Apparatus for terminating optical cables; and methods

A method of injecting adhesive into an optical connector, the optical connector including a ferrule with a passage extending between first and second ends of the ferrule, the ferrule having a front end face at the first end, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a conduit with adhesive loaded therein;
• aligning the conduit to be substantially aligned with the front end face of the ferrule;
• moving the conduit toward the front end face of the ferrule to make contact therewith, wherein the conduit is moved forward until a compression force is applied upon the ferrule;
• dispensing from the conduit a portion of the adhesive into the passage of the ferrule from the front end face of the ferrule;
• detecting from the second end of the ferrule a volume of adhesive within the ferrule to determine appropriate adhesive fullness prior to insertion of an optical fiber into the passage of the ferrule and the conduit;
• withdrawing the conduit a distance from the front end face of the ferrule that results in a meniscus forming between the conduit and the front end face of the ferrule, and wherein excess adhesive is pulled inside of the conduit and away from the front end face of the ferrule and the optical fiber;
• and
• removing the conduit from the ferrule.

A method of terminating an optical fiber with a fiber optic ferrule, the method comprising:

• providing a cable with the optical fiber, the optical fiber including a coating portion around the optical fiber, the optical fiber also including a bare portion adjacent an end of the optical fiber;
• providing the fiber optic ferrule, the fiber optic ferrule including a ferrule body extending from a first end to an opposite second end, the ferrule body including a passage extending between the first and the second ends of the ferrule body, the fiber optic ferrule having a front end face at the first end;
• injecting an amount of adhesive material into the passage of the ferrule body from the front end face of the fiber optic ferrule;
• inserting the end of the optical fiber into the passage of the ferrule body from the second end thereof, with the bare portion of the optical fiber and at least a portion of the coated portion of the optical fiber inserted into the passage of the ferrule body, wherein the adhesive material is adapted to hold the optical fiber to the ferrule body;
• and
• detecting presence of the adhesive material within the passage of the ferrule body to determine whether the passage is appropriately filled with the adhesive material, wherein detecting the presence of the adhesive material comprises determining through the second end of the ferrule body a volume of adhesive at a predetermined position within the ferrule body, wherein determining the volume of adhesive is by a displacement sensor.

A method of terminating an optical fiber with a fiber optic ferrule, the method comprising:

• providing a cable with the optical fiber, the optical fiber including a coating portion around the optical fiber, the optical fiber also including a bare portion adjacent an end of the optical fiber;
• providing the fiber optic ferrule, the fiber optic ferrule including a ferrule body extending from a first end to an opposite second end, the ferrule body including a passage extending between the first and the second ends of the ferrule body, the fiber optic ferrule having a front end face at the first end;
• injecting an amount of adhesive material into the passage of the ferrule body from the front end face of the fiber optic ferrule;
• inserting the end of the optical fiber into the passage of the ferrule body from the second end thereof, with the bare portion of the optical fiber and at least a portion of the coated portion of the optical fiber inserted into the passage of the ferrule body, wherein the adhesive material is adapted to hold the optical fiber to the ferrule body;
• and
• removing the nozzle from close proximity to the front end face of the fiber optic ferrule to create a meniscus of adhesive.