Contamination Detection Using Module Hood Feeder Sensors

Contamination, even if it is a single foreign fiber, can lead to the downgrading of yarn, fabric or garments to second quality or even the total rejection of an entire consignment and is thus a very important fiber parameter. Australian cotton is highly sought after by international spinners and attracts a premium due to its fiber characteristics and reputation for low contamination. The release and rapid uptake in Australia of the John Deere 7760 harvester, which produces round modules that are covered by plastic, has resulted in a number of contamination incidents which has the potential to undermine our reputation. This paper presents one solution to this problem which is by installing a sensor in the module feeder that automatically detects and alerts gin operators to the presence of plastic and other materials caught on the module beaters. The CSIRO Module Hood Contamination Sensor has been installed in a number of Australian gins since the 2012 ginning season. The method and data presented in this paper shows how the system successfully captures contamination events, allowing ginners to react promptly to remove contaminants before they are fragmented and allowed to enter the ginning process.