Abstract: A transport tray for a coiled fiber including one or more coils of fiber and end portions extending from the coils. The transport tray comprises a base and a receptacle disposed on the base to receive the coils of fiber therein. The receptacle may have a circular shape configured to retain the coils without violating the minimum bend radius of the fiber. A locking mechanism may be provided to secure the coiled fiber in the receptacle. The tray may includes one or more retainers to secure the end portions of the fiber, including fibers having any one of a range of diameters, in one or more desired positions. The tray may also include two or more fiber end retainers interchangeably supported on the base to retain fiber ends having different shapes and sizes. A plurality of registration features may be provided to facilitate transporting and positioning the tray at one or more process stations or tools.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automatically processing an optical fiber to create a fiber coil. In one embodiment, the fiber is wound about a continuously curved winding surface. In another embodiment, the winding surface ensures that a minimum bending radius of the optical fiber is not violated. In another embodiment, the fiber is wound about a rotating winding surface including a gripper spaced from the winding surface and rotatable therewith. In another embodiment, the coil is transferred to a transport medium comprising an engagement feature that engages the coil. In another embodiment, the coil is stripped from the winding surface and inserted in the transport medium without gripping the fiber. In another embodiment, the fiber is wound about a mandrel and stripped by moving the coil relative to the mandrel axis.

Abstract: A work pallet for processing optical fiber. The work pallet may be configured to manage lengths of optical fiber for an automated manufacturing process. In this regard, the pallet may be configured to organize and maintain individual fibers in one or more desired positions to facilitate a manufacturing process. For example, the pallet may be employed for an automated fusion splicing process in which pairs of optical fibers are spliced to each other to establish an optical circuit. The pallet presents a platform on which corresponding fibers of an optical fiber module or other device may be arranged in an organized fashion for fiber preparation, fusion splicing, fiber recoating, post-processing storage and the like. The pallet may employ a cross-lacing arrangement in which the fibers extend in opposite directions across the pallet to control fiber slack associated with subsequent fusion splicing or other processing of the fiber pairs.

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.