Prussure module and polishing fixture module for fiber optic polisher

Abstract

A pressure module and two polishing fixture modules are herein disclosed for fiber optic polisher, or polishing machine. Said pressure module further includes an adjustable spring between a top turntable and a bottom turntable, which are kinematically connected and driven by at least three pair of drive-pins and drive-bushes. Said pressure module is able to apply an adjustable pressure from bottom of the polishing fixture module. So the Fixture Module could not be floating in the pressure direction and maintain stationary when polishing machine is working. Two different quick-release mechanisms for a flexure polishing fixture module were invented for holding and releasing fiber ferrules or connectors during the polishing process controlled by sets of magnets. It's easy to work, and to protect the fixture flexure from the un-proper torque applied by different operators. The current invention is an improvement over our previous invention.

1 . A fiber optic polisher, or polishing machine, comprises:
 a rotating power source;   a Mechanical transmission module;   a main housing to install said rotating power source and said Mechanical transmission module inside;   a Pressure Module, located on top of said main housing, to hold polishing pad, to provide adjustable polishing pressure and polishing motion during the polishing process; and   a Polishing Fixture Module, located on top of said Pressure Module, to secure, or release a plurality of fiber ferrules or connectors during polishing process, wherein   said Mechanical transmission module provides polishing motion and torque converted from said rotating power source to said Pressure Module.   
     
     
         2 . A fiber optic polisher, or polishing machine, according to  claim 1 , wherein said Polishing Fixture Module further comprising:
 a main fixture plate, a couple of supporting apparatus, at least three pair of magnets, and a flexure mechanism secured on said main fixture plate for holding and releasing a number of fiber ferrules or connectors during the polishing process;   a quick-release mechanism located on said main fixture plate to control said flexure mechanism for holding and releasing a plurality of fiber ferrules or connectors during the polishing process;   said main fixture plate is secured on top of said main housing through said supporting apparatus; and   the poles of said three pair of magnets are arranged to attract each other for each pair; wherein one of the magnets in each pair is fixed on said main fixture plate, and another magnets in each pair is fixed on said supporting apparatus.   
     
     
         3 . A Polishing Fixture Module, according to  claim 2 , wherein said flexure mechanism further comprising:
 a relative rigid frame, a plurality of compliant cantilevers, and a plurality of clamping holes for holding and releasing a plurality of fiber ferrules or connectors during the polishing process; and   said clamping hole geometrically having two-half cylinders, wherein the first half cylinder located on said rigid frame, and the second half cylinder on said compliant cantilever; wherein said two compliant cantilevers adjacent each other so as to form a tapered open slot; the size of said tapered open slot can be adjusted so that said second half cylinder be able to move against, or out of said first half cylinder to tighten, or release the fiber ferrules or connectors in said clamping holes respectively during the polishing process.   
     
     
         4 . A Polishing Fixture Module, according to  claim 2 , wherein said quick-release mechanism further comprising a first optional quick-release mechanism, and a second optional quick-release mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . A fiber optic polisher, or polishing machine, according to  claim 1 , wherein said Pressure Module further comprising:
 a top turntable, a bottom turntable, a polishing pad located on top surface of said top turntable, at least three pairs of drive-pins and drive-bushes, pressure nut, and pressure threaded stud engaged with said pressure nut;   wherein said drive-pins are secured with said bottom turntable, and connected with said Mechanical transmission module kinematically; said drive-bushes are secured beneath said top turntable; and   wherein said drive-pin and said drive-bush in each pair are relatively movable along the drive-pin axis direction so that said top turntable is movable relative to said bottom turntable along said drive-pin axis direction, said threaded stud is secured beneath said top turntable; said pressure nut is engaged with said threaded stud by their thread; said pressure spring is located between said nut and said bottom turntable so as to physically to provide a support to said top turntable along said drive-pin axis direction; said each drive-pins further have scales on its surface to indicate the pressure levels; and the polishing pressure can be adjusted by turning said pressure nut to specific lines of said scales for different polishing requirements.   
     
     
         6 . A quick-release mechanism for Polishing Fixture Module, according to  claim 4 , wherein said first optional quick-release mechanism further comprising:
 a drive-bar with two distal ends, a compression spring, a release lever, a pin, a release holder with a central hole, a first pair of magnets, and a second pair of magnets;   wherein the poles of said first pair of magnets are arranged to attract each other, and the poles of second pair of magnets are arranged to repel each other, the pole axes between said first pair of magnets and said second pair of magnets are arranged perpendicular each other;   said release holder is secured on said main fixture plate to provide the host to one of said first pair of magnets, said spring, and said drive-bar; said release lever is rotatable relative to said release holder through said pin; said release lever further provides the host to one of said first pair of magnets, and one of said second pair of magnets; said drive-bar have a tapered tip on said one of distal ends, wherein engaged with said tapered open slot on said flexure mechanism, and said drive-bar further provide host to one of said second pair of magnets on another said distal ends; said compression spring is secured around said drive-bar in said central hole of said release holder; said release lever have a switch-on and a switch-off positions relative to said release holder;   at said switch-on position, said first pair of magnets move together to attract each other, while said second pair of magnets move together to repel each other to force said drive-bar move into said tapered open slot on said flexure mechanism to clamp fiber ferrules or connectors in said clamping holes during the polishing process, and at the same time, said spring is compressed; and   at said switch-off position, said both first and second pair of magnets move away each other, and at the same time, said spring is released to force said drive-bar move out of said tapered open slot on said flexure mechanism to release fiber ferrules or connectors in said clamping holes.   
     
     
         7 . A quick-release mechanism for Polishing Fixture Module, according to  claim 4 , wherein said second optional quick-release mechanism further comprising:
 a drive-bar with two distal ends, a compression spring, a release lever, a pin, a release holder with a central hole, a pair of magnets, and a set screw;   wherein the poles of said pair of magnets are arranged to attract each other, said release holder is secured on said main fixture plate to provide the host to one of said pair of magnets, said spring, and said drive-bar;   said release lever is rotatable relative to said release holder through said pin;   said release lever further provides the host to one of said pair of magnets, and said set screw;   said drive-bar have a tapered tip on said one of distal ends, which engaged with said tapered open slot on said flexure mechanism, and said drive-bar further provide physical contact with said set screw on another said distal ends;   said compression spring is secured around said drive-bar in said central hole of said release holder;   said release lever have a switch-on and a switch-off positions relative to said release holder;   at said switch-on position, said pair of magnets move together to attract each other, while said set screw move to contact said drive-bar to force said drive-bar move into said tapered open slot on said flexure mechanism to clamp fiber ferrules or connectors in said clamping holes during the polishing process, and at the same time, said spring is compressed; and   at said switch-off position, said pair of magnets move away each other, and at the same time, said spring is released to force said drive-bar move out of said tapered open slot on said flexure mechanism to release fiber ferrules or connectors in said clamping holes.