An automated unspooling mechanism capable of dispensing of knitting material strands in a dynamically-controlled tension on a knitting machine. An unspooling device is configured to sense the tension of a strand fed to the knitting machine, and responsively adjust the strand deployment speed to avoid too little or too much strand dispensing without interrupting the knitting process. The unspooling device includes a variable motor drive that can rotate the strand package in various speeds, and a spring arm trigger that can sense the current tension of the dispensed material. The spring arm trigger can vary its arm position based on the sensed tension. The arm position is then processed and converted to a signal to vary the motor speed. Therefore, the deployment speed of the strands can be dynamically controlled based on a sensed tension of feeding the strand.

Systems and methods are provided for feeding thread at a knitting machine. One embodiment is a thread feeding device which includes a spool that supplies thread to a knitting device through a thread path and a motor that drives the spool. The device and further includes a mobile guide in the thread path that changes position due to changes in thread tension as the knitting device draws thread through the mobile guide. The thread feeding device also includes a sensor that measures a change in position of the mobile guide, and a controller that determines an amount of tension applied to the thread by the knitting device based on the change in position, and adjusts a speed of a motor that drives the spool based on the amount of tension.

Systems and methods are provided for feeding thread at a knitting machine. One embodiment is a thread feeding device which includes a spool that supplies thread to a knitting device through a thread path and a motor that drives the spool. The device and further includes a mobile guide in the thread path that changes position due to changes in thread tension as the knitting device draws thread through the mobile guide. The thread feeding device also includes a sensor that measures a change in position of the mobile guide, and a controller that determines an amount of tension applied to the thread by the knitting device based on the change in position, and adjusts a speed of a motor that drives the spool based on the amount of tension.

A system for detecting filament and needle breakage, including: an image acquisition module, an image processing module and a host computer detection module. The image acquisition module includes a light source, a camera and a lens. The image processing module includes a preprocessing submodule and a detection model. The host computer detection module includes a shutdown control-data interaction submodule of a warp knitting machine, a sensor control board, and a system operation interface. The image acquisition module captures a blanket knitting image at a knitting mechanism of the warp knitting machine. The image processing module pre-processes the blanket knitting image and detects filament and needle breakage. The host computer detection module controls a textile device according to detection results to generate an alarming information. A detection method implemented by the system is further provided.

A system for detecting filament and needle breakage, including: an image acquisition module, an image processing module and a host computer detection module. The image acquisition module includes a light source, a camera and a lens. The image processing module includes a preprocessing submodule and a detection model. The host computer detection module includes a shutdown control-data interaction submodule of a warp knitting machine, a sensor control board, and a system operation interface. The image acquisition module captures a blanket knitting image at a knitting mechanism of the warp knitting machine. The image processing module pre-processes the blanket knitting image and detects filament and needle breakage. The host computer detection module controls a textile device according to detection results to generate an alarming information. A detection method implemented by the system is further provided.