Movable Tray for Defective Sod Roll Disposal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sod harvesters often produce defective sod rolls that are difficult to efficiently remove and dispose of, affecting the stability and quality of the sod roll stacks.
Innovation Solution
A sod harvesting apparatus with a movable tray system that can extend into a gap between the transport conveyor and accumulator to receive and remove defective sod rolls, allowing them to fall out of the system, while acceptable rolls are transferred to the accumulator for stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sod roll is determined to be defective after formation, then it must be removed from the stacking system, but the removal process disrupts the stability and quality of the sod roll stacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the defective sod roll removal function from the main stacking system by introducing a separate tray mechanism that can independently receive and remove defective rolls without disrupting the accumulator's stacking operation. The tray is positioned to receive rolls from the conveyor and can be withdrawn to dispose of defective rolls, while acceptable rolls continue to be stacked in the accumulator.
2Reliability
If defective sod rolls are not efficiently removed, then the stability and quality of stacks deteriorate, but implementing a removal mechanism increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The tray mechanism serves multiple functions: it receives sod rolls from the conveyor, holds them for inspection, and can be withdrawn to dispose of defective rolls. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate removal mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining stack stability through efficient defective roll disposal.
3Productivity
If a tray mechanism is added to remove defective rolls, then disposal efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is designed as a movable component that can dynamically adjust its position between an extended position (to receive rolls from the conveyor) and a retracted position (to dispose of defective rolls). This dynamic positioning allows the same component to perform multiple operations, improving disposal efficiency without requiring separate fixed mechanisms for each function.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for disposing of a defective sod roll from a sod harvester is disclosed. The system includes: (i) a transport conveyor; (ii) an accumulator located behind the transport conveyor, such that a gap is defined between a rear end of the transport conveyor and a front end of the accumulator; and (iii) a movable tray located proximate to the gap. The tray moves between a retracted position and an extended position. When the tray is in the retracted position, the gap is open and a receiving surface of the tray is in a generally horizontal orientation. When the tray is in the extended position, the tray is located within the gap to receive the sod roll from the transport conveyor.