Abstract:
An optical fiber ribbonizing tool has amain body having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a thickness, the upper portion the lower portion having openings therein. The opening in the upper portion holds the optical fibers, while the opening in the lower portion allows the tool to be opened. An indentation is provided around the opening in the upper portion to hold an adhesive and to apply the adhesive as the optical fibers are drawn through the tool.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED CASE 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) to provisional application No. 61/605,493, filed on Mar. 1, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    Optical fibers are available in a couple of configurations. Usually the optical fibers come as individual fibers or they may come in a ribbon format. In the ribbon format, the optical fibers are positioned in a horizontal array and then coated to keep them in the horizontal array. Typically, the coating is an acrylate coating. In the individual format, the individual optical fibers are loose relative to one another. However, the technician working with the optical fibers may have one configuration and need the other. It is relatively simple to remove the acrylate coating from the fiber ribbon. However, it is more difficult to take the individual optical fibers and ribbonize them. In the past, some have used tape to ribbonize the ends of the optical fibers. There are also tools to assist, but they are expensive and time consuming to use. They also require the use of a razor blade to trim the tape, which may knick the optical fibers. Some tools have been developed to allow for ribbonizing optical fibers using adhesives. But these tools are messy and require cleaning up the adhesives after use. 
         [0003]    Thus, a ribboning tool tool is needed that is inexpensive, easy to use and disposable, and does not have features that can damage the optical fibers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention is directed to a a main body having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a thickness, the upper portion having an upper edge and the lower portion having a lower edge, an opening extending from the lower edge in the lower portion toward the upper portion, the opening extending through the thickness of the main body, and a fiber opening extending from the upper edge toward the lower portion and extending through the thickness, the fiber opening to receive and apply adhesive to the optical fibers. 
         [0005]    In some embodiments, the fiber opening has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is disposed between the upper edge and the second portion of the fiber opening, the second portion aligns the optical fibers in an array. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, the opening in the lower portion divides the lower portion to two handles, and applying pressure on outside portions of the handles causes the fiber opening to become larger. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, the main body has two opposing sides, and one of the opposing sides has indentation therein adjacent to the second portion of the fiber opening to hold adhesive therein to apply to the optical fibers inserted into the optical fiber opening. 
         [0008]    In yet other embodiments, the ribbonizing tool includes a spring member having one portion attached to a first handle on the lower portion and second portion attached to a second handle on the lower portion to bias the two handles away from one another. 
         [0009]    In yet another aspect, the invention is directed to method of ribbonizing a plurality of single optical fibers, the plurality of single optical fibers having a length, the method includes providing a ribbonizing tool to maintain the plurality of single optical fibers in an array, inserting the plurality of single optical fibers to be ribbonized in the ribbonizing tool, disposing adhesive on the ribbonizing tool, and pulling a portion of the length of the plurality of single optical fibers through the ribbonizing tool in the presence of the adhesive to apply adhesive to the plurality of single optical fibers as they are pulled through the ribbonizing tool. 
         [0010]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings. 
         [0011]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present embodiments of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a top, front perspective view of one embodiment of an optical fiber ribbonizing tool according to the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is cross section view of the optical fiber ribbonizing tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a plurality of single optical fibers being loaded into the optical fiber ribbonizing tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the plurality of single optical fibers loaded into the optical fiber ribbonizing tool of  FIG. 1  and ready for ribbonizing; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the plurality of single optical fibers having adhesive disposed on the ribbonizing tool before they are ribbonized; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the plurality of single optical fibers being partially pulled through the ribbonizing tool to distribute the adhesive on the optical fibers; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of an optical fiber ribbonizing tool according to the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of an optical fiber ribbonizing tool according to the present invention; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another embodiment of an optical fiber ribbonizing tool according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , a ribbonizing tool  10  is illustrated for ribbonizing a plurality of single optical fibers. The ribbonizing tool  10  has a main body  12 , the main body  12  has a upper portion  14  and a lower portion  16 . The main body  12  also has a thickness T, which is preferably about 2.5 mm thick, although it could be thicker or thinner, depending on the durability needed, the materials used to manufacture the ribbonizing tool  10 . The upper portion  14  has an upper edge  18  and a fiber opening  20  that extends from the upper edge  18  into the upper portion  14 . The lower portion  16  has a lower edge  22  and an opening  24  that extends from the lower edge  22  toward the upper portion  14 . 
         [0023]    As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the fiber opening  20  and the opening  24  extend through the thickness T of the main body  12 , but do not connect with one another. Between the two openings is a pivot point  26 , the use of which is explained below. The fiber opening  20  is also divided into an first portion  30  and a second portion  32 . The first portion  30  extends from the upper edge  18  towards the lower portion  16  and the second portion  32 . The first portion  30  is also preferably tapered from the upper edge  18  and gets smaller (more narrow) as it extends toward the second portion  32 , but it may be of a constant width and still be within the scope of the present invention. The opening of the first portion  30  is also preferably chamfered at the upper edge  18  to assist in inserting the plurality of optical fibers into the opening  20 . See, e.g.,  FIG. 3 . 
         [0024]    The fiber opening  20  also has a second portion  32 , which is narrower and shorter (from upper edge  18  to bottom edge  22  direction on the main body  12 ) than the first portion  30 . The second portion  32  is used to hold the optical fibers prior to and during the application of adhesive. The second portion  32  is preferably smaller than the diameter of the optical fibers so that the main body  12  keeps the optical fibers in an array. See  FIG. 4 . The length of the second portion  32  can be made to hold a particular number of optical fibers if so desired. In the illustrated embodiment, the second portion  32  holds 12 optical fibers. Other numbers of optical fibers could be provided for. 
         [0025]    In the upper surface  40  of the main body  12  is an indentation  42  that surrounds the second portion  32  of the fiber opening  20 . The indentation  42  preferably has a frustoconical shape, but it could be of any appropriate shape. The indentation  42 , when optical fibers are inserted into the ribbonizing tool  10 , hold an adhesive that is used to secure the optical fibers to one another. By “adhesive,” any material that would bind the optical fibers together could be used, including, but not limited to, flexible cyanoacrylates, a water based glue, or epoxy. Alternatively, the indentation  42  could be on an opposite side, the bottom surface  44 , and still be within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0026]    The lower portion  16  also has the opening  24 , which is both wider and longer than the fiber opening  20 . The opening  24  divides the lower portion  16  into two handles  50  and  52 . A spring member  54  is connected to each of the handles  50 , 52  in the lower portion to bias the handles  50 , 52  away from one another. The spring member  54  also spans the opening  24 . By biasing the handles  50 , 52  away from one another, the fiber opening  20  is narrowed and will secure the optical fibers in the second portion  32 . By exerting pressure on the outside portions  56  of the handles  50 , 52 , the handles are pushed together, making the opening  24  smaller. The upper portion  14  pivots about the pivot portion  26  to open the fiber opening  20 . There may be two extensions  56  that extend from each of the handles  50 , 52  at the lower edge  22  to prevent the handles from being pushed too far together and damaging the tool  10 . The spring member  54  is also illustrated on the upper surface  40  in the figures, but it may be on the bottom surface  44 . The spring member  54  is also illustrated as being on the same side of the main body  12  as the indentation  42 , but they may be on opposite sides. 
         [0027]    Turning to  FIG. 3 , operation of the ribbonizing tool  10  is explained. With the handles  50 , 52  pushed together the fiber opening  20  is widened. A plurality of optical fibers  60  that are to be ribbonized are inserted into the fiber opening  20 . The appropriate number of optical fibers  60  are inserted. After the optical fibers are inserted and aligned in an array in second portion  32 , the handles  50 , 52  are released. The spring member  54  urges the handles  50 , 52  away from one another and the fiber opening  20  and in particular the second portion  32  engages the optical fibers  60  to hold them tightly therein. See  FIG. 4 . The lengths and/or the ends of the optical fibers  60  can be aligned as desired. An amount of adhesive  62  is then disposed in the indentation  42 . With the optical fibers  60  tightly inserted in the second portion  32  of the fiber opening  20 , the adhesive  62  should remain in the indentation  42 . See  FIG. 5 . The optical fibers  60  are then pulled through the ribbonizing tool  10  and the adhesive  62  that is in the indentation  42  in a direction into the page so only the short end of the optical fibers  60  are drawn through the second portion  32  of fiber opening  20 . As the optical fibers are pulled through the ribbonizing tool  10  in the presence of the adhesive  62 , the adhesive  62  is applied to the optical fibers  60 , causing them to be ribbonized. See  FIG. 6 . It should be noted that this ribbonizing tool  10  is preferably used to ribbonize only short lengths of optical fibers  60  and not to do an entire cable. Typical use of this ribbonizing tool  10  is to ribbonize the ends of optical fibers that are going to be inserted into a multi-fiber ferrule. 
         [0028]    An alternative embodiment of a ribbonizing tool  100  is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . In this embodiment, the ribbonizing tool  100  has a different spring member  154 , which is a leaf spring. The leaf spring also spans the opening  124  and engages the handles  150 , 152  to force the handles  150 , 152  apart and the fiber opening  120  narrowed. 
         [0029]    Yet another embodiment of a ribbonizing tool  200  is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . In this embodiment, the ribbonizing tool  200  has a different spring member  254 , which is an extension arm that extends from one of the handles  250 , 252  and is inserted into an opening  270  in the other handle. The extension arm engages the handles  250 , 252  to force the handles  250 , 252  apart and the fiber opening  220  narrowed. 
         [0030]    Another embodiment of a ribbonizing tool  300  is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . In this embodiment, the ribbonizing tool  300  does not have a spring member, but rather an insert  380 , which engages partial openings  382 , 384  on the handles  350 , 352  to force the handles apart and not allow them to come close one another. In order to operate the ribbonizing tool  300 , the insert  380  must be removed to allow the handles  350 , 352  to be pushed together. 
         [0031]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.