# US 8,771,434 B2 · Artificial turf remover and infill separator, and method of use thereof

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- Number: US 8,771,434 B2
- Document ID: US8771434B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/832,301
- Filed: 2010-07-08
- Published: 2012-01-12
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2010-07-08
- Applicants: Mark Mitchell
- Inventors: Mark Mitchell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771434B2

## CPC

- E01C 13/08: Surfaces simulating grass {; Grass-grown sports grounds (grass-like surfaces for skiing E01C13/12)}
- A01G 20/12: Apparatus for cutting sods or turfs
- A63C 19/12: Removable protective covers for courts, rinks, or game pitches or the like
- E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H)
- A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12)
- A63C: SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE (water skis B63B32/00, B63B34/00)

## Abstract

An artificial turf remover and infill separator comprising an artificial turf removing station, an infill separating station and an artificial turf collection station. The infill separating station comprises rotatable spinning devices comprises corners, wherein each corner comprises chain links. The artificial turf remover and infill separator is utilized by positioning a strip of artificial turf on an angular ramp, conveying the artificial turf over a first pair of rotatable rollers, conveying the artificial turf between a second pair of rotatable rollers, separating infill from the artificial turf via fin-shaped picks, square-shaped rotatable diggers and the rotatable spinning devices, wherein the chain links jostle the infill material from the artificial turf onto a first and second infill collection conveyor belt. The artificial turf is then conveyed over a first and second base roller, between a rear pair of counter-rotating rollers and then wound around a final artificial turf collection roller.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An artificial turf remover and infill separator comprising:
an artificial turf removing station comprises an angular ramp, and wherein said angular ramp comprises a front end and a rear end;
an infill separating station comprising:
rotatable spinning devices, wherein each of said rotatable spinning devices comprises corners, and wherein each of said corners comprises chain links;
a first infill collection conveyor belt comprising a first end and a second end, wherein infill material removed from artificial turf falls onto said first infill collection conveyor belt via gravitational force, and wherein said infill is conveyed from said first end to said second end of said first infill collection conveyor belt;
a first pair of rotatable rollers, wherein rotation of said first pair of rotatable rollers guides said artificial turf over said first pair of rotatable rollers away from said angular ramp;
fin-shaped picks; and
a second pair of rotatable rollers, wherein rotation of said second pair of rotatable rollers guides said artificial turf between said second pair of rotatable rollers and over said fin-shaped picks, and wherein said fin-shaped picks contact a face of said artificial turf, thereby loosening said infill material from said artificial turf; and
an artificial turf collection station.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The artificial turf remover and infill separator of claim 1, wherein said front end of said angular ramp guides said artificial turf from a ground surface toward said rear end of said angular ramp, and wherein said rear end of said angular ramp is disposed proximate said infill separating station.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The artificial turf remover and infill separator of claim 1, wherein said face of said artificial turf is further guided over rotatable diggers, and wherein each of said rotatable diggers comprise square shapes having rounded bars disposed on each corner.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The artificial turf remover and infill separator of claim 3, wherein said rounded bars of said rotatable diggers further contact said face of said artificial turf in a cyclic manner, thereby loosening said infill material from said artificial turf and onto said first infill collection conveyor belt.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The artificial turf remover and infill separator of claim 4, wherein said chain links of said spinning devices contact a bottom side of said artificial turf in a cyclic manner, thereby jostling said infill material from said artificial turf and onto said first infill collection conveyor belt.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The artificial turf remover and infill separator of claim 5, wherein said second end of said first infill collection conveyor belt is disposed proximate a second infill collection conveyor belt.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The artificial turf remover and infill separator of claim 6, wherein said infill material collected on said first infill collection conveyor belt is conveyed from said second end of said first infill collection conveyor belt onto said second infill collection conveyor belt, and wherein said second infill collection conveyor belt conveys said infill material to a final infill collection section.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The artificial turf remover and infill separator of claim 7, wherein said artificial turf removing station, said infill separating station and said artificial turf collection station are disposed on a base frame, wherein said base frame is disposed on wheels, thereby allowing said artificial turf remover and infill separator to be movable.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The artificial turf remover and infill separator of claim 8, wherein said base frame comprises a front, a first base roller, a second base roller, and wherein a collapsible front frame is disposed on said front of said base, and wherein rotation of said first base roller guides the artificial turf from said first pair of rotatable rollers around said first base roller, and wherein said collapsible front frame pivots away from said base frame via hinges, and wherein said collapsible front frame comprises a front bar, and wherein said front bar is dimensioned to be received by a towing vehicle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The artificial turf remover and infill separator of claim 9, wherein rotation of said second base roller guides said artificial turf around said second base roller from said first base roller.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The artificial turf remover and infill separator of claim 10, wherein said artificial turf collection station comprises a rear pair of counter-rotating rollers and a final artificial turf collection roller.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The artificial turf remover and infill separator of claim 11, wherein rotation of said rear pair of counter-rotating rollers guides said artificial turf between said rear pair of counter-rotating rollers away from said second base roller.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The artificial turf remover and infill separator of claim 12, wherein rotation of said final artificial turf collection roller winds said artificial turf around said final artificial collection roller into a cylindrical shape from said second base roller.