| US 7,566,176 B2 | ||
| Fiber-optic endface cleaning apparatus and method | ||
| Steve Lytle, Mill Creek, Wash. (US); Kevin G. Cassady, Monroe, Wash. (US); and Gregory J. Gerhard, Seattle, Wash. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Westover Scientific, Inc., Mill Creek, Wash. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jun. 18, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/764,697. | ||
| Application 11/764697 is a division of application No. 10/428954, filed on May 01, 2003, granted, now 7,232,262, filed on Oct. 08, 2007. | ||
| Application 10/428954 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/199925, filed on Jul. 18, 2002, granted, now 6,821,025, filed on Nov. 23, 2004. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2008/0152284 A1, Jun. 26, 2008 | ||
| Int. Cl. G02B 6/36 (2006.01); G02B 6/38 (2006.01); G02B 6/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 385—85 [385/53; 385/73; 385/76; 385/77; 385/78; 385/134; 385/141; 385/147] | 9 Claims |
| 1. A cleaning apparatus fox cleaning an endface of an optical fiber comprising:
(a) a housing;
(b) a first attachment device coupled to the housing, the first attachment device adapted to permit the selective coupling
of a container of fluid to the housing;
(c) a second attachment device coupled to the housing, the second attachment device adapted to permit the selective coupling
of a container of solvent to the housing;
(d) a fluid dispensing assembly at least partially disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with each of the
containers, the fluid dispensing assembly operable to deliver the fluid and the solvent from each of the containers upon the
endface to aid in the removal of contaminants on the endface; and
(e) a solvent metering mechanism having a solvent metering cavity of a predetermined volume, and an actuator mechanism coupled
to the housing and contacting the solvent metering mechanism when the actuator mechanism is activated, any solvent contained
in the solvent metering cavity being dispensed upon the endface when the actuator mechanism is activated.
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