Patent ID: 7306175

Claim:
An apparatus for distributing granulated material stored in a container having an outlet port, the apparatus comprising: a housing comprising a first housing part and a second housing part; said first housing part for mounting to said container; said second housing part supporting a threaded shaft, a spinner plate mounted on said threaded shaft with a coupler provided with internal threads that interface to said threaded shaft, a power source that rotationally drives said threaded shaft causing said spinner plate to rotate and travel along said threaded shaft, and a return spring encircling said threaded shaft and disposed between said spinner plate and said power source, wherein said spinner plate is operably disposed beneath and aligned to the outlet port of said container for distribution of granulated material therefrom, and wherein said return spring biases the spinner plate in a closed position that blocks the flow of granular material from the outlet port of said container when the power source is powered down; and means for fixably moving said second housing part relative to said first housing part in order to adjust amount of travel of said spinner plate along said threaded shaft; wherein said second housing part supports means for adjusting effective length of said return spring in the closed position.