Device and method for winding an excess length of an optical fiber onto a bobbin

A bobbin intended to wind an optical fiber, comprising:

• a cylindrical reel configured to receive the optical fiber;
• two rims extending radially from each end of the reel, one of the rims being provided with a port for the optical fiber;
• and
• a magazine that has a cylindrical surface intended to receive a winding of an excess length of optical fiber, said magazine being separated from the reel by the rim provided with the port and having a circumferential edge for retaining said excess length of optical fiber, wherein said circumferential edge has an opening and the magazine has a rib extending radially over a part of the circumference of the cylindrical surface, set back and partially facing said opening, so as to hold a loop of the excess length of optical fiber between the circumferential edge and the rib.

A method for winding an excess length of optical fiber onto a bobbin, comprising:

• providing a bobbin, wherein the bobbin includes:
• a cylindrical reel configured to receive the optical fiber,
• two rims extending radially from each end of the reel, one of the rims being provided with a port for the optical fiber, and
• a magazine that has a cylindrical surface intended to receive at least one winding of an excess length of optical fiber, said magazine being separated from the reel by the rim provided with the port and having a circumferential edge for retaining said excess length of optical fiber, wherein said circumferential edge has an opening and the magazine has a rib extending radially over a part of the circumference of the cylindrical surface, set back and partially facing said opening, so as to hold a loop of the excess length of optical fiber between the circumferential edge and the rib;
• providing a winding device, wherein the winding device includes:
• a first rotatable structure configured to store said excess length of optical fiber, and
• second rotatable structure configured to wind said excess length of optical fiber about the magazine, wherein the first rotatable structure and the second rotatable structure are configured to cooperate to unwind a length of optical fiber stored on the first rotatable structure and to wind said excess length about the magazine;
• positioning the winding device facing the bobbin;
• inserting the optical fiber through the port of the reel towards the first rotatable structure;
• storing the excess length of optical fiber on said first rotatable structure;
• and
• winding, by the second rotatable structure, said excess length of optical fiber onto the cylindrical surface of the magazine, on the side of the rib, opposite to the circumferential edge, the last turn of said excess length being positioned between the rib and the circumferential edge.