Packaging reel with an optical fiber unwinding device

• US 7,229,042 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2003
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Inventors: Louboutin, Jean-Pierre, Desaunay, Jean-Louis, Thebault, Fabrice
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVERA, WILLIAM ARAUZ
• Application Number:
  US10/537,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20060049294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 242/378, 242/378.1, 242/388, 242/388.1, 242/388.2, 242/388.5, 242/388.6, 242/603, 242/602, 242/602.2, 191/12.2 R, 191/12.4, 191/12.2 A, 385/135, 385/137
• US Class Current: 242/388.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4457 Bobbins; Reels

Abstract

A cable packaging and unwinding device. The device enables the exact length of cable necessary for connecting two connection points to be unwound easily and quickly and a residual surplus length of cable to be stowed in a protected area, to prevent the cable from being subjected to any twisting or crushing and to obtain a reliable connection between the two connection points.

Claims

1. A cable packaging and unwinding device (100;

300) comprising a spool (110) in which are formed two winding areas (Z1, Z2) for two continuous sections (S1, S2) of a cable and at least one stowage area (130;

340, 360) for at least one end of one of the two cable sections, wherein the spool (110) takes the form of a drum (119) having two lateral flanges (111, 112) and an interior flange (113), said interior flange (113) defining the two winding areas (Z1, Z2) and including an opening (115) forming a passage for the cable between said two winding areas, and said two lateral flanges (111, 112) having a notch (116;

117) forming a passage for each cable section (S1, S2) from the stowage area (130;

340, 360) to the exterior of the spool (110), and in that the spool (110) is mounted to rotate about an axis (A) inside a substantially cylindrical casing (150) in which are formed openings (154, 155) forming a passage for each cable section (S1, S2).

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein a groove (120) is formed in the thickness of each lateral flange (111, 112) and in line with a notch (116;

117) to enable the end of a cable section to be retained in the stowage area (130) during rotation of the spool (110).

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein a recess (114) in the thickness of each lateral flange (111, 112) is adapted to receive a fitting serving as a handle for rotating the spool (110).

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the stowage area (340, 360) comprises a cylindrical support (341, 361) in which there is formed a stowage cavity (342) and to which are fixed a guiding cam (343, 363) and retaining means (370, 166).

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the guiding cam (343, 363) is rotatable about the axis (A) and entrains with it a cylindrical support (341, 361).

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein a recess (344) in the thickness of the guiding cam (343, 363) is adapted to receive a fitting serving as a handle for rotating the cam.

7. A device according to claim 5, wherein two stowage areas (340, 360) are disposed head-to-tail inside the drum (119) and the retaining means take the form of a screw (370) disposed along the rotation axis (A) and adapted, when tightened, to fasten the two stowage areas to the spool (110) and, when loosened, to allow the two stowage areas (340, 360) to rotate independently of each other.

8. A device according to claim 5, wherein the retaining means of each stowage area (340, 360) include at least an elastic tongue (161) fastened to the cylindrical support (341) adapted to interengage in a groove (162) on the internal wall of the drum (119).

9. A device according to claim 5, wherein a ratchet system comprising a pawl (166) fastened to the cylindrical support (341) and in bearing engagement with notches (165) on the internal wall of the drum (119) allows rotation of the stowage areas (340, 360) in one direction and prevents rotation thereof in the opposite direction.

10. A device according to claim 4 wherein the guiding cam (343, 363) has a thickness at least equal to the diameter of the cable and an inclined lateral wall that prevents the end of a cable section escaping from the stowage cavity (342).

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the notches (116, 117) in the lateral flanges have inclined flats (118).

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the substantially cylindrical casing (150) has on its internal wall (157) abutments (151, 152, 153) for retaining the spool (110) in its casing.