METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PRODUCING THERMOPLASTIC COATED OPTICAL FIBERS

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide methods and systems for applying a thermoplastic coating to an optical fiber.SOLUTION: A method for producing a coated optical fiber includes drawing an optical fiber 16 from a draw furnace 14 along a first vertical pathway. The optical fiber 16 is then routed through at least one first fluid bearing 24 thereby redirecting the optical fiber 16 along a second vertical pathway. Thereafter, a thermoplastic coating is applied to the optical fiber 16 with a thermoplastic resin coating system 30. The optical fiber 16 is then wound onto a fiber storage spool 38 provided with an optical fiber take-up system 40. The optical fiber take-up system 40 is disposed apart from the thermoplastic coating system 30 such that the thermoplastic coating is cooled before the optical fiber 16 is wound onto the fiber storage spool 38.