MXPA99009300A - Optical fiber holder and end-face preparation tool - Google Patents

Abstract

A tool for preparing an optical fiber end-face includes a station (502) having a fiber bender (518) and a scribe (520) for cleaving a fiber. The station (502) may include a polishing surface (512), a cleaver door (508) rotatable between an open position and a closed position covering a shard collector (522), and a mount (514) for releasably attaching a fiber handling tool or puck (506). The puck (506) includes a body (530), a latch (532) attached by a hinge (534) to the body (530), and a face (540) comprising a plate pivotally attached to an end of the body (530) and having a fiber port (550) extending through the plate. The body (530) of the puck (506) includes a nest for receiving a fiber holder (172) for securing a fiber (178) with an end of the fiber extending through the port (550) of the face (540). The face (540) of the puck (506) can be inserted into guide tracks (516) adjacent the scribe (520) for cleaving the fiber.

Description

FIBER OPTIC CARRIER AND EXTREME FACE PREPARATION TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is generally concerned with systems and methods for preparing and interconnecting communications lines and more in particular is concerned with optical fiber end face preparation discs and connector assembly tools and their methods. In optical fiber networks, it is important that the optical fibers provide a true optical transmission quality and not impeded even through connection points. The particular connector assemblies for the fibers are important in this regard. A variety of connectors and mounting tools and methods are conventional. Splices or splicing sleeves, such as splices or metal or ceramic splicing sleeves for example, have been commonly used elements to terminate the optical fibers and provide or cooperate with the connecting structures for the fibers. Splices or splices are commonly cylindrical parts with internal passages to accept an optical fiber end. The fiber end is retained in the splint or splice sleeve such as by an adhesive or close tolerance. Certain conventional connection assemblies maintain ferrules that contain fiber optic ends in contact REF: 31365 forced in order to optically connect the end faces of the optical fiber. Instead of splints, several other conventional fiber optic connectors and mounting tools are available. Examples of those connectors and assemblies include the designs shown in the related applications. Particularly fiber optic end face connections, made in fiber alignment slits, such as V-shaped slits, are described in US Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 801,058 filed on February 14, 1997, in Sydney. J. Berglud, et al., Entitled "Fiber Optic Connector Spring" and US Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 577,740 filed December 22, 1995, by Barbara L. Birrell, et al., Entitled "Optical Fiber Connector Using Fiber Spring Force and Alignment Grooves. " Connectors having fiber alignment slits are commonly less expensive than connectors having ferrules or splicing sleeves because the splices or splicing sleeves are quite expensive compared to the mouldable parts that make up the spline alignment connectors of splices. , fiber. In the case of all fiber optic connectors and connections, a clean and precise contact from the extreme face to the end face of the connecting fibers is critical for higher transmissions. Thus, many mounting efforts and precautions are taken to provide desirable extreme face contacts. Conventionally, optical fibers have been excised "and polished end faces to provide the desired contact Various systems and methods for spinning optical fibers and for polishing the end faces thereof have been employed with mixed results. optical fibers, for example, variations include the angle of the break or break, the degree of cut or nick to carry out the grating, the stress applied to the fiber during grating or breakage and others. In the polishing of the extreme faces of grated and broken optical fibers, several discs, carrier elements and polishing surfaces are possible.A conventional polishing technique has been to fix the fiber end with a splint or splice sleeve and to maintain and manipulate the splint In this technique, the end face of the fiber optic cable is moved via the splint or sleeve. splice transversely to the polishing surface. The fiber end face is polished, as well as possibly some portions of the splint. Another conventional technique has been to hold the fiber, either a fiber splint or splice sleeve or single fiber with a disc. The disc has consisted of a solid piece that can be clamped with a flat surface. A passage inside the disk is perpendicular to the flat surface and serves to accept the fiber (with splint or splice sleeve if acceptable) to be polished. In the art, small portions of the fiber protrude from the passage in the flat surface. The flat surface is passed through the polishing surface, thereby polishing portions of the end face of the optical fiber. Typical polishing techniques present certain problems. A disadvantage in the case of fibers with splint or splicing sleeve is that the polishing operation can cause the fiber and splint to be polished. When a typical buffing disc is used, one problem has been that the tolerance of the fiber inside the disc has ruptures or chipping of the fiber as the flat surface is passed transversely to the polishing surface. desired polishing results with the fiber alone, such as the single fiber to be connected in fiber alignment slots using the disc and other prior art polishing systems, It would be advantageous not only to provide improvements in the polishing techniques, but also provide more appropriate systems and methods for composition in the field of optical fiber connections where those improvements in polishing techniques are fully realized Conventionally, splicing fiber composite is a complicated process that must be undertaken in the manufacturing facility instead of in the field, however, it is sometimes advantageous to have the possibility to make a connection or other special fiber treatment at the site in the field. Certain of the conventional plug and receptacle connectors for optical fibers provide advantages since the realization in the field of connections is more easily obtained. In any case of field operations, even with those connectors with plug and plug, however, environmental contamination and conditions and shortcomings of extensive installations and equipment can limit the mounting capabilities of the connection. Therefore what is needed are systems and methods that facilitate the realization of fiber optic connections and that provide a polishing of the extreme face of the. improved and advantageous fiber optic to obtain superior fiber transmission characteristics with fiber connections. The embodiments of the present invention provide such systems and methods for making optical fiber connections with desirable end face polishing and transmission capabilities. Thus, the invention improves the capabilities in the field of mounting fiber optic connectors and also improves the performance of fiber optic connections via those connector assemblies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Thus, the embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for the assembly of optical fiber connector receptacles and for fiber optic polishing. The systems and methods provide advantages of easier and improved mounting of connector receptacles in the field and otherwise improved optical performance of the fiber connections due to the polish that can be obtained from the fiber end face. For this purpose, one embodiment of the invention consists of a device for polishing an optical fiber on one end face of the optical fiber. The device includes a body for retaining the optical fiber and a polishing surface attached to the body. The optical fiber protrudes through the polishing surface. Another embodiment of the invention consists of a device for preparing an optical fiber for its interconnection. The device comprises means for holding the optical fiber in a first place along the optical fiber, means for grating the optical fiber at a first selected distance from the optical fiber. first site, means for breaking the optical fiber in the first site, means for grating and means for breaking the fiber include guides for supporting and sliding the fastening means along the guides in fixed relation to the means for grating and the means for breaking the fiber and means for polishing the optical fiber as it is broken, the polishing means are connected to the means for breaking. Still another embodiment of the invention consists of a "method for preparing an optical fiber for interconnection." The method includes the steps of retaining the optical fiber within a polishing device of linear motion at a selected site along the optical fiber, restricting the optical fiber to a limited lateral movement but allowing linear movement at one end face of the optical fiber and sliding the fiber optic end face transversely to an abrasive surface.The optical fiber arches during face coupling Extreme with the abrasive surface Another embodiment of the invention consists of a method for preparing an optical fiber for interconnection The method includes the steps of holding the optical fiber inside a polishing device in a first place along the optical fiber , grating the optical fiber at a selected site along the fiber optic at a selected distance from the first io, break the optical fiber in the selected site and polish the optical fiber so broken.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of an optical fiber end face preparation and connector mounting station, including a base station and a polishing disk according to embodiments of the present invention. Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the base station of Figure 1 showing the grating and fiber optic cleavage area of the base station according to embodiments of the present invention. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the polishing disc of Figure 1 in an open position according to embodiments of the present invention. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the base station and the polishing disk of Figure 1 where the polishing disk is positioned on a retention shoulder of the base station for the preparation operations of the fiber optic end face and assembly of the connector according to embodiments of the present invention. Figure 5 is an exploded view of a conventional connector receptacle of the type having fiber alignment slits or grooves and a fiber carrier (also shown in exploded view), which connector receptacle including the carrier fiber can be prepared by using the preparation station of the fiber optic end face and connector assembly of Figure 1 according to embodiments of the present invention. invention. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the polishing disc of Fig. 1 in an open position and in use for mounting the fiber carrier of the connecting receptacle of Fig. 5 according to embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the polishing disc of Fig. 6 in closed position and in use for mounting the fiber carrier of the connecting receptacle of Fig. 5 according to embodiments of the present invention. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the base station of Figure 1 and the polishing disc of Figure 7 in service for grating and breaking optical fibers extending from the polishing disc and which are maintained by the fiber carrier which is mounted when using the polishing disc according to embodiments of the present invention. Figures 9A-C are front views of the base station and the polishing disk of Figure 8, wherein the polishing disk is located in several different positions along a groove or slit of the base station indicating the stages of the grating or breaking process in preparation of the fiber carrier of the connecting receptacle of Figure 5 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the base station and the polishing disc of Fig. 8 in the closed position, wherein the polishing disc is passed through a polishing surface of the base station in order to polish the end faces of the optical fibers according to embodiments of the present invention. Figure 11 is a perspective view of the base station and the polishing disk in open position, showing the fiber carrier as it is assembled after the grating and breaking and polishing of the optical fibers extending from the polishing disc and includes an amplified view of the fiber carrier and the end faces of the optical fibers, after grating, breaking and polishing, all in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the base station and the polishing disk of Fig. 11 after the end faces of the optical fibers have been polished and the polishing disk positioned on the retention shoulder of the base station and opened to reveal the fiber carrier, wherein the microscope viewer is positioned with the polishing disk to visualize the fiber optic end faces according to embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the underside of the microscope viewer shown in Figure 12, according to embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 14 is a side view of the microscope viewer of Fig. 13, showing the variable angular positioning possible in use according to embodiments of the present invention. Figure 15 is a top perspective view of the microscope viewer and the polishing disc of Figure 12, showing the relative positioning of the microscope viewer and the polishing disk during a typical operation of inspecting the end face of the optical fiber of according to embodiments of the present invention. Figure 16 is a perspective view of the base station and the polishing disk, showing a final stage of assembling the connector receptacle of Figure 5, as assembled from the prepared fiber carrier when using the preparation station of the end face of the optical fiber and connector assembly, including the base station and the polishing disk, as shown in Figures 1-4, 6-11 and 12-15, according to embodiments of the present invention. Figure 17 is a perspective view in approach of the final stage of the mounting of the connector receptacle shown in Figure 16, in position with the polishing disc, according to embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 18 is a flowchart of a mounting process of the end-stage connector receptacle of Fig. 5, which utilizes the station for preparing the fiber optic end face and mounting the connector of Fig. 1 and showing the base station and the polishing disc of the assembly station in the various stages of the process. Figure 19 is a perspective view of an alternative base station for use with the polishing disk similar to that of Figure 8, which alternative base station provides a linear alignment to obtain the grating and breakage of optical fibers extending from the polishing disc and polishing of the end faces of the optical fibers after grating and breaking according to embodiments of the present invention. Figures 20A and B are perspective views of an alternative fiber optic preparation station and connector assembly and Figure 20C is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the station of the figure 20B taken through the fiber cleavage portion. Figure 21A is a perspective view of an alternative polishing disc in partial cross-sectional view and with the latch and face open to show the internal structure and Figure 21B is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the disc of Figure 2A with the bolt and the closed faces. Figures 22A-D are perspective views of several operations involving the station and disk of Figures 20 and 21 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is made to the original applications and concerns concerning details of the fiber optic connectors in particular connector receptacles, wherein the fiber optic connections are made in slots or fiber alignment grooves. Because those requests provide details of the connectors, in which connector receptacles are included, the connectors are not discussed in detail herein. The discussion herein focuses primarily on systems modalities and methods for the preparation of the fiber optics end face and connector receptacle assembly. With reference to Figure 1, a station 2 for preparing the end face of the optical fiber and connector assembly includes a base station 4 and a polishing disk 6. The base station 4 is generally rectangular with a flat front end 4a and a rear curved end 4B. Along one side 4c, the base station 4 is formed with a disk storage chamber 8 in which the polishing disk 6 can be stored when it is not in use in preparation of the fiber optic end faces and receptacle assemblies of the connector. A groove or slit 10 is formed from the front flat end 4a to continue towards the rear curved end 4b, but which stops approximately midway through the base station 4. - A depth of the groove or slit 10 is of the order of half the height of the base station 4. The slit or groove 10_ is opened to a upper part of the base station 4. At the rear curved end 4b and above the base station 4, a polishing surface 12 is positioned. The polishing surface 12 is for example circular. Above the base station 4 at a location not occupied by the groove or groove 10 and the polishing surface 12 a retaining shoulder 14 is formed. The retaining shoulder 14 joins the polishing disc 6 to hold the polishing disc 6 in position desirable when preparing the fiber optic end faces and the connector receptacles are assembled - With reference to Figure 2, the groove or groove of the base station 4 includes guide tracks 16 on each side of the groove or groove 10. near the upper part of the base station 4. The guide tracks 16 are suitable for coupling with portions of the polishing disc 6 (shown in Figure 1) to allow the sliding movement of the polishing disc 6 in the grating and breaking operations, As will be discussed later herein, a bending portion 18 is located along a wall of the slit 10 approaching the bottom of the slot 10. The bending portion 18 includes a rounded and angular edge that begins near the front flat end 4a of the base station 4. As the bending portion 18 runs along the groove or groove 10 extending toward the rear curved end 4b, the bending portion 18 is further extends further through the slit 10. However, the bending portion 10 does not extend over the entire width of the slit 10 and reaches a preset width of the order of half the width of the slit 10 and continues in that width established in the back portions of the groove or groove 10. In addition to the bending portion 18, a gasket 20 is positioned in the groove 10. The gasket 20 is an accessory that "extends from the wall of the groove 10 from which extends the bending portion 18, which begins approximately halfway through the wall of the splitting groove 18 and is angularly upward. Approximately at the site of the plane formed by the lower edges of the guide tracks 16, the gravure 20 terminates at an edge 20a in general acute angles 20. The acute angle edge 20a is selectively positioned relative to the positioning of the buffing disc 6 when it is positioned on the guide tracks 16, in such a way that the acute angle edge 20a comes into contact with circumferences of the optical fibers retained by the polishing disc 6 during the operations of preparing the end face and assembling the connector , as will be described in detail hereinafter, in effect, the bending portion 18 causes the optical fibers retained by the polishing disc 6 to bend progressively further and further away from the wall of the slit 10 on which the engraving 20 and the bending portion 18 are joined as the polishing disc 6 is moved in the guide tracks 16 from the front flat end 4a to the curved end rear 4b. As a selected curvature of the optical fibers is obtained, which desirably forces the optical fibers, the optical fibers are nicked on their circumference near the polishing disc 6 by the acute angle edge 20a of the chip 20. The nick coupled with the additional curvature of the optical fibers as the polishing disc 6 continues to advance backward and the optical fibers follow the bending portion 18, creates a desirable and selected grating and breakage of the optical fibers.

With reference to Figure 3, the polishing disc 6 includes a base 30 and an upper part 32. The base 30 and the upper part 32 are joined by a pivot 34. The pivot 34 allows the upper part 32 to be positioned fully open with with respect to the base 30, as shown in figure 3 and which is positioned closed, in which the upper part 30 is in full contact with and on the "base 30. The base 30 includes grooves or fiber conductor grooves 36, for example two such grooves or grooves in a surface of the base 30. The fiber conducting grooves 36 extend the length of the base 30, however, the grooves 36 are interrupted in a middle portion of the base by a splice 38 of receptacle fiber carrier 38. The receptacle fiber carrier splice 38 is a general square cut on the surface of the base 30, sufficient to accommodate a receptacle fiber carrier (such as that shown in FIG. the corresponding requests and in figure 5 thereof). It will be noted that the fiber conducting grooves 36 extend on each side of the splice 38 of the receptacle fiber carrier and intersect therewith. The base also includes a first polishing surface portion 40 positioned adjacent the fiber conductive slits 36 at one end of the base 30. The prongs 40a of the first polishing surface portion are narrow, grooved or creased surfaces (e.g., slits). V-shaped and / or shapeless grooves) sufficient to rest or rest on the same optical fibers which pass through the fiber conducting grooves 36 at the end of the base 30. The base 30 is also equipped with holes of mounting of the visor 41 at the end close to the first polishing surface portion 40 and a staple extension 42 or buckle along an edge opposite the pivot 34. On the pivot 34, the upper portion 32 is rotatably coupled with the part 30. The upper part 32 includes a cut 44 extending along almost the entire length of the upper part 32 in a mid section thereof, on one side of the upper part. 32 which is brought into contact with the base 30 when the upper part 32 is closed against the base 30. At a leading site in the cut 44 which corresponds to the splice site 38 of the receptacle fiber carrier when the upper part 32 is closed against the base 30, an actuator block or bearing 46 is formed. The actuator block 46 protrudes outwardly from within the cut 44 at a distance sufficient to press fit with a receptacle fiber carrier (shown in the related applications and in FIG. Figure 5) mounted on the splice 38 of the receptacle fiber carrier and is for example half-sphere shaped. The upper part 32 further includes buckle or clamp fittings 48 for engaging the buckle extension or clamp 42 and securing the upper portion 32 above the base 30 when the upper part 32 is closed against the base 30. A second portion 50 of The polishing surface is fixed at one end of the upper part 32. At that end, the second polishing surface portion 50 is positioned in relation to the shoulders 52 between the second polishing surface portion 50 and the cut 44. The shoulders 52 engage with the fiber conductive slots or grooves 36 of the base 30 when the upper part 32 is closed against the base 30 and provide tolerance for the maintenance of optical fibers within the fiber conducting grooves or ducts 36. The second polishing surface portion 50 includes notches 50a which engage the tips of the first polishing surface portion 40 when the upper portion 32 is closed against the base 30. At the apex of the tips 40a and the extension of the notches 50a when the first portion 40 of polishing surface and the second portion 50 of polishing surface are coupled, a sufficient tolerance persists between the first polishing surface portion 40 and the second polishing surface portion 50 for accommodating the optical fibers positioned in the fiber conducting slots or grooves 36 and passing through the polishing disc 6. The tolerance provided to accommodate those optical fibers is referred to herein as the "polishing surface holes" and the first polishing surface portion 40 and the second polishing surface portion 50, when coupled, are sometimes referred to as the "polishing surface". -fifty". With reference to Figure 4, the polishing disc 6 is closed in such a way that the upper part 32 comes into contact with the bottom 30. The polishing disc 6 in that closed orientation is positioned on the retaining shoulder 14 (shown in FIG. 1 and 2) of the base station 4. As it is positioned in this way, the polishing disc 6 is maintained for the operations of preparing the end face of the optical fiber and mounting the connector receptacle. Although not shown in detail in the figures, the polishing disc 6 includes a slit on a lower side of the base 30. That slit or groove engages with the retaining shoulder 14 of the base station 4 to secure the polishing disc 6 with the base extension 4 during those preparation and assembly operations. Referring to Figure 5, there is illustrated a receptacle 114 of the connector of a conventional type that can be assembled using the station 2 for preparing the end face of the optical fiber and mounting the connector. The receptacle 114 of the connector is discussed and described more fully in the related US patent application Serial No. 08 / 801,058 filed on February 14, 1997, by Sidney J. Berglund, et al., Entitled "Fiber Optic Connectot Spring". . The connector receptacle 114 is briefly described herein, also however, because an understanding of the connector receptacle 114 and in particular a fiber carrier 172 thereof is useful for understanding the features, uses and benefits of the station. preparation of the fiber optic end face and connector assembly. The connector receptacle 114 includes a box 170, the fiber carrier 172 and a lower part 187. The base 173 has hooks 188 and passages through opposite walls for the passage of the optical fibers 178 and 180 therethrough. Internally to the base 173 there are several projections 173a extending from the base 173. The projections 173a are selectively spaced to accommodate fastening plates 181. Each of the fastening plates 181 is formed of a malleable material eg a metal malleable aluminum in a somewhat U-like shape. Each of the holding plates 181 holds respective optical fibers 178 and 180 in the U-shape. Because the holding plates 181 are malleable they can be crimped (e.g. of the polishing disc 6 which effects a pressing engagement of the actuator block 46 with the fiber carrier assembly 172 as "described hereinafter" to engage the respective optical fibers 178 and 180. When they are crimped in this manner, the holding plates 181-, when located between the respective sets of projections 173a, retain the optical fibers 178 and 180 with the base 173. A cover The section 179 of the fiber carrier 172 includes inserts that fit into the notches of the base 173 to retain the cover 179 on the base 173 when the inserts and notches are engaged. In certain embodiments, pressing the cover 179 on the base 173 to engage the insertion pieces and notches may serve to cause the crimping of the holding plates 181 necessary to retain the optical fibers 178 and 180. The fiber carrier 172 with the base 173, the holding plates 181 with the optical fibers 178 and 180 therein and the cover 179 joined together as described, the poles 171 of the box 170 are connected via the hooks 188. The hooks 188 fit over the posts 171 and the fiber carrier 172 rotates in place against the underside of the box 170.

With the fiber carrier 172 in place in that manner, the external hooks 189 of the lower part 187 fit over the external posts 171 to the hooks 188. The lower part 187, as it is engaged by the external hooks 189 with the posts 171, rotate in place against the box 170. The lower piece 187 has upward extensions 252. These upward extensions have holes 254. The box 170 includes notches 250. The holes 254 engage with the notches 250 when the piece bottom 187 is pressed into box 170. When holes 254 and notches 250 are coupled in this manner, box 170, fiber carrier 172, and lower piece 187 remain engaged to form receptacle 114 of the connector. With reference to Figure 6, the polishing disc 6 in the open position has the fiber carrier assembly 172 located at the splice 38 of the fiber carrier of the receptacle. The fiber carrier 172 includes components as described above. The optical fibers 178 and 180 extend through the fiber carrier 172 and reside in fiber conducting slits 36. The optical fibers 178 and 180 extend beyond the slits 36 and rest on the respective tips 40a of the first portion 40 of polishing surface. It will be understood that the fiber carrier 172 shown in FIG. 6 is not yet assembled, such that the holding plates 181 are not crimped to stop the optical fibers 178 and 180 and the cover 179 and the base 173 and the plates. fastening 181 are not coupled as a single unit. Rather, the optical fibers 178 and 180 reside only within the holding plates 181, the holding plates 181 are located between respective sets of projections 173a of the base 173 and the cover 179 sits on top of the base 173 but not yet It is coupled via insertion parts and notches. With reference to Figures 6 and 7 in conjunction, the polishing disc 6 is in the closed position for the mounting drive of the fiber carrier 172 (shown in Figure 6). The continuous fiber carrier 172 residing in the splice 38 of the receptacle fiber carrier, however, the fiber carrier 172 has been driven by the force of the actuator block 46 against the cover 179. That force is exerted by the bearing 46 of actuator when the upper portion 32 of the polishing disc 6 is closed against the base 30. In such a fiber carrier operation 172, the holding plates 181 (shown in Figure 5) are clamped against the respective optical fibers 178 and 180, the cover 179 and the base 173 are joined by the engagement of the insertion parts and notches thereof and the holding plates 181 are fixed inside the fiber carrier 172 to thereby retain the optical fibers 178 and 180 via the fiber carrier 172. The optical fibers 178 and 180 extend from the fiber carrier 172 through the holes 54 of the polishing surface 40/50. With reference to Figure 8, the polishing disc 6 in closed position, for example having the fiber carrier 172 actuated as a unitary piece held within the splice 38 of the receptacle fiber carrier between the base 30 and the top 32, is positioned on the guide tracks 16 of the base station 4. The edges of the polishing surface 40/50 fit within the guide tracks "16 and allow the polishing disc 6 to slide within the guide tracks 16 to along the length of the slit 10 of the base station 4. The arrow A in figure 8 indicates the direction along the slit 10 in which the polishing disc 6 is moved in order to gratify and break the fibers optics 178 and 180 to proceed with the preparation of the end face and connector assembly With reference to Figs 9A-C, in conjunction with Fig. 8, the polishing disc 6 is positioned in several different orientations with the base station 4 during an operac grated and rupture ion. In figure 9A, the polishing disc 6 is initially inserted into the slit 10 with the edges of the polishing surface 40/50 located on the guide tracks 16. As they are initially inserted into the slit 10, the optical fibers 178 and 180 (only shown) the optical fiber 178, although it will be understood that the optical fiber 180 is located directly in lines with the optical fiber 178 and thus is not seen in the end views of FIGS. 9A-C) extend straight down substantially straight into the slit 10. As the polishing disk slides along the guide tracks 16 in the direction of the arrow A, the optical fiber 178 comes into contact with the bending portion 18, as shown in Figure 9B. The optical fiber 178 extending from the polishing disc 6 is bent by the bending portion 18. As shown in Fig. 9C, as the polishing disc continues its advance along the guide tracks 16 in the direction of the arrow A, the edge 20a of acute angles of the gravimeter 20 is brought into contact with the optical fiber 178 as it extends from the surface 40/50. Upon contacting in this way, with the optical fiber 178, the edge 20a of acute angles introduces a defect or imperfection in the circumference of the optical fiber 178 under stress of the curvature or bending caused by the bending portion 18. The effort of the bend or coupling coupled with the imperfection introduced by the edge 20a of acute angles of the gramm 20, breaks the optical fiber 178 as it extends through the polishing surface 40/50, for example, the optical fiber 178 protrudes from approximately 10 μm approximately 250 μm (that is, approximately twice the fiber diameter) of the 40/50 polishing surface. It is appropriate at this point to briefly discuss the characteristics of the fiber optic end face and the preferences for effective fiber optic connections in order to more fully appreciate the advantages of extreme face preparation and connector assembly when using the modalities of the station 2 for preparing the fiber optic end face and assembling the connector of the present invention. In general, there are at least four important parameters for the optical quality of fiber optic connections. Those parameters are the angle of the extreme face of the optical fiber, planarity, surface quality and location. The angle of the end face is important for proper contact of the end face of the optical fiber to the end face of the optical fiber or connections of the optical device. Planarity refers to the flat or non-planar shape of the extreme face of the optical fiber. A consistent planarity, whether flat or not, between fiber optic end face connections to the fiber optic end face or device is important in order to obtain a desirable transmission of light through the connections. The surface quality of the end face refers to the particular characteristics of the glass surface of the optical fiber end face. A smooth end face surface instead of rough or rough is desirable for proper connections. Accordingly, the fiber optic end faces are commonly polished to obtain smooth end face surfaces. Another important parameter is the location of the end face which refers to the distance from the center of the core ~ from an optical fiber to a reference, for example, the distance that the end face of the optical fiber extends from the carrier 172 of Fiber in the case of the connector receptacle 114 of Figure 5. The location of the end face is sometimes referred to in the technique as "cleavage length" in the case of the splice where a length or length of glass is prepared by stripping the fiber coating to the fiber end face. The location of the extreme face is preferably consistent for each of the multiple fiber linkages where the fiber linkages are made with respect to the same reference due to the limited tolerance requirements of most typical fiber optic connectors. The modalities of the preparation station 2 of the optical fiber end face and of the connector assembly of the present invention provide consistency and precision in the parameters and thus provide significant advantages. With reference to Figure 10 with respect to polishing the optical fibers 178 and 180 once broken, the base station 4 includes the polishing surface 12. The polishing surface 12 is a circular area covered by a grinding or polishing film. The polishing surface 12 is located at the aft end on the slit 10. The guide tracks 16 continue along the slit 10 to the aft end thereof and terminate at the polishing surface 12. The guide tracks 16 The polishing surface 12 is fed to the polishing surface 12, so that the polishing disc 6, when moved along the guide tracks 16 to the stern end, sits on the polishing surface 12 after passing the guide tracks 16. The polishing disc 6 is oriented with the polishing surface 40/50 of the polishing disc 6 in general aligned in planarity with the polishing surface 12 of the base station 4. The polishing disc 6 is movable transversely to the grinding film of the polishing surface 12 in that orientation. The polishing of the fiber optic end faces is conventionally carried out by those skilled in the art who by experience subjective "touch" detection determine when the end faces are polished satisfactorily. Polishing via the polishing surface 12 and the polishing disc 6 can also be obtained by subjective determination of one skilled in the art. However, due to the particular design of the preparation station 2 of the fiber optic end face and connector assembly, the polishing process may become somewhat non-objective (or possibly even completely). For example, the operations of fiber grating and breaking with the base station 4 and the polishing disc 6 obtain substantially uniform grating and breaking results with respect to the four parameters discussed above in each scratch and break operation. Because the results of scratching and breaking are uniform with the station 2 of preparation of the end face of the optical fiber and the connector assembly, procedures for polishing can be established to obtain substantially consistent polishing results without relying on subjectivity of the experienced in the technique. Also, the polishing results can be optimized and maintained consistently by following the same polishing procedures with the polishing surface 12 in each instance, such as particular polishing configurations, stroke numbers and preload. The configurations or geometric shapes may be for example circular, figures of eight, linear or other. With each configuration, there is an optimal number of "runs" to obtain desired polishing results given a particular scratch and break. The preload refers to the force that is applied during the polishing process that drives the extreme face of the optical fiber against the grinding film. The preload is also consistent between each polishing operation with the preparation station 2 of the fiber optic end face and connector assembly. Particularly in regard to the preload of the optical fiber which is polished by using station 2 for preparing the fiber optic end face and connector assembly, the preload results from the length of optical fiber protruding from the polishing surface. / 50 of the polishing disc 6. The polishing disc 6 does not keep the rigid optical fiber on the polishing surface 40/50 due to the separation between the polishing surface 40 and the polishing surface 50 and the optical fiber located between them. of this, the polishing disc 6 only keeps the rigid optical fiber in the splice 38 of the receptacle fiber carrier (shown in Figure 6) via the fiber carrier 172 (shown in Figure 6) .This allows the fiber The arc of the optical fiber arcs in the length between the fiber carrier 172 and the optical fiber end face.The resultant stresses of this optical fiber arcing tend to drive the end face to the abrasive surface of the fiber. a rectifying film with a relatively consistent force. As the polishing disc 6 is maneuvered on the polishing surface 12, the glass is removed from the extreme face of the optical fiber. As the glass is removed from the end face during polishing, the length of the optical fiber of the fiber carrier 172 to the end face is reduced and the tonnage decreases until the optical fiber is straightened when the optical fiber no longer protrudes of the polishing surface 40/50 of the polishing disc 6 (that is, the end face of the optical fiber is in the same plane as the polishing surface 40/50 adjacent to the polishing surface 12) and the arcing force is relieved. Of course, variations in polishing are possible. For example, it is not necessary that the polishing be continued until the end face of the optical fiber no longer protrudes from the polishing surface 40/50 to be in a state free of arcing stresses. In addition, the tolerance of the angle of the end face of the optical fiber is determined by the dimensions of the hole 54 of the polishing surface. The aspect ratio of the hole 54 is the ratio of the length of the hole 54 (that is, the thickness of the polishing surface 40/50) to the lateral dimension (that is, the diameter over the hole 54 is circular) of the hole 54 A high value for the aspect ratio provides a more accurate and consistent extreme face angle of the polish. In another possible configuration, the optical fiber is maintained on the polishing surface 40/50 by an elastomer of low hardness of hardness, for example such as an elastomer which -fills the separation between the optical fiber and the hole 54 of the polishing surface. This limits the possible movement of the optical fiber within the hole 54 of the polishing surface. Stretching the elastomer when the optical fiber is passed through the grinding film provides the contact pressure for the optical fiber against the abrasive to obtain polishing. Still further, the polishing surface 12 can be moved with respect to the polishing surface 40/50 or both surfaces 12 and 40/50 can be moved to obtain a relative movement. With reference to Figure 11, the polishing disc 6 is located on the retaining shoulder 14 of the base station 4 and in an open position in order to allow the examination of the polished end faces and the optical fibers 178 and 180 and their cleaning. In particular in the amplified view of Figure 11, the optical fibers 178 and 180 are shown as being grated, broken and polished on the end faces. It is seen that the end faces of the optical fibers 178 and 180 extend to the plane of the polishing surface 40 at the tips 40a. It can be understood that the optical fibers 178 and 180 including their end faces can be examined and cleaned due to the arrangement. It should be noted in figure 11 the mounting holes 41 of the visor. With reference to Figures 11-13 in conjunction, a microscope viewer 200 is mounted in the mounting holes 41 of the visor of the polishing disc 6. The microscope viewer 200 is for example a 100X microscope. The microscope viewer 200 includes a microscope box 202 fitted within a microscope leg 204. The leg 204 of the microscope is, for example, a clear plastic that allows the passage of light. An integral light 206 (not shown in detail) is contained within the leg 204 of the microscope and directed at the focal point of the microscope viewer 200. A lens 208 of the microscope is located at one end 202a of the box 202 of the microscope. The end 202a of the box 202 of the microscope is adjusted with an adapter base 210 of the viewfinder. The visor adapter base 210 includes a pivot hole 210a that engages the microscope case 202 such that the microscope case 202 can be rotated side by side, for example in order to visualize multiple optical fibers in side-by-side relation. side, without removing the microscope viewer 200 from the holes 41 of the viewfinder assembly. A pivot hole 210b of the base 210 of the viewfinder adapter is articulated with a pole bracket or bracket 212. Due to pivot hole 210b, the base 210 of the visor adapter rotates vertically (in the figures) with respect to the pole bracket or bracket 212. The pole bracket 212 includes posts 214 that are fixed in extension from the pole bracket or bracket 212. The posts 214 fit within the viewer mounting holes 41 to allow mounting of the microscope viewer 200 on the polishing disc 6. With reference to Figure 14, when the microscope viewer 200 is thus mounted on the polishing disc 6, the box 202 of the microscope is movable with respect to the polishing disc 6. A line of sight 208a of the viewfinder 200 of the "microscope is adjustable over the angle" The adjustment over the angle "is possible due to the articulated relationship in the pivot hole 210b of the base 210 of the viewfinder adapter with the pole bracket or bracket 212. Referring to Figure 15, an eyepiece 215 of the microscope viewer "200" is placed at an end 202b of the opposite microscope case 202. to base 210 of the viewfinder adapter. The eyepiece 215 allows viewing through the microscope viewer 200 of the optical fibers 178 and 180 at the tips 40a of the polishing surface 40 (shown in FIG. 11) of the polishing disc 6.

With reference to Figures 16 and 17 in conjunction, the fiber carrier 172 (shown in Figure 11) is fitted within the case 170 of the receptacle 114 of the connector (shown in Figure 5) while the fiber carrier 172 it remains in the connector 38 of the receptacle fiber carrier of the polishing disc 6. The posts 171 of the box 170 are fitted to the hooks 188 of the fiber carrier 172. The box 170 and the fiber carrier assembly 172 is then detachable from the polishing disk 6 and the bottom part 187 fixable thereto to complete the connector receptacle 114. With reference to Figure 18, in operation, the preparation station 2 of the end face of the optical fiber and connector assembly, including the base station 4 and the polishing disk 6, provides for the preparation and completion of the end faces of fiber optics and connector receptacle assemblies. A process 300 for such preparation and completion proceeds as follows. In a step 302, the polishing disk 6 is initially stored in the storage chamber 8 of the disk of the base station 4. In a step 304, the polishing disk 6 is removed from the storage chamber 8 and mounted on the retaining shoulder 14 (shown in Figures 1 and 2) of the base station "4. The polishing disc 6 is also opened by rotating the upper portion 32 of the base 30 to reveal the splice 38 of the fiber carrier of the receptacle. 306, a fiber carrier assembly 172 (shown in Figure 6) is located at the splice 38 of the receptacle fiber carrier 18. The optical fibers 178 and 180 extend through the fiber carrier 172 and are positioned to reside in the fiber carrier 172. fiber-conductive slots 36 in the base 30 of the polishing disk 6. The optical fibers 178 and 180 extend beyond the polishing surface 40 of the polishing disk 6. The fiber carrier 172 in step 306 is not yet coupled or driven as a single unit. Instead, the component parts of the fiber carrier 172 are only located at the splice 38 of the receptacle fiber carrier with the optical fibers 178 and 180 and oriented for coupling in the drive. In a step 308, the upper part 32 of the polishing disc 6 is closed against the base 30 of the polishing disc 6. When closing the upper part 32, the upper part 32 via the block or bearing 46 (shown in figures 6 and 7). ) drives the fiber carrier 172 contained within the splice 38 of the receptacle fiber carrier to engage with the fiber carrier 172 as a single unit. In step 308, the holding plates 181 hold the optical fibers 178 and 180 and the cover 179 engages with the base 173 such that the optical fibers 178 and 180 are fixed with the fiber carrier 172. In a step 310 , the polishing disc 6 is removed from the retaining shoulder 14 - of the base station 4 and the polishing surface 40/50 of the polishing disc 6 is coupled with the guide tracks 16 of the groove or slit 10. The polishing disc 6 as is positioned is slid in the direction of the arrow A along the guide tracks 16 of the slit 10. As the polishing disc 6 is "slid in this way, the optical fibers 178 and 180 are brought into contact with the bending portion 18 (shown in Figure 9B) and are bent. As the polishing disc 6 continues to slide along the guide tracks 16, the acute angled edge 20a (shown in Fig. 9B) of the gymi 20- (shown in Fig. 9B) is brought into contact in the circumferences of the optical fibers 178 and 180 and introduces an imperfection or defect to the external surface of each of the optical fibers 178 and 180. The force of the bends or bends, coupled with the introduction of imperfections or defects, breaks the fibers opticals 178 and 180 as they extend through the polishing surface 40/50 of the polishing disc 6. For example, the optical fibers 178 and 180 after scratching and breaking protrude from about 10 μm to about 250 μm (or another way as desired) of the polishing surface 40/50. In a step 312, the polishing disc 6 slides out of the guide track 16 on the polishing surface 12 of the base station 4. The polishing surface 12 is for example a grinding film or other abrasive surface. The grit of the polishing surface 12 is chosen according to the desired polishing results as is conventional. In step 312, the polishing disc 6 is moved in geometric figures as mentioned above transverse to the polishing surface 12. Because the optical fibers 178 and 180 protrude from the polishing surface 40/50 of the polishing disc 6, the end faces of the optical fibers 178 and 180 are polished via the movement of the polishing disc 6. As previously described, the preload for polishing is obtained for example by arching the optical fibers 178 and 180 over the length of the fibers. fibers 178 and 180 of the fiber carrier 172 to the end faces. This preload can obtain uniform and consistent polishing results between multiple polishing efforts. In a step 314, the polishing disc 6 is again mounted on the retaining shoulder 14 of the base station 4 and the open upper part 32 of the base 30. With the upper part 32 opened in this way, the optical fibers 178 and 180 they can be cleaned for example by means of manual liquid solvent or adhesive cleaners such as HFE. To open the optical fibers 178 and 180 on their polished end faces, the microscope viewer 200 is mounted on the polishing disk 6. The microscope viewer 200 is rotatable laterally and vertically to desirably view the optical fibers 178 and 180. of the inspection, the microscope viewer 200 is removed from its assembly with the polishing disc 6. In a step 316, the fiber carrier 172 maintained in the splice 38 of the receptacle fiber carrier is fitted within the case 170. posts 171 of the box 170 are locked with the hooks 188 of the fiber carrier 172 and the box is pressed against the fiber carrier 172. This locates the end faces of the optical fibers 178 and 180 retained by the fiber carrier 172 in fiber alignment slits of the case 170. Then the fiber carrier and case 170 assembly 170 is removed from the fiber carrier splice 38. of receptacle and adjusted with the inner part 187 to complete the connector receptacle 114. With reference to Figure 19, an alternative base station 404 provides a linear polishing surface 412 at the end of a splitting slit 410. The splitting slit 410 includes a bender portion 418 and a gasket (not shown). Guiding tracks 416 are provided at the upper edges of the splitting slit 410 to guide the polishing disk 6. The linear polishing surface 412 is located at the end of the splitting slit 410 such that the cleavage and polishing of optical fibers (not shown) maintained by a fiber carrier (not shown) contained in the polishing disk 6 can be carried out in a one-step operation. Alternatively, the polishing disc 6 can be passed through the polishing surface 412 several times as desired. Furthermore, the grinding film can be graded in such a way that it is replaced with each grinding operation or in such a way that it is graded to maintain relatively constant abrasive characteristics. A fiber optic preparation and alternative connector assembly station 502 is illustrated in perspective views in Figures 20A and B and in a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the fiber split portion of the station in Figure 20C. Station 502 is an alternative design of station 2 described above that includes a base 504 and a polishing surface 512. Base 504 may include means (such as a dovetail, not shown) for releasably attaching a holding tool fiber or disk 506, which is similar to disk 6 described above, for storage under the polishing surface 512 for example. The upper part of the base 504 may include a creasing door 508 mounted to the base 504 to rotate between a closed position shown in Figure 20B and an open position shown in Figures 20B and C. The upper part of the door 508 may include a utility dovetail 514 for releasably mounting the disk 506 during fiber carrier placement operations, fiber insertion, fiber carrier drive (if applicable), and inspection and / or cleaning of the end face of the fiber carrier fiber. In the closed position, the creasing door 508 can provide protection for the fiber splitting components, where the guide tracks 516, a fiber bending efforts apparatus 518 and a slab 520 are included. The creasing gate 508 also may provide a cover for a fiber fragment collector 522 that forms a cavity in the base 504 adjacent to the fiber folder 518 and the scribe 520. The scission portion of the station 512 is shown in more detail in the "" view in cross section of figure 20C. An edge of the collector 522 of fiber fragments can form the fiber folder 518. The location of the folder 518 with respect to the pad 520 determines the amount of stress on the fiber when it is excised, which can affect the shape of the split end face. The chip 520 comprising a hard material such as diamond, sapphire, ceramic or carbide eg with a sharp edge, is mounted on a chip assembly 524 that can be urged up towards the guide tracks 516 by a spring 526. spring 526 urges the chip assembly 524 to a firm contact with a plate or face 540 of the carrier or disc 506 (described above) that is moved along the guide tracks 516 during the cutting operation. With reference to Figures 21A-B, an alternative tool or disk 506 for maintaining at least one optical fiber includes a body 530, a cover or latch 532 rotatably attached to the body 530 by a link 534 along an upper edge of the body. body 530 and a one-piece plate or face 540 rotatably joined to one end of body 530 by means of a pivot pin 544. Bolt 532 and face 540 are rotatable between open positions and closed positions. The lock 532 includes locking projections or hooks 548 for securing the lock 532 to the body 530 in the closed position. The body 530 may include an internal spring (not shown) to urge the face 540 alternately in the open and closed positions. Figure 21A illustrates disc 506"in perspective with latch 532 open about 90 degrees (which can normally be opened about 180 degrees), face 540 in the open position and side of disc 506 in partial section to better illustrate interior structures of the body 530 and lock 532. Figure 21B shows the disc 506 in longitudinal cross-sectional view with the lock 532 and the face 540 in the closed positions.The body 530 can include a dovetail slot 538 for mounting the disc 506 to utility dovetail 514 or storage dovetail beneath polishing surface 512 of station 502. Face 540 may comprise a one-piece molded unit that includes holes or holes 550 of fiber (which may have a diameter of about 0.127 mm (0.05") for example) extending across face 540. Face 540 can be designed to be" inserted "into pivot pin 540 to allow the replacement of a worn 540 face without tools. The fiber holes 550 are designed to allow the face 540 to be moved from a closed position (as shown in Figure 21B) to an open position (as shown in Figure 21A) without damaging the fibers. The fiber holes 550 have "conductive" structures 552 on the interior of the face 540 which facilitate the insertion or threading of the optical fibers through the holes 550. In the closed position, the face 540 may form a plane substantially perpendicular to the fibers extending through the holes 550 or the face 540 may be inclined at a predetermined angle (usually from zero to about 16 degrees from the perpendicular, for example as shown). in Figure 21B) to provide angular cleavage of the fibers. The body 530 includes fiber conducting grooves 536 leading to a receptacle or splice in the body 530 to receive the fiber carrier 172 including hooks 188 as described above. The fiber carrier 172 may comprise a base 173 for retaining the holding plates 181 and a cover 179 for securing the fibers 178 and 180 on the fiber carrier 172 as described above in conjunction with Figure 5. When the disk 506 for preparing fiber end faces, latch 532 is open and face 540 is placed in the closed position. The fiber carrier 172 is placed in the body splice 530 in such a way that an extension of the hooks 188 on the side of the carrier 172 is brought into contact with a reference stop 560. Then the terminal ends of the fibers are inserted into the fiber. the conductive grooves or grooves 536 through fastening plates 181 (Figure 5) positioned inside the carrier 172 and through the fiber holes 550 to extend from the face 540. The rotation of the bolt 532 to the fully closed position. power on. fiber carrier 172 for securing the fibers securely. Top posts 562 extending from latch 532 engage corresponding interior poles 564 extending from base 530 by wedge action as latch 532 is closed. The interior poles 564 are brought into contact with the rear or entry end of the fiber of the fiber carrier 172. The upper poles 562 may be stiffer than the lower poles 564 and slightly off-center from the poles 564 such that the wedge action urges the lower poles 564 against the fiber carrier 172 to urge the fiber carrier 172 toward the face. 540 until the hooks 188 are seated firmly against the reference stop 560. The predisposition of the fiber carrier 172 in this manner is required to obtain an exact fiber length during subsequent cleavage and polishing operations. In addition, manufacturing tolerances require some separation between the bolt components 532 and the body 530 that form the link 534. The force of the wedge action between the posts 562 and 564 eliminates any clearance between the bolt 532 and body 530 to create a latch or positional fixation between the two when the bolt 532 is fully closed and secured by hooks 548 of adjustment closure by insertion. The latch "532 may also include a guide tab 566 which, in conjunction with a guide edge 568 on the side of the face 540 remote from the guide tab 566 when the face 540 is closed, is engaged by guide tracks 566 at station 502 to prevent face 540 from tilting during the cutting operation The fiber cutting operation is substantially the same as described above in conjunction with Figures 8 and 9. In this method, the fiber or fibers to be excised are secured in a retention tool that includes a plate with holes or holes through which the ends of the fibers extend .. Normally, the ends of the fibers to be excised are uncovered (ie, stripped of coatings). protectors) where they extend from the plate The edges of the plate are designed to fit the guide tracks of a fiber splitting device. fiber scoring includes a fiber bender, which may comprise a bar, wall or edge of the device, for example that applies an effort to the fiber. A blade or blade with acute or grail edges positioned in the device introduces an imperfection or defect in the fiber from which a crack propagates to split the fiber. The excision device comprises a tool or support that when used with the plate, fiber carrier produces consistent fiber splits, repeatable in one operation. The device includes a guide piece that receives the fiber carrier plate. The position of the fiber bender and the die are predetermined and accurately maintained on one side of the guide track extending beyond the folder and die. The fiber retention plate is inserted into the guide track with the fiber extending from the plate on the side of the track to the bending machine and tape. Then the fiber retention plate is simply moved along the guide track to the fiber bending machine and the die. The fiber is brought into contact with the bending machine that imparts a predetermined stress to the fibers and then comes into contact with the die that imparts an imperfection or defect located precisely in the fiber to produce the split. The bending machine and the gramel can be positioned to introduce the stress and defect on one side of the fiber as it moves past the die or on the front portion of the fiber in the direction of movement as it moves to the die. Fiber cleavage can be produced by first stressing the fiber and then introducing the defect or introducing the defect first and then stressing the fiber. Also, the fiber carrier plate can be moved along the guide track with the stationary excision device or the excision device can be moved relative to a stationary fiber carrier plate. The chip of the splitting device can be mounted on a chip assembly which is driven by a spring for example to be urged against the fiber carrier plate as it moves along the guide track to keep the chip in a Precise predetermined position with respect to the fiber extending from the plate. The use of a fiber carrier plate that is moved along a guide track beyond a fiber bending machine and a grating produces precise cleavage, consistent with a simple movement of the tool. If the fiber carrier plate retains a plurality of fibers that are. They extend through a corresponding plurality of holes in the plate positioned along a line in the direction of movement of the fiber carrier in the guide track of the excision device, the fibers are stressed and grated, in sequence as the carrier is moved along the guide tracks to produce precise, consistent splits of the plurality of fibers in a movement of the tool. The operation of station 502 and disk 506 is substantially similar to that of the modalities previously described. As shown in Fig. 22A, disc 506 can be mounted on top of scission door 508 (in the closed position) with latch 532 open and face 540 closed, such that fibers 178 and 180 can be threaded or threaded to extend through the fiber carrier 172 and the holes 550 of the face 540. With the latch or retainer 532 closed, the disc 506 is removed from the utility dovetail 514 and after opening the door 508, positioned with the end ends of the fibers extending to the fragment collector 522 and the guide tab 566 and the guide edge 568 of the face 540 entering the guide tracks 516 as shown in Figure 22B. By sliding the disc 506 with the face 540 inserted in the guide tracks 516 (by sliding the disc 506 from right to left in FIG. 22B), the fibers are bent and subjected to stress by the fiber folder 518, in sequence, far away from the gravure 520 (that is, opposite to the direction of movement of the disk 506 in the guide tracks 516). The face 540 engages with the stamping assembly 524, which is urged upwardly against the face 540 by the spring 526 to ensure an accurate location of the staple 520 relative to the fibers extending from the face 540. As the staples 540 fibers are put in contact with the gramil 520 are excised in sequence, such that the fiber fragments fall to the collector 522 for later disposal. After the fibers have been excised, the disc 506 is removed from the guide tracks 516 and the fiber ends can be polished by applying the face 540 to the polishing surface 512, as illustrated in Figure 22C. After polishing the fiber, the disk 506 can be reattached to the dovetail 514 on the door 508 in the open position, as shown in Figure 22D. After opening the face 540 by rotating the fibers, an adapter 570 that supports an amplifier and a light source can be positioned on the disc 506 to inspect the quality and cleanliness of the cleaved and polished fiber end faces. After inspecting the fibers, the adapter 570 can be removed and the door 508 can be closed to seal the fiber fragments in the manifold 522 and to facilitate the opening of the bolt or retainer 532. With the retainer 532 open, the fiber carrier 172 can be removed from the body 530 and if desired can be inserted directly into a receptacle or connector box 170 (Figure 5) for example. The arrangement of the functional sections of the station 502 with respect to each other can be changed to adapt the tool for a particular need. For example, the polishing surface 512 may be long and narrow to accommodate just the width of the face 540 to perform a linear polish. With a linear polishing, the consumable grinding film with multiple grains can be used. The grinding film can be provided in the form of a roll, by using a winding device to grade the film as a new polishing process is initiated, for example, to ensure a new, automatically supplied abrasive surface. The polishing surface 512 can also be urged to move in a prescribed manner to provide automatic and uniform polishing. Also, the fiber scission section, which includes the slab 520 and the folder 518 can be oriented differently (with the horizontal fibers instead of vertical during the scission for example). Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, a wide range of modifications, changes and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing description and in some instances some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Thus, it is appropriate that the appended claims be broadly construed in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention. It is noted that, in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Claims (17)

1. Claims Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. A tool for preparing the fiber optics end face, comprising a body having means for retaining an optical fiber in the tool, tool is characterized in that it comprises: a "face comprising a plate rotatably connected to one end of the body, the face has at least one fiber hole extending through the plate 2. The tool according to claim 1 , characterized in that the face is rotatable from the end of the body to an open position to expose the fiber 3. The tool according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises: a splice in the body for receiving a fiber carrier to ensure the fiber in the tool, a bolt or retainer attached by a joint to the body, the bolt or retainer is g An indicator between an open position exposing the splice and a closed position covering the splice and the body has a reference stop and means for urging the fiber carrier against the reference stop when the lock is turned to the closed position. The tool according to claim 3, characterized in that the driving means comprises a lower post extending from the body to contact the fiber carrier at one end of the far fiber carrier of the face and an upper pole attached to the bolt or retainer for engaging the lower post by wedge action when the bolt or detent is turned to the closed position. The tool according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises a fiber cutting device having means for releasably mounting the body thereon. The tool according to claim 5, characterized in that the fiber cutting device comprises: a base having means including a fiber bending machine and a chip to split an optical fiber and a fiber fragment collector comprising a cavity in the base adjacent to the excision means. 7. The tool according to claim 6, characterized in that it further comprises a guide track in the base adjacent to the excision means for guiding the face beyond "the excision means to cleave a fiber extending from the face. The tool according to claim 7, characterized in that the face includes a guide edge for coupling with the guide track in the base 9. The tool according to claim 6, characterized in that it also comprises a door attached to the base, the door is rotatable between an open position and a closed position covering the fragment collector 10. The tool according to claim 6, characterized in that it also comprises means for positioning an adapter having an amplifier and a source of light to inspect the fiber 11. A fiber optic carrier comprising a base and a cover that can be attached to the base; To fasten an optical fiber, the fastening means are positioned inside the base and the cover; the base and the clamping heds have a passage extending longitudinally through the base and the clamping means for receiving the optical fiber; The fiber optic carrier is characterized in that it comprises: means for releasably attaching the fiber carrier to a tool for preparing a terminal end of the optical fiber extending from the fiber carrier and the means for releasably attaching the carrier of fiber are adapted to subsequently join the fiber carrier to a fiber optic connector to retain the terminal end of the optical fiber in the connector. 12. The fiber optic carrier according to claim 11, characterized in that the base includes internal projections to accommodate the fastening means. The fiber optic carrier according to claim 11, characterized in that the cover includes means for engaging the base and the base includes means for retaining the cover on the base. The fiber optic carrier according to claim 13, characterized in that the base retaining means comprise notches and the means for coupling the cover comprise inserts for coupling the notches in the base. The fiber optic carrier according to claim 14, characterized in that the cover includes means for crimping the fastening means for retaining the optical fiber thereon when the cover is pressed on the base and the insert parts are coupled with the notches. The fiber optic carrier according to claim 11, characterized in that the fastening means comprise a malleable material formed in a U configuration. The fiber optic carrier according to claim 16, characterized in that the malleable material of the fastening means comprises a malleable aluminum material.