A broadcast spreader and methods of using the same. One method includes dispersing particulate material using a broadcast spreader having a hopper and an impeller by placing the spreader in a first configuration where a first set of through openings proximate a bottom portion of the hopper permit the particulate material to pass therethrough and fall onto the impeller to thereby be distributed in a first spread pattern, and shifting the spreader into a second configuration where a second set of through openings proximate the bottom portion of the hopper permit the particulate material to pass therethrough and fall onto the impeller to thereby be distributed in a second spread pattern. The first set of through openings includes a different number of through openings than the second set of through openings, and the first spread pattern is different than the second spread pattern.

A method of controlling spread pattern of a particulate material broadcasted by a spinner spreader involves permitting particulate material to flow through a plurality of sluices situated in a particulate material path between a bin and a rotatable disc of a spinner spreader. Each sluice receives a portion of the particulate material and delivers the portion of particulate material to a radial and/or angular position on the rotatable disc. The radial and/or angular position on the rotatable disc to which the portion of particulate material from at least one of sluices is delivered is adjusted by longitudinally translating the at least one independently moveable sluice independent of all other sluices of the plurality of sluices to change position of the at least one independently moveable sluice relative to the rotating disc thereby changing the spread pattern of the particulate material broadcasted by the rotatable disc.

A spread control assembly is provided that includes a spread control mechanism and a shut-off adjustment plate attached to a particulate dispersing apparatus. The shut-off adjustment plate includes multiple exit openings that facilitate the dispersing of particulate material. The spread control mechanism pivotally attaches to the shut-off adjustment plate and includes multiple paddles configured to cover at least one of the exit openings in the shut-off adjustment plate when the spread control mechanism is in an activated position.

A spreader with a material divider that is adjustable by movement of a plurality of internally movable parts therein to change a stream of material which flows in an arbitrary manner to the centrifugal disk(s) to achieve a desired symmetrical or asymmetrical spread pattern.

The invention relates to a method for determining suitable spreading settings for an agricultural spreading machine (10) for achieving an intended spreading material distribution of a spreading material (30) across an agricultural area (12), comprising the steps of: determining the current ejection direction of the ejected spreading material (30) during a spreading operation and determining a suitable application point setting for the agricultural spreading machine (10) taking into account the determined current ejection direction of the ejected spreading material (30) and an ejection direction for the ejected spreading material (30) which is suitable for achieving the intended spreading material distribution during the spreading operation.

A longitudinally adjustable flow divider situated in the particulate material path of a spinner spreader between the bin and the rotatable disc divides the particulate material so that the particulate material is dischargeable on to the upper surface of the rotatable disc on first and second laterally spaced apart longitudinally oriented drop lines. An actuator operably connected to the flow divider adjusts a longitudinal position of the flow divider to longitudinally adjust drop points on the drop lines at which the particulate material is dischargeable on to the rotatable disc. Longitudinal adjustment of the drop points along laterally spaced apart drop lines on one spinner disc permits control over spread pattern to help achieve uniform distribution of the particulate material on a ground surface.

An apparatus for spreading particulate material has a bin for holding particulate material, a rotatable disc for broadcasting the particulate material to a ground surface, a conveyor for conveying the particulate material in a particulate material path from the hopper to the rotatable disc, and a plurality of sluices situated in the particulate material path between the bin and the rotatable disc. Each sluice receives a portion of the particulate material and delivers the portion of particulate material to a radial and/or angular position on the rotatable disc. At least one of the sluices is independently moveable to adjust the radial and/or angular position on the rotatable disc to which the portion of particulate material from the at least one independently moveable sluice is delivered.

The invention relates to a method for operating an agricultural spreader (1), comprising: providing a spreading material in a material reservoir (5) of an agricultural spreader (1); dosing the spreading material from the material reservoir (5) through a dosing opening (6); receiving the dosed spreading material by a spreader device (7); and spreading the dosed spreading material by the spreader device (7); the method further comprising: detecting digital image data by a monitoring device (4), the digital image data being indicative of a partial quantity of the spreading material located in the vicinity of the dosing opening (6) at the time of detecting the digital image data; and determining a material parameter for the partial quantity of the spreading material located in the vicinity of the dosing opening (6) from analyzing the digital image data by a control device (2). Furthermore, an arrangement for an agricultural spreader (1) system is provided.

A broadcast spreader and methods of using the same. One method includes dispersing particulate material using a broadcast spreader having a hopper and an impeller by placing the spreader in a first configuration where a first set of through openings proximate a bottom portion of the hopper permit the particulate material to pass therethrough and fall onto the impeller to thereby be distributed in a first spread pattern, and shifting the spreader into a second configuration where a second set of through openings proximate the bottom portion of the hopper permit the particulate material to pass therethrough and fall onto the impeller to thereby be distributed in a second spread pattern. The first set of through openings includes a different number of through openings than the second set of through openings, and the first spread pattern is different than the second spread pattern.

An applicator including: a frame with hopper mounted thereon to hold and dispense a granule product, the hopper including an electronically controlled gate(s); a tank to hold a liquid product; a electronically controlled spray tip(s) to dispense the liquid product; a spray pump located between the tank and spray tip(s); an operator control interface for receiving input from an operator; a control coupled to the operator control interface, the electronically controlled gate(s), and the spray tip(s), where the control receives input, dispenses the liquid or granule product based on the input received from the operator control; where when the liquid product is dispensed, the control provides a signal to the spray tip(s) to regulate a flow of the liquid product, and when the granule product is dispensed, the control provides a signal to the electronically controlled gate(s) to regulate a flow of the granule product.