Patent ID: 6052880
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: G02B,Y10T

Abstract:
Apparatus for removing a length of an outer protective layer from an end of an optical fiber, comprising:a retainer for the optical fiber, said retainer being movable reciprocably along a line, said retainer being arranged to firmly hold said fiber and its outer protective layer beyond said length from said end with the longitudinal axis of said fiber lying parallel to said line;a cutter including a pair of blades, said pair of blades being generally planar and both lying in a plane orthogonal to said line, each blade of said pair of blades being movable in said plane toward and away from the other blade of said pair of blades, each blade of said pair of blades having a concave semi-circular cutting edge aligned so that when said blades are moved into contact with each other there is formed a circular opening defined by the pair of concave semi-circular cutting edges, said circular opening having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of said outer protective layer, said circular opening being centered on the longitudinal axis of said fiber when said fiber is held by said retainer;a first actuator for moving said retainer along said line; anda second actuator for moving said pair of blades toward each other;wherein when the optical fiber is held by said retainer, said first actuator is effective to move said retainer in a first direction so that the end of said fiber passes beyond said pair of blades by a distance equal to said length, said second actuator is then effective to move said pair of blades into contact with each other so that said pair of cutting edges cut through the outer protective layer of said fiber, and said first actuator is then effective to move said retainer in a second direction opposite said first direction so that said length of said outer protective layer is removed from said fiber.