The present invention provides an end face polishing device capable of improving a polishing accuracy by polishing an end face of an optical fiber ferrule with adjusted polishing pressure. An end face polishing device 1 for optical fiber ferrule for polishing an end face of an optical fiber ferrule by applying a polishing pressure between a polishing plate 5 driven by a polishing drive shaft and an optical fiber ferrule held by a holding portion 9. The end face polishing device for optical fiber ferrule has: a bearing portion for allowing the polishing plate 5 to rotate relatively around the polishing drive shaft and to move relatively to the polishing drive shaft in an axial direction; a polishing plate guide supporting portion 31 for movably supporting the polishing plate 5 on a base portion 3 to apply the polishing pressure to the holding portion 9 by allowing the polishing plate 5 to move in the axial direction; a pressing drive source 15 for adjustably outputting a driving force to apply the polishing pressure; and a pressing force transmission mechanism 21 for transmitting the driving force output from the pressing drive source 15 as a pressing force in the axial movement direction of the polishing plate 5.

A machine tool comprises first and second support arms, and a rigid structure which couples the first support arm to the second support arm. A first rotary drive is operable to rotate the first support arm and the rigid structure relative to each other about a first rotational reference axis, and a second rotary drive is operable to rotate the second support arm and the rigid structure relative to each other about a second rotational reference axis, wherein the first and second rotational reference axes are parallel and spaced apart by a fixed distance. A control arrangement is configured to control the first and second rotary drives such that a workpiece mount carried by the second support arm follows a predetermined path relative to a tool mount carried by the first support arm in a plane perpendicular to the rotational reference axes.

A manufacturing method for manufacturing a multi-fiber connector, including: shaping a part of each of a plurality of optical fibers such that a part of an outer peripheral surface of a glass fiber including one end portion becomes a flat surface; arranging each of the plurality of optical fibers in a positioning component such that the entire flat surface protrudes from the positioning component; rotationally aligning each of the plurality of optical fibers such that the flat surface comes into contact with a reference surface of a jig; fixing each of the plurality of optical fibers to the positioning component; and cutting and removing a part of the glass fiber which protrudes from the positioning component and includes the flat surface and grinding a cut surface of each of the plurality of optical fibers which is exposed from the positioning component.

A polishing assembly and method for polishing optical cables, the polishing assembly having a platform configured to receive a polishing film and configured to rotate according to a dual orbital motion; a force gauge functionally coupled to the platform and configured to measure downward force applied against the platform; a mounting fixture configured to mount a plurality of optical cables; and a movable arm configured to move the mounting fixture downwards to press mounted cables against the polishing film, upwards to pull the mounted cables away from the polishing film, and to rotate circularly along a continuous circular path. The optical cables are pressed against the rotating polishing film while simultaneously monitoring the downward force applied against the platform so that downward force can be maintained within a prescribed tolerance throughout the polishing process.

An optical fiber ferrule polishing holder for suppressing difference of protruded lengths of optical fiber ferrules protruded from the optical fiber ferrule polishing holder and difference of angles of the optical fiber ferrules. Even when force is applied to cables connected to the optical fiber ferrules, polishing performance of connectors is less affected. An optical fiber ferrule polishing holder for holding an optical fiber ferrule incorporated in a connector, including: a holder body having a plate shape; and an adapter fixed to the holder body so that the connector is locked to the adapter, wherein the holder body includes an insertion hole into which the optical fiber ferrule is inserted, and an upper surface of the holder body presses the optical fiber ferrule at a peripheral position of the insertion hole to contract a spring built in the connector when the connector is locked to the adapter.

In an optical fiber ferrule polishing holder 20 used for polishing an optical fiber ferrule 30 having a rectangular cross section, the optical fiber ferrule polishing holder 20 having: a body part 21 having an insertion hole 21A into which the optical fiber ferrule 30 can be inserted, the body part 21 being capable of abutting on the optical fiber ferrule 30 at a support wall 21A1 of the insertion hole 21A; and a fixing part 25 (29) having a pressing wall 25B (29B) for pressing the optical fiber ferrule 30 to the support wall 21A1 at a predetermined pressure, wherein the support wall 21A1 is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a vertical axis which is vertically extended from a polishing surface 13 of an optical fiber ferrule polishing machine 10, and the support wall 21A1 has a protrusion 21C toward the pressing wall 25B (29B).

The present invention provides an end face polishing device capable of improving a polishing accuracy by polishing an end face of an optical fiber ferrule with adjusted polishing pressure. An end face polishing device 1 for optical fiber ferrule for polishing an end face of an optical fiber ferrule by applying a polishing pressure between a polishing plate 5 driven by a polishing drive shaft and an optical fiber ferrule held by a holding portion 9. The end face polishing device for optical fiber ferrule has: a bearing portion for allowing the polishing plate 5 to rotate relatively around the polishing drive shaft and to move relatively to the polishing drive shaft in an axial direction; a polishing plate guide supporting portion 31 for movably supporting the polishing plate 5 on a base portion 3 to apply the polishing pressure to the holding portion 9 by allowing the polishing plate 5 to move in the axial direction; a pressing drive source 15 for adjustably outputting a driving force to apply the polishing pressure; and a pressing force transmission mechanism 21 for transmitting the driving force output from the pressing drive source 15 as a pressing force in the axial movement direction of the polishing plate 5.

A method of connecting a ferrule to an optical fiber polishing fixture assembly comprises obtaining a fixture base to which a clamping assembly is operatively connected, positioning a lever in an unlocked position thereby creating a gap between first and second base portions, obtaining a fiber optic connector and cable assembly including a ferrule operatively connected to a cable, positioning the ferrule in a ferrule bore, and moving the lever from the unlocked position to a locked position thereby causing the first and second base portions to engage the fiber optic connector and cable assembly.

An optical fiber polisher includes a polishing mechanism, a platen, and a memory for storing operational parameters entered by a user. The optical fiber polisher includes a processor to control a stopping position of the platen at an end of a polishing step based on the operational parameters.

The invention relates to a polishing machine (10) and to a method for polishing optical waveguides, the polishing machine comprising a polishing disk (13) having a plug socket (14) for holding a plug with an optical waveguide, a polishing platform (15) for receiving an abrasive, a positioning device (17) for relative positioning of the polishing disk and of the polishing platform between a polishing position and a set-up position (16), and a drive device for executing a relative polishing movement between the polishing platform and the polishing disk in the polishing position, wherein the polishing machine has a cleaning device for applying dry ice to the polishing platform and/or to the polishing disk.