Abstract: The automatic strand take-up installation comprises at least one gripping member (12) for taking hold of at least one strand coming from a bushing (2), the gripping member being guided by a single conveying loop (1) to the vicinity of a chopper (7). One system for maneuvering the gripping member allows the gripping member (12) to be opened and closed in such a way as to release said strand at the chopper (7).

Abstract: Simple and small-sized equipment which continuously afford alternate twists to an optical fiber and a method using the apparatus are provided. The equipment includes: a guide roller for causing the fiber to roll; a roller supporting member for holding the roller in a manner allowing the roller to freely turn about an axial center X; and a driving unit to cause the roller to oscillate by making the supporting member to turn about an axial center Y that is inclined relative to the axial center X. The method includes: arranging a guide roller to intersect the fiber, the roller being held by a roller supporting member to freely turn about an axial center X; oscillating the roller by driving the supporting member to revolve about the axial center Y which is inclined relative to the axis center X; and causing the fiber to roll to afford alternate twists to the fiber.

Abstract: A system and method for winding at least one continuous strand of material (210) on a rotating support (212) to form a strand package or cake includes a rotatable traversing apparatus (216) for causing the at least one strand of material to reciprocate along a length of the rotating support (212) for even distribution in forming the package or cake. A plurality of strands can be wound simultaneously, the traversing apparatus having a form and operating orientation that generally maintains a parallel separation of the several strands while being wound on the support. The strand material may be, for example, glass, and a winding system may further include a source of glass strands, including a source of glass fibers (102) and a grouping mechanism (108, 208) for grouping respective pluralities of glass fibers into respective strands of glass fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus for winding a fiber strand onto a former, wherein there is provided a separating means for fixing and separating the fiber strand at the end of an operation of winding on a finish-wound first former and for bringing the fixed fiber-strand end to a second former to be wound in order to begin a new winding operation. At least one thread buffer for temporary storage of a fiber-strand portion between the end of one winding operation and the beginning of a new winding operation is disposed upstream from the separating means in the feed direction.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for making a continuous fiber product by gathering a plurality of fibers into a strand in contact with a pad wheel that is driven with a low voltage, variable speed motor or drive, and controlling the RPM of the motor in response to a breakout detector. Other embodiments further include accelerating the RPM of the motor and pad wheel at a desired ramp-up rate following the resumption of desired fiberization.

Abstract: Simple and small-sized equipment which continuously afford alternate twists to an optical fiber and a method using the apparatus are provided. The equipment includes: a guide roller for causing the fiber to roll; a roller supporting member for holding the roller in a manner allowing the roller to freely turn about an axial center X; and a driving unit to cause the roller to oscillate by making the supporting member to turn about an axial center Y that is inclined relative to the axial center X. The method includes: arranging a guide roller to intersect the fiber, the roller being held by a roller supporting member to freely turn about an axial center X; oscillating the roller by driving the supporting member to revolve about the axial center Y which is inclined relative to the axis center X; and causing the fiber to roll to afford alternate twists to the fiber.

Abstract: An automated fiber preparation system and method for automatically fabricating an optical fiber. One or more fabrication processes associated with fiber preparation may be performed on an optical fiber without requiring active user input. The fiber preparation system may be configured to automatically carry out each of the process steps for fabricating an optical fiber pigtail. The fiber preparation system may include a fiber preparation module that is configured to automatically prepare one or both ends of an optical fiber in anticipation of one or more subsequent manufacturing processes involving the fiber.

Abstract: A manufacturing method and apparatus for manufacturing a coated optical fiber which has a superior surface smoothness of a resin coating and which can be coated with a colored ink with high coating performance. In the method including the steps of making a coated optical fiber by forming an outer coating layer around a bare optical fiber; and winding the coated optical fiber via pulleys by a take-up, the surface roughness of each solid body which the outer layer of the running coated optical fiber contacts is 0.8 &mgr;m or less. When the temperature of the outer coating layer is a room temperature or the Young's modulus of the outer coating layer is higher than 500 MPa, the surface roughness of each solid body, which the outer layer of the coated optical fiber contacts during drawing or rewinding, is 1.2 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a device for manufacturing a composite yarn formed by the combination of continuous glass filaments and continuous filaments of a thermoplastic organic substance, comprising, on the one hand, at least one bushing which is fed with glass, the lower face of which is provided with a multiplicity of orifices from which a multiplicity of glass filaments is drawn, and is associated with a coating device and, on the other hand, at least one extrusion head fed with a molten thermoplastic organic substance, the lower face of which is provided with a multiplicity of orifices from which a multiplicity of organic filaments is drawn, the said head being associated with a drawing device comprising at least two drums and with a venturi device which projects the organic filaments into the sheet formed by the glass filaments, and means, common to the bushing and to the extrusion head, which enable the composite yarn to be assembled and drawn, for example by a winding device such as a bobbin win

Abstract: A sizing applicator is provided for applying a coating of sizing composition to glass fibers. The sizing applicator includes a housing and a roll applicator which is rotatably coupled to the housing. The housing has a supply port adapted to receive sizing composition from a sizing supply source, an exit slot and a passageway extending from the supply port to the exit slot. The passageway receives sizing composition from the supply port and delivers the sizing composition to the exit slot such that the sizing composition exits the housing and is received on an outer surface of the roll applicator. The roll applicator is spaced from the housing such that the housing does not substantially contact the sizing composition once it is received on the roll applicator.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for producing a glass fiber package. The apparatus includes a heated bushing for supplying streams of molten glass to be drawn into continuous fibers, a rotatable member adapted to draw the streams into fibers and to wind the fibers into a package, an applicator for applying a size to the fibers, and a drying device including a heated element maintained at a temperature of between about 1000.degree. F. and 1500.degree. F. for contacting and transferring energy in the form of heat to the sized fibers to dry the fibers before they are wound into the package. The heating member is stationary while contacting the sized fibers.