Automatic recycling of exhaust tubes for fiber optics
US7629551B2 · kind B2 · utility
0Cited by
5References
18Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 11, 2006 |
| Grant date | Dec 8, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 6, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P40/57
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method of recycling exhaust tubes used to manufacture optical fiber includes the automated use of 1) a machine vision system that signals a conveyor system when to stop so that a cutting machine will cut contaminates and discoloration from an exhaust tube at the correct place and provides an indication on whether the exhaust tube is reusable, 2) a conveyor system to transport reusable exhaust tubes to different stations, and 3) a robotic arm to load exhaust tubes onto the conveyor system, and unload exhaust tubes from the conveyor system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.