Patent ID: 6309278
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: B24B,G02B

Abstract:
A method for polishing optical connector end faces comprising the following steps:positioning an optical connector, in which an optical fiber protrudes from the connector end face thereof, in a polishing machine,arranging a polishing tape having flexibility at the side opposite the connector end face of an optical connector and bringing the end face of the optical fiber into engagement with a polishing abrasive face of the polishing tape, andarranging a tape support member provided with a tape travelling plane of a shape corresponding to an appointed end face shape of the optical fiber against an opposite surface of the polishing abrasive surface of the polishing tape, andcausing the polishing tape to travel between the tape travelling plane of the tape support member and the optical fiber end face,wherein the tape travelling plane is formed to be a recessed plane, the width of the recessed plane being narrower than that of the connector end face of the optical connector, and the depth of the recessed plane being greater than a thickness of a coarse-grained abrasive polishing tape caused to travel at the commencement of polishing the optical fiber end face.