Corning Incorporated

Aditya Kaimal

Kelvin Nguyen

Bruce Warren Reding

Kirk Patton Bumgarner

Krishna Prasad Ambuga Keshavamurthy

Michael Terry Murphy

Steven Howard Dunn

Darren Andrew Stainer

David Andrew Bednarczyk

A method of marking an optical fiber includes forming an ink stream, moving an optical fiber over a fiber path adjacent the ink stream, and intermittently deflecting the ink stream with a gas jet so that the optical fiber at least partially enters the deflected ink stream so that the ink from the deflected ink stream forms spaced apart marks on the optical fiber outer surface. An optical fiber marking apparatus is also disclosed that includes payout and take modules that move the optical fiber over the fiber path, a marking unit configured to form an ink stream adjacent the fiber path, and an ink stream deflection device that causes the ink stream to deflect and overlap the fiber path so that ink from the ink stream forms spaced apart marks on the outer surface of the optical fiber.

Apparatus and methods for marking optical fibers using a deflected ink stream

The system and methods for marking an optical fiber with color-coded marks disclosed herein include forming closely spaced multiple ink streams, with at least two of the ink streams having different colors. The optical fiber moves over a fiber path that resides adjacent the ink streams. The fiber path and the ink streams are made to briefly intersect so that the ink streams form on the outer surface of the optical fiber a group of spaced apart individual marks, wherein the group of individual marks constitute a color-coded mark. Repeating this marking process at different times as the fiber moves over the fiber path forms spaced apart color-coded marks along the length of the fiber. Subsequent drying and overcoating of the marks fixes and protects the color-coded marks.

Apparatus and methods for forming colored marks on an optical fiber using multiple ink streams

The apparatus and methods include moving an optical fiber over a fiber path that includes a marking location at which resides a marking unit that dispenses an ink-jet stream. A centering method is performed whereby the optical fiber is incrementally moved in a lateral direction through the path of the ink-stream and the mark number density of marks formed on the optical fiber is measured along with the optical fiber position. A process window is defined by the range of lateral fiber positions over which a target mark number density is formed on a consistent basis. A controller calculates an optimum fiber path position and stores it memory for future reference while also moving the fiber path to the optimum position. The initially wet ink marks are dried and the fiber coated with a transparent protective overcoat to form a coated and marked optical fiber.

Apparatus and methods for accurate high-speed marking of optical fibers

A method of marking an optical fiber is disclosed, wherein the method includes forming an ink stream, moving an optical fiber over a fiber path that resides adjacent the ink stream, and periodically changing the position of the fiber path so that the optical fiber at least partially enters the ink stream so that the ink from the ink stream forms spaced apart marks on the outer surface of the optical fiber. An optical fiber marking apparatus is also disclosed that includes payout and take modules that move the optical fiber over the fiber path, a marking unit configured to form an ink stream adjacent the fiber path, and a fiber positioning device that causes the optical fiber to periodically intersect the ink stream so that ink from the ink stream forms spaced apart marks on the outer surface of the optical fiber.

Apparatus and methods for marking optical fibers using an ink stream

The apparatus and methods include moving an optical fiber over a fiber path that includes a marking location at which resides a printer unit. The moving optical fiber has an amount of undamped fiber vibration that can exceed a fiber vibration tolerance at high fiber speeds. The printer unit is configured to dispense ink onto the optical fiber to form wet ink marks along the optical fiber as it moves past the marking location. The wet ink marks are dried and counted for quality control. The marked optical fiber is then covered with an overcoat to protect the ink marks. A position sensor measures an amount of vibration of the optical fiber substantially at the marking location. One or more vibration dampers disposed along the fiber path are used to reduce the fiber vibration below the fiber vibration tolerance. This allows for high-speed marking of the optical fiber.

Apparatus and methods for high-speed marking of optical fibers

In one embodiment, an apparatus for screen testing an optical fiber includes a fiber conveyance pathway, a capstan having an outer circumference and a fiber contact region extending around the outer circumference, the fiber contact region having a durometer hardness of less than or equal to about 40 Shore A, where the capstan is positioned adjacent to the fiber conveyance pathway such that when the optical fiber is directed over the fiber conveyance pathway, the optical fiber engages with the fiber contact region, and a pinch belt positioned adjacent to the fiber conveyance pathway such that the fiber conveyance pathway extends between the pinch belt and the fiber contact region, where the pinch belt is engagable with the fiber contact region such that, when the optical fiber is directed over the fiber conveyance pathway, the optical fiber is impinged between the pinch belt and the fiber contact region.

Apparatuses for screen testing an optical fiber and methods for using the same

In one embodiment, an apparatus for screen testing an optical fiber includes a fiber conveyance pathway, a capstan having an outer circumference and a fiber contact region extending around the outer circumference, the fiber contact region having a durometer hardness of less than or equal to about 40 Shore A, where the capstan is positioned adjacent to the fiber conveyance pathway such that when the optical fiber is directed over the fiber conveyance pathway, the optical fiber engages with the fiber contact region, and a pinch belt positioned adjacent to the fiber conveyance pathway such that the fiber conveyance pathway extends between the pinch belt and the fiber contact region, where the pinch belt is engageable with the fiber contact region such that, when the optical fiber is directed over the fiber conveyance pathway, the optical fiber is impinged between the pinch belt and the fiber contact region.

A method and device for continuously testing the tensile strength of an optical fiber, wherein the incoming optical fiber is wrapped at least partially around a payout capstan, to an intermediate payout pulley, at least partially around the intermediate payout pulley, and back to the payout capstan. The optical fiber is then wound from the payout capstan to a tensile testing measurement component, and then to an uptake capstan. The optical fiber is wrapped at least partially around the uptake capstan, to an intermediate uptake pulley, at least partially around the intermediate uptake pulley, and back to the uptake capstan. The payout capstan and uptake capstan are operated at a desired rotational speed to continuously advance the optical fiber for tensile strength testing.

Growing community of inventors

Wilmington, NC, United States of America

Aditya Kaimal