Abstract
The article presents the results of a study conducted to determine the effect of the clearance between the cutting edges of the saw teeth of a rasp drum and the working edge of a grate with a diameter of 15 mm on the cleaning process. According to the research findings, the highest cleaning efficiency was observed when the slats had a diameter of 15 mm, the spacing between them was 30 mm, and the distance from the tips of the saw drum teeth to the edge of the slatted grid was 18 mm. As the distance between the saw drum tooth tips and the edge of the slatted grid increased from 15 mm to 18 mm, the cleaning efficiency for first-grade industrial cotton increased from 86. 4% to 90. 5%. However, when the gap increased to 19 mm and 20 mm, the cleaning efficiency decreased to 88. 3%. For third-grade industrial cotton, cleaning efficiency rose from 87. 6% to 92. 9% as the distance increased up to 18 mm, then dropped to 90. 6% at 19 mm and 20 mm. Additionally, it was determined that as the distance increased, the amount of free fibres and the contamination of cotton by impurities decreased.