Abstract: A ribbon separation tool (10) for separating optical fiber ribbons (C1,C2,C3) into subsets of optical fibers. Ribbon separation tool (10) includes a stationary shearing device (27), and a moveable shearing device (17), the moveable shearing device (17) is operative to move relative to the stationary shearing device (27) during a shearing stroke. Optical fiber ribbon support members (42), with optical fiber ribbon receiving slots (46) being defined therebetween, are adjacent shearing devices (17,27). Moveable shearing device (17) is moveably located between optical fiber ribbon support members (42) and includes moveable sub-slots (90a,90b,90c). When a cover member (26) of tool (10) is in a closed position, stationary sub-slots (92a,92b,92c) of stationary shearing device (27) are aligned with moveable sub-slots (90a,90b,90c) to define shearing slots (90a,92a;90b,92b;90c,92c).

Abstract: A method for accessing individual coated optical fibers in an optical fiber ribbon includes securing an adhesive tape to a substrate surface. The adhesive tape has a backing which faces away from the substrate surface to which it is secured. A glue is placed on the tape backing. The optical fiber ribbon is placed over the glue. After the glue is set, the optical fiber ribbon is pulled to burst the optical fiber ribbon common coating and delaminate one surface of the optical common coating. The process may be repeated to delaminate the other surface of the common coating.

Abstract: In a ribbon type fiber optic cable there is disposed a stack of fiber optic ribbons, each composed of a set of individually coated optical fibers in a planar relationship to one another with the set of coated optical fibers also coated by a common coating of ultraviolet light cured material. The coefficient of friction between adjacent ribbons in a stack is equal to or less than 0.70.

Abstract: A light waveguide cable contains a layer of U-shaped carriers around a central core. Each U-shaped carrier contains a light waveguide fiber, bundle, ribbon, or ribbon stack. Carrier legs have a predetermined hinge line at a distance from the carrier base greater than the thickness of the light waveguide fiber, bundle, ribbon or ribbon stack. The carrier legs may have a smaller thickness or a concavity at the hinge line.

Abstract: In order to coat successive increments of length of an elongated strand material such as an optical fiber (22), for example, with a marking material, for example, a liquid coating material (40) is circulated through an input section (85) into an inner chamber (71) of a housing (62) and outwardly through an output section (87) to be returned to a reservoir (39). Elongated strand material is advanced through an entry portion into and through the inner chamber wherein it is contacted by the liquid coating material being circulated therethrough. Afterwards, each successive increment of length is advanced through an exit die (73) which causes the liquid coating material to be formed into a layer of predetermined thickness on the elongated strand material.

Abstract: A bonded optical fiber array (20) includes a parallel coplanar array of longitudinally extending contacting optical fibers (22--22). Each optical fiber is enclosed in inner and outer layers of coating materials and is provided with a color identifier. The inner layer is comprised of a UV curable bonding material having a modulus in the range of about 1 M Pa. For mechanical protection, the outer layer is a UV curable bonding material having a modulus in the range of about 1 GPa. When the optical fibers are disposed in the parallel array, interstices are created between the fibers and between the fibers and an envelope which is spaced no further than about 25 .mu.m at its closest point to each fiber. A UV curable matrix bonding material which has a modulus having a value less than that of the outer coating layer on the fiber and more than that of the inner coating layer fills the interstices, extends to the peripheral line which defines the envelope and bonds together the optical fibers.