EP2049930A1

EP2049930A1 - System for splicing optical fiber sections

Info

Publication number: EP2049930A1
Application number: EP07788178A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bert Zamzow; Rainer Kossat
Original assignee: CCS Technology Inc
Current assignee: Corning Research and Development Corp
Priority date: 2006-08-03
Filing date: 2007-08-02
Publication date: 2009-04-22
Also published as: US20090196566A1; US7753597B2; WO2008015261A1; DE102006036330A1; US20100269323A1; US8491201B2

Abstract

A system for splicing optical fiber sections is constructed as a handheld splicing device (1000). The splicing device comprises a preprocessing unit (100) which can comprise multiple processing devices (110, 120, 130) for performing placing, cleaning, and separation steps. The optical fiber sections are clamped in a holding device (200) and prepared in the preprocessing unit. The holding devices are inserted into a splicing unit (300) with the prepared optical fiber sections, which are spliced therein. By means of a transfer station (400), the spliced optical fiber sections are fed to a shrink oven (500) for shrinking on a heat shrink sleeve. The operation of the preprocessing unit, both the splicing unit and the shrink oven, can be carried out with one hand by an operator, while the splicing unit is held with the other hand.

Description

description

Device for splicing optical waveguide sections

The invention relates to a device for splicing optical waveguide sections, wherein the device can be used as a handheld splicer. The device can be held in one hand while being operated with the other hand. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for performing a splicing operation with a handheld splicer, wherein the splicer is operated with one hand.

Optical fibers often have to be spliced in hard-to-reach places, for example in the area of cable sleeves buried in the ground, or on a pole. Generally, there is not much space available for the service staff here. In particular, often no flat surface is available to turn off the splicer at the splice location. For example, it is often impossible to put the splicer close to the optical fibers to be spliced after the exposure of a cable sleeve in the ground. As a rule, when splicing optical waveguides on a cable mast, there are also very limited possibilities for positioning the splicer close to the area of the optical waveguides to be spliced.

There is therefore a need for a splicer that can be used as a handheld device. In such a device, it should be possible no longer necessary to put the device on a solid surface. Rather, the device should be able to be operated with one hand, while it is to be operated with the other hand by a service staff. there All machining operations necessary to perform a splicing operation should be feasible with the handheld splicer. This particularly relates to pre-processing steps for preparing an optical waveguide for a splicing process, such as depositing a fiber coating, cleaning the fiber and reworking the break with a separating device. Furthermore, of course, the subsequent splicing and the shrinking of a shrink tube on the splice with the splicer should be possible by means of one-handed operation.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device for splicing optical waveguide sections, with which it is possible to carry out a splicing process in an easily manageable manner at almost any desired locations. A further object of the present invention is to provide a method by which it is possible to splice optical waveguide sections together in almost arbitrary places in a relatively simple manner.

The object with respect to the device for splicing optical waveguide sections according to the invention is achieved by a device for splicing optical waveguide sections with a preprocessing unit, with which a waveguide section can be processed in preparation for a splicing operation, wherein the preprocessing unit is attached to the device for splicing , Furthermore, a holding device for holding the optical waveguide section is provided. The holding device for processing the optical waveguide section can be attached to the preprocessing unit. Furthermore, the device for splicing optical waveguide sections comprises a splicing unit for splicing optical waveguide sections, wherein the splice unit is attached to the device for splicing. The holding device for splicing the optical waveguide sections can be fastened to the splicing unit. Furthermore, the device for splicing comprises an operating device for operating the device for splicing. Of the

The optical waveguide section can be machined after attaching the fixture to the preprocessing unit by activating the operator in preparation for the splicing operation. Furthermore, after fastening the holding device to the splicing unit, the light waveguide section can be spliced by activating the operating device with another optical waveguide section.

In the present invention, an embodiment of a splicer is proposed, which is to be operated with one hand, while a user holds the device in the other hand. In preparation for the splicing process, a coating of the optical waveguides is deposited in the optical waveguide sections to be spliced by means of the preprocessing unit. Thereafter, the exposed fibers of the optical fiber sections in the pre-processing unit are cleaned. In addition, the adaptation of a break point of the optical waveguide sections is part of the preparation of the optical waveguide sections for the splicing process. By means of the pre-processing unit, for example, chips at the break point are removed and the break point is straightened. The splicing process comprises aligning the prepared optical fiber sections in the splicing unit and fusing the optical fiber sections together. In order to carry out the preprocessing of the optical waveguide sections and the splicing operation by means of one hand while holding the splicer in the other, the preprocessing unit, the splice unit and the operating unit for operating the pre-processing unit and the splicing unit integrated in a housing of the device for splicing the optical waveguide. As a result, a relatively simple handling of the splicer is possible in particular at splicing locations where only little space is available for stopping a splicer.

According to a development, the preprocessing unit comprises a first processing device to which the holding device can be attached. The first processing device is designed in such a way that, after the holding device in which the optical waveguide section is held, a coating of the optical waveguide section can be removed at the first processing device by activating the operating device.

Preferably, the pre-processing unit comprises a second processing device, on which the holding device can be fastened. The second processing device is designed in such a way that, after the holding device in which the optical waveguide section is held, a surface of the optical waveguide section can be cleaned by activating the operating device on the second processing device.

In a further embodiment of the device, the pre-processing unit comprises a third processing device to which the holding device can be attached. The third processing device is designed in such a way that, after the holding device in which the optical waveguide section is held, the third processing device is activated by activating the operating device a break point of the optical waveguide section can be processed.

The pre-processing unit may comprise at least one insertion device, which is designed such that the holding device for fastening to the pre-processing unit can be inserted into the at least one insertion device.

Preferably, the first processing device is designed such that the coating of the optical waveguide section is removed when the holding device is pulled out of the insertion device. The second processing device is preferably designed such that the surface of the optical waveguide section is cleaned when the holding device is pulled out of the insertion device.

According to another embodiment of the device, the holding device comprises a clamping device, by means of which the optical waveguide section can be clamped in the holding device. In this case, the clamping device may comprise a movable jaw. In a first position of the clamping jaw, the optical waveguide section can be inserted into a groove of the clamping device. In a second position of the jaw of the optical waveguide section is clamped in the groove. Preferably, the jaw takes by rotation of an eccentric the first or second position.

The holding device preferably comprises an insertion device into which a heat-shrinkable tube can be inserted. The holding device preferably comprises a guide rail, by means of which the holding device can be fastened to the preprocessing unit and to the splicing unit. In a further development of the device, a shrinking furnace is provided, with which the shrinking tube can be shrink-fitted onto a splice point of the optical waveguide section spliced in the splicing unit, the shrinking furnace being attached to the

Device is attached. Furthermore, the device for splicing comprises a rotatably mounted stirrup which is attached to the device for splicing, wherein the optical waveguide section is fastened to the rotatably mounted stirrup. The rotatably mounted stirrup is attached to the device for splicing such that the optical waveguide section can be removed from the holding device after it has been attached to the stirrup by rotating the stirrup into a first rotational position. Furthermore, the rotatably mounted bracket is attached to the device for splicing in such a way that the optical waveguide section can be inserted into the shrinking furnace by rotating the bracket further from the first rotational position into a second rotational position.

In the following, a device for holding an optical waveguide section is specified. The device for holding an optical waveguide section comprises a guide rail, by means of which the device for holding the optical waveguide can be fastened to a processing unit for processing the optical waveguide section. Furthermore, the device for holding the optical waveguide section has a clamping device, by means of which the optical waveguide section can be clamped in the holding device.

An apparatus for splicing optical waveguide sections is described below, with which it is possible to supply the spliced optical waveguide sections to a shrinking furnace, wherein the transfer by means of a manual operation of the splicer can be done. The device for splicing optical waveguide sections comprises a splicing unit for splicing the optical waveguide sections, the splicing unit being attached to the device for splicing. Furthermore, at least one holding device for holding an optical waveguide section is provided, which is arranged on the splicing unit. Furthermore, the device for splicing optical waveguide sections has a shrink oven with which a shrink tube can be shrink-fitted onto a splice point of the optical waveguide sections spliced in the splicing unit, the shrinking oven being attached to the device for splicing. The device further comprises a rotatably mounted bracket, which is attached to the device for splicing, wherein the spliced optical waveguide sections are fastened to the rotatably mounted bracket. The rotatably mounted stirrup is attached to the device for splicing such that the spliced optical waveguide sections in a first rotational position of the stirrup can be removed from the stent by rotating the stirrup after attachment to the stirrup. The rotatably mounted stirrup is further attached to the device for splicing in such a way that the spliced optical waveguide sections can be fed to the shrinking oven by rotating the stirrup further from the first rotational position into a second rotational position.

The following is a method for performing a splicing operation. For this purpose, an apparatus for splicing optical waveguide sections is to be provided, which comprises a preprocessing unit, with which an optical waveguide section in preparation for a splicing process can be machined, and a splicing unit for splicing the optical waveguide section, wherein the preprocessing unit and the splicing unit is attached to the splicing device. In a holding device, the optical waveguide section is attached. The holding device is attached to the pre-processing unit. By means of the preprocessing unit, the optical waveguide section is processed by activating an operating device. The holding device is detached from the pre-processing unit. The fixture is attached to the splice unit. By means of the splicing unit, the splicing operation is carried out by activating the operating device, wherein the optical waveguide section is spliced to another optical waveguide section.

A further embodiment of a method for performing a splicing operation is given below. to

An embodiment of the method is to provide a device for splicing optical waveguide sections with a splicing unit for splicing the optical waveguide sections, the splicing unit being attached to the device for splicing. The optical waveguide sections are fastened in a holding device. The fixture is attached to the splice unit. The splicing process is carried out by means of the splicing unit. A rotatably mounted bracket, which is arranged on the device for splicing, is rotated in a first rotational position. The spliced optical fiber sections are released from the holding device and secured to the bracket. Starting from the first rotational position of the bracket is rotated to a second rotational position in which the spliced optical fiber sections are fed to a shrink oven for shrinking the shrink tube. Further embodiments in relation to the device for splicing optical waveguide sections, a holding device for fixing an optical waveguide section, a device with which it is possible to supply optical waveguide sections spliced together to a shrinking furnace, wherein the transfer can take place by means of one-hand operation, as well as methods for performing a splicing operation to refer to the dependent claims.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to figures, such as embodiments of the present invention. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a device for splicing optical waveguide sections,

2 shows a settling, cleaning and separating device for

Preparing the optical waveguide section for a splicing operation,

FIG. 3A shows an embodiment of a holder for holding an optical waveguide section,

3B shows an embodiment of a holder for holding an optical waveguide section with a

Heat shrinkable tube,

Figure 4 shows an embodiment of a clamping device for

Mounting an optical waveguide section in a holding device, FIG. 5A shows a first position of a rotating device with which an optical waveguide section can be clamped in a clamping device,

FIG. 5B shows a second position of a rotating device with which an optical waveguide section can be clamped in a clamping device,

FIG. 5C shows a third position of a rotating device with which an optical waveguide section can be removed from the holding device after a splicing operation,

FIG. 6 shows a cross section through an optical waveguide section,

7 shows an embodiment of an apparatus for splicing optical waveguide sections, in which the optical waveguide sections to be spliced are inserted in a splicing unit, FIG.

8 shows an embodiment of an apparatus for splicing optical waveguide sections, in which the spliced optical waveguide sections are fed by means of a transfer station to a shrinking furnace,

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a device for splicing optical waveguide sections, in which a heat-shrinkable tube is spliced onto a splice site

Shrinking furnace is shrunk. FIG. 1 shows a splicer 1000 for splicing optical waveguide sections, which can be used as a handheld device. The splicer can be held in one hand, while the operation of the splicer can be done with the other hand. Since the splicer can be held in one hand during operation, it is no longer necessary to place the splicer on a solid surface to perform the splicing operations. Thus, with the splicer according to the invention, a splicing operation can be carried out independently of the local conditions.

The splicer includes a pre-processing unit 100 disposed on one side of the splicer. The pre-processing unit has a plurality of processing devices 110, 120 and 130, which can be achieved by inserting an optical waveguide section into various insertion devices 111, 121 and 131. While the splicer is held by an operator in one hand, the optical fiber portion to be spliced can be successively inserted into the insertion devices 111, 121 and 131 with the other hand.

FIG. 2 shows the processing devices 110, 120 and 130, which are arranged in the insertion devices 111, 121 and 131. By means of the processing facilities can be the

Prepare fiber optic sections for splicing. First, an optical waveguide section to be spliced is inserted into the insertion device 111. The processing device 110 connected to the insertion device 111 serves to produce an outer coating of a

Optical waveguide section at the splice at which the optical waveguide section is to be spliced to another optical waveguide section to remove. The Bear Processing device 110 is thus designed as a settling device, which encompasses, for example, a cutting tool 112. Subsequently, the optical waveguide section is inserted into the insertion device 121 and thus fed to the processing device 120. In the processing device 120, the fiber core exposed by the processing unit 110 is cleaned. Subsequently, the optical waveguide section is inserted into the insertion device 131, in which a processing device 130 is arranged, through which the breakage point of the optical waveguide section is processed. The processing device 130 is designed as a separating device and removes any chipping at the breaking point, whereby a straight break occurs.

The optical waveguide section to be spliced is preferably not inserted directly into the insertion devices 111, 121 and 131, but is first clamped in a holding device. FIG. 3A shows a holding device 200, which is designed as an adapter. It contains on the bottom of a guide rail 250, by means of which it can be inserted into the slide-in devices. The holding device has a guide opening 230 into which the optical waveguide section to be spliced can be inserted. The optical waveguide section is then in the direction of a

Clamping device 210 is pushed until it protrudes with the end to be spliced from the clamping device 210.

In a preferred embodiment, the holding device 200 additionally comprises an insertion device 220 into which a shrink tube 3 can be inserted. FIG. 3B shows a heat-shrinkable tube 3, which is inserted into the insertion device 220. The holding device comprises in the in Figure 3B Furthermore, a rotating device 240 is shown in which the optical waveguide section is clamped by a rotation of the clamping wheel 240 in the clamping device 210.

Figure 4 shows a cross section of the clamping device 210. The clamping device comprises a movable jaw 212 and a fixed part 211. In a first position of the rotating device shown in Figure 5A, there is a narrow groove 215 between the jaw 212 and the fixed part 211 into which the optical waveguide section is inserted. By turning the rotary device 240 into a clamping position, which is illustrated in FIG. 5B, an eccentric device 213 is rotated, as a result of which the clamping plate 212 is rotated about an axis 216 in the direction of the stationary one

Part 211 is moved. As a result, the jaw 212 clamps an optical waveguide section arranged in the groove 215 against the fixed part 211 of the clamping device.

To prepare an optical fiber section for a

Splicing operation, the rotating device 240 is first rotated to the insertion position shown in Figure 5A. The optical waveguide section can be inserted into the groove 215 of the clamping device 211 in this state of the rotary device through the guide opening 230 and the shrink tube 3, which has been previously inserted into the loading device 220. The optical waveguide section to be spliced is pushed into the holding device 200 so far that its free end protrudes from the holding device or from the clamping device 210. For clamping the optical waveguide to the holding device, the rotating device 240 is rotated into the clamping position shown in FIG. 5B. Turning the turning device also twists the eccentric Device 213, so that the clamping jaw 212 clamps the optical waveguide portion in the groove 215. The holding device 200 is then inserted into the insertion device 111.

In order to be able to carry out the insertion of the optical waveguide section into the holding device 200 or the insertion of the shrinking tube into the loading device 220 with one hand, the holding device can be fastened to the splicer 1000. Another possibility is to partially insert the holding device in one of the insertion devices, so that the adapter is held therein and the heat shrink tube inserted or the fiber can be inserted.

Figure 6 shows a cross section of the optical waveguide section 1, which protrudes from the clamping device 210 with its end to be spliced. The optical waveguide section comprises a fiber core K and a coating B. For depositing the coating B is on top of the

Splicing device 1000 a lever 11 an operating device 10 is arranged. By turning the lever, the cutting tool 112 of the processing device 110 is activated, which cuts through the coating B to the fiber core K. The operation of the lever is done by one hand, while the operator holds the splicer with the other hand. The actual settling of the coating (coating) occurs when the holding device 200 is pulled out of the insertion device 111.

To clean the fiber core, the holding device 200 with the fiber core K, which protrudes from the clamping device 210, inserted into the insertion device 121. The in the Pusher 121 arranged processing device 120 includes, for example, shown in Figure 2 Watte tampons 122, which are pressed by pressing the lever 11 to the fiber core. By pulling out the holding device from the insertion device 121, the fiber core slides past the tampons and is thereby cleaned.

This cleaning process for preparing the optical waveguide section for a subsequent splicing process can also be performed only with one hand. In this case, the adapter 200 is first introduced, for example, with the right hand in the insertion device 121 and firmly clamped. Subsequently, the lever 11 can also be actuated with the right hand, whereby the cleaning fibers 122 are pressed against the fibers. With the right hand, the adapter is then pulled out of the insertion device 121. During these processing steps, the handheld splicer is held by the operator with the free left hand.

In order to straighten the breakage point or the splice point of the optical waveguide section to be spliced and to remove chips, the holding device 200 is then inserted into the insertion device 131. By renewed actuation of the lever 11, the break point is straightened by means of a separating device 132 of the processing device 130, which is accessible via the insertion device. Also during this processing step, the splicing device can be held in one hand while the insertion of the holding device into the insertion device 131 as well as the actuation of the lever 11 with the other hand is carried out. Of course, the operation of the processing units can also take place via operating devices other than a lever, for example by means of a key 12.

After the optical waveguide section 1 fixed in the holding device 200 is thus prepared for the splicing operation, it is inserted into the actual splicing unit 300 located at the other end of the splicing device. Another optical waveguide section 2, which is to be spliced to the optical waveguide section 1 already prepared for the splicing process, is subsequently likewise inserted by placing it in a further holding device and depositing its coating, cleaning its fiber and straightening the breakage point by means of the preprocessing unit 100 for the splicing process prepared. After the end of the preparatory work, the optical waveguide section 2 to be spliced is also inserted into the splicing unit 300 with the holding device 200. FIG. 6 shows the two optical waveguide sections 1 and 2 arranged in the holding devices 200a and 200b, which are inserted in the splicing unit 300.

The insertion of the holding devices 200 in the splicing unit 300 can also be carried out with one hand, while the other hand of the operator holds the splicer. The holding devices 200 can be pushed laterally into the splicing unit 300, for example, via their guide rails 250. Another embodiment is to form the guide rail 250 magnetically, so that the holding device is fixed by magnetic forces in the splicing unit 300. The control of the actual splicing operation, for example the ignition of an arc, is carried out by means of an operating device 13. After the two optical waveguide sections have been spliced, the shrink tubing 3 is shrunk onto the optical waveguide sections spliced together to protect the splice point. For this purpose, the two connected optical waveguide sections 1 and 2 are supplied to a shrinking oven 500 with the shrinking tube arranged above the optical waveguide section 1. Figure 7 shows a transfer station formed as a rotatable bracket 400 and attached to the top of the splicer 1000.

First, the bracket is rotated so that the two optical fiber portions spliced together can be clamped in two clamps 410 and 420 of the bracket. Subsequently, the respective rotating device

240 of the holding devices 200 is rotated to the position shown in Figure 5C. In this position, the jaw 212 releases the clamped optical fiber portion. Through the opening in the rotating device, the spliced optical waveguide sections of the two

Lift out holding devices by means of the bracket 400. Both the jamming of the spliced optical fiber sections in the clamping devices 410 and 420 and the rotation of the rotary devices can be carried out successively with one hand, while the other hand of the operator continues to hold the splicer.

The optical waveguide sections spliced together are subsequently fed by turning the bracket 400 to a shrink oven 500, which is arranged below the splicer. FIG. 8 shows the lifting out of the optical waveguide sections spliced to form an optical waveguide from the holding devices and the rotation of the yoke, FIGS the spliced optical waveguide after rotation of the bracket, the shrink oven 500, as shown in Figure 9, are supplied. In the rotational position of the bracket 400 shown in FIG. 8, the heat-shrinkable tube, which is initially still arranged in the region of the optical waveguide section 1, can be moved over the

Pull splice between the two fiber optic sections. The rotation of the bracket 400 is again by means of one hand, while the other hand continues to hold the splicer.

The shrinking process for shrinking the shrink tubing over the splice site can then be controlled via the operating device 13. After the shrinking tube has been shrunk on, the clamping devices 410 and 420 are released again on the rotatable bracket by means of one hand, so that the optical waveguide sections spliced together can be deposited, for example, in a splicing cassette.

The optical fiber splicing apparatus of the present invention provides a splicer as well as a method of splicing optical fiber sections which permits splicing from the preparation of the fibers for the splicing process to the actual splicing of the fibers for shrink-fitting a shrink tube over the splice site by one hand while holding the splice device in the operator's other hand. For this purpose, the preprocessing unit, the splicing unit, the shrinking furnace and the operating unit for controlling the preprocessing unit, the splicing unit and the shrinking furnace are integrated in a housing of the device for splicing the optical waveguide sections. So it is not anymore required to place a splicer at the point of use, which is difficult in many cases due to an unsuitable surface.

Claims

claims

An apparatus (1000) for splicing optical waveguide sections, comprising: - a preprocessing unit (100) for processing an optical waveguide section (1) in preparation for a splicing operation, the preprocessing unit (100) being spliced to the device (1000) is appropriate,

a holding device (200) for holding the optical waveguide section,

- wherein the holding device (200) for processing the optical waveguide section on the pre-processing unit

(100) can be fastened,

a splicing unit (300) for splicing optical waveguide sections, the splicing unit (300) being attached to the device (1000) for splicing,

- wherein the holding device (200) for splicing the optical waveguide sections to the splicing unit (300) can be fastened, - an operating device (10) for operating the device (1000) for splicing,

wherein the optical waveguide section (1) can be machined after the attachment of the holding device (200) to the preprocessing unit (100) by activating the operating device (10) in preparation for the splicing operation,

- Wherein the optical waveguide section (1) after attaching the holding device (200) to the splicing unit (300) by activating the operating device (10) with a further optical waveguide section (2) can be spliced.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preprocessing unit (100) comprises a first processing device (110) to which the holding device (200) can be attached,

wherein the first processing device (110) is designed in such a way that after the holding device (200) in which the optical waveguide section (1) is held, a coating (at the first processing device) is activated by activation of the operating device (10). B) of the optical waveguide section can be removed.

3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2,

- wherein the pre-processing unit (100) comprises a second processing device (120) to which the holding device (200) can be attached, - wherein the second processing device (120) is designed such that after fixing the holding device (200), in the optical waveguide section (1) is held, at the second processing device (120) by activating the operating device (10) can clean a surface of the optical waveguide section (1).

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3,

- wherein the pre-processing unit (100) comprises a third processing device (130) to which the holding device (200) can be fastened,

- wherein the third processing device (130) is designed such that after fixing the holding device (200) in which the optical waveguide section (1) is held, on the third processing device (130) by activating the operating device (10) a break point of the optical waveguide section.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, - wherein the preprocessing unit (100) comprises at least one insertion device (111, 121, 131),

- wherein the insertion device (111, 121, 131) is designed such that the holding device (200) for fastening to the pre-processing unit (100) can be inserted into the at least one insertion device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first processing means (110) is formed such that the coating (B) of the optical fiber portion is removed when the holding device is pulled out of the insertion device (111).

A device according to any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the second processing means (120) is arranged to clean the surface of the optical fiber portion when the holding device (200) is pulled out of the insertion device (111).

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the operating device (10) as a lever (11) or as a button (13) is formed.

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the holding device (200) comprises a clamping device (210), by means of which the optical waveguide section (1) can be clamped in the holding device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, - wherein the clamping device (210) comprises a movable jaw (212),

- wherein the optical waveguide section (1) in a first position of the clamping jaw (212) in a groove (215) of Klemmvor- direction is inserted and the optical waveguide section is clamped in a second position of the clamping jaw (212) in the groove.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the clamping jaw (212) assumes the first or second position by rotation of an eccentric (213).

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the holding device (200) has an insertion device

(220), in which a shrink tube (3) can be inserted.

13. Device according to claim 12, wherein the holding device (200) comprises a guide opening (230) through which the optical waveguide section (1) can be introduced into the groove (215) of the clamping device by the shrink tube (3) inserted in the loading device (220) ,

14. Device according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the holding device (200) comprises a rotating device (240) through which the eccentric (213) is rotatable.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, - wherein the clamping device (210) is formed such that the optical waveguide section (1) in a first position of the rotary device (240) in the groove (215) of the holding device (200) can be inserted, - Clamping device (210) is formed such that the optical waveguide section (1) in a second

Position of the rotating device is clamped in the groove of the holding device (200), - wherein the clamping device (210) is formed such that the optical waveguide section (1) in a third position of the rotating device after splicing of the optical waveguide section (1) from the holding device (200) can be removed.

16. Device according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the holding device (200) comprises a guide rail (250), by means of which the holding device (200) on the pre-processing unit (100) and on the splicing unit (300) can be fastened.

17. Device according to one of claims 1 to 16, comprising:

- A shrink oven (500), with the shrink tubing (3) spliced to a splice of the splice unit

The optical waveguide section (1) is shrinkable, wherein the shrink oven is attached to the device for splicing (1000),

a rotatably mounted bracket (400) which is attached to the device for splicing (1000), wherein the optical waveguide section (1) can be fastened to the rotatably mounted bracket (400),

- Wherein the rotatably mounted bracket (400) is attached to the device for splicing (1000), that the light waveguide section (1) after attachment to the bracket (400) by turning the bracket (400) in a first rotational position the holding device (200) is removable,

- wherein the rotatably mounted bracket (400) is mounted on the device for splicing (1000) such that the optical waveguide section (1) by turning the bracket further from the first rotational position to a second rotational position in the shrinking furnace (500) is insertable.

18. Device according to claim 17,

- wherein the rotatably mounted bracket (400) has a clamping device (410, 420),

- Wherein the optical waveguide section (1) by means of the clamping device of the bracket to the bracket can be fastened.

19. An apparatus (200) for holding an optical waveguide section, comprising:

a guide rail (250) by means of which the device (200) for holding the optical waveguide section can be fastened to a processing unit (100, 300) for processing the optical waveguide section,

- A clamping device (210), by means of which the optical waveguide section (1) can be clamped in the device for holding the optical waveguide section.

20. Device according to claim 19,

- The clamping device (210) has a movable jaw

(212), - wherein the optical waveguide section (1) in a first

Position of the jaw (212) in a groove (215) of the clamping device is inserted and the optical waveguide portion is clamped in a second position of the clamping jaw (212) in the groove.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the jaw (212) by rotation of an eccentric

(213) takes the first or second position.

22. Device according to one of claims 19 to 21, comprising: an insertion device (220) into which a shrink tube (3) can be inserted.

23. Device according to one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the device (200) comprises a guide opening (230) through which the optical waveguide section (1) by the in the insertion device (220) inserted shrink tube (3) into the groove ( 215) of the clamping device is insertable.

24. An apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 23, comprising: a rotating device (240) through which the eccentric (213) is rotatable.

25. Device according to claim 24,

- wherein the clamping device (210) is formed such that the optical waveguide section (1) in a first position of the rotary device (240) in the groove (215) of the clamping device (200) can be inserted,

- wherein the clamping device (210) is formed such that the optical waveguide section (1) is clamped in a second position of the rotary device in the groove of the clamping device (200),

- wherein the clamping device is designed such that the optical waveguide section (1) in a third position of the rotary device after splicing of the optical waveguide section (1) from the clamping device (200) is removable.

26. An apparatus (1000) for splicing optical waveguide sections, comprising:

a splicing unit (300) for splicing the optical waveguide sections, the splicing unit (300) being attached to the device (1000) for splicing,

at least one holding device (200) for holding an optical waveguide section, which is arranged on the splicing unit (300), a shrinking oven (500), with which a heat-shrinkable tube (3) can be shrink-fitted onto a splice point of the optical waveguide sections (1) spliced in the splicing unit, the shrinking oven being attached to the device (1000) for splicing,

- A rotatably mounted bracket (400) which is attached to the device (1000) for splicing, wherein the spliced optical waveguide sections (1) on the rotatably mounted bracket (400) are fastened, - wherein the rotatably mounted bracket (400) in such the device (1000) for splicing is mounted such that the spliced optical waveguide sections (1, 2) can be removed from the holding device (200) in a first rotational position of the strap after being attached to the strap (400) by turning the strap (400),

- Wherein the rotatably mounted bracket (400) is mounted on the device (1000) for splicing, that the spliced optical waveguide sections (1, 2) by another rotation of the bracket from the first rotational position to a second rotational position of the shrinking furnace (500 ) can be supplied.

27. The device according to claim 26,

- Wherein the rotatably mounted bracket (400) has a clamping device (410, 420), - wherein the optical waveguide section (1) by means of the clamping device of the bracket to the bracket can be fastened.

A method of performing a splicing operation, comprising the steps of: providing a device (1000) for splicing

Optical waveguide sections (1, 2) comprising a preprocessing unit (100) with which an optical waveguide section (1) is processed in preparation for a splicing operation. and a splicing unit (300) for splicing the optical waveguide section, the preprocessing unit and the splicing unit being attached to the device (1000) for splicing, fixing the optical waveguide section (1) in a holding device (200),

Attaching the holding device (200) to the preprocessing unit (100),

- Processing of the optical waveguide section (1) by means of the pre-processing unit (100) by activating an operating device (10),

Detaching the holding device (200) from the preprocessing unit (100),

Attaching the holding device (200) to the splicing unit (300),

- Performing the splicing operation by means of the splicing unit (300) by activating the operating device (10), wherein the

Optical waveguide section (1) with another optical waveguide section (2) is spliced.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein in the step of fixing the optical waveguide section in the holding device, the optical waveguide section is inserted into a groove of a clamping device and the optical waveguide section is subsequently inserted by means of the clamping device. 210) is clamped in the groove.

A method according to claim 29, wherein in the step of fixing the optical waveguide section (1) in the fixture (200), the optical waveguide section (1) is rotated by rotating an eccentric (213) against a movable jaw (212) of the clamping device (210) of the holding device is coupled, is clamped in the groove.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein prior to the step of fixing the optical waveguide section (1) in the holding device (200) a shrink tube (3) in an insertion device (220) of the holding device (200) is inserted and the optical waveguide section through the shrink tube (3 ) is inserted into the groove (215) of the clamping device.

32. The method according to claim 31,

- The optical waveguide section after rotating a rotating device (240) which is coupled to the eccentric (213), introduced into a first position by a guide opening (230) of the holding device and the shrink tube (3) in the groove (215) of the clamping device becomes,

- wherein the optical waveguide section is clamped by the rotation of the rotary device (240) to a second position in the groove (215) of the clamping device,

- The optical waveguide section is removed by the rotation of the rotating device in a third position after the splicing operation of the holding device (200).

33. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 32, wherein for fixing the holding device (200) on the pre-processing unit, the holding device is inserted into a slide-in device (111, 121, 131) of the pre-processing unit.

34. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 33, wherein in the step of processing the optical waveguide section (1) by means of the preprocessing unit (100) has a Coating (B) of the optical waveguide section is removed.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the coating (B) is removed when, after activating the operating device (10), the holding device (200) is pulled out of the insertion device (111).

36. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 35, wherein in the step of processing the optical waveguide section (1) by means of the preprocessing unit, a surface of the optical waveguide is cleaned.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the surface of the optical waveguide section is cleaned when, after activating the operating device (10), the holding device (200) is pulled out of the insertion device (121).

38. The method according to claim 28, wherein in the step of processing the optical waveguide section by means of the preprocessing unit, a breakage point of the optical waveguide section is processed.

39. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 38,

wherein, after the step of performing the splicing operation, a rotatable bracket (400) disposed on the apparatus (1000) is moved to a first rotational position and the optical fiber portion (1) is attached to the bracket (400),

- Wherein the bracket (400) starting from the first rotational position to a second rotational position in which he a shrink furnace (500) for shrinking the shrink tube (3) is rotated.

40. The method of claim 28, wherein the steps of attaching the optical waveguide section in the fixture, attaching the fixture to the preprocessing unit, processing the optical waveguide section using the preprocessing unit, attaching the fixture to the splicer , performing the splicing operation by means of the splicing unit and rotating the bracket for feeding the optical waveguide section into the shrinking furnace by one hand, and holding the optical waveguide section splicing device (1000) in another hand while performing the steps.

41. A method of performing a splicing operation, comprising the following steps:

- Providing a device (1000) for splicing optical waveguide sections comprising a splicing unit

(300) for splicing the optical fiber sections, the splice unit being attached to the device (1000),

Fixing the optical waveguide sections (1) in at least one holding device (200), attaching the at least one holding device (200) to the splicing unit (300),

Performing the splicing operation by means of the splicing unit (300),

Turning a rotatable bracket (400), which is arranged on the device (1000), into a first rotational position,

Detaching the spliced optical waveguide sections (1) from the holding device (200) and fastening the spliced optical waveguide sections (1) to the yoke (400), - Turning the bracket (400) starting from the first rotational position in a second rotational position in which the spliced optical fiber sections are fed to a shrink oven (500) for shrinking the shrink tube (3).