Patent ID: 6102785
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A polishing apparatus for polishing optical fibers, comprising:a polishing pad;a polishing arm vertically arranged above said polishing pad;a leveling device magnetically attached to a lower end of said polishing arm, and which is selectively brought into contact with said polishing pad, said leveling device having a plurality of optical fiber ends extending downwardly from a lower surface thereof for contacting said polishing pad, said lower end of said polishing arm comprising a magnet contacting said leveling device;said leveling device further comprising:a base for aligning and securing said plurality of optical fibers,a housing centrally arranged on said base and said housing having a central recess, anda magnetic ball disposed in said recess,wherein an upper surface of said magnetic ball contacts a lower surface of said magnet of said polishing arm to provide said magnetic attachment between said leveling device and said polishing arm; anda pressure transducer in said polishing arm for measuring a pressure applied by said polishing arm when said leveling device of said polishing arm contacts said polishing pad.