System for removing a uniform length of coating from a fiber optic cable

A system for removing a predetermined length of coating from a fiber optic cable, comprising:

• a chemical bath;
• and
• an apparatus for holding a fiber optic cable to be stripped, having:
• a vertical column,
• a slide arm having a guide collar portion slidably provided on the vertical column, and a distal portion extending away from and integral with the guide collar portion,
• a mount extending from and connected to the distal portion of the slide arm, the mount having means for retaining portions of the fiber optic cable,
• a push rod movably extending through the mount,
• a fiber optic cable loop former connected to the push rod, wherein the fiber optic cable loop former is pushed away from the mount by the push rod and engages the fiber optic cable to form a loop therein;
• wherein the slide arm is lowered on the vertical column a predetermined height so that the loop formed in the fiber optic cable is provided in said chemical bath to remove a predetermined length of coating from the fiber optic cable.

A method for removing a predetermined length of coating from a fiber optic cable in a system having a chemical bath and a system for forming a loop in a fiber optic cable, the loop forming system having a vertical column, a slide arm having a guide collar portion slidably provided on the vertical column, and a distal portion extending away from and integral with the guide collar portion, a mount extending from and connected to the distal portion of the slide arm, the mount having means for retaining portions of the fiber optic cable, a push rod movably extending through the mount, and a fiber optic cable loop former connected to the push rod, comprising:

• moving the push rod downward to move the fiber optic cable loop former downward;
• retaining portions of the fiber optic cable against the mount and the fiber optic cable loop former with the retaining means of the mount to form a loop in the fiber optic cable;
• moving the push rod upward, while the loop formed in the fiber optic cable is maintained;
• rotating the slide arm so that the fiber optic cable loop former is rotated toward the chemical bath;
• and
• lowering the slide arm on the vertical column a predetermined height so that the loop formed in the fiber optic cable is provided in the chemical bath to remove a predetermined length of coating from the fiber optic cable.