Work pallet for optical fiber

A work pallet for processing optical fiber, the work pallet comprising:

• a base including an optical module region, a fiber processing region and a fiber storage region;
• the optical module region being constructed and arranged to support an optical component on the base with at least one pair of optical fibers extending from the optical component;
• the fiber processing region including at least one pair of first retainers supported by the base, the at least one pair of first retainers being constructed and arranged to secure end portions of the at least one pair of optical fibers in a first orientation;
• and
• the fiber storage region including at least one pair of second retainers supported by the base, the at least one pair of second retainers being constructed and arranged to secure the end portions of the at least one pair of optical fibers in a second orientation that is different from the first orientation.

A work pallet for processing optical fiber, the work pallet comprising:

• a base constructed and arranged to support at least one pair of optical fibers thereon;
• at least one pair of first retainers movably supported by the base, the at least one pair of first retainers being constructed and arranged to secure the at least one pair of optical fibers in a first predetermined location relative to the base;
• and
• at least one pair of second retainers fixedly supported by the base, the at least one pair of second retainers being constructed and arranged to secure the at least one pair of optical fibers in a second predetermined location relative to the base that is different from the first predetermined location.

A work pallet for processing optical fiber, the work pallet comprising:

• a base constructed and arranged to support at least one pair of optical fibers thereon;
• at least one pair of first retainers supported by the base and disposed opposite each other, the at least one pair of first retainers being aligned along a first plane and spaced apart by a first distance, the at least one pair of first retainers being constructed and arranged to secure end portions of the at least one pair of optical fibers along the first plane;
• and
• at least one pair of second retainers supported by the base and disposed opposite each other, the at least one pair of second retainers being aligned with each other along a second plane and spaced apart by a second distance that is less than the first distance, the second plane being parallel to and spaced from the first plane, the at least one pair of second retainers being constructed and arranged to secure the end portions of the at least one pair of optical fibers along the second plane.

A method of arranging optical fibers on a work pallet for processing the optical fibers, the method comprising steps of:

• (a) placing first and second optical fibers on a work pallet, the work pallet including a first retainer disposed along a first side of the pallet and a second retainer disposed opposite the first retainer along a second side of the pallet, the first and second retainers being constructed and arranged to secure an end portion of an optical fiber in a predetermined location on the pallet;
• (b) routing the first optical fiber across the pallet from the first side to the second side;
• (c) securing the end portion of the first optical fiber to the pallet with the second retainer;
• (d) routing the second optical fiber across the pallet from the second side to the first side adjacent a length portion of the first optical fiber;
• and
• (e) securing the end portion of the second optical fiber to the pallet with the first retainer.