Neps and Trash Indicator

NATi
NATI code 3280A

To determinate: neps in raw cotton - neps and trash in cotton sliver and roving - neps in synthetic
and blended sliver - quality and efficiency of carding and combing operations

Description
NATI has been specifically designed to be fast, reliable, user-friendly, as well as easily transportable to the production floor for conti-
nuous testing and assessment of Neps and Trash at different process stages.
The Opto-electrical system, the waste box for fibres and for Trash are placed in the testing unit that is equipped with an easy-to-use
keyboard and a digital display for reading the test results.
The inbuilt microprocessor acquires and elaborates the testing results. It controls the correct functioning of NATI components and the
testing progress. In case of functioning anomaly, the test is interrupted and codified error messages are displayed.
The blower unit contains a powerful brushless motor and an electronic system for setting and controlling negative pressure which is
necessary for testing.
The brushless motor and the enlarged waste box chamber allows frequent testing of large size samples, highly recommended especially
in case of synthetic man-made and combed cotton slivers.
Nati Technology and Operation
After setting the test parameters, the sliver sample* is introduced into the feeder. By pressing the start key, the sliver is fed into an O.E.
opening roller where it is opened into fibres. The cotton or synthetic fibres are sucked into the Neps channel, where they are checked
by an Opto-electrical system. The Trash particles go into the Trash channel by gravity, where they are counted and collected in the Trash
box. The process automatically stops and in case of multiple test selection the next test is performed .

In addition to counting, NATI classifies Neps and Trash according

to the size in the following classes: Neps ≥ 0,5 mm - Neps ≥ 0,7
mm - Neps ≥ 1 mm - Trash ≥ 0,25 mm - Trash ≥ 0,5 mm
Example of test parameters Example of display of test results

At the end of the test, the Neps and Trash content is divided in
NATI-REPORT
classes of different size and the relative statistics (mean, stan-
dard deviation and CV%) are displayed and printed, if the optional Card Test
printer is connected. Length (cm)/test: 10

Test TRASH >... mm NEPS >... mm

Example of report: No. 0.25 0.5 0.5 0.7 1.0
NATI report referring to a group of 5 tests of 10cm each and relative statistics
1 12 1 23 7 0
2 15 6 24 8 1
3 8 4 15 2 0
4 14 4 17 5 2
5 16 6 20 7 0
MEAN 13.0 4.2 19.8 5.8 0.6
STD 3.2 2.0 3.8 2.4 0.9
CV% 24.30 48.78 19.35 41.17 150.00
* the transformation of raw cotton in sliver form can be performed by means of the “Raw Cotton Selector”.

Nati Advantages
Fast in testing large size samples
NATI can perform a large number of tests on a big sample in order to increase the statistical confidence of the results (NATI testing
speed is 1cm/sec). A statistically significant sample of at least 2g should be tested to reduce the variability of results, especially in
case of good combed slivers or synthetic slivers with just few Neps/gram. It is obvious that a small sample of 0,5g cannot be adequate.
High repeatability of results
The testing principle of NATI (and sample preparation with the “Raw Cotton Selector”) prevents from data variability and results fluc-
tuation, which are a common consequence of material handling and manual sample preparation.
It is known that the preparation of the sample can lead to a big
variability of results range of ± 25% for sliver and ±50% for raw cotton. 60

Automatic execution of group of tests

50
Only NATI can execute consecutive tests on the same sample
without the operator attendance. 40
Neps/g

Compact and transportable 30

NATI has been conceived for testing in the carding department. It
does not require compressed air or any particular installation: just 20

plug the NATI in and you are ready to test! 10

Very easy to operate
0
NATI does not require any particular skill or ability to be used.
13

13

13

13

13

13

Hence it can be operated by any worker assigned to the carding

3/

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7/

8/
/0

/0

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26

26

26

06

20

05

process.
Time
Important savings can be obtained by the constant use of NATI
Enabling a better quality of carding operation, a better planning of This graph indicates the significant improvements on sliver quality achieved by a customer using
card clothing renewal and the reduction of defects in the final yarn. NATI as a tool to monitor the quality of carding operations on cotton material on daily basis.
Applications
Measure of neps in raw cotton
High repeatability of results can be obtained by the standardization of sample preparation by means
of NATI optonal accessories, such as the “Raw Cotton Selector” and the “Electronic balance”, thus
eliminating the influence of the personal ability on this preliminary operation. A unique key tool to
monitor & compare the quality of cotton supplies, to optimise spinning process and to reduce main-
tenance cost. Hence, characterised by an extremely quick payback if properly used.
3.5 times faster in testing large samples, NATI just takes 7 minutes to test for example 2g of raw
cotton. Even though 0,5g of raw material cannot provide any reliable and statistically relevant infor-
mation about the Neps content, this is the sample size which can be tested by other Neps testers
available on the market.
Measure of neps and trash content in cotton slivers
A large number of tests on large size samples can be performed by NATI without the operator atten-
dance thanks to its automatism.
In the automatic modality NATI can perform multiple tests of pre-set length without the operator
attendance. The operator presence is required only to restart the instrument at the end of the test
program and to remove the tested fibres from the waste box after testing 6-7mt of sliver (correspon-
ding to about 30-35 grams depending on the sliver count).
High repeatability of results is achieved by feeding NATI with the sliver directly coming from cards
and combers, as no sample preparation is required.
Neps/gram & Trash/gram will be automatically obtained if the length of each test corresponds to one
gram of sliver (the suitable length can be easily calculated based on the sliver count). Otherwise the
counting of Neps and Trash will refer to the particular weight or length of the sample.
12 times faster in testing large size samples, NATI allows the constant monitoring of carding operations.
The automatic testing of 2g sliver takes less than 2 minutes with NATI; on the contrary, the other
Neps testers require 25 minutes to prepare and execute 4 tests of 0,5g thus making the constant
control of carding machinery not feasible.
Statistical relevance of results directly available on the production site allows the spinner to timely
take corrective actions in order to optimise the process by changing the card settings by making the
necessary mechanical adjustments such as replacing damaged wires or re-clothing the card.
Measure of neps content in synthetic and man-made slivers
The formation of Neps in synthetic and man-made fibres is due to the spinning process (primarily to carding operation). Therefore the
constant monitoring of carding quality and efficiency is essential also for this type of fibres.
NATI is the only Neps tester that can determine the Neps content in synthetic and man-made short staple slivers as well as in blended
slivers. Specific opening rollers are available. More detailed information are available in the section relative to NATI accessories.

Monitoring of carding quality and efficiency

It is common knowledge that if the Neps and Trash content is high after the carding process the final spun yarn will also have a high
content of Neps and Trash. Processing after carding can reduce these levels, but not to the extent of a good quality carding. Therefore
constant monitoring of carding quality and efficiency is extremely important. To this extent, NATI fastness and accuracy is crucial to
take timely corrective actions.
It is also true that, although it is possible to plan approximate grin- Card no. 1 / Cotton Giza
ding and renewal dates of card clothing, these plans can never give 25,0 after 7,0
exact dates because the lifetime and grinding period depend on grinding of
carding 6,0
the manufacturer, wire type, fibre type, machine speed and settings. 20,0 drum

NATI optimizes cards maintenance reducing loss of production 5,0

and cost of card clothing renewal. 15,0
4,0
By entering the weekly reading of NATI in a database, it is possible
Neps/g

to perform the necessary card grinding, re-clothing and setting as 3,0

10,0
soon as the increasing tendency of Neps begins. If the test results
increase not in one but in all cards, raw material or blow-room 2,0
equipment should be checked. 5,0
The isolated or periodical increase of Neps level in some points of 1,0

the sliver could indicate the presence of a specific problem in the

0 0,0
card, such as a group of damaged wire teeth in the main carding
20’03
22’03
23’03
23’03
24’03
25’03
26’03
27’03
28’03
29’03
30’03
33’03
34’03
35’03
36’03
37’03
38’03
39’03
40’03
41’03
42’03
43’03
44’03
45’03
46’03
50’03
51’03

drum, in one of the strippers or in any other working rollers (to this
extent, it is convenient to inspect a certain lenght of sliver equal Neps/g ≥ 0,7mm Trash/g ≥ 0,5mm Week/Year
to the circumference of the carding drum by means of a multiple The graph shows the test results relative to a card running Giza 70 type of cotton
short test sequence e.i. 25 tests of 20 cm each). before and after card grinding.
The graphs show the influence of card speed and of the wear of card clothing on the number of Neps in the sliver.

1200 90
neps>0,5
85
1000
80
N°of neps/trash

N°of neps/g
800
75

600 70
neps>0,7
65
400
neps>0,2
60
neps>0,5
200
neps>1,0 55

0 50
30 40 50 60 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
Kg/h Age of card clothing (hours)

Reading of international statistics on neps/gram Correlation between neps in the sliver and in the yarn
In case of reference to International Statistics, the number of Even if a clear mathematic relation between the Neps in the sliver
NEPS/gram measured by NATI can be directly compared with the and the remaining Neps in the yarn does not exist, NATI can help
number of Neps/gram indicated for raw cotton and sliver at diffe- the spinner to predict (based on card sliver characteristics and
rent stages of the spinning process. spinning process technology) if the yarn that is going to produce
will meet or not the yarn quality standard specification (i.e., maxi-
mum Neps admitted). The following graph shows, with reference
to the production of Ne 16 OE cotton, that NATI results helps to
foresee the yarn quality with adequate accuracy.
This graph is an example of the typical percentile block available in the International Statistics Correlation between the neps/g in card sliver and the neps 1000m of sample of Ne 16O.E. cotton yarn
It is evident that carding operation is primarily responsible of Neps removal

1000
70
5%
50%
60
95%
100
50
Neps
Neps

40

10 30

20

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neps/gram in sliver (>0.5mm) neps in 1000 mt of yarns (+200%)

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Trash analysis
The analysis of the sliver trash content is an essential parameter to
measure the quality of the carding process. Particularly for com-
pact, O.E. and knitting yarns.
Automatic counting and classification of Trash directly available
in the carding department enables the operator to timely adjust
the setting of combers and drawers. This is possible by means of
NATI only.
After the sliver is opened into fibres, gravity drives the Trash parti-
cles into the Trash channel where they are counted and classified
by an opto-electrical sensor.
Following to the optical analysis the Trash particles are collected
in the Trash box where they can be easily gathered by the operator
for further inspection and analysis (assessment of dust, seed coat,
short fibres, etc..).
Referring to raw cotton, NATI can give an indication on Trash con-
tent but the most appropriate instrument for Trash analysis in raw
cotton is MESDAN-LAB Trash Analyser code 281C, which sepa-
rates Lint from Trash and Dust content inside a sample of 100g.
Accessories
Nati is equipped with serial port for direct connection to printer:

Mini thermal printer Code 3280A.136

Power supply:220V-50Hz/110V-60Hz
Size: 14 x 15x 11 cm
Paper rolls: thermal paper 8 cm width
Other printer models are not compatible.
On demand, NATI can be fitted for connection to the PC: data ac-
quisition is enabled by the Excel file supplied with the instrument,
for following elaboration and saving.
Mini thermal printer
Under this configuration, data can be printed by means of the prin-
ter connect to the PC (direct connection to printer is not possible)

Trolley Code 3280 900

Compact and self-standing, it is equipped with four 360° rotating
wheels and large handle. Useful tool compartment available.
Size: 50cm x 47cm x 130cm
Weight: 30Kg

Opening rollers
They open the fed sliver into fibres without changing the content
of Neps and Trash.
Code 3280 168 It is suitable for 100% cotton sliver and blends
with cotton prevalence (up to nominal 65%)
Code 3280 169 It is suitable for 100% synthetic man-made short
staple sliver and blends
Easily interchangeable, they do not require any maintenance as
they are self-cleaning and not subject to wear. One opening roller Opening rollers Trolley
must be ordered.

Electronic high precision balances for weighing raw cotton and

trash waste.
Sartorius Code 165.704, 320g capacity and 0.001g accuracy, is
equipped with round plate of Ø 115mm and protection cover.
It is recommended to determine the Trash percentage content.
Sartorius Code 165.708, 820g capacity and 0.01g accuracy, is
equipped with round plate of Ø 150mm. Protection cover not available.
It is adequate to weigh raw cotton samples to be tested.
They are equipped with serial exit for PC connection even though
not necessary for NATI. Power supply: 220V-50Hz/110V-60Hz Sartorius Code 165.704 Sartorius Code 165.708

Raw Cotton Selector Code 3282

The R.C.S. opens and parallelize the fibres trasforming the raw
cotton in an homogenous web sample ready for NATI analysis.
If manually operated, this preliminary operation can badly affect
the repeatability of the results as they will depend upon the opera-
tor ability.
Therefore the Raw Cotton Selector eliminates the influence of the
operator and the possibility of human error. It also allows prepara-
tion of large size samples in a short time.
The R.C.S. can also be used to prepare samples for testing purpo-
ses other than Neps counting whenever the preparation of a
uniform web sample is required. Raw Cotton Selector

Technical features: - Size: 60cm x 45cm x 25 cm - Weight: 25Kg - Power supply: 220V, 50 Hz. Alternatively: 110V, 60 Hz by
means of an external transformer - Sample size: 2g-2,5g - Drum diameter: 20cm, equipped with special elastic gaskets -
Rotation speed: 200 rot./min - Accident-prevention device covering the rotating drum.
How to use Raw Cotton Selector with NATI
After weighing 2,5g of raw cotton with a high precision electronic balance and inserting the same into the Raw Cotton Selector, the operator can remove
the obtained web with the special extractor and pass it again a couple of times through the R.C.S..
The cotton web is now ready to be rolled up by the operator in sliver form. After cutting the part of the sliver in excess of 2g the operator can insert the
obtained sliver in the NATI and start the test. The illustrated preparation takes less than 7 minutes for a 2g sample.

Nati Technical Features

Tested material cotton, synthetic and man-made short staple sliver - blended sliver - raw cotton material

Testing speed 1cm/sec

Classes of Neps ≥0,5mm - ≥0,7mm - ≥1mm

Classes of Trash ≥0,25mm - ≥0,5mm

Opening rollers interchangeable and suitable for cotton and for synthetic short staple fibres (optionals one is needed)

Testing mode 3 to be selected by the operator:

· cm/test, the operator just inputs the number of tests and the unit length. It is recommended for
testing slivers
· gram/test, the operator inputs the count in grain of 6 yard of sliver, the number of tests and the
unitary weight. The length of the sample is automatically calculated by the NATI
· gram/sample, the operator inputs the weight of the sample. It is recommended for testing raw cotton

Printer connection serial port RS232 available for optional printers

PC connection on request in alternative to printer connection

Power absorption 1000VA to be specified when ordering: 110V- 60 Hz is also available.

Noise < 70 Db

Air supply not required

About NATI Manufacturers

NATI is produced by MESDAN-LAB (a division of Mesdan Spa) and KEISOKKI KOGYO CO.,LTD.
NATI is the result of the intensive collaboration and vast experience of the two companies in their respective fields.
NATI is distributed by MESDAN and by KEISOKKI sales network in different areas of the world as indicated in the map below.

MESDAN, located in Puegnago del KEISOKKI KOGYO, based in Osaka

Garda (Italy), has accumulated a re- (Japan), is active in the electronic
markable and unrivalled knowledge field related to textile and manufac-
in yarn joining, quality testing and tures a large number of instruments
fine mechanics in over 60 years of for textile laboratory such as testers
activity at the service of the textile for measuring yarn and sliver even-
industry. It is particularly renowned ness, fibre length distribution and
for the manufacture of yarn joining a system for classifying yarn fault,
devices (splicers and knotters) and as well as yarn clearers for winding
the manufacture of laboratory in- machines.
struments for testing of fibre yarn
MESDAN distribution area
and fabrics which are marketed un- KEISOKKI KOGYO distribution area
der the MESDAN-LAB trademark. Headquarter
NATi

DESCRIPTION / APPLICATIONS ADVANTAGES

Laboratory equipment for analysis of: · Fast in testing large size samples
· neps in raw cotton · High repeatability of results
· neps and trash in cotton sliver and roving · Automatic execution of group of tests
· neps in synthetic and blended sliver · Compact and transportable
· quality and efficiency of carding and combing operations · Very easy to operate
· Important savings can be obtained by the constant use of NATI

TECHNICAL FEATURES ACCESSORIES

· Tested material: cotton, synthetic and man-made short staple sliver,blended sliver, Mini thermal printer code 3280A.136
raw cotton material Opening rollers is suitable for 100% cotton sliver and blends with
· Testing speed: 1cm/sec cotton prevalence (up to nominal 65%) code 3280 168
· Classes of Neps: ≥0,5mm - ≥0,7mm - ≥1mm Opening rollers is suitable for 100% synthetic man-made short
· Classes of Trash: ≥0,25mm - ≥0,5mm staple sliver and blends. code 3280 169
· Opening rollers interchangeable and suitable for cotton and for synthetic short Trolley code 3280 900
staple fibres (optionals one is needed) Electronic high precision balances Sartorius code 165.704
· Testing mode: 3 to be selected by the operator: cm/test - gram/test - gram/sample Electronic high precision balances Sartorius code 165.708
· Printer connection: serial port RS232 available for optional printers Raw cotton selector code 3282
· PC connection: on request in alternative to printer connection
· Power absorption: 1000VA DIMENSIONS / POWER SUPPLY
· Noise < 70 Db
Weight: 100 Kg
Dimensions: (L) 400 x (W) 350 (H) 640 mm.
Power supply: 220V-50Hz / 110V-60Hz to be specified when ordering
Photograph and description of present leaflet have to be considered as purely indicative and not binding
Rel. En 2014-05 Air supply: not required

MESDAN S.p.A. - Via Masserino, 6

25080 Puegnago del Garda (BS) - Italy
Phone +39 0365 653142
Fax +39 0365 651011
sales@mesdan.it - www.mesdan.it