End face polishing device for optical fiber ferrule

Abstract

Provided with a holding unit 4 configured to hold and release a polishing holder 3 to which an optical fiber ferrule 2 can be detachably attached; a turntable 5 arranged below the polishing holder 3 held by the holding unit 4, a polishing plate 6 being replaceably installed on turntable 5; a rotation unit 7 configured to rotate and revolve the turntable 5 for polishing an end face of the optical fiber ferrule 2 attached to the polishing holder 3 by the polishing plate 6 installed on the turntable 5; and a controller 8 for operating the rotation unit 7 to move the turntable 5 to a predetermined revolution position after a polishing using the rotation unit 7 is finished.

1 . An end face polishing device for an optical fiber ferrule, comprising:
 a holding unit configured to hold and release a polishing holder to which an optical fiber ferrule can be detachably attached;   a turntable arranged below the polishing holder held by the holding unit, a polishing plate being replaceably installed on the turntable;   a moving unit configured to elevate and lower the turntable so that the polishing plate installed on the turntable is contacted with or separated from an end face of the optical fiber ferrule attached to the polishing holder held by the holding unit;   a rotation unit having a revolution mechanism configured to revolve the turntable and a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the turntable separated from a revolution movement of the turntable revolved by the revolution mechanism, the turntable being revolved and rotated for polishing the end face of the optical fiber ferrule attached to the polishing holder by the polishing plate installed on the turntable, and   a controller having functions of revolving the turntable by the revolution mechanism to move the turntable to a predetermined revolution position and rotating the turntable by the rotation mechanism to move the turntable to a predetermined rotation position after the end face of the optical fiber ferrule and the polishing plate are separated from each other by the moving unit, wherein   the controller has a function of rotating the turntable by the rotation mechanism while the turntable is kept in the predetermined revolution position.   
     
     
         2 . The end face polishing device for the optical fiber ferrule according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the turntable has a plurality of depressed portions separated from each other with an interval in a circumferential direction of the polishing plate installed on the turntable for picking up the polishing plate from the turntable.   
     
     
         3 . The end face polishing device for the optical fiber ferrule according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the rotation unit includes a revolution position reference portion for determining the predetermined revolution position of the turntable and a rotation position reference portion for determining the predetermined rotation position the turntable, and   the controller includes a revolution sensor for detecting the revolution position reference portion and a rotation sensor for detecting the rotation position reference portion.   
     
     
         4 . The end face polishing device for the optical fiber ferrule according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the revolution position reference portion is a first protrusion or a first recess, the revolution sensor is a non-contact proximity sensor for detecting a gap between the revolution sensor and the first protrusion or the first recess forming the revolution position reference portion,   the rotation position reference portion is a second protrusion or a second recess, and   the rotation sensor is a non-contact proximity sensor for detecting a gap between the rotation sensor and the second protrusion or the second recess forming the rotation position reference portion.   
     
     
         5 . The end face polishing device for the optical fiber ferrule according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the turntable has a plurality of depressed portions separated from each other with an interval in a circumferential direction of the polishing plate installed on the turntable for picking up the polishing plate from the turntable,   the rotation unit includes a revolution position reference portion for determining the predetermined revolution position of the turntable and a rotation position reference portion for determining the predetermined rotation position the turntable, and   the controller includes a revolution sensor for detecting the revolution position reference portion and a rotation sensor for detecting the rotation position reference portion.   
     
     
         6 . The end face polishing device for the optical fiber ferrule according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the turntable has a plurality of depressed portions separated from each other with an interval in a circumferential direction of the polishing plate installed on the turntable for picking up the polishing plate from the turntable,   the rotation unit includes a revolution position reference portion for determining the predetermined revolution position of the turntable and a rotation position reference portion for determining the predetermined rotation position the turntable,   the controller includes a revolution sensor for detecting the revolution position reference portion and a rotation sensor for detecting the rotation position reference portion,   the revolution position reference portion is a first protrusion or a first recess, the revolution sensor is a non-contact proximity sensor for detecting a gap between the revolution sensor and the first protrusion or the first recess forming the revolution position reference portion,   the rotation position reference portion is a second protrusion or a second recess, and   the rotation sensor is a non-contact proximity sensor for detecting a gap between the rotation sensor and the second protrusion or the second recess forming the rotation position reference portion.