Apparatus for making light transfer devices
US4950357A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 18, 1988 |
| Grant date | Aug 21, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 18, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/448
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for making fiber optic light transfer devices has apparatus to continuously supply a selected number of optical fibers, apparatus to form those fibers into a ribbon and adjust to different wrapping radii of a wrapper. The wrapper is in the form of a rotary wheel on which there is mounted a matrix former and a spaced ribbon former. The end of the ribbon is clamped to the rotary wheel and as the wheel is rotated successive wraps of ribbon are made on aligned U-shaped support surfaces of the formers. A separator is positioned between each ribbon layer in the matrix former and a channel-shaped locator element is positioned on the spaced ribbon former before each ribbon layer is wrapped thereon. A reflective glue is added to the layers in both formers. A clamp clamps the wrapped layers in each former after which they are cured in an oven. The two matrix portions and two spaced ribbon end portions so formed are supported in fixtures and cut preferably by a band saw blade to form two light transfer devices.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.