US3664432A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sod handling apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-03-17
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Granted: 1972-05-23
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Expires: 1989-03-17
Abstract
Abstract A sod handling apparatus for folding sod employs a first means for engaging and advancing a length of sod relative to the apparatus while a second means for further engaging and advancing the length of sod is selectively reversible. Means are provided for detecting an appropriate moment for reversing the feeding of the forward portion of the sod. At that time, the forward feeding means is reversed and raised to form a gap through which cyclically moving surfaces travel in a common direction so as to feed the folded edge of the sod through the gap and onto a conveyor forming a continuation of the original sod path. A cross conveyor is mounted to receive the rearwardly advancing folded sod whereby workmen standing in work stations of a trailing vehicle can remove the sod and place it on a pallet or other platform within the sod carrier vehicle following the sod folding apparatus. As the folded sod is placed upon the cross conveyor, a portion of the under surface of the folded sod is not permitted to contact the cross conveyor whereby the remaining portions engage the cross conveyor and serve to twist the orientation of the line of fold of the sod commodity with respect to the direction of movement of the cross conveyor. The machine pursues a method following the steps of continuously advancing a length of sod along a path, reversing the direction of movement of one of the portions of the sod relative to the movement of another portion of the same length of sod while conjointly therewith elevating the reversed portion with respect to the other portion so as to initiate folding one of the portions onto the other.
Inventors
- 👤 John F Nunes Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:48
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/52; B65G47/66; A; A01; A01G; A01G20/00; A01G20/10; A01G20/12; A01G20/15
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
In a sod handling apparatus, first conveyor means for advancing a length of sod in a given direction along a predetermined path thereof, second conveyor means including an end thereof normally disposed in said path for engaging the leading edge of the advancing sod, lifting means for elevating said end of said second conveyor means to move said end between lowered to elevated positions, said second conveyor means serving to divert and continue to advance the sod generally in the same relative direction while conveying the sod relatively upwardly above said path, reversible drive means coupled to operate said second conveyor means to advance or reverse the movement of sod carried by said second conveyor means, means for reversing said drive means to reverse the advance of said second conveyor means with respect to the advancing movement of said first conveyor means and means for operating said lifting means to elevate said end of said second conveyor means conjointly with reversal of said drive means so as to raise a leading portion of the sod while reversing the advance of said leading sod portion relative to an oncoming advancing trailing portion whereby the leading portion is overlaid onto said trailing portion for continued movement in overlaid condition along said path and to pass beneath the elevated end of said second conveyor means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
In a sod handling apparatus, first conveyor means for advancing a length of sod in a given direction along a predetermined path thereof, second conveyor means including an end thereof normally disposed in said path for engaging the leading edge of the advancing sod, lifting means for elevating said end of said second conveyor means to move said end between lowered to elevated positions, said second conveyor means serving to divert and continue to advance the sod generally in the same relative direction while conveying the sod relatively upwardly above said path, reversible drive means coupled to operate said second conveyor means to advance or reverse the movement of sod carried by said second conveyor means, means for reversing said drive means to reverse the advance of said second conveyor means with respect to the advancing movement of said first conveyor means and means for operating said lifting means to elevate said end of said second conveyor means conjointly with reversal of said drive means so as to raise a leading portion of the sod while reversing the advance of said leading sod portion relative to an oncoming advancing trailing portion whereby the leading portion is overlaid onto said trailing portion for continued movement in overlaid condition along said path and to pass beneath the elevated end of said second conveyor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a sod handling apparatus according to Claim 1 further including means serving to detect those lengths of sod below a predeterMined length and to advance same on said second conveyor means to discharge same free of reverse movement thereof directly into the path of sod movement in an unfolded state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
Sod handling apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising means forming a continuation of said first conveyor means disposed to receive and engage the sod in overlaid condition and to carry same further along said path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
Sod handling apparatus according to Claim 3 further comprising means disposing a portion of said second conveyor means to engage the opposite side of the overlaid sod for advancing the sod together with the advancing movement provided by the continuation of the first conveyor means while said second conveyor means is moving in its reverse mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
Sod handling apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising a generally flat support arm pivotable about an upright axis through one end, said arm forming substantially a continuation of the plane of said first conveyor means and disposed transversely to said path to receive and orient the sod to dispose the folded edge of the overlaid sod to extend transversely of said path and at a trailing position for the advancing overlaid sod product and adapted to permit a worker to grip the folded sod product at its folded edge for removal from said path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a sod handling apparatus, means for advancing a length of sod along a predetermined path, means for folding the sod travelling in said path to form a folded leading edge extending transversely of the path, a generally broad flat support arm pivotable about an upstanding axis through one end, said arm forming substantially a continuation of said path and disposed transversely thereof to receive thereon and re-orient said folded leading edge to extend transversely of said path and at a trailing portion of the advancing overlaid sod, and means forming a work station adjacent said path and confronting the re-oriented folded edge for a worker to grip the sod at the folded edge for removal from said path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a sod handling apparatus, means for advancing a length of sod along a predetermined path, means for folding the sod travelling in said path to form a folded leading edge extending transversely of the path, a generally broad flat support arm pivotable about an upstanding axis through one end, said arm forming substantially a continuation of said path and disposed transversely thereof to receive thereon and re-orient said folded leading edge to extend transversely of said path and at a trailing portion of the advancing overlaid sod, and means forming a work station adjacent said path and confronting the re-oriented folded edge for a worker to grip the sod at the folded edge for removal from said path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
Sod handling apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein the support arm serves to re-orient the folded edge to lie at an angle substantially between 30* to 60* with respect to its direction of movement in said path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
163 words
In a sod handling apparatus, a mobile frame for movement across a field, a sod folding assembly supported by said frame for folding a leading portion of a slab of sod onto a trailing portion thereof, said assembly comprising first and second conveyors disposed in tandem for feeding a length of sod along a predetermined path, means for relatively separating first and second portions of the path to form a gap therebetween, means for detecting the transient disposition of a longitudinally intermediate portion of the sod when proximate to said gap, and means responsive to the last named means for relatively reversing the direction of travel of said second conveyor to reverse the leading portion of the sod while continuing to relatively advance the trailing portion of the sod to buckle and form a folded edge of said sod in the region of said intermediate portion, means to move said folded edge into said gap, and means to draw the folded sod therethrough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
163 words
In a sod handling apparatus, a mobile frame for movement across a field, a sod folding assembly supported by said frame for folding a leading portion of a slab of sod onto a trailing portion thereof, said assembly comprising first and second conveyors disposed in tandem for feeding a length of sod along a predetermined path, means for relatively separating first and second portions of the path to form a gap therebetween, means for detecting the transient disposition of a longitudinally intermediate portion of the sod when proximate to said gap, and means responsive to the last named means for relatively reversing the direction of travel of said second conveyor to reverse the leading portion of the sod while continuing to relatively advance the trailing portion of the sod to buckle and form a folded edge of said sod in the region of said intermediate portion, means to move said folded edge into said gap, and means to draw the folded sod therethrough.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
Sod handling apparatus according to Claim 8 wherein said first conveyor includes a first cyclic carrier having a reach thereof serving to support and advance the sod thereon, and said second conveyor includes a cyclic carrier disposed in the path of sod carried on said first carrier to receive sod therefrom, the sod-receiving end of the last named carrier being movable between first and second positions in response to said detecting means to form said gap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a sod handling apparatus, a sod folding assembly comprising first and second conveyor belts disposed in tandem for advancing a length of sod in a given direction, means for sensing the disposition of a longitudinally intermediate portion of the sod between said first and second conveyor belts, meanS for separating said first and second conveyor belts in response to said sensing means to form a gap between said first and second conveyor belts and reversible drive means responsive to said sensing means to reverse the feeding of a leading portion of the sod relative to the advancing movement of a trailing portion of the sod so as to buckle and fold the leading sod portion onto the trailing sod portion to form a folded edge therebetween and means to direct said edge through said gap for further transfer of the sod in said direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a sod handling apparatus, a sod folding assembly comprising first and second conveyor belts disposed in tandem for advancing a length of sod in a given direction, means for sensing the disposition of a longitudinally intermediate portion of the sod between said first and second conveyor belts, meanS for separating said first and second conveyor belts in response to said sensing means to form a gap between said first and second conveyor belts and reversible drive means responsive to said sensing means to reverse the feeding of a leading portion of the sod relative to the advancing movement of a trailing portion of the sod so as to buckle and fold the leading sod portion onto the trailing sod portion to form a folded edge therebetween and means to direct said edge through said gap for further transfer of the sod in said direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
Sod handling apparatus according to Claim 10 wherein said gap has a thickness corresponding substantially to the thickness of the overfolded sod, and said first and second conveyor belts conjointly engage the bottom and top surfaces of the folded sod to feed the folded sod through said gap.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |