US2005217076A1PendingUtilityA1

Apparatus and method for controlling the amount of trash in lint

38
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Apr 2, 2004Filed: Apr 2, 2004Published: Oct 6, 2005
Est. expiryApr 2, 2024(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Michael E. GviliStanisslav MezhebovskyMartin NorthernRobert Lucus
D01B 1/04
38
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

An apparatus and algorithm for controlling the operation of a lint cleaner in a cotton gin having motorized grid bars, in which any one of the grid bars can be positioned in an engaged or disengaged position. When the grid bar is in the engaged position it functions as a lint cleaning instrument on a lint cleaning machine. When it is in the disengaged position it does not participate in the active cleaning process.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A variable rate lint cleaner for a cotton lint cleaning machine with rotating saws, comprising: 
 at least one grid bar with a cleaning edge, and    an actuator coupled to the grid bar, for moving the grid bar between an engaged position in which the cleaning edge is near the teeth of the saws and a disengaged position in which the cleaning edge is farther from the saws.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a driver for the actuator, which on command sends signals to the actuator to move the grid bar between the engaged and disengaged position.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising an operator interface terminal which enables the use of said lint cleaner to command the driver to position the grid bar into the engaged or disengaged position.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for activating the grid bar to a desired position.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the means for activating comprises means for using an input trash level measurement to determine the bars to engage with the lint.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the input trash level is measured using imaging means.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the means for activating further comprises a lookup table that is employed in response to the input trash level.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the means for activating further comprises using an output trash level measurement to determine the bars to engage with the lint.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the output trash level is measured using imaging means.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the means for activating further comprises a lookup table that is employed in response to at least the output trash level.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a lint retaining member coupled to the grid bar.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a lint retaining brush coupled to the grid bar.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a movement limiting stop for the grid bar.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a stop switch for the grid bar.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising more than one lint cleaner in series and at least one bypass valve used to bypass one or more of the lint cleaners to reduce the amount of lint lost in the cleaning process.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is responsive to an input trash level, an output trash level, and a desired output trash level.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for a variable rate lint cleaner used in cotton gins comprised of: 
 at least one lint cleaning machine with rotating saws and at least one grid bar,    an actuator coupled to the grid bar, for moving the grid bar such that its cleaning edge is either in the engaged position near the teeth of the saws or disengaged from cleaning operation such that its cleaning edge is moved away from the teeth of the saws,    a driver for the actuator which on command sends signals to the actuator to move the grid bar to the engaged or to disengaged position, and    an operator interface terminal which enables a user of said lint cleaner to command the driver to position the grid bar into the engaged or disengaged position.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising means for activating the grid bar to a desired position.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the means for activating comprises means for using an input trash level measurement to determine the bars to engage with the lint.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the input trash level is measured using imaging means.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the means for activating further comprises a lookup table that is employed in response to the input trash level.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the means for activating further comprises using an output trash level measurement to determine the bars to engage with the lint.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the output trash level is measured using imaging means.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the means for activating further comprises a lookup table that is employed in response to at least the output trash level.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a lint retaining member coupled to the grid bar.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a lint retaining brush coupled to the grid bar.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a movement limiting stop for the grid bar.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a stop switch for the grid bar.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 17  comprising more than one lint cleaner in series and at least one bypass valve used to bypass one or more of the lint cleaners to reduce the amount of lint lost in the cleaning process.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the driver for the actuator is responsive to an input trash level, an output trash level, and a desired output trash level.  
   
   
       31 . An apparatus for a variable rate lint cleaner used in cotton gins comprised of: 
 at least one lint cleaning machine with rotating saws; and    a plurality of grid bars for cleaning lint that is carried by the saws, wherein the grid bars are movable between an engaged position in which the cleaning edges of the bars are close to the teeth of the saws so that they participate in cleaning the lint, and a disengaged position in which the cleaning edges of the bars are farther from the teeth of the saws, so that they do not participate in cleaning the lint.    
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising means for automatically moving the grid bars between the engaged and disengaged positions.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the means for automatically moving the grid bars is responsive to an input trash level, an output trash level, and a desired output trash level.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2005217076A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.