Optical fiber organizer and method using same

• US 5,586,211 A
• Filed: 04/26/1995
• Issued: 12/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Dumitrou, Ion, Hulten, Ola, Ekwall, Hakan
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Application Number:
  US08/429,493
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135, 385/136, 385/137, 385/139, 385/147
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3803 Adjustment or alignment devices for alignment prior to splicing
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/448 Ribbon cables

Abstract

In splicing discrete individual optical fibers to a fiber ribbon cable, a fiber organizer is used for placing the loose fibers in a retainer so that they are located exactly in the same way as in a fiber ribbon cable. The retainer is a separate part which is placed, with its lids in an open position, in a lower, centrally located portion of a main part of the device. The individual fibers are inserted, one by one, in vertical slots which are aligned with each other and are located at each end of the fiber organizer. By a movable, elastic heel they are fed into horizontal, slotshaped spaces having heights or widths adapted to the diameter of the fibers and formed between lower and upper surfaces. When all fibers have been fed into the slot, the retainer lids can be swung down so that the individual fibers are securely retained in the retainer. Then upper parts at each end of the fiber organizer are opened whereby the fibers are separated from the fiber organizer, in particular from the slotshaped spaces, and the retainer can be removed together with the gripped individual fibers.

Claims

1. A device for positioning elongated elements, all having substantially the same diameter or largest dimension, as seen in a cross section, in particular optical fibers, against or next to a surface, aligned or next to each other and with longitudinal areas of the elements in contact with each other, comprising:

a slot having a width somewhat exceeding the diameter or the largest dimension and which is open at one side for receiving the elongated elements,

a first surface forming an angle to the sides of the slot, and

a second surface located close to the first surface at a uniform distance from this substantially corresponding to the diameter or the largest dimension, and

further comprising an elastic heel which has an operative surface positioned at the connection region between the slot and the first and second surfaces and which is elastic in a direction which is substantially parallel to the first and second surfaces and substantially perpendicular to intersection lines between the side surfaces of the slot and the first and second surfaces.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic heel is hingely mounted with a hinge axis substantially parallel to intersection lines between the side surfaces of the slot and the first and second surfaces.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein associated with the elastic heel there is a pressure spring acting on a surface of the heel which is substantially opposite to the operative surface of the heel.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the second surface ends in a shoulder having a stop face located substantially perpendicular to the second surface and substantially parallel to the intersection line between the side surfaces of the slot and the second surface.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the angle formed by the first surface to the sides of the slot is within an angular range located centrally around 90°

, especially an angle between 45° and

135° and

preferably substantially 90°

.

5. A method for positioning elongated elements, all having substantially the same diameter or largest dimension as seen in a cross section, in particular optical fibers, against or next to a surface, aligned with or next to each other and with longitudinal areas of the elements in contact with each other, comprising the steps of:

inserting the elements one by one into a slot having a width somewhat exceeding the diameter or the largest dimension and which is open at one side, and

feeding an element, when it has been inserted a distance into the slot, into a slotshaped space formed by a first surface forming an angle to the sides of the slot, and by a second surface located close to the first surface at a uniform distance from this substantially corresponding to the diameter or the largest dimension,

wherein an operative surface of an elastic heel is positioned at a connection region between the slot and the first and second surfaces, the elastic heel being elastic in a direction which is substantially parallel to the first and second surfaces and substantially perpendicular to intersection lines between the sides of the slot and the first and second surfaces.

9. A method according to claim 5, wherein the angle formed by the first surface to the sides of the slot is within an angular range located centrally around 90°

, especially an angle between 45° and

135° and

preferably substantially 90°

.

6. A device for positioning elongated elements, all having substantially the same diameter or largest dimension as seen in a cross section, in particular optical fibers, in slots located in parallel and next to each other in a retainer, where the distance between the slots substantially corresponds to the diameter or the largest dimension, the device including a main part comprising

a central part for receiving the retainer,

two end parts positioned opposite to each other at both sides of the central part,

slot means aligned with each other at each end part for receiving the elongated elements and for positioning them next to each other with longitudinal surfaces thereof in contact with each other,

wherein the slot means comprise

first slots which are aligned with each other, in particular being substantially vertical, and

second slots which are aligned with each and form an angle to the first slots, in particular being substantially horizontal,

elastic heels being provided to operate at a fiber when it is inserted into the first slots to push it into the second slots.

7. A device according to claim 6, further comprising openable side portions forming a side surface in the second slots and which can be opened for releasing the elongated elements when they are placed in the retainer.