US 7,252,854 B2Granted

Method and apparatus for applying a gel

AssigneeIntel Corporation

InventorJanusz Liberkowski

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A rotatable vacuum chamber receives an optical connector having an output face on which an optical gel is applied substantially without entrapped air. Opposite the output face is placed a gel dispenser with its opened nozzle pointing towards the output face. Uncured gel components contained in the dispenser are outgased prior to application of the gel on the output face while a vacuum is maintained in the chamber. Outgasing takes place at a first chamber orientation with the nozzle pointing upwards through which the outgasing air ventilates. The gel is applied at a second chamber orientation where the output face is horizontal and upwards pointing. Immediately following the gel application, the vacuum is unmade to prevent cooking of the mixed and uncured gel. A glass plate is then pressed against the applied fluid gel.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method for sealing a gap between a first face and a second face substantially free of entrapped air, said method comprising the following steps of:

a. placing a first work piece having said first face in a rotatable vacuum chamber such that said first face is pointing downwards;
b. placing a gel dispenser in said vacuum chamber such that a dispensing nozzle is pointing upwards at a central area of said first face, said gel dispenser containing unmixed gel components;
c. sealing said vacuum chamber and applying a vacuum;
d. maintaining said vacuum for an outgasing of said unmixed gel components through said nozzle;
e. rotating said vacuum chamber together with said first work piece and said gel dispenser such that said first face is pointing upwards and said nozzle is pointing downwards;
f. remotely actuating said gel dispenser such that said gel components are mixed and applied through said nozzle on said first face;
g. unmaking vacuum;
and
h. pressing a second work piece with said second face of it substantially plane parallel towards said first face such that an excess portion of said gel applied during step f) is concentrically squeezed out of a gap formed between said first face and said second face.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/073,301Filed 4 Mar 2005 · division
Priority: 5 Sep 2002
Published: US 2005/0069636 A18 Sep 2005
Granted: 7 Aug 2007
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

B29C 41/045
By rotating a mould around its axis of symmetry: the axis being placed vertically, e.g. spin casting
B29C 41/20
For making articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles: incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. moulding inserts or for coating articles
B29C 41/50
Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations: shaping under special conditions, e.g. vacuum
G02B 6/3807
Having fibre to fibre mating means: dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs

Family

Application10/236,470Parent of this division · filed 5 Sep 2002
US 2005/0194703 A1Pre-grant publication · published 8 Sep 2005
US 6,890,588 B2Parent of this division
US 2005/0069636 A1Published application
US 7,252,854 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.