Abstract: A sod cutting device having a pair of sod cutting blades offset such that their interior ends are aligned in the direction of cutting. Two strips of sod may thus be cut simultaneously with minimal waste. The two cutting blades are connected to inidividual cutter frames which are pivotably connected to respective lateral ends of a pivot frame. The pivot frame is in turn pivotably mounted at its center to a main frame of the device. This allows each cutter frame to follow the contours of the land and thus improves cutting depth consistency. The cut sod is conveyed up a first conveyor to a second conveyor which is mounted behind the first conveyor. A netting is introduced between the two conveyors under the sod such that the sod, together with the netting thereunder, travels up the second conveyor. The sod and netting are then rolled about a mandrel with the netting supporting the delicate sod. When a sod roll of sufficient size has been formed, the second conveyor is pivoted downwardly about its forward end.

Abstract: Various earthworking machines make use of an oscillatory blade, such as the herein referred to sod cutter. Instead of employing two handles, one of which raises and lowers the blade and the other of which handles, when tightened, maintains the blade at a selected depth, only a single handle is employed. When the handle is manually moved forwardly, the blade is lowered and when moved rearwardly the blade is raised, but when the single handle is moved to the left the blade is locked at the depth that has been determined by the forward movement of the handle, this handle movement to the left camming a shiftable gear rack into engagement with a fixed gear rack to maintain the adjusted blade depth. Handle movement to the right allows a coil spring to disengage the racks. A stop, when appropriately set, enables the selected depth to be re-established after each raising of the blade whenever no change in blade depth is needed.

Abstract: A tool for cutting elongated turf strips has a cutting head secured to lateral stabilizing members. The cutting head is a rectangular box-shaped member having forward peripheral cutting edges. The stabilizing members have rollers that ride on the turf surface to ensure a uniform cutting depth of the cutting head. An upwardly and rearwardly directed handle is pivotally connected to the top wall of the cutting head to facilitate moving the cutting head through turf to cut a strip of sod therefrom.

Abstract: A tool for cutting hexagon turf plugs has a base secured to upright legs and a hexagon-shaped cutter. A handle is attached to the legs to facilitate moving the cutter into turf to cut a turf plug. Wedge members secured to the inside of the cutter retain a cut turf plug within the cutter. Rods and a ring attached to the base and legs cooperate with the legs and wedge members to hold stacked cut turf plugs on the tool.

Abstract: A sod harvester in which sod is cut, conveyed upwardly, and then travels downwardly over a floppy conveyor and falls into a roll forming enclosure formed by a bottom conveyor and a vertical conveyor. The floppy conveyor swings downwardly at the start of roll forming, to reduce the free fall of the sod, and swings upwardly as the roll grows. When the roll is formed, the bottom conveyor is unlatched and tilts downwardly to discharge the roll, at the same time pulling into cocked position a core tube injector arm. When the roll discharges, the bottom conveyor snaps upwardly, releasing the core tube injector arm which injects a fresh core tube into the roll forming enclosure. The sod is rolled with its grass side outwardly to facilitate laying and to protect the grass roots. A tray on a cart at the end of the harvester receives the discharged roll and can convey it to either side of the cart.

Abstract: A tool for cutting elongated turf strips has a cutting head secured to lateral stabilizing members. The cutting head is a rectangular box-shaped member having forward peripheral cutting edges. The stabilizing members ride on the turf surface to ensure a uniform cutting depth of the cutting head. An upwardly and rearwardly directed handle is secured to the top wall of the cutting head to facilitate moving the cutting head through turf to cut a strip of sod therefrom.

Abstract: A sod harvester in which sod is cut, conveyed upwardly, and then travels downwardly over a floppy conveyor and falls into a roll forming enclosure formed by a bottom conveyor and a vertical conveyor. The floppy conveyor swings downwardly at the start of roll forming, to reduce the free fall of the sod, and swings upwardly as the roll grows. When the roll is formed, the bottom conveyor is unlatched and tilts downwardly to discharge the roll, at the same time pulling into cocked position a core tube injector arm. When the roll discharges, the bottom conveyor snaps upwardly, releasing the core tube injector arm which injects a fresh core tube into the roll forming enclosure. The sod is rolled with its grass side outwardly to facilitate laying and to protect the grass roots. A tray on a cart at the end of the harvester receives the discharge roll and can convey it to either side of the cart.

Abstract: A sod harvester in which sod is cut, conveyed upwardly, and then travels downwardly over a floppy conveyor and falls into a roll forming enclosure formed by a bottom conveyor and a vertical conveyor. The floppy conveyor swings downwardly at the start of roll forming, to reduce the free fall of the sod, and swings upwardly as the roll grows. When the roll is formed, the bottom conveyor is unlatched and tilts downwardly to discharge the roll, at the same time pulling into cocked position a core tube injector arm. When the roll discharges, the bottom conveyor snaps upwardly, releasing the core tube injector arm which injects a fresh core tube into the roll forming enclosure. The sod is rolled with its grass side outwardly to facilitate laying and to protect the grass roots. A tray on a cart at the end of the harvester receives the discharged roll and can convey it to either side of the cart.

Abstract: A mobile automatic sod harvesting apparatus of the type which severs a sod strip from the ground parallel to the direction of travel, cuts the strips into sod pads of predetermined length and conveys the sod pads rearwardly toward a sod stacking and unloading station is disclosed which features a side unloading configuration to permit a pallet loaded with sod pads to be unloaded laterally of the direction of travel of the apparatus. The side unloading feature is further characterized by a lift fork assembly slideably mounted for horizontal displacement at right angles to the path of travel of the harvesting apparatus. The lift fork assembly which supports a sod receiving pallet is vertically movable at adjustable height to aid stacking the pallet with sod pads and for depositing a loaded pallet onto the ground upon horizontal extension of the lift assembly at a right angle to the path of travel of the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus used in agriculture and more specifically to an apparatus for removing the plastic film cover from raised plant beds in which the edges thereof are tucked under soil placed in overlying relation to the downwardly inclined side edges of the plastic film thereby enabling separation of the plastic film from the plant bed after the plants have matured and the crop harvested from the plants so that the plastic film can be removed and appropriate cultivation and reshaping of the plant beds may be more effectively accomplished with the apparatus of the present invention materially reducing the time and labor required in removing the plastic film for disposal or recycling.

Abstract: The machine which is the object of the invention comprises a frame 1 supporting on one side a platform for an operator within whose reach lies another platform 5 bearing rolls 7 of turf and further back a second platform 8 whereas on the left hand side of the frame is situated a platform supporting a conveyor belt 13 in a horizontal plane, the rear end of the said conveyor being juxtaposed to a chute 14 extending on two conveyor belts enclosed in a coffer 16, which said coffer 16 carries at its lower end a mechanical cutter 22 and a sprinkler 18.

Abstract: An undercutting knife for a sod cutting machine consisting of a blade and a blade holder of essentially equal length. The blade is enclosed by the holder except for the projecting forward edge. The blade is light in weight, may have two cutting edges, and is intended to be discarded after use rather than sharpened. The blade maybe frictionally retained within the holder.

Abstract: A sod laying machine having front rear sections articulated together. A boom on the front section has arms extending forwardly, with gripper arms extending downwardly from the boom to grip a roll of sod. A control roller connected to the boom arms drives the sod roll to control its speed of unwinding. The sod roll has its grass side facing outwardly and its top unwinds rearwardly so an operator in a seat at the front of the machine, between the boom arms, has an unobstructed view of the critical area of sod extending in the air from the roll to the ground, to reduce the likelihood of buckles and tears therein. The machine passes over the sod after it is laid, to roll the sod.

Abstract: A sod cutting unit supports a vibrating sod-cutting blade on a pivot under a platform and driving and control mechanism above the platform, while drawing the platform across a field on a support which allows the platform to pivot around a horizontal axis parallel to the direction of motion across the field. A multi-unit machine supports two or more units from the same draft suspension, an intermediate unit of three being additionally movable up-and-down relative to the outer units. Each unit pivots independent of all the others.

Abstract: The blade adjustment device of the present invention is used with a sod cutting machine comprising a sod cutting blade, a sod roller positioned in close spaced relation to the blade for cooperating with the blade to sever the sod from the ground, a blade supporting frame connected to the blade and movably mounted for movement toward and away from the roller. The adjustment device comprises a power actuator, and a linkage mechanism pivotally interconnecting the power actuator to the blade supporting frame for causing the blade supporting frame to move toward and away from the roller. The linkage includes an input end connected to the power means and an output end connected to the blade supporting frame for moving the blade supporting frame in response to actuation of the power actuator. The linkage mechanism reduces the distance of movement, so that the input end moves a greater distance than the output end.

Abstract: A portable sod cutting machine having a light weight tubular frame and a split cutting knife to reduce vibration. The split cutting knife includes two horizontal undercutting blades facing each other and substantially touching each other, and two side cutting blades one extending upwardly from each side of each undercutting blade. The undercutting knives are reciprocated oppositely by a common drive shaft having eccentric stub shafts connected to crank arms which are connected to the cutting knives. Swinging handles are hingedly connected to the rear of the machine and swing between a normal rearwardly extending operating position and a storage position in which the handles project forwardly one on each side of the frame.

Abstract: A plow has coupling members at its forward side for connection to a multi-point hitch of a tractor. Furrow slicing members at the front form furrow slices which are elevated to furrow turning drums during operation. The furrow slices are turned about their longitudinal axes and deposited to the rear by the rotating drums. The drums are mounted on rollers and driven to rotate about upwardly and forwardly extending axes at preselected speeds. Projections within the drums turn the furrow slices which can be inverted and deposited to the rear.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling sod includes a wheeled frame for moving along the ground and a forward frame section which is adapted to receive pallets of sod adjacent thereto. A conveyor is coupled to the frame for transporting pieces of sod between the pallet and the ground. A pair of foot supports are attached on either side of the wheeled frame for allowing workers to stand thereon while handling the sod either along the conveyor or on the pallet. The foot supports extend forward from adjacent a rear end of the conveyor to adjacent the pallet of sod.

Abstract: Tractor-mounted apparatus for cutting, rolling and laying turf has parallel side cutters in front of a horizontal bottom cutter for cutting a strip of turf as the tractor advances, the turf strip being wound on a roller on a roller carrier behind the tractor and mounted on a lift frame for oscillation about an upright axis. A completed turf roll on the roller can be elevated by the lift frame and, by swinging the roller carrier, can be moved back through a right angle for unloading onto a platform, or swung through a further right angle and lowered to the ground for laying the turf as the tractor advances.

Abstract: Apparatus for starting a turn in a strip of sod travelling along a conveyor and for causing the sod to roll up once an end of the strip has been turned, which apparatus is effective on sods of any condition, comprises deflecting means having a scoop to receive the leading end of a sod up to a stop plate adjustable in the scoop, contact of the sod with the stop plate causing the scoop to pivot and turn up the leading end of the sod, the deflecting means being mounted above the conveyor so as to be able to be lifted by the turned up sod, whereafter the conveyor carries the sod beneath the deflecting means, which also has cross-bars on its underside to cause rolling up of the sod once the end has been turned up.

Abstract: The device is pulled behind conventional sod cutting apparatus and includes an angled roller that diverts the various sod rolls sequentially discharged from the apparatus, doing so to one side of the path traversed by the apparatus. The device also includes a frame having ground supports for supporting the roller at a slight elevation above the ground so that the roller is free to rotate in a direction determined by the still moving rolls of sod. Provision is made for optimumly adjusting the roller angle and once adjusted to maintain the same angle when changing the setting back and forth to divert rolls either to the left or right. The device also includes a hitch by which the device can be quickly unhitched at the end of each run to permit the sod cutting apparatus to be turned around more readily. Also, the roller supporting frame is adjustable to accept rollers of different lengths for accommodating sod rolls of different sizes.

Abstract: The specification discloses a device and method for marking the position of and for protecting an inground object such as a sprinkler head including a hollow, open-ended tubular member which is adapted to be placed around the object and inserted into the ground. An outwardly directed ring which includes a depending lip is formed integral with and adjacent the upper end of the member. The ring stabilizes the device and limits the depth of insertion of the tubular member. The method also comprises including indicia on a portion of said member when it is used on a golf course for indicating the distance to the flag stick and hole on a green from the location of the member.

Abstract: A sod handling machine similar to fork lift truck which permits the handling of pallets of sod without loss of sod from the pallet, and further includes flotation tires arranged to permit the machine to be used for packing the sod after it has been laid. Thus the machine serves as a transport and as a packer.

Abstract: Sod cutting apparatus for attachment to an excavating machine such as a backhoe wherein an elongate blade for cutting a surface layer from the earth is positioned substantially parallel to the surface of the earth and at a controlled depth by an appropriate depth control. A cross bar spans the elongated blade and is pivotally connected thereto. The crossbar is detachably connected with a portion of an excavating machine whereby movement of the excavating machine adjacent the surface of the earth moves the depth control across the surface and the blade means through the earth so as to cut a surface layer from the earth. A sheet dispensing mechanism is provided for dispensing sheet material in interposition between the earth and the severed surface layer.

Abstract: A sod cutting machine having an undercutting blade to sever beneath a strip of sod, and a pair of separate side cutting blades, to cut the edges of the sod strip. The undercutting blade is supported by a pair of arms which are reciprocated back and forth in the direction of travel of the machine. The side cutting blades are supported by further arms which are connected by links to the undercutting blade support arms, so that the side cutting blades reciprocate oppositely to the reciprocation of the undercutting blade, thus reducing vibration. The side cutting blades are located one on each side of the roller which supports the front of the machine, and the undercutting blade is immediately behind the roller, to ensure alignment of the cuts.

Abstract: A sod cutting knife having a horizontal undercutting blade, vertical support arms connected to each side of the undercutting blade, and removable side cutting blades mounted at the front of each support arm. The side cutting blades project below the bottom of the undercutting blade to protect the connection between the undercutting blade and the support arms against wear. The vertical and horizontal extent of the protrusions of the side cutting blades below the undercutting blade is limited to avoid undue resistance to vertical movement of the knife into the ground.

Abstract: An undercutting knife for a sod cutting machine. The knife has an undercutting blade having a front portion and an upwardly bent rear portion. Connected to the rear portion are two support and guide members, one at each edge of the blade. Each support and guide member extends rearwardly from the blade and has a rear portion projecting laterally of the blade. Mounting arms are connected to the laterally extending portions. The mounting arms, which are connected to mechanism for supporting and reciprocating the knife, are clear of the ground and are spaced laterally of cut sod moving over the knife, so as not to tear the edges of the sod. A guide strip extends rearwardly from the blade between the support and guide members. The support and guide members and the guide strip can be three discrete members or a single integral unit.

Abstract: A sod laying machine has a body portion connected with a pulling vehicle and mounted on an inflated cylindrical ground engaging roller. A plurality of rolls of sod are supported on the body portion rotatably in axial adjacency by a group of freely rotating rollers. Pairs of conveyor belts, that have spaced metal cross members flexibly connected by links, extend around upper and lower rollers in the body portion to incline rearwardly downwardly from the entrance ends to the discharge ends thereof. The upper rollers are driven from the ground engaging roller and have projecting lugs engaging the cross members to positively drive the belts. Rotatable feeding members engage the sod rolls to transfer lengths of sod from the rolls to the entrance ends of the paired belt conveyors and the feeding members are driven through ratchet means from the conveyor driving means, the ratchet drive permitting manual rotation of the feeding means independently of the driving means.

Abstract: A sod cutter having an annular body with a tapered, sharpened annular cutting edge, a support sleeve and a shaft journaled in the sleeve and projecting into the annular body. The shaft has a external handle thereon and the shaft is movable relative to the sleeve and the annular body longitudinally and rotatably. The shaft carries a cutting blade thereon to cut the turf in a spiral manner as the shaft is extended into the annular body with the cutting edge of the annular body defining the periphery of the turf plug to be removed and the blade cutting and retaining the plug within the annular body.

Abstract: The present application discloses an invention whereby the common gardening tasks of sod cutting and lawn edging may be performed by a single tool. By providing a structural member of thin cross section and generally rectangular shape with a reinforcing member along its top edge, a suitable handle, and a pair of removable wheels, one on each side of said member, with one of said wheels being a larger lawn edging wheel and the other being a smaller sod cutting wheel, a dual-purpose lawn and garden tool is provided.With the small sod cutting wheel mounted in the appropriate position, the sharpened leading edge of the structural member will easily cut sod, and with the smaller wheel removed and the larger wheel mounted, the lawn edging operation can be performed. Removable spacer members of varying widths, and a deflector member, combine to determine the width of cut and direct the pieces of sod away from the trench produced.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading and unloading round bales of hay and other feed comprising a set of lifting forks which lift the bale off the ground and onto the floor of a wagon. The floor is moveable to an inclined plane such that the round bales will roll off the incline toward the forks and may be deposited on the ground. The apparatus has a tailgate which will trap the round bale within an opening in the wagon and against the ground so as to distribute the hay on the ground as the wagon is pulled forward.