Light box

Abstract

The present invention provides a light box for fiber optic illumination cables. The light box includes a light bulb mounted in a disposable bulb holder. The light from the bulb enters a light preparation train including an aperture to produce an initial light beam, a hot mirror to reflect infrared and ultraviolet light, and an optical taper to narrow the light beam to the input diameter of the fiber optic illumination cable. The resulting light beam is passed to the illumination cable via a connector which selectively retains the fiber optic cable. The connector allows the cable to rotate while retained in the connector and includes a receiving tube surrounded by a sliding tube. A void between the tubes contains a plurality of ball retainers which can selectively extend through the wall of the receiving tube to retain the fiber optic cable. Because the connector is spring loaded, the cable is securely retained unless the sliding tube is manually moved into the releasing position by the operator. The light box further includes an electrical connector providing a safety circuit interrupting the power line to the light box when the drawer is removed, as well as a single use hour meter resetting circuit.