JP2003029050A - Optical fiber cutting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber cutting machine which can cut a surplus part of an optical fiber short and cut two or more optical fibers at the same time. SOLUTION: The optical fiber cutting machine is equipped with 1st and 2nd optical fiber holders 21 and 22 which hold optical fibers 20 and 20 nearby their tips, 1st and 2nd fixation members 25 and 26 which fix the 1st and 2nd optical fiber holders 21 and 22, 1st and 2nd positioning members 23 and 24 which position the tips of the optical fibers 20 and 20, and a cutting blade 27 which makes cuts in the optical fibers 20 and 20 and provided with two or more 1st and 2nd optical fibers 21 and 22 on both the right and left sides of the cutting blade 27 across the cutting blade 27. The optical fibers 20 and 20 held by the 1st and 2nd optical fiber holders 21 and 22 can be cut at the same time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber cutting machine for cutting the tip of an optical fiber to be connected when connecting optical fibers to each other.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, to connect optical fibers to each other,
It is general that the tips of the optical fibers to be connected are cut into a predetermined shape to form the respective openings, and then the tips of both optical fibers are butted against each other for fusion splicing. In such a fusion splicing of optical fibers, in order to prevent splice loss after the splicing, the cut surface of the optical fiber must be mirror-finished, and an optical fiber cutting machine therefor has already been put into practical use. Has been converted.

2A and 2B are schematic configuration diagrams showing a conventional optical fiber cutting machine. FIG. 2A is a plan view and FIG. 2B is a front view. The optical fiber cutting machine of this example is an optical fiber holder 1 that clamps and holds the vicinity of the tip of an optical fiber 20.
A first and a second positioning member 2 and 3 for positioning the tip of the optical fiber 20, and a first fixing member 4 for fixing the optical fiber holder 1 and the first positioning member 2.
A second fixing member 5 for fixing the second positioning member 3;
A cutting blade 6 that forms a cut (crack) in the optical fiber 20, a movable base 7 that rotatably fixes the cutting blade 6, a rail 8 to which the movable base 7 is movably mounted, and these members are fixed. The base 9 and the cutting member 10 for pressing the optical fiber 20 to cut the optical fiber 20 are roughly configured.

The optical fiber holder 1 is generally composed of an elongated plate-shaped base 11 having an optical fiber groove (not shown) for holding the optical fiber 20, and holding lids 12 and 12 which can be opened and closed with respect to the base 11. It is configured. Further, the first and second positioning members 2 and 3 are connected to the optical fiber 20.
A groove such as a V-groove (not shown) for positioning the
And the groove bases 2a and 3a fixed to the upper surfaces 4a and 5a of the second fixing members 4 and 5, and the pressing members 2b and 3b which can be opened and closed with respect to the groove bases 2a and 3a for fixing the optical fiber 20 in the groove.
It is composed of and.

In order to cut the optical fiber 20 by using the optical fiber cutting machine of this example, first, the optical fiber 20 is placed in the optical fiber groove of the optical fiber holder 1, and the pressing lid 12 and
Close 12 Next, the optical fiber holder 1 is fixed to the upper surface 4a of the first fixing member 4. Then the optical fiber 2
The tip portion of 0 is placed in the grooves of the first and second positioning members 2 and 3, and the holding members 2b and 3b are closed to close the optical fiber 2.
Position 0. Next, the cutting blade 6 is moved together with the moving table 7 on the rail 8 so that the cutting blade 6 is contacted from below the optical fiber 20 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the optical fiber 20, and the surface of the optical fiber 20. To form a crack. Next, the optical fiber 20 is pressed by the cutting member 10 from the opposite side of the crack, that is, from above the optical fiber 20 and perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the optical fiber 20 to bend the optical fiber 20 to grow the crack. 20 is cut so that the cut surface becomes a mirror surface.

[0006]

By the way, when two optical fibers are fusion-spliced to each other, first, the tips of the respective optical fibers are cut so that their cut surfaces are mirror-finished, and then, respectively. Optical fiber tips are butted against each other. However, in this optical fiber cutting machine, since the optical fiber holder 1 is provided only on the first fixing member 4, when cutting the optical fiber 20,
The optical fiber 20 is held by the optical fiber holder 1. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, when cutting the optical fiber 20 abutted from the side where the optical fiber holder 1 is not provided, the optical fiber 20 must be drawn and held in the optical fiber holder 1. I won't. In this state,
When the optical fiber 20 is cut, there is a problem that the extra length portion is lengthened by the amount of the optical fiber 20 that is routed around, waste is generated, and workability is extremely poor. Further, since there is only one optical fiber 20 held by the optical fiber holder 1 in one cutting operation of the optical fiber, there is a problem that the working efficiency is poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an optical fiber cutting machine capable of cutting a surplus portion of an optical fiber into a short length and capable of simultaneously cutting two or more optical fibers. This is an issue.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The above-mentioned problems include an optical fiber holder that holds the vicinity of the tip of an optical fiber, a fixing member that fixes the optical fiber holder, and a positioning member that positions the tip of the optical fiber. An optical fiber cutting machine comprising: a cutting blade that forms a cut in the optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber holder is provided with two or more facing the left and right sides of the cutting blade with the cutting blade interposed therebetween. It can be solved by the optical fiber cutting machine. In the optical fiber cutting machine, it is preferable that the optical fiber holder holds a plurality of optical fibers in parallel in a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cutting machine so that the plurality of optical fibers can be cut at the same time.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention is described in detail below.
1A and 1B are schematic configuration diagrams showing an example of an optical fiber cutting machine of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a plan view and FIG. 1B is a front view. The optical fiber cutting machine of this example includes first and second optical fiber holders 21 and 22 that clamp and hold the vicinity of the tip of the optical fiber 20, and first and second optical fiber holders that position the tip of the optical fiber 20. Positioning members 23, 24
, A first fixing member 25 for fixing the first optical fiber holder 21 and the first positioning member 23, and a second fixing member 26 for fixing the second optical fiber holder 22 and the second positioning member 24. A cutting blade 27 that forms a crack in the optical fiber 20, a movable base 28 that rotatably fixes the cutting blade 27, a rail 29 to which the movable base 28 is movably mounted, and these members are fixed. Base 30 and cutting member 3 for pressing and cutting the optical fiber 20
1 and 1.

The first optical fiber holder 21 and the second optical fiber 22 face each other on both the left and right sides of the cutting blade 27 with the cutting blade 27 interposed therebetween, and the longitudinal direction thereof is the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cutting machine. Is provided on the first and second fixing members in parallel to the optical fiber cutting machine so that the optical fibers 20 and 20 can be clamped and held in parallel from the left and right ends of the optical fiber cutting machine in the longitudinal direction. It has become. The first and second optical fiber holders 21 and 22 have the same structure, are formed parallel to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cutting machine, and have an optical fiber groove (not shown) for holding the optical fiber 20. An elongated plate-shaped base 32 and this base 32
It is roughly configured by a presser lid 33, which can be opened and closed. By accommodating the optical fiber 20 in the optical fiber groove, the optical fiber 20 can be positioned in the lateral direction of the optical fiber cutting machine and in the direction perpendicular to the optical fiber cutting machine.

Further, at the joint surface between the base 32 and the pressing lids 33, 33 of the first and second optical fiber holders 21, 22, one or both of these opposing surfaces is a magnetic attraction portion made of a magnet. (Not shown) may be provided. When the pressing lids 33, 33 are closed with respect to the base 32, the pressing lids 33, 33 are magnetically attracted to the base 32 by the magnetic attraction portion, and thereby a force for clamping and holding the optical fiber 20 is applied. Further, not only the magnetic attraction portion, but also the holding lids 33 of the first and second optical fiber holders 21 and 22,
Various fixing mechanisms such as a ratchet for fixing 33 in a closed state may be provided.

Further, the first and second optical fiber holders 21 and 22 are attached to the first and second fixing members 25 and 25, respectively.
As a method for fixing to 26, a fitting groove is formed in the first and second fixing members 25 and 26, and the first and second optical fiber holders 21 and 22 are fitted into the fitting groove,
One of the first and second optical fiber holders 21 and 22 or the first and second fixing members 25 and 26 is provided with a guide pin, and the other is provided with a fitting hole. Or they are used in combination. With such a fixing method, the optical fibers 20, 20 can be positioned with high accuracy in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction of the optical fiber cutting machine. In particular, the optical fibers 20, 20 can be positioned so that the optical axis direction of the optical fibers 20 and the cutting blade 27 are perpendicular to each other. Therefore, the optical fibers 20, 2
When 0 is cut, the cut surface can be formed with high dimensional accuracy.

First and second positioning members 23, 24
Is formed with a groove such as a V groove (not shown) for positioning the optical fibers 20, 20, and the first and second fixing members 25,
Grooves 23a, 2 fixed to the upper surfaces 25a, 26a of 26
4a and groove base 23 for fixing the optical fibers 20, 20 in the groove
pressing members 23b and 24b that can be opened and closed with respect to a and 24a
It is composed of and. In the optical fiber cutting machine of this example, two grooves are formed on each of the groove stands 23a and 24a. Note that the number of grooves is appropriately determined according to the number of optical fibers 20 positioned by the first and second positioning members 23 and 24.

Further, the first and second positioning members 2
The grooves 3 and 24 include groove bases 23a and 24a and a pressing member 23b,
Various fixing mechanisms, such as a ratchet, may be provided for fixing 24b and 24b in a closed state. If such a fixing mechanism is provided, the optical fibers 20 and 20 can be moved to the groove stands 23a and 24a.
Since it is firmly held in the groove formed in the optical fiber 2,
There is no possibility that 0 and 20 are misaligned at the time of cutting to cause defective cutting.

In order to cut the optical fibers 20 and 20 using the optical fiber cutting machine of this example, first, the optical fiber 2 is cut.
0, 20 to the first and second optical fiber holders 21,
22 in the respective optical fiber grooves, and presser caps 33,
Close and hold 33. Next, the first optical fiber holder 21 is fixed to the upper surface 25a of the first fixing member 25, and the second optical fiber holder is fixed to the upper surface 26a of the second fixing member 26. Next, the tip portions of the respective optical fibers 20, 20 held by the first and second optical fiber holders are attached to the first and second positioning members 23, 24.
The optical fibers 20 and 20 are positioned by placing the optical fibers 20 and 20 in the groove and closing the pressing members 23b and 24b. Then, the cutting blade 27 is moved along with the moving table 28 on the rail 29 to move the optical fiber 2
The cutting blade 27 is contacted from below the optical fibers 20 and 20 perpendicularly to the optical axis direction of the optical fibers 2 and 20.
A crack is formed on the surface of 0 or 20. Next, the optical fibers 20 and 20 are cracked by pressing and bending the optical fibers 20 and 20 from the opposite side of the cracks, that is, from above the optical fibers 20 and 20 perpendicularly to the optical axis direction of the optical fibers 20 and 20 with a cutting member 31. Optical fiber 20, 2
0 is cut so that the cut surface becomes a mirror surface.

In the optical fiber cutting machine of this example, the first and second optical fiber holders 21 and 22 are provided so as to face the left and right sides of the cutting blade 27 with the cutting blade 27 interposed therebetween. Accordingly, the number of optical fiber holders to be provided may be an even number of 4 or more, with the same number on each of the left and right sides with the cutting blade 27 interposed therebetween. If four or more even number of optical fiber holders are provided and these optical fiber holders are provided in parallel, it is possible to cut a plurality of optical fibers at a time.
Furthermore, since the working time can be shortened, the working efficiency is improved, which is preferable.

In the optical fiber cutting machine of the present invention, 2
Since two or more optical fiber holders are provided facing each other on both the left and right sides of the cutting blade with the cutting blade sandwiched between them, two or more optical fibers are respectively inserted from the left and right ends of the optical fiber cutting machine in the longitudinal direction. Can hold Therefore, when fusion-splicing the optical fibers, it is not necessary to draw the optical fibers from the side opposite to the direction in which they are abutted, and to fix them to the optical fiber holder on the side opposite to the abutted direction,
Since the surplus portion of the optical fiber can be shortened, waste can be eliminated, work complexity can be eliminated, and workability can be improved. Furthermore, as described above, it is possible to simultaneously cut two or more optical fibers that are held and fixed separately from the left and right ends in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cutting machine. Since the working time at the time of cutting can be shortened, working efficiency is improved. The optical fiber cutting machine of the present invention can also be applied to the cutting of optical fiber ribbons or various single-core optical fibers.

[0018]

As described above, in the optical fiber cutting machine of the present invention, the optical fiber holder for holding the vicinity of the tip of the optical fiber, the fixing member for fixing the optical fiber holder, and the tip of the optical fiber are provided. An optical fiber cutting machine comprising a positioning member for positioning, and a cutting blade for forming a cut in the optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber holder faces the left and right sides of the cutting blade while sandwiching the cutting blade. Since it is not necessary to draw the optical fiber from the opposite side of the optical fiber holder and fix it to these optical fiber holders, the extra length of the optical fiber can be shortened. Is solved,
The complexity of the work is eliminated and the workability can be improved. Further, in the optical fiber cutting machine, the optical fiber holder holds a plurality of optical fibers in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cutting machine, and the plurality of optical fibers can be cut at the same time. Since the time required for fiber cutting work can be shortened, work efficiency is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of an optical fiber cutting machine of the present invention, FIG. 1 (a) is a plan view, and FIG. 1 (b) is a front view.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional optical fiber cutting machine, FIG. 2 (a) is a plan view, and FIG. 2 (b) is a front view.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing how an optical fiber is routed, showing how an optical fiber is cut using a conventional optical fiber cutting machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 ... Optical fiber, 21 ... First optical fiber holder, 2
2 ... 2nd optical fiber holder, 23 ... 1st positioning member, 23a, 24a ... Groove base, 23b, 24b ... Holding member, 24 ... 2nd positioning member, 25 ... 1st fixing member, 26 ... 2 fixing member, 27 ... cutting blade, 28 ... moving base, 29 ... rail, 30 ... base, 31 ... cutting member, 32 ...
Base, 33 ... Presser lid

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Mikio Yoshinuma             Fuji Co., Ltd. 1440 Rokuzaki, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture             Kura Sakura Office F-term (reference) 2H038 CA02 CA12 CA17                 4G021 NA01

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber holder that holds the vicinity of the tip of an optical fiber, a fixing member that fixes the optical fiber holder, a positioning member that positions the tip of the optical fiber, and a cut is formed in the optical fiber. An optical fiber cutting machine having a cutting blade, wherein the optical fiber holder is provided with two or more optical fiber holders facing each other on both the left and right sides of the cutting blade. Cutting machine. 2. The optical fiber cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber holder holds a plurality of optical fibers in parallel in a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cutting machine and simultaneously cuts the plurality of optical fibers. An optical fiber cutting machine characterized by being able to do so.