Factorial Experiment for Air Blower of the Pepper Harvester

Purpose: The present study intended to determine the optimal separating factors of the self-propelled pepper harvester. Methods: The separating factors were rotational speed of 1600, 1800, and 2000 rpm; the slope angle of 34, 41, and 48 degrees; and the separating number of wind guides at the outlet of the air blower. The resulting performance of the pepper harvester was appraised by analyzing the rates of pepper separation and foreign materials in leaves. Results: The rates of pepper separation tended to be declining according to the number of outlet guides in operation. The higher levels of speed of rotation and slope angle rendered higher rates of separation of foreign materials. Under the condition of the rotation speed of 1600 rpm with the operation of three wind guides, the rate of separation of foreign materials appeared as 29.9% lower than the case of operation of no wind guides, and the changes in the rate of separation foreign matters with the slope angle varied according to increasing speed of rotation, appeared negligent. Conclusions: It was concluded that the optimal condition of operation comprising the rotation speed of 2000 rpm and 34° of slope angle of air blower, and simultaneous operation of three wind guides at the outlet thereof, can return over 95% of the rate of pepper separation in the case of less than 5% of the rate of mixing with foreign materials. Thus, the optimal combination of operating conditions needs to be complemented through actual field tests of the pepper harvester.