We have previously described CottonscanTM and its performance in determining the average fiber linear density of cotton lint samples in detail. The previous work was focused on demonstrating that a reliable and sufficiently precise measurement was technically feasible. However, the measurement cycle time was 6 min. Thus the focus has now shifted to reducing the measurement cycle time in order to increase the sample throughput and demonstrate that the instrument is likely to be useful to the industry. Here we describe the engineering improvements made to bring the cycle time down to 1 min and provide results to show that the measurement is unaffected.
Abbott AM, Higgerson GJ, Long RL, Lucas SR, Naylor GRS, Tischler CR, et al. An instrument for determining the average fiber linear density (fineness) of cotton lint samples. Textile Res J2010; 80(9): 822-833.
2.
Abbott AM, Hequet EF, Higgerson GJ, Lucas SR, Naylor GRS, Tischler CR, et al. Performance of the CottonscanTM instrument for measuring the average fiber linear density (fineness) of cotton lint samples. Textile Res J2011; 81(1): 94-100.
3.
Lord E.Airflow through plugs of textile fibres. Part II. The micronaire test of cotton . J Textile Inst1956; 47(1): T161-T47.
4.
Peirce FT and Lord E.The fineness and maturity of cotton. J Textile Inst1939; 30: T173-T210.
5.
Hequet EF, Wyatt B., Abidi N. and Thibodeaux DPCreation of a set of reference material for cotton fiber maturity measurements . Textile Res J2006; 76(7): 576-586.
6.
Long RL, Bange MP, Gordon SG, van der Sluijs MHJ, Naylor GRS and Constable GAFibre quality and textile performance of some Australian cotton genotypes . Crop Science2010; 50(4): 1509-1518.
7.
Montalvo JG, Faught SE and Buco SMSensitivity of the Shirley Developments Ltd. Micromat tester to operators and sample preparation. J Cotton Sci2002; 6(3): 133-142.
8.
Hequet EFCalibration of the AFIS maturity measurement. In: Proceedings of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences, 2006, pp.1877-1889.
9.
Montalvo JG, von Hoven TM and Davidonis G.Biased experimental fineness and maturity results. Textile Res J2007; 77(10): 743-755.
10.
Charlton D.Sirolan-Laserscan: A aeview of its development, performance and application. Wool Technol Sheep Breed1995; 43(3): 212-228.
11.
Naylor GRS.The coarse fibre component and fibre end diameter characteristics ofAustralian wool tops. J Textile Inst1996; 87: 265-273.
12.
Baxter BP, Brims MA and Teasdale DCThe optical fiber diameter analyzer (OFDA) New technology for the wool industry . Wool Technol Sheep Breed1993; 40(4): 131-134.
13.
Baxter BP, Brims MA and Taylor TBDescription and performance of the optical fiber diameter analyzer (OFDA) . J Textile Inst1992; 83(4): 507-526.
14.
Naylor GRS and Purmalis MMMethod and apparatus for testing fibres , Australian Patent No: AU2004231118 (2004).
15.
Abbott AM, Lucas SR, Naylor GRS and Higgerson GJThe performance of an upgraded cottonscan for rapid measurement of fiber fineness . In: Proceedings of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences , 2009, pp.1185-1190.
16.
Naylor GRS and Purmalis MMUpdate on Cottonscan: An instrument for rapid and direct measurement of fiber maturity and fineness. In: Proceedings of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences, 2005. pp 2302-2306.
