Fiber ribbon separation tool

A method to separate an optical fiber ribbon comprising a plurality of optical fibers into a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the method comprising:

• fitting the optical fiber ribbon into a channel of a fiber-separation tool around a first blade located in the channel and a second blade located in the channel;
• arranging the optical fiber ribbon in the channel so the first blade is positioned between the first portion and the second portion and the second blade is positioned between the second portion of the optical fiber and the third portion of the optical fiber;
• and
• conveying the optical fiber ribbon lengthwise through the channel to slice through a first bonding material binding the first portion of the optical fiber ribbon to the second portion of the optical fiber ribbon and to slice through a second bonding material binding the second portion of the optical fiber ribbon to the third portion of the optical fiber ribbon, wherein a first guide post and the channel aid the movement of the optical fiber ribbon through the channel and direct the optical fibers apart to expose the first bonding material, by elongating without breaking the first bonding material along the binding, before reaching a cutting edge of the first blade, and wherein a second guide post and the channel aid the movement of the optical fiber ribbon through the channel and direct the optical fibers apart to expose the second bonding material, by elongating without breaking the second bonding material along the binding, before reaching a cutting edge of the second blade.

A fiber-separation tool comprising:

• a body;
• a channel disposed on a face of the body, the channel being defined by a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, the channel being configured to receive an optical fiber ribbon comprising a plurality of optical fibers bonded parallel to each other;
• a first blade disposed in the channel with a cutting edge of the first blade being disposed at a first distance from the first sidewall and the cutting edge being disposed at a second distance from the second sidewall, the first blade being configured to separate the optical fiber ribbon into a first portion comprising a first number of optical fibers of the plurality of optical fibers and a second portion comprising a second number of optical fibers as the optical fiber ribbon is conveyed from an entrance of the channel to an exit of the channel, a width of the first portion being approximately equal to the first distance and a width of the second portion being approximately equal to the second distance;
• a second blade disposed in the channel with a cutting edge of the second blade being disposed at a third distance from the first sidewall and the cutting edge being disposed at a fourth distance from the second sidewall, the second blade being configured to separate a third portion comprising a third number of optical fibers of the plurality of optical fibers from the second portion as the optical fiber ribbon is conveyed from the entrance of the channel to the exit of the channel, a width of the third portion being approximately equal to the third distance, wherein a first guide post is located between the first blade and the exit of the channel, the first guide post being aligned with the first blade along a longitudinal axis of the channel, the first guide post being located at a position in the channel relative to the cutting edge of the first blade and the first sidewall and the second sidewall to expose, by elongating without breaking, a bonding material binding the first portion of the optical fiber ribbon to the second portion of the optical fiber ribbon before reaching the cutting edge of the first blade;
• and
• a lid configured to fit into the channel to secure an alignment of the optical fiber ribbon in the channel.