Method for coating a filament

• US 6,066,361 A
• Filed: 07/29/1999
• Issued: 05/23/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SARCOS LC (Sarcos Technology & Robotics Corp.)
• Original Assignee: SARCOS LC (Sarcos Technology & Robotics Corp.)
• Inventors: Jacobsen, Stephen C., Wells, David L., McNeely, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beck, Shrive
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, BRET P
• Application Number:
  US09/363,543
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 427/163.2, 427/164, 427/165, 427/166, 427/167, 427/282
• US Class Current: 427/163.2
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/505 for rotation of the substrates
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/562 for coating elongated substrates

Abstract

A method of coating a surface of a filament. In particular, the invention rotates a member (13) about a first axis (54), which will rotate a tubular member (16), which is rotatably coupled to the rotating member at an angle to the first axis, through a plane and about a longitudinal axis (56) of the tubular member that is co-planer to the plane. This is done to assist in the depositing of a uniform material onto the filament that extends through the tubular member and through a deposition area (40). It is important for the method to maintain the deposition area at an intersection of the first axis, longitudinal axis and plane, while the filament is being rotated in step. The method provides for adjusting the deposition area to expose a different length of the filament to the deposition of material thereon. Additionally, the method further comprises the steps of: un-winding a length of the filament that is in a feed basket coupled to one end of the tubular member; feeding the filament length through the tubular member; and collecting the filament length in a receiving basket that is coupled to another end of the tubular member. It is noted that there is a step of rotating a traction wheel, which is fixedly coupled about the tubular member at an end opposite to where the tubular member is rotatably coupled to the rotating member, about the longitudinal axis to cause the tubular member to rotate through the plane and about the co-planer longitudinal axis. Wherein the traction wheel runs along a top surface of a circular wall that is located equal distant about the first axis.

Claims

1. A method of coating a surface of a filament, comprising the steps of:

a) actuating a rotating member about a first axis;

b) rotating a tubular member, which is rotatably coupled to the rotating member at an angle to the first axis, through a plane and about a longitudinal axis of the tubular member that is co-planer to the plane; and

c) depositing a material onto the filament that extends through the tubular member and through a deposition area.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

maintaining the deposition area at an intersection of the first axis, longitudinal axis and plane, while the filament is being rotated in step b).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the deposition area to expose a different length of the filament to the deposition of material thereon.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

a) un-winding a length of the filament that is in a feed basket coupled to one end of the tubular member;

b) feeding the filament length through the tubular member; and

c) collecting the filament length in a receiving basket that is coupled to another end of the tubular member.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of rotating the tubular member includes the step of:

rotating a traction wheel, which is fixedly coupled about the tubular member at an end opposite to where the tubular member is rotatably coupled to the rotating member, about the longitudinal axis to cause the tubular member to rotate through the plane and about the co-planer longitudinal axis.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the traction wheel runs along a top surface of a circular wall that is located equal distant about the first axis.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plane and the longitudinal axis are perpendicular to the first axis.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the material deposited on the substrate is a metal.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the material deposited on the substrate is an insulator.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the material deposited on the substrate is a semiconductor material.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the material deposited on the substrate is a piezoceramic.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the filamentary substrate is an optical fiber.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the filamentary substrate is a polymer fiber.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the filamentary substrate is a metal filament or fiber.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the filamentary substrate is a ceramic fiber.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the filamentary substrate is a glass fiber.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein portions of the deposition area of the filamentary substrate are photolithographically masked with a photoresist material in a desired pattern.