Abstract: A system for analyzing fabrics, knitted or woven, particularly to perform in-process analysis of stitch count or yarn count. A camera positioned over the fabric is exposed by means of a high speed strobe to form a freeze-frame image, which is digitized and stored for computer processing. An early processing step involves scanning the image along a large number of angularly displaced scanning axes, to determine the construction line of the fabric, which may be skewed relative to the imaging camera. The image is thereafter scanned along lines parallel to (and/or at right angles to) the construction line. A more precise and useful analysis is made possible by this technique. Color insensitivity is achieved without the use of expensive infra-red strobe devices, by using a common xenon strobe and a filter to exclude wave lengths below the near-infra-red range.

Abstract: A method of measuring the yarn density of a woven fabric or the stitch density of a knitted fabric by recording a video image of the woven or knitted fabric to be examined by means of a video camera, converting the video image by an analog-to-digital converter into digital video information, storing the digital video information in a digital image memory and converting said information by a central processing unit into the yarn density or stitch density. The digital video information is converted by a digital band filter (14) with central circle frequency (.omega..sub.o) into a yarn or stitch density, and that the digital band filter (14) is arranged in such a manner that it operates according to the formula:Y.sub.k =A.sub.m .multidot.X.sub.k-m +A.sub.m-1 .multidot.X.sub.k-m+1. . . +A.sub.o X.sub.k -B.sub.1 .multidot.Y.sub.k-1 -B.sub.2 Y.sub.k-2. . . B.sub.n Y.sub.k-nwherein:X.sub.k represents a series of points of the digital information characteristic at interspace T before the digital filtering; Y.sub.

Abstract: There is provided a program automaton for a weaving machine that includes means for effecting deweaving when there is more than one color in the repeat. The invention includes programmable counter means and a counter-switch. On deweaving, the counter means is decremented until it reaches zero. The counter-switch is then decremented one position while the counter means is reset and rapidly decremented to the programmed limit for the preceeding color in the repeat.