Patent ID: 8771042

Claim:
A polishing apparatus for polishing an optical fiber connector, the optical fiber connector including a connector housing and a ferrule, comprising: a mount to receive and hold the optical connector; a polisher housing to house a polisher that comprises a platen that supports a polishing media, the platen being coupled to a planetary gear system, wherein the mount is disposed on a cover that encloses the polisher housing when the cover is placed in a closed position; a base to support the polisher housing, wherein a rotatable input knob is accessible at a portion of the base, the rotatable input knob being engaged with the planetary gear system to move the planetary gear system, wherein the polishing media is disposed proximate to a fiber tip extending from an end face of the ferrule of the optical connector disposed in the mount when the cover is placed in the closed position; and a press-activatable interlock button, wherein the interlock button is depressed to release the rotatable input knob and permit rotation of the rotatable input knob for a predetermined rotation until the interlock is re-engaged to prevent further rotation.