Abstract: A sod laying apparatus is provided which also has sod roll loading and transporting capabilities and a method of laying sod using such an apparatus without requiring a winch or a separate forklift to load sod onto the apparatus while also providing for increased sod laying rates. The sod laying apparatus includes a frame having a pair of elongate arms pivotally attached thereto for supporting sod rolls therewith. The preferred apparatus is a three-wheeled vehicle with large, wide tires for sharp turning without scuffing the ground and for rolling transport of the roll along the surface. The preferred apparatus is self-propelled and carries the operator who drives the vehicle and lays sod at a faster speed than the normal walking speed. When laying the sod, the roll is allowed to rest on the sod in a float position to force the sod against the cantour of the ground.

Abstract: A sod harvesting apparatus (10) is disclosed including a cut-off device (14), a cutting unit (16) and a roll-up and core carrying device (18) mounted to a tractor (12). The cut-off device (14) includes an H-shaped slide (20) including a blade (26) pivotably attached thereto, slideably movable in tubes (30) from a cutting position to a raised position against the bias of springs (32) in the tubes (30) by a hydraulic cylinder (36), and latched in the raised position by a mechanism (38). The cutting unit (16) includes a blade assembly (66) pivotably mounted to a frame (52) and vibrated at a high frequency and low amplitude by vibrating devices (84) mounted on the frame (70) of the blade assembly (66). A roller drum (90) extends between first and second lever arms (92) pivotably mounted to the frame (52) and pivoted by electric actuators (96). The roll-up device (18) includes first and second arms (110,112) carrying cone-shaped spindles (120) pivotably mounted to the opposite ends of a bar (114).

Abstract: A sod harvesting apparatus (10) is disclosed including a cut-off device (14), a cutting unit (16) and a roll-up and core carrying device (18) mounted to a tractor (12). The cut-off device (14) includes an H-shaped slide (20) including a blade (26) pivotably attached thereto, slideably movable in tubes (30) from a cutting position to a raised position against the bias of springs (32) in the tubes (30) by a hydraulic cylinder (36), and latched in the raised position by a mechanism (38). The cutting unit (16) includes a blade assembly (66) pivotably mounted to a frame (52) and vibrated at a high frequency and low amplitude by vibrating devices (84) mounted on the frame (70) of the blade assembly (66). A roller drum (90) extends between first and second lever arms (92) pivotably mounted to the frame (52) and pivoted by electric actuators (96). The roll-up device (18) includes first and second arms (110,112) carrying cone-shaped spindles (120) pivotably mounted to the opposite ends of a bar (114).

Abstract: A device which cuts sods that are grown over plastic sheeting without cutting or damaging the plastic sheeting which is then retained in place to be used again for subsequent crops. The cutter performs four functions: (1) it inserts a vibrating lifting plate between the plastic and the sod and separates and lifts the sod off the plastic; (2) it conveys the sod to the cutting mechanism; (3) it cleanly cuts the sod; and (4) it leaves the plastic undamaged. After cutting, the sod can be harvested by a roller attached behind the cutting mechanism so that the cutting and rolling are done in one operation or the rolling can be done separately at a later time. The mechanism can be arranged in multiples on a toolbar; and the cutter can be attached to conventional sod harvesting equipment with only slight modification.

Abstract: An apparatus for laying large rolls of turf, including a conveyor mounted on a frame for supporting a large roll of turf. The frame is supported by ground engaging wheels and includes a motor for imparting rotational movement to the ground engaging wheels for moving the frame and laying the turf. The rotation of the ground engaging wheels imparts movement to the conveyor to unwind the roll of turf such that the outer end of the roll of turf is guided from the rear of the conveyor to the ground. Hydraulic systems are included for raising and lowering the conveyor and for independently moving the conveyor to unwind additional turf.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rolling-up one or more rolls of sod wherein the sod is conveyed on a conveyor against a blocking mechanism which include tooth like elements which extend between the belts of the conveyor. The blocking mechanism blocks the progress of the sod's leading edge causing it to begin to curl. After curling up the leading edge presses the teeth of the blocking mechanism upward to a point which allows the curled up leading portion to be conveyed past the blocking mechanism. Frictional elements grip the curled up portion of the sod to cause continued rolling up of the sod. The blocking mechanism is provided with a drag end for pressing against the following portions of the sod.

Abstract: Self-propelled sod harvesting apparatus for cutting sod from a field into strips and stacking the sod on pallets. The apparatus includes a magazine storage area for pallets, a pallet loading area, and mechanism for transferring a pallet from the storage area to the loading area. A conveyor carries each cut sod strip to a platform and causes the sod to be rolled, and a stacking mechanism is used to collect rolls from the platform and stack them on the pallet. When the pallet is loaded it is discharged onto the ground and a fresh pallet is transferred from the storage area to the loading area. Only one person is required to operate the apparatus.

Abstract: A sod harvester in which two transversely spaced cutterheads form sod into two side-by-side strips and slice the strips away from the underlying earth. The strips then are wound into rolls on a roller carried by the rear of the harvester. A power-driven endless belt engages the strips to initially wrap the strips around the roller and then assists in winding the strips into rolls of comparatively large diameter. A magazine on the harvester carries a supply of rollers and includes an escapement which may be actuated to drop a roller to the ground after sod has been wound on a preceding roller.

Abstract: An implement for cutting one or more strip of sod is provided which can be attached to standard vehicles, such as tractors. The cutting head of the implement is mounted in a subframe which is pivoted about a longitudinal axis with respect to the vehicle such that it will follow any unevenness of the ground. A remotely controllable depth adjustment means is also provided for varying sod thickness. The adjustment means includes a large eccentric bushing for rough adjustment and a smaller hydraulically controlled eccentric bushing for fine adjustment.

Abstract: A sod laying machine having front and 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 laying machine having front and 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 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: A turf harvester cutter assembly includes a blade assembly attached adjacent one end of a pair of parallel blade carrying arms. Structure is provided for reciprocating the blade carrying arms at input points opposite the pivot points from the blade assembly to effect cutting by the blade assembly. The blade assembly, pivot points and reciprocation input points are substantially aligned.

Abstract: A sod harvesting machine travels forwardly along a path of travel and has a sod cutting head pivotally connected to a fixed rear frame by a horizontal front pivot shaft having its axis aligned along the path of travel and located close to the ground, and by a pair of rear pivots. The rear pivots are formed by a pair of curved tracks and rollers at the rear of the cutting head, well above the ground, allowing the front of a conveyor to be brought near the ground and close behind the sod cutting knife. The curved tracks have a common center of curvature located on the axis of the front pivot shaft so that they have the same effect as a horizontal rear pivot shaft located close to the ground and aligned with the front pivot shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sod cutter comprising a frame, wheels for movably supporting the frame for travel over the ground, a stripping blade on the frame for stripping a ribbon of sod in response to travel of the frame along the ground, a cutoff blade, a linkage movably mounting the cutoff blade on the frame for blade movement into the ground to transversely sever the sod ribbon, which linkage includes a cooperating roller on the frame and a follower mounted on the linkage and engageable with the roller for guiding cutoff blade movement in a vertical orientation during blade travel in the vicinity of the ground, and a drive on the frame and connected to the linkage for moving the blade into and out of the ground in response to travel of the frame along the ground.

Abstract: The present machine peels strips of sod from the ground and conveys them upwardly and rearwardly to power driven horizontal rollers. Cutting knives just ahead of these rollers cut the sod strips transversely into pieces of a predetermined length. At the same time, a horizontal platform is raised below the rollers, and upwardly projecting fingers on this platform pass between the rollers and lift the cut pieces of sod off the rollers. During the up and down movement of the platform the oncoming sod strips are held back on the conveyor. A transfer apparatus moves horizontally between a position overlying the rollers, where it receives the sod pieces after they are lifted off the rollers, and a stacking location at one side of the rollers, where it releases the sod pieces to drop by gravity into neighboring stacks. The timing of such release is varied periodically so that the stacks of sod pieces will overlap laterally at intervals.

Abstract: A self-propelled sod harvesting machine includes a cutter head which separates a strip of sod from the ground, an elevator for raising the sod strip on the machine, and a blade assembly for cutting individual sod pads from the strip. A conveyer for the sod pads includes a plurality of spaced apart chains drawn around sprockets and carrying outwardly projecting teeth which penetrate the pads from the top. The teeth are arranged to pinch the sod in a manner to retain it on the conveyer as the individual pads are successively carried to a sod box containing a pallet. A stripping mechanism is lowered in a rocking type stroke to strip the sod pads off of the conveyer teeth and onto the pallet in a stack.

Abstract: An improved severing means facilitating the formation and handling of individual pads of sod for implementation with automated sod harvesting apparatus which comprises a rotary mounted set of spaced transversely extending blades cooperating with a longitudinally mounted blade means disposed between at least two of the transversely extending blades. This unique configuration provides means to form a plurality of individual pads of sod which upon each complete revolution of the severing means automatically orients contiguous sets of pads in a cross-wise manner to facilitate further handling of the pads.

Abstract: A sod piece for sodding a soil area is formed to have the root portion thereof substantially free of soil for facilitated transportation and improved transplanting. The soil-free sod piece may be provided in a compact configuration, such as a roll or folded configuration. The soil may be removed from the sod roots by a washing operation. The washed sod may be subsequently dried. The sod piece may be cooled to maintain viability of the sod such as during storage and transportation to the area to be sodded therewith.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for harvesting and stacking sod is disclosed. A reciprocating cutter bar cuts strips of sod while a vertically moveable blade cuts these strips into blocks of the desired length. The blocks of sod are guided onto an inclined conveyor which carries them to the top of a sod stacker having a plurality of normally closed trap doors. The blocks of sod are guided onto the stacker in alignment with the trap doors and are moved across the upper surfaces of the doors by means of sod advancing chains until they are in position to be stacked. A trip mechanism responds to the position of the sod blocks to release the trap doors, causing the blocks to drop downwardly through the doors onto a pallet supported on a fork lift immediately below the trap doors. As the sod falls through the trap doors, a hydraulic lift recloses them for receipt of the next block.