# US 9,433,137 B2 · Adjustable packer wheel seeding system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,137 B2 - Document ID: US9433137B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/270,910 - Filed: 2014-05-06 - Published: 2014-08-28 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2009-05-27 - Assignees: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd. - Applicants: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd. - Inventors: Jim Henry; Nicholas George Alfred Ryder - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433137B2 ## CPC - A01B 49/027: {with a rotating, soil working support element, e.g. a roller} - A01B 61/04: of the connection between tools and carrier beam or frame - A01B 61/046: {the device including an energy accumulator for restoring the tool to its working position} - A01C 5/06: Machines for making or covering drills or furrows for sowing or planting - A01C 5/062: {Devices for making drills or furrows} - A01C 5/068: {Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels} - A01C 7/203: {comprising depth regulation means} - Y10S 111/90: Methods of planting seeds and miscellaneous compositions - A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21) - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract In one embodiment, a seeding implement includes a frame configured to couple to a tool bar, a parallel linkage coupled to the frame, and a ground engaging tool extending from a shank, wherein the shank is coupled to the parallel linkage. The implement also includes a packer wheel configured to control a position of the ground engaging tool, wherein the packer wheel is positioned directly behind the ground engaging tool when the ground engaging tool is engaging a soil region. Further, the implement includes an adjustment mechanism configured to shift the packer wheel rearwardly upon the ground engaging tool encountering an obstruction and to shift the packer wheel forwardly after the obstruction has been passed by the ground engaging tool. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a packer wheel assembly configured to be disposed rearward of a hoe opener assembly, wherein the packer wheel assembly comprises a packer wheel mounted to a bracket, the packer wheel assembly controls a depth of a valley formed by a hoe opener of the hoe opener assembly while the hoe opener is in a ground engaging position, and the bracket is coupled to a packer wheel arm extending between the bracket and a linkage assembly; and an adjustment mechanism that shifts the packer wheel horizontally relative to the bracket from a first position to a second position rearward of the first position when the hoe opener moves in a rearward direction toward a disengaged position; wherein the adjustment mechanism does not permit the packer wheel to move vertically. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism shifts the packer wheel horizontally via a linkage member extending between the packer wheel assembly and a shank coupled to the hoe opener. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism shifts the packer wheel horizontally from the second position to the first position as the hoe opener transitions to the ground engaging position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism shifts the packer wheel in the rearward direction such that the packer wheel does not contact the hoe opener as the hoe opener moves in the rearward direction toward the disengaged position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism shifts the packer wheel horizontally along the rearward direction about 8 to 12 inches. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, 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 a forward direction within the slot. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a biasing member that urges the packer wheel in a forward direction. ### Claim 8 A system, comprising: a packer wheel assembly configured to be disposed rearward of a hoe opener assembly, wherein the packer wheel assembly comprises a packer wheel mounted to a bracket, the packer wheel assembly is configured to control a depth of a valley formed by a hoe opener of the hoe opener assembly while the hoe opener is in a ground engaging position, and the bracket is coupled to a packer wheel arm extending between the bracket and a linkage assembly; and an adjustment mechanism configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally relative to the bracket from a first position to a second position rearward of the first position when the hoe opener moves in a rearward direction toward a disengaged position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally via a linkage member extending between the packer wheel assembly and a shank coupled to the hoe opener, and the adjustment mechanism is configured to block vertical movement of the packer wheel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally from the second position to the first position as the hoe opener transitions to the ground engaging position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel in the rearward direction such that the packer wheel does not contact the hoe opener as the hoe opener moves in the rearward direction toward the disengaged position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally along the rearward direction about 8 to 12 inches. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, 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 the adjustment mechanism comprises a biasing member coupled to the axle configured to urge the packer wheel in a forward direction within the slot. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally relative to the packer wheel arm from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 15 A system, comprising: a packer wheel assembly configured to be disposed rearward of a hoe opener assembly, wherein the packer wheel assembly comprises a packer wheel mounted to a bracket, the packer wheel assembly is configured to control a depth of a valley formed by a hoe opener of the hoe opener assembly while the hoe opener is in a ground engaging position, and the bracket is coupled to a packer wheel arm extending between the bracket and a linkage assembly; and an adjustment mechanism configured to shift the packer wheel arm from a first position to a second position rearward of the first position when the hoe opener moves in a rearward direction toward a disengaged position; 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 the adjustment mechanism comprises a biasing member coupled to the axle configured to urge the packer wheel in a forward direction within the slot. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally via a linkage member extending between the packer wheel assembly and a shank coupled to the hoe opener, and the adjustment mechanism is configured to block vertical movement of the packer wheel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel in the rearward direction such that the packer wheel does not contact the hoe opener as the hoe opener moves in the rearward direction toward the disengaged position, and the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally from the second position to the first position as the hoe opener transitions to the ground engaging position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally along the rearward direction about 8 to 12 inches. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally relative to the bracket and relative to the packer wheel arm from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to shift the packer wheel horizontally relative to the bracket from the first position to the second position.