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Apparatus for coating optical fibers

  • US 4,530,750 A
  • Filed: 09/10/1984
  • Issued: 07/23/1985
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1981
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for continuously producing a vitreous optical fiber heremetically sealed in a continuous sheath of elemental material which apparatus comprises:

  • a chamber having an ingress end and an egress end;

    means for moving said fiber axially through said chamber;

    means within said chamber at both of said ends for maintaining axial and central alignment of said fiber within said chamber without physical engagement of the fiber by the alignment means;

    means for creating a vacuum in said chamber;

    said chamber having first and second vacuum zones sequentially from said ingress toward said egress end and in open communication with one another;

    means in said first vacuum zone for propelling and directing a plasma of high energy ions against said surface of said fiber in said first vacuum zone whereby said plasma impinges on said surface to move surface imperfections and loose atoms therefrom;

    positive and negative electrodes of inorganic elemental material in said second vacuum zone and spaced around said fiber; and

    , means employing a plasma of ions in said second vacuum zone to cause said electrodes to sputter and deposit a first inorganic elemental film of said material on said moving fiber in said second vacuum zone.

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