CA1127949A - Wrapping articles of indefinite length - Google Patents
Wrapping articles of indefinite lengthInfo
- Publication number
- CA1127949A CA1127949A CA335,564A CA335564A CA1127949A CA 1127949 A CA1127949 A CA 1127949A CA 335564 A CA335564 A CA 335564A CA 1127949 A CA1127949 A CA 1127949A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- fibre
- tape
- longitudinally extending
- contact
- peripheral surface
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
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- Laminated Bodies (AREA)
Abstract
WRAPPING OPTICAL FIBRES OF INDEFINITE LENGTH
Abstract of the Disclosure Wrapping an optical fibre in tape by a progressive operation in which the tape having a contact adhesive covered surface is pressed along a narrow width portion to the fibre and then succeeding width portions are also turned around the fibre and pressed against it. The procedure is intermittent with each width portion turned completely against the fibre before turning of the next portion. This method eliminates wrinkles in the tape.
- i -
Abstract of the Disclosure Wrapping an optical fibre in tape by a progressive operation in which the tape having a contact adhesive covered surface is pressed along a narrow width portion to the fibre and then succeeding width portions are also turned around the fibre and pressed against it. The procedure is intermittent with each width portion turned completely against the fibre before turning of the next portion. This method eliminates wrinkles in the tape.
- i -
Description
~Z7949 This invention relates to methods of wrapping optical fibres of indefinite length.
Conventionally in the wrapping of articles of indefinite length, a flat tape is disposed alongside the article and with the tape lying on a converging path towards the article is folded over as tape and article proceed along a pass line. Sides of the tape are overlapped increasingly as movement continues along the pass line to bring the tape into wrapped engagement around the article. This increasing overlapping movement results in the tape producing a cone shape around the article. Difficulties are found with this conventional procedure in that intimate contact between article and the wrapping material is not always achieved as wrinkles or creases are formed in the wrapping material during wrapping. Because of these difficulties, the conventional process is unsatisfactory for the wrapping of optical fibres.
This invention provides a method which avoids or minimizes the disadvantageous wrinkling and creasing caused by the conventional methods when applied to optical fibres.
Accordingly, there is provided as one aspect of the invention a method of wrapping an optical fibre of indefinite length comprising: a) disposing the material alongside the article with a first longitudinally extending portion of the material substantially intimately engaging the article at a first part of contact; b) turning a second longitudinally extending portion of the material laterally adjacent to the first portion towards and into substantially intimate contact with a peripheral surface part 1- ~
.,~ _ llZ79~9 of the article extending circumferentially from the first part of contact by pressing said second portion between the peripheral surface part of the article and a forming surface substantially conforming to the peripheral surface part; and then (c) repeating the turning process upon successive longitudinally extending portions of the material to bring them into intimate contact with successive peripheral surface parts of the article, turning of the material being in step-by-step manner from one longitudinally extending portion to another.
This operation is performed in step-by-step manner upon laterally extending portions of the wrapping material extending in succession from the first contact part, each laterally extending portion being subjected to pressure between the fibre and a forming surface which conforms to the shape of an associated surface part of the fibre. Hence, each laterally extending portion of the wrapping material is applied into intimate contact with the fibre before the next laterally extending portion is subjected to pressure.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a plan view of apparatus for wrapping insulation tape around optical fibre, showing op~ical fibre being wrapped;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view in side elevational taken along line 'II-II' in Figure 1; and Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, on a larger scale, are cross-sectional views, taken respectively along lines 'III-III', 'IV-IV', 'V-V', and 'VI-VI ' in Figure 2 to show different stages in wrapping of the tape around the fibre.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, apparatus for wrapping an optical fibre generally comprises a plurality of freely rotatable rolls mounted in a support 11, the rolls providing either rotatable formers in forming stations for turning portions of wrapping material around the fibre 10 or load-applying means for urging the unit towards the formers as will be described.
More particularly, the rolls are disposed in spaced positions along a pass line for the fibre 10 and comprise a first former 12 horizontally mounted between parallel support plates 13, 14 of the support and two ungrooved load-applying rolls 15 and 16 disposed one upstream and the other downstream of the former 12 when considered along the pass line. The rolls 15, 16 lie parallel to the former 12 and slightly above former 12 so as to lie on the other side of the pass line to apply downwards pressure to the fibre 10 when passed beneath the rolls, to urge the unit towards a concave forming surface 17, (Figure 4) i.e. formed on the arc of a circle, the forming surface extending annularly around the former 12. The forming surface conforms substantially intimately with a lower surface part of the fibre 10 when covered in the wrapping material.
Downstream of the roll 16 is disposed a pair of formers 18, 19 mounted for vertical rotation between plates 20 bridging between plates 13, 14. The formers 18, 19 are in mutual opposition across the pass line with their peripheral surfaces substantially in contact. As shown in Figure 5, the formers 18, 19 are formed with concave forming surfaces 21, 22 which conform 1~279~9 substantially intimately with upwardly extending surface parts of the fibre 10 when covered in the wrapping material, there being a degree of overlap between the area covered by the surfaces 21, 22 and that covered by surface 17.
Further downstream is a horizontal former 23 with an annular concave forming surface 24 and being substantially identical to the first former 12. In an exit plate 25 of the support is defined an exit die 26. The exit die and the forming surfaces 21, 22 are located so as to apply an upward load to the fibre 10 as it passes beneath the former 23 so as to urge the fibre towards the forming surface 24.
In use of the apparatus, the fibre 10 and wrapping material are fed at ambient temperature along diverging paths onto the pass line through a vertical slot (not shown) in an entrance plate 27 of the support. The wrapping material in the form of polyolefin tape 28 with an adhesive upper surface is passed over an aligning roll 29 which locates it in a desired lateral position to enable it to be applied to the fibre 10 in the required fashion. As shown by Figure 3, the roll 29 has a flat bottomed annular recess 30 into which the tape fits for lateral guidance. The tape is guided slightly to the right of the axis of the fibre 10 as shown by Figure 3 to enable one lateral side portion of the tape to be wrapped completely onto the fibre 10 before the other side portion as will be described.
The tape then passes upwardly towards the fibre 10 and a first longitudinally extending portion 31 of the tape is brought into adhesive and intimate engagement with the fibre 10 1~7~49 as they both pass through the groove formed by the forming surface 17 of the former 12. The fibre 10 as it approaches and leaves former 12 engages beneath the rolls 15, 16 which provide a uniform downward force onto the fibre, minimize line vibrations and force the fibre towards forming surface 17.
The result is that the portion 31 of the tape is sandwiched between the fibre 10 and the forming surface to cause it to conform to the shape of the forming surface and turn around the lower surface part of the fibre (Figure 4).
After passing beneath roll 16, the unit and partially wrapped tape enters between the formers 18 and 19 with the fibre 10 aligned with the forming surfaces 21, 22.
Each former 18, 19 acts as a load-applying means for urging the fibre 10 towards the forming surface of the other former.
As the fibre passes through the gap defined between the forming surfaces, longitudinally extending portions 32, 33 of the tape disposed laterally adjacent to the portion 31 are caused to turn around the fibre as they are sandwiched against the forming surfaces. These portions then are adhesively applied against upwardly extending surface parts of the fibre 10 extending from the lower surface part of the fibre. As may be seen from Figure 5, the portion 32 of tape is completely turned and adhered to the fibre 10 by forming surface 21 whereas the laterally further extending portion 33 still has a free edge 34 as it passes between the forming surfaces 21, 22.
After passing through the formers 1~, 19, the fibre 10 and tape pass beneath the former 23 and the free edge 34 ~; 5 ~Z79~9 of tape is turned by the surface 24 completely over the fibre to overlap the portion 32 (Figure 6). The fibre completely wrapped in the tape is then passed through the exit die.
In the process described above, the tape is wrapped around the fibre 10 in step-by-step fashion after first being adhesively applied to the fibre along a longitudinally extending portion. As the tape is wrapped in this fashion which entails turning succeeding tape portions 32 and 33 around the fibre in planes which are substantially normal to the plane occupied by the lowermost adhered portion of the tape, then no stresses are applied with a longitudinal directional component during turning which have the effect of forming wrinkles or creases in the tape. Thus the formation of wrinkles or creases is avoided or minimized.
In the above application, design requirements for apparatus may change. For instance, bearing units may be used for the rolls and the roll spacing, shapes and dimensions of forming surfaces and of exit dies will need to be adjusted according to requirements. Also, spring loaded load-applying rolls may be used to control the force applied to the core to urge it towards selected forming surfaces.
Conventionally in the wrapping of articles of indefinite length, a flat tape is disposed alongside the article and with the tape lying on a converging path towards the article is folded over as tape and article proceed along a pass line. Sides of the tape are overlapped increasingly as movement continues along the pass line to bring the tape into wrapped engagement around the article. This increasing overlapping movement results in the tape producing a cone shape around the article. Difficulties are found with this conventional procedure in that intimate contact between article and the wrapping material is not always achieved as wrinkles or creases are formed in the wrapping material during wrapping. Because of these difficulties, the conventional process is unsatisfactory for the wrapping of optical fibres.
This invention provides a method which avoids or minimizes the disadvantageous wrinkling and creasing caused by the conventional methods when applied to optical fibres.
Accordingly, there is provided as one aspect of the invention a method of wrapping an optical fibre of indefinite length comprising: a) disposing the material alongside the article with a first longitudinally extending portion of the material substantially intimately engaging the article at a first part of contact; b) turning a second longitudinally extending portion of the material laterally adjacent to the first portion towards and into substantially intimate contact with a peripheral surface part 1- ~
.,~ _ llZ79~9 of the article extending circumferentially from the first part of contact by pressing said second portion between the peripheral surface part of the article and a forming surface substantially conforming to the peripheral surface part; and then (c) repeating the turning process upon successive longitudinally extending portions of the material to bring them into intimate contact with successive peripheral surface parts of the article, turning of the material being in step-by-step manner from one longitudinally extending portion to another.
This operation is performed in step-by-step manner upon laterally extending portions of the wrapping material extending in succession from the first contact part, each laterally extending portion being subjected to pressure between the fibre and a forming surface which conforms to the shape of an associated surface part of the fibre. Hence, each laterally extending portion of the wrapping material is applied into intimate contact with the fibre before the next laterally extending portion is subjected to pressure.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a plan view of apparatus for wrapping insulation tape around optical fibre, showing op~ical fibre being wrapped;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view in side elevational taken along line 'II-II' in Figure 1; and Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, on a larger scale, are cross-sectional views, taken respectively along lines 'III-III', 'IV-IV', 'V-V', and 'VI-VI ' in Figure 2 to show different stages in wrapping of the tape around the fibre.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, apparatus for wrapping an optical fibre generally comprises a plurality of freely rotatable rolls mounted in a support 11, the rolls providing either rotatable formers in forming stations for turning portions of wrapping material around the fibre 10 or load-applying means for urging the unit towards the formers as will be described.
More particularly, the rolls are disposed in spaced positions along a pass line for the fibre 10 and comprise a first former 12 horizontally mounted between parallel support plates 13, 14 of the support and two ungrooved load-applying rolls 15 and 16 disposed one upstream and the other downstream of the former 12 when considered along the pass line. The rolls 15, 16 lie parallel to the former 12 and slightly above former 12 so as to lie on the other side of the pass line to apply downwards pressure to the fibre 10 when passed beneath the rolls, to urge the unit towards a concave forming surface 17, (Figure 4) i.e. formed on the arc of a circle, the forming surface extending annularly around the former 12. The forming surface conforms substantially intimately with a lower surface part of the fibre 10 when covered in the wrapping material.
Downstream of the roll 16 is disposed a pair of formers 18, 19 mounted for vertical rotation between plates 20 bridging between plates 13, 14. The formers 18, 19 are in mutual opposition across the pass line with their peripheral surfaces substantially in contact. As shown in Figure 5, the formers 18, 19 are formed with concave forming surfaces 21, 22 which conform 1~279~9 substantially intimately with upwardly extending surface parts of the fibre 10 when covered in the wrapping material, there being a degree of overlap between the area covered by the surfaces 21, 22 and that covered by surface 17.
Further downstream is a horizontal former 23 with an annular concave forming surface 24 and being substantially identical to the first former 12. In an exit plate 25 of the support is defined an exit die 26. The exit die and the forming surfaces 21, 22 are located so as to apply an upward load to the fibre 10 as it passes beneath the former 23 so as to urge the fibre towards the forming surface 24.
In use of the apparatus, the fibre 10 and wrapping material are fed at ambient temperature along diverging paths onto the pass line through a vertical slot (not shown) in an entrance plate 27 of the support. The wrapping material in the form of polyolefin tape 28 with an adhesive upper surface is passed over an aligning roll 29 which locates it in a desired lateral position to enable it to be applied to the fibre 10 in the required fashion. As shown by Figure 3, the roll 29 has a flat bottomed annular recess 30 into which the tape fits for lateral guidance. The tape is guided slightly to the right of the axis of the fibre 10 as shown by Figure 3 to enable one lateral side portion of the tape to be wrapped completely onto the fibre 10 before the other side portion as will be described.
The tape then passes upwardly towards the fibre 10 and a first longitudinally extending portion 31 of the tape is brought into adhesive and intimate engagement with the fibre 10 1~7~49 as they both pass through the groove formed by the forming surface 17 of the former 12. The fibre 10 as it approaches and leaves former 12 engages beneath the rolls 15, 16 which provide a uniform downward force onto the fibre, minimize line vibrations and force the fibre towards forming surface 17.
The result is that the portion 31 of the tape is sandwiched between the fibre 10 and the forming surface to cause it to conform to the shape of the forming surface and turn around the lower surface part of the fibre (Figure 4).
After passing beneath roll 16, the unit and partially wrapped tape enters between the formers 18 and 19 with the fibre 10 aligned with the forming surfaces 21, 22.
Each former 18, 19 acts as a load-applying means for urging the fibre 10 towards the forming surface of the other former.
As the fibre passes through the gap defined between the forming surfaces, longitudinally extending portions 32, 33 of the tape disposed laterally adjacent to the portion 31 are caused to turn around the fibre as they are sandwiched against the forming surfaces. These portions then are adhesively applied against upwardly extending surface parts of the fibre 10 extending from the lower surface part of the fibre. As may be seen from Figure 5, the portion 32 of tape is completely turned and adhered to the fibre 10 by forming surface 21 whereas the laterally further extending portion 33 still has a free edge 34 as it passes between the forming surfaces 21, 22.
After passing through the formers 1~, 19, the fibre 10 and tape pass beneath the former 23 and the free edge 34 ~; 5 ~Z79~9 of tape is turned by the surface 24 completely over the fibre to overlap the portion 32 (Figure 6). The fibre completely wrapped in the tape is then passed through the exit die.
In the process described above, the tape is wrapped around the fibre 10 in step-by-step fashion after first being adhesively applied to the fibre along a longitudinally extending portion. As the tape is wrapped in this fashion which entails turning succeeding tape portions 32 and 33 around the fibre in planes which are substantially normal to the plane occupied by the lowermost adhered portion of the tape, then no stresses are applied with a longitudinal directional component during turning which have the effect of forming wrinkles or creases in the tape. Thus the formation of wrinkles or creases is avoided or minimized.
In the above application, design requirements for apparatus may change. For instance, bearing units may be used for the rolls and the roll spacing, shapes and dimensions of forming surfaces and of exit dies will need to be adjusted according to requirements. Also, spring loaded load-applying rolls may be used to control the force applied to the core to urge it towards selected forming surfaces.
Claims (4)
EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A method of wrapping an optical fibre of indefinite length comprising:-a) providing a creasable wrapping tape having a contact adhesive on one surface;
b) locating the tape with said one surface facing the fibre and with the fibre at substantially ambient temperature;
c) disposing the tape alongside the fibre and, solely by the use of at least one rolling and forming surface pressing onto the tape, bringing a first longitudinally extending portion of the tape into substantially intimate and adhering engagement with the fibre at a first part of contact while avoiding sliding contact between the fibre and the coated adhesive coated surface;
d) turning a second longitudinally extending portion of the tape laterally adjacent to the first portion towards and into substantially intimate and adhering contact with a peripheral surface part of the fibre extending circumferentially from the first part of contact by pressing said second portion solely between the peripheral surface part of the fibre and another rolling and forming surface substantially conforming to the peripheral surface part;
e) repeating the turning process upon successive longitudinally extending portions of the tape to bring them into intimate and adhering contact with successive peripheral parts of the fibre, turning of the tape being in step-by-step manner from one longitudinally extending portion to another; and f) by the sole use of at least one further rolling and forming surface, overlapping side edges of the tape with the adhesive on the outer edge sticking the side edges together.
b) locating the tape with said one surface facing the fibre and with the fibre at substantially ambient temperature;
c) disposing the tape alongside the fibre and, solely by the use of at least one rolling and forming surface pressing onto the tape, bringing a first longitudinally extending portion of the tape into substantially intimate and adhering engagement with the fibre at a first part of contact while avoiding sliding contact between the fibre and the coated adhesive coated surface;
d) turning a second longitudinally extending portion of the tape laterally adjacent to the first portion towards and into substantially intimate and adhering contact with a peripheral surface part of the fibre extending circumferentially from the first part of contact by pressing said second portion solely between the peripheral surface part of the fibre and another rolling and forming surface substantially conforming to the peripheral surface part;
e) repeating the turning process upon successive longitudinally extending portions of the tape to bring them into intimate and adhering contact with successive peripheral parts of the fibre, turning of the tape being in step-by-step manner from one longitudinally extending portion to another; and f) by the sole use of at least one further rolling and forming surface, overlapping side edges of the tape with the adhesive on the outer edge sticking the side edges together.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the fibre and the tape are moved longitudinally together along a pass line through a succession of forming stations in each of which a longitudinally extending portion of tape is turned into contact with a peripheral surface part of the fibre.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein in at least one station, longitudinally extending portions of the tape are turned simultaneously against diametrically opposite peripheral surface parts of the fibre.
4. A method according to claim 2, wherein at least one longitudinally extending portion of the tape is turned towards a peripheral surface part of the tape by applying two loads against the fibre, one upstream and the other downstream along the pass line, to press the article towards the forming surface.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA335,564A CA1127949A (en) | 1979-09-13 | 1979-09-13 | Wrapping articles of indefinite length |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA335,564A CA1127949A (en) | 1979-09-13 | 1979-09-13 | Wrapping articles of indefinite length |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1127949A true CA1127949A (en) | 1982-07-20 |
Family
ID=4115136
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA335,564A Expired CA1127949A (en) | 1979-09-13 | 1979-09-13 | Wrapping articles of indefinite length |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1127949A (en) |
-
1979
- 1979-09-13 CA CA335,564A patent/CA1127949A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |