Importance

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Abstract

A ribbon separation tool (10) for separating optical fiber ribbons (C1,C2,C3) into subsets of optical fibers. Ribbon separation tool (10) includes a stationary shearing device (27), and a moveable shearing device (17), the moveable shearing device (17) is operative to move relative to the stationary shearing device (27) during a shearing stroke. Optical fiber ribbon support members (42), with optical fiber ribbon receiving slots (46) being defined therebetween, are adjacent shearing devices (17,27). Moveable shearing device (17) is moveably located between optical fiber ribbon support members (42) and includes moveable sub-slots (90a,90b,90c). When a cover member (26) of tool (10) is in a closed position, stationary sub-slots (92a,92b,92c) of stationary shearing device (27) are aligned with moveable sub-slots (90a,90b,90c) to define shearing slots (90a,92a;90b,92b;90c,92c). Shearing slots (90a,92a;90b,92b;90c,92c) are each sized to receive a respective optical fiber ribbon (C1,C2,C3), and each shearing slot straddles a shearing plane (M) defined between shearing devices (17,27). When tool (10) is actuated by pushing a pusher member (52) to an actuated position, ribbon (C1) will be separated into two 6-fiber subsets, ribbon (C2) will be separated into one 4-fiber and one 8-fiber subset, and ribbon (C3) will be separated into one 2-fiber subset and one 10-fiber subset. With pusher member (52) in the actuated position, optical fiber ribbons (C1,C2,C3) are then moved lengthwise whereby ribbons (C1,C2,C3) are separated lengthwise.

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First Claim