Optical fiber stripping methods and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016349453-A1
Application number	US-201615148389-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 6, 2016
Priority date	May 28, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for removing at least one coating from a lengthwise section of an optical fiber includes a heater extending at least partially around and at least partially defining an elongate heating region configured for receiving the lengthwise section of the optical fiber. The heater can heat the heating region to a temperature above the thermal decomposition temperature of the at least one coating. A controller automatically deactivates the heater after removal of the at least one coating from the lengthwise section of the optical fiber in the heating region. Thereafter, an air mover can cause ambient air to cool the heater.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for removing at least one coating from a lengthwise section of an optical fiber, the apparatus comprising:
a heater extending at least partially around and at least partially defining an elongate heating region configured for receiving the lengthwise section of the optical fiber, wherein the heater is configured for heating the heating region to a temperature above the thermal decomposition temperature of the at least one coating; and a controller operatively associated with the heater for automatically deactivating the heater.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
A support apparatus configured to hold the optical fiber so that the optical fiber extends away from the support apparatus and into the heating region in a cantilevered manner.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heater is a resistive heater comprising an electrically conductive coil extending around the heating region.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an air mover configured for being operated to cause ambient air to cool the heater, wherein the controller is operatively associated with the air mover for restricting operation of the air mover while the heater is on.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an air mover configured for being operated to cause ambient air to cool the heater, wherein the controller is operatively associated with the air mover for causing the air mover to operate while the heater off.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an air mover configured for being operated to cause ambient air to cool the heater, wherein the controller is operatively associated with the air mover for activating the air mover after the heater has been deactivated.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an air mover configured for being operated to cause ambient air flow along a flowpath to cool the heater, wherein the heater is positioned in the flowpath, and the apparatus is configured so that the flowpath extends crosswise to a lengthwise axis of the heating region.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured for automatically deactivating the heater by not later than immediately after removal of the at least one coating from the lengthwise section of the optical fiber in the heating region.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one sidewall configured to at least partially enclose the heater.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a housing defining an interior chamber and an opening configured for providing access to the interior chamber from outside of the housing, wherein:
the heating region is positioned in the interior chamber; the heater is positioned proximate the opening to the interior chamber; and the heating region is configured for receiving the lengthwise section of the optical fiber by way of the opening to the interior chamber.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the housing is configured so that the heating region is open to the ambient environment during operation of the heater.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is configured for activating the heater to cause the heater to heat the heating region to the temperature above the thermal decomposition temperature of the at least one coating; and the controller is configured for deactivating the heater at a predetermined time after the controller activates the heater.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined time is within a range of from about 1 second to about 3 seconds after the heater is activated.

14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined time is within a range of from about 1.7 seconds to about 2.1 seconds after the heater is activated.

15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the heater comprises heat sources; a first plurality of the heat sources is spaced along a length of the heating region from a second plurality of the heat sources; and for each plurality of heat sources of the first and second pluralities of heat sources, the plurality of heat sources comprises:
first and second heat sources spaced apart from one another in a first direction, wherein the heating region is positioned between the first and second heat sources, and
third and fourth heat sources spaced apart from one another in a second direction, wherein the heating region is positioned between the third and fourth heat sources, and
the first and second directions extend crosswise to one another.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein:
the heater is an electrical heater; and each of the first, second, third and fourth heat sources respectively are first, second, third and fourth electrically resistive elements configured to become hot in response to electrical current passing therethrough.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth electrically resistive elements comprise sections of at least one bent piece of wire extending around the heating region and configured to become hot in response to electrical current passing therethrough.

18 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is part of a controller system; the controller system further includes an activating feature that is positioned outside of the interior chamber and operatively associated with the controller; and the activating feature is configured for being manually operated to initiate activation of the heater.

19 . An apparatus for removing at least one coating from a lengthwise section of an optical fiber, the apparatus comprising:
a resistive heater extending at least partially around and at least partially defining an elongate heating region, the heater being configured for heating the heating region to a temperature above the thermal decomposition temperature of the at least one coating, wherein the heater comprises an electrically conductive coil extending around the heating region, and the heating region is configured for receiving the lengthwise section of the optical fiber through an end of the coil; a housing containing the heater and configured:
for providing access to the heating region from outside of the housing, and
so that the heating region is open to the ambient environment during operation of the heater; and
a controller operatively associated with the heater for automatically deactivating the heater.

20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising an air mover configured for being operated to cause ambient air to cool the heater, wherein the controller is operatively associated with the air mover for restricting operation of the air mover while the heater is on.

21 . A method for removing at least one coating from a lengthwise section of an optical fiber, the method comprising:
positioning the lengthwise section of the optical fiber in an elongate heating region, wherein a heater extends at least partially around and defines the heating region; causing the at least one coating of the lengthwise section to explode by heating the at least one coating of the lengthwise section of the optical fiber to a temperature above the thermal decomposition temperature of the at least one coating while the lengthwise section of the optical fiber is in the heating region, wherein the heating is comprised of operating the heater; and automatically deactivating the heater.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the deactivating of the heater is comprised of dea

Assignees

• Corning Optical Communications LLC

Inventors

• Wu Qi

Classifications

• B32B43/006

  Delaminating · CPC title

• B32B38/10

  Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically · CPC title

• B08B7/0007

  by explosions · CPC title

• Y10T156/1911

  Heating or cooling delaminating means [e.g., melting means, freezing means, etc.] · CPC title

• Y10T156/1153

  Temperature change for delamination [e.g., heating during delaminating, etc.] · CPC title