Sod handler

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.

1 . A method of handling a sod slab in a sod harvester comprising: 
 placing a suction housing over a sod slab;    generating a pressure differential across the sod slab to support the sod slab proximate the suction housing; and    transporting the sod slab to a different location while the sod slab is supported by the suction housing.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  including elevating the sod slab toward an underside of said suction housing.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  including elevating the sod slab from a moving conveyor.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  including transporting the sod slab to a position beneath the suction housing and then bringing the sod slab and the suction housing proximate each other to thereby generate the pressure differential across the sod slab.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  including the step of lifting the sod slab from a sod conveyor to bring the sod slab proximate the suction housing.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  of including the step of lifting the sod slab from the sod conveyor without stopping the conveyor.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  including the step of reducing the suction pressure to release the sod slab from the suction housing.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  including the step of lifting a second sod slab from the conveyor.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  including the step of placing the second sod slab proximate the sod slab.  
   
   
       10 . A method of handling a sod slab comprising: 
 generating a pressure differential across a sod slab sufficient to support the sod slab; and    releasing the sod slab by reducing the pressure differential across the sod slab.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  including the step of transporting the sod slab from a first location to a second location before releasing the sod slab.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  including the step of generating the pressure differential across the sod slab by bringing a source of suction pressure proximate a top side of the sod slab.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  including the step of lifting and transporting a further sod slab to a third location proximate said second location by generating a pressure differential across the further sod slab.  
   
   
       14 . A method of transferring a sod slab from a first location to a second location comprising: 
 generating a pressure differential across a sod slab; and    moving the sod slab while supporting the sod slab with the pressure differential across the sod slab.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  including the step of forming the sod slab into a sod roll before generating the pressure differential across the sod slab.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of generating the pressure differential includes drawing air through the sod slab.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  including the step of generating the pressure differential across the sod slab while the sod slab is transferred in a sod harvester.  
   
   
       18 . A sod harvester comprising: 
 a sod cutting mechanism;    a sod conveyor; and    a suction housing, said suction housing positionable with respect to a sod slab so as to create a pressure differential across the sod slab to thereby enable the pressure differential to support the sod slab proximate the suction housing.    
   
   
       19 . The sod harvester of  claim 18  including a bump bed for bringing the suction housing proximate the sod slab.  
   
   
       20 . The sod harvester of  claim 18  including a conveyor for positioning the sod slab beneath the suction housing.  
   
   
       21 . The sod harvester of  claim 18  including at least two suction housings for transferring sod slabs in said sod harvester.  
   
   
       22 . The sod harvester of  claim 18  including a track on said sod harvest for supporting said suction housing to permit movement of said suction housing from a sod pickup position to a sod drop-off position.  
   
   
       23 . The sod harvester of  claim 22  including a drive member for positioning said suction housing on said track.  
   
   
       24 . The sod harvester of  claim 18  including a sod pallet for transporting the sod slab to a work site.  
   
   
       25 . The sod harvester of  claim 18  including a positioning system for maintaining a distance from a top of the sod slab to a reference by lowering a pallet as the sod slab is stacked on the pallet.  
   
   
       26 . The sod harvester of  claim 18  including a suction pump located on said sod harvester.  
   
   
       27 . The sod harvester of  claim 26  including a flexible hose for connecting said suction housing to said suction pump to enable positioning of said suction housing.  
   
   
       28 . The sod harvester of  claim 18  wherein the sod housing includes a flat lift plate thereunder having a set of spaced apart apertures therein.  
   
   
       29 . The sod harvester of  claim 18  wherein the sod harvester includes a curved lift plate for lifting a sod slab in a cylindrical condition.  
   
   
       30 . The sod harvester of  claim 18  wherein the sod conveyor comprises a set of rotateable members with a bump bed extending between the set of rotateable members to enable a sod slab to be lifted from the sod conveyor without engaging the sod conveyor.  
   
   
       31 . The sod transfer system of  claim 45  including: 
 a sod harvester having a sod cutting mechanism.    
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 63  including: 
 a sod harvester having a sod cutting mechanism.    
   
   
       33 . A sod harvester comprising: 
 a sod cutting mechanism;    a sod pickup hood;    a sod quality sensor located prior to said sod pickup hood to determine whether a sod slab is in a stackable condition, said sod quality sensor suppressing sod pickup if the sod slab is not in a stackable condition.    
   
   
       34 . The machine stacking apparatus of  claim 88  including: 
 a sod harvester having a sod cutting mechanism.    
   
   
       35 . A sod transfer lift mechanism comprising: 
 a suction source;    a sod lift plate;    a housing secured to said sod lift plate, said housing connected to said suction source so that as ambient air is drawn through the sod lift plate and into the housing a low pressure region is produced above a sod slab with the pressure sufficiently low so as to create a pressure differential across the sod slab to enable the housing to lift and transport the sod slab from one location to another solely through the use of the pressure differential across the sod slab.    
   
   
       36 . The sod transfer lift mechanism of  claim 35  including a base for rotatable supporting the housing.  
   
   
       37 . The sod transfer lift mechanism of  claim 35  wherein the sod lift plate comprises a flat surface.  
   
   
       38 . The sod transfer lift mechanism of  claim 35  wherein the sod lift plate has a plurality of spaced apart fluid inlet ports therein.  
   
   
       39 . The sod transfer lift mechanism of  claim 35  wherein the sod lift plate has a shape substantially equal to the shape of the sod slab carried thereon.  
   
   
       40 . The sod transfer lift mechanism of  claim 35  wherein the sod lift plate has a cylindrical shape for engaging a sod slab in a rolled condition.  
   
   
       41 . The sod transfer lift mechanism of  claim 35  wherein the sod slab has an underside of soil and a top side of blades of grass.  
   
   
       42 . The sod transfer lift mechanism of  claim 35  including a flexible hose connecting the sod lift plate to the suction source to permit transfer of the sod slab from one position to another.  
   
   
       43 . A sod transporting apparatus comprising: 
 a housing;    a suction pump;    a hood in fluid communication with said suction pump;    a base plate having a set of fluid ports therein so that when a sod slab is positioned beneath said hood an air pressure differential generated across the sod slab by said suction pump is sufficient to hold the sod slab as the sod slab is transported.    
   
   
       44 . The sod transporting apparatus of  claim 43  including a rotatable mount for said hood to thereby rotationally position said hood.  
   
   
       45 . A sod transfer system comprising: 
 a conveyor;    a bump bed, said bump bed normally positioned below said conveyor; and    a lift mechanism for elevating said bump bed above said conveyor to thereby lift a sod slab thereon free of said conveyor.    
   
   
       46 . The sod transfer system of  claim 45  wherein the conveyor comprises a set of spaced apart conveyor belts and the bump bed is positioned between the set of spaced apart conveyor belts.  
   
   
       47 . The sod transfer system of  claim 45  wherein the lift mechanism includes a slider positioned between a pair of slider blocks to direct the slider along a lift axis.  
   
   
       48 . The sod transfer system of  claim 45  wherein the lift mechanism includes a drive shaft rotatable in a first direction to lift a sod slab from the conveyer and rotatable in an opposite direction to lift a further sod slab from the conveyor.  
   
   
       49 . The sod transfer system of  claim 45  wherein the bump bed includes a rail with beveled ends.  
   
   
       50 . The sod transfer system of  claim 45  wherein the conveyor moves in a first direction and the bump bed moves in a direction transvere to the first direction to thereby elevate the sod slab therefrom.  
   
   
       51 . The sod transfer system of  claim 45  wherein the conveyor includes three spaced apart conveyor belts and the bump bed includes a first set of rails positioned between an adjacent two of the three conveyer belts and a second set of rails positioned between a further adjacent two of the three conveyor belts.  
   
   
       52 . The method of sod transfer comprising carrying a sod slab in a first direction and while the sod slab is being carried in the first direction terminating the carrying by elevating the sod in a second direction transverse to the first direction by lifting the sod slab from an underside of the sod slab.  
   
   
       53 . The method of sod transfer of  claim 52  where the sod slab is moved from a first direction to a second direction while the sod slab is being moved in the first direction.  
   
   
       54 . The method of sod transfer of  claim 52  including imparting sufficient momentum to the underside of the sod slab to throw the sod slab upward from the bump bed.  
   
   
       55 . The method of sod transfer of  claim 52  including the step of retracting the bump bed to enable a further slab of sod to carried into a lift position proximate the bump bed.  
   
   
       56 . The method of stacking sod for transport comprising the steps of: 
 placing a first layer of sod slabs in a side-to-side position on a pallet to form a first layer of sod slabs; and    placing a second layer of sod slabs in a side-to-side position on top of the first layer of sod slabs with the second layer of sod slabs laterally offset from the first layer of sod slabs to thereby inhibit shifting the first layer of sod slab with respect to second layer of sod slabs.    
   
   
       57 . The method of machine stacking sod of  claim 56  including the step of continuing to laterally offset a further layer of sod with the further layer of sod slabs laterally offset in a direction opposite from the first layer of sod slabs.  
   
   
       58 . The method of machine stacking sod of  claim 56  including the step of continuing to laterally offset an additional layer of sod by laterally offsetting the additional layer of sod in a direction normal to the first layer of sod slabs.  
   
   
       59 . The method of machine stacking sod of  claim 56  wherein the placing a first layer of sod comprises lifting a sod slab with a suction housing and dropping the sod slab by releasing a suction pressure on the sod slab.  
   
   
       60 . The method of machine stacking sod of  claim 56  including laterally displaying the suction housing in a first direction and then laterally displacing the suction housing a second direction before releasing suction pressure on the sod slab.  
   
   
       61 . The method of machine stacking sod of  claim 56  including the step of laterally displaying the suction housing before placing a third layer of sod slabs.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the method of sod stacking comprising machine stacking of the sod slabs.  
   
   
       63 . An apparatus for maintaining a sod drop distance in a sod harvester comprising; 
 a bed for supporting a stack of sod;    a positionable member for raising and lowering the bed;    a sensor positioned above said bed said sensor determine the distance to a top of said bed; and    a processor for sending a signal to displace the bed to thereby maintain the sod drop distance.    
   
   
       64 . The apparatus for maintaining the sod drop distance of  claim 63  wherein the bed includes a pallet and the sensor comprises an acoustical sensor.  
   
   
       65 . The apparatus for maintaining the sod drop distance of  claim 63  including a hydraulic cylinder for raising or lowering the bed in response to a signal from the processor.  
   
   
       66 . The apparatus for maintaining the sod drop distance of  claim 63  wherein the positionable member includes a hydraulic cylinder having an extendible ram with a pulley thereon for engaging a flexible member having a first end connected to a frame and a second end attached to the positionable member.  
   
   
       67 . The apparatus for maintaining the sod drop distance of  claim 63  wherein the sod bed cantilevers outward to receive a sod pallet thereon.  
   
   
       68 . The method of maintaining a top of a sod bed with a suitable sod drop range comprising; 
 measuring a distance from a top of the sod slab to a reference; and    displacing the sod bed in response to the measured distance to maintain the top of the sod bed within the suitable sod drop range.    
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 68  including the step of measuring the distance from the top of the sod slab with a sonic transducer.  
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 68  including the step of lowering the sod bed by extending or contracting an extendible ram on an hydraulic cylinder.  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 68  including the step of maintaining the sod bed in a horizontal condition to permit sod slabs to be dropped thereon.  
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 68  including lowering a pallet on sod bed to the ground to allow the frictional forces between the sod pallet and the ground to pull the pallet free of the a pallet lift arm.  
   
   
       73 . A method of  claim 68  including the stacking of sod slabs in a sod harvester.  
   
   
       74 . A sod transfer mechanism comprising; 
 a track;    a carriage displaceable along said track;    a sod holding apparatus secured to said carriage    a cable, said cable secured to said carriage;    a rotatable cable drum for winding said cable thereon to thereby displace said carriage secured to said cable to thereby permit a transport of a sod slab supported by said sod holding apparatus from a first location to a second location.    
   
   
       75 . The sod transfer mechanism of  claim 74  wherein the sod holding apparatus includes a suction housing.  
   
   
       76 . The sod transfer mechanism of  claim 74  wherein the track comprises a set of parallel rails and said sod holding apparatus comprises a carriage having a set of wheels for rolling supporting said sod holding apparatus thereon.  
   
   
       77 . The sod transfer mechanism of  claim 74  including a displacement mechanism for laterally shifting said track.  
   
   
       78 . A method of transferring sod from a first location to a second location comprising; 
 securing a sod slab to a carriage;    moving the carriage with the sod slab to a different location along a track;    stopping the carriage; and    releasing the sod slab from the carriage.    
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 78  wherein the sod slab is secured to an underside of the carriage by a pressure differential across the sod slab.  
   
   
       80 . The method of transferring sod of  claim 78  wherein the carriage is moved from the first location to the second location by winding a cable around a cable drum.  
   
   
       81 . The method of transferring sod of  claim 78  wherein the carriage is maintained on the track by a set of rollers.  
   
   
       82 . The method of transferring sod of  claim 78  wherein the track is shifted laterally prior to releasing the sod slab from the carriage.  
   
   
       83 . The method of maintaining sod stack quality during a cutting and stacking process in a sod harvester comprising; 
 cutting a sod slab;    directing the sod slab proximate a sod quality sensor; and    removed the sod slab from a stacking process if the sod slab has a discontinuous surface.    
   
   
       84 . The method of  claim 83  wherein the sod quality sensor comprises an acoustic sensor that measures the distance from a top surface of the sod slab to the sod quality sensor.  
   
   
       85 . The method of  claim 83  where the length of time that the sod slab is proximate a sod quality sensor is compared to the length of time a sod slab in stackable condition would be proximate the sod quality sensor and rejecting the sod slab if the length of time of the sod slab is below the length of time the sod slab in stackable condition would be proximate the sod quality sensor  
   
   
       86 . The method of  claim 83  wherein a signal is sent to a sod lift mechanism to stack the sod slab.  
   
   
       87 . The method of  claim 85  wherein the step of directing a sod slab beneath a sod quality sensor comprises carrying the sod slab on a conveyor and the step of rejecting the sod slab from the stacking process comprises allowing the sod slab to fall off an end of the conveyor by suppressing a signal to the sod lift mechanism to stack the sod slab.  
   
   
       88 . A machine stacking apparatus comprising: 
 a sod pickup member for transporting a sod slab along a first axis, said sod pickup member controllable to deposit a sod slab at specified locations along said first axis; and    a slide for supporting said sod pickup member, said slide laterally displaceable with respect to the first axis to thereby enable the sod pickup member to deposit a further sod slab along a second axis with the second axis laterally offset of the first axis.    
   
   
       89 . The machine stacking apparatus of  claim 88  including at least two sod pickup members supported by said slide.  
   
   
       90 . The machine stacking apparatus of  claim 88  including a stop for preventing said slide from being displaced with respect to a frame.  
   
   
       91 . The machine stacking apparatus of  claim 88  wherein the sod pickup member includes a cable drive.  
   
   
       92 . The machine stacking apparatus of  claim 88  wherein the sod pickup member includes a suction hood for holding said slab.