Line marking apparatus, system and method

A line marking system, the line marking system comprising a line marking apparatus for marking straight lines, and a separate source of electromagnetic radiation, the line marking apparatus comprising:

• a body provided with wheels for movement in the direction of a straight line that is to be marked;
• a line marking head that is constructed to dispense line marking material so as to mark the straight line that is to be marked;
• a lateral adjustment device operatively supporting the line marking head on the body for effecting relative lateral movement therebetween;
• control equipment operative to control the lateral adjustment device;
• wherein the electromagnetic radiation is indicative of the straight line that is to be marked, the control equipment includes a detector for detecting the electromagnetic radiation, and for, in automatic response to detection of such indicative electromagnetic radiation, generating a feedback signal for position control of the lateral adjustment device by the control equipment;
• and
• wherein lateral movement of the line marking head, relative to the body, is controlled by the control equipment such that, when the apparatus is moved along or parallel to a direction of the straight line to be marked, the line marking head moves along the straight line that is to be marked irrespective of whether movement of the body deviates from the direction of the straight line.

A method of marking a straight line comprising:

• providing a line marking apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
• a body provided with wheels for movement in the direction of a straight line that is to be marked;
• a line marking head that is constructed to dispense line marking material so as to mark the line that is to be marked;
• a lateral adjustment device operatively supporting the line marking head on the body for effecting relative lateral movement therebetween;
• and
• control equipment operative to control the lateral adjustment device, lateral movement of the line marking head, relative to the body, being controlled by the control equipment;
• and
• moving the line marking apparatus along or parallel to the straight line to be marked, so as to mark the line, whereby lateral movement of the line marking head relative to the body is controlled by the control equipment such that the line marking head moves along the straight line that is to be marked, irrespective of whether the body deviates from the direction of the straight line.