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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Cotton Production and Processing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #222679
Title: The multibar sawless lint cleaner: A new approach to cleaning upland cotton lint

Author
item Holt, Gregory
item BAKER, ROY - USDA-ARS (RETIRED)
item BARNES, ED - COTTON INCORPORATED
item Armijo, Carlos

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/8/2008
Publication Date: 1/8/2008
Citation: Holt, G.A., Baker, R.V., Barnes, E., Armijo, C.B. 2008. The multibar sawless lint cleaner: A new approach to cleaning upland cotton lint. National Cotton Council 2008 Beltwide Cotton Conferences, January 8-11, 2008, Nashville, TN. p. 717-724.

Interpretive Summary:

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.