To fusion splice together two sets of one or more optical fibers, the two sets of optical fibers are positioned end-to-end at a splice location. An arc or plasma is generated between probes at the splice location to melt the optical fibers together. Before splicing, the ends of the fibers are prepared. For example, the fibers may be cleaved to form a clean edge. In the case of a mass fusion splice, the optical fibers of each set may be cleaved to a common length.
Using a typical cleaving tool, the first set of fibers are loaded at the cleaving tool and the ends of the fibers are cleaved. The first set of fibers is then mounted at the splice tool. The second set of fibers are then loaded at the cleaving tool in the same orientation that the first set of fibers were loaded. The ends of the fibers of the second set are cleaved. The second set of fibers is then mounted at the splice tool. However, since the fibers are mounted at the splice tool end-to-end, the second set of fibers must be rotated 180 degrees relative to the first set of fibers when positioned at the splice tool. Such rotation can decrease operation efficiency and may require management of the fibers during rotation to avoid breakage.
Improvements are desired.
Certain aspects of the disclosure are directed to fiber cleaving tool including a cleaving component, a first mounting nest at a first end of the cleaving component, and a second mounting nest at an opposite second end of the cleaving component.
In certain implementations, each mounting nest is configured to hold and orient a mounting clip to direct one or more optical fibers towards the cleaving component.
In certain implementations, the orientation of the mounting nests of the cleaving tool may correspond to the orientation of the mounting nests of a splice tool.
A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description, illustrate several aspects of the present disclosure. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:
Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present disclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
Referring to the figures in general, the present disclosure is directed to a fiber cleaving tool 120 for use in cutting one or more optical fibers 150, 160 to a specified length. In some implementations, the cleaved fiber(s) can then be transferred to a fiber splicing tool 110 for fusion or other splicing to one or more corresponding fibers 160, 150. In other implementations, the cleaved fiber(s) can be inserted within a connector (e.g., a plug connector) to terminate the optical fiber(s).
In some implementations, the same cleaving tool 120 can be used to cleave the ends of both sets of fibers 150, 160 to be spliced at the splicing tool 110. In certain implementations, each set of fibers 150, 160 to be spliced can be mounted within the cleaving tool 120 in the same orientation in which the fibers 150, 160 are mounted within the splicing tool 110. In certain implementations, the splice tool 110 and the cleaving tool 120 can be arranged in alignment with each other at a workstation 100, thereby facilitating transfer of the cleaved fibers from the cleaving tool 120 to the splicing tool 110 as will be described in more detail herein.
Referring now to
In certain implementations, a mounting clip 140 includes a base 142 and a cover 144. The base 142 defines a channel in which the one or more fibers 150, 160 seat. The cover 144 is movable relative to the base 142 between an open position and a closed position. For example, the cover 144 may pivot relative to the base 142 along a hinge axis H. In some example mounting clips the hinge axis H is located at a first side of the base 142 (e.g., a right-handed mounting clip) and in other example mounting clips the hinge axis H is located at an opposite second side of the base 142 (e.g., a left-handed mounting clip). In some examples, the cover 144 is held in the closed position by a magnet arrangement 148. In other examples, the cover 144 may latch or otherwise secure to the base 142 in the closed position.
The mounting clip 140 is disposed on the set of fibers 150, 160 adjacent the end 152, 162 of the fibers to be terminated. The fibers 150, 160 extend past an end 146 of the clip 140 so that the ends 152, 162 to be terminated are offset from the mounting clip 140. Other ends of the fibers extend beyond the opposite end of the clip (e.g., see fibers 160 and clip 140 in
A first mounting clip 140 can be disposed at the first nest 112 to hold a first set of fibers 150 at the splicing tool 110 in a first orientation (e.g., with the fibers extending in a first direction) and a second mounting clip 140 can be disposed at the second nest 114 to hold a second set of fibers 160 at the splicing tool 110 in a second orientation (e.g., with the fibers extending in a second direction that is opposite the first direction). Accordingly, the first and second sets of fibers 150, 160 extend towards each other and both extend towards the splicing region 116. Each of the sets of fibers 150, 160 is cleaved prior to being disposed at the splicing tool 110.
As shown in
In some implementations, the mounting nests 122, 124 of the cleaving tool 120 are positioned a common distance from the cleave region 126. For example, the mounting nests 122, 124 can be positioned at a common distance when the cleaving tool 120 is intended to cut both sets of fibers 150, 160 for splicing 110. In other implementations, the mounting nests 122, 124 may be positioned at different distances D1, D2, respectively, from the cleave region 126. Accordingly, the same cleaving tool 120 could be used to terminate fiber ends 152, 162 for at least two different applications having different fiber length requirements—fibers for the first application would be mounted at the first nest 122 and fibers for the second application would be mounted at the second nest 124. In an example, each mounting nest 122, 124 may be positioned a respective distance D1, D2 from the scorer 128 (or blade or other component) of the cleave region 126.
The cleaving tool 120 is configured to cleave the ends 152, 162 of both sets of fibers 150, 160 without the need to reorient the fibers between cleaving and splicing. The cleaving tool 120 is disposed relative to the splicing tool 110 so that the first nest 122 of the cleaving tool 120 faces in a common orientation with the first nest 112 of the splicing tool 110 and the second nest 124 of the cleaving tool 120 faces in a common orientation with the second nest 114 of the splicing tool 110. By allowing the fibers 150, 160 to mount at the cleaving tool 120 in the same orientation that they will mount at the splicing tool 110, fiber management that would otherwise be required during reorientation of the fibers 150, 160 is avoided. The efficiently with which the cleaved fibers can be transferred to the splicing tool 110 also is increased.
The first set of optical fibers 150 can be positioned at the cleaving tool 120 by inserting the first mounting clip 140 at the first nest 122. The fibers 150 extend from the first mounting clip 140 and across the cleave region 126 in a first direction O1 (see
The second set of optical fibers 160 can be positioned at the cleaving tool 120 by inserting the second mounting clip 140 at the second nest 124. The fibers 160 extend from the second mounting clip 140 and across the cleave region 126 in a second direction O2 (
As shown in
As shown in
During operation of the cleaving tool 120, the scoring tool 128 moves laterally across the set of one or more fibers 150 to scratch a score line 154 across the fiber(s) 150. The score line 154 defines a point of weakness for each fiber 150 of the first set. Accordingly, when the actuator 130 presses against the fiber(s) 150 between the score line 154 and one of the pads 132, 134, the fiber(s) 150 break at the score line 154. Accordingly, all fibers 150 in the first set are cut to the same length—the length D1 between the first mounting nest 122 and the scoring tool 128. The first mounting clip 140 is then removed from the cleaving tool 120. In some implementations, the first mounting clip 140 is transferred to the splicing tool 110. In other implementations, the first mounting clip 140 is transferred to a termination tool for inserting the cleaved ends into a plug connector or other such component.
As shown in
In certain examples, the scoring tool 128 and actuator 130 do not move relative to each other along the directions O1 and O2. Rather, the scoring tool 128 moves laterally L relative to the actuator 130 and nests 122, 124 (see
Having described the preferred aspects and implementations of the present disclosure, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts may readily occur to one skilled in the art. However, it is intended that such modifications and equivalents be included within the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.
This application is being filed on Jul. 22, 2020 as a PCT International Patent Application and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 62/878,868, filed on Jul. 26, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2020/043118 | 7/22/2020 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62878868 | Jul 2019 | US |