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 mobile device for spreading, over terrain or other surface, granular product applications contained in a cartridge, the mobile device comprising:
a spreader housing;
a granular product launcher;
a cartridge station, comprising:
a locking mechanism configured to stabilize a cartridge after engagement with the cartridge station through engagement with complementary locking structures on a cartridge fitment when in a first position,
the locking mechanism being further configured to release the cartridge in a second position; and
a locking switch, located on a front portion of the spreader housing, operably connected to the locking mechanism such that movement of the locking switch causes a corresponding movement of the locking mechanism between the first position and the second position and the locking switch is configured to be actuated a plurality of times between the first and second positions.
2. The mobile device according to claim 1 , the cartridge station further comprising:
a cartridge activator, configured to activate and deactivate the flow of granular product out of a cartridge; and the mobile device further comprising:
an activation controller configured to control the cartridge activator and thereby control the activation and deactivation of an engaged cartridge.
3. The mobile device according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of ventilation holes, in the spreader housing, located rearward of the granular product launcher.
4. The mobile device according to claim 3 , further comprising:
the plurality of ventilation holes being located on an inward sloping face of the spreader housing.
5. The mobile device according to claim 3 , further comprising:
the plurality of ventilation holes being located at or below a bottom height of the granular product launcher.
6. The mobile device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a drive shall connection between the granular product launcher and the cartridge station such that that drive shaft is configured to drive an agitator shaft that is configured to drive an agitator located with an engaged cartridge.
7. The mobile device according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a bevel gear rotatably coupling the drive shaft and the agitator shaft.
8. The mobile device according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge station is configured such that an engaged cartridge is positioned between 30 and 50 degrees from vertical when the mobile device is being pushed by a user.
9. The mobile device according to claim 1 , such that the locking mechanism engages with the complementary locking structures on the cartridge fitment when in the first position through one or more cartridge stabilizers configured to engage with the complementary locking structures on the cartridge fitment of an engaged cartridge.
10. The mobile device according to claim 9 , each of the one or more cartridge stabilizers further comprising:
a rotatable stabilizing engager configured to extend from each cartridge stabilizer and to engage with the cartridge fitment when in the first position and retract from the cartridge fitment, into each cartridge stabilizer when in the second position.
11. The mobile device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
two wheels for moving the mobile device over the terrain or other surface.
12. The mobile device according to claim 11 , further comprising:
an axle, coupled to the two wheels, that is coupled to a gearbox;
the gearbox being coupled to a drive shaft that is operably coupled to the granular product launcher such that rotation of the drive shaft causes rotation of the granular product launcher.
13. A mobile device for spreading, over terrain or other surface,
granular product applications contained in a cartridge, the mobile device comprising:
a spreader housing;
a granular product launcher;
a cartridge station, comprising:
a locking mechanism configured to stabilize a cartridge, after engagement with the cartridge station, through engagement of one or more cartridge stabilizers with complementary structures on the cartridge fitment of an engaged cartridge when in a first position,
the locking mechanism being further configured to release the cartridge in a second position;
a locking switch, located on a front portion of the spreader housing, operably connected to the locking mechanism such that movement of the locking switch causes movement of the locking mechanism between the first position and the second position and the locking switch is configured to be actuated a plurality of times between the first and second positions; and
a cartridge activator, configured to activate and deactivate the flow of granular product out of a cartridge; and
an activation controller configured to control the cartridge activator and thereby control the activation and deactivation of an engaged cartridge; and
a plurality of ventilation holes, in the spreader housing, located rearward of the granular product launcher.
14. The mobile device according to claim 13 , further comprising:
the plurality of ventilation holes being located on an inward sloping face of the spreader housing.
15. The mobile device according to claim 13 , further comprising:
the plurality of ventilation holes being located at or below a bottom height of the granular product launcher.
16. The mobile device according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a drive shaft connection between the granular product launcher and the cartridge station such that that drive shaft is configured to drive an agitator shaft that is configured to drive an agitator located with an engaged cartridge; and
a bevel gear rotatably coupling the drive shaft and the agitator shaft.
17. The mobile device according to claim 13 , wherein the cartridge station is configured such that an engaged cartridge is positioned between 30 and 50 degrees from vertical when the mobile device is being pushed by a user.
18. The mobile device according to claim 13 , each of the one or more cartridge stabilizers further comprising:
a rotatable stabilizing engager configured to extend from each cartridge stabilizer and to engage with the cartridge fitment when in the first position and retract from the cartridge fitment, into each cartridge stabilizer when in the second position.
19. The mobile device according to claim 13 , further comprising:
two wheels for moving the mobile device over the terrain or other surface;
an axle, coupled to the two wheels. that is coupled to a gearbox; and
the gearbox being coupled to a drive shaft that is operably coupled to the granular product launcher such that rotation of the drive shaft causes rotation of the granular product launcher.