A preparation device prepares a sample of textile fibers, in particular cotton fibers, applicable to analysis and/or measuring apparatuses respectively for analyzing and/or measuring characteristics of the textile fibers forming the sample. The preparation device includes a comb body that can be coupled in a sliding manner along a rectilinear guide that faces a perforated plate against which to press a mass of textile fibers forming protuberances projecting from the holes of the perforated plate. The comb body is arranged to grip tufts of textile fibers from such protuberances. The preparation device also includes at least one brush that is mounted in a sliding manner along a rectilinear guide facing the perforated plate and that is arranged to brush the textile fibers forming the protuberances before the comb body grips the tufts.

Apparatus for a cotton sampling system. The system includes a first station that provides a stream of samples to a main conveyor. The main conveyor routes the samples to a testing station that includes a sub-sampler, an automated cotton containment mechanism, an indexer, and an HVI. The conveyors include a shroud that moves samples over and under the conveyor. In this way samples that need to be retested pass to the testing station after failing the first test. The sub-sampler includes a walking beam mechanism to advance the samples into a fiber extraction mechanism. The automated cotton containment mechanism includes a gate valve and a diverter valve. The gate valve has a normal position configured to allow passage of cotton fibers, but blocking clumps. Upon detection of a clump, the diverter valve operates and the gate valve opens so that the clump is diverted to a waste receptacle.

The present invention refers to a preparation device (10) for preparing a sample of textile fibers, in particular cotton fibers, applicable to analysis and/or measuring apparatuses respectively for analyzing and/or measuring characteristics of the textile fibers forming said sample, wherein the preparation device (10) comprises a comb body (11) that can be coupled in a sliding manner along a rectilinear guide (12) that faces a perforated plate (13) against which to press a mass (M) of textile fibers forming protuberances projecting from the holes of the perforated plate (13), wherein the comb body (11) is arranged to grip tufts of textile fibers from such protuberances and is characterized in that it comprises at least one brush (14) that is mounted in a sliding manner along a rectilinear guide facing the perforated plate (13) and that is arranged to brush the textile fibers forming the protuberances before the comb body grips said tufts.

A method for preparing a bale sample, a bale sampling apparatus, and a bale sample are provided. The method includes the steps of removing a portion from a bale of fibrous material and wrapping an elongated substrate completely around the portion to form a bale sample. The elongated substrate includes identification information. The identification information includes information that associates the bale sample with the bale of fibrous material.

A method for measuring absorbent hygiene products comprises placing absorbent bodies on a web and moving the web through at least one microwave resonator. Values of a shift in a resonance frequency and a spreading of the resonance frequency are measured using the at least one microwave resonator to continuously determine the shift in the resonance frequency and the spreading of the resonance frequency. At least one of moisture and density of the plurality of absorbent bodies is determined based on the measured values of the shift in the resonance frequency and a spreading of the resonance frequency. Empty values for each of the measured values of the shift in the resonance frequency and the spreading of the resonance frequency are determined and subtracted from the measured values of the shift in the resonance frequency and the spreading of the resonance frequency to evaluate the measured values.

The present disclosure provides a system, apparatus and method for generating randomly aligned fiber beards for evaluation. The system comprises abase and an x-axis frame member couples to and is positioned parallel to the base. A y-axis frame member is couple to and positioned perpendicular to the base. A sample plate is removably coupled to the y-axis frame member and defines one or more holes. A fiber clamp couples to and is movable by the x-axis frame member perpendicularly to the sample plate.

A device measuring the fineness and/or maturity of cotton fibers contains a measuring chamber accommodating a cotton fiber sample and a tubular plunger. The measuring chamber extends between a first end closed by a wall having one or more vent holes and a second end opposed to the first end and hermetically closed. The plunger penetrates within the measuring chamber through the second end to run at least two strokes of predetermined lengths and has an inner channel extending between a tail portion and a perforated head portion placing the inner channel in fluid communication with the measuring chamber. The device further contains a reservoir placed upstream of the inner channel and in fluid communication with the inner channel; a pump filling the reservoir with air from an environment; and a flow regulator placed downstream of the reservoir and upstream of the inner channel. The flow regulator doses the air accumulated in the reservoir into the inner channel, and consequently into the measuring chamber, with a predetermined flow rate.