Optical Fiber Cleaving Device Using UV-Cured Adhesive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical fiber cleaving devices often introduce torsional stress during the clamping process, leading to unsatisfactory fracture propagation and fiber end surface characteristics due to the twisting of the fiber between clamping surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The use of a light-radiation-curing adhesive in the first clamping arrangement to securely hold the fiber in place without twisting, allowing the fiber to straighten and release torsional stress before being firmly bound to a receiving element, which is then cleaved by a diamond blade or other cleaving means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fiber is clamped between two clamping surfaces, then the fiber can be held fixedly during cleaving, but the closing of the clamping arrangement causes a slight twist of the fiber portion and thereby inadvertent torsional stress
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful twisting action from the clamping process by removing the second clamping arrangement that causes torsional stress. Instead of clamping the fiber between two surfaces, the fiber is clamped at only one location, eliminating the source of twisting while maintaining secure holding during cleving.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention inverts the conventional clamping approach by using a single clamping arrangement instead of two opposing clamps. This reversal of the clamping mechanism eliminates the inherent twisting problem while achieving the same objective of securing the fiber for cleaving.
2Ease of operation
If a rotation of the fiber portion clamped of as small as 0,1° occurs, then the fiber can be held in the clamping arrangement, but this may be enough to substantially impair the result of the cleaved fiber end surface
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the second clamping arrangement that is the source of rotational stress. By extracting this component, the system eliminates the mechanism that causes fiber rotation during clamping, thereby preserving end surface quality while maintaining operational simplicity through single-point clamping.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method ensures that the fiber is cleaved without torsional stress, resulting in significantly improved fiber end surface characteristics, with the adhesive being cured using UV radiation for fast and secure bonding.
Implementation Method 1
a light-radiation-curing adhesive applied to a receiving element and configured to receive a first fiber portion, wherein the adhesive is cured by UV radiation
Data Source
AI summary
An optical fiber cleaving device (1) has a knife (3) and two clamping arrangements (6a, 7). A first clamping arrangement (6a) includes an element (8a) configured to receive a light-radiation-curing adhesive (11) together with an end portion (5a) of the fiber (5), which is embedded in the adhesive (11). A lamp (15) is configured to apply light on the adhesive (11) to cure it so that the end portion (5a) of the fiber (5) is firmly bound to the element (8a). The end portion (5a) is in this way fixedly held during cleaving of the fiber (5). A method is also provided for cleaving an optical fiber (5), in which the fiber (5) to be cleaved is clamped using light-radiation-curing adhesive (11), as well as use of a fiber cleaving device (1).