US3580375A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sod-handling machine
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-03-03
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1989-03-03
Abstract
Abstract For picking up precut sod from the ground or other support surface, the lower one of a pair of cyclically driven carriers first nudges the transverse edge of the sod upwardly into engagement with a rearwardly moving reach of an upper cyclic carrier. The confronting reaches of the upper and lower carriers engage opposite surfaces of the slab of sod to feed the sod upwardly into the machine for handling.
Inventors
- 👤 John F Nunes Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:19
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G20/00; A01G20/10; A01G20/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
In a sod-handling machine having a frame, an assembly carried by the frame for picking up sod to be handled while said frame travels in a direction relative to the sod, cyclically moving carrier means disposed to include a lower reach moving forwardly in the direction of travel and an upper reach moving rearwardly in an opposite direction for advancing the sod through the machine, means supporting a leading portion of said lower reach in closely spaced relation above the supporting surface being exposed by removal of the sod therefrom, the forwardly moving portions of the carrier means being disposed for engaging that sod to be picked up and serving to initiate upward lifting of the leading edge of said sod, said lower reach moving in the direction of travel of the machine and including a series of cleats formed with pairs of outwardly facing sod-engaging ribs flanking an annular groove therebetween, and means supporting said cleats to move in a cyclic path to engage an edge of the sod, and cyclically trained holddown means disposed above the region of said initial lifting to form rearwardly moving backup surface portions against which said carrier means directs said sod at the time of initiating said upward lifting of the sod, said holddown portions cooperating with said upper reach to positively withdraw the sod and advance same for handling.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
In a sod-handling machine having a frame, an assembly carried by the frame for picking up sod to be handled while said frame travels in a direction relative to the sod, cyclically moving carrier means disposed to include a lower reach moving forwardly in the direction of travel and an upper reach moving rearwardly in an opposite direction for advancing the sod through the machine, means supporting a leading portion of said lower reach in closely spaced relation above the supporting surface being exposed by removal of the sod therefrom, the forwardly moving portions of the carrier means being disposed for engaging that sod to be picked up and serving to initiate upward lifting of the leading edge of said sod, said lower reach moving in the direction of travel of the machine and including a series of cleats formed with pairs of outwardly facing sod-engaging ribs flanking an annular groove therebetween, and means supporting said cleats to move in a cyclic path to engage an edge of the sod, and cyclically trained holddown means disposed above the region of said initial lifting to form rearwardly moving backup surface portions against which said carrier means directs said sod at the time of initiating said upward lifting of the sod, said holddown portions cooperating with said upper reach to positively withdraw the sod and advance same for handling.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a sod-harvesting machine of a type adaptEd to travel across a field of severed sod and having a frame, an assembly carried by the frame for picking up the sod from the field comprising upper and lower cyclically driven carriers, said carriers being disposed with spaced, confronting portions thereof moving in a common direction and spaced sufficiently closely to cause said portions to engage the opposite surfaces of sod to transport sod therebetween, means supporting a leading end portion of the lower carrier to move independently of said frame to ride with terrain-following movement at a level adapted to intercept an edge of sod to be picked up and upon engagement therewith to initiate upward movement of the sod edge, the last said means further supporting said upper carrier disposed above said leading end portion in the path of said upwardly moved edge and spaced sufficiently closely thereto to engage and draw the rising sod edge between said confronting portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a sod-harvesting machine of a type adaptEd to travel across a field of severed sod and having a frame, an assembly carried by the frame for picking up the sod from the field comprising upper and lower cyclically driven carriers, said carriers being disposed with spaced, confronting portions thereof moving in a common direction and spaced sufficiently closely to cause said portions to engage the opposite surfaces of sod to transport sod therebetween, means supporting a leading end portion of the lower carrier to move independently of said frame to ride with terrain-following movement at a level adapted to intercept an edge of sod to be picked up and upon engagement therewith to initiate upward movement of the sod edge, the last said means further supporting said upper carrier disposed above said leading end portion in the path of said upwardly moved edge and spaced sufficiently closely thereto to engage and draw the rising sod edge between said confronting portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
172 words
In a sod-harvesting machine of a type adapted to travel across a field of severed sod and having a frame, an assembly carried by the frame for picking up the sod from the field comprising upper and lower cyclically driven carriers, said carriers being disposed with spaced, confronting portions thereof moving in a common direction to transport sod therebetween, a leading end portion of the lower carrier being disposed at a level adapted to intercept an edge of sod to be picked up and upon engagement therewith to initiate upward movement of the sod edge, said lower carrier including a first and second series of sod-engaging portions travelling in laterally disposed cyclic paths, means supporting each of said first and second series to rise and fall freely in terrain-following movements within predetermined limits and independently of each other, said upper carrier being disposed above said leading end portion in the path of said upwardly moved edge and spaced sufficiently closely thereto to engage and direct the rising sod between said confronting portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
172 words
In a sod-harvesting machine of a type adapted to travel across a field of severed sod and having a frame, an assembly carried by the frame for picking up the sod from the field comprising upper and lower cyclically driven carriers, said carriers being disposed with spaced, confronting portions thereof moving in a common direction to transport sod therebetween, a leading end portion of the lower carrier being disposed at a level adapted to intercept an edge of sod to be picked up and upon engagement therewith to initiate upward movement of the sod edge, said lower carrier including a first and second series of sod-engaging portions travelling in laterally disposed cyclic paths, means supporting each of said first and second series to rise and fall freely in terrain-following movements within predetermined limits and independently of each other, said upper carrier being disposed above said leading end portion in the path of said upwardly moved edge and spaced sufficiently closely thereto to engage and direct the rising sod between said confronting portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
153 words
In a sod-harvesting machine of a type adapted to travel across a field of severed sod and having a frame, an assembly carried by the frame for picking up the sod from the field comprising upper and lower cyclically driven carriers, said carriers being disposed with spaced, confronting portions thereof moving in a common direction to transport sod therebetween, a leading end portion of the lower carrier being disposed at a level adapted to intercept an edge of sod to be picked up and upon engagement therewith to initiate upward movement of the sod edge, said lower carrier including independently articulated cleats formed to include spaced parallel blade portions extending transversely of the cyclic path of the lower carrier, said upper carrier being disposed above said leading end portion in the path of said upwardly moved edge and spaced sufficiently closely thereto to engage and direct the rising sod between said confronting portions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
153 words
In a sod-harvesting machine of a type adapted to travel across a field of severed sod and having a frame, an assembly carried by the frame for picking up the sod from the field comprising upper and lower cyclically driven carriers, said carriers being disposed with spaced, confronting portions thereof moving in a common direction to transport sod therebetween, a leading end portion of the lower carrier being disposed at a level adapted to intercept an edge of sod to be picked up and upon engagement therewith to initiate upward movement of the sod edge, said lower carrier including independently articulated cleats formed to include spaced parallel blade portions extending transversely of the cyclic path of the lower carrier, said upper carrier being disposed above said leading end portion in the path of said upwardly moved edge and spaced sufficiently closely thereto to engage and direct the rising sod between said confronting portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
155 words
In a sod-harvesting machine of a type adapted to travel across a field of severed sod and having a frame, an assembly carried by the frame for picking up the sod from the field comprising upper and lower cyclically driven carriers, said carriers being disposed with spaced, confronting portions thereof moving in a common direction to transport sod therebetween, a leading end portion of the lower carrier being disposed at a level adapted to intercept an edge of sod to be picked up and upon engagement therewith to initiate upward movement of the sod edge, said upper carrier being disposed above said leading end portion in the path of said upwardly moved edge and spaced sufficiently closely thereto to engage and direct the rising sod between said confronting portions, said upper carrier including independently articulated backup surface portions arranged to travel in a generally planar path above said lower carrier in confronting spaced relation thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
155 words
In a sod-harvesting machine of a type adapted to travel across a field of severed sod and having a frame, an assembly carried by the frame for picking up the sod from the field comprising upper and lower cyclically driven carriers, said carriers being disposed with spaced, confronting portions thereof moving in a common direction to transport sod therebetween, a leading end portion of the lower carrier being disposed at a level adapted to intercept an edge of sod to be picked up and upon engagement therewith to initiate upward movement of the sod edge, said upper carrier being disposed above said leading end portion in the path of said upwardly moved edge and spaced sufficiently closely thereto to engage and direct the rising sod between said confronting portions, said upper carrier including independently articulated backup surface portions arranged to travel in a generally planar path above said lower carrier in confronting spaced relation thereto.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |