Optical Fiber Terminus Tool Coating Stripping Residue

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for stripping the coating from optical fiber termini often leave residue, requiring additional cleaning steps and complicating the connection process.

Innovation Solution

A terminus processing tool with a gap or hole that accommodates the glass fiber, allowing the coating to be stripped without residue by forming initial flaws and using a conically shaped surface to peel the coating away, ensuring the glass fiber is inserted into a space where the coating is removed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If blades slice into the coating and the stripper moves relative to the optical fiber to strip the coating, then the coating is removed from the optical fiber, but coating residue adheres to the end of the optical fiber

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating removalVSAvoidend surface cleanliness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

An initial flaw is formed in the coating before the stripping operation. This preliminary action creates a starting point for the coating to peel away cleanly, preventing residue from adhering to the glass fiber end surface during the subsequent stripping process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The coating removal process is divided into two distinct stages: first forming an initial flaw that segments the coating structure, then using blades to peel the coating away along this predetermined separation line. This segmentation ensures clean removal without residue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If coating residue adheres to the end of the optical fiber, then the stripping operation is complete, but additional cleaning steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestripping speedVSAvoidprocess steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By forming the initial flaw before stripping, the coating is pre-conditioned to peel away cleanly in one piece. This preliminary action eliminates the need for subsequent cleaning operations, maintaining high productivity while simplifying the overall process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The initial flaw, which might seem like a defect, is actually converted into a beneficial feature that enables clean coating removal. The flaw serves as a controlled initiation point that prevents uncontrolled residue adhesion during stripping

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS8844602B2Method of processing terminus of optical fiber and terminus processing tool

Publication Date: 2014.09.30 SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

Provides a method and a terminus processing tool whereby terminus processing for the purpose of connection to another optical fiber may be carried out simply. The terminus processing method entails cutting an optical fiber 20 composed of a glass fiber 21 and a coating 24; and with the optical fiber 20 positioned relative to a terminus processing tool that is disposed contacting the coating at the end surface of the optical fiber 20 and that has a protruded-into space for accommodating inward protrusion of the glass fiber 21, and with the cut end surface of the glass fiber 21 facing the protruded-into space, pushing the optical fiber 20 to thereby strip the coating 24 from the glass fiber 21.