Patent ID: 8360164
Filing Date: 2013-01-29
Classification: A01B,A01C,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of seeding, comprising: opening a valley in a field with a hoe opener while the hoe opener is in a ground engaging position; controlling a depth of the valley via a packer wheel assembly having a packer wheel mounted to a bracket, wherein the packer wheel is positioned directly behind the hoe opener in a first position while the hoe opener is in the ground engaging position, and the bracket is coupled to a packer wheel arm extending between the bracket and a linkage assembly; shifting the packer wheel in a rearward direction relative to the packer wheel arm to a second position, via an adjustment mechanism, when the hoe opener encounters an obstruction and moves in the rearward direction toward a disengaged position; and shifting the packer wheel in a forward direction relative to the packer wheel arm to the first position, via the adjustment mechanism, as the hoe opener transitions to the ground engaging position after the obstruction has been passed by the hoe opener: wherein the packer wheel assembly comprises an axle rotationally supporting the packer wheel on the bracket via a coupling of the axle and a slot in the bracket, and a biasing member coupled to the axle for urging the packer wheel in the forward direction within the slot.