FR3037150A1 - FIBER OPTIC LOADING CASSETTE, APPARATUS AND METHOD USING SUCH A CASSETTE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical fiber coiling cassette, comprising at least one plate carrying at least one outer wall which surrounds one or more inner walls forming one or more coiling centers, thus delimiting a flattened storage container and substantially annular. This housing is sized to receive and store a plurality of loops. It has on an upper face an opening for inserting transversely said loops. The coiling cassette comprises one or more closing elements, movable by fully guided movement between at least: - an open position leaving an insertion passage from above, and - a closed position in which each closure element forms a closing bridge said housing. The invention relates to an apparatus including such a cassette, for example pivotally mounted on the edge of its base. It further relates to a method of assembling such an apparatus, and a cable clamp in said base.

Description

The invention relates to an optical fiber coiling cassette, comprising at least one plate carrying at least one outer wall which surrounds one or more of the optical fiber coiling cassette, apparatus and method using such a cassette. several inner walls forming one or more coiling centers, thus delimiting a storage housing of flattened and substantially annular shape. This housing is sized to receive and store a plurality of loops. It has on an upper face an opening for inserting transversely said loops. The coiling cassette comprises one or more closing elements, movable by fully guided movement between at least: - an open position leaving an insertion passage from above, and - a closed position in which each closure element forms a closing bridge said housing. The invention relates to an apparatus including such a cassette, for example pivotally mounted on the edge of its base. It further relates to a method of assembling such an apparatus, and a cable clamp in said base.

STATE OF THE ART For the production of multimedia or computer networks, in particular for infrastructure networks leading to a large number of subscribers, it is increasingly common to use optical fibers to transport digital data. Internet and / or television access, in particular, is very often installed in the form of cables including one or more optical fibers, which are placed even at the end-user's premises, within a connection socket or "Terminal Terminale Optique" ", connected by a network operator and installed at a subscriber to provide access to its network. This socket is located at the downstream end of the network, for example a "FTTH" type network (for "Fiber To The Home"), typically in an apartment, a house or an office, and is installed for example in a duct technical or on a wall. These networks also use intermediary connection or distribution devices, for example at the entrance to serve a collective building or on each floor and serving several apartments. Most often, this terminal socket forms a housing which upstream receives a single cable comprising a plurality of fibers, and in which the ends of these different fibers are each connected to a standard connector, fixed or integrated in this housing and accessible from the outside. The subscriber can then connect his devices or his own network, for example his Internet modem, with flexible optical cables 10 provided with optical connectors of the same standard. Depending on the requirements, the terminal socket may also include conversion electronics between the optical signals received from the external network and electrical signals, for example ethernet type and distributed by RJ45-type female sockets.

Optical fiber technology, while providing great performance in terms of data rate, has a number of constraints. For example, connecting each fiber to another fiber or optical connector is a delicate operation, among other things because of the requirements of surface quality and mutual alignment of the ends to be connected together. This type of operation, or splicing, generally requires a qualified workforce, specific equipment for "welding" the fibers, and a sufficiently clear and protected work space. In particular, to modify or replace a connection between two fibers or between a fiber and an optical connector, it is in general necessary to cut the fiber over a certain length to correctly prepare a new exit or entry surface for the light. . For this reason, the technician who installs an apparatus comprising an optical fiber connection always leaves a certain extra length at each end thereof, or "excess length", for example on the side of the optical terminal socket but also at the interior of each apparatus comprising a connection. However, another constraint is that the fibers are fragile and must not be bent or bent in too small a radius, otherwise it will break. It is therefore impossible to fold this loose length by pushing it simply into the housing as is done for copper electrical wires. For this reason, it is known to provide in or near the socket housing a specific housing housing, often referred to as a "coiling cassette", in which the free length is stored as a winding of several loops. Such housings or cassettes are disclosed for example within a socket in the document FR 2 979 438, or in several trays 10 stacked in the document FR 3 004 017. These cassettes generally comprise a flat housing open on the top, surrounded by a round or oval outer vertical wall that prevents loops from spreading to the sides. The housing thus formed is often provided at its center with one or more inner walls forming a center or a coiling drum, around which the fiber is wound around to form a plurality of loops or turns, so as to absorb all the excess length. . This drum sometimes carries overhanging protrusions that help hold the loops at the bottom of the housing when formed. However, these loops are sometimes difficult to achieve and maintain in place during installation, for example due to the elasticity of the fibers and precautions to be taken not to damage them. It is often necessary for one person to use both hands to achieve this coiling and insert or maintain the fibers in this housing, which complicates the entire operation. To facilitate the handling of the loops and their storage in the nesting housing, various solutions have been proposed. In the document FR 2 965 940, it is proposed to rotate the cassette relative to its support, to wind the excess length around the drum in a manner guided by this rotation. In EP 2 463 697, a plurality of intermediate vertical walls are provided between the drum and the outer wall, to insert the different loops and to allow individual retention of each of them. In WO 92/22842, it is proposed to form an anchor point at the inlet end and the exit end of the fiber, by individually pinching this fiber against a wall by the action of a moving cam in rotation. However, these solutions do not always give complete satisfaction with regard to ease and speed of implementation, and / or cost and complexity, in particular for numerous installations and in varied and poorly controlled places. An object of the invention is to overcome the drawback or disadvantages of the state of the art, and in particular to facilitate the handling of excess lengths throughout the installation and / or connection of a cable 10 or each of the fibers, preferably by one person, while limiting the cost and complexity of manufacture and implementation. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention proposes an optical fiber coiling cassette, for storing a length of at least one optical fiber stripped or not, of the type comprising at least one plate carrying at least one outer wall which surrounds one or more inner walls forming one or more coiling centers, thus delimiting, around said at least one coiling center and inside said outer wall, a free volume forming a flattened storage housing; to say parallel to the plate, and substantially annular, ie closed on itself to form a round or oval track, regular or not. This housing is dimensioned to receive and store a plurality of loops (or turns) of at least one optical fiber around said coiling centers, for example a same fiber wound in several loops, or several fibers each wound in a loop, or several fibers each wound in several loops. This storage housing is closed on a lower face by said platen and having on an upper face an opening for inserting said loops in a direction transverse to said fiber. According to the invention, said coiling cassette further comprises one or more closure elements which are movable, by displacement in a fully guided race, that is to say over its entire length, between at least: 3037150 - 5 - - a open position in which they leave an insertion passage between the top of the outer wall and the top of at least one inner wall, so as to allow said insertion of said loops, and - a closed position in which each closure element forms A bridge, continuous or not, which connects the top of said outer wall with the top of said inner wall, so as to prevent any loop disposed parallel to the outer wall or the inner wall (from the point of view of its longitudinal axis at the location of the closure member) to pass said insertion passage, while allowing said loops free to move within said storage housing, thereby n transversal and / or longitudinal (relative to the axis of the fibers at these locations). As can be understood, these closure elements make it possible to retain several loops in their space and thus free the operator to continue his installation, without the risk that the winding will break, thus ensuring reliability and speed of the installation process. . The loops are held captive, but they can still move easily relative to each other, in a transverse and longitudinal direction, which may be necessary to allow the operator to continue his installation. The term excess length here designates any part of fiber of a length too important to be inserted in the connecting device concerned. This portion of extra length fiber can be effectively connected inside the apparatus, or left unconnected, for example, waiting for a future connection. Such a cassette may be provided in any type of device receiving an extra length of fiber (s), connected or not, or only traversed by a fiber in one piece but in which one takes care of an excess length within this apparatus. Such an apparatus may be, for example, an optical terminal socket, or a junction or distribution point, or an intermediate connection box, for example at the finish serving a collective building or on each floor and serving one or more apartments. In general, the storage housing is designed to receive several loops, whether several loops formed by the same fiber, or one or more loops formed by several mechanically independent fibers.

Each loop must here be understood as containing only a single, mechanically independent strand. Such a strand typically comprises a single optical fiber in the sense of a single optical waveguide. However, as used herein, the term "fiber" will be understood to also include multiple optical waveguides as long as they are mechanically integral within a single strand, qualifying as "multiple fiber" "or" multifibre cable ". According to one feature, the cassette comprises one or more overhangs protruding above the outer wall, which overhangs are formed: by the closing element or elements when these are in the open position, and / or by fixed parts which are joined by said closure elements when they are in the closed position.

Preferably, the closure members completely clear the top of the inner wall when in the open position. According to another feature, at least one of the closure elements is further arranged to be moved into a so-called partial position, in which it only partially closes the insertion passage and forms an overhang projecting from the outer wall or the inner wall or both. Preferably, the arrival of this closure element in this partial position is by a path having a particular recognizable point when actuated by hand, such as a hard point in the effort required for movement, or a direction change stop. In yet another feature, the cassette has a first storage housing formed on the side of the platen and a second storage housing formed on the opposite side of said platen. Preferably, each of said housing also communicates with at least one splice housing formed on the same side of said platen between at least two holding walls, which are spaced apart from one another. dimension determined to receive and maintain a protective element containing a splice connection made within a loop stored within said housing. In a first exemplary embodiment, at least one closure element is movable between at least two of its positions by at least one translation in a plane parallel to the plate.

In a second exemplary embodiment, at least one closure member is movable between at least two of its positions by at least one rotation in a plane parallel to the platen. In a third exemplary embodiment, at least one closure element is movable between at least two of its positions by at least one rotation in a plane transverse to the plate, and in particular inclined by more than 30.degree. plan of the stage. In a fourth exemplary embodiment, at least one closure element has a displacement combining several of these types of displacement, preferably abutting against a stop 20 at the end of one or all of these movements. In another aspect, the invention provides an optical fiber splicing or splicing apparatus within or at the end of an optical fiber array which comprises at least one coiling cassette as set forth herein. According to one feature, this apparatus comprises a housing forming a base provided with a cover and arranged to enclose one or more connections between: - on the one hand one or more optical fibers penetrating said housing by at least a first input, and - on the other hand one or more optical fibers penetrating said housing by at least a second input, or one or more plug-in optical connectors attached to said housing, ie of a type capable of receiving a removable connector, for example fiber optical or electronic. According to this feature, at least one coiling cassette is fixed to the base by an edge of its plate, pivotally relative to said base around an axis parallel to said edge, and preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis. optical fibers during their path between the first input and the second input or the connectors. This attachment is arranged to be movable between at least: - on the one hand a closed position in which said cassette is stacked between the base and the lid parallel to said base and / or said cover, and to both when the The apparatus is fully closed, and on the other hand an open position in which said cassette is discarded and allows access to the optical fibers from the first input and / or the second input. As is understood, such a mobile cassette facilitates the process of storing the optical fiber during its implementation or repair, by allowing different positions and access angles while being held by the base during the manipulations of the fiber and easier to bring into its final position. This type of cassette is applicable to all types of equipment for coiling the fiber, for example an optical terminal box, cassette or splice tray 20 or any type of connection device or junction or distribution. Such a mobile cassette is particularly interesting and easier to use with the movable element (s) of closures exposed here because their closed position makes it possible to better hold the loops in the cassette while it is being rotated, while offering an opening. total for the insertion of the loops. According to an optional feature, which can be implemented in accordance with the preceding aspects or independently of the coiling cassette, the invention proposes such an apparatus which comprises at least: a cable arrival chute positioned to receive and guide longitudinally a cable including one or more optical fibers embedded in a common sheath, - a clamping clamp including at least two jaws, disposed at one end of said chute so as to surround a cable protruding from said chute, and connected to the chute by one or more deformable supports making it possible to bring them closer together to close them on the sheath of such a cable, said jaws having: on the one hand an internal surface bearing one or more accidents of form capable of penetrating into the sheath of such a cable when they are closed again, and on the other hand an outer surface forming portions of a cylinder. it extends around the longitudinal axis of such a cable and extends beyond said supports so as to allow to insert around them a loop already formed by a retaining clip 10 by pawl. Typically, this hose clamp is formed by a rack-and-pinion nylon strip provided at its end with a ratchet opening and tightened using a clamp. It should be noted that the portion extension of the cylinder portions 15 receiving the collar makes it possible to cover them with such a necklace already closed but not tight, which greatly facilitates the operation. In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of coiling and holding a plurality of loops formed by at least one overhead optical fiber in a coiling cassette as set forth herein or included in an apparatus such as exposed here. According to the invention, this method comprises the following steps: - from said at least one optical fiber, forming a plurality of loops together making a winding, 25 - moving said winding through the insertion passage for the inserting in the storage compartment of said cassette disposed in the open position, - moving one or more closure elements to bring them in the closed position or in the intermediate position.

Various embodiments of the invention are provided, incorporating, according to all of their possible combinations, the various optional features set forth herein. Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description of an embodiment which is in no way limitative, and from the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIGURE 4 illustrate a coiling cassette according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, with translation closure: FIGURE 1, is a scale perspective showing the cassette with an open latch and the other one closed FIG. 2 is a top view in scale with the two open locks, and FIG. 3 is the same view from above with the two latches closed and a fiber coiled into three loops, FIG. 4a is a schematic sectional view showing the introduction of the loops into the storage housing, and FIGURE 4b is the same schematic view showing the closure of one lock and the other closed lock; FIGURE 5a to FIGURE 5c are scale views which illustrate a variation of the first exemplary embodiment, respectively from below, from side view and top view. FIGURE 6a and b are scale views which illustrate a second exemplary embodiment of the invention, with closure by horizontal rotation, and which respectively show the opening movement from the closed position and the position opened ; FIGURE 7a to FIGURE 7c are partial scale views which illustrate a fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention, with horizontal rotation and then translation closure; FIGURE 8 and FIGURE 9 are diagrammatic sectional views which illustrate a third exemplary embodiment of the invention, with rotationally closed in a vertical plane, showing: o on the left of the figures, the open position and the introduction of the loops, and o on the right of the figures, the closing movement and the closed position; FIG. 10 is a scaled-out diagram illustrating various components of an optical terminal socket according to the invention, in a version with two cassettes themselves double-sided; FIGURE 11a and b are scale views illustrating the back of the tap socket of FIGURE 10, alternatively with the center clamp and a cable tray having three feed paths: o in FIGURE 11a, before introduction and tightening of the optical cable, and 10 o in FIGURE 11b, after introduction and tightening of the stripped optical cable; FIGURE 12 is a scale top view illustrating the hold of FIGURE 10 in the open position, with a cable including four fibers coiled separately in the two cassettes and connected to four branch connectors. Description of an Exemplary Embodiment The invention is here presented in the context of an optical terminal socket 80 illustrated in FIGURE 10 and FIGURE 12. This socket forms a housing located inside a subscriber's premises. . It is installed at the downstream end of a subscriber cable coming from the infrastructure network. It is intended to connect a fiber optic access equipment via a flexible optical cable, typically a "modem" or "box" provided by an infrastructure operator or an Internet and / or multimedia access provider. Many aspects of this plug can be used in a similar or identical manner in other types of apparatus or housings, in particular at all connection levels of an optical fiber network, for example a connection box between two optical cables. fixed, or a distribution box between an incoming cable and several fixed optical distribution cables serving several apartments of the same floor. Such a housing 80 protects an excess length of about 1.5 meters of fiber stored in a coiling cassette 1. First exemplary embodiment FIGURE 1 to FIGURE 4 illustrates a coiling cassette 1 according to a first example embodiment of the invention, with closure by translation of the closure elements.

The cassette is here presented on only one of its faces. According to the configurations, it may have a single face, or carry two symmetrical faces carried by the two faces of the plate 10. Optionally, this cassette 1 has a storage and protection area 140 of one or more splices 99. Such a splice is formed by solder connection of an upstream fiber 9AM, from a stage box for example, to a downstream fiber 9AV, here to a connector 981-984 provided to be able to receive a removable connection. This cassette is here represented with a single fiber 9 wound in three loops 91, 92 and 93. This fiber is formed by a final connection, called a splice 99, between the upstream fiber 9AM and the downstream fiber 9AV. In this example, the outer wall 11 is surrounded itself by a peripheral wall 14 which closes the cassette on the periphery of its edge. The space 149 between the outer wall 11 and the peripheral wall 14 is used to accommodate a portion of a loop 92 and attach the connection splice 99 included therein. Although only one fiber 9 is shown here (seen in transparency through the overhangs and fingers), carrying a single splice 99 between its upstream portion 9AM and its downstream portion 9AV, the same cassette may also house loops formed splices in its space between them by the partition by several fibers, and shelter several peripheral 149, for example separated intermediate 141. The bottom plate 10 carries the inner wall 12, which here forms several centers 121, 122 and 123. These various centers allow to vary the length of fiber for each loop, or even to perform an inversion of its direction of rotation, including between the two centers 121, 122 carrying the closure elements 131, 132. Around these centers, the bottom plate 10 carries the outer wall 11, delimiting between them one or more storage slots each forming a closed track on itself. Among the various possible paths around one or more of these centers, two tracks 19 and 19 'are here represented in phantom, which are both locked by two closure elements 131, 132 here formed by two fingers mobile.

In the present example, the outer wall 11 is discontinuous and formed of a plurality of spaced-apart elements, allowing the fiber 9 to pass through this outer wall 11 to pass into the peripheral space 149 where its splice 99 is housed.

In this first exemplary embodiment, the cassette 1 has two movable translational fingers 131, 132, here mounted on slide 1310. They have an upwardly protruding shape for use as a gripping handle. They can be translated from a fully open position illustrated in FIGURE 2, for example locked by a hard point, to a closed position illustrated in FIGURE 3, and for example locked in the same way. In the present example, the fingers completely disengage the top of the inner wall 12, which can facilitate the insertion of the loops.

The fingers 131, 132 are here movable inwardly of the centers to open the passage 1110, 1120 input of the storage housing 19, which allows to easily accommodate their guiding mechanism. Alternatively or in combination, according to a feature not shown here, the one or more closing elements open outwardly. Optionally, they also form an overhang protruding above the outer wall when in the open position. In this exemplary embodiment, the "closed" position leaves a restricted passage 1320, here an oblique shape forming a baffle relative to the direction of the coiling track 19 at that location. This baffle 1320 makes it possible to prevent the loops already inserted from coming out of themselves too easily, while still allowing the insertion of an individual fiber to adjust the storage of the excess length. The cassette 1 has an opening 101 in its plate 10, through which the upstream portion 9AM and the downstream portion 9AV of the fiber or fibers 9 can enter and exit. an edge of the cassette 1, passing through the outer wall 11 and the inner wall 12 and opening on the peripheral wall 14 in a portion which is preferably weakened to be easily scored without a specific tool. By cutting off this portion of the peripheral wall, the introducer opening 101 is opened on the outside of the cassette, as illustrated, for example, in FIGURE 5c. This opening 101 then crosses the entire edge of the cassette and extends to the middle of the plate 10 encompassing more than half the area of the center 123. The cassette 1 'has a pivot joint along a its edges, preferably one which has the introduction opening 101. This articulation is here carried out by two half-shafts 151 and 152 which protrude from the outer wall 14 at both ends of the edge of the cassette. One of these half-shafts protrudes from an advance 141 of the outer wall 14, and is supported on a reinforcement 1510 which makes it rigid with respect to the cassette 1. The other half-shaft protrudes from an advanced 142 of the outer wall 14 which is flexible and little deform by a pressure along the axis A81, which facilitates its mounting in a pivoting hole of the device contain the cassette. FIGURE 5a to FIGURE 5c illustrates a variation of the first exemplary embodiment, which will only be described in its differences. In this variant, when they are in the closed position as illustrated for the right part of FIGURE 5c, the fingers 131 and 132 come into complete contact with the outer wall 11, here in a portion of the peripheral wall 14 forming an overhang 111 and 112 which protrudes inwardly above the outer wall 11. These fingers meet these overhanging parts in complementary shapes between them, here in the form of arcs of a circle. Optionally, these fingers also have an intermediate position, leaving a small passage not aligned with the axis of the fibers at this location, for example a non-rectilinear shape here made crescent-shaped. Similarly to the passage 1320, this passage makes it possible to insert one or more fibers individually, by inclining each of them in a plane parallel to the plate 10 or inclined with respect to such a plane. The introduction opening 101 is also larger and opens through the outer wall 14 over its entire height. It extends to the middle of the plate 10 encompassing more than half the area of the center 123, which facilitates the introduction of the loop and the mobility and positioning without damage to the fibers, increases the number of fibers. In this exemplary embodiment, the fingers are in full contact with the outer overhangs when in the closed position. Between the open and closed positions, hard point blocking at intermediate positions makes it easy to wedge the fingers in one or more intermediate positions having a restricted opening. These intermediate positions make it possible to prevent the already inserted loops from going off too easily, while still allowing the insertion of one or more additional fibers to adjust the storage of the excess length. As illustrated in FIGURE 5c, a 93 (or more) of loops 91, 92, 93 can be coiled along several paths, for example here by passing between two centers 121, 123 to reverse the direction of coiling and to emerge in another direction. This alternative is here illustrated by the alternative path 93 'shown in dotted lines from the region 903. In FIGURE 3 and FIGURE 5c, for the sake of clarity, it should be noted that the fibers 9 are represented unchanged when their path makes them pass below the overhanging parts, for example the legs 111 and 112.

Second Example Embodiment FIGURE 3a and FIGURE 3b illustrate a second exemplary embodiment of the invention, which will only be described in its differences. In this example embodiment, the fingers 231, 232 of the cassette 2 are pivotally mounted in a horizontal plane, that is to say parallel to that of the plate 10. The fingers are here pivotally mounted on overhangs 211 and 212 protruding inwardly from outer wall 21, and move to or from M22 inner wall 22. Alternatively, one or more of the fingers may be pivotally mounted to the inner wall. Third Exemplary Embodiment FIGS. 8 and 9 show a third exemplary embodiment of the invention, with rotation closure in a vertical plane. In FIGURE 8, once the inserted loops M41 in the housing, the rotation M42 of the finger 431, 432 is around a horizontal axis located at the level of the outer wall 41 and towards the inner wall 42. In FIGURE 9, once the inserted loops M41 in the housing, the rotation M42 of the finger 431, 432 is around a horizontal axis located at the inner wall 52 and towards the outer wall 51.

Fourth Example of Embodiment FIG. 7a to FIGURE 7c illustrates a fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention, with closing and opening in two different movements successively performed. In the open position, in FIGURE 7a, the finger 332 abuts against a pin 3321 integral with the plate. In FIGURE 7b, the finger 332 is brought into the intermediate position by a horizontal rotation M32 around a shaft of vertical axis A332, to another stop 3322, thus leaving a restricted passage 3320 facilitating the placement of the fibers, blocking the exit of fibers already coiled and allowing the passage of an additional fiber. In FIGURE 7c, the finger 332 is brought into the closed position in contact with the outer overhang 312 by a translation M33. 3037150 - 17 - Optical Terminal Box In FIGURE 10 is illustrated an example of a connection apparatus incorporating one or more coiling cassettes, here an optical terminal socket 80.

This socket includes a mounting plate 81, a base 82 on which are clipped one or two cassettes of the lau la and lb, and a cover 83. The mounting plate 81 allows the attachment of the socket 80, for example on a recessed box, and carries for this oblong holes 10 for screw passage and adjustment of the horizontality of the socket. It can also be fixed to a wall, for example by gluing, and comprises a flat area that can accommodate a double-sided adhesive or adhesive mastic. Other holes are provided on this plate to fix the socket by screws and / or dowels outside the perimeter of the flush-mounting box. This plate 81 is assembled to the base 82 by clipping. On the base, these same clips are used to clip the socket on a DIN rail when the plate is not used. Once the cable is in place, the base 82 can be clipped onto the plate. The cover 83 is clipped on the base 82. It hides the inner elements, prohibits direct access and protects the intake of the dust inlets. The base 82 accommodates a connection cable 90 from the infrastructure network, for example a subscriber cable. It carries a plurality of breakable locations that can accommodate one or more connectors 981-984 capable of receiving a removable cable, for example leading to an Internet modem. The socket 80 here has two cassettes la, lb located one beside the other parallel to the base 82 and the attachment plane of the mounting plate 81. The socket can be installed with a single cassette 30 or the two, depending on the needs. Each of the cassettes has two winding tracks of the fiber, one on each side, so as to obtain four distinct lovage tracks. It is thus possible to connect four different fibers 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and store them on four different tracks, which makes it possible to intervene on a fiber without having to touch the others. These cassettes pivot from left to right along a vertical axis to a maximum open position limited to 135 ° with respect to the folded position, so as not to constrain the fiber during rotation. The branch cable 90 can enter the socket 80 from the rear of the base 82 by a first path 8801 of the trough 880, or from below by another path 8801 of this trough 880. In order to obtain a high performance clamping 10 of the latter, and preferably to hold a tensile test of 10 DaN, it travels in a trough 880 recessed including shapes adapted to limit the sliding of the cable as unidirectional notches, here arranged on the rear face of the base 82. This hollow 880 allows a free volume for the passage of the DIN rail when mounted in a cabinet. In the variant illustrated in FIGURE 11, the trough 880 is central and has three input paths 8801, 8802 and 880, thus allowing three different arrival points for the cable 90. The entry point of the cable 90 into the volume The main part of the socket, ie inside the base 82, is formed by a clamping clamp 88 composed of two half-cylinders 881 and 882 having on the inner side a series of teeth forming shape-related accidents. to grip the cable 90. These half cylinders have on their outer surface a groove 883 for the passage of a plastic clamp 884. These three elements, cable tray 880, clamp 88 and 25 collar 884 contribute to a better Tearing resistance of this cable 90. In the case of using a flat cable, a split cylindrical elastomer adapter is used to surround the flat cable and fit into the recessed groove 880 provided for a cylindrical cable, and will tighten it.

Example of Installation Process To make the connection and storage, the cassette allows the following procedure to be used: The cassette can be assembled within the housing of socket 80 at different times during installation. Typically, we first fix the mounting plate 81 to the installation location.

Then the subscriber cable 90 is stripped, then inserted into the trough 880 and fixed in the clamping clamp 88. The cassette is then put in place by its articulation 151, 152 on the edge of the base 82 of the taken 80, or it can be done before. To use the face of the cassette which is opposite the base 82, the cassette is rotated outwards so that it is arranged on the side, as shown in FIG. A first option is to insert the upstream 9AM and the downstream portions 9AV of each fiber 9 into the insertion opening 101, and then connect them to each other. In a second option, these two parts 9AM and 9AV are connected together to a splice 99 to form an initial loop, and then introduced into the insertion opening 101: 20 - if the latter is open, by inserting the two strands by the opening part in a direction parallel to the plane of the plate 10; if this opening 101 is not open, by passing through the loop in a direction transverse to the plane of the plate 10.

The large size of this opening 101 makes it possible to introduce the loop without bending the fiber too much. Its opening part makes it possible to pass the strands of the loop by the side, whatever its surface area or the number of fibers which pass there already. Once the initial loop is in place in the cassette 1, it is folded on itself in several loops 91, 92, 93 joined together in a single winding 9E to the dimension of the storage housing 19. If it may be necessary to use two hands to achieve this winding, it is then possible to hold it with one hand. The winding 9E is then inserted into the housing 19, by depositing it therein with a movement M11, as illustrated in FIG. 4a, which can be done with one hand or with both hands. If the loops tend to deviate on their own, they are then held by overhangs 111 and 112 which extend inwardly from the top of the outer wall 11. Once the loops are inserted, now if necessary the winding in place of one hand, the fingers 131, 132 are closed on the other as illustrated for example in the left part of FIGURE 4b, FIGURE 8 or FIGURE 9.

As illustrated in the right part of the same figures, the loops are then trapped in the storage slot 19. They can still move easily relative to each other, in a transverse and longitudinal direction, without risking to discard and without the need to hold them by hand. It is thus possible to move them transversely, for example to manipulate one without being disturbed by the others, for example to position its splice 99 in the protection space 140. It is also possible to move them longitudinally, for example in order to balance their respective lengths. In the case where the closed position leaves a restricted passage 1320, or in an intermediate position providing such a restricted passage, it is possible to use this passage to extract or insert individually a single loop. This makes it possible, for example, to extract a single loop without risking the rest of the winding from breaking, for example to redo the splice. This also makes it possible to insert an additional loop 25 if it becomes necessary to make one more, for example to readjust the dimensions of the loops. In the position illustrated in FIG. 12, it can be seen that the base 82 is easily accessible for setting up the various elements, here the traversing elements including the connectors 981 to 984, and storing the excess lengths on the faces of the coiling cassettes. and lb, and arrange them to allow the closure of the assembly without risk of entangling the various loops nor damage the fibers. In the case of one or more double-sided cassettes 1a, 1b, by rotating the cassette or cassettes towards the base 82 or in the opposite direction around the axis A81, it is possible to arrange the loops. on both sides of each cassette. Once everything is in place, it is then possible to fold the cassettes and close the box 80 by fixing the cover 83. Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described and many adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (11)

REVENDICATIONS1. Cassette (1 to 5) for coiling optical fibers, for storing an excess length of at least one optical fiber (9, 9a to 9d) stripped or not, said cassette comprising at least one plate (10) carrying at least an outer wall (11, 21, 31, 41, 51) which surrounds one or more inner walls (12, 22, 32, 42, 52) forming one or more coiling centers (121, 122, 123), thereby delimiting, around said at least one coiling center and inside said outer wall, a free volume forming a storage housing (19, 19 ') of flattened and substantially annular shape, sized to receive and store a plurality of loops (91, 92, 93) of at least one optical fiber around said centers of coiling, said storage housing being closed on a lower face by said platen and having on an upper face an opening (1110, 1120) for inserting (M11 , M41, M51) said loops in a direction transverse to said fiber, cara characterized in that said coiling cassette further comprises one or more closing elements (131, 132, 231, 232, 332,) which are movable (M12, M22, M32, M33, M42, M52), by displacement according to a fully guided race, between at least: - an open position in which they leave an insertion passage (1110, 1120) between the top of the outer wall (11) and the top of at least one inner wall (12), in order to allow said insertion (M11) of said loops, and - a closed position in which each closure element forms a bridge which the top of said outer wall with the top of said inner wall, so as to prevent any loop (9) disposed parallel to the outer wall or the inner wall to pass said insertion passage, while leaving said loops (91, 92, 93) free to move within said storage housing (19) transversely and / or longitudinal. 3037150 -23- 2. Cassette according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises one or more overhangs protruding above the outer wall (11, 21), and in that said overhangs are formed: - by the closing element or elements ( 231, 232, 431) when these are in the open position, and / or - by fixed parts (111, 112, 312) which are joined by said closing elements (131, 132, 332, 531, 532) when these are in closed position. 10 3. Cassette according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the closing elements is further arranged to be moved into a so-called partial position, in which it only partially closes the insertion passage ( 1110, 1120) and form an overhang projecting from the outer wall or the inner wall or both. 4. Cassette (1, 3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one closure element (131, 132, 332) is movable between at least two of its positions by at least one translation. (M12, M33) in a plane parallel to the plate (10). 5. Cassette (2, 3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one closure element (231, 232, 332) is movable between at least two of its positions by at least one rotation. (M22, M32) in a plane parallel to the plate (10). 6. Cassette (4, 5,) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one closure element (431, 432, 531, 532) is movable between at least two of its positions by 30 minus one rotation (M42, M52) in a plane transverse to the plate. 7. Cassette (1a, lb) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a first storage housing (19) formed on the side of the plate (10) and a second housing 3037150 - 24 - storage (19a) formed on the opposite side of said platen, each of said housing further communicating with at least one splice housing (140) formed on the same side of said platen between at least two holding walls (141), which are spaced apart from each other by a dimension determined to receive and maintain a splice connection (99) made within a loop stored within said housing. 8. Apparatus (80) for connecting or distributing optical fiber within or at the end of an optical fiber network, characterized in that it comprises at least one coiling cassette (1a, 1b) according to the invention. any of claims 1 to 7. 9. Apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least: - a chute (880) cable inlet positioned to receive and longitudinally guide a cable (90) including one or more optical fibers (91- 94) embedded in a common sheath, - a clamping clamp (88) including at least two jaws (881, 882), disposed at one end of said chute so as to surround a cable projecting from said chute, and connected to the chute with one or more deformable supports for bringing them closer to one another to close them on the sheath of such a cable, said jaws having: o on the one hand an inner surface carrying one or more accidents of 25 form adapted to penetrate into the sheath of such a cable when they close again, and o on the other hand an outer surface forming cylinder portions surrounding the longitudinal axis of such a cable and which extends beyond said media of so as to allow a loop already formed therebetween to be inserted around them by a ratchet clamping collar (884). 10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a housing forming a base (82) provided with a cover (83) and arranged to enclose one or more connections ( 99) between - on the one hand one or more optical fibers (9AM) penetrating said housing by at least a first input (880), and - on the other hand one or more optical fibers (9AV) penetrating said housing 5 by at least a second input, or one or more plug-in optical connectors (981-984) attached to said housing; said apparatus being further characterized in that the at least one coiling cassette (1a, 1b) is fixed to the base by an edge of its plate, pivotally with respect to said base around an axis (A81) parallel to said edge , So as to be movable between at least: - on the one hand a closed position in which said cassette is stacked between the base (82) and the cover (83) parallel to said base and / or said cover, and - on the other hand an open position in which said cassette is discarded and allows access to the optical fibers from the first input and / or the second input. 11. A method of coiling a plurality of loops formed by at least one longer-length optical fiber (9) in a coiling cassette (1, 1a, 20b, 2, 3, 4, 5) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 or included in an apparatus (80) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, comprising the following steps: - from said at least one optical fiber (9), forming a plurality of loops (91, 92, 93) together making a winding (9E), - moving said winding through the insertion passage (111, 1120) to insert it into the storage housing (19) of said cassette arranged in position open, - moving one or more closing elements (131, 132, 231, 232, 332) to bring them in the closed position or in the intermediate position.