Multiple slot jet cleaner and method

A jet cleaner for transporting a stream of air having a mixture of cotton and foreign matter therein and for separating the cotton from the foreign matter, comprising:

• a first conduit having an inlet, an outlet and an exterior wall, said first conduit configured to transport the stream of air therein, said inlet configured to accept the stream of air, said outlet configured to discharge the stream of air;
• two or more slots in said exterior wall of said first conduit, each of said slots located at a bend in said conduit and configured for receiving a volume of air from a source of air into said first conduit and for removing a portion of the foreign material in the stream of air into a second conduit in communication with each of said two or more slots;
• two or more discharge openings in air flow communication with the stream of air in said first conduit for removing a portion of the air from the stream of air into a third conduit in communication with each of said two or more discharge openings, each of said two or more discharge openings located downstream of one of said two or more slots;
• and
• a suction means in communication with said third conduit for drawing air from said first conduit through said discharge opening.

A method of separating cotton from a stream of air having a mixture of cotton and foreign matter therein, comprising the steps of:

• transporting the stream of air through a first conduit having an inlet, an outlet and an exterior wall;
• adding a volume of air from a source of air into said first conduit through a slot in said exterior wall of said first conduit;
• mixing said volume of air with said stream of air to form an enhanced stream of air in said first conduit;
• removing a portion of the foreign material from the stream of air into a second conduit through said slot while mixing said volume of air in said first conduit;
• removing a portion of the air from said enhanced stream of air into a third conduit through a discharge opening in said exterior wall of said first conduit;
• and
• transporting said portion of the air through said third conduit to a means for circulating said portion of air back to said source of air.