Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Brush or broom
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-26
2001-08-07
Spisich, Mark (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Brush or broom
C015S169000, C015S184000, C015S191100, C015S200000, C015S207200, C015S143100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269515
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for cleaning an optical fiber splicing apparatus. More specifically, the invention provides for cleaning the electrodes of an optical fiber splicer with a tungsten wire brush.
In order to join two optical fibers together such that optical signals may be transferred from one optical fiber to the other optical fiber, the fibers may be spliced together by utilizing a splicing apparatus. Optical fiber splicers are well-known in the art and may utilize tungsten electrodes. As can be seen in
FIG. 1
, an end of optical fiber
100
is positioned in proximity to an end of optical fiber
200
between the electrodes
300
and
350
of the splicing machine (not illustrated). An arc is applied across the gap between tungsten electrodes
300
and
350
to fuse the ends of fibers
100
and
200
together. Thus, fibers
100
and
200
are joined together such that optical signals may be transferred from one of the optical fibers to the other of the optical fibers.
When an arc is applied across tungsten electrodes
300
and
350
to fuse optical fibers
100
and
200
together, residue, such as silicon particles
400
, is deposited onto the electrodes. A build-up of these particles on the electrodes will result in a decreased ability of the electrodes to splice two optical fibers together. Therefore, it is desirable to remove as large a portion of the residue from the electrodes as possible. Currently, a tool is available for removing some of the residue from the electrodes, however, problems exist with the currently known tool.
The currently known tool is a brush-type apparatus where the brush includes glass bristles. The operator brushes the glass bristles across the tungsten electrodes attempting to remove the residue from the electrodes. Since the glass bristles are not as hard a material as are the tungsten electrodes, the bristles are not able to effectively remove a large majority of the residue from the electrodes. Typically, the glass bristles are only able to remove approximately 50% of the residue from the surface of the electrodes. The bristles do not remove those silicon particles that are more deeply embedded in the tungsten electrodes.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an improved apparatus and method for cleaning residue from the electrodes of an optical fiber splicing machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus and method for cleaning electrodes of an optical fiber splicing apparatus is provided. In one embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning apparatus includes a plurality of tungsten wires and a support member. The plurality of tungsten wires are attached to the support member at a first end of the support member. The cleaning apparatus may also include a cover that is slidably disposed on the support member. The cover is slidable between a first position where the cover is disposed away from the plurality of tungsten wires and a second position where the plurality of tungsten wires are received within the cover.
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Spisich Mark
TyCom (US) Inc.
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