METHOD AND DEVICE FOR VACUUM CLEANING OF FIBER

A vacuum cleaning device (20) which is capable of being used in-line as part of existing optical fiber processing paths. The device includes a rear plate (22) and a front plate (24) positioned adjacent to each other. Each of the plates (22 and 24) include at least one beveled edge with the plates being aligned such that their respective beveled edges create a V-shaped groove or trough (26). During operation, the device is aligned relative to the fiber processing path such that the fiber travels parallel to the device. Furthermore, a plurality of slots (36) are evenly spaced along the trough (26) to provide widened areas of increased air flow around the fiber. In addition, the front plate (24) includes means for directing a vacuum from a source to the trough (26) in order to generate a vacuum pressure around the fiber while the fiber is being passed through the vacuum cleaning device. The applied vacuum pressure acts to remove loose debris, as well as residue from cleaning solutions which may have been used, from the surface of the fiber.