Abstract:
The present invention incorporates an optical fiber cleaving mechanism within a prior art optical fiber impact mounting device. The optical fiber cleaving mechanism is pivotally mounted within the fiberoptic connector holding mechanism, such that an optical fiber cleaving blade is disposed proximate the tip of the fiberoptic connector. After the optical fiber has been engaged within the fiberoptic connector an end of the optical fiber protrudes from the tip of the fiberoptic connector. An actuator member is then manipulated to cause the optical fiber cleaving mechanism to rotate downwardly, such that the cleaving blade will make cleaving contact with the surface of the optical fiber. Immediately prior to the contact of the cleaving blade with the optical fiber, a portion of the cleaving mechanism makes contact with the protruding end of the optical fiber to bend it downwardly, and the subsequent contact of the cleaving blade will cleave the optical fiber. In the preferred embodiment, the cleaving blade is movably mounted, such that it makes a scoring contact with the optical fiber to aid in the cleaving process. After the cleaving step, the optical fiber is mounted within the fiberoptic connector and its protruding end has been cleaved, whereupon it is removed from the apparatus for subsequent polishing.

Description:
GROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/115,158, entitled Optical Fiber Mounting and Cleaving Device and Method, filed Jan. 8, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to devices and method for installing fiberoptic connectors upon optical fibers, and more particularly to devices and methods for mounting optical fibers within fiberoptic connectors and thereafter cleaving the end of the optical fiber. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Devices and methods for mounting fiberoptic connectors upon optical fibers are well known. Such devices and methods include the use of epoxies and other chemical agents to bond the optical fiber within a fiberoptic connector, as well as dry methods including the impact mounting of an optical fiber within a fiberoptic connector as is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,406, entitled Fiberoptic Connector Assembly and Method and Device for the Manufacture Thereof, issued Apr. 19, 1994. In all such prior art optical fiber mounting devices and methods, a subsequent step of cleaving the protruding end of the optical fiber must be undertaken. The optical fiber is cleaved proximate the tip of the fiberoptic connector to which it has been installed, and thereafter the end of the optical fiber is polished to a smooth surface at the tip of the fiberoptic connector. 
     In the prior art, separate optical fiber cleaving devices are utilized to cleave the protruding end of the optical fiber after it has been mounted within the fiberoptic connector. The cleaving process therefore requires additional fabrication time in that the mounted optical fiber must be separately installed or held in a cleaving device, whereupon the optical fiber cleaving step is then accomplished. 
     The present invention is an improvement upon the prior art optical fiber mounting and cleaving process steps in that the optical fiber is first mounted within a fiberoptic connector and then cleaved proximate the tip of the fiberoptic connector without removing the optical fiber and fiberoptic connector from the mounting device. That is, the optical fiber is both mounted and then cleaved in two steps that are performed within single fabricating apparatus. The present invention therefore saves time and manufacturing expense, and is generally more efficient than the prior art fabrication process. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention incorporates an optical fiber cleaving mechanism within a prior art optical fiber impact mounting device. The optical fiber cleaving mechanism is pivotally mounted within the fiberoptic connector holding mechanism, such that an optical fiber cleaving blade is disposed proximate the tip of the fiberoptic connector. After the optical fiber has been engaged within the fiberoptic connector an end of the optical fiber protrudes from the tip of the fiberoptic connector. An actuator member is then manipulated to cause the optical fiber cleaving mechanism to rotate downwardly, such that the cleaving blade will make cleaving contact with the surface of the optical fiber. Immediately prior to the contact of the cleaving blade with the optical fiber, a portion of the cleaving mechanism makes contact with the protruding end of the optical fiber to bend it downwardly, and the subsequent contact of the cleaving blade will cleave the optical fiber. In the preferred embodiment, the cleaving blade is movably mounted, such that it makes a scoring contact with the optical fiber to aid in the cleaving process. After the cleaving step, the optical fiber is mounted within the fiberoptic connector and its protruding end has been cleaved, whereupon it is removed from the apparatus for subsequent polishing. 
     It is an advantage of the present invention that optical fibers can be more rapidly and efficiently mounted to fiberoptic connectors. 
     It is another advantage of the present invention that optical fibers can be mounted to a fiberoptic connector and the protruding end of the optical fiber can be subsequently cleaved within a single fabricating apparatus. 
     It is a further advantage of the present invention that a fabrication apparatus has been developed which facilitates the mounting of an optical fiber to a fiberoptic connector, followed by the cleaving of the end of the optical fiber without removing the optical fiber and connector from the apparatus. 
    
    
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will no doubt be understood by those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description which makes reference to the several figures of the drawings. 
     IN THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fiberoptic connector impact mounting device of the present invention including an optical fiber cleaving device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the optical fiber cleaving device portion of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the optical fiber cleaving device depicted in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the optical fiber cleaving device as depicted in FIG. 3 wherein the cleaver slide has been moved towards the left, as is accomplished during an optical fiber cleaving operation; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the cleaving device as depicted in FIG. 3 having the cleaver slide removed; 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the optical fiber cleaving device as depicted in FIG. 4, having the cleaver slide removed; 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the deflection plate portion of the optical fiber cleaving block; 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the deflection plate depicted in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the blade plate of the optical fiber cleaving block; 
     FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the blade plate depicted in FIG. 9, taken along lines  10 — 10  of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the blade plate depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10 having an optical fiber cleaving blade and blade spring disposed therein; 
     FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view of the cleaving blade disposed within the cleaving block; 
     FIG. 13 is a plan view of the cleaver blade spring depicted in FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the cleaver blade spring depicted in FIG. 13; 
     FIG. 15 is a side cross-sectional view depicting the impact mounting of an optical fiber within the tip of a fiberoptic connector utilizing the device  10  depicted in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 16 is a side cross-sectional view of the optical fiber cleaving head disposed in position for cleaving an optical fiber; 
     FIG. 17 is a front elevational view depicting the cleaving of an optical fiber by the cleaving blade; and 
     FIG. 18 is a front elevational view further depicting the cleaving of an optical fiber by the cleaving blade of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A fiberoptic connector assembly device  10  of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 1. A detailed description of significant components and operational aspects of the device  10  is taught in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 5,305,406, issued Apr. 19, 1994, entitled “Fiberoptic Connector Assembly and Method and Device for the Manufacture Thereof,” the content of which patent is incorporated herein at this point as though set forth in full. 
     Generally, the device  10  includes a frame  12  including a base  14 , a first sidewall  16 , a second sidewall  18 , two parallel rails  30 ,  32  disposed between the sidewalls  16  and  18 , a spring loaded punch (or impact driver  50 ) mounted within a slidable punch holding member  52 , a punch activating device including a push rod  130  that is operated by a lever arm  136 , and a fiberoptic connector alignment holder  80  that is pivotally engaged  85  between the rails  30  and  32 . The end member  16  includes a narrow fiberoptic connector holding slot  100  having a widened upper shoulder portion  102  for retaining the fiberoptic connector during the impact mounting process. A bore  82  is formed through the holder  80 , such that rail  32  projects through the bore  82 , and the holder  80  is thereby slidably and pivotally engaged with the rail  32 . A slot  84  is formed through the holder  80  proximate the intersection of holder  80  with rail  30 , such that the inner end  86  of the slot  84  slidably engages the rail  30 . An impact tool bushing  94  having an impact tool bore  96  formed therein is engaged within the holder  80 , such that the bore  96  is axially aligned with the impact nose  92  of the punch  50 . 
     A significant additional feature of the present invention over the fiberoptic connector assembly device disclosed in the &#39;406 patent is the addition of an optical fiber cleaving mechanism  200  that is disposed within the holder  80 . To operate the cleaving mechanism  200  a cleaver slide  202  is slidably mounted on top of the holder  80  utilizing two mounting screws  204  which reside within an oblong, slotted recesses  208  formed through the slide  202 . Generally, and as is discussed in detail hereinafter, after an optical fiber is impact mounted within a fiberoptic connector utilizing the punch  50 , an optical fiber cleaving device disposed within the holder  80  is then utilized to cleave the optical fiber at the tip of the connector without moving the connector from its position within the holder  80 . 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 depict further details of the holder  80  and the optical fiber cleaving A mechanism  200  disposed therewithin, wherein FIG. 2 is a top plan view and FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the holder  80 . As depicted therein, the cleaver slide  202  is slidably engaged to the holder  80  utilizing two screws  204  that are threadably engaged in threaded bores  212  formed downwardly into the holder  80 . The screws  204  have enlarged heads  216  which slidably engage narrowed shoulders  220  formed within the engagement slots  208 . It is therefore to be understood that the cleaver slide  202  is slidable in a direction  224  that is perpendicular to the bore  96  through the holder  80 . A coil spring  230  is engaged between the holder  80  and the cleaver slide  202  to urge the slide  202  towards the nominal position depicted in FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 ; it being understood that when the cleaver slide  202  is moved in direction  224  during a cleaving operation, as is discussed herebelow, the coil spring  230  will be extended, and it will thereafter act to retract the cleaver slide  202  in direction  296  back to the nominal position depicted in FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 . The operational engagement of the coil spring  230  is achieved through the engagement of a first end  234  of the spring  230  with a spring engagement pin  236  that is threadably engaged in a threaded pin bore  238  disposed within the cleaver slide  202 . The other end  240  of the spring  230  is engaged to a threaded spring engagement pin  242  that is engaged in a threaded pin engagement bore  244  formed in the holder  80 . To facilitate the operational movement of the spring  230  within the holder  80 , a spring movement slot  250  is formed downwardly into the holder  80 , and the outward end  254  of the slot  250  is extended to provide ample room for the expansion of the coil spring  230  during a sliding movement  224  of the cleaver slide  202  to accomplish an optical fiber cleaving step. 
     A central portion  260  of the cleaver slide  202  is raised, and a generally rectangular cavity  264  is formed therein. The cavity  264  serves as an enclosure surrounding an upwardly disposed optical fiber cleaving block  270 , which is disposed within the cavity  264  when the cleaver slide  202  is in its nominal position as depicted in FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 . As is discussed in greater detail herebelow, the cleaver block  270  is pivotally mounted about a pivot pin  274  which projects through a pivot pin bore  276  formed through the holder  80  and through the cleaver block  270 , and a cleaver block biasing spring  278  is disposed about the pivot pin  274  to urge the cleaver block  270  upwards into the cavity  264  in the nominal position depicted in FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 . 
     FIG. 4 depicts the optical fiber cleaving position of the present invention; it being understood that FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the holder  80  taken from the same viewpoint as FIG.  3 . As depicted in FIG. 4, the cleaver slide  202  has been moved leftwardly  224 , extending the coil spring  230  within the end  254  of the coil spring slot  250 . The cleaver block  270  has rotated downwardly about the pivot pin  274 , placing increased tension upon the cleaver block biasing spring  278 . It is to be appreciated that the mechanical interaction of the lower edge  288  of the wall of the cavity  264  with the upper surface  292  of the cleaver block  270  is the contact point that forces the cleaver block  270  to rotate downwardly. It will be further appreciated that when the cleaver slide  202  is thereafter moved rightwardly  296  that the cleaver block biasing spring  278  will cause the cleaver block  270  to rotate upwardly into the cavity  264  about the pivot pin  274 , in a return to the nominal position depicted in FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 . 
     Further features of the present invention will be understood with the aid of FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the holder  80  having the cleaver slide  200  removed and the cleaver block  270  disposed in the nominal position as depicted in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the holder  80  having the cleaver slide  200  removed, wherein the cleaver block  270  is disposed in the cleaving position as depicted in FIG.  4 . It will be noted that the depiction of the cleaver block  270  in FIG. 6 includes certain internal detailed structures that are not contained in the cleaver block depiction of FIG. 5; this is due to the pivotal rotation of the cleaver block  270  in FIG. 5 that adds significant complexity to the depiction of the internal components of the cleaver block therewithin. A complete understanding of the cleaver block components is provided hereinafter. As depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6, a generally rectangular cleaver block bore  300  is formed downwardly through the holder  80  from its upper surface to its lower surface, and the cleaver block  270  is rotatably disposed within the bore  300  about the pivot pin  274 . The bore  300  is formed with a planar fiberoptic connector side surface  304  and a planar impact mount side surface  308 . The impact bushing  94  and the impact tool bore  96  are disposed between the front surface  312  of the holder  80  and the impact mount surface  308  of the bore  300 . A cylindrical optical fiber connector bushing  320  having a fiberoptic connector bore  324  formed therethrough is disposed within the holder  80  between the rear surface  330  of the holder  80  and the fiberoptic connector surface  304  of the bore  300 . The fiberoptic connector bore  324  is axially aligned with the impact tool bore  96 , such that the frontward tip of a fiberoptic connector that is inserted through the fiberoptic connector bore  324  into the holder  80  will be disposed in alignment with the impact tip of the punch  50  which projects through the impact tool bore  96 , whereby the impact mounting of an optical fiber within the fiberoptic connector tip can be achieved within the holder  80 . 
     The cleaver block  270  includes a deflecting plate  340  and a blade plate  344  that are engaged together utilizing a threaded cleaver block engagement bolt  348  that passes through a smooth cleaver block engagement bore  352  formed through the deflection plate  340  and is threadably engaged in a threaded bore  356  formed through the blade plate  344 . The pivot pin  274  passes through a smooth pivot pin bore  360  formed through the deflection plate  340  and through a smooth pivot pin bore  364  formed through the blade plate  344 . A spring slot  368  is cut into a side  372  of the deflection plate  340 , such that the biasing spring  278  is mountable around the pivot pin  274  which passes through the spring slot  368 . In a preferred assembly configuration for the pivot pin  274 , short threaded screws  380  are threadably engaged in threaded end portions  384  of the pivot pin bore  276  that is formed through the holder  80 . The end screws  380  serve to removably hold the pivot pin  274  within the pivot pin bore  276 . As is described in further detail herebelow, an optical fiber cleaving blade  400  is mounted within a blade slot  404  formed in the blade plate  344 . A blade spring  408  is disposed within the blade slot  404  to urge the blade  400  downwardly, and a threaded blade stop member  412  is disposed within a threaded bore  416  formed within the deflection plate  340  to act as a stop on the downward movement of the blade  400  within the blade slot  404 . A flat spring  420  is disposed within the cleaver block bore  300  between the impact mount side surface  308  and the front surface  456  of the deflection plate  340 , to urge the cleaver block  270  rearwardly, such that the rearward surface  504  of the blade plate  344  makes slidable contact with the fiberoptic connector side surface  304  of the bore  300 . Further features and details of the cleaver block and its components are next discussed with the aid of FIGS. 7-14. 
     A detailed depiction of the deflection plate  340  is presented in FIGS. 7 and 8, wherein FIG. 7 is a front elevational view and FIG. 8 is a side elevational view. As depicted therein, the deflection plate  340  is formed with a flat front surface  456 , a flat rearward surface  460 , a lower edge  464 , an upper edge  468  that is generally parallel to the lower edge  464 , a left side edge  472  which forms a generally right angle with the lower edge  464 , a right side edge  476  which forms a generally right angle with the lower edge  464 , an angled upper left hand edge  482  which forms a generally 45° angle with the top edge  468 , and an angled upper right side edge  486  which forms a generally 60° angle with the upper edge  468 . The spring slot  368  is formed in the right side edge through both the lower right side edge  476  and the upper right side edge  486 , and the pivot pin bore  360  is formed proximate the right side edge such that it passes through the slot  368 . The cleaver block engagement bore  352  is formed proximate the left side edge of the deflection plate  340 , and an outer portion  490  of the bore  352  may be enlarged to receive an enlarged head portion of the cleaver block engagement bolt  348 . The threaded bore  416  of the cleaving blade stop screw  412  is generally centrally disposed through the front face  456  to the rearward face  460  of the deflection plate  340 . As is best seen in FIG. 8, the inward portion  494  of the lower edge  464  of the deflection plate  340  is cut away at an angle of approximately 30° relative to the lower edge  464  to form an optical fiber deflection surface  494 . The function of the deflection surface  494  will become understood upon further consideration of this disclosure. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 depict detailed features of the blade plate  344 , wherein FIG. 9 is a front elevational view and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  10 — 10  of FIG.  9 . As depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10, the blade plate  344  includes a front surface  500 , a rear surface  504 , a lower edge  508 , an upper edge  512 , a lower left side edge  516  that makes a generally 90° angle with the lower edge  508 , a right lower side edge  520  that makes a generally 90° angle with the lower edge  508 , an upper left side edge  524  that makes a generally 45° angle with the upper edge  512 , and an upper right side edge  528  that makes a generally 60° angle with the upper edge  512 . The blade plate pivot pin bore  364  is formed through the blade plate proximate the right side edge  520  and the threaded cleaver block engagement bore  356  is formed through the blade plate generally proximate the left side edge  516 . Upon consideration of the deflection plate depicted in FIG.  7  and the blade plate depicted in FIG. 9, it is to be understood that the top edges and upper left and right side edges of the deflection plate and blade plate are similarly sized and shaped such that a generally smooth, continuous edge surface is formed between the deflection plate and blade plate when they are mounted upon the pivot pin and when the cleaver block engagement bolt  348  is passed through the deflection plate bore  352  and threadably engaged in the blade plate bore  356 . It is to be further noted that the lower left and right side edges  516  and  520  respectively of the blade plate are shorter than the lower left side edge and right side edge  472  and  476  respectively of the deflection plate  340 . Thus, when the deflection plate and blade plate are joined together, lower portions of the deflection plate  340  will project downwardly further than the lower edge  508  of the blade plate, and a line  532  is provided in FIG. 7 to indicate the position of the bottom edge  508  of the blade plate relative to the deflection plate when the blade plate and deflection plate are joined together. For farther understanding, FIG. 12 provides a cross-sectional view of the engagement of the deflection plate and blade plate, as is discussed in detail herebelow. 
     With further reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, a generally rectangular cleaving blade slot  404  is cut into the front surface  500  of the blade plate  344  from the lower edge  508  upwardly, such that a reduced thickness rearward portion  534  of the blade plate remains. The blade slot  404  is formed to slidably receive an optical fiber cleaving blade  400 , as is described herebelow. To further facilitate the slidable engagement of the blade  400  within the slot  404 , a shallow recess  536  is formed in the rearward surface  540  of the slot  404  to provide a smooth frictional engagement of the blade  400  within the slot  404 . An arcuate slot  544  is cut in the lower edge  508  of the blade plate  344 , from the rearward surface  540  of the blade slot  404  to the rearward surface  504  of the blade plate to prevent contact and interference of the lower edge  508  of the blade plate with the surface of a fiberoptic connector during a cleaving operation, as is described in further detail herebelow. 
     As is best seen in FIG.  11  and FIG. 12, the optical fiber cleaving blade  400  has flat, parallel sides  560 , a flat top surface  562 , a flat front surface  564 , a flat rearward surface  568  which slidably engages the rearward surface  540  of the blade slot  404 . The lower portion  572  of the cleaver blade front surface  564  is cut away at an angle to produce a sharp optical fiber cleaving edge  576  along the rearward surface  544  of the blade  400 . The blade spring  408  is disposed within the slot  404  to urge the blade  400  downwardly, and FIGS. 13 and 14 provide a front and side elevational view of the preferred shape of the blade spring  408 . As depicted therein, the blade spring  408  includes three acute angle bends  580  which generally lie in a plane  584 . In the preferred embodiment the blade spring  408  is configured from a length of 0.005 inch diameter piano wire, although other materials having comparable resilient properties may be utilized. 
     As depicted in FIGS. 11,  12 ,  13  and  14 , an upper portion  590  of the blade spring  408  is operatively disposed against the top edge  594  of the blade slot  404 , and a lower portion  598  of the spring  408  is operatively disposed against the upper surface  562  of the blade  400 . To facilitate and maintain the operative orientation of the spring  408  within the slot  404 , an upper end portion  606  of the spring  408  is bent outwardly and orthogonally to the generalized plane  584  of the spring  408  and an end portion  610  of the outwardly disposed end section  606  is further bent normally to the projecting portion  606 . Additionally, the end portion  614  of the lower end  598  is also bent orthogonally to the plane  584  of the spring  406 . As will be appreciated from FIG. 12 the orthogonally projecting portions  606  and  614  serve to retain the spring  408  in proper orientation within the slot  404 . It is therefore to be understood that the spring  408  is disposed to resist the upward motion  624  of the blade  400  when the blade  400  contacts an optical fiber for cleaving. The typical upward motion  624  of the blade  400  is shown by arrows  620  in FIG. 11, which upward motion  624  occurs when the blade edge  576  strikes the optical fiber. 
     As briefly discussed hereabove, and shown in detail in FIG. 12, the downward projection of the cleaving blade  400  is adjustably determined utilizing the threaded blade stop member  412  that is disposed within the threaded bore  416 . Specifically, the threaded blade stop member  412  is formed with a projecting conical tip  628  which makes contact with the blade edge surface  572 . It is to be understood that the adjustable protrusion of the blade stop member  412  acts to adjust the point at which the tip  628  contacts the surface  572 , whereby the downward protrusion of the cleaving blade  400  is made adjustable. Having described the various components of the present invention, the operational characteristics and method of operation of the present invention is next discussed with the aid of FIGS. 15 and 16, wherein FIG. 15 is a side cross-sectional view depicting the impact mounting of an optical fiber within the tip of a fiberoptic connector, and FIG. 16 depicts the cleaving of the optical fiber following impact mounting. 
     As depicted in FIG. 15, a fiberoptic connector  700  is disposed within the impact mount and cleaving device  10 , such that a rearward portion  702  of the body of the connector  700  rests within the narrow connector mounting slot  100  of the sidewall  16  of the impact mounting device, and a rearward shoulder portion  704  of the connector  700  rests against the inner surface of the sidewall  16 . A generally cylindrical nose portion  712  of the connector body  700  projects through the fiberoptic connector bore  324  of the holder  80  such that a forward shoulder portion  716  of the connector  700  rests against the optical fiber connector bushing  320 . The nose portion  724  of the connector  700  projects outwardly from the inner surface of the optical fiber connector bushing  320  and the fiberoptic connector surface  304  of the generally rectangular cleaver block bore  300 . An extending portion of an optical fiber  730  projects outwardly from the nose portion  734  of the fiberoptic connector  700 . The nose portion  92  of the impact driver  50  projects through the impact tool bore  96  formed through the impact tool bushing  94 . The impact nose  92  includes an inwardly projecting cone shaped impact mounting surface  750  having an inwardly projecting optical fiber projection bore  756  disposed therewithin. The extending optical fiber  730  projects into the bore  756  during the impact mounting process. 
     It is to be understood that during the impact mounting process depicted in FIG. 15 that the cleaver block  270  is in its upwardly rotated position as depicted in FIG. 3; that is, it is rotated upwardly and out of the way such that the nose  92  of the impact driver  50  can contact the impact nose  734  of the fiberoptic connector  700 . Thus, as depicted in FIG. 15, the cleaver block  270  is rotated upwardly (see arrow  760 ), whereby the cleaver blade edge  576 , the deflection surface  494  and other components of the cleaver block  270  are visible. It is noted that the flat spring  420  is disposed to urge the cleaver block  270  rearwardly against the fiberoptic connector side surface  304  of the bore  300 . It is also understood that upon actuation of the impact driver  50  towards (see arrow  766 ) the impact nose  734  of the fiberoptic connector that the outer edge of the nose  734  will become mechanically deformed to frictionally engage the optical fiber  730  within the nose  734  of the fiberoptic connector  700  (as is depicted in FIG.  16 ). The interaction of the shoulder  704  of the fiberoptic connector  700  with the sidewall  16  prevents the fiberoptic connector from moving rearwardly when the nose  92  of the impact driver  50  makes the impacting contact with the nose  734  of the fiberoptic connector  700 . After the impact driver  50  has been actuated to impact mount the optical fiber  730  within the nose  734  of the fiberoptic connector  700 , the impact driver  50  is removed from its projection through the bore  96  of the holder  80 . Immediately thereafter, while the fiberoptic connector  700  is disposed within the fiberoptic connector bore  324 , the cleaver slide  202  is moved in direction  224 , as depicted in FIG. 4, to cause the cleaver block  270  to rotate downwardly about the pivot pin  274 , as has been described in detail hereabove, and is shown in FIG.  16 . 
     As depicted in FIG. 16 the movement  224  of the slide  202  causes the cleaver block  270  to rotate downwardly, such that the cleaving edge  576  of the cleaving blade  400  makes contact with the projecting portion of the optical fiber  730  at a point  800  proximate the impact deformed  808  nose  734  of the fiberoptic connector  700 . Additionally, the deflection surface  494  of the deflection plate  340  has made contact with the outwardly projecting portion  812  of the projecting optical fiber  730  and has bent the projecting optical fiber  730  downwardly. FIGS. 17 and 18 depict the cleaving contact of the cleaving blade  400  with the optical fiber  730 . As depicted in FIG. 17, as the cleaving block rotates downwardly about the pivot pin  274 , the cleaving blade  400  likewise rotates downwardly (see arrow  820 ) until the edge  576  of the blade  400  makes contact at point  828  of the blade edge  576  with the outer surface of the optical fiber  730 . Thereafter, as the cleaving block rotates further towards its full downward position, the blade  400  moves upwardly (see arrows  620 ) against spring  408  as has been discussed hereabove. When the cleaving block  270  and the cleaving blade  400  are in the full downward position, as depicted in FIG. 18, the contact point of the blade cutting edge  576  will have moved to a new contact point  834 . It is therefore to be understood that during this blade-optical fiber contact process that the blade will have scored the outer surface of the optical fiber  730  through the lateral blade movement from the initial contact point  828  to the final contact point  834 . This scoring of the optical fiber is helpful in the cleaving of the optical fiber at point  800 . The deflection of the optical fiber as depicted in FIG. 16, caused by the contact of the deflection surface  494  with the end  812  of the optical fiber then causes the cleaving of the optical fiber at the scoring point  800 . Thus, the configuration of the device depicted in FIG. 16 shows the moment of optical fiber cleavage where the optical fiber has been scored at point  800  and the end  812  of the optical fiber is fully downwardly deflected. 
     A significant feature of the present invention is the close dimensional tolerances of the length of the bushing  320 , the thickness of the rearward portion  534  of the deflection plate  344  and the length of the projecting portion  712  of the fiberoptic connector  700  from the shoulder  716  to the impact mount nose  734 . As will be understood by those skilled in the art, these dimensions must be selected and maintained, as depicted in FIG. 16 such that the edge  576  of the cleaver blade  400  makes a contact point  800  with the optical fiber  730  immediately outside of the impact nose  808  of the fiberoptic connector  700 . In the preferred embodiment, the distance from the impact nose  808  to the optical fiber cleaving point  800  is approximately 0.005 inches. To maintain this close tolerance it is important that the flat spring  420  urge the cleaver block  270  rearwardly as has been described hereabove. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described in detail hereabove, it is not intended that the inventive features of the present invention be so narrowly defined. Rather, the following claims are intended to be interpreted to cover not only the embodiment described herein, but also all and various equivalent structures that nevertheless include the true sprit and scope of the present invention.