Abstract: A method and apparatus for ginning harvested seed cotton comprising the steps of: introducing harvested seed cotton including lint and seed on to the upper surface of a lower rotating plate (3); rotating said plate to thereby carry said harvested seed cotton towards the leading edge (29) of a knife positioned at a defined distance above said lower rotating plate such that the cotton seed is drawn/combed under the knife edge (27); extracting line separated from said harvested seed cotton from a rearward facing edge of said knife; and collecting said seed from the leading edge of the knife.

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: A removable wear finger or plate is held in position on a gin rib by a machine screw on one end passing through a bore in the wear finger and an overlying cantilever retainer lip on an opposite end. The screw when tightened urges the wear finger toward the cantilever retainer lip.

Abstract: An improved gin saw stand for ginning seed cotton or reginning cotton seed is disclosed. The gin stand of this invention includes an inlet in the roll box allowing seed cotton or seed to be fed directly therein without the need for a huller front or its associated picker roller and huller ribs. A power driven paddle roller having a plurality of outwardly extending elongated paddles rotating in the opposite direction from the first gin saw cylinder is also placed within this roll box. The elongated paddles of this paddle roller are effective for independently turning the seed cotton and/or seeds accumulated in the roll box, consequently bringing them into contact with the gin saw cylinder where the lint may be gripped by the teeth of the saw. To control the rate of seed passage between the blades of the gin saw cylinder and their subsequent discharge from the gin stand, a power driven, seed metering roller is positioned adjacent to the saw cylinder and on the same side thereof as the ginning ribs.

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 plastic gin rib is manufactured of nylon material with long glass fiber reinforcement and carbon fiber reinforcement. In some cases, synthetic resinous fluorine-containing polymers is added to the nylon before molding.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for using cotton gin trash or the like to build a compost pile. The apparatus includes a support surface for supporting a compost pile with at least a portion of the support surface being porous; a conveyor for conveying compostable material along a path above the support surface and for dispensing the compostable material onto the support surface; and a mechanism for adding a fluid to the compostable material as the compostable material is received in the inlet of the conveyor.

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: 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: Maximum separation of the seed cotton locks delivered to a cage roller gin is achieved by a ballistic trajectory that carries the locks over the top of the cage roller to a landing area. In the preferred embodiment, the flight of the locks over the cage roller is induced by a pair of oppositely driven rollers which expel the cotton from between their adjacent surfaces along a common tangential plane offset at an angle above the top of the cage roller. Ambient air is admitted to the relatively large volume plenum from beneath the rollers and a primary flow of air about the cage roller is promoted as the seed cotton overlies the rotating cage such that the air and injected seed cotton locks flow in co-current direction above the cage roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing contaminants from raw cotton traveling in an airstream includes a drum which is rotatably driven and mounted to a frame with the drum having a plurality of openings through, and further includes an assembly for directing the raw cotton against the drum, a first suction assembly for drawing contaminants from the cotton which is retained on the cotton collecting surface in a cotton impingement zone, a second suction arrangement for drawing cleaned raw cotton away from the cotton collection surface and including a cotton retention zone wherein the second suction airstream is opposed to the first suction airstream and a cotton release zone wherein the second suction airstream is assisted by atmospheric air in removing clean cotton from the cotton collection surface of the rotatable drum and delivering it to a clean cotton reservoir.

Abstract: A gin stand heat detection apparatus which includes a pair of infrared thermocouples typically mounted on the main frame weldment of a gin assembly in facing relationship beside the saw cylinder assembly and the doffing roller, for monitoring the temperature of the saw blades and ginning ribs in the saw cylinder assembly. The infrared thermocouples are electrically connected to a control panel, which control panel is, in turn, typically connected to a conventional gin stand control panel. The infrared thermocouple control panel includes a visual alarm system for notifying an operator that a high temperature condition exists at any point along the saw blades and interspaced ginning ribs between the facing infrared thermocouples. The apparatus is also capable of automatically separating the saw blades and ginning ribs in case of a high temperature event.

Abstract: Seed cotton is cleaned in a cotton gin by wiping it over grid bars having a large gap between them. In this manner more cotton per hour may be cleaned. Excessive seed cotton falling through the grid bars with the trash is reclaimed by saw cylinder reclaimers. The cotton with the least amount of trash has the trash from a preliminary reclaimer going to the saw cylinder receiving cotton with more trash. The seed cotton which has been reclaimed may be further cleaned by wiping it across a grid bar and thereafter reclaiming any cotton which might go through the grid bars of the reclamation wiper cleaner. By-passes are provided to by-pass the cleaner cotton that passes through grid bars into the main stream of cleaned cotton. Also, the cotton which is first reclaimed can be passed into the stream of clean cotton without further cleaning.

Abstract: The housing of a cotton gin lint condenser is divided into four segments, namely: the lint inlet segment, the moist air inlet segment, the doffing chamber segment, and the dry air inlet segment. In operation, as the drum rotates a cotton batt is formed in the lint inlet segment. The batt is rotated to the humid air inlet segment where moisture is added to the batt by passing warm humid air through the batt. The moisturized batt is then rotated to the doffing chamber segment where the batt is doffed from the drum. The drum is then rotated to the dry air segment where dry air removes the moisture from the drum. The warm moist air moves beneath the lint slide to warm the lint slide surface to maintain it in a dry condition so that the lint does not stick thereto. Compression rollers are contained within the doffing chamber segment. The compression rollers have about the same diameter as the doffing rollers to prevent excessive lint from sticking to them.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing seed cotton and removing fiber fractions from the seed cotton includes a plurality of freely rotatable first rollers that are arranged substantially parallel to one another and that are rotatably driven in a continuous path. A plurality of nip rolls are positioned in abutting relation to the first rollers on the side on the continuous path that is opposite to the side on which the seed cotton is deposited. The apparatus includes a reorienting arrangement for reorienting the position of the seed cotton on the first rollers to thereby permit all or substantially all of the fibers on the seed cotton to be removed. In one embodiment, the reorienting arrangement includes a rotating reorienting roller that contacts the seed cotton located on the first rollers. In another embodiment, the reorienting arrangement includes an apparatus that directs streams of air at the seed cotton on the first rollers.

Abstract: A condensate control apparatus for receiving drum type condenser units utilized in cotton ginning which eliminates moisture buildup on predetermined metal surfaces within the condenser unit by heating such surfaces with heated dry air emanating from a heat source and conducted to such surfaces through a series of heating ducts. The condensate control apparatus also compacts the cotton gin fiber collected by such condensers into batts wherein the compacting force utilized in combination with moisturized air integrated within the cotton is sufficient to overcome the cottons inherent resiliency thereby permanently reducing the volume per unit weight of such cotton batts.

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. A plurality of nip rollers are positioned in abutting relation to a second side of the continuous path. An arrangement is provided for removing unginned seed cotton and ginned seed from the first side of the continuous path. A reclaiming apparatus is provided for reclaiming unginned seed cotton and discarding ginned seed that has been removed from the first side of the continuous path by the removal arrangement. Also, a conveying device is included for conveying unginned seed cotton that has been reclaimed by the reclaiming apparatus back to the first side of the continuous path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accelerating the removal of fully ginned seed from a seed roll established in the roll box of an operating gin stand, whereby the capacity of the stand is enhanced. The apparatus is characterized by a set of vanes attached to a finger shaft, said finger shaft being rotatable to change the angle of projection of the vanes to control the residual lint on the seed. The vanes are located so as to project into a vertical seed discharge shaft as the seed roll sags in its rotation toward the saws. The vanes are spaced to permit the seed roll to rupture as it passes over the vanes and the roll sags into the gap between the vanes, thus releasing fully ginned seed into the seed discharge shaft outside the surface of the saw between the vanes.

Abstract: An improved cottonseed delinter includes a magnetic tramp metal separating system in conjunction with a roll feeder. Cylinder saw lifting arms are integrally mounted for pivotal co-movement with a gratefall cover, and a gratefall cover is mounted for outward pivoting movements about a horizontal axis located in a lower portion of the gratefall cover. Makeup air for a pneumatic moting and lint conveying system is routed through delinted seeds in order to remove fly lint.

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: Disclosed is an improved roller gin having means for cleaning debris from the knife, and a process of operating such gin. Specifically, the gin includes means to rotate the roll in reverse, periodically, if desired, whereby any cotton, leaf, or other trash draped over the knife is thrown off or discharged from the gin. Means also is disclosed to operate the gin and its feeder in a fashion to gin all cotton enroute from the feeder to the gin prior to the gin going through its cleaning operation.

Abstract: A method for training a gin saw assembly and a ginning rib assembly that have been removed from a cotton gin includes a telescoping stand on which the gin saw assembly, including its bearings is temporarily mounted. The apparatus includes an adjustable template with alignment marks with which the individual gin saw blades are manually aligned. The apparatus also includes mounting elements by means of which the ginning rib assembly can be mounted adjacent to the gin saw assembly after the gin saw blades have been trained. The telescoping stand is then extended so that the gin saw blades extend into narrow gaps between the individual ginning ribs in substantially the same relation thereto as when the gin saw assembly and ginning rib assembly are operating in the cotton gin. The individual ribs are then adjusted so that the gin saw blades are precisely centrally positioned in the gaps.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for recovering a fiber fraction from seed cotton. In a first embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of closely spaced, substantially parallel rollers are driven in a continuous path substantially perpendicular to the axes of the rollers. Seed cotton is deposited on a first side of the continuous path of rollers. At least one relatively large diameter nip roll is arranged in abutting engagement with a second side of the continuous path with the nip roll being fixed relative to the continuous path of the roller. A substantially constant quantity of air is drawn substantially straight between the rollers from the first to the second side of the continuous path in an area at least immediately upstream of the nip roll to aid in extending a fiber fraction between adjacent ones of the rollers. The nip roll is rotatably driven for separating the fiber fraction extended between the rollers by the air from the seed.