EP0144603A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for aligning an article relative to a datum
Assignee: Nortel Networks Ltd
•
Filing: 1984-10-04
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2004-10-04
Abstract
Abstract In apparatus for aligning an article, such as an optical fiber, to a datum, for example a Vee groove (152), another fiber, or a light source, the article is manipulated in two intersecting transverse directions. The manipulator comprises a part (20) fixed relative to the datum. A first arm (22) is coupled to the fixed part by a hinge (44). A second arm (24) is coupled by a second hinge (50) to the first arm at a position adjacent the first hinge. Adjacent its proximal end (52), the second arm (24) carries a mount (132) for the fiber. The arrangement is such that pivoting of the first arm displaces the mount in one of the intersecting directions. Pivoting of the second arm displaces the mount in the other of the intersecting directions. Preferably, the fixed part (20) hinges (44, 50) and arms (22, 24) are integral with one another, substantially eliminating play and backlash. The apparatus affords precise manipulation of articles such as single-mode optic fibers prior to and during fusion splicing. Another aspect of the invention comprises an arrangement of two gripping jaws (172, 174), one for each of two filaments, and two actuators (208,220), one for each gripping jaw, disposed either side of a medial plane through the apparatus. The right-hand actuator operates the left-hand jaw, and vice-versa. A third aspect comprises gripping means in the form of a tappet (352) to distribute contact along the fiber, preferably pivotal slightly to ensure even contact with the fiber throughout the contact region. A fourth aspect is movable electrode/movable mirror configuration for viewing two fibers during alignment prior to fusion by spark discharge.
Inventors
- 👤 Helmut Hans Lukas
- 👤 Grant Kendal Pacey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:01
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/255; G02B6/2553
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for manipulating an article in two intersecting directions relative to a datum comprising:- a part fixed relative to said datum; a first arm coupled to said part by a first hinge; a second arm coupled by a second hinge to a portion of said first arm ajacent said first hinge, said second arm having at a position adjacent said second hinge a mount for supporting said article; and means for displacing said arms pivotally to and fro in the same direction relative to their respective hinges; the arrangement being such that movement of the first arm about the first hinge displaces the second hinge, and therewith the mount, in one of said intersecting directions; and movement of the second arm about the second hinge displaces the mount in the other of said intersecting directions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for manipulating an article in two intersecting directions relative to a datum comprising:- a part fixed relative to said datum; a first arm coupled to said part by a first hinge; a second arm coupled by a second hinge to a portion of said first arm ajacent said first hinge, said second arm having at a position adjacent said second hinge a mount for supporting said article; and means for displacing said arms pivotally to and fro in the same direction relative to their respective hinges; the arrangement being such that movement of the first arm about the first hinge displaces the second hinge, and therewith the mount, in one of said intersecting directions; and movement of the second arm about the second hinge displaces the mount in the other of said intersecting directions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hinge parts are integral with said arms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fixed parts, hinge parts and arms comprise parts of a solid block, being defined by slots in said block.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said arms extend substantially parallel to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each means for moving said arms comprises an eccentric cam member serving to displace said arm and further comprising means for rotating said cam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said eccentric cam member comprises an eccentrically mounted bearing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein means for rotating said cam comprises a rack and pinion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rack is coupled to a vernier drive for reciprocating longitudinal movement thereby.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a Vee groove for supporting an elongate member with its longitudinal axis extending substantially perpendicular to said intersecting directions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said datum comprises a second Vee groove disposed with its Vee groove surfaces substantially coplanar with those of the first-mentioned Vee groove.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus for aligning two filaments end-to-end comprising:- two Vee grooves arranged with their respective apexes aligned, one groove for each of said two filaments; two gripping means, each cooperating with a respective one of said Vee grooves to grip the corresponding filament in the apex of said groove; and two actuators, disposed at opposite sides, respectively, of a plane extending between and substantially perpendicular to said Vee grooves; wherein each actuator serves to operate the gripping means at the opposite side of said plane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus for aligning two filaments end-to-end comprising:- two Vee grooves arranged with their respective apexes aligned, one groove for each of said two filaments; two gripping means, each cooperating with a respective one of said Vee grooves to grip the corresponding filament in the apex of said groove; and two actuators, disposed at opposite sides, respectively, of a plane extending between and substantially perpendicular to said Vee grooves; wherein each actuator serves to operate the gripping means at the opposite side of said plane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein each said gripping means comprises a pivotal jaw member, the apparatus further comprising a push-pull rod serving to transmit the action of the respective actuator to said jaw member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein one of said gripping means is movable relative to the other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said filaments.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the movable gripping means is mounted upon an arm pivotal about an axis extending transversely to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for aligning at least one filamentary article relative to a datum comprising:- a Vee groove for receiving said filamentary article in the apex thereof and; gripping means for clamping said filamentary article into said apex; wherein said gripping means comprises a tappet member for contacting said filamentary article over a significant part of its length and at a position disposed away from said apex, and biassing means for urging said tappet means towards said apex.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for aligning at least one filamentary article relative to a datum comprising:- a Vee groove for receiving said filamentary article in the apex thereof and; gripping means for clamping said filamentary article into said apex; wherein said gripping means comprises a tappet member for contacting said filamentary article over a significant part of its length and at a position disposed away from said apex, and biassing means for urging said tappet means towards said apex.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said biassing means comprises spring means arranged to cooperate with said tappet means at a point contact therebetween.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein said tappet means comprises a thimble-shaped member arranged with its external end surface disposed towards said apex and movable towards and away from said apex against the action of said biassing means, and said biassing means is arranged to cooperate with the internal end surface of said thimble member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein each said gripping means comprises a tappet member for contacting said filament over a significant part of its length and at a position disposed away from said apex, and biassing means for urging said tappet means towards said apex.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said biassing means comprises spring means arranged to contact said tappet means at a point-contact therebetween.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said tappet means comprises a thimble member arranged with its external end surface towards said apex and movable towards and away from said apex against the action of said biassing means and said biassing means is arranged to cooperate with the internal end surface of said thimble member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
270 words
Apparatus for fusion-splicing two optical fibers, comprising:- (i) a pair of supports each arranged to support one of said fibers in end-to-end relationship to the other fiber such that the juxtaposed ends of said fibers are juxtaposed in a predetermined region between said supports; (ii) mirror means having a mirror surface inclined relative to a common plane of the alignemtn axis for the fibers and a predetermined viewing direction for providing an image corresponding to a view of said fibers taken in a direction transverse to said viewing direction, said mirror means being displaceable to said viewing direction between a first position close to said alignment axis, wherein said mirror means can provide said image, and a second position further away from said alignment axis and the viewpoint; (iii) electrode means for generating in said region a spark discharge for heating the end portions of fibers inserted therein, said electrode means comprising a pair of electrodes disposed on each side of said region and of said alignment axis, one of said electrodes being movable between a first position adjacent said alignment axis for generation of said spark discharge and a second position further away from said alignment axis wherein the electrode does not obstruct the view of the mirror from said viewing direction; and (iv) common actuating means for displacing said mirror means and said one of said electrodes, such that when the mirror means is in its said first position said one electrode is in its said second position, and when said mirror means is in its said second position said one electrode is in its said first position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
270 words
Apparatus for fusion-splicing two optical fibers, comprising:- (i) a pair of supports each arranged to support one of said fibers in end-to-end relationship to the other fiber such that the juxtaposed ends of said fibers are juxtaposed in a predetermined region between said supports; (ii) mirror means having a mirror surface inclined relative to a common plane of the alignemtn axis for the fibers and a predetermined viewing direction for providing an image corresponding to a view of said fibers taken in a direction transverse to said viewing direction, said mirror means being displaceable to said viewing direction between a first position close to said alignment axis, wherein said mirror means can provide said image, and a second position further away from said alignment axis and the viewpoint; (iii) electrode means for generating in said region a spark discharge for heating the end portions of fibers inserted therein, said electrode means comprising a pair of electrodes disposed on each side of said region and of said alignment axis, one of said electrodes being movable between a first position adjacent said alignment axis for generation of said spark discharge and a second position further away from said alignment axis wherein the electrode does not obstruct the view of the mirror from said viewing direction; and (iv) common actuating means for displacing said mirror means and said one of said electrodes, such that when the mirror means is in its said first position said one electrode is in its said second position, and when said mirror means is in its said second position said one electrode is in its said first position.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said one electrode is mounted on a pivot arm for pivotal movement between said first and second positions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said electrodes are releasably mounted on said electrode means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said electrodes are releasably mounted on said electrode means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 22 or 23, wherein said electrode means comprises a support block having two channels, one in each opposite side, the channels extending lengthwise in a direction away from said alignment axis, a pair of arms each carrying one of said electrodes, said arms being slidably located one in each of said channels, and spring means urging each of said arms into the corresponding channel thereby engaging detent means for locating said arm against longitudinal movement relative to said channel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said electrode means comprises a support block having two channels, one in each opposite side, the channels extending lengthwise in a direction away from said alignment axis, a pair of arms each carrying one of said electrodes, said arms being slidably located one in each of said channels, and spring means urging each of said arms into the corresponding channel thereby engaging detent means for locating said arm against longitudinal movement relative to said channel.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said support block comprises a through hole extending in the viewing direction and said common actuating means comprises a plunger slidably located in said hole and cam means acting between said through hole and one of said channels to transmit movement of said plunger to said arm supporting the movable electrode.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said common actuating means comprises a plunger with its axis of movement substantially aligned with the viewing direction and cam means responsive to reciprocating movement of said plunger to displace said electrode means between its first and second positions.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 27 or 28, wherein said mirror means comprises a single surface on one end of said plunger and inclined at substantially forty-five degrees to the plane extending through said alignment axis perpendicularly to the viewing direction, movement of said plunger being such that said single surface intersects said plane when said mirror means is in said first position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.