AUTOMATIC QUARTZ TUBE LEVELLING DEVICE IN OPTICAL FIBER PREFORM MANUFACTURING SYSTEM USING MODIFIED CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION METHOD

摘要

An automatic quartz-tube leveling device and method for automatically measuring the leveling state of an optical-fiber preform (e.g. a tube) on an on-line basis using a modified-chemical-vapor deposition (MCVD) technique is disclosed. A quartz tube (preform) is disposed in a horizontal supporting element such as a lathe. A measuring device (34) is provided with a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device, interposing the quartz tube (T), for measuring an upper eccentric value and a lower eccentric value along a length of the quartz tube. A controller (36) receives the measured upper and lower eccentric values from the measuring device, compares the measured values with predetermined reference values, and specifies a necessary leveling span of the quartz tube. A transfer device (38) then moves to a necessary leveling span of the quartz tube to carry out leveling of the quartz tube, under control of the controller. The automatic leveling device and method enables the MCVD tube to be kept horizontal and so enables an optical fiber preform of high reliability to be produced. IMAGE