Loading patent…
AssigneeFramatome Connectors International
InventorsSaid Lalaouna, Jean-Francois Ollivier, Manuel Penha
Estimating the term…
A device for molding plastics material ferrules for optical fibre connectors comprises a molding cavity defined by an accurately sized cylindrical bush defining the outside diameter of the ferrule. A cover closes the molding cavity. A peg joined to the cover extends axially into the molding cavity and is extended at its free end by an accurately sized needle defining the inside diameter of the ferrule. A backing member extending axially into the molding cavity from the opposite end as compared with the peg comprises a bore for guiding the needle adapted to receive the end thereof when the backing member moves towards the peg so as to render the needle and the bush concentric. A venting system allows gases to escape from the molding cavity to the exterior when plastics material is injected into the mold. The backing member is a substantially cylindrical body of revolution which fits directly into the bush with no clearance and minimal force.
Optical fiber connector ferrule having an unmachined front surface which is the direct result of a molding operation by a device comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
Moulds: having tubular mould cavities
Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor: constructed for making articles provided with holes
Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor: with incorporated venting means
Moulds: having venting means
Term ended 24 Mar 2013 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns the process of molding plastic material ferrules for optical fiber connectors.
Ceramic ferrules can be machined very accurately while are costly but plastics material ferrules, although much less costly, are often mediocre in terms of dimensional accuracy.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view in cross-section of a molding device using a prior art geometry backing member.
FIG. 2 is a view in cross-section on the line II--II in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 corresponds to part of FIG. 1 for a backing member in accordance with the invention.
A prior art device will be described first with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
In these figures, the mold body 1 comprises a central bore defined by a "precision bush" 2 which is closed by a cover 3. Conventional means are employed for injecting the plastic material, cooling the mold, opening the mold, etc.
This combination defines a molding cavity 4 inside which is disposed a peg 5 attached to the cover 3 and carrying at its free end an accurately sized needle 6 having a diameter of 126 .mu.m. The inside diameter of the bush 2 defines the outside diameter of the ferrule to be molded (2 500 .mu.m) and the diameter of the needle 6 defines the inside diameter of the bore in the ferrule (126 .mu.m).