At&t Bell Laboratories

American Telephone and Telegraph, Co.

Directed Energy, Inc.

Jack E Andrews

Robert A Wessels, Jr

Celestino Rey

Leroy V Sutter

Gregory A Lochkovic

Francis A Rotoloni

Randy C Horne

Stanley J Parnas

Roman J Harmel

In order to coat successive increments of length of an elongated strand material such as an optical fiber (22), for example, with a marking material, for example, a liquid coating material (40) is circulated through an input section (85) into an inner chamber (71) of a housing (62) and outwardly through an output section (87) to be returned to a reservoir (39). Elongated strand material is advanced through an entry portion into and through the inner chamber wherein it is contacted by the liquid coating material being circulated therethrough. Afterwards, each successive increment of length is advanced through an exit die (73) which causes the liquid coating material to be formed into a layer of predetermined thickness on the elongated strand material.

Methods of coating elongated strand material

A laser marking apparatus provides markings of enhanced readability in an outer jacket of repetitively spaced sections along the length of a moving cable which is delivered from a supply source. The cable is advanced under tension and is wound onto a take-up spool. The outer jacket is of a specified color and has an outer surface. The laser marking apparatus includes a first guide roller, a laser marker, an applicator, a coarse brush roller with a first driving mechanism, a fine brush roller with a second driving mechanism and a second guide roller. The first and second guide rollers are disposed adjacent to the supply source before the laser marker and before the take-up spool after the fine brush roller, respectively, in order to guide the cable along a path of travel so that the outer jacket passes adjacent to the laser marker. The laser marker inscribes in the outer jacket markings opening to the outer surface thereof. The applicator applies a wax, the color of which is different from and contrasts with the specified color of the outer jacket, on the outer surface of the outer jacket and in the markings. Afterwards the coarse brush roller removes most of the wax which is on the outer surface of the outer jacket leaving the wax which is in the markings and the fine brush roller removes the remainder of the wax which is on the outer surface of the outer jacket and polishes the outer surface.

Laser marking apparatus and method for providing markings of enhanced

An elongated material such as a cable (20), for example, is provided with a repetitive pattern of a marking (40) which provide information to an observer. Each marking includes intentionally discernible indentations or recesses (33--33) which are formed in plastic material comprising an outer covering (32) of the elongated material. Further, each indentation is filled with a pigmented material (50) which provides a desirable color contrast with the color of the outer covering. The filling material must have a melt viscosity which allows it to be flowed easily into the indentations, yet be retainable in the indentations during handling of the elongated material such as during installation of a cable.

Article having marking thereon and methods of making

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Stone Mountain, GA, United States of America

Jack E Andrews