Method of, and apparatus for, breaking an optical fiber

Abstract

Apparatus for breaking an optical fiber comprises fiber gripping units (2 and 4) each comprising a rigid block (6 or 6') having adhered thereto a strip (8 or 8') of a resilient material, for example a synthetic felt, the blocks (6 and 6') being relatively movable between an open position to receive an optical fiber (OF) between the resilient strips (8 and 8') and a closed position to clamp the fiber (OF) between the strips (8 and 8'). A fiber holder (9) is provided for applying a pulling force (P1) to the fiber (OF) to cause it to slide between the resilient strips (8 and 8') in the closed position of the blocks (6 and 6') Before being inserted between the strips (8 and 8'), the fiber is formed with a V-shaped notch (N) at which the fiber is to be broken. The strips (8 and 8' ), are so configured that as the fiber (OF) slides between the strips (8 and 8') it is first bent about the notch (N), after which the direction of bending of the fiber (OF) is reversed so that fiber (OF) is broken at the notch (N) under the pulling force (P1) applied to the fiber (OF) by the fiber holder (9). The one severed end face of the fiber (OF) is then pulled away from the other (8 and 8') by the fiber holder 9.