delinter

A delinter is a machine used in the textile industry, specifically in cotton processing. Its primary function is to remove small, undesirable fibers and debris from cotton lint after the initial ginning process. This debris can include leaf fragments, stem pieces, and short, broken fibers. The delinter operates by passing the cotton lint through a series of rotating saws or brushes that have fine teeth or bristles. These rotating elements catch and pull the lint, while the smaller debris falls away due to gravity or is otherwise separated.

The delinter is an important piece of equipment for improving the quality and marketability of cotton. By removing these impurities, the delinter helps to produce a cleaner and more uniform cotton fiber. This is crucial for subsequent spinning processes, as the presence of foreign matter can lead to yarn breakages and affect the final fabric quality. There are typically two stages of delinting. The first stage removes the bulk of the short fibers, and a second stage, often called a finisher delinter, further refines the lint to achieve a higher level of cleanliness. The efficiency of a delinter is measured by its ability to remove impurities without damaging the staple fiber length.