APPLYING AN OPTICAL FIBER TO A SUBSTRATE

摘要

In applying an optical fiber (1) to a substrate (3) coated with an adhesive, a supply of the optical fiber is located wound around a reel (13). The optical fiber is fed in a loose loop (17) providing a fiber magazine from the reel (13) to a collet (9) or nozzle, from which the optical fiber is passed to a hold-down means (11) having a non-rotating bottom surface. The hold-down means (11) presses the fiber against the surface of the substrate (3). The reel (13), collet (9) and the holding-down means (11) are moved so that the contact point at the substrate surface is moved along a desired path, where the optical fiber (1) is to be placed. This allows that the fiber is applied with small radii of curvature and with a minimum of mechanical stress. A fiber cutter (23) is provided upstream the collet (9) and it can cut the fiber at the places where it is to end so that no loose fiber end portions are produced. A fiber feeder (21) is provided behind the cutter (23) to feed more fiber after it has been cut.