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A control mechanism for a spreader incorporating a movable material control gate comprises a first limit switch having a fixed position, a linear actuator having a positional member which moves in response to operation of the linear actuator. Movement of the positional member in a first direction ca

A control mechanism for a spreader incorporating a movable material control gate comprises a first limit switch having a fixed position, a linear actuator having a positional member which moves in response to operation of the linear actuator. Movement of the positional member in a first direction causes the positional member to contact the first limit switch to define a closed position of the control gate. The control mechanism also includes a second limit switch mounted to the positional member and an adjustment system comprising a user adjustment device engaged with a linear adjustment member adjustable through a positional linear range. Movement of the adjustment device by a user causes the adjustment member to move within the linear range. Additionally, movement of the positional member in a second direction causes the second limit switch to contact the adjustment member to define an adjustably open position of the control gate.

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1. A spreader, comprising: a hopper for holding a quantity of material, the hopper having a bottom surface and at least one aperture defined in the bottom surface through which the material passes;a control gate positioned adjacent the bottom surface of the hopper, wherein the control gate defines a

1. A spreader, comprising: a hopper for holding a quantity of material, the hopper having a bottom surface and at least one aperture defined in the bottom surface through which the material passes;a control gate positioned adjacent the bottom surface of the hopper, wherein the control gate defines at least one aperture, wherein the control gate is configured to move to cause the aperture defined in the control gate to correspondingly move into and out of alignment with the aperture defined in the bottom surface of the hopper; andan electrically-operable position control system operatively coupled with the control gate and adapted for controlling the position of the control gate between a fully closed position and a fully open position, wherein the open position is defined by the aperture defined in the control gate fully aligned with the aperture defined in the bottom surface of the hopper and the closed position is defined by the aperture defined in the control gate fully out of alignment with the aperture defined in the bottom surface of the hopper, wherein the position control system is operable to position the control gate at at least one partial-alignment position between the fully open and closed positions;wherein the position control system includes a first limit switch and a carriage linked to the control gate moveable along an actuating rod relative to the first limit switch, wherein the position control system includes a linear adjustment rod operatively coupled to a rotary knob, the linear adjustment rod having a proximal end engaged with the rotary knob and an opposite distal end, whereby rotary movement of the knob causes linear movement of the linear adjustment rod;wherein the carriage is configured to move along the actuating rod in a first direction until the carriage contacts the first limit switch, whereby movement of the carriage causes movement of the control gate, whereby contact between the carriage and the first limit switch causes further movement of the carriage in the first direction to be stopped corresponding to the closed position of the control gate, wherein the carriage includes a second limit switch and is configured to move along the actuating rod in a second direction opposite the first direction until the second limit switch on the carriage contacts the distal end of the linear adjustment rod, whereby contact between the second limit switch and the linear adjustment rod causes further movement of the carriage in the second direction to be stopped corresponding to the open or partial-alignment position of the control gate based on the linear position of the linear adjustment rod. 2. The spreader of claim 1, wherein the position control system includes a motor operatively coupled to the actuating rod and operable to actuate movement of the carriage along the actuating rod. 3. The spreader of claim 2, wherein the position control system includes a user control switch operatively coupled to the motor and being operable to control the operation of the motor. 4. The spreader of claim 1, wherein the position control system includes a positioning rod engaged with the carriage, the positioning rod being linked via a linkage system to the control gate. 5. The spreader of claim 1, wherein the position of the first limit switch is stationary within the position control system. 6. The spreader of claim 1, wherein the second limit switch is mounted on the carriage and configured to move with the carriage. 7. The spreader of claim 1, wherein the carriage is linearly aligned with the first limit switch and the linear adjustment rod is linearly aligned with the second limit switch mounted on the carriage. 8. The spreader of claim 1, wherein the rotary knob includes a helix portion having an inclined surface engaged with the proximal end of the linear adjustment rod. 9. A spreader, comprising: a hopper for holding a quantity of material, the hopper having a bottom surface and at least one aperture defined in the bottom surface through which the material passes;a control gate positioned adjacent the bottom surface of the hopper, wherein the control gate defines at least one aperture, wherein the control gate is configured to move to cause the aperture defined in the control gate to correspondingly move into and out of alignment with the aperture defined in the bottom surface of the hopper; andan electrically-operable position control system operatively coupled with the control gate and adapted for controlling the position of the control gate between a fully closed position and a fully open position, wherein the open position is defined by the aperture defined in the control gate fully aligned with the aperture defined in the bottom surface of the hopper and the closed position is defined by the aperture defined in the control gate fully out of alignment with the aperture defined in the bottom surface of the hopper, wherein the position control system is operable to position the control gate at at least one partial-alignment position between the fully open and closed positions;wherein the position control system includes a first limit switch and a carriage linked to the control gate, the carriage being configured to move along an actuating rod relative to the first limit switch, wherein the carriage includes a second limit switch and a linear adjustment rod extending out from the carriage, wherein the position control system includes a rotary knob configured to be turned by a user having a helix portion with an inclined surface, the linear adjustment rod having a proximal end aligned to contact the helix portion of the rotary knob and an opposite distal end positioned within the carriage, whereby turning the rotary knob causes the helix portion to rotate thereby changing the location along the inclined surface that is aligned with the proximal end of the linear adjustment rod;wherein the carriage is configured to move along the actuating rod in a first direction until the carriage contacts the first limit switch, whereby movement of the carriage causes movement of the control gate, whereby contact between the carriage and the first limit switch causes further movement of the carriage in the first direction to be stopped corresponding to the closed position of the control gate, wherein the carriage is configured to move along the actuating rod in a second direction opposite the first direction so that the proximal end of the linear adjustment rod contacts the inclined surface, whereby contact between the linear adjustment rod and the inclined surfaces causes further movement of the linear adjustment rod to be stopped, wherein the carriage is configured to continue moving along the actuating rod in the second direction relative to the linear adjustment rod until the second limit switch within the carriage contacts the distal end of the linear adjustment rod, whereby contact between the second limit switch and the distal end of the linear adjustment rod causes further movement of the carriage in the second direction to be stopped corresponding to the open or partial-alignment position of the control gate based on the linear position of the linear adjustment rod. 10. The spreader of claim 9, wherein the carriage carries a positioning rod extending out from a first side of the carriage, with the linear actuating rod extending out from a second side of the carriage opposite the first side, wherein the positioning rod is linked via a linkage system to the control gate. 11. The spreader of claim 9, wherein the position of the first limit switch is stationary within the position control system. 12. The spreader of claim 9, wherein the second limit switch is positioned within the carriage and is configured to move with the carriage. 13. The spreader of claim 9, wherein the position control system includes a motor operatively coupled to the actuating rod and operable to actuate movement of the carriage along the actuating rod, and wherein the position control system includes a user control switch operatively coupled to the motor and being operable to control the operation of the motor. 14. The spreader of claim 9, wherein the carriage is linearly aligned with the first limit switch and the linear adjustment rod is linearly aligned with the second limit switch positioned within the carriage. 15. A method for operating a spreader, comprising: providing a spreader having a hopper for holding a quantity of material, wherein the spreader includes a control gate to control the flow of material from the hopper, wherein the spreader includes a control system for controlling the position of the control gate between a closed position, an open position and at least one adjustably open position between the open and closed positions, wherein the control system includes a motor operatively controlled by a motor control switch, a carriage configured to move along an actuating rod operatively coupled to the motor, and a rotary knob configured to cooperate with a linear adjustment rod, the linear adjustment rod being configured to travel within a linear positional range;placing a quantity of material in the hopper of the spreader;turning the knob to a selected position representing one of the open or adjustably open positions, wherein the selected position of the knob corresponds to a selected position of the linear adjustment rod within the linear positional range;activating the motor control switch to move the control gate to the open or adjustably open position represented by the selected position of the knob;the switch sending a signal to the motor to activate movement of the carriage;the motor causing the carriage to move along the actuating rod in a first direction until the limit switch on the carriage contacts the distal end of the linear adjustment rod;the motor ceasing movement of the carriage at a first stopped position as a result of the contact between the limit switch on the carriage and the linear adjustment rod, wherein the first stopped position of the carriage corresponds to the open or adjustably open position represented by the selected position of the knob; andoperating the spreader to spread the material out of the hopper. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the control system includes a stationary second limit switch aligned with the carriage. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: activating the motor control switch to move the control gate to the closed position;the switch sending a signal to the motor to activate movement of the carriage;the motor causing the carriage to move along the actuating rod in a second direction until the carriage contacts the stationary second limit switch; andthe motor ceasing movement of the carriage at a second stopped position as a result of the contact between the stationary second limit switch and the carriage, wherein the second stopped position of the carriage corresponds to the closed position of the control gate. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the rotary knob includes a helix portion having an inclined surface and wherein the linear adjustment rod is operatively coupled to the helix portion, whereby turning the knob causes the helix portion to rotate which causes linear movement of the linear adjustment rod. 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the linear adjustment rod is engaged with the carriage.