Cotton, Inc.

Gary L Underbrink

Joseph K Jones

Lambert H Wilkes

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. In a further aspect of the present invention, a rotatable brush is arranged on the second side of the continuous path opposite to the deposited seed cotton. The brush is adapted both for aligning the fiber fraction between adjacent ones of the plurality of rollers and for cleaning the fiber fraction prior to nipping the fiber fraction between the nip roll and the rollers.

Method and apparatus for removing a fiber fraction from seed cotton

A system is disclosed wherein fibers are mounted on pallets for ease in handling and storage. The system uses the pallets to provide a continuous, uniform rate of fiber feed to other apparatus for subsequent fiber processing. A positioning system arranges pallets in end-to-end abutting relationship to provide the uniform rate of fiber feed generally desired for fiber processing. A plurality of vertically spaced horizontally disposed rotating augers engage the advancing face of fibers on a pallet to remove the bulk of fibers therefrom. The pallet surface is subsequently engaged by a pallet sweeper which removes any fibers not removed by the rotating augers. The loosened fibers are deposited on a transverse conveyor which overlies the pallet surface and moves the fibers transversely of the pallet unloading apparatus for delivery to the fiber processing apparatus.

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College Station, TX, United States of America

Gary L Underbrink