Optical cable installation with mini-bend reduction

An apparatus for installing a cable in a duct comprising, in combination:

• a cable storage apparatus for supplying a length of cable to be installed;
• a cable insertion unit for pulling a length of cable from the cable storage apparatus and introducing the cable into a duct;
• a straightener unit disposed for engagement with the cable for reducing bends in the cable as the cable is pulled from the cable storage apparatus, the straightener unit including
• first means engagable with the cable for alternately deflecting the cable in opposite directions transverse to the direction of cable movement as the cable advances toward the duct;
• and
• second means engagable with the cable for alternately deflecting the cable in opposite directions transverse to the direction of cable movement as the cable advances toward the duct.

A cable installation apparatus comprising, in combination:

• a cable coiling apparatus for storing a length of cable to be installed in a duct;
• a cable insertion unit including mechanically driven means for pulling the cable from the coiling apparatus and pushing the cable into the duct;
• and
• a cable straightener assembly disposed between the cable coiling apparatus and the cable insertion unit, the cable straightener assembly including a first set of serially adjacent straightener rollers disposed along a first path of cable advance and a second set of serially adjacent straightener rollers disposed along a second path of cable advance, the serially adjacent rollers of the first set and the serially adjacent rollers of the second set subjecting the cable to a series of oppositely directed bendings in a first plane and then subjecting the cable to a series of oppositely directed bendings in a second plane as the cable advances toward the duct.

An apparatus for installing a length of cable in a duct comprising, in combination:

• a cable storage apparatus for supplying a length of cable to be installed;
• a cable insertion unit including mechanically driven means for pulling the cable from the cable storage apparatus and pushing the cable into the duct;
• a cable straightener unit disposed for engagement with the cable for reducing bends in the cable as the cable advances toward the duct, the cable straightener unit including
• first means engagable with the cable for subjecting the cable to a series of oppositely directed bendings in a first plane as the cable advances toward the duct;
• and
• second means engagable with the cable for subjecting the cable to a series of oppositely directed bendings in a second plane as the cable advances toward the duct.

An apparatus for installing a cable in a duct comprising, in combination:

• a cable insertion unit for introducing a cable into a duct;
• a straightener unit disposed for engagement with the cable for reducing bends in the cable as the cable advances toward the duct, the straightener unit including
• a first set of straightener rollers engagable with the cable for subjecting the cable to a series of oppositely directed bendings in a first plane as the cable advances toward the duct;
• and
• a second set of straightener rollers engagable with the cable for subjecting the cable to a series of oppositely directed bendings in a second plane as the cable advances toward the duct.