The modern gin plant typically has multiple gin stands. Cotton enters the gin stand through a huller front. The saws grasp the cotton and draw it through widely spaced ribs known as huller ribs. The locks of cotton are drawn from the huller ribs into the bottom of the roll box. The actual ginning process--separation of lint and seed--takes place in the roll box of the gin stand. The ginning action is caused by a set of saws rotating between ginning ribs. The saw teeth pass between the ribs at the ginning point. Here the leading edge of the teeth is approximately parallel to the rib, and the teeth pull the fibers from the seed, which are too large to pass between the ribs.

Ginning at rates above those recommended by the manufacturer can cause fiber quality reduction, seed damage, and chokeups. Gin stand saw speeds are also important. High speeds tend to increase the fiber damage done during ginning.

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