Apparatus for fabricating an optical fiber ribbon
First Claim
1. An apparatus for fabricating a planar array of optical fibers which is bound with a tape, said apparatus comprising:
- a longitudinally extending assembly platen;
fiber clamping means for securing portions of a plurality of optical fibers which are destined to be fabricated into a bound planar array against unintended movement;
holding means for securing a tape, having an exposed adhesive coating on which the plurality of optical fibers are to be assembled, in stationary engagement with said assembly platen;
an organizer adapted to be movably mounted on said assembly platen for organizing the plurality of optical fibers into the planar array; and
bedding means adapted to be connected to said organizer and rendered effective as said organizer is moved along said assembly platen for causing the plurality of optical fibers to become embedded in the adhesive coating of the tape to provide a planar array.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A group of loose cabled optical fibers (32--32) destined to be terminated by a multi-fiber connector device is first fabricated into an optical fiber ribbon (30). The optical fibers of the group are threaded through portions of an organizing shuttle (20) and brought into planar juxtaposition with each other by the cooperation of a curved surface (112) and a burnishing bar assembly (98). As the organizing shuttle is caused to be moved along a track (42), the burnishing bar assembly causes the planar array of fibers to be embedded into an adhesive coating of a first binding tape (34) which is secured along the length of the track. In a preferred embodiment, a second tape (35) is applied over the fibers and the first tape. The ribbon is trimmed of excess longitudinal side portions of the binding tapes to provide a ribbon of desired width.
60 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for fabricating a planar array of optical fibers which is bound with a tape, said apparatus comprising:
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a longitudinally extending assembly platen; fiber clamping means for securing portions of a plurality of optical fibers which are destined to be fabricated into a bound planar array against unintended movement; holding means for securing a tape, having an exposed adhesive coating on which the plurality of optical fibers are to be assembled, in stationary engagement with said assembly platen; an organizer adapted to be movably mounted on said assembly platen for organizing the plurality of optical fibers into the planar array; and bedding means adapted to be connected to said organizer and rendered effective as said organizer is moved along said assembly platen for causing the plurality of optical fibers to become embedded in the adhesive coating of the tape to provide a planar array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification