Apparatus and method for manufacturing fiber optic cable
US5826419A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 5, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 27, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 5, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/4479
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and method for manufacturing fiber optic cable having a plurality of optical fiber buffer tubes bound by a binder is provided. The apparatus includes a frame and an oscillator shaft support on the frame for oscillating movement about a longitudinal axis. A lay plate is carried by the oscillator shaft and has a plurality of openings for receiving and guiding longitudinally advancing buffer tubes into an oscillating lay about the axis. First and second longitudinally offset binder heads are mounted for rotation about the axis for winding respective binders around the buffer tubes. Both binder heads are concentric with and surround the oscillator shaft such that the closing point for the buffer tubes is downstream of the binder heads and closely adjacent to a locking capstan. The rotatably supported ends of the binder heads are positioned adjacent to each other which allows improved replacement of binder reels. The apparatus may also include third and fourth binder heads for winding additional binders around the buffer tubes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.