from the vehicle  10  as illustrated by the arrows and in a manner similar to FIGS. 8 and 9. 
     The discharge linear actuator  420  may be manually actuated by an operator to guide the output end  382  of the discharge segment  380  into proper alignment with the first lane marking  41  of the roadway  40 . In the alternative, a discharge sensor  470  may be positioned in proximity to the output end  382  of the discharge segment  380  for sensing the position of the first lane marking  41  on the roadway  40  and for controlling the discharge linear actuator  420 . 
     The second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 13 provides an apparatus  320  for laterally translocating the lane divider  30  from an initial position  41  to final position  41  on a roadway  40  wherein the final position  41  is aligned in the same lane as the initial position on the roadway  40 . The second embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for aligning misaligned lane dividers  30  on a roadway  40 . 
     The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.