Ginning rib for use in a saw type cotton gin stand

Abstract

A ginning rib for use in a saw type cotton gin stand constructed from a plate or sheet of raw material, with the material thickness defining the width of the rib, and the shape or profile of the rib defined by the path of the cutting means of the plate or sheet. Furthermore, the shape of the rib being such that it can be economically produced with current cutting technology while concurrently of a unique design to reduce raw material waste, and to include features improving functional reliability and serviceability.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A gin rib for use in a gin stand wherein multiple gin ribs are mounted to at least one upper rib rail and at least one lower rib rail in parallel spaced relation with a plurality of circular saw blades mounted for concomitant rotation about a common axis such that the periphery of said circular saw blades pass between said multiple gin ribs, said gin rib comprising a rib body having a predetermined thickness and a first end for mounting in said at least one upper rib rail at an upper mounting surface formed on said first end and a second end for mounting in said at least one lower rib rail at a lower mounting surface formed on said second end, wherein said upper and lower mounting surfaces are not in parallel alignment with each other. 
     
     
         2 . A gin rib as defined in  claim 1  wherein said rib body includes a front surface, a rear surface, and opposing side surfaces and wherein a tuft region is formed at the intersection of said opposing side surfaces and said rear surface proximate the point at which said periphery of said saw blades pass said rear surface, wherein said tuft region is defined by an area of reduced thickness compared to said predetermined thickness. 
     
     
         3 . A gin rib as defined in  claim 2  wherein said tuft region is defined by converging beveled surfaces formed at said intersection of said opposing side surfaces and said rear surface. 
     
     
         4 . A gin rib as defined in  claim 1  wherein said upper mounting surface is narrower than said predetermined thickness. 
     
     
         5 . A gin rib as defined in  claim 4  wherein said first end is beveled on each edge of said upper mounting surface to reduce the predetermined thickness adjacent said upper mount surface. 
     
     
         6 . A gin rib as defined in  claim 4  wherein said rib body includes a front surface, a rear surface, and opposing side surfaces and wherein a tuft region is formed at the intersection of said opposing side surfaces and said rear surface proximate the point at which said periphery of said saw blades pass said rear surface, wherein said tuft region is defined by an area of reduced thickness compared to said predetermined thickness. 
     
     
         7 . A gin rib as defined in  claim 1  wherein a plurality of gin ribs are formed from a plate of material by nesting a number of profiles of said gin ribs on a surface of said plate such that minimal material is wasted when said profiles are cut through said plate; cutting said plate along said profiles to yield a plurality of gin ribs each having a thickness determined by the thickness of said plate. 
     
     
         8 . A gin rib as defined in  claim 7  further defined by forming apertures in said first and second ends at said upper and lower mounting surfaces for passing fasteners there-through. 
     
     
         9 . A gin rib as defined in  claim 7  wherein said forming of said gin rib comprises machining said gin rib to form a beveled tuft region. 
     
     
         10 . A gin rib as defined in  claim 7  wherein each of said profiles define a front boundary of said rib, a rear boundary of said rib, and a top and bottom boundary of said rib such that cutting through said profile creates a front surface, a top surface, a rear surface, and a bottom surface and the opposing surface of said plate define the side surfaces of said rib and said forming further comprises machining the intersection of said side and rear surfaces adjacent said upper mounting surface to reduce the thickness of said rib at said upper mounting surface. 
     
     
         11 . A gin rib as defined in  claim 10  wherein said forming of said gin rib further comprises machining said gin rib to form a beveled tuft region. 
     
     
         12 . A gin rib as defined in  claim 1  wherein each of said profiles define a front boundary of said rib, a rear boundary of said rib, and a top and bottom boundary of said rib such that cutting through said profile creates a front surface, a top surface, a rear surface, and a bottom surface whereby the opposing surfaces of said plate define the side surfaces of said rib and wherein the intersections of said side and rear surfaces adjacent said upper mounting surface are beveled reduce the thickness of said rib at said upper mounting surface. 
     
     
         13 . A gin stand comprising a plurality of circular saw blades mounted for concomitant rotation about a common axis such that the periphery of each of plurality of said circular saw blades pass between a pair of gin ribs, each gin rib of said pair of gin ribs comprising a rib body having a predetermined thickness and a first end for mounting to said at least one upper rib rail at an upper mounting surface formed on said first end and a second end for mounting in said at least one lower rib rail at a lower mounting surface formed on said second end, wherein said upper and lower mounting surfaces are not in parallel alignment with each other. 
     
     
         14 . A gin stand as defined in  claim 13  further comprising at least one filler bar affixed to said upper rib rail wherein said at least one filler bar is configured with a plurality of grooves separated by a plurality of fins such that said upper mounting surface of each of said pair of gin ribs is seated within one of said plurality of grooves in abutting relationship with said at least one filler bar. 
     
     
         15 . A gin stand as defined in  claim 13  wherein said rib body includes a front surface, a rear surface, and opposing side surfaces and wherein a tuft region is formed at the intersection of said opposing side surfaces and said rear surface proximate the point at which said periphery of said saw blades pass said rear surface moving toward said front surface, wherein said tuft region is defined by an area of reduced thickness compared to said predetermined thickness. 
     
     
         16 . A gin stand as defined in  claim 14  wherein said upper mounting surface is narrower than said predetermined thickness. 
     
     
         17 . A gin stand as defined in  claim 14  wherein said first end is beveled on each edge of said upper mounting surface to reduce the predetermined thickness adjacent said upper mount surface and each groove of said plurality of grooves tapers commensurately with said upper mounting surface for cooperative mating therewith.