Abstract: An apparatus for separating foreign matter from fiber tufts includes an air duct in which fiber tufts are pneumatically conveyed into the system via a high speed air stream. The air duct provides an air stream that conveys the fiber tufts with trash on to a revolving cleaning cylinder having teeth to engage the fiber tufts at a velocity that is sufficient to prevent agglomeration of the fiber tufts on a cylinder. The fiber tufts and trash thereby engage a separating means without agglomeration of the fiber tufts. The fiber tufts and trash further engage a streamer plate and grid bars to separate the trash from the fiber tufts such that the clean fiber tufts are distributed to a lint flue. The apparatus may further include a perforated cylinder in close proximity with the revolving cleaning cylinder that allows air to flow there-through, but that prevents penetration of the perforated cylinder surface by the desired fiber tufts.