Patent ID: 6237370
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A system for automated production of a fiber optic device, comprising:at least one gripping device including a cavity adapted for receiving the at least one optical fiber therethrough and for securing thereto, said at least one gripping device adapted to transport the at least one optical fiber and to connect at least one end of the at least one optical fiber to a connector device facilitating connection of the at least one optical fiber to at least one of another optical fiber and another fiber optic device while maintaining information regarding, and control over, location of at least one of the at least one optical fiber and the at least one end of the at least one optical fiber to perform the automated production of the fiber optic device;at least one collecting device, adapted to receive and collect a predetermined amount of the at least one optical fiber responsive to operation of said at least one gripping device;a fusion splicing device to manually or automatically fusion splice at least one of the fiber optic device and the at least one optical fiber during the production of the fiber optic device;a stripping device to manually or automatically strip at least one section of the at least one optical fiber during the production of the fiber optic device;a cleaving device to manually or automatically cleave at least one section of the at least one optical fiber during the production of the fiber optic device;a testing device to manually or automatically test optical characteristics of the fiber optic device during the production of the fiber optic device;a labeling device to manually or automatically label the fiber optic device subsequent to the production of the fiber optic device for subsequent shipping to a customer;a packaging device to manually or automatically package the fiber optic device in packaging for shipping to a customer; anda shipping device to manually or automatically ship the fiber optic device during the production of the fiber optic device to a customer, andwherein said apparatus transports the at least one fiber optic device for connection to at least one of said fusion splicing) stripping, cleaving, testing, labeling packaging and shipping devices.