Patent ID: 6110013
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
An end-face polishing and cleaning apparatus comprising: at least one pair of jig plates for supporting a plurality of ferrules each fixed to an end of a respective optical fiber; a plurality of sets of polishing and cleaning machines arranged at predetermined intervals, each set of polishing and cleaning machines comprising a polishing machine for polishing end-faces of the optical fibers and ferrules while the optical fibers and ferrules are supported by the jig plates and a cleaning machine for cleaning the end-faces of the ferrules polished by the polishing machine, each of the cleaning machines having a cleaning brush mounted for rotational movement to clean the end-faces of the ferrules and a portion of a lower surface of the jig plates while the cleaning brush is in contact with the lower surface of the jig plates; and movable mounting means for supporting the jig plates and for moving the jig plates between the polishing machines and the cleaning machines to polish and clean the end-faces of the ferrules, the movable mounting means having holding means for supporting the jig plates for undergoing revolving and rotating movement during polishing by the polishing machines, elevation means for moving the holding means in a vertical direction, and horizontal moving means for moving the holding means in a horizontal direction, the jig plates being supported by the holding means for simultaneous movement by the elevation means and the horizontal moving means.