Abstract: A non-contact dancer mechanism for conveying a web of brittle material includes a guide rail and a variable position web support plenum adjustably positioned on the guide rail. The variable position web support plenum may include an arcuate outer surface with a plurality of fluid vents for emitting a fluid to support the web of brittle material over and spaced apart from the arcuate outer surface thereby preventing mechanical contact and damage to the web of brittle material. A support plenum counterbalance may be mechanically coupled to the variable position web support plenum, wherein the support plenum counterbalance supports at least a portion of the weight of the variable position web support plenum on the guide rail. Apparatuses incorporating the non-contact dancer mechanism and methods for using the non-contact dancer mechanism for handling continuous webs of brittle material are also disclosed.

Abstract: A non-contact dancer mechanism for conveying a web of brittle material includes a guide rail and a variable position web support plenum adjustably positioned on the guide rail. The variable position web support plenum may include an arcuate outer surface with a plurality of fluid vents for emitting a fluid to support the web of brittle material over and spaced apart from the arcuate outer surface thereby preventing mechanical contact and damage to the web of brittle material. A support plenum counterbalance may be mechanically coupled to the variable position web support plenum, wherein the support plenum counterbalance supports at least a portion of the weight of the variable position web support plenum on the guide rail. Apparatuses incorporating the non-contact dancer mechanism and methods for using the non-contact dancer mechanism for handling continuous webs of brittle material are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention includes an optical waveguide whipping end cutting apparatus. The apparatus includes an active cutting element. The element is positioned to cut a segment from a whipping end of an optical fiber, while the fiber is being wound onto a rotating spool. This apparatus will prevent fiber whip. The invention also includes a method of cutting a whipping end from an optical fiber. The method includes removing a segment of the end of the fiber with an active cutting element. A method of cutting an optical fiber while winding the fiber onto a storage spool is further discussed. The fiber has a whipping end and a wound segment. The method includes separating the whipping end of the fiber from the wound segment with an active cutting element. Furthermore, the invention includes a method of reducing fiber whip damage to fiber wound on a spool. This includes engaging an active cutting element on the fiber being wound onto the spool, and removing a whipping end from the fiber.