Abstract: System and method for optimizing the processing of materials, particularly the processing of cotton in a cotton gin or a textile mill. Cotton moisture, color, and foreign matter measurements are made with electronic sensors at three stations. For a gin, a dynamic programming model uses input information relative to the moisture and trash content, color, lint turnout, staple length, cotton price structure, and energy costs to select an optimum drying and cleaning sequence for the cotton. The dynamic programming model optimizes cotton producer profits by selecting the amount of gin machinery necessary to achieve the most beneficial market value while minimizing the machinery used. Automated directional valves are used to route the cotton through the selected optimum combination of seed cotton cleaners, multi-path driers, and lint cleaners.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the stickiness of agricultural solids such as cotton is provided. A reference moisture level of a sample is measured in a manner not responsive to the presence of sugars. The sugar-based moisture content of the sample is measured by sensors responsive to the presence of sugars. The difference between the reference moisture level and the sugar-based moisture content provides a measure of the relative stickiness of the sample.

Abstract: A system for analyzing the moisture content of bulk cotton or other non-homogeneous flowable solid substrates comprising: an electrical sensor consisting of multiple electrically independent measuring electrodes, each of which independently measures the moisture content of different portions of the sample; a means of pressing the mass against the surface of the sensor to form a face of uniform substrate density on that part of the mass which is pressed against the sensor; means for analyzing such face for moisture content; and a means for releasing the pressure on the halted mass to allow it to resume movement.