Abstract A fibre optic spray giving an improved display when incorporated in a display device, together with a method and apparatus for producing said spray according to which a bundle is formed which comprises a large number of optical fibres of substantially equal length each extending from end to end of the bundle, one end of the bundle is located in a holding ferrule which is inserted into the open end portion of a hollow forming ferrule also having a portion tapering internally either continuously or in a series of steps from a maximum dimension adjacent the end portion receiving the bundle to a minimum dimension at the other end, the ferrule assembly is supported with the holding ferrule above the forming ferrule, the assembly is shaken or vibrated to cause the inner fibres of the bundle to fall into the lower tapering portion of the forming ferrule to a staggered extent corresponding to the internal taper, and the fibres are bonded in position in the holding ferrule, the forming ferrule being withdrawn and the staggered fibre lengths exposed from within it being cut off.
A METHOD OF PRODUCING A FIBRE OPTIC SPRAY COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: FORMING A BUNDLE WHICH COMPRISES A LARGE NUMBER OF OPTICAL FIBRES OF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL LENGTH EACH EXTENDING FROM END TO END OF THE BUNDLE; LOCATING ONE END OF THE BUNDLE IN A HOLDING FERRULE; INSERTING THE HOLDING FERULE INTO THE OPEN END PORTION OF A HOLLOW FORMING FERRULE INTO THE OPEN END PORTION OF A DIAMETER REDUCING FROM A MAXIMUM DIMENSION ADJACENT THE END PORTION RECEIVING THE BUNDLE TO A MINIMUM DIMENSION AT THE OTHER END; SUPPORTING THE FERRULE ASSEMBLY WITH THE HOLDING FERRULE ABOVE THE FORMING FERRULE; SHAKING THE ASSEMBLY TO CAUSE THE INNER FIBRES OF THE BUNDLE TO FALL TO A STAGGERED EXTENT INTO THE LOWER REDUCINGDIAMETER PORTION OF THE FORMING FERRULE: BONDING THE FALLEN FIBRES IN POSITION TO THE HOLDING FERRULE, THE FORMING FERRULE BEING WITHDRAWN; AND CUTTING OFF THE STAGGERED FIBRE LENGTH EXPOSED BY WITHDRAWAL OF THE FORMING FERRULE.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
A METHOD OF PRODUCING A FIBRE OPTIC SPRAY COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: FORMING A BUNDLE WHICH COMPRISES A LARGE NUMBER OF OPTICAL FIBRES OF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL LENGTH EACH EXTENDING FROM END TO END OF THE BUNDLE; LOCATING ONE END OF THE BUNDLE IN A HOLDING FERRULE; INSERTING THE HOLDING FERULE INTO THE OPEN END PORTION OF A HOLLOW FORMING FERRULE INTO THE OPEN END PORTION OF A DIAMETER REDUCING FROM A MAXIMUM DIMENSION ADJACENT THE END PORTION RECEIVING THE BUNDLE TO A MINIMUM DIMENSION AT THE OTHER END; SUPPORTING THE FERRULE ASSEMBLY WITH THE HOLDING FERRULE ABOVE THE FORMING FERRULE; SHAKING THE ASSEMBLY TO CAUSE THE INNER FIBRES OF THE BUNDLE TO FALL TO A STAGGERED EXTENT INTO THE LOWER REDUCINGDIAMETER PORTION OF THE FORMING FERRULE: BONDING THE FALLEN FIBRES IN POSITION TO THE HOLDING FERRULE, THE FORMING FERRULE BEING WITHDRAWN; AND CUTTING OFF THE STAGGERED FIBRE LENGTH EXPOSED BY WITHDRAWAL OF THE FORMING FERRULE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the hollow forming ferrule is provided with a series of internal ledges to form the internal tapering portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the ferrule assembly is supported vertically while being vibrated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the staggered fibre lengths are cut off before bonding the fibres in position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the cut-off end of the bonded fibre bundle is ground and polished.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the fibres are bonded in position by the injection of an epoxy resin and subsequent curing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the forming ferrule and the holding ferrule are of circular cross-section to handle a cylindrical fibre optic bundle.