Adhesiveless fiber optic connector, and an apparatus and method for terminating a fiber optic cable to an adhesiveless fiber optic connector

Apparatus for terminating a fiber optic cable having a fiber buffer to an adhesiveless fiber optic connector, the fiber buffer being gripped by a collet when the fiber buffer is inserted into the collet and the collet is pushed into the connector, comprising:

• an alignment block having a longitudinal slot;
• a cable translating mechanism slidable in said slot from a first translating mechanism position through an intermediate translating mechanism position to a second translating mechanism position;
• a device attached to a front end of the translating mechanism for clamping said fiber buffer to the translating mechanism to cause the fiber buffer and therefore the cable to be moved together with the translating mechanism as it is moved from said first translating mechanism position to the intermediate translating mechanism position;
• lower and upper fiber guiding jaws pivotal between a first guiding jaw position, a second guiding jaw position, and a third guiding jaw position,
• wherein in said first guiding jaw position, a fiber of the cable is seated in a groove in the lower jaw and captured in said groove by the upper jaw so that the fiber is guided between the upper and lower jaws as it is being moved by said translating mechanism, said jaws in said first guiding jaw position being located in a path of movement of the translating mechanism from said first translating mechanism position to said intermediate translating mechanism position so as to prevent movement of said translating mechanism beyond said intermediate position,
• wherein in said second guiding jaw position, said jaws are partially spaced apart so that the fiber can be positioned in the groove before capture by the upper guiding jaw, and
• wherein in said third guiding jaw position, the jaws are further spaced apart to permit passage of the translating mechanism from said intermediate translating mechanism position to said second translating mechanism position,
• wherein movement of said translating mechanism from the first translating mechanism to said intermediate translating mechanism position causes said fiber to be guided by said jaws into said collet,
• wherein in said intermediate guiding jaw position said fiber and fiber buffer have been inserted into said collet, and
• wherein during movement of said translating mechanism from the intermediate translating mechanism position to said second translating mechanism position, said translating mechanism engages said collet to cause said collet to be pushed into said connector and grip said fiber buffer.