US2421477A - Method and system of conditioning fiber - Google Patents

Description

June 3, 1947. J, BLEwETT 2,421,477

METHOD AND SYSTEM OFCONDITIONING FIBER Filed Dec. 21; 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN BLEWE TT INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS June 3, 1947. J. BLEWETT METHOD AND SYSTEM OF CONDITIONING FIBER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 21, 1943 JOHN BLEWETT IN V EN TOR.

A w'roansvs June 3, BLEWETT MET-HOD AND SYSTEM OF CONDITIONING FIBER Filed Dec. 21, 1945 4 Sheets-Shget 3 JOHN BLEWETT INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS June 3, 1947. BLEWETT 2,421,477

' METHOD AND SYSTEM OF CONDITIONING FIBER Filed Dec. 21, 1943 4'sneets-sheet 4 JOHN .BLEWETT INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented June 3, 1947 UNITED STAT ES ()FFICE METHOD AND SYSTEM OF" CONDITIONING:

FIBER? John Blewett;Dallas, Tex;, assigno1--to-The' Murray'O'ompany, Dallas, Tex;

Application December 21, 1943, Serial No! 515,094

8Glaims. 1:

This invention. relates to new. and .usefiil'improvements in methodsand'systemsof condition.- ing fiber and particularly seed-cotton.

For arnumber ofiyears there has beenia great demandfor mechanical cotton gathering or harvesting apparatusesinlorder to reducethe expause and. labor of gathering cotton crops, especially in large cotton=producing areas. Also it is essential toiharvestv cottonassoon aspossible. afterit has openedso that it will not beexposedf tov rain and other inclement weather which often lowers the,.valueof-fthe lint from $5.00 to $10.00 a bale. A, considerable investment. of time and money has been made in the. developmentofa. satisfactory cotton harvesting, machine with the result-that an efficient. machine islnow on the market and "mouse" Due to the. present scarcity, of. farm labor, thewdemandlfor mechanical cotton harvestersiis greaterthanthesupply.

Although the machine eific'iently gathers the cotton, one machine with a single operator gathering approximately, one bale per hour, an excessive quantity oigreen leavesas well as other extraneous matter, is removed, from the cotton plant along with' theli'nt At the present time, the cleaners or extractors which are in general use. will. not remove this green leaf from theseedcotton, whereby the. value of the mechanically; gathered cotton is decreased from$10l00to $20.00 per bale due to the presence of green leaf therein.

Therefore, one object of the invention, is to provide an' improved method ofefiiciently'condr tioning and increasing'the value offibers; such as cotton which has been gathered mechanically and which contains an unusual quantity of green leaves aswell as sticks; stems,- hulls and-othertrash.

An important object of the invention'is to provide an improved fiber conditioning methodwhereirrthe green leaf is reducedtoa soft, flexible or-pliable condition and is then-conducted with the fiberto a-cleaning-stepinwhich thefiber and leaf-are passedbetween rotating elements and-a discontinuousgrate-type cleaning surface, said fiber and leaf beingsimultaneouslysubjected to an air current or-suction; whereby theleaf will be separated from thefiber'and partially drawn into'the-openings of the cleaning surfaceso asto be stripped-from said surface through thediscontinuations thereof and'withdrawn'from the cleaning step together with otherextraneous matter andthe air current or suction:

Another object of the-invention isto provideanimproved fiber conditioning method-,- of thecharacter described, wherein-the fiber is-dried to wiltthe leattov a soft, flexibletor pliablelcondition and wherein..the. oleaningsurface. oithe. cleaning step, is disposedbeneath the rotating elements and coactswithla. downwardlyrdirected. suction or air blast torapidlyanduefilbientlyseparate andremove the, leaves. from the fiberiso to. eliminate roping, twisting: and 'machimngvof' said. fiber, such. .coactibnbeing; assisted'jfby the wipi g, action of 'cleaning cylindersr A; particularlobject of theinventi'on is. to. provide i. an; improved, method; of conditioning, ZfibElT having. greens leaf adi'nixed'therewithlwherein the fiber is dried to wilt the leaf to a softLfieXibl or. pliable. conditionand. wherein. a considerable quantity of wilted green leatjis separated'firom. said fiber immediately subsequent to the. wilting? thereof and preferablyby. or duelto the means employed for. suchflwiltingl Ariurther. object of the invention isto provide" an improved'.ifiber conditioning ,methodfoiijthe character described, wherein-the leaves and other extraneous matter may be. quickly; removed'l'fromr the fiber in. a substantially whole. conditiong, whereby breaking ,and1epowderingh of" saidd'eaves and. consequent intimate admixing of "the same? with said fiher isreduced to a. minimum.

Still Tanother object of ,the invention, is to. pro, video an improved fiber conditioning system having means for wiltingtthe green leafiadmixedwithl thefiber to. a soft, flexible or limp condition toe gether with cleaning means which includes atdi'scontinuous grate-type cleaning;surfaca rotating' cylinders disposed above andxcoactin'gwith' the cleaning surface and-meansfor'inducing'a'dowm wardly 'direct'ed air current past" the cylinders andth'rough said-cleaningsurface, wherebyt'said leaf is separated from andforced -through open ings of thecleaning surface by the interdepend ent'coaction of all'ofthe elements:

A'-still"further object-of the inventiomis to provide an improved system of conditioningfib'er having green leaf admixed therewithwhich" includes acondi'tioner having an aircnrrentvferdrying the fiber and wilting-the green 'leaf to a soit; flexible -01 pliable -condition; theconditioner being rotated transversely' to the air stream 30*- as to gently' tumble --said= fiber and having -elom gate openings formed inits exterior; wherebysaid air stream: will havea tendency to pick up and separate-thewilted-leaf from the fiber and ejectithe-same through theelongate openings; the ejection of said leaf beingiacilitated' by its=pli ableness; which permits foldihgson bendingsthereof and preventslbridginggoflsaid-openings;

Stilli another: object of? the :inventiom isrt'o' pro's vide an improved fiber conditioning system, of the character described, wherein a drier may be employed for wilting the green leaf to the desired condition and the air from the drier may be utilized as the source of the air current which is passed through the cleaner, and wherein substantially the entire area of said cleaner is subjected to the current of air so as to provide a continuous, uniform condition within the cleaner.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,

wherein an example of the invention is shown,

and wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a fiber conditioning system, constructed in accordance with the invention for carrying out the improved method and system,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view of the conditioner or drier,

Figure 3 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical, sectional 'view of the conditioner,

Figure 4 is an enlarged, plan View of a portion of the grate-type screen which extends circumferentially of the conditioner reel or drum,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view of one of the cleaners, showing the temporary air-fiber separation and the conveyor-distributor for conducting the fiber to the cleaners,

Figure 6 is a reduced side elevation of one of the other cleaners, and

Figure '7 is an enlarged, isometric view of a portion of the discontinuous grate-type cleaning surface.

In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates a cotton gin which is arranged in more or less conventional manner and which includes a conditioner drier II, a plurality of cleaners l2, l3 and M, and a battery of gin standsl5. A suction duct I6 extends from the exterior of the gin to the, conditioner. II to convey the mechanicallygathered seed-cotton to said conditioner. As is clearly shown in Figure 2, a separator I1 is interposed and establishes communication between the conditioner andduct 16. The separator is substantially identical to the separator shown in theUnited States Letters Patent to Bronson C. Woodford, No. 2,114,553, issued April 19, 1938, and'No.,2,141,585, issued December 27, 1938. A suction conduit 18 is connected in the lower end ofthe rear wall of the separator and com:

municates with the interior thereof through a vertically-curved, longitudinal sheet or partition l9 which has a foraminous or perforated upper portion to accommodate the passage of air and prevent the cotton from being drawn into the conduit l8. For drawing an unobstructed stream of air through the duct l6, separator l] and'conduit IS, a suction fan (not shown) communicates with the far or opposite end of said conduit. An open, rotatable wiping reel 20 extends transversely within the interior of the separator for wiping the perforated portion of the partition [9 so that the passage of air is not interfered with and the cotton is directed to the lower end of said separator. For sealing the lower end of the separator and for directing the cotton to the conditioner I l a vacuum paddle wheel 2| is disposed below the-wiping reel 20.

.Although the conditioner or drier may be of the conventional type, it is preferably of the big reelj type and is very similar to the conditioner shown in the United States Letters patent, No. 2,160,253, issued to Parrish H. Rylander on May 30, 1939. One end of the conditioner is provided with an inlet chamber 22 for receiving the cotton from the vacuum wheel 2|. A continuous screwtype reel or drum 23 having open ends, is disposed longitudinally within the interior of the drier upon an axial, rotatable shaft 24 and has one end portion positioned within the chamber 22. As is clearly shown in Figure 3, a plurality of radial arms 25 have their inner ends secured to the shaft 24 and extend outwardly from said shaft for supporting a continuous, spiral baffle 26 which surrounds the shaft (Fig. 2). The bafile extends from the end of the shaft within the inlet chamber 22 throughout the length of said shaft and terminates short of the far or outlet end wall of the conditioner so as to provide a vertical space or passage 22a at such end. It is noted that the inner peripheral edge portion of the baflle 26 is spaced from the shaft 24 whereby an annular passage or opening 21 is provided around said shaft throughout the entire length of said baflle. By reducing the diameter of the initial flight of the baffle within the inlet chamber 22, the bottom or fioor of said chamber may be disposed above the lowermost point of the drum 23 and said bafile. A longitudinal angle bar 28 is secured to the extreme outer end of each radial arm 25 and extends throughout the length of the drum. It is pointed out that the angle bars are secured to the radial arm in such manner that one leg of each angle bar projects inwardly toward the shaft 24 so as to form an inwardly extending lug. Although screen wire or other foraminous material may be secured to the outer marginal edge portions of the baffle 26 and the angle bars 28 so as to surround and enclose said baille and bars, it is preferable to employ grate-type screen 29 having a plurality of elongate openings or foraminations 1a which extend circumferentially around the reel or drum 23. The screen 29 may be formed of any suitable material and includes annular, circumferential members or wires H and longitudinal members or wires 12 which extend throughout the length of the drum transversely of the circumferential members. As is clearly shown in Figure 4, the members H and 12 are suitably fastened to each other and may be interwoven, the distance between the members 12 being greater than the distance between said members ll so as to provide the elongate, circumferential openings or foraminations 10.

As the cotton enters the inlet chamber 22 from the vacuum wheel 2|, it manifestly will be engaged by the reduced first flight of the baffle 26 which is located within said chamber. Since there is no screen enclosing this reduced fiight, the same acts as an ordinary screw conveyor to push the cotton from the inlet chamber into the interior of the screen drum 23. The latter is rotating in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 3) and at a comparatively slow speed, whereby the cotton is retained in the lower portion of the drum and is not carried completely therearound. Due to the baffle rotating with the drum, said bafile does not act as an ordinary conveyor to push the cotton through said drum, but merely acts to slowly move the cotton forwardly or longitudinally therein. Since there is no forcing action, the cotton settles to the lower portion of the drum and rotation of said drum causes the lugs formed by the inwardly extending legs of the angle bars 28 to engage and tend to spread. said; cotton. over the inner surface of the screen. 259 toward: the right .in Figured. In other: words,-. the lugslii't the cottonupwardly: on the-inner surface.- of the drum;

For drying: the; cotton andi wilting, the: green leaves, both of; which are spreadoyer-the inner surface of: the; drum. by the action; ofrthe. lugs extendingzinwardly thereinto. .apl-uralityof clone ate; nozzles; 1.3.; are 1 provided; in:- one sidewall; of the: conditioner. orrdrierv I l; shown in. E rlre 3;; thesehozzles are-disposed inhcrizontaLannement and may extend substantially throughout theientire length-of the conditiner; It;is .1noted that the. nozzles; may be: cont nuou to; provide one: elongate; continuous nozzle extendinglongitudinallyof; the .conditionerand are-disposed adjacent the-lower por ion f; the; drum 2am a horizontal plane; so; as: to: be directed inwardly toward; the: medial portion; ofsaid conditioner. A;manif.0ldiii; which-communicates with a hot air; pipe or flue; l5: (Fi .1), is connected to the nozzlesv T3; for supplying. hot, dry-air under pressureto'the interior of the conditioner through said nozzles. Due tothedispositicn or; location of the nozzles 73, hot, dry, airis, directed into contact with the seed cotton. at the time that said. cotton has been spreadin a comparatively thinlayer on. the drum interior. Therefore the air" contacts each, lock of cotton and-each green leaf so as to-thoroughly dry, the cottonand wilt the leaf; The air, which has a jetting action, also. forces cotton. which is riding; upwardly on the druminterior back toward the medial portion of the; drum, whereby. a. gentle rolling; or tumbling motion isimparted to theecotton-within the lower portion of said drum, Wilting of the green leaf reduces the same to, a. soft-,flexible or pliableconditionand as saidleaf moves upwardly opposite one of the nozzles 13;.thejettingaction of. the airwill. pick up: andcarry the leaf across the interior of. the drum 23,. Due-to the provision of the elongate openings T13, of; the screen 29, a. considerable portion. of the wilted green leaf will be folded andforcedthroughsaid openings by the air current or blast ejected. from. the nozzle. The leaf which does not passzthrough the opening will be spread with the. cotton by the lugs formed. by the anglebars 28 and again carried upwardly. until the air blast: or stream again contacts the same. Thus, it: will; be Seen that a gentlerolling or tumbling motion is given to the cotton and leaf and that the same will be kept separated to a degree within the drum. The rotating spiral baffle constantly actsto move the-cottonand leaf slowly along the inner surface of-the drum toward the. outlet end of the conditioner.

During the travelof the cotton and green leaf through the drum, the gentle tumbling motion imparted thereto by the location of. the air nozzle and the actionof the lu s will: cause a considerable proportion. of the wilted green leaf, as. well assticks, stems, dirt, dust and other extraneous matter, to. pass through the openings!!! ofthe screen 23 and drop outwardly away. from said drum so as tobe separatedfromthe cotton. This separated leaf and extraneous matter falls into a. suitable longitudinal trough It having mounted therein a screw-conveyor H which leads to a discharge outlet 18 having a vacuum wheel, 19 mounted therein. After contacting. the cotton and: green leaf, the air flows through the central passage 2.! which is formed around the shaft 24 to. the. vertical space or passag 252.11., and escapes with. the cotton and remaining; green leaf through a. suitable blowout: connection. 8.93 which: come municateswiththe cleaner I25 throu h a-.I .ipe -or flue 3 0;and a. suitablegtransitiongz 1.- (Figs; 1 and 5) A, separator. 32,; similar; to; theseparator H, is. interposed and establishes communication between the cleaner and; the transitiom 31 and; includes asuctionconduit; 3.3; a; transverse, vertically-cury d partition .34.: av n a .foram no s; or perfo ated; upper po tion, a.. tata e winin re l 35andgaa vacuum-,paddlewheel 35. As is clearly h wn iii ure 5, the onduit 3e. om un ates with; the. upper-end of the cleaner l2 throughan amplified;- or flared hood-3,1;whereby the air.;sep-. arated from the cotton by; the separator 32.: is discharged into and spread substantially throughout the; entire area of said cleaner. The dried seed-cotton isv discharged; through the Vacuum wheel 35- into a; conveyor-distributor 38 which extends longitudinally of the gin (Fig. l) and communicates; with the cleaners l3 and l4; as wellas;Withthe'cleaner I 2. A pairof parallel, oppositely-rotatingscrew conveyors 39 are mounte ed within the distributor 38 for; spreading the cotton and conveying the same to the various cleaners. The end of the distributor opposite the separator 32 may communicate with a suit.- able overflow bin (not shown from which the cotton may. bereturned bya suitablepipe 4.0; to theduct. l6, whereby the excess seed-cotton may be again carried through the conditioner H.

A feeder unit 4|, having a pair of spaced, parallel feed rollers 42, is disposedabove each cleaner so as. to establish communication with the conveyor-distributor 38 and. feed the cotton to the cleaners. The feeder unit 4| is disposed at one end of the cleaner and a plurality of spaced, horizontal cleaning cylinders. or drums 43 are mounted transversely within said cleaner. The cylinders rotate in a counter-clockwise direction and are. disposed over concave cleaning surfaces 44, each surface being swung on. an arc concentric to the shaftv of its respective cylinder. The bottom of a cleaning chamber 45 within which the cylinders are disposed is fOrmed by thesurfaces 44.

Each cleaning surface is of a discontinuous grate-type and includes a plurality of arcuate fingers 46 which are circular in cross-section and which are swung on an arc of a greaterradius than the cylinders 43. As is clearly shown in Figure 7, the fingers 46 are arranged in spaced, parallel rows which extend transversely of or across the cleaning chamber 45 and each finger is preferably disposed inthe same vertical plane as the contiguous fingers of the adjacent rows. Each transverse row of fingers is welded or OthBIr wise secured to a sleeve 4i journaled. upon an elongate, transverse bolt or rod 48. If desired, each sleeve 41 may be divided intoseveral, relatively short sections, although each bolt 48 eX- tends entirely across the cleaning chamber 45. For vertically adjusting the position of the fingers 46, a. short, fiat arm 49 is mounted on each end. of each sleeve so as to extend parallel to said? fingers and has a slot 5!! formed in the outer or free end thereof A stud belt or; screw 5| extends through each slot Eli and engages within an opening formed in a vertical plate '52, a plurality of which preferably extend longitudinally beneath the chamber 4 5 for supporting the bolts and sleeves. The fingers 4.6; of each row are of such length and are so spaced as to barely clear the ends of the fingers of the adjacent row which are. fastened to the adjacent sleeve 41 and; their outer ends are. preferably bevelled as shown at 53. It is noted that the most desirable position of the fingers is as shown in Figure '7, wherein the end of each finger is spaced a slight distance above the inner end of the contiguous finger in the adjacent row, whereby a contracting throat or space 54 is provided therebetween for accommodating the passage of the green leaf as will be hereinafter more fully explained. Manifestly, this position of the fingers is attained by properly adjusting the stud bolts or screws The cleaning surfaces 44 and fingers 46 are shown and described in greater detail in my co-pending application, Serial No. 515,095, filed December 21, 1943.

A conveyor-distributor 55 communicates with the end of the cleaning chamber 45 opposite the feeder unit 4! for discharging the cleaned seedcotton from said chamber and a vacuum discharge wheel 56 is interposed between the distributor and the chamber to prevent the discharge of air with said seed-cotton. A suitable hopper '51 and flue 58 connect the bottom of the cleaning chamber to a trash conveyor (not shown) for removing the trash separated from the cotton in said chamber as well as the air which passes through the chamber, cotton and the cleaning surfaces 44.

As has been hereinbefore set forth and as is clearly shown in Figure 6, one of the feeder units 4| establishes communication between the conveyor-distributor 38 and the cleaning chamber of each cleaner l3 and I4. These cleaners are substantially identical to the cleaner I2 and, if desired, may be supplied with the relatively hot, dry air from the conditioner H. However, it is preferable for the hood 3'! of each cleaner l3 and I4 to communicate through a suitable transition 59 with an air inlet duct 60 which is supplied with air from another source, such as by fans (not shown). The conveyor-distributor 55, disposed beneath and communicating with the discharge end of the cleaning chamber of each cleaner, overlies the gin stands l5 for distributing and conducting the cleaned seed-cotton thereto (Fig. 1). An overflow bin 6! receives the excess cotton from the far end of the distributor 55 and is provided with a return suction pipe 62 for returning said cotton to the inlet end of said distributor. A separator 53, substantially identical to the separator I1, is preferably interposed between the pipe 62 and the distributor 55 so as to separate the cotton from the motivating air current. The latter is supplied by means of a suction duct 64 which is connected to the suction conduit l8. If desired, an elbow 65 and valve (not shown) may establish communication between the pipe 62 and inlet duct l6, whereby cotton may be fed directly to the gin stands Without being carried through the drier II or any of the cleaners l2, l3 and I4.

In operation, the seed-cotton to be cleaned is drawn through the duct l6 and separator I1 into the conditioner or drier H wherein said seedcotton is dried and a considerable quantity of the green leaf dirt and other fine trash is removed therefrom, as has been hereinbefore clearly set forth. Manifestly, the drying of the cotton will somewhat reduce the dryness of the air introduced into the conditioner by the manifold 14 and nozzles 13. However, another important action takes place in the conditioner and this is the wilting of the green leaf embedded or admixed with the seed-cotton to a soft, flexible or pliable condition prior to its introduction into the cleaners, whereby said leaf will remain substantially intact or in a relatively whole state. The seed-cotton, the wilted green leaf and the relatively hot, dry air are conveyed from the conditioner to the separator 32 by the blow-out connection 80, flue 30 and transition 3|, the air being separated from the cotton and leaf and passing through the pipe 33 into the hood 31. Thus, the air is delivered to and passes through the chamber 45 of the cleaner l2 instead of being discarded in the usual manner, whereby said air may be utilized to assist in the removal of the leaf from the cotton.

As has been hereinbefore set forth, the seedcotton and soft, flexible leaf enter the cleaner by way of the vacuum wheel 36, distributor 38 and feeder unit 4| and passes to the left of and beneath the left-hand cylinder 43, which is rotating in a counter-clockwise direction as are the other cylinders. This rotation of the cylinders will cause the cotton to travel longitudinally and toward the right of the chamber 45, over the concave cleaning surfaces 46 and beneath said cylinders. The motes, dirt and other fine extraneous matter or trash will fall through the longitudinal spaces between the fingers 46 which are spaced from and swung on an arc having a slightly greater radius than the cleaning cylinders. The green leaf, being larger than the spaces between the fingers, will ordinarily bridge said fingers so as to not pass through said spaces. However, due to the soft, flexible condition of the leaf, the air which passes vertically through the chamber 45 from the hood 3'! to the hopper 51 will bend or fold said leaf upon itself and force the same through the longitudinal spaces. The leaf which bridges the fingers will adhere or cling to the fingers due to the air current, and will have portions thereof forced into the spaces between said fingers. Since the air is still relatively hot, it will tend to further increase the flexibility of the leaf. The wiping action of the cleaning cylinders 43 will move the bridging leaf longitudinally of the fingers from the ends of which said leaf will be shedded or stripped and drawn through the contracting throats 54. Of course, other large trash also Will be forced through the throats 54 as well as the longitudinal spaces by the combined action of the downwardly-directed air current and the counterclockwise rotation or wiping action of the cleaning cylinders 43. Thus, the seed-cotton will be thoroughly cleaned by the time it reaches the vacuum wheel 56 and is discharged into the conveyor-distributor 55 which conveys the same to the gin stands l5. The leaf and other extraneous matter which pass through the cleaning surfaces 44 drop into the hopper 51 and are directed by the flue 58 to a dirt or trash conveyor (not shown).

From the foregoing, it is manifest that mechanically-gathered seed-cotton is efficiently and thoroughly cleaned by the herein described improved method and system. Although it is preferable to utilize the air from the conditioner, said air could be obtained from any other source so long as it was relatively hot and dry. The coaction of the downward stream or current of air and the discontinuous, grate-type cleaning surface together with the wiping action of the cleaning cylinders are among the most important and essential features of the system and could not be eliminated without the substitution of an equivalent arrangement. However, the wilting of the green leaf to a soft, flexible or pliable condition is substantially of equal importance and essentialness and, of course, might be accomplished by means other than that described herein. The wilting of the leaf which permits the removal or separation thereof from the seed-cotton in a substantially intact or whole condition is not sufficient to entirely dehydrate said leaf and render the same brittle. In other words, this wilting facilitates and makes possible the removing or separating which takes place in the conditioner and cleaners, whereby breaking and powdering of the leaf and consequent admixing of the same with the seed-cotton is reduced to a minimum. In addition, the removal of a portion of leaf in the conditioner reduces the load and the cleaners and makes for a purer cotton. The efficiency of the method increases the efiiciency of the cleaning step so as to decrease the time thereof, whereby the relative size of the cleaner or the number of the cleaning cylinders may be reduced and roping, twisting and machining of the cotton is substantially eliminated. Also, the necessity for the usual beating action of the cleaning cylinders is obviated as it is the wiping action thereof which is essential. All of these features are interdependent and coact to produce the new and improved results. of course, hand-picked cotton may be cleaned by this method, although it is primarily designed for the conditioning of machine-gathered cotton.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r

1. A system for conditionin fiber containing green leaf including, a conditioner having a current of hot air therein for wilting the leaf to a limp condition, a cleaner having a chamber therein, the air current conducting the fiber and leaf from the conditioner to the cleaner, the chamber of said cleaner having a discontinuous grate-type cleaning surface, cleaning cylinders within said chamber rotating adjacent to and coacting with the cleaning surface, said fiber and leaf being fed to and carried by the cylinders between said surface and cylinders, and means for separating said air current from the fiber and leaf and directing the same downwardly within the chamber past the cylinder and through the surface, the air current urging and holding the leaf in engagement with said surface while being carried therealong by said cylinders and forcing said leaf in a substantially whole condition through the discontinuations of th surface so as to separate the same from the fiber.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the conditioner includes, a foraminous cleaning surface, and means for utilizing the air current to eject a portion of the wilted leaf through the foraminous surface.

3. A fiber conditioning system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the discontinuous cleaning surface has a plurality of openings extending longitudinally of the direction of the rotation of the cylinders and movement of the fiber for permitting the passage of the air current, whereby the combined action of said cylinders and current will force fine trash through the longitudinal openings, said surface also having transverse openings forming the discontinuations thereof for receiving and discharging the wilted leaf in a substantially whole condition.

4. A fiber conditioning system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cleaning surface includes, a plurality of spaced elements arranged in spaced, parallel rows, the spaces between the elements receiving fine trash and the wilted leaf being discharged by the air current through the spaces between the rows.

5. A fiber conditioning system as set forth in claim 1 including, means for spreading the downwardly-directed air current throughout substantially the entire area of the cleaning chamber.

6. The method of treating gathered cotton mixtures containing seed cotton, trash and green leaves which includes, conveying and subjecting the mixture to a heated air current only sufficient to wilt the green leaves and render them soft and flexible, then progressively cleaning the cotton while moving the wilted green leaves therewith and extracting the trash and wilted green leaves from the mixture substantially without disintegrating said leaves, and carrying ofi the seed cotton.

7. The method of treating gathered cotton mixtures containing seed cotton, trash and green leaves which includes, subjecting the mixtur to a heated air current only sufiicient to wilt the green leaves and render them soft and flexible, separating the air current from the mixture, conducting the mixture to a cleaning area, and then cleaning the mixture and utilizing the separated air current to extract trash and wilted green leaves without disintegrating said leaves, whereby the seed cotton is cleaned.

8. A fiber-conditioning system for treating gathered cotton mixtures containing seed cotton, trash, and green leaves including, means for subjecting the mixture to a current of air, and screening the mixture, a cleaner, means for conducting the mixture from the screening means, means for separating the air current from the mixture and conducting the mixture to the cleaner, said cleaner having heaters and grates thereunder provided with transverse openings adapted to pass folded green leaves therethrough while trash is passing through the grates and means for directing the separated air current downwardly through the cleaning grates to carry the trash and leaves therethrough.

JOHN BLEWETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,160,253 Rylander May 30, 1939 2,224,625 Ahrens Dec, 10, 1940 2,111,158 Streun Mar. 15, 1938 1,199,912 Marquis et al. Oct, 3, 1916 1,369,716 Stacey Feb. 22, 1921

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