Optical fiber winding apparatus and method

#The present invention generally relates to an optical fiber winding apparatus and more particularly to a system and method for winding fiber fixed at both ends.

#An excessive length of optical fiber is often required to connect two or more optical components. Once these optical components are connected, an excess fiber slack is created between them, especially if the optical components are intended to be proximal to each other. This fiber slack must be taken up by winding or coiling it. This process can be time-consuming and, if poorly done, can result in tangling or damaging the fiber.

#U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,877 to Wislinski discloses a fiber winding and storage assembly in which a loose optical fiber with both ends free is manually wrapped around a fiber storage device. There is a need for an apparatus that winds a fiber with fixed ends. There is also a need for an apparatus that winds a fiber automatically, more systematically, or more quickly than in the prior art. The present invention aims to solve these problems. Other advantages of the present invention will be obvious to one skilled in the art.

#FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a side view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is a top view of the base 4 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

#Referring to FIG. 1, a fiber winder is placed between two optical components 2 that are connected with an optical fiber 10. The fiber winder includes a base 4, spools 6, and a guider 8. The spools 6 are attached to the base 4, and may generally be referred to as one type of fiber containment device. The spools 6 may be individually attached to the base 4 or may be integrated into a single piece, cartridge, or spooling tray that is attached to the base 4. The guider 8 is movably attached to the base 4. The fiber winder may be hand-held.

#As shown in FIG. 1, a hand crank 14 is connected to the guider 8 via a transmission 12. The transmission 12 may be implemented with gears, pulleys, and/or belts, and serves to transmit movement of the hand crank 14 to movement of the guider 8.

#The base 4 further includes a retainment member 30 for holding a region of the optical fiber 10 in place with respect to the base 4 of the fiber winder. The retainment member 30 may be implemented, for example, as a clamp that is opened and closed by an operator and, when closed, clamps down on the fiber 10 to prevent it from slipping. The retainment member 30 is preferably formed with a material, such as an elastomeric material, that will not damage the fiber 10 when it retains the fiber. Other devices and materials for use as the retainment member 30 will be obvious to one skilled in the art.