Abrading – Work holder – Clamp
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-21
2001-07-10
Rose, Robert A. (Department: 3723)
Abrading
Work holder
Clamp
C451S460000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257971
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for simultaneously grinding or polishing end surfaces of a plurality of optical fibers which are connected to respective fiber end devices.
More specifically, the present invention is concerned with an apparatus for simultaneously or independently grinding the end surfaces of different types of optical fibers connected to a variety of types of fiber end devices which are often used at sites where optical fiber cable is laid.
2. Prior Art
TAKAHASHI, one of the inventors of the present invention, has made many proposals in regard to grinding of end surfaces of optical fibers. For instance, the following patents and patent application pertain to grinding apparatuses capable of simultaneously grinding end surfaces of a plurality of optical fibers:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,784
POLISHING APPARATUS FOR END SURFACES OF OPTICAL FIBERS
U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,334
OPTICAL FIBER END SURFACE POLISHING DEVICE
U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,846
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GRINDING FOREMOST END OF FERRULE
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-179161; U.S. Ser. No. 08/019,303
APPARATUS FOR GRINDING ENDFACES OF FERRULES TOGETHER WITH OPTICAL FIBERS EACH FIRMLY RECEIVED IN FERRULE
The grinding apparatuses proposed in these patents and patent application are of the type in which the end surfaces of the optical fibers to be ground are pressed against the grinding plate, and a synthetic relative movement having a rotational component (rotation about fixed axis) and a revolution component (revolution along an orbit) is caused between the grinding plate and the optical fiber end surfaces, thereby grinding these end surfaces.
FIG. 4
is a plan view of a grinding holder of a known apparatus for grinding end surfaces of a plurality of optical fibers. The grinding holder has a holder plate capable of holding fiber end devices of different types one of which is illustrated in sectional view in FIG.
5
.
The holder plate
1
is provided at its center with a cylindrical hub
2
for receiving a holder shaft. The holder plate
1
is further provided with a plurality of mounting members
3
which are designed to mount fiber end devices of the same configuration. These mounting members are arranged on a circle E shown by a chain line and concentric with the holder plate
1
.
More specifically,
FIG. 5
is a sectional view taken along the line V—V of
FIG. 4
, and the mounting member
3
shown therein is adapted to mount an FC-type ferrule
5
which receives an end of an optical fiber
4
. The end surface of an optical fiber
4
exposed from the ferrule
5
, is to be ground perpendicularly to the axis of the optical fiber.
To explain in more detail, a plurality of through-holes
7
are formed on the above-mentioned circle E. A ferrule receiving sleeve
8
for receiving the ferrule
5
is press-fit in each hole
7
. Namely, the ferrule receiving sleeve
8
has a through bore for receiving the ferrule
5
and is externally threaded at
8
a
. A nut
9
has a slit
10
and is internally threaded so as to be screwed to the above-mentioned external thread
8
a
thereby fixing the FC-type ferrule
5
.
The end surfaces
6
of the FC-type ferrules
5
are pressed against a grinding plate
11
, and a relative movement based on a circular path is caused to occur between the end surfaces of the ferrules
5
and the grinding plate
11
, so that the end surfaces of six optical fibers are simultaneously ground.
Nowadays, various types of optical fiber connectors are used, such as FC type, SC type, ST
R
type, DIN type, MT type and so forth. Furthermore, these connectors are grouped according to the shape in which the ferrule end is ground, e.g., spherical surface with vertical axis, spherical surface inclined with respect to vertical plane, and so forth. Thus, more than 20, almost 30 types of optical fiber connectors exist according to the combination of the connector type and the shape of grinding, requiring different specifications or types of grinding work. Hitherto, different types of grinding holder plates have had to be prepared and used, adapted to each of the variety of types of the optical fiber end devices of different designs.
The grinding holder plate is one of the most critical components of the grinding apparatus, since it controls the precision of grinding of the optical fiber end surfaces. In general, therefore, a grinding holder plate has to be finished with a high degree of precision on the order of 1 &mgr;m. Thus, the grinding holder plate is one of the most expensive components. It may be not so difficult to prepare many different types of holder plates in a factory where limited types of fiber end devices are to be ground in large quantities. However, a difficulty is encountered at sites where a variety of types of fiber end devices have to be ground in small lots. Obviously, preparation and use of many different grinding holder plates at each of sites is disadvantageous from the view points of cost, transportation and administration. This has given a rise to the demand for an optical fiber end surface grinding apparatus in which a single grinding holder plate can be adapted to a variety of types of optical fibers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for grinding end surfaces of optical fibers, capable of simultaneously grinding the end surfaces of a plurality of types of optical fibers by means of a single grinding holder plate.
To this end, according to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for use in simultaneously grinding a plurality of optical fibers each respectively connected to one of a plurality of optical fiber end devices. At least a first one and a second one of the plurality of optical fiber end devices are dissimilar. The apparatus includes a holder plate, at least one first supporting structure disposed on the holder plate and adapted to fix and support the first one of the plurality of optical fiber end devices, and at least one second supporting structure disposed on the holder plate and adapted to fix and support the second one of the plurality of optical fiber end devices.
Each of the optical fiber end devices may be a connector including a ferrule. In such a case, the plurality of types of optical fiber end devices may be connectors whose end surfaces are to be ground at different angles or may be the connectors of different connection types.
The circular-path-based relative movement caused by the driving means may have a rotation component which is rotation of the holder plate about its own axis and a revolution movement which is revolution of the axis of the holder plate.
The supporting structures of each type are preferably arranged on a circle concentric with the axis of the holder plate and preferably at a constant angular interval.
These and other objects, features and advantages will become clear from the following description when the same is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2740240 (1956-04-01), Rugels
patent: 2842906 (1958-07-01), Carter et al.
patent: 4819386 (1989-04-01), Struyf
patent: 4831784 (1989-05-01), Takahashi
patent: 4905415 (1990-03-01), Moulin
patent: 4979334 (1990-12-01), Takahashi
patent: 5140779 (1992-08-01), Grois
patent: 5216846 (1993-06-01), Takahashi
patent: 5351445 (1994-10-01), Takahashi
patent: 107229 (1916-06-01), None
patent: 4176557 (1972-06-01), None
patent: 57-127656 (1982-08-01), None
patent: 59-161256 (1984-09-01), None
patent: 3-234457 (1991-10-01), None
Straus Joseph
Takahashi Mitsuo
Frank Robert J.
Rose Robert A.
Sartori Michael A.
Seikoh Giken Co., LTD
Venable
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