Ksaria Corporation

Jon H Appleby

Andre Sharon

Bretton E Anderson

Arthur W Johnson, Iii

Mark S Aude

Holger Wirz

Mark J McCann

A transport tray for a coiled fiber including one or more coils of fiber and end portions extending from the coils. The transport tray comprises a base and a receptacle disposed on the base to receive the coils of fiber therein. The receptacle may have a circular shape configured to retain the coils without violating the minimum bend radius of the fiber. A locking mechanism may be provided to secure the coiled fiber in the receptacle. The tray may includes one or more retainers to secure the end portions of the fiber, including fibers having any one of a range of diameters, in one or more desired positions. The tray may also include two or more fiber end retainers interchangeably supported on the base to retain fiber ends having different shapes and sizes. A plurality of registration features may be provided to facilitate transporting and positioning the tray at one or more process stations or tools.

Tray for a coiled optical fiber

Methods and apparatus for automatically processing an optical fiber to create a fiber coil. In one embodiment, the fiber is wound about a continuously curved winding surface. In another embodiment, the winding surface ensures that a minimum bending radius of the optical fiber is not violated. In another embodiment, the fiber is wound about a rotating winding surface including a gripper spaced from the winding surface and rotatable therewith. In another embodiment, the coil is transferred to a transport medium comprising an engagement feature that engages the coil. In another embodiment, the coil is stripped from the winding surface and inserted in the transport medium without gripping the fiber. In another embodiment, the fiber is wound about a mandrel and stripped by moving the coil relative to the mandrel axis. In other embodiments, the coil is stripped by applying equal stripping force to the coil about an entire circumference of the winding surface, and/or by contacting the coil with a stripper that has a contour that matches a contour of the winding surface. In another embodiment, the coil is moved in a single direction to strip it from the winding surface and insert it in the transport medium. In another embodiment, at least one of the winding surface and the transport medium is moved toward the other to facilitate transferring the coil.

Method and apparatus for automatically forming a coiled segment of optical fiber

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Boston, MA, United States of America

Jon H Appleby