Apparatus and method for implanting optical fibers in fabric panels and the like

A method for implanting one or more optical fibers in a panel having a uniform planar surface comprising the steps of:

• providing a frame for supporting a fiber insertion means above a fiber insertion table;
• interposing a panel between said fiber insertion means and said fiber insertion table;
• feeding optical fiber to said fiber insertion means which carries said optical fiber to said fiber insertion table;
• piercing said panel at a desired point of insertion and carrying said optical fiber to the underside of said panel through an opening in said insertion table so that only the tip of said optical fiber extends through said panel;
• adhering said optical fiber to the top side and to the underside of said panel by placing measured amounts of adhesive surrounding and adjacent to said optical fiber over the respective sides of said panel;
• exposing said adhesive to a curing mechanism causing a change of state of said adhesive resulting in the formation of a bead of solid adhesive at the tip of said optical fiber on the underside of said panel, circumferentially surrounding said optical fiber on the top of said panel and extending onto said panel in both locations permanently adhering said optical fiber to said panel at the point of insertion.

A method for implanting one or more optical fibers in a panel having a uniform planar surface comprising the steps of:

• providing a frame means for supporting a fiber insertion means above a fiber insertion table;
• interposing a panel between said fiber insertion means and said fiber insertion table;
• feeding a first measured length of optical fiber to said fiber insertion means which grips and carries said optical fiber to a position immediately above said fiber insertion table;
• piercing said panel at a desired point of insertion and carrying said optical fiber to the underside of said panel through an opening in said insertion table;
• feeding a second measured length of optical fiber through said fiber insertion means so that the tip of said optical fiber extends through said panel and applying an adhesive to the tip of the optical fiber and to the immediately adjacent area of the underside of said panel;
• applying an adhesive to the optical fiber along the top side and to the immediately adjacent area of said panel;
• irradiating the applied adhesive at the tip of said optical fiber extending through the underside of and surrounding said optical fiber on the top side of said panel with ultra-violet light from a source of ultra-violet light, exposure to said ultra-violet light causing a change of state of said adhesive resulting in the formation of a bead of solid adhesive at the tip of said optical fiber on the underside of said panel and surrounding said optical fiber in the top side of said panel and extending onto said panel permanently adhering said optical fiber to said panel at the point of insertion;
• releasing said optical fiber now adhered to said panel and retracting said fiber insertion means;
• severing said optical fiber at a point immediate the tip of the retracted fiber insertion means resulting in a desired length of optical fiber adhered to said panel at the point of insertion.