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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #99435
Title: A LOOK AT COMBING FIBERS AT COTTON GINS

Author
item MANGIALARDI, JR, GINO - RETIRED ARS AG ENGINEER
item Anthony, William

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/31/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: Mangialardi, Jr, G.J., Anthony, W.S. 1999. A look at combing fibers at cotton gins. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. Volume 2:1393-1397

Interpretive Summary: Textile mills prefer the quality of cotton produced by combing and blending from one stage of saw-type lint cleaning as compared to the two stages that are normally used by gins. Two stages are used to avoid discounts in the classing system for poor color, poor preparation and excessive foreign matter; however, they lower the mill quality of the cotton. This study evaluated the combing and cleaning features of a lint cleaner to determine if the cleaning component could be bypassed. Results indicated that the combing action did not improve the color, preparation or foreign matter aspects of the cotton whereas the cleaning action did. This finding will be used to focus research on developing combing mechanisms for lint cleaners that achieve adequate cleaning without incurring the level of cotton quality degradation produced by saw-type lint cleaners.

Technical Abstract: An apparatus was developed and tested to determine if lint combing of some cottons during gin processing could reduce the number of saw-cylinder cleaners now needed at gins. The objective was to blend spots of discoloration from light-spotted cottons and move these bales into the white color grades, and to prevent the classer from discounting samples because of preparation. This paper describes experiences with the apparatus. Although all of the desired results were not obtained, data indicate that work on developing lint combing apparatuses that influence and improve cotton grades at saw ginning plants should continue. These apparatuses could be used to supplement lint cleaning with one saw-type lint cleaning. They would also increase the number of cases where maximum returns would be obtained with no saw-type lint cleaning.