Backup Winding in Optical Fiber Drawing After Tensile-Screen Breaks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical fiber drawing processes face prolonged returning times and inefficiencies when fibers break during tensile-screening due to the need for continuous suction and reduced drawing speeds, especially at high speeds.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a backup winding device between the capstan and tensioning mechanism to temporarily wind broken fibers, combined with a suction device to capture and secure the fiber for immediate winding, allowing high-speed continuation of the drawing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the optical fiber is broken during tensile-screening, then threading must be performed by capturing the fiber with a suction device and moving it to a predetermined component, but this increases the returning time significantly (e.g., 10 seconds)
Solution Approach 1:
The suction device is positioned in advance at multiple locations (first position near the breaking point, second position near the tensile-screening device) along the optical fiber path. When breaking is detected, the system activates the appropriate pre-positioned suction device to immediately capture the broken end, eliminating the need for time-consuming movement from a distant location and reducing returning time
Solution Approach 2:
The suction device acts as an intermediary component that bridges the gap between the breaking point and the tensile-screening device. By having suction devices strategically positioned along the fiber path, the system creates intermediate capture points that facilitate faster redirection of broken fibers to the tensile-screening device, reducing overall handling time
2Productivity
If the drawing speed is high (2000-3000 m/min), then productivity is improved, but the suction device must suck a large amount of optical fiber which it is likely not to entirely suck
Solution Approach 1:
The suction system is divided into multiple independent suction devices positioned at different locations along the optical fiber path. Each suction device is responsible for capturing fiber within its local zone. This segmentation allows the system to handle high-speed drawing by distributing the suction workload across multiple devices, ensuring complete capture even at high speeds where a single device would be overwhelmed
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple suction devices are deployed along the fiber path, creating redundant capture capability. This excessive action ensures that even if one suction device cannot entirely suck the fiber at high speeds, other devices are positioned to capture the fiber, guaranteeing complete capture and preventing fiber loss
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
Facilitates rapid resumption of fiber drawing and screening by minimizing the need for continuous suction and reducing the downtime associated with fiber breaks, even at high drawing speeds.
Implementation Method 1
a suction device is activated at a first position, moves in two dimensions, and then sucks and captures the optical fiber
Implementation Method 2
a drawing furnace configured to heat and soften an optical fiber base material and configured to draw the optical fiber
Data Source
AI summary
An optical fiber drawing apparatus includes a drawing furnace configured to heat and soften an optical fiber base material and configured to draw the optical fiber, a capstan configured to pull and transport the optical fiber, a winding device configured to wind the optical fiber, a tensioning mechanism arranged between the capstan and the winding device and configured to test a strength of the optical fiber by tensioning the optical fiber, and a backup winding device arranged between the capstan and the tensioning mechanism and configured to temporarily wind the optical fiber when the optical fiber is broken.