US 2016/0097905 A1 · Optical Fiber Curing Oven

Abstract

An optical fiber curing oven is used in the termination process of optical fiber cable assemblies to bond an optical fiber to a ferrule. The optical fiber curing oven includes an oven housing and a processor housing. A mounting plate is mounted inside the oven housing and is used to hold a fiber-mounting block. The mounting plate is connected to a fulcrum which allows the mounting plate to be tilted. Angling the mounting plate is useful in some curing applications. The fiber-mounting block attaches to the mounting plate and is used to secure optical fibers during the curing process. A heating element is embedded into the mounting plate and is used to heat the mounting block and cure epoxy that has been applied to an optical fiber. A control unit is included within the processor housing and is used to regulate the curing process.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An optical fiber curing oven comprises:

an oven housing;
a mounting plate;
a fulcrum;
a fiber-mounting block;
a heating element;
an processor housing;
a control unit;
the oven housing comprises a base, a lateral wall, and a lid;
the base being perimetrically and adjacently connected to the lateral wall;
the lid being hingedly and adjacently connected to the lateral wall, opposite to the base;
the processor housing being adjacently connected to the lateral wall;
the mounting plate being pivotably mounted onto the base by the fulcrum;
a rotation axis of the fulcrum being oriented parallel to the base;
the fiber-mounting block being attached upon the mounting plate, opposite to the base;
the heating element being embedded across the mounting plate;
the heating element being electronically connected to the control unit;
and
the control unit being mounted within the processor housing.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Optical Fiber Curing Oven

Life of this patent

Optical Fiber Curing Oven

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12