Crimping tool for fiber optic splice connector

Crimping apparatus for use in butt splicing two optical fibers in an connector of the type comprising a sleeve and deformable fiber support means therein, said support means having a plurality of elongate parallel ribs situate radially about a fiber-receiving passage, said apparatus comprising:

• a frame,
• a workstation for holding said connector in a first plane and stationary relative to said frame, where said workstation comprises
• a pair of radial die sets movable toward and away from said workstation in a second plane and parallel to said first plane, which sets apply pressure in a radial direction to said connector,
• a pair of axial die sets movable toward and away from said workstation in said second plane, which axial die sets have a different configuration than said radial die sets and configured to accommodate the axial ends of the connector and apply axial compressive pressure to said connector,
• a die set holder comprising a ring-like member rotatable relative to said frame, a guide plate having radial slots therein receiving said die sets, and four toggle links at approximate ninety degree intervals about said ring-like member, each toggle link having an outer end pivotably attached to said ring-like member and an inner end pivotably attached to a respective die set, said links extending at line angles to said ring-like member, whereby upon rotating said ring-like member in a first direction, the die sets in each pair will move toward each other within its respective said radial slot, and upon rotating said ring-like member in a second, opposite direction, the die sets in each pair will move away from each other.