Patent ID: 8888026

Claim:
A system for distributing granular product across terrain comprising: a spreader device comprising: a particle launcher; a cartridge station configured to engage with a cartridge, comprising: a particle conveyor configured to facilitate the flow of granules from the cartridge to the particle launcher; a cartridge activator, configured to activate and deactivate the flow of granular product out of a cartridge; and a locking mechanism configured to stabilize the cartridge after engagement with the cartridge station through engagement with complementary locking structures on the cartridge fitment when in a first position, the locking mechanism being further configured to release the cartridge in a second position and wherein further the locking mechanism is configured to be actuated a plurality of times between the first and second positions; an activation controller configured to control the cartridge activator and thereby control the activation and deactivation of an engaged cartridge; and a cartridge comprising: a container containing granular product; and a fitment configured to engage with the cartridge station comprising: a metering mechanism, wherein the flow of the granular product from the container is controlled by the metering mechanism.