Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for forming grooves in an optical fiber support

US4528148A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
11References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 21, 1982
Grant dateJul 9, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 21, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB29C48/05
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for forming grooves in a reinforced, thermoplastic filament and for inserting optical fibers in the grooves. The reinforced filament is pulled longitudinally through a die having rollers corresponding to the number of grooves, and the rollers are pressed against the thermoplastic material to form the grooves. The rollers may be at room temperature or may be heated to temperature above room temperature and below the melting point temperature of the thermoplastic material. The fibers are inserted in the grooves as the filament leaves the die and preferably, the filament is wrapped with a binding, e.g. a tape, after the fibers are inserted in the grooves so as to seal the grooves.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.