Patent Publication Number: US-6905284-B2

Title: Apparatus and method for manufacturing a collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (trpms) for facilitating the serial application of such temporary raised pavement markers (trpms) to roadway surfaces

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
   This patent application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/302,994 which was filed on Nov. 25, 2002 and which is entitled COLLATED ROAD MARKER ASSEMBLY, AND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY APPLYING COLLATED ROAD MARKERS TO ROADWAY SURFACES, and is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/422,000 which was filed on Apr. 25, 2003 and which is entitled COLLATED ROAD MARKER ASSEMBLY, AND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY APPLYING COLLATED ROAD MARKERS TO ROADWAY SURFACES. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) which are adapted to be fixedly secured to roadway surfaces in order to, for example, temporarily define traffic lanes or the like within construction zones, work sites, or maintenance or repair areas, and more particularly to a new and improved apparatus and method for manufacturing a collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) so as to facilitate the serial application of such collated temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) to roadway surfaces in order to in fact temporarily define the traffic lanes or the like within the construction zones, work sites, or maintenance or repair areas. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Various types of roadway markers have been utilized in connection with a variety of traffic control applications. Many roadway markers are adapted to be permanently attached or secured to the road surface so as to permanently delineate traffic lanes upon the roadway, while other roadway markers are adapted to be temporarily attached or secured to particular road surfaces in order to temporarily delineate traffic lanes within construction zones or other work areas. Accordingly, the latter type of roadway markers are known as temporary roadway markers and are usually attached or secured to the road surface by means of a suitable adhesive that can retain the roadway marker in its place upon the road surface during the temporary life of the roadway marker. More particularly, temporary roadway markers can serve, for example, as a means for identifying edge portions of the roadway, or alternatively, to delineate traffic lane lines and thereby demarcate separate lanes of traffic from each other in and around construction sites and other work zones. After the construction or other road work is completed, the temporary roadway markers are removed. To be effective the temporary roadway markers must clearly be capable of alerting motorists to the fact that they are nearing or entering a construction zone or work area, and therefore, the temporary roadway markers must in fact be effective both during daytime hours, nighttime hours, sunny conditions, cloudy conditions, inclement weather conditions, and the like. More particularly, one type of temporary roadway marker that has been extremely successful or effective in providing short-term temporary markings upon roadways both during daytime and nighttime hours, and which has also been able to adequately withstand the various impact forces that are normally impressed thereon by daily roadway vehicular traffic so as to in fact provide the desired service life required in connection with the installation of such temporary roadway markers, has been that type of temporary roadway marker which is known in the industry as a temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM). 
   Examples of such temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) are disclosed, for example, within U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,820 which issued to Hughes, Sr. on Aug. 29, 2000, U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,405 which issued to Beard on Aug. 4, 1998, U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,115 which issued on Oct. 24, 1995 to Speer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,994 which issued to Edouart on Feb. 12, 1991, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,803 which issued to Dixon on May 1, 1984. As can readily be appreciated from  FIG. 1 , which corresponds substantially to  FIG. 1  of the Speer et al. patent, it is briefly noted that an exemplary temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  10  is seen to have a substantially L-shaped configuration wherein the horizontally disposed leg portion  12  thereof is adapted to be fixedly secured or attached to the road surface by means of a suitable adhesive which is allowed to set, while the vertically upstanding leg portion  14  is adapted to be visually seen by the oncoming motorist. A transition region  26  flexibly interconnects the vertically upstanding leg portion  14  to the fixed horizontally disposed leg portion or base member  12 . A pair of rib members or ledges  28 , 28  extend substantially perpendicular to the upstanding leg member  14  and serve to define a space or channel  22  therebetween. A suitable reflective strip  23  is adapted to be fixedly disposed within the space or channel  22  so as to reflect sunlight or a vehicle&#39;s lights in order to provide the oncoming motorist, as indicated by the arrow  25 , with a visual indication of a traffic lane, or alternatively, that the motorist is entering or approaching a construction zone or work area. Alternatively; in lieu of the reflective strip  23 , the entire marker  10  may simply be brightly colored so as to similarly provide the oncoming motorist with the necessary visual warning. 
   With reference being further made to  FIG. 2 , a typical, conventional, PRIOR ART temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM), which is similar to the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  10  disclosed in  FIG. 1  of the present drawings, as well as within  FIG. 1  of the Speer et al. patent, is disclosed at  110  and is seen to likewise have a substantially L-shaped configuration. In particular, the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  110  comprises a horizontally disposed leg or base member  112 , and a vertically upstanding leg member  114  integrally connected to the horizontally disposed leg or base member  112  by means of a transitional region  116 . A block or slab of adhesive  118  is fixedly secured to an undersurface or lower face portion of the horizontally disposed leg or base member  112 , and in turn, a release sheet  120  is secured to an undersurface or lower face portion of the adhesive slab  118  so as to prevent the adhesive slab  118  from being inadvertently adhesively bonded to any surface, other than that particular location or portion of the roadway to which the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  110  is to be fixedly secured, prior to the actual fixation of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  110  upon a selected location or portion of the roadway. As was the case with the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  10  of  FIG. 1  of the present drawings, as well as those of Speer et al., the upper end portion of the vertically upstanding leg member  114  of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  110  also comprises a pair of horizontally disposed rib members  122 , 122  which define a space or channel  124  therebetween for housing or accommodating a suitable reflector strip, not shown. Alternatively, the entire extrusion comprising the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  110  may be fabricated from a suitable plastic material which is brightly colored, that is, it may be fabricated from a suitable resin material which is white or yellow. 
   The temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  110  are normally placed upon the roadway surface during an extended period of time that construction or other road work is being performed upon the roadway surface, and therefore, the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  110  are normally placed upon the roadway surface prior to the completion of the entire construction or other road work as well as the application of the permanent traffic lane lines to the roadway surface. Accordingly, in order to protect the reflector strip, not shown, which is adapted to be disposed, housed, or accommodated within the space or channel  124  defined between the pair of horizontally disposed rib members  122 , 122 , or alternatively, in order to protect the upper portion of the vertically upstanding leg member  114 , when such portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  110  is to be used as the visual warning to oncoming motorists, from road paving materials, debris, and the like, a protective cover  126 , fabricated from a suitable clear plastic material and having a substantially inverted U-shaped configuration, is disposed over the upper free edge portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  110  and is secured thereto by means of a suitable fastener or staple  128  which is applied thereto by means of a suitable stitching process or operation. 
   When the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  110  are to be subsequently used in conjunction with, for example, their traffic lane delineation functions, the protective covers  126  are removed, and still further, when the need for the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  110  is no longer required in view of the completion of the construction or other roadwork, and the application of the permanent traffic lane lines to the roadway surface has been performed, the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  110  themselves will obviously be removed from the roadway surface. Until now, the process for mounting and securing the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  110  upon the road-way surfaces has been accomplished manually whereby, for example, construction workmen or other personnel would have to manually deposit the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  110  onto the roadway surface as a result of, for example, removing the release sheet  120  from the undersurface portion of the adhesive slab  118  and pressing the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  110  onto the roadway surface so as to cause the adhesive bonding of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  110  to the roadway surface. In view of the fact that the construction workmen or other personnel are physically present upon the particular roadway surface during the performance of such temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) application operations onto the roadway surface, the workmen or personnel are undesirably exposed to dangerous vehicular conditions present upon the roadway. In addition, the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  110  application procedures are quite tedious, time-consuming, and problematic. 
   More particularly, it is noted that in connection with one conventional technique for currently fabricating temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) are initially manufactured as elongated structures having the aforenoted substantially L-shaped cross-sectional configuration, and the adhesive material and release liner components are then applied to the undersurface portions of the relatively short, normally horizontally disposed leg members thereof. Subsequently, the elongated structures are cut at predetermined locations thereof so as to provide finalized temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) having predetermined width dimensions. As can be readily appreciated, however, as a result of such cutting or severing operations, the adhesive material and release liner components, as disposed upon the finalized temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), will have the same lateral extents, and therefore, the end portions of the release liner will not project laterally beyond the end portions of the adhesive material. Accordingly, the end portions of the adhesive material are effectively uncovered and exposed which presents problems in connection with the mechanical feeding of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) within automated machinery, as well as in connection with the packaging of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs). Still further, it is to be noted and appreciated that when the adhesive material is applied to or deposited upon the undersurface portion of the relatively short leg of the elongated temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) structure, the adhesive is applied or deposited in a heated state. 
   Subsequently, the adhesive material will cool, and as a result of the cooling process, the adhesive material undergoes a predetermined amount of shrinkage or contraction. Such shrinkage or contraction effectively forms a bond between the primary mass of the adhesive material and the release liner which effectively defines a line of demarcation or boundary which is known as a feather-edge bond. The feather-edge bond is very flexible and tends to bend along with the release liner. Accordingly, when it is attempted to remove the release liner from the adhesive material, in preparation for the application of each one of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) to the pavement surface, the feather-edge bond structure is placed in tension, and it has been noted that the tensile strength characteristics of the feather-edge bond structure are greater than the force levels normally required to peel the release liner from the adhesive material as well as the tensile or shear strength characteristics of the release liner per se. It can therefore be appreciated further that when the release liner is desired to be removed from its associated temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM), not only is such an operation difficult to achieve, but it often happens that the release liner and/or the adhesive material disposed upon the undersurface portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) is damaged which can render the use of the particular temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) unsuitable. 
   A need therefore existed in the art for a new and improved collated assembly of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), and a system and method for automatically applying such collated assemblies of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) to the roadway surfaces, and this need was met by means of the new and improved collated assembly of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), and the system and method for automatically applying such collated assemblies of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) to the roadway surfaces, as are disclosed within the previously noted related U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/302,994 which was filed on Nov. 25, 2002 and which is entitled COLLATED ROAD MARKER ASSEMBLY, AND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY APPLYING COLLATED ROAD MARKERS TO ROADWAY SURFACES, wherein the aforenoted structural and operational drawbacks and disadvantages characteristic of conventional or PRIOR ART temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), and the methods and techniques for applying such conventional or PRIOR ART temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) to roadway surfaces, were effectively overcome. Accordingly, however, a need still exists in the art for an apparatus or system, and method, for manufacturing collated assemblies of such temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) which will enable the new and improved collated assemblies of such temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) to be advantageously fabricated and packaged in such a manner as to subsequently enable the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) to be automatically applied to the roadway surfaces, by means of the system and method disclosed within the previously noted related U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/302,994 which was filed on Nov. 25, 2002 and which is entitled COLLATED ROAD MARKER ASSEMBLY, AND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY APPLYING COLLATED ROAD MARKERS TO ROADWAY SURFACES. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus and method for manufacturing a collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) so as to facilitate the serial application of such collated temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) to roadway surfaces in order to in fact temporarily define traffic lanes or the like within construction zones, work sites, or maintenance or repair areas. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus and method for manufacturing a collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), for facilitating the serial application of the collated temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) to roadway surfaces in order to in fact temporarily define traffic lanes or the like within construction zones, work sites, or maintenance or repair areas, such that the manufactured collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) will effectively overcome the various operational drawbacks and disadvantages characteristic of conventional PRIOR ART temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs). 
   An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus and method for manufacturing a collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), for facilitating the serial application of the collated temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) to roadway surfaces in order to in fact temporarily define traffic lanes or the like within construction zones, work sites, or maintenance or repair areas, wherein the apparatus of the present invention can either place a plurality of serially spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), having blocks or pads of adhesive already disposed upon a bottom surface portion thereof, upon a single release sheet common to all of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), or alternatively, can successively apply leading end portions of a single temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion onto pads or blocks of adhesive material, predisposed upon a single or common release sheet, while substantially simultaneously severing such leading end portions of the single temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion from the residual portion of the single temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion so as to define the plurality of serially spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs). 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus and method for manufacturing a collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), for facilitating the serial application of the collated temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) to roadway surfaces in order to in fact temporarily define traffic lanes or the like within construction zones, work sites, or maintenance or repair areas, wherein the apparatus of the present invention can either place a plurality of serially spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), having blocks or pads of adhesive already disposed upon a bottom surface portion thereof, upon a single release sheet common to all of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), or alternatively, can successively apply leading end portions of a single temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion onto pads or blocks of adhesive material, predisposed upon a single or common release sheet, while substantially simultaneously severing such leading end portions of the single temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion from the residual portion of the single temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion so as to define the plurality of serially spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), whereby the plurality of serially spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) can be properly collated so as to effectively avoid any problems in connection with the development of the featheredge bond region between the release sheet and the blocks or pads of adhesive. 
   A last object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus and method for manufacturing a collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), for facilitating the serial application of the collated temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) to roadway surfaces in order to in fact temporarily define traffic lanes or the like within construction zones, work sites, or maintenance or repair areas, wherein the apparatus of the present invention can either place a plurality of serially spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), having blocks or pads of adhesive already disposed upon a bottom surface portion thereof, upon a single release sheet common to all of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), or alternatively, can successively apply leading end portions of a single temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion onto pads or blocks of adhesive material, predisposed upon a single or common release sheet, while substantially simultaneously severing such leading end portions of the single temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion from the residual portion of the single temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion so as to define the plurality of serially spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) upon the single release sheet, whereby the plurality of serially spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) can be properly collated so as to effectively avoid any problems in connection with the packaging of the collated temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) within a magazine to be utilized for serially supplying the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) toward the roadway surface. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention through the provision of a new and improved apparatus and method for manufacturing a collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), for facilitating the serial application of the collated temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) to roadway surfaces in order to in fact temporarily define traffic lanes or the like within construction zones, work sites, or maintenance or repair areas, wherein, in accordance with a first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, leading end portions of a single temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion are serially applied onto pads, blocks, or patches of adhesive material, predisposed upon a single or common release sheet, while substantially simultaneously therewith, the leading end portions of the single temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion are severed from the residual portion of the single temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion so as to define the plurality of serially spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) disposed upon the single release sheet, whereas alternatively, in accordance with a second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of serially spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), having blocks, patches, or pads of adhesive already disposed upon a bottom surface portion thereof, are placed upon a single release sheet common to all of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs). In connection with either embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), serially spaced upon the single release sheet, are then collated and disposed within a suitable container so as to effectively form a supply magazine of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs). 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The claim of this patent contains at least one drawing executed in color. 
     Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first conventional PRIOR ART temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM); 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second conventional PRIOR ART temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) which has a protective covering disposed thereon; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a new and improved apparatus or system, for manufacturing a collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention and showing the cooperative parts thereof, including means for indexably feeding a continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion from an extruder toward a downstream end portion of the apparatus or system; means for applying continuous reflective strips or tapes to opposite sides of the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion; means for applying a continuous protective cover, having a substantially inverted U-shaped configuration, over the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion so as to effectively protect the continuous reflective tapes or strips disposed upon the opposite sides of the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion; means for indexably feeding a continuous release sheet having patches of adhesive material disposed thereon at predetermined longitudinally spaced locations thereof; means for impressing the leading end portion of the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion onto one of the adhesive patches disposed upon the continuous release sheet, and for immediately severing such leading end portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion from the residual continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion so as to form an individual temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM), whereby a plurality of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) are serially disposed upon the continuous release sheet; and means for forming the plurality of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), serially disposed upon the continuous release sheet, into a collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) for deposition within a container, carton, or magazine to serve as a supply of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) for apparatus for serially applying the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) onto a roadway surface; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial, enlarged, top perspective view of the upstream end portion of the apparatus or system as disclosed within FIG.  3  and showing a first one of the servo-drive mechanisms for indexably feeding the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion from the extruder toward the downstream end portion of the apparatus or system, and of the auxiliary mechanism for applying the continuous reflective strips or tapes onto the opposite sides of the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion; 
       FIG. 5  is a view, similar to that of  FIG. 4 , showing additional details of the mechanisms for feeding the reflective strips or tapes from their supply reels, and for applying the same onto the opposite sides of the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion; 
       FIG. 6  is a view, similar to those of  FIGS. 4 and 3 , but viewed from the opposite side of the flow path along which the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion is fed, showing still additional details of the mechanisms for feeding the reflective strips or tapes from their supply reels, and for applying the same onto the opposite sides of the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion, as well as the mechanism for in-feeding the continuous protective cover to be deposited onto the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion; 
       FIG. 7  is a view, similar to that of  FIG. 4 , showing, in particular, the details of the first servo-drive mechanism for feeding the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion in the downstream direction; 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged side perspective view of the downstream end portion of the new and improved apparatus or system as disclosed within  FIG. 3  showing, in detail, the roller mechanism for applying the continuous protective cover onto the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion; the stitching mechanism for fixedly securing the continuous protective cover onto the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion; the second one of the servo-drive mechanisms for indexably feeding the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion from the extruder toward the downstream end portion of the apparatus or system; the release sheet supply and support components for providing the continuous release sheet, having the plurality of adhesive patches predisposed thereon, onto which the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) are to be deposited; the applicator and cutter mechanisms for serially applying end portions of the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion onto the continuous release sheet, and for serially severing such end portions of the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion as applied onto the continuous release sheet, such that a plurality of longitudinally spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) are disposed upon the continuous release sheet; and the mechanism for forming the plurality of longitudinally spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), and the continuous release sheet, into the collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) wherein the collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) are then also deposited into the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) dispensing container, magazine, or carton; 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged side elevational view of the roller mechanism, as disclosed within  FIG. 8 , for applying the continuous protective cover onto the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion, showing, in particular, the adjustable mounting of the individual application rollers for engaging the continuous protective covering so as to properly mount the same upon the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion; 
       FIG. 10  is a partial, enlarged side perspective view of the apparatus or system as disclosed within FIG.  3  and showing the stitching mechanism, the second servo-drive mechanism for feeding the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion in the downstream direction, and the applicator and cutter mechanisms for serially applying the end portions of the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion onto the continuous release sheet, and for serially severing such end portions of the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion as applied onto the continuous release sheet, such that a plurality of longitudinally spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) are disposed upon the continuous release sheet; 
       FIG. 11  is an enlarged, side perspective view corresponding to that of  FIG. 10  in that the same discloses the details of the stitching mechanism, however, the stitching mechanism is viewed from the opposite side thereof; 
       FIG. 12  is an enlarged side perspective view of the downstream end portion of the new and improved apparatus or system as disclosed within  FIG. 3  showing, in detail, the release sheet having the plurality of adhesive patches predisposed thereon, onto which the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) are to be deposited; the applicator and cutter mechanisms for serially applying end portions of the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion onto the continuous release sheet, and for serially severing such end portions of the continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion as applied onto the continuous release sheet, such that a plurality of longitudinally spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) are disposed upon the continuous release sheet; and the conveyor mechanism for conveying the plurality of longitudinally spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), disposed upon the continuous release sheet, toward the mechanism for forming the plurality of longitudinally spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), and the continuous release sheet, into the collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs); 
       FIG. 13  is an enlarged end perspective view of the conveyor mechanism, partially disclosed within  FIG. 12 , for conveying the plurality of longitudinally spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), disposed upon the continuous release sheet, toward the collating mechanism for forming the plurality of longitudinally spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), and the continuous release sheet upon which the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) are disposed, into the collating mechanism for forming the collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), wherein the collating mechanism has an adjustable width dimension; 
       FIG. 14  is an enlarged end perspective view, similar to that of  FIG. 13 , additionally showing, however, a cutter mechanism for severing the continuous release sheet, having the plurality of longitudinally spaced individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) disposed thereon, at a predetermined time such that a predetermined number of collated temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) can be accommodated within the container, carton, or magazine for containing the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) to be applied onto the roadway surface; 
       FIG. 15  is an enlarged side perspective view, corresponding to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , illustrating the conveyor mechanism and the collating mechanism, wherein the collating mechanism is also characterized by an adjustable height dimension; 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) showing the same being arranged within their nested or collated state or array in accordance with the unique and novel teachings and principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 17  is a top plan view of a second embodiment of a new and improved apparatus or system, for manufacturing a collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention and showing the cooperative parts thereof, including means for conveying a plurality of predeterminedly spaced temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) in a downstream direction toward an application station at which the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) are mounted upon a single continuous common release sheet, and means for forming the plurality of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), serially disposed upon the continuous common release sheet, into a collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) for deposition within a container, carton, or magazine to serve as a supply of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) for apparatus for serially applying the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) onto a roadway surface; 
       FIG. 18  is a side perspective view showing the upstream end of the conveyor mechanism, for conveying the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), as disposed immediately downstream from the extruder discharge tunnel, wherein the conveyor mechanism is mounted upon a slide mechanism for adjusting the disposition of the conveyor mechanism with respect to the extruder discharge tunnel; 
       FIG. 19  is an end perspective view showing the upstream end of the conveyor mechanism, for conveying the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), as disposed immediately downstream from the extruder discharge tunnel, wherein the conveyor mechanism comprises a pair of vertically arranged closed-loop conveyor belts for conveying the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) as a result of the normally vertically oriented leg members of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) being trapped between the lower run of the upper conveyor belt and the upper run of the lower conveyor belt; 
       FIG. 20  is a top plan view showing the drive system for the dual-conveyor belt system, the incoming flow path of the continuous common release sheet, and the actuating mechanism for the support plate, as was disclosed within  FIG. 22 , wherein the actuating mechanism is disposed in its extended state such that one of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) can be transferred onto the support plate; 
       FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the downstream end of the conveyor mechanism, similar to that of  FIG. 22 , showing, however, in particular, the disposition of one of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) upon the support plate, as disclosed within  FIG. 22 , in preparation for the application of such temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) onto the continuous common release sheet; 
       FIG. 22  is a top perspective view showing the release paper supply rolls having photodetector mechanisms operatively associated therewith for informing operator personnel when the supply of the release paper has become depleted; 
       FIG. 23  is an end perspective view of one of the release paper supply rolls as disclosed within FIG.  18  and illustrating a brake mechanism operatively associated with the release paper supply roll so as to impress a predetermined amount of braking resistance upon the release paper supply roll and thereby ensure the proper supply and unreeling of the release paper from the release paper supply roll; 
       FIG. 24  is a perspective view showing one of the release sheet supply rolls, the conveyance of the release sheet, from the release sheet supply roll, over the top of a mounting plate forming a release sheet conveyance flow path, and the rear side of a placement cylinder for cyclically impressing portions of the release sheet into contact with individual ones of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs); 
       FIG. 25  is a side elevational view showing the downstream end of the conveyor mechanism for conveying the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), the support plate onto which the leading temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) is transferred, and the placement cylinder for cyclically impressing portions of the release sheet into contact with individual ones of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs); 
       FIG. 26  is a top plan view, similar to that of  FIG. 22 , showing, however, the actuating mechanism for the support plate being disposed in its retracted state such that the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM), which has just been applied onto the release sheet, can be conveyed further downstream toward the collating mechanism of the apparatus; 
       FIG. 27  is a perspective view showing the drive system for cyclically advancing the single continuous common release sheet with respect to the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) to be secured thereon; 
       FIG. 28  is a perspective view showing an arcuate chute mechanism for conveying the single continuous common release sheet, having the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) secured thereon, toward the collating mechanism of the apparatus; 
       FIG. 29  is an enlarged, partial top plan view, similar to that of  FIG. 17 , showing the slidable mounting of the conveyor system, and its drive components, upon the main framework of the apparatus, as being disposed at its extended position with respect to the extruder discharge tunnel such that the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) can be conveyed downstream by the conveyor system; and 
       FIG. 30  is an enlarged, partial top plan view, similar to that of  FIG. 29 , showing, however, the slidable mounting of the conveyor system, and its drive components, upon the main framework of the apparatus, as being disposed at its retracted position with respect to the extruder discharge tunnel such that the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) can simply be discharged from the extruder discharge channel and collected upon a floor platform, within a suitable container, or the like. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 3  thereof, a first embodiment of a new and improved apparatus or system constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention for manufacturing a collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), and showing the cooperative parts thereof, is disclosed and is generally indicated by the reference character  210 . More particularly, it is seen that the new and improved apparatus or system  210  for manufacturing the collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) comprises a framework  212  upon which there is disposed a longitudinal, axially oriented support surface or table  214 . At least two, longitudinally spaced support stands or mounting blocks  216 , 218 , as best seen in FIGS.  4 , 7 , and  10 , are fixedly mounted at respective upstream and downstream locations upon the support surface or table  214  so as to fixedly support a longitudinal, axially oriented guide track  220  thereon. In turn, the guide track  220  is provided so as to support a continuous, longitudinal temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  which is adapted to be axially conveyed along an axially extending conveyor flow path  224  after being extruded from an extruder mechanism  226 . 
   As can best be appreciated from  FIGS. 4 and 7 , the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  has a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional configuration, comprising an upstanding or vertically oriented leg portion  228  and a horizontally oriented leg portion  230 , whereby the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  is similar in structure to the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  10 , 110  as respectively disclosed within  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In a similar manner, the guide track  220  is likewise seen to have a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional configuration, comprising an upstanding or vertically oriented leg portion  232  and a horizontally oriented leg portion  234 . In addition, it is seen that the vertically oriented or upstanding leg portion  232  has a substantially inverted U-shaped vertical channel portion  236  integrally connected thereto at predetermined longitudinally spaced locations, while the horizontally oriented leg portion  234  likewise has a substantially C-shaped channel portion  238  integrally connected thereto. In this manner, the upstanding or vertically oriented leg portion  228  of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  is adapted to be conveyingly supported upon the upstanding or vertically oriented leg portion  232  of the guide track  220 , with the upper edge section of the upstanding or vertically oriented leg portion  228  of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  being disposed within the vertical channel portion  236  of the guide track  220 , while the horizontally oriented leg portion  230  of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  is adapted to be conveyingly supported upon the horizontally oriented leg portion  234  of the guide track  220 , with the horizontal edge section of the horizontally oriented leg portion  230  of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  being disposed within the horizontal channel portion  238  of the guide track  220 . 
   In order to in fact convey the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  along the conveyor path  224 , first and second, upstream and downstream, temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion drive means are provided along the conveyor path  224 . More particularly, as can best be seen in FIGS.  4 , 7 , and  10 , the first upstream temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion drive means comprises a servo motor  240  which is fixedly attached to a mounting bracket  242  that has a substantially Z-shaped cross-sectional configuration, while the second downstream temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion drive means comprises a servo motor  244  which is fixedly attached to a mounting bracket  246  that likewise has a substantially Z-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The mounting brackets  242 , 246  are both adapted to be fixedly secured to the table or support surface  214  in an adjustable manner, and the servo motors  240 , 244  are respectively provided with dependent rotary drive couplers  248 , 250  which are respectively adapted to drivingly engage drive rollers for engaging the back or rear side surface of the upstanding or vertically oriented leg portion  228  of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 . Only the drive roller  252 , operatively associated with the rotary drive coupler  248  of the servo motor  240 , is visible, as can in fact be seen in  FIG. 7 , and the drive roller  252 , as well as the drive roller, not shown but operatively associated with the rotary drive coupler  250  of the servo motor  244 , is adapted to be rotatably mounted within a pair of vertically spaced support plates  254 , 256  which are respectively attached to the mounting brackets  242 , 246 , it being additionally noted that only the support plate  254  for the drive coupler  250  is visible in FIG.  10 . It is also noted that the upstanding or vertical oriented leg portion  232  of the guide track  220  is provided with suitable apertures, not shown, in order to permit each one of the drive rollers  252  to project therethrough in order to drivingly engage the back or rear side surface of the upstanding or vertically oriented leg portion  228  of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 . 
   Continuing further, idler rollers  258  are also provided for operative cooperation in conjunction with the drive rollers  252 , it being noted that only the idler roller  258 , for operative cooperation in conjunction with the drive roller  252  operatively driven by means of the rotary drive coupler  248  of the servo motor  240 , is visible as shown in FIG.  7 . The idler rollers  258  are respectively adapted to be rotatably mounted within a pair of vertically spaced support plates  260 , 262 , and  264 , 266 , and each pair of vertically spaced support plates  260 , 262 , and  264 , 266 , are respectively attached to substantially L-shaped mounting brackets  268 , 270  which are adapted to be fixedly secured to the table or support surface  214  in an adjustable manner. As a result of the adjustable fixation of the L-shaped mounting brackets  268 , 270  upon the table or support surface  214 , each one of the idler rollers  258  is able to properly engage the front side surface of the upstanding or vertically oriented leg portion  228  of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  and thereby operatively cooperate with the drive rollers  252  in conveying the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  along the conveyor path  224 . 
   As was disclosed in connection with the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  10 , 110  respectively disclosed within  FIGS. 1 and 2 , reflective strips or tapes were adapted to be fixedly mounted within the channels  22 , 124  defined upon the opposite sides of the upstanding or vertically oriented leg portions  14 , 114  of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  10 , 110 , and in a similar manner, adhesive-backed reflective strips or tapes are adapted to be fixedly mounted within channels  272  which are defined upon the upper opposite sides of the upstanding or vertically oriented leg portion  228  of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  as is best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 7 . More particularly, as can best be seen in  FIGS. 4-7 , separate supply rolls of the reflective tape or strip laminates are disclosed at  274  and  276 , and the supply rolls  274 , 276  are disposed upon support disks  278 , 280 . The support disks  278 , 280  are rotatably mounted upon support plates  282 ,  284  which are bolted to the upstream end of the table or support surface  214 , and it is seen that the reflective tape or strip laminate being conveyed toward the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  from the supply roll  274  actually comprises an adhesive-backed reflective tape or strip  286  and a release liner  288 , while the reflective tape or strip laminate being conveyed toward the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  from the supply roll  276  actually comprises an adhesive-backed reflective tape or strip  290  and a release liner  292 . The release liners  288 ,  292  are separated from the reflective tapes or strips  286 ,  290  shortly after the reflective tape or strip laminates are unreeled from the supply rolls  274 , 276 , and in this manner, the reflective tapes or strips  286 , 290  can in fact be conveyed toward the respective sides of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  while the release liners  288 , 292  are conveyed away from the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  so as to ultimately be discarded. 
   In particular, each reflective tape or strip  286 ,  290  is routed through an arcuate guide channel which is respectively defined between a pair or set of vertically spaced guide rollers  294 , 296  which are respectively disposed upon opposite sides of the conveyor flow path  224  along which the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  is conveyed. As best seen in  FIG. 5 , the pair or set of guide rollers  296  is rotatably disposed upon a slotted mounting bracket  298 , and the slotted mounting bracket  298  is adjustably mounted upon an upstanding post  300  which is fixedly mounted upon the support plate  284 . In this manner, the pair or set of guide rollers  296  can be optimally positioned with respect to the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  so as to in fact properly guide the reflective tape or strip  290  toward the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 . It is noted that while only the slotted mounting bracket  298  and the upstanding post  300  operatively associated with the pair or set of guide rollers  296  are visible, a similar mounting bracket and upstanding post are of course operatively provided in conjunction with the pair or set of guide rollers  294 . 
   Still further, it is seen that an application roller  302 , 304  is respectively disposed upon each side of the conveyor flow path  224  along which the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  is conveyed, and that each one of the application rollers  302 , 304  is respectively mounted upon one end of an arm  306 , 308  which is respectively pivotally mounted upon each one of the support plates  282 ,  284  by means of a pivot pin  310 , 312 . A coil spring  314 , 316  is respectively connected at a first end thereof to the opposite end of each arm  306 , 308  by means of a first suitable eyehook fastener  318 , 320 , and the second end of each coil spring  314 , 316  is fixedly connected to a respective one of the support plates  282 , 284  by means of a second suitable eyehook fastener, only the second eyehook fastener operatively associated with the coil spring  314  being visible in  FIG. 5  at  322 . In this manner, the arms  306 , 308  are caused to pivot around their respective pivot pins  310 , 312  so as to effectively bias the application rollers  302 , 304  into operative engagement with the channels  272  of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  whereby as a result of the operative cooperation between the application rollers  302 , 304  and the channels  272  of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 , the reflective strips or tapes  286 , 290  are forced into and adhered within the channels  272  of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  as the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  is conveyed along the conveyor flow path  224  by means of the servo motor drive assemblies  240 , 244 . It is of course also noted, as can best be appreciated from  FIG. 5 , that a portion of the substantially inverted U-shaped vertical channel portion  236  of the guide track  220  is effectively discontinued so as to in fact permit the application rollers  302 , 304  to operatively engage the channels  272  of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  and thereby apply and adhere the adhesive-backed reflective strips or tapes  286 , 290  within the channels  272  of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 . It is also noted, as best seen in  FIG. 5 , that suitable photodetector mechanisms  323 , 323  are disposed upon opposite sides of the conveyor flow path  224 , along which the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  is being conveyed, so as to in fact confirm that the reflective strips or tapes  286 , 290  have in fact been deposited within the channels  272  of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 . 
   It is to be appreciated still further that means are also provided for effectively discarding or removing the release liners  288 , 292  once they have effectively been separated from the adhesive-backed reflective strips or tapes  286 , 290 . More particularly, as can best be appreciated from  FIGS. 4 and 6 , a pair of drive disks  324 , 326  are disposed upon opposite sides of the conveyor flow path  224  and are rotatably mounted upon first end portions of first support arms  328 , 330  which have second opposite ends thereof respectively bolted to the support plates  282 , 284  by means of a suitable bolt fastener, although only the bolt fastener operatively associated with the first support arm  328  is visible at  332  in  FIG. 5. A  drive motor is disposed beneath each one of the first support arms  328 , 330  and is respectively drivingly connected to each one of the drive disks  324 , 326 , although only the drive motor operatively connected to the drive disk  324  is visible in  FIG. 6  as at  334 . In addition, a pair of flanged idler rollers  336 , 338  are likewise disposed upon opposite sides of the conveyor flow path  224  and are rotatably mounted upon first end portions of second support arms  340 , 342  which have second opposite ends thereof likewise bolted to the support plates  282 ,  284  by means of the same bolt fasteners securing the first support arms  328 , 330  to the support plates  282 , 284 , such as, for example, bolt fastener  332 . It is to be noted that the outer peripheral edge portion of each drive disk  324 , 326  is adapted to be disposed within, and operatively engaged with, the annular recess portions defined between the upper and lower flanges of the flanged idler rollers  336 , 338 , and in this manner, when the release liners  288 , 292  are interposed between the outer peripheral edge portions of the drive disks  324 , 326  and the flanged idler rollers  336 , 338 , the release liners  288 , 292  will effectively be drivingly separated and removed from the adhesive-backed reflective strips or tapes  286 , 290  so as to ultimately be discarded. 
   Continuing still further, it will also be recalled, in connection with the discussion of the second embodiment of the conventional PRIOR ART temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  110  as disclosed within  FIG. 2 , that a substantially inverted U-shaped protective covering  126  was adapted to be disposed over the upper end portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  110  so as to effectively protect the reflective strips or tapes until the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  110  were actually ready to be used upon the roadway surfaces. Accordingly, in conjunction with the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 , a protective covering, similar to the protective covering  126  utilized in conjunction with the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  110 , is adapted to be positioned over the upper end portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  so as to effectively protect the reflective strips or tapes  286 , 290  which have been previously applied within the channel regions  272  defined upon the opposite sides of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  as has been heretofore described and disclosed within  FIGS. 5 and 6 . More particularly, as disclosed within  FIG. 1 , a supply roll of protective covering material is disclosed at  344 , and a drive motor  346  is operatively connected to the supply roll  344  of the protective covering material so as to periodically cause rotation of the same in order to unreel a suitable supply of the protective covering material  348 , as disclosed within FIGS.  5 , 6 , and  8 , which is to be conveyed toward and applied onto the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 . 
   The drive motor  346  is, in turn, under the control of a programmable logic controller (PLC)  350 , and it is noted further that the programmable logic controller (PLC)  350  is utilized to control all of the motor drive or operative movements of all of the various components, which have already been disclosed and described, which will hereinafter be disclosed and described, and which comprise the new and improved apparatus or system  210  of the present invention for manufacturing the collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs). As disclosed within  FIG. 6 , and with additional reference also being made to FIGS.  5  and  8 - 10 , the drive motor  346  is operated so as unreel a suitable amount of the protective covering material  348  from the supply reel  344  in order to form a slack amount or dependent loop portion  352  of the protective covering material  348 . The protective covering material  348 , which forms the dependent loop portion  352 , is then conducted upwardly over a horizontally disposed idler roller  354 , and subsequently, the protective covering material  348  is further conducted in the downstream direction between a pair of upstanding idler rollers  356 , 356 . The protective covering material  348  can therefore be appropriately guided further in the downstream direction in order to ultimately be engaged with and mounted upon the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  so as to thereby cover or overlie the reflective strips or tapes  286 , 290  which were previously deposited and adhered within the channels  272  of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 . 
   More particularly, as can best be appreciated from  FIG. 1 , and as best disclosed within  FIGS. 8-10 , a second set of application rollers  358 , 360 , 362  are rotatably mounted upon a support plate  364  which is disposed at a position, along the conveyor flow path  224 , which is located downstream from the reflective strip or tape application rollers  302 , 304 . As can best be appreciated from  FIG. 9 , the protective covering material application rollers  358 ,  360 , 362  are adapted to be adjustably mounted upon the support plate  364  as a result of suitable fasteners or pins, not shown, respectively passing through the rollers  358 , 360 ,  362  and being adjustably movable within vertically oriented slots  366 , 368 , 370  formed within the support plate  364 . In this manner, the relative elevational disposition of each application roller  358 , 360 , 362  upon and with respect to the support plate  364  can be appropriately determined. Accordingly, as can best be appreciated from  FIG. 8 , the incoming protective covering material  348  can be properly guided toward the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  being conveyed in the downstream direction, and it is particularly noted that the last or third protective covering material application roller  362  is operatively engaged with the upper edge portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  so as to effectively form a nip therewith. The protective covering material  348  is therefore disposed within such nip so as to effectively be forced onto and applied over the upper edge portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  in order to protect the previously applied and adhered reflective strips or tapes  286 , 290 . 
   As has been previously noted in connection with the reflective strip or tape application rollers  302 ,  304 , and as can be clearly appreciated from  FIGS. 8-10 , a portion of the substantially inverted U-shaped vertical channel portion  236  of the guide track  220  is again effectively discontinued so as to in fact permit the protective covering material application rollers  358 , 360 , 362  to guide the protective covering material toward the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 , and in particular, to permit the third or downstream application roller  362  to form the aforenoted nip with the upper edge portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 . It is noted still further that the presence of the substantially inverted U-shaped vertical channel portion  236  of the guide track  220  is again effectively continued at a location immediately downstream of the third or last application roller  362  in order to effectively cooperate with the upper edge portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 . In this manner, the protective covering material  348  is effectively retained at its desired position upon the upper edge portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  whereby the same can truly cover the upper edge portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  so as to protect the reflective strips or tapes  286 , 290  disposed within the channels  272  thereof. 
   Subsequent to the aforenoted disposition of the protective covering material  348  upon the upper edge portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 , it is desired to fixedly secure the protective covering material  348  upon the upper edge portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  by means of a suitable fastener or the like which may be similar to the fastener or staple  128  as disclosed within  FIG. 2  in connection with the conventional PRIOR ART temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  110 . Accordingly, as can be seen in FIGS.  3 , 8 , 10 , and  11 , a stitcher or stitching mechanism  372  is utilized. The stitcher or stitching mechanism  372  is seen to be disposed immediately downstream of the third or last protective covering material application roller  362 , and it is further seen that a supply roll of stitching wire, disclosed at  374 , is rotatably mounted upon the housing of the stitching mechanism  372  by means of a pair of laterally spaced mounting brackets  376 , 376 . The front side of the stitching mechanism  372  is provided with an arcuately configured chute member  378 , as best seen in  FIG. 8 , for guiding the fastening wire, as the same is unreeled from the supply roll of stitching wire  374 , to the entrance  380  into the base of the stitching mechanism  372 . 
   As can best be seen from  FIG. 11 , a wire stitch former  382  is disposed upon a lower rear surface portion of the stitching mechanism  372 , and it is to be appreciated that the stitch former  382  is disposed in front of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  and the guide track  220 . An anvil mechanism  384 , which is provided upon the lower end portion of a substantially C-shaped mounting bracket or arm  386  which is fixedly mounted in a cantilevered manner upon the rear surface of the stitching mechanism  372 , is disposed rearwardly of the back side of the guide track  220 . The anvil mechanism  384  is effectively aligned with the wire stitch former  382  in order to operatively cooperate therewith so as to form a stitch, which is similar to the staple or other fastener as disclosed within  FIG. 2  in connection with the conventional PRIOR ART temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  110 , and in this manner, the protective covering material  348  will be fixedly secured to the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 . It is noted that, along with the other operative components of the apparatus or system  210  of the present invention, the stitching mechanism  372  is operatively coupled to the programmable logic controller (PLC)  350  such that when the programmable logic controller (PLC)  350  cyclically energizes the stitching mechanism  372 , in conjunction with the longitudinal conveyance of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  along the conveyor flow path  224 , a plurality of wire stitches will be serially inserted into the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  so as to fixedly secure the protective covering material  348  thereon. It is lastly noted that, in conjunction with the formation of the wire stitches as a result of the operative cooperation between the stitch former  382  and the anvil mechanism  384 , the guide track  220  is provided with an aperture  388  whereby the stitch former  382  and the anvil mechanism  384  can in fact operatively cooperate with each other, upon opposite sides of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 , so as to form and insert the wire stitches into the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  so as to fixedly secure the protective covering material  348  thereon. 
   With reference continuing to be made to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , it is further noted, in connection with the disposition of the stitching mechanism  372  within the apparatus or system  210  of the present invention, that the stitching mechanism  372  is capable of being pivotally moved between a first lowered operative position as illustrated within  FIGS. 10 and 11 , and a second elevated non-operative position, not illustrated, at which, for example, maintenance operations may be performed upon the stitching mechanism  372 , such as, for example, the removal of a depleted supply roll  374  of the stitching wire, and the installation of a new or fresh supply roll  374  of the stitching wire. More particularly, as can best be appreciated from  FIG. 11 , a shaft member  390  is mounted within an upstanding stanchion  392  in such a manner as to be rotatable, around its axis, with respect to the upstanding stanchion  392 , but is incapable of undergoing axial movement with respect to the upstanding stanchion  392 . A mounting plate  394  has an ear member  396  integrally attached to the shaft member  390  whereby the mounting plate  394  is fixed in position with respect to the upstanding stanchion as considered in the axial direction defined by means of the shaft member  390 , and a pair of laterally spaced rubber bumper pads  398 , 398  are also fixedly mounted upon the rear surface of the stitching mechanism  372  so as to effectively define a framed space  400  therebetween. A secondary plate, not shown, is fixedly mounted upon the front surface, not visible, of the mounting plate  394  and is adapted to be disposed within the framed space  400  defined between the laterally spaced rubber bumper pads  398 , 398 . 
   It is further seen that the substantially C-shaped mounting arm or bracket  386  has an upstanding post  402  integrally connected to the upper leg portion thereof, and that an externally threaded adjustment or positioning rod  404  is threadedly engaged within an internally threaded passageway defined within the upper end portion of the upstanding post  402 . One end of the adjustment or positioning rod  404  is provided with a substantially X-shaped manipulation knob  406 , and the opposite end of the adjustment or positioning rod  404  is provided with a bumper element  408  which is adapted to engage the axially fixed mounting plate  394  when, for example, the manipulation knob  406  is rotated in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG.  11 . Accordingly, in order to operatively mount the stitching mechanism  372  onto the upstanding stanchion  392 , the stitching mechanism  372  is positioned as illustrated within  FIG. 11  such that the secondary plate, not shown but fixedly mounted upon the front surface of the mounting plate  394 , will be aligned with and preliminarily positioned within the framed space  400  defined between the laterally spaced rubber bumper pads  398 , 398 . Subsequently, as the manipulation knob  406  is rotated in the clockwise direction as viewed in  FIG. 11  such that the threaded positioning or adjustment rod  404  will threadedly advance relative to the upstanding post  402  of the substantially C-shaped mounting arm or bracket  386 , the bumper element  408  will ultimately or eventually engage the rear surface of the mounting plate  394 . 
   However, since the mounting plate  394  is axially fixed in position, as a result of the mounting plate  394  being integral with the shaft member  390 , and as a result of the shaft member  390  being axially confined with respect to the upstanding stanchion  392 , further clockwise rotation of the manipulation knob  406  and the threaded adjustment or positioning rod  404  will effectively cause the upstanding post of the substantially C-shaped mounting arm or bracket  386 , and therefore the substantially C-shaped mounting arm or bracket  386  per se, as well as the stitching mechanism  372  fixedly attached thereto, to move rearwardly. As a result of such movement, the secondary plate, not shown but fixedly mounted upon the front surface of the mounting plate  394 , will effectively be entrapped within the framed space  400  defined between the laterally spaced rubber bumper pads  398 ,  398 , and the peripheral edge portions of the mounting plate  394  will effectively be compressively embedded within the laterally spaced rubber bumper pads  398 , 398 , thereby fixedly securing the stitching mechanism  372  upon the mounting plate  394  and the upstanding stanchion  392 . 
   It is therefore to be appreciated that the entire assembly, comprising the stitching mechanism  372  and the substantially C-shaped mounting arm or bracket  386 , can be pivotally moved relative to the upstanding stanchion  392 , as a result of the pivotal movement afforded by means of the shaft member  390 , between the illustrated lowered operative position and a non-illustrated elevated non-operative position. 
   It is noted that the mounting plate  394  has an aperture  410  defined therein, and as illustrated within  FIGS. 3 and 10 , a similar aperture  412  is defined within a vertically oriented bracket  414  which is, in turn, fixedly secured upon a transversely oriented vertical support plate  416 . The support plate  416  is fixedly secured upon an upstanding post  418  which projects upwardly from the support surface or table  214 . Accordingly, when the entire stitching assembly is pivotally moved to its elevated, non-operative position, a suitable pin fastener, not shown, can be inserted through both apertures  410 , 412  so as to maintain the entire stitching assembly at its elevated, non-operative position. Removal of the pin fastener, not shown, from the aperture  410  defined within the mounting plate  394  of course permits the entire stitching assembly to be pivotally moved to the lowered operative position as illustrated within  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Accordingly, when the entire stitching assembly is located at its lowered operative position, the ear member  396  will engage the transversely oriented support plate  416  whereby the entire stitching assembly will be disposed in a stabilized position so as to be capable of performing its stitching function. 
   Having completed a cyclical stitching operation, wherein as a result of a plurality of such cyclical stitching operations having been performed, the protective covering material  248  is fixedly secured upon the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  by means of a plurality of serially arranged, longitudinally spaced stitching fasteners similar to the fastener or staple  128  as disclosed within  FIG. 2 , the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 , having the protective covering material  248  fixedly secured thereon, is then indexably advanced by means of the first and second servo motor drives  240 , 244 , under the control of the programmable logic controller (PLC)  350 , so as to move the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  in the downstream direction toward an operational station at which the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  will be successively severed, in accordance with suitable cyclical operations, into a plurality of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) similar to the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  110  as disclosed within FIG.  2 . Furthermore, the plurality of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) will also be fixedly secured upon a common release sheet in preparation for the formation of the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), as disposed upon the common release sheet, into the desired collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) as disclosed within U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/302,994 which was filed on Nov. 25, 2002 and which is entitled COLLATED ROAD MARKER ASSEMBLY, AND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY APPLYING COLLATED ROAD MARKERS TO ROADWAY SURFACES. 
   More particularly, then, as can be best appreciated from FIGS.  3 , 10 , and  12 , a supply roll of the continuous common release sheet or release paper is disclosed at  420  whereby the continuous common release sheet or release paper  422  is adapted to be unreeled from the supply roll  420  and conveyed along a support tray  424  by means of a conveying or withdrawal means, to be described shortly hereinafter, along a release paper conveying path PCP, the support tray  424  being supported upon a second support surface or table  425 . The release sheet  422  is provided with a plurality of adhesive patches  426  which are disposed upon the release sheet  422  in a longitudinally extending serial array wherein each adhesive patch  426  is separated from each adjacent adhesive patch  426  by means of a predetermined distance, such as, for example, one and one-half inches (1.50″), one and five-eighths inches (1.625″), one and three-quarters inches (1.75″), or the like, depending upon the predetermined spacing desired to be defined between successive ones of the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428 , as adhesively attached to the release sheet  422 , in accordance with the ultimate desired dispensing of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  onto the roadway surface. It is noted that the width dimension of the release sheet or release paper  422  is greater than that of each adhesive patch  426 , and that the release sheet or liner  422  is further provided with a top sheet, not shown and adapted to be removed just prior to the release sheet or liner  422  being operatively conveyed onto the support tray  424 , for effectively covering the individual adhesive patches  426  such that the adhesive patches  426  do not stick to successive layers of the release sheet or liner  422  when the release sheet or liner  422  is disposed upon the supply roll  420 . 
   It is additionally noted that the oppositely disposed edge portions of the support tray  424  are respectively provided with upstanding side walls  430 , 432  in order to effectively guide the release paper or release sheet  422  as the same is conveyed in the downstream direction from the supply roll  420  and along the release paper conveying path PCP over the support tray  424 . Still further, it is to be remembered that the continuous, longitudinal temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  is being axially conveyed along the conveyor flow path  224 , and it is therefore to be appreciated that the extrusion conveyor flow path  224  is oriented substantially perpendicular with respect to the release paper conveying path PCP. Still yet further, in order to permit the leading or downstream end portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  to be moved into position immediately above the release paper  422 , with only a vertical clearance of, for example, 0.05 inches, therebetween, so as to ultimately be able to be deposited and adhered thereon by means of one of the adhesive patches  426 , the upstanding side wall  432  is effectively discontinued as at  434 . Concomitantly therewith, the upstanding side wall  430  also effectively serves as a stop member against which the leading end portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  is disposed so as to properly position the leading end portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  in preparation for the severance of the leading end portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 , from the residual or remaining continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 , and the formation of an individual temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  428  to be deposited and adhered upon the release sheet  422 . 
   Continuing further, and in order to in fact form the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428 , and to achieve the deposition and adherence of the same upon the single common release sheet  422 , a cutting blade mechanism or assembly  436  is disposed downstream from the stitching mechanism  372 , and is likewise disposed immediately upstream of the vertical plane within which the upstanding side wall  432  of the support tray  424  is disposed, so as to sever the leading end portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  from the remaining or residual continuous temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 . In addition, an applicator mechanism or assembly  438  is positioned directly above the support tray  424  so as to be capable of acting upon the leading end portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  in order to deposit and adhere the leading end portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  onto one of the adhesive patches  426  disposed upon the single common release sheet  422 . More particularly, as can best be seen in  FIGS. 10 and 12 , the cutting blade mechanism or assembly  436  is seen to comprise a cutting blade element  440  which is bolted, as at  442 , to a lower end portion of a piston rod  444  of an air cylinder mechanism  446  so as to be movable within a vertical plane. The air cylinder mechanism  446  is fixedly mounted upon a support platform  448 , and it is seen that a pair of cutter blade guide members  450 , 450  are fixedly mounted upon the side of the support platform  448  so as to effectively guide the cutting blade element  440  during its upward and downward movements attendant its cutting operations. Operatively associated with the cutting blade element  440  and the piston rod  444 , the cutting blade mechanism or assembly  436  further comprises a hold-down implement  452 . 
   The applicator mechanism or assembly  438  is seen to comprise a pneumatic or air cylinder housing or mechanism  454  within which there is movably guided a pair of piston rods  456 , 456 , and upon the lower free end portions of the piston rods  456 , 456 , there is fixedly mounted an applicator piston  458 . The air-cylinder housing  454  is fixedly mounted upon a support bracket  460 , and it is seen that the support bracket  460  is, in turn, fixedly mounted upon a support plate  462 . As has been noted hereinbefore in connection with all of the motorized or actuated components of the apparatus or system  210  of the present invention, the air cylinder mechanisms  446 , 454  are adapted to be controlled in accordance with timely modes of operation by means of the programmable logic controller (PLC)  350 . Therefore, in accordance with such modes of operation, after the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  has been indexably advanced by means of the servo drive motors  240 , 244  such that the leading end portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  has been abutted up against the upstanding side wall  430  of the release paper support tray  424 , the air cylinder mechanism  454  will be activated so as to move the applicator piston  458  downwardly into contact with the leading end portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  whereby the leading end portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  will be forced into contact with that one of the plurality of adhesive patches  426 , disposed upon the release sheet  422 , which has been indexably moved beneath the applicator piston  458  such that the leading end portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  will be adhesively bonded to that particular adhesive patch  426 . 
   At substantially the same time, or immediately thereafter, the air cylinder mechanism  446  is activated in accordance with a two-stage movement or actuation mode whereby in accordance with the first-stage movement or actuation of the air cylinder mechanism  446 , the hold-down implement  452  is moved into contact with that portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  which is disposed immediately upstream of the release paper support tray  424 , while in accordance with the second-stage movement or actuation of the air cylinder mechanism  446 , the cutting blade element  440  is moved downwardly against, for example, the force of a spring-biasing mechanism, not shown. In view of the fact that the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  is respectively securely held or retained upon both the release sheet support tray  424 , as well as upon the guide track  220 , by means of the applicator piston  458  and the hold-down implement  452 , the cutting blade element  440  is able to operatively cooperate with the side edge portion of the release sheet support tray  424  and thereby sever the leading end portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  from the remaining or residual portion of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  so as to form one of the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428 . Upon retraction of the air cylinder mechanisms  446 , 454 , the release sheet or paper  422 , having one or more of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  disposed thereon, and the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222  are able to be respectively advanced whereby the foregoing operation for forming the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  is able to again be cyclically achieved. 
   Having formed the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  and serially disposed the same upon the single, continuous, common release sheet  422 , the assembly, comprising the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  and the single, continuous, common release sheet  422 , must now be conveyed in the downstream direction along the release paper conveyance path PCP so as to ultimately be formed into the collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) as shown within FIG.  16 . More particularly, as can best be appreciated from FIGS.  3  and  12 - 15 , a pair of timing belts  464 , 466 , disposed upon opposite sides of the paper conveying path PCP, are respectively operatively engaged with two sets of rotatable timing wheels  468 , 470 , 472 , and  474 , 476 , 478  so as to effectively be driven thereby. More specifically, a pair of servo motors  480 , only ore of which is visible in  FIGS. 12 and 15 , are respectively operatively connected to the central ones of the timing wheels  470 , 476  such that the timing wheels  470 ,  476  are driving wheels, while in turn, the central ones of the timing wheels  470 , 476  are operatively connected to the downstream timing wheels  472 , 478  through means of suitable gearing and pulley belts, not shown, respectively disposed within transmission housings  482 , 484 , such that timing wheels  472 ,  478  are driven wheels, timing wheels  468 , 474  comprising idler wheels. 
   As can best be seen from  FIG. 13 , the outer periphery of each timing wheel  468 - 478  is provided with a plurality of timing teeth  486 , and it is appreciated that the inner surfaces of each timing belt  464 , 466  are similarly provided with corresponding timing teeth whereby the timing belts  464 , 466  can in fact be operatively engaged with and driven by the timing wheels  468 - 478 . In a similar manner, it can be appreciated from  FIGS. 12 and 13  that the outer surfaces of each timing belt  464 , 466  are likewise provided with timing teeth whereby the inner loop portions of the timing belts  464 , 466  can effectively engage the opposite sides of the vertically oriented leg sections of the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  so as to convey the assembly, comprising the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  and the single, continuous, common release sheet  422 , along the support tray  424 . It is of course noted that the servo motors  480  are activated and controlled by means of the programmable logic controller (PLC) in an indexably timed manner whereby, for example, the assembly, comprising the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  and the single, continuous, common release sheet  422 , is moved along the support tray  424 , in a step-wise manner, a distance which is equivalent to the spacing defined between successive ones of the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428 , as disposed upon the single, continuous, common release sheet  422 , in order to in fact correspond with the formation of the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  upon the single, continuous, common release sheet  422  as has been previously described. Still yet further, it is noted that in conjunction with the indexable movement of the assembly, comprising the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  and the single, continuous, common release sheet  422 , along the support tray  424 , a suitable braking mechanism, not shown, may be utilized in conjunction with the release sheet or release paper supply roll  420  such that a predetermined amount of slack is maintained within the release sheet  422  as the same is conveyed along the support surface  424 . 
   Continuing further, in order to actually cause the plurality of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428 , as disposed upon the single, continuous, common release sheet  422 , as disclosed within  FIG. 12 , into the collated assemblage as disclosed within  FIG. 16 , it is further seen that a substantially inverted L-shaped bracket  488  is fixedly mounted upon the second support surface or table  425  so as to extend transversely across the paper conveyance path PCP, and in turn, another bracket  490  is fixedly connected to and support by the L-shaped bracket  488 . Still further, a deflector plate  492 , having a substantially ski-shaped configuration, is suspendingly supported from the bracket  490 , and it is noted that both of the brackets  488 ,  490  are respectively provided with slotted adjustment means  494 , 496  whereby, ultimately, the disposition of the deflector plate  492  can be positionally adjusted with respect to the paper conveyance path PCP. Accordingly, as the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  are conveyed downstream, the upturned upstream end portion of the ski-shaped deflector plate  492  will successively encounter the upper end portion of each temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  428  so as to initially cause a tilting of each temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  428  whereby the conveyance of the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  will be permitted to continue as a result of the upper end portion of each temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  428  now being disposed beneath the longitudinally extending planar section of the deflector plate  492 . 
   The downstream conveyance of each one of the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  is continued until each one of the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  reaches the downstream end of the support tray  424  at which position there is located a collating mechanism  498  which effectively comprises an open-ended container into which the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  are conveyed. As can best be appreciated from  FIGS. 13 and 15 , the bottom surface or floor  500  of the container  498  is disposed at an elevational level which is beneath that of the support tray  424 . In addition, it is seen that the upstream end of each side wall  502 , 504  of the collating container  498  is also provided with an upturned deflector portion  506 , 508 , and in this manner, as each one of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  encounters the deflector portions  506 , 508 , the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  are tilted still further so as to be guided into the collating container  498 . As a result of such tilting of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428 , and in view of the fact that the floor  500  of the collating container  498  is disposed beneath the level of the support tray  424 , each one of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  will drop down onto the floor portion  500  of the collating container, and a successive upstream one of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  will be disposed atop the preceding or downstream one of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  so as to achieve the collated and nested array of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  as disclosed within  FIG. 16 , and as more fully discussed within the aforenoted U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/302,994 which was filed on Nov. 25, 2002 and which is entitled COLLATED ROAD MARKER ASSEMBLY, AND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY APPLYING COLLATED ROAD MARKERS TO ROADWAY SURFACES. 
   With reference again being made briefly to FIG.  8 , it can be seen that once a predetermined number of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  have been conveyed toward the collating container  498  for deposition therein so as to form the collated and nested array of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  as disclosed within  FIG. 16 , the collated and nested array of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  can then be manually transferred from the collating container  498  into a suitable container or carton  510  which will serve as a supply magazine for providing the collated and nested array of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  to the dispensing apparatus as disclosed within the aforenoted U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/302,994 which was filed on Nov. 25, 2002 and which is entitled COLLATED ROAD MARKER ASSEMBLY, AND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY APPLYING COLLATED ROAD MARKERS TO ROADWAY SURFACES. It is further noted that in order to properly process different sized temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  for disposition within correspondingly sized magazine containers or cartons  510 , the collating container  498  is longitudinally split into halves such that the side walls  502 , 504  of the collating container  498  are respectively mounted upon substantially L-shaped, adjustable brackets  512 , 514  so as to adjustably alter the width dimensions of the collating container  498  as best seen in  FIG. 13 , and in a similar manner, each side wall  502 , 504  is split into vertical halves, as disclosed at  504   a , 504   b  in  FIG. 15 , which are also adjustably mounted upon the brackets  512 , 514 . 
   It is lastly noted that in order to actually predetermine the number of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  that are to be ultimately disposed within the magazine container or carton  510 , a suitable optical sensor  516 , as can best be seen in  FIGS. 13 and 15 , is provided at the intersection of the extrusion conveyor flow path  224  and the release paper conveyance path PCP. The sensor  516  detects the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  as they are effectively formed and deposited upon the release sheet  422 , counts the same, and transmits such count to the programmable logic controller (PLC)  350 . The programmable logic controller (PLC)  350 , in turn, controls the activation of a cutting blade implement, not shown, which is mounted upon the piston of a double-acting piston-cylinder assembly  518  which is disposed at the downstream end of the support tray  424 , and which is disposed transversely with respect thereto and the paper conveyance path PCP. 
   Accordingly, when the predetermined number of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428 , as disposed upon the common release sheet  422 , have been detected by means of the sensor/counter  516 , the programmable logic controller (PLC)  350  will activate the piston-cylinder assembly  518  so as to sever the assembly, comprising the release sheet  422  and the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  disposed thereon, at a predetermined location such that the predetermined number of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  are delivered into the collating container  498  and ultimately into the magazine container  510 . In connection with the feeding or conveyance of the collated assembly, comprising the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  as disposed upon the release sheet  422 , it is to be remembered that in view of the fact that the width dimension of the release sheet  422  is greater than that of the individual adhesive patches  426  disposed thereon, the presence of such adhesive patches  426  does not in any way hinder the conveyance or feeding of the collated assembly, comprising the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  and the release sheet  422 , either within the collating container  498  or within the magazine container  510 . 
   Referring again to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 17  thereof, a second embodiment of a new and improved apparatus or system constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention for manufacturing a collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), and showing the cooperative parts thereof, is disclosed and is generally indicated by the reference character  610 . It is to be noted that this second embodiment of the new and improved apparatus or system  610  of the present invention is to be differentiated from the first embodiment of the new and improved apparatus or system  210  of the present invention in that while the first embodiment apparatus or system  210  manufactured or fabricated the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  from a continuous, single, temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion  222 , subsequently deposited and adhered the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  onto the continuous, single, common release sheet  422 , and still further formed the assembly, comprising the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  and the single common release sheet  422  into the collated, nested array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428 , to the contrary, the second embodiment apparatus or system  610  deposits and adheres temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), previously manufactured by conventional fabrication techniques, onto a single, common release sheet, and subsequently forms the assembly, comprising the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) as disposed upon the single common release sheet, into the collated, nested array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs). 
   More particularly, as can be generally appreciated from  FIG. 17 , and as will be further appreciated from  FIGS. 18-30 , the second embodiment of the new and improved apparatus or system  610  of the present invention is seen to comprise apparatus for mounting individual, pre-existing or pre-formed temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) onto a common release sheet or release liner, and for subsequently collating the same in a manner similar to that previously disclosed in connection with the first embodiment of the new and improved apparatus or system  210  as has been disclosed within  FIGS. 12-16 . As disclosed within  FIG. 17 , a conventional or existing extruder mechanism  612  forms a temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion which also has a pair of reflective strips disposed upon the opposite sides thereof, a protective covering disposed over the pair of reflective strips so as to protect the same prior to the use of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), and an adhesive strip applied to the undersurface portion thereof. A cutter mechanism  614  is operatively disposed at the downstream end of the extruder mechanism  612  so as to continuously cut the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion into a plurality of serially conveyed individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), all of which are similar to the conventional temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  110  as disclosed within  FIG. 2  except for the fact that none of the plurality of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) have individual release sheets or release liners applied to the undersurface portions of their adhesive strips. 
   After the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion has been cut into the plurality of serially conveyed individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) by means of the cutter mechanism  614 , the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) are conveyed through a conventional temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) discharge tunnel  616  so as to effectively be grasped, and conveyed further in the downstream direction, by means of a conveyor mechanism  618 , constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, toward a station  620  at which the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) can be operationally mated with, and deposited and adhered upon, a single, continuous, common release sheet or liner. Subsequently, the assembly, comprising the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) as adhered upon the single common release sheet or liner, is conveyed by means of a conveyor mechanism  622 , similar to that disclosed within  FIGS. 12-15 , toward a collating mechanism, not shown but similar to the collating mechanism also disclosed within  FIGS. 12-15 , whereby the collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) is able to likewise be deposited within a suitable container or magazine, similar to the container or magazine  510  as disclosed within  FIG. 8 , for use in connection with the dispensing apparatus as disclosed within the aforenoted U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/302,994 which was filed on Nov. 25, 2002 and which is entitled COLLATED ROAD MARKER ASSEMBLY, AND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY APPLYING COLLATED ROAD MARKERS TO ROADWAY SURFACES. 
   With reference therefore now being made to FIGS.  18 - 21 , 25 , and  26 , the conveyor mechanism  618 , constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, and by means of which the plurality of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) are conveyed toward the station  620  at which the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) are operationally mated with, and deposited and adhered upon, the single, continuous, common release sheet or liner, will be described. More particularly, as can best be appreciated from  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the plurality of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) are transported through, and discharged from, the conventional temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) discharge tunnel  616  so as to be grasped, and conveyed in the downstream direction  624 , by the conveyor mechanism  618 . As can best be seen from  FIG. 19 , the conventional temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) discharge tunnel  616  comprises a through-passage  626  which has a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional configuration with the long-legged section  628  of the passage  626  being disposed horizontally while the short-legged section  630  of the passage being disposed vertically. In this manner, the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) are transported through the passage  626  with their normally vertically oriented long leg portions disposed horizontally and their normally horizontally oriented short leg portions disposed vertically. 
   As can be additionally appreciated from  FIG. 18 , the conveyor mechanism  618  is mounted upon a fixed framework  632  and is disposed immediately downstream from the discharge tunnel  616  so as to be capable of immediately receiving the plurality of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), as serially discharged from the discharge tunnel  616 , and for conveying the same in the downstream direction  624 . More particularly, the conveyor mechanism  618  comprises a pair of endless loop conveyor belts  634 , 636  which are disposed within a vertical array such that the lower loop of the upper conveyor belt  634  operatively cooperates with the upper loop of the lower conveyor belt  636  so as to effectively define a bite therebetween within which the horizontally disposed long leg portions  638  of the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  are grippingly disposed, as best seen in  FIG. 21 , while the vertically disposed short leg portions  642  of the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640 , having adhesive patches  644  fixedly mounted upon undersurface portions thereof, have their upper surface portions disposed in contact with a fixed guide or support rail  646 . In order to ensure the fact that the vertically disposed short leg portions  642  of the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  are in fact properly disposed in contact with the guide rail  646  so as to effectively be supported thereon during the downstream conveyance of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  in the conveyance direction  624 , it is noted, as can best be appreciated from  FIG. 19 , that the upstream end portions of the vertically arrayed endless loop conveyor belts  634 , 636  are effectively disposed within a common vertical plane, however, as can best be appreciated from  FIG. 25 , the downstream end portions of the vertically arrayed endless loop conveyor belts  634 , 636  are effectively disposed within laterally offset vertical planes. Considered from a different point of view, the vertical plane, within which the lower endless loop conveyor belt  636  is disposed, is slightly skewed in the transverse direction with respect to the vertical plane within which the upper endless loop conveyor belt  634  is disposed. Accordingly, a bias is effectively impressed upon each one of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640 , as they are conveyed in the downstream conveyance direction  624 , so as to force the vertically disposed short leg portions  642  of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  into contact with, and maintain the vertically disposed short leg portions  642  of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  in contact with, the guide rail  646 . 
   In order to provide motive drive power to both the upper and lower conveyor belts  634 , 636 , a motor drive system, as can best be appreciated from  FIGS. 20 and 21 , is disclosed. More particularly, a servo drive motor  648  is fixedly mounted upon a platform  650  which comprises one component of a framework by means of which the entire conveyor mechanism or assembly  618  is movably mounted upon the fixed framework  632 , as will be described more fully hereinafter, and the drive motor  648  is seen to further comprise an output drive shaft  652 . The output drive shaft  652  is, in turn, drivably connected to an upper conveyor belt drive shaft  654 , through means of a drive coupler  656 , and the distal end of the upper conveyor belt drive shaft  654  has a first upper conveyor belt drive pulley  658  fixedly mounted thereon such that rotary drive can be transmitted directly from the drive motor  648  to the upper conveyor belt  634  which is disposed around the first upper conveyor belt drive pulley  658 . In a similar manner, an upper drive pulley  660  is also fixedly mounted upon the upper conveyor belt drive shaft  654 , while a lower, dual drive pulley  662 , as best seen in  FIG. 25 , is mounted within a pulley block  664 . The lower, dual drive pulley  662  is seen to comprise, in effect, first and second lower drive pulleys  666 , 668 , and a first endless drive pulley belt  670  is disposed within a vertical plane so as to be drivingly disposed around, and extend between, the upper drive pulley  660  and the first lower drive pulley  666 . 
   A second endless drive pulley belt  672  has a first end portion thereof drivingly disposed around the second lower drive pulley  668 , while a second opposite end portion thereof is drivingly disposed around a driven pulley  674 . The driven pulley  674  is mounted upon a driven shaft  676  which has one end thereof rotatably mounted within a pulley block  678  while the opposite end thereof is operatively engaged with a lower conveyor belt drive pulley  680  around which the lower conveyor belt  636  is disposed. As can be appreciated from  FIGS. 20 and 21 , when the second drive pulley belt  672  has its opposite end portions disposed around the lower drive pulley  668  and the driven pulley  674 , the drive pulley belt  672  effectively crosses itself so as to have a substantially X-shaped configuration, and in this manner, the rotary drive direction of the upper conveyor belt drive pulley  658  is opposite that of the lower conveyor belt drive pulley  680  so as to achieve the simultaneous conveyance of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  in the conveyance direction  624 . More particularly, as viewed, for example, in  FIG. 21 , the upper conveyor belt drive pulley  658  is being rotated in the counterclockwise direction such that the lower run of the upper conveyor belt  634  is moved in the conveyance direction  624 , while the lower conveyor belt drive pulley  680  is being rotated in the clockwise direction such that the upper run of the lower conveyor belt  636  is likewise moved in the conveyance direction  624 . 
   As may best be appreciated from  FIG. 17  which discloses the entire apparatus or system  610  from an overall point of view, as the plurality of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  are conveyed in the downstream conveyance direction  624 , it is of course desired to effectively assemble or deposit the same upon a single or common release sheet or liner such that the assembly of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640 , as disposed upon the single or common release sheet or liner can subsequently be formed into the collated and nested array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) for supply to the apparatus for dispensing and applying the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) onto the pavement surface as disclosed within the aforenoted U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/302,994 which was filed on Nov. 25, 2002 and which is entitled COLLATED ROAD MARKER ASSEMBLY, AND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY APPLYING COLLATED ROAD MARKERS TO ROADWAY SURFACES. Accordingly, a pair of supply rolls  682 , 684  of the single or common release sheet or liner are disposed at the downstream end portion of the conveyor mechanism  618 , and it is appreciated that the supply rolls  682 , 684  are oriented in such a direction that the outfeed of the single or common release sheet or liner paper  686  is oriented in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the infeed direction of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  along the conveyance path  624 . The apparatus or system  610  is provided with a pair of release paper or release liner supply rolls  682 , 684  so as to render the same operationally redundant and thereby more efficient from a time-wise processing viewpoint, meaning, for example, that when one of the release paper supply rolls  682 , 684  becomes depleted, the leading end portion of the release sheet or release liner  686  disposed upon the new or fresh one of the release paper supply rolls  682 , 684  may be attached, such as, for example, by manual means, to the trailing end portion of the release sheet or release liner  686  disposed upon the depleted one of the release paper supply rolls  682 , 684  whereby the infeeding process or supply of the release sheet or release liner  686  toward the operational station, at which the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  are to be applied onto the single or common release sheet or liner  686 , may be rendered operationally continuous. 
   As is further disclosed within FIGS.  18 , 22  and  23 , in order to actually determine the depletion state of the supply of the release sheet or release liner  686  upon each one of the release paper supply rolls  682 , 684 , the release paper supply rolls  682 , 684  respectively have operatively associated therewith an optical sensor or monitor  688 , 690 , such as, for example, a suitable photodetector or the like. The sensors or monitors  688 , 690  are seen to be respectively fixedly mounted upon housings  692 , 694  upon which the release paper supply rolls  682 , 684  are rotatably mounted, and in turn, the housings  692 , 694  are both fixedly mounted upon upstanding columns  696 , 698  which are fixedly secured to the main framework  632  of the system or apparatus  610 . As can best be appreciated from  FIG. 22 , each one of the housing  692 , 694  is seen to comprise a pair of oppositely disposed side walls  700 ,  702 , and  704 , 706 , and it is seen that the sensors or monitors  688 , 690  are respectively mounted upon the side walls  700 , 704 , while side walls  702 , 706  are respectively provided with view ports  708 , 710  by means of which the optical sensors or monitors  688 , 690  can in fact view the diametrical extent of the amount of release paper or release liner disposed upon the release paper supply rolls  682 , 684  so as to effectively monitor when the supply of release paper or release liner disposed upon the release paper supply rolls  682 , 684  becomes depleted. 
   It is lastly noted, in connection with the mounting of the release paper supply rolls  682 , 684  upon their respective housings  692 , 694 , that each one of the release paper supply rolls  682 , 684  is respectively mounted upon a shaft  712 , 714  which is respectively rotatably mounted within suitable bearing blocks  716 , 718 , and  720 , 722  which are respectively mounted upon the side walls  700 , 702 , and  704 , 706  of the housings  692 , 694 . As can best be appreciated from  FIG. 23 , the rotary shafts  712 , 714 , upon which the release paper supply rolls  682 , 684  are respectively mounted, are provided with a suitable braking mechanism so as to impart a predetermined resistance level with respect to the rotation of the shafts  712 , 714 , rotatably disposed within the bearing blocks  716 , 718 , and  720 , 722 , whereby as the release paper or release liner  686  is unreeled from the particular one of the particular one of the release paper supply rolls  682 , 684  that is currently being used, the release paper or release liner  686  will be able to be supplied to the operating station, at which the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  are deposited upon the release paper or release liner  686  in a manner which will be more fully described hereinafter, will in fact be supplied in a relatively taut state without excessive slack. 
   It is noted that only the braking mechanism  724 , operatively associated with the rotary shaft  714  of the release paper supply roll  684 , is visible in  FIG. 23 , and therefore, while the description of the braking mechanism will accordingly be confined to the braking mechanism  724  operatively associated with the rotary shaft  714  of the release paper supply roll  684 , it is to be understood that the braking mechanism, not visible, but operatively associated with the rotary shaft  712  of the release paper supply roll  682 , will comprise similar structure as that of the braking mechanism  724 . As seen in  FIG. 23 , the braking mechanism  724  is provided with an arcuately configured internal braking block member  726  which is adapted to operatively engage the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft  714 , and a control knob  728 , which is adjustably mounted within a cap member  730  of the housing  694 , is operatively connected to the braking mechanism  724  through means of a shaft  732 . In this manner, upon rotation of the control knob  728 , respectively in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions, the braking mechanism  724 , and in particular, the braking block member  726  thereof, can be positionally adjusted so as to either be closer to or further away from the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft  714  whereby the level of the braking force as impressed upon the rotary shaft  714  can be desirably adjusted. 
   Having described the mechanisms and operative implements for achieving the serial downstream conveyance of the plurality of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  toward the station at which the plurality of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  will be individually deposited and adhered upon the single, common release sheet or release paper  686 , the additional mechanisms and operative implements for achieving the deposition and adherence of the plurality of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  onto the single, common release sheet or release paper  686  will now be described. With reference therefore being made to  FIGS. 20 ,  24 , and  26 , a release paper guide plate  734 , having a substantially inverted L-shaped configuration, is fixedly mounted upon an upper part of the main apparatus or system framework  632  so as to be within the vicinity of the downstream end of the conveyor mechanism or system  618 . In this manner, as can best be appreciated from  FIGS. 20 and 24 , the release paper or release liner  686  can be unrolled from release paper supply roll  682 , conducted over the upper horizontally disposed guide surface  736  of the guide plate  734 , and conducted downwardly along the vertically disposed guide surface  738  of the guide plate  734 . It is to be noted that the vertically disposed guide surface  738  thus constitutes the upstream end of an assembly flow path AFP along which the assembly, comprising the serially arranged temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640 , as disposed upon the common release paper or release sheet  686 , will be conducted so as to ultimately achieve the collation and nested arrangement of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  upon the common release sheet  686 , as will be more fully disclosed hereinafter. 
   As can best be appreciated from  FIG. 21 , the longitudinal extent of the upper conveyor drive system, comprising, for example, the upper conveyor belt  634  and the upper conveyor belt drive pulley  658 , is greater than the longitudinal extent of the lower conveyor drive system, comprising, for example, the lower conveyor belt  636  and the lower conveyor belt drive pulley  680 . More particularly, the lower conveyor belt drive pulley  680  is located at a position which is substantially upstream from the position at which the upper conveyor belt drive pulley  658  is located, whereby the downstream end of the lower conveyor belt system terminates at a position which is upstream of the downstream end of the upper conveyor belt system, as considered along the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) conveyance path  624 . The reason for this relative disposition of the various operative components comprising the upper and lower conveyor belt systems is to ultimately enable the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) to be transferred from their entrapped positions between the upper and lower conveyor belts  634 , 636 , onto the common release sheet or release liner  686 , and to transport or convey the common release sheet or release liner  686 , having the plurality of serially arranged temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  fixedly adhered thereon, to a downstream collating mechanism by means of which the assembly, comprising the serially arranged temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640 , and the common release paper or release sheet  686 , will be collated and nested as has heretofore been described in connection with the first embodiment apparatus or system  210  of the present invention and as disclosed within FIG.  16 . 
   Continuing further, then, and with reference being made to FIGS.  20 , 21 , 25 , and  26 , a support plate  740 , having a substantially L-shaped configuration as viewed in FIG.  25  and as best seen in  FIG. 21 , is provided for reciprocal movement between an extended state, as disclosed within FIGS.  20 , 21 , and  25 , and a retracted state as disclosed within FIG.  26 . More particularly, as can best be seen in  FIG. 21 , the substantially L-shaped support plate  740  comprises a horizontally disposed support leg  742 , and a vertically disposed mounting leg  744 . The vertically oriented mounting leg  744  is fixedly secured to a mounting plate or mounting block  746 , and it is further seen that the mounting plate or mounting block  746  is fixedly secured upon the free or distal ends of a pair of laterally spaced guide rods  748  as well as upon the free or distal end of a centrally located piston rod  750 . The three rods  748 , 750 , 748  are operatively associated with a cylinder mechanism  752 , which may be, for example, a pneumatic cylinder, whereupon actuation of the cylinder mechanism  752  either in its extension or retraction modes, the support plate  740  will be moved between its extended position, as disclosed within FIGS.  20 , 21 , and  25 , and its retracted position as disclosed within FIG.  26 . When the support plate  740  is disposed at its extended position, as may best be appreciated from  FIGS. 20 ,  21 , and  25 , the horizontally disposed support leg  742  is disposed at an elevational level which substantially corresponds to the elevational level at which the upper run or loop portion of the lower conveyor belt  636  is disposed. In this manner, the upper run or loop portion of the lower conveyor belt  636  can effectively transfer each temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  640  onto the horizontally disposed support leg  742  of the support plate  740 . 
   Subsequently, as can best be appreciated from  FIGS. 21 and 25 , in lieu of the long leg portion  638  of each temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  640  being entrapped between the lower run or loop portion of the upper conveyor belt  634  and the upper run or loop portion of the lower conveyor belt  636 , the long leg portion  638  of each temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  640  is now entrapped between the lower run or loop portion of the upper conveyor belt  634  and the upper surface portion of the horizontally disposed support leg  742  of the support plate  740 . Accordingly, this particular one of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  is now ready to be deposited onto and adhered to the common release sheet or release liner  686 . In order to therefore deposit and adhere each one of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  onto the common release sheet or release liner  686 , a placement or application piston-cylinder assembly, comprising a cylinder housing  754 , as best seen in  FIG. 24 , and a piston assembly, comprising a piston rod  756  and an application plate  758 , as best seen in  FIGS. 25 and 27 , is disposed at an elevational level which is just below that of the vertically disposed guide surface  738  of the guide plate  734  so as to be within the vicinity of the horizontally disposed support leg  742  of the support plate  740  when the support plate  740  is disposed at its extended position. 
   In this manner, the application plate  758  is also located at an elevational level which substantially corresponds to that of the vertically disposed short leg portion  642  of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  640  which is entrapped between the lower run or loop portion of the upper conveyor belt  634  and the upper surface portion of the horizontally disposed support leg  742  of the support plate  740 . The piston assembly, comprising the piston rod  756  and the application plate  758 , can of course be actuated for movement between an extended position as illustrated within  FIG. 25 , at which position the application plate  758  moves beyond, or to the left of, the plane within which the release sheet or release paper  686  is normally disposed as a result of being conveyed downwardly along the vertically disposed guide surface  738  of the guide plate  734 , and a retracted position, not illustrated, at which position the application plate  758  will be disposed to the right of the plane within which the release sheet or release paper  686  is normally disposed as a result of being conveyed downwardly along the vertically disposed guide surface  738  of the guide plate  734 . 
   Accordingly, it can be readily appreciated that when the piston rod  756  is moved from its retracted position to its extended position, the application plate  758  will engage the release sheet or release paper  686  and force the same into contact with the adhesive patch  644  disposed upon the vertically disposed short leg portion  642  of the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  640  which is entrapped between the lower run or loop portion of the upper conveyor belt  634  and the upper surface portion of the horizontally disposed support leg  742  of the support plate  740 . Consequently, that particular temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  640  is now deposited and adhered upon the common release sheet or release paper  686 . In order to permit successive ones of the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  to be deposited and adhered onto the common release sheet or release paper  686 , the piston rod  750  is retracted into the cylinder housing  752  so as to correspondingly move the support plate  740  to its retracted position as illustrated within FIG.  26 . This operation will permit the common release sheet or release paper  686 , and the temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM)  640  just deposited thereon, to be indexably moved downwardly along the vertically disposed guide surface  738  of the guide plate  734 . Subsequently, the piston rod  750  is again extended with respect to the cylinder housing  752  so as to correspondingly move the support plate  740  to its extended position as illustrated within  FIG. 20  in preparation for receiving a successive one of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  which is now in fact conveyed onto the support plate  740  as a result of the conveyor mechanism  618  likewise being indexably moved along the conveyance direction  624 . 
   It is noted, as was the case with the first embodiment of the apparatus or system  210  of the present invention, that all of the cyclic, indexable movements of the various operative components of the second embodiment of the apparatus or system  610  of the present invention are under the control of a programmable logic controller (PLC)  760  which is schematically illustrated within FIG.  27 . Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that the programmable logic controller (PLC)  760  will in fact control the indexable movement of the common release sheet or release paper  686  from the supply rolls  682 , 684 , as well as the indexable movement of the assembly, comprising the common release liner  686  and the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  as deposited and adhered upon the common release sheet or release liner  686 , along the assembly flow path AFP. Still further, the programmable logic controller (PLC)  760  will of course operatively coordinate such movements with the indexable conveyance or movement of the plurality of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  along the conveyance path  624  prior to the operative mating of the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  with the common release sheet or release liner  686  so as to in fact achieve the desired deposition and adherence of the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  onto the common release sheet or release liner  686 . In order to therefore achieve the indexably controlled drive of the release sheet or release liner  686 , both to and beyond the station or location at which the release sheet or release liner  686  is effectively mated with the plurality of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  being conveyed along the conveyance path  624 , a drive system, as illustrated within  FIG. 27 , is provided. 
   More particularly, it is seen that the release sheet or release paper drive system comprises a drive motor  762  which is operatively connected to a set of laterally spaced drive pulleys  764 , 764  through means of an output drive shaft  766  of the drive motor  762  upon which the drive pulleys  764  are mounted. The output drive shaft  766  has its opposite ends rotatably mounted within a pair of bearing members  768 , 768  which are respectively mounted within a pair of bearing blocks  770 , 770 , and the drive pulleys  764 , 764  are respectively operatively connected to a pair of laterally spaced driven pulleys  772 , 772  through means of a pair of pulley belts  774 , 774 . The driven pulleys  772 , 772  are mounted upon a driven shaft  776 , and the opposite ends of the driven shaft  776  are mounted within a pair of bearing members  778 ,  778  which are respectively mounted within a pair of bearing blocks  780 , 780 . A pair of vertically oriented, laterally spaced guide plates  782 , 782  are mounted upon a portion of the main framework  632  such that the interior surface portions thereof are disposed in a substantially coplanar manner with respect to the external vertically disposed guide surface  738  of the guide plate  734  as can best be appreciated from FIG.  25 . In this manner, as the release sheet or release liner  686  is conveyed along the assembly flow path AFP, as defined upon the external guide surface  738  of the guide plate  734 , the release sheet or release liner  686  will also be interposed between the upper interior surface portions of the guide plates  782 , 782  and the external surfaces of the pulley belts  774 , 774  as disposed around the driven pulleys  772 , 772 , as well as being interposed between the lower interior surface portions of the guide plates  782 , 782  and the external surfaces of the pulley belts  774 , 774  as disposed around the drive pulleys  764 , 764 . In this manner, in accordance with the indexable drive movements imparted to the drive and driven pulleys  764 , 764 , 772 , 772  by means of the drive motor  762 , and in accordance with suitable control signals issued by means of the programmable logic controller (PLC)  760 , the release sheet or release liner  686 , having the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  disposed thereon, is indexably advanced in the downstream direction. It is noted that the lateral width dimension of the release sheet or liner  686  is greater than that of each one of the individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640 , and accordingly, the opposite edge regions of the release sheet or liner  686  are actually caught or entrapped within the bite regions defined between the pulley belts  774 , 774  and the guide plates  782 , 782 , while the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  are disposed between the laterally spaced guide plates  782 , 782  so as to effectively pass through such region in a non-obstructing manner. 
   As can further be seen in  FIGS. 27 and 28 , as the assembly, comprising the release sheet or release liner  686  and the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  disposed thereon, passes beyond the lower edge portions of the guide plates  782 , 782 , the assembly will be conveying transferred onto an upstream, arcuately configured chute member  784  which, in turn, conducts or conveys the assembly of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640 , as disposed upon the single, common release sheet or release liner  686  to a conveying mechanism  786 . It will also be noted that the conveying mechanism  786  is substantially identical to the conveying mechanism as disclosed within  FIGS. 13-15  in connection with the first embodiment apparatus or system  210  of the present invention, and accordingly, a detailed description of the conveying mechanism  786  will be omitted for brevity purposes. It is still further noted that in addition to the conveying mechanism  786 , a collating system, similar to the collating container  498  as also utilized within the first embodiment apparatus or system  210  of the present invention, is adapted to be utilized in conjunction with the conveying mechanism  786  of the second embodiment apparatus or system  610  of the present invention whereby, again, the collated and nested array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640 , similar to the array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  428  as disclosed within  FIG. 16 , can also be achieved. 
   With reference lastly being made to  FIGS. 29 and 30 , a last feature characteristic of the second embodiment of the apparatus or system  610  of the present invention resides in the fact that the conveyor mechanism  618 , the drive motor  648  therefor, the support plate assembly  740 , 752 , and the platform  650  upon which the drive motor  648  and the cylinder housing  752  are mounted, are mounted upon a framework which is slidably mounted upon the fixed framework  632  such that the upstream end portion of the conveyor mechanism  618  can be alternatively and selectively disposed at an extended position, as illustrated within  FIG. 29 , at which the upstream end portion of the conveyor mechanism  618  will be disposed immediately adjacent to the output end of the extrusion discharge tunnel  616 , and a retracted position as illustrated within  FIG. 30 , at which the upstream end portion of the conveyor mechanism  618  will be disposed at a position which is located a short distance away from the output end of the extrusion discharge tunnel  616 . In this manner, when the various noted components of the system  610  are disposed at the extended position such that the upstream end portion of the conveyor mechanism  618  is disposed immediately adjacent to the output end of the extrusion discharge tunnel  616 , then the plurality of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  can be processed further so as to collate and nest the same in order to achieve a collated array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) similar to that disclosed within  FIG. 16 , whereas when the various noted components of the system  610  are disposed at the retracted position such that the upstream end portion of the conveyor mechanism  618  is disposed at a position which is located a short distance away from the output end of the extrusion discharge tunnel  616 , then the plurality of individual temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs)  640  can simply be collected, for example, within a suitable container or the like so as to be used independently or individually, as opposed to being collated and nested. 
   In order to achieve such slidable mounting of the noted system components upon the fixed framework  632 , it is noted, for example, as can best be appreciated from FIG.  18 , that the upstream end portion of the conveyor mechanism  618  is fixedly mounted upon a first slide block  788 , and that the first slide block  788  is slidably mounted upon a first slide guide  790  which is fixedly mounted upon the fixed framework  632 . In addition, as may best be appreciated from  FIG. 20 , the support platform  792 , upon which the pulley block  678  is fixedly mounted, is integrally formed atop a second slide block  794 , and the second slide block  794  is slidably mounted upon a second slide guide  796  which is also fixedly mounted upon the fixed framework  632 . Still yet further, and in a similar manner, the support platform  650 , upon which the cylinder mechanism  752  is fixedly mounted, is integrally formed atop a third slide block  798 , and the third slide block  798  is slidably mounted upon a third slide guide  800  which is also fixedly mounted upon the fixed framework  632 . 
   Continuing further, a piston-cylinder assembly, comprising a cylinder housing  802  and a piston rod  804 , is provided for moving the previously noted components with respect to the fixed framework  632 . More particularly, the free or distal end of the piston rod  804  is fixedly attached to a mounting bracket  806  of the fixed framework  632 , while the cylinder housing  802  is fixedly attached to the undersurface portion of the support platform  650 . Accordingly, when the piston-cylinder assembly  802 , 804  is activated whereby the piston rod  804  is effectively extended with respect to the cylinder housing  802 , since the free or distal end of the piston rod  804  is fixedly attached to the mounting bracket  806  of the fixed framework  632 , the cylinder housing  802  is caused to move relative to the piston rod  804 . Consequently, support platform  650 , support platform  792 , and the conveyor mechanism  618  are moved relative to the fixed framework  632  from the extended position, as illustrated within  FIG. 29 , to the retracted position as illustrated within FIG.  30 . 
   Thus, it may be seen that in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, there has been provided two embodiments of apparatus or systems for forming a serial array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), disposed upon a single, common release sheet or release liner, into a collated and nested array of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) such that the collated and nested array of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) can be supplied to apparatus for dispensing and applying the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) onto pavement surfaces. More particularly, in accordance with the first embodiment of the apparatus or system of the present invention, the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) are formed from a single temporary raised pavement marker (TRPM) extrusion, the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) are mounted upon the single, common release sheet or release liner which has a plurality of adhesive patches previously disposed thereon, and the assembly, comprising the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) and the common release sheet or release liner, are formed into a collated and nested array, whereas in accordance with the second embodiment of the apparatus or system of the present invention, a plurality of pre-formed temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs), having adhesive patches already disposed thereon, are serially deposited and adhered onto a single, common release sheet or release liner, and the assembly, comprising the plurality of temporary raised pavement markers (TRPMs) and the common release sheet or release liner, are formed into a collated and nested array. 
   Obviously, many variations and modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.