Road taping machine

A road taping machine comprising:

• a drive section comprising:
• a drive wheel axle with wheels aligned parallel to a drive axis;
• a taping section disposed adjacent the drive section along the drive axis, the taping section comprising:
• a taping frame configured to support a tape spool;
• and
• a tamping roller mounted on the taping frame and configured to tamp road marking tape from the tape spool into pavement beneath the road taping machine;
• and
• a displacer comprising:
• an offset plate fixedly anchored to one of the drive section and the taping section, and extending laterally therebetween, the offset plate including a first lateral groove therethrough;
• and
• a fastener anchored to the other of the drive section and the taping section, and translatably secured through the first lateral groove, such that the fastener can be tightened to the offset plate to lock the taping section in place relative to the drive section, and loosened from the offset plate to permit the taping section to be translated laterally relative to the drive section.

A method of operating a road taping machine having a drive section and a taping section connected by a displacer, the drive section including wheels, the taping section including a hose spool mount and a tamping roller disposed to tamp road marking tape from the hose spool mount into pavement, the method comprising:

• ascertaining a tape striping target location relative to a width of the drive section;
• unlocking the displacer to permit translation of the taping section relative to the drive section;
• translating the taping section relative to the drive section along a plane normal to a drive axis of the road taping machine, until the displacement of the taping section permits taping at the tape striping target location;
• locking the displacer, thereby anchoring the taping section relative to the drive section;
• and
• driving the road taping machine via the drive section, while applying the road marking tape.