Abstract:
A method and harvesting apparatus for stacking cut sod wherein the cut sod is formed into rolls at a rolling station carried by a machine and wherein alternating first and second series of rolls are conveyed in a first direction relative to a stacking station so as to form in the stacking station alternating first and second layers of rolls which are oriented generally perpendicularly to one another and wherein the rolls in each layer are oriented generally parallel with respect to one another. The second series of rolls are partially rotated approximately 90° as they are conveyed to the stacking station so the second series of rolls are oriented generally perpendicularly with respect to the first series rolls. The apparatus also includes a wrapping device which is movable with respect to the stacking station so as to be maneuverable about the layers of sod rolls which are formed within the stacking station. The harvester further includes a unique driving configuration wherein the operator is positioned in the rear of the machine, thereby allowing a full field of view with respect to each of the operating stations of the apparatus.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of Ser. No. 08/707,822 filed Sep. 4, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,760 which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/276,732 filed Jul. 18, 1994, both by the same inventor. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a device to harvest sod pieces which are formed into rolls and thereafter stacked for storage and further transportation to an application area. 
     2. History of the Related Art 
     When harvesting lawn sod rolls, here below called sod rolls, machines are used comprising cutting and pick-up devices which cut and pick up pieces of a lawn, transportation devices which form the sod rolls out of these pieces and transport these to stacking devices which assemble and stack the sod rolls in a storage area. To achieve a steady stacking of the sod rolls which will not fall down, the rolls in each layer must be turned about a quarter of a turn or 90° relative to the rolls of adjacent layers, i.e. the above and the beneath layers. 
     Previously, sod roll harvesting machines were used where the driver was sitting on top of the pick-up unit and a collaborator was placed at the transport and stacking device taking care of the rolls and stacking these in the previously discussed manner. 
     To facilitate the roll stacking operation and to achieve a machine to possibly be operated by only one operator, it is already known, from Swedish Patent 9002919-0, to stack the rolls in a closed storage area to be turned 90° for each layer or bed with rolls to be stacked in a transverse direction with respect to the adjacent layers, i.e. the above and beneath layers. In this way, one operator can operate the machine and simultaneously survey the roll transportation to a storage area and the stacking of the rolls therein. During the deposition of a complete stack of rolls, one side of the storage area is opened and the stack, normally deposited on a pallet, is placed on the ground and afterwards, the upper roll layer is fixed by means of a loose frame with hooks. After that, the upper stack part is covered with plastic and the frame removed and the roll stack is ready for storage or for transportation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, another way may be chosen to solve the stacking problem of the completed rolls. 
     The main purpose of the invention is to achieve a simplified stacking device providing the use of a generally open storage area or bin wherein the stack is not turned, and the roll stack then removed from the machine without any help from the operator. 
     Another purpose is to achieve a stacking device, the plastic covering of the upper layer being provided automatically after completing the stack. 
     Another purpose is to achieve a sod pick-up machine with a suitable design with respect to its operation so to be easily controlled and operated by one operator with a sufficient survey over the whole pick up and stacking process. 
     These and other purposes and advantages of the invention are achieved by providing the device with the characteristics specified in the attached claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described more in detail in connection with the drawings. And thus 
     FIG. 1 shows a side view of a sod pick-up machine according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of the machine of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 shows a partial top view of the transverse transportation and rotating device for the sod rolls of the machine; 
     FIG. 4 shows a side view of a detail of a bucker for the sod rolls; 
     FIG. 5 shows a top plan view of the device of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 shows a side view of a detail of a rake to push the sod rolls into a storage bin; 
     FIG. 7 shows a top plan view of the device of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 shows a side view of a detail of a sensing device in the stacking area of the machine; 
     FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a plastic packaging device for the sod rolls in the machine; 
     FIG. 10 shows a partially cut side view of the device of FIG. 9; and 
     FIG. 11 shows a side view of a detail of the plastic packaging device. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the shown embodiment, the lawn pick-up machine comprises a machine frame or a framework 10 carrying the appertaining stations or units. The framework 10 on one side is equipped with driving wheels 12 mounted in bearings on the lower machine portion and is rigidly connected to a front driving unit 14. This driving unit illustrated with dotted lines comprises, in the shown embodiment, an ordinary tractor with a motor 16 and front wheels 18. The rear axle of the tractor 14 is rigidly fastened to the frame 10 and its back driving wheels are removed and replaced by gears 22 which, by means of chains, driving belts 24 or similar devices, are connected with corresponding gears 26 on the driving wheels 12. In that way, the lawn pick-up machine of the invention can be linked to an already existing tractor, thereby substantially reducing the costs for the complete machine. The framework 10 can, of course, be lengthened at the front and in itself comprise forward wheels and driving units without departing from the scope of the invention. The frame 10 has a platform 28 forming the driver seat at the back. To enable operator action, steering and all other controls (not shown) for the driving of the machine are lifted up onto the platform 28 by means of any known technology, such as a hydraulic transmission, electric connections or the like. With the driver seat arranged at the back on the frame 10, the operator has a complete survey over the driving unit in front of him and can easily drive and control the machine and its performance from the platform 28. Even the units for pick-up, transportation, rolling, rotation and stacking of the sod pieces and the sod rolls, respectively, are situated in front of the operator and he thereby can survey these functions of the machines and adjust and stop the complete sod roll treating process if any bad performance of the units should occur. 
     By means of a side frame 30, the frame 10 supports a lawn cutting and pick-up unit 32, which in a known way comprises a cutting head 34 with a vibrating cutter for loosening the lawn in the longitudinal direction of the unit and a cropper dividing the cut lawn into convenient lengths to form the desired sod rolls. The unit 34 comprises rolls and/or bristles to trim the lawn before pick-up and also register wheels to achieve equally long pieces and thereby equally sized sod rolls. The components of the unit 34 are already known and are therefore not illustrated or described here. 
     The conveyor 32 transports the loosened and cut lawn pieces up to a rolling device comprising a conveyor belt cooperating with the conveyor and running in the opposite direction, arranged above the conveyor 32 at its upper end. Such a rolling unit is illustrated and described in the previously mentioned Swedish patent, being here referred to, and is therefore not shown in any further detail. Other kinds of units can, of course, be used within the scope of the invention to form the rolls of the separated pieces. At the upper end of the conveyor 32, a belt conveyor 36 is arranged transverse with respect to the machine driving direction, on which conveyor the completed sod rolls 38 are transported to the stacking and storing station. At the end of the conveyor 36 near the stacking station, a rotation device is placed to turn the rolls one quarter of a turn before they reach the feeding unit of the stacking device. The rotation causes the sod rolls of every second layer to be placed transverse to the rolls in the adjacent layers, thereby locking the sod rolls in with the above and beneath placed layer or bed. The rotation device comprises a lever 40 with a curved end 42, the lever being supported in a bearing 44 and, by means of a spring 46, is pushed to a position in which the lever is hitting a stop 48 with its curved end engaging the end surface of the sod roll 38. The lever can be pushed against the spring force to another position with the end situated outside the sod roll passage and, in which second position, the lever can be locked by means of a solenoid piston 50 or a similar control device. When the lever 40 is in the active position in contact with the stop 48 and a roll with its end hits the curved end 42, the roll will be means of the feeding force of the conveyor 36 be turned a quarter of a turn, as indicated by the sod roll shown in dotted lines, the lever 40 with the end 42 holding the roll end against the force of the spring 46. The lever 40 returns, when the sod roll 38 has been transported to another position, the lever contacts the stop 48 to catch the next sod roll 38 to be rotated. When putting down a layer of sod rolls not to be rotated, the lever 40 is situated in the position shown in dotted lines, in which position the lever is locked by means of the locking solenoid 50. 
     With the roll 38 having been turned to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, it is pushed onto a feeding mat 52 by means of a rake 54 which by means of a lever 56 is supported in a rack on top of the conveyor belt 36 and is controlled by means of a hydraulic cylinder. The lever 56 of the rake 54 is coupled in such a way that the rake 54 rigidly moves the roll 38 to a desired position on the mat 52, i.e. so that the roll is pushed onto the mat and is freed from the lever 40. The next roll may then be possibly rotated in the previously mentioned way. The following movement of the roll to the mat end is provided by the next sod rolls pushing from behind by means of the rake. Thus, the rake does not have to move along the entire length of the mat 52. When returning to the original position at the end of the conveyor 36, the rake 54 is bending and passes the upper side of the next roll 38. The movement of the roll 38 over the mat 52 by means of the rake 54 is performed against a bucker 60 (FIGS. 4 and 5) consisting of a shaft 57 and a thrust plate 59 and bending under the load of the rake 54. Thus, the roll 38 will face upwards, its longitudinal axis becoming perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rolls 38 situated on the conveyor 36. The bucker 60 guided in a guide 67 is under pressure by means of a load 61 which by means of a cord 63 conducted over pulleys 65 provides the necessary resistance against any movement of the sod rolls 38 across the mat 52. 
     Obviously, the purpose of the rotation device is to turn the rolls 38 in every second layer before they are stacked in the storage area, implying the rolls 38 in the other layers or beds not be turned, the lever 40, as mentioned, lying in an inactive position and being locked by means of the solenoid 50. The further transportation over the mat 52 of the rolls not been turned is performed in the same way by the rake 54. 
     It is obvious that the shown rotation device can be achieved in other ways than that shown here, even if this one is preferred due to its quick operation. Thus, it is possible to arrange a rotary disc at the end of the conveyor 36, on which the sod roll 38 is ejected and which together with the sod roll is rotated a quarter of a turn by means of a control device such as a rotary motor. 
     In the shown embodiment, each layer or bed or rolls is stacked on a fork lift 62 with forks 64 which run vertically in the lift 62 by means of a hydraulic cylinder or chain transmissions (not shown) or the like. The layers consist in the illustrated example of generally four-sided or rectangular layers or beds in which the rolls 38 on the lift forks 64 shown in FIG. 1 are arranged five laterally to the driving direction of the machine, while rolls 38 are situated in line next to each other in the driving direction of the machine. The rolls of this layer thus have not been turned in the rotation station, whereas the rolls 38 of the following layer shall be rotated a quarter turn in relation to the second layer. Independent of the rolls 38 being turned or not on the mat 52, the rolls are moved from the mat 52 to the forks 64 or support 66 by means of a rake 68 guided in a guiding frame 69 on top of the fork lift 62 which reciprocates in the arrow direction of FIG. 7 by means of a hydraulic cylinder 71. To return the rake 68 after feeding a row of sod rolls onto the support 66 to the original position shown in FIG. 2 on the mat 52, it has to be lifted over the bucker 60. This movement is effected by means of a rack 72 to which hydraulic cylinder 70 is attached and which lifts and moves the rake 68 as shown with an arrow in FIG. 6. The support 66 is placed within a frame arranged with a box or bin 76 which is open to the rake 68 and open downwards under the support 66 to let a layer of rolls 38 fall down from the support onto the forks 64. The support 66 is as already said, for example, a roll front type and consists of two halves to be opened from the center of the support 66 so as to be pulled away to two opposite sides to let the layer of rolls 38 built up on the support 66 to fall down as previously described. Such a support is described in the previously mentioned Swedish Patent 9002919-0 referred to for further details of the support 66. On the forks 64 of the lift, a pallet can be arranged or some other bedding to carry the layers of rolls, or as shown, the rolls 38 of the lowest layer can be directly supported by the forks. In this case, the fork lift has a special design and comprises a multitude of forks 64, e.g. six forks. As not every sod roll has the same diameter, the lowering of the fork lift 62, according to FIG. 8, controlled by means of a sensor 73 in contact with the upper side of the sod roll layer, registrating the sod roll passage to a position with empty place for the next layer or bed of sod rolls 38 directly beneath the support 66 and then stops the lowering of the fork lift 62. 
     When a sufficiently large number of layers is stacked on the fork lift 62, usually six layers vertically, the formed stack of sod rolls can easily be put down on the ground by lowering the fork lift to the ground while the machine proceeds ahead the stack of rolls exiting through a corresponding opening in the aft part 74 of the machine frame 10. Before the completed stack leaves the machine, its upper layer must be anchored so as to not let the stack fall apart. This is performed by winding a plastic foil, net, tissue or similar material around upper stack layer. The machine having a generally open bin 76 is automatically achieved without the operator possibly leaving the machine and performing the anchoring by hand. The bin consists as previously mentioned of a box 76 situated on top of the frame, and thereby providing that the upper layer of sod rolls 38 in a stack are partly uncovered, as shown in FIG. 1. Around the box is a guide 82 suspended by means of props 80 in a frame 78 here shown in a perspective view and in cross section in FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively. A carriage comprising a plate runs on the guide 82 with four wheels equipped with a central groove with which the wheels engage the edges of the guide 82. A transmission consisting of a chain or cord 88 or similar device is arranged for driving the carriage around the guide and also sprockets or pulleys 90 of which at least one is a driving one. On the carriage underside a socket is articulately fastened for a roll 92 of plastic foil, tissue or the like. The socket comprises a shaft 94 and a bottom plate 96. From the roll 92, the plastic foil passes a stretching device before it is wound up around the stack of sod rolls 38. The stretching device comprises two rolls or rollers 98 over which the foil or the like will pass. A bracket 100 is fastened to a portion of the machine frame 30 for pivotally supporting lever 102 being pivotable by means of a hydraulic cylinder 104 between the positions shown with continuous and with dotted lines. When starting the plastic covering of the stack, the lever 102 has attached the end 106 of the plastic foil against a roll 108 placed on one end of the lever 110, the other end of which is loaded by a spring 112. The end of the plastic foil being thus fixed, the roll 92 is passed around the guide 82 and covers the upper part of the sod roll stack still remaining in the machine on the fork lift 62 with plastic. After a passage of e.g. 3-4 times of the carriage with the roll 92 around the stack, the lever 102 is lifted to the vertical position shown with dotted lines to free the foil end, i.e. the start end, held by the lever 102 in its lowered position. When the carriage with the roll 92 passes around the next time, the foil is placed on the outside of the lever 102 and, when lowered, will drag the foil down to a locked position. The lever 102 is lowered further, the foil roll having stopped, while the roll 108 stands aside due to the spring load 112, the foil thereby coming into contact with a knife 114 and is cut off. The final end of the plastic covering foil is freed and can pivot upwards and be attached to the plastic wound around the sod roll stack. The lever 102 simultaneously holds the start end 106 of the foil to be used to cover the next stack or sod roll package 38 with plastic. 
     According to the invention, a sod harvesting machine has been achieved and a method to harvest sod rolls and to store them, with which machine a single operator or driver can perform the process from the harvesting to the storing of complete packages of sod rolls without any manual operation being necessary, i.e. without the operator leaving his seat on the platform 28. 
     The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented to illustrate the principles of the invention and not to limit the invention to the particular embodiment illustrated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by all of the embodiments encompassed within the following claims and their equivalents.