A method and an apparatus for automatic inspection of flatly positioned pieces of cloth with a view to detecting impurities or other irregularities in pieces of cloth. The pieces of cloth are transported past a camera (10) that is, in cooperation with a digital storage unit, configured for producing a digital image of each piece of cloth or portions of each piece of cloth; and wherein the apparatus comprises one or more light emitters (11) with a view to illuminating at least that part of a piece of cloth that is within the field of vision of the camera (10). Each piece of cloth is conveyed from a receiver conveyor (12) to a delivery conveyor (13), the field of vision of the camera (1) being configured to have at least an open area (14) between these two conveyors (12, 13), whereby the digital image is recorded during the passage of a piece of cloth from the receiver conveyor (12) to the delivery conveyor (13).