MXPA98002321A - Double push, optical fiber, with threaded and automatic window devancer - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for threading a fiber that is continuously supplied by a supply device for winding on a reel, includes a receiving device, adjacent to the supply device, which receives the fiber by entering the fiber of the supply device to the reception device for providing a voltage in the fiber between the supply device and the receiving device, a positioning device that accommodates the fiber, between the delivery device and the receiving device, with an accommodating portion that allows the fiber to be received continuously in the receiving device and moving from a position adjacent to the delivery device and the receiving device to a position adjacent to the spool to move the fiber to at least one threading position, and a threading device that automatically threads the fiber at least in a position of threading on the road

Description

DOUBLE SPINDLE DEVANATOR. OPTIC FIBER, WITH AUTOMATIC THREADING AND WINDING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically threading and winding a fiber on a spool and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for automatically threading and winding a waveguide optical fiber on a spool while being stretching the waveguide optical fiber.

Description of Related Art Optical waveguide fibers (optical fibers) are used as a transmission medium in optical communication systems. The optical fibers are typically made by known methods which involve stretching the optical fibers from the templates in the stretching ovens. The winding devices wind the optical fibers on the reels as the optical fibers are being stretched. Conventional winding apparatuses require an inconvenient amount of manual intervention by an operator. For example, if an optical fiber is broken during winding, the known single-spindle and multi-spindle apparatuses require manual re-threading of the winding apparatus on the part of the operator. Also, since the stretching ovens typically continue to produce the optical fiber regardless of whether the winding apparatus is winding the optical fiber, a significant amount of optical fiber will be lost if the winding apparatus is not rapidly re-threading after a break or after that the reel has been filled. The possibility of delay in re-threading is a disadvantage of the single-spindle and multi-spindle winding apparatuses. It is a particularly significant problem for single-spindle winding devices, however, because re-threading is always delayed at least until the operator removes the reel wound from the spindle and replaces it with an empty spool. These disadvantages of known winding apparatuses have become more noticeable with the advances in technology that have made it possible to increase the speed of stretching from seven meters per second to more than thirty meters per second. Delays in re-threading cause even more fiber loss at higher stretch speeds. Also, the higher stretch speeds have caused other problems to develop. Conventional winding devices, which were designed for low stretch speeds, can damage the optical fiber moving at high speeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an automated winding method and apparatus. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and winding apparatus that rapidly re-open to minimize the amount of lost optical fiber. Still another object of the invention is to provide a method and a winding apparatus that does not damage the optical fiber moving at high speeds. The objects and additional advantages of the invention will be set forth, partly in the description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description or can be learned by the practice of the invention. In order to achieve the objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as generally described herein, the invention provides an improved method for placing, for threading, a broken fiber, which is being continuously supplied by a supply to wind it on a reel. The method includes the steps of receiving the fiber of a receiving device by entering the fiber of the supply device to the receiving device to provide a voltage in the fiber between the supply device and the receiving device, the receiving device being located in a position that ensures that the receiving device automatically receives the fiber from the supply device after the fiber is broken, accommodating the fiber between the delivery device and the receiving device with a positioning device having an accommodating portion accommodating the fiber while allowing the fiber to be received continuously in the receiving device, and moving the portion of accommodation to move the fiber to at least one threading position. The invention also provides an improved apparatus for placing, for threading, a broken fiber, which is being continuously supplied by a supply device for winding it on a spool. The apparatus includes a receiving device that receives the fiber by entering the fiber of the supply device to the receiving device to provide a voltage in the fiber between the supply device and the receiving device, the receiving device being located in a position which ensures that the receiving device automatically receives the fiber from the supply device after the fiber is broken and a positioning device accommodating the fiber, between the delivery device and the receiving device, with a portion of accommodation that allows that the fiber is continuously received in the receiving device and that it moves to move the fiber to at least one threading position. It is to be understood that both the above brief description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. In the attd drawings, which are incorporated in the specification and constitute part of it, they illustrate one embodiment of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a winding apparatus according to the present invention, showing the optical fiber being wound on a first reel. Figure 2 is a plan view of the winding apparatus of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a side view of the winding apparatus of Figure 1, showing the optical fiber in a first threading position. Figure 4 is a plan view of the winding apparatus of Figure 1, showing the optical fiber that is being moved to the first threading position. Figure 5 is a side view of the winding apparatus of Figure 1, showing the optical fiber in a second threading position. Figure 6 is a plan view of a portion of the winding apparatus taken along line 6-6 in Figure 5, showing the optical fiber in the second threading position. Figure 7 is a side view of a portion of the winding apparatus of Figure 1, showing the optical fiber that is being threaded onto the first spool. Figure 8 is a plan view of a portion of the winding apparatus of Figure 1, showing the movement of a fiber guide device. Figure 9 is a plan view of a portion of the winding apparatus of Figure 1, showing the joint operation between a tensioning device and a dispenser. Figure 10 is a perspective view of an accommodation portion of a positioning device of the winding apparatus of Figure 1. Figure 11 is a perspective view of the fiber guide device of the winding apparatus of Figure 1. Figure 12 is a perspective view of the tying device of the winding apparatus of Figure 1. Figure 13 is a perspective view of a portion of the distributor of the winding apparatus of Figure 1. Figure 14 is a view in perspective of the distributor of the winding apparatus of Figure 1. Figures 15A-15C are schematic side views showing the transfer of the optical fiber from the first reel to the second reel in the winding apparatus of Figure 1. Figures 16A-16C are schematic side views showing the transfer of the optical fiber from the second reel to the first reel in the winding apparatus of Figure 1. Figures 17A-17B are plan views that show the arrangement of the optical fiber by the accommodating portion of the positioning device in the winding apparatus of Figure 1. Figure 18 is a perspective view of the spindle assembly in the winding apparatus of Figure 1. Figure 19 is a perspective view of the fiber guide device and the spindle assembly in the winding apparatus of Figure 1. Figure 20 is a schematic diagram of a control system for the winding apparatus of Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY A detailed reference will be made to the currently preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used in all drawings for reference of equal or similar parts. A preferred winding apparatus 10 winds an optical fiber 14 which is continuously supplied by a supply device 11, ie, a stretching oven (not shown) and a winch 12 connected by band which pulls the optical fiber of a template on the stretching oven. The winch 12 connected by band can be controlled by known means to control the speed at which the optical fiber is produced. Preferably, the optical fiber is produced at speeds greater than twenty meters per second. The winding apparatus 10 includes components that are primarily used for winding the optical fiber, such as a control device 20 for the speed of compliance and reception (hereinafter referred to as the "tensioning device"), a distributor 40 and the first and second spindle assemblies 68 and 68 'that rotate the first and second reels 70 and 70', respectively. The apparatus also includes components that are primarily used for threading the optical fiber, such as a gathering device 80, a positioning device 90 and the first and second fiber guide devices 100 and 100 '. Of course, many of the winding components work in conjunction with the threading components during threading.

The Winding Components The tensioning device 20 stores the optical fiber during the winding and determines the difference between the speed at which the optical fiber is being supplied to the supply device 11 and the speed at which the optical fiber is being wound on the reel. As shown in Figure 1, the tensioning device 20 includes, in order along the path of the fiber, the first, second and third guide members (preferably pulleys) 21, 22 and 23 that guide the optical fiber . The third pulley 23 is mounted on a pivot member 24, which is connected on a frame on the tensioning device 20 so as to allow the third pulley 23 to pivot about an axis Al (Figures 9 and 12). The second pulley 22 is not rotatable about the pivot, but, when in the winding position shown in Figure 1, is freely movable in a substantially vertical direction relative to the first and third pulleys 21 and 23. The second pulley 22 freely movable is pulsed downward by gravity and thus provides substantially constant tension in the optical fiber during winding. A sensor 25 captures the vertical position of the second pulley. In the preferred embodiment, the sensor is a sensor in linear position (part No. TTS-RBU0195AC0B, Te posonics). The vertical position of the second pulley 22 is used to determine the difference between the speed at which the optical fiber is being supplied by the supply device 11 and the speed at which the optical fiber is being wound on a reel. The vertical position of the second pulley 22 is also used to detect a break in the optical fiber, since the second pulley 22 falls to the bottom of its travel on the tensioning device 20 when the optical fiber is broken. A movement mechanism 26, preferably an air cylinder without connecting rods, is provided to move the second pulley 22 with respect to the first and third pulleys 21 and 23 and to a threading position (Figure 3) for a threading operation to be described later. A stiffening device 20 includes the driving devices 27, 28 and 29 (Figure 12) which drive the first, second and third pulleys 21, 22 and 23 respectively, at a speed (ie, a tangential speed on the surface of the a pulley that makes contact with the optical fiber that is substantially equal to the speed of the optical fiber while the optical fiber is threaded onto the pulleys 21, 22 and 23, while the optical fiber is wound on the first and second reels 70 and 70 '. Actuation of the pulleys 21, 22 and 23 avoids damage to the optical fiber during the threading operation and also provides better control of the tension during the winding operation The driving devices 27, 28 and 29 are preferably electric motors, because its speed can be controlled precisely The distributor 40 distributes the optical fiber on one of the first and second reels 70 and 70 'during the winding. in order along the path of the fiber the first and second distributor guide rails 41 and 42 guide the optical fiber. In the preferred embodiment, the first and second distributor guide members 41 and 42 are pulleys. The first pulley 41 is mounted on a pivot member 43, which is connected to the support member 70 of the distributor 40 so as to allow the first pulley 41 to rotate about the pivot about an axis A2 (Figures 9 and 13). The second pulley 42 is more pivotable on pivot and is maintained in an orientation substantially perpendicular to the rotational axes Rl and R2 of the first and second reels 70 and 70 ', as shown in Figure 9. As shown in the Figure 14, the first and second moving mechanisms 44 and 45 are provided to move the first and second pulleys 41 and 42, respectively. The first movement mechanism 44 preferably includes an air cylinder without connecting rod 46 which drives a mounting member 47., on which the first pulley 41 is mounted, along the rods 48. The air cylinder 46 moves the first pulley 41 from the winding position shown in Figure 1 to the threading position shown in Figure 3, for a threading position that will be explained later. As shown in Figure 14, the moving trajectory of the first pulley 41 is angled slightly with respect to the trajectory of movement of the second pulley 42, to allow the first pulley 41 to join beyond the second pulley 42 without the two pulleys get in contact. The second movement mechanism 45 preferably includes a normal air cylinder 49 which drives the mounting member 50, on which the second pulley 42 is mounted, so that the rods 51 fixed to the mounting member 50 slide through the member. of base 52. The air cylinder 49 moves the second pulley 42 between a position in which the second pulley 42 is arranged to thread the optical fiber on the distributor 40 (Figure 3) and to thread and wind the optical fiber on the first reel 70 (Figure 16E) and a position in which the second pulley 42 is arranged to thread and wind the optical fiber on the second reel 70 '(Figure 15C) as will be explained later. Drive devices 53 and 54 (Figures 13 and 14) drive the first and second pulleys 41 and 42 at a speed that is substantially equal to the speed of the optical fiber while the optical fiber is threaded onto the first and second pulleys 41 and 42 and while the optical fiber is wound on the first and second reels 70 and 70 '. The drive devices 53 and 54 are preferably electric motors.

As shown in Figure 9, a movement mechanism 58 moves the distributor 40 substantially parallel to the rotational axes Rl and R2 of the first and second spools 70 and 70 'to position the dispenser 40 for threading and to distribute the fiber optic during the winding. In the preferred embodiment, the movement mechanism 58 includes a course (part No. 506201ET-LH-MP, Daedal Division of Parker Hannifin Corporation) having a base 62, a nut 59 which is mounted on the lower part of the support member 70 of the distributor 40 and in advance turbine 63 which is screwed through the nut 59. The movement mechanism 58 also includes a motor 61, which are mounted on the base 62 and makes the advance screw 63 fix to force the nut 59 to move below the lead screw 63, thereby causing the support member 60 of the distributor 40 to slide along the base 62. At higher fiber speeds, such as 30 meters per second, it can be damage the optical fiber if it must slide across the surface, such as the side of a guide path (slot) of a pulley. If the third pulley 23 of the tensioning device 20 and the first pulley 41 of the distributor 40 were not pivotable on pivot, the distributor movement 40 in the direction parallel to the rotational axes Rl and R2 during the winding would cause the third pulley 23 and the first pulley 41 are out of place or misaligned. The pulleys are considered to be misaligned when the optical fiber enters a groove of at least one pulley at an angle to the line tangential to the apex of the groove at the point of initial contact between the optical fiber and the groove. This misalignment would force the moving optical fiber to slip through the sides of the grooves in the third pulley 23 and the first pulley 41, thus damaging the optical fiber. Accordingly, the third pulley 23 and the first pulley 41 are mounted so that they are rotatable about the pivot, as described above, and the pivotable pulleys 23 and 41 are pivotally connected by an extendable link 65 to maintain a predetermined alignment between the same. The extendable link 65 is connected to the pivot member 24 of the third pulley 23 (Figure 12) and the pivot member 43 of the first pulley 41 (Figure 13). As shown in Figure 9, the extendable link 65 connects the pulleys 23 and 41 with rotation on a hose pivot that are aligned throughout the movement of the distributor 40. With the pulleys 23 and 41 with pivot rotation kept in this predetermined alignment , the optical fiber, as it is moving between the pulleys 23 and 41, is not forced to slide through the sides of the grooves of those pulleys. However, pivoting of the pulley 23 can cause it to become misaligned with the pulley 22 and pivoting of the pulley 41 can cause it to become misaligned with the pulley 42. Of this hose, the pivoting movements of the pulley the pulleys 23 and 41 can force the optical fiber, as it is moving between the pulleys 22 and 23 and 5 between the pulleys 41 and 42, as it slides through the sides of the grooves of those pulleys and becomes damaged. Accordingly, the present invention has been designed to avoid such misalignment during pivotal rotation. More particularly, as shown in Figures 1 and 12, the second pulley 22 and the third pulley 23 are initially placed in alignment each having their grooves disposed substantially on a first line (axis Al). Specifically, the groove of the third pulley 23 is disposed directly on the first line and the groove of the second pulley 22 is out of place about 3 eighths of an inch from the first line (this divergence allows the second pulley 22 to move vertically beyond the third pulley 23 without the two pulleys coming into contact). The This invention maintains this alignment by rotating or pivoting the third pulley 23 about the axis Al, such * so that the groove of the third pulley 23 remains on the first line during pivoting. Similarly, as shown in Figures 1 and 13, to make it possible for the first pulley 41 of the distributor 40 to pivot without damaging the optical fiber, the first pulley 41 and the second pulley 42 are arranged so that each has its slot disposed substantially on a second line (axis A2) and the first pulley 41 is pivoted on axis A2. The first and second spindle assemblies 68 and 68 'rotate the first and second reels 70 and 70', respectively, for threading and winding. The first and second spindle assemblies 68 and 68 'are substantially equal, except that the second spindle assembly 68' is inverted with respect to the first spindle assembly 68. Accordingly, only the first spindle assembly 68 will be described in detail. first spindle assembly includes a first spindle (shown only partially) that supports the first reel 70 of such hose that are attached for rotation. The first spindle is driven by a motor 71 (Fig. 19)) to rotate the first reel 70. As shown in Fig. 18, the first spindle has a flange 72, adjacent the first reel 70. A first threading device 73 it is mounted on the flange 72. In the preferred embodiment, the first threader 73 is an overhang. The housing 74 substantially surrounds the entire first reel 70 to provide protection against vibration and provide operator safety. The housing 74 has a winding groove 75 extending from the hose substantially parallel to the rotational axis Rl of the first spool 70. The optical fiber of the distributor 40 is wound on the first spool 70 through the winding recess 75. The housing 74 it also has a threaded groove 76 extending in a plane transverse to the rotational axis R1 of the first spool 70. The threaded groove 76 includes a tearing portion 76A extending from hose substantially parallel to the rotational axis R1 of the first spool 70. The threading slot 76 is used in the threading operation, which will be described later.

THE ENHEBRATED COMPONENTS The receiving device 80 preferably includes a vacuum cleaner 82 (model No. HS-18, Enka-Tecnica) which receives the optical fiber from the supply device 11. The vacuum cleaner 82 is supplied with power by means of compressed air transmitted at varying variable pressure. from 0 to 12.65 kg / cm2, based on the speed at which the optical fiber is being supplied by the supply device 11, to suck the optical fiber and provide a voltage preferably of approximately 40 grams in the optical fiber that is moving between the supply device 11 and the vacuum cleaner 82. The receiving device 80 has a frame 84 which supports the vacuum cleaner 82 which is connected to the receiving hose 82A. A photoelectric sensor 81, which is arranged in the receiving hose 82A at approximately 1.83 meters from the inlet of the aspirator 82, detects when the optical fiber is being received.

The vacuum cleaner 82 is located in the vicinity of the band winch 12 of the supply device 11. A movement mechanism 83, preferably an air cylinder without a connecting rod, is provided to move the vacuum cleaner 82 relative to the band winch 12 to the retracted positions and extended shown in Figures 17A and 17B, respectively. Extending the vacuum cleaner 82 to the winch with band 12 places the vacuum cleaner 82 close to the anticipated path of the optical fiber emerging from the winch with band 12 and, thus, in a position that ensures that the vacuum cleaner 82 automatically receives the fiber optics when a rut occurs. A guide member 85, preferably a roller, is provided adjacent the vacuum cleaner 82 and within the frame 84. The roller 85 provides a winding surface that rotates the optical fiber that is moving between the vacuum cleaner 82 and the positioning device 90 such that the fiber Optics enters the vacuum cleaner 82 without creeping through the fixed surface. A movement mechanism 86, preferably an air cylinder, is provided to move the roller 85 relative to the vacuum cleaner 82 to the retracted and extended positions shown in Figures 17A and 17C, respectively. A drive device 87, preferably an electric motor, drives the roller 85 at a speed that is substantially equal to the speed of the optical fiber. The positioning device 90 receives the optical fiber that is moving between the supply device 11 and the vacuum cleaner 82 and moves it to various threading positions. The positioning device 90 includes a strand arm 91 with an accommodation portion 92 disposed thereon. The accommodating portion 92 is capable of accommodating the optical fiber to guide it, while allowing the optical fiber to be received continuously by the aspirator 82. The accommodating portion 92 includes a primary guide roller 93 and two secondary guide rollers. 94 and 94 'arranged substantially perpendicular to the roller 93 (Figure 10). The roller 93 accommodates and guides the optical fiber when it is moving back towards the first and second reels 70 and 70 ', and the rollers 94 and 94' accommodate and guide the optical fiber when it is being threaded onto the first and second reels 70. and 70 ', respectively, as will be explained later in connection with the threading operations. A movement mechanism 95 moves a strand arm 91 and thus the accommodation portion 92, in a first direction towards the first and second reels 70 and 70 'and to a second direction transverse to the first direction, as shown in Figure 4. The movement mechanism 95 includes a longitudinal rail 96 and a cross rail 97. Transverse rail 97 moves along longitudinal rail 96 in the first direction by a band connected to cross rail 97 and extending around the guide roller and an axional roller or promoter arranged at the opposite ends of the longitudinal rail 96 (not shown). The strand arm 91 is moved along the transverse rail 97 in the second direction by a band connected to the strand arm 91 and extends around a guide roller and a motor driven roller disposed at the opposite ends of the transverse rail 97 (not shown). The first and second fiber guide devices 100 and 100 'and fiber optic guide to the juniper position on the first and second spools 70 and 70', respectively. The first and second fiber guide devices 100 and 100 'are substantially the same, except that the second fiber guide device 100' is inverted with respect to the first fiber guide device 100. Accordingly, only the first fiber will be described in detail. fiber guide device 100. As shown in Figure 11, the first fiber guide device 100 preferably includes a pulley 101 rotatably mounted on a support component 102, which is movably mounted on a base member 103. A device of drive 107, preferably an electric motor, drives the pulley 101 at a speed that is substantially equal to the speed of the optical fiber. A movement mechanism 104 includes an air cylinder 105 that moves the pulley 101 substantially parallel to the rotational axis Rl of the first spool 70. The air cylinder 105 moves the pulley 101 to the retracted and extended positions shown in Figures 6 and 8, respectively. The movement mechanism 104 also moves the pulley 101 along a substantially arcuate path extending in a plane transverse to the rotational axis Rl of the first reel 70. The movement mechanism 104 includes a substantially arcuate path 106 along the wherein the base member 103 is moved by a band connected to the base member 103 and extending around a guide roller and a motor driven roller disposed at the opposite ends of the rail 106 (not shown). As will be explained in connection with the juncturing operations, moving the pulley 101 along the arcuate path causes it to accommodate the optical fiber in a junction position and move the optical fiber towards the rotational axis R1 to juncture the optical fiber on the first 70 reel.

THE BINDING OPERATIONS A junction operation involves taking the optical fiber that is being received by the aspirator 82 and junipering it on the juniper apparatus 10. The aspirator 82 receives the optical fiber in at least two situations, namely at the beginning of a stretch and when The fiber optic breaks during a stretch. At the beginning of a stretch, an operator used a relatively small vacuum to receive the optical fiber emerging from the winch with band 12. When the speed of the optical fiber emerging from the winch with band 12 exceeds 7 meters per second, a vacuum cleaner 82 (compressed air is supplied) and the operator breaks the optical fiber and almost simultaneously inserts it into the vacuum cleaner 82, which begins to receive the optical fiber. When the optical fiber is broken during a stretch, a second pulley 22 of the tensioning device 20 drops to the bottom of its travel on the tensioning device 20 and the break is detected automatically. The vacuum cleaners 82 are then automatically activated and the winch with band 12 of the supply device 11 (Figure 17B) is moved by the air cylinder 83 to begin receiving the optical fiber. In both situations, once the optical fiber has been received by the vacuum cleaner 82, the junction operation proceeds automatically as described below. When the sensor 81 is the receiving way 82A detects that the fiber is being received, the distributor 40 moves to a first position for junction shown in Figure 2 and the air cylinders 26 and 46 move the second pulley 22 of the device tensely 20 and the first pulley 41 of the distributor 40, respectively, to its junction positions shown in Figure 3. The motors 27, 28, 29, 53 and 54 rotate the pulleys 21, 22, 23, 41 and 42 to the same speed as the optical fiber (the speed of the optical fiber is determined based on the speed of the winch with band 12). One of the spindles 68 and 68 'begins to rotate the corresponding one of the first and second reels 70 and 70' at a speed of 0.2 meters per second greater than the speed of the fiber that is being supplied by the supply device 11. The vacuum cleaner 82 is then moved away from the capstan 12 with the air cylinder 83 to the retracted position shown in Figure 17C. The accommodation portion 92 of the positioning device 90 is simultaneously moved inwardly for the movement mechanism 95 from the position shown in Figure 17B to the position shown in Figure 17C. As a consequence, the roller 93 accommodates the optical fiber that is moving between the winch with band 12 and the vacuum cleaner 82, as shown in Figure 17C. The optical Figure extends but does not accommodate, between the rollers 94 and 94 '. The roller 85, which is being rotated at the speed of the optical fiber by the motor 87, is then moved to the extended position (Figure 17C) by the air cylinder 86 to accommodate and guide the optical fiber that is moving between the roller 93 and vacuum cleaner 82. As shown in Figure 4, the movement mechanism 95 moves the accommodation portion 92 from position A, where it accommodates the optical fiber, to an exterior position B moving the first direction towards the reels first and second 70 and 70 'and moving first in the second direction transversely in the first direction. Once in the outer position B, the positioning portion 92 can continue to move in the first direction without contacting the spindle assemblies 68 and 68 '. Once the accommodation portion 92 has passed the spindle assemblies 68 and 68 ', they move in the opposite direction to the second direction to the C position (a first position of the accommodation portion) to arrange the optical fiber in the first direction. junction position, where it continues to be supplied by the supply device 11, guided by the roll 93 and the roller 85 and received by the vacuum cleaner 82. The optical fiber in the first junction position is separated from the substantially equidistant way of the reels first and second 70 and 70 '(Figure 3), is disposed substantially in the middle of each of the reels (Figure 4) and extends substantially perpendicular to a line extending between the rotational axes Rl and R2 of the reels As shown in Figure 3, the optical fiber in the first junction position extends between the second pulley 22, which is in its junction position, and the first and second pulleys 21 and 23 of the tensioning device 20. The fiber The optical cylinder also extends between the first pulley 41 which is in its junction position, and the second pulley 42 of the distributor 40. The air cylinder 26 then allows the second pulley of the tensioning device 20 to descend to its winding position shown. in Figure 5, which causes the second pulley to accommodate the optical fiber and pull it down on the first and third pulleys 21 and 23, thereby threading the optical fiber onto the tensioning device 20. Also, the air cylinder 46 moves the first pulley 41 of the distributor 40 down to the winding position shown in Figure 5, which causes the first pulley 41 to accommodate the optical fiber and pull it down on the second pulley 42, thereby threading the distributor 40. The accommodation portion 92 and the distributor 40 are then moved from the respective first positions (FIG. 4) to the respective second positions (Figure 6), in which the optical fiber is in a second threading position for threading on the first and second reels 70 and 70 '. Circumstances determine the particular spool on which the optical fiber is threaded. For example, if the optical fiber is broken, while it is wound on the first reel 70, it will be threaded on the second reel 70 ', and the first partially wound reel will be removed. Since the threading operation is the same for the first and second reels 70 and 70 ', it will be described only in relation to the first reel 70. As the optical fiber moves to the second threading position, the movement mechanism 104 begins to move the first fiber guide device 100 upwardly along the arched rail 106 in the direction shown in Figure 5. While the first fiber guide device 100 is moving up along the arched rail 106, the motor 107 begins to rotate the pulley 101 at the same speed as the optical fiber and the pulley 101 is maintained in the retracted position by the air cylinder 105 so that the pulley 101 can not accumulate the optical fiber. When the pulley 101 reaches the position shown in Figure 6, the air cylinder 105 moves the pulley 101 parallel to the rotational axis Rl of the first spool 70 to the extended position shown in Figure 8, in which the pulley 101 is capable of accommodate the optical fiber. The pulley 101 is arranged in such a way on one side of the optical fiber away from the first spool 70, as shown in Figure 5. The movement mechanism 104 moves the rotating pulley 101 back along the arched rail 106, as shown in Figure 7, to accommodate the optical fiber in the second threading position and pull it down towards the rotational axis Rl of the first spool 70. As the pulley 101 pulls the optical fiber down, the optical fiber deviates from the roller 93 of the accommodation portion 92 and on the roller 94. As the pulley 101 continues to move along the arched rail 106, it guides the optical fiber to the threading groove 76, as shown in Figure 19, until the fiber The optical cylinder is arranged substantially tangentially to a barrel of the first spool 70 and is wrapped slightly around the barrel of the first spool 70, as shown in Figure 7. As shown in Figure 19, the air cylinder 105 then moves the pulley 101 substantially parallel to the rotational axis Rl of the first spool 70 to its retracted position. This movement pulls the optical fiber to the tearing portion 76A of the threading groove 76 and near the flange 72 of the rotating spindle, which allows the overdent 73 (FIG. 18) to take the optical fiber while simultaneously holding the optical fiber and cutting it. . The clamped portion of the optical fiber is threaded onto the barrel of the first reel 70, which is moving at a speed that is 0.2 m / s greater than the speed of the optical fiber. This over speed drive causes the pulley 22 of the tensioning device 20 (Figure 1) to make the control zone when the optical fiber is threaded onto the first spool 70. The speed at which the optical fiber is pulled by the first spool 70 is determined by the speed of the barrel of the first spool 70 and not by the speed of the overhang 73, which is disposed out of the barrel of the first spool 70 and is therefore moving more rapidly. Therefore, the first reel 70 is threaded without unnecessary pulls of the optical fiber. The cut or loose portion of the optical fiber is sucked into the vacuum cleaner 82 and the winding operation proceeds automatically. Another operation of threading, involves taking the optical fiber that is being wound onto a reel and transferring it to the other reel. This may be convenient, for example, when the optical fiber has been wound on the reel to a desired extent, such as when the reel is full. The winding apparatus 10 can determine how much optical fiber has been wound on a reel by monitoring the revolutions of the winch with band 12. When the optical fiber has been wound on the second reel 70 'to a desired degree, the movement mechanism 58 moves the ditributer 40 parallel to the rotational axis R2 of the second reel 70 'to the position shown in Figure 6, while the second reel 70' continues to wind the optical fiber. The air cylinder 49 then moves the second pulley 42 of the dispenser 40 from the threading and winding position for the second reel 70 '(FIG. 16A) to the threading and winding position for the first spool 70 (Figure 16B) to arrange the optical fiber in the first transfer position of the spool. The optical fiber in the first transfer position of the spool is arranged in such a way that it can be accommodated by the pulley 101 of the first fiber guide device 100.

As the optical fiber moves to the first reel transfer position, the movement mechanism 104 begins to move the first fiber guide device 100 upwardly along the arched track 106. According to the first fiber guide device 100 it moves upward along the arched rail 106, the motor 107 (Figure 11) begins to rotate the pulley 101 at the same speed as the optical fiber and the pulley 101 is held in the retracted position by the air cylinder 105 so that the pulley 101 can not accommodate the optical fiber. When the pulley 101 reaches the position shown in Figure 16B, the air cylinder 105 moves the pulley 101 parallel to the rotational axis Rl of the first spool 70 to its extended position, in which the pulley 101 is able to accommodate the optical fiber. The pulley 101 is then disposed on one side of the optical fiber away from the first spool 70. The movement mechanism 104 moves the rotary pulley 101 back along the arched rail 106, to accommodate the optical fiber in the first transfer position of the spool and pull it down towards the rotational axis Rl of the first spool 70, as shown in Figure 16C. As the pulley 101 moves along the arched rail 106, it guides the optical fiber to the threading groove 76, as shown in Figure 19. As also shown in Figure 19, the air cylinder 105 then moves the pulley 101 substantially parallel to the rotational axis Rl of the first spool 70 in its retracted position, this movement pulls the optical fiber to the tear-off portion 76A of the threading groove 76 and near the flange 72 of the rotating spindle, which allows to the overdimension 73 (Figure 18) take the optical fiber while simultaneously holding the optical fiber and cutting it. The cut portion of the optical fiber is wound on the second spool 70 '. The clamped portion of the optical fiber is threaded onto the spool 70 and the winding operation proceeds automatically. Similarly, when the optical fiber has been wound on the first reel 70 to the desired degree, the movement mechanism 58 moves the distributor 40 parallel to the rotational axis R1 of the first reel 70 to the position shown in Figure 6, while in the first reel 70 continues winding the optical fiber. The air cylinder 49 then moves the second pulley 42 of the manifold 40 from the winding-in position for the first reel 70 (Figure 15A) to a threading and winding position for the second reel 70 '(Figure B), to arrange the optical fiber in a second transfer position of the spool. The optical fiber in the second transfer position of the spool is arranged in such a way that it can be accommodated by the pulley 101 ', which is mounted rotatably on a supporting component 102' of the second fiber guide device 100 ', as pulley 101 'is moved by a movement mechanism 104'. Although the second fiber guide device 100 'is inverted with respect to the first fiber guide device 100, it functions in the same way to thread the optical fiber in the second transfer position of the reel onto the second reel 70', as shown in Figures 15B and 15C. Shown in Figure 20 is a control system for controlling the winding apparatus 10 to carry out the aforementioned threading and winding overlays. The control system includes a programmable logic controller 120, which controls the sequence of events, monitors all sensors 121 (such as sensors 25 and 81), controls all air cylinders 122 (such as air cylinders 26, 46 and 49), and communicates with a motion control computer 124. The motion control computer 124 controls and monitors the movement mechanism 95 for the positioning device 90, the movement mechanisms 104 and 104 'for the motion devices. first and second guide fiber 100 and 100 ', the down feed of stretch 125, the winch with band 12, the movement mechanism 58 for the distributor 40 and the first and second spindle assemblies 68 and 68'. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the method and apparatus of the present invention without departing from the purpose or the writing of the invention. For example, although a preferred embodiment has been described with reference to the winding of optical fibers, certain aspects of the invention can be applied to the winding of fibers of other suitable materials. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on consideration of the specification and practice of the invention described herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true purpose and spirit of the invention indicated by the following claims. 0 v = *

Claims (33)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A method for placing, for the threading, a broken fiber, which is being continuously supplied by a supply device for the winding on a reel, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the fiber with a receiving device by entering the fiber from the supply device to the receiving device to provide a voltage in the fiber between the supply device and the receiving device, the receiving device being located in a position that ensures that the receiving device will automatically receive the fiber from the delivery device after the fiber breaks; accommodating the fiber between the supply device and the receiving device with a positioning device having an accommodation portion accommodating the fiber while allowing the fiber to be received continuously in the receiving device; and moving the accommodation portion to move the fiber to at least one threading position.

2. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that the fiber is an optical fiber.

3. The method according to claim 2, further characterized in that the delivery device supplies the optical fiber at a speed of at least 30 m / s.

4. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that the step of receiving the fiber includes moving the receiving device from a retracted position towards a broken fiber path when a break in the fiber is detected.

5. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that the step of receiving the fiber includes activating the receiving device when a break in the fiber is detected.

6. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that the step of receiving the fiber includes detecting the fiber in the receiving device.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of guiding the fiber between the receiving device and the positioning device with a guide member.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of actuating the guide member, with a drive device, at a speed that is substantially equal to the speed of the fiber.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of moving the guide member relative to the receiving device.

10. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that the step of moving the accommodation portion includes moving the accommodation portion in a first direction toward the reel and a second direction transverse to said first direction.

11. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that the accommodation portion moves the fiber to a first threading position and further comprises the step of threading the fiber in the first threading position on a stiffening device that atesa the fiber to be wound on the reel.

12. The method according to claim 11, further characterized in that the step of threading the fiber onto the tensioning device includes moving the guide members of the tensioning device from a winding position to a position in which the fiber in the first threading position is disposed between the guide members, and the guide members are returned to the winding position. 13.- The method according to the claim 12, further characterized in that the step of threading the fiber over the stiffening device includes driving the guiding members, with the driving devices, at a speed that is substantially equal to the speed of the fiber, while the fiber is threaded over the fibers. guide members. 14. The method according to the claim 13, which further comprises the steps of threading the fiber on the spool, winding the fiber on the spool and driving the guide members, with the guiding devices, at a speed that is substantially equal to the speed of the fiber while winding the fiber on the spool. 15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of threading the fiber on the spool, winding the fiber on the spool and detecting a position of one of the guide members to determine the difference between a speed in which fiber is being supplied by the delivery device and a speed at which the fiber is being wound on the reel and detecting when the fiber has been broken. 16. The method according to claim 1, further characterized in that the accommodation portion moves the fiber to a first threading position and further comprises the step of threading the fiber in the first threading position on a distributor that distributes the fiber. fiber by winding on the reel. 17. The method according to claim 16, further characterized in that the step of threading the fiber onto the distributor includes moving the first and second distributor guide members from a winding position to a position in which the fiber the first threading position is disposed between the first and second distributor guide members, and returning the first and second distributor guide members to the winding position. 18. The method according to claim 17, further characterized in that the step of threading the fiber onto the distributor includes driving the first and second distributor guide members, with the driving devices, or a speed that is substantially equal to 5 the speed of the fiber while the fiber is threaded onto the first and second distributor guide members. 19.- The method according to the claim 18, further comprising the steps of threading the fiber on the spool, winding the fiber on the spool and driving the first and second distributor guide members, with the driving devices, at a speed that is substantially equal to the speed of the fiber while the fiber is wound on the reel. 20. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of moving the accommodation portion of the positioning device and the distributor of the respective first positions, in which the accommodation portion holds the fiber in the first position. Threading position and < - »The dispenser is arranged to thread, to the second respective 8 positions, in which the accommodating portion and the distributor hold the fiber in a second threading position to thread the fiber on the reel. 21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the steps of threading the fiber in the second threading position on the spool by moving a fiber guide fiber device to accommodate the fiber in a second threading position. and move the fiber to thread the fiber on the reel. 22. The method according to the claim 21, further characterized in that the step of threading the fiber onto the spool includes moving the fiber guide device to move the fiber. Fiber towards the rotational axis of the reel and take the fiber from the fiber guide device with a threading device that threads the fiber onto the reel. 23. The method according to claim 22, further characterized in that the guide fiber device moves along a substantially arcuate path. 24.- The method of compliance with the claim 22, further characterized in that the step of threading the fiber onto the spool includes moving the fiber guide device substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the spool to allow the threading device to take the fiber. 25. The method according to claim 21, further characterized in that the step of threading the fiber on the spool includes driving the guide fiber device, with a driving device at a speed that is substantially equal to the speed of the fiber. 26. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: threading the fiber on a stiffening device that stirs the fiber by winding on the spool and has a non-pivotable guide member on a pivot and a member pivoting guide on pivot; threading the fiber on a distributor distributing the fiber by winding on the reel and having a first distributor guide member and a second distributor guide member; guiding the fiber with the non-pivotable guide member on pivot by arranging the fiber in a guide path of the non-rotatable guide member on pivot disposed substantially on a first line; guiding the fiber with the guide member pivotable on pivot by arranging the fiber in a guiding path of the guide member rotatable about the pivot disposed substantially on the first line; changing a feeding direction of the fiber by rotating the pivoting member pivotable about the pivot about an axis that is defined by the first line; guiding the fiber of the guide member pivotable on pivot with the first distributor guide member arranging the fiber in a guiding path of the first distributor guide member disposed substantially on a second line; guiding the fiber on the spool with the second distributor guide member arranging the fiber in a guiding path of the second distributor guide member disposed substantially on the second line; moving the distributor substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the spool to distribute the fiber on the spool; and pivoting the first distributor guide member about an axis that is defined by the second line as the distributor moves to distribute the fiber. 27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of maintaining a predetermined alignment between the guide member pivotable on pivot and the first distributor guide member. 28. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of threading the fiber on the first and second reels. 29.- The method of compliance with the claim 28, further characterized in that the accommodation portion moves the fiber to a first threading position between the first and second spools. The method according to claim 29, further characterized in that the fiber in the first threading position extends substantially perpendicular to a line extending between a rotational axis of the first spool and a rotational axis of the second spool. 31. The method according to claim 28, further comprising the steps of: threading the fiber in the first threading position on a distributor that distributes the fiber by winding on one of the first and second spools; and moving the accommodation portion of the positioning device and the distributor of respective first positions, in which the accommodation portion maintains a fiber in the first threading position and the distributor is arranged to thread, to the respective second positions, in the wherein the accommodation portion and the distributor holds the fiber in a second threading position to thread the fiber onto one of the first and second reels. 32. The method according to claim 31, further characterized in that the fiber is being wound on one of the first and second spools and then broken, which further comprises the steps of: when the fiber was 0 being wound on the second spool before breaking, threading the fiber onto the first spool by arranging a first fiber guide device on one side of the fiber, in the second threading position, away from the first spool, moving the first fiber guide device to accommodate the fiber. the fiber and moving the fiber to a rotational axis of the first spool, and taking the fiber from the first guide fiber device with a first threading device that threads the fiber, onto the first spool; and when the fiber was being * • * wound on the first reel before breaking, threading the (3 fiber on the second reel by placing a second t, fiber guide device on one side of the fiber in the second threading position, away from the second reel, moving the second fiber guide device for accommodating the fiber and moving the fiber to a rotational axis of the second reel, and taking the fiber from the second fiber guide device with a second threading device that threads the A '42 fiber on the second reel. 33. The method according to claim 31, further characterized in that the fiber is being wound on one of the first and second spools, comprising the five steps of: when the fiber is being wound on the second reel and has been wound to a desired degree, transferring the fiber onto the first spool by moving the distributor to arrange the fiber in a first transfer position, arranging a first fiber guide device on one side 10 of the fiber, in the first transfer position, away from the first spool, move the first fiber guide device to accommodate the fiber and move the fiber towards the rotational axis of the first spool, and take the fiber from the first fiber device guide with a first threading device that 15 threads the fiber on the first reel; and when the fiber is being wound on the first reel and has been wound to a desired degree, transfer the fiber onto the second reel by moving the distributor to arrange the fiber in a - ^ second transfer position, arrange a second 2fJ fiber guide device on one side of the fiber, in the second transfer position, away from the second spool, move the second fiber guide device to accommodate the fiber and move the fiber towards the rotational axis of the second spool, and taking the fiber from the second guide fiber device with a second threading device that threads the fiber onto the second reel.