Method for curing a photocurable coating provided on a fiber
AssigneeAlcatel
InventorsOlivier Schuepbach, Carlos Pedrido
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for curing a photocurable coating provided on a fiber, includes an irradiator tube having an upstream end on which an injection assembly is provided, and a downstream end on which an exhaust assembly is provided. The injection assembly receives an inert gas flow. The injection assembly includes a diffuser that splits the inert gas flow into a counter flow and a tube flow. The counter flow is directed counter to the travel direction of the fiber, and the tube flow is directed in a laminar fashion through the irradiator tube. The exhaust assembly has a vent though which the tube flow is drawn, and an air opening provided between a downstream end of the irradiator tube and the exhaust vent.
Claims11
A method for curing a photocurable coating provided on a fiber, the method comprising the steps of:
- transporting the coated fiber through an irradiator tube;
- and
- directing a laminar flow of an inert gas through the irradiator tube in a direction that is parallel to a travel direction of the coated fiber.
A method for curing a photocurable coating provided on a fiber, the method comprising the steps of:
- transporting the coated fiber through an irradiator tube;
- directing a gas flow through the irradiator tube in a travel direction of the coated fiber;
- drawing the gas flow from a downstream end of the irradiator tube and passing the drawn gas flow through a vent;
- and
- passing air into the drawn gas flow before the drawn gas flow passes through the vent.
A method for curing a photocurable coating provided on a fiber, the method comprising the steps of:
- transporting the coated fiber through an irradiator tube;
- providing a gas flow toward the coated fiber at an upstream side of the irradiator tube;
- and
- separating the gas flow into (1) a counter flow directed along the coated fiber in a direction that is counter to a travel direction of the coated fiber, and (2) a tube flow that passes through the irradiator tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.