A method and associated method are provided or introducing a supply of reserve nose wires in a facemask production line prior to depletion of running nose wires in the production line. A first nose wire source and first cutter system are provided for supplying the running nose wires to the production line. A reserve nose wire source and second cutter system are staged in a stand-by state proximate to the first nose wire source. Prior to depletion of the first nose wire source, the reserve nose wire source and second cutter system are brought up to an operational speed while diverting nose wires from the second cutter system away from the production line. At operational speed of the reserve nose wire source and second cutter system, nose wires from the second cutter system are diverted to the production line while diverting nose wires from the first cutter system away from the production line.

A modular material tracking system is provided for tracking material stored on and drawn from a reel using a modular system. The modular material tracking system may include a detection element, digital logic components, location receiver, enclosure, analytic components, interface component, sensor module, and plate module. One or more sensors relative to the reel may detect a position indicative of forward or reverse reel rotation. A processor may analyze signals to count rotations of the reel, which is savable in memory. A battery may provide power. The system may also record the time and location associated with rotations. A method for tracking material stored on and drawn from a reel using a modular material tracking system is also provided.

A modular material tracking system is provided for tracking material stored on and drawn from a reel using a modular system. The modular material tracking system may include a detection element, digital logic components, location receiver, enclosure, analytic components, interface component, sensor module, and plate module. One or more sensors relative to the reel may detect a position indicative of forward or reverse reel rotation. A processor may analyze signals to count rotations of the reel, which is savable in memory. A battery may provide power. The system may also record the time and location associated with rotations. A method for tracking material stored on and drawn from a reel using a modular material tracking system is also provided.

Methods of conveying a glass ribbon are provided that each includes the step of conveying the glass ribbon over a support device with a cushion of fluid supporting the glass ribbon over the support device. Each method further includes the step of monitoring a physical contact event between the glass ribbon and the support device by detecting an acoustic signal associated with the physical contact event. In further examples, glass ribbon conveying apparatus are provided that each includes a support device configured to support a glass ribbon over the support device with a cushion of fluid. Each apparatus further includes an acoustic sensor configured to monitor a physical contact event between the glass ribbon and the support device by detecting an acoustic signal associated with the physical contact event.

Methods of conveying a glass ribbon are provided that each includes the step of conveying the glass ribbon over a support device with a cushion of fluid supporting the glass ribbon over the support device. Each method further includes the step of monitoring a physical contact event between the glass ribbon and the support device by detecting an acoustic signal associated with the physical contact event. In further examples, glass ribbon conveying apparatus are provided that each includes a support device configured to support a glass ribbon over the support device with a cushion of fluid. Each apparatus further includes an acoustic sensor configured to monitor a physical contact event between the glass ribbon and the support device by detecting an acoustic signal associated with the physical contact event.

The component supply device includes a body, a first carrier tape transporter, a second carrier tape transporter, and a controller. The body includes a tape transport path. The first carrier tape transporter transports a carrier tape to a component pickup position. The second carrier tape transporter transports the carrier tape to the first carrier tape transporter. The controller is configured to communicate with the component installation device and control the first carrier tape transporter and the second carrier tape transporter in one operation mode selected from a plurality of operation modes.

An apparatus (1) and a method for coiling a cable (2) or a wire into a coil (3) having a plurality of turns (3a) and two free ends (4, 5) formed by a leading end (4) and a trailing end (5) of said cable are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a rotatable coil former (6) around which a cable is coiled; means (9) to measure the length of the coiled cable (2) or wire; first holding means (10) positioned on said coil former (6) for holding the leading end (4) of the cable, second holding means (12), separate from said coil former (6) for receiving and holding the leading end (4) of the cable (2), which are movable. Cutting means (14) for cutting the coiled cable to provide a trailing end (5) of the cable are also provided. The apparatus further comprises means (7) to adjust the diameter (D1, D2) of the coil former (6) and control means (18) to set said adjusting means (7) of the diameter of the coil former (6), to provide the required length of the cable and the required length of the said free ends (4, 5) of the coiled cable.

A sheet product dispenser is provided for sheet product from a roller. The sheet product dispenser includes a first roll of sheet product, called a stub roll, a main roll of sheet product, and a dispensing arrangement. A sensor is provided for detecting when sheet product on a stub roll is depleted. The sensor generates a signal in response to the depletion of the stub roll and a controller activates an electromechanical actuator. The actuator acts to operate a transfer bar that moves an end portion of the main roll sheet product adjacent a roller assembly that engages the main roller sheet product.

Systems and methods are provided for detecting potential failures in logging winch systems to enable efficient maintenance are provided. An example of such a system may include a logging winch system that conveys a downhole tool into a wellbore on a cable and a data processing system. The logging winch system may include sensors that measure observed quantities relating to operation of the logging winch system. The data processing system may determine correlation signatures that relate the observed quantities to the operation of the logging winch system and may identify when one or more of the correlation signatures indicates abnormal operation.

Provided is an automatic doffing communication method, a control system, a communication system and a network device. The method includes: receiving a doffing monitoring image from a terminal device; sending the doffing monitoring image to a text recognition system; receiving an automatic doffing scheduling task from an automatic doffing system; wherein the automatic doffing scheduling task comprises a task generated by the automatic doffing system according to a recognition result of the doffing monitoring image by the text recognition system; and sending the automatic doffing scheduling task to an automatic doffing device.