This application claims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-355197 filed Dec. 6, 2002, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus and more particularly to a holder that holds a plurality of optical fiber ferrules for grinding the end faces thereof.
2. Description of Relevant Art
Generally, an end face grinding (polishing) apparatus that simultaneously grinds a plurality of end faces of ferrules to each of which an optical fiber is attached (optical fiber ferrules) requires that a plurality of optical fiber ferrules be held in a holder mounted on an end face grinding apparatus. Generally, in this kind of holder for an end face grinding apparatus, each optical fiber ferrule is held in a holder plate by a securing member installed in the holder plate for positioning and holding a respective optical fiber ferrule.
In recent times, devices have been developed that provide more efficient usage of space in order to increase the number of optical fiber ferrules that can be ground at once by enabling one securing member to position and secure two or more optical fiber ferrules in a holder plate. Such holders for end face grinding apparatuses have been disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-254306 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-254307.
However, in the inventions disclosed in both Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-254306 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-254307, the optical fiber ferrule is positioned on each peripheral surface of a polygonal plate-like holder plate (thus, where the holder plate has a hexagonal plate-like shape, each of six peripheral surfaces) and a securing member is installed on each peripheral surface of the holder plate with a screw member so as to hold each optical fiber ferrule to the holder plate. Accordingly, these prior art technologies require that a screw member be used to install a securing member to the holder plate. Furthermore, because this screw member must be screwed into a peripheral face of the holder plate for positioning an optical fiber ferrule, the optical fiber ferrule cannot be positioned in the location on the peripheral face in which this screw member is screwed. The result is that the peripheral surfaces of the holder plate cannot be used solely for positioning of an optical fiber ferrule thereby preventing the effective use of those surfaces.
In order to solve the aforementioned problem affecting a conventional holder for an optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus, it is an object of this invention to achieve more effective use of space in a holder plate by providing a method for holding each optical fiber ferrule in the holder plate, thereby providing a holder for an optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus that can grind an increased number of optical fiber ferrules at once and that realizes a reduction in the cost of grinding each optical fiber ferrule.
In order to realize the above objective, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a holder for an optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus is provided that holds a plurality of optical fiber ferrules, the holder comprising
a holder plate provided with a plurality of insertion holes into each of which one of the ferrules is inserted, a seat provided for all of the insertion holes that extends to one side of at least one of the insertion holes and has a first wall at a prescribed distance from the insertion hole, and a second wall provided on a side of the insertion hole opposing the seat;
a holding member disposed on each of the seats that is slidable in a direction to adjust the interval between the holding member and the second wall, the holding member including a front face facing the second wall, and a rear face that is inclined relative to the first wall;
a rod member disposed above the inclined rear face of each holding member; and
a depression member provided on the holder plate at an outside of the first wall of each seat, that exerts depression pressure on a respective rod member,
wherein by the operation of each depression member, each of the rod members is pressed downwardly along the first wall of each of the seats, by which action each of the holding members is pushed out forwardly such that each ferrule is held by the front face of the holding member and the second wall.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a holder for an optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus is provided wherein the seat is provided for each group of adjacent insertion holes, the inclined rear face extends horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the sliding motion of the holder member, and the plurality of ferrules inserted in the adjacent insertion holes are held by the front face of the holding member disposed on each seat together with the second walls of the adjacent insertion holes.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a holder for an optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus is provided wherein the plurality of insertion holes are formed in a circular formation on the holder plate and each seat is provided at the outside in relation to the center of the circle formed by the insertion holes.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a holder for an optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus is provided wherein each holding member is biased in a direction away from the second wall corresponding to the front face.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a holder for an optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus is provided wherein each second wall holds a ferrule by one or a plurality of faces depending on the shape of the ferrule.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a holder for an optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus is provided wherein the depression member comprises a washer and a bolt that is screwed into the holder plate from above.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a holder for an optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus is provided wherein each insertion hole can be inclined perpendicularly or to a desired angle with respect to a planar surface of the holder plate.
These and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become clearer from the following description of the preferred embodiments, read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
The embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which the same or similar numbers are used to represent the same or similar parts.
Holder 10 for an optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus comprises a holder plate 20 that mounts on optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus 60 (see
The holder plate 20 is a square-shaped plate having a notch formed in each of the four corners thereof and a round hole 21 formed in the center. A plurality of insertion holes 22 through which an MT ferrule 1 is inserted is disposed in circular formation surrounding round hole 21. In the embodiment shown in
As shown in
To one side of the two adjacent insertion holes 22 associated with each holding member 30 (that is, on the outer radial side in relation to the center of the hole 21), there is formed a seat 23 extending into these two insertion holes 22. A seat 23 is provided for each of the two adjacent insertion holes 22 associated with each holding member 30. On each seat 23 at a predetermined distance from the two insertion holes 22 there is formed a first wall 24 of the seat. Further, on the opposing side of the wall 24 of seat 23 there are two vertically extending second walls 25 formed by the innermost walls of the insertion holes 22. Additionally, radially outside of the first wall 24 of each seat 23, a threaded hole 26 is formed in the holder plate 20 for installing a depression member 50 in an intermediate position (midway) between the two insertion holes 22.
Referring now to
A rod member 40 is disposed above and in contact with the inclined rear face 32 of the seated holding member 30 and in contact with the first wall 24 of the seat 23. The depression member 50 comprises a washer 52 and a hexagon socket head bolt 51 (e.g., an Allen cap screw) that is threaded into threaded hole 26 of the holder plate 20 from above. When tightened, the depression member 50 presses the rod member 40 downwardly against inclined rear face 32 of the holding member 30.
In accordance with the above-described construction of the holder 10 for an optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus, when the hexagon socket head bolt 51 is loosened or unthreaded, the front face 31 is in a condition retracted away from the two insertion holes 22 because the holding member 30 is urged by the operation of the helical compression spring 33 in the radial direction away from the second walls 25. In this condition, an MT ferrule 1 can be readily inserted in either of the two insertion holes 22 for each holding member position.
As shown in
When the holding member 30 is thus pushed forward, once the reactive force received by the front face 31 from one of the MT ferrules 1 reaches a certain degree of clamping force, the rod member 40 is urged further downwardly on the side of the other MT ferrule 1 such that the reactive force from the other MT ferrule 1 received by the front face 31 reaches the certain degree of clamping force. That is to say, because the rod member 40 can incline from a horizontal position toward either MT ferrule 1, even if some degree of difference should arise in pressure applied to any part of the front face 31, both the MT ferrules 1 can be advantageously held with a substantially equivalent degree of clamping force.
As shown in
Holder 210 for an optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus comprises a holder plate 220 that mounts on an optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus 60 described subsequently (see
Holder plate 220 is a square-shaped plate having a notch formed in each of the four corners and a round hole 221 formed in the center thereof. A plurality of insertion holes 222, through each of which an SC connector 3 is inserted with a ferrule 4 protruding from its end, are disposed in circular formation surrounding round hole 221. In the embodiment shown in
As shown in
To one side of the two adjacent insertion holes 222 associated with each holding member 230 (that is, on the outer radial side in relation to the center of the hole 221), there is formed a seat 223 extending to one side of the triangular insertion holes 222. A seat 223 is provided for each of the two adjacent insertion holes 222 associated with each holding member 230. On each seat 223 at a predetermined distance from the two adjacent insertion holes 222 there is formed a first wall 224 of the seat 223. Further, on the side of the two insertion holes 222 opposite to the seat 223, that is, at each of two faces forming part of the triangular hole, are formed four vertically extending second walls 225, two for each insertion hole 222. In addition, radially outside of the first wall 224 of each seat 223, a threaded hole 226 is formed in the holder plate 220 for installing a depression member 250 in an intermediate position (midway) between the two insertion holes 222.
Referring now to
A rod member 240 is disposed above and in contact with the inclined rear face 232 of the seated holding member 230 and in contact with the first wall 224 of the seat 223. The depression member 250 comprises a washer 252 and a hexagon socket head bolt 251 presses the rod member 240 downward. The depression member 250 comprises a hexagon socket head bolt 251, such as an Allen cap screw, that is threaded into threaded hole 226 of the holder plate 220 from above. When tightened, the depression member 250 presses the rod member 240 downwardly against the inclined rear face 232 of the holding member 230.
In accordance with the above-described construction of the holder 210 for an optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus, when the hexagon socket head bolt 251 is loosened or unthreaded, the front face 231 is in a condition retracted away from the two insertion holes 222 because the holding member 230 is urged by the operation of the helical compression spring 233 in the radial direction away from the four second walls 225. In this condition, the SC ferrules 4 can be readily inserted in any of the pairs of insertion holes 222.
As shown in
When the holding member 230 is thus pushed forward, once the reactive force received by the front face 231 from one of the SC ferrules 4 reaches a certain degree of clamping force, the rod member 240 is urged further downwardly on the side of the other SC ferrule 4 such that the reactive force from the other SC ferrule 4 received by the front face 231 reaches the certain degree of clamping force. That is to say, because the rod member 240 can incline from a horizontal position toward either SC ferrule 4, even if some degree of difference should arise in pressure applied to any part of the front face 231, both the SC ferrules 4 can be advantageously held with a substantially equivalent degree of clamping force.
Because the holder 310 for an optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus is not required to hold SC connectors, the fourth embodiment is distinguished from the third embodiment by the fact that (1) a circular groove for accommodating the lower part of an SC connector is not provided in holder plate 320 and (2) the cross-sectional form of the holding member 330 is different from the holding member 230. However, apart from those differences, the holder according to the fourth embodiment is substantially the same as the holder according to the third embodiment. Accordingly, a description of the fourth embodiment is provided above (using the reference numbers of the description of the third embodiment with 100 added to each number), and a detailed description and illustration of the fourth embodiment is omitted.
As can be seen from
As shown in
When the holding member 330 is thus pushed forward, once the reactive force received by the front face 331 from one of the SC ferrules 4 reaches a certain degree of clamping force, the rod member 340 is urged further downwardly on the side of the other SC ferrule 4 such that the reactive force from the other SC ferrule 4 received by the front face 331 reaches the certain degree of clamping force. That is to say, because the rod member 340 can incline from a horizontal position toward either SC ferrule 4, even if some degree of difference should arise in pressure applied to any part of the front face 331, both the SC ferrules 4 can be advantageously held with a substantially equivalent degree of clamping force.
The optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus 60 comprises a turntable 63 that rotates in a horizontal plane and is installed in the center of a square base 62 located on the upper surface of a housing 61, and a grinding pad 64 and grinding film 65 mounted on the flat, upper surface of turntable 63.
Four cylindrical posts 70 are installed at the four corners of the base 62. A pressure lever 75 is installed on each of these posts 70. The plan view of
When the holder 310 (10, 110 or 210) is secured in position on each of the four posts 70 of the optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus 60 in this way, the height of each post 70 can be adjusted so that the ends of MT ferrules 1 or SC ferrules 4 protruding from the bottom face of the holder 310 (10, 110, or 210) are pressed to the prescribed degree (for example 0.1 mm) into the grinding film 65.
The above-described embodiments have one seat (for example, 23 or 223) for each insertion hole or each grouping of two adjacent insertion holes (for example, 22 or 222), however this configuration is illustrative and not restrictive. Thus, for example, one seat can be provided for three or more adjacent insertion holes.
Further, in the above-described embodiments, depending on the shape of the ferrule, a ferrule is held by one face or second wall (e.g., second wall 25) and the front face (e.g., front face 31) of the holding member (e.g., holding member 30) or by two faces or second walls (e.g., second walls 225) and the front face (e.g., front face 231) of the holding member (e.g., holding member 230). However, this also is not restrictive and a ferrule can be held by more than three faces of second walls or a second wall with a curved shaped surface, and a front face of a holding member.
In the above-described embodiments, the depression member (e.g., 50 or 250) is configured by a washer (e.g., 52 or 252) and a screw (e.g., 51 or 251) that threads from above into the holder plate (e.g., 20 or 220). However, this is illustrative and not restrictive and a suitable depression member can also be configured using a toggle clamp, for example.
In the above description of the embodiments of the present invention, there is no explanation for the angle of each of the insertion holes (e.g., 22, 222 or 322) with respect to the planar surface of the holder plate (e.g., 20, 220 or 320), however, depending on the grinding angle required for the end face of the ferrule or optical fiber in relation to the planar surface of the holder plate, each insertion hole can be inclined perpendicularly or to a desired angle with respect to the planar surface of the holder plate.
As described above, a holder for an optical fiber ferrule end face grinding apparatus according to this invention is configured such that the holder holds a plurality of optical fiber ferrules and the holder comprises:
a holder plate provided with a plurality of insertion holes into each of which one of said ferrules is inserted, a seat provided for all of said insertion holes that extends to one side of at least one of said insertion holes and has a first wall at a prescribed distance from the insertion hole, and a second wall provided on a side of the insertion hole opposing said seat;
a holding member disposed on each of said seats that is slidable in a direction to adjust the interval between the holding member and said second wall, the holding member including a front face facing said second wall, and a rear face that is inclined relative to the first wall;
a rod member disposed above said inclined rear face of said holding member; and
a depression member provided on the holder plate at an outside of said first wall of each said seat, that exerts depression pressure on said rod member,
wherein by the operating of each said depression member, each of said rod members is pressed downwardly along said first wall of each of said seats, by which action each of said holding members is pushed out forwardly such that each said ferrule is held by said front face of the holding member and said second wall.
Accordingly, rather than using the peripheral face of the holder plate, the upper face of the holder plate that is broader than the peripheral face and thus allows a broader area to be used, thereby enabling more effective usage of space of the holder plate. This enables the number of optical fiber ferrules that can be ground each time to be increased, resulting in a reduction in the cost of grinding each optical fiber ferrule.
While the invention has been shown and described in detail, the foregoing description is in all aspects illustrative and not restrictive. It is therefore understood that numerous modifications and variations can be devised without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
P2002-355197 | Dec 2002 | JP | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5321917 | Franklin et al. | Jun 1994 | A |
5640475 | Takahashi | Jun 1997 | A |
6238278 | Haftmann | May 2001 | B1 |
6726539 | Nishi et al. | Apr 2004 | B2 |
6755719 | Yoshida et al. | Jun 2004 | B2 |
6808444 | Kuprin et al. | Oct 2004 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2002-254306 | Sep 2002 | JP |
2002-254307 | Sep 2002 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20040110455 A1 | Jun 2004 | US |