An optical fiber polishing machine includes at least one of a media exchange assembly and a cleaning assembly. The media exchange assembly comprises a media exchange platen configured and arranged to support polishing media and an exchange arm having a media engaging assembly configured and arranged to selectively engage the polishing media and configured and arranged to move between the media exchange platen and a polishing machine platen. The cleaning assembly comprises an arm, a housing operatively connected to the arm, a nozzle operatively connected to the housing, and at least one of a water inlet and an air inlet in communication with the nozzle. The arm is configured and arranged to move the housing between first and second positions. The second position is proximate the fixture so that at least one of water and air dispensed through the nozzle during a cleaning process contacts the fixture.
B24B 19/22 - Single purpose machines or devices for particular grinding operations not covered by any other main group characterised by a special design with respect to properties of the material of non-metallic articles to be ground
2.
OPTICAL FIBER POLISHING MACHINE WITH MEDIA EXCHANGE AND CLEANING ASSEMBLIES
An optical fiber polishing machine includes at least one of a media exchange assembly and a cleaning assembly. The media exchange assembly comprises a media exchange platen configured and arranged to support polishing media and an exchange arm having a media engaging assembly configured and arranged to selectively engage the polishing media and configured and arranged to move between the media exchange platen and a polishing machine platen. The cleaning assembly comprises an arm, a housing operatively connected to the arm, a nozzle operatively connected to the housing, and at least one of a water inlet and an air inlet in communication with the nozzle. The arm is configured and arranged to move the housing between first and second positions. The second position is proximate the fixture so that at least one of water and air dispensed through the nozzle during a cleaning process contacts the fixture.
B24B 19/22 - Single purpose machines or devices for particular grinding operations not covered by any other main group characterised by a special design with respect to properties of the material of non-metallic articles to be ground
B24B 41/00 - Component parts of grinding machines or devices, such as frames, beds, carriages or headstocks
B24B 41/053 - Grinding heads for working on plane surfaces for grinding or polishing glass
B24B 55/00 - Safety devices for grinding or polishing machinesAccessories fitted to grinding or polishing machines for keeping tools or parts of the machine in good working condition
An optical fiber polishing arm positioning assembly for use with an optical fiber polisher, the optical fiber polisher including a first pivot connection interconnecting a base and a proximal end of an arm assembly, comprises a positioning member and an actuator. The positioning member is configured and arranged to be operatively connected to the arm assembly, and the actuator is configured and arranged to move the positioning member thereby moving the arm assembly about the first pivot connection to vary positions of the arm assembly relative to the base.
B24B 19/22 - Single purpose machines or devices for particular grinding operations not covered by any other main group characterised by a special design with respect to properties of the material of non-metallic articles to be ground
G02B 6/38 - Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
B24B 41/06 - Work supports, e.g. adjustable steadies
An optical fiber polishing arm positioning assembly for use with an optical fiber polisher, the optical fiber polisher including a first pivot connection interconnecting a base and a proximal end of an arm assembly, comprises a positioning member and an actuator. The positioning member is configured and arranged to be operatively connected to the arm assembly, and the actuator is configured and arranged to move the positioning member thereby moving the arm assembly about the first pivot connection to vary positions of the arm assembly relative to the base.
B24B 19/22 - Single purpose machines or devices for particular grinding operations not covered by any other main group characterised by a special design with respect to properties of the material of non-metallic articles to be ground
Optical fiber polishing machine components, namely, cleaning machines for cleaning optical fibers using water and air and lubrication machines for lubricating polishing media using water
An optical fiber polishing arm assembly comprises a base, at least one side support, an overarm, and a lock shaft. The at least one side support is operatively connected to the base and has a first radial edge with at least one notch. The overarm is pivotally operatively connected to the base and includes a lock bore selectively aligned with the at least one notch. The lock shaft extends at least partially through the lock bore and is configured and arranged to selectively engage the at least one notch.
B24B 19/22 - Single purpose machines or devices for particular grinding operations not covered by any other main group characterised by a special design with respect to properties of the material of non-metallic articles to be ground
G02B 6/38 - Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
B24B 41/06 - Work supports, e.g. adjustable steadies
7.
OPTICAL FIBER POLISHER WITH CONTROLLED PLATEN STOPPING POSITION
An optical fiber polisher includes a polishing mechanism, a platen, and a memory for storing operational parameters entered by a user. The optical fiber polisher includes a processor to control a stopping position of the platen at an end of a polishing step based on the operational parameters.
G02B 6/38 - Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
B24B 19/22 - Single purpose machines or devices for particular grinding operations not covered by any other main group characterised by a special design with respect to properties of the material of non-metallic articles to be ground
8.
OPTICAL FIBER POLISHER WITH CONTROLLED PLATEN STOPPING POSITION
An optical fiber polisher includes a polishing mechanism, a platen, and a memory for storing operational parameters entered by a user. The optical fiber polisher includes a processor to control a stopping position of the platen at an end of a polishing step based on the operational parameters. The processor further controls translational and rotational movement of the platen using a sensor that provides feedback. The processor may have two modes, where one is configured to first stop the platen, then set a speed of the platen to a stop speed prior to decelerating the speed of the platen to zero, and the other mode is configured to set a speed of a platen to a stop speed prior to decelerating the speed of the platen to zero.
B24B 19/22 - Single purpose machines or devices for particular grinding operations not covered by any other main group characterised by a special design with respect to properties of the material of non-metallic articles to be ground
B24B 51/00 - Arrangements for automatic control of a series of individual steps in grinding a workpiece
G02B 6/38 - Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
9.
Method of connecting a ferrule to an optical fiber polishing fixture assembly
A method of connecting a ferrule to an optical fiber polishing fixture assembly comprises obtaining a fixture base to which a clamping assembly is operatively connected, positioning a lever in an unlocked position thereby creating a gap between first and second base portions, obtaining a fiber optic connector and cable assembly including a ferrule operatively connected to a cable, positioning the ferrule in a ferrule bore, and moving the lever from the unlocked position to a locked position thereby causing the first and second base portions to engage the fiber optic connector and cable assembly.
B24B 41/06 - Work supports, e.g. adjustable steadies
B24B 19/22 - Single purpose machines or devices for particular grinding operations not covered by any other main group characterised by a special design with respect to properties of the material of non-metallic articles to be ground
A toolless clamp comprises a shaft, a base, a latch, a first biasing member, and a clamping member. The base has a base bore configured and arranged to slidably receive a portion of the shaft. The latch has a latch bore configured and arranged to slidably receive a portion of the shaft and a portion of the base. The first biasing member is configured and arranged to bias the latch in a first direction away from the clamping member in an unclamped position and bias the shaft and clamping member in a second direction toward the base in a clamped position. The clamping member is operatively connected to a proximal end of the shaft and is configured and arranged to disengage the connecting member when the latch is in the unclamped position and engage the connecting member when the latch is in the clamped position.
F16B 2/18 - Clamps, i.e. with gripping action effected by positive means other than the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening using cams, levers, eccentrics, or toggles
A toolless clamp comprises a shaft, a base, a latch, a first biasing member, and a clamping member. The base has a base bore configured and arranged to slidably receive a portion of the shaft. The latch has a latch bore configured and arranged to slidably receive a portion of the shaft and a portion of the base. The first biasing member is configured and arranged to bias the latch in a first direction away from the clamping member in an unclamped position and bias the shaft and clamping member in a second direction toward the base in a clamped position. The clamping member is operatively connected to a proximal end of the shaft and is configured and arranged to disengage the connecting member when the latch is in the unclamped position and engage the connecting member when the latch is in the clamped position.
F16B 2/18 - Clamps, i.e. with gripping action effected by positive means other than the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening using cams, levers, eccentrics, or toggles
An optical fiber polishing fixture assembly comprises a fixture base and a clamping assembly. The clamping assembly has first and second base portions, a lever, and a biasing member. Each of the first and second base portions has an inner facing side with a slot and an inner facing surface. The slots are adapted to receive bars on opposing sides of a fiber optic connector and cable assembly. The lever has a first end positioned between the inner facing surfaces and a second end extending outward therefrom. The clamping assembly has a locked position, when the first and second base portions are biased toward one another by the biasing member, and an unlocked position, when the lever overcomes a biasing force of the biasing member and separates the first and second base portions.
B24B 41/06 - Work supports, e.g. adjustable steadies
B24B 19/22 - Single purpose machines or devices for particular grinding operations not covered by any other main group characterised by a special design with respect to properties of the material of non-metallic articles to be ground
An optical fiber polisher includes a polishing mechanism, a platen, and a memory for storing operational parameters entered by a user. The optical fiber polisher includes a processor to control a pressure applied by the polishing mechanism and a rotational speed of the platen, including causing a ramping down of at least one of the pressure and the rotational speed based on the operational parameters.
B24B 19/22 - Single purpose machines or devices for particular grinding operations not covered by any other main group characterised by a special design with respect to properties of the material of non-metallic articles to be ground
G02B 6/38 - Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
B24B 51/00 - Arrangements for automatic control of a series of individual steps in grinding a workpiece
A method of cutting and stripping ribbonized fiber to aid in loading and separating rows of fibers in a laser cleaver adapter assembly comprises obtaining ribbonized fiber having at least a first row of fibers and a second row of fibers, cutting the first row of fibers to a first cut length, cutting the second row of fibers to a second cut length, stripping the first row of fibers a first stripped length, and stripping the second row of fibers a second stripped length. The second cut length is longer than the first cut length, and the second stripped length is longer than the first stripped length.
An optical fiber laser cleaver adapter assembly configured and arranged to receive at least two rows of optical fiber cables comprises an indexing guide, a base, and a fiber holder support. The indexing guide has an opening and at least one divider separating the opening into at least a first slot and a second slot. The base is configured and arranged to receive the indexing guide and has a window allowing access to at least a portion of the opening of the indexing guide. The fiber holder support is operatively connected to the base, and the fiber holder support is configured and arranged to receive the at least two rows of optical fiber cables and position the at least two rows of optical fiber cables to extend through the window and the respective at least first and second slots.
A polishing fixture assembly comprises a fixture base, which has a ferrule aperture and a spring member, and a clamping assembly. The spring member comprises upper, middle, and lower springs. The upper spring forms a portion of a cam aperture. The middle spring is proximate the ferrule aperture. The clamping assembly has a clamp base, a lever, and a cam shaft. The clamp base is connected to the fixture base. The lever is pivotally connected to the clamp base and has unlocked and locked positions. The cam shaft is connected to the lever and rotates within the cam aperture when the lever pivots. As the lever is moved into the locked position, the cam shaft rotates, opposing narrower sides of the cam shaft contact the upper spring thereby flexing the middle spring and the lower spring so that the middle spring contacts a ferrule positioned in the ferrule aperture.
B24B 13/00 - Machines or devices designed for grinding or polishing optical surfaces on lenses or surfaces of similar shape on other workAccessories therefor
G02B 6/38 - Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
19.
Optical fiber fixtures and methods for laser cleaving
A holding system for laser cleaving an optical fiber. The holding system includes a support structure located at least partially within a laser cleaving device. The support structure has an exterior surface with a first aperture formed there through. It also has a holding member including a first surface accessible through the first aperture and a second surface opposite the first surface. The holding member defines a second aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface for receiving a corresponding mounted optical fiber. The system also includes a pivot mechanism pivotally coupling the holding member to the support structure. The holding member is pivotable relative to the support structure and a cutting plane of the laser cleaving device to provide a plurality of cleaving angles between the cutting plane and the optical fiber.
Polishing machines, fixtures and methods for polishing one or more optical fibers upon distinct wear paths are provided. For example, in some embodiments a polishing fixture is provided with a number of ports for fixing optical fibers. The ports may be positioned within the fixture to follow a number of distinct wear paths when the fixture is moved relative to a platen retaining an abrasive film. In some embodiments, the ports may have an angular separation or be positioned at one or more radial distances in order to provide distinct wear paths on the abrasive film.
B24B 19/22 - Single purpose machines or devices for particular grinding operations not covered by any other main group characterised by a special design with respect to properties of the material of non-metallic articles to be ground
An optical polishing fixture for securing one or more optical connectors can include a fixture base having a connector slot for receiving an optical connector and a clamping assembly mounted to the fixture base proximate the connector slot. The connector slot can be defined by at least one side wall defining a side wall plane and the clamping assembly can include a clamp pad moveable relative to the fixture base between a clamping position and a loading position. The clamp pad may move relative to the fixture base at an angle of less than 45 degrees relative to one of (i) a top surface of the fixture base, (ii) a plane perpendicular the side wall plane, or (iii) a plane defined by a portion of the fixture base top surface proximate to the connector slot.
