Material Spreader Bucket for Loaders

A spreader apparatus for distributing particulate material, comprising:

• a loader bucket having forward, rearward and side walls terminating in an open top and an apex at a closed bottom and defining an interior cavity for retaining a supply of said bedding material, said rearward wall having an opening therein proximate to each lateral end of said loader bucket;
• an auger rotatably mounted above the apex of said loader bucket to convey said bedding material to lateral sides of said loader bucket for discharge through respective said openings in said rear wall;
• a pair of spinner members supported on said loader bucket rearwardly of said rearward wall and below said apex so as to be in communication with respective said openings in said rearward wall to receive said particulate material therefrom, each said spinner being rotatable to discharge the bedding material from the loader bucket, each spinner including upright spinner blades having a first height dimension;
• and
• a distribution channel formed below said apex in communication with each respective said spinner, each said distribution channel directing the discharge of the corresponding said spinner externally of said loader bucket, said distribution channels being open from a first boundary member projecting forwardly of said loader bucket to a second boundary member located laterally of said loader bucket such that each said spinner is operable to distribute said particulate material both forwardly and laterally of said loader bucket.

A method of distributing bedding material in a farm structure housing farm animals, comprising the steps of:

• providing a spreader apparatus formed as a loader bucket with spinners supported at lateral ends of the loader bucket to receive said bedding material from internally of said loader bucket for distribution externally of said loader bucket;
• loading a supply of said bedding material into said loader bucket and transporting said bedding material to said farm structure where distribution is desired;
• and
• feeding said bedding material onto said spinners while said spinners are rotated to distribute said bedding material along a distribution path that extends from directly forwardly of said loader bucket to directly laterally of said loader bucket.