Researchers from the Faserinstitut Bremen Research Institute and Chemnitz University of Technology have devised a vision inspection procedure for card clothing, a crucial component used in carding machines.

Card clothing comprises durable material with wire teeth embedded in a rubber or leather fillet. These teeth cover the rollers or cylinders of carding machines, which disentangle, clean, and mix fibers to create a continuous web for further processing. Over time, the wire teeth wear down due to constant contact with rough raw fibers, diminishing the quality of the wire.

To address this issue, Fischer and his team developed an inspection system using a camera fixed on an aluminum rack above the production line. The camera captures images of each carding cylinder, allowing for automated analysis during scheduled maintenance intervals.

The system utilizes software to move the camera automatically and store image data on a laptop. Fischer's team also developed AI software to transmit, store, and analyze the picture data, enabling reproducible analysis of the card clothing.

The camera system can detect card clothing teeth from various angles and identify damaged edges and tips, facilitating thorough inspection. However, further development is needed before the system can be deployed on an industrial scale.