Patent ID: 6093275
Filing Date: 2000-07-25
Classification: G02B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of freeing optical fibers enclosed within an outer protective skin of an optical fiber ribbon, starting from a desired point of entry and ending at a desired terminating point, comprising the steps of:a) providing a work panel having a surface with a portion covered by a pressure sensitive adhesive coating and another bare area portion that has an at least partially cured bead of liquid adhesive thereon, and further providing an optical fiber ribbon held on the work panel by the at least partially cured liquid adhesive and the pressure sensitive adhesive coating, the optical fiber ribbon having a plurality of optical fibers in an outer protective skin; andb) moving the optical fiber ribbon relative to the work panel until the outer protective skin of the optical fiber ribbon splits into two parts, one part adhering to the at least partially cured liquid adhesive and to the pressure sensitive adhesive coating,wherein the work panel is made from a material selected from the group consisting of neoprene, nitrile and a closed cell foam PVC.