Methods of adjusting the configuration of optical substrates

Claim 1

A method of straightening optical glass substrates from which optical fiber is to be drawn, the method being effective notwithstanding differing diameters among successive substrates to be straightened by said method, said method including the steps of: supporting end portions of an elongated optical glass, substantially circular substrate so that said substrate is capable of rotation about an axis of rotation which extends through the end portions thereof; causing the substrate to be turned rotatably about the axis of rotation, the rotating of a substrate which is not substantially straight causing portions of the substrate to be at a greater radial distance from the axis of rotation than are other portions of the substrate; moving a force-applying contact means which will subsequently engage the substrate and which is effective to straighten the substrate for causing the substrate to be disposed concentrically about the axis of rotation, said movement being in a forward direction parallel to the axis of rotation; while heating successive increments of length of the substrate in a manner to cause the substrate to be capable of being straightened by the force-applying means by causing the temperature of the increments of the substrate to be sufficiently high to allow straightening of each increment of the substrate upon continuous engagement of the force-applying means with the periphery of said each increment of the substrate while rotating for a predetermined time which will insure circularity of each said increment, causing the force-applying means to be moved continuously inwardly toward the axis of rotation to a reference point spaced outside the largest expected radial distance which distance is measured from the axis of rotation to an outer surface of the substrate and then to be moved, in a first mode of contact, in incremental steps of forward and then inward movement toward the axis of rotation until a portion of the substrate and the force-applying means engage each other along a portion of the circumference; as the rotation of said substrate causes a portion of said substrate which is at a lesser distance from the axis of rotation than a preceding adjacent portion of the substrate to move away from said force applying contact means, causing the force-applying means to be moved further gradually and incrementally forward and inward in a second mode of contact toward the axis of rotation in incremental steps which are substantially less than the steps of the first mode until the force-applying means has remained in continuous engagement with a predetermined portion of the periphery of an increment of length of the rotating substrate which is sufficient to insure that the increment of length of the substrate is disposed concentrically about the axis of rotation; and cooling the force-applying means to establish a setting of the glass of the successive increments of length of the substrate after said successive increments of length have been straightened; wherein said force-applying contact means comprises a member having a solid portion of said member in physical contact with said substrate to effect the engaging of the substrate.

Claim 2

A method of straightening optical glass substrates from which optical fiber is to be drawn, the method being effective notwithstanding differing diameters among successive substrates to be straightened by said method, said method including the steps of: supporting end portions of an elongated optical glass, substantially circular substrate so that said substrate is capable of rotation about an axis of rotation which extends through the end portions thereof; causing the substrate to be turned rotatably about the axis of rotation, the rotating of a substrate which is not substantially straight causing portions of the substrate to be at a greater radial distance from the axis of rotation than are other portions of the substrate; moving a force-applying contact means which will subsequently engage the substrate and which is effective to straighten the substrate for causing the substrate to be disposed concentrically about the axis of rotation, said movement being in a forward direction parallel to the axis of rotation; while heating successive increments of length of the substrate in a manner to cause the substrate to be capable of being straightened by the force-applying means by causing the temperature of the increments of the substrate to be sufficiently high to allow straightening of each increment of the substrate upon continuous engagement of the force-applying means with the periphery of said each increment of the substrate while rotating for a predetermined time which will insure circularity of each said increment, causing the force-applying means to be moved continuously inwardly toward the axis of rotation to a reference point spaced outside the largest expected radial distance which distance is measured from the axis of rotation to an outer surface of the substrate and then to be moved, in a first mode of contact, in incremental steps of forward and then inward movement toward the axis of rotation until a portion of the substrate and the force-applying means engage each other along a portion of the circumference; as the rotation of said substrate causes a portion of said substrate which is at a lesser distance from the axis of rotation than a preceding adjacent portion of the substrate to move away from said force applying contact means, causing the force-applying means to be moved further gradually and incrementally forward and inward in a second mode of contact toward the axis of rotation in incremental steps which are substantially less than the steps of the first mode until the force-applying means has remained in continuous engagement with a predetermined portion of the periphery of an increment of length of the rotating substrate which is sufficient to insure that the increment of length of the substrate is disposed concentrically about the axis of rotation; and cooling the force-applying means to establish a setting of the glass of the successive increments of length of the substrate after said successive increments of length have been straightened; wherein said force-applying contact means comprises a member having a solid portion of said member in physical contact with said substrate to effect the engaging of the substrate.