JP2003063737A - Thin wire inserting device into ferrule - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To implement a thin wire inserting device into a ferrule capable of passing a plurality of thin wires through a ferrule having a fine center hole, if the thin wire is passed through the ferrule, in the case where the ferrule mounted to an end of an optical fiber is processed when the optical fiber used as a communication wire passage is connected to another device. SOLUTION: A ferrule fixing means 7 positions and fixes the ferrule 5 in order to pass the thin wire 3 through the ferrule 5. The thin wire 3 is fixed to a thin wire guide means 8 at a straight. In such state, the ferrule fixing means 7 and the thin wire guide means 8 approach by a thin wire feed means 10. Subsequently, the thin wire feed means 10 leaves the ferrule fixing means 7 and the thin wire guide means and when it leaves them, the thin wire guide means 8 releases the thin wire 3. When this action is repeated, the thin wire 3 advances in the center hole 6 of the ferrule 5. When the thin wire 3 passes through the ferrule 5, a leading edge of the thin wire 3 is fixed by a thin wire fixing means 9 and the ferrule 5 is moved toward a spool 4. Thereafter, the ferrule 5 and the thin wire 3 are positioned again and this action is repeated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technical field of a fine wire insertion device for inserting a fine wire into a center hole of a ferrule for connecting an optical fiber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical fiber is used as a communication medium, and an optical connector is used in a portion connecting the optical fiber and other optical devices. One of the important parts that make up an optical connector is a part called a ferrule. The ferrule is made with particular attention to dimensional accuracy in order to accurately align the core of the optical fiber with the core of another optical fiber or the optical axis of the optical device.

The ferrule is a cylinder having a diameter of several millimeters and a length of a dozen millimeters, and has a structure having a center hole for accommodating the core wire of the optical fiber in the center thereof. The material of the ferrule is metal, synthetic resin or ceramic,
Requires precision machining. Therefore, various processing steps are required to process the ferrule.
The main processing steps include the processing steps of the length, the outer shape, and the center hole for the core wire.

On the other hand, since the ferrule has a small outer diameter and a short length, it is complicated to handle in the processing device. Therefore, there is a case where the ferrule is carried or processed while being passed through one thin wire. As a device for passing the ferrule through a thin wire, a dedicated device is known, and is shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-40211 (G02B 6/36). The device shown here includes a ferrule aligning portion for fixing the ferrule and a thin wire guiding portion for guiding the thin wire, and the thin wire supplied from the spool can be automatically passed through the ferrule.

[0005]

The conventional thin wire insertion device has a problem that a plurality of ferrules cannot be continuously passed through one thin wire.

An object of the present invention is to realize a thin wire insertion device capable of continuously passing a plurality of ferrules through one thin wire.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a ferrule fixing device capable of positioning and fixing the ferrule in a ferrule fine wire insertion device for inserting a fine wire into a ferrule having a center hole for connecting an optical fiber. And a fine wire guide means arranged adjacent to the ferrule fixing means and capable of fixing or releasing the fine wire, and arranged on the opposite side of the fine wire guide means with the ferrule fixing means sandwiched therebetween. A thin wire fixing means capable of fixing the leading end of the passed thin wire, and the ferrule fixing means and the thin wire guiding means are brought close to each other in a state where the thin wire is fixed to the thin wire guiding means, and the thin wire is guided from the thin wire guiding means. In the released state, the ferrule fixing means and the fine wire guide means are separated from each other, and the fine wire is advanced in the center hole of the ferrule. It is obtained by a fine wire insertion device into the ferrule, characterized in that consisted feed means.

Further, the fine wire feeding means is an apparatus for inserting a fine wire into a ferrule, characterized in that the fine wire guiding means is moved forward and backward with respect to the ferrule fixing means.

Further, the thin wire feeding means is an apparatus for inserting a thin wire into a ferrule, characterized in that the ferrule fixing means is moved forward and backward with respect to the thin wire guiding means.

Further, the thin wire feeding means is an apparatus for inserting a thin wire into a ferrule, characterized in that the thin wire guiding means and the ferrule fixing means are moved forward and backward relative to each other.

Further, the fixing force for fixing the ferrule by the ferrule fixing means is weaker than the fixing force for fixing the thin wire by the thin wire guiding means, and the leading end of the thin wire is inserted into the center hole of the ferrule. When the insertion fails, the ferrule is pushed by the thin wire to move the ferrule in the ferrule fixing means, which is an apparatus for inserting a thin wire into a ferrule.

Further, when the ferrule fixing means and the fine wire guiding means are located at positions separated by the fine wire feeding means, the distance between the end of the ferrule and the position of the fine wire fixed by the fine wire guiding means is When the diameter of the wire is 0.2 mm or less,
This is an apparatus for inserting a fine wire into a ferrule, which is characterized by being 0 times or less.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an embodiment of the present invention. The fine wire insertion device 1 for a ferrule is configured based on the panel 2 as a whole. X shown in FIG.
And Y are coordinates used for description and are defined on the surface of the panel base 2. 3 is a thin line.
The thin wire 3 is drawn out from the spool 4 and supplied to the thin wire insertion device 1 for a ferrule.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view for explaining the outline of the ferrule and the thin wire handled by the thin wire insertion device 1 for the ferrule shown in FIG. 5 is a ferrule. The material of the ferrule 5 is metal, resin or ceramic. Although there are several types of dimensions of the ferrule 5 and the thin wire 3, the ferrule 5 for an optical fiber used as a communication medium is used.
Is a cylinder with a length of a dozen millimeters and a diameter of several millimeters.
6 is a central hole. The center hole 6 penetrates the inside of the ferrule in the longitudinal direction. The thin wire 3 is inserted from one end of the center hole 6, passes through the center hole 6, and is drawn out from the other end. The diameter of the center hole 6 and the diameter of the thin wire 3 are almost the same, and are 0.2 mm or less for an optical fiber used as a communication medium. Since the diameter of the central hole 6 and the diameter of the thin wire 3 are substantially the same, in order to insert the thin wire 3 into the central hole 6, it is necessary to apply force to push the thin wire 3. This is because if the diameter of the central hole 6 is larger than the diameter of the thin wire 3 more than necessary, the thin wire 3 and the ferrule 5 are loosened in the process of processing the ferrule 6. However, there are variations in the diameter of the center hole 6 or the diameter of the thin wire 3,
In some cases, fine lines cannot be inserted. In that case, the center hole 6
The diameter of the thin wire 3 is reprocessed to be larger or the diameter of the thin wire 3 is changed to a smaller diameter.

In FIG. 1, 7 is a ferrule fixing means capable of positioning and fixing the ferrule 6. Reference numeral 8 denotes a thin wire guide means which is arranged adjacent to the ferrule fixing means 7 and is provided on the upstream side in the traveling direction of the thin wire 3.
The fine wire guide means 8 can fix or release the fine wire 3 as needed. The fine wire guide means 8 is composed of two parts, a guide block 11 and a movable block 12. The movable block 12 can move up and down along the Y axis with respect to the guide block 11. The thin wire 3 is released when the movable block 12 is raised, and the thin wire 3 is fixed when the movable block 12 is lowered. Reference numeral 9 is a fine wire fixing means. The fine wire fixing means 9 is arranged on the opposite side of the fine wire guiding means 8 with the ferrule fixing means 7 interposed therebetween. The thin wire fixing means is
The leading end of the thin wire 3 which has passed through the ferrule fixed to the ferrule fixing means 7 is fixed. Reference numeral 10 is a fine wire feeding means. The fine wire feeding means 10 is means for reciprocating the ferrule fixing means 7, the fine wire guiding means 8, or both the ferrule fixing means 7 and the fine wire guiding means 8 in small increments in the X-axis direction. Reference numeral 13 is a tension applying block. The tension applying block applies a tension to the thin wire 3 sent by the thin wire feeding means 10 by lightly pressing the thin wire 3 and stabilizes the feeding of the thin wire 3.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device 1 for inserting a fine wire into the ferrule shown in FIG. The ferrule fixing means 7 is
It is composed of a receiving block 14 and a holding block 15 which can move up and down with respect to the receiving block 14 along the Y axis. The state shown in FIG. 3 shows a state in which the pressing block 15 is raised, and the state shown in FIG. 1 shows a state in which it is lowered. The fixed block 14 includes a receiving groove 16.
When the holding block 15 is in the raised position, only one ferrule 5 can be placed in the receiving groove 16. When the holding block 15 descends, the ferrule 5 placed in the receiving groove 16 is positioned and fixed on the receiving groove 16 by the holding block 15.

The guide block 11 of the fine wire guide means 8 has a guide groove 17 on its upper surface. When the movable block 12 is in the raised position, the thin wire 3 is inserted in the guide groove 17 and the movable block 12 is lowered, so that the thin wire 3 is fixed in the guide groove 17 along the guide groove 17. The movable block 12 has three positions along the Y axis. The first position is the lowest position and is a position where the thin wire 3 is fixed to the guide groove 17. When the movable block 12 is in the first position,
The thin wire 3 is completely fixed. The second position is a position where the movable block 12 is lifted from the first position by about 0.5 mm. In this position, the thin wire 3 can freely move along the guide groove 17 in the X-axis direction. The third position is the position shown in FIG. 3, which is far away from the first position, and is a position where the thin wire 3 can be freely inserted into and taken out from the guide groove 17.

The fine wire feeding means 10 comprises a rotary cam 18 and a cam bar 19. The rotary cam 18 is rotatable around a shaft 20. The rotary cam 18 is deformed with respect to the shaft 20. The cam bar 19 reciprocates along the X axis when the rotary cam 18 rotates. The cam bar 19
The fine wire guide means 8 or the ferrule fixing means 7 or both are reciprocated along the X axis. FIG. 4 shows the structure of the fine wire feeding means 10. The cam bar 19 is attached to a rail 21 fixed to the panel 2 so as to be movable along the X axis. The cam bar 19 is constantly pressed against the outer circumference of the rotary cam 18 by a spring (not shown). When the rotary cam 18 rotates, the cam bar 19 reciprocates along the X axis in accordance with the change in the outer circumference of the rotary cam 18 with respect to the rotary shaft 20. The cam bar 19 is connected to the ferrule fixing means 7 or the fine wire guiding means 8 or both depending on its structure. The cam bar 19 causes the ferrule fixing means 7 and the thin wire guide means 8 to reciprocate relatively toward and away from each other.

As a first embodiment, the ferrule fixing means 7 is fixed to the panel 2 and the cam bar 19 is connected to the fine wire guiding means 8. Then, when the cam bar 19 reciprocates, the fine wire guide means 8 moves forward and backward with respect to the ferrule fixing means 7 along the X axis. As a second embodiment, the fine wire guide means 8 is fixed to the panel 2,
The cam bar 19 is connected to the ferrule fixing means 7. Then, when the cam bar 19 reciprocates, the ferrule fixing means 7 moves forward and backward along the X-axis with respect to the fine wire guide means 8. As a third embodiment, the ferrule fixing means 7 and the fine wire guiding means 8 are mounted on the panel 2 so as to be movable in the X-axis direction, and both are connected to the cam bar 19 via a link mechanism not shown. The link mechanism is configured such that when the cam bar 19 reciprocates along the X-axis direction, the ferrule fixing means 7 and the fine wire guide means 8 move toward or away from each other. Link mechanism is 1
This can be realized by a rod of a book, and on the extension line of the rod, the cam bar 19 is attached to the first end, the ferrule fixing means 7 is attached to the other second end, and the rod is attached to the panel 2 in the middle. It can be realized by providing a fulcrum so that the can be rotated, and by attaching to the fine wire guide means 8 between the first end and the fulcrum. The first embodiment,
The second embodiment and the third embodiment are common in that the ferrule fixing means 7 and the thin wire guiding means 8 are moved toward or away from each other, but the thin wire fixing means 9 shown in FIG. 1 is used. A different operation is performed for an element that is fixed to the panel 2 and does not move along the X-axis direction. These embodiments may be selected optimally depending on the material and diameter of the thin wire 3, the material and size of the ferrule 5, and the like.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 23 is a rotary cam. The rotary cam 23, like the rotary cam 18, has a rotation center axis and a cam outer periphery that is eccentric to the rotation center axis. The rotary cam 23 reciprocates the movable block 12 up and down along the Y axis with respect to the guide block 11 of the fine wire guide means 8.

Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 24 is a setting bar. The setting bar 24 moves up in the Y-axis direction when the lever 26 is rotated counterclockwise about the shaft 27 as a fulcrum. Figure 1
The state shown in (1) indicates the lowered position. When the setting bar 24 moves up, the tensioning block 13, the movable block 12, the pressing block 15, and the fine wire fixing means 9 are provided.
All at once. At the position where the setting bar 24 is raised,
The ferrule 5 can be placed on the ferrule fixing means 7, and the thin wire 3 can be placed on the thin wire guiding means 8.

The thin wire fixing means 9 is a thin wire pressing block 2.
9 and the thin wire receiver 30. The fine wire fixing means 9 moves up and down with respect to the panel 2 as a whole along the X axis, but the fine wire holding block 29 and the thin wire receiver 30 have different structures, and if necessary, the fine wire receiver 30 and the thin wire holding block. The thin wire 30 can be fixed by sandwiching the leading end of the thin wire 3 between 29. The thin wire fixing means 9 fixes the leading end of the thin wire 3 penetrating the ferrule 5 fixed to the ferrule fixing means 7.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. In the initial state, the ferrule 5 is fixed to the ferrule fixing means 7, and the thin wire 3 is fixed to the thin wire guiding means 8. The leading end of the thin wire 3 slightly projects to a boundary 28 where the ferrule fixing means 7 and the thin wire guiding means 8 are in contact with each other. In that state, the ferrule fixing means 7 and the fine wire guiding means 8 approach each other. Then, the leading end of the thin wire 3 is inserted into the center hole of the ferrule 5. Next, the movable block 12 is raised and the thin wire 3 is released from the thin wire guide means 8. Then, the ferrule fixing means 7 and the thin wire guiding means 8 are relatively separated from each other. Then, lower the movable block 12,
After fixing the thin wire 3 to the thin wire fixing means 8 again, the ferrule fixing means 7 and the thin wire guiding means 8 are brought close to each other. Then, the thin wire 3 advances through the center hole of the ferrule 5. If this operation is repeated, the thin wire 3 becomes the central hole 6 of the ferrule 5.
Pass through and exit to the other side. When the fine wire 3 has completely passed through the ferrule 5, the leading end of the fine wire 3 is fixed by the fine wire fixing means 9, and the lever 24 is brought to the raised position. Then, the ferrule 5 fixed to the ferrule fixing means 7 becomes free and the movable block 1 holding the thin wire 3 is held.
2 also rises significantly. If you do, ferrule 5
Is pushed toward the spool 4. The extrusion of the ferrule 5 may be performed manually or automatically by a machine. Next, the leading end of the thin wire 3 is removed from the thin wire fixing means 9, and the tip is aligned at a position slightly protruding from the boundary 28. Then, when the lever 24 is lowered, the initial state is set.

As described above, the thin wire insertion device 1 for a ferrule shown in FIG. 1 depends on the linearity of the thin wire 3,
The assumption is that it will not bend more than necessary during insertion. L in FIG. 4 indicates the distance when the ferrule fixing means 7 and the thin wire guiding means 8 are separated from each other. If this L is widened, the stroke for approaching and separating the ferrule 7 and the fine wire guide means 8 can be increased, so that the efficiency of the fine wire insertion device 1 for the ferrule is improved. However, the inventors conducted experiments by changing L variously, and obtained the result that L was preferably 6 mm or less when the diameter of the thin wire 3 was 0.2 mm or less. If L is set too large, the thin wire 3 may bend before the center hole 6 when the thin wire 3 is inserted into the ferrule 5. The bending rate becomes higher as L becomes larger. Once the thin wire 3 is bent, it needs to be corrected, and the efficiency of the thin wire insertion device 1 for a ferrule decreases. Even if L is short, sufficient efficiency can be obtained by shortening the cycle of reciprocating motion.

[0025]

[Advantages] The present invention has an effect that it is possible to realize a thin wire insertion device capable of continuously passing a plurality of ferrules through one thin wire.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an entire embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the structure of a ferrule.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment.

[Fig. 4] Operation explanatory diagram

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Fine wire insertion device for ferrule 3 thin lines 7 Ferrule fixing means 8 Fine line guide means 9 Fine wire fixing means 10 Fine wire feeding means

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A ferrule fixing device capable of positioning and fixing the ferrule in a ferrule fine wire inserting device for inserting a fine wire into a ferrule having a center hole for connecting an optical fiber, and a ferrule fixing means adjacent to the ferrule fixing means. And a thin wire guide means capable of fixing or releasing the thin wire and a leading end of the thin wire which is arranged on the opposite side of the thin wire guide means with the ferrule fixing means interposed therebetween and which has passed through the center hole of the ferrule. Fine wire fixing means that can be fixed,
The ferrule fixing means and the thin wire guiding means are brought close to each other with the thin wire fixed to the thin wire guiding means, and the ferrule fixing means and the thin wire guiding means are separated from each other with the thin wire released from the thin wire guiding means. And an apparatus for inserting a fine wire into a ferrule, characterized by comprising fine wire feeding means for advancing the fine wire in the center hole of the ferrule. 2. The apparatus for inserting a fine wire into a ferrule according to claim 1, wherein the fine wire feeding means moves the fine wire guide means forward and backward with respect to the ferrule fixing means. 3. The apparatus for inserting a thin wire into a ferrule according to claim 1, wherein the thin wire feeding means moves the ferrule fixing means forward and backward with respect to the thin wire guiding means. 4. The device for inserting a thin wire into a ferrule according to claim 1, wherein the thin wire feeding means moves the thin wire guiding means and the ferrule fixing means forward and backward with respect to each other. 5. The fixing force for fixing the ferrule by the ferrule fixing means is weaker than the fixing force for fixing the thin wire by the thin wire guiding means, and the leading end of the thin wire is inserted into the center hole of the ferrule. The device for inserting a fine wire into a ferrule according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein when the insertion fails, the ferrule is pushed by the fine wire to move the ferrule in the ferrule fixing means. 6. The distance between the end of the ferrule and the position of the fine wire fixed by the fine wire guide means when the ferrule fixing means and the fine wire guide means are separated from each other by the fine wire feeding means. 5. The device for inserting a fine wire into a ferrule according to claim 1, wherein the diameter is less than 50 times the diameter of the fine wire when the diameter is 0.2 mm or less.