A supply system suitable for optical fiber drawing coating

Abstract

The application relates to a feeding system suitable for optical fiber drawing coating, which feeds the feeding system through at least two parallelly arranged storage tanks, compared with two-stage feeding, the multiple storage tanks respectively feeding can effectively prolong the standing time of the coating in the storage tank, effectively eliminating the bubbles in the coating, meanwhile, the coating is filtered through a filter, and a bubble detector and an ultrasonic generator are arranged between a coating module and the filter to detect and eliminate the possible tiny bubbles in the coating, so that the bubbles in the coating are greatly reduced, the accuracy of the detection result of the bubble detection device is improved, and the coating effect is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a feeding system suitable for optical fiber drawing and coating, belonging to the field of optical fiber coating technology. Background Technology

[0002] Existing optical fiber coating and curing methods include UV curing and LED photosensitive curing. The original material supply method was a two-stage supply system consisting of a large tank and a small tank. This resulted in frequent coating changes, high workload, insufficient coating settling time, and an inability to effectively reduce air bubbles. Due to the complex pipelines and numerous valves in each tank, as well as the coating's characteristics (easy solidification), gel formation was easily generated at the valve joints, leading to incomplete utilization of the coating. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a feeding system suitable for optical fiber drawing and coating, which can increase the settling time of the coating to reduce air bubbles, and at the same time detect and eliminate tiny air bubbles in the coating.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a feeding system suitable for optical fiber drawing and coating, the feeding system comprising:

[0005] Coating module, used to coat optical fibers with coatings;

[0006] Two storage groups, one for storing the inner coating of the optical fiber and the other for storing the outer coating of the optical fiber, and each of the storage groups includes at least two storage tanks arranged side by side;

[0007] Two filters are arranged one-to-one with the two material storage groups and are connected to the coating module through a material supply pipe;

[0008] A bubble detector is disposed between the filter and the coating module;

[0009] An ultrasonic generator is disposed between the bubble detector and the coating module to eliminate bubbles detected by the bubble detector. The ultrasonic generator is signal-connected to the bubble detector and is turned on or off according to the detection result of the bubble detector.

[0010] Furthermore, the ultrasonic generator includes an ultrasonic generating element and a connector, the connector being used to install the ultrasonic generating element onto the feeding pipe.

[0011] Furthermore, the ultrasonic generator includes an oscillation circuit, an acoustic amplifier, and a piezoelectric transducer connected in sequence.

[0012] Furthermore, the connector is a T-shaped pipe, which includes a horizontal section and a vertical section. The two ends of the horizontal section are respectively connected to the bubble detector and the coating module. The piezoelectric transducer is inserted into the horizontal section through the vertical section. At least a portion of the vertical section is filled with gas, and an exhaust port is provided at at least a portion of the vertical section. A bubble discharge device is installed at the exhaust port.

[0013] Furthermore, the bubble detector is an optical fiber sensor, and the light-emitting part and the detection part of the optical fiber sensor are symmetrically arranged inside the feeding pipe.

[0014] Furthermore, the feeding system also includes an air supply component, which is connected to the storage tank via an air supply pipeline. The air supply component injects gas into the storage tank to move the coating material toward the coating module.

[0015] Furthermore, the feeding system also includes a rinsing assembly, which includes a water supply structure and a circulating water path connecting the filter and the coating module.

[0016] Furthermore, the water supply structure includes a water supply tank and a water pump connected to the water supply tank;

[0017] The circulating water circuit includes an inlet section and an outlet section connected to each other. The inlet section is connected to the water pump, and the outlet section is connected to the filter, the coating module, and the water supply tank.

[0018] The circulating water path generates water flow from the water supply tank into the inlet section under the action of the water pump, then flows through the outlet section, sequentially through the filter and the coating module, and then flows back to the water supply tank; or it flows through the outlet section, sequentially through the coating module and the filter, and then flows back to the water supply tank.

[0019] or;

[0020] The circulating water circuit includes one inlet section and two outlet sections connected to each other. The inlet section is connected to the water pump, and one of the two outlet sections is connected to the filter and the water supply tank, while the other is connected to the coating module and the water supply tank.

[0021] The circulating water path generates water flow from the water supply tank into the inlet section under the action of the water pump, then flows through the two outlet sections, passes through the filter and the coating module respectively, and finally flows back to the water supply tank.

[0022] Furthermore, the air supply assembly is connected to the circulation branch between the water pump and the filter, and / or the air supply assembly is connected to the circulation branch between the water pump and the coating module.

[0023] Furthermore, the feeding system also includes a heating component that covers the outside of the storage tank.

[0024] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This application uses at least two parallel storage tanks to supply material to the feeding system. Compared with two-stage feeding, using multiple storage tanks to supply material separately can effectively increase the settling time of the coating in the storage tanks and effectively eliminate air bubbles in the coating. At the same time, the coating is filtered by a filter, and a bubble detector and an ultrasonic generator are set between the coating module and the filter to detect and eliminate any tiny air bubbles that may exist in the coating. This not only greatly reduces the number of air bubbles in the coating, but also improves the accuracy of the detection results of the bubble detection device, thereby improving the coating effect of the coating.

[0025] The above description is merely an overview of the technical solution of the present invention. In order to better understand the technical means of the present invention and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a feeding system for optical fiber drawing and coating, as shown in one embodiment of this application.

[0027] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a medium-intensity ultrasonic generator. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0029] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0030] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0031] Please refer to Figures 1 to 2 This application provides a feeding system (hereinafter referred to as "feeding system") suitable for optical fiber drawing and coating. The feeding system includes a coating module 1, two storage groups, two filters 2, a bubble detector 5, an ultrasonic generator 6, an air supply component, and a rinsing component 4. The coating module 1 is used to coat the optical fiber with coating material. The coating module 1 can be a coating cup or a coating mold. It includes two parts: internal coating and external coating of the optical fiber. This is prior art and will not be described in detail here.

[0032] The optical fiber is stored in two groups, one for storing the inner coating and the other for storing the outer coating. Each group includes at least two parallel storage tanks 3. The inner coating is applied to the surface of the optical fiber to protect and enhance its optical performance. The inner coating is typically composed of a high-refractive-index material to improve optical signal transmission efficiency and protect the fiber core. The outer coating is applied over the inner coating to protect the optical fiber and provide mechanical support. The outer coating is typically composed of a low-refractive-index material to reduce light loss and protect the optical fiber from external environmental influences.

[0033] In this embodiment, each storage group includes two storage tanks 3. Each storage tank 3 is a circular tank with a volume of not less than 95L, preferably 280L. The top of each storage tank 3 is equipped with a feeding port 31, a discharge port 32, and an air inlet 33. The discharge ports 32 of the two storage tanks 3 are connected to a three-way connector 72 via a one-way valve 71. The three-way connector 72 is connected to a filter 2, and the one-way valve 71 controls the supply of material to the filter 2 from one of the two tanks. By directly supplying material from the 280L storage tank 3, the requirements for precast rod drawing with a theoretical length of 2000KM can be fully met. While one storage tank 3 is supplying material, the other storage tank 3 can achieve a settling time of more than 12 hours. In contrast, the original supply method involved a single tank of coating material settling, requiring approximately four switching trips between tanks for each precast rod, with a settling time of only about 4 hours per tank. This significantly increases the settling time of the coating material and effectively reduces air bubbles. Of course, in other embodiments, multiple smaller storage tanks 3 can also be selected, as long as they can meet the usage requirements and improve the static time of the storage tanks 3. No specific limitation is made here.

[0034] Meanwhile, in order to prevent the coating from solidifying due to prolonged standing, a heating component is installed outside the storage tank 3. The heating component covers the outside of the storage tank 3. Specifically, the heating component can be a heating blanket, heating belt, or other heating device that can be arranged around the storage tank 3. In addition, to further ensure that the coating reduces temperature changes, a heating tape is attached to the outside of the supply pipe 7.

[0035] The air inlets 33 of the two storage tanks 3 are connected to the solenoid valve 8 via the one-way valve 71. The solenoid valve 8 is located on the air supply line. The air supply assembly is connected to the storage tanks 3 via the air supply line. The air supply assembly injects gas into the storage tanks 3 to move the paint towards the coating module 1. The air supply assembly mainly provides nitrogen gas. The nitrogen gas enters the designated storage tank 3 through the solenoid valve 8 to force the paint out of the paint tank. The paint then enters the single-way connector through the outlet 32 ​​of the storage tank 3 and reaches the filter 2. At the same time, in order to facilitate pressure relief, a vent 34 is provided on the top of the storage tank 3. A pressure relief valve is installed on the vent 34. When the pressure relief valve is opened, the gas in the storage tank 3 can flow out from the vent 34 to maintain a good air pressure state during standing, which facilitates the elimination of air bubbles. At the same time, the filling port 31 can be easily opened when adding material. When the pressure relief valve is closed, the storage tank 3 is kept in a sealed state. The gas supply component injects nitrogen into the tank to create a pressure difference with the outside, so as to force the paint out of the storage tank 3.

[0036] In addition, to facilitate the monitoring of the paint level in the storage tank 3, a liquid level sensor 35 is installed on the storage tank 3 to enable real-time detection of the remaining paint level in the storage tank 3.

[0037] Two filters 2 are arranged one-to-one with two material storage groups and are connected to the coating module 1 through the material supply pipe 7. The filters 2 are backwash filters 2, used to filter impurities such as gel, which is existing technology and will not be described in detail here.

[0038] A bubble detector 5 is installed between the filter 2 and the coating module 1. After the coating has been left to stand, large bubbles are basically absent, but small bubbles may still appear. Therefore, a bubble detector 5 is installed between the filter 2 and the coating module 1. The bubble detector 5 is a fiber optic sensor. The light-emitting part and the detection part of the fiber optic sensor are symmetrically arranged in the feed pipe 7. Light is emitted from the light-emitting part of the fiber optic sensor, penetrates the coating, and enters the detection part of the fiber optic sensor. The presence of bubbles in the liquid is determined by the change in the intensity of the light, and this information is fed back to the ultrasonic generator 6. The ultrasonic generator 6 calculates the time it takes for the coating to reach the ultrasonic generator 6 based on the flow rate of the coating and the distance between the ultrasonic generator 6 and the bubble detector 5. When a small bubble reaches the ultrasonic generator 6, the ultrasonic generator 6 is activated to eliminate the small bubble at a specific point. This avoids the need for the ultrasonic generator 6 to be in the activated state throughout the feeding process, reducing the impact on the coating performance, while simultaneously eliminating the small bubbles.

[0039] In addition, to facilitate control of the coating supply speed, a pneumatic valve 73 and a pressure sensor 74 are installed on the supply pipe 7. The pressure sensor 74 measures the coating flow rate, and the pneumatic valve 73 adjusts the flow rate of the supply pipe 7 and the amount of gas injected into the storage tank 3 by the air supply component to regulate the coating flow rate. This is prior art and will not be described in detail here.

[0040] An ultrasonic generator 6 is positioned between the bubble detector 5 and the coating module 1 to eliminate bubbles detected by the bubble detector 5. The ultrasonic generator 6 is signal-connected to the bubble detector 5 and is turned on or off according to the detection result of the bubble detector 5.

[0041] The ultrasonic generator 6 includes an ultrasonic generating element 62 and a connector, which is used to install the ultrasonic generating element 62 onto the feeding pipe 7. The ultrasonic generating element 62 includes an oscillation circuit 621, an acoustic amplifier 622, and a piezoelectric transducer 623 connected in sequence. The oscillation circuit 621 generates high-frequency electrical signals and is typically made of materials such as piezoelectric crystals or quartz crystals. The acoustic amplifier 622 controls the electrical signals generated by the oscillator, allowing adjustment of parameters such as frequency and amplitude. The piezoelectric transducer 623 converts electrical energy into mechanical vibration energy, thereby generating ultrasonic waves.

[0042] The connector is a T-joint 61, which includes a horizontal section 612 and a vertical section 611. The two ends of the horizontal section 612 are connected to the bubble detector 5 and the coating module 1, respectively. The piezoelectric transducer 623 is inserted into the horizontal section 612 through the vertical section 611. At least a portion of the vertical section 611 is filled with gas, and an exhaust port is provided at at least a portion of the vertical section 611. A bubble discharge device 63 is installed at the exhaust port. The vertical section 611 is filled with gas. When the feeding system is working, the coating moves under pressure, which compresses the gas in the vertical section 611. However, since the vertical section 611 is in a sealed state, there is always a space filled with gas at the top of the vertical section 611. When the ultrasonic generator 6 is working, the gas in the bubbles moves upward into the vertical section 611 under the action of gravity and is collected at the top of the vertical section 611, thus realizing the elimination and collection of bubbles and avoiding the presence of bubbles in the coating that affect the coating effect.

[0043] Furthermore, to better collect the gas in the bubbles, the inner wall of the end of the horizontal section 612 connected to the filter 2 can be divided into two symmetrical inner walls made of two different materials. The lower half is made of a hydrophilic material, and the upper half is made of a hydrophobic material. When the coating containing bubbles passes through this section, the bubbles move upwards and closer to the vertical section 611 under the simultaneous action of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials. When the bubbles dissipate, the gas is more easily collected into the vertical section 611. The hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials can be selected as needed, as long as they react with the coating.

[0044] The bubble discharge device 63 can be a pressure relief valve or a bubble collector, etc., used to periodically discharge a portion of the gas in the vertical section 611 to prevent excessive gas in the vertical section 611 from being discharged from the feed pipe 7. This is existing technology and will not be described in detail here.

[0045] The feeding system also includes a rinsing assembly 4, which comprises a water supply structure and a circulating water path connecting the filter 2 and the coating module 1. The water supply structure includes a water tank and a water pump connected to the water tank. The circulating water path includes an inlet section and an outlet section connected to each other. The inlet section connects to the water pump, and the outlet section connects to the filter 2, the coating module 1, and the water tank. The water tank is a constant-temperature water bath, providing constant-temperature hot water to rinse the filter 2 and the coating module 1 during the rinsing process, preventing coating solidification caused by temperature changes.

[0046] In this embodiment, since the coating temperature is constant, the circulating water path, driven by the water pump, generates a flow from the water supply tank into the inlet section, then through the outlet section, sequentially passing through filter 2 and coating module 1 before returning to the water supply tank. This flow washes away the impurities and gels filtered out of filter 2, as well as the residual coating in coating module 1 and the supply pipeline. Alternatively, the water can flow sequentially through coating module 1 and filter 2 before returning to the water supply tank. In this way, the impurities and gels in filter 2 are directly flushed into the water supply tank, preventing residues in coating module 1 and the supply pipeline.

[0047] Furthermore, it should be noted that the filters 2 corresponding to the external coating and the internal coating are connected sequentially. Further, the supply pipe 7 and the circulating water circuit have a partial overlap, specifically the section between the filter 2 and the coating module 1. This section of the pipe can share the supply pipe 7. This arrangement reduces the amount of gel generated at the supply pipe 7, the bubble detector 5, the ultrasonic generator, and some valves, thus avoiding interference with coating transfer and detection.

[0048] In other embodiments, if the coating temperature is not constant, the circulating water path includes an inlet section and two outlet sections connected together. The inlet section is connected to a water pump, and one of the two outlet sections is connected to the filter 2 and the water supply tank, while the other is connected to the coating module 1 and the water supply tank. Under the action of the water pump, the circulating water path generates water flow from the water supply tank into the inlet section, then through the two outlet sections, passing through the filter 2 and the coating module 1 respectively, before returning to the water supply tank. Simultaneously, to provide rinsing water at different temperatures, the water supply tank is configured as two tanks, each providing rinsing water at a different temperature to the filter 2 and the coating module 1 respectively.

[0049] In this embodiment, the air supply component is connected to the circulation branch between the water pump and the filter 2. After the rinsing component 4 finishes rinsing, gas is injected into the circulation water path through the air supply component. The gas passes through the filter 2 and the coating module 1 in sequence to carry the residual rinsing water in the circulation water path into the water supply tank, thus preventing the residual rinsing water from affecting the concentration of the coating. Of course, the air supply component can also be connected to the circulation branch between the water pump and the coating module 1. When the air supply component injects gas, the gas passes through the coating module 1 and the filter 2 in sequence to carry the residual rinsing water in the circulation water path into the water supply tank.

[0050] In other embodiments, when the coating temperature is not constant, the air supply component is connected to the circulation branch between the water pump and the coating module 1 and the circulation branch between the water pump and the filter 2. After the rinsing component 4 has finished rinsing, the air supply component is used to rinse the filter 2 and the coating module 1 with residual rinsing water.

[0051] It should be noted that when the air supply assembly rinses the residual rinsing water in the water pump and coating module 1, nitrogen or filtered air can be used. In addition, to ensure the temperature of the filter 2 and coating module 1, the air supply assembly also includes a heating element for heating the gas entering the filter 2 and coating module 1.

[0052] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0053] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this invention patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A feeding system suitable for optical fiber drawing and coating, characterized in that, The feeding system includes: Coating module, used to coat optical fibers with coatings; Two storage groups, one for storing the inner coating of the optical fiber and the other for storing the outer coating of the optical fiber, and each of the storage groups includes at least two storage tanks arranged side by side; Two filters are arranged one-to-one with the two material storage groups and are connected to the coating module through a material supply pipe; A bubble detector is disposed between the filter and the coating module. The bubble detector is an optical fiber sensor, and the light-emitting part and the detection part of the optical fiber sensor are symmetrically arranged in the feeding pipe. An ultrasonic generator is disposed between the bubble detector and the coating module to eliminate bubbles detected by the bubble detector. The ultrasonic generator is signal-connected to the bubble detector and is turned on or off according to the detection result of the bubble detector. The ultrasonic generator includes an ultrasonic generating element and a connector. The connector is used to install the ultrasonic generating element onto the feeding pipe. The ultrasonic generating element includes an oscillation circuit, an acoustic amplifier, and a piezoelectric transducer connected in sequence. The connector is a T-junction pipe, which includes a horizontal section and a vertical section. The two ends of the horizontal section are respectively connected to the bubble detector and the coating module. The piezoelectric transducer is inserted into the horizontal section through the vertical section. At least a portion of the vertical section is filled with gas, and an exhaust port is provided at at least a portion of the vertical section. A bubble discharge element is installed at the exhaust port.

2. The feeding system for optical fiber drawing and coating as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding system also includes an air supply component, which is connected to the storage tank via an air supply pipeline. The air supply component injects gas into the storage tank to move the coating material toward the coating module.

3. The feeding system for optical fiber drawing and coating as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The feeding system also includes a rinsing component, which includes a water supply structure and a circulating water path connecting the filter and the coating module.

4. The feeding system for optical fiber drawing and coating as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The water supply structure includes a water supply tank and a water pump connected to the water supply tank; The circulating water circuit includes an inlet section and an outlet section connected to each other. The inlet section is connected to the water pump, and the outlet section is connected to the filter, the coating module, and the water supply tank. The circulating water path generates water flow from the water supply tank into the inlet section under the action of the water pump, then flows through the outlet section sequentially through the filter and the coating module before returning to the water supply tank; or flows through the outlet section sequentially through the coating module and the filter before returning to the water supply tank. or; The circulating water circuit includes one inlet section and two outlet sections connected to each other. The inlet section is connected to the water pump, and one of the two outlet sections is connected to the filter and the water supply tank, while the other is connected to the coating module and the water supply tank. The circulating water path generates water flow from the water supply tank into the inlet section under the action of the water pump, then flows through the two outlet sections, passes through the filter and the coating module respectively, and finally flows back to the water supply tank.

5. The feeding system for optical fiber drawing and coating as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The air supply assembly is connected to the circulating water line between the water pump and the filter, and / or the air supply assembly is connected to the circulating water line between the water pump and the coating module.

6. The feeding system for optical fiber drawing and coating as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding system also includes a heating component, which is wrapped around the outside of the storage tank.

Images