Patent ID: 6325883
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: C03B,G02B,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for applying glue to a fiber optic coupler of the type composed of a plurality of contiguously extending optical fibers, said fibers extending through the bore of a tube and through a longitudinally adjacent coupling region where the tube is collapsed around the fibers, said fibers being fused together in said coupling region, the diameters of said fibers in said coupling region being smaller than the diameters thereof in said bore, said apparatus comprising:means for holding said coupler, andmeans for simultaneously injecting glue into both ends of said tube bore;wherein said means for injecting comprises:first and second hollow needles,means for positioning one of said needles at each end of said tube bore, andfirst and second sources of glue respectively connected to said first and second needles;wherein said tube is held vertically so that it has upper and lower ends, the inner diameter of said first needle that is insertable into said bottom end being smaller than that of said second needle that is insertable into said top end.