2012 - Volume #BFS, Issue #12, Page #09
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Rotary Rock Picker A Fast Way To Pick Rocks
“It’s actually fun to run it. It’s like playing Pac-Man,” says inventor Kent Roessler about what he calls his Robo Rock Picker.The rock picker attaches to the front of a skid loader. It tilts down to pick up rocks and then up to spin off dirt and debris. The Anoka, Minn., farmer invented the rock picker out of frustration. The rock bucket he had been using picked up a lot of debris and dumped good topsoil on rock piles where grass thrived. He sells rocks to area landscapers so he ended up moving rocks twice just to get them clean.
Roessler’s Robo rock picker has a 3-ft., 1-in. steel plate on the back, 5-ft. long, 1-in. cold rolled steel bars welded 2 in. apart. A no. 50 roller chain is driven by a hydraulic motor. The 900-lb. unit has a quick hitch that attaches to any skid loader with a quick attach plate.
“There is really no maintenance to the machine. There’s 2 grease fittings every 50 hours. With sales pouring in after the Farm Fest and the Big Iron Shows, where Robo was on display, there is a lot of interest in this farm tool,” says Kent. “Every farmer wants to pick his own rocks and now they have a tool that makes that task enjoyable.”
Unlike expensive windrow rock pickers that require level fields and have a short window of time to use, the picker can be used year round.
“You can literally pick rock after chisel plowing in fall in heavy trash corn stubble,” Kent says. “We pick right up until frost chunks won’t screen out. In spring you can get in earlier because mud pushes through the bars.”
Robo also holds 3 times more rock than a rock bucket and picks 2 to 3 times faster. After months of farm testing, three prototypes, and obtaining a patent, Kent has a small manufacturing shop (near Anoka, Minn.) and is currently selling Robo Rock Picker at $4,995 list price. He is setting up a dealer network at local implement dealers.
Besides being a good tool for farmers, the rock picker works well for landscapers and construction workers who need to clean up roots and debris.
At his small manufacturing shop, he has 2 full time employees dedicated to Robo builds and, with spring rock picking on its way, Kent says he can add a couple more to keep up with builds. You can see a video of Robo in action at www.RoboRockPicker.com or give Kent a call at 612 242-5051.
Robo rotary rock picker has a one year warranty and Kent says, “It should last the average farmer a lifetime.”
Contact:
Robo Mfg.
Kent Roessler
5160 Viking Blvd.
Anoka, MN 55303
ph 612-242-5051
www.RoboRockPicker.com
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