Abstract: A seed cotton dryer comprises an array of electromagnetic wave energy generators in a cotton gin, a cotton picker/stripper. An appropriate amount of energy is used to evaporate a considerable amount of moisture in the seed cotton without producing enough energy to pop the cotton seeds. Seed cotton dried by wave energy is much easier to separate the cotton seeds and lint from leaves, stems and other plant parts. The seed cotton is preferably transported through the dryer in a conduit having flat sides which reflects the wave energy more efficiently than through a round conduit. Provisions are made to prevent arcing in the transport conduit when extraneous metal pieces are inadvertently mixed with the seed cotton. In some embodiments, heated air from a diesel engine is used to dry crops as they are being harvested.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a conductive yarn includes the steps of: moistening a preformed yarn with a conductive slurry to prepare the preformed yarn absorbed with the conductive slurry; and drying the preformed yarn absorbed with the conductive slurry. The conductive slurry includes a conductive nanometer structure, a solvent, and a resin component. The conductive nanometer structure has an aspect ratio sufficient to permit binding of the conductive nanometer structure to the preformed yarn.

Abstract: The present invention concerns processes for reducing water in never-dried fiber comprising copolymer derived from the copolymerization of para-phenylenediamine, 5(6)-amino-2-(p-aminophenyl)benzimidazole; and terephthaloyl dichloride, the process having the following steps in a continuous process, (a) a step of drying a never-dried fiber having at least 0.1% sulfur at less than 150° C. until the moisture content of the fiber is less than 60 weight percent; and (b) a step of further drying the fiber above 150° C. while the moisture content of the fiber is no more than 60 weight percent; and the fiber being further heated to at least 350° C. in either an additional continuous or separate step.

Abstract: A seed cotton dryer comprises an array of electromagnetic wave energy generators in a cotton gin and a cotton picker/stripper. An appropriate amount of energy is used to evaporate a considerable amount of moisture in the seed cotton without producing enough energy to pop the cotton seeds. Seed cotton dried by wave energy is much easier to separate the cotton seeds and lint from leaves, stems and other plant parts. The seed cotton is preferably transported through the dryer in a conduit having flat sides which reflects the wave energy more efficiently than through a round conduit. Provisions are made to prevent arcing in the transport conduit when extraneous metal pieces are inadvertently mixed with the seed cotton. In some embodiments, heated air from a diesel engine is used to dry crops as they are being harvested.

Abstract: A seed cotton dryer comprises an array of electromagnetic wave energy generators in a cotton gin and a cotton picker/stripper. An appropriate amount of energy is used to evaporate a considerable amount of moisture in the seed cotton without producing enough energy to pop the cotton seeds. Seed cotton dried by wave energy is much easier to separate the cotton seeds and lint from leaves, stems and other plant parts. The seed cotton is preferably transported through the dryer in a conduit having flat sides which reflects the wave energy more efficiently than through a round conduit. Provisions are made to prevent arcing in the transport conduit when extraneous metal pieces are inadvertently mixed with the seed cotton. In some embodiments, heated air from a diesel engine is used to dry crops as they are being harvested.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process of decortication for separating the bast from the inner core of fibre plants using a disc refiner.

Abstract: A method of producing a high quality of yarn by an iron-heating apparatus, including the steps of: guiding a yarn to pass between upper and lower rollers, wherein the yarn is exited at a front nip in a twisting triangle area; guiding the yarn to enter to a groove of a heating main body of the iron-heating apparatus; heating the yarn along the groove to reduce a rigidity of the yarn so as to allow the yarn to be easily twisted to form an improved yarn with high quality; and enwrapping the improved yarn on a spun yarn tube. In addition, a counter frictional force is applied at the yarn through walls of the groove such that fiber on a surface of the yarn is further twisted to the yarn for minimizing hairiness.

Abstract: A document storage device configured to receive a title sheet. The document storage device including a cover having a cover lip and a cover sheet coupled to the cover. The cover sheet is movable between an open position and a closed position such that when the cover sheet is in the closed position, at least a portion of a first edge engages the cover lip and defines a title sheet space between the cover and the cover sheet that is configured to receive the title sheet.

Abstract: A hot shelf tower dryer includes a casing having substantially parallel shelves which alternately extend from opposite ends of the tower casing. As configured, the dryer includes a repetitively convoluted passage. At least one of the shelves has a hollow interior or chamber. Disposed in the chamber is at least one electrical heating element, where the power supplied to the heating element is regulated by a control system. As controlled, the electrical heating elements provide sufficient output to the tower casing which result in a substantially constant temperature throughout the passage. With the heating elements, the hot shelf tower dryer does not require the burning of natural gas or some other fossil fuel to heat the tower dryer unless such heating is desired to heat the forced air that conveys the cotton through dryer. As a result, in comparison with hot shelf tower dryer's that use fossil fuels as a heating source, pollutant emissions, such as nitrous oxide (NO.sub.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for reducing the adhesiveness of sticky plets on the surface of a cotton fiber comprising decoalescing the droplets and dispersing the contents thereof along the surface of the fiber wherein the dispersion is effected by passing the fiber between a pair of rotary rollers, the rollers being pressed against each other and being revolved at different relative speeds.

Abstract: A fiber tuft processing line for processing fiber tufts preparatory to spinning, includes a plurality of fiber processing machines, fiber tuft conveying ducts serially connecting the machines, a blower generating a fiber tuft conveying air stream flowing in the fiber tuft conveying ducts, and an air conditioning system for supplying conditioned air to the machines of the fiber processing line. The air conditioning system includes an air conditioner; conditioned air conveying ducts extending from an output of the air conditioner to the machines; a humidity sensor and temperature sensor for responding to humidity and temperature conditions in the processing line; and a regulator for operatively connecting the humdiity sensor and the temperature sensor with the air conditioner. The humidity sensor is arranged to respond directly to the humidity of the fiber tufts in the processing line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating cotton contaminated or imbued with honeydew. For this purpose, cotton flocks are fed into a microwave oven, in which the cotton flocks are heated by microwave energy, thus reducing the stickiness or tackiness of the honeydew such that there are no processing disadvantages on subsequent machinery. The microwave oven basically comprises a conveyor belt on which the cotton flocks are conveyed through a passage or channel provided with microwave generators. At the exit or outlet of the microwave oven the cotton flocks are transferred to an opening unit which transfers the cotton flocks into a feed chute or shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for treating cotton contaminated or imbued with honeydew. For this purpose, cotton flocks are fed into a microwave oven, in which the cotton flocks are heated by microwave energy, thus reducing the stickiness or tackiness of the honeydew such that there are no processing disadvantages on subsequent machinery. The microwave oven basically comprises a conveyor belt on which the cotton flocks are conveyed through a passage or channel provided with microwave generators. At the exit or outlet of the microwave oven the cotton flocks are transferred to an opening unit which transfers the cotton flocks into a feed chute or shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for reducing the stickiness or tackiness of cotton flocks. For this purpose, cotton flocks delivered by any suitable conveyor structure are received in a flock chute and brought, by rolls or rollers, as a fiber batt between a number of heated rolls or rollers, in order to be heated such that the stickiness or tackiness of the honeydew on the cotton is thus reduced to an extent which no longer has an adverse effect on subsequent machinery. Downstream of the heated rolls or rollers the fiber batt is again opened into cotton flocks by an opening roll or roller and fed to a pneumatic conveyor line through which the cotton flocks are fed to the subsequent machine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for rendering harmless sticky material adhering to cotton fibers, termed "honeydew". According to the process the cotton is heated for a brief period of time to a temperature adequate to render said honeydew hard and brittle, and this without adversely affecting the cotton fibers. There are also provided means for effecting such treatment of cotton fibers in a continuous manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of reducing the stickiness or tackiness of cotton flocks. For this purpose, cotton flocks delivered by any suitable conveyor mechanism are received in a flock chute and brought, by rolls or rollers, as a fiber batt between a number of heated rolls or rollers, in order to be heated such that the stickiness or tackiness of the honeydew on the cotton is thus reduced to an extend which no longer has an adverse effect on subsequent machinery. Downstream of the heated rolls or rollers the fiber batt is again opened into cotton flocks by an opening roll or roller and fed to a pneumatic conveyor line through which the cotton flocks are fed to the subsequent machine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing textile fibers, in particular pressed bale cotton fibers, for removing therefrom possible adhering organic waste released by insects, which method comprises the step of processing in a microwave oven, by a substantially continuous cycle, the cotton bales by means of microwaves having given frequency and power, so as to dry the organic waste in such a way that the organic waste can be easily removed from the single fibers by a simple beating treatment.The apparatus substantially comprises a microwave processing tunnel thereto the cotton bales are supplied, in succession, by means of a loading conveyor belt, a plurality of microwave generating units arranged in said tunnel and a discharging conveyor belt for unloading the microwave processed cotton bales.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for rendering harmless sticky material adhering to cotton or cotton fibers, termed "honeydew". According to the process the cotton or cotton fibers is heated for a brief period of time to a temperature adequate to render said honeydew hard and brittle, and this without adversely affecting the cotton or cotton fibers. There are also provided means for effecting such treatment of the cotton fibers in a continuous manner.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the drafting of sliver in a draw frame wherein a control arrangement generates an adjusting signal in response to sliver mass variations to correspondingly vary the sliver draft. A modifying arrangement is provided for selective manual or automatic adjustment according to any given one or more operating parameters which influence the sliver drafting, such as physical characteristics of the sliver and environmental characteristics of the textile machine, to modify the operation of the control arrangement to correct the adjusting signal and thereby to further vary the drafting of the sliver to compensate for the operating parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying material transported in a fluid stream including a nozzle borne in the described embodiment by a suction tube of a cotton gin and defining an air channel which is operable to direct a stream of heated air to the intake end of the nozzle; a fan and a conduit are mounted in fluid transferring relation with the nozzle and are operable to deliver air to the nozzle; and a heater borne by the conduit is adapted to impart heat energy to the air passing therethrough, the heated air discharged by the nozzle adapted to dry the cotton drawn into the suction tube thereby decreasing the moisture content thereof and facilitating the removal of trash therefrom.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for rendering harmless sticky material adhering to cotton fibers, termed "honeydew". According to the process the cotton is heated for a brief period of time to a temperature adequate to render said honeydew hard and brittle, and this without adversely affecting the cotton fibers. There are also provided means for effecting such treatment of cotton fibers in a continuous manner.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the treatment of insulating materials in the supple, fluffy state, such as down, wherein the fluff of the down is subjected to a physical treatment adapted to take the filaments of the fluff into a substantially radial position, giving the fluff its maximum volume in which it is stabilized by the superficial deposit of a resin. The apparatus for carrying out the process comprises a dehydration enclosure in the form of a rotating drum with inner blades, hot air inlet and upper evacuation. The invention is more particularly applicable to the treatment of down for filling duvets, sleeping bags or the like.

Abstract: A drying tower for seed cotton in ginneries, which tower comprises four walls and a heated air flow from its bottom to its top. Seed cotton is fed at the top and collected at the bottom of the tower. The cotton is transferred over two sets of horizontal conveyors. The conveyors of one set are arranged in superimposed, spaced relationship along one wall, and the conveyors of the other set along an opposite wall of the tower, so that the centerally portions of the conveyors of one set overlap corresponding portions of the other set. The conveyors of the two sets are driven in opposite directions, thus causing the processed cotton to travel along a tortuous path during which it becomes dried.

Abstract: The debris and pith removal from bagasse fiber is significantly enhanced by the flow of fiber from one depithing zone into a fiber washing zone and then to a second depithing zone without any intermediate settling of piling of the fiber. The fiber is maintained in a separated condition throughout the first depithing zone, the washer and the subsequent depithing zone. The result is a bagasse fiber having a greater quantity of the debris and pith removed with much less fiber damage.

Abstract: A seed cotton drying system of the parallel flow tower type, having vertically spaced horizontal shelves alternately extending from opposite sides of the tower to locations near but spaced from the opposite side to define a continuing zig zag cotton flow path from the top of the bottom through which the cotton travels impelled by the conveying heated air. The spacing of the shelves increases from the top to the bottom, and fresh hot air is introduced between the shelves where there is an increase in shelf spacing.

Abstract: A seed cotton dryer system of the parallel flow tower type, having hollow vertically spaced horizontal shelves alternately extending from opposite sides of the tower to locations near but spaced from the opposite side to define a continuing zig-zag cotton flow path from the top to the bottom of the dryer through which the cotton travels impelled by conveying heated air. The hollow interior chambers of the shelves are supplied with heated air to heat the shelf surfaces and thereby facilitate drying, and the vertical spacing between shelves increases in one or more stages below the uppermost shelves providing for higher shelf velocity over the uppermost shelves. Means for recycling the cotton conveying air through the dryer and for monitoring the dew point of this conveying air to proportionately introduce fresh ambient air into the system and/or for monitoring cotton moisture content and automatically regulating heating of the drying air to regulate moisture content levels may be provided.