Industrial Image Processing

Automated inspection with industrial image processing

Industrial image processing offers an increasing number of options and ever greater precision. The clever combination of existing production technology with new technologies in industrial image processing enables production networks to be set up that complement each other efficiently and effectively in the textile finishing process.

Continuous and reliable control of fabric density, as provided by the SETEX CamCOUNT system, is a vital feature - and not only for preparing fabric for digital printing.

We are also original equipment manufacturers for machine builders

Wherever “machine vision” is used to control production processes in the finishing phase and to monitor processing quality, SETEX is internationally represented as a manufacturer-independent solution provider for customer-specific industrial image processing. When it comes to the development of industrial CCD camera measuring technology, SETEX has 10 years of experience with camera systems, including its own software and market expertise.

Modern finishing systems also improve precision, performance and efficiency through contact-free online capture of stitch count, fabric density and straightening.

CamCOUNT improves the finishing process.

Any company that receives the same article with different fabric density from the weaving or knitting mill is familiar with the problem: the fabric has to be homogenized during the preparation phase. Adjustments made during stentering, drying or functionalizing are important for achieving the desired properties in later stages of the production process. Productivity and accuracy in the dyeing department works are directly dependent on this step.

Even tactile fabric properties such as touch and compactness are automatically adjusted to the desired result with industrial CamCOUNT measuring technology. There are several possibilities for integrating the SETEX system into compactors, sanforizing systems and stenter frames.

Automated inspections and adjustments in the final finishing process for uniform fabric density lead to better fabric yield and constant shrinkage values, and thus to greater customer and consumer satisfaction.

FabricINSPECTOR as a twin technology for stationary quality control

A great advantage of the SETEX CamCOUNT system is its processing capability, which is independent of the fabric speed.

The SETEX FabricINSPECTOR employs the same industrial image processing technology for contact-free recording of stitch count, fabric density and distortion as a stationary device in the technology laboratory. This means that parameters that will be helpful in later processing stages can already be determined upon the arrival of goods at the factory.

Application

Stenter frame, dryer, compactor, sanforization, incoming goods inspection, QC laboratory

Unique features

Online measurement
Independent of speed
Measurement during downtime
No calibration needed
Simple operation

Measurement directly on a deflection roller
Easy to install
No additional fabric guide required
No transmitted light required
"Teach-in" functionality for new articles

CamCOUNT

The advantages of the SETEX CamCOUNT V3 system start with the installation: The measuring method is optimized to measure directly on a deflection roller. The camera system does not require any particular fabric guide, which can leave marks on the fabric. Light or flapping of the fabric does not interfere with the measuring process. Mounting the measuring unit is unproblematic even in small spaces.

Automatic operation takes place via the connection of the CamCOUNT Cockpit to the machine’s PLC. The synchronized signal controls the shrinkage units.

Application with 2 CamCount units

In order to shorten throughput times to the outlet on large machines such as multi-layer stenter frames with an upstream weft straightener, it is very advantageous to use a CamCOUNT control system for control right at the inlet. This allows for a predefined style to be applied from the very first meter of a batch.

During the functional finishing phase, stenter frames process not only the fabric density but also other fabric properties. Some articles behave very individually during this process. A second CamCOUNT unit at the machine outlet identifies article- and machine-specific deviations from the target value and corrects the preset parameters in real time.

The user-specific cockpit of the SETEX 646TCE control serves as a navigation center and provides an overview of the information.

Datasheet CamCOUNT 336.0 KB

FabricInspector

Deviations in dyeing and finishing can originate from problems during the weaving and knitting process. If the fabric density or thread frequency is determined when incoming goods are inspected with FabricINSPECTOR, many problems in the finishing process can be avoided. This is important with some articles, where defects stemming from preliminary production steps cannot be rectified even with the most modern finishing technology.

For other articles, the values defined by the FabricINSPECTOR can be used to optimize the CamCOUNT parameters in production. Thanks to SETEX’s clever method of industrial image processing, FabricINSPECTOR recognizes the same values with stationary fabric as CamCOUNT does when the machine is operating at full speed.

The final inspection also benefits from the contact-free recording of the thread count and fabric density. A report with measurements displayed within the defined tolerance range makes the production process transparent.