Gin Stand Safety Assembly

Abstract

A gin stand safety assembly comprises an outer shell, a throat, a motor, an amperage draw sensor and a rotating ginning equipment. The rotating ginning equipment comprises at least a picker roller. The amperage draw sensor monitors a power usage of the motor. The gin stand safety assembly is configured to adjust an RPM of the motor according to an amperage draw signal generated by the amperage draw sensor. The throat is configured for holding said fibrous material such as cotton during the ginning process. The gin stand safety assembly is configured for receiving said fibrous material in a portion of the throat, channeling said fiberous material downward through the throat into the rotating ginning equipment, rotating the motor, monitoring the amperage draw signal from the amperage draw sensor, and adjusting the RPM of the motor.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT (IF APPLICABLE)

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX (IF APPLICABLE)

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

No prior art is known to the Applicant. One example of a gin stand can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,810,217 B2.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A gin stand safety assembly for holding a fibrous material for ginning with a rotating ginning equipment. Said gin stand safety assembly comprises an outer shell, a throat, a motor, an amperage draw sensor and said rotating ginning equipment. Said rotating ginning equipment comprises at least a picker roller. Said amperage draw sensor monitors a power usage of said motor. Said gin stand safety assembly is configured to adjust an RPM of said motor according to an amperage draw signal generated by said amperage draw sensor. Said throat is configured for holding said fibrous material such as cotton during the ginning process. Said gin stand safety assembly is configured for receiving said fibrous material in a portion of said throat, channeling said fiberous material downward through said throat into said rotating ginning equipment, rotating said motor, monitoring said amperage draw signal from said amperage draw sensor, and adjusting said RPM of said motor according to said amperage draw signal. Said gin stand safety assembly can further comprise said amperage draw sensor. Said gin stand safety assembly is configured to adjust said RPM of said motor so as to minimize choaking in said rotating ginning equipment and said throat. A controller comprises an address space. Said address space comprises a memory comprising a program, a processor and a communication hardware. Said program is configured for receiving said amperage draw signal related to said motor. calculating a change in said RPM of said motor to maximize ensure smooth operation of said gin stand safety assembly and to minimize clogs of said fiberous material in said throat.

Said gin stand safety assembly for holding a fibrous material for ginning with said rotating ginning equipment. Said gin stand safety assembly comprises said outer shell, said throat, said motor, said amperage draw sensor and said rotating ginning equipment. Said rotating ginning equipment comprises at least said picker roller. Said amperage draw sensor monitors a power usage of said motor. Said gin stand safety assembly is configured to adjust said RPM of said motor according to said amperage draw signal generated by said amperage draw sensor. Said throat is configured for holding said fibrous material such as cotton during the ginning process. Said gin stand safety assembly is configured for receiving said fibrous material in a portion of said throat, channeling said fiberous material downward through said throat into said rotating ginning equipment, rotating said motor, monitoring said amperage draw signal from said amperage draw sensor, and adjusting said RPM of said motor according to said amperage draw signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective overview of a gin stand safety assembly 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective rear view of said gin stand safety assembly 100 with said hinged lid 112 removed.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective side view of said gin stand safety assembly 100 with said plurality of side panels 104 removed.

FIG. 4 illustrates an elevated side view of said gin stand safety assembly 100 with said plurality of side panels 104 removed.

FIG. 5 illustrates a prior art gin stand 500.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an address space 600 of said controller 406.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective overview of said gin stand safety assembly 100.

FIG. 8 illustrates elevated side view of said gin stand safety assembly 100.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention as claimed and is provided in the context of the particular examples discussed below, variations of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation (as in any development project), design decisions must be made to achieve the designers' specific goals (e.g., compliance with system- and business-related constraints), and that these goals will vary from one implementation to another. It will also be appreciated that such development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the field of the appropriate art having the benefit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto are not intended to be limited by the disclosed embodiments, but are to be accorded their widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective overview of a gin stand safety assembly 100.

In one embodiment, said gin stand safety assembly 100 can comprise an outer shell 102, a plurality of side panels 104 (which can comprise a first side panels 104a, and a second side panels 104b), a motor 106, a front panel 108, a frame 110, a hinged lid 112 having two hinges 114.

In one embodiment, said gin stand can comprise a huller gin stand, as is known in the art.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective rear view of said gin stand safety assembly 100 with said hinged lid 112 removed.

Said gin stand safety assembly 100 can further comprise a throat 200 for holding a fibrous material such as cotton during the ginning process, and a front window 202 in said hinged lid 112. Further wherein, by altering the size of said throat 200, said gin stand safety assembly 100 can accommodate more than 10% increased ginning capacity as compared to the prior art.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective side view of said gin stand safety assembly 100 with said plurality of side panels 104 removed.

Said gin stand safety assembly 100 can further comprise a rotating ginning equipment 300, as is known in the art. Said rotating ginning equipment 300 can comprise at least a picker roller 300a.

In one embodiment, said gin stand safety assembly 100 can further comprise a lower front window 302 in a lower front panel 304. Said lower front window 302 can be arranged to display a status of said gin stand safety assembly 100 proximate to said rotating ginning equipment 300 and a lower portion of said throat 200.

FIG. 4 illustrates an elevated side view of said gin stand safety assembly 100 with said plurality of side panels 104 removed.

As compared to the prior art, said throat 200 can comprise an upper cavity 400. For illustrative purposes, a prior art lid height 402 is shown.

In one embodiment, said upper cavity 400 can be accessed by lifting said hinged lid 112 on said two hinges 114.

In one embodiment, said gin stand safety assembly 100 can comprise said throat 200 having said upper cavity 400 comprising a cavity above said two hinges 114.

In one embodiment, said motor 106 can comprise an independent motor on a variable frequency drive.

Said gin stand safety assembly 100 can further comprise a controller 406. In one embodiment, said controller 406 can be used to monitor a load on said motor 106 and modify an input cotton flow 408 and or an RPM 414 of said motor 106 to minimize damage to said gin stand safety assembly 100 and said motor 106.

In one embodiment, said gin stand safety assembly 100 can further comprise an amperage draw sensor 410. In one embodiment, said amperage draw sensor 410 can be configured for monitoring an amperage draw signal 412 by said motor 106.

In one embodiment, said amperage draw sensor 410 can be configured for reporting an aperage draw signal to said controller 406; wherein, said controller 406 can reduce or increase said RPM 414 of said motor 106 so as to minimize clogs in said rotating ginning equipment 300 and said throat 200.

FIG. 5 illustrates a prior art gin stand 500.

For illustrative purposes, said prior art gin stand 500 can comprise a representative example of gin stands prior to said gin stand safety assembly 100. Novel features of said gin stand safety assembly 100 can comprise the addition of said lower front window 302, an increased width and height of said throat 200, programmability of said controller 406.

Said lower front window 302 can function as a fire door for monitoring the status of said input cotton flow 408, which is a fire danger in said gin stand safety assembly 100 and said prior art gin stand 500. For example, said prior art gin stand 500 and similar machines are engineered to spin said rotating ginning equipment 300 at 885 RPM, but when seeds are removed from said input cotton flow 408, they can often get caught in said rotating ginning equipment 300 and cause sparks and, ultimately, fire.

By controlling said RPM 414 of said input cotton flow 408 and said rotating ginning equipment 300 with said controller 406, said gin stand safety assembly 100 can minimize an amp draw by said gin stand safety assembly 100 and thereby increase safety during cotton ginning.

In one embodiment, said throat 200 of said gin stand safety assembly 100 can comprise 3 inches additional space between said rotating ginning equipment 300 and said front panel 108 and 3 to 4 inches additional space at the top of said throat 200 in said upper cavity 400. Further, by increasing the size of said throat 200, said gin stand safety assembly 100 is configured to gin more cotton.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an address space 600 of said controller 406.

Said controller 406 can comprise said address space 600; wherein, said address space 600 can comprise a memory 602 comprising a program 604, a processor 606 and a communication hardware 608.

In one embodiment, said program 604 can be programmed to control various aspects of said gin stand safety assembly 100, such as the operation of said motor 106 and said rotating ginning equipment 300.

In one embodiment, said program 604 can be configured for receiving an aperage draw status related to said motor 106; and reducing or increasing said RPM 414 of said motor 106 so as to ensure smooth operation of said gin stand safety assembly 100 and to minimize clogs of said fiberous material in said throat 200.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective overview of said gin stand safety assembly 100.

FIG. 8 illustrates elevated side view of said gin stand safety assembly 100.

Various changes in the details of the illustrated operational methods are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims. Some embodiments may combine the activities described herein as being separate steps. Similarly, one or more of the described steps may be omitted, depending upon the specific operational environment the method is being implemented in. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.”

The following paragraphs are included in reference to the claims and can be considered a preferred embodiment.

Said gin stand safety assembly 100 for holding a fibrous material for ginning with said rotating ginning equipment 300. Said gin stand safety assembly 100 comprises said outer shell 102, said throat 200, said motor 106, said amperage draw sensor 410 and said rotating ginning equipment 300. Said rotating ginning equipment 300 comprises at least said picker roller 300a. Said amperage draw sensor 410 monitors a power usage of said motor 106. Said gin stand safety assembly 100 can be configured to adjust said RPM 414 of said motor 106 according to said amperage draw signal 412 generated by said amperage draw sensor 410. Said throat 200 can be configured for holding said fibrous material such as cotton during the ginning process. Said gin stand safety assembly 100 can be configured for receiving said fibrous material in a portion of said throat 200, channeling said fiberous material downward through said throat 200 into said rotating ginning equipment 300, rotating said motor 106, monitoring said amperage draw signal 412 from said amperage draw sensor 410, and adjusting said RPM 414 of said motor 106 according to said amperage draw signal 412. Said gin stand safety assembly 100 can further comprise said amperage draw sensor 410. Said gin stand safety assembly 100 can be configured to adjust said RPM 414 of said motor 106 so as to minimize choaking in said rotating ginning equipment 300 and said throat 200. Said controller 406 comprises said address space 600. Said address space 600 comprises said memory 602 comprising said program 604, said processor 606 and said communication hardware 608. Said program 604 can be configured for receiving said amperage draw signal 412 related to said motor 106. calculating a change in said RPM 414 of said motor 106 to maximize ensure smooth operation of said gin stand safety assembly 100 and to minimize clogs of said fiberous material in said throat 200.

Said gin stand safety assembly 100 for holding a fibrous material for ginning with said rotating ginning equipment 300. Said gin stand safety assembly 100 comprises said outer shell 102, said throat 200, said motor 106, said amperage draw sensor 410 and said rotating ginning equipment 300. Said rotating ginning equipment 300 comprises at least said picker roller 300a. Said amperage draw sensor 410 monitors a power usage of said motor 106. Said gin stand safety assembly 100 can be configured to adjust said RPM 414 of said motor 106 according to said amperage draw signal 412 generated by said amperage draw sensor 410. Said throat 200 can be configured for holding said fibrous material such as cotton during the ginning process. Said gin stand safety assembly 100 can be configured for receiving said fibrous material in a portion of said throat 200, channeling said fiberous material downward through said throat 200 into said rotating ginning equipment 300, rotating said motor 106, monitoring said amperage draw signal 412 from said amperage draw sensor 410, and adjusting said RPM 414 of said motor 106 according to said amperage draw signal 412. Said gin stand safety assembly 100 can further comprise said amperage draw sensor 410. Said gin stand safety assembly 100 can be configured to adjust said RPM 414 of said motor 106 so as to minimize choaking in said rotating ginning equipment 300 and said throat 200. Said controller 406 comprises said address space 600. Said address space 600 comprises said memory 602 comprising said program 604, said processor 606 and said communication hardware 608. Said program 604 can be configured for receiving said amperage draw signal 412 related to said motor 106. calculating a change in said RPM 414 of said motor 106 to maximize ensure smooth operation of said gin stand safety assembly 100 and to minimize clogs of said fiberous material in said throat 200.

Said gin stand safety assembly 100 for holding a fibrous material for ginning with said rotating ginning equipment 300. Said gin stand safety assembly 100 comprises said outer shell 102, said throat 200, said motor 106, said amperage draw sensor 410 and said rotating ginning equipment 300. Said rotating ginning equipment 300 comprises at least said picker roller 300a. Said amperage draw sensor 410 monitors a power usage of said motor 106. Said gin stand safety assembly 100 can be configured to adjust said RPM 414 of said motor 106 according to said amperage draw signal 412 generated by said amperage draw sensor 410. Said throat 200 can be configured for holding said fibrous material such as cotton during the ginning process. Said gin stand safety assembly 100 can be configured for receiving said fibrous material in a portion of said throat 200, channeling said fiberous material downward through said throat 200 into said rotating ginning equipment 300, rotating said motor 106, monitoring said amperage draw signal 412 from said amperage draw sensor 410, and adjusting said RPM 414 of said motor 106 according to said amperage draw signal 412.

Said motor 106 and said rotating ginning equipment 300 can be in a direct drive relationship.

Said gin stand safety assembly 100 can further comprise said amperage draw sensor 410. Said gin stand safety assembly 100 can be configured to adjust said RPM 414 of said motor 106 so as to minimize choaking in said rotating ginning equipment 300 and said throat 200.

Said controller 406 comprises said address space 600. Said address space 600 comprises said memory 602 comprising said program 604, said processor 606 and said communication hardware 608. Said program 604 can be configured for receiving said amperage draw signal 412 related to said motor 106. calculating a change in said RPM 414 of said motor 106 to maximize ensure smooth operation of said gin stand safety assembly 100 and to minimize clogs of said fiberous material in said throat 200.

Said gin stand safety assembly 100 can further comprise said amperage draw sensor 410. Said amperage draw sensor 410 can be configured for monitoring power usage by said motor 106. Said amperage draw sensor 410 can be configured for reporting an aperage draw signal to said controller 406. Said controller 406 can reduce or increase said RPM 414 of operation of said motor 106 so as to minimize clogs in said rotating ginning equipment 300 and said throat 200.

Said rotating ginning equipment 300 comprises a picker roller.

Said gin stand safety assembly 100 comprises said plurality of side panels 104. Said plurality of side panels 104 comprise said first side panels 104a, and said second side panels 104b.

Said gin stand safety assembly 100 comprises said motor 106, said front panel 108, said frame 110, said hinged lid 112 having said two hinges 114.

Said gin stand safety assembly 100 can be configured to further comprise said lower front window 302 in said lower front panel 304. Said lower front window 302 can be arranged to display a status of said gin stand safety assembly 100 proximate to said rotating ginning equipment 300 and a lower portion of said throat 200. Said lower front window 302 can be configured to function as a fire door for monitoring the status of said input cotton flow 408, which can be a fire danger in said gin stand safety assembly 100 and said prior art gin stand 500.

The following listing of the parts is included for the convenience of the reader:

• • said gin stand safety assembly 100,
  • Said outer shell 102,
  • Said plurality of side panels 104,
  • Said first side panels 104a,
  • Said second side panels 104b,
  • Said motor 106,
  • Said front panel 108,
  • Said frame 110,
  • Said hinged lid 112,
  • Said two hinges 114,
  • Said throat 200,
  • Said front window 202,
  • Said rotating ginning equipment 300,
  • Said picker roller 300a,
  • Said lower front window 302,
  • Said lower front panel 304,
  • Said upper cavity 400,
  • Said prior art lid height 402,
  • Said controller 406,
  • Said input cotton flow 408,
  • Said amperage draw sensor 410,
  • Said prior art gin stand 500,
  • Said address space 600,
  • Said memory 602,
  • Said program 604,
  • Said processor 606,
  • Said communication hardware 608,
  • Said amperage draw signal 412, and
  • said RPM 414.

Claims

1. A gin stand safety assembly for holding a fibrous material for ginning with a rotating ginning equipment, wherein: said gin stand safety assembly comprises an outer shell, a throat, a motor, an amperage draw sensor and said rotating ginning equipment;said rotating ginning equipment comprises at least a picker roller;said amperage draw sensor monitors a power usage of said motor;said gin stand safety assembly is configured to adjust an RPM of said motor according to an amperage draw signal generated by said amperage draw sensor;said throat is configured for holding said fibrous material such as cotton during the ginning process;said gin stand safety assembly is configured for receiving said fibrous material in a portion of said throat,channeling said fiberous material downward through said throat into said rotating ginning equipment,rotating said motor,monitoring said amperage draw signal from said amperage draw sensor, andadjusting said RPM of said motor according to said amperage draw signal;said gin stand safety assembly can further comprise said amperage draw sensor;said gin stand safety assembly is configured to adjust said RPM of said motor so as to minimize choaking in said rotating ginning equipment and said throat;a controller comprises an address space;said address space comprises a memory comprising a program, a processor and a communication hardware; andsaid program is configured for receiving said amperage draw signal related to said motor; andcalculating a change in said RPM of said motor to maximizeensure smooth operation of said gin stand safety assembly and to minimize clogs of said fiberous material in said throat.

2. A gin stand safety assembly for holding a fibrous material for ginning with a rotating ginning equipment, wherein: said gin stand safety assembly comprises an outer shell, a throat, a motor, an amperage draw sensor and said rotating ginning equipment;said rotating ginning equipment comprises at least a picker roller;said amperage draw sensor monitors a power usage of said motor;said gin stand safety assembly is configured to adjust an RPM of said motor according to an amperage draw signal generated by said amperage draw sensor;said throat is configured for holding said fibrous material such as cotton during the ginning process; andsaid gin stand safety assembly is configured for receiving said fibrous material in a portion of said throat,channeling said fiberous material downward through said throat into said rotating ginning equipment,rotating said motor,monitoring said amperage draw signal from said amperage draw sensor, andadjusting said RPM of said motor according to said amperage draw signal.

3. The gin stand safety assembly of claim 2, wherein: said motor and said rotating ginning equipment are in a direct drive relationship.

4. The gin stand safety assembly of claim 2, wherein: said gin stand safety assembly can further comprise said amperage draw sensor; andsaid gin stand safety assembly is configured to adjust said RPM of said motor so as to minimize choaking in said rotating ginning equipment and said throat.

5. The gin stand safety assembly of claim 2, wherein: a controller comprises an address space;said address space comprises a memory comprising a program, a processor and a communication hardware;said program is configured for receiving said amperage draw signal related to said motor; andcalculating a change in said RPM of said motor to maximizeensure smooth operation of said gin stand safety assembly and to minimize clogs of said fiberous material in said throat.

6. The gin stand safety assembly of claim 5, wherein: said gin stand safety assembly can further comprise said amperage draw sensor;said amperage draw sensor is configured for monitoring power usage by said motor;said amperage draw sensor is configured for reporting an aperage draw signal to said controller; andsaid controller can reduce or increase said RPM of operation of said motor so as to minimize clogs in said rotating ginning equipment and said throat.

7. The gin stand safety assembly of claim 2, wherein: said rotating ginning equipment comprises a picker roller.

8. The gin stand safety assembly of claim 2, wherein: said gin stand safety assembly comprises a plurality of side panels; andsaid plurality of side panels comprise a first side panels, and a second side panels.

9. The gin stand safety assembly of claim 2, wherein: said gin stand safety assembly comprises said motor, a front panel, a frame, a hinged lid having two hinges.

10. The gin stand safety assembly of claim 2, wherein: said gin stand safety assembly is configured to further comprise a lower front window in a lower front panel;said lower front window is arranged to display a status of said gin stand safety assembly proximate to said rotating ginning equipment and a lower portion of said throat; andsaid lower front window is configured to function as a fire door for monitoring the status of an input cotton flow, which is a fire danger in said gin stand safety assembly and a prior art gin stand.

11. The gin stand safety assembly of claim 2, wherein: said throat of said gin stand safety assembly comprises 3 inches additional space between said rotating ginning equipment and said front panel and 3 to 4 inches additional space at the top of said throat in an upper cavity.