Appeal No. 2001-1692
Application No. 09/116,338
BACKGROUND
Appellants’ invention relates to a method of manufacturing optical ribbons. An optical
ribbon is composed of a plurality of optical fibers, that have been grouped together coated and
set to form an optical fiber ribbon. The claimed method is directed to producing a plurality of
optical fiber ribbons. Claim 1, which is representative of the claimed invention, appears
below:
1. A method of manufacturing optical fiber ribbons, comprising the steps of:
paying out a plurality of optical fibers using a plurality of optical fiber pay-out
units,
grouping said optical fibers together into individual parallel groups prior to
entering into a nozzle, wherein a plurality of said groups of optical fibers are fed
in parallel into as many nozzles, such that said groups have separate nozzles,
coating said groups of optical fibers in said nozzle with a coating material in
order to from [sic, form] a plurality of ribbons of optical fibers,
setting said groups of coated optical fibers simultaneously using a single setting
means, in order to form said optical fiber ribbons.
CITED PRIOR ART
As evidence of unpatentability, the Examiner relies on the following references:
Tokuda et al. (Tokuda) 4,720,165 Jan. 19, 1988
Tanaka et al. (Tanaka) 5,536,528 Jul. 16, 1996
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