Cartridge spreader system
View Patent ↗The cartridge spreader system includes a mobile cartridge spreader with a cartridge station configured to engage a cartridge and includes a locking controller for locking the cartridge securely into the cartridge station. The cartridge station includes an activator mechanism for activating and deactivating an engaged cartridge. The cartridge spreader includes an activation controller for activating and deactivating the cartridge. Activation of the cartridge allows the granular product contained in the cartridge to flow out of the container, through a granular chute on the cartridge station, and onto a granular product launcher which launches or impels the granular product over terrain or other surface. When the cartridge is deactivated, the flow path is sealed stopping the flow of granular product. The cartridge itself includes a fitment that engages with the cartridge station. The cartridge fitment includes an appropriately sized metering gate.
1. A manually removable cartridge, comprising:
a fitment assembly configured to mechanically engage a spreading device, comprising:
a flow metering gate that comprising an aperture allowing flow of a granular material; and
an activator to activate and deactivate the flow of the granular material through the flow metering gate comprising a moveable shutoff plate that is configured to be mechanically actuated through an interface with the spreading device, the interface comprising a slide engager that is configured to mate with a knob on the spreading device.
2. The cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising:
a container, functionally joined to the fitment assembly, for holding the granular material.
3. The cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the container is flexible.
4. The cartridge of claim 2 , further comprising:
an agitator that mechanically couples to an agitator drive shaft of the spreading device.
5. The cartridge of claim 1 , the cartridge further comprising: a container affixed to the fitment assembly such that the cartridge comprises a single entity.
6. The cartridge of claim 5 , wherein the cartridge is flexible.
7. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the agitator agitates the granular material in the container to facilitate flow thereof from the container, through the fitment assembly, to the spreading device.
8. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the flow metering gate is configured to allow flow of the granular material at a predetermined, constant rate from the cartridge.
9. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein a flow rate of the granular material is based upon the size of the aperture and the size of the aperture is predetermined based on a type of the granular material.
10. The cartridge of claim 1 ,
wherein the moveable shutoff plate comprises a sliding shutoff plate.
11. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein deactivation seals the flow metering gate to prevent flow of the granular material.
12. The cartridge of claim 1 , the fitment assembly further comprising:
a fitment shell that mechanically engages with a cartridge station of the spreading device.
13. The cartridge of claim 12 , the fitment shell further comprising:
one or more locking structures that mechanically engage complementary locking structures on the cartridge station and provide securement of the fitment assembly to the spreading device.
14. The cartridge of claim 13 , the one or more locking structures comprise a bayonet lock, a snap fit, a threaded fit, slide actuation, a lug closure, or magnetic interlocking.
15. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the granular material comprises ice melting granules, fertilizer, pesticides, granular soil amendment material, granular oil absorbent material, dusting products, granular floor cleaning product, grass seed, or combinations thereof.
16. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the container is rigid or semi-rigid.
17. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the aperture is sized based on a type of the granular material.
18. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the spreading device is an agricultural device.
19. The cartridge of claim 18 , wherein the agricultural device is a lawn and garden device.
20. A manually removable cartridge, comprising:
a fitment assembly configured to mechanically engage a spreading device, comprising:
a fitment shell that mechanically engages with a cartridge station of the spreading device;
a flow metering gate, comprising an aperture, to dictate a flow rate of a granular material, the flow metering gate configured to mate with a granular chute on the spreading device; and
an activator to activate and deactivate the flow of the granular material using a sliding shutoff plate that is mechanically actuated through an interface with the spreading device, the interface comprising a slide engager that mates with a knob on the spreading device.
21. The cartridge of claim 20 , further comprising:
a container, joined to the fitment assembly, for holding the granular material.
22. The cartridge of claim 21 , wherein the container is flexible.
23. The cartridge of claim 20 , wherein the granular material comprises ice melting granules, fertilizer, pesticides, granular soil amendment material, granular oil absorbent material, dusting products, granular floor cleaning product, grass seed, or combinations thereof.
24. The cartridge of claim 20 , further comprising:
an agitator that mechanically couples to an agitator drive shaft of the spreading device.
25. The cartridge of claim 24 , wherein the agitator agitates the granular material in the container to facilitate flow thereof from the container, through the fitment assembly, to the spreading device.
26. The cartridge of claim 20 , wherein the container is rigid or semi-rigid.
27. The cartridge of claim 20 , wherein the spreading device is an agricultural device.
28. The cartridge of claim 27 , wherein the agricultural device is a lawn and garden device.