Assembly tool and optical fiber connector assembly method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018081130-A1
Application number	US-201715708846-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 19, 2017
Priority date	Sep 20, 2016
Publication date	Mar 22, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An assembly tool for terminating an optical fiber with an optical fiber connector comprises a base having a connector cradle to hold said connector, a buffer clamp activation shuttle slideably disposed on the base to push a sleeve over a buffer clamp of the connector, and an activation mechanism pivotally mounted to the base. The activation mechanism includes an actuation lever to press a securing cap over a mechanical element in the connector, and a drive shaft coupled to the actuation lever. Moving the actuation lever from a first position to a second position activates the buffer clamp activation shuttle and presses the securing cap over the mechanical element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An assembly tool for terminating an optical fiber with an optical fiber connector, comprising:
a base having a connector cradle disposed near a first end thereof to hold the optical fiber connector while the optical fiber is terminated by the assembly tool; a buffer clamp activation shuttle slideably disposed on the base, wherein the buffer clamp activation shuttle is configured to push a sleeve over a buffer clamp of the fiber optic connector, wherein the buffer clamp is configured to clamp onto a buffer portion of the optical fiber; and an activation mechanism pivotally mounted to the base comprising
an actuation lever to press a securing cap over a mechanical element disposed within the optical fiber connector, and
a drive shaft coupled to the actuation lever,
wherein the drive shaft moves the buffer clamp activation shuttle to activate the buffer clamp and the actuation lever presses the securing cap over the mechanical element in a single continuous movement of the actuation lever from a first position to a second position.

2 . The assembly tool of claim 1 , wherein the actuation lever rotates around an axis parallel to the optical fiber while being terminated by the assembly tool.

3 . The assembly tool of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve pushed onto the buffer clamp before the securing cap is pressed.

4 . The assembly tool of claim 1 , wherein the securing cap is pressed before the sleeve pushed onto the buffer clamp.

5 . The assembly tool of claim 1 , wherein the activation mechanism further comprising a protrusion setting cam to set a protrusion of a terminal end of the optical fiber, the protrusion corresponding to a distance that the terminal end of the optical fiber extends from an end face of the connector ferrule.

6 . The assembly tool of claim 5 , wherein the protrusion setting cam is activated by the movement of the actuation lever.

7 . The assembly tool of claim 5 , wherein protrusion setting cam is activated prior to the sleeve being pushed onto the buffer clamp and the securing cap is being pressed over the mechanical element.

8 . The assembly tool of claim 1 , further comprising an optical fiber clamp disposed at the second end of the base.

9 . The assembly tool of claim 8 , wherein the optical fiber clamp comprised a pair of clamping plates and clamp lever configured to open and close the clamping plates.

10 . The assembly tool of claim 9 , wherein the clamp lever is spring loaded in a closed position, wherein the clamping lever is depressed to open the clamping plates.

11 . The assembly tool of claim 8 , wherein the optical fiber clamp is removeably attached to the base.

12 . The assembly tool of claim 8 , wherein the optical fiber clamp is rotatably connected to the base in a direction that is about an axis that is perpendicular to the optical fiber while being terminated by the assembly tool.

13 . The assembly tool of claim 1 , wherein the buffer clamp activation shuttle includes a funnel shaped fiber guide to facilitate the insertion of the optical fiber into the optical connector.

14 . A method of terminating an optical fiber with an optical fiber connector having a first end that includes a ferrule and a second end, comprising:
providing an assembly tool comprising a base having a connector cradle disposed near a first end thereof; and an activation mechanism having an activation lever to press a securing cap over a mechanical element within the optical fiber connector, and a drive shaft to slideably move a buffer clamp activation shuttle to push a sleeve over a buffer clamp of the fiber optic connector; inserting an optical fiber connector into the connector cradle; inserting a prepared optical fiber into the second end of the optical fiber connector until a portion of the fiber outside of the connector begins to bow; and moving the actuation lever from a first position to a second position to move the buffer clamp activation shuttle to actuate the buffer clamp and to press the securing cap over the mechanical element within the optical fiber connector.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein moving the actuation lever moves the buffer clamp activation shuttle and presses the securing cap down in sequential order.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the securing cap is pressed down before the buffer clamp activation shuttle is moved.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the activation mechanism further comprises a protrusion setting cam to set a protrusion of a terminal end of the optical fiber from an end face of the connector ferrule.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein activating protrusion setting cam is activated by the movement of the actuation lever before the securing cap is pressed down and before the buffer clamp activation shuttle is moved.

19 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising clamping the bowed fiber in a fiber clamp at the second end of the base.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the optical fiber connector includes a protrusion setting dust cap disposed over a connector ferrule.

21 . The method of claim 14 , wherein activating fiber protrusion setting cam pushes the protrusion setting dust cap toward the second end of the optical fiber connector so that a terminal end of the optical fiber extend from an end face of the connector ferrule by between 8 microns and 42 microns.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Sawicki Joseph C
• Lurie Edward B
• Lewallen Lindsey K
• Borer Victor J
• Van Allen Joseph M

Classifications

• G02B6/3893

  Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on · CPC title

• G02B6/3849

  using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes (G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44) · CPC title

• G02B6/3898 Primary

  Tools, e.g. handheld; Tuning wrenches; Jigs used with connectors, e.g. for extracting, removing or inserting in a panel, for engaging or coupling connectors, for assembling or disassembling components within the connector, for applying clips to hold two connectors together or for crimping (tools for cleaning, G02B6/3866; tools in general B25B) · CPC title