| CLAIM OR CLAIMS
1. In a turf harvesting machine wherein a rectangular pallet in a loading bay is loaded with successive layers of cut turf as the pallet is indexed downwards so that each layer of turf is placed at a substantially constant loading level, and wherein the pallet is placed on the ground when loaded so that the harvester can move longitudinally forward to repeat the process, the pallet having front, rear, left and right sides; the presence of turf guide means comprising: at least one guide roller assembly arranged adapted to laterally guide and/or compact each layer of turf as it is placed on the pallet at the loading level.
2. In a turf harvesting machine wherein a rectangular pallet in a loading bay is loaded with successive layers of cut turf as the pallet is indexed downwards so that each layer of turf is placed at a substantially constant loading level, and wherein the pallet is placed on the ground when loaded so that the harvester can move longitudinally forward to repeat the process, the pallet having front, rear, left and right sides; the presence of turf guide means comprising: first and second guide roller assemblies arranged opposite one another at the loading level and adapted to laterally guide and/or compact each layer of turf in a side-to-side direction between said guide roller assemblies as each layer of turf is placed on the pallet.
3. In a turf harvesting machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of said guide roller assemblies comprises: a horizontally disposed rotatable guide roller arranged substantially parallel with and adjacent to a side of the pallet at the loading level, and a substantially vertical guide apron extending downwards from said rotatable guide roller, such that said rotatable guide roller is adapted to guide each layer of turf as it is placed on the pallet and said apron is adapted to guide layers of turf previously placed on the pallet as the pallet is indexed downwards.
4. In a turf harvesting machine according to claim 3, wherein said rotatable guide roller and said apron are mounted for lateral movement away from cut turf placed on the pallet so as to facilitate movement of the harvester away from a loaded pallet placed on the ground without disturbing the cut turf on the loaded pallet by dragging contact with the rotatable guide roller and the apron.
5. In a turf harvesting machine according claim 3, wherein said at least one of guide roller assemblies is further characterized in that: it includes a frame adapted to slope upwardly and outwardly from the loading bay, said guide roller and said apron are slidingly mounted for joint upward and downward movement on said frame such that said upward movement also effects lateral movement away from a pallet in the loading bay at the loading level and such that downward movement also effects lateral movement toward a pallet in the loading bay at the loading level, and actuator means is provided for effecting said joint upward and downward movement of the guide roller and apron on the frame, whereby said guide roller and apron can be moved downward and laterally inward with respect to the pallet during loading so as to thereby facilitate guidance and compaction of cut turf on the pallet and whereby said guide roller and apron can be moved upward and laterally outward with respect to the pallet so as to facilitate movement of the harvester away from a loaded pallet placed on the ground without disturbing the cut turf on the loaded pallet by dragging contact with the rotatable guide roller and the apron..
6. In a turf harvesting machine according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one guide roller assembly comprises: a horizontally disposed rotatable guide roller arranged substantially parallel with and adjacent to the front side of the pallet at the loading level, and a substantially vertical guide apron extending downwards from said rotatable guide roller, such that said rotatable guide roller is adapted to guide each layer of turf as it is placed on the pallet and said apron is adapted to guide layers of turf previously placed on the pallet as the pallet is indexed downwards.
7. In a turf harvesting machine according to claim 6, wherein the harvesting machine includes a forklift mechanism adapted to raise the forks above the loading level to allow the pallet to be placed thereon, to support the pallet at the loading level for the first layer of cut turf to be placed thereon and to index the pallet downwards after each layer of cut turf is placed thereon, and wherein: said front guide roller assembly includes a front frame attached at the front of the loading bay, and said front guide roller and said front apron are slidingly mounted on said front frame for joint upward and downward movement with respect to said frame, whereby said front guide roller and front apron are adapted to be moved upward by the forks of the forklift mechanism when the forks are raised above the loading level to allow a pallet to be placed thereon, and whereby said front guide roller and front apron are adapted to move downward when the forks are moved to lower the pallet to the loading level.
8. In a turf harvesting machine according to claim 1 , the presence of: a rear guide roller assembly in the loading bay at the loading level and adapted to laterally guide and compact each layer of cut turf in a forward direction as it is placed on the pallet.
9. In a turf harvesting machine according to claim 8, wherein said rear guide roller assembly includes: a horizontally disposed rotatable rear guide roller arranged parallel with the rear side of a pallet at the loading level, a rear frame mounting said rear guide roller, and actuator means adapted to jointly move said frame and said rear guide roller when a loaded pallet has been placed on the ground and the harvester is moving forwards so that said rear guide roller is moved clear of the cut turf on the pallet.
10. In a turf harvesting machine according to any preceding claim wherein the harvesting machine rolls the cut strips of turf and wherein each layer of turf comprises at least one set of rolls of turf, and wherein at least one guide roller assembly includes a roller having a diameter of between 50% and 200% of the diameter of the turf rolls.
11. A guide roller assembly for use in a turf harvesting machine in which machine a rectangular pallet in a loading bay is loaded with successive layers of cut turf as the pallet is indexed downwards so that each layer of turf is placed on the pallet at a substantially constant loading level, and wherein the pallet is placed on the ground when loaded so that the harvester can move longitudinally forward to repeat the process, the pallet and loading bay each having front, rear, left and right sides; the guide roller assembly including: a frame adapted for mounting on or at a side of the loading bay, and a guide roller rotatably supported by said frame means so that, when the frame is mounted on or at a side of the loading bay, the guide roller will be substantially horizontal and adapted to laterally guide each layer of turf as it is placed on the pallet at the loading level.
12. A guide roller assembly according to claim 11 , including: a substantially vertical guide apron extending downwards from said rotatable guide roller and supported by said frame so that, when the frame is mounted on or at a side of the loading bay, said apron will be adapted to laterally guide layers of turf placed on the pallet when the pallet is indexed downward.
13. A guide roller assembly according to claim 11 or 12, including: an actuator operable to move said guide roller laterally with respect to said frame, so that, when said guide roller assembly is mounted on or at a side of the loading bay of the harvester, said guide roller is adapted for movement toward and away from cut turf loaded on the pallet in the loading position.
14. A guide roller assembly according to claim 12, including: an actuator operable to move said guide roller and said apron jointly laterally with respect to said frame, so that, when said guide roller assembly is mounted on or at a side of the loading bay of the harvester, said guide roller and apron are adapted for joint movement toward and away from cut turf loaded on the pallet.
15. A guide roller assembly according to any one of claims 11 - 14 wherein: said frame is adapted for attachment to a side of the loading bay so as to slope upwardly and outwardly relative to said side of the loading bay, and said guide roller is slidingly mounted for upward and downward movement on said frame such that said upward movement also effects outward movement of the guide roller with respect to the loading bay, and such that said downward movement also effects inward movement of the guide roller with respect to the loading bay.
16. A guide roller assembly according to claim 11 or 12, wherein: said frame is adapted for mounting at the front side of the loading bay, and said guide roller is mounted by said frame means for vertical movement to and from the loading level.
17. A guide roller assembly according to claim 1 1 wherein: said frame is adapted for pivotal mounting at the rear side of the loading bay so as to be capable of moving the guide roller to and from the loading level, and wherein the guide roller assembly includes, actuator means adapted to effect said movement of the guide roller.
18. A guide roller assembly according to any one of claims 11 - 17 wherein the harvesting machine is adapted to load rolls of turf onto the pallet in layers and wherein the guide roller diameter is between 50% and 200% of the diameter of the turf rolls.
19. A turf harvesting machine having a loading bay in which a pallet is loaded with successive layers of cut turf and the pallet is indexed downwards as each layer of turf is placed thereon so that each layer of turf is placed at a substantially constant loading level, and in which the pallet is placed on the ground when loaded so that the harvester can move longitudinally forward to repeat the process, the loading bay having front, rear, left and right sides; the machine being characterized in that: turf guide means is provided for guiding each layer of cut turf placed on the pallet and said turf guide means includes: a first guide roller arranged on one side of the loading bay, and a second guide roller arranged on the opposite side of the loading bay, so that cut turf placed on the pallet at the loading level will tend to be laterally guided and compacted between said guide rollers.
20. A turf harvesting machine according to claim 19 wherein said turf guide means includes: a first guide apron arranged below the first guide roller on said one side of the loading bay, and a second guide apron arranged below the second guide roller on said opposite side of the loading bay, said first and second guide aprons being adapted to slidingly engage and laterally guide layers of cut turf on the pallet as the pallet is indexed downwards between said guide aprons.
21. A harvesting machine according to claim 19 or 20 wherein: said turf guide means includes actuator means adapted to move said guide rollers relatively toward and away from one another so that, when moved relatively toward one another, the layers of turf placed on the pallet will be guided by said rollers and so that, when moved relatively away from one another said guide rollers are clear of the layers of turf to thereby facilitate discharge of a loaded pallet from the machine.
22. A harvesting machine according to claim 20 wherein: said turf guide means includes actuator means adapted to jointly move said first guide roller and said first guide apron relatively toward and away from said second guide roller and said second apron so that, when moved relatively toward one another, the layers of turf placed on the pallet will be guided by said rollers and said aprons and so that, when moved relatively away from one another said guide rollers and said aprons are clear of the layers of turf to thereby facilitate discharge of a loaded pallet from the machine.
23. A turf harvesting machine according to claim 19 wherein: said first guide roller is arranged on the front side of the loading bay so as to be moveable vertically between the loading level and a raised position, whereby the first guide roller is adapted to be moved to the raised position from the loading level to allow a pallet to be placed within the loading bay.
24. A turf harvesting machine according to claim 19 or 23 wherein: said second guide roller is arranged on the rear side of the loading bay so as to be moveable vertically between the loading level and a raised position, whereby the second guide roller is adapted to be moved to the raised position from the loading level to allow a loaded pallet placed on the ground to pass from the machine.
25. A turf harvesting machine according to claim 20 wherein: said first guide roller is arranged on the front side of the loading bay, said second guide roller is arranged on the right side of the loading bay, -
24 a first actuator is associated with said first guide roller and adapted to move said first guide roller laterally toward and away from the pallet, and actuator means is provided for moving said guide rollers toward the pallet while the pallet is being loaded to effect lateral compaction of each layer of cut turf as it is placed on the pallet and for moving said guide rollers away from the pallet after the loaded pallet had been placed on the ground so that said guide rollers do not contact the cut turf loaded on the pallet.
26. A turf harvesting machine having a loading bay in which a pallet is loaded with successive layers of cut turf and the pallet is indexed downwards as each layer is placed thereon so that each layer is placed at a substantially constant loading level, and in which the pallet is placed on the ground when loaded so that the harvester can move longitudinally forward to repeat the process, the loading bay having front, rear, left and right sides; wherein: a first guide roller assembly is arranged on one side of the loading bay, said first guide roller assembly comprising a first substantially horizontal guide roller, a first substantially vertical apron located beneath the first guide roller and first actuator means, said first actuator means being operable to move the first guide roller and the first apron laterally inwards and outwards with respect to the loading bay, and a second guide roller assembly is arranged on a second side of the loading bay, said second guide roller assembly comprising a second substantially horizontal guide roller, a second substantially vertical apron located beneath the second guide roller and second actuator means, said second actuator means being operable to move the second guide roller and the second apron laterally inwards and outwards with respect to the loading bay, the arrangement being such that, when the first and second guide rollers and the first and second aprons are moved inwards, said guide rollers are adapted to laterally compact each layer of cut turf as it is placed between them on the pallet at the loading level, and, said aprons are adapted to guide the layers of cut turf on the pallet as the pallet is indexed downwards, and when the first and second guide rollers and the first and second aprons are moved outwards they will not contact cut turf on the pallet, so as to thereby facilitate discharge of the loaded pallet from the machine.
27. A method of loading cut turf onto a pallet in a turf harvesting machine, the method including the step of employing a rotatable guide roller to laterally guide and compact cut turf loaded onto the pallet.
28. A method of loading cut turf onto a pallet in a turf harvesting machine, the method including the steps of: employing rotatable guide rollers on opposite sides of the pallet to laterally guide and compact cut turf loaded onto the pallet between said guide rollers, and moving said rotatable guide rollers away from one another and away from the pallet when the pallet has been fully loaded so as to facilitate removal of the loaded pallet from the machine.
29. A method according to claim 27 wherein the guide roller is located at the front of the pallet, the method including the step of lifting said guide roller while placing a fresh pallet in position for loading.
30. A method according to claim 27 wherein the guide roller is located at the back of the pallet, the method including the steps of: lowering the guide roller when placing a fresh pallet in position for loading, and raising the guide roller when the pallet has been loaded, preparatory to discharge of the loaded pallet from the machine. |
TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
TURF GUIDE FOR AUTOMATIC TURF HARVESTERS
Cross-Reference to Related Applications
This application claims priority from Australian provisional patent application No. 2005907078, filed 16 December 2005
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION. Field of the Invention.
This invention relates to turf harvesting, turf harvesting machines and turf harvesting methods in which cut turf is automatically stacked on pallets and then discharged from the machine.
More specifically, though not exclusively, this invention relates to turf guide means for use with turf harvesting machines to assist compact stacking of cut turf on pallets. It is also includes turf harvesting machines having such guide means, and methods of loading cut turf onto pallets in turf harvesting machines.
Description of Related Art
Common automatic turf harvesters are machines that, typically, cut a strip of turf from the ground, dock the strip into fixed lengths, coil each length into a roll of a few turns, pick up a set of rolls and stack the set on a pallet that is supported by a pair of forks at a level for loading. In one common arrangement, the rolls are half the width of a pallet so that two sets arranged side-by-side form a layer, each set comprising five rolls. The two sets of rolls comprising one layer are turned 90° with respect to those of the preceding layer so as to give the stack of rolls on a pallet more coherence. The forks supporting the pallet are indexed downwards after each layer is complete to allow the next layer to be placed in position at a substantially constant loading level by the stacker mechanism. When a pallet load has been completed, the pallet is close to the ground so that, when it is lowered a little further it will rest on the ground so that, as the machine continues to move
forward, the forks withdraw from the loaded pallet and the rear portion of the harvester travels over the loaded pallet resting on the ground, leaving it for later pick-up. Once the forks are clear of the loaded pallet, they are raised to their highest position, ready to receive the next pallet from a pallet stack at the loading level. As the pallet stack is normally carried at the back of the machine, it is raised to clear the loaded pallet and then lowered to allow a new empty pallet to be slid into place on the forks ready to receive the first layer of turf rolls.
For convenience, the front and rear edges of a pallet or turf-roll stack will be called the front and rear sides while the other opposed edges will be called the left and right sides of the pallet / stack(with respect to the direction of movement of the harvester). The corresponding boundaries of the loading bay within which the pallet is located and lowered will also be called front and rear, left and right 'sides', even though, for example, there may be no physical rear side of the loading bay.
A leading manufacturer of turf harvesting machines is Trebro Manufacturing, Inc. of Billings, MT, USA and general features of a range of machines offered by Trebro can be found at www.trebro.com .
In an alternate form of turf harvester, the cut strips of turf are not rolled but are laid flat on the pallet, normally with two or three strips side-by-side to make up a layer. The stacker may place one strip down at a time, or it may place two or more pre- stacked strips down at a time, on the pallet. The strip or strips placed each time herein being regarded as a 'set'. The present invention is applicable to harvesters with strip stackers as well as to the more conventional ones with roll stackers.
Automated turf harvester machines are commonly used for harvesting pliant cool- climate grasses such as Tall Fescue that grow on flat well-watered soft, fertile soils found in Europe and North America. They are not so suitable for springy warm-climate grasses such as Couch and Buffalo, especially when grown on the drier, less-uniform soils that are found in Australia, South Africa and South
America. The harvesting of turf in many locations in these countries is further complicated by the fact that the land used is often sloping or undulating.
My investigations have shown that, while most commercial turf harvesters can be driven and adjusted to reliably cut strips of warm-climate grasses, the subsequent strip handling and rolling (if employed) can thereafter be problematic. If there is a lack of uniformity in the rolls/strips, or rolls/strips are stiff, they may not be handled well by the stacker nor placed evenly on the pallet. An uneven stack of rolls/strips on a pallet can be come unstable during handling. Protruding rolls/strips can foul parts of the harvester during unloading of the pallet, causing jams, damaged strips or rolls and even whole or partial collapse of the stack. While the loss or damage of one or two rolls/strips may not result in the collapse of a stack, the pallet may not have the right number of rolls/strips or portions of a roll or strip may be missing or torn. This will create problems for transport and customer service.
Various attempts had been made to put fixed guards and or guides in place to try to produce a stable turf stack to solve the problems mentioned above. These fixtures have the disadvantage of jamming rolls/strips of turf between the stacking mechanism and the guards, damaging the turf rolls/strips and leading, once again, to uneven stacks. In fact, such guides furnish even more protrusions that can foul a stack on a pallet as it is being discharged or that can foul the pallet itself as it slides into position or as it is being unloaded.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION From one aspect, this invention comprises a turf harvesting machine that has a stacker adapted to pick up rolls or strips of cut turf and place them as layers on a pallet positioned at a loading level in a loading bay of the machine, the machine being characterized in that turf guide means including at least one guide roller assembly is provided to laterally guide, hold, compact and/or compress the layers of cut turf as they are placed on the pallet. Preferably, opposing side guide rollers are employed so that each layer is guided and/or compacted laterally between them in a side-to-side direction. It is preferably that the guide rollers be movable
laterally away from a loaded pallet to facilitate discharge of the loaded pallet from the machine.
The turf guide means may include a front guide roller assembly at the front of the loading bay, the front guide roller assembly preferably including a rotatable guide roller that can be raised above the loading level by the forks of the harvester in order to accept a fresh pallet on the forks and then lowered to the loading level for guiding layers of cut turf placed on the pallet. Similarly, a rear guide roller assembly may be employed at the rear of the loading bay and may be movable to allow a loaded pallet to pass from the machine without danger of fouling the rear guide roller. The use of both front and rear roller assemblies allows layers of cut turf to be guided and compacted between them in the front-to-back direction.
I have found that the use of guide rollers having diameters that are roughly similar to the diameter of a normal turf roll is an advantage. Guide roller diameters between 50% and 200% of turf roll diameter have been found to be suitable, with a guide roller diameter of between 75% and 125% being preferred so long as they can be physically accommodated. Multiple separate rollers or a single roller may be used on one or each side of the pallet, multiple rollers having the advantage that they can rotate at different rates or times to better accommodate uneven layers of cut turf, while a single roller on one side having the benefit of simplicity and economy.
The rotatable guide rollers of the side guide roller assemblies are preferably substantially horizontal and aligned longitudinally with respect to the direction of movement of the harvesting machine. The side guide rollers are preferably positioned at the loading level where the stacking arm places the turf onto a pallet in the loading bay, so that the rollers gently laterally move the cut turf to the correct position in its layer without damage. However, the axes of the side rollers may be inclined to the horizontal and, if so, are preferably inclined downwards and forwards so that a set of turf rolls/strips is gently moved forwards while being laterally compressed or compacted.
As already indicated, the side guide rollers are preferably located at the loading level where the cut turf is placed on the pallet. However, in doing so, there is a danger that the corner of a slightly misaligned empty pallet will hit the rear end of a guide roller as the pallet slides into position in the loading bay. Accordingly, the rear ends of the side guide rollers may be tapered, or an angled deflector plate may be mounted at the rear end of the side rollers to guide a misaligned pallet back into its correct position between the rollers.
Thus, from another aspect, this invention comprises guide roller means adapted for use in a turf harvesting machine to guide and compact cut turf as it is being placed in position on a pallet, the guide roller means having deflector means associated with their rear end portions adapted to deflect a misaligned pallet from fouling the roller means as the pallet is slid forwards into the loading bay.
A guide roller assembly as indicated above may include a substantially vertical guide plate or apron arranged below the respective rotatable guide roller so as to be adapted to guide and compact layers of cut turf on the pallet as the pallet is indexed downwards. Preferably, the guide roller and its apron are jointly moveable away from a loaded pallet so as not to tend to drag or displace the cut turf as the loaded pallet passes from the machine. For this purpose, the guide roller assembly may include a frame on which the guide roller and apron are slidingly mounted, the frame being adapted for mounting adjacent the loading bay so that it slopes upward and outward relative to the respective side of the bay, so that upward movement of the guide roller and apron in the frame will also move them outward and away from the loaded pallet. Acutator means such as a hydraulic or pneumatic ram may be used to effect the movement of the guide roller and frame.
Where a front guide roller assembly is employed as indicated above, it is also preferable to employ an apron for the purpose of guiding the layers of cut turf as the pallet is indexed downwards. While there is no need to arrange for the front apron and guide roller to be movable, since a loaded pallet on the ground will
move away from them, it may be convenient to mount the front guide roller and apron in a frame for vertical movement to allow the pallet forks to be raised to the pallet loading position (as already indicated). Alternatively, but less preferably, the front roller and apron can be split into three portions so that the pair of forks can move up and down while the front roller(s) and apron(s) remain stationary.
Though it is envisaged that the guide rollers can be driven for rotation about their axes so that sets of turf rolls/strips are compacted both downwards and laterally, I have found that the added cost and complication of doing so (by using hydraulic motors, for example) does not appear to be worthwhile, except possibly where particularly difficult grasses or soils are encountered. Non-vibrating idling side guide rollers are generally adequate in most normal harvesting operations with warm climate grasses such as Couch and Buffalo.
From another aspect, it is envisaged that one or more guide rollers can be mounted on a pivoting frame that allows the roller(s) to move outward against the bias of a spring or weight when a misaligned set of turf rolls/strips is being lowered into position. However, outward pivoting guide roller means may not be feasible in many harvesters where lateral space at the level of a pallet in the loading position is at a premium. Moreover, lifting side roller means facilitates access to hydraulic drives and controls that are often located to the side of the machine at or below the level of the loading station.
If the guide rollers are fixedly mounted (ie, non-pivoting and non-lifting), it will generally be sufficient to employ only one guide roller on each side (or end) of the pallet stacking area. However, where pivoting rollers are employed, I prefer to use one guide roller on each side for each set of turf rolls/strips. This will normally mean a pair of independently pivoting guide rollers on each side (or end, where end rollers are used).
It will be appreciated from the above that there are a number of aspects the invention: first, it concerns modification and improvement of existing commercial
turf harvesters; second, it relates to turf guide means adapted for use with such harvesters; third, it relates to methods of operating modified turf harvesters. Thus, from another aspect, the invention comprises a method of loading cut turf onto a pallet of a turf harvesting machine characterized by the use of a guide roller or rollers to laterally guide and compact the cut turf as it is loaded in layers onto the pallet. The method may include the step of raising, moving and/or tilting one or more of the guide roller means out of contact with the loaded pallet to facilitate the discharge of the loaded pallet from the machine. It may also include the step of lifting a front guide roller using the forks of the machine as they move to the position where a fresh pallet can be loaded on to the forks.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION
Having portrayed the nature of the present invention, two examples will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many variations and modifications can be made to the examples without departing from the scope of the invention as outlined above.
Brief Description of the Several Views of the drawings.
In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic right side view of a tractor-driven turf harvesting machine showing the major sub-assemblies.
Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view from the rear of the left side of the harvester of Figure 1
Figure 3 is a schematic rear view of the harvester of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the loading bay of the harvester of Figures 1 - 3 fitted with turf guide means of the first example comprising front, rear, and side guide roller assemblies, a pallet being shown in place in the loading bay.
Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the harvester of Figures 1 - 3 fitted with the guide roller assemblies indicated in Figure 4, showing the pallet loader, pallet forks and the turf guide assemblies all in their raised positions.
Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of the harvester of Figures 1 - 3 fitted with the guide roller assemblies of the first example, showing the pallet loader, pallet forks and the rear turf guide assembly, all in their lowered positions.
Figure 7 is a detail perspective from the left side of the harvester of Figures - 3 fitted with the turf guide means of the first example and showing the outside of the left guide roller assembly.
Figure 8 is a sectional end elevation of the left guide roller assembly taken on plane 8 - 8 of Figure 5.
Figure 9 is a detail perspective from the right side and above of the loading bay and guide roller assemblies of Figure 4 but with the guide roller assemblies and pallet forks raised and the pallet omitted.
Figure 10 is a detail perspective from above of portion of the front of the loading bay of Figure 4 showing portions of the front and left guide roller assemblies when in their lowered positions, but with the pallet omitted.
Figure 11 is a sectional end elevation of the front guide roller assembly taken on plane 11 - 11 of Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a detail perspective of portions of the rear guide roller assembly and pallet platform in their raised positions, the view being toward the rear and left of the harvester of Figures 1 - 3.
Figure 13 is a detail perspective of portions of the rear guide roller assembly in its lowered position, the view being from the rear and toward the left of the harvester of Figures 1 - 3.
Figure 14 is a rear perspective view of the harvester of Figures 1 - 3 fitted with turf guide means comprising the second example of the invention, a fully loaded pallet being shown just before it is placed on the ground.
Figure 15 is an enlarged elevation of the left guide roller assembly of the second example of turf guide means formed in accordance with the invention.
Figure 16 is an end elevation of the guide roller assembly of Figure 15.
Figures 1 - 3 illustrate the principal sub-assemblies of a tractor-mounted turf harvesting machine 10, such as the Trebor HarveStack™, that forms and stacks turf rolls and is suitable for mounting the turf guide means of the chosen examples. Machine 10 basically comprises a drive tractor 12, a cutter head 14, a conveyor 16, an indexing conveyor 17, a stacker 18 (sometimes called a 'monkey'), a pallet loading bay 20, a pallet platform 22 supporting a stack 24 of empty pallets at the rear of the machine and a pallet feeder 26 to push a pallet from the bottom of stack 24 forwards into loading bay 20 where it is indicated at 28 in Figure 2. Pallet 28 is thus located at the loading level. The sides of loading bay 20 are defined in part by upper and lower spaced horizontal harvester frame members 29 and 31 respectively. Pallet 28 is supported in loading bay 20 by the forks 30 (see also Figures 4 - 6) of a forklift mechanism 32 (see Figure 11 for detail).
In use, cutter head 14 is lowered and tractor 12 is driven steadily forwards so that cutter head 14 cuts a continuous sheet of turf from the ground and slices it transversely into fixed-length strips that are transferred to conveyor 16, which coils them into rolls and transfers the rolls to indexing conveyor 17 where the rolls
are assembled into sets of five rolls each. Each set of rolls is picked up from indexing conveyor 17 by stacker 18 that orients the set and places it onto pallet 28 so that there are two sets to a layer and the rolls of each set are orthogonal to those of the previous layer. After the placement of each successive layer of turf rolls, pallet 28 is indexed downward within loading bay 20 ready for the placement of the next layer of rolls at the substantially constant loading level. This process is repeated until the pallet load is complete, at which time pallet 28 is close to ground level and only slight further lowering will cause it to rest on the ground.
Figure 14 is a view of the back of harvester 10 with a fully loaded pallet 28 in loading bay 20 as it is about to be lowered onto the ground 34. In this case, a full load comprises sixty rolls 36 in six layers of two sets of five turf rolls each, each layer being oriented orthogonally relative to the previous layer. [Figure 14 illustrates a second and alternative example of guide means to that described with reference to Figures 4 - 13 below.] Since pallet 28 is rested on the ground while harvester 10 moves steadily forwards, the harvester moves away from the pallet automatically withdrawing forks 30 therefrom. However, it is first necessary to raise pallet platform 22 so that the pallet load can pass thereunder, as shown in Figure 14. Platform 22 is then lowered while forks 30 are raised so that a new pallet 28 can be pushed forwards from the bottom of stack 24 by feeder 26 onto forks 30 positioned a little above the loading level, forks 30 and pallet 28 then being lowered to the loading level so that the loading procedure can be repeated.
Figure 4 is a view looking down onto the loading bay 20 of machine 10 in which the turf guide means of the first example comprise front, left, right and rear guide roller assemblies 38, 40, 42 and 44, respectively, have been fitted. [Note these guide roller assemblies are not shown fitted to the standard machine of Figures 1 - 3.] Each guide assembly can be raised and lowered, each being shown in its lowered position in Figure 4. Pallet 28 is shown resting on forks 30 at the loading level ready to take the first layer of turf rolls 36 (Fig. 14) from stacker 18. It will be seen that guide roller assemblies 38, 40, 42 and 44 function to compact and consolidate the first layer of turf rolls from all sides, and, that they will also
compact and consolidate each successive layer of rolls as forks 30 (with pallet 28 and the previous layers of rolls) are indexed downwards and each successive layer is placed on the roll stack at the loading level. [Figure 9 shows the position of forks 30 and the guide assemblies 38, 40, 42 and 44 just prior to pallet 28 being pushed on to forks 30 and forks 30 being lowered with the pallet into the position of Figure 4.]
Figure 5 is a rear view of machine 10 with pallet platform 22 fully raised, side guide roller assemblies 40 and 42 in their raised positions and front guide roller assembly 38 about to be lifted from its lowered position by forks 30, as forks are raised to accept another pallet from stack 24 on platform 26. For the sake of clarity, it is assumed that rear guide roller assembly 44 is fully raised and that the rear roller (90, to be described) of that assembly will be lowered before a pallet is loaded onto forks 30 from stack 24. Figure 6 is a similar view of the back of machine 10 to that of Figure 5, showing platform 22 and rear roller guide assembly 44 lowered. In Figure 6, forks 30 are shown in their lowermost position as they would appear immediately after (i) harvester 10 had left a loaded pallet (not shown) on the ground and (ii) rear guide roller assembly 44 had been re- lowered ready for forks 30 to be raised and a pallet pushed thereon from stack 24 over the top of guide assembly 44. Normally, forks 30 would be raised before the rear guide roller assembly 44 starts to be re-lowered following clearance of the loaded pallet.
Left side turf guide assembly 40 will now be described with particular reference to Figures 7 and 8, though reference should also be made to Figures 4 and 5 and it should be appreciated that right guide assembly 42 is substantially identical to assembly 40, so the same detailed reference numerals will be applied thereto. Assembly 40 basically comprises a horizontal roller 46 mounted for free rotation in bearings 48 on a horizontal beam 50 to which is affixed an apron 52 depending substantially vertically therefrom, the apron having side panels 54 each carrying a pair of wheels 56 that run in respective sloping guide channels 58 which form part of a guide frame 60 that is fixed by gussets 62 and brackets 64 to upper and lower
harvester side frame members 29 and 31 , respectively. In this example, guide frame 60 is completed by a horizontal beam 66 joining the upper ends of channels 58 together. Finally, a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator 68 is pivotally attached by its lower end to a vertical post 69 fixed between harvester frame members 29 and 31 and pivotally attached by its upper end to beam 50 of guide assembly 40. In the perspective drawing of Figure 7, actuator 68 is in its short or contracted condition so that frame 60 and roller 46 are jointly in their lowermost position, while in the section drawing of Figure 8 actuator 68 is in its long or extended condition so that frame 60 and roller 46 are jointly in their uppermost position.
It will be appreciated that, by virtue of the slope of guide frame 60, roller 46 and apron 52 will move laterally inward into loading bay 20 as they are lowered and they will move laterally outward as they are raised. Thus, when layers of turf rolls 36 are being placed on pallet 28 in loading bay 20 at the loading level, side guide roller assemblies 40 and 42 will be in their lower positions at the loading level where their rollers 46 and aprons 52 are innermost and best adapted to guide and compact the layers of rolls as they are loaded and as the pallet is indexed downward. Also, when assemblies 40 and 42 are in their uppermost positions, their rollers 46 and aprons 52 are outermost and well clear of loaded pallet 28 so that harvester 10 can move away from the loaded pallet resting on the ground without fear of either rollers 46 or aprons 52 dragging or dislodging rolls from the load.
Finally with regard to the side guide assemblies 40 and 42, an optional deflector plate 70 can be affixed to beam 50 immediately behind the rear end of each roller 46 so as to deflect a leading corner of a misaligned pallet 28 as it is being pushed into loading bay 20 from stack 24. Plate 70 stops the corner of the pallet from catching on the rear end of roller 46. While the use of deflector plates 70 is not necessary because actuators 68 can be readily operated to ensure that rollers 46 are in their raised (ie, outermost) positions so that they and their associated aprons will be well clear of a pallet being pushed into the loading bay, an advantage in cycle time can be gained by lowering guide assemblies 40 and 42
while forks 30 are being raised after a loaded pallet has been placed on the ground. [Deflector plate 70 is shown perhaps most clearly on left assembly 40 in Figure 8 and on right guide assembly 42 in Figure 9.]
The front guide assembly 38 will now be described in more detail with reference to Figures 10 and 11 , though general reference can also be made to Figures 4, 5 and 9. Front guide assembly 38. also comprises a roller 72 mounted for free rotation in bearings 74 on a horizontal beam 76 from which an apron 78 depends. As with side guide assemblies 40 and 42, apron 78 is fitted with wheels 80 that run in channels 82 to allow movement of front assembly 38. In this case, however, channels 82 are arranged vertically and fixed behind the vertical channel tracks 84 that form part of forklift mechanism 32 by which forks 30 are moved up and down. As indicated diagrammatically in Figure 11 , forks 30 are L-shape with their vertical portions 30a mounted on wheels 86 that run in channel tracks 84, forks 30 being raised and lowered by a hydraulic actuator (not shown) in a manner well known in the art.
A pair of stops 88 are affixed in the bottoms of guide channels 82 to set the lowest and normal position of guide assembly 38, in which front guide roller 72 is at the level where it will function to guide and compact layers of turf rolls 36 being placed on pallet 28 on forks 30 in loading bay 20. To allow forks 30 to move up and down without contacting apron 78 of front guide assembly 38, apron 78 is split into left, center and right portions 78a, 78b and 78c (respectively). However, when forks 30 are raised sufficiently to receive a fresh pallet 28 from stack 24, they will be above the loading level at which the first layer (and subsequent layers) of turf rolls are placed on the pallet. Thus, as forks 30 are raised, they will contact beam 76 of front guide assembly 38 (as indicated in broken lines at 30c) and lift the entire guide assembly upwards and hold it in that raised position while a fresh pallet 28 is pushed onto forks 30, the highest position of forks 30 and front roller guide assembly 38 being indicated at 30b and 38a, respectively in Figure 11. After receiving pallet 28, forks 30 and pallet 28 are lowered to the loading level for receiving the first layer of turf rolls, the position of the forks being indicated in
broken lines at 30c in Figure 11. Front guide assembly 38 will then be resting on stops 88 in guide channels 82 in its normal or loading position (shown in solid lines in Figure 11 ). After each successive layer of turf rolls is loaded onto pallet 28, forks 30 will be indexed downward moving in the slots between apron portions 78a and 78b and between 78b and 78c (Figure 10).
The rear guide assembly 44 will now be described with reference to Figures 12 and 13 though general reference should also be made to Figures 5 and 6. Rear guide roller assembly 44 comprises rear guide roller 90 mounted for free rotation on bearings 92 affixed to brackets 94 that are in turn affixed to side bell-cranks 96 that are pivoted around pins 98 by hydraulic or pneumatic actuators 100. When actuators 100 are extended, as in Figure 12, bell-cranks are positioned so that roller 90 is lifted clear of the path taken by a loaded pallet 28 as it exits harvester 10 from the rear, pallet platform 22 also being shown in its raised position to provide clearance for a loaded pallet. [Actually, of course, harvester 10 travels forwards leaving the loaded pallet sitting on the ground.] After the loaded pallet has exited machine 10, actuators 100 are operated to rotate bell-cranks 96 to lower rear roller 90. At this time pallet platform 22 is also lowered to the level at which a pallet can be pushed onto forks 30 when they are in their highest position, the way for a fresh pallet to be pushed from the bottom of stack 24 being cleared by the lowering of roller 90. A proximity sensor 102 is adjustably affixed to a frame member 104 so as to sense when bell-cranks 96 are in their lower positions and, thus, when it is safe to push a pallet from stack 24 into the loading bay.
It will be appreciated that operation of the turf guide means of the first example requires little modification to the hydraulic circuits of the standard harvester. Actuators 68 and 100 of the side and rear guide roller assemblies 40 - 44 can be simply connected in parallel with the hydraulic pallet discharge circuit of harvester 10 by which a fully loaded pallet is placed on the ground and pallet platform 22 is raised to clear it as machine 10 moves forwards. Thus, as long as the pallet discharge circuit is not activated, actuators 68 and 100 will not be extended and guide assemblies 40 - 44 will be in their lowered positions. But, when the pallet
discharge circuit is operated, the loaded pallet will be placed on the ground while guide roller assemblies 40 - 44 are moved clear of the loaded pallet along with pallet platform 22. When the loaded pallet is clear of the rear of machine 10, pallet platform and guide roller assemblies 40 - 44 are all lowered together while forks 30 are raised to receive a new pallet, lifting front guide roller assembly 38 in the process, as described above.
While the above operation is simply effected, it does mean that side guide roller assemblies 40 and 42 will be in place at the loading level when a fresh pallet is pushed from bottom of pallet stack 24 onto forks 30, hence making it wise to employ deflector plates 70 to ensure that a front corner of the pallet does not catch on one of rollers 46. The need for deflector plates 70 could be avoided if side guide roller assemblies 40 and 42 were lowered after the fresh pallet 28 had been pushed onto forks 30. The wiring of sensors 102 that detect when rear guide roller assembly is in its lowered position (and thus out of the way of a fresh pallet being loaded onto forks 30) will be obvious to those skilled in hydraulics as it can be simply the raising of an alarm and/or the deactivation of the pallet pushing sequence. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various other modifications and enhancements to the control procedures of the harvester 10 are possible. If desired a separate actuator may be used to raise and lower the front guide roller assembly 38 independently of the movement of forks 30. This would allow the front roller 72 to be raised above the loading level while pallet 28 is being loaded onto forks 30.
The second example of roller guide means for use in turf harvesting machines is illustrated in Figures 14 - 16, it being assumed for convenience that the same harvesting machine 10 as in the first example is employed. In this example, fixed left and right side guide roller assemblies 104 and 106 are employed without aprons, assemblies 104 and 106 simply being U-bolted to upper side frame member 29. Left side assembly 104 is illustrated in Figures 15 and 16 and, being substantially identical to right assembly 106, will be the only one described. Guide roller assembly 104 includes a guide roller 108 mounted for free rotation with a
shaft 110 mounted in bearings 112 affixed to brackets 114 that are in turn affixed to a horizontal beam 116, beam 116 being clamped by U-bolts 118 to harvester frame member 29.
Since roller 108 is fixedly mounted at the level at which a fresh a pallet 28 will be pushed onto forks 30 near the top of loading bay 20, there is a real danger that a leading corner of a slightly mis-aligned pallet will strike the rear end of roller 108 and either damage the pallet or stall the pallet-loading process. Hence the use of a deflector plate, shown at 120, covering the upper portion of the rear end of roller 108 is important in this example. A front roller assembly 38 is preferably employed as depicted in Figure 14, assembly 38 preferably being substantially identical to that described with respect to the first example.
As already noted, Figure 14 shows the rear of machine 10 just after the last layer of turf rolls 36 has be put in place and just before loaded pallet 28 is lowered onto the ground. Since the loaded pallet will be lowered by about half the diameter of a turf roll 36, the upper layer of rolls should be freed from the pressure of the rollers of the side roller assemblies 104 and 106 and not be likely to be dragged off the pallet by that pressure. However, the action of finally lowering pallet 28 onto the ground can lift the outer ends of the upper layer of rolls so that they are still in contact with the rollers of assemblies when the pallet is on the ground, and that can cause dislodgement of one or more of turf rolls from the load. Accordingly, the use of the cheaper fixed side guide roller assemblies is only recommended where the turf is relatively moist and pliant.
While it will be appreciated that the rotary turf guide means of the chosen examples serve a valuable function and meet the desiderata of the invention, many variations of this guide means are possible and many other guide means can be employed without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed below.