A Self-Adjusting Seed Finger System to Improve Gin Turnout

Abstract

<abstract> Gin stands are responsible for the removal of fiber from cotton seed. Care must be taken during ginning to ensure that the seed is not over-ginned, causing seed damage and seed coat neps. Alternately, it is important that the ginner removes as much of the lint from the seed as possible to ensure the highest turnout for the grower. Seed fingers are an important part of the gin stand and are used to control the seed roll load, which controls these aspects. A new device that self-adjusts the angle of the seed fingers while seed cotton is processed is introduced. The device combines partitioned seed fingers pivoted on a central rotating shaft that are controlled by electric actuators and able to adjust the angular position of each partition according to the load exerted on the particular partition. This article describes the system and reports on early trials in industry, which showed significant correlations between residual lint on the ginned seed and the angle of the seed fingers. Correlations were also observed between the angle of the seed finger shaft and gin motor power consumption.