Patent ID: 6964288

Claim:
An automated fiber preparation apparatus for an optical fiber, comprising: a transporter having an upstream end and a downstream end, the transporter being constructed and arranged to automatically and simultaneously index a plurality of trays to a plurality of process stations in a direction from the upstream end toward the do stream end in response to a control signal, each of the plurality of trays being configured to hold an optical fiber; a strip tool positioned at one of the plurality of process stations between the upstream end and the downstream end of the transporter, the strip tool being constructed and arranged to automatically strip coating from an end portion of the optical fiber in response a control signal; a cleave tool positioned at one of the plurality of process stations between the upstream end and the downstream end of the transporter, the cleave tool being constructed and arranged to automatically cleave the end portion of the optical fiber in response to a control signal; and a load module positioned at the upstream end of the transporter, the load module being constructed and arranged to automatically load each of the trays onto the transporter in response to a control signal.