Apparatus and a method for processing an optical fiber unit

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus (1) for processing an optical fiber unit, the apparatus comprising an extruder head (2) with an inlet (6) receiving an optical fiber unit (7) including at least one optical fiber (24) and an outlet (4) outputting with a tube speed a produced tube (3), and a capstan (25) receiving and passing on the produced tube (3), the produced tube contacting an outer periphery (19) of the capstan by extending around the capstan. In order to obtain a simple and reliable solution the apparatus comprises a feeding device (13) and a connection (8) to a fluid source (9). The apparatus is configured to launch the optical fiber unit (7) to move with the tube (3) by feeding fluid from the fluid source (9) into the produced tube (3), and activating the feeding device (13) to accelerate the optical fiber unit via the inlet (6) into the tube (3) such that the optical fiber unit reaches the tube speed when the optical fiber unit has reached a predetermined point (P) on the capstan (25), at which stage the feeding device (13) is deactivated.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.