US 5,143,274 A · Process and apparatus for the manufacture of optical modules

Abstract

For the continuous manufacture of optical modules incorporating optical fibres placed within a metal tube and embedded in a sealing product, the fibres (F) are introduced into a rectilinear guide tube (10) and the metal tube (T) is progressively formed around said guide tube from a tape or ribbon (R). The metal tube is then welded along the joint line slightly upstream of the front end of the guide tube (10). In order to permanently check the length ratio between the fibres and the metal tube in the thus obtained optical module, the fibres are introduced into the guide tube at a speed determined in real time on the basis of the measured values of the tensile force exerted on the welded tube, the speed of movement and the temperature of said tube. The sealing product (G) is injected into the welded tube slightly downstream of the front end of the guide tube (10) at a controlled flow rate so as to ensure a complete and non-excessive filling of the metal tube.

Claims22

Dependent claims

Process for the manufacture of optical modules incorporating a tight metal tube (T), in which is received at least one optical fibre (F) embedded in a sealing product (G), characterized in that it comprises the following stages:

introducing the optical fibre into a rectilinear guide tube (10) at a controlled introduction speed;
progressively shaping the metal tube around the guide tube from a metal ribbon (R) until a closed tube with a longitudinal joint line (L) is obtained;
welding said closed tube along the longitudinal joint line;
injecting the sealing product into the welded tube through an injection pipe (60) issuing into the said tube below the welding joint;
measuring the instantaneous values of the tensile force applied to the welded tube, the travel speed and the temperature of said welded tube;
and
controlling the speed of introduction of the optical fibre (F) into the guide tube (T) as a function of the measured instantaneous values, so as to obtain a predetermined ratio between the lengths of the metal tube and the optical fibre.

4 more elements

Apparatus for the manufacture of optical modules incorporating a tight metal tube (T), in which is received at least one optical fibre (F) embedded in a sealing product (G), characterized in that is comprises:

means (12) for introducing the optical fibre into a rectilinear guide tube (10) at a controlled introduction speed;
means (24,26,28,30,32,34,36) for the progressive shaping of said metal tube around the guide tube (10) from a metal ribbon (R) making it possible to produce a closed tube having a longitudinal joint line (L);
means (38) for welding the said closed tube along the longitudinal joint line (L);
means (92,94) for injecting the sealing product (G) into the welded tube by an injection pipe (60) issuing into the latter downstream of the welding means (38);
means (80,64,70) for measuring the instantaneous values of the tensile force applied to the welded tube, the travel speed and the temperature of the said welded tube and
means (82) for controlling the introduction speed of the optical fibre into the guide tube by said means for introducing the fibre into the guide tube, as a function of said instantaneous values, so that the lengths of the metal tube and the optical fibre are in a predetermined ratio.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Process and apparatus for the manufacture of optical modules

Life of this patent

Process and apparatus for the manufacture of optical modules

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22