The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 09, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 20, 1999
Lindwood A. Bird, Wilmington, NC (US);
Chester H. H. Chang, Wilmington, NC (US);
Brian L. Green, Wilmington, NC (US);
Gilbert B. Wallace, Jr., Wilmington, NC (US);
Johnnie E. Watson, Hampstead, NC (US);
Corning Incorporated, Corning, NY (US);
Abstract
The invention includes an optical waveguide whipping end cutting apparatus. The apparatus includes an active cutting element. The element is positioned to cut a segment from a whipping end of an optical fiber, while the fiber is being wound onto a rotating spool. This apparatus will prevent fiber whip. The invention also includes a method of cutting a whipping end from an optical fiber. The method includes removing a segment of the end of the fiber with an active cutting element. A method of cutting an optical fiber while winding the fiber onto a storage spool is further discussed. The fiber has a whipping end and a wound segment. The method includes separating the whipping end of the fiber from the wound segment with an active cutting element. Furthermore, the invention includes a method of reducing fiber whip damage to fiber wound on a spool. This includes engaging an active cutting element on the fiber being wound onto the spool, and removing a whipping end from the fiber.