Method and system for controlling the tension on a buffer tube by a compression caterpillar on a buffering line

A system for controlling tension on a buffer tube produced on a processing line, the system comprising:

• a compression caterpillar comprising a first drive belt and a second drive belt, the first drive belt and the second drive belt having a gap therebetween;
• a controller configured to control the gap between the first drive belt and the second drive belt;
• wherein the controller sets the gap to achieve a desired tension on the buffer tube;
• wherein the controller receives a measurement of the tension on the buffer tube as the buffer tube passes between the first drive belt and the second drive belt;
• wherein the controller determines whether the measurement of the tension on the buffer tube is within an acceptable range;
• wherein the controller commands a decrease in the gap between the first drive belt and the second drive belt in increments while the buffer tube passes between the drive belts until the tension is within the acceptable range;
• and
• wherein responsive to the controller determining that a threshold gap between the first drive belt and the second drive belt has been reached, the controller outputs an indication that the threshold gap has been reached.

A non-transitory, machine readable storage medium for a controller of a buffer tube processing line, the storage medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to carry out a method comprising:

• setting a speed of and a gap between drive belts of a compression caterpillar to achieve a desired tension on a buffer tube;
• measuring tension on the buffer tube as the buffer tube passes between the drive belts;
• determining whether the tension measured on the buffer tube is within an acceptable range;
• decreasing the gap between the drive belts in increments while the buffer tube passes between the drive belts until the tension is within the acceptable range;
• and
• responsive to determining that the gap between the drive belts has reached a threshold, outputting an indication that the threshold has been reached.