Abrading – Machine – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-05
2001-10-30
Morgan, Eileen P. (Department: 3723)
Abrading
Machine
Combined
C451S271000, C451S278000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309284
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mass production polisher for polishing end surfaces of semi-products of jumpers, and in particular to a mass production polisher that can apply a steady friction between the end surfaces of the semi-products of the jumpers and the mass production polisher during the polishing.
2. Description of Prior Art
Optical fiber jumpers are widely used in the field of optical communications. An optical fiber jumper includes an optical fiber and two connectors coupled to each end of the optical fiber so as to allow connection to, for example, another jumper. The end surfaces of the jumper are polished into a substantially convex shape in order to minimize the optical loss of transmission when two optical fiber jumpers are connected together.
As shown in
FIG. 1
a
, an optical fiber
8
includes, from out to in, a plastic outer cover
4
, celvar
3
, a resin layer
2
and a core
1
.
How a jumper is produced is described now. As shown in
FIG. 1
b
, a ferrule
5
has a through hole
6
in which AB glue
7
is applied. The core
1
of the optical fiber
8
is inserted into the through hole
6
of the ferrule
5
. It is noted that the core
1
of the optical fiber
8
sticks out from the ferrule
5
. Then, the sticking-out portion of the core
1
is cut away, as shown in
FIG. 1
c
, as a semi-product of the jumper indicated by reference number
16
. Also, reference number
161
represents an end surface of the remaining core
1
, which is then polished by a polisher as shown in
FIG. 2
, so as to become substantially convex.
Now referring to
FIG. 2
, a conventional polisher
10
includes a polisher base
11
on which a rotary arm
12
is provided by means of a pivot
111
so that the rotary arm
12
can rotate with respect to the pivot
111
. A fixture
13
is provided on the polisher base
11
for holding the semi-product
16
shown in
FIG. 1
c
. The fixture
13
includes a flexible connector
131
which can connect to the middle part of the rotary arm
12
. Also, the fixture
13
includes four holes
133
provided on the corners of the fixture
13
to connect coupling bars
112
provided on the polisher base
11
. A cylinder
15
is provided inside the polisher base
11
for applying a pulling force to the rotary arm
12
via a connecting rod
151
in the direction indicated by an arrow shown in FIG.
2
. Thus, during the polishing process, the end surface
161
of the semi-product
16
is forced against the surface
141
of a polishing element
14
.
However, the conventional polisher
10
has some defects:
(1)Before being polished, the semi-product
16
is subjected to a downward force by the cylinder
15
so as to push against the polishing surface
141
. Hence, the core
1
of the semi-product
16
is easily torn up due to the sudden increase in frictional forces between the semi-product
16
and the polishing surface
141
at the beginning of polishing. The resultant end surface of the core
1
is shown in
FIG. 3
, circled by reference symbol “S”.
(2)As shown in
FIG. 4
, the fixture
13
is substantially a rectangular in shape; therefore, the subjected stresses of four holes
133
, provided at four corners of the fixture
13
to connect the fixture
13
with the coupling bars
112
of the polisher base
11
, are unbalanced. As a result, the semi-product of the jumper
16
as shown in
FIG. 1
c
, held by the fixture
13
, is easily subjected to an uneven polishing force by the polishing element
14
during the polishing.
(3) Because the pulling force applied by the cylinder
15
is through the connection between one end of the rotary arm
12
and the connecting rod
151
, the fixture
13
connected to the middle part of the rotary arm
12
can not remain balanced after the polishing. As a result, the fixture
13
needs to be readjusted again every time the polishing begins. This leads to the additional problem that the operation time is increased.
(4) There is no waterproof device provided on the polisher base
11
; therefore, the liquid used during the polishing may easily sputter to operators and surrounding equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a mass production polisher that can apply a steady friction between the end surfaces of semi-products of the jumpers and the mass production polisher during the polishing.
The mass production polisher can simultaneously polish the end surface of each of a plurality of optical fibers protruding from ferrules which the optical fibers are inserted into. The mass production polisher comprises a polisher base, a polishing element, a rotary arm, a fixture, a force-applying means and at least one force-cushioning means. The polishing element is provided inside the polisher base. The rotary arm is provided on the polisher base in a rotatable manner. The fixture is located above the polishing element and connected with the rotary arm for holding the ferrules in such a manner that the end surface of each of the optical fibers protrudes from the fixture and abuts against the polishing element. The force-applying means is provided on the rotary arm for applying variable forces to the fixture in a controlled manner. The force-cushioning means are provided on the rotary arm for providing the force-applying means a cushioning effect when the force-applying means is applying force to the fixture.
Specifically, the mass production polisher further comprises a first joint, a pressure plate and a slide bar. The first joint is associated with the force-applying means. The pressure plate, associated with the first joint, is abutted against the force-cushioning means when the force-applying means is applying force to the fixture. The slide bar is associated with the pressure plate.
Specifically, the fixture is substantially a square and comprises a base plate, an adjusting plate, a second joint, at least one adjustable bolt, four holes, at least one through hole and at least one lead hole. The adjusting plate is provided on the base plate in such a manner that the adjusting plate can move along a first direction to be near or far from the base plate within a first predetermined range and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction within a second predetermined range. The second joint, penetrating through the adjusting plate, is provided on the base plate. Adjustable bolts for adjusting the distance between the base plate and the adjusting plate are provided on the base plate and penetrate through the adjusting plate. The holes are provided on the base plate in order to connect the fixture to the polisher base. The through holes are provided on the base plate, and the lead holes, corresponding respectively to the through holes, are provided on the adjusting plate.
Specifically, the mass production polisher further comprises two fixed plates, a control panel, a polishing pad, two locating pins, a set pin and a waterproof wall. The fixed plates are provided on the rotary arm; thereby, each of the force-cushioning means is provided on the fixed plates, respectively. The control panel is provided on the polisher base. The polishing pad, for contacting the end surface of each of the optical fibers, is disposed on the polishing element. The locating pins are provided on the polisher base for locating the rotary arm. The set pin is attached to the rotary arm for connecting the fixture to the rotary arm. The waterproof wall is provided on the polisher base.
Specifically, the force-cushioning means is an oil cylinder, and the force-applying means is a low-friction cylinder.
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patent: 4979334 (1990-12-01), Takahashi
patent: 5216846 (1993-06-01), Takahashi
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Chou Shih-Chen
Hsu Wei-Jia
Jang Win-Yann
Lin Samuel I-En
Bednarek Michael D.
Morgan Eileen P.
Pittman LLP Shaw
Shakeri Hadi
Uconn Technology Inc.
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