Apparatus and method for preparing a coated optical fiber

US6904226B2 · kind B2 · utility

Inventors

• David A. Kritler · Lake Oswego, US
• Warren R. Hill · Portland, US
• Frederic Schildmeyer · Grants Pass, US
• Christiaan Johannes Brokke · Hillsboro, US
• Francis Sladen · Neshanic Station, US
• Damien Slevin · Salem, US
• John W. Dyer · Dover, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 15, 2002
• Grant date: Jun 7, 2005
• Expiry date: Apr 30, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T83/0405
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method of preparing a coated optical fiber for coupling to a face of an optical device includes placing the coated fiber so that it extends through a stripping station, a cleaning station and a cleaving station. A stripper at the stripping station is brought into engagement with the fiber and relative motion between the fiber and the stripping station, the cleaning station and the cleaving station is effected lengthwise of the fiber, whereby the coating is stripped from a medial length segment of the fiber as the cleaning device at the cleaning station is activated for cleaning fragments of coating material from the medial length segment of the fiber as the medial length segment passes through the cleaning station and the cleaning device is deactivated and stripping is discontinued. The fiber is positioned with the medial length segment at the cleaving station, the fiber is clamped at a location that is upstream of the cleaving station with respect to the direction from the stripping station to the cleaving station, and the fiber is cleaved within the medial length segment, thereby providing the fiber with a freshly cleaved end region.