Optical fiber preform manufacturing apparatus which measures a vertical load with three cells
First Claim
1. An optical fiber preform manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber preform by depositing fine glass particles on a first rod, said first rod being connected to a first end of a second rod and rotated with the second rod, said optical fiber preform manufacturing apparatus comprising:
- an elevating unit having an elevating member and means for vertically moving the elevating member, the elevating member having a first surface;
a rotary support unit for gripping a second end of the second rod to suspend and support the second rod vertically and for rotating the second rod about a longitudinal axis of the second rod, the rotary support unit having a second surface which is vertically spaced from the first surface; and
at least three load cells disposed between the first surface and the second surface for supporting said rotary support unit and for determining a load vertically applied to the rotary support unit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical fiber preform manufacturing apparatus which continuously monitors the weight of a preform during manufacturing by a load cell without increasing the offset amount of the preform. The preform manufacturing apparatus includes a rotary chuck unit vertically moved by an elevating unit and a rod gripped by the rotary chuck unit and vertically extending downward. At the time of manufacturing a preform, the elevating unit and the rotary chuck unit are driven to rotate and move a starting rod suspended from the lower end of the rod upward. A support plate is fixed to the rotary chuck unit. Three or more load cells are arranged between the support plate and an elevating plate of the elevating unit. The rotary chuck unit is firmly supported by these load cells, so that the rotating shaft is not inclined. A hole is formed in the elevating plate, and the rotary chuck unit extends through the hole with a gap therebetween. A load by the support plate, the rotary chuck unit, the seed rod, a starting rod and the preform acts on the load cells. Therefore, the weight of the preform can be detected from an output from the load cells.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An optical fiber preform manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber preform by depositing fine glass particles on a first rod, said first rod being connected to a first end of a second rod and rotated with the second rod, said optical fiber preform manufacturing apparatus comprising:
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an elevating unit having an elevating member and means for vertically moving the elevating member, the elevating member having a first surface; a rotary support unit for gripping a second end of the second rod to suspend and support the second rod vertically and for rotating the second rod about a longitudinal axis of the second rod, the rotary support unit having a second surface which is vertically spaced from the first surface; and at least three load cells disposed between the first surface and the second surface for supporting said rotary support unit and for determining a load vertically applied to the rotary support unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification