Optical Fiber Drawing End Detection Using Linear Speed Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing optical fiber struggle with rapid increases in linear speed at the drawing end due to changes in glass viscosity, leading to inaccurate determination of the ineffective portion, resulting in waste of the effective portion.
Innovation Solution
A method that controls the linear speed of optical fiber production with a constant target value, using a predetermined decrease in speed to determine the drawing end, considering the effective and ineffective portions, and adjusting feeding, heating, and winding speeds to maintain stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the linear speed is allowed to rapidly increase when the ineffective portion is reached, then the drawing process continues without interruption, but the determination of the drawing end becomes inaccurate and the effective portion is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by detecting a preliminary sign (linear speed decrease) before the harmful effect (rapid speed increase) occurs. When the linear speed decreases by a predetermined amount from the target value, the system proactively determines the drawing end and stops the process, preventing the subsequent rapid speed increase that would cause inaccurate determination and waste of effective portion.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the linear speed is maintained constant during drawing, then the drawing process is stable, but the rapid increase in speed occurs as a reaction when the ineffective portion is reached
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the linear speed during the drawing process. The system compares the actual linear speed with the target value and detects when the speed decreases by a predetermined amount. This feedback mechanism enables reliable determination of the drawing end by identifying the speed decrease as an indicator that the ineffective portion has been reached, allowing the system to respond appropriately and maintain determination reliability.
3Device complexity
If the drawing end is determined based on rapid increase in linear speed, then the process is simple, but the effective portion is wasted due to continued rapid speed increase at drawing end
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by reversing the detection criterion from looking for a rapid increase in linear speed to looking for a decrease in linear speed. Instead of waiting for the speed to increase rapidly (which causes waste), the system detects the preliminary decrease in speed as the indicator for drawing end determination. This inverted approach maintains simplicity while preventing the waste of effective portion.
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
Accurately determines the transition from the effective to ineffective portion, preventing rapid speed increases and ensuring efficient use of the effective portion without waste.
Implementation Method 1
heating and softening the optical-fiber base material
Implementation Method 2
drawing an optical-fiber base material while heating and softening the optical-fiber base material to produce a part of the optical fiber
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing an optical fiber. The method includes drawing an optical-fiber base material while heating and softening the optical-fiber base material to produce a part of the optical fiber to be a product, and determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied to determine a drawing end of the optical fiber that is to be a product from the optical-fiber base material. In the drawing, a linear speed for drawing the optical fiber is controlled with a target value of the linear speed constant. In the determining, when the linear speed is decreased by a predetermined amount from the target value, the drawing end of the optical fiber is determined.