A system and method for non-contact measurement of remaining spooled material. The system comprises at least one optical signal source configured to illuminate spooled material with an optical beam having an optical beam width that illuminates the material remaining in the spool. The optical beam width and spacing are such that spooled material is illuminated by each optical signal source. The system includes drive circuitry configured to drive the at least one optical signal source using pulses. The system further includes at least one optical signal receiver configured to receive light reflected from each of said light pulses. The system still further includes a processor configured to: establish a number and drive strength of the pulses; and cause measurements to be performed of the remaining spooled material.

A winding device capable of easily winding an electric wire and a method of manufacturing a spiral electric wire are provided. The electric wire delivered by the delivery device is guided by the guide device toward the center portion of the projecting portion. The projecting portion of the winding device has an inclined surface whose outer diameter increases toward the base portion from the tip end on its outer peripheral surface. As a result, the electric wire can be wound around the projecting portion by utilizing the force of the delivery device, and the electric wire can be easily wound up.

A winding device capable of easily winding an electric wire and a method of manufacturing a spiral electric wire are provided. The electric wire delivered by the delivery device is guided by the guide device toward the center portion of the projecting portion. The projecting portion of the winding device has an inclined surface whose outer diameter increases toward the base portion from the tip end on its outer peripheral surface. As a result, the electric wire can be wound around the projecting portion by utilizing the force of the delivery device, and the electric wire can be easily wound up.

Cable handling devices, methods and systems are provided for securing and deploying, or retracting, one or more cables or hoses into or out of a pipe or cavity allowing inspection of the pipe or cavity. The cables and/or hoses may be coupled and moved together, or decoupled enabling them to be moved independently. A hand-held device with a housing for at least partially enclosing one or more cables or hoses, at least one coupling mechanism integrally attached to the housing, and a coupling control for coupling and decoupling the one or more cables or hoses may be provided. One or more of the cables may be connected to a camera disposed at the distal end of a cable thereby facilitating inspection of the pipe or cavity. Tools such as cutting devices or a jetter may be provided at the end of the one or more cables and/or hoses.

A method for detecting a characteristic of a textile or metal thread fed to an operating machine, by the generation of a light signal impacting the thread to create a shadow on an optical sensor device connected to means for monitoring a characteristic of the thread on the basis of an electrical signal emitted by such sensor device as a function of the shadow generated on said sensor device by the thread itself, the characteristic being a physical characteristic of the thread such as its diameter or a characteristic of the feed of the thread when in movement, such as its speed. The signal may be detected in analog mode or a digital mode, the signal detected in the digital mode providing real time calibration of the signal detected in analog mode to generate an electrical signal used by the monitoring means to monitor the characteristics of the thread.

A counter assembly for use with coiling machinery for the measurement of line being wound or unwound on a reel includes a body, an upper arm, a lower arm, and a tensioner assembly. The body defines a central channel for passage of the line. Rollers are coupled to the upper and lower arms and used to press against the line. Movement of the line between the rollers causes at least one roller to rotate. Rotation is converted to a linear distance for accurate measurement. The upper arm has a pivot axis that is below a horizontal portion of the upper arm and is shared with the lower arm. The tensioner assembly is oriented to share the same vector components of motion as the pivoting upper arm. The tensioner assembly also permits adjustment in the resting spring force acting on the rollers.

A counter assembly for use with coiling machinery for the measurement of line being wound or unwound on a reel includes a body, an upper arm, a lower arm, and a tensioner assembly. The body defines a central channel for passage of the line. Rollers are coupled to the upper and lower arms and used to press against the line. Movement of the line between the rollers causes at least one roller to rotate. Rotation is converted to a linear distance for accurate measurement. The upper arm has a pivot axis that is below a horizontal portion of the upper arm and is shared with the lower arm. The tensioner assembly is oriented to share the same vector components of motion as the pivoting upper arm. The tensioner assembly also permits adjustment in the resting spring force acting on the rollers.

A hop yard stringing system which includes: a trailer mounted worker platform; a measuring and cutting device which automatically measures and cuts bine support lines of desired length for attachment to overhead trellis lines; a plunger assembly on the back end of the trailer for staking the lower ends of the lines into the ground; a line transfer device which transfers the lower ends of the lines to the plunger assembly; an anchor forming assembly which forms staking anchors for the plunger assembly; a line tension monitoring system for the staked lines; and a GPS system which activates the plunger to stake the lines at predetermined GPS locations.

A hop yard stringing system which includes: a trailer mounted worker platform; a measuring and cutting device which automatically measures and cuts bine support lines of desired length for attachment to overhead trellis lines; a plunger assembly on the back end of the trailer for staking the lower ends of the lines into the ground; a line transfer device which transfers the lower ends of the lines to the plunger assembly; an anchor forming assembly which forms staking anchors for the plunger assembly; a line tension monitoring system for the staked lines; and a GPS system which activates the plunger to stake the lines at predetermined GPS locations.

The present invention provides a mechanical packing conversion apparatus integrating packaging, measuring, cutting and protecting functions, comprising a box, a measuring scale and a cutting mechanism. An upper cover of the box of the apparatus and a side plate connected to the upper cover can be overturned and opened from side faces, and the cutting mechanism is disposed on a sidewall in the box; the cutting mechanism comprises a head and a base, the head being fixed to the base, a handle, a transmission member and a blade all successively connected being disposed in the head; a through hole is formed at a bottom end of the head, and the blade is placed vertically above the through hole and is communicated with the through hole; a groove configured to receive the measuring scale is provided at a bottom end of the base; and the measuring scale is fixed to the bottom inside the box.