Self-supporting coil of optical fiber and method of forming the coil
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorBryon J. Cronk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coil of optical fiber can be self-supporting by bearing a layer of brittle thermoplastic adhesive that adheres adjacent convolutions of the fiber together. Because it is self-supporting, the coil needs no hub so that either end of the fiber can be unwound. Preferred thermoplastic adhesives are marketed in the optical industry as blocking waxes.
Claims10
A coil of optical fiber that is self-supporting by having a layer of a brittle thermoplastic adhesive that adheres adjacent convolutions of the fiber together, such that the coil has no hub and either end of the fiber can be unwound.
Method of forming a self-supporting coil of optical fiber, said method comprising the steps of
- a) continuously applying to the optical fiber a layer of brittle thermoplastic adhesive,
- b) winding the adhesive-bearing optical fiber onto a spool,
- c) fusing the thermoplastic adhesive to bind adjacent convolutions of the fiber together as a self-supporting coil, and
- removing the spool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.