Process and device for coating at least one optical waveguide

Details Process and device for coating at least one optical waveguide Process and device for coating at least one optical waveguide

1996-06-21

1998-04-28

Pianalto, Bernard

Coating processes

Optical element produced

Polarizer, windshield, optical fiber, projection screen, or...

118125, 118405, 118420, 118602, 427356, 427402, 4274344, 4274347, B05D 506

Patent

active

057441944

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a process for coating at least one optical waveguide with a filling compound with the coating being undertaken in at least two successive filling stages and part of the filling compound being wiped off by means of a wiping device of reduced cross section between the filling stages.
A process of this kind is disclosed by EP 0 532 999. There, the filling compound is fed to a first filling chamber which is connected to a second filling chamber via a passage nozzle for the optical waveguide (or the optical waveguide bundle). This second filling chamber is located offset or upstream from the first filling chamber in a direction opposite or counter to the passage direction, of the waveguide and is connected to the first filling chamber via a bypass. As a result, it is possible for filling compound to be guided past the optical waveguide counter or opposite to the passage direction of the waveguide. Between the two filling stages, a wiping off of the filling compound takes place, which is achieved by means of a correspondingly reduced cross section of the passage nozzle. The position which the optical waveguide assumes inside the filling compound is not more closely defined, since the second filling stage has an outlet opening which is as large as is required by the desired material thickness of the filling compound.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the object of configuring the filling process to be as effective as possible and of ensuring a largely defined position of the optical waveguide within the filling compound. This object is achieved in the case of a process of the type mentioned at the outset by a proportion of the filling compound which is wiped off in the region of the wiping device being led past the optical waveguide via a bypass in the passage direction or direction of movement of the wavguide and subsequently being fed once more to coat the coated optical waveguide in the second filling stage.
Whereas, in the prior art according to EP 0 532 999, the filling compound is moved through the bypass in the passage direction counter to that of the optical waveguide, the bypass according to the invention represents a bridging over of the wiping device, that is to say part of the filling compound moves in the bypass in the same direction as the already coated optical waveguide (that is to say, in the passage direction). Via the bypass, a proportion of the filling compound is subsequently fed once more, specifically to the partially coated optical waveguide which is defined in terms of its position by the wiping device, in particular is centered. As a result it is possible to provide a sufficient quantity of filling compound for the optical waveguide, that is to say to guarantee good and secure embedding and at the same time to ensure that a defined position of the optical waveguide within the filling compound can be maintained.
The invention relates furthermore to a device for carrying out the process according to the invention, which is characterized in that a bypass is provided in the region of the wiping device, through which bypass a proportion of the filling compound which is wiped off can be led past the wiping device.
Other developments of the invention are reproduced in subclaims.
The invention and its developments are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings in which exemplary embodiments are shown.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a filling device, operating in accordance with the process of the present invention;
FIG. 1A is a transverse cross sectional view of a waveguide produced according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross sectional view of the wiping device and bypass according to FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the left end of the wiping device of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on lines IV--IV of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal cross sectional view of another embodiment of the wiping devic

REFERENCES:
patent: 4474638 (1984-10-01), Einsle
patent: 4810429 (1989-03-01), Mayr

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Process and device for coating at least one optical waveguide does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Process and device for coating at least one optical waveguide, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Process and device for coating at least one optical waveguide will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1530198