END FACE PROTECTION TAPE FOR FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR; AND METHODS

• US 20200132942A1
• Filed: 12/24/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: LU, Yu, POLICANTE, Giorgio, SEIFERT, Thomas, SCHNEIDER, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 11,029,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/0028 by adhesive surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/385 Accessories for testing or observation of connectors means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule with auxiliary facilities for movably aligning or adjusting the fibre within its ferrule, measuring position, eccentricity G02B6/3843; mechanical features associated with the optical testing of optical fibres G01M11/088
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3863 fabricated by using polishing techniques grinding of the fibre ends B24B19/226
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3866 Devices, tools or methods for cleaning connectors cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3882 using rods, pins or balls to align a pair of ferrule ends
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448

Abstract

Aspects and techniques of the present disclosure relate to a fiber optic connector assembly including a fiber optic connector with a front end and a back end. A ferrule positioned at the front end. The ferrule has a distal end face with a central region and recessed regions on opposite sides of the central region. The assembly includes a dust cap mounted on the ferrule. The dust cap has an open end and an opposite closed end. The fiber optic connector assembly also includes a tape member that covers the central region of the ferrule. The tape member can be secured to the dust cap such that when the dust cap is removed, the tape member simultaneously comes off with the dust cap.

Claims

1. An apparatus for applying protective sheeting on an end face of a ferrule connector, the apparatus comprising:

an inspection device including a housing, the housing limiting access of loose particles of dust and debris therein; and

an integrated tape application station including a mechanism for dispensing tape within the housing of the inspection device, the integrated tape application station applying a tape member to the end face of the ferrule connector while within the housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a feed roller to supply the tape member on a liner.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a rewind roller that receives the liner from the feed roller after the tape member is removed.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the end face of the ferrule opposes the inspection device to be inspected within the housing prior to application of the tape member.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a roller that presses the tape member against the end face of the ferrule while the liner advances through the apparatus to be wrapped on the rewind roller.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inspection device is a microscope.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a blower for circulating air through the housing for removing contaminants from air.

8. A method of applying a tape member to an end face of a ferrule connector positioned inside a housing of an inspection device, the housing of the inspection device having an integrated tape dispensing mechanism therein, the method comprising:

inspecting an end face of the ferrule connector within the housing of the inspection device; and

applying the tape member over the end face of the ferrule connector within the housing of the inspection device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the tape member contains a coloring agent.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the tape member is transparent.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the inspection device is a microscope.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the end face of the ferrule connector includes a central region and recessed regions on opposite sides of the central region, wherein the tape member is applied only to the central region of the end face of the ferrule.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of blowing air through the housing of the inspection device to limit dust particles therein.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of moving a press roller that is within the housing of the inspection device across the end face of the ferrule connector to press the tape member onto the end face of the ferrule connector.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the tape member is a pre-cut piece carried to the end face of the ferrule connector within the housing of the inspection device on a backing strip.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the backing strip is routed around a tight radius structure to disengage the tape member from the backing strip.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the press roller is spring loaded.