Method and apparatus for removing a fiber fraction from seed cotton

Apparatus for removing a long fiber fraction from seed cotton comprising:

• a plurality of rollers arranged parallel to one another in a continuous path;
• means for driving said plurality of rollers along said continuous path;
• chute means for depositing seed cotton containing a fiber fraction on a first side of the continuous path;
• brush means arranged on a second side of the continuous path for aligning a portion of the fiber fraction between adjacent ones of the rollers;
• at least one relatively large diameter nip roll arranged with an outer cylindrical surface portion in abutting engagement with the second side of the continuous path downstream from the brush means;
• and
• means for rotating said at least one nip roll for separating the fiber fraction aligned between adjacent rollers by the brush means from the seed.

A method for removing a fiber fraction from seed cotton comprising the steps of:

• driving a plurality of spaced apart parallel rollers along a continuous path;
• depositing seed cotton on the rollers on a first side of the continuous path;
• drawing a substantially constant quantity of air substantially straight between the rollers from the first side to a second side of the continuous path to extend a portion of the fiber fraction between adjacent ones of the rollers;
• and
• separating the fiber fraction extended between adjacent rollers from the seed cotton by nipping the fiber fraction between the rollers and a continuous outer peripheral surface portion of at least one rotatable nip roll arranged on the second side of the continuous path, said surface portion being arranged in abutting engagement with the rollers on a second side of the continuous path.

A method for removing a fiber fraction from seed cotton comprising the steps of:

• driving a plurality of spaced apart parallel rollers along a continuous path;
• depositing seed cotton on the rollers on a first side of the continuous path;
• extending and aligning a portion of the fiber fraction between adjacent ones of said rollers with a rotatable brush arranged on a second side of the continuous path and contacting the surface of the rollers;
• and
• separating the portion of the fiber fraction extending between the rollers from the seed cotton by nipping the fiber fraction between the rollers and at least on nip roll arranged on the second side of the continuous path in abutting engagement with the rollers.