APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING WHIP DAMAGE ON WOUND OPTICAL FIBER
First Claim
1. An apparatus for reducing fiber whip damage to optical fiber wound on a fiber winding spool, comprising:
- a whip shield arranged to substantially surround the fiber winding spool, the whip shield comprising a first surface aligned with and facing the fiber winding spool within an entry slot aligned with the fiber fed from a moving source of fiber such that a loose end of the optical fiber during a fiber break event is directed into the entry slot away from the fiber winding spool and against the first surface;
the whip shield comprising a second surface facing the spool, wherein the first surface of the entry slot transitions to the second surface so that the loose end of the optical fiber is transitioned from the first surface onto the second surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for reducing fiber whip damage to optical fiber wound on a fiber winding spool is provided. The apparatus includes a fiber entry feed mechanism operatively coupled to the fiber winding spool to feed the optical fiber onto the fiber winding spool. The apparatus also includes a whip shield arranged to substantially surround the fiber winding spool. The whip shield includes a first surface aligned with and facing the fiber winding spool within an entry slot that is laterally offset from a second surface. The first surface transitions to the second surface such that a loose end of the optical fiber is initially directed into the entry slot away from the fiber winding spool and transitions to the second surface.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for reducing fiber whip damage to optical fiber wound on a fiber winding spool, comprising:
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a whip shield arranged to substantially surround the fiber winding spool, the whip shield comprising a first surface aligned with and facing the fiber winding spool within an entry slot aligned with the fiber fed from a moving source of fiber such that a loose end of the optical fiber during a fiber break event is directed into the entry slot away from the fiber winding spool and against the first surface; the whip shield comprising a second surface facing the spool, wherein the first surface of the entry slot transitions to the second surface so that the loose end of the optical fiber is transitioned from the first surface onto the second surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for reducing fiber whip damage to fiber wound on a fiber winding spool, the method comprising the steps of:
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feeding optical fiber from an optical fiber source onto the fiber winding spool; directing a loose end of the fiber into an entry slot formed having an inner first surface in a whip shield; and redirecting the loose end of the fiber from the entry slot to a smooth continuous second surface on an inner surface of the whip shield. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification