Zellweger Uster, Inc.

Joseph H Mansfield

Hossein M Ghorashi

Mark A Overbay

Michael E Galyon

Luo Cheng

Glen E Irick, Sr

A fiber property testing system for classing fiber samples based on properties of the fiber samples. Loading means receive unloaded cassettes and load the fiber samples into the unloaded cassettes to produce loaded cassettes. Testing means receive the loaded cassettes, remove fiber subsamples from the loaded cassettes, and perform property testing measurements on the fiber samples and the fiber subsamples. Unloading means unload the tested fiber samples from the loaded cassettes to produce the unloaded cassettes. Conveyance means receive the loaded cassettes from the loading means and deliver the loaded cassettes to the testing means, and receive the unloaded cassettes from the unloading means and deliver the unloaded cassettes to the loading means. Control means control delivery and receipt of the loaded cassettes and the unloaded cassettes, receive and correlate information generated during the property testing measurements, and class the fiber samples based on the information.

Automated classing system

An apparatus that individualizes fibers within a feed stream without breaking the fibers. A first stage, having first pinch rollers, receives the feed stream and provides it to a second stage. The second stage receives the feed stream from the first stage, and provides a thinned stream to a third stage. Second stage apron belts draw the feed stream under tension from the first stage into the second stage. Second pinch rollers draw the feed stream under tension from the second stage apron belts and provide the thinned stream to the third stage. The third stage receives the thinned stream from the second stage and provides individualized fibers. Third stage apron belts draw the thinned stream under tension from the second stage into the third stage. Third pinch rollers draw the thinned stream under tension from the third stage apron belts and provide the individualized fibers.

Fiber individualizer

A gin process control system including sensing stations for sensing the physical properties of cotton as it progresses through a gin. A moisture sensor determines, over a wide range of values, the amount of moisture in the cotton. A quality monitor determines the color of the cotton, color distribution, and the amount and type of trash or other impurities which may be entrained in the cotton. A micronaire unit determines both micronaire and cotton maturity. A fiber length tester provides information on the length distribution, breaking strength, and elongation of the cotton fibers. Cotton samples are gathered from the gin flow stream and presented to the sensing stations in a variety of manual, semi-automated, and automated fashions. In a fully automated unit, the sensing stations are connected directly to the gin. The sensing stations are also in communication with the gin process control system, which uses the data from the sensing stations to automatically control the operation of the gin. Alternately, the sensing stations are assembled into a stand-alone unit. In a semi-automatic version of the stand-alone unit, samples are manually gathered and presented to the unit in cassettes for automated subsampling and testing by the sensing stations. In this semi-automatic version, the sensing stations may be in a configuration identical to that of the fully automatic, on-line unit. In a manual version of the stand-alone unit, the samples are manually gathered and manually placed into contact with the various sensing stations. The information reported by the stand-alone units can be used to manually control the operation of the gin.

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Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Joseph H Mansfield