Abstract: A system and method includes a seed roll of a saw type gin stand which can easily be inspected in an efficient and safe manner within the normal course of operation. The monitoring of the seed roll is desirable for prediction of irregularities that could significantly hamper the production of a ginning facility. This monitoring can take place by manual inspection with the eye or touch of the operator. In addition, this feature will facilitate the opportunity to introduce a new automatic process by which the control system can monitor the seed roll in order to improve overall productivity of the gin stand.

Abstract: A system and method includes a seed roll of a saw type gin stand which can easily be inspected in an efficient and safe manner within the normal course of operation. The monitoring of the seed roll is desirable for prediction of irregularities that could significantly hamper the production of a ginning facility. This monitoring can take place by manual inspection with the eye or touch of the operator. In addition, this feature will facilitate the opportunity to introduce a new automatic process by which the control system can monitor the seed roll in order to improve overall productivity of the gin stand.

Abstract: An asymmetrical tab or key defining the central aperture of the saw blades, wherein the key complements an asymmetrical keyway defined by the curved outer surface of the driven shaft. The driven shaft can be a symmetrical driven shaft wherein both ends of the shaft are similarly configured, such that it does not matter which end of the shaft is orientated, in which direction, within the saw cylinder assembly, and it does not matter which side of the shaft the saw blades are attached to, or in which direction the saw blades are flipped when attached.

Abstract: A vortex tube system for conditioning and blending fibrous material utilizing a helical inlet to the base of a central vortex tube, to condition and blend fibers in a fluidly conveyed stream, and to separate the fibers from debris, by abruptly changing direction of the conveying air flow. The vortex tube system for conditioning and blending combines the helical input with helical shaping of the air flow through the central vortex tube to induce greater dynamics which is continued at the top of the vortex tube through a separate drying chamber.

Abstract: A vortex tube system for conditioning and blending fibrous material utilizing a helical inlet to the base of a central vortex tube, to condition and blend fibers in a fluidly conveyed stream, and to separate the fibers from debris, by abruptly changing direction of the conveying air flow. The vortex tube system for conditioning and blending combines the helical input with helical shaping of the air flow through the central vortex tube to induce greater dynamics which is continued at the top of the vortex tube through a separate drying chamber.

Abstract: A vortex dryer for fibrous material utilizes a helical inlet to the base of a central vortex tube to separate fiber from debris by abruptly changing direction of the conveying air flow. The dryer combines the helical input with helical shaping of the air flow through the central vortex tube to induce greater drying for the fiber which is continued at the top of the vortex tube through a separate drying chamber.

Abstract: An extractor cleaner for harvested cotton uses a plurality of sequential rotating saw cylinders a plurality variably and re-positionable deflector panels mounted for displacement about horizontal axes spaced from said plural rotating saw cylinders to deflect cotton and debris expelled by said plural rotating saw cylinders along separate conduits wherein said plurality of variably re-positionable deflector panels may be selectively positioned to deflect debris along one of said conduits to a discharge opening and to deflect cotton mingled with debris along said one of said conduits to a reclaim rotating saw cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning trash from cotton lint utilizes a combing cylinder having a plurality of teeth covering its surface and extending therefrom in a manner to release the cotton lint to a cleaning cylinder. The combing cylinder surface moves slower than the cleaning cylinder to comb the lint as it is delivered to the cleaning cylinder. Means are provided to vary the speed of the combing cylinder to match the lint processing parameters, including negating lint combing all together.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning trash from cotton lint utilizes a combing cylinder having a plurality of teeth covering its surface and extending therefrom in a manner to release the cotton lint to a cleaning cylinder. The combing cylinder surface moves slower than the cleaning cylinder to comb the lint as it is delivered to the cleaning cylinder. Means are provided to vary the speed of the combing cylinder to match the lint processing parameters, including negating lint combing all together.

Abstract: A reclaimer cylinder for use in reclaiming cotton seeds containing spinnable lint from partially ginned cotton seeds utilizes channel saws mounted axially on a cylindrical body with axially closely spaced teeth that virtually eliminate the variation in likelihood the teeth will fail to grasp the fibers present on such cotton seeds. Triangular grid bars facilitate removal of fully ginned seeds that are not entrained in fibers of other seeds.

Abstract: A reclaimer cylinder for use in reclaiming cotton seeds containing spinnable lint from partially ginned cotton seeds utilizes channel saws mounted axially on a cylindrical body with axially closely spaced teeth that virtually eliminate the variation in likelihood the teeth will fail to grasp the fibers present on such cotton seeds. Triangular grid bars facilitate removal of fully ginned seeds that are not entrained in fibers of other seeds.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning foreign matter from separated tufts of fiber uses a transfer cylinder intermediate a revolving open reel type structure mounted within a porous housing to separate a conveying air stream from tufts of fiber conveyed thereby and a toothed cleaning cylinder to separate air flow through said revolving reel from said cleaning cylinder such that air is not drawn through said cleaning cylinder into said porous housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for adding moisture to cotton in a cotton ginning process utilizes a quick response heater generate a heated air flow which is routed to a series of conduits passing through a reservoir of water to raise water to at or near boiling to generate vapor at atmospheric pressure which is entrained in a portion of the heated air flow which is directed to the battery condenser and/or gin stand.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for enclosing bales of materials with at least four substantially rectilinear sides in flexible sheet material tubes having one open end into which the bales are inserted leaving the tube open end projecting loosely beyond the end of the bale utilizing structure temporarily placed inside the tube open end tending to resist inward movement of said tube such that the tube end may be formed into pleats at the four corners of the end of the bale and structure external of the tube cooperating to form and fold the pleats against the bale end surface where they are affixed.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning foreign matter from separated tufts of fiber uses a revolving open reel type structure mounted within a porous housing to separate a conveying air stream from tufts of fiber conveyed thereby and deliver the tufts to a toothed cleaning cylinder which passes beneath a plurality of cleaning bars. The open reel utilizes brush like outer surfaces to sweep tufts of fiber from the housing back into the air stream adjacent the cleaning cylinder.

Abstract: A high speed roller gin for seed cotton with variable length fibers has its components defined in accordance with the formula RKBS<(2SR-2MD)*RKSS/GRSS where, the rotary knife circumferential blade (RKBS) spacing is less than 2-times the seed release distance from the tip of the stationary knife (SR) minus 2-times the minimum distance the seed surfaces are allowed to approach the tip of the stationary knife (MD) multiplied by the rotary knife surface speed (RKSS) and divided by the ginning roller surface speed (GRSS). A seed cotton infeed slide further limits the exposure of the seed directly against the tip of the stationary knife to reduce the ginning of the undesirable short fibers. A process for using such gins is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for controlling the feed rate of seed cotton to a roller gin utilizes a plurality of sensors to measure gin roll temperature, power requirements, seed cotton accumulation on the gin roll and/or ginned seed reflectance to dynamically vary feed rate, rotary knife speed and gin roll speed, force and position against stationary knife to increase ginning efficiency.

Abstract: An improved seed cleaner utilizes a rock trap sequentially followed by an aspiration hood which performs preliminary cleaning before passing seed to a rotary seed cleaner mounted over a shaker to yield a cottonseed cleaning system has enhanced the removal of loose lint from the seed before the seed is passed over any shaker screens to prevent clogging of the shaker screens by the loose lint.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a bale of lint cotton fiber by pre-compressing each consecutive charge of fiber fed from the lint slide to a predetermined and uniform density. The apparatus includes a supply chamber predisposed with both vertical and horizontal platens driven by independent hydraulic cylinders. The movement and cycling of the platens is such that measured charges of fibers are presented to a vertical tramping device at consistent and uniform density. The tramping device, consisting of a platen driven by two hydraulic cylinders, packs each charge into a stationary box, one charge after another. This process continues until the desired bale weight is reached. The tramper cylinders are driven to a predetermined pressure setting during the tramping phase of each stroke cycle (extension) resulting in uniform compression (density).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conditioning a fibrous material. The conditioning arrangement includes a moisturizing chamber having two series of opposed rollers arranged to accept a fiber batt into a pressing space therebetween. The pressing space tapers from a batt entrance toward a batt exit. This tapered configuration is affected for compressing a fiber batt as it is rolled therethrough. As illustrated, before entering the conditioner, the cotton batt has a greater thickness than after compaction and processing through the moisturizing chamber. A moisture infusion assembly is provided within the moisturizing chamber and has an air distributor configured to dispense moisture laden air adjacent to a fiber batt being processed through the pressing space. An air collector is configured to pull exhaust air away from the fiber batt being processed through the pressing space.