APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING THREAD-LIKE OBJECTS, AND METHODS OF POSITIONING OPTICAL FIBRES

摘要

A device for accurately positioning wire-shaped articles. The device includes positioning means comprising two groups of pins which are parallel to each other and which are provided with grooves. The articles to be positioned are disposed in the grooves. Fixing means and elastic means are provided to keep the articles in tension in the grooves. Translation means comprise a movable block on which the articles are placed, one at a time during the positioning. Optical means are provided for accurately measuring the positions of the articles. Several methods of positioning optical fibers by means of this device yield a rigid assembly in which the optical fibers are immovably enclosed between two rigid blocks by an adhesive, by pressure or by any other means.