Abstract: An apparatus produces an optical fiber by applying light to a photocurable composition and thereby curing the composition. The apparatus includes a nozzle for discharging the photocurable composition; a light irradiator for applying light to the fibrous photocurable composition discharged from the nozzle; and a controller that controls a light irradiation intensity at the nozzle orifice to 0.2 mW/cm2 or less. The nozzle is preferably a double-tube nozzle having an outer tube; and an inner tube arranged inside the outer tube.

Abstract: The present invention provides an auto distinction system and an auto distinction method with which suitability of a width, a thickness, and a stain of a continuously moving assembled fiber band can be accurately distinguished. An assembled fiber band such as a filter tow which continuously moves on the front side of a background plate is imaged by a line sensor. Based on the produced video signal, a characteristic information containing a defect information concerning a thickness, a width, and a stain of the assembled fiber band is detected, and the defect information is extracted from the characteristic information. Thus suitability of the assembled fiber band is distinguished. For example, the video signal is supplied to a noise-eliminating circuit 6a and a defect signal concerning the thickness of the assembled fiber band is extracted. Based on the extracted signal and a reference signal with respect to the information, suitability of the defect information is distinguished by a distinction circuit 7.

Abstract: An auto distinction system images an assembled fiber band which continuously moves on the front side of a background plate applies sync-separating to a video signal by a sync-separating circuit 5a, and clamps the video signal by a clamping circuit 5b. Based on the clamped image signal, the characteristic information containing the defect information of the assembled fiber band is detected, and the defect information is extracted from the detected characteristic information. The clamped image signal is supplied to a noise-eliminating circuit 6a and a defect signal concerning the thickness of the assembled fiber band is extracted. Based on the extracted signal and a reference signal with respect to the information, suitability of the defect information is discriminated by a distinction circuit 7. When the results of distinction are defective, the results are announced. The characteristic information can be used for process control by being supplied to an external computer.

Abstract: An auto distinction system images an assembled fiber band such as a filter tow which continuously moves on the front side of a background plate by a video camera, applies sync-separating to a video signal by a sync-separating circuit 5a, and clamps the video signal by a clamping circuit 5b. Based on the clamped image signal, the characteristic information containing the defect information concerning the thickness, width and/or stains of the assembled fiber band is detected, and the defect information is extracted from the detected characteristic information. Thus suitability of the assembled fiber band is discriminated. For example, the clamped image signal is supplied to a noise-eliminating circuit 6a and a defect signal concerning the thickness of the assembled fiber band is extracted. Based on the extracted signal and a reference signal with respect to the information, suitability of the defect information is discriminated by a distinction circuit 7.