Polishing Disk Motion Mechanism for Optical Fiber Connector Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional polishing apparatuses for optical fiber connectors suffer from precision issues due to wear in support and guide mechanisms, leading to variations in polishing surfaces and increased costs from frequent replacement of components, which affects the appearance and optical characteristics of the connectors.
Innovation Solution
A polishing apparatus with a support mechanism allowing circular and reciprocating rectilinear motions of the polishing disk, integrated with a workpiece holder to simplify workpiece holding and reduce the number of expendable parts that need periodic replacement, primarily using rigid balls for motion support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a support mechanism and guide rail are used to enable circular motion of the polishing disk and reciprocating motion of the slider, then polishing can be performed on connecting end surfaces, but the support mechanism and guide rail wear out, causing variations in polishing precision and requiring frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the workpiece holder along a guide rail, the invention inverts the approach by moving the polishing disk itself in circular and reciprocating rectilinear motions. This eliminates the need for a guide rail and slider mechanism, thereby removing the source of wear and precision degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the guide rail and slider components from the polishing apparatus. By eliminating these mechanical guidance components, the system avoids the wear and backlash problems associated with them, while maintaining the necessary motion control through direct actuation of the polishing disk.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components are used for supporting and guiding the polishing disk, then circular motion can be achieved, but the number of expendable parts increases, requiring frequent replacement and increasing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the functions of support and motion control into a single integrated support mechanism that enables both circular and reciprocating rectilinear motions of the polishing disk. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining the required adaptability for precise polishing.
Solution Approach 2:
The support mechanism is designed to perform multiple functions: supporting the polishing disk, enabling circular motion, and enabling reciprocating rectilinear motion. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count while maintaining the versatility needed for precise polishing operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a polishing apparatus capable of maintaining polishing precision although fewer expendable parts are periodically replaced. The polishing apparatus includes a polishing disk (20) having a polishing surface (20a) on the front side thereof to polish an end surface of a workpiece, a support mechanism (30) for supporting a back surface (20b) of the polishing disk (20) while allowing the polishing disk (20) to move along a predetermined plane, a workpiece holder (50) for holding the workpiece so as to contact the end surface of the workpiece with the polishing surface of the polishing disk, and a driving mechanism (70) for concurrently causing circular and reciprocating rectilinear motions of the polishing disk (20).