Provided herein is a method of and system for processing an optical fiber. The method includes the steps of drawing an optical fiber in a drawing direction along a process pathway through a coating chamber comprising an inlet and an outlet, and a coating liquid volume to coat the optical fiber; supplying the coating liquid through the inlet, the coating liquid exiting the coating chamber through the outlet; and recirculating to coating liquid exiting the coating chamber to the inlet.

A method of manufacturing an optical fiber wire includes applying ultraviolet curable resin onto the outer periphery of a traveling optical fiber, cooling the ultraviolet curable resin applied to the optical fiber using first cooled inert gas, and curing the ultraviolet curable resin by radiating ultraviolet rays on the ultraviolet curable resin that is cooled by the first cooled inert gas through an ultraviolet transparent tube.

A method of manufacturing an optical fiber wire includes applying ultraviolet curable resin onto the outer periphery of a traveling optical fiber, cooling the ultraviolet curable resin applied to the optical fiber using first cooled inert gas, and curing the ultraviolet curable resin by radiating ultraviolet rays on the ultraviolet curable resin that is cooled by the first cooled inert gas through an ultraviolet transparent tube.

In one embodiment, a chalcogenide glass optical fiber is produced by forming a billet including a chalcogenide glass mass and a polymer mass in a stacked configuration, heating the billet to a temperature below the melting point of the chalcogenide glass, extruding the billet in the ambient environment to form a preform rod having a chalcogenide glass core and a polymer jacket, and drawing the preform rod.

In one embodiment, a chalcogenide glass optical fiber is produced by forming a billet including a chalcogenide glass mass and a polymer mass in a stacked configuration, heating the billet to a temperature below the melting point of the chalcogenide glass, extruding the billet in the ambient environment to form a preform rod having a chalcogenide glass core and a polymer jacket, and drawing the preform rod.

A method of applying a coating liquid to an optical fiber is described. An optical fiber is drawn through a guide die into a pressurized coating chamber and through the pressurized coating chamber to a sizing die. The pressurized coating chamber contains a coating liquid. The method includes directing coating liquid in a direction transverse to the processing pathway of the optical fiber in the pressurized coating chamber. The transverse flow of coating liquid counteracts detrimental effects associated with gyres that form in the pressurized coating chamber during the draw process. Benefits of the transverse flow include removal of bubbles, reduction in the temperature of the gyre, improved wetting, homogenization of the properties of the coating liquid in the pressurized coating chamber, and stabilization of the meniscus.

The invention relates to a device for processing optical fibers, comprising: a pair of pulleys (1, 2) arranged to receive in a space between them a first optical fiber element (4), and a drive mechanism. In order to obtain a device capable of efficiently and reliably processing optical fibers the first pulley (1) in the pair of pulleys comprises a circumferential first groove (5) in a circumferential contact surface (6) for receiving the first optical fiber element (4), the first groove (5) being shaped to accommodate the first optical fiber element (4) such that less than half of the cross sectional surface area of the first optical fiber element (4) protrudes out of the first groove (5), and a second pulley (2) in the pair of pulleys comprises a circumferential contact surface (7) contacting a surface of the first optical fiber element (4).

The invention relates to a device for processing optical fibers, comprising: a pair of pulleys (1, 2) arranged to receive in a space between them a first optical fiber element (4), and a drive mechanism. In order to obtain a device capable of efficiently and reliably processing optical fibers the first pulley (1) in the pair of pulleys comprises a circumferential first groove (5) in a circumferential contact surface (6) for receiving the first optical fiber element (4), the first groove (5) being shaped to accommodate the first optical fiber element (4) such that less than half of the cross sectional surface area of the first optical fiber element (4) protrudes out of the first groove (5), and a second pulley (2) in the pair of pulleys comprises a circumferential contact surface (7) contacting a surface of the first optical fiber element (4).

One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a fiber coating apparatus having a fiber entrance opening, a conical section with walls tapered at half angles between 2 and 25 and height (also referred to as length herein) L.sub.1 between 0.25 mm and 2 mm, and a cylindrical land portion of diameter d.sub.2 between 0.1 and 0.5 mm and height (length) L.sub.2 between 0.05 and 1.25 mm.

One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a fiber coating apparatus having a fiber entrance opening, a conical section with walls tapered at half angles between 2 and 25 and height (also referred to as length herein) L.sub.1 between 0.25 mm and 2 mm, and a cylindrical land portion of diameter d.sub.2 between 0.1 and 0.5 mm and height (length) L.sub.2 between 0.05 and 1.25 mm.