JP2002116392A - Method and device of changing optical fiber connection - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and device for changing optical fiber connection without requiring a winding mechanism and an extra length processing part. SOLUTION: A connecting board 33 is provided with a plurality of optical connector adaptors 26 to which an optical fiber cord 25 is connected, while an arraying board 34 is provided with these optical connector plugs 28 of an optical fiber cord 27 which are arranged at a state that is opposed to the connecting board 33. A hand mechanism 35 is designed to hold optical connector plugs 29, to draw optical fiber cords 31, and to connect to and disconnect from the optical connector adaptors 26. A fiber holding bar 36 is installed on the optical fiber cords 31, while fiber arraying grooves 30 are lined up in the nearer side of the arraying board 34 in a fashion that the optical fiber cords 31 are easily picked up. A transfer mechanism 37 is constituted so that the hand mechanism 35 is moved to a position desirable for the connecting board 33 and the arraying board 34.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber connection switching method and apparatus, and more particularly, to an optical fiber connection switching method and apparatus for automatically switching and connecting optical fibers in an optical communication system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional optical fiber connection changing device has a function of connecting or disconnecting an arbitrary input side optical fiber and an arbitrary output side fiber to or from a plurality of input / output fiber groups. . For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 7-318820 has proposed an automatic optical fiber connection changing apparatus in which a connection changing operation is automated using a robot hand. In this optical fiber automatic connection changing apparatus, a robot hand is used for connecting and disconnecting an optical fiber cord.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional automatic optical connection device, wherein FIG. 1A is a top view and FIG. 1B is a side view. This automatic optical connection device includes a plurality of optical connector adapters 2 to which a plug of an output side optical fiber cord 11 is connected.
0, a plurality of optical connector plugs 19 of the input-side optical fiber cords 12, and a plurality of alignment holes for aligning and holding the plugs of the output-side optical fiber cords 11. An alignment board 14 arranged opposite to the optical connector plug 19, a hand mechanism 15 for gripping the optical connector plug 19, pulling out the optical fiber cord 12, connecting and disconnecting the optical connector plug 19 to and from the optical connector adapter 20, A winding mechanism 16 for winding the optical fiber cord 12 from which the plug has been removed from the optical connector adapter 20
And the extra length processing unit 17 for storing the wound optical fiber cord 12 and the hand mechanism 15 by connecting the connection board 13 and the alignment board 1
4 is provided with a moving mechanism 18 for moving to a desired position. Reference numeral 21 denotes an optical connector adapter arbitrarily selected.

[0004] The process of connecting optical fiber cords by a conventional automatic optical connection device will be described below. The optical fiber cord 12 from which the optical connector plug 19 has been disconnected from the connection board 13 by the hand mechanism 15 is removed from the rear surface of the alignment board 14 by a roller provided in the winding mechanism 16.
Side, and the optical fiber cord 1
2 are stored. Next, the optical connector plug 19 of the optical fiber cord 12 is again moved by the hand mechanism 15 to the alignment board 1.
4 and is again connected to an optional optical connector adapter 21 on the connection board 13. By this series of operations, the connection of the optical fiber cord 12 can be changed.

[0005]

As described above, in the prior art, when the optical connector plug is removed from the connection board and reconnected to another arbitrary connection board position in the connection changing operation, the connection is disconnected. After pulling out to the back side of the device or the winding mechanism to wind up the optical fiber cord once,
Since a mechanism and a space for accommodating the extra length are required, there are problems that the mechanism becomes large and complicated, and that the apparatus itself becomes expensive.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to realize a reduction in size, cost, and reliability of an optical fiber connection changing device. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber connection changing method and an apparatus that do not require a winding mechanism and a surplus processing unit.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an optical fiber cord (25) on an arbitrary input side and an optical fiber cord (25) on an arbitrary output side. In an optical fiber connection changing method for connecting or disconnecting an optical fiber cord (27), a moving mechanism (3) is moved to a position of an arbitrary optical connector plug (29) of a connection board (33).
7) moving the hand mechanism (35) using the finger (38) to remove the optical connector plug (29), and moving the hand mechanism (3) toward the alignment board (34).
7), the hand mechanism (35) is moved, and the other side of the optical fiber cord (31) to which the optical connector plug (29) is connected, the front side of the aligning plate (34) is moved to the finger ( 38) a second step of gripping from above and pulling out from above, and the optical fiber cord (3)
1) After the gripping force of the finger (38) grasping 1) is relaxed, the hand mechanism (35) is moved toward the connection board (33) using the moving mechanism (37). And holding the rear portion of the optical connector plug (29) by a shutter (39) and opening the optical fiber cord (31) by opening the finger (38). 4) moving the lower side of the optical fiber cord (31) through the optical fiber cord (31) and the position of an arbitrary connection board (33) in a state where the optical connector plug (29) is gripped by the shutter (39). A fifth step of moving the hand mechanism (35) by using a moving mechanism (37) and inserting the optical connector plug (29) into an optional optical adapter (26) of the connection board (33) again; From And it is characterized in Rukoto.

[0008] The invention according to claim 2 is the third invention.
In the step (3), the most dense part of the optical fiber cord (31) is connected to the connection board (33) and the alignment board (3).
The optical fiber cord (31) is pulled out toward the connection board (33) while being guided by the fiber pressing rod (36) located near the middle of 4) and near the alignment board (34), Finally, the optical connector plug (29) can be gripped by the shutter (39) without being entangled with another optical fiber cord (31).

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connection panel (33) provided with a plurality of optical connector adapters (26) to which an input side optical fiber cord (25) is connected, and an output side optical fiber cord. (27) Optical connector plug (28)
A plurality of aligning holes for aligning and holding the holes, and an aligning plate (34) arranged to face the connecting plate (33), and a connecting light between the connecting plate (33) and the aligning plate (34). The optical connector plug (29) of the fiber cord (31) is gripped, the optical fiber cord (31) is pulled out, and the optical connector plug (29) is connected to the optical connector adapter (26).
A shutter (39) for performing an operation of gripping the optical connector plug (29) to perform connection and disconnection with respect to
A hand mechanism (35) including an optical connector plug (29) and a finger (38) capable of gripping the optical fiber cord (31); and the connection board (33).
And a fiber pressing rod (3) installed above the optical fiber cord (31) connected and fixed to the alignment board (34).
6), a fiber alignment groove (30) for aligning the optical fiber cord (31) so that it can be easily picked out in front of the alignment board (34), and the hand mechanism (35) to the connection board (33). And a moving mechanism (37) for moving the aligning board (34) to a desired position.

[0010] The invention described in claim 4 is the invention according to claim 3.
The hand mechanism (35) includes a shutter (37) for performing an opening and closing operation in the X direction for gripping the optical connector plug (29), and the optical fiber cord (31). And a finger (38) capable of opening and closing in the X direction.

With such a configuration, the optical fiber connection changing device of the present invention removes the optical connector plug from the connection board like the conventional optical fiber connection changing device and reconnects it to another arbitrary position of the connection board. In this case, there is no need for a winding mechanism for temporarily winding the disconnected optical fiber cord or a mechanism and space for storing the extra length after being pulled out to the back side of the apparatus, so that the number of parts can be reduced and the apparatus can be reduced. This has the advantages of simplifying the configuration, reducing the size of the device, reducing the cost, and increasing the reliability of the connection replacement work.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram schematically showing an optical fiber connection changing apparatus for realizing an optical fiber connection changing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Input side optical fiber cord 25
And a plurality of alignment holes for aligning and holding the optical connector plugs 28 of the optical fiber cord 27 on the output side, which are arranged to face the connection panel 33. The optical disc plug 29 of the connecting optical fiber cord 31 between the aligning board 34 and the connecting board 33 and the aligning board 34 is gripped, the optical fiber cord 31 is pulled out, and the optical connector plug 29 is connected to the optical connector adapter 26. A hand mechanism 35 for connection and disconnection, a fiber holding rod 36 installed above the optical fiber cord 31 fixedly connected to the connection board 33 and the alignment board 34, and the optical fiber cord 31 on the near side of the alignment board 34. The fiber alignment groove 30 and the hand mechanism 35, which are arranged so as to be easily picked, are moved to desired positions of the connection board 33 and the alignment board 34, and XY in the drawing is moved. Moving mechanism 3 which can move translational direction
7.

The hand mechanism 35 includes an optical connector plug 29
And a finger 38 that can be opened and closed in the X direction to hold the optical fiber cord 31.

An optical fiber connection changing process using the optical fiber connection changing method of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

First step: The hand mechanism 3 is moved to an arbitrary optical connector plug 29 of the connection board 33 by using the moving mechanism 37.
5 is moved, and the optical connector plug 29 is removed using the finger 38. (FIGS. 3A and 3B)

Second step: a moving mechanism 37 is arranged on the alignment plate 34 side.
Is used to move the hand mechanism 35. The other end of the optical fiber cord 31 to which the optical connector plug 29 is connected is the finger 3
8 to grasp from above and pull out upward. (FIG. 4
(A), (b))

Third step: After loosening the gripping force of the finger 38 holding the optical fiber cord 31, the moving mechanism 3
7, the hand mechanism 35 is moved toward the connection board 33 side. (FIGS. 5A to 5D)

Fourth step: The rear portion of the optical connector plug 29 is gripped by the shutter 39. The finger 38 is released and the optical fiber cord 31 is released. Thereafter, the hand mechanism 35 is moved by using the moving mechanism 37 so that the lower side of the fiber pressing rod 36 passes through the optical fiber cord 31. (FIGS. 6A and 6B)

Fifth step: With the shutter 39 holding the optical connector plug 29, the hand mechanism 35 is moved to an arbitrary position of the connection board 33 by using the moving mechanism 37, and the optical connector plug 29 is again connected to the connection board 33. To the optical connector adapter 26 of FIG. (FIGS. 7A and 7B)

In the third step, the most dense part of the optical fiber cord 31 is connected to the connection board 33 and the alignment board 3.
4, the optical fiber cord 31 is pulled out toward the connection board 33 side while being guided by the fiber pressing rod 36 near the alignment board 34, so that it does not get entangled with other optical fiber cords 31. Finally, the optical connector plug 29 can be gripped by the shutter 39.

As described above, it has been confirmed that the optical fiber connection changing step can be performed by the optical fiber connection changing method of the present invention.

By adopting the configuration as in the embodiment of the present invention, a winding mechanism for temporarily winding a disconnected optical fiber cord in a connection changing operation as in the related art, or a rear side of the apparatus. After drawing out, a mechanism and a space for storing the extra length are not required, and a significant reduction in size and cost can be realized.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the form described in the above embodiment, and it is needless to say that various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided an optical fiber connection changing method for connecting or disconnecting an arbitrary input side optical fiber cord and an arbitrary output side optical fiber cord. A first step of moving the hand mechanism using the moving mechanism to the position of the arbitrary optical connector plug, and removing the optical connector plug using the finger, and moving the hand mechanism using the moving mechanism to the alignment board side. A second step of grasping the front side of the alignment board, which is the other end side of the optical fiber cord to which the optical connector plug is connected, from the upper side with fingers and pulling out the upper side, and the gripping force of the finger holding the optical fiber cord. After the loosening, the third step of moving the hand mechanism toward the connection board using the moving mechanism, and the rear part of the optical connector plug is gripped by the shutter, and The fourth step of releasing the optical fiber cord by opening the optical fiber cord, and then passing the lower side of the fiber holding rod through the optical fiber cord, and the position of an arbitrary connection board with the shutter holding the optical connector plug. The fifth step of moving the hand mechanism using the moving mechanism and inserting the optical connector plug into any optical adapter adapter of the connection board again, so that the dimensions of the optical fiber connection changing device can be reduced in size and reduced. Industrially remarkable effects such as cost reduction and high reliability can be obtained.

According to the optical fiber connection changing device,
Since an apparatus having the effect of the optical fiber connection changing method can be realized, it is extremely effective for practical use.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a conventional optical fiber connection changing device.
(A) is a top view and (b) is a side view.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are configuration diagrams of an optical fiber connection changing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a top view, FIG. 2B is a side view, and a partially enlarged view thereof.

3A and 3B are schematic views for explaining a first step of an optical fiber connection changing step in the embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A is a top view and FIG. 3B is a side view.

4A and 4B are schematic views for explaining a second step of the optical fiber connection changing step in the embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A is a top view and FIG. 4B is a side view.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic views for explaining a third step of the optical fiber connection changing step in the embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 5A is a top view, and FIGS.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic views for explaining a fourth step of the optical fiber connection changing step in the embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 6A is a top view and FIG. 6B is a side view.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic views for explaining a fifth step of the optical fiber connection changing step in the embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 7A is a top view and FIG. 7B is a side view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11, 12 Optical fiber cord 13 Connection board 14 Alignment board 15 Hand mechanism 16 Winding mechanism 17 Extra length processing section 18 Moving mechanism 19 Optical connector plug 20, 21 Optical connector adapter 25 Input side optical fiber cord 26 Optical connector adapter 27 Output side Optical fiber cords 28, 29 Optical connector plug 30 Fiber alignment groove 31 Optical fiber cord for connection between connection board and alignment board 33 Connection board 34 Alignment board 35 Hand mechanism 36 Fiber holding rod 38 Finger 39 Shutter

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Nobuhide Tanaka 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Within Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Kazuma Kaneko 2-chome Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 1 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F-term (reference) 2H041 AA16 AB20 AC01 AZ02 AZ03 5K002 AA07 BA02 BA33 FA01

Claims (4)

[Claims] An optical fiber connection changing method for connecting or disconnecting an arbitrary optical fiber cord on an input side and an arbitrary optical fiber cord on an output side, wherein a moving mechanism is moved to a position of an arbitrary optical connector plug on a connection board. A first step of moving the hand mechanism by using a finger and removing the optical connector plug by using a finger; and moving the hand mechanism by using a moving mechanism to the alignment board side to connect the optical connector plug to the optical fiber. A second step of grasping the front side of the alignment board, which is the other end of the cord, from above and pulling it upward with the finger, and after relaxing the grasping force of the finger holding the optical fiber cord, A third step of moving the hand mechanism toward the connection board using the moving mechanism; and a rear portion of the optical connector plug by a shutter. Gripping, releasing the optical fiber cord by opening the finger, and thereafter, a fourth step of passing the lower side of the fiber holding rod through the optical fiber cord, and gripping the optical connector plug with the shutter. A fifth step of moving the hand mechanism to a position of an arbitrary connection board using a moving mechanism in the state, and again inserting the optical connector plug into an arbitrary optical adapter of the connection board. Optical fiber connection replacement method. 2. In the third step, the most dense portion of the optical fiber cord is located near the middle between the connection board and the alignment board, and the fiber holding rod is located near the alignment board. 2. The optical fiber cord according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber cord is pulled out toward the connection board side while being guided, and the optical connector plug can be finally gripped by the shutter without being entangled with another optical fiber cord. 3. Optical fiber connection replacement method. 3. A connection board provided with a plurality of optical connector adapters to which an input side optical fiber cord is connected, and an optical connector plug of an output side optical fiber cord are aligned.
A plurality of alignment holes to be held are provided side by side, and an alignment board disposed opposite to the connection board, and an optical connector plug of a connection optical fiber cord between the connection board and the alignment board is gripped, and the optical fiber cord is A shutter for performing an operation of gripping the optical connector plug, and a finger capable of gripping the optical connector plug and the optical fiber cord in order to pull out, connect and disconnect the optical connector plug to and from the optical connector adapter. A hand mechanism composed of: a fiber presser bar installed above an optical fiber cord connected and fixed to the connection board and the alignment board; and easy to pick out the optical fiber cord in front of the alignment board. And a moving mechanism for moving the hand mechanism to desired positions on the connection board and the aligning board. An optical fiber connection changing device characterized by comprising: 4. The hand mechanism includes a shutter for performing an opening and closing operation in an X direction for gripping the optical connector plug, and a finger for performing an opening and closing operation in the X direction for sandwiching the optical fiber cord. The optical fiber connection changing device according to claim 3, wherein: