US 12,012,358 B2
Method of applying coating liquid to an optical fiber
Derrick Baxter Biddix, Wilmington, NC (US); Kenneth James Kelmer, Wilmington, NC (US); Robert Clark Moore, Wilmington, NC (US); Douglas Gregg Neilson, Wilmington, NC (US); Donald Justin Sonnett, Wilmington, NC (US); Jennifer Nicole Subler, Wilmington, NC (US); David Andrew Tucker, Wilmington, NC (US); and John Edward Watson, Hampstead, NC (US)
Assigned to Corning Incorporated, Corning, NY (US)
Filed by CORNING INCORPORATED, Corning, NY (US)
Filed on May 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/331,979.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/041,473, filed on Jun. 19, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2025983 (NL), filed on Jul. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0395143 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. C03C 25/18 (2006.01); C03B 37/02 (2006.01); C03C 25/26 (2018.01)
CPC C03C 25/18 (2013.01) [C03B 37/02 (2013.01); C03C 25/26 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of processing an optical fiber, comprising the steps of:
drawing an optical fiber in a drawing direction along a process pathway through a coating chamber, the coating chamber comprising:
an inlet and an outlet, and
a coating liquid to coat the optical fiber;
supplying the coating liquid through the inlet into the coating chamber, the supplying comprising delivering the coating liquid to the coating chamber at a flow rate and a first pressure, the coating liquid exiting the coating chamber through the outlet; and
recirculating the coating liquid exiting the coating chamber to the inlet, the recirculating comprising reducing the pressure of the coating liquid from the first pressure to a second pressure; and
independently controlling the flow rate and first pressure, the independent controlling comprising one of (a) varying the flow rate without varying the first pressure or (b) varying the first pressure without varying the flow rate.