Adhesive bubble removal method and apparatus for fiber optic applications

A method of removing bubbles or voids from fiber optic adhesive located in a fiber optic termination or connector prior to the bonding of an optical fiber thereto, comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing a fiber optic termination or connector including a ferrule end portion and an adhesive entry end portion containing liquid adhesive on an outer end portion of a tubular body member, with the ferrule end portion protruding into the tubular body member,
• (b) placing a tubular end cap member over the entry end portion of the termination or connector and the outer end portion of the body member, causing a pressure to be extended on the outer surface of the tubular body member,
• (c) inserting a tubular piston and sealing unit in a lower end portion of the tubular body member until contact is made with the ferrule end portion of the termination or connector;
• (d) placing a fixture resulting from steps (a)-(c) in a centrifuge;
• (e) operating the centrifuge for a predetermined tine period, so as to vent any bubble from the liquid adhesive through the end cap member;
• and
• (f) removing the fixture therein from the centrifuge now having a bubble free termination or connector.

A method of removing bubbles or voids from fiber optic adhesive located in a fiber optic termination or connector prior to the bonding of an optical fiber thereto, comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing a fiber optic termination or connector including a ferrule end portion and an adhesive entry end portion containing liquid adhesive on an outer end portion of a tubular body member, with the ferrule end portion protruding into the tubular body member,
• (b) partially inserting a tubular piston and sealing unit in a lower end portion of the tubular body member;
• (c) placing a tubular end cap member over the entry end portion of the termination or connector and the outer end portion of the body member, causing a pressure to be extended on the tubular body member;
• (d) further inserting the piston and sealing unit in the body member until a seal of an axial bore in the ferrule end portion is made by a forward end of the piston and sealing unit;
• (e) placing a fixture resulting from steps (a)-(d) in a centrifuge;
• (f) operating the centrifuge for a predetermined tine period, so as to vent any bubble from the liquid adhesive through the end cap member;
• and
• (g) removing the fixture therein from the centrifuge now having a bubble free termination or connector.