(19)
(11) EP 1 275 471 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
14.01.2004 Bulletin 2004/03

(43) Date of publication A2:
15.01.2003 Bulletin 2003/03

(21) Application number: 02015243.5

(22) Date of filing: 09.07.2002
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B24B 19/22
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 13.07.2001 US 905801

(71) Applicant: Corning Cable Systems LLC
Hickory, North Carolina 28603-0489 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Barnes, Brandon A.
    Ft. Worth, TX 76137 (US)
  • Kerr, Sean M.
    N. Richland Hills, TX 76180 (US)
  • deJong, Michael
    Ft Worth, TX 76137 (US)
  • Leyva, Jr., Daniel
    Saginaw, TX 76131 (US)

(74) Representative: Sturm, Christoph, Dipl.-Ing. 
c/o Quermann & Richardt, Unter den Eichen 7
65195 Wiesbaden
65195 Wiesbaden (DE)

   


(54) Polishing fixture and method for fiber optic connectors


(57) A polishing fixture (10) and method suitable for use with springless fiber optic connectors, as well as connectors with integrated springs, is provided. The polishing fixture comprises at least a base plate (14) and a plurality of connector assemblies (12). Each connector assembly (12) includes a spring and the movement of the connector against the force of the spring applies a spring force to the connector during polishing to compensate for the variation of the protrusion of the connector (12) and optical fiber below the base plate (14) of the polishing fixture (10). The polishing fixture (10) of this invention can be used with circular and non-circular shaped connectors and with single and multi-fiber connectors.






Search report