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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #165380
Title: FIBER QUALITY OF ROLLER GINNED UPLAND COTTON

Author
item Armijo, Carlos
item GILLUM, MARVIS - LAS CRUCES, NM

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/8/2004
Publication Date: 6/1/2004
Citation: Armijo, C.B., Gillum, M.N. 2004. Fiber quality of roller ginned upland cotton. In: Proceedings of the National Cotton Council. 2004 Beltwide Cotton Conferences, January 5-9, 2004, San Antonio, Texas. 2004 CDROM. p. 947.

Interpretive Summary: Although roller ginning does the least amount of damage when separating the fiber from the seed, it is a slow process and consequently not used to gin upland cotton. Improving the efficiency of the roller gin stand may make it economically feasible to roller gin upland cotton. A roller gin stand and feeder were modified to increase the ginning rate of upland cotton. In a formal experiment, the roller gin stand averaged 1.3 and 4.4 bales per hour at the standard and elevated rates, respectively. On samples tested by the USDA-AMS Phoenix Classing Office, the only results available at this time, there was no significant difference between roller ginned upland cotton ginned at the standard and elevated rates (fiber properties were preserved at the elevated rate). Providing a superior fiber to the textile industry benefits both the cotton producer, in higher demand for his product, and the consumer, by providing a quality fabric.

Technical Abstract: A roller gin stand was modified to increase the ginning rate of upland cotton. The speed of both the ginning roller and rotary knife was tripled, and the pressure between the ginning roller and the stationary knife was increased by about a third. The feeder was modified by enlarging the opening at the exit point of the top row of cleaning cylinders, and by adding a kicker cylinder at the exit point on the bottom row of cylinders. The lint flue transition was redesigned to avoid choke-ups. To keep roller temperature at an acceptable level, a water spray system was added to the duct that blows air onto the ginning roller (auxiliary cooler). A formal experiment was run to determine the fiber and cottonseed properties of roller-ginned upland cotton. Using upland cotton, the roller gin stand averaged 1.3 and 4 .4 bales per hour at the standard and elevated rates, respectively. The only results available at this time are HVI fiber properties. The indicate that there is no significant difference between roller ginned upland cotton ginned at the standard and elevated rates. Other fiber and cottonseed properties on samples taken during the formal ginning test have not been received at this time. This research may make it economically feasible to roller gin upland cotton, and therefore provide the cotton producer with a fiber that has superior properties.