{
  "patent_number": "US 11798154",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How a Spinning Camera Checks Fabric Quality on a Knitting Machine",
  "original_title": "Circular knitting machine and respective method to control textile quality by use of digital camera",
  "summary": "This patent describes a circular knitting machine that uses a digital camera mounted on its rotating parts to continuously inspect knitted fabric for flaws as it's being made.",
  "what_it_does": "The patent describes a circular knitting machine that includes a special system to check for flaws in the fabric. This system uses a digital camera (Claim 1) that is attached to the machine's rotating part (Claim 1). As the machine knits and rotates, the camera spins along with it, capturing images of the flattened fabric (Claim 2). A computer then quickly looks at these images to find any defects (Claim 3). If a problem is found, the machine can stop itself to prevent more bad fabric from being made (Claim 3). For example, if a machine is knitting a large roll of t-shirt fabric, this system would catch a dropped stitch or a yarn break right away.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover defect detection systems where the camera is stationary relative to the machine's fixed support structure, as Claim 1 specifies the camera rotates with the machine's rotational structure.",
    "Does not cover systems that inspect fabric after it has been fully knitted and removed from the machine, as it's integrated into the knitting process for real-time inspection.",
    "Does not cover defect detection using sensors other than a digital camera, such as laser scanners or ultrasonic detectors, as Claim 1 specifies a 'digital camera for capturing digital images'.",
    "Does not cover machines that only detect defects without the ability to stop the machine, as Claim 3 specifies 'stopping the motion... for preventing more defects'."
  ],
  "filed": "2019-04-05",
  "granted": "2023-10-24",
  "expires": "2039-04-05",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Smartex Europe Unipessoal Lda",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/smartex-europe-unipessoal-lda",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Gilberto MARTINS LOUREIRO",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/gilberto-martins-loureiro"
    },
    {
      "name": "António Jorge MENDES DA ROCHA",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/antnio-jorge-mendes-da-rocha"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 1,
  "tags": [
    "manufacturing",
    "textiles",
    "consumer_electronics",
    "software",
    "industrial_automation"
  ],
  "abstract": "A circular knitting machine, a method for controlling textile fabric defects, and a method for retrofitting a circular knitting machine are provided. The circular knitting machine includes a fixed support structure, a rotational support structure, and a system for controlling textile fabric defects. The system includes a digital camera for capturing digital images of knitted textile fabric, a data processor for processing the captured digital images, a camera support structure for holding the camera, and a lighting system to illuminate the knitted textile fabric from the camera side for capture by the digital camera. The camera support structure is fixed to the rotational structure.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11798154/circular-knitting-machine-and-respective-method-to-control-textile-quality-by-us",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11798154/circular-knitting-machine-and-respective-method-to-control-textile-quality-by-us/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US11798154",
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}