Method and apparatus for sucking an optical fiber

An apparatus for sucking a free end of a traveling optical fiber having a sucking nozzle disposed downstream of a capstan wheel around which the traveling optical fiber is wound, in which said sucking nozzle is disposed within a range of movement of a path line of the free end of the optical fiber, said path line moving within a range of movement in accordance with a speed of travel of the optical fiber, said path line extending within a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said capstan wheel, said sucking nozzle positioned alongside the plane of the path line of said optical fiber, an opening of said sucking nozzle positioned out of and transverse to the plane of the path line.

A method for providing an apparatus for sucking a free end of an optical fiber, said method comprising:

• providing a capstan wheel around which the optical fiber is wound;
• providing a sucking nozzle downstream of said capstan wheel along a path line of movement of the free end of the optical fiber, the free end of the optical fiber moving within a range of movement of a path line in accordance with a speed of movement of the free end of the optical fiber, a plane of movement of the free end of the optical fiber being defined by the path line of the optical fiber and extending perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the capstan wheel, and
• positioning the sucking nozzle perpendicular to the plane of movement of the free end of the optical fiber.