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 device for removing foreign matter that collects on a cleaning bar in an apparatus for cleaning fibers of material. The device includes a scraper slidably mounted on a cleaning bar, such as a grid bar in a lint cleaner for scraping foreign matter and lint off the grid bar when the scraper slides along the length of the grid bar. The scraper includes a scraper bar that is in sliding contact with a top surface of the grid bar. The edges of the scraper may be sharp to improve the scraping efficiency. A scraper back plate extends from the scraper bar. The scraper and back plate are mounted on the grid bar using a guide block so that the scraper is slidable along a length of the grid bar. A guide rail may be mounted first on the grid bar to facilitate mounting of the scraper on the grid bar.

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: 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 roller gin capable of producing lint substantially free of linter fibers utilizes a wall construction to prevent the seed from contacting the ginning roll, a ginning slot in the wall through which an airflow draws the fibers. A ginning roll adjacent the slot on the opposite side of the wall grasps the fibers along a nip point formed between the roll and wall proximal the slot and urges the fibers along a path on one side of the wall while the seeds are urged along a divergent path on the other side of the wall.

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 cotton gin bar including a roller assembly comprising a pair of discs rotatably arranged on the upper portion of the bar at the ginning point, the discs being operative on opposing sides of the bar for detaching lint from the seed. Each roller disc is provided with an annular rib and the gin bar is provided with an annular groove in which the rib is received, thereby defining a rotatable seal. The rotatable seal restricts the passage of small particles such as grit and lint which interfere with operation of the annular bearing on which the roller disc is mounted.

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.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved ginning system incorporating a roller gin and a feeder for the same. Means is provided for presenting the cotton to the roller gin substantially one lock at a time. Incorporated in the gin is means to move the ginning roller into and out of ginning relation to the ginning knife, and means is provided in the system to cause the ginning roller to move out of ginning relation to the knife whenever there is less than a predetermined amount of seed cotton in the feeder.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved ginning system incorporating a roller gin and a feeder for the same. Means is provided for presenting the cotton to the roller gin substantially one lock at a time. Incorporated in the gin is means to move the ginning roller into and out of ginning relation to the ginning knife, and means is provided in the system to cause the ginning roller to move out of ginning relation to the knife whenever there is less than a predetermined amount of seed cotton in the feeder.