Apparatus and methods for forming colored marks on an optical fiber using multiple ink streams

An optical fiber marking apparatus for marking an optical fiber having an outer surface, comprising relative to a fiber path:

• a payout module and a take-up module respectively configured to pay out and take up the optical fiber while moving the optical fiber over the fiber path at a fiber speed;
• a marking unit disposed downstream of the payout module at a marking location, the marking unit configured to form multiple continuous ink streams adjacent the fiber path, with first and second ones of the multiple continuous ink streams having different colors;
• and
• a fiber positioning device operably disposed relative to the marking unit, the fiber positioning device adapted to intermittently adjust the position of the optical fiber from a non-marking position to a marking position at the marking location, the optical fiber not intersecting the first and second ones of the multiple continuous ink streams in the non-marking position as the first and second ones of the multiple continuous ink streams are flowing, the optical fiber intersecting the first and second ones of the multiple continuous ink streams in the marking position as the first and second ones of the multiple continuous ink streams are flowing.