Method of manufacturing optical fiber, optical fiber manufacturing apparatus, and control apparatus therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016229136-A1
Application number	US-201615017813-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 8, 2016
Priority date	Feb 10, 2015
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of manufacturing an optical fiber of the invention includes: preparing one or more direction changers; drawing the bare optical fiber from an optical fiber preform; providing a coated layer on a periphery of the bare optical fiber; obtaining an optical fiber by curing the coated layer; changing the direction of the bare optical fiber at the position between the bare-optical-fiber formation position and the coated-layer provision position; detecting the position of the bare optical fiber in at least one of the direction changers; and adjusting the introduction flow rate of the fluid into the direction changer based on positional information obtained by the detection.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of manufacturing an optical fiber, comprising:
preparing one or more direction changers, each direction changer comprising a guide groove, an internal space into which fluid is introduced from an outside, and an outlet nozzle, the guide groove being configured to guide a bare optical fiber, the outlet nozzle being formed in the guide groove and being configured to blow off the fluid from the internal space and thereby cause the bare optical fiber to float inside the guide groove; drawing the bare optical fiber from an optical fiber preform, thereby forming the bare optical fiber; providing a coated layer made of a resin on a periphery of the bare optical fiber; obtaining an optical fiber by curing the coated layer; changing a direction the bare optical fiber at a position between: a position at which the hare optical fiber is formed; and a position at which the coated layer is provided on the periphery of the bare optical fiber, by use of the direction changer; detecting a position of the bare optical fiber in at least one of the direction changers; and adjusting an introduction flow rate of the fluid into the direction changer based on positional information obtained by the detection.

2 . The method of manufacturing an optical fiber according to claim 1 , wherein
the position of the bare optical fiber in the direction changer serving as part of the plurality of direction changers is detected, and introduction flow rates of the fluid into all of the direction changers are controlled based on positional information obtained by the detection.

3 . The method of manufacturing an optical fiber according to claim 1 , wherein
each of positions of the bare optical fiber in the plurality of direction changers is detected, and introduction flow rates of the fluid into the plurality of direction changers are individually controlled based on positional information obtained by the detection.

4 . A method of manufacturing an optical fiber, comprising:
preparing one or more direction changers, each direction changer comprising a guide groove, an internal space into which fluid is introduced from an outside, and an outlet nozzle, the guide groove being configured to guide a bare optical fiber, the outlet nozzle being formed in the guide groove and being configured to blow off the fluid from the internal space and thereby cause the bare optical fiber to float inside the guide groove; previously obtaining a relationship between a position of the bare optical fiber in at least one of the direction changers, an introduction flow rate of the fluid into the direction changer, and a drawing tension that is to be applied to the optical fiber; drawing the bare optical fiber from an optical fiber preform, thereby forming the bare optical fiber; providing a coated layer made of a resin on a periphery of the bare optical fiber; obtaining an optical fiber by curing the coated layer, changing a direction of the bare optical fiber at a position between: a position at which the hare optical fiber is formed; and a position at which the coated layer is provided on the periphery of the bare optical fiber, by use of the direction changer; and an introduction flow rate of the fluid into the direction changer is controlled based on the obtained relationship.

5 . The method of manufacturing an optical fiber according to claim 4 , wherein a relationship between a position of the bare optical fiber in the direction changer serving as part of the plurality of direction changers, an introduction flow rate of the fluid into the direction changer, and a drawing tension that is to be applied to the optical fiber is previously obtained, and
introduction flow rates of the fluid into all of the direction changers are controlled based on the obtained relationship.

6 . The method of manufacturing an optical fiber according to claim 4 , wherein
relationships among positions of the bare optical fiber in the respective plurality of direction changers, introduction flow rates of the fluid into respective direction changers, and drawing tensions that are to be applied to the optical fiber are previously obtained, and introduction flow rates of the fluid into the plurality of direction changers are individually controlled based on the obtained relationships.

7 . A control apparatus used in an optical fiber manufacturing apparatus, the manufacturing apparatus including: a drawing unit that forms a bare optical fiber by drawing the bare optical fiber from an optical fiber preform; a coating unit that provides a coated layer made of a resin on a periphery of the bare optical fiber; and a curing unit that cures the coated layer, the control apparatus comprising:
one or more direction changers that change a direction of the bare optical fiber at a position between the drawing unit and the coating unit, each direction changer comprising a guide groove, an internal space into which fluid is introduced from an outside, and an outlet nozzle, the guide groove being configured to guide a bare optical fiber, the outlet nozzle being formed in the guide groove and being configured to blow off the fluid from the internal space and thereby cause the bare optical fiber to float inside the guide groove; a detector that detects a position of the bare optical fiber in the direction changer; and a controller that controls an introduction flow rate of the fluid into the direction changer based on positional information associated with the bare optical fiber which is measured in the detector, the controller detecting a position of the hare optical fiber in at least one of the direction changers and thereby controlling the introduction flow rate of the fluid into the direction changer based on the positional information obtained by the detection.

8 . An optical fiber manufacturing apparatus comprising:
a control apparatus according to claim 7 ; a drawing unit that forms a bare optical fiber by drawing the bare optical fiber from an optical fiber preform; a coating unit that provide a coated layer made of a resin on a periphery of the bare optical fiber; and a curing unit that cures the coated layer.

9 . A control apparatus used in an optical fiber manufacturing apparatus, the manufacturing apparatus including: a drawing unit that forms a bare optical fiber by drawing the bare optical fiber from an optical fiber preform; a coating unit that provides a coated layer made of a resin on a periphery of the bare optical fiber; and a curing unit that cures the coated layer, the control apparatus comprising:
one or more direction changers that change a direction of the bare optical fiber at a position between the drawing unit and the coating unit, each direction changer comprising a guide groove, an internal space into which fluid is introduced from an outside, and an outlet nozzle, the guide groove being configured to guide a bare optical fiber, the outlet nozzle being formed in the guide groove and being configured to blow off the fluid from the internal space and thereby cause the bare optical fiber to float inside the guide groove; a detector that detects a position of the bare optical fiber in the direction changer; and a controller that controls an introduction flow rate of the fluid into the direction changer based on positional information associated with the bare optical fiber which is measured in the detector, the controller controlling an introduction flow rate of the fluid into the direction changer based on a relationship between a position of the bare optical fiber in at least one of the direction changers, an introduction flow rate of the fluid into the direction changer, and a drawing tension that is to be applied to the optical fi

Assignees

• Fujikura Ltd

Inventors

• Okada Kenji

Classifications

• B29K2105/253

  Preform · CPC title

• B29D11/00721 Primary

  involving preforms for the manufacture of light guides · CPC title

• G05D7/01

  without auxiliary power · CPC title

• C03C25/32

  obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds · CPC title

• C03C25/285

  Acrylic resins · CPC title