JP2003167151A - Fusion splicing machine for optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fusion splicing machine for an optical fiber which can improve a splicing operability with a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: The fusion splicing machine is provided with a pair of discharge electrodes 10 disposed oppositely at a space, a stage 20 which opposes splicing end surfaces to each other between the discharge electrodes and holds the optical fibers 100, and a cover 40 which is freely opened and closed and with which the discharge electrodes 10 and the entire stage are covered. A cramp 50 for holding the distal ends of the optical fibers 100 is provided at the rear surface of the cover 40. When the cover 40 is closed, the optical fibers 100 can be simultaneously held by the cramp 50. Accordingly, the fusion bonding operability of the optical fibers 100 can be improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber fusion splicer. In particular, it relates to a small and lightweight fusion splicer. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a splicer that discharges between electrodes arranged at an interval and faces each other and fuses the connection end faces of optical fibers abutted between the electrodes by the discharge heat. Are known. [0003] This connection device includes a chuck for holding the base side of each optical fiber to be connected, and a wire clamp for holding the tip side. The chuck is configured to hold the optical fiber in a direction orthogonal to the electrodes and to slide in a direction to bring the connection end faces of the optical fiber closer to each other. Usually, the chuck includes a stage in which a V-groove is formed, and an opening / closing portion attached to the stage so as to be openable and closable with a hinge, and holds the optical fiber arranged in the V-groove between the opening and closing portion. On the other hand, the wire clamp has a rod-shaped tip that opens and closes with respect to a V-groove support fixed to the electrode side of the stage, and sandwiches the optical fiber disposed on the V-groove support with the tip. Further, an openable / closable cover is provided so as to cover the whole of the electrode, the chuck and the wire clamp. When connecting an optical fiber, the base of the optical fiber is held by a chuck, and the end of the optical fiber is held by a wire clamp. Next, the cover is closed, and both chucks are slid from that state to bring the end faces of the optical fibers closer. Then, when both end faces reach a predetermined distance from the electrodes, discharge is caused between the electrodes, and the discharge heat is used to fuse and connect the end faces of the optical fibers. [0005] In recent years, optical fibers have been introduced into homes, and a smaller and lighter fusion splicer has been demanded in order to easily perform fusion splicing of optical fibers. [0006] However, the above fusion splicer has a problem that the number of components is large and the number of operations involved in the connection work is also large. Since the wire clamp and the cover are provided completely independently, a hinge is required for each of the wire clamp and the cover. In addition, it is difficult to reduce the size of the wire clamp because it is necessary to overhang the stage or the V-groove supporting portion to hold the optical fiber. Further, in order to perform fusion, the opening and closing operation of the wire clamp and the opening and closing operation of the cover must be performed independently, and a fusion splicer that can be connected with a smaller number of operations has been required. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber fusion splicer which can improve the connection workability with a simple structure. According to the present invention, the above object is achieved by integrating a clamp for holding an optical fiber with a cover. That is, the fusion splicer of the present invention comprises: a pair of discharge electrodes arranged to face each other at an interval; a stage for holding an optical fiber with the connection end faces facing each other between the discharge electrodes; And an openable cover that covers the entire stage. Further, a clamp is provided on the back surface of the cover to hold the tip of the optical fiber. By integrating the clamp holding the optical fiber with the cover covering the discharge electrode and the entire stage, the optical fiber can be held by the clamp at the same time when the cover is closed. Therefore, the workability of fusion splicing of the optical fiber can be improved. Further, it is not necessary to provide a hinge for opening and closing the clamp itself, and the number of parts can be reduced. Further, the clamp may be in the form of a protrusion protruding from the inner surface of the cover, and the size of the clamp itself can be reduced. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a cover of the fusion splicer of the present invention is opened, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an upper surface of the splicer showing a state in which one holder is removed. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fusion splicer of the present invention. (Overall Configuration) This connecting machine includes a pair of discharge electrodes 10 on a cubic main body upper surface, and a stage 20 (20A, 20A, 20A, 20B). The holding of the optical fiber 100 on the stage 20 is performed via the holder 30. The discharge electrode 10 and the stage 20 are configured to be covered by a cover 40 that can be opened and closed.
And, when the cover 40 is closed, a clamp 50 for holding down the optical fiber 100 is provided. (Discharge Electrode) The discharge electrode 10 is in the form of a needle having a sharp tip and opposed to each other at an interval. At the time of fusion, a discharge is caused between the electrodes 10, and the end face of the optical fiber 100 is melted and connected by the discharge heat. (Stage) The stage 20 holds a pair of optical fibers 100 in a direction perpendicular to the discharge electrode 10 and slides them so that the end faces of both optical fibers 100 are close to each other at the time of fusion. In this example, one of the pair of stages (the left side in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the right side in FIG. 3) is movable, and the other (the right side in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the left side in FIG. 3) is fixed. The movable stage 20A rotates the eccentric cam 22 by the motor 21 shown in FIG.
It is transmitted to the projecting piece 23 integral with 20A and is slid by pressing the projecting piece 23. Each stage 20A, 20B has a lower electrode 10 side,
It is arranged with an inclination so that the side opposite to the electrode 10 is higher. Protrusions guides 24 are provided on both side edges of the inclined surface, and inverted L-shaped engagement protrusions 25 are provided on the edge on the electrode 10 side. The holder 30 is staged along these guides 24
Set on 20. Then, these two stages 20A and 20B and the electrodes
A V-groove support portion 26 is formed between 10. This support 2
A V-groove is formed on the surface 6, and the tip of the optical fiber 100 protruding from the holder 30 is disposed therein. (Holder) The holder 30 is attached to and detached from each stage 20 with the optical fiber 100 interposed between the base 31 and the lid 32. As shown in FIG. 4, it includes a base 31 having a V-groove formed therein, and a lid 32 which is attached to the base 31 via a hinge so as to be freely opened and closed. The optical fiber 100 is placed on the V-groove and held by closing the lid 32. Magnet on the surface of the base 31
33 is embedded, and the metal lid 32 is sucked, so that the optical fiber 100 can be reliably held down. However, due to the action of the magnet 33, the lid
When opening the base 32, the base 31 remains sucked and the holder 30
The power that can be lifted works. Therefore, a groove-shaped notch 34 into which the engagement protrusion 25 is fitted is provided on the end face of the base 31. When the holder 30 is fitted along the guide 24 on the stage 20, the engaging projection 25 is fitted into the notch. The fitting of the engagement protrusion 25 and the notch 34 causes the lid
When opening 32, holder 30 itself can be prevented from lifting from stage 20. (Cover) The cover 40 covers the periphery of the electrode 10 so that a worker does not accidentally touch the periphery of the electrode 10 during discharging (FIG. 1). The cover 40 is attached to the back side of the upper surface of the main body via a hinge so as to be freely opened and closed.
In this example, the cover 40 is provided with a transparent viewing window 41. The view window 41 is provided so that the operator can cover the discharge state.
This is to make it possible to check directly from outside. (Clamp) A clamp 50 is protrudingly provided on the back side of the cover 40. The clamp 50 is opposed to the V-groove supporting portion 26 when the cover 40 is closed, and is for preventing the positional deviation by sandwiching the tip of the optical fiber between the clamp 50 and the V-groove supporting portion 26. In this example, a pair of plunger-like clamps 50 are provided which are normally protruded by the bias of the compression spring, but which retreat when a certain pressing force is applied. It is preferable that the tip of the clamp 50 has a cylindrical surface. According to this shape
The optical fiber can be reliably held down. During fusion splicing, the stage 20 is slid to bring the end faces of the optical fibers close to each other.
This is because the slide can be smoothly performed with respect to 0. The clamp 50 is arranged so that the axial direction of the cylindrical surface is orthogonal to the optical fiber 100. (Connection Procedure) (1) The optical fiber 100 is placed on the base 31 of the holder 30 and the lid 32
Sandwich it between. (2) A pair of holders holding the optical fiber 100
30 is mounted on each stage 20. (3) The cover 40 is closed. At that time, cover 40
The optical fiber 100 is inserted between the back clamp 50 and the V-groove support 26.
Is sandwiched. (4) In this state, the power is turned on and the connection operation is started. First, the movable stage 20A is slid, and the optical fiber 100 held on the stage 20A approaches the optical fiber 100 held on the fixed stage 20B side. (5) The end face of the optical fiber 100 to be moved is an electrode
Discharge is started when approaching 10 and a predetermined distance. By the start of the discharge, the optical fiber end faces abutted by the discharge heat are melted. Further, the movable stage 20A is slid, and both end faces of the optical fiber are connected. As described above, according to the fusion splicer of the present invention, the clamp is provided on the back side of the cover covering the electrodes and the stage, so that the optical fiber is clamped when the cover is closed. The fusion splicing operation can be efficiently performed with a small number of operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a cover of the fusion splicer of the present invention is opened. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper surface of the connecting machine of the present invention, showing a state where one holder is removed. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fusion splicer of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a holder used in the fusion splicer of the present invention. [Description of Signs] 10 Discharge electrode 20 Stage 20A Movable stage 20B Fixed stage 21 Motor 22 Eccentric cam 23 Protrusion piece 24 Guide 25 Engagement projection 26 V-groove support section 30 Holder 31 Base section 32 Cover section 33 Magnet 34 Notch 40 Cover 41 Peep Window 50 Clamp 100 Optical fiber

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A pair of discharge electrodes arranged to face each other at an interval, a stage for holding an optical fiber with connection end faces facing each other between the discharge electrodes, and a discharge electrode and a stage. An openable / closable cover that covers the whole, and is fixed to the back of this cover, and when the cover is closed,
An optical fiber fusion splicer, comprising: a clamp for holding a tip of an optical fiber held by a stage.