Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Cotton Production and Processing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #215608
Title: Initial evaluation of the multibar sawless lint cleaner

Author
item Holt, Gregory
item BAKER, ROY - USDA-ARS-CPPRU, RETIRED
item BARNES, ED - COTTON INCORPORATED

Submitted to: World Cotton Research Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/30/2007
Publication Date: 9/14/2007
Citation: Holt, G.A., Baker, R.V., Barnes, E. 2007. Initial evaluation of the multibar sawless lint cleaner. In: Proceedings of the World Cotton Research Conference-4, Sept. 10-14, 2007, Lubbock, TX. Paper No. 2241. 2007 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary: Saw-type lint cleaners are the most commonly used means of cleaning lint for cotton gins processing mechanically harvested upland cotton. The use of lint cleaners has a significant impact on the value and quality of ginned lint. Too much or too little cleaning can lower the value of cotton and create processing problems at the textile mill. This study was initiated to develop a prototype sawless lint cleaner that could remove the foreign matter in the lint without adversely effecting fiber quality while producing less lint waste than the traditional saw-type lint cleaner. Results showed the prototype lint cleaner, named the Multibar Sawless Lint Cleaner (MBSLC), had longer length, less short fiber content, and less neps than the conventional saw-type lint cleaner. The MBSLC also had higher leaf and lower color than the saw-type lint cleaner and did not comb the cotton as well. Overall, the MBSLC has potential to be used as a first stage lint cleaner or replace conventional saw-type lint cleaners altogether. Future studies are being developed to evaluate other operational parameters and machine settings for the MBSLC to see if additional improvements can be made. Reducing the amount of fiber damage and waste produced would result in a greater lint value for the producer.

Technical Abstract: Experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of a prototype lint cleaner named the Multibar Sawless Lint Cleaner (MBSLC). The MBSLC was conceived as a possible replacement for the first stage of lint cleaning in a cotton gin. The MBSLC has similarities to a saw-type lint cleaner, but the saws have been replaced with a spiked-tooth cylinder and a much denser series of grid bars are used. The theory of replacing the first stage was based on inefficiencies seen in a conventional two saw-type lint cleaner operation where the first stage of lint cleaning experiences the heaviest loading of trash and does a majority of the cleaning. The second stage is less efficient since it is both operationally and mechanically redundant to the first stage of lint cleaning. The MBSLC was designed under the premise that more effective and efficient cleaning of the lint would occur if different mechanical principles of operation were used in series rather than the traditional saw-type lint cleaner followed by a saw-type lint cleaner. This initial study was performed on a single variety of upland cotton that was stripper harvested with a field cleaner. The MBSLC was compared to a conventional saw-type lint cleaner by evaluating the fiber quality and lint waste produced by each machine. Results showed the MBSLC produced 73% less lint cleaner waste than the conventional saw-type lint cleaner. The MBSLC had improved fiber properties of length, short fiber content, and trash size. Fiber properties of Rd and leaf grade were better from the saw-type lint cleaner. All other measured fiber properties were the same for both lint cleaners. The results emphasized the potential application of this technology to improve lint cleaning, possibly by use as a stage of "pre-cleaning" before a saw-type lint cleaner, or even as a sole stage of cleaning for lint with low leaf levels. Additional studies are being planned to evaluate other spike designs and operating parameters of the MBSLC.