Optical fiber tensioning device and method of controlling the tension applied to an optical fiber
AssigneePirelli Cavi e Sistemi S.p.A.
InventorsGiacomo Stefano Roba, Roberto Pata, Franco Veronelli
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Abstract
An optical fibre tensioning device, receiving at its input an optical fibre from a traction device and capable of supplying the optical fibre from its output to a device for storing the fibre. The tensioning device comprises at least one fixed pulley on which the optical fibre is wound for a first length, and at least one movable pulley on which the optical fibre is wound for a second length. A device for measuring the tension applied to the fibre and a motorized device for moving the movable pulley interact with each other to control a distance (Dp) between axes of the pulleys in such a way as to automatically keep the tension applied to the fibre essentially constant.
Claims29
An optical fibre tensioning device for use in a path of advance of the optical fibre, comprising:
- at least one movable pulley around which the optical fibre is wound for a first length, the position of said movable pulley being variable to modify the tension applied to the optical fibre;
- a tension measuring device capable of measuring applied tension and of generating a signal indicating the tension (Tmis);
- and
- a motorized movement device capable of receiving said signal indicating the tension (Tmis) and of moving the movable pulley in accordance with said signal indicating the tension (Tmis) to automatically keep the tension applied to the optical fibre essentially constant.
A method of controlling tension applied to an optical fibre along a path of advance of an optical fibre, comprising:
- forming a portion of said path having a length (Dp) capable of being varied to modify the tension applied to said fibre;
- measuring the tension applied to the optical fibre;
- and controlling said length (Dp) in an automatic way, by means of a motor, in accordance with said measured tension to keep the tension applied to the optical fibre essentially constant.
An optical fibre processing system, comprising:
- a source of optical fibre;
- an optical fibre tensioning device capable of receiving at its input the optical fibre from the source of optical fibre and for use in a path of advance of an optical fibre, wherein the optical fibre tensioning device comprises:
- at least one movable pulley around which the optical fibre is wound for a first length, the position of said movable pulley being variable to modify the tension applied to the optical fibre;
- a tension measuring device capable of measuring applied tension and of generating a signal indicating the tension (Tmis);
- and
- a motorized movement device capable of receiving said signal indicating the tension (Tmis) and of moving the movable pulley in accordance with said signal indicating the tension (Tmis) to automatically keep the tension applied to the optical fibre essentially constant;
- and
- a device for storing the optical fibre, wherein the storage device receives the optical fibre from the tensioning device.
A method of processing an optical fibre along a path of advance of the optical fibre, comprising:
- forming a portion of said path having a length (Dp) capable of being varied to modify the tension applied to said fibre;
- measuring the tension applied to the optical fibre;
- controlling said length (Dp) in an automatic way, by means of a motor, in accordance with said measured tension to keep the tension applied to the optical fibre essentially constant;
- and
- storing the optical fibre at the end of said advance path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.