Single pass sod cutting machine for producing hexagonally shaped plugs

A machine for cutting coarse sod into relatively small plugs for ready packaging and subsequent transplanting, comprising an endless conveyor belt upon which comparatively large rectangular sections of sod can be deposited, so that the sections of sod can be moved intermittently toward a sod cutting device. The sod cutting device preferably is of the single pass cutter type, utilizing a plurality of elongate, closely grouped blades designed to periodically move in unison downwardly into contact with sod to be cut, with such downward cutting movements being immediately followed by an upward movement, thus to permit an advance of the section of sod without interference. I coordinate the movements of the sod cutting device with the belt advance, such that forward movement of a section of sod is in each instance prevented until the cutting blades are clear of the section of sod being cut. Advantageously, the closely grouped blades are arrayed in an open configuration, such that each time the sharpened lower edges of the blades contact a piece of sod during a cutting movement, a plurality of sod "circlets" are created. Because the blades are not arrayed in the configuration of a complete hexagon or rectangle, no internal stripper need be used to eject sod pieces so that said blades will be kept clear thereof. Also, because the elongate edges of the blades are secured tightly together, a blade array having high columnar strength is created.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In the past a number of machines have been proposed for cutting sod into 
small pieces for transplanting. Zoysia grass has become very popular, and 
machines for cutting this fine textured grass into small pieces or plugs 
for transplanting by consumers have been successful. However, such 
machines have not been successful for other types of grasses, particularly 
those of coarse texture. 
For example, when dealing with Floritam or Bitter Blue varieties of St. 
Augustine grass, quite a problem is presented by the long "runners" that 
characterize these grasses, and the cutting of same has been a difficult 
problem for the Zoysia grass cutting machines to deal with. 
Furthermore, whereas even a small plug of Zoysia grass can be expected to 
grow when transplanted to a suitable location, plugs of St. Augustine must 
necessarily be considerably larger, for otherwise they simply do not have 
a high success rate when transplanted. However, the problem of cutting St. 
Augustine grass into larger plugs by satisfactory means has not previously 
been solved. 
The White, et al U.S. Pat. No. 2,889,878 entitled "Sod Cutting Machine with 
Gravity Feed Means" has a circular saw blade to cut sod to desired widths, 
and a shear cutter to cut the newly formed sod strips to a desired length. 
The Friedberg U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,231 entitled "Apparatus for Trimming and 
Scoring Cut Sod to Produce Separable Plugs" also uses a rotatable saw 
blade that serves to cut the sod sections into plugs, but both of these 
prior art devices require considerable amounts of hands-on efforts, and in 
addition are quite dangerous, despite safety measures taken to prevent a 
user from being cut by the blades. Furthermore, more than one pass of a 
section of sod through the Friedberg machine is necessary if the strips of 
sod cut as a result of the first pass through the blades are to be further 
acted upon to convert them into small pieces of sod suitable for 
transplanting. Therefore, it is to be seen that neither of these machines 
function automatically, yet entail considerable complexity. 
The Dye U.S. Pat. No. 3,509,789 entitled "Sod-Cutting Apparatus" represents 
a machine that does not use rotating saw blades for cutting sod into small 
pieces or plugs for transplanting. However, inherent in the Dye design is 
a slow and tedious operation, in which sod sections are dealt with on a 
piece-by-piece basis, thus requiring a great deal of hand effort. 
Therefore, it is to be seen that Dye depends upon the operator for 
productivity. Dye uses a stationary stripper but this arrangement is not 
only a manually controlled arrangement, but also it is very dangerous to 
the operator. Furthermore, this patentee finds it necessary to use a 
stripper device for preventing the freshly cut plugs from clogging the 
cutting devices utilized. 
The Nunes U.S. Pat. No. 3,807,505 entitled "Sod Handling Machine and 
Method" machine is a highly complex sod harvester machine, limited to use 
with elongate ribbons of sod that are to be cut into predetermined 
lengths. In fact, this may be regarded as a typical sod harvester. Thus, 
it is to be seen that none of the aforementioned prior art machines is 
designed for cutting St. Augustine grasses into plugs or circlets, nor do 
they address the special problems these grasses impose because of their 
coarse, loose texture. 
The Dutch Pat. No. 6405345 of Nov. 17, 1964 is not a sod cutter at all, but 
apparently is a device for cutting floor tiles or the like, wherein the 
cutting stroke is short. This patentee utilized cutter array having free 
standing blades as shown in FIG. 4 of the patent, which blades would be 
subject to substantial bending, and clearly not able to cut coarse sod 
into circlets. Although the Dutch device would cut tiles or the like into 
a hexagonal shape, it utilizes blades strung out over comparatively long 
distances, hence unsatisfactory from the standpoint of defining a compact 
arrangement usable in a machine of reasonable size designed to operate in 
the field. Additionally, the arrangement taught in FIG. 5 of the Dutch 
patent would result in a considerable amount of wastage along both edges 
of the device. 
It was in accordance with efforts to provide a machine for rapidly and 
automatically cutting large sections of coarse grass into properly sized 
pieces or plugs for ready packaging and subsequent transplanting that the 
present invention was evolved. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with this invention I have provided a machine for 
automatically cutting large sod sections into symmetrically shaped pieces 
for ready packaging and subsequent transplanting, with this machine being 
highly satisfactory when used with coarse grasses such as St. Augustine, 
which have large, hard to cut runners, and which must be cut into much 
larger plugs than is necessary in connection with certain finer grasses. 
My automatic machine comprises sod advancing means in operative combination 
with non-rotary sod cutting means. The sod advancing means comprises an 
endless conveyor belt upon which generally rectangular sections of sod can 
be deposited, which belt serves to intermittently advance the sections of 
sod toward the sod cutting means. My invention can be supplied with sod 
sections of the type supplied by a sod harvesting machine of the kind 
depicted in the Nunes patent. 
The sod cutting means involves the use of a plurality of closely grouped 
blade means designed to move periodically and in unison, downwardly into 
cutting contact with a section of sod carried on the intermittently 
movable belt. By virtue of the belt being operative in sequential relation 
with the sod cutting means, the belt is stationary at the time the blades 
descend into cutting contact with the sod, with the belt remaining 
stationary until the blades have thereafter been fully retracted from the 
sod. Upon the occurrence of this latter, the belt is then advanced for 
another few inches, forward motion ceases, and the blades are again caused 
to descend into cutting contact with the sod, with this procedure 
continuing so as to cut the sod sections into relatively small, 
symmetrical, easily managed pieces or plugs of sod, that are highly 
suitable for packaging and transplanting. Although the plugs are literally 
hexagonally shaped, they are so close to being circular that I call them 
"circlets" of sod. This is particularly true when it is realized that I 
prefer for the freshly cut sod plugs to be placed in trays of polystyrene 
that have circular, vacuum formed, downwardly tapered cup portions to 
receive the plugs. The plugs typically remain in the trays for a number of 
days, during which time they receive water and fertilizer. As a result, in 
a short time the plugs do in fact assume a circular form. 
In thereafter setting out my large diameter plugs, the user may choose to 
employ a cutter of the general type used by golf courses, which are round 
cutters used for cutting the hole for the cup. The Cummings U.S. Pat. No. 
1,791,957 is an example. If the cutter is 3.25 inches in diameter, it will 
create holes that will readily receive my now-circularly shaped plugs. 
Advantageously, my machine in using what I regard as a "single pass cutter 
configuration" involves blade means which are elongate in the vertical 
direction, and interconnected so as to provide ample columnar strength. 
The cutting edges are on the lowermost portions of the blades. 
Because the blade array I prefer to use is created in accordance with an 
open blade design, it deliberately is not of a configuration involving 
complete hexagons. For that reason, any internal stripper means needed in 
some machines to remove cut pieces of sod that might otherwise have been 
trapped within the blade array can be completely eliminated from my 
machine. 
Although other power could be utilized, I prefer for the sod advancing 
means and the sod cutting means to be powered from a common supply of 
pressurized hydraulic fluid, such that the necessary sequential relation 
between the sod advancing means and the sod cutting means may be easily 
achieved. The speed of operation can be easily regulated by adjusting flow 
rate. A further advantage of utilizing an all hydraulic system is that no 
source of electricity is required for the proper operation of my machine, 
meaning that it can be fully operational even in remote field operations. 
The events taking place during the operation of my machine are not timed as 
such, but rather each event initiates the next. Therefore, I prefer to 
regard my machine as operating on sequenced events rather than timed 
events. 
It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a sod 
cutter machine for automatically cutting large sections of coarse grass 
into smaller, symmetrically shaped pieces for ready packaging and 
subsequent transplanting. 
It is another object of this invention to utilize an automatic sod cutter 
machine for cutting coarse grasses into sod pieces or plugs, requiring 
neither the use of dangerous, rotary blades, nor the use of internal or 
spring loaded stripper means for preventing the cut plugs from being 
distorted and fouling the blades. 
It is still another object of this invention to provide an automatic sod 
cutter machine wherein sod advancing means are utilized in concert with 
non-rotary sod cutting means, with the cutting movements being 
accomplished in sequential relationship with the sod advancing means, such 
that the sod advancing means are not striving to move the sod while the 
sod cutting is being accomplished. 
It is yet still another object of this invention to provide an automatic 
yet relatively inexpensive machine for cutting coarse grasses into 
circlets while requiring no great skill for its operation, with my machine 
being highly adaptable for use in the field, where no source of 
electricity is available. 
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a machine utilizing 
single pass cutters effective for cutting sod sections into circlets at a 
rapid rate and without necessitating any type of plug ejection device. 
It is yet another object of my invention to provide a single pass type of 
blade array utilizing elongate blades grouped closely into a compact array 
and possessing sufficient strength that the blade array can cut easily 
through sections of heavy, coarse grasses. 
These and other objects, features and advantages will be more apparent from 
a study of the appended drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Turning to FIG. 1, it will there be seen that I have illustrated my sod 
cutter machine 10, which involves an elongate frame 12 upon which an 
endless conveyor belt 14 is disposed. Stationary sides 16 are provided 
along the belt 14, to guide the rectangular sections of sod 18 placed on 
the belt 14. This belt moves intermittently, and serves to bring large sod 
sections, typically of rectangular shape, one at a time below a 
reciprocating type of sod cutting means 30. The sod cutting means operate 
in a sequential relationship to the movements of the belt, with the 
cutting means serving to cut the sod sections into small circlets or plugs 
that, in accordance with a primary embodiment of my invention, are of 
hexagonal configuration, as indicated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 10. Other 
embodiments are also possible, as will be discussed in connection with 
FIGS. 12 and 13, wherein means are shown for cutting sod sections into 
small squares, or possibly rectangles. Other significant details of the 
sod cutting means 30 will be discussed in detail hereinafter. 
Visible in FIG. 1 are a plurality of tray holders 19, upon which may reside 
vacuum formed polystyrene trays having slightly tapered cup portions 
designed to receive cut sod pieces. It is intended that several persons 
stand along the tray holders, lift off the small circlets of sod cut in 
accordance with this invention, and place them in the cup-shaped portions 
of the plastic trays. Although not of concern herein, it may be noted that 
the circlets or plugs of sod are typically kept in the plastic trays for 
several weeks, in order that proper root development can be brought about 
by appropriate watering and fertilization. During this period the plugs 
take on the configuration of the circular cups of the plastic trays, and 
therefore become fully circular. 
My sod cutter machine is preferably powered by hydraulic means, and visible 
in FIG. 1 is the belt advance means 20, utilizing a driving roll 21 driven 
intermittently in rotation by a hydraulic actuator 22. The driving roll 
serves to move the endless conveyor belt 14, and the sod sections carried 
thereon, in intermittent steps below the sod cutter means 30 I employ. I 
may from time to time refer to the driving roll 21, the hydraulic actuator 
22, and the one-way clutch arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 as the 
belt advancing means. 
The machine depicted in FIG. 1 is controlled by an on-off control valve 17, 
such as a device made by Gresen of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Model No. SPD 
3. The hydraulic controls 25 may be located on the frame 12 above the belt 
advance means, with the control valve 17 interposed in the hydraulic lines 
15 at a location between the source of pressurized fluid (not shown), and 
the control unit 25. As is apparent, the supply and return lines 15 
interconnect the source and hydraulic unit 25, and a pair of hydraulic 
lines interconnect the unit 25 and each of the hydraulic actuators that I 
prefer to employ. 
Shown generally in FIG. 1, but in more detail in FIG. 2, are some of the 
principal portions of the sod cutting means 30. The cutting blade array, 
discussed hereinafter in connection with later figures of drawing, is 
powered in its vertical travel by a large hydraulic actuator 32. The 
actuator 32 is firmly bolted to the thick steel support plate 34 of a 
heavy supporting framework. As shown in FIG. 2, this plate is supported on 
its left and right sides by plates 35 and 36, that are in turn secured to 
lower plate 38. The plate 34 has a central hole therein, through which the 
movable rod 42 of the actuator 32 extends. The plates 34 and 38 are for 
example of 2" thick steel plate, slightly more than 25 inches wide, and 
having a dimension of say 6" in a direction perpendicular to the plane of 
the paper. Quite obviously I am not to be limited to this configuration or 
these dimensions. 
For reasons obvious to those skilled in the art, a hydraulic line extends 
from each end of the actuator 32 to the control unit 25, so that 
pressurized fluid may be applied in a controlled manner to a selected end 
of the actuator. At the same time, fluid is allowed to flow unrestrictedly 
back from the other end to the reservoir, to permit the piston of the 
actuator to move. These hydraulic lines connected to the actuator 32 are 
depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4. 
Continuing with FIG. 2, the movable rod 42 of the actuator 32 is connected 
to a plate 44, which is in turn connected by four vertically disposed 
connecting members or legs 46 to crosshead 50. One pair of legs 46 is 
visible at the front corners of the plate 44, whereas the second pair is 
located behind the first pair, at the rear corners of the plate 44, so as 
to define an essentially symmetrical connection between the plate 44 and 
crosshead 50, such that these members are in parallel relation. 
As discussed in detail hereinafter, I use a novel configuration of elongate 
cutting blades extending through the crosshead, with the sharpened bottom 
portions of this blade array being forced down into the sod carried on the 
belt 14, by the forcible downward action of the rod 42 of actuator 32 and 
the crosshead 50. The blade A illustrated in FIG. 2 is representative of 
one of the twenty or so blades of the blade array 48 described in 
connection with certain of the later figures. The lower ends of the blades 
of the blade array extend through suitable apertures in the fixed guide 
plate 80. 
In FIG. 3 I reveal the blade array 48 in the raised position, whereas in 
FIG. 4 I reveal the blade array in the lowered, sod cutting position. 
Returning to FIG. 2, it is to be understood that the lower end of actuator 
rod 42 in the vicinity of the plate 44 is threaded, with a pair of large 
nuts 52 being threadedly received on the rod 42, one above and one below 
the plate 44. By a suitable rotative adjustment of the nuts 52, the proper 
clearance between the cutting edges of the blade array 48 and the conveyor 
belt 14 is achieved. On the one hand, it is desirable to be able to exert 
enough blade pressure downwardly into the sod, so as to cut the sod into 
circlets, but on the other hand it is not desirable for the cutting edges 
of the blade array to damage the belt 14. 
As should be apparent from FIGS. 3 and 4, as the hydraulic actuator 32 is 
actuated, the crosshead 50 is moved either downwardly in a cutting mode, 
to cause the blade array 48 to cut the sod sections into the 
aforementioned circlets, or else moved upwardly, so as to cause the 
sharpened edges of the blades of the cutting means to retract so as to be 
clear of the sod as it is advanced on the belt 14 by the belt advancing 
means. 
The crosshead 50 is constrained in its movements by a pair of die posts 53, 
best seen in FIG. 2, with these members being supported by the lower plate 
38 of the heavy framework previously described. The posts may for example 
be 11/2 inches in diameter, and 13 inches long. As revealed by FIG. 2, a 
sleeve bearing 56, otherwise known as a plain bearing, is supported near 
each end of the crosshead 50, and it is through these bearings that the 
die posts 53 extend. The bearings are held in the desired relationship to 
the underside of the crosshead 50 by means of clamps 57 acting against a 
flange 58 that encircles each bearing. The sod may be approximately 16 
inches wide, and the centerline of the posts 53 may for example be 
separated by a distance of approximately 21 inches. Guides or side rails 
55 of sheet metal or the like serve to prevent misaligned sod sections 
from hitting the die posts 53. 
Dirt, grit and other undesirable substances are prevented from reaching the 
active surfaces of posts 53 by the use of die post covers 54, these being 
shown in detail in FIG. 2. Vents 59 are utilized at the top of each cover 
54 to permit the ingress and egress of air as the crosshead 50 moves up 
and down. It is to be noted that the covers 54 rather than the posts 53 
are visible in FIGS. 3 and 4. 
Affixed directly to the upper side of the crosshead 50 is the blade support 
plate 60, that is shown supporting the elongate blade A, typical of twenty 
or so blades supported in the carefully established blade array 48 by the 
plate 60. As previously mentioned, the blades of the array extend through 
precisely configured slots in the crosshead 50. 
With reference to FIG. 5, it is to be understood that the cutting edge 62 
of exemplary blade A, coplanar with the cutting edges of the other blades 
of the carefully configured array, serves with the cutting edges of the 
other blades of the array to cut the sod into circlets, as will be 
discussed at greater length hereinafter. 
It is to be noted in FIG. 5 that shoulders 64 are provided near the upper 
end of each blade, that bear closely against the underside of plate 60. 
This construction assures that the blades do not slide upwardly as the 
movement of crosshead 50 forces the blade array down into contact with the 
sod carried on the belt 14. Located in the uppermost portion of blade A is 
a mounting hole, which is representative of the hole in the top portion of 
each blade. 
Atop plate 60 are a number of angle clips 68, visible to some extent in 
FIGS. 3 and 4, with the upper leg of each angle clip being bolted to the 
upper part of the respective blade. As shown in FIG. 5, a short bolt 72 
extends through a hole in the upper leg of each clip 68, and the hole 66 
in the uppermost portion of each blade, that has been brought into 
alignment therewith. The lower leg of each clip 68 is secured to the plate 
60 and to the upper part of the crosshead 50 by means of a longer bolt 74, 
with each of latter bolts being of sufficient length that the threads 
thereof can engage a respective tapped hole in the crosshead 50. 
Returning to FIGS. 3 and 4, it is to be remembered that the blade array 48 
extends through fixed plate 80, commonly called a "stripper." This plate 
is firmly mounted between the large side plates 35 and 36 several inches 
above the conveyor belt 14. The plate 80 contains a number of precisely 
configured slots, not here visible, through which the array 48 of 
elongate, vertically operable blades may slidably move. It is important to 
note that inasmuch as the blade array I use does not define any closed or 
confined areas, from which plugs must be ejected, I do not find it 
necessary to use a stripper in the usual sense of the word, where active 
means such as ejector pins must be utilized to bring about plug removal. 
Quite clearly the design of my novel sod cutting means is such that no 
ejection means of any kind is necessary. The plate 80 may be spaced 
approximately 31/2 inches above belt 14, which distance coincides with the 
stroke of the piston rod 42 of actuator 32, but obviously I am not to be 
limited to these dimensions. 
It is to be noted that I may use an accordion pleated boot 82 around the 
rod 42 of the actuator 32, and also may use boots 83 around each of the 
die posts 53. These are desirable inasmuch as some of the sand and soil 
associated with the sod would otherwise find its way to these sliding 
surfaces and cause substantial damage thereto. The stripper plate 80 is 
cut away in the vicinity of the posts 53 as shown in FIG. 2 in order to 
give adequate clearance for the boots 83 and the lower portions of 
bearings 56. 
Reference is now made to related FIGS. 8 and 9, wherein I reveal more of 
the details of the belt advance means 20. On the near end of the driving 
roll 21 it will be seen that a pillow block 23 mounted on a suitable 
member of the frame 12 provides a proper bearing and support for axle 24 
of driving roll 21. Attached to axle 24 is a uni-directional device, 
preferably a sprag clutch 26, that permits the movable rod 27 of the 
actuator 22 to act upon arm 28, to drive the roll 21 in one direction but 
not the other. 
More specifically, as the movable rod 27 of the actuator 22 moves from the 
retracted position shown in FIG. 8, into the extended position shown in 
FIG. 9, it acts upon the adjustable-length arm 28. The inner portion of 
arm 28 is attached by means of a taper locking bushing 29 to the outer 
shaft 26a of the sprag clutch 26. Therefore, clockwise motion imparted to 
the sprag unit as viewed in FIGS. 8 and 9 causes it to drive the roll 21 
in the direction causing the cut sod circlets 40 to move from left to 
right. This is the same direction of movement for the circlets as moving 
on the belt 14 from right to left in FIG. 1. Adjustment of the effective 
length of arm 28 is made possible by bolts mounted in slots. I prefer for 
the arm adjustment to be such that the belt is advanced approximately 2.8 
inches per actuator stroke, with the result being that the hex shaped 
"circlets" or small sod pieces measure 2.8 inches across, as illustrated 
in FIGS. 6 and 7. 
The blades are illustrated in their assembled relation in FIG. 10, which is 
a plan view. The blades are retained by means of a hole 66 provided at the 
upper ends of each blade, as visible in FIG. 11, and each has a sharpened 
lower edge, as previously mentioned. In FIG. 11 I illustrate the different 
forms the individual blades may take. As was also previously mentioned, 
these blades are attached to the plate 60 that is affixed to the upper 
side of the crosshead 50, so as the crosshead is caused by the piston rod 
42 of the large hydraulic actuator 32 to move upwardly or downwardly, the 
cutting edges of the blades are caused to move accordingly, and as a unit. 
Each of the the several blade arrays I may use will be discussed at 
greater length hereinafter. 
It is to be realized that the cutter array revealed in FIG. 10 is the 
preferred embodiment, which is made up of a number of discrete blades 
fastened together to form a very sturdy blade unit. As a result of this 
construction, the blade array will cut without discernible distortion 
through the tough sod sections being incrementally advanced below the 
blades, so that plugs or circlets of the desired configuration will be 
created. The hexagonal configuration I prefer to use is advantageous for 
reasons soon to be made apparent, and such plugs are sufficiently close to 
being circular that they may be regarded as circlets for all intents and 
purposes. However, I may also use other cutter blade configurations, such 
as rectangular, as will also be discussed. 
In FIG. 10 it is very important to observe from the full line blade 
positions that an open blade design is used, or in other words, no closed 
configuration is presented, this design advantageously requiring only a 
simplified stationary stripper. 
From a close study of FIG. 10 it will be seen that the blade array shown in 
full lines may be construed to form some six "closed" configurations by 
their interaction with the dashed lines, with the dashed lines connoting 
the immediately preceding action of the cutter means. Since as previously 
described, the conveyor belt arrangement I use serves to advance the 
large, rectangular sod sections through the cutter means 30 
intermittently, it can be appreciated that the blades shown in dashed 
lines in FIG. 10 are in reality the same "single pass" cutter blades as 
shown in full lines in FIG. 10. The offset between the two showings of 
blades in this figure is represented by the distance X, which is the 
distance the sod has been advanced by belt movement from the time the 
blades descended the first time, until the blades have descended a second 
time. The distance X can be on the order of 2.8 inches, and it is to be 
noted that this dimension is determined by the blade configuration used to 
cut the sod into "circlets". A cutter of the general type used on many 
golf courses for cutting the hole on each green for the cup may be used. 
If the users of my sod plugs will use a circular cutter approximately 31/4 
inches in diameter, that will result in a hole that will receive a plug 
that was 2.8 inches on a side when cut; note FIG. 7. 
It can be appreciated that the relationship of the intermittently moving 
belt 14 to the cutters is such that the belt is not trying to move the sod 
rectangles during the period that the cutter blades are in contact 
therewith. 
It is possible for the large sections of sod on the conveyor belt to shift 
slightly during the intermittent belt movements, so for that reason I 
prefer to use approximately a 1/8" overlap between the successive cuts 
brought about by the cutter array descending into the sod, for in that way 
I can assure a sufficient cut, thus preventing an unwanted connection 
between two adjacent plugs. One way of accomplishing this is to have the 
four forwardly extending "wing" blades and the four rearwardly extending 
"wing" blades be 1/8 inch longer (i.e. the cutting edges wider) than the 
other blades, as will be noted in FIG. 10. 
It is also to be noted in the blade array 48 of FIG. 10 that the letters A, 
B, C, D, and E have been applied to certain blades, and by reference to 
FIG. 11, it will be seen that there are five different types of blades I 
may use in the creation of the particular blade array illustrated in FIG. 
10. This is presented by way of rounding out the description of a 
particularly advantageous blade arrangement I prefer to use, although I am 
not to be limited only to this configuration. 
With reference to FIG. 11, it is to be understood that all five of these 
blade types are provided with fastening means at the top, and the cutting 
edge at the very bottom. Only by way of example, the overall length of 
each blade in this preferred embodiment was 81/4", with some 13/4 inches 
at the top of each blade being inserted into the appropriate slot in the 
blade support plate 60, which slot is approximately 1 inch wide. As 
earlier indicated, the shoulders 64 used on each blade prevent undesired 
relative motion at the time sod is being cut, for the blade body in each 
instance is too wide to move up into the plate 60. However, the slots in 
the crosshead 50 (not shown) are wide enough to accommodate the full 
left-right dimension of the blades. 
Some 61/2 inches of vertical extent of one blade are in direct contact with 
the corresponding vertical portion of the adjacent blade or blades, 
although the actual exposure of the blade member below the crosshead is 
limited somewhat by the crosshead thickness, which thickness may be on the 
order of 2 inches in the preferred embodiment. 
Blade types C and D are revealed by FIG. 10 to have only one vertical, non 
cutting edge designed to interconnect with the corresponding edge of an 
adjacent blade, but all of the other blades of the illustrated blade array 
48 involve both of their vertical edges being secured to an adjacent 
blade. Blades C and D are designed to have a slightly wider left-right 
dimension so as to provide the desired overlap between the successive 
cuts, as depicted in FIG. 10. 
At the left hand edge of FIG. 10, it will be noted that end blade D is in 
contact with only one other blade, a blade of type B. Therefore blade type 
D is revealed in the blade cross sections appearing along the top of FIG. 
11 to have one edge cut at a 60.degree. angle to the plane of this blade, 
whereas blade B is revealed to have both its left vertical edge and its 
right vertical edge cut at a 60.degree. angle to the plane of the blade. 
The third blade of FIG. 10 considered from the left side of this figure is 
a blade of type E, which has one lateral edge cut at a 60.degree. angle to 
the plane of the blade, and the other lateral edge cut to form a 
120.degree. included angle, as is to be seen at the top right corner of 
FIG. 11. In other words, the right hand edge of this initial blade E of 
FIG. 11 forms an upper as well as a lower angle of 60.degree. to the plane 
of this blade. 
Connected to the right hand end of the third blade considered from the left 
side of FIG. 10, namely a first blade E, is a pair of blades, each forming 
a 120.degree. relationship thereto, with one of these latter blades being 
of blade type C, namely, having a 120.degree. included angle at one edge, 
and a flat edge at the other end. The other blade fastened to the third 
blade is another blade of type E, namely, a blade having a 120.degree. 
included angle at one end, and a 60.degree. angle to the plane of the 
blade at its other end, as was previously noted at the upper edge of FIG. 
11. 
From here on it can be seen that I select the blade type appropriate in 
each instance in order to form the highly advantageous twenty blade array 
depicted in FIG. 10, with the blade array 48 in this instance involving 
these quantities: 
______________________________________ 
Blade Type Number Required 
______________________________________ 
A 5 
B 1 
C 7 
D 1 
E 6 
______________________________________ 
Although other arrangements could perhaps be utilized, I prefer to 
continuously weld the long vertical edges of adjacent blades together, for 
this serves to prevent grass portions such as "runners" becoming lodged 
between the long vertical sides of adjacent pairs of blades. 
It is most important to note that after the twenty or so blades have been 
welded or otherwise secured together to form blade array 48, they 
represent a very stable unit, that is not subjected to bending or 
deflecting at the time of cutting the sod. Undesired bending and 
deflection are of course a major problem encountered by many prior art sod 
cutting arrangements. 
Turning now to FIGS. 12 and 13, it is to be seen that I may utilize blade 
arrays made up of individual blade members that intersect at 90.degree. 
angles, which blade arrays serve to cut sod sections into small pieces of 
square or rectangular shape. These blade arrays are provided primarily for 
cutting fine textured sod into small squares, and it is to be noted that 
like the blade array I use for cutting sod into pieces of hexagonal shape, 
these blade arrays are single pass cutters that do not require the use of 
ejector pins because of the highly advantageous "open blade principle" 
that I use. 
Although not to be regarded as novel per se, I nevertheless illustrate in 
FIG. 14, a preferred hydraulic control arrangement 90 associated with 
movements of the belt advancing actuator 22, hereinafter called ADV, and 
the sod cutting actuator 32, hereinafter called CUT. Fluid from an inlet 
location is delivered to a series of distribution valves, so that fluid 
can be selectively admitted, first to one end of the hydraulic actuators 
22 and 32, and thereafter to the opposite end of these devices, such that 
the desired reciprocating motions can be brought about in the proper 
sequential relationship. As well known to those acquainted with hydraulic 
systems, hose connections are made to each end of most hydraulic 
actuators, so that the hose remote from the end to which pressure is being 
applied at a given instant will accommodate the return of fluid. The 
hydraulic controls 25 I utilize, are mentioned in connection with FIG. 1, 
are concerned with a desirable flow of hydraulic fluid into and out of 
these two hydraulic actuators. 
Depending upon the particular application, I can arrange the sequence of 
the ADV and CUT actuators in any of several operable relationships, such 
as the following: 
1. Cutter actuator sends cutter down and up, then conveyor actuator 
advances and retracts. 
2. Cutter actuator sends cutter down, then conveyor actuator retracts, then 
cutter up, then conveyor extends. 
3. Cutter actuator sends cutter down and conveyor actuator retracts 
simultaneously therewith; then cutter actuator sends cutter up, then 
conveyor actuator extends. 
It is to be realized that these procedures are merely cited as being 
exemplary, and I am not to be limited to any particular procedure. 
It is to be noted that I prefer to use two position valves F and G in an 
upper part of the hydraulic diagram shown in FIG. 14, and two position 
valves H, I, J and K in the lower part of the diagram. Valves F and G are 
arranged to port large volumes of hydraulic fluid on the occasion of the 
cutting, and the advancing of sod, whereas valves H through K control the 
flow of only relatively minute volumes of oil. Although not limited to 
same, I prefer to use four way valves utilized as two position valves, 
with these components manufactured by Double A Hydraulics of Manchester, 
Mich., 48158. These valves are remotely controlled by pilot pressure, and 
the symbology utilized by Double A Hydraulics has herein been adopted in 
the preparation of FIG. 14. 
Slight enlargements of the hydraulic lines in FIG. 14 at their termination 
at the valves connote the locations at which the valving efforts are to 
take place in these hydraulic lines. When the spool used in a valve 
shifts, that is, from one end to the other, the symbol represented by the 
rectangle formed by the two squares shifts from one square to the other. 
In the instance depicted in FIG. 14, pressure is being applied to extend 
the CUT actuator 32 by virtue of pressure at P.sub.1 flowing through one 
of the crossed arrows to the line 95 connected to the upper end of the CUT 
actuator. As is obviously necessary, oil from the bottom of the CUT 
actuator flows through line 99 and the other of the crossed arrows to the 
sump. 
Continuing with the present example, when in the course of operation the 
CUT actuator is to be moved upwardly, the spool portion of valve F is 
caused by pilot pressure to move down, so that pressure from P.sub.1 will 
be manifested through the straight arrow through line 99 to the lower end 
of the CUT actuator, so that the cutting blades will be retracted from the 
sod. It is to be understood that generally speaking, this type of 
operation is repeated throughout the hydraulic system depicted in FIG. 14. 
It is also to be understood that the four way, two position valves F 
through K depicted in FIG. 14 are detented so that either the crossed 
arrow portion of the spool or the parallel arrow portion of the spool is 
at all times in connection with the hydraulic line ports, with the spools 
not being permitted to reside in intermediate positions, where blockage of 
an undesirable nature would occur. 
As previously indicated, the four way valves F through K are preferably 
pilot operated two position valves, in that they are equipped at each end 
with a small actuator, which in reality may be a piston at the end of each 
valve spool. Pressure acting on the end of one of these small actuators 
serves to shift the spool to the other position. 
With regard to valves L, M, N and Q, these are sequence valves, that in a 
sense are a form of relief valve. Although I am not to be limited to any 
particular manufacturer, I have found that model YSDA Sequence Valves with 
internal pilot, external drain are satisfactory, these being manufactured 
by Sun Hydraulics of Sarasota, FL 33580. 
For example, valve L is revealed to have a movable portion biased to the 
right by a spring on the left, and a dashed hydraulic line is shown on the 
right. The spring bias serves to bias the component, here represented by 
an arrow, out of alignment with the upper and lower hydraulic connection, 
so as to prevent flow therethrough. However, upon fluid pressure being 
manifested through the internal porting represented by the dashed line, 
the bias of the spring is overcome, the arrow is brought into alignment 
with the upper and lower connecting tubes, which is a representation of 
the situation when fluid flow can take place through the device. 
Continuing with further consideration of FIG. 14, it will be seen that I 
have shown ADV actuator 22 and CUT actuator 32 in appropriate 
relationships to pressure sensitive valves and spool valves such that the 
advance and the cut operations can be brought about in the desired 
sequential relationship without the use of any electrical component. 
Considering now a typical operation of this portion of my invention, it is 
to be presumed that the piston of the ADV actuator is moving in FIG. 14 
upwardly toward its retracted position, powered by hydraulic fluid being 
delivered from source P.sub.2 via the crossed arrow spool of valve G and 
the hydraulic line 92. Spool valve G is held in the position illustrated 
in FIG. 14 by means of pressure P.sub.4 manifested through the spool valve 
J and hydraulic line 93 when the spool of valve J is in the parallel arrow 
position. 
Upon the piston of ADV actuator 22 reaching its extreme retracted position, 
upwardly in this instance, the pressure in the lower end of ADV actuator 
22 "peaks", which pressure is sensed by pressure sensitive valve Q, with 
this permitting hydraulic pressure at say 1000 psi to manifest itself 
through line 94 through the spool valve I to the right hand end of spool 
valve H associated with the CUT mechanism, causing spool valve H to shift 
to the left position. Because of this latter valve positioning, pressure 
from P.sub.3 is manifested through spool valve H to move the spool of 
spool valve F to the upper position shown in FIG. 14, so that hydraulic 
pressure from P.sub.1 can manifest itself through the crossed arrows of 
spool valve F and hydraulic line 95 to the upper end of the CUT actuator 
32. This causes the piston of the CUT actuator to move downwardly, and 
when it reaches the bottom of its travel, the pressure to the upper end of 
actuator 32 "peaks", at say 1500 psi, which is manifested in line 95 to 
cause the pressure sensitive valve L to permit fluid flow therethrough, 
which flow travels through line 96, so as to move the spool valve H toward 
the right. 
The fluid displaced from the other end of spool valve H flows through spool 
valve I to the adjacent sump. This is possible because the same pressure 
moving spool valve H to the right also moves the spool of valve I to the 
right, so that the fluid displaced from spool valve H can flow as 
mentioned into the sump. Pressure in the upper end of the CUT actuator 32 
is also manifested through line 97 to the right hand end of spool valve K, 
to shift it to the left as viewed in FIG. 14. 
As a result of the spool of the spool valve H now being in the right hand 
position, the flow from P.sub.3 can manifest itself through hydraulic line 
98 to the upper end of spool valve F, shifting the spool of valve F 
downwardly so that oil flow from P.sub.1 can manifest itself through the 
parallel arrow spool of valve F and hydraulic line 99 to the lower end of 
the CUT actuator 32, causing its piston to move upwardly, and retract the 
cutter blades from the sod. 
Upon the piston of the CUT actuator reaching its uppermost end of travel, 
the hydraulic fluid in the lower end of the actuator "peaks", which is 
sensed by sequence valve N, which permits fluid pressure at say 1000 psi 
to be manifested through line 101 that is connected to spool valve K now 
in its left hand position. Line pressure manifested through spool valve K 
causes the spool of spool valve J to move to the left, such that system 
pressure P.sub.4 is manifested through hydraulic line 102 to the upper end 
of spool valve G, causing it to shift downwardly such that P.sub.2 is 
delivered through hydraulic line 103 to the upper end of the ADV actuator 
22, to extend the piston of this actuator, thus advancing the conveyor 
belt and the sod carried thereon. This pressure in the upper end of the 
ADV actuator is also manifested through line 104 such that spool valve I 
is shifted back to its left hand position. 
Upon the pressure in the upper end of the ADV actuator 22 "peaking", the 
sequence valve M permits a flow through line 105, which brings about a 
shifting of spool valve J back to the right, and spool valve K to the 
right also. This in turn permits P.sub.4 to shift spool valve G back 
upwardly, so that P.sub.2 can manifest itself on the lower end of ADV 
actuator 22, such that the advance arm 28 is caused to retract again. The 
cycle continues uninterruptedly until oil flow ceases. 
Typically, my machine operates at the rate of from between 18 complete 
cutting cycles per minute, to approximately 22 cutting cycles per minute, 
with 20 cutting cycles per minute being an average. By suitable changes in 
the hydraulic flow supplied to my machine, a desired speed of operation 
can be achieved and maintained. 
It is to be noted that pressures identified above as P.sub.1 through 
P.sub.4 are all from the same pressure source, commonly called "system 
pressure", and in a somewhat similar manner it is to be realized that all 
of the sumps depicted in FIG. 14 are in reality all the same location, 
often referred to as the "tank". 
As should now be apparent, I have defined and described my novel sod cutter 
machine that will function automatically to cut sections of sod, typically 
coarse sod, placed at the inlet of the machine. These sod sections are 
carried by the conveyor belt in sequential relation to the cutter device, 
which functions to automatically cut the sod sections into smaller, 
symmetrically shaped pieces for ready packaging and subsequent sale. 
Most significantly, I utilize a non-complex, rapidly operating machine 
utilizing a single pass cutter array made up of elongate blades secured 
together into a particularly strong arrangement that will cut through 
tough sod sections without distortion of the blades. Quite advantageously, 
the open blade design I utilize does not require the use of ejection 
devices for plug removal, and little operator experience is required to 
operate my machine effectively. Only a source of hydraulic fluid under 
pressure is required for the operation of my machine, and inasmuch as no 
electricity is required, it can be utilized in remote field locations. The 
only portions of my machine sensitive to dust and dirt are the CUT and ADV 
actuators and the posts 53 associated with the crosshead 50, and inasmuch 
as appropriate portions of each of these components are protected by 
suitable accordion pleated boots, the result is that my machine can 
operate in sandy environments for long periods of time without undue wear 
and without any significant amount of down time.