High efficiency lime/fertilizer spinner spreader machine

A spinner spreader machine has a product conveyor assembly that efficiently and accurately spreads either lime or fertilizer products, or combinations thereof. The versatility of the machine is enhanced with a plurality of conveyor belt assemblies configured to overcome the self-cohesive characteristics of certain products such as lime. The versatility of the machine is further enhanced when the conveyor apparatus provides a substantially constant volumetric distribution of product to the spinner mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to spinner spreader machines. More particularly, the 
invention relates to a spinner spreader machine that selectively 
facilitates highly efficient application of lime and fertilizer products. 
Spinner spreader machines are used to deliver fertilizer products over a 
desired geographic land area. Conventional spinner spreader apparatus such 
as the model L2020 manufactured by Highway Equipment Company of Cedar 
Rapids, Iowa, generally include a conveyor belt having a smooth surface to 
transport fertilizer and the like from a product storage bin to a spinner 
spreader mechanism at the rear of the spinner spreader machine. The smooth 
surface conveyor belts are generally driven via a set of rollers. The need 
for well-controlled lime product applications exists. For example, the 
coefficient of friction of lime to itself is higher than the coefficient 
of friction between lime and the smooth surface conveyor belts. Generally, 
as lime is transported from the product bin to the spinner spreader 
mechanism at the rear of the machine, the high coefficient of friction of 
lime to itself causes inconsistent delivery of the lime to the spinner 
spreader mechanism, causing inaccuracies in delivery and applications to a 
desired site. The use of smooth surface conveyor belt/rollers also is 
susceptible to slippage between the conveyor belt and the drive roller(s) 
creating even greater discrepancies between the desired and actual 
delivery and application of fertilizer and lime products. A model L3020 
spinner spreader machine manufactured by Highway Equipment Company of 
Cedar Rapids, Iowa utilizes chains on the underside of the conveyor belt 
to move the conveyor belt. 
All references cited herein, including the foregoing, are incorporated 
herein in their entireties for all purposes. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, the present inventive spinner spreader machine advantageously 
overcomes many of the shortcomings and attendant disadvantages of known 
spinner spreader machines that share problems considered unavoidable 
within the industry. The present invention surmounts these problems with 
an advantageous new system that includes a novel product transport 
apparatus to enhance and optimize selective application of lime and 
fertilizer products. The system includes a Chevron.RTM. continuous 
conveyor belt available from West Central Bearing of Alexandria, Minn. 
which has a plurality of surface protrusions particularly suitable for 
collecting either lime or fertilizer in a consistent pattern and desired 
volumetric distribution over the surface of the conveyor belt. The 
conveyor belt and associated machinery is used to carry the product from 
the product storage bin(s) to the spinner spreader mechanism and 
advantageously provides consistent distribution of lime carried by the 
conveyor belt. As used herein, the term continuous conveyor belt means a 
conveyor belt joined at its ends to form a closed loop structure, thereby 
defining an inner surface and an outer surface. The conveyor belt has a 
drive chain coupled to each side edge in a manner to provide generally 
slip-free belt movement for accurate application of selected lime and 
fertilizer products. The variable gate control apparatus accuracy is 
optimized. The conveyor belt and drive chains are carried in a conveyor 
tray, preferably having side lips which prevent the product transporting 
section of the belt/chain apparatus from drooping such that highly 
detrimental product dumping is reduced or eliminated. The conveyor belt 
protrusions, associated drive chain apparatus and conveyor tray combine to 
create a spinner spreader machine that is suitable for selective 
application of either lime or fertilizer products. 
Other features of the spinner spreader machine includes multiple spinners 
in combination with multiple conveyor belts, thereby allowing a greater 
variety of product application patterns or simultaneous application of 
lime and fertilizer products. 
Yet another feature of the spinner spreader machine includes multiple 
conveyor belts thereby allowing simultaneous delivery of products stored 
in a plurality of different product storage bins attached to the same 
machine. 
In sum, the invention relates to a spinner spreader machine which includes 
a vehicle, at least one product storage bin associated with or attached to 
the vehicle, at least one spinner spreader mechanism associated with or 
attached to a predetermined rear portion of the vehicle, and at least one 
conveyor belt assembly associated with or attached to the vehicle. The 
conveyor belt assembly includes a conveyor belt joined at its ends and 
defines an inner surface, an outer surface, a first side and a second 
side. The conveyor belt has a plurality of protrusions attached to 
predetermined portions of the outer surface. The conveyor belt has an 
upper portion used to transport product stored in the product storage bin 
and also has a lower return portion. A first chain sprocket has a 
predetermined pitch. A first drive chain is associated with or coupled to 
the first side of the conveyor belt. The drive chain is adapted to mesh 
with the first chain sprocket and continuously rotate the first chain 
sprocket and cause continuous movement of the conveyor belt. Product is 
transported from the storage bin to the spinner spreader mechanism. A 
conveyor tray is used to support the upper portion of the conveyor belt 
such that the upper portion of the conveyor belt remains substantially 
flat. The conveyor belt assembly may further include a second chain 
sprocket having the same predetermined pitch of the first chain sprocket. 
The conveyor belt assembly may further include a second drive chain 
coupled to the second side of the conveyor belt. The second drive chain is 
adapted to mesh with the second chain sprocket and continuously rotate the 
second chain sprocket and cause continuous movement of the conveyor belt 
and transport the product from the product storage bin to the spinner 
spreader mechanism. The conveyor belt assembly may further include at 
least one support roller selectively positioned against the conveyor belt 
inner surface to define the conveyor belt upper portion and the conveyor 
belt lower return portion. The conveyor belt assembly may further include 
at least one conveyor support member to support the lower return portion 
of the conveyor belt such that the lower return portion of the conveyor 
belt remains substantially flat. The spinner spreader machine may further 
include at least one variable speed drive apparatus selectively coupled to 
the first chain sprocket and the second chain sprocket to variably control 
a speed and direction of movement for the conveyor belt. 
The invention also relates to a spinner spreader machine which includes a 
vehicle, at least one product storage device associated with or attached 
to the vehicle, at least one spinner spreader apparatus associated with or 
attached to the vehicle, and at least one conveyor assembly associated 
with or attached to the vehicle. The conveyor assembly includes at least 
one drive sprocket having a predetermined pitch, and a continuous conveyor 
belt having an outer surface and a plurality of protrusions attached to 
predetermined portions of the outer surface. The continuous conveyor belt 
meshes with the drive sprocket and continuous rotation of the drive 
sprocket causes continuous movement of the continuous conveyor belt and 
carries product stored in the product storage device to the spinner 
spreader apparatus. At least one rigid support member supports selected 
portions of the continuous conveyor belt as product is carried by the 
continuous conveyor belt is transported in a substantially flat plane. The 
continuous conveyor belt may further include an inner surface, a first 
side, a second side and a drive chain associated with or coupled to the 
first side of the continuous conveyor belt. The continuous conveyor belt 
meshes with the drive sprocket via the drive chain. The continuous 
conveyor belt may further include a drive chain coupled to the second side 
of the continuous conveyor belt such that the continuous conveyor belt 
meshes with the drive sprocket via the drive chain. The conveyor assembly 
may further include a roller selectively positioned against the continuous 
conveyor belt inner surface to define an upper portion and a lower return 
portion of the continuous conveyor belt. The spinner spreader machine may 
further include a variable speed drive apparatus selectively coupled to 
any one of the drive chains for variable control of speed and direction of 
the continuous conveyor belt. 
The invention also relates to a spinner spreader apparatus which includes a 
vehicle having storage means for storing at least one product, at least 
one spinner apparatus associated with or attached to the vehicle, and at 
least one conveyor assembly associated with or attached to the vehicle. 
The conveyor assembly includes a continuous conveyor belt with an outer 
surface and with a plurality of protrusions attached to or formed on the 
outer surface, means for providing substantially slip-free motive force to 
the continuous conveyor belt such that product stored in the storage means 
is carried by the continuous conveyor belt to the at least one spinner 
apparatus. Supporting means provide support at selected portions of the 
continuous conveyor belt such that the product carried by the continuous 
conveyor belt has a substantially constant volumetric distribution over 
the outer surface. The means for providing substantially slip-free motive 
force to the continuous conveyor belt may include at least one drive 
sprocket having a predetermined pitch. The means for providing 
substantially slip-free motive force to the continuous conveyor belt may 
further include at least one drive chain coupled to the continuous 
conveyor belt. The drive chain mates with the drive sprocket. The 
continuous conveyor belt may further include an inner surface, a first 
side portion and a second side portion. The drive chain includes a first 
drive chain selectively coupled to at least one of the first side portion 
and the second side portion of the continuous conveyor belt and defines a 
first driven side portion and an opposite side portion of the continuous 
conveyor belt. The drive chain may further include a second drive chain 
selectively coupled to the opposite side portion of the continuous 
conveyor belt. The conveyor assembly may further include means for 
segregating the continuous conveyor belt into an upper product carrying 
portion and a lower return portion. The spinner spreader apparatus may 
further include at least one variable speed drive apparatus selectively 
coupled to any one of the drive chains to variably control speed and 
direction of the continuous conveyor belt. 
The invention also relates to a spinner spreader machine which includes a 
vehicle, at least one product storage device associated with or attached 
to the vehicle, at least one spinner spreader apparatus associated with or 
attached to the vehicle, and a conveyor assembly associated with or 
attached to the vehicle. The conveyor assembly includes a plurality of 
drive sprockets with a common predetermined pitch, a plurality of 
continuous conveyor belts each configured with a smooth outer surface 
which mesh with the plurality of drive sprockets. Continuous rotation of 
the plurality of drive sprockets causes continuous movement of the 
conveyor belts which carry products stored in the product storage device 
to the spinner spreader apparatus. At least one support member is 
configured to support selected portions of the continuous conveyor belts 
such that products carried by the plurality of continuous conveyor belts 
are transported in a substantially flat plane to provide a substantially 
consistent distribution of products on the smooth outer surface of each 
conveyor belt. Each continuous conveyor belt within the plurality of 
continuous conveyor belts may include an inner surface, a first side, a 
second side and a drive chain coupled to the first side. Each continuous 
conveyor belt is configured to mesh with at least one of the drive 
sprockets via the drive chain. The conveyor assembly may further include 
at least one roller apparatus selectively positioned against the inner 
surface of each continuous conveyor belt to define an upper portion and a 
lower return portion for each continuous conveyor belt. The spinner 
spreader machine may further include at least one variable speed drive 
apparatus selectively coupled to the drive chains to variably control a 
speed and direction of each continuous conveyor belt. 
From the foregoing, it is clear that the present inventive spinner spreader 
machine performance is advantageously enhanced. Other features of the 
present inventive apparatus include ease of use, manufacture, enhanced 
serviceability, maintainability, upgradability, and enhanced expansion and 
diagnostics capability. 
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention and methods of 
construction and use of the same will become readily apparent to those 
skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein only 
the preferred embodiments are shown and described, simply by way of 
illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. 
As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different 
embodiments and methods of construction and use, and its several details 
are capable of modification in various obvious respects, all without 
departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description 
are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The preferred embodiments described address the long felt need by those in 
the lime and fertilizer product application industries to provide a highly 
efficient spinner spreader machine capable of handling a wide variety of 
lime or fertilizer applications where accuracy standards must be 
maintained. In accordance with the present invention, the preferred 
embodiments described readily and selectively apply either lime or 
fertilizer products, or combinations thereof. 
FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a typical spinner spreader machine 10. 
Spinner spreader machine 10 includes a plurality of product storage bins 
12, 14, 16 for selectively storing lime, fertilizer, or combinations 
thereof. The spinner spreader machines 10 also includes a conveyor system 
20 for transporting the product(s) stored in bins 12, 14, 16 to a spinner 
apparatus 22. Typically, the spinner spreader machine 10 includes 
interconnecting devices (not shown) that allow the machine 10 to switch 
back and forth between desired bins 12, 14, 16 storing the same or 
different products such as lime and fertilizer. 
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the spinner spreader machine 10. 
Generally, spinner spreader machines are provided with a number of control 
mechanisms, e.g., conveyor speed, start, stop, gate opening height, 
storage bin discharge flow rate, and the like, in order to obtain a level 
of control of the product(s) being applied to a geographic site. While 
such machines are commercially available and are commonly used to apply 
fertilizer products, attempts to use these same machines to apply lime 
have proven to be generally inadequate to achieve the desired product 
dispensing rates and spreading patterns. The present invention overcomes 
the prior art limitations and providing a novel conveyor belt assembly. 
Looking now at FIG. 3, a side view of a conveyor belt/drive chain assembly 
100 is illustrated. Conveyor belt/drive chain assembly 100 can be adapted 
for installation on an existing spinner spreader machine or can be 
formulated as part of a dedicated machine such as a model HC-3000L spinner 
spreader machine designed specifically for lime and fertilizer 
applications and available from Lor*Al Products, Inc. of Benson, Minn. 
Conveyor belt/drive chain assembly 100 includes a rear chain drive 
apparatus 200 for variably controlling the direction of movement and speed 
of the conveyor belt/drive chain assembly 100 which is used to transport 
product(s) from the storage bins to the spinner apparatus at the rear of 
the machine. A frontally mounted chain sprocket assembly 300 is adapted to 
provide a desired amount of chain tension while freely allowing the rear 
chain drive apparatus 200 to power the conveyor belt/drive chain assembly 
100. Most preferably, the rear chain drive apparatus 200 and the frontally 
mounted chain sprocket assembly include sprockets having identical pitch 
to mesh with the drive chain(s) 102 selected to provide motive force to 
the conveyor belt 101. Cross support members 106 provide structural 
support for an upper conveyor tray (enumerated as 402 in FIG. 6) and one 
or more lower conveyor belt return support guides (enumerated as 404 in 
FIG. 6) that are placed to support the conveyor belt 101 and its side 
mounted drive chains 102. With continued reference to FIG. 3, it can be 
seen that the conveyor belt 101 and drive chains 102 have a drooping 
portion 104 located between the conveyor belt/drive chain assembly 100 and 
the point at which the conveyor belt/drive chain assembly 100 enters the 
lower conveyor belt return support guide area. The top supported portion 
of the conveyor belt 101 does not have drooping portions due to the chain 
tension provided by the rear chain drive apparatus 200 and the enhanced 
structural support provided by the belt/chain 101, 102 and supporting 
structures 106, 402. These advantageous features combine to reduce 
undesirable product dumping effects associated with conventional spinner 
spreader machines. The present structure ensures that a substantially 
constant volumetric distribution of material is carried by the conveyor 
belt(s) 101 to the spinner mechanism(s) attached to the machine, due to 
the flat planar, non-slipping motion of the conveyor belt(s) 101. 
FIG. 4 illustrates a detailed view of a frontally mounted chain sprocket 
assembly 300 for the combination conveyor belt/drive chain apparatus 100 
shown in FIG. 3. The chain sprocket assembly 300 includes a set of 
sprockets 302 and rollers 304 adapted to provide a desired tension and 
support for a pair of conveyor belts 101 and associated drive chains 102 
attached at the outer edges of the belts 101. A set of motion control 
sensors 306 is electrically coupled into the operator cab of the spinner 
spreader machine via an interface connection 308 such that an operator can 
sense the direction and speed of the conveyor belt 101 and its associated 
drive chains 102. 
FIG. 5 illustrates a detailed view of a rear chain drive apparatus 200 
adapted for use with the combination conveyor belt/drive chain assembly 
100 shown in FIG. 3. The rear chain drive apparatus 200 has a set of 
rollers 204 adapted to support a pair of product conveyor belts 101 to 
accommodate transport of lime, fertilizer, or combinations thereof from a 
set of storage bins to the spinner mechanisms. Preferably, a set of 
sprockets 206 have identical teeth pitch as the frontally mounted drive 
sprockets 302 and are set into a plurality of bearings 208 such that a set 
of variable speed drive motor assemblies 202 can selectively and variably 
control the speed and direction of the conveyor belts 101 and their 
associated drive chains 102. 
Moving now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated an end elevation view for a 
portion 400 of the combination conveyor belt/drive chain apparatus 100. 
The conveyor belt/drive chain apparatus 100 has an upper conveyor belt 
tray 402 for supporting the product transporting portion of the conveyor 
belt 101 and its attached roller bearing chains 102. The conveyor 
belt/drive chain apparatus 100 also has lower conveyor belt return support 
guides 404 as shown to support and carry the return portion of the 
conveyor belt 101 and its attached roller bearing chains 102. The present 
invention is not limited to the particular embodiment shown and the return 
support guides 404 could easily be replaced with a lower conveyor tray for 
example, or other structures that are also capable of providing the 
desired conveyor belt/chain 101, 102 support. It will readily be 
appreciated that the present invention will also work to provide the new 
and improved product application process provided the integrity of the 
product transporting portion of the conveyor belt 101 is maintained, e.g., 
belt slippage and drooping are reduced or eliminated. The present 
invention will also provide its intended functionality, even without lower 
return support guides 404 and the like. The upper conveyor belt tray 402 
and the lower conveyor belt return support guides 404 preferably have an 
inner coating 414 comprised of a slippery durable material with a low 
coefficient of friction, e.g., Teflon.RTM., epoxy or the like to allow the 
conveyor belts 101 to freely slide on. The inner coating 414 will increase 
the efficiency of the conveyor belt/drive chain apparatus 100 and help 
preserve the structural integrity of the conveyor belts 101 and associated 
drive chains 102. The conveyor belts 101 have a plurality of protrusions 
410 on the outer surface as provided by the Chevron.RTM. belt. The drive 
chains 102 are adapted to allow use of rivets 412 to securely and rigidly 
couple the drive chains 102 to a desired portion of the protrusions 410. 
The efficiency of the conveyor belt/drive chain apparatus 100 is also 
enhanced using a chain lubrication assembly 500 as shown in FIG. 7. 
With reference to FIG. 7, one embodiment for a chain lubricating system 500 
suitable for use with the present combination conveyor belt/drive chain 
apparatus 100 is illustrated. An oil reservoir 502 is hydraulically 
coupled via liquid lines 504 to a set of lubricating brushes 506 that are 
adapted to selectively brush a thin coating of oil over the drive chains 
102 as the conveyor belts 101 transport product(s) to the spinner 
mechanism. 
FIG. 8 illustrates a control system 800 suitable for use with the present 
conveyor belt/drive chain apparatus 100 which is used to variably control 
the speed and direction of the apparatus 100 and to selectively control a 
plurality of such conveyor belt/drive chain apparatus 100. Modern mobile 
product applicator machines are increasingly being adapted with various 
types of automated control systems. Generally, such automated control 
systems generally have a host controller located within the operator cab 
of the applicator machine. Typically, an associated input device such as a 
keyboard and an output devices such as a CRT monitor are also located 
within the operator cab. The host controller is commonly linked directly 
to at least one other controller located within the cab, and which is 
responsible for all communication to devices on the machine. U.S. Pat. No. 
4,630,773, issued Dec. 23, 1986, to Ortlip, entitled, Method and Apparatus 
for Spreading Fertilizer, and U.S. Pat. No. RE 35,100, issued Nov. 28, 
1995, to Monson et al., entitled, Variable Rate Application System, are 
both assigned to Ag-Chem Equipment Company, Inc. of Minnetonka, Minn. The 
system disclosed in the '100 reissue patent includes a controller 
accessing a soil map indicating a soil characteristic for each portion of 
the field. Field locations and status maps indicating current crop input 
level at various locations in a field to be treated are monitored by a 
control system. A crop input map is updated after a dispensing pass to 
provide a status record. Typical position locators for the machine in the 
field may include "Dead Reckoning," GPS, LORAN systems, and the like. U.S. 
Pat. No. 5,355,815 discloses another closed-loop variable rate applicator 
system. The system operates by determining a soil prescription in near 
real-time and dispenses crop inputs to the soil scene as a fraction of the 
soil prescription. The '815 patent is also assigned to Ag-Chem Equipment 
Company, Inc. Still another system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 
5,453,924, issued Sep. 26, 1995, to Monson et al., entitled, Mobile 
Control System Responsive To Land Area Maps. This system expands on 
earlier known applicator machine control systems, by incorporating a 
network which links a host controller positioned within the operator cab 
to multiple controllers located at various points on the machine external 
to the operator cab. It shall be understood that the control systems 
referenced herein describe systems which, when properly configured with 
suitable algorithmic software, can be easily adapted to monitor and 
control the speed and direction of the present inventive conveyor 
belt/drive chain apparatus 100. 
With continued reference to FIG. 8, a block diagram illustrates one 
preferred embodiment of a product applicator control system 800 suitable 
for use with the present invention and includes a FALCON.RTM. controller 
814, a spinner spreader machine 802, and a host computer system 804. The 
FALCON.RTM. controller 814 is manufactured by Ag-Chem Equipment Co., Inc. 
of Minnetonka, Minn. and can easily be adapted with the appropriate 
algorithmic software 808, motion sensors 306 and speed sensors 307 to 
sense, measure, report and adjust lime and fertilizer product application 
rates, on-the-go, in near real time, by way of various machine adjustments 
that include controlling the movement of the lime and fertilizer products 
via the present inventive conveyor belt/drive chain apparatus 100. The 
machine operator can optionally instruct the host computer system 804 
(using keyboard 812 entry) to monitor and report (using display 810) 
stored target application rates such that the operator can manually 
instruct the computer system 804 to interface with appropriate sensors and 
controllers via an RS232 network or the like to adjust the conveyor 
belt/drive chain apparatus 100 motion and speed. 
Having thus described the preferred embodiments in sufficient detail as to 
permit those of skill in the art to practice the present invention without 
undue experimentation, those of skill in the art will readily appreciate 
other useful embodiments within the scope of the claims hereto attached. 
For example, although the present invention has been described as useful 
for the lime and fertilizer product industries, those of skill in the art 
will readily understand and appreciate that the present invention has 
substantial use and provides many benefits in other industries as well. 
Some of these may include practicing the present invention to provide 
application of seeds, various chemicals, aggregate or any other certain 
constituents. In general, the agricultural community would find the 
present invention useful in selectively achieving accurate and efficient 
spreading for those products where purity standards must be maintained and 
product waste must be eliminated to preserve resources. 
In view of the foregoing descriptions, it should be apparent that the 
present invention represents a significant departure from the prior art in 
construction and operation. However, while particular embodiments of the 
present invention have been described herein in detail, it is to be 
understood that various alterations, modifications and substitutions can 
be made therein without departing in any way from the spirit and scope of 
the present invention, as defined in the claims which follow.