Method and apparatus for removing optical fiber

• US 6,296,201 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2000
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Furukawa Electric North America Incorporated (Furukawa Electric Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Uemura, Kazuyuki, Jackson, Camille Joy
• Primary Examiner(s): Mansen, Michael R.
• Application Number:
  US09/493,374
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 242/563.2, 242/563, 242/564.3, 242/566, 242/920, 242/128, 226/97.4, 282/94
• US Class Current: 242/563.2
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/32 Optical fibres or optical cables
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 49/02 Methods or apparatus in which packages do not rotate
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 51/16 Devices for entraining material by flow of liquids or gases, e.g. air-blast devices blowing slag wool in molten state C03B37/06
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 63/00 Warning or safety devices, e.g. automatic fault detectors, stop-motions safety devices in general F16P; indicating devices in general G08B ; Quality control of the package
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4457 Bobbins; Reels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/52 using fluid, e.g. air

Abstract

A system for removing optical fiber from a spool, including a frame adapted to support the spool of optical fiber, and a head adapted to be placed in axial alignment with the spool supported by the frame. The head has an internal passage that extends therethrough which is adapted to receive a portion of the optical fiber to be removed from the spool. The head further has a supply passage that extends through the head to the internal passage. This supply passage is oriented within the head to channel pressurized gas through the supply passage and through the internal passage so as to draw the optical fiber through the head to unravel the optical fiber from the spool.

Claims

1. A system for removing optical fiber from a spool, comprising:

a frame adapted to support the spool of optical fiber; and

a head adapted to be placed in axial alignment with the spool supported by said frame, said head having an internal passage that extends therethrough, said internal passage being adapted to receive a portion of the optical fiber to be removed from the spool, said head further having a supply passage that extends through said head to said internal passage, said supply passage being oriented within said head to channel pressurized gas through said supply passage and through said internal passage so as to draw the optical fiber through said internal passage to unravel the optical fiber from the spool, said head further having at least one sensor therein.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is capable of counting the number of revolutions the optical fiber makes within said internal passage.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said at least one sensor transmits and receives a beam of light across said internal passage.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a control system electronically connected to said at least one sensor so as to receive sensed signals therefrom.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising at least one clearing passage formed within said head, said at least one clearing passage being oriented within said head so as to be capable of directing pressurized gas at said at least one sensor to clear dust and/or debris from said at least one sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a source of pressurized gas and a supply line, said supply line fluidly connecting said source of pressurized gas to said supply passage of said head.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising at least one valve disposed along said supply line which can be opened and closed to, respectively, supply and shut off the flow of gas to said head.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said head comprises an upper and a lower portion, said upper portion having a first internal passage and said lower portion having a second internal passage in axial alignment with said first internal passage.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said supply passage is formed within said lower portion of said head.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said head includes a first peripheral flange and a second peripheral flange that can be adjusted so as to permit adjustment of the velocity of the flow of gas therethrough.

11. A system for removing optical fiber from a spool, comprising:

a frame adapted to support the spool of optical fiber in an orientation in which the longitudinal axis of the spool is substantially vertical; and

a head positioned underneath the spool supported by said frame in axial alignment therewith, said head having an internal passage that extends from an opening formed in a top surface thereof to an opening formed in a bottom surface thereof, said internal passage being adapted to receive a portion of the optical fiber to be removed from the spool supported above said head, said head further having a supply passage that extends through said head to said internal passage, said supply passage being oriented within said head to channel pressurized gas through said supply passage and through said internal passage so as to draw the optical fiber through said internal passage to unravel the optical fiber under the additional force of its own weight from the spool, said head further having at least one sensor therein.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said at least one sensor is capable of counting the number of revolutions the optical fiber makes within said internal passage.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said at least one sensor transmits and receives a beam of light across said internal passage.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising a control system electronically connected to said at least one sensor so as to receive sensed signals therefrom.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising at least one clearing passage formed within said head, said at least one clearing passage being oriented within said head so as to be capable of directing pressurized gas at said at least one sensor to clear dust and/or debris from said at least one sensor.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising a source of pressurized gas and a supply line, said supply line fluidly connecting said source of pressurized gas to said supply passage of said head.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising at least one valve disposed along said supply line which can be opened and closed to, respectively, supply and shut off the flow of gas to said head.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said head comprises an upper and a lower portion, said upper portion having a first internal passage and said lower portion having a second internal passage in axial alignment with said first internal passage.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said supply passage is formed within said lower portion of said head.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein said head includes a first peripheral flange and a second peripheral flange that can be adjusted so as to permit adjustment of the velocity of the flow of gas therethrough.

21. A method of removing optical fiber from a spool, comprising the steps of:

supporting the spooled optical fiber in a manner in which the longitudinal axis of the spool is substantially vertical;

positioning a head below the spooled optical fiber in axial alignment therewith such that a portion of the spooled fiber can be drawn downwardly to the head, the head having an internal passage that extends from its top to its bottom and being adapted to receive the optical fiber and said head further having at least one sensor therein; and

supplying a pressurized gas flow to the internal passage of the head in a manner in which the gas flows downwardly therethrough so as to gently draw the optical fiber downwardly through the internal passage.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of counting the number of revolutions the optical fiber passes through within the internal passage as a measure of the length of optical fiber that has been removed from the spool.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the counting step is performed by said at least one sensor disposed in the head.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of determining the length of fiber passing through the internal passage from the diameter of the spooled fiber.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising the set monitoring the optical fiber windings on the spool while the fiber is being removed.