Fluxless tube seal

Abstract

A solder machine that can automatically solder a fiber optic cable to a package. The solder machine includes a fixture for supporting the cable and the package. The machine has a gas heater that emits a heated inert gas. The gas heats at least a portion of the package to a soldering temperature. The machine also includes a solder dispenser that dispenses solder into the heated package. The solder attaches the fiber optic cable to the package. The inert gas prevents undesirable oxidation at the solder site. The use of an inert gas eliminates the need for solder flux. The heating, gassing and dispensing steps can be controlled by a computer to automate the entire process. The package and fiber optic cable can be supported by a pallet that is loaded and then unloaded from the machine to further improve the ease of operation and decrease the cost associated with the solder process.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
     
     
         17 . A method for soldering an optical component to a package, comprising: 
 heating at least a portion of the package and optical component;    directing an inert gas onto the heated portion of the package and optical component; and,    dispensing a volume of solder onto the heated portion of the package and optical component.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the package is heated with the inert gas.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the inert gas is contained within the heated portion of the package and optical component.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the package and optical component are located on a pallet that is loaded onto a block, the package and optical component being adjacent to a gas heater tube and a solder dispenser tip.