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US 11,826,868 B2Granted
Polishing side surfaces of fibers
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsHyunjun Kim, Randall G. Corns, Randall S. Hay, Augustine M. Urbas
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Abstract
Apparatuses and associated methods for polishing side surfaces of fibers. The system includes a fiber loading mechanism for securing a fiber to the apparatus, a polishing mechanism, and a linear motion mechanism for linearly translating one of the polishing mechanism and the fiber for polishing a side surface of the fiber using the polishing mechanism.
Claims17
An apparatus for polishing a side surface of a fiber, the apparatus comprising:
- a fiber loading mechanism for positioning the fiber with respect to the apparatus;
- a polishing mechanism including at least a first polishing pad having a first polishing surface and a second polishing pad having a second polishing surface, the polishing mechanism configured to clamp the first polishing pad and the second polishing pad together such that the first polishing surface contacts the second polishing surface with a portion of the fiber disposed between the first and second polishing surfaces;
- and
- a linear motion mechanism for linearly translating one of the polishing mechanism and the fiber for polishing a side surface of the fiber after the first polishing pad and the second polishing pad are clamped together with the portion of the fiber disposed between the first and second polishing surfaces.
1 more element
A method of polishing side surfaces of a fiber, the method comprising:
- providing a polishing apparatus including:
- a fiber loading mechanism,
- a polishing mechanism including at least a first polishing pad having a first polishing surface and a second polishing pad having a second polishing surface, the polishing mechanism configured to clamp the first polishing pad and the second polishing pad together,
- a linear motion mechanism for linearly translating one of the polishing mechanism and the fiber;
- positioning the fiber in the fiber loading mechanism such that a portion of the fiber is disposed between the first polishing pad and second polishing pad of the polishing mechanism;
- clamping the first polishing pad and the second polishing pad together such that the first polishing surface contacts the second polishing surface with the portion of the fiber disposed between the first and second polishing surfaces;
- and
- linearly translating one of the polishing mechanism and the fiber for polishing at least a first side surface of the fiber.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.