Optical fiber polishing machine with media exchange and cleaning assemblies

A cleaning assembly for use with an optical fiber polishing machine to which a fixture is operatively connected, comprising:

• an arm;
• a housing operatively connected to the arm;
• a nozzle operatively connected to the housing;
• and
• at least one of a water inlet and an air inlet in fluid communication with the nozzle;
• wherein the arm is configured and arranged to move the housing from a first position to a second position, the second position being proximate the fixture so that at least one of water and air dispensed through the nozzle during a cleaning process contacts at least a portion of the fixture.

An optical fiber polishing machine comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
• move a first polishing media from a first media exchange platen to a polishing machine platen;
• lower a fixture from a first fixture position to a second fixture position proximate the polishing machine platen to polish at least one optical fiber supported by the fixture via the first polishing media;
• raise the fixture to the first fixture position;
• and
• rotate a cleaning assembly from a first cleaning assembly position to a second cleaning assembly position proximate the fixture to clean the at least one optical fiber.

An optical fiber polishing machine comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
• move a first polishing media from a first media exchange platen to a polishing machine platen;
• lower a fixture from a first fixture position to a second fixture position to polish at least one optical fiber supported by the fixture via the first polishing media;
• raise the fixture to the first fixture position;
• move the first polishing media from the polishing machine platen to the first media exchange platen;
• and
• move a second polishing media from a second media exchange platen to the polishing machine platen.

An optical fiber polishing machine comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
• lower a fixture from a first fixture position to a second fixture position to polish at least one optical fiber supported by the fixture via a first polishing media;
• raise the fixture to the first fixture position;
• and
• rotate a cleaning assembly from a first cleaning assembly position to a second cleaning assembly position proximate the fixture to clean the at least one optical fiber.

A carrier ring for a polishing system, the carrier ring for coupling with a platen of the polishing system, the platen for being driven to impart lateral motion to an abrasive polishing substrate to be supported by the carrier ring, the platen having a plurality of registration features, the carrier ring comprising:

• a peripheral support for supporting a polishing plate within a periphery of the carrier ring, the polishing plate for supporting the abrasive polishing substrate, the peripheral support having a top side and a bottom side;
• a flange protruding from proximate to the top side of the peripheral support;
• and
• a plurality of registration features on the bottom side of the peripheral support, each one of the plurality of registration features of the carrier ring for mating with at least one of the plurality of registration features of the platen, wherein the carrier ring is configured to be lowered onto the platen to rest on the platen, and the plurality of registration features of the carrier ring and the plurality of registration features of the platen are configured to cause the carrier ring to be rotationally fixed with respect to the platen when the carrier ring is lowered to rest on the platen.