Patent ID: 7779514

Claim:
In a fiber cleaning apparatus in which fiber tufts are pneumatically conveyed into the apparatus in an air stream commingled with foreign matter, the improvement comprising: a) a revolving cleaning cylinder having teeth on a periphery thereof capable of engaging fiber tufts; b) an air duct directing the air stream containing the fiber tufts comingled with the foreign matter, said air duct terminating at an outlet adjacent the periphery of said revolving cleaning cylinder such that a primary portion of the fiber tufts are delivered directly to said teeth; c) a revolving reel comprising a plurality of outer surfaces circumferentially spaced to allow the air stream to pass through said reel without abruptly increasing the air stream velocity mounted for rotation about an axis parallel said cleaning cylinder and positioned adjacent said outlet and said cleaning cylinder, said reel partially circumscribed by a screen pervious to air flow and impervious to said tufts such that air flow passing through said reel exits through said screen depositing said tufts thereon.