Apparatus for producing grooved support member for optic fibers

摘要

Apparatus for making a grooved support member for carrying optical fibers having an extrusion die for forming a plastics sheath upon a strength member so as to form the support member. The die aperture has projections extending into it so as to form the grooves in the support member. To form the grooves into sinuous configuration, a twisting device is located upstream from the die. The twisting device comprises a plurality of gripping wheels on each side of the passline of the strength member, the gripping wheels staggered along the passline. The gripping wheels are rotatable alternately in opposite directions around the passline.