Shingle granule valve and method of depositing granules onto a moving substrate

Abstract

Apparatus for depositing granules onto a substrate includes a hopper for containing granules, the hopper having a discharge slot, and a reciprocating gate mounted for rotation across the slot to open and close the slot. A method of depositing granules onto a moving substrate includes providing a hopper for containing granules, where the hopper has a discharge slot. A gate is moved across the slot to open and close the slot. When the slot is open granules fall from the hopper, and when the slot is closed granules are prevented from falling from the hopper. The method further includes detecting the speed of the substrate, and controlling the extent of opening of the slot by the gate to meter the granules falling from the hopper in response to the speed of the substrate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.