Method and apparatus for inspecting electrical wire

摘要

An improved method and apparatus for inspecting electrical wire (10) is provided. A wire respooling machine (22) advances the electrical wire (10) from a take-off spool (12) to a take-up spool (14). An encoder (24) senses the rotation of the calibrated wheel (15) that is rotated by the electrical wire (10) and produces encoded wire length data. A splice detector (20) senses splices and insulation flaws in the wire (10) and produces a pulse for each detected splice and flaw. A controller (26) receives the encoded wire length data and detected splice and flaw pulses and produces splice and flaw location data representing the locations of the detected splices and flaws relative to the leading end of the wire (10). The controller (26) generates report data that includes said wire length data and said splice and flaw location data. A printer (28) prints the report data in a hard copy format. The controller also produces reverse splice and flaw location data representing the locations of the detected splices and flaws relative to the trailing end of the wire (10). The printer (28) prints a label containing, at least, the reverse splice and flaw location data that is suitable for affixing to the take-up spool (14).