Automatic net and core tube feeding system for a sod harvester

A net and core tube feeding system for a sod harvester of the type having a conveyor upon which rolls of sod are formed around a core tube, the sod being carried onto the conveyor on a layer of net, said system comprising a net feeder in combination with a tube feeder, said net feeder comprising:

• a) a supply roll from which net is dispensed
• b) a pair of feed rollers positioned to engage a portion of the net therebetween;
• and
• c) a motor selectively operable to turn one of said feed rollers to eject a length of net onto the conveyor, and said tube feeder comprising:
• d) a rack mounted above the conveyor and sized to hold a plurality of core tubes, said rack having a discharge opening and a floor sloped toward said discharge opening;
• and
• e) a tube dispenser selectively controlling the release of individual ones of the core tubes through said discharge opening and onto the conveyor;
• wherein said tube dispenser comprises:
• i) a pivot shaft rotatably mounted below said discharge opening;
• ii) a plurality of fingers spaced along said pivot shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom;
• and
• iii) an actuator connected to said pivot shaft and adapted to rotate said pivot shaft between a home position wherein said fingers block said discharge opening and a drop position wherein said fingers extend outwardly away from said discharge opening.

A net and core tube feeding system for a sod harvester of the type having a conveyor upon which rolls of sod are formed around a core tube, the sod being carried onto the conveyor on a layer of net, said system comprising a net feeder in combination with a tube feeder, said net feeder comprising:

• a) a supply roll from which net is dispensed;
• b) a pair of feed rollers positioned to engage a portion of the net therebetween;
• and
• c) a motor selectively operable to turn one of said feed rollers to eject a length of net onto the conveyor;
• and said tube feeder comprising:
• d) a rack mounted above the conveyor and sized to hold a plurality of core tubes, said rack having a discharge opening and a floor sloped toward said discharge opening;
• and
• e) a tube dispenser selectively controlling the release of individual ones of the core tubes through said discharge opening and onto the conveyor wherein said tube dispenser comprises:
• i) a pivot shaft rotatably mounted below said discharge opening;
• ii) a plurality of distributing plates spaced along said pivot shaft, each said distributing plate including:
• (1) a finger extending radially outwardly from said pivot shaft;
• and
• (2) a heel having a top edge generally perpendicular to said finger, a bottom edge extending generally opposite said finger and a back edge forming an arcuate bumper extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;
• and
• iii) an actuator connected to said pivot shaft and adapted to rotate said pivot shaft between a home position wherein said fingers block said discharge opening and a drop position wherein said fingers extend outwardly away from said discharge opening.

A net feeding and cutting system for a sod harvester having a conveyor upon which rolls of sod are formed, the conveyor being pivotable between a feed position and a net cutting position, said system comprising:

• a) a supply roll from which net is dispensed;
• b) means for injecting a layer of net into a roll of sod forming on the conveyor;
• c) a cutting blade mounted transverse to a path of the net between said supply roll and the roll of sod, said cutting blade being pivotable between a cutting position wherein said blade engages said net and a retracted position;
• d) means for moving said cutting blade from said retracted position into said cutting position, said means for moving being responsive to said conveyor pivoting from the feed position into the net cutting position.