All hanging loops (these are loops of cloth or other material that are attached to a utensil from which it would be hung)

are tamei (while attached to a utnesil that is tamei)

except for the hanging loop of the sifter and sieve (the latter is for coarser sifting)

of a householder (because these loops were frequently removed for other used),

these are the words of Rabbi Meir

and the Sages say

all of them are tahor

except the hanging loop of the sifter

of flour merchants (which was also used to shake the sifter while sifting),

and the hanging loop of the sieve of the threshing floors (which was also used to shake the utensil to assist in its functioning),

and the hanging loop of a hand sickle (which was also used to improve the user's grip),

and the hanging loop of the tax collector's staff (this staff, made of metal, was inserted into piles of produce or other items to ensure nothing was concealed therein; the loop was used to improve the users grip, and may have also been used to pull the staff out of places into which it had been inserted) ,

as they help

during the work (of the utensil that they are attached to).

This is the rule (according to the Sages):

that which is made to help during the work (of the utensil)

is tamei,

that which is [only] made for hanging is tahor.

פרק טו משנה ה

The shovel of gristmakers

is tamei (as it was used to scoop and hold beans while moving them),

of storehouses

is tahor (as it was merely used to sweep grain into piles, but not to scoop them up),

of a wine press

is tamei (as it was used to scoop out grape skins and seeds from the press)

of the threshing floor

is tahor (as it was also used to sweep grain into piles, but not to scoop them up).

This is the rule:

that which is made for holding

is tamei,

for gathering is tahor.