SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING CONSISTENCY OF REVERSE OSCILLATING LAY(ROL) DURING OPTICAL FIBER CABLE MANUFACTURING PROCESS

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method, an apparatus and a system for improving consistency of reverse oscillating lay(ROL) during an optical cable manufacturing process. SOLUTION: A torque capstan receives an optical fiber cable from an ROL machine which places reverse oscillating lay on the core of an optical cable, but also generates some undesirable fluctuating back-tension in a direction opposite to a direction in which the optical fiber cable is being pulled during manufacturing of the optical cable. The optical cable comprises a plurality of subunit cables. A drive system coupled to the torque capstan is controlled by a control system in such a way that the torque capstan applies a certain amount of force to the optical cable in a direction substantially parallel to the direction in which the optical cable is being pulled during manufacturing process. The certain amount of force applied to the optical fiber cable reduces undesirable fluctuating back-tension placed on the optical cable during the manufacturing process, thereby improving reverse oscillating lay (ROL) consistency, which improves the quality of the manufactured optical cable.