End face polishing apparatus and method for polishing end face of ferrule

A method for polishing an end face of a ferrule, comprising the steps of:

• supporting a ferrule with a first spring member for applying a biasing force in a first direction and a second spring member for applying a biasing force in a second direction opposite the first direction to balance the ferrule in a zero-load state;
• pressing an end face of the ferrule against a surface of a polishing sheet;
• detecting a pressure applied by the end face of the ferrule against the polishing sheet;
• and
• adjusting the pressure applied by the ferrule against the polishing sheet to a preselected pressure.

A method for polishing an end face a ferrule, comprising the steps of:

• providing a ferrule having an optical fiber having an end exposed from an end face of the ferrule;
• polishing the end of the optical fiber while applying a first pressure to the end of the optical fiber;
• and
• polishing the end face of the ferrule while applying a second pressure higher than the first pressure to the end face of the ferrule.

An end face polishing apparatus comprising:

• a jig plate for supporting at least one workpiece;
• a polishing member for polishing an end face of the workpiece;
• a lever connected to the jig plate;
• first biasing means for applying a biasing force to the lever in a first direction to bring the end face of the workpiece into pressure contact with the polishing member;
• second biasing means for applying a biasing force to the lever in a second direction opposite to the first direction to release the pressure contact between the end face of the workpiece and the polishing member;
• and control means for controlling the pressure applied by the end face of the workpiece against the polishing member.

A method of polishing an end face of a ferrule, comprising the steps of:

• supporting at least one ferrule with a first spring member for applying a biasing force in a first direction and a second spring member for applying a biasing force in a second direction opposite the first direction to balance the ferrule in a zero-load state;
• pressing an end face of the ferrule against a surface of a polishing member;
• effecting relative movement between the end face of the ferrule and the surface of the polishing member to polish the end face of the ferrule;
• detecting a pressure applied by the end face of the ferrule against the surface of the polishing member;
• and adjusting the pressure applied by the end face of the ferrule against the surface of the polishing member in accordance with the detected pressure.

A method for polishing a ferrule having an optical fiber, comprising the steps of:

• providing a ferrule having an end face and an optical fiber having an end extending from the end face of the ferrule;
• pressing the end of the optical fiber against a polishing member with a first pressure;
• effecting relative movement between the end of the optical fiber and the polishing member to polish the end of the optical fiber;
• pressing the end face of the ferrule against the polishing member with a second pressure higher than the first pressure;
• and effecting relative movement between the end face of the ferrule and the polishing member to polish the end face of the ferrule.

A method of polishing an end face of a workpiece, comprising the steps of:

• providing a jig plate supporting at least one workpiece;
• supporting the jig plate in a zero-load balanced state by applying equal biasing forces on the jig plate in opposite directions;
• pressing an end face of the workpiece against a surface of a polishing sheet;
• detecting a pressure applied by the end face of the workpiece against the polishing sheet;
• and adjusting the pressure applied by the workpiece against the polishing sheet to a preselected pressure.