On-Line Fabric Defect Detection and Full Control in a Circular Knitting Machine

Abstract This study has shown that image analysis has great potential to provide reliable measurements for detecting defects in knitted fabrics. Using the principles of image analysis, an automatic fabric evaluation system, which enables automatic computerised defect detection -(analysis of knitted fabrics) was developed. On-line fabric defect detection was tested automatically by analysing fabric images captured by a digital camera. The results of the automatic fabric defect detection correspond well with the experimental values. Therefore, it is shown that the developed image capturing and analysis system is capable of on-line detection of fabric defects and full control in the knitting machine (for example, by stopping the circular knitting machine as soon as a defect is acquired by the digital camera).