Optical Fiber Coating Thickness Control During Velocity Transitions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
During the manufacturing of optical fibers, the transmission characteristics deviate from the predetermined range until the glass fiber reaches a steady production drawing speed, leading to waste of resin and potential breakage of the fiber.
Innovation Solution
A method involving coating a first resin on a glass fiber and curing it, with specific velocity and coating thickness adjustments, including increasing the velocity of the glass fiber in stages and maintaining the resin coating thickness ratio between stages to prevent breakage and minimize resin waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the resin coating thickness is reduced during velocity increase to minimize waste, then resin waste is reduced, but the glass fiber becomes exposed to external air and easily damaged, causing breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the resin coating thickness based on the drawing velocity stage. During the velocity increase period, the coating thickness is set to a first thickness that provides adequate protection, while during steady-state drawing, it transitions to a second, reduced thickness. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by ensuring sufficient coating during vulnerable transition phases while minimizing waste during stable production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the resin coating thickness a dynamic parameter rather than a fixed value. The coating thickness changes according to the drawing velocity profile: thicker coating during acceleration phases when the fiber is most vulnerable, and thinner coating during steady-state operation. This dynamic adjustment strategy allows the system to optimize both protection and waste reduction at different operational stages.
2Reliability
If the resin coating thickness is maintained constant during velocity increase, then the glass fiber is protected from breakage, but resin waste increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by changing the resin coating thickness parameter based on operational phase. During the velocity increase period, a first thickness is applied to ensure protection, while during steady-state drawing at the third velocity, a second, optimized thickness is applied to reduce waste. This parameter adaptation allows the system to maintain reliability when needed while minimizing material consumption during efficient operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the drawing process into distinct phases with different coating requirements: an acceleration phase requiring thicker coating for protection, and a steady-state phase allowing thinner coating for waste reduction. By segmenting the process and applying appropriate coating thickness to each phase, the system achieves both protection during vulnerable periods and waste minimization during stable production.
3Productivity
If the drawing velocity is increased rapidly to improve productivity, then production efficiency increases, but transmission characteristics deviate and fiber breakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing a structured velocity profile with distinct phases: an initial low-velocity period for stable coating application, a controlled acceleration phase, and a final steady-state high-velocity period. This periodic velocity modulation ensures that the fiber and coating are properly established before increasing speed, preventing transmission characteristic deviations while still achieving high productivity in the steady-state phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing low-velocity drawing and coating application before increasing to high drawing velocity. This preliminary phase ensures that the resin coating is properly applied and cured on the glass fiber before the mechanical stresses of high-speed drawing begin, preventing transmission characteristic deviations and breakage during the transition to high productivity operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method reduces resin waste and prevents optical fiber breakage by optimizing the resin coating thickness and velocity adjustments during the manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
curing the resin by ultraviolet irradiation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for manufacturing an optical fiber coats a first resin on a glass fiber drawn from a glass base material, and cures the first resin to form a first coating. The method includes causing the glass fiber to travel at a first velocity during a first time period, increasing the velocity from the first velocity to a second velocity during a second time period following the first time period, and maintaining the velocity at the second velocity during a third time period following the second time period. A relationship 1.0<TB2/TB1<=11.0 stands, where TB1 denotes a thickness of the first coating in the increasing, from a start of coating the first resin to a time when the velocity reaches a third velocity higher than the first velocity and lower than the second velocity, and TB2 denotes a thickness of the first coating in the maintaining.