At&t Technologies, Inc.

Ralph E Frazee, Jr

David H Smithgall, Sr

Daryl L Myers

Carroll D Spainhour

John R Nis

Joseph Sanchez

Robert P Stawicki

Insertion of a lightguide preform (12) into a tube (14) without contacting the sides thereof is accomplished by first roughly aligning the rod in spaced axial alignment with the tube. Thereafter, the offset of the rod from the axis of the tube is measured and the amount of lateral movement of the rod from the axis is determined. Then the rod is moved laterally in accordance with the determined amount of movement to precisely align the rod with the tube. Once alignment has been achieved, the rod is inserted in the tube and the tube is collapsed thereabout. An apparatus (10) for practicing this method is disclosed.

Method and apparatus for inserting a glass rod into a glass tube

A technique for dynamically changing from a full, rotating spool (18) of lightguide fiber (10) to an empty spool (19) while maintaining a substantially constant feed velocity is described. The fiber (10) is moved along a tapered transition section (40 or 52) having a continually decreasing cross-sectional diameter as the spools (18 and 19) and the transition section (40 or 52) rotate at the same velocity. The rotational velocity of the spools and the transition section are increased as the fiber is wound therealong. The fiber is transferred from the transition section onto the empty spool.

Lightguide fiber spool changeover technique

A technique for dynamically transferring a lightguide fiber (10) from a full spool (18) to an empty spool (19) as both spools rotate at the same velocity and the input velocity of the fiber is constant. The lightguide fiber (10) is wound onto the rotating spool (18) in such a manner as to form a package of wound material having a conically tapered section (52) when full. The fiber (10) is then wound along the tapered section (52) as the velocity of the spools (18 and 19) are increased. When the fiber (10) is at the diameter of the tapered section (52) which is equal to the diameter of the empty spool, it is transferred to the empty spool without any substantial loss of fiber spooling control.

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Brick Township, NJ, United States of America

Ralph E Frazee, Jr