Source: http://www.google.fr/patents/US4687287
Timestamp: 2013-05-18 21:19:13
Document Index: 10934922

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 20', 'arts 20', 'art 20', 'art 20', 'art 20', 'art 20', 'art 20', 'art 130', 'art 130']

Brevet US4687287 - Apparatus for aligning an article relative to a datum - Google�BrevetsRecherche Images Maps Play YouTube Actualit�s Gmail Drive Plus » Recherche avanc�e dans les brevets | Historique Web | Connexion Recherche avanc�e dans les brevets BrevetsApparatus for aligning an article, for example an optical fiber, relative to a datum, for example a Vee groove, another fiber, or a light source, includes means for manipulating the article in two intersecting directions. The manipulating means comprises a part fixed relative to the datum and a first...http://www.google.fr/patents/US4687287?utm_source=gb-gplus-shareBrevet US4687287 - Apparatus for aligning an article relative to a datum Num�ro de publicationUS4687287 AType de publicationOctroi Num�ro de demande06/559,447 Date de publication18 ao�t 1987 Date de d�p�t8 d�c. 1983 Date de priorit�8 d�c. 1983 InventeursHelmut H. LukasGrant K. Pacey Cessionnaire d'origineBell-Northern Research Ltd.Siecor Technology, Inc.Siecor CorporationNorthern Telecom Limited Classification aux �tats-Unis385/134269/58269/142385/98269/902269/157 Classification internationaleG02B6/38 Classification coop�rativeG02B6/3803G02B6/4226G02B6/2557G02B6/2551 Classification europ�enneG02B6/255P4R�f�rencesCitations de brevets (9) R�f�renc� par (18)Liens externesUSPTO Cession USPTO EspacenetApparatus for aligning an article relative to a datumUS 4687287 A R�sum� Apparatus for aligning an article, for example an optical fiber, relative to a datum, for example a Vee groove, another fiber, or a light source, includes means for manipulating the article in two intersecting directions. The manipulating means comprises a part fixed relative to the datum and a first arm coupled to the fixed part by a hinge. A second arm is coupled by a second hinge to the first arm at a position adjacent the first hinge. Adjacent its proximal end, the second arm carries a mount for the fiber. The arrangement is such that pivoting of the first arm displaces the mount in one of the intersecting directions. Pivoting of the second arm displaces the mount in the other of the intersecting directions. Preferably, the fixed part, hinges and arms are integral with one another, substantially eliminating play and backlash. The apparatus affords precise manipulation of articles such as single-mode optical fibers prior to and during fusion splicing. Another aspect of the invention comprises an arrangement of two gripping jaws, one for each of two filaments, and two actuators, one for each gripping jaw, disposed either side of a medial plane through the apparatus. The right-hand actuator operates the left-hand jaw, and vice-versa. A third aspect comprises gripping means in the form of a tappet to distribute contact along the fiber, preferably pivotal slightly to ensure even contact with the fiber throughout the contact region.
a second arm coupled by a second hinge to a portion of said first arm adjacent said first hinge, said second arm having at a position adjacent said second hinge a mount for supporting said article; means for displacing said arms pivotally to and fro in the same direction relative to their respective hinges; the arrangement being such that movement of the first arm about the first hinge displaces the second hinge, and therewith the mount, in one of said intersecting directions; and movement of the second arm about the second hinge displaces the mount in the other of said intersecting direction.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hinges are integral with said arms.
11. Apparatus for aligning two filaments end-to-end comprising: support means for supporting the two filaments in end-to-end alignment along an axis; two gripping means, each cooperating with said support means to grip a respective one of said filaments to the support means and two actuators, disposed at opposite sides, respectively, of a plane extending between said gripping means and substantially perpendicular to said axis; wherein each actuator serves to operate the gripping means at the opposite side of said plane.
12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein one of said gripping means is movable relative to the other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said filaments.
22. Apparatus for aligning at least one filamentary article relative to a datum comprising: a Vee groove for receiving said filamentary article in the apex thereof and; gripping means for clamping said filamentary article into said apex; wherein said gripping means comprises a thimble-shaped tappet member for contacting said filamentary article over a significant part of its length and at a position disposed away from said apex, and biassing means for urging said tappet member towards said apex, said tappet member being arranged with its external end surface disposed towards said apex and movable towards and away from said apex against the action of said biassing means, and said biassing means being arranged to cooperate with the internal end surface of said thimble member.
23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said biassing means comprises spring means arranged to cooperate with said tappet member at a point contact therebetween.
A second block 19, of aluminum, comprising a first part 20, a first arm 22, and a second arm 24, occupies the recess 16. The profile of the second block comprising parts 20, 22 and 24, is substantially the same as that of the recess 16, as can be seen from FIG. 1. The part 20 is securely anchored in the top of recess 16 by two securing screws 26 and 28. The latter (28) extends from the left-hand side of the apparatus through anchorage part 20 into the block 10 and the former (26) extends at about 45 hole in part 20 so as to draw part 20 tightly into the corner of recess 16.
From the lower end of neck portion 36, a short recess 38 extends at 45 has its upper sidewall 40 undercut at its lowermost part to form a recess 42. A short web of material between the upper sidewall 40 of recess 38 and hole 30 thus forms a flexible hinge member 44 connecting arm 22 to anchorage part 20.
In operation, rotation of the vernier thimble 100 as indicated by arrow A, causes movement of rack 92, which rotates pinion 88, and therewith eccentric cam 72. The cam 72 displaces pin 76 to cause arm 22 to move to and fro. This will cause the proximal portion 52 adjacent hinge 44 to pivot about the hinge 44, displacing hinge 50 bodily in the direction of arrow `A`. The part 130 of second arm 24 proximal the hinge 50 therefore moves in the same direction. This proximal part 130 has a recess 132 of rectangular cross-section extending across it. Recess 132 serves as a mount for a Vee groove 134 which will carry the optical fiber to be aligned. The sidewalls of recess 132 extend at approximately 45 downwards from the front face of arm 24. The sides of Vee groove 134 are mutually perpendicular and coplanar with, respectively, front face 14' of block 19 and the horizontal surface or apron 12 at the front of the apparatus. When adjustment of vernier thimble 100 produces movement of mount 130 in the direction of arrow `A`, the Vee groove 134 moves likewise, thus displacing the fiber transversely to its length.
Referring now to FIG. 4, it will be seen that Vee groove 134 is secured into its underlying recess 132 by two screws 140 and 142, respectively. Its inner end 144 extends in cantilever fashion into a hole 146 which extends through the middle of block 10. The hole 146 is of rectangular section and extends downwards at 45 onto both horizontal surface 12 and the vertical front face 14. Electrode assemblies 148 and 150, respectively, disposed above and below the longitudinal axis of the Vee groove 134 are mounted in a block 135 of phenolic resin, slidably located in hole 146. The electrode assemblies comprise electrode pins 176 and 178, respectively, which extend end-to-end either side of the longitudinal axis of the fibers when held in the Vee grooves, such that the longitudinal axis of the electrodes intersects that of the fibers.
It should be noted that, during the spark discharge, the end of plunger 314, which carries the mirror 270 (extending at 45 longitudinal axis) is spaced well below the electrodes 176 and 178 to ensure that the mirror 270 is not spattered during the spark discharge step.
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