Method and apparatus for cleaning sod
OwnerBrian L. Bouchard, Darrell H. Bouchardinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for cleaning sod being transported on a perforate conveyor belt which includes at least one vibratory position and a powered brush position for removing the earth from the sod. This method and apparatus may be attached to a farm vehicle at the sod harvesting site or free-standing at a remote location. This present invention removes the earth in a substantially dry condition so that the earth may be returned directly to the harvest site or conveyed to another location. A subsequent water bath stage is disclosed for the removal of unwanted dust on the sod.
Claims21
A sod cleaning apparatus for removing earth from the earth side of sod strips being transported thereon, said apparatus comprising:
- a) an elongated rigid frame including a feeding end and a discharging end;
- b) a conveyor belt being movably carried on said elongated rigid frame, said conveyor belt being perforate and adapted for substantially endless movement from said feeding end to said discharging end, said conveyor belt being adapted to support any sod strip being transported thereon;
- c) at least one conveyor belt support assembly being mounted interior of said elongated rigid frame and intermediate said feeding end and discharging end, each of said conveyor belt support assemblies being suspended on said elongated rigid frame for allowing independent vibratory motion;
- d) at least one vibrating means carried on each conveyor belt support assembly, said vibratory means adapted for providing said vibratory motion;
- e) a brush assembly being powered and selectively positioned on said elongated rigid frame, said brush assembly being adapted for selectively contacting the earth side of the sod;
- f) a drive means adapted for providing said movement of said conveyor belt at a selected rate;
- (g) a keeper belt assembly, said keeper belt assembly being carried on said elongated frame, said keeper belt having a selected portion of its length in substantially parallel alignment with a determined portion of said conveyor belt and being adapted for limiting the lifting of the transported sod during removal of the earth;
- (h) an adjustable mounting means for said keeper belt assembly, said adjustable mounting means adapted for providing a selected spacing between said keeper belt assembly and said sod carrying surface of said conveyor belt;
- and
- wherein said vibratory motion of each conveyor belt support assembly with said conveyor belt moving thereon in combination with the powered action of the brush assembly providing the removal of the earth from the transported sod strip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.