Optical fiber stripper apparatus and method
AssigneeVytran, LLC
InventorBjorn N. DEBEAR
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In some embodiments, a method includes positioning an outlet of an acid dispenser adjacent to a first portion of an optical fiber. The method includes directing heated acid from the acid dispenser into contact with the first portion of the optical fiber and into a holding tank such that a portion of a coating of the optical fiber is removed to expose a cladding of the optical fiber. The method includes positioning an outlet of a fluid dispenser adjacent to a second portion of the optical fiber. The method includes directing a fluid pressurized at a substantially constant level from the fluid dispenser into contact with the second portion of the optical fiber and into the holding tank such that at least a portion of the heated acid is displaced from the cladding.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a dispenser head including an acid dispenser and a fluid dispenser, the dispensing head configured to move between a first configuration to a second configuration;
- the acid dispenser including a heater element configured to heat acid received by the acid dispenser from an acid container;
- the acid dispenser including an outlet disposed adjacent a first portion of an optical fiber when the dispensing head is in the first configuration;
- the acid dispenser configured to direct heated acid into contact with the first portion of the optical fiber and into a holding tank when the dispensing head is in the first configuration;
- and
- the fluid dispenser configured to receive a pressurized fluid from a fluid container being at a substantially constant pressure;
- the fluid dispenser including an outlet configured to be disposed adjacent a second portion of the optical fiber when the dispensing head is in the second configuration;
- the fluid dispenser configured to direct pressurized fluid into contact with the second portion of the optical fiber and into the holding tank when the dispensing head is in the second configuration.
A method, comprising:
- positioning an outlet of an acid dispenser adjacent to a first portion of an optical fiber;
- directing heated acid from the acid dispenser into contact with the first portion of the optical fiber and into a holding tank such that a portion of a coating of the optical fiber is removed to expose a cladding of the optical fiber;
- positioning an outlet of a fluid dispenser adjacent to a second portion of the optical fiber;
- and
- directing a fluid pressurized at a substantially constant level from the fluid dispenser into contact with the second portion of the optical fiber and into the holding tank such that at least a portion of the heated acid is displaced from the cladding.
An apparatus, comprising:
- an acid dispenser configured to direct acid into contact with an optical fiber, the acid dispenser including a heater element;
- the heater element including a first contact point, a second contact point, and at least one heater element portion, the first contact point disposed substantially near a top of the acid dispenser, the second contact point disposed substantially near the top of the acid dispenser, and the at least one heater element portion disposed substantially perpendicular to a flow of acid through acid dispenser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.