Method and apparatus for recoating optical fiber

摘要

An optical fiber recoater for recoating a portion of an optical fiber, such as an optical fiber splice, that has been stripped of or otherwise lacks a protective coating. The recoater may be configured to accommodate optical fibers of varying diameters without the need to reconfigure the device each time the size of the fiber to be recoated increases or decreases. The recoater may be configured to progressively cure coating material within the mold about the optical fiber in a controlled manner. The recoater may be provided with an ejector arrangement that is configured to dislodge the cured material from the mold prior to its removal. The recoater may also be provided with the capability to proof test the integrity of an optical fiber splice. The recoater may be computer controlled and provide for automatic recoating of an exposed fiber portion. The recoater may be implemented as part of an automated system configured to automatically interconnect one or more pairs of optical fibers using a fusion splicing process. In this regard, the recoater may be configured to automatically recoat an optical fiber splice as part of the overall automated splicing process.