Spreader having a variable ratio drive

Claim 1

A DISPENSING APPARATUS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A CARRIAGE MEANS HAVING A BIN INCLUDING A DISCHARGE AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF, SAID BIN BEING ADAPTED FOR RECEIVING THE MATERIAL TO BE DISPENSED AND MOUNTED ON WHEELS FOR EASE OF TRANSPORTATION; (B) MANUAL OPERABLE CONTROL MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE START AND TERMINATION OF DISPENSING OPERATIONS; (C) DISPENSING MEANS OPERATED BY SAID CONTROL MEANS AND LOCATED AT THE DISCHARGE END OF THE BIN TO RECEIVE THE MATERIAL THEREIN AND INCLUDING A DRIVE CONNECTION WITH SAID CARRIAGE MEANS WHEREBY THE MATERIAL IN THE BIN IS CONTROLLABLY DISPENSED; (D) ADJUSTABLE MEANS FOR REGULATING THE RATE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID DISPENSING MEANS AND THEREBY TO CONTROL THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL WHICH IS DISPENSED PER LINEAL UNIT OF MOVEMENT OF THE APPARATUS; (E) AND SHAKER MEANS FORMING A WALL OF SAID BIN AND OPERATIVELY MOVABLE DURING TRANSLATIONAL MOVEMENT OF THE APPARATUS TO URGE THE MATERIAL IN A GENERALLY DOWNWARD DIRECTION WITHIN THE BIN TOWARD ITS DISCHARGE OPENING END.