U.S. patent application number 10/921769 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-17 for sod stacker.
Invention is credited to Tvetene, Donald, Tvetene, Gregg, Tvetene, Michael, Tvetene, Theodore.
Application Number | 20050058527 10/921769 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31188017 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050058527 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tvetene, Theodore ; et
al. |
March 17, 2005 |
Sod stacker
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
Inventors: |
Tvetene, Theodore;
(Billings, MT) ; Tvetene, Donald; (Billings,
MT) ; Tvetene, Michael; (Billings, MT) ;
Tvetene, Gregg; (Billings, MT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Carl L. Johnson
Jacobson and Johnson
Suite 285
One West Water Street
St. Paul
MN
55107-2080
US
|
Family ID: |
31188017 |
Appl. No.: |
10/921769 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10921769 |
Aug 18, 2004 |
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10226365 |
Aug 22, 2002 |
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6783318 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
414/111 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01G 20/15 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
414/111 |
International
Class: |
A01B 045/04 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A towable sod stacker comprising: a frame; a hitch on said frame
for towing said sod stacker in a sod roll receiving condition; a
movable member for receiving and holding a first plurality of sod
rolls; a pallet holder carried by said frame, said pallet holder
spaced from said movable member; and a sod roll transport and
stacking mechanism for engaging and transporting the first
plurality of sod rolls from said movable member and then stacking
the first plurality of sod rolls in a first position on said pallet
holder and for transporting a second plurality of sod rolls from
said movable member and stacking the second plurality of sod rolls
proximate the first plurality of sod rolls.
2. The towable sod stacker of claim 1 including a set of wheels for
supporting said frame.
3. The towable sod stacker of claim 1 including a motor mounted on
said frame for powering said sod roll transport and stacking
mechanism.
4. The towable sod stacker of claim 1 wherein said sod roll
transport and stacking mechanism includes a traveling carriage
displaceable mounted on said frame.
5. The towable sod stacker of claim 4 wherein said traveling
carriage includes a rotatable head.
6. The towable sod stacker of claim 5 wherein the sod roll
transport mechanism includes: a sod roll pick up mechanism, said
sod roll mechanism carried by said traveling carriage said sod roll
pickup mechanism vertically displaceable with respect to said
carriage to allow the sod roll pick up mechanism to engage and lift
a row of sod rolls from said movable member to laterally transport
the row of sod rolls to the pallet holder.
7. The towable sod stacker of claim 1 wherein said movable member
is displaceable to permit discharging an unwanted sod roll from
said sod stacker.
8. The towable sod stacker of claim 2 wherein said movable member
is rotatable to transport a sod roll in a rearward direction along
said movable member.
9. The towable sod stacker of claim 1 wherein the pallet holder is
vertically displaceable to permit lower a pallet of sod onto a
field for pickup.
10. A method of on-the-go stacking of cut slabs of sod received
from a sod harvester comprising: receiving a first cut slab of sod;
engaging the first cut slab of sod with a sod pickup mechanism;
transporting the first cut slab of sod to a pallet by laterally
displacing the sod pick up mechanism; placing the first cut slab of
sod in a first positionon the pallet; receiving a second cut slab
of sod; engaging the second cut slab of sod with the sod pickup
mechanism; transporting the second cut slab of sod to the pallet by
lateral and rotationally displacing the sod pickup mechanism; and
depositing the second cut slab of sod on the pallet to form a stack
of sod slabs.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first cut slab of sod is
formed into a firsts roll of sod and the second cut slab of sod is
formed into a second roll of sod.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the first cut slab of sod is
received by a conveyor.
13. The method of claim 12 including the step of displaying the
conveyor on said frame to permit a spoiled sod slab to be
discharged from the on-the-go stacking.
14. The method of claim 13 including the step of stacking at least
three layers of sod slabs on said pallet.
15. The method of claim 14 including the step of simultaneously
rotating and displacing the second cut slab of sod as the second
cut slab of sod is carried to the pallet.
16. The method of claim 15 including the step of vertically lifting
the first cut slab of sod prior to transporting the first cut slab
of sod to the pallet.
17. The method of claim 10 including the step of allowing a spoiled
cut slab of sod to fall free of the
18. The method of claim 10 including the step of vertically lifting
the cut slab of sod prior to transporting the first cute slab of
sold to the pallet.
19. The method of claim 10 including the step of stacking cut slabs
of sods on the pallet by lifting the cut slabs of sod and
transporting the cut slabs of sod to the pallet by laterally and
rotationally displacement of the cut slabs of sod.
20. A sod stacker comprising: a frame; a hitch on said frame for
towing said sod stacker in a sod slab receiving condition; a member
for receiving and holding a first plurality of sod slabs; a pallet
holder carried by said frame, said pallet holder spaced from said
conveyor; and a sod slab transport mechanism for engaging and
transporting the first plurality of sod slabs from said conveyor
and then stacking the first plurality of sod rolls in a first
position on said pallet holder and for transporting a second
plurality of sod rolls from said conveyor and stacking the second
plurality of sod rolls proximate the first plurality of sod rolls.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of patent application
Ser. No. 10/226,365 filed Aug. 22, 2002 titled Sod Stacker.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] None
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] None
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention relates generally to sod harvesting and, more
specifically, to a sod stacker for on-the-go stacking of sod onto a
pallet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The concept of sod harvesting is old in the art. Typically,
a sod slab is cut free from a sod field. The slab is then rolled up
into a cylindrical roll that is transferred to a pallet by a sod
pickup mechanism. If the sod rolls are "small rolls", the sod rolls
can be manually transferred to a sod delivery truck that delivers
the sod to the area where the sod rolls are to be laid. If the sod
rolls are "big rolls", it is necessary to use equipment to both
lift and transfer the sod rolls.
[0006] Numerous devices are available for mechanizing portions of
the sod harvesting and delivering process. For example, Schouten
U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,602 shows a sod roll stacker for stacking rows
of small rolls where the sod rolls are pushed onto a pallet. In
order to alternate the rows the pallet with the sod rolls is
rotated 90 degrees and the sod rolls are pushed on top of the
existing rolls.
[0007] In contrast to the prior art Schouten method and apparatus
for stacking sod the present invention allows one to lift and stack
the sod rolls on a pallet without having to rotate the pallet or
push the sod rolls onto the pallet thus lessening chances of
damaging the sod roll.
[0008] In addition to the lessening the chances of damaging the sod
roll during loading the pallet the present invention permits an
operator dump a spoiled sod roll before it is stacked on the
pallet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side view of the sod stacker being towed by a
tractor with the sod receiving conveyor in a loaded condition;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a side view of the sod stacker of FIG. 1 showing a
spoiled roll of sod being dumped on the ground;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of the sod stacker of FIG. 1 with the
sod pickup mechanism in the sod pick up positionon top of a
plurality of sod rolls;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the sod stacker of FIG. 1 showing
the sod pickup mechanism on tope of a plurality of rolls of sod and
a further plurality of sod rolls stacked on a pallet carried by the
sod stacker;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a partial pictorial view showing the sod conveyer
and the sod pickup and transport mechanism;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a top view of the a sod pickup and transport
mechanism for lifting the plurality of cut sod rolls from the
conveyor and vertically placing the sod rolls in any of four
positions on the pallet to provide an alternately stacked
pallet;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the sod pickup and
transport mechanism in the pickup positionand the sod pickup and
transport mechanism in one of the four place positions;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the sod pickup and
transport mechanism in the pickup positionand the sod pickup and
transport mechanism in a second of the four place positions;
[0018] FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the sod pickup and
transport mechanism in the pickup positionand the sod pickup and
transport mechanism in a third of the four place positions;
[0019] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the sod pickup and
transport mechanism in the pickup positionand the sod pickup and
transport mechanism in a fourth of the four place positions;
[0020] FIG. 11 is a side view of the towable stacker in a mode for
attachment to a sod rolling device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] FIG. 1 is a side view of towable sod stacker 10 attached to
the rear of a tractor 11. Tractor 11 has a conventional sod cutting
and rolling mechanism 12 mounted laterally thereof. Sod stacker 10
comprises a box-like skeleton frame 20 having a lower member 21
engaging a set of wheels 22. A belt conveyor 13, is shown supported
rearward of the sod cutting and rolling mechanism 12. Conveyor 13
comprises a receiver for sod rolls as sod rolls are delivered from
the sod cutting and rolling mechanism 12. Conveyor 13, which has
slack regions for holding a roll of sod, is more fully shown and
described in our U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,364,027 and 6,296,063, which are
incorporated by reference.
[0022] Located above conveyor 13 is the sod engagement mechanism or
sod pickup mechanism 25 which includes a plurality of retractable
spikes that pierce and engage the sod rolls to enable the sod
engagement mechanism to lift the sod free of the conveyor 13. The
sod pickup mechanism 25 with the retractable is also more fully
shown and described in our U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,364,027 and 6,296,063
and is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0023] A feature of the present invention is that the stacker can
be used with any of a different types of sod harvesting machines to
provide on-the-go stacking by merely attaching the sod stacker 10
to a tractor through a three point hitch on the tractor or if
desired a direct frame mount to the tractor. The towable stacker 10
can be supplied with either its own power source or can be driven
off the power take off of the tractor. A further feature of the
invention is the ability of an operator to "kick out" spoiled sod
rolls while "on-the-go".
[0024] Attached to top frame member 26 of frame 20 is a sod
transport mechanism 27 that transports sod rolls from the conveyor
13 on one side of the sod stacker to a pallet on the other side of
the sod stacker. A power cylinder 24 is positioned between sod
pickup mechanism 25 and the sod transport mechanism 27. The power
cylinder 27, which has vertically contractable or extendible arm
24a allows one raise or lower the sod engagement mechanism 25 with
respect to sod transport mechanism 27. This feature allows one to
vertically position the sod pickup mechanism 25 into top surface
engagement with the plurality of sod rolls 14, 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d
and 14e located on belt conveyor 13. Once the tines or spikes of
the sod engaging mechanism are in engagement with the sod rolls one
can lift the sod rolls vertically off the conveyor through power
cylinder 24. A flexible cable 29 permits power to be supplied to
the sod pickup mechanism 25 as move vertically upward or downward
with respect to sod transport mechansim 27 while maintaining power
thereto.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 1 conveyor 13 is supported by members 13a
and 13b which are slidingly mounted on frame 20 to permit forward
or rearward of displacement of conveyor 13. FIG. 1 shows the
conveyor 13 in the normal receiving mode. A power cylinder (not
shown) connects to members 13a and 13b to slide conveyor 13 from a
forward condition as shown in FIG. 1 to the rearward condition as
shown in FIG. 2.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a side view of the stacker showing the conveyor 13
in the rearward condition to illustrate how a spoiled roll of sod
14d is dumped on the ground. That is, from time to time during the
sod harvesting process a sod roll will be spoiled, possibly from
some imperfections in the sod that is cut or possible because the
sod is damaged during harvesting process which leaves the sod in an
unusable or "spoiled" condition. With the present invention a
"spoiled" sod roll can be dumped from the stacker while on-the-go
so as not to be needlessly carried to the work site and then
discarded. In order to dump the sod roll on the ground a power
cylinder (not shown) allows one to move conveyor 13 backward from
the sod pickup and roll mechanism 12 as shown in FIG. 1 to the sod
drop positionas shown in FIG. 2. A sod roll can be dumped either of
two ways, if the operator notes a spoiled sod roll 14f is coming
through the sod roll mechanism 12 the operator displaces conveyor
13 to allow sod roll 14f to fall on the ground. A second way, which
is illustrated with sod roll 14e in FIG. 2, is to allow the sod
roll 14e to first fall onto the conveyor 13. The operator can then
displace the conveyor 13 rearward at the same time rotate the
conveyer clockwise to dump the sod roll 14e from the conveyor 14.
One the spoiled sod roll is dumped the conveyor 13 is moved into
the positionto receive further rolls of sod from the sod roll
mechansim 12. Thus a feature of the present invention is that
allows an on-the-go removable of a "spoiled" sod roll from the
system before the sod rolls are stacked on the pallet.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a side view of the sod stacker 10 showing the sod
pickup mechanism 25 in the sod pick up positionon top of a
plurality of sod rolls 14, 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d and 14f which are
carried by conveyor 13. In this condition the sod pickup mechanism
25 is in pressure contact with the top portion of each of the rolls
to enable the retractable spikes therein to engage and
simultaneously lift the sod rolls as a unit free of the conveyor
13.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the sod stacker 10 of FIG. 1
showing the sod pickup mechanism 25 on tope of a row of rolls of
sod 19 and a further row of sod rolls 19a, 19b 19c and 19d which
are stacked on a pallet 30 carried by the sod stacker 10. Pallet 30
is supported by L-shaped arms 31 and 32 which are slidingly mounted
respectively in housing 31a and 32a. In operation, the arms 31 and
32 can be raised or lowered to positionthe pallet 30 at the proper
height for receiving a row of sod rolls from the sod engagement
mechanism 25. When the pallet 30 is fully loaded the arms are lower
until the bottom of the pallet is in supported by the soil which
allows the arms 31 and 32 to slide free of the pallet 30 thus
depositing the pallet of sod rolls on the field for pickup and
removal to the work site. Thus it can be seen in FIG. 4 that the
sod transport mechanism 27 which is shown positioned over sod rolls
19 can transport the sod rolls 19 to the pallet by moving lateral
across frame 20.
[0029] FIG. 5 is a partial pictorial isolated view showing the sod
conveyer 13, the sod pickup mechanism 25, the sod transport
mechanism 27 which is supported on a set of tracks 27a and 27b. For
purposes of clarity frame 20 is not shown in FIG. 5 and the tractor
and 20 frame for holding extra pallets are shown in dashed lines.
As can be seen in FIG. 5 the sod rolls 14, 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d
are being delivered to conveyor 13 which moves them into position
beneath sod pickup mechanism 25. Located in sod transport mechansim
27 is a traveling carriage 60 having a rotatable head 51 mounted
therein. In operation of the sod transport mechanism the traveling
carriage 60 can move from front to back along tracks 27a and 27b.
In addition the rotation of head 51 permits posting the sod
engagement mechanism 25 at various positionto provide a compound
motion transportation of a row of sod rolls. That is by rotating
head 51 it permits one to move the rows of sod from one side of the
stacker to the opposed side to permit the stacking of the sod rolls
on a pallet. This feature of staking sod rolls in different
positions on the pallet 20 is illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0030] To further illustrate the sod transport mechanism 27
reference should be made to FIG. 6 which shows a top isolated view
showing the sod transport mechanism 27 that is carried on frame 20.
Located in a parallel relation is tracks 27a which engage sprocket
wheels 44 and 45 and track 27b which engages sprocket wheels 46 and
47 A driver (not shown) rotates the shaft carrying the sprocket
wheels to cause the traveling carriage 60 to move from the front
pickup position (shown n FIG. 6) to a rear place position above
pallet 30. That is, the traveling carriage provides lateral
movement of the sod rolls from the conveyor 13 to the pallet 30.
The traveling carriage 60 is shown having a rotateable head 51
located thereon. Rotateable head 51 is rotated from the sod pick-up
position shown in FIG. 6 to each of the sod delivery positions
shown in FIGS. 7-10. The pallet 30, which is shown positioned
between rails 27a and 27b so that when the traveling carriage 60
moves rearward the sod rolls carried by the sod roll pickup
mechanism can be vertically lowered onto the pallet 30 or the sod
rolls on the pallet.
[0031] In order to appreciate the compound action of the sod
transport mechanism 27 reference should be made to FIGS. 7-10. FIG.
7 is a schematic view showing the sod pickup mechanism 25 in the
sod pickup position (solid lines) and the sod pickup mechanism 25
in one of the four place positions (dashed lines) above pallet 40.
The Sod pickup mechanism 25 is shown in dotted lines with reference
to a pivotal support member 25a. In the position shown in FIG. 7
the sod is picked up from the conveyor 13 i.e. the pick up
positionand the sod pickup mechanism 25 then is rotated 180 degrees
to position the rolls of sod above a first rear portion of the
pallet 40. This is one of the four place positions of the sod
pickup mechanism.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the sod pickup and
transport mechanism 25 also in the pickup position (solid lines)
and the sod pickup and transport mechanism in a second of the four
place positions (dashed lines). In the positionshown in FIG. 8 the
sod pickup and transport mechanism 25 has not been rotated while
the pickup mechanism is positioned above a second front portion of
the pallet 40. As evident from the views in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 one
can stack the sod on both the front and back halves of the pallet
40 through the coaction of both the translation action of traveling
carriage 60 and the rotational positioned of the offset connector
25a on sod engagement mechanism 25. Thus one could form a first
layer of sod rolls on the pallet 40 through the rotatingly
positioning of head 51 and the translation movement of traveling
carriage 60.
[0033] FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the sod pickup and
transport mechanism 25 in the pickup position (solid lines) and the
sod pickup mechanism 25 in a third of the four place positions
(dashed lines). In the position shown the sod pickup mechanism 25
has been rotated 90 degrees clockwise to permit the positioning a
row of sod rolls cross wise to the rolls of sod on a first layer.
In this place positionthe sod rolls are placed on the right half of
the pallet 40.
[0034] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the sod pickup mechanism
25 in the pickup position (solid lines) and the sod pickup
mechanism 25 (dashed lines) in a fourth of the four place
positions. In the place position the sod pickup mechanism 25 has
been rotated counter clockwise 90 degrees so that when the sod
rolls are rotated they will occupy the left half of the pallet
40.
[0035] As is evident form FIGS. 7 to 10 the operator can use the
off set positioning of connector 25a on sod pickup mechanism 25 to
permit positing the sod rolls in any of a number of different
positions above pallet 40. As a result a sod pickup mechanism that
moves laterally which by itself would not be able to stack side by
side rows on the pallet can be combined with the rotatable head 51
on the sod pickup mechanism 25 to enable the positioning of the sod
rolls on any of the four positions shown in FIGS. 7-10 thus
enabling one to stack the sod rolls
[0036] Thus the present invention includes a method of on-the-go
stacking of cut slabs of sod received from a sod harvester
comprising receiving a first cut slab of sod engaging the first cut
slab of sod with a sod pickup mechanism, transporting the first cut
slab of sod to a pallet by laterally displacing the sod pick up
mechanism, placing the first cut slab of sod in a first positionon
the pallet, receiving a second cut slab of sod, engaging the second
cut slab of sod with the sod pickup mechanism, transporting the
second cut slab of sod to the pallet by lateral and rotationally
displacing the sod pickup mechanism and depositing the second cut
slab of sod on the pallet to form a stack of sod slabs.
[0037] While the invention is described in relation to plurality of
rolls of sod the invention is also suitable for use in stacking sod
in unrolled slabs since the slabs can be positioned on the pallet
in the same manner as the rolls.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 11 there is shown an opposite side view of
stacker 10 in the unmounted condition with hitch 70 extending
outward from frame 20. Hitch 70 can be a typical three point
tractor hitch or can be part of a tractor frame attachment. Located
on stacker 10 is a motor 71 for powering the stacker 10 thought a
set of controls 72 and a source of hydraulic pressure for powering
the various components of the stacker. A monitor 74 with on tractor
controls connects to control box 72 through flexible cable 75 to
allow the operator to positionthe monitor in a convenient location
on the tractor. While the shown in FIG. 11 includes a motor 71 to
provide its own power, in some instances, the available power from
the tractor PTO or hydraulic system can be used to power the
stacker.
[0039] FIG. 11 shows the use of power cylinders 78 to connect frame
20 to wheels 32 to permit the frame to accommodate uneven fields.
An extra sod pallet 40 is shown hanging on frame 20 in a positionto
be placed on the pallet holder when pallet 40 is dropped off for
pickup.
* * * * *