Methods of and apparatus for coating lightguide fiber

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said forces are substantially equal and are uniformly distributed in a plane about the outer periphery of the die adjacent to the orifice.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1, wherein said forces are applied through corresponding portions of a plurality of substantially planar members which are moved simultaneously individually to increase or to decrease the forces which are applied to the die.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3, wherein as the planar members are moved to increase or to decrease the forces, different corresponding portions of the planar members engage the periphery of the die.

Claim 6

Apparatus for coating lightguide fiber, said apparatus comprising: a die having a passageway extending therethrough from an entrance end to an exit orifice, said die being made of a material which is sufficiently flexible to allow the cross-sectional size and configuration of the orifice to be changed by the controlled application of forces about the periphery of an end of said die which is adjacent to said exit orifice; holding means for supporting the die aligned with a path of travel of the fiber; means for supplying a coating material to said die; moving means for advancing the fiber through said die along a path of travel which is aligned with said passageway to cause the fiber to be coated with the coating material; means for measuring the diameter of the coated fiber; and means actuated in response to the measured diameter of the coated fiber for applying forces in a controlled manner substantially in a plane about the periphery of the end of said die which is adjacent to said exit orifice to regulate the size and configuration of said orifice and cause the coated fiber to have a predetermined diameter.

Claim 7

Apparatus for coating lightguide fiber, said apparatus comprising: a die having a passageway extending therethrough from an entrance end to an exit orifice, said die being made of a material which is sufficiently flexible to allow the cross-sectional size and configuration of the orifice to be changed by the controlled application of forces about the periphery of an end of said die which is adjacent to said exit orifice; holding means for supporting the die aligned with a path of travel of the fiber; means for supplying a coating material to said die; moving means for advancing the fiber through said die along a path of travel which is aligned with said passageway to cause the fiber to be coated with the coating material; means for measuring the diameter of the coated fiber; and means actuated in response to the measured diameter of the coated fiber for applying forces in a controlled manner substantially in a plane about the periphery of the end of said die which is adjacent to said exit orifice to regulate the size and configuration of said orifice and cause the coated fiber to have a predetermined diameter.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said passageway is tapered to cause its diameter to decrease in the direction of travel of the lightguide fiber.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said passageway includes in the direction of travel of the fiber a first portion having a constant diameter and a second portion which communicates with the first portion and which has a diameter that decreases in the direction of the path of travel of the fiber.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said die includes a flange and said holding means includes a housing having a mounting portion threadably turned thereinto, said mounting portion having an opening therethrough for receiving said die with said flange of said die engaging said portion.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said means for applying forces includes: a first annular member having a plurality of openings formed through the annular member and disposed in spaced relation to one another about the periphery of a circle; a plurality of arcuately shaped leaves, each of said leaves having a first pin extending in one direction from one end and a second pin extending from the other end in an opposite direction, said leaves being supported in said first annular member such that said first pin of each is received in one of said plurality of openings; and a second annular member having a plurality of slots formed radially therethrough, said second annular member being mounted on said first annular member such that the second pin of each of said leaves is received in one of said slots, said leaves being disposed between said first and second annular members to provide an opening which is aligned with the path of travel of the fiber, said die being mounted such that said end of said die which is adjacent to said exit orifice of said passageway extends through said opening among said leaves; and means for turning said second annular member relative to said first to cause the other end of each of said leaves to be mounted in an arcuate circumferential direction to restrict or to enlarge said opening which is formed by said leaves.