Recommendations for roller gin lint cleaner capacities are 1.5 - 2 bales per hour (bph) per foot of cleaner width, but no research on the quality effects of that loading has been published. A recent survey of US roller gins showed that typical loadingof Pima lint cleaning equipment ranged from 0.75 to 2.25 bph/ft. Data were taken at an average size (20 bph) roller gin during the fall 2004 ginning season to assess the effects of lint cleaning machinery loading on fiber quality. Lint fiber samples were taken before and after cleaning with an inclined cleaner and centrifugal-type lint cleaner loaded at different rates ranging from 0.5 to about 1.7 bph/ft. Lint fiber samples were classed at the AMS Classing Office (Phoenix, AZ). Most of the differencesin lint classing parameters due to loading were not significant. Leaf grade and bale value, after lint cleaning, were significantly better (about V grade and $40 higher) for lower loading rates (< 1.3 bph/ft) on a lint cleaning sequence that included alint fan, stationary condenser, 6-ft wide inclined cleaner, and 8 ft air-jet; indicating that at higher loading rates (> 1.7 bph/ft) lint cleaning efficiency was reduced. As a result of lint cleaning, leaf grades significantly decreased about one full grade (from 3.2 to 2.2) and bale values significantly increased from about $457 to $528. The results justify further study.
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