IP Library Granted Patent US 10,899,651
Granted Patent B2
US 10,899,651 · App. 16/045,732 · Granted Jan 26, 2021

System and method for manufacturing optical fiber

Inventors: Jan Clawson (Mountain View, CA); Robert White (Sunnyvale, CA); Nate Pickslay (Mountain View, CA); Michael Snyder (Jacksonville, FL); Geoffrey York Powers (Richmond, TX); Noah Paul-Gin (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: MADE IN SPACE, INC.
C03B37/0216C03B37/01211C03B37/029C03B37/0253C03B37/02736C03B37/032C03B37/07C03C13/04C03C13/042C03C25/105C03C25/106C03C25/6226G02B6/02C03B2201/82C03B2205/08C03B2205/30C03B2205/40C03B2205/50C03B2205/60C03B2205/72C03B2205/80C03B2205/82
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,899,651
App. No.
16/045,732
Granted
Jan 26, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A preform material including a starter tip to facilitate an initial fiber draw from the preform within a furnace, wherein the tip comprises a vacuum-sealed tip to receive a plastic grip which attached to an end of a preform.

Claims (25)

1. A preform storage system for drawing optical fiber, the system comprising:

a magazine device having a holder which receives a next preform material once a prior perform material is discarded;

a temperature probe mechanism to measure temperature at the magazine device; and

a waste collector.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the magazine device has a revolver arrangement positioning a plurality of holders in a circular arrangement to rotate the plurality of holders to provide for placement of the next preform within the magazine device once a previous preform is discarded.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the revolver arrangement provides for rotation of temperature probe as the holder rotates.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature probe comprises a probe holder to which a disposable temperature probe is affixed.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the probe holder is arranged to allow the disposable temperature probe to be discarded within the waste collector.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the waste collector comprises a vacuum device to draw at least one of air and debris into the waste collector.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the waste collector comprises bristles to impede escape of debris from within the waste collector.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an airflow system to direct debris into the waste collector.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the airflow system further comprises at least one of a vent and duct.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the magazine comprises at least one of a spring and motor to move at least one of the next preform and the prior preform.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the next preform comprises a starter tip to facilitate initial fiber draw from the next preform.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the starter tip comprises a vacuum-sealed tip.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a grabber device to attach to the starter tip to initiate a fiber draw.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a cutting device to detach the starter tip from the fiber drawn.

15. A system, the system comprising:

a magazine device with a plurality of holders to position a plurality of next preforms and used preforms when creating a fiber;

a temperature probe mechanism to measure temperature at the magazine device of at least one of the preforms currently used for creating the fiber; and

a waste collector to receive debris during the creation of the fiber.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the magazine device comprises a revolver arrangement positioning the plurality of holders in a circular arrangement to rotate the plurality of holders to provide for placement of a next preform within the magazine device once a used preform is discarded.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the waste collector comprises a vacuum device to draw at least one of air and debris into the waste collector and a blocking element to impede escape of debris from within the waste collector.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein at least one next preform comprises a starter tip to facilitate an initial fiber draw from the next preform.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the starter tip comprises a vacuum-sealed tip to receive a plastic grip which attached to an end of the next preform.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2026
From: ADAMS STREET CREDIT ADVISORS LP
To: REDWIRE SPACE SOLUTIONS, LLC, FORMERLY KNOWN AS ROCCOR, LLC; REDWIRE SPACE, INC., FORMERLY KNOWN AS MADE IN SPACE, INC.
Reel/Frame 073882/0363 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 1, 2021
From: MADE IN SPACE, INC.
To: REDWIRE SPACE, INC.
Reel/Frame 057348/0340 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 15, 2020
From: ROCCOR, LLC; MADE IN SPACE, INC.
To: ADAMS STREET CREDIT ADVISORS LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054770/0117 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2019
From: CLAWSON, JAN; WHITE, ROBERT; PICKSLAY, NATE; SNYDER, MICHAEL; POWERS, GEOFFREY YORK; PAUL-GIN, NOAH
To: MADE IN SPACE, INC.
Reel/Frame 048687/0404 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62536765 · Jul 25, 2017
Related Publication 20190047897A1 · Feb 14, 2019