Patent ID: 6607608
Filing Date: 2003-08-19
Classification: B08B,C09K,G02B

Abstract:
A system for stripping at least one optical fiber having an outer coating, the system including:a) an air source; b) means, in operative communication with said air source, for generating one or more air streams from said air source during a predetermined time interval; c) a heater for heating said one or more air streams to a predetermined temperature to remove the outer coating from the at least one optical fiber, the heater including: i) an isolated air stream transport path for receiving an air stream from said air source, said air stream transport path comprising a beat chamber and a first end coupled to said air source and at least one outlet port; ii) a heater core having a heat generating element, said heat chamber disposed within said heater core and said heater core configured to allow heat from said heat generating element to be transferred to said air stream within said air stream transport path, wherein said air stream is substantially heated to said predetermined temperature and remains isolated from said heater core; iii) at least one output nozzle coupled to said at least one outlet port and configured to direct said heated air stream onto said at least one optical fiber to remove the outer coating from said at least one optical fiber; and d) a translator in communication with and configured to selectively translate at least one of said at least one output nozzle and said at least one optical fiber, to direct said heated air stream from said at least one output nozzle onto a portion of said at least one optical fiber to be stripped.