Variable Speed Combing Cylinder for Cotton Lint Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cotton processing technologies, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,088,881 and 7,779,514 B2, while preserving spinning quality and H.V.I. evaluations, do not adequately produce lint with a 'smooth' appearance and high color grade, and have limitations due to high trash content and fiber breakage.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a combing cylinder with fine, closely spaced teeth that work in conjunction with an air separator cylinder having axial channels with radially extending teeth, allowing for variable combing control through adjustable surface speeds of the cylinders, which enhances the combing action and reduces trash content without increasing fiber breakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If lint cleaners use short, densely spaced teeth on a solid cylinder to remove cotton fiber, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but fiber breakage and nepping increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning cylinder is divided into multiple sections with different tooth configurations. The first section has short, densely spaced teeth for aggressive cleaning, while the second section has longer, more widely spaced teeth for gentler handling. This segmentation allows the system to perform both aggressive cleaning and fiber protection functions simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between cleaning efficiency and fiber integrity.
2Manufacturing precision
If lint cleaners produce high H.V.I. quality lint, then spinning quality is improved, but smooth appearance and color grade deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The lint cleaner performs preliminary combing action in the first section with short teeth to remove trash and prepare the fiber, then follows with a second combing action in the second section using longer teeth to smooth and align the fibers. This preliminary action followed by finishing action produces both high spinning quality and smooth appearance, resolving the contradiction between these two quality attributes.
3Shape
If variable combing control is implemented to increase smoothness, then appearance quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lint cleaner employs variable speed drives on both the cleaning cylinder and doffing cylinder, allowing independent speed control to vary the combing action intensity. This dynamic control enables operators to adjust the degree of combing to achieve different levels of smoothness based on cotton quality and market requirements, while maintaining relatively simple mechanical control systems through straightforward speed regulation mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution increases the smoothness and color grade of the lint while reducing trash content and fiber breakage, allowing for variable combing control without delaying the ginning process, thus addressing the limitations of prior technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a revolving perforated drum is used to allow air flow through the drum such that a cleaning cylinder may remove cotton fiber from the perforated drum and carry it past a plurality of cleaning grid bars, thereby separating the airstream, and removing foreign matter from the fibers
Implementation Method 2
The apparatus features a combing cylinder with fine, closely spaced teeth that work in conjunction with an air separator cylinder having axial channels with radially extending teeth, allowing for variable combing control through adjustable surface speeds of the cylinders, which enhances the combing action and reduces trash content
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for cleaning trash from cotton lint utilizes a combing cylinder having a plurality of teeth covering its surface and extending therefrom in a manner to release the cotton lint to a cleaning cylinder. The combing cylinder surface moves slower than the cleaning cylinder to comb the lint as it is delivered to the cleaning cylinder. Means are provided to vary the speed of the combing cylinder to match the lint processing parameters, including negating lint combing all together.