Patent ID: 6991679

Claim:
An applicator assembly for applying a primary coating and a secondary coating to an optical fiber, the assembly comprising: at least one pressurized source of the primary coating; a first primary reservoir for applying a first layer of the primary coating from the at least one pressurized source of the primary coating to the optical fiber; a first primary die including a first primary land configured to size the first layer of the primary coating; a second primary reservoir for applying a second layer of the primary coating to the optical fiber; a second primary die including a second primary land; a pressurized source of the secondary coating; a secondary reservoir for applying a layer of the secondary coating from the pressurized source of the secondary coating to the optical fiber; a secondary die including a secondary land configured to size the layer of the secondary coating; and an entry die including an entry land, wherein the entry land, the first primary land, the second primary land, and the secondary land are substantially axially aligned, and wherein the first primary reservoir is disposed between the entry land and the first primary land, the second primary reservoir is disposed between the first primary land and the second primary land, and the secondary reservoir is disposed between the second primary land and the secondary land; wherein the first primary land has a length of approximately 25 to 35 mils and a diameter of less than approximately 13 mils, the second primary land has a length of approximately 10 to 20 mils and a diameter of approximately 11 to 17 mils, and the secondary land has a length of approximately 10 to 20 mils and a diameter of approximately 15 to 22 mils.