Top dresser

In a hopper including first and second closed sides, a closed bottom, an open first end, and a discharge gate extending between the first and second sides, an improved construction for movably mounting the discharge gate for movement between a first position spaced from the first end and a second position adjacent to the first end comprising, in combination:

• first and second slide rails mounted to the first and second sides, with the first and second sides being located intermediate the first and second slide rails, with the first and second sides being spaced above the bottom;
• and first and second means extending oppositely from the discharge gate and between the first and second sides and the bottom for slideable support on the first and second slide rails.

In a hopper including first and second closed sides, a closed bottom, an open first end, and a discharge gate extending between the first and second sides, an improved construction for moving the discharge gate in a first direction between a first position spaced from the first end and a second position adjacent to the first end comprising, in combination:

• at least a first expandable and contractable actuator having a first end and a second end;
• means for pivotably mounting the first end of the first actuator adjacent to the first end of the hopper about an axis;
• means for pivotably mounting the second end of the first actuator to the discharge gate about an axis, with a plane extending through the axes of the first actuator being at an angle to the first direction.

In a hopper including first and second closed sides, a closed bottom, an open first end, and a discharge gate extending between the first and second sides, an improved construction for moving the discharge gate in a first direction between a first position spaced from the first end and a second position adjacent to the first end comprising, in combination:

• at least a first expandable and contractable actuator having a first end and a second end;
• means for pivotably mounting the first end of the first actuator to the hopper about a vertical axis;
• and means for pivotally connecting the second end of the first actuator to the discharge gate about a vertical axis spaced from and parallel to the vertical axis of the first end of the first actuator, with the first actuator located vertically below the bottom and between the first and second sides.

Method for dispensing material from a hopper into the ground through an end of the hopper as the hopper is moved across the ground in a first direction comprising the steps of moving corrugated sheeting relative to the end of the hopper, wherein the corrugated sheeting comprises a multiplicity of spaced, parallel ribs extending continuously in a direction generally perpendicular to the first direction between the sides of the corrugated sheeting, with the ribs defining spaced channels therebetween of generally constant depths for receiving material;

• and moving a metering gate relative to the end of the hopper and to the corrugated sheeting to meter the amount of material being dispensed, with the ribs not being parallel to the metering gate.