Design and Analysis on Key Components of Small-Scale Integrated Chili-Pepper Transplanter with Rotary-Tillage Function

To address the challenges of separated land preparation and transplanting processes, low operational efficiency, high labor costs in current pepper seedling transplanting, this paper proposes a compact integrated pepper planter that combines strip rotary tillage, seedling-tray conveying, and planting with soil covering. Based on a modular design approach, the overall structural layout and key mechanisms were developed. The structural composition and working principles of the rotary tillage unit, rotary-tray feeding device, planting mechanism, and frame-traveling system were clarified, and the key parameters and transmission schemes of the main components were determined. Design and analysis results indicated that the machine can complete land preparation, transplanting, and soil-covering and compaction in a single pass. Compared with traditional manual transplanting, its theoretical operational efficiency is improved by more than 3.5 times. The qualification rates for plant spacing, row spacing, and planting depth all meet the agronomic requirements for pepper cultivation. This study provides a valuable reference for the lightweight and integrated design of transplanting equipment for cash crops.