Rel. En 2019-04

Cotton classing with integrated innovative stickiness grading

· To test all cotton classification values, such as:length, strength, elongation, micronaire, maturity, fineness, colour grade and trash;

· Customer-proven 100% reliable measurement and grading of sugar stickiness ensures proper laydown selection;

· Test results independent from operator influence due to highly automated operation;

· Classing module is calibrated with international standard materials;

· Fully automatic;

· Designed, engineered and manufactured in Italy.

EXA

MP

LE 1 COTTON

1 2 3 4 5

Sample A 18 12 6 4 2 42 86

Sample B 2 4 6 12 1664218

STICKINESS CLASS SIZE STICKINESSCOUNT/GR

STICKINESSGRADE

Cou

nt/g

r

Stickiness Class Size1

0

5

10

15

2 3 4 5

Cou

nt/g

r

Stickiness Class Size1

0

5

10

15

2 3 4 5

STICKINESSGRADE

0-50

51-100

101-160

161-250

251-500

>501

No Risk

Low

Medium

High

Very High

Extremely High

SPINNING RISKPROBABILITY

Sample A Sample B

CONTEST-F code 3301F

DescriptionCONTEST-F has been developed to measure all relevant fiber data from cotton bale. The instrument consists of 2 main modules: · the LSE module measures all parameters known from the classification of raw cotton, like length, strength, elongation, short fibers, colour grade, trash, and leaf grade, as well as the cotton moisture. · The SM module measures stickiness, micronaire and maturity.

The integration of various sensors delivers the full fiber profile, which is important for the preparation and spinning process, as well as the yarn quality and the final product.

After the sample preparation for the two modules, the measurements take place automatically, therefore test results are not affected by the operator. The sample preparation is easy and the operation of the user-interface is intuitive and simple.

The two measuring modules can be operated simultaneously as well as separately. Each sensor can be individually selected. Overall measuring time of both modules operated simultaneously: 200 samples per 8-hour shift.Measuring time of the LSE Module (length/strength/colour/trash): 150 seconds.Measuring time of the SM Module (stickiness, micronaire, maturity): 80 seconds.

Required testing conditions: Temperature: 20°C ±2°C / 68°F ±2°F - Relative Humidity: 65% r.H. ±4%, non-condensing.

Unique feature: the stickiness risk predictionThe Stickiness Tester can detect the stickiness content affecting the spinning process, thus providing a Stickiness Risk Probability on the basis of its grade, enabling spinners to decide how to process and blend different cotton bales.

Stickiness

Length Short fibers StrengthElongation MoistureColour gradeLeaf grade

Micronaire Fineness Maturity

Easy and intuitive user interface

DIMENSIONS / POWER SUPPLY

Weight: 430 kgDimensions: (L) 1510 x (W) 980 x (H) 1450 mmPower supply: 230 Vac, 50/60 Hz, single-phase, 2 kW

STANDARD EQUIPMENT

· Pc with wide touch screen monitor · Sensor to measure the ambient conditions temperature and rel. humidity · Barcode reader · Electronic balance: Sartorius, Model: Entris 822-1S/ (820 ± 0.01 g) or similar · 2 cassettes for sample preparation of classing module · 1 cassette for colour tiles · Toolkit · 1 compressed air tool (already installed) equipped with pipe · 2 pcs. of calibration cottons (for micronaire testing) · 2 pcs. of calibration cottons (for length and strength testing) AMBIENT CONDITIONS

Ambient conditions must be maintained in order to get reproducible test results, ac-cording to ISO 139 (temperature: 20°C ±2°C / 68°F ±2°F / R.H.: 65% ±4%) and/or ASMT D1776 (temperature: 21°C ±1°C / 70°F ±2°F / R.H.: 65% ±2%).Due to the hygroscopic nature of cotton, the samples have to be conditioned plainly in the laboratory, for at least 24 hours before testing.

REFERENCE STANDARDS

MicronaireLength

Strength

Stickiness

High Volume Instruments

ISO 2403, Determination of micronaire value ASTM D1447, Length and Length Uniformity of Cotton Fibers byPhotoelectric MeasurementASTM D1445 – 2012 Breaking Strength and Elongation of Cotton Fibers (Flat Bundle Method)UNI EN 14278-3; Method using an automatic thermodetector rotat-ing drum deviceASTM D5867, Measurement of Physical Properties of Raw Cotton byCotton Classification Instruments

In order to complete the cotton profile on raw cotton as well as to obtain vital processing data from the sliver, the CONTEST-F can be linked to the latest version of the well known third generation of NATI - advanced version. The NATI III testing results include: Neps, Seed Coat Neps, Trash and Dust.The NATI III data can be linked to the CONTEST-F data logger and appear together on the same screen and same printout, as per the following example.

LSE MODULE

SM MODULE

DescriptionTest Results Data / Value

ColourOptical measurement of the surface colour of a cotton sample by spectropho-tometer. Results are graded according to the Nickerson-Hunter colour chart for Upland cotton.

Reflectance RdYellowness +bC-Grade (Colour Grade), Leaf grade

Trash CountTrash Area %Leaf Grade

Optical measurement of the trash particles found on the surface of a cotton sample. Results are graded according to the USDA trash grades.Trash

Moisture content %Resistance measurement of the cotton sample’s moisture content. Sensor is located at the sampling position for the length and strength measurement.Moisture

“STANDARD”-mode: UHML inch/mm (Upper Half mean length)“STANDARD”-mode: UI (Uniformity Index)ICC-mode: 2.5% SL (span length)ICC-mode: 50% SL (span length)ICC-mode: UR (Uniformity ratio)SFI (Short Fiber Index)

Optical measurement of the fibers which are randomly clamped in a comb (bundle fiber measurement). According to the selected calibration mode (“STANDARD”-mode or ICC-mode) all length parameters derive from the fibrogram which will be processed for analysis. For “STANDARD”-mode these are UHML and UI. For the ICC-mode, these are 2.5% SL, 50% SL and the UR. The short fibers index SFI refers to the fibers which are shorter than 1/2 inch (12.7 mm).

Length / Short fibers

Strength g/texElongation %

Physical measurement of the fiber strength by clamping and breaking the fibers at a distance of 1/8 inch (bundle fiber measurement). The applied force when pulling the fibers to the point of rupture is reported as the fiber strength. The distance at the point of break is referred to as elongation.

Strength /Elongation

MicronaireEvaluation of the air permeability of the sample.Micronaire

MaturityDouble compression air flow that measures maturity separately from the micro-naire. The maturity is an indication of the cell-wall thickness of the fibers.Maturity

Fineness (mtex)Calculation based on Maturity and micronaire.Fineness

Total Stickiness count 1/gStickiness point classification by size, in 5 classes (from 1 to 5)Average size of stickiness pointsStickiness grade

Thermo-mechanical measurement of the sticky points and classification according to their size. Additionally, grading of the sample stickiness depending on amount and size of sticky points.

Stickiness

FIBER TESTING

Example of C

ON

TEST-F + NA

TI III obtainable data

10 tests, Ca

libration: Universal Long Strong 34960 –Universal Short W

eak

35094

Subsample

Micronaire

Length & Strength

ColorTrash

StickinessN

ATI III-advanced

Mic

MatIndex

FineU

HML

UI

SFIStr

EloRd

+bC-G

radeTrCnt

TrAreaLeaf

StickyCnt

StickyG

radeSticky

SizeN

epsSeed

CoatsTrash

Dust

� gr/inchm

texm

m%

%gr/tex

%%

Cnt/grm

mCnt/gr

Cnt/grCnt/gr

Cnt/gr

14.32

0.87148

30.1181.8

8.631.6

8.979.4

9.621-3

280.27

310

212.1

57211

90359

24.39

0.87151

30.0082.5

8.129.9

8.279.0

9.911-4

340.24

49

232.6

54612

110380

34.30

0.87148

29.7682.7

8.031.6

7.879.4

9.621-3

330.20

34

123

53912

100377

44.26

0.86147

30.4282.0

8.330.3

8.378.7

9.621-3

240.16

25

102

62213

105405

54.36

0.87150

30.6082.6

7.931.0

8.879.2

9.711-4

310.26

43

51.7

59311

87380

64.31

0.87148

30.1482.2

8.329.7

8.378.9

9.521-3

270.17

38

232.9

58412

110380

74.32

0.87149

30.2082.8

7.930.2

7.778.8

9.711-4

160.14

211

292.6

60510

82349

84.40

0.87151

29.6381.4

9.030.4

8.678.8

9.521-3

310.25

410

242.4

57911

107338

94.29

0.87148

29.9382.3

8.330.6

8.078.8

9.621-3

300.27

46

152.5

63115

142408

104.31

0.87148

29.7081.5

8.930.9

9.978.7

9.711-4

280.22

314

362.6

61814

124408

MEAN

4.330.87

14930.05

82.28.3

30.68.4

79.09.64

280.22

3.28

202.4

58912

106378

CV%1.02

0.360.94

1.040.60

4.902.19

7.450.34

1.2218.4

21.624.7

4347

16.55.29

12.5916.93

6.44

StdDev0.04

0.001

0.310.5

0.40.7

0.60.3

0.125

0.050.8

39

0.431.1

1.517.9

24.4

Min

4.260.86

14729.63

81.47.9

29.77.7

78.79.50

160.14

23

51.7

53910

82338

Max

4.400.87

15130.60

82.89.0

31.69.9

79.49.90

340.27

414

363.0

63115

142408

Q99

0.040.00

10.28

0.40.4

0.60.6

0.20.10

50.04

0.73

80.4

27.61.3

15.821.6

RAWSLIVER

Photographs and descriptions of the present leaflet have to be considered as purely indicative and not binding

MESDAN S.p.A. - Via Masserino, 625080 Puegnago del Garda (BS) - Italy

sales@mesdan.it - www.mesdan.com

Phone Fax

+39 0365 653142+39 0365 651011