Patent ID: 8870101

Claim:
A spreader apparatus for spreading material onto a target area, comprising: a container including an opening which receives therein the material and an outlet through which the material is discharged; a discharge unit disposed adjacent to the outlet which discharges the material onto the target area, the discharge unit including a housing with an inlet port and a discharge port; a primary door disposed in the discharge unit between the outlet of the container and the inlet port of the discharge unit; a deflector door disposed on the discharge port; a deflector door positioning device which positions the deflector door; and a controller configured to control the deflector door positioning device so that the deflector door pivots so as to be positioned at a first closed position, a second maximum open position or an intermediate position between the first closed position and the second maximum open position, wherein the deflector door substantially covers the discharge port when the deflector door is in the first position such that the material is substantially prevented from exiting through the discharge port.