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A hopper apparatus for applying joint compound to corner beads has a hopper for holding a quantity of joint compound and a feeder apparatus secured across the lower end of the hopper. The feeder apparatus has a channel and a series of elongate feeder inserts for selectively securing in the channel.

A hopper apparatus for applying joint compound to corner beads has a hopper for holding a quantity of joint compound and a feeder apparatus secured across the lower end of the hopper. The feeder apparatus has a channel and a series of elongate feeder inserts for selectively securing in the channel. A first set of outside feeder inserts each have a generally V-shaped indented groove extending along their length for guiding an outside corner bead through the feeder apparatus, while a second set of inside feeder inserts each have a generally V-shaped ridge extending along their length for guiding an inside corner bead through the feeder. The feeder inserts in each set have grooves and ridges of different angles and corner shapes matching those of a plurality of different inside and outside corner beads, and are releasably secured in the channel.

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1. A hopper apparatus for applying joint compound to corner beads, comprising:a hopper having an open upper end, a lower end, and an interior for holding a quantity of joint compound;a feeder apparatus secured across the lower end of the hopper, the feeder apparatus comprising a channel having oppos

1. A hopper apparatus for applying joint compound to corner beads, comprising:a hopper having an open upper end, a lower end, and an interior for holding a quantity of joint compound;a feeder apparatus secured across the lower end of the hopper, the feeder apparatus comprising a channel having opposite ends;a series of elongate feeder inserts for selectively securing in the channel to extend between the ends of the channel for feeding a selected corner bead along the channel, the feeder inserts comprising a first set of outside inserts each having a generally V-shaped indented groove extending along their length for guiding an outside corner bead through the feeder apparatus with the concave face of the corner bead facing the joint compound in the hopper, and a second set of inside inserts each having a generally V-shaped ridge extending along their length with an apex facing the joint compound in the hopper for guiding an inside corner bead through the feeder with the convex face of the corner bead facing the joint compound in the hopper, the feeder inserts in each set having grooves and ridges of different angles and corner shapes matching those of a plurality of different inside and outside corner beads; andat least one fastener device for releasably securing a selected feeder insert in the channel.2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a series of end gates for selectively securing at opposite ends of the channel above the selected feeder insert, the end gates comprising a first set of rigid end panels having at least a lower edge with a convex, V-shaped projection, each end panel lower edge angle and shape matching the angle and shape of respective feeder inserts of the first set, and a second set of rigid end panels having at least a lower edge with an upwardly directed, generally V-shaped indent, the lower edge angle and shape of each end panel of the second set matching the angle and shape of respective feeder inserts of the second set, and a releasable securing device at each end of the feeder apparatus for releasably securing a selected end panel to a hopper end wall above the selected feeder insert.3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each set of inside and outside feeder inserts are provided in a range of different angles, the angles comprising at least 90 degrees and 135 degrees.4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each set of inside and outside feeder inserts and matching end panels are provided in a range of different corner shapes, the corner shapes comprising sharp angled concave and convex apices and bullnose, rounded concave and convex apices.5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a first set of flexible panels for selectively securing at opposite ends of the channel above the selected feeder insert behind the respective end gate, the flexible panels comprising a first set of generally rectangular flexible panels having at least a first end edge with a convex, V-shaped projection, the first end edge angles and shapes matching the angles and shapes of respective end gates of the first set, and a second set of generally rectangular flexible panels having at least a first end edge with an upwardly directed, generally V-shaped indent, the first end edge angles and shapes of the panels of the second set matching the angles and shapes of respective end gates of the second set.6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein each flexible panel has a second end edge opposite the first end edge of matching angle and shape to the first end edge.7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower end of the hopper comprises a bottom wall having an opening and the feeder apparatus is secured beneath the bottom wall of the hopper with the channel having a flat base wall spaced below the bottom wall of the hopper and extending beneath the opening between opposite end walls of the hopper, whereby joint compound is supplied from the hopper onto the feeder apparatus through the opening.8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein each feeder insert has a flat lower portion for seating against the flat base wall of the channel.9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the feeder apparatus is permanently secured to the hopper bottom wall, and a selected feeder insert is removably secured to the base wall of the channel.10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the feeder apparatus comprises a one piece base member having a pair of downwardly depending outer side walls for supporting the hopper on top of a bucket or stand, each side wall having an upper, inwardly extending flat rim, and a channel of rectangular cross section extending between the flat rims of the outer side walls, the flat rims being secured to the hopper bottom wall.11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the releasable securing device for the end gates comprises a mounting bracket secured to an outer face of each end wall above the respective ends of the feeder apparatus, a selected end gate matching the selected feeder insert extending through the respective mounting brackets such that the lower edge of the end gate forms a V-shaped, upwardly indented or downwardly projecting slot with the opposing upper face of the selected feeder insert, and a releasable fastener member extending through the mounting bracket for securing the end gate at a selected height above the opposing face of the feeder insert.12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a plurality of flat panels of flexible material each having at least a first end edge having a V-shaped indent or projection of shape and angle matching the shape and angle of the end edge of a respective end gate, a selected matching pair of end gates and flat flexible panels extending through the mounting bracket with the flexible panel behind the end gate, and the first end edge of the flexible panel extending below the end edge of the end gate to provide a scraper to scrape excess joint compound from the corner bead.13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein each flexible panel has opposite end edges each having a matching V-shaped indent or projection.14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein each feeder insert comprises a solid block of material having a flat lower wall for engagement with the flat base of the channel, the channel base having at least one opening and the lower wall of the feeder insert having at least one bore for alignment with said opening, the fastener device comprising a fastener member for extending through said opening and into said bore for releasably securing the insert in the channel.15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein each feeder insert has a generally flat lower portion for seating in the base of the channel, the lower portion having at least one bore, the channel base having at least one opening for alignment with said bore, and the fastener device comprises a fastener member for extending through said opening and into said bore for releasably securing the insert in the channel.16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the bore is threaded and the fastener member comprises a fastener screw.17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein each feeder insert is a hollow member having opposite side walls and an open lower wall, at least one transverse web extending between the side walls, the transverse web having a lower edge comprising part of said generally flat lower portion and the bore extending into said transverse web from said lower edge.18. A hopper apparatus, comprising:a hopper having an open upper end, a lower wall, and an interior for holding a quantity of joint compound, the lower wall of the hopper having an opening;a feeder apparatus secured beneath the lower wall of the hopper, the feeder apparatus comprising an elongate channel having a flat base wall and opposite ends, and a plurality of different elongate feeder inserts for selectively mounting in the channel for guiding corner beads of different angles and shapes through the channel, each feeder insert having an upwardly facing surface of different cross-sectional shape from the other feeder inserts, and having a flat lower portion for seating against the flat base wall of the channel;a fastener device releasably securing a selected feeder insert in the channel; anda plurality of end gates for releasably securing to the hopper above opposite ends of the channel, each end gate having a lower edge shaped to match the cross-section of the upwardly facing surface of a respective feeder insert, the lower edge of the end gate and the upper face of the selected feeder insert together forming a slot of shape matching the cross-sectional shape of a selected corner bead for guiding the corner bead through the feeder apparatus with upper faces of the corner bead facing the opening in the lower wall of the hopper, whereby joint compound flowing through the opening into the channel will be deposited on the upwardly facing surfaces of the corner bead.19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the feeder inserts comprise a first set of outside inserts each having an upwardly facing, generally V-shaped indented groove extending along their length for guiding an outside corner bead through the feeder apparatus with the concave face of the corner bead facing the joint compound in the hopper, and a second set of inside inserts each having an upwardly facing, generally V-shaped ridge extending along their length with an apex facing the joint compound in the hopper for guiding an inside corner bead through the feeder with the convex face of the corner bead facing the joint compound in the hopper, the feeder inserts in each set having grooves and ridges of different angles and corner shapes matching those of a plurality of different inside and outside corner beads.20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein each set of inside and outside feeder inserts and matching end gates are provided in a range of different angles, the angles comprising at least 90 degrees and 135 degrees.21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein each set of inside and outside feeder inserts and matching end gates include inserts and end gate lower edges with sharp angled concave and convex apices and bullnose, rounded concave and convex apices.22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a first set of flexible panels for selectively securing at opposite ends of the channel above the selected feeder insert the respective end gate, the flexible panels comprising a first set of generally rectangular flexible panels having at least a first end edge with a convex, V-shaped projection, the first end edge angles and shapes matching the angles and shapes of respective feeder inserts of the first set, and a second set of generally rectangular flexible panels having at least a first end edge with an upwardly directed, generally V-shaped indent, the first end edge angles and shapes of the flexible panels of the second set matching the angle and shape of respective feeder inserts of the second set.23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein each flexible panel has a second end edge opposite the first end edge of matching angle and shape to the first end edge.24. A method of applying drywall mud to inside and outside corner beads, comprising the steps of:securing a selected outside feeder insert in a channel facing a supply of drywall mud in a hopper, the outside feeder insert having an upwardly facing, generally V-shaped indented groove extending along its length;feeding a supply of outside corner bead of shape and angle matching that of the V-shaped indented groove from one end of the feeder insert and along the feeder insert and out through an exit slot at the opposite end of the feeder insert, with concave faces of the corner bead facing upwardly such that drywall mud is applied to the concave faces of the V-shaped corner bead and excess mud is scraped off at the exit slot, whereby the outside corner bead is ready for application to an outside corner;removing the outside feeder insert from the channel when sufficient outside corner bead has been coated with drywall mud;securing a selected inside feeder insert in the channel, the inside feeder insert having an upwardly facing, generally V-shaped ridge extending along its length;feeding a supply of inside corner bead of shape and angle matching that of the V-shaped ridge from one end of the feeder insert and along the feeder insert to an exit slot at the opposite end of the inside feeder insert, the convex faces of the corner bead facing upwardly such that drywall mud is applied to the convex faces and excess mud is scraped off at the exit slot, whereby the inside corner bead is ready for application to an inside corner.