Methods of and apparatus for polishing an end portion of a terminated lightguide fiber

An apparatus for polishing an encapsulated end portion of a lightguide fiber which extends beyond an end surface of a connector element which terminates the lightguide fiber, said apparatus comprising:

• first support means for holding the connector element, said first support means including force-applying means capable of applying a predetermined force to the connector element in a direction toward the encapsulated end portion of the fiber;
• second support means including a reference plane for holding securely said first support means and responsive to the application of the predetermined force for supporting said connector element along a peripheral boundary thereof with the peripheral boundary being a predetermined distance from the reference plane and the encapsulated end portion of the fiber extending beyond the reference plane, said second support means including substantially non-wearing means, which are disposed in the reference plane, and being effective when said first support means is held securely therein with the peripheral boundary being supported for causing said force-applying means to apply the predetermined force to the connector element;
• and
• abrading means for polishing the encapsulated end portion of the lightguide fiber which extends beyond the reference plane to cause an end surface of the encapsulated end portion to become spaced the predetermined distance from the peripheral boundary.

An apparatus for polishing a connector plug which terminates a lightguide fiber and which is destined to be received in a sleeve in alignment with another connector element with each connector element being urged toward the other, said apparatus comprising:

• a holder which includes a moveable nest for receiving the plug which has an encapsulated end portion of a fiber extending from a conically shaped end thereof, said holder including means for causing said nest to be biased toward one end of said holder and for applying a predetermined force to the plug in said nest;
• a housing which is adapted to receive said holder and to support the plug along a peripheral boundary thereof, said housing including:
• a base having substantially non-wearing means mounted therein with an outer surface of said substantially non-wearing means being disposed in a reference plane, said base including conically shaped gauging means responsive to the application of the predetermined force to the plug for supporting the plug along the peripheral boundary thereof to cause the peripheral boundary to be spaced a predetermined distance from the reference plane and to cause the encapsulated end portion of the fiber to extend beyond the reference plane, the predetermined force being substantially equal to that which is used to urge the connector element toward another connector element when the connector elements are mounted in a sleeve;
• and
• inner and outer concentric sleeves, said outer sleeve being moveable between an open position and a closed position, and said inner sleeve having a cavity for receiving said holder and securing means for causing said holder to be held in said cavity of said inner sleeve, said outer sleeve of said housing being moveable to the open position to allow said holder to be received in said inner sleeve and upon movement to the closed position being effective to cause said securing means to engage and bias said holder toward said base and to cause said holder to maintain the plug in engagement with said gauging means of said base with the predetermined force;
• and
• abrading means for polishing the encapsulated end portion of the lightguide fiber which extends beyond the reference plane when relative movement is caused to occur between said abrading means and said housing to cause an end surface of the encapsulated end portion to become spaced the predetermined distance from the peripheral boundary.

An apparatus for holding a connector plug, which terminates a lightguide fiber, during the polishing of the plug, said apparatus comprising:

• a holder which includes a moveable nest for receiving the plug which has an encapsulated end portion of the fiber extending from one end thereof, said holder including means for causing said nest to be biased toward one end of said holder and for applying a predetermined force to the plug in said nest;
• and
• a housing which is adapted to receive said holder and to support the plug along a peripheral boundary thereof, said housing including:
• a base having substantially non-wearing means mounted therein with an outer surface of said substantially non-wearing means being disposed in a reference plane, said base including gauging means rendered effective upon the application of the predetermined force to the plug for supporting the plug along the peripheral boundary thereof to cause the peripheral boundary to be spaced a predetermined distance from the reference plane and to cause the encapsulated end portion of the fiber to extend beyond the reference plane;
• and
• inner and outer sleeves, said outer sleeve being slidable relative to said inner sleeve, said inner sleeve having a cavity for receiving said holder and latching means for causing said holder to be held in said cavity of said inner sleeve, said outer sleeve of said housing being slidable to an open position to allow said holder to be received in said inner sleeve and upon movement to a closed position being effective to cause said latching means to engage and bias said holder toward said base and to cause said holder to maintain the plug in engagement with said gauging means of said base with the predetermined force.