Method of marking optical fiber lay direction reversal points on cable jackets

Claim 1

In a method for marking an optical fiber cable sheath, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a moveable lay device, optical fiber carriers, and a central member; (b) moving the lay device to strand the carriers and to make carrier lay direction reversal points about the central member; (c) generating carrier lay direction reversal information in response to reversing the direction of the lay device; (d) locating a fix point at which the carrier lay direction reversal points are substantially established with respect to the central member; (e) forming a sheath about the carriers and the central member; (f) providing a sheath marker device operative to mark the sheath; (g) measuring an offset distance, the offset distance being defined as a distance between the sheath marker device and the fix point; (h) providing a measurement device which measures position data of the central member, the data indicating the current length passing a measurement point; (i) responsive to the reversal information, entering into a memory the sum of the current length and the offset distance, and then comparing the sum to the current length; and (j) when the current length is equal to the sum, activating the marking device whereby the marking device marks the sheath.