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2025 Vol.52, Issue 3 Preview Page

Engineering

Theoretical kinematic analysis of a wheel-driven hopper planting mechanism for vegetable transplanters
Eliezel Habineza1
,
Emmanuel Bicamumakuba2
,
Md Nasim Reza12
,
Sun-Ok Chung12*
,
Soon-Jung Hong3*
1Department of Smart Agricultural Systems, Graduate School, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
2Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Graduate School, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
3Korea National University of Agriculture and Fisheries, Jeonju 54874, Korea
*Corresponding Author
1 September 2025. pp. 233-245
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Abstract

Vegetable production plays a vital role in the global agricultural economy, and seedling transplanters significantly enhance timely large-scale production, planting efficiency, and the overall mechanization rate. Due to the limited availability of transplanting machinery, manual transplanting remains the predominant method; however, it is time-consuming, inconsistent, and inefficient. This study presents a theoretical analysis of a customized wheel-driven hopper-type planting mechanism for a vegetable transplanter, focusing on the dimensional design of key components and kinematic parameters, including velocity, acceleration, hopper trajectory, and forward speed required for the smooth placement and deposition of vegetable seedlings. A 3D model of the planting device was designed, and a mathematical model was developed for simulation. The wheel-driven planting mechanism consisted of a wheel, wheel support, roller, roller guide, hopper opener, and hopper. To ensure the synchronization of the vertical and horizontal movements of the hopper, and to achieve consistent and safe deposition of seedlings into the soil, the optimal dimensions of the planting unit were determined as follows: a wheel diameter of 250 mm, a wheel thickness of 6 mm, a hopper opener length of 36 mm, and a hopper height of 80 mm. These dimensions collectively generated an optimal planting trajectory along a circular path measuring 249.9 mm in both the vertical and horizontal directions. An optimal forward speed of 150 mm·s-1 was identified to ensure smooth and upright planting of vegetable seedlings, resulting in a soil contact angle close to 90°, with the planting hopper exhibiting a peak velocity of 131 mm·s-1 and a peak acceleration of 137 mm·s-2 along both the X- and Y-axes. The findings of this study would offer theoretical background to enhance the design of vegetable transplanting mechanisms.

Keywords
agricultural machinery
kinematic analysis
planting mechanism
vegetable transplanter
wheel-driven hopper
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Information
  • Publisher :Institute of Agricultural Science, Chungnam National University
  • Publisher(Ko) :충남대학교 농업과학연구소
  • Journal Title :Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
  • Journal Title(Ko) :농업과학연구
  • Volume : 52
  • No :3
  • Pages :233-245
  • Received Date : 2025-05-23
  • Revised Date : 2025-06-29
  • Accepted Date : 2025-07-14
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7744/kjoas.520303
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