OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE TERMINATING APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

Optical waveguide terminating apparatus applies a pair of plug members of the type having metal retention sleeves therein to cut and strip the ends of a jacketed optical waveguide cable. Plug members are delivered to a insertion station attached to a metal carrier strip and are clamped securely between an anvil and an upper clamp which move together vertically under the action of followers riding in cam slots in a moving cam block, which also determines movement of other components. Cable is positioned relative to insertion station by aligning exposed fibers in narrow channels in top of shear bar which drops to remove carrier strip and positions cable guide channels in cable feed path. A pair of cam actuated jaws grip the cable and advance the ends toward the terminating station; the guides drop away during this advance to permit the jaws to fully insert the cable ends in the plug member. Cables are pulled back to seat them on lances in the retention sleeves and a hot cutting blade shears the optical fiber protruding beyond the plug members flush therewith.