Abstract:
An instrument for detection of coloured fibres in a white fibre mass is disclosed which comprises drafting rollers (2) and (4) for reducing the fibre mass to a thin web, a pair of transparent cylindrical rollers (3) between which the web passes and an optical inspection device (6, 8) for detecting coloured fibres in the web. An upper of the rollers (3) comprises a cylindrical lens and together with a focussing lens (5), focuses light from the fibre mass to a linear diode array (6) of the inspection device (6, 8). Output signals from the diode array (6) are received by a computer (8) of the inspection device for detecting coloured fibres. Balanced illumination provided by light sources (9), reflectors (10) and diffused transmitters (11) provide balanced illumination to the web to suppress background images formed by the white fibre mass.