Abstract
Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the appropriate operating conditions through a factorial experiment for the secondary separating part of the self-propelled pepper harvester. Methods: An experimental setup that simulates the secondary separating part of the self-propelled pepper harvester was organized. Test samples were classified into three types according to the number of peppers on a stem, and 12 sets were prepared for each type. Among the operating conditions of the secondary separating part, the rotational speed of drum B (four levels), radial clearance between drums and cylindrical teeth (three levels), and speed ratio between the three drums (two levels) were set as the test factors, and tests were repeated three times for different levels of each factor. The appropriate operating conditions were determined by analyzing the separation ratio and damage ratio of the peppers collected through the secondary separating part. Results: The test factors changed the overall separation ratio and overall damage ratio in similar trends. In other words, the conditions that caused high overall separation ratios also exhibited high overall damage ratios. Owing to the high overall damage ratio in the condition with the highest overall separation ratio, the operating conditions should be selected considering both ratios. Conclusions: When the condition with more than 60% of overall separation ratio and less than 15% of overall damage ratio was considered as the appropriate operating condition, 70 rpm of the rotational speed of drum B, 5 mm of the radial clearance between drums and cylindrical teeth, and 7:3:5 for the speed ratio of the three drums A, B, and C should be applied for the secondary separating part used in this study. Supplementary studies will be required in the future to find optimal operating conditions through the actual field test under further divided test factors.