METHOD OF MANUFACTURING OPTICAL FIBER

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manufacture a high quality optical fiber with a reduced production cost. SOLUTION: An optical fiber preform 14 is charged into a drawing oven 11 into which gaseous nitrogen is fed and the vicinity of the tip part is positioned at a melting position heated by a heater 13. Gaseous helium is fed into the drawing oven 11 filled with gaseous nitrogen while controlling a flow rate adjusters 23 and 24 by a controller 33 to fill the drawing oven 11 with gaseous helium in place of gaseous nitrogen. The tip part of the optical fiber preform 14 is heated and melted in a gaseous helium atmosphere filled in place of gaseous nitrogen and having outstanding thermal conductivity, is drawn downward to make the diameter thin to manufacture the high quality optical fiber 14a. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI