APPARATUS FOR POLISHING AN OPTICAL FIBER

摘要

A polishing bushing for polishing the end face of an optical fiber supported within a rigid sleeve includes a bushing base (31, 131) having a front surface (36, 136). The rigid sleeve (21, 21a) normally protrudes from beyond the front surface (36, 136) to permit the end face (14, 14a) of the optical fiber (12, 12a) carried therein to be polished. The bushing includes resilient portion (34) for permitting the rigid sleeve (21, 21a) to move longitudinally in passageway (38) to limit the force applied to the end face (14, 14a) of the fiber (12, 12a) by the polishing medium. The front surface (36, 136) of the bushing base (31, 131) is of spherical shape to produce a polished fiber end face (14) which is convex and which protrudes from the rigid sleeve (21) by less than about one micron, or is of flat shape to consistently produce a polished end face (14a) which is recessed within the sleeve ( 21a) by less than about one micron.