Abstract: A method of operating a stacking head of a sod harvester includes: (a) repeatedly transferring sod slabs from a transfer station located along a conveyor assembly of the sod harvester to a pallet station of the sod harvester to form a loaded pallet at the pallet station; (b) during replacement of the loaded pallet with an empty pallet, forming a stack of slabs at the transfer station; and (c) transferring the stack of slabs from the transfer station to the pallet station for deposit on the empty pallet when received at the pallet station, and repeating (a) to (c) in a continuous sod harvesting process.

Abstract: A method of stacking sod rolls can include: (a) moving a head of a sod handling apparatus to a sod pick-up location containing a plurality of sod rolls; (b) picking up a first sod roll with a first sod carrier, picking up a second sod roll with a second sod carrier, and picking up a third sod roll with a third sod carrier; (c) moving the head to a sod drop-off location; (d) depositing the first sod roll from the first sod carrier at the sod drop-off location; (e) after depositing the first sod roll, moving the second sod carrier and the third sod carrier toward the first sod carrier to reduce the spacing between the second and third sod rolls; and (f) depositing the second and third sod rolls at the drop-off location.

Abstract: A method of stacking sod rolls can include the steps of: a) moving a head of a sod handling apparatus into a sod pickup location containing a plurality of sod rolls; b) picking-up a first sod roll with a first sod carrier, picking-up a second sod roll with a second sod carrier, and picking-up a third sod roll with a third sod carrier; c) moving the head to a sod drop-off location; d) releasing the first sod roll from the first sod carrier at the sod drop-off location; e) after releasing the first sod roll, moving the second sod carrier toward the first sod carrier and moving the third sod carrier toward the first sod carrier to reduce the spacing between the second and third rolls of sod; and f) depositing the second sod roll and third sod roll at the drop-off location.

Abstract: A method of stacking sod rolls can include the steps of: a) moving a head of a sod handling apparatus into a sod pickup location containing a plurality of sod rolls; b) picking-up a first sod roll with a first sod carrier, picking-up a second sod roll with a second sod carrier, and picking-up a third sod roll with a third sod carrier; c) moving the head to a sod drop-off location; d) releasing the first sod roll from the first sod carrier at the sod drop-off location; e) after releasing the first sod roll, moving the second sod carrier toward the first sod carrier and moving the third sod carrier toward the first sod carrier to reduce the spacing between the second and third rolls of sod; and f) depositing the second sod roll and third sod roll at the drop-off location.

Abstract: A system for disposing of a defective sod roll from a sod harvester is disclosed. The system includes: (i) a transport conveyor; (ii) an accumulator located behind the transport conveyor, such that a gap is defined between a rear end of the transport conveyor and a front end of the accumulator; and (iii) a movable tray located proximate to the gap. The tray moves between a retracted position and an extended position. When the tray is in the retracted position, the gap is open and a receiving surface of the tray is in a generally horizontal orientation. When the tray is in the extended position, the tray is located within the gap to receive the sod roll from the transport conveyor.

Abstract: A system for disposing of a defective sod roll from a sod harvester is disclosed. The system includes: (i) a transport conveyor; (ii) an accumulator located behind the transport conveyor, such that a gap is defined between a rear end of the transport conveyor and a front end of the accumulator; and (iii) a movable tray located proximate to the gap. The tray moves between a retracted position and an extended position. When the tray is in the retracted position, the gap is open and a receiving surface of the tray is in a generally horizontal orientation. When the tray is in the extended position, the tray is located within the gap to receive the sod roll from the transport conveyor.

Abstract: A sod harvester may include a cutting head for cutting the strip of sod from a field, a transport conveyor located behind the cutting head for conveying the strip of sod from the cutting head, and a roll-up mechanism operatively connected to the transport conveyor. The roll-up mechanism may be adapted to form the strip of sod into the sod roll. An accumulator may be disposed downstream from the transport conveyor. The accumulator may include a receiving surface to receive the sod roll from the transport conveyor. A guide member may be positioned above the accumulator. The guide member may be adapted to contact an outer surface of the sod roll when the sod roll is transferred from the transport conveyor to the receiving surface, thereby inhibiting unrolling of the sod roll.

Abstract: A sod harvester may include a cutting head for cutting the strip of sod from a field, a transport conveyor located behind the cutting head for conveying the strip of sod from the cutting head, and a roll-up mechanism operatively connected to the transport conveyor. The roll-up mechanism may be adapted to form the strip of sod into the sod roll. An accumulator may be disposed downstream from the transport conveyor. The accumulator may include a receiving surface to receive the sod roll from the transport conveyor. A guide member may be positioned above the accumulator. The guide member may be adapted to contact an outer surface of the sod roll when the sod roll is transferred from the transport conveyor to the receiving surface, thereby inhibiting unrolling of the sod roll.

Abstract: A sod harvester for cutting sod strips from a ground surface while leaving an uncut strip between at least two sod strips The sod harvester includes a mounting frame and a number of cutting heads connected to the mounting frame. The cutting heads are positioned transversely to the path of travel for cutting the sod strips. At least two cutting heads are spaced apart by the width of the uncut strip. A conveyor is located behind the cutting heads for transporting the strips upwardly and rearwardly from the cutting heads.

Abstract: A sod harvester for cutting sod strips from a ground surface while leaving an uncut strip between at least two sod strips. The sod harvester includes a mounting frame and a number of cutting heads connected to the mounting frame. The cutting heads are positioned transversely to the path of travel for cutting the sod strips. At least two cutting heads are spaced apart by the width of the uncut strip. A conveyor is located behind the cutting heads for transporting the strips upwardly and rearwardly from the cutting heads.

Abstract: A sod harvester includes a sod cutting knife, a sod carrier, and an inclined conveyor for carrying a sod piece from the sod cutting knife to a horizontal conveyor, where the inclined conveyor moves at faster than ground speed. The sod carrier is movable between a first location above the horizontal conveyor and a second location. In the first location, the sod piece is removably secured to the sod carrier when the sod piece is on the horizontal conveyor. In the second location, the sod carrier releases the sod piece.

Abstract: A sod harvester for cutting sod strips from a ground surface while leaving an uncut strip between at least two sod strips The sod harvester includes a mounting frame and a number of cutting heads connected to the mounting frame. The cutting heads are positioned transversely to the path of travel for cutting the sod strips. At least two cutting heads are spaced apart by the width of the uncut strip. A conveyor is located behind the cutting heads for transporting the strips upwardly and rearwardly from the cutting heads.

Abstract: A sod harvester includes a sod cutting knife, a sod carrier, and an inclined conveyor for carrying a sod piece from the sod cutting knife to a horizontal conveyor, where the inclined conveyor moves at faster than ground speed. The sod carrier is movable between a first location above the horizontal conveyor and a second location. In the first location, the sod piece is removably secured to the sod carrier when the sod piece is on the horizontal conveyor. In the second location, the said sod carrier releases the said sod piece.

Abstract: A method of harvesting and handling sod includes cutting an elongated sod slab and cutting said sod slab into two sod sections, but leaving uncut at least one small sod connection between said two sod sections, thereby to tie together said sod sections in a stack containing said sod sections.

Abstract: A method of harvesting and handling sod includes cutting an elongated sod slab and cutting said sod slab into two sod sections, but leaving uncut at least one small sod connection between said two sod sections, thereby to tie together said sod sections in a stack containing said sod sections.

Abstract: A sod harvester cuts several side-by-side strips of sod, preferably of total width equal to the width of a pallet, and directs the strips up three sets of conveyors arranged in sequence. The first conveyor set runs at or near ground speed; the second conveyor set runs at about double ground speed, and the third conveyor set runs at about triple ground speed. This creates a spatial and time gap between the trailing edges of a set of sod strips on the third conveyor and the leading edges of the next set of sod strips behind them on the second conveyor. The time gap is sufficient to stop the sod strips on the third conveyor and then pick them up and stack them on a pallet.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for lifting sod, in which grass blades of the sod are inserted between one or more clamps. The clamps are closed to grip the grass blades and the clamps are then moved, with the sod suspended therefrom, to a desired location. The clamps can if desired also grip the thatch, and/or a portion of the soil, of the sod slab.

Abstract: A sod harvester cuts several side-by-side strips of sod, preferably of total width equal to the width of a pallet, and directs the strips up three sets of conveyors arranged in sequence. The first conveyor set runs at or near ground speed; the second conveyor set runs at about double ground speed, and the third conveyor set runs at about triple ground speed. This creates a spatial and time gap between the trailing edges of a set of sod strips on the third conveyor and the leading edges of the next set of sod strips behind them on the second conveyor. The time gap is sufficient to stop the sod strips on the third conveyor and then pick them up and stack them on a pallet.

Abstract: A machine to facilitate sod laying, having a pair of tracks spaced apart to define an open-ended space between them, with a low platform over each track and a forklift supporting a pallet load of sod or other materials located in the space between the tracks. Persons laying sod can stand on the platforms and can without obstruction place sod or other materials from the pallet on the forklift onto the ground. The forklift carriage has wheels which are guided by a pair of channels having downwardly and rearwardly extending lower portions, so that when the wheels enter the lower portions, the fork tines will be tilted downwardly and forwardly without needing a costly tilt cylinder.

Abstract: A temporary sod roll storage device for a sod harvester. The storage device has a conveyor which can have two laterally spaced belts joined by cross members to define pockets through which the bottoms of the sod rolls can protrude. Alternatively, the conveyor can have a central belt between the two side belts, preventing the bottom of the sod roll from extending below the conveyor. Support members extending partly or fully across the side belts or across all three belts then form built-up pockets on the upper surface of the conveyor to retain stably the sod rolls.