The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 19, 2003
Filed:
Jul. 06, 2001
Bretton E. Anderson, Atkinson, NH (US);
Ksaria Corporation, Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
A centralizing clamp for positioning each of a plurality of fibers along a predefined clamping axis, each fiber having an outer diameter that differs from an outer diameter of others of the plurality of fibers. The centralizing clamp comprises first and second clamp jaws movably supported, relative to the predefined clamping axis, between an open position and a closed position to hold any one of the fibers therebetween. The clamp jaws may be configured to capture a fiber initially located within a region of uncertainty about the clamping axis that has a diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the fiber. The clamp may also include an actuator coupled to the clamp jaws to actuate the clamp jaws between the open and closed positions in response to an actuation signal. One or more sensors may be provided to detect a presence of the fiber between the closed clamp jaws, and/or to detect the state of the clamp in the open or closed positions. A fluid seal may be provided on the clamp to seal and hold a fiber in position on a cleaning tank during a fiber cleaning process.