Apparatus for end finishing a lightguide fiber termination

Claim 1

An apparatus for preparing an assembly, which includes at least one lightguide fiber and a terminator, for connection with another assembly, said apparatus comprising: nest means for holding the assembly in a position along a reference axis with a length of the fiber which is disposed within the terminator being parallel to the axis; a first tool which is adapted to provide the assembly with an end portion having a predetermined profile; moving means for causing relative motion between the assembly and the first tool along a path of travel which is normal to the reference axis; means for controlling the first tool to remove portions of the terminator and of the fiber to provide the assembly with the end portion having the predetermined profile; means for preventing movement of the assembly along the reference axis during the formation of the end portion having the predetermined profile and for then releasing the assembly for movement along the axis; a second tool which is adapted to finish a surface of the end portion and an end of the fiber which terminates in the surface; means for applying resilient biasing forces to the assembly to hold the surface of the end portion in engagement with said second tool to provide a controlled pressure between the surface and said second tool; and means for causing relative motion between the assembly and said second tool in a direction normal to the reference axis to allow the second tool to finish the surface of the end portion and the end of the fiber.

Claim 2

An apparatus for preparing an assembly, which includes at least one lightguide fiber and a terminator, for connection with another assembly, said apparatus comprising: nest means for holding the assembly in a position along a reference axis with a length of the fiber which is disposed within the terminator being parallel to the axis; a first tool which is adapted to provide the assembly with an end portion having a predetermined profile; moving means for causing relative motion between the assembly and the first tool along a path of travel which is normal to the reference axis; means for controlling the first tool to remove portions of the terminator and of the fiber to provide the assembly with the end portion having the predetermined profile; means for preventing movement of the assembly along the reference axis during the formation of the end portion having the predetermined profile and for then releasing the assembly for movement along the axis; a second tool which is adapted to finish a surface of the end portion and an end of the fiber which terminates in the surface; means for applying resilient biasing forces to the assembly to hold the surface of the end portion in engagement with said second tool to provide a controlled pressure between the surface and said second tool; and means for causing relative motion between the assembly and said second tool in a direction normal to the reference axis to allow the second tool to finish the surface of the end portion and the end of the fiber.

Claim 3

An apparatus for preparing an assembly of lightguide fibers and enclosing substrates for connection with another assembly, said apparatus including: nest means for holding the assembly in a position along a reference axis with portions of the fibers enclosed by the substrates being parallel to the axis; a first tool which is adapted to provide the assembly with an end portion having a predetermined profile; moving means for causing relative motion between the assembly and the first tool in a direction normal to the axis; means for controlling the first tool to remove portions of the substrates and of the fibers to provide the assembly with the end portion having the predetermined profile; means for preventing movement of the assembly along the reference axis during the formation of the end portion having the predetermined profile and for then releasing the assembly for movement along the axis; a second tool which is adapted to finish a surface of the end portion and ends of the fibers which terminate in the surface: means resiliently biasing the assembly in a direction along the reference axis for applying forces to the assembly to hold the surface of the end portion in engagement with said second tool to provide a controlled pressure between the surface and said second tool; and means for causing relative motion between the assembly and said second tool in a direction normal to the axis to allow the second tool to finish the surface of the end portion and the ends of the fibers.

Claim 4

An apparatus for preparing an assembly of lightguide fibers and enclosing substrates for connection with another assembly, said apparatus including: nest means for holding the assembly in a position along a reference axis with portions of the fibers enclosed by the substrates being parallel to the axis; a first tool which is adapted to provide the assembly with an end portion having a predetermined profile; moving means for causing relative motion between the assembly and the first tool in a direction normal to the axis; means for controlling the first tool to remove portions of the substrates and of the fibers to provide the assembly with the end portion having the predetermined profile; means for preventing movement of the assembly along the reference axis during the formation of the end portion having the predetermined profile and for then releasing the assembly for movement along the axis; a second tool which is adapted to finish a surface of the end portion and ends of the fibers which terminate in the surface: means resiliently biasing the assembly in a direction along the reference axis for applying forces to the assembly to hold the surface of the end portion in engagement with said second tool to provide a controlled pressure between the surface and said second tool; and means for causing relative motion between the assembly and said second tool in a direction normal to the axis to allow the second tool to finish the surface of the end portion and the ends of the fibers.

Claim 5

An apparatus for preparing an assembly of lightguide fibers and enclosing substrates, said apparatus including: nest means for holding the assembly in a position along a reference axis with portions of the fibers enclosed by the substrates being parallel to the axis; securing means for preventing movement of the assembly along said reference axis; tool means for providing the assembly with an end portion having a predetermined profile and end finish, said tool means including a profiling wheel and a polishing wheel; means for mounting said profiling wheel for rotation about an axis which is normal to the reference axis and said polishing wheel for rotation about an axis which is parallel to the reference axis; means for mounting said tool means for movement along a path of travel which is normal to the reference axis and to the axis of rotation of said profiling wheel; means for rotating said profiling wheel when said profiling wheel is moved past the assembly to cause said profiling wheel to remove portions of the substrates and ends of the fibers to form an end portion having a predetermined configuration: means for releasing the assembly to permit movement along the reference axis; force applying means resiliently biasing the assembly in a direction along the reference axis while the assembly is capable of movement along the reference axis for holding a surface of the end portion of the assembly in engagement with said polishing wheel when said polishing wheel is aligned with the assembly to provide a controlled pressure between the surface and said polishing wheel; and means for moving said tool means along the path of travel to cause said profiling wheel to provide the assembly with the end portion having the predetermined configuration, to cause said polishing wheel to be aligned with the assembly and render effective said force applying means, and to cause said polishing wheel to finish the surface of the end portion and ends of the fibers which terminate in the surface.

Claim 6

An apparatus for preparing an assembly of lightguide fibers and enclosing substrates, said apparatus including: nest means for holding the assembly in a position along a reference axis with portions of the fibers enclosed by the substrates being parallel to the axis; securing means for preventing movement of the assembly along said reference axis; tool means for providing the assembly with an end portion having a predetermined profile and end finish, said tool means including a profiling wheel and a polishing wheel; means for mounting said profiling wheel for rotation about an axis which is normal to the reference axis and said polishing wheel for rotation about an axis which is parallel to the reference axis; means for mounting said tool means for movement along a path of travel which is normal to the reference axis and to the axis of rotation of said profiling wheel; means for rotating said profiling wheel when said profiling wheel is moved past the assembly to cause said profiling wheel to remove portions of the substrates and ends of the fibers to form an end portion having a predetermined configuration: means for releasing the assembly to permit movement along the reference axis; force applying means resiliently biasing the assembly in a direction along the reference axis while the assembly is capable of movement along the reference axis for holding a surface of the end portion of the assembly in engagement with said polishing wheel when said polishing wheel is aligned with the assembly to provide a controlled pressure between the surface and said polishing wheel; and means for moving said tool means along the path of travel to cause said profiling wheel to provide the assembly with the end portion having the predetermined configuration, to cause said polishing wheel to be aligned with the assembly and render effective said force applying means, and to cause said polishing wheel to finish the surface of the end portion and ends of the fibers which terminate in the surface.