Patent ID: 7182549

Claim:
An apparatus for smoothing or leveling a mass of material, which is discharged from a box-like device, having an interior space for receiving said mass of material, the mass of material being caused to exit through an adjustable opening, to distribute the mass of material from the box-like device, when the box-like device is moved in a forward direction above the ground, such that the mass of material is caused to form a strip-like layer, on a surface, the apparatus comprising: at least one blade member linked to the box-like device so as to be vertically adjustable and located downstream of the opening, wherein the thickness of the layer is adjustable by controllably raising or lowering said blade member; and an opening adjustment member, disposed adjacent the rear wall of said box-like device, which is movable upwardly and downwardly relative to a rear wall of the box-like device; wherein the at least one blade member is linked to the upward or downward movable opening adjustment member so that raising or lowering of the at least one blade member is made in conjunction with adjustment of said rear opening to yield an adjustable reduction ratio relative to a positional state of the adjustable opening and the related position of the opening adjustment member, and wherein the at least one blade member upon movement of the box-like device in addition causes the material to be at least one of: spread, levelled and smoothed.