How Machines Automatically Spot Flaws in Fabric During Manufacturing
This patent describes an automated system for finding defects in fabric by cleaning it, taking pictures based on how a roller spins, and then using a computer to identify flaws.
Original patent title: “Method and system for automatically detecting fabric defect, and computer readable storage medium”
This patent describes an automated system for finding defects in fabric by cleaning it, taking pictures based on how a roller spins, and then using a computer to identify flaws. Granted to Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel in 2021 with 22 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2038.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent outlines a method and system for automatically finding defects in fabric as it moves through a cloth inspection machine. First, a "noise removing device" (like a blower or cleaner, as per claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 6) prepares the fabric region to eliminate dust or debris that could look like a flaw (claim 1). Next, a camera takes pictures of the fabric, but it's triggered precisely by the rotation information of the machine's roller, ensuring consistent image capture (claim 1). Finally, a computer automatically analyzes these images to identify any defects (claim 1). If a defect is found, the system can slow down the fabric and mark the defect's exact location, even calculating its global position on the entire fabric roll (claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → 2-4). For example, if a machine detects a tear, it can immediately slow down the fabric and spray a marker onto the edge of the fabric right next to the tear.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover defect detection systems that do not include a dedicated noise removing device to preprocess the fabric.
- Does not cover camera triggering for image acquisition that is not based on the rotation information of a cloth inspection machine's roller.
- Does not cover manual human inspection of fabric defects, as the system is specifically designed for "automatically identifying" them.
- Does not cover marking defects by translating the marking device, as it specifies marking the fabric edge "without translating the defect marking device."
- Does not cover defect detection using non-visual sensors, as the core method relies on capturing and analyzing "one or more images."
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the precise coordination of steps: integrating a physical noise removal step, triggering camera image capture based on the exact rotation of the fabric roller, and then automatically identifying and pinpointing defects, even across multiple images through stitching.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Automated textile inspection systems in fabric mills
Quality control lines for garment manufacturers
Smart factory solutions for textile production
Industrial fabric defect scanning machines
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Ensuring fabric quality is crucial in textile manufacturing, as defects can lead to wasted materials and costly returns. This type of automated system aims to improve efficiency and accuracy in quality control compared to traditional manual inspection. By precisely identifying and marking defects, manufacturers can streamline their processes, reduce human error, and ensure a higher standard of product before fabrics are cut and sewn.
Filed
April 11, 2018
Granted
March 9, 2021
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies specializing in industrial automation and machine vision for manufacturing, such as Cognex, Keyence, and various textile machinery manufacturers, are continuously developing and implementing similar automated quality control systems. Research institutes like the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) often develop such technologies to advance the industry, which can then be licensed or adopted by equipment manufacturers.
Market impact
The textile industry has long sought to automate quality control to reduce labor costs and improve consistency. Patents like this contribute to the ongoing shift from manual fabric inspection to automated systems. This enables faster throughput, more objective defect grading, and better data collection for process improvement, ultimately impacting the efficiency and quality standards across the textile supply chain.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent outlines a method and system for automatically finding defects in fabric as it moves through a cloth inspection machine. First, a "noise removing device" (like a blower or cleaner, as per claim 6) prepares the fabric region to eliminate dust or debris that could look like a flaw (claim 1). Next, a camera takes pictures of the fabric, but it's triggered precisely by the rotation information of the machine's roller, ensuring consistent image capture (claim 1). Finally, a computer automatically analyzes these images to identify any defects (claim 1). If a defect is found, the system can slow down the fabric and mark the defect's exact location, even calculating its global position on the entire fabric roll (claims 2-4). For example, if a machine detects a tear, it can immediately slow down the fabric and spray a marker onto the edge of the fabric right next to the tear.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the precise coordination of steps: integrating a physical noise removal step, triggering camera image capture based on the exact rotation of the fabric roller, and then automatically identifying and pinpointing defects, even across multiple images through stitching.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover defect detection systems that do not include a dedicated noise removing device to preprocess the fabric.
- Does not cover camera triggering for image acquisition that is not based on the rotation information of a cloth inspection machine's roller.
- Does not cover manual human inspection of fabric defects, as the system is specifically designed for "automatically identifying" them.
- Does not cover marking defects by translating the marking device, as it specifies marking the fabric edge "without translating the defect marking device."
- Does not cover defect detection using non-visual sensors, as the core method relies on capturing and analyzing "one or more images."
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$29K – $94K
Midpoint $59K · 11.5 yr remaining · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
22 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Wong, W. K. (2021). How Machines Automatically Spot Flaws in Fabric During Manufacturing (U.S. Patent No. 10,942,133). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10942133/method-and-system-for-automatically-detecting-fabric-defect-and-computer-readabl
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Machines Automatically Spot Flaws in Fabric During Manufacturing cover?
This patent describes an automated system for finding defects in fabric by cleaning it, taking pictures based on how a roller spins, and then using a computer to identify flaws.
Who owns patent US 10942133?
Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel owns this patent, granted in 2021.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on April 11, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Ensuring fabric quality is crucial in textile manufacturing, as defects can lead to wasted materials and costly returns. This type of automated system aims to improve efficiency and accuracy in quality control compared to traditional manual inspection. By precisely identifying and marking defects, manufacturers can streamline their processes, reduce human error, and ensure a higher standard of product before fabrics are cut and sewn.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover defect detection systems that do not include a dedicated noise removing device to preprocess the fabric.
Patent monitoring