Patent ID: 7641437

Claim:
A method of on-the-go stacking and transferring a stack of sod slabs comprising: delivering a first cut slab of sod to a conveyor; cantileverly extending a set of extendible and retractable arms from a first position to a second position out beyond an end of the conveyor so that the first slab of sod on the conveyor is delivered to and supported by the set of extendible and retractable arms; engaging the first slab of sod on the set of extendible and retractable arms with a retention member to prevent lateral displacement of the first slab of sod; retracting the set of extendible and retractable arms back to the first position to allow the first slab of sod to fall onto a further conveyor; delivering a second cut slab of sod to the conveyor; cantileverly extending the set of extendible and retractable arms from the first position to the second position out beyond the end of the conveyor so that the second slab of sod on the conveyor is delivered to and supported by the set of extendible and retractable arms; engaging the second slab of sod on the set of extendible and retractable arms with the retention member to prevent lateral displacement of the second slab of sod; retracting the set of extendible and retractable arms back to the first position to allow the second slab of sod to fall on top of the first slab of sod to form a stack of sod slabs on the further conveyor; moving the further conveyor to displace the stack of sod slabs to a transfer position; sliding the stack of sod slabs from the further conveyor onto a pickup bed by pushing the stack of sod slabs off the further conveyor; sliding a further stack of sod slabs from the further conveyor to the pickup bed; and transferring the stack of sod slabs and the further stack of sod slabs to a sod transfer vehicle.