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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Structure and Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #241987
Title: Saw-Type Lint Cleaner Damage as Related to Saw Speed

Author
item Delhom, Chris
item Byler, Richard

Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/10/2009
Publication Date: 7/24/2009
Citation: Delhom, C.D., Byler, R.K. 2009. Saw-Type Lint Cleaner Damage as Related to Saw Speed. Proceeding of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, June 21–24, 2009, Reno, Nevada. ASABE p. 096137.

Interpretive Summary: Damage to fiber quality is an important issue as it devalues the crop. Removal of non-lint content and short fibers from ginned lint is necessary in order to improve the processability of the lint and increase the value of the commodity. Saw-type lint cleaners are commonly used to remove the undesirable content from ginned lint. Saw-type lint cleaners are effective lint cleaners; however they impart damage to the lint. Understanding the nature of the interaction between the fiber and machine allows for design improvements to be pursued which enhance the effectiveness of the lint cleaners while minimizing the damage to the crop. A study was conducted to measure the effect of changing the saw speed on a saw-type lint cleaner. A method to analyze the quantity and quality of the lint ejected by the lint cleaner was developed.

Technical Abstract: Saw-type lint cleaners are commonly used to improve the overall quality of ginned lint by removing foreign matter and less desirable short fiber. Saw-type lint cleaners inflict damage on some good lint. The removal of foreign matter improves the leaf grade of the lint and removal of short fibers improves the mean length and overall fiber length distribution of the ginned lint while the lint damage increases the short fiber content. Reduced short fiber content and increased fiber mean length increase the value and improve the textile processing of the lint. Previous work examined the effect of individual components of the lint cleaner on the quality of the cleaned lint. This paper describes a lint cleaner which has been equipped with a variable frequency drive to allow the saw speed to be precisely controlled and easily changed, separately from the feed works. Saw speeds were able to be increased and decreased without altering the other settings of the lint cleaner. Altering the saw speed changes the interaction of the lint with the saw, as well as alters the air flow through the lint cleaner. Fiber quality was measured utilizing several techniques such as High Volume Instruments (HVI®) and Advanced Fiber Information Systems (AFIS). The quality of the material ejected by the lint cleaner was also studied. The saw-type lint cleaner is an efficient cleaner and a more thorough understanding of the effect of the saw speed on fiber quality will allow for effective design improvements.