A reflection optical sensor (F1-F4) for the detection of a weft thread in a weaving weft feeder (P) comprises a light emitter (1) and a light receiver (2) assembled on a relative supply printed circuit board (3) and housed in an arm (A) of the weft feeder which projects towards the front part of the weft feeder (P) and extends alongside the weft feeder drum (D) whereon the weft thread coils are wound, so as to form a path of direct light radiation, from said light emitter (1) towards a respective reflective surface (R) placed on said drum (D), and of reflected light radiation, from said reflective surface (R) to said light receiver (2), for detecting the presence/absence of a weft thread running through said path. Said light emitter (1) and light receiver (2) are assembled with mutually parallel optical axes on said supply printed circuit board (3). The optical sensor further includes a screening means (8) of the reflected radiation coming from said reflective surface (R) and directed towards said light receiver (2).

System and method for on-loom fabric inspection includes an imaging device collecting images of a weaving area of a loom, a frame grabber receiving images of a fell-pick of and sending compact image data packages to an image processor. Irregularities may be detected by comparing a digital string representing the characteristic sequence of warp-risers and warp-sinkers along the fell-pick with a corresponding row (901) of required warp-risers and required warp-sinkers in a reference matrix (900) representing a required weaving pattern. The digital string may be a sequence of Boolean values.

A reflection optical sensor (F1-F4) for the detection of a weft thread in a weaving weft feeder (P) comprises a light emitter (1) and a light receiver (2) assembled on a relative supply printed circuit board (3) and housed in an arm (A) of the weft feeder which projects towards the front part of the weft feeder (P) and extends alongside the weft feeder drum (D) whereon the weft thread coils are wound, so as to form a path of direct light radiation, from said light emitter (1) towards a respective reflective surface (R) placed on said drum (D), and of reflected light radiation, from said reflective surface (R) to said light receiver (2), for detecting the presence/absence of a weft thread running through said path. Said light emitter (1) and light receiver (2) are assembled with mutually parallel optical axes on said supply printed circuit board (3). The optical sensor further includes a screening means (8) of the reflected radiation coming from said reflective surface (R) and directed towards said light receiver (2).

System and method for on-loom fabric inspection includes an imaging device collecting images of a weaving area of a loom, a frame grabber receiving images of a fell-pick of and sending compact image data packages to an image processor. Irregularities may be detected by comparing a digital string representing the characteristic sequence of warp-risers and warp-sinkers along the fell-pick with a corresponding row (901) of required warp-risers and required warp-sinkers in a reference matrix (900) representing a required weaving pattern. The digital string may be a sequence of Boolean values.