Sod cutter

A machine for cutting large sod pieces of generally uniformed predetermined thickness into smaller sod pieces, comprising

• a chute for receiving the large sod pieces and having a generally vertical wall directing the large sod pieces in a generally vertical path of sod movement;
• feeder means, facing the wall on the opposite side of the path of sod movement, for engaging and piercing sod in the chute and advancing the same along the path of movement including a plurality of toothed wheels and means driveably mounting the toothed wheels for rotation in the path of movement, the circumference of the toothed wheels being spaced from the vertical wall less than the thickness of the sod pieces;
• the wall comprising a plurality of spring memebers, spaced apart to define slots parallel to the path of sod movement, juxtaposed to the feeder means and moveable away therefrom, the spring members comprising means biasing sod passing along the path of sod movement toward the feeder means;
• a first cutting mechanism in the path of sod movement for cutting the large sod pieces along lines parallel to the path of movement into sod strips, including a plurality of blades, each of the blades extending through one of the slots defined by the spring members, shaft means mounting the blade for rotation and means for rotating the shaft means;
• and
• a second cutting mechanism disposed to receive sod strips from the first cutting mechanism for severing the strips into smaller sod pieces.

A machine for cutting large sod pieces into smaller sod pieces, comprising

• a chute for receiving the large sod pieces and directing the same in a generally vertical path of sod movement;
• feeder means for engaging sod in the chute and advancing the same along the path of movement;
• a first cutting mechanism in the path of sod movement for cutting the large sod pieces along a line parallel to the path of movement into sod strips including a plurality of blades parallel to the path of movement and means for rotating the blades;
• a second cutting mechanism disposed to receive sod strips from the first cutting mechanism for severing the strips into smaller sod pieces;
• means providing a discharge chute;
• and
• a diverter mounted for movement between a non-diverting position stripping the sod strips off of the blades and directing the sod strips toward the second cutting mechanism and a diverting position for directing the sod strips to the discharge chute.

A machine for alternatively cutting large sod pieces into small sod blocks or sod strips, comprising

• means for receiving the large sod pieces and directing the same in a path of sod movement;
• a first cutting mechanism for severing the large sod pieces into sod strips;
• a second cutting mechanism disposed to receive the strips from the first cutting mechanism for severing the strips into small sod blocks;
• means providing a discharge chute;
• a diverter mounted for movement between a non-diverting position for directing the sod strips toward the second cutting mechanism and a diverting position for directing the sod strips to the dishcarge chute;
• and
• means for stripping the sod from the first cutting mechanism when the diverter is in the non-diverting position and means for stripping sod from the first cutting mechanism when the diverter is in the diverting position.