Objective
A new machine has been developed, the PULSARR RX-CS, that has the ability to detect and remove contaminants and foreign bodies from a high speed throughput of raw cotton. Real-time in-line detection of packaging materials, pieces of wood and foreign fibers basically is performed on the base of colour differences. Detection starts from contaminant sizes of five by five millimeters.
The machine is easy-to-install as a black box application in existing pipeline designs directly after the bale opener. The price is expected to be 65-75000 ECU, which gives the system an excellent price/performance relation as compared to what is already on the market. Long term test in production lines with strong environmental conditions are at the moment being completed in two Greek spinning mills. An adjusted set-up of the mentioned machine will be used for final wool tests also. Wool tufts however are less opened (bigger) than cotton tufts, so results will probably be less good.
As for the separation system, it is possible to use a fast flap or air nozzles. Both systems cost about the same price.
The aim of the project is to develop an integrated system to detect and remove foreign material in raw cotton and scroured wool.
In the first task, an extensive range of samples is to be collected. Also, all useful user's experience on this topic is to be gathered.
The second task consists of research necessary to determine the best conditions and methods to detect the foreign materials, i.e. research on image acquisition and image processing.
Two prototype systems are to be built and tested at the cotton spinning mills, respectively wool scouring plants. According to the results of these tests, the prototypes are to be improved. A device to remove the detected objects is to be tested as well.
In order to come to a complet system, a management information system is to be established. This system must provide all data that are useful to the user.
Fields of science
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
9052 ZWIJNAARDE-GENT
Belgium