Polishing fixture for simultaneous loading of a plurality of optical connectors and fiber stubs and a method of loading

Abstract

A fixture for simultaneously clamping a number of optical fiber ferrules or fiber stubs for polishing. The fixture includes a plate assembly with an upper surface, a lower surface and a number of ferrule-receiving bores disposed across the upper surface and extending from the upper surface to the lower surface, each ferrule-receiving bore for receiving a ferrule. The fixture further includes a number of ferrule gripper arrangements, each associated with one of the ferrule-receiving bores, each of the ferrule gripper arrangements being selectively deployable between a released state for insertion of a ferrule into the ferrule-receiving bore and a gripping state in which the gripper arrangement clamps a ferrule within the ferrule-receiving bore. The fixture also includes a locking mechanism associated with at least a group of the number of ferrule gripper arrangements and configured to deploy the group of ferrule gripper arrangements substantially simultaneously from the released state to the gripping state so as to clamp substantially simultaneously a number of optical fiber ferrules located within a corresponding group of the ferrule-receiving bores.

1 . A fixture for simultaneously clamping a plurality of optical fiber ferrules or fiber stubs for polishing, the fixture comprising: 
 (a) a plate assembly having an upper surface, a lower surface and a plurality of ferrule-receiving bores disposed across said upper surface and extending from said upper surface to said lower surface, each ferrule-receiving bore for receiving a ferrule;    (b) a plurality of ferrule gripper arrangements, each associated with one of said ferrule-receiving bores, each of said ferrule gripper arrangements being selectively deployable between a released state for insertion of a ferrule into said ferrule-receiving bore and a gripping state in which said gripper arrangement clamps a ferrule within the ferrule-receiving bore; and    (c) a locking mechanism associated with at least a group of said plurality of ferrule gripper arrangements and configured to deploy said group of ferrule gripper arrangements substantially simultaneously from said released state to said gripping state so as to clamp substantially simultaneously a plurality of optical fiber ferrules located within a corresponding group of said ferrule-receiving bores.    
   
   
       2 . The fixture of  claim 1 , wherein said plate assembly includes an upper plate providing said upper surface and a lower plate providing said lower surface, and wherein said plurality of ferrule gripper arrangements are substantially enclosed between said upper and lower plates.  
   
   
       3 . The fixture of  claim 1 , wherein said locking mechanism includes a gripper carrier and an actuator mechanism for displacing said gripper carrier, and wherein said group of ferrule gripper arrangements are implemented as resilient elements mechanically interconnected so as to be displaced together with said gripper carrier.  
   
   
       4 . The fixture of  claim 1 , wherein each of said ferrule-receiving bores has an internal diameter of no more than about 3 millimeters.  
   
   
       5 . The fixture of  claim 1 , further comprising a loading plate with a loading calibration surface having a plurality of alignment openings each configured to define a degree of projection of a ferrule from a corresponding one of said ferrule-receiving bores, said loading plate and said plate assembly featuring inter-engaging alignment features configured to align said loading plate with said lower surface such that one of said alignment openings is aligned with each of said ferrule-receiving bores.  
   
   
       6 . The fixture of  claim 1 , further comprising a fiber-stub insertion tool including at least one spring-loaded pin configured for pressing a fiber stub to a fully inserted position within one of said ferrule-receiving bores.  
   
   
       7 . The fixture of  claim 1 , further comprising a fiber-stub inversion assembly including: 
 (a) a storage plate;    (b) a plurality of fiber-stub-receiving openings disposed on a surface of said storage plate in a pattern similar to a pattern of said ferrule-receiving bores; and    (c) a support mechanism configured to support said storage plate, said support mechanism including an inversion mechanism for selectively allowing inversion of said storage plate.    
   
   
       8 . The fixture of  claim 7 , wherein said fiber-stub inversion assembly and said plate assembly feature inter-engaging alignment features configured to align said storage plate with each of said lower surface and said upper surface such that one of said fiber-stub-receiving openings is aligned with each of said ferrule-receiving bores.  
   
   
       9 . The fixture of  claim 8 , wherein the fixture further comprises a mounting arm projecting from said upper surface of said plate assembly, and wherein said storage plate is formed with an opening configured to accommodate said mounting arm when said storage plate is aligned with said upper surface.  
   
   
       10 . The fixture of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of fiber-stub-receiving openings are formed in a first surface of said storage plate, and wherein said storage plate further includes a second surface formed with a plurality of alignment openings each configured to define a degree of projection of a ferrule from a corresponding one of said ferrule-receiving bores, said second surface and said plate assembly featuring inter-engaging alignment features configured to align said second surface with said lower surface such that one of said alignment openings is aligned with each of said ferrule-receiving bores.  
   
   
       11 . A method for simultaneously clamping a plurality of optical fiber ferrules or fiber stubs for polishing, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a fixture including: 
 (i) a plate assembly having a plurality of ferrule-receiving bores,  
 (ii) a plurality of ferrule gripper arrangements) each associated with one of said ferrule-receiving bores, and  
 (iii) a locking mechanism associated with at least a group of said plurality of ferrule gripper arrangements;  
   (b) deploying a plurality of optical fiber ferrules within said ferrule-receiving bores; and    (c) operating the locking mechanism so as to cause at least said group of ferrule gripper arrangements to substantially simultaneously clamp a group of said ferrules within a corresponding group of said ferrule-receiving bores.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said plate assembly includes an upper plate providing an upper surface and a lower plate providing a lower surface, and wherein said plurality of ferrule gripper arrangements are substantially enclosed between said upper and lower plates.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said locking mechanism includes a gripper carrier, and wherein said group of ferrule gripper arrangements are implemented as resilient elements mechanically interconnected with said gripper carrier, said operating being performed by operating an actuator mechanism so as to displace said gripper carrier and hence said resilient elements.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each of said ferrule-receiving bores has an internal diameter of no more than about 3 millimeters.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising, prior to said deploying, bringing a loading calibration surface into juxtaposition with said plate assembly so as to define a desired degree of projection of said ferrules from said ferrule-receiving bores, said loading calibration surface and said plate assembly being separated subsequent to said operating of the locking mechanism.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said loading calibration surface features a plurality of alignment openings for cooperating with end portions of said ferrules, said bringing into juxtaposition being performed so as to align the alignment openings with corresponding of said ferrule-receiving bores.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising employing at least one spring-loaded pin for pressing a fiber stub to a fully inserted position within one of said ferrule-receiving bores.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 (a) polishing a first end of a plurality of fiber-stubs while the fiber stubs are clamped in the fixture in a first orientation;    (b) offloading said plurality of fiber-stubs substantially simultaneously into fiber-stub-receiving openings of a storage plate;    (c) reloading said plurality of fiber-stubs substantially simultaneously into the ferrule-receiving bores of the plate assembly in a second orientation inverted relative to said first orientation and operating the locking mechanism so as to substantially simultaneously clamp said fiber-stubs within said ferrule-receiving bores.    
   
   
       19 . A method for polishing both ends of a plurality of optical fiber stubs, the method comprising: 
 a providing a fixture including: 
 (i) a plate assembly having an upper surface, a lower surface and a plurality of ferrule-receiving bores extending from said upper surface to said lower surface, each ferrule-receiving bore for receiving a fiber stub, and  
 (ii) a plurality of ferrule gripper arrangements, each associated with one of said ferrule-receiving bores;  
   (b) providing a fiber-stub inversion assembly including: 
 (i) a storage plate,  
 (ii) a plurality of fiber-stub-receiving openings disposed on a surface of said storage plate in a pattern similar to a pattern of said ferrule-receiving bores, and  
 (iii) a support mechanism configured to support said storage plate, said support mechanism including an inversion mechanism for selectively allowing inversion of said storage plate;  
   (c) deploying and clamping a plurality of optical fiber stubs within said ferrule-receiving bores with a first end of each of said fiber stubs projecting from said lower surface;    (d) polishing said first ends of said fiber stubs;    (e) bringing said plate assembly into juxtaposition with said storage plate such that said ferrule-receiving bores are aligned with said fiber-stub-receiving openings;    (f) releasing and off-loading said fiber stubs from said ferrule-receiving bores into said fiber-stub-receiving openings;    (g) inverting said plate assembly and bringing said plate assembly into inverted juxtaposition with said storage plate such that said ferrule-receiving bores are aligned with said fiber-stub-receiving openings;    (h) reloading the fiber stubs from said fiber-stub-receiving openings into said ferrule-receiving bores and clamping the fiber stubs within said ferrule-receiving bores with a second end of each of said fiber stubs projecting from said lower surface; and    (i) polishing the second ends of the fiber stubs.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said reloading-includes inverting said plate assembly together with said storage plate.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said deploying and said re-loading both include bringing said plate assembly into juxtaposition with a loading calibration surface, said loading calibration surface having a plurality of alignment openings each configured to define a degree of projection of the fiber stub from a corresponding one of said ferrule-receiving bores.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said loading calibration surface is implemented as a surface of said storage plate.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said deploying and clamping and said re-loading and clamping include operating a locking mechanism to simultaneously operate a plurality of said ferrule gripper arrangements.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least said deploying includes employing an insertion tool including at least one at least one spring-loaded pin for pressing a fiber stub to a fully inserted position within one of said ferrule-receiving bores.