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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #95686
Title: COMBINING ROLLER GINNING AND LINT CLEANING INTO ONE MACHINE

Author
item Gillum, Marvis
item ARMIJO, CARLOS - LAS CRUCES NM

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASAE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/25/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Pima cotton is roller ginned to preserve its fiber properties and minimize neps. After ginning, pima fiber is cleaned with machines that do minimal damage to the fiber. The pima cotton industry is continuously seeking ways to remain competitive in the extra-long-staple (ELS) market, and one of their concerns is finding a better method of cleaning the fiber in the gin. A test that compared the standard method of cleaning pima fiber to an experimental cylinder-type cleaner connected directly to a roller gin stand showed that there were no significant differences in fiber or yarn quality between the two cleaning methods. The experimental machine had more trash in the lint, more lint in the trash, and a lower cleaning efficiency than the standard cleaners. Turnout and bale value remained the same with either method, ensuring that the farmer's return is not jeopardized. There may be some environmental benefits realized with the experimental method since the method uses less energy, and requires fewer air pollution control devices.

Technical Abstract: An experimental machine that combines the roller-ginning and lint- cleaning functions into one unit was tested. The ginning section of the machine is standard, but the cleaning section consists of a cylinder-type cleaner. Because the ginned fiber is guided directly onto the cleaning cylinder without forming a batt, a feed roll/feeder bar assembly (which damages the fiber) is not needed. The test consisted of comparing Pima lint cleaned with standard mill-type/air jet cleaners to Pima lint cleaned with the experimental machine. There were no significant differences in fiber or yarn quality between the two cleaning treatments. The experimental machine had more trash in the lint, more lint in the trash, and a lower cleaning efficiency than the standard cleaners, but turnout and bale value remained the same.