Patent ID: 7045167

Claim:
A method for applying solid particulate material to a target surface, the method performed in a device having one or more storage containers for storing the solid particulate material, each of the one or more storage containers comprising at least one gate positioned substantially at an outlet of the storage container, and one or more transfer mechanisms for transferring the solid particulate material from the one or more storage containers for application to the target surface, the method comprising the steps of: controlling each of the at least one gate for controlling a discharge rate of the solid particulate material from the one or more storage containers; controlling each of the one or more transfer mechanisms for controlling a transfer rate of the solid particulate material to the target surface according to a ground speed of the device; and coordinating the controlling of each of the at least one gate and each of the one or more transfer mechanisms to vary the rate of transfer of the solid particulate material and to vary the extent to which the gates open independently of the ground speed of the application device in a way that provides a substantially constant application rate of the solid particulate material to the target surface as the ground speed of the application device varies.