Method and apparatus for curing a fiber having at least two fiber coating curing stages

An apparatus for curing a coated optical fiber, comprising:

• a first on line coating curing stage, responsive to a coated optical fiber, wherein said first curing stage partially cures a first layer of a coating of said coated optical fiber;
• a cooling stage having at least one coating cooling device, responsive to said coated optical fiber after said fiber exits said first curing stage;
• a second on line caring stage, responsive to said coated optical fiber after said fiber exits said cooling stage, wherein said second curing stage completely cures said first layer of said coating of said coated optical fiber;
• a coater which coats said coated optical fiber with a second coating over said first coating;
• a third on line coating curing stage, responsive to said coated optical fiber, wherein said third curing stage partially cures said second coating;
• and
• a fourth on line curing stage, responsive to said coated optical fiber, wherein said fourth curing stage completely cures said second coating.

A multistage curing, cooling and curing apparatus for curing, cooling and curing a drawn coated fiber, comprising:

• an on line partial fiber coating curing device, responsive to the coated fiber, for partially curing a first layer of said coated fiber;
• an on line active cooling device, located a predetermined distance downstream of said partial fiber coating curing device and responsive to the partially cured coated fiber, for actively cooling the partially cured coated fiber passing though said cooling device, and providing an actively cooled partially cured coated fiber having an actively cooled partially cured coating;
• an on line total fiber coating curing device, responsive to the actively cooled partially cured coated fiber, for totally curing said first layer of said coated fiber, wherein said curing devices are located along a line of draw of said coated fiber;
• a coarer which coats said coated optical fiber with a second coating over said first coating;
• a third on line coating curing stage, responsive to said coated optical fiber, wherein said third curing stage partially cures said second coating;
• and
• a fourth on line curing stage, responsive to said coated optical fiber, wherein said fourth curing stage completely cures said second coating.

A multistage curing, cooling and curing apparatus for curing, cooling and curing a drawn fiber, comprising:

• a first on line coater, responsive to the fiber, for providing a coated fiber with a first coating layer;
• an on line partial fiber coating curing device, responsive to the coated fiber, for partially curing said first coating layer of said coated fiber;
• an on line active cooling device, located a predetermined distance downstream of said coating curing device and responsive to the partially cured coated fiber, for actively cooling the partially cured coated fiber passing through all around the circumference thereof, and providing an actively cooled partially cured coated fiber having an actively cooled partially cured first coating layer all around the coated fiber;
• an on line total fiber coating curing device, responsive to the cooling partially cured coated fiber, for totally curing said first coating layer of said coated fiber having a totally cured single coating layer all around the coated fiber, wherein said curing devices are located along a line of draw of said fiber;
• a second on line coater which Coats said coated optical fiber with a second coating over said first coating;
• a third on line coating curing stage, responsive to said coated optical fiber, wherein said third curing stage partially cures said second coating;
• and
• a fourth on line curing stage, responsive to said coated optical fiber, wherein said fourth curing stage completely cures said second coating.

An apparatus for coating an optical fiber as said optical fiber moves along a draw line, comprising;

• a first on line coating applicator for coating said optical fiber with a first coating layer;
• a first on line curing device, located downstream of said coating applicator, for partially curing said first coating layer;
• a first on line cooling device, located a predetermined distance downstream of said first curing device, for cooling said partially cured first coating layer;
• a second on line curing device, located downstream of said first cooling stage, for further curing said first coating layer, wherein said first and second curing devices are located along said draw line such that said first coating layer is cured around an entire periphery thereof;
• a second on line coating applicator which coats said coated optical fiber with a second coating over said first coating;
• a third on line coating curing stage, responsive to said coated optical fiber, wherein said third curing stage partially cures said second coating;
• and
• a fourth on line curing stage, responsive to said coated optical fiber, wherein said fourth curing stage completely cures said second coating.