Patent ID: 11864498
Assignee: FIREFLY AUTOMATIX, INC.
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 12:
13. A sod harvester comprising:
a cutting head for cutting slabs of sod from the ground;
one or more inclined conveyors for conveying the slabs of sod towards a stacking conveyor;
a first roll-up mechanism that is positioned overtop the one or more inclined conveyors, the first roll-up mechanism being configured to commence forming the slabs of sod into rolls as the slabs of sod travel along the one or more inclined conveyors;
a second roll-up mechanism that is also positioned overtop the one or more inclined conveyors, the second roll-up mechanism including an upper conveyor that is configured to complete forming the slabs of sod into rolls;
one or more sensors; and
control circuitry that is configured to control rotation of the upper conveyor based on signals received from the one or more sensors, wherein the control circuitry causes the upper conveyor to rotate a specified amount in a first direction that matches a direction of rotation of the one or more inclined conveyors while the slabs of sod that are being rolled are between and in contact with the upper conveyor and the one or more inclined conveyors to thereby complete forming the slabs of sod into rolls between the upper conveyor and the one or more inclined conveyors and, while the rolls remain between and in contact with the upper conveyor and the one or more inclined conveyors, changing a direction of rotation of the upper conveyor to a second direction opposite the first direction to thereby cause the rolls to be advanced between the upper conveyor and the one or more inclined conveyors towards the stacking conveyor.