Sod cutting and stacking machine

In a sod cutting machine having:

• means for peeling parallel strips of sod from the ground simultaneously;
• means providing a horizontal support in the machine;
• means fior conveying the strips of sod upward from the ground to said horizontal support means;
• means for cutting the strips of sod transversely into pieces which are deposited on said horizontal support means;
• transfer means for picking the pieces of sod off said horizontal support means and carrying said pieces to a stacking location at one side of said support means;
• and means for actuating said transfer means to release the sod pieces to drop by gravity into respective stacks when said transfer means is at said stacking location;
• the improvement wherein:
• said horizontal support means comprises a pluality of horizontal rollers extending transversely of the machine and spaced apart longitudinally of the machine;
• and said transfer means includes a vertically reciprocable horizontal platform below said rollers and vertical fingers extending up from said platform between the rollers to engage the sod pieces from below and lift them off the rollers when said platform is raised.

In a sod cutting machine having:

• means for peeling parallel strips of sod from the ground simultaneously;
• means providing a horizontal support in the machine;
• conveyor belt means extending upward and rearward from said peeling means, and driving means for moving said conveyor belt means to convey the strips of sod upward and rearward from the ground;
• cutting means located between the rear end of said conveyor belt means and said horizontal support means for cutting the strips of sod transversely into pieces which are deposited on said support means;
• transfer means for picking the pieces of sod off said horizontal support means and carrying said pieces to a stacking location at one side of said support means;
• and means for actuating said transfer means to release the sod pieces to drop by gravity into respective stacks when said transfer means is at said stacking location;
• the improvement which comprises:
• means for holding said strips of sod on said conveyor belt means at the latter's rear end and preventing said strips of sod from continuing to move onto said horizontal support means while said cutting means cuts the sod into pieces;
• and wherein:
• said horizontal support means comprises a plurality of horizontal rollers extending transversely of the machine and spaced apart longitudinally of the machine;
• and said transfer means includes a vertically reciprocable horizontal platform below said rollers and vertical fingers extending up from said platform between the rollers to engage the sod pieces from below and lift them off the rollers when said platform is raised, said platform being operatively coupled to said cutting means to cause the latter to cut the strips of sod when the platform is raised.