Trash separator

A separation apparatus for processing a fiber sample that includes both fibers and trash, the separation apparatus comprising:

• a fiber-feeding device,
• a separation cylinder disposed adjacent the fiber-feeding device for rotating in a rotational direction and receiving the fiber sample from the fiber-feeding device, the separation cylinder having a cylindrical surface with a length extending along a longitudinal axis, and rigid protrusions having distal ends extending from the cylindrical surface, the protrusions for selectively engaging and retaining the fibers of the fiber sample, the trash thereby separating from the fiber sample along a substantially downward direction, and
• a collection surface for receiving the trash that falls downward from the separation cylinder,
• means for providing in a separation region between the separation cylinder and the collection surface a counter-flow of air moving in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to and towards the underside surface of the separation cylinder, the counter-flow of air having at each position within the separation region an air-flow velocity sufficient for the counter-flow of air to blow the fibers that are not originally retained by the protrusions up toward the bottom of the separation cylinder and thereby engaging the fibers with the separation cylinder, and yet insufficient to prevent gravity from pulling the trash downward through the counter-flow of air.