Abstract: A sod harvester with an increased sod harvesting rate obtainable through a reduction in the time for completion of a sod handling cycle with the reduction in time obtained through changes in the interactions of transfer mechanisms within the sod harvester.

Abstract: A sod harvester with an increased sod harvesting rate obtainable through a reduction in the time for completion of a sod handling cycle with the reduction in time obtained through changes in the interactions of transfer mechanisms within the sod harvester.

Abstract: A sod harvester for cutting a sod slab from a sod field and directing an unspoiled sod slab into a first carrier and a spoiled sod slab into a scrap sod carrier through pivoting an articulated conveyor from an inline condition to an offline condition or vice versa.

Abstract: A sod harvester having a sod roll accumulator squeeze device configured to compact a sod roll while it is on a horizontal conveyor before it is picked up and moved by a sod carrier from a first location on the horizontal conveyor to a second location. The sod roll accumulator squeeze device is pivotally attached to a frame and controlled by a hydraulic cylinder that moves the accumulator squeeze device between an up position and a down position. The present invention is also a method of compacting a sod roll while it is at a first location on a horizontal conveyor of a sod harvester before it is moved by a sod carrier to a second location. The method includes providing an accumulator squeeze device that is pivotally attached to a frame and configured to compact the sod roll from the rear end of the sod harvester.

Abstract: A method of arranging sod rolls on a pallet including the steps of using a sod harvester to create a plurality of sod rolls and deposit them onto a platform; rotating all but one of the sod rolls so that an end flap on each of the sod rolls is at the same position; rotating the first sod roll for a duration that is longer than the duration by which the remaining sod rolls are rotated so that an end flap on the first sod roll is in a different position on the first sod roll than the end flaps on the remaining sod rolls; using a sod carrier to pick up the plurality of sod rolls from the platform simultaneously; and depositing the plurality of sod rolls simultaneously onto a pallet such that the end flap on the first sod roll faces outward and is viewable by consumers.

Abstract: A sod harvester comprising a sod cutter assembly that shaves slabs of sod material from a field and cm them into lengths; a sod rolling assembly that rolls the sod slabs as they are conveyed to a sod roll array forming station; a pick-and-place apparatus comprising a pick head that picks up arrays of sod rolls and places them in layers onto a first location: a layer compactor that is in a retracted position while the pick head deposits the arrays of sod rolls and that pushes against a layer of sod rolls while the pick head moves to pick up an array of sod rolls; and a side compactor that pushes against the sod rolls In a direction orthogonal to that of the layer compactor.

Abstract: A sod harvester comprising a start gate, a first switch that is configured to interact with a first sensor, a second switch that is configured to internet with a second sensor, an inclined conveyor, and a rollup conveyor positioned above the second end of the inclined conveyor. The first switch is positioned between the start gate and the second switch, and the second is positioned between the first switch and the rollup conveyor. When the second sensor is activated, the rollup conveyor begins rotating. When the first sensor is activated, an encoder begins measuring distance traveled rotationally by the rollup conveyor. The rollup conveyor stops rotating when the rollup conveyor has traveled a certain distance rotationally.

Abstract: A sod harvester comprising a sod roll accumulator squeeze device configured to compact a sod roll while it is on a horizontal conveyor before it is picked up and moved by a sod carrier from a first location on the horizontal conveyor to a second location. The sod roll accumulator squeeze device is pivotally attached to a frame and controlled by a hydraulic cylinder that moves the accumulator squeeze device between an up position and a down position. The present invention is also a method of compacting a sod roll while it is at a first location on a horizontal conveyor of a sod harvester before it is moved by a sod carrier to a second location, the method comprising providing an accumulator squeeze device that is pivotally attached to a frame and configured to compact the sod roll from the rear end of the sod harvester.

Abstract: A sod harvester comprising a start gate, a first switch that is configured to interact with a first sensor, a second switch that is configured to internet with a second sensor, an inclined conveyor, and a rollup conveyor positioned above the second end of the inclined conveyor. The first switch is positioned between the start gate and the second switch, and the second is positioned between the first switch and the rollup conveyor. When the second sensor is activated, the rollup conveyor begins rotating. When the first sensor is activated, an encoder begins measuring distance traveled rotationally by the rollup conveyor. The rollup conveyor stops rotating when the rollup conveyor has traveled a certain distance rotationally.

Abstract: A sod roll picker including a pair of right facing spear bar assemblies and a pair of left facing spear bar assemblies. Each of the right and left facing spear bar assemblies includes a spear bar, a plurality of spears secured to the spear bar, and a guide roller disposed on each end of the spear bar assembly. The picker also includes a base frame having a pair of sidewalls connected by a pair of end walls. Each end wall includes a pair of right guide paths configured to receive the guide rollers of the right facing spear bar assemblies and a pair of left guide paths configured to receive the guide rollers of the left facing spear bar assemblies. The picker also includes a right spear bar linkage interconnecting the right facing spear bar assemblies and a left spear bar linkage interconnecting the left facing spear bar assemblies.

Abstract: A sod roll picker including a pair of right facing spear bar assemblies and a pair of left facing spear bar assemblies. Each of the right and left facing spear bar assemblies includes a spear bar, a plurality of spears secured to the spear bar, and a guide roller disposed on each end of the spear bar assembly. The picker also includes a base frame having a pair of sidewalls connected by a pair of end walls. Each end wall includes a pair of right guide paths configured to receive the guide rollers of the right facing spear bar assemblies and a pair of left guide paths configured to receive the guide rollers of the left facing spear bar assemblies. The picker also includes a right spear bar linkage interconnecting the right facing spear bar assemblies and a left spear bar linkage interconnecting the left facing spear bar assemblies.

Abstract: A sod handling method and a sod handling apparatus, in one embodiment the sod handling apparatus uses a pressure differential to hold a sod slab during sod transfer, other embodiments include a sod lift member for lifting sod, a sod transport mechanism for moving sod; a sod carriage for transporting sod, a sod bed positioning system for stacking sod, a system and method for checking sod quality as well as an apparatus and method of machine stacking sod to maintain the integrity of a sod stack.

Abstract: A sod handling method and a sod handling apparatus, in one embodiment the sod handling apparatus uses a pressure differential to hold a sod slab during sod transfer, other embodiments include a sod lift member for lifting sod, a sod transport mechanism for moving sod; a sod carriage for transporting sod, a sod bed positioning system for stacking sod, a system and method for checking sod quality as well as an apparatus and method of machine stacking sod to maintain the integrity of a sod stack.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring sod slabs in an unrolled condition including a retractable bed for allowing a sod slab to fall under the influence of gravity from one sod bed to another sod bed with a further sod bed to allow a sod pickup mechanism to place and remove sod slabs thereon from different directions.