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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #126613
Title: PERFORMANCE OF THE ROLLER-GIN ROTARY KNIFE

Author
item Gillum, Marvis
item ARMIJO, CARLOS - LAS CRUCES, NM
item VAN DOORN, DONALD - SAVANNAH, GA

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/13/2001
Publication Date: 6/20/2001
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: An experiment was run to determine the optimum number of blades and frequency (or knife rate) of the rotary knife on a roller gin stand. Four rotary knife designs were tested: 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-blade. Each knife design was run at the following knife rates: 14.5, 18.2, 24.2, 36.3, and 72.8 strokes per second. Within each knife rate, the seed cotton feed rate eto the gin stand was increased at predetermined levels, and a carryover sample taken at each level. The feed rate was increased until the rotary knife stopped due to either too high a power level or too high a torque level being obtained at the motor driving the rotary knife. A lint sample was taken at both the starting and ending level of feed rate. The criteria used for determining the optimum knife design included any damage to the seed or fiber, and differences in ginning rate. With respect to seed properties, foreign matter content in the seed decreased as knife rate increased, and seed linters decreased as the number of blades increased an seed linters increased as the knife rate increased. With respect to fiber properties, lint foreign matter content in the lint decreased as the number of blades increased, and increased as the knife rate increased. Also, fiber length decreased as knife rate increased. The highest ginning rate was obtained when ginning at a knife rate of 36.3 strokes per second.