| 摘要 |
A method and apparatus are disclosed by which splittable fiber optic ribbon can be produced in a single-step process greatly reducing the costs and delays involved in manufacturing splittable fiber optic ribbon under current methodologies. The process of making the ribbon includes creating individual groups (2, 2A) of insulated fibers arranged into a flat, side-by-side configuration; aligning the multiple groups of fibers (two or more) simultaneously with a single coating die (6) having multiple exit lands; having the groups of fibers pass through the single coating die creating fiber optic subunits (7, 7A); drawing the subunits through a first curing chamber (8) to partially cure the coating of the subunits, while keeping the subunits close together using a first alignment die(9); bringing the subunits in contact with each other on their sides through a second alignment die (10); and finally presenting the joined subunits to a second curing chamber (11) where the coating is completely cured. Accordingly, the subunit's surfaces will be cross-linked at the locations of contact. The thickness of coating will be thinnest at the location of the cross-link web connection creating a stress concentration location when separating the ribbon unit and, therefore, each subunit can be easily split from the rest of the ribbon unit when desired. It is estimated that this invention will reduce the current manufacturing costs of splittable fiber optic ribbon by approximately 33%. <IMAGE> |
