ABSTRACT
The Lummus Sentinel Lint Cleaner is a saw-type lint cleaner that applies individual tufts of fiber directly to the saw through the use of a high-speed perforated air and dust separator cylinder, rather than agglomerating the lint into a batt on a low-speed revolving condenser drum. By using this method, the conveying air and dust are more effectively removed than in conventional saw-type lint cleaners, where the batt tends to act as a filter, trapping dust before it can be exhausted with the conveying air. Also, trash particles are never compressed into the fiber due to the absence of the traditional lint cleaner feed works. The reduction in mechanical parts due to the elimination of the condenser and its drive assembly, along with the simplified feeding concept have yielded a more forgiving design for operation over a wider range of ginning speeds. The Sentinel design incorporates numerous maintenance-friendly features and improvements without compromising safety. Testing at two locations during the fall of 1998 yielded encouraging results in both fiber quality and throughput capacity. Sentinel Lint Cleaners will be installed at two additional locations in 1999, and further testing/evaluation performed. Commercial introduction is scheduled for the year 2000, with the unit to be offered in both 86" and 108" widths.
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