Airbag seam and surface quality inspection
A ring-lit camera on a gantry follows the airbag seam from start to end; each stitch is located, the stitch pitch is measured and skipped stitches are detected. The fabric surface is then checked for stains and damage.
The stitch-pitch curve, the number of skipped stitches and the surface findings are written to the part record. The position of a skipped stitch along the seam is shown on the operator display and on the chart; the stack light signals the result and a non-conforming part is flagged for removal.
- 01 Position
- 02 Seam tracking
- 03 Surface
- 04 Decide
The camera moves to the seam start of the airbag in its nest.
- Stitch pitch
- —
- Skipped stitches
- —
- Surface findings
- —
Scenes are illustrative simulations; they are not customer references or performance guarantees.
Need
Airbag fabric is flexible; the seam sits slightly differently on every part and curves at the corners. The weave forms a regular background and the thread is often close in tone to the fabric. To find one skipped stitch, the whole seam must be imaged in enough detail to resolve every stitch.
Solution approach
A ring-lit camera with a small field of view is moved along the seam on a Cartesian gantry: each frame resolves the stitches one by one and relocates the seam for the next position. The distance between successive stitch centres gives the pitch; where it exceeds the limit, a stitch has been skipped. Once the seam is complete the camera rises and checks the fabric surface in a single wide frame.
Process steps
- 01
Position
The camera moves to the seam start of the airbag in its nest.
- 02
Seam tracking
The camera follows the seam; each stitch is found and the pitch is measured.
- 03
Surface
The camera rises; the fabric is checked for stains, holes and thread faults.
- 04
Decide
Stitch pitch and surface findings are compared with the limits.
Related applications
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