Patent Publication Number: US-2015059412-A1

Title: Optical fiber ribbonization apparatus and method

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an apparatus for ribbonizing optical fibers and to a ribbonization method for optical fibers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An apparatus for ribbonizing short optical fibers is known in the practice and manufactured and sold by Furukawa under the name of Furukawa Ribbonization Holder. 
     Other conventional tools are known in the art, as, for example, 3M™ Fibrlok™ Fiber Optic Ribbon tool, which employs tape as fastening means or the Fujukura ribbonization method which employs glue as fastening means. 
     All conventional tool, however, suffer from several drawbacks. In particular, they do not allow arranging a plurality of fibers in a splice equipment so that these can be spliced together, removing them from the splice equipment after splicing and arranging them in a splice protector so that the splice points can be protected, without incurring damages due to mechanical stress. 
     A consequence of this disadvantages is that for conventional ribbonization tools and methods the process reliability is low while the process risk and the process time are high. 
     The problem to be solved is to overcome the disadvantages stated above and in particular to provide a solution that allows a plurality of fibers to be spliced at the same time and to be removed from a splice equipment and arranged in a splice protector without incurring damages due to mechanical stress. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to overcome the above-described need in the art, the present invention discloses a ribbonizing apparatus for optical fibers, comprising a tablet including fiber aligning means for aligning a plurality of optical fibers in parallel, the ribbonizing apparatus being configured to be movably arranged in a splicing apparatus when the plurality of optical fibers is aligned in the tablet, and to be re-moved from the splicing apparatus after a splicing process, so that the plurality of optical fibers is not damaged due to mechanical stress. 
     It is also an embodiment that the ribbonizing apparatus further comprises fastening means for fastening the plurality of optical fibers with the tablet. 
     In a further embodiment, the ribbonizing apparatus is configured to engage with the splicing apparatus. 
     In a next embodiment of the invention, the ribbonizing apparatus is configured to be arranged in a splice protector apparatus after having been removed from the splicing apparatus. 
     In a next embodiment of the invention, the plurality of optical fibers of the ribbonizing apparatus includes at least 12 optical fibers. 
     The problem stated above is also solved by a method of ribbonizing a plurality of optical fibers, the method comprising the steps of: aligning the plurality of optical fibers on a tablet, arranging the tablet having the plurality of optical fibers aligned on it in a splicing apparatus, splicing the plurality of optical fibers, removing the tablet having the plurality of optical fibers aligned on it from the splicing apparatus. 
     In a further embodiment, the method further comprises the step of engaging the tablet having the plurality of optical fibers aligned on it with the splicing apparatus. 
     It is also an embodiment that the plurality of optical fibers is fastened with the tablet. 
     The method and the apparatus provided, in particular, bears the following advantages:
         a) They allow a plurality of fibers to be spliced at the same time and to be removed from a splice equipment and arranged in a splice protector without incurring damages due to mechanical stress.   b) They can be easy implemented.   c) Remarkable performance improvement can be achieved.   d) They reduce the process time.   e) They make it possible to reduce manufacturing costs.   f) They are cost effective.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is explained by way of example in more detail below with the aid of the attached drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of the ribbonizing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2   a  is a schematic perspective view of the ribbonizing apparatus during a splicing process according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2   b  is a schematic perspective view of the tablet when it is removed from the splicing apparatus after a splicing process according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2   c  is a schematic perspective view of the ribbonizing apparatus during a heating process according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Illustrative embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to disclose the teachings of the present invention. While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of the ribbonizing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention showing a tablet  101  including fiber aligning means  104  and  105  for aligning a plurality of optical fibers  103  in parallel; the ribbonizing apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  is arranged in a splicing apparatus  102  and engages with it. The fiber aligning means  104  and  105  may be fastening means and fasten the plurality of optical fibers  103  with the tablet  101 . The tablet  101  may include metallic, plastic, carbon or wood material. The plurality of optical fibers may include at least 2 optical fibers. In a further embodiment of the invention, the plurality of optical fibers may include more than 2 optical fibers, for example at least 12 optical fibers. 
       FIG. 2   a  is a schematic perspective view of the ribbonizing apparatus during a splicing process according to an embodiment of the invention. In particular  FIG. 2   a  shows the tablet  201  including fiber aligning means  204  and  205  for aligning a plurality of optical fibers  203  in parallel;
     the ribbonizing apparatus shown in  FIG. 2   a  is arranged in the splicing apparatus  202  and engages with it. The fiber aligning means  204  and  205  may be fastening means and fasten the plurality of optical fibers  203  with the tablet  201 .   

       FIG. 2   b  is a schematic perspective view of the tablet  301  when it is removed from the splicing apparatus  202  after a splicing process. In this way the plurality of optical fibers  303  aligned on the tablet  301  is not damaged due to mechanical stress. The tablet  301  includes fiber aligning means  304  and  305  for aligning the plurality of optical fibers  303  in parallel. The splice points can be protected by means of splice protector without any substantial mechanical stress. 
       FIG. 2   c  is a schematic perspective view of the ribbonizing apparatus during a heating process according to an embodiment of the invention. In particular  FIG. 3   a  shows the tablet  301  including fiber aligning means  304  and  305  for aligning the plurality of optical fibers  303  in parallel;
     the ribbonizing apparatus shown in  FIG. 3   a  is arranged in the splicing apparatus  302  and engages with it. The fiber aligning means  304  and  305  may be fastening means and fasten the plurality of optical fibers  303  with the tablet  301 .   

     The ribbonizing apparatus and the method described make it possible enable to splice several single fibers at the same time. In particular it is possible to remove a plurality of fibers after splicing from the splicing apparatus avoiding that the single fibers suffer from substantial mechanical stress before that the splice points can be protected by means of splicing protectors. 
     The present invention is not limited to the details of the above described principles. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and all changes and modifications as fall within the equivalents of the scope of the claims are therefore to be embraced by the invention. Mathematical conversions or equivalent calculations of the signal values based on the inventive method or the use of analogue signals instead of digital values are also incorporated.