FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT, 1970,
(39 OF 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULE, 2003 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(SEE SECTION 10; RULE 13)
Applicant(s): (1) BAJAJ STEEL INDUSTRIES LIMITED, a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 of Imambada Road, Nagpur 440 018 (M.S)
AND
(2) BAJAJ Sunil Hargovind, an Indian national of Imambada Road, Nagpur 440
018 (M.S)
"SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING SOLID IMPURITIES FROM SEED
COTTON"
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to cotton ginning and pre-ginning process separation of impurities from seed cotton more particularly relates to removal of solid impurities such as stones, sand and other foreign solid impurities from seed cotton.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Since the cotton gin was first developed by Eli Whitney more than a century ago, the basic task of separating seeds, plant material, and other objects from the fibers of the cotton has remained a primary concern among cotton ginners. These various objects, or "trash/" are typicality collected together wfth the raw cotton when it is harvested. This trash must be separated from the cotton fibers before the fibers can be processed into thread and, ultimately, into fabric.
Prior to the raw cotton reaching the cotton ginner, the cotton is often
harvested from the cotton plants by a cotton harvesting machine called a
picker or stripper. As the pickers remove the raw cotton from the cotton
plants, these machines also collect dead leaves and sticks from the plant and
the ground surrounding the cotton plants. As the pickers become loaded with
the picked cotton, the pickers sometimes transfer the raw cotton into another
machine called a module builder. In the module builder, the raw cotton is
formed into large blocks of cotton called modules. These modules can often
measure as large as 8 feet, by 8 feet, by 32 feet. This form of cotton harvesting
has led to the development and use of machines called module feeders for
breaking apart the modules of cotton so that the cotton can be cleaned by a
cotton gin, for example.
Once the cotton has been formed into modules, the modules are transported to a processing plant for removing the seeds, sticks and leaves, or other trash from the cotton. The system in the processing plant that performs this task is

called a cotton gin.
In a conventional cotton gin, the modules are first broken apart by a separate module feeder. Once broken apart, the cotton is in a form called seed cotton and is ready for transport to cleaning and extracting machinery, which removes the trash from the seed cotton. Once the trash has been removed from the seed cotton, the cotton lint is pressed into large bales, sometimes as large as 500 pounds, for distribution to facilities for making cloth.
In a conventional cotton gin having a module feeder, the module feeder, the cleaners and the extractors are separate machines interconnected by a system that conveys the cotton between the machines. Because these are separate machines, they require additional space and may necessitate additional operators. Therefore, for at least these reasons, the conventional cotton gin machines add complexity to the cotton processing operation.
Consequently, there is a need for a machine for performing the operations of a conventional module feeders and cleaners while reducing the complexities associated with the module feeders and cleaners being separate pieces of machinery. Seed cotton contains heavy objects such as small stones, sand and immature bolls as foreign material. These unwanted and contaminants must be removed before the cotton reaches the processing machine (DR Gin) otherwise these can cause problems in ginning, damage to the ginning machine or fibre parameters from ginning and can cause choking of the gins and some time even result in catching fire.
Various devices such as 'stone catcher' are used in cotton gin to remove such unwanted stones, particles of sand and other heavy objects from the seed cotton. Such devices use a suitable air velocity gradient to separate dense material from lighter cotton balls. Such devices are usually mounted on the pneumatic feeding lines for the seed cotton to gins. These devices consist of a counter weight at the trash gates for removal of the stones etc and the stones are removed by gravity from the cotton. These devices have been proved to be partially successful in removing the stones etc moreover such systems involve extensive use of manpower and electrical power for feeding seed cotton and

hence alternate systems were the need of the time. The Stone catcher' being used in the industry has drawbacks such as: Stone and heavy foreign matter are not separated effectively, Seed cotton falls along with the stone resulting sometimes into loss of good cotton, Chocking of stone, Air leakages in the joint, High moisture content in seed cotton results in chocking, Frequent opening and closing of trap door, Due to non separation of stone properly it may even catch fire during ginning operation. Moreover, Flap of stone catcher gets jammed over a period of time resulting in lowering the capacity to remove stones.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art and provide the techno-economfca((y feasi'b(e process for the efficient ginning process of cotton.
Yet another object of the present invention is to overcome all the associated drawbacks and give cotton ginning and processing industry an automatic and mechanized version to provide seed cotton free of stones and other foreign particles for higher productivity.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows the seed cotton stone removing system having belt conveyor and pneumatically drops. The system employs a principal of gravity falling of heavier material. An air stream pulls the cotton upward in to the 'Seed Cotton Stone Removing System', resulting in falling down of heavier material

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
The present invention relates generally to cotton ginning and pre-ginning process separation of impurities from seed cotton more particularly relates to removal of solid impurities such as stones, sand and other foreign solid impurities from seed cotton.
The present invention provides seed cotton removing system (10) comprising of Head pu((ey (12), Tail pu((ey (14), Trash gate (16), Main frame assembly (18), Proxy's sensor assembly (20), Inlet Gate (22), Window (24), Shock absorber (26) and Belt (28).
A System and Method for separating solid (stones and the like) impurities from Seed Cotton comprising a trench which is the casing for receiving the seed cotton, a belt for moving the seed cotton inside the trench, a Variable Drive for belt conveyor to give uniform and identical feed of seed cotton, a Stone catching attachment with counter weight for the trash gate, a trash gate for expelling the stones, an inlet gate for entering the seed cotton inside with a shock absorber to adjust the gate and avoid air pressure losses, a distinct air entry behind the trash gate which helps in pulling/drawing of the seed cotton, an outlet at the top connected to the suction fan and the feeding line for feeding seed cotton to the gin feeding systems.
The present invention provides in one of the embodiments a Wavy top conveyor belt of about 860 mm which is 3 plied with 3 mm thick rubber layer on top, and 1.5 mm thick bottom having rubber grade of M-24 giving the machine distinct ability to carry the seed cotton uniformly and consistently without any slippages. It also provides a process whereby the seed cotton enters the system through belt conveyors with the speed of about 118 mts./min for continuous

and uniform feeding wherein the inlet door of seed cotton stone removing system is mounted with a shock absorber which restricts the entry of excess material by limiting the door opening and also prevents the air pressure loss as the inlet gate retains its initial position as soon the material passes through it. A trash gate is a self balancing component provided with a counter weight having a rough textured belt on the inner side which acts as a resting pad and an air inlet gate is adjusted to regulate the volume of inlet air.
In yet one of the embodiments of the present invention the air stream pulls the cotton upward by negative air pressure generated by the suction fan to pick up the cotton and drops down the heavier material thereby purifying the cotton for further processing of cotton devoid of stones and other like solid impurities.
The present invention provides a combination of mechanical & pneumatic conveying wherein the seed cotton enters into the 'Seed Cotton Stone Removing System' by means of a belt conveyor. The system employs a principal of gravity falling of heavier material. An air stream pulls the cotton upward in to the Seed Cotton Stone Removing System, resulting in falling down of heavier material. The cotton is picked up by the air stream and stone, sand, infected bolls are thrown out by trash gate at the bottom. This trash from bottom can be removed through a trash screw conveyor or belt conveyor or manually.
Wherein the seed cotton enters into the 'Seed Cotton Stone Removing System' by means of a belt conveyor and then is pneumatically pulled to the feeding line for gins employing a principal of gravity resulting into falling of heavier material. The Seed Cotton Stone Removing System consists of a belt conveyor with Wavy Top Belt. The belt conveyor is driven by electric motor provided with Variable drive which eventually controls and monitors feeding rate of the seed cotton as per requirement. This belt conveyor carries the material to the Stone Removing System attached with a pneumatic suction line from top; air stream pulls the cotton upward in to the 'Seed Cotton Stone Removing System', resulting in falling down of heavier material. This air stream is generated by means of a centrifugal fan (Blower).

The Seed Cotton Stone Removing System provides bullet proof front end to ginning process. There are no rotating parts, motor, and drive and hence Seed Cotton Stone Removing System is maintenance free. The seed cotton is picked up by the air stream and stone, sand, infected bolls are thrown out by trash gate at bottom. This trash from bottom can be removed through a trash screw conveyor or belt conveyor or even manually by making a pit below the trash gate. Such Seed Cotton Stone Removing System has been invented for the first time by anyone in the industry and it is novel and unique method of removing stones from the seed cotton.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided following parameters of the embodiments used

SEED COTTON STONE REMOVING SYSTEM SPECIFICATION
SR.NO. DESCRIPTION PARAMETERS
1 TRENCH LENGTH (MM) 1200
2 TRENCH WIDTH (MM) 920
3 TRENCH HEIGHT (MM) 1200
4 RAW COTTON CONVEYING SYSTEM BELT CONVEYOR
5 BELT CONVEYOR HEAD & TAIL PULLEY DIA (MM) 273
6 TYPE OF BELT 860 WIDE X 8 AAM THICK 3 PLY RUBBER CANVAS BELT WAVY TOP SURFACE & BOTTOM PLAIN SURFACE
7 BELT CONVEYOR DRIVEN BY GEARED MOTOR
8 ELECTRIC POWER REQUIRED FOR BELT CONVEYOR (HP) 3 / 80 RPM
9 SPEED OF BELT CONVEYOR (Mtr / Minute) 118

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

WE CLAIM:
1. A System and Method for separating solid impurities from Seed Cotton
comprising:
a trench which is the casing for receiving the seed cotton, A belt for moving the seed cotton inside the trench, A Variable Drive for belt conveyor to give uniform and identical feed of seed cotton,
a Stone catching attachment with counter weight for the trash gate,
a trash gate for expelling the stones, an inlet gate for entering the seed cotton inside with a shock absorber to adjust the gate and avoid air pressure losses,
a distinct air entry behind the trash gate which helps in pulling/drawing of the seed cotton,
an outlet at the top connected to the suction fan and the feeding line for feeding seed cotton to the gin feeding systems.
2. A System and method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, Wavy top conveyor belt of about 860 mm which is 3 plied with 3 mm thick rubber layer on top, and 1.5 mm thick bottom having rubber grade of M-24 giving the machine distinct ability to carry the seed cotton uniformly and consistently without any slippages.
3. A System and method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seed cotton enters the system through belt conveyors with the speed of about 118 mts./min for continuous and uniform feeding.
4. A System and method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet door of seed cotton stone removing system is mounted with a shock absorber which restricts the entry of excess material by limiting the door opening

and also prevents the air pressure loss as the inlet gate retains its initial position as soon the material passes through it.
5. A System and method as claimed in claim 1, wherein trash gate is a self balancing component provided with a counter weight.
6. A System and method as claimed in claim 1, wherein trash has a rough textured belt on the inner side which acts as a resting pad.
7. A System and method as claimed in claim 1, wherein air inlet gate is adjusted to regulate the volume of inlet air.
8. A System and method as claimed in claim 1, wherein air stream pulls the cotton upward by negative air pressure generated by the suction fan to pick up the cotton and drops down the heavier material.