Patent ID: 8720231
Filing Date: 2014-05-13
Classification: C03B,C03C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for coloring optical fibers, comprising: a first reservoir for containing a natural coating material capable of being applied to an optical fiber being drawn; a second reservoir for containing a colorant capable of being mixed with the natural coating material; a first line comprising a natural coating material delivery line connected to the first reservoir; a second line comprising a colorant delivery line connected to the second reservoir; a mixer in fluid communication with the first and second reservoirs via said first and second lines, capable of receiving a first flow of natural coating material from the first line and a second flow of colorant from the second line and mixing the first and second flows to obtain a colored coating material; and a coating die in fluid communication with the mixer capable of receiving a third flow of the colored coating material and applying said coating material to the optical fiber being drawn, wherein a single gas pressure source is associated with the first and second reservoirs, exerting by a first controllable valve on the natural coating material a first variable gas pressure and on the colorant a second variable gas pressure, wherein the first controllable valve varies the first and second variable gas pressures as a function of at least one optical fiber drawing parameter determined by a parameter determining device; and said first and second lines have a relevant pressure drop in a ratio corresponding to the ratio of natural coating material and colorant providing the colored coating material.