Polishing device, end face polishing apparatus having polishing device, and end face polishing method

An end face polishing apparatus comprising:

• a jig board for supporting a plurality of ferrules each fixed to an end of a respective optical fiber;
• a polishing board;
• a polishing member detachably arranged on the polishing board and having a tubular fitting portion and a flange portion disposed at an end of the tubular fitting portion;
• an elastic member having a first main surface connected to the flange portion of the polishing member and a second main surface;
• a polishing film disposed on the second main surface of the elastic member for polishing end faces of the optical fibers and ferrules while the optical fibers and ferrules are supported by the jig board;
• a first holding device for holding a plurality of unused polishing members each having a new polishing film preliminarily attached thereto;
• at least one second holding device for holding used polishing members which have been removed from the polishing board;
• and polishing member exchanging means mounted for linear movement in horizontal and vertical directions for exchanging a used polishing member arranged on the polishing board with an unused polishing member by taking the used polishing member from the polishing board and conveying the used polishing member to the second holding device and by taking an unused polishing member from the first holding device and placing the unused polishing member on the polishing board.