Marking device, trailer unit for a marking device and method for marking a number, letter or symbol

Abstract

The invention relates to a marking device ( 10; 100 ) for marking a football field layout. The marking device ( 10; 100 ) comprises a drive unit ( 1; 101 ) and a trailer unit ( 2; 102 ), wherein the drive unit ( 1; 101 ) comprises a frame, at least three wheels ( 8 a - 8 c, 108 a - 108 c ) for carrying the frame, in particular one line spray nozzle ( 11 ) for marking straight lines on the ground, the line spray nozzle ( 11 ), being fixedly attached to the frame or moveably attached to the frame for adjusting the position of the line spray nozzle ( 11 ), a motor ( 16 a ) for driving at least one of the wheels ( 8 a - 8 c ) of the drive unit ( 1 ) and/or a handle ( 16 b ) for a user to push the drive unit ( 101 ), in particular a drive unit pump ( 28 ) for pumping paint to the nozzle, and a command unit ( 5 ) for commanding the pump and/or nozzle and/or motor. The drive unit ( 1; 101 ) and the trailer unit ( 2; 102 ) are attached through a coupling, in such a way, that the trailer unit ( 2; 102 ) is pullable by the drive unit. The trailer unit ( 2; 102 ) comprises a support frame, at least one, in particular two, wheel ( 13 a, 13 b ) for carrying the support frame, and at least one set of, in particular forty, symbol spray nozzles ( 12 ) for spraying a symbol on the ground, the nozzles ( 12 ) being fixedly attached to the support frame.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A marking device for marking a football field layout, comprising a drive unit and a trailer unit, wherein the drive unit comprises:
 a frame,   at least three wheels for carrying the frame,   a line spray nozzle for marking straight lines on the ground, the line spray nozzle being fixedly attached to the frame or moveably attached to the frame for adjusting the position of the nozzle,   a motor for driving at least one of the wheels of the drive unit and a handle for a user to push the drive unit, and   a command unit for commanding at least one of the nozzle and motor,   wherein the drive unit and the trailer unit are connected through a coupling, in such a way, that the trailer unit is pullable by the drive unit, the trailer unit comprises   a support frame,   at least one wheel for carrying the support frame,   and at least one set of symbol spray nozzles for spraying a symbol on the ground, the nozzles being fixedly attached to the support frame.   
     
     
         17 . The marking device according to  claim 16 , wherein the drive unit comprises a drive unit pump for pumping paint to the nozzle. 
     
     
         18 . The marking device according to  claim 16 , wherein the drive unit comprises at least a first container for a first color of paint. 
     
     
         19 . The marking device according to  claim 18 , wherein the drive unit comprises a second container for a second color of paint and a third container for a third color of paint. 
     
     
         20 . The marking device according to  claim 18 , wherein the trailer unit comprises a paint transportation system for transporting paint from the first container to the symbol spray nozzles, wherein the paint transportation system comprises ducts for transporting paint and a paint connection end for sucking in paint. 
     
     
         21 . The marking device according to  claim 20 , wherein the paint transportation system comprises a trailer unit pump on the trailer unit for pumping paint to the symbol spray nozzles. 
     
     
         22 . The marking device according to  claim 16 , wherein the trailer unit comprises a control unit for controlling the symbol spray nozzles, wherein the trailer unit comprises an information connection between the command unit and the control unit for transporting command information, the information connection being at least one of a wired and a wireless connection. 
     
     
         23 . The marking device according to  claim 16 , wherein at least the trailer unit and the drive unit comprises a GNSS receiver or a reflector for a robotic total station attached to the frame for detecting a current location. 
     
     
         24 . The marking device according to  claim 23 , wherein the drive unit is adapted to compare a detected location to a predetermined pattern and adapted to calculate at least a location and a direction, by means of at least the command unit and a comparator. 
     
     
         25 . The marking device according to  claim 24 , wherein the drive unit is adapted to be steered autonomously. 
     
     
         26 . The marking device according to  claim 24 , wherein the drive unit is adapted to be steered autonomously based on at least one of the calculated location and direction. 
     
     
         27 . The marking device according to  claim 24 , wherein the drive unit comprises a prompting device for providing steering information to a user, wherein the drive unit is adapted to be steered by means of a manual steering device. 
     
     
         28 . The marking device according to  claim 27 , wherein the marking device comprises a motor unit between the drive unit and the trailer unit for driving the marking device, wherein the motor unit comprises a frame, a motor, and at least three wheels. 
     
     
         29 . A trailer unit for a marking device according to  claim 16 , wherein the trailer unit comprises:
 a support frame,   at least one wheel for carrying the support frame,   at least one set of symbol spray nozzles for spraying a symbol on the ground, the nozzles being fixedly attached to the support frame, and   at least a first part of a coupling adapted for removably coupling the trailer unit to at least a drive unit and a motor unit,   wherein the trailer unit is adapted to be attached to at least one of an external source of power, an external supply of paint and an external source of command information for spray pattern instructions.   
     
     
         30 . The trailer unit according to  claim 29 , wherein the trailer unit comprises a control unit for controlling the symbol spray nozzles, wherein the control unit is adapted to control the nozzles according to command information. 
     
     
         31 . The trailer unit according to  claim 29 , wherein the trailer unit comprises a paint transportation system for providing paint to the symbol spray nozzles, wherein the paint transportation system comprises ducts for transporting paint, wherein the paint transportation system comprises a paint connection end for sucking in paint. 
     
     
         32 . A method for marking at least one of a number, letter and symbol with a marking device according to  claim 16 , the method comprising:
 defining a pattern;   determining a current position with a GNSS receiver or a prism for a robotic total station;   comparing the current position to the defined pattern and calculating at least one of a location and a direction, by a command unit ( 5 ) on the drive unit ( 1 );   driving by the drive unit autonomously or steered by a user, the drive unit tugging the trailer unit; and   spraying the previously defined pattern by symbol spray nozzles, which are located on the trailer unit, while the trailer unit is being moved by means of at least one of the drive unit and a motor unit.   
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the current position is determined with a GNSS receiver or a prism for a robotic total station mounted on at least one of a drive unit and a trailer unit of a marking device. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the pattern comprises straight lines, wherein these lines are sprayed by a line spray nozzle on the drive unit.