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 pallet wedge for slidingly displacing a loaded pallet located on top of the pallet holder through ground engagement of ground runners on the pallet wedge as the pallet holder moves forward until the loaded pallet slides off the pallet wedge.

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 hold down with at least one free wheeling elastic belt that maintains a downward pressure on sod slabs carried on a conveyor belt with the free wheeling elastic belt moving in unison with the conveyor belt through frictional engagement between sod slabs on the conveyor belt and the free wheeling belt or between the conveyor belt and idler pulleys, which rotationally support the elastic belt, to enable the hold down to prevent or inhibit slippage of the sod slabs on the conveyor belt during sod slab transfer thereon.

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: A sod harvesting apparatus comprises at least two different configurations. In at least one configuration, the sod harvesting apparatus is set up to harvest sod from a field. In at least one configuration, the sod harvesting apparatus is set up for transportation, storage, or the like, by reducing the overall size of the sod harvesting apparatus.

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.

Abstract: A sod harvesting apparatus is disclosed. The sod harvesting apparatus comprises at least two different configurations. In at least one configuration, the sod harvesting apparatus is set up to harvest sod from a field. In at least one configuration, the sod harvesting apparatus is set up for transportation, storage, or the like, by reducing the overall size of the sod harvesting apparatus.

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 towable sod stacker having a pallet holder for holding a stack of sod, a conveyor for receiving and temporarily storing a plurality of cut sod slabs and a sod pickup and transport mechanism for lifting the plurality of cut sod sections from the conveyor and vertically placing the sod slabs in any of four positions on the pallet to provide an alternately stacked pallet of sod slabs with the towable stacker conveyor laterally displaceable to permit an operator to on-the-go dump a spoiled sod slab from the conveyor

Abstract: A towable sod stacker having a pallet holder for holding a stack of sod, a conveyor for receiving and temporarily storing a plurality of cut sod slabs and a sod pickup mechanism for lifting the plurality of cut sod sections from the conveyor and vertically placing the sod slabs in any of four positions on the pallet to provide an alternately stacked pallet of sod slabs with the towable stacker conveyor laterally displaceable to permit an operator to on-the-go dump a spoiled sod slab from the conveyor.

Abstract: A towable sod stacker having a pallet holder for holding a stack of sod, a conveyor for receiving and temporarily storing a plurality of cut sod slabs and a sod pickup mechanism for lifting the plurality of cut sod sections from the conveyor and vertically placing the sod slabs in any of four positions on the pallet to provide an alternately stacked pallet of sod slabs with the towable stacker conveyor laterally displaceable to permit an operator to on-the-go dump a spoiled sod slab from the conveyor

Abstract: A method the method of transferring a roll of sod while inhibiting an unwinding of the roll of sod comprising the steps of: (a) rolling a slab of sod into a first sod roll; (b) forcing the first sod roll onto a sod roll handling mechanism containing a second sod roll with the first sod roll forming pressure contact with the second sod roll on the sod roll handling mechanism; and (c) advancing the sod roll handling mechanism with the second sod roll while maintaining the first sod roll and the second sod roll in pressure contact to thereby inhibit the unwinding of the first sod roll as the first sod roll is transferred to the handling mechanism and an sod harvester guidance system for maintaining a full cut.

Abstract: A method the method of transferring a roll of sod while inhibiting an unwinding of the roll of sod comprising the steps of: (a) rolling a slab of sod into a first sod roll; (b) forcing the first sod roll onto a sod roll handling mechanism containing a second sod roll with the first sod roll forming pressure contact with the second sod roll on the sod roll handling mechanism; and (c) advancing the sod roll handling mechanism with the second sod roll while maintaining the first sod roll and the second sod roll in pressure contact to thereby inhibit the unwinding of the first sod roll as the first sod roll is transferred to the handling mechanism and an sod harvester guidance system for maintaining a full cut.

Abstract: A method the method of transferring a roll of sod while inhibiting an unwinding of the roll of sod comprising the steps of: (a) rolling a slab of sod into a first sod roll; (b) forcing the first sod roll onto a sod roll handling mechanism containing a second sod roll with the first sod roll forming pressure contact with the second sod roll on the sod roll handling mechanism; and (c) advancing the sod roll handling mechanism with the second sod roll while maintaining the first sod roll and the second sod roll in pressure contact to thereby inhibit the unwinding of the first sod roll as the first sod roll is transferred to the handling mechanism and an sod harvester guidance system for maintaining a full cut.

Abstract: A method and an automatic sod harvester for on-the-go cutting, rolling and storing of sod with the sod harvester including a sod cutter for freeing a section of sod from a sod field, a sod roller for rolling the section of sod into a sod roll, a sod roll accumulator having a sod troughs therein for receiving and holding a plurality of sod rolls therein and a sod roll pickup mechanism for lifting the sod rolls on the sod roll accumulator and transferring the sod rolls to a sod carrier for delivery of the sod rolls to a remote location.