Device to separate contaminants from cotton and flax

An apparatus for separating foreign matter from a fiber containing material comprising:

• a) a first housing, said first housing comprising an inlet therein for delivering a fiber containing material for separation therein, and an outlet for discharging partially treated fiber therefrom;
• b) a separation surface positioned within said first housing, said surface having apertures therethrough effective for allowing passage of foreign matter in said fiber containing material;
• c) a plurality of rotatable first separator cylinders positioned within said first housing above said separation surface, said first separator cylinders comprising a plurality of projections extending therefrom effective for engaging, moving, and centrifugally releasing therefrom fibers in said fiber containing material, said first separator cylinders rotating in the same angular direction such that said fiber containing material is transported through said first housing, across said separation surface, and through said outlet upon engagement by said projections and rotation of said first cylinders;
• d) a second housing, said second housing comprising an inlet in communication with said outlet of said first housing for receiving said partially treated fiber, a first outlet for treated fiber, and a second outlet for foreign matter;
• e) a rotatable second separator cylinder disposed in said second housing, said second separator cylinder comprising a plurality of projections extending therefrom effective for securely engaging and transporting fibers in said fiber containing material on said second separator cylinder;
• f) a first cleaning bar disposed in said second housing, wherein said first cleaning bar is disposed adjacent said second separator cylinder such that fibers pass between said second separator cylinder and said first cleaning bar, whereby said first cleaning bar removes foreign matter from said fiber containing material;
• g) a first doffing cylinder having an outer peripheral surface operably associated with said second separator cylinder effective for mechanically removing said fiber from said projections on said second separator cylinder, said first doffing cylinder rotating in the opposite angular direction as said second separator cylinder;
• h) a third separator cylinder positioned in said second housing, said third separator cylinder comprising a plurality of projections extending therefrom effective for securely engaging and transporting fibers in said fiber containing material on said third separator cylinder, wherein said third separator cylinder is positioned adjacent to said first doffing cylinder such that the outer peripheral surface of said doffing cylinder is operably associated with and rotating in the opposite angular direction as said third separator cylinder;
• i) a second cleaning bar disposed in said second housing, wherein said second cleaning bar is disposed adjacent to said third separator cylinder such that fibers pass between said third separator cylinder and said second cleaning bar, whereby said second cleaning bar removes foreign matter from said fiber containing material;
• and
• j) a second doffing brush cylinder provided downstream of the first doffing cylinder, said second doffing brush cylinder having an outer peripheral surface operably associated with said third separator cylinder effective for mechanically removing said fiber from said projections on said third separator cylinder, said second doffing brush cylinder rotating in the opposite angular direction as said third separator cylinder.