Straightening roller assembly for section reducing a steel tube to achieve excess fiber length of an elongate bundle of optical fibers contained within the tube

Abstract

A straightening roller assembly for section reducing an encasing tube to achieve excess length of fibers within the tube. At least one, and preferably two, platforms are arranged at a selected angular offset. Each platform includes a first plurality of rollers mounted in stationary, linear and spaced apart fashion. A second plurality of rollers are mounted in an adjustable, linear spaced apart and opposing fashion relative the associated first plurality of rollers. Upon the tube passing between the stationary and adjustable rollers associated with each platform, the rollers associated with each platform simultaneously contacting first and second cross sectional locations of the tube and in order to apply lateral compressing forces to the tube which decrease its gauge length, corresponding to increasing its gauge thickness.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A straightening roller assembly for section reducing an encasing stainless steel tube and in order to achieve an excess length of a bundle of fibers associated with the tube, said assembly comprising: 
 a substantially planar shaped platform;    a first plurality of rollers mounted to said platform in a stationary, linear and spaced apart fashion;    a second plurality of rollers mounted to said platform in an adjustable, linear and spaced apart fashion, said second plurality of rollers being arrayed in opposing fashion relative to said first plurality of rollers; and    upon the steel tube with encased bundle of fibers passing between said stationary and adjustable rollers, said first and second pluralities of rollers simultaneously contacting the tube and applying a lateral contacting and compressing force at selected axial locations in order to decrease a gauge length associated with the tube, a gauge thickness of the tube being correspondingly increased and thereby causing the excess fiber length to extend from at least one of first and second ends of the tube.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly as described in  claim 1 , said first plurality of rollers further comprising first, second and third stationary mounted rollers.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly as described in  claim 2 , said second plurality of rollers further comprising first and second adjustable rollers.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly as described in  claim 1 , said first and second pluralities of rollers being arranged in spatially offset fashion relative one another along a linear extending direction along said platform.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly as described in  claim 4 , further comprising biasing means for urging each of said second plurality of adjustable rollers in a direction towards said first plurality of stationary rollers and the steel tube passing therebetween.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly as described in  claim 5 , further comprising a coil spring associated with each of said adjustable rollers.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly as described in  claim 6 , further comprising each of said coil springs seating within a channel defined in said platform.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly as described in  claim 7 , further comprising adjustment means associated with each of said coil springs and for establishing a desired contact position and biasing force of said adjustable rollers.  
     
     
         9 . The assembly as described in  claim 7 , each of said channels extending in a substantially perpendicular direction relative to said linear extending direction of said platform.  
     
     
         10 . The assembly as described in  claim 1 , each of said stationary and adjustable rollers further comprising, in cross section, a polygonal shaped and recessed groove engaging a selected location of the tube.  
     
     
         11 . The assembly as described in  claim 10 , each of said grooves extending in annular fashion around said associated roller and further comprising, in cross section, first, second and third interconnecting sides.  
     
     
         12 . The assembly as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a second substantially planar shaped platform adjoining said first platform, said second platform including additional stationary and adjustable rollers.  
     
     
         13 . The assembly as described in  claim 12 , said planar surface of said second platform being arranged at a ninety degree angular orientation relative to said planar surface of said first platform.  
     
     
         14 . The assembly as described in  claim 13 , said rollers associated with said first platform contacting and biasing first and second cross sectional locations of said tube, said rollers associated with said second platform subsequently contacting and biasing third and fourth cross sectional locations of said tube.  
     
     
         15 . The assembly as described in  claim 12 , each of said first and second platforms incorporating the stationary and two adjustable rollers.  
     
     
         16 . A straightening roller assembly for section reducing an encasing tube and in order to achieve an excess length of a bundle of fibers associated with the tube, said assembly comprising: 
 a substantially planar shaped platform;    at least one first roller mounted to said platform in stationary fashion;    at least one second roller mounted to said platform in adjustable and biasing fashion relative to said first roller, said second rollers being arrayed in opposing and spaced apart fashion relative to said first rollers; and    upon the steel tube with encased bundle of fibers passing between said stationary and adjustable rollers, said first and second pluralities of rollers simultaneously contacting the tube and applying a lateral contacting and compressing force at selected axial locations in order to decrease a gauge length associated with the tube, a gauge thickness of the tube being correspondingly increased and thereby causing the excess fiber length to extend from at least one of first and second ends of the tube.    
     
     
         17 . A straightening roller assembly for section reducing an encasing tube and in order to achieve an excess length of a bundle of fibers associated with the tube, said assembly comprising: 
 a first planar shaped platform;    a second planar shaped platform adjoining said first platform at a selected angular offset;    each of said first and second platforms comprising a first plurality of rollers mounted in a stationary, linear and spaced apart fashion;    each of said first and second platforms also comprising a second plurality of rollers mounted in an adjustable, linear and spaced apart fashion, each of said second plurality of rollers being arrayed in opposing fashion relative to said first plurality of rollers; and    upon the steel tube with encased bundle of fibers passing between said stationary and adjustable rollers associated with each of said platforms, said first and second pluralities of rollers associated with said first platform simultaneously contacting first and second cross sectional locations of the tube, said first and second pluralities of rollers associated with said second platform subsequently contacting third and fourth cross sectional locations of said tube, said rollers applying a lateral contacting and compressing force at selected axial locations along said tube in order to decrease a gauge length associated with the tube, a corresponding gauge thickness of the tube being increased, thereby causing the excess fiber length to extend from at least one of first and second ends of the tube.