Patent ID: 6769276
Filing Date: 2004-08-03
Classification: C03B,Y02P

Abstract:
An apparatus for shaping a selected end region of a hollow cylindrical glass tube used in the manufacture of optic fibers comprising:a support device for holding the tube at a second region other than the selected end region for rotating the tube in a controlled manner; an internal mold for shaping an inner surface of the selected end region of the tube, said internal mold being selectively operable and collapsible between an open and extended configuration and a closed and collapsed configuration; an insertion device for inserting said internal mold within said selected end region of the tube and for setting the internal mold in its extended configuration; a heat source supplying heat to the selected end region of the tube to render the tube malleable; an external mold for compressing the exterior surface of the selected end region of the tube when rendered malleable, and for concurrently causing the shape of an inner surface of the tube to conform to the exterior surface of the internal mold; wherein said external mold includes a pair of side pieces for imparting an oblate, cone-like shape to inner and outer diameters of the tube along the selected end region while leaving an opening between the side pieces for enabling a withdrawal of the external mold when set to the collapsed configuration; a mechanically actuated holding device for supporting the external mold; and a temperature sensing device for sensing the temperature of the selected end region of the tube.