Abstract: A method of marking fibers, wherein the method includes providing a plurality of fibers; depositing a marker onto at least a portion of the fibers, the depositing being performed with a delivery mechanism comprising one or more outlets; and thereby marking the fibers. Also provided is a device for marking fibers, including a transport system adapted to transport fibers in a direction of a marker delivery apparatus positioned along the transport system; the delivery apparatus includes one or more outlets, adapted to deposit a solution of the marker through the outlets onto at least a portion of the fibers; and thereby marking the fibers. Authentication of a fibrous material using the marking method of the invention followed obtaining a sample of the marked fibers and assaying the sample for the presence of the nucleic acid marker; and thereby determining whether the fibrous material is authentic or counterfeit.

Abstract: In a cotton gin, water is sprayed into a duct transporting pneumatically conveyed cotton fibers from a gin stand toward a battery condenser to improve the operation of a bale press where the ginned fibers are compacted into a bale. In some embodiments, a taggant is incorporated into the water to mark cotton fibers so threads or fabrics made from the cotton can be identified for quality control purposes. Spray nozzles may deliver water droplets of roughly the same size as the diameter of the cotton fibers. The nozzles may be located on a duct in a location adjacent dead air in the duct to promote coverage of the spray onto the cotton stream. Air may be delivered around the nozzles into the duct to prevent buildup of cotton and debris around the nozzles.

Abstract: The present specification relates to the production of cotton plants and seeds and oil prepared therefrom having elevated levels of oleic and reduced levels of palmitic and linoleic acids. Furthermore, cottonseeds having low levels of cyclopropane and/or cyclopropene fatty acids and/or reduced levels of gossypol are described herein. The specification also describe FatB and CPA-FAS nucleotide and amino acid sequences derived from cotton facilitating, inter alia the direct modification of plant oil content and/or composition.

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: A cotton seed cleaner includes an initial airwash, a shaker deck with a series of cascading shaker trays, and a plurality of pin mill drums for more efficient and thorough cleaning of seeds to be used in industrial and commercial products. The result is a more efficient and cost effective cleaning process of the seeds, yielding cleaner seed and more quality byproducts for use in commercial and industrial products.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for stripping petals from cotton balls. In one embodiment, the cotton stripper includes an impacter for at least partially opening the cotton balls, a first cleaning mechanism to discard petals removed by the impacter, and a cotton separator for removing the remaining petals from the cotton balls. In one embodiment, the cotton separator includes a first large roller, which receives and traps the at least partially opened cotton balls from the first cleaning mechanism. The at least partially opened cotton balls rotate with the first large roller toward a first net. Petals on the cotton balls are stripped off by the first net. Petals removed by the first net fall toward the bottom of the cotton separator. A first small roller then removes the first stripped cotton balls from the first large roller. Processed cotton balls are then stored in an output area.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing foreign matter from fibers, such as from cotton or flax with significantly reduced damage are disclosed. This cleaning is achieved without any of the condenser, compression rollers, or feed roller and feed plate which are present on conventional lint cleaners.

Abstract: A rigid cage cotton gin includes a feeder that delivers seed cotton locks to be ginned. A doffing cylinder at the discharge of the feeder casts seed cotton locks into a bonnet housing, with air inlet vents in the bonnet housing deflecting the seed cotton locks onto a revolving rigid cage having a series of sifting bars that are fixedly mounted thereto. The sifting bars are spaced-apart to define a series of slots. The rigid cage is rotated for seed cotton locks to be drawn to the slots between the sifting bars, and the fibers will be drawn through the slots by air currents flowing through the slots. A fiber-engaging cylinder is mounted within the rigid cage, with the outer surface of the fiber-engaging cylinder abutting the interior surfaces of the sifting bars. The sifting bars are contoured to restrain the cotton seed from moving closer than a predetermined distance from the surface of the fiber-engaging cylinder to control the minimum fiber length removed.

Abstract: Apparatus and related method for adding moisture to cotton using humid air, comprising a tower casing defining a chamber having top and bottom portions, a first inlet proximate the top portion of the tower casing for receiving the cotton, an outlet proximate the bottom portion, a cotton conveying passage connecting the first inlet to the outlet, and a second inlet to the top portion for receiving the humid air. The related method comprising the steps of introducing cotton lint into a chamber, introducing humid air at an elevated temperature into the chamber, and exposing the cotton lint to the humid air while gradually reducing the temperature.

Abstract: This application discloses an improved dryer-cleaning apparatus for use in a cotton gin. It includes a dryer having rotating paddle cylinders for moving the cotton through the dryer and then discharging the cotton directly into the cleaner without compaction or entrapment of the trash within the raw cotton.

Abstract: Apparatus and related method for adding moisture to cotton using humid air, comprising a tower casing defining a chamber having top and bottom portions, a first inlet proximate the top portion of the tower casing for receiving the cotton, an outlet proximate the bottom portion, a cotton conveying passage connecting the first inlet to the outlet, and a second inlet to the top portion for receiving the humid air. The related method comprising the steps of introducing cotton lint into a chamber, introducing humid air at an elevated temperature into the chamber, and exposing the cotton lint to the humid air while gradually reducing the temperature.

Abstract: A linear belt flight has an upper high friction surface to which seed cotton adheres for conveyance to a transverse fixedly positioned knife adjacently above the belt flight; the cotton fibers move beneath the knife to separate the fibers from the seed which move onto the upper surface of the knife. A rotary knife engages the separated seed on the upper surface of the fixedly positioned knife and propels the seed rearwardly onto an auger conveyor for removal of the seed while air doffing means removes the fiber from the upper surface of the linear belt flight downstream of the knife.

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.

Abstract: A multi-faceted cleaner for a cotton gin includes a casing having an inlet, an outlet, and an upper and lower portion. Disposed proximate to the upper portion of the casing is a separator that controls the air flow through the casing. The flow of air through the casing allows for the natural separation of the seed cotton as it enters the casing through the inlet. The seed cotton naturally separates into high density and low density seed cotton, where the low density seed cotton typically remains in the air flow and travels to the outlet and the high density seed cotton descends to a rotating spiked cylinder positioned proximate to the lower portion of the casing. Once received by the spiked cylinder, the seed cotton is cleaned by the interaction of the rotating cylinder and a grid. Positioned substantially beneath each cylinder is a saddle configured to house the grid. The configuration of the saddle and the grid permits the removal and insertion of the grid in the saddle.

Abstract: A high slippage feeder for conveying seed cotton from a rotary vacuum of a cotton gin includes a cylinder rotating about an axis with a plurality of pins radially extending from the cylinder and a casing enclosing the cylinder and the pins. The casing has a first inlet for receiving the seed cotton from the rotary vacuum, a second inlet for receiving an air stream, and an outlet for providing an exit for the air stream and the seed cotton. A portion of the casing is curved to conform to an outer circumference defined by the rotation of the pins, and a portion of the second inlet is inwardly deflected to focus the direction of the air stream. The casing, as shaped, maximizes the operational efficiency of the high slippage feeder and not only improves the conveyance of cotton but also ensures that a majority of the cotton conveyed through the high slippage feeder will be partially dried.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning cotton having a frame which rotatably supports a cylinder member having a cylindrical surface supporting a fiber-engaging structure for seizing contaminated cotton. The frame supports a grid assembly which assists in the removal of undesirable particulates from contaminated cotton engaged to the fiber-engaging structure of the cylinder member. The grid assembly includes a plurality of grid bars connected to the frame in a spatial relationship such that any two contiguous grid bars are separated by a grid space. A shroud member is supported by the frame for controlling the loss of cotton fiber through the grid space between two contiguous grid bars. A method of controlling and/or reducing the loss of cotton during lint cleaning of contaminated cotton. A method for retrofitting a lint cleaner to modify the lint-cleaning ability of the lint cleaner.

Abstract: An apparatus and method enables a synthetic fiber tow of indeterminate length passed through a break drawframe to be converted to relatively short spinnable staple length fibers in the form of sliver. During passing through the drawframe, a concentrated beam of energy, illustrated as being a laser beam is swept across the tow by a rotating mirror and in the course of doing so, effectively cuts the tow fibers where struck by the laser beam. In one embodiment the laser beam stays on while sweeping across the width of the tow and then repeats that cycle in a succeeding section of tow. In another embodiment, the laser beam is energized and deenergized as it transverses across one section of tow and in the next succeeding section of tow the laser beam is actuated in a different time cycle.

Abstract: A storage hopper is placed upstream of an inclined cleaner to prevent a surge of cotton from choking down the inclined cleaner. The output of the storage hopper is limited by feed rollers.

Abstract: The traditional feed plate or stationary feed bar of a lint cleaner in a cotton gin is replaced by a rolling feed bar to press the cotton fibers onto the saw teeth of the saw cylinder. A rolling feed bar is a cylinder of about 1/4 the diameter of the saw cylinder which is rotated to have a surface speed of about 1/25th (+ or -50%) of the surface speed of the saw cylinder. The rolling feed bar is a smooth aluminum roller which co-acts with a ribbed or splined steel roller.

Abstract: An integral polyurethane bell is placed on the bottom of a suction pipe of a cotton gin. A hook is placed on the top of the outer barrel of the suction pipe and a chain swung from pivot mechanism of the suction pipe. When the suction pipe is not in operation the hook is engaged to the chain to hold the suction pipe in a non-obstructive position. Nylon bearing pads are placed between the inner and outer barrels of the suction pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a fiber fraction from seed cotton includes a plurality of freely rotatable cage rollers that are arranged substantially parallel to one another. The plurality of rollers are rotatable in a continuous path that has a first side for receiving seed cotton. The outer peripheral surface of at least one nip roller is positioned in abutting relation to the cage rollers on a second side of the continuous path to thereby apply a force to the cage rollers. An arrangement is also provided for separating the seed cotton into individual locks before the seed cotton is fed onto the first side of the continuous path. Further, an arrangement can be attached to the at least one nip roller for varying the force applied by the nip roller to the cage roller.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for manufacturing a fasciated yarn having uniform yarn construction and high strength. The process comprises subjecting fibers to a draft cutting step, at least one amendatory draft cutting step and a yarn formation step wherein the fibers are continuously transferred from the draft cutting step to the yarn formation step without any substantial interruption of fiber movement between the steps.

Abstract: A cotton gin lint cleaner includes a rotating saw cylinder. A continuous layer of lint cotton is fed along the cylinder by feed works. The layer is seated in and moved downstream by saw teeth on the cylinder. Foreign matter is loosened from the layer as it is moved beneath grid bars spaced along the cylinder surface. A combing bar downstream of the grid bars with teeth opposed and proximate the saw teeth further cleans the cotton layer.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of discontinuous filament bundles, which comprises applying a drawing force and/or a shearing force to a bundle of continuous filaments while or immediately after contacting the bundle of continuous filaments with a medium maintained at a temperature lower than -5.degree. C. to cut the respective single filaments constituting the bundle. The individual filaments of the resultant bundle may have on at least one terminal thereof a sharp end cut obliquely and an inclination angle .alpha. of the cut top end to the filament axis of less than 70.degree..

Abstract: A cotton gin lint cleaner includes a rotating saw cylinder. A continuous layer of lint cotton is fed along the cylinder by feed works. The layer is seated in and moved downstream by saw teeth on the cylinder. Foreign matter is loosened from the layer as it is moved beneath grid bars spaced along the cylinder surface. A combing bar downstream of the grid bars with teeth opposed and proximate the saw teeth further cleans the cotton layer.

Abstract: A controller converts the number of operating stands in a cotton gin plant into a simulated stepwise movement of a potentiometer for modulating control of a humidifier. I.e., processing units of a cotton gin plant are regulated according to the rate of cotton being ginned.

Abstract: an apparatus to reclaim lint-cotton and return it to the ginning process is disclosed. The apparatus comprises in combination a unique arrangement of condensing cylinders, feed cylinders, saw cylinders, grid bars, and doffing brushes used to collect, reclaim, and feed back lint-cotton into the ginning system.