Methods, systems and apparatus for manufacturing a cable assembly with breakout and molded cable assembly

• US 10,444,461 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Afl IG LLC
• Original Assignee: Afl IG LLC
• Inventors: Bureacov, Artur, Kleeberger, Terry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ochylski, Ryan M
• Application Number:
  US15/253,852
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/3842 Manufacturing moulds, e.g. shaping the mould surface by machining
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/02 Heating or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanizing during moulding, e.g. in a mouldcold vulcanisation B29C35/18 ; vulcanising tyres, presses therefor B29D30/0601
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2011/0075 Light guides, optical cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/06 the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44715 Fan-out devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4479 Manufacturing methods of optical cables

Abstract

Methods, systems and apparatus for manufacturing a fiber optic cable breakout assembly comprising a molded array of furcation tubes are provided. In some embodiments, a pin retainer is connected to a plurality of pins for use in facilitating heat transfer to furcation tubes and influencing a structural arrangement of a molded array of the furcation tubes. The pin retainer can be removably connected to a pull arm on a heating system for heating molding the furcation tubes, and the pull arm can be automatically retracted after a molding process is complete, to withdraw the pins from the molded array.

Claims

1. A molding system for use in molding a furcation tube bundle to generate a molded array, the molding systems comprising:

an automated pull arm having an attachment member affixed thereto for use in attaching the pull arm to a pin retaining member;

a plurality of pins attached to the pin retainer member;

a heating compartment disposed adjacent the pull arm; and

a clamp member for use in retaining the furcation tube bundle when the automated pull arm is activated to pull the plurality of pins from a molded portion of the furcation tube bundle.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the pin retainer member comprises a plurality of slots from which the plurality of pins extend.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of slots are defined by vertically stacked separating strips.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a stacking separator member, the stacking separator member having a plurality of horizontal slots defined by vertically stacked wall members.