Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for an automatic and continuous supply of coating material to a coating applicator in optical fiber fabrication. The present invention switches from one coating reservoir to another by way of a transitional period in which both coating reservoirs are supplying coating material to the coating applicator. For example, while an in-use reservoir is supplying the coating material to the coating applicator, a standby reservoir is being filled, settled to off gas air bubbles and then slowly pressurized. A sized orifice is used to slowly bleed off pressure from the in-use reservoir at a rate that does not allow the pressure in the in-use reservoir from falling out of a desired pressure range.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a primary coating and a secondary coating to an optical fiber is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one pressurized source of primary coating, a first primary reservoir for applying a first layer of the primary coating to the optical fiber, a first primary die including a first primary land configured to size the first layer of the primary coating, a second primary reservoir for applying a second layer of the primary coating to the optical fiber, a second primary die including a second primary land, a pressurized source of the secondary coating, a secondary reservoir for applying a layer of the secondary coating to the optical fiber, and a secondary die including a secondary land configured to size the layer of the secondary coating.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses estimate and control optical fiber primary coating diameter for wet-on-wet optical fiber manufacturing. The primary coating diameter for a particular length of optical fiber is calculated based upon a measurement of the weight of primary and/or secondary coating material consumed during optical fiber manufacturing. Control of the primary coating diameter is effected by a coating controller which can increase or decrease the primary coating diameter through control of glass temperature, coating viscosity and/or other parameters during wet-on-wet fiber manufacture.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a primary coating and a secondary coating to an optical fiber is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one pressurized source of primary coating, a first primary reservoir for applying a first layer of the primary coating to the optical fiber, a first primary die including a first primary land configured to size the first layer of the primary coating, a second primary reservoir for applying a second layer of the primary coating to the optical fiber, a second primary die including a second primary land, a pressurized source of the secondary coating, a secondary reservoir for applying a layer of the secondary coating to the optical fiber, and a secondary die including a secondary land configured to size the layer of the secondary coating.

Abstract: A precision method is defined for identifying defective sections of a spoolable material for removal. Defective sections are noted during manufacture and the spool containing the material is subsequently unwound to allow removal of the defective sections. The invention uses rotation data corresponding to the location on the spool where the fiber contains defects. A process controller records rotational positioning data from the take-up spool during manufacturing and uses the information to locate the defect when unwinding the spool. In addition, the pitch of winding the fiber onto the spool may be altered during manufacturing to indicate the beginning and end of a defective section. In this instance, the defective portion of the fiber can be determined during unwinding by monitoring the pitch width of the material. Finally, an algorithm for defining cut out bands adjacent to the defective sections aid in ensuring that no remaining defective fiber remains.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for an automatic and continuous supply of coating material to a coating applicator in optical fiber fabrication. The present invention switches from one coating reservoir to another by way of a transitional period in which both coating reservoirs are supplying coating material to the coating applicator. For example, while an in-use reservoir is supplying the coating material to the coating applicator, a standby reservoir is being filled, settled to off gas air bubbles and then slowly pressurized. A sized orifice is used to slowly bleed off pressure from the in-use reservoir at a rate that does not allow the pressure in the in-use reservoir from falling out of a desired pressure range.

Abstract: A precision method is defined for identifying defective sections of a spoolable material for removal. Defective sections are noted during manufacture and the spool containing the material is subsequently unwound to allow removal of the defective sections. The invention uses rotation data corresponding to the location on the spool where the fiber contains defects. A process controller records rotational positioning data from the take-up spool during manufacturing and uses the information to locate the defect when unwinding the spool. In addition, the pitch of winding the fiber onto the spool may be altered during manufacturing to indicate the beginning and end of a defective section. In this instance, the defective portion of the fiber can be determined during unwinding by monitoring the pitch width of the material. Finally, an algorithm for defining cut out bands adjacent to the defective sections aid in ensuring that no remaining defective fiber remains.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses estimate and control optical fiber primary coating diameter for wet-on-wet optical fiber manufacturing. The primary coating diameter for a particular length of optical fiber is calculated based upon a measurement of the weight of primary and/or secondary coating material consumed during optical fiber manufacturing. Control of the primary coating diameter is effected by a coating controller which can increase or decrease the primary coating diameter through control of glass temperature, coating viscosity and/or other parameters during wet-on-wet fiber manufacture.