Releasably retaining articles for rotation thereof

摘要

Apparatus is provided for releasably retaining an article such as an optical cable (10) for rotation of the article. A chuck body (31) is provided along with components (24, 26 and 46-48) for rotating the body (31) and the cable (10) about a common central axis (33). A jaw (34) is affixed to the body (31) and disposed generally laterally of the axis (33). A movable jaw (35) is provided having at least mating surfaces which are complementary to the fixed jaw (34) for mounting thereto and grasping therebetween the cable (10) disposed about the axis (33). Magnetic devices are associated with the jaws (34 and 35) for releasably mounting the movable jaw to the fixed jaw for releasably retaining a cable (10) therebetween. For example, first and second magnets (36 and 37), respectively, may be made a part of a jaw such as movable jaw (35) and be disposed astride the central axis (33). A north pole face of magnet (36) and a south pole face of magnet (37) may communicate with each other through jaw (35) which may advantageously contain a magnetic material. At opposite south and north pole faces of magnets (36 and 37), an interconnecting magnetic plate (39) may be utilized to close the flux path between the magnets, at least when movable jaw (35) is mounted to jaw (34). Other seat magnets (43 and 44) may communicate with a magnetic ferrule (13) on cable (10) such that articles may be mounted and demounted to movable jaw (35) under more convenient circumstances than those available in the fixed jaw (34).