Corning Incorporated

Chester Hann Chang

Johnnie Edward Watson

Kenneth William Roberts

Michael Yoshiya Nishimoto

Manivannan Ravichandran

Lindwood A Bird

A glass handling system and method are described herein where an enhanced robot is used to engage and hold a glass sheet in a manner that minimizes the motion of the glass sheet as it is moved from one point to another point in a glass manufacturing facility. The enhanced robot engages and holds the glass sheet by using one or more suction cups and one or more aero-mechanical devices.

Glass handling system and method for using same

The invention relates to a method of winding optical fiber onto a spool. The method includes varying a target, tension applied to a fiber as the fiber accumulates onto the spool such that the percentage change in lateral load is greater than about &minus;3.4% for each change of about 0.25&Prime; in pack radius. The method also includes varying the target tension such that the change in lateral load per change in pack radius includes an amount greater than about &minus;18.0 N/m . Additionally the invention includes varying the target tension applied to the optical fiber as the fiber accumulates onto the spool, such that the target tension applied to the fiber at the end of winding fiber onto the spool is at least about 0.1% or greater than the target tension at the start of winding fiber onto the spool.

Variable tension fiber winding

An apparatus and method for reducing or preventing fiber entry whip as the loose end of a fiber being wound on a spool enters a fiber winding device. A fiber winding device comprises a spool winder entrance, a winding spool and a fiber whip shield substantially surrounding the winding spool. A fiber entry whip reducer positioned in front of the fiber winding device comprises at least one pulley and a guide channel including a straight entry section and a curved section leading to the fiber winding device. The guide channel is formed and positioned such that the loose end of the fiber is maintained against the guide channel by centrifugal force imparted onto the fiber by the curvature of the channel and forward motion of the fiber produced by the rotating spool, thereby producing a trajectory such that the loose end of the fiber enters the fiber winding device and is maintained against the whip shield. By maintaining the free end of the fiber against the guide channel during fiber entry, whip damage to the fiber on the spool due to impact of the fiber end during its entry is substantially reduced or completely eliminated.

Fiber entry whip reduction apparatus and method therefor

An apparatus and method for reducing or preventing fiber entry whip as the loose end of a fiber being wound on a spool enters a fiber winding device. A fiber winding device includes a spool winder entrance, a winding spool and a fiber whip shield substantially surrounding the winding spool. A fiber entry whip reducer positioned in front of the fiber winding device includes at least one pulley and a guide channel including a straight entry section and a curved section leading to the fiber winding device. The guide channel is formed and positioned such that the loose end of the fiber is maintained against the guide channel by centrifugal force imparted onto the fiber by the curvature of the channel and forward motion of the fiber produced by the rotating spool, thereby producing a trajectory such that the loose end of the fiber enters the fiber winding device and is maintained against the whip shield. By maintaining the free end of the fiber against the guide channel during fiber entry, whip damage to the fiber on the spool due to impact of the fiber end during its entry is substantially reduced or completely eliminated.

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Wilmington, NC, United States of America

Chester Hann Chang