METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTICAL FIBER COLORING

摘要

An apparatus for coloring optical fibers, comprising: a first reservoir (105) for containing a natural coating material to be applied onto an optical fiber being drawn; a second reservoir (125) for containing a colorant to be mixed to the natural coating material; a mixer (140) in fluid communication (130,135) with the first and second reservoirs (105, 125), so to receive a first flow of natural coating material and a second flow of colorant and to mix the first and second flows to obtain a colored coating material; a coating die (150) in fluid communication with the mixer (140) to receive the flow of colored coating material and to apply it onto the optical fiber being (110) drawn. A first gas pressure source (160,165,170,175) is provided, associated with the first reservoir (105), exerting on the natural coating material a first gas pressure variable as a function of at least one optical fiber drawing parameter, and a second gas pressure source (160,165,170,180) is provided, associated with the second reservoir (125), exerting on the colorant a second gas pressure variable as a function of at least one optical fiber drawing parameter. The first and second line have relevant pressure drop in a ratio corresponding to the ratio of natural coating material and colorant providing the colored coating material.