Apparatus for winding optical fiber on a bobbin
First Claim
1. Apparatus for winding optical fiber on a bobbin comprising:
- means for mounting the bobbin on which optical fiber is to be wound, the bobbin having a deployment axis along which the wound fiber is deployed during use;
means for supplying a strand of optical fiber along said deployment axis toward said bobbin, said fiber supply means imparting a selected twist to the fiber about said deployment axis; and
means including a winding arm for receiving said supplied optical fiber strand along said deployment axis and rotatably winding said axially received strand in coils on the bobbin,wherein said fiber supply means includes a fiber supply reel with optical fiber wound thereon, said reel having a reel axis, and wherein said fiber supply means further includes a fiber supply reel twist arm for mounting said fiber supply reel for rotation about said deployment axis with said reel axis being substantially orthogonal to said deployment axis.
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Abstract
The apparatus for winding optical fiber on a bobbin in axially compact coils includes a bobbin mount reciprocably driven along the fiber deployment axis, a winding arm for receiving optical fiber being fed along the deployment axis, and a supply reel for feeding optical fiber along the deployment axis with the reel being mounted on a twist arm, with the reel axis orthogonal to the deployment axis, for rotating the reel a preselected amount for each turn of the winding arm. An optical time domain reflectometer continuously monitors optical signal attenuation through the free start end of the fiber, and an optical scanner continuously scans the formed coils for the presence of gaps and overlaps. A controller is used to automatically stop, rewind, and adjust the winding apparatus when excessive signal attenuation, gaps or overlaps are detected.
32 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus for winding optical fiber on a bobbin comprising:
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means for mounting the bobbin on which optical fiber is to be wound, the bobbin having a deployment axis along which the wound fiber is deployed during use; means for supplying a strand of optical fiber along said deployment axis toward said bobbin, said fiber supply means imparting a selected twist to the fiber about said deployment axis; and means including a winding arm for receiving said supplied optical fiber strand along said deployment axis and rotatably winding said axially received strand in coils on the bobbin, wherein said fiber supply means includes a fiber supply reel with optical fiber wound thereon, said reel having a reel axis, and wherein said fiber supply means further includes a fiber supply reel twist arm for mounting said fiber supply reel for rotation about said deployment axis with said reel axis being substantially orthogonal to said deployment axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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6. Apparatus for winding optical fiber on a bobbin comprising:
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means for mounting the bobbin on which optical fiber is to be wound, the bobbin having a deployment axis along which the wound fiber is deployed during use; means for supplying a strand of optical fiber along said deployment axis toward said bobbin, said fiber supply means imparting a selected twist to the fiber about said deployment axis; means including a winding arm for receiving said supplied optical fiber strand along said deployment axis and rotatably winding said axially received strand in coils on the bobbin; means for continuously monitoring the optical signal attenuation in the fiber being wound on the bobbin; and means responsive to said monitoring means for automatically stopping said supply means and said winding means whenever the optical signal attenuation exceeds a predetermined value, wherein said bobbin mounting means includes means for receiving a free fiber end from the bobbin, and wherein said monitoring means includes an optical time domain reflectometer connectable to the free fiber end received in said bobbin mounting means.
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11. Apparatus for winding an optical fiber on a bobbin, having an outer peripheral surface, the fiber being supplied from a fiber source and having a starting end, the apparatus comprising:
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means for mounting the bobbin, the bobbin being restrained against rotational movement about the bobbin axis by said mounting means; means rotatable about the bobbin axis for winding the fiber around the bobbin, the starting end of the fiber being arranged to be free from the bobbin peripheral surface; and means operatively connected to said free starting end for monitoring the degree of optical signal attenuation in the fiber being wound on the bobbin. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for producing a bobbin wound with optical fiber comprising the steps of:
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feeding optical fiber from a source toward the bobbin, the optical fiber having at least one free end; winding the optical fiber being fed from the source around the bobbin; and continuously monitoring the optical signal attenuation in the optical fiber through the one free end during said feeding and winding steps. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for winding an optical fiber on a bobbin having an outer peripheral surface, the fiber being supplied from a fiber source and having a starting end, the apparatus comprising:
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means for mounting the bobbin; means for winding the fiber around the bobbin, the starting end of the fiber being arranged to be free from the bobbin peripheral surface; and means operatively connected to said free starting end for continuously monitoring the degree of optical signal attenuation in the fiber being wound on the bobbin. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification