Modular lint cleaning roller with removeable and replaceable opposing shaft components

Abstract

Improved lint-cleaning cotton gin rollers feature protruding end shafts that may be removed and replaced without having to replace the entire roller, thereby saving considerable time and expense. A pair of hub components are configured for installation into respective open ends of an elongated cylindrical tube, and removeable and replaceable shaft components are configured for installation into the hub components. Each hub component may have a recess with a predetermined shape, and each shaft component has a peripheral shape that corresponds to the shape of each recess. The shafts that extend from the ends of hub components may terminate in a wrench-receiving geometry enabling manual rotation of the assembled roller. Each hub component may comprise at least one flange with an outer diameter that matches the inner diameter of the elongated cylindrical tube. The hub components may be configured to receive counterweights for operational balancing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.