Optical fiber polishing apparatus and method

Abstract

A hand-held polishing apparatus is provided for polishing an optical fiber connector. The optical fiber connector mounted on the end of an optical fiber includes a connector housing and a ferrule. The polishing apparatus includes a connector mount to receive and hold the optical connector to position the end face of the ferrule adjacent to a polishing media. The polishing apparatus includes a housing having an upper portion and a base portion, a drive assembly and a lubricant dispensing system. The drive assembly controls orbital movement of the optical connector and linear movement of the polishing media through the polishing device, and the lubricant dispensing system supplies a lubricant from an internal reservoir disposed with in the housing to the polishing media near the end face of the ferrule of the optical connector.

1 . A hand-held polishing apparatus for polishing an optical fiber connector, the optical fiber connector including a connector housing and a ferrule, comprising:
 a connector mount to receive and hold the optical connector mounted on the end of an optical fiber wherein the end face of the ferrule is adjacent to a polishing media;   a housing having an upper portion and a base portion;   a drive assembly to control orbital movement of the optical connector and linear movement of the polishing media through the polishing device; and   a lubricant dispensing system to supply a lubricant from an internal reservoir disposed with in the housing to the polishing media near the end face of the ferrule of the optical connector.   
     
     
         2 . The polishing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring loaded pressure plate assembly to provide a contact force between the polishing media and a terminal end of the optical fiber when the optical connector is disposed in the connector mount 
     
     
         3 . The polishing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a polishing media dispenser disposed within the housing that contains a supply of tape style polishing media. 
     
     
         4 . The polishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the contact force is from about 100 grams force to about 150 grams force. 
     
     
         5 . The polishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is held in the connector mount at a predetermined angle, the predetermined angle providing for one of a flat polish that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fiber and an angled polish. 
     
     
         6 . The polishing apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the angled polish comprises an angle from perpendicular of about 2° to about 12°. 
     
     
         7 . The polishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly is string-activateable, wherein pulling on the string causes optical connector to trace a polishing pattern of a known length against the polishing media. 
     
     
         8 . The polishing apparatus of  claim 1 , where in the optical fiber connector is a multi-fiber optical fiber connector. 
     
     
         9 . The polishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly includes an electric motor, at least one battery, and a control circuit. 
     
     
         10 . A hand-held polishing apparatus for polishing an optical fiber connector, the optical fiber connector including a connector housing and a ferrule, comprising:
 a housing having an upper portion and a base portion;   a connector mount disposed within the housing to receive and hold the optical connector mounted on the end of an optical fiber wherein the end face of the ferrule is adjacent to a tape-style polishing media; and   a drive assembly to control orbital movement of the optical connector and linear movement of the polishing media through the polishing device.   
     
     
         11 . The polishing apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a lubricant dispensing system to supply a lubricant from an internal reservoir disposed with in the housing to the polishing media near the end face of the ferrule of the optical connector. 
     
     
         12 . The polishing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the connector is held in the connector mount at a predetermined angle, the predetermined angle providing for one of a flat polish that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fiber and an angled polish. 
     
     
         13 . A method of polishing an optical fiber connector comprising:
 providing an optical fiber having a stripped terminal end;   inserting the fiber through a connector body and a ferrule,   setting a protrusion of the fiber tip from an end face of the ferrule;   securing the optical fiber in the optical connector;   mounting the optical fiber connector in a connector mount portion of a polishing apparatus, the polishing apparatus including a housing having an upper portion and a base portion, a drive assembly to control orbital movement of the optical connector and linear movement of a polishing media through the polishing device; and a lubricant dispensing system;   dispensing a lubricant using the lubricant dispensing system to supply the lubricant from an internal reservoir disposed with in the housing to the polishing media near the end face of the ferrule of the optical connector; and   activating the drive assembly to polish the fiber tip protruding from the end face of the ferrule.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising cleaving an exposed end of the optical fiber prior to setting the protrusion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising cleaving an exposed end of the optical fiber after the optical fiber is secured in the optical connector. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the dispensing the lubricant comprises the step of depressing an external flexible bulb to move the lubricant from the reservoir. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the activating the drive assembly includes pulling a string to activate the drive assembly