Method and apparatus for applying stacked optical fiber ribbons about a cylindrical core of a fiber optic cable

Method of helically winding a plurality of filaments about a cylindrical core comprising the steps of supplying a rotating central core for longitudinal movement substantially along a machine axis of the apparatus;

• supplying a plurality of filaments to be helically wound about the core;
• arranging a winding station downstream of said first supply means substantially along said machine axis;
• providing support means having a downstream end arranged substantially along said machine axis and an upstream end offset from said machine axis to define an angle between said support means and said machine axis which substantially equals a desired lay angle of the filaments about the core for supporting and guiding said filaments between said upstream and downstream ends;
• guiding the filaments from said second supply means to said upstream end of said support means and positioning the filaments in a predetermined number of adjacent positions along a direction substantially transverse to said support means to form a predetermined number of filament units no greater than the number of helical windings to be applied about the core, said filament units being drawn along said support means by the rotating core for staggered and tangential application of the filament units about the core at said winding station at said downstream end of said support means;
• sensing the individual tensions in each of the filaments;
• and controlling the tensions in the filaments based on the sensed tensions, whereby said filaments are wound on the core when said filaments are moved substantially linearly along said support means with controlled tensions therein.

Apparatus for helically winding a plurality of filaments about a cylindrical core comprising first supply means for supplying a rotating central core for longitudinal movement substantially along a machine axis of the apparatus;

• second supply means for supplying a plurality of filaments to be helically wound about the core;
• a winding station downstream of said first supply means and arranged substantially along said machine axis;
• support means having a downstream end arranged substantially along said machine axis and an upstream end offset from said machine axis to define an angle between said support means and said machine axis which substantially corresponds to the desired lay angle of the filaments about the core for supporting and guiding said filaments between said upstream and downstream ends;
• guide means for guiding the filaments from said second supply means to said upstream end of said support means and for positioning the filaments in a predetermined number of adjacent positions along a direction substantially transverse to said support means to form a predetermined number of filaments units no greater than the number of helical windings to be applied about to the core, said filament units being drawn along said support means by the rotating core for staggered and tangential application of the filament units about the core at said winding station at said downstream end of said support means;
• and positioning means for maintaining the orientations and positions of the filaments forming the filament units at least in a region proximate to said winding station to thereby insure the integrity of the filaments units as they are applied about the core.

Apparatus for helically winding a plurality of filaments about a cylindrical core having a plurality of helical grooves comprising first supply means for supplying a rotating central core for longitudinal movement substantially along a machine axis of the apparatus;

• second supply means for supplying a plurality of filaments to be helically wound about the core;
• a winding station downstream of said first supply means and arranged substantially along said machine axis;
• support means having a downstream end arranged substantially along said machine axis and an upstream end offset from said machine axis to define an angle between said support means and said machine axis which substantially equals a desired lay angle of the filaments about the core for supporting and guiding said filaments between said upstream and downstream ends;
• guide means for guiding the filaments from said second supply means to said upstream end of said support means and for positioning the filaments in a predetermined number of adjacent positions along a direction substantially transverse to said support means to form a predetermined number of filament units no greater than the number of helical windings to be applied about the core, said filament units being drawn along said support means by the rotating core for staggered and tangential application of the filament units about the core at said winding station at said downstream end of said support means;
• and insertion means in a region proximate to said winding station for depositing each filament unit within a helical groove while insuring proper orientation of the filaments within the filament units.