JP2003192021A - Packing body for optical fiber wiring board - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a packing body of a simple structure that solves the problem that, in a conventional packing configuration for optical fiber wiring board, wherein an optical fiber wiring board disposed on a support plate is covered with a wrapping film having, on one of its faces, a layer of adhesive and then the air between the support plate and the wrapping part is vacuumed so that the foregoing three parts are brought into approximately absolute contact to be made integral, effecting a packing configuration of a simple structure, the portions of the optical fibers located outside the substrate of the optical fiber wiring board in a free state are rolled up in the wrapping film while they stay suspended above the support plate, thereby causing a possibility to occur of damaging the optical fibers as they are entangled with the wrapping film at the time of unpacking. <P>SOLUTION: A protective sheet 6a that is capable of restraining expansion of the wrapping film 4 is interposed between the optical fibers 21a and the wrapping film 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an optical element, an optical circuit,
In an optical device, the present invention relates to a package for storing and transporting an optical fiber wiring board for accommodating optical fibers for performing optical wiring as a group in the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As means for optically connecting optical elements, optical circuits, optical devices and the like to each other, at least one part of an optical fiber is held on a sheet substrate in a predetermined circuit pattern. Fiber wiring boards are used. The optical fiber wiring board is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-339818.
In the publication, a plurality of optical fibers are bonded and fixed using an adhesive layer or an adhesive layer formed on a substrate.

FIG. 6 shows a general optical fiber wiring board 2. A plurality of optical fibers 21 are wired and held on the sheet substrate 24, and both ends of the optical fiber 21 are seated on the sheet substrate 2.
It is continuously pulled out to the outside of 4 and is connected in a free state. Reference numerals 21a and 21b denote free portions of the optical fiber 21 that are not fixed on the sheet substrate 24, and optical connectors 22 and 23 are provided at the tips thereof. The optical fiber 21 is configured such that wiring is held on the sheet substrate 24, and a laminated layer (not shown) is provided on the sheet to protect the optical fiber 21. As the optical fiber 21,
For example, an optical fiber core wire having an outer diameter of 250 μm in which a coating layer made of an ultraviolet curable resin or the like is provided on the outer periphery of an optical fiber body having a glass diameter of 125 μm is used, and the free portion
Also in 1a, the optical fiber core wire is often not separately reinforced.

When storing or transporting the optical fiber wiring board 2 as described above, it is necessary to provide packaging for preventing damage to the optical fiber wiring board 2. As a packing method, it is general that an optical fiber wiring board is placed on a support plate, fixed with an adhesive tape or the like, wrapped with a cushioning material, and packed in a box. However, in this packaging method, particularly in the case of an optical fiber wiring board in which a connector is attached to the tip of an optical fiber and a locally heavy component is included, a large amount of cushioning material is used for packaging. Further, in the case where the optical fiber core is exposed in the free portion 21a of the optical fiber, the free portion 21a of the optical fiber is bent to an allowable radius of curvature or more by an external force such as vibration or shock during transportation. It was required to be packaged fairly tightly, as it could be easily damaged. That is, there is a problem that a lot of packing materials and a lot of labor required for packing work are spent.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems,
A packaging form 10 of the optical fiber wiring board as shown in FIG. 7 has been considered. Reference numeral 3 is a support plate, and 4 is a wrap film having elasticity and having an adhesive layer (not shown) which is easily peelable on one surface thereof. First, the optical fiber wiring board 2 is arranged on the support plate 3, and then the wrap film 4 is covered over the optical fiber wiring board 2 with the adhesive layer facing the support plate 3 side. 3 and the wrap film 4 are stuck together. Next, the support plate 3 and the wrap film 4
The support plate 3 and the wrap film 4 are brought into close contact with each other by sucking the air between and by using a suction device or the like (not shown). Then, while the wrap film 4 extends along the surface undulations of the optical fiber wiring board 2, the support plate 3 and the wrap film 4 are brought into substantially close contact with each other with the optical fiber wiring board 2 in between, and the optical fiber wiring board 2 is supported. Fixed on 3. As a result, the packaging form 10 having a simple configuration of the support plate 3 and the wrap film 4 is realized. Note that this packaging form is generally called vacuum contact packaging.

[0006]

However, in the packaging form 10 which is the above-mentioned vacuum contact packaging, which is the conventional technique,
When the optical fiber wiring board 2 is arranged on the surface of the support plate 3, a space is generated between the optical fiber 21a and the support plate 3 at the portion A near the base of the optical connector 22 as shown in FIG. . Therefore, when the vacuum contact packaging is performed in this state, the cross-section x′-x ′ of the A portion has the wrap film 4 overextended and extends to the lower portion of the optical fiber 21a and wraps around as shown in FIG. As a result, the adhesive layers 5 provided on the wrap film 4 stick to each other while the optical fiber 21a is wound. Reference numeral 51 is a portion where the adhesive layers 5 are attached to each other.

As described above, when the optical fiber wiring board 2 vacuum-tightly packaged with the wrap film 4 wrapped around the optical fiber 21a is removed from the wrap film 4, the wrap film 4 is entangled with the optical fiber 21a, and the optical fiber 21a is easily removed. There is a problem in that, in some cases, the allowable bending radius of the optical fiber 21a may be exceeded, and the optical fiber 21a may be broken or broken in some cases.

Further, when the optical fiber wiring board 2 is arranged on the support plate 3 as shown in part B of FIG. 8, even if the support plate 3 and the optical fiber 21a are in contact with each other, the support plate 3 In the air suction work for making the wrap film 4 and the wrap film 4 substantially adhere to each other, if the suction force is too strong, the cross-section y′-y ′ of the B portion shows that the wrap film 4 is the optical fiber as shown in FIG. There is a possibility that the same problem as in the above-mentioned section A may occur due to reaching around the lower part of 21a.

The optical fiber wiring board 2 usually uses an optical fiber core wire in which a coating layer of an ultraviolet curable resin or the like is provided on the surface of the glass portion of the optical fiber. The optical fiber core wire in the free state pulled out to the outside of the sheet substrate 24 is used as it is or is covered with a flexible tube made of plastic or the like to be reinforced. Alternatively, a plurality of optical fiber core wires may be bundled into a tape shape. However, in any of these cases, the wrap film 4 is entangled to break the optical fiber, or
It has the problem of being able to damage it.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a packaging form in which the wrap film is prevented from being entangled with the optical fiber while maintaining the above-mentioned vacuum-adhesive packaging, which is a simple packaging form of the optical fiber wiring board. .

[0011]

An optical fiber wiring board in which a part of at least one optical fiber is held by a sheet substrate is sandwiched between a support plate and an elastic wrap film, and the support substrate and the In a package of an optical fiber wiring board that holds the optical fiber wiring board on the support plate by making the wrap film substantially adhere to each other, a protective cover is provided between the optical fiber drawn from the sheet substrate and the film. It is characterized by intervening.

A space is provided between the support plate and the optical fiber pulled out from the sheet substrate.

The protective cover is a sheet for preventing the wrap film from falling on the side surface of the optical fiber.

[0014]

Since the protective cover is interposed between the optical fiber pulled out from the sheet substrate of the optical fiber wiring board and the wrap film, the wrap film can be prevented from falling to the side portion of the optical fiber. Further, when the protective cover is used and a sheet is used, it is possible to control the degree to which the wrap film falls to the side portion of the optical fiber, and it is possible to configure the packaging body to be thin and lightweight.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a packaging body 1 of an optical fiber wiring board 2. First, a procedure for forming the packaging body 1 will be described.

Reference numeral 2 denotes an optical fiber wiring board, in which a plurality of optical fibers 21 are wired and held on a flexible sheet substrate 24 made of a plastic material.
Both end portions of 1 are continuously drawn out to the outside of the sheet substrate 24 and are connected in a free state. 21a is an optical fiber 2
1 is a free portion, and an optical connector 22 is provided at the tip thereof. As the optical fiber 21, for example, an optical fiber core wire having an outer diameter of 250 μm, in which a coating layer made of an ultraviolet curable resin or the like is provided on the outer periphery of an optical fiber main body having a glass diameter of 125 μm, is used. The line is exposed. Further, 21b is also a free portion of the optical fiber 21, and a plurality of the optical fibers 21 in the state of the optical fiber core are tape-shaped or inserted into a flexible tube to be bundled, and at the tip thereof,
A multi-core optical connector 23 is provided. The optical fiber 21 which is wire-held on the sheet substrate 24 is protected by, for example, attaching a flexible sheet-like laminating material made of a plastic material (not shown).

Reference numeral 3 denotes a support plate, which may be of any hardness as long as the optical fiber wiring board 2 is placed on the support plate 3 so that the shape of the support plate 3 can be substantially maintained. Reference numeral 4 denotes a stretchable wrap film, and an adhesive layer having a weak adhesive force, such as an acrylic adhesive layer, is formed on the entire one side surface thereof. As the wrap film 4, for example, a film made of polyethylene having a thickness of about 100 μm or a film made of polypropylene having a thickness of about 100 μm is used. Reference numeral 6a is a protective sheet having a smaller stretchability than the wrap film 4 at room temperature, and for example, a sheet made of polypropylene and having a thickness of about 100 μm is used. In addition,
The protective sheet 6a corresponds to the protective cover of the present invention.

First, the optical fiber wiring board 2 is placed on the support plate 3 described above. Next, the protective sheet 6a is arranged so as to cover the group of optical fibers 21a. At that time, the protective sheet 6a is at least the optical connector 2 shown in FIG.
It is arranged so as to cover the space portion A between the optical fiber 21a and the support plate 3 generated near the root of 2. Further, at this time, as shown in FIG. 1, it is preferable that the end portions of the optical connector 22 group and the protective sheet 6a are arranged so as to overlap each other. Furthermore, the protective sheet 6a covers the entire optical fiber 21a group including the portion B where the optical fiber 21a and the support plate 3 are in contact with each other as shown in FIG. It is more preferable to dispose the sheet substrate 24 so as to overlap it.

Next, the wrap film 4 is covered over the optical fiber wiring board 2 and the protective sheet 6a with the adhesive layer facing the support plate 3 side, and the air between the support plate 3 and the wrap film 4 is covered. The optical fiber wiring board 2 is wrapped with the wrap film 4 on the support plate 3 and held by the suction device or the like to substantially bring them into close contact with each other, thereby completing the package 1. FIG. 2 shows a cross section taken along line xx shown in FIG. 1, that is, a cross section of a space portion A having a space between the optical fiber 21 a and the support plate 3 near the root of the optical connector 22. . In the cross section, the optical fiber 21a
The group is held apart from the support plate 3, and the optical fiber 21a
A wrap film 4 having an adhesive layer 5 is covered with a protective sheet 6a on the group. Protective sheet 6a
Is formed of a material that is capable of suppressing the elongation of the wrap film 4 and that is less stretchable than the wrap film 4. Therefore, when the air between the support plate 3 and the wrap film 4 is sucked to bring them into close contact with each other, the wrap film 4 tries to extend from between the group of optical fibers 21a toward the support plate 3 direction. Since the protective sheet 6a interposed between the group of fibers 21a and the wrap film 4 suppresses the extension of the wrap film 4, a space between the support plate 3 and the wrap film 4 is secured, which is shown in FIG. It is possible to prevent the optical fiber 21a from being caught by the wrap film 4 as described above. In addition, the protective sheet 6a is attached to the optical connector 21.
Since it is arranged so as to overlap the end of the optical fiber, it is possible to more reliably prevent the wrap film 4 from entering between the optical fibers 21a. At this time, if the wrap film 4 is heated by a heater (not shown), the stretchability is improved and the wrap film 4 can be easily adhered.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line yy shown in FIG. 1, that is, a sectional view of a contact portion B where the optical fiber 21a and the supporting plate 3 are held in contact with each other. Regarding the contact portion B as well as the space portion A described above, the protective sheet 6a suppresses the elongation of the wrap film 4. Therefore, the support plate 3
If the suction force is too strong when the air is sucked between the wrap film 4 and the wrap film 4, the wrap film 4 may go around the lower part of the optical fiber 21a and wind the optical fiber 21a, as shown in FIG. There was, but this can be prevented.
Further, the protective sheet 6a is arranged so as to overlap the sheet substrate 24, and the gap seen from the surface direction near the root of the optical fiber 21a group on the sheet substrate 24 side is eliminated.
It is possible to more reliably prevent the wrap film 4 from entering between the optical fibers 21a.

In the above embodiment, the protective cover 6a made of polypropylene is used as the protective cover, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a plastic sheet other than the above, or a sheet made of paper, rubber, metal, or the like. It is sufficient that the wrap film 4 can be prevented from expanding and the holding state of the optical fiber wiring board 1 on the support plate 3 is not hindered when it becomes a package. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the protective sheet 6a is provided on the exposed portion of the optical fiber core (the space portion A, the contact portion B) has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. The protective sheet 6a is also provided between the wrap film 4 and the optical fiber 21b even for the optical fiber 21b in a free state in which a plurality of optical fibers 21 are tape-shaped or are inserted into a flexible tube to be collected. By interposing a protective sheet similar to the above, it is possible to prevent the optical fiber 21b from being caught by the wrap film 4. Further, in the above embodiment, the adhesive layer 5 is provided on the wrap film 4 side, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the adhesive layer may be provided on the support plate 3 side to form a package of the optical fiber wiring board 2. . Alternatively, the support plate 3 and the wrap film 4
Even if both are not provided with an adhesive layer, a combination of materials that allows the optical fiber wiring board 1 to be held on the support plate 3 by bonding the both by static electricity or vacuum contact is selected. 3 and the wrap film 4 may be configured.

Further, instead of the above-mentioned protective sheet 6a,
You may use the protective cover 6b shown in FIG. The protective cover 6b is formed by shaping a material such as plastic into a substantially U-shaped cross section, and has elasticity to prevent the wrap film 4 from stretching. The protective cover 6b is such that the open side of the U-shaped cross section faces the support plate 3 side and the optical fiber 2
The optical fibers are arranged so as to straddle the group 1a, and overlap with the base end portion of the optical connector 22 group and the sheet substrate 24 at the base portion of the optical fiber 21a group when viewed from the surface direction of the support plate 3. It is arranged so as to cover the group 21a. Next, the wrap film 4 having the adhesive layer 5 formed thereon
And the air between the support plate 3 and the wrap film 4 is sucked and brought into close contact with each other to complete the package 1'of the optical fiber wiring board 1.

FIG. 5 shows the vicinity of the base of the optical connector group 22.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ww of the portion A shown in FIG. 4 in which the optical fiber 21a is held in a separated state from the support plate 3. The protective cover 6b is separated from the optical fiber 21a group,
Arranged on the support plate 3 in a state of straddling the group, from above,
It is covered by a wrap film 4 having an adhesive layer 5. As described above, since the protective cover 6b is arranged so that one end thereof overlaps the optical connector 22 group and rides up, the height Z of the protective cover 6b can accommodate at least the base end portion of the optical connector 22 group. Has a height of. Further, it is preferable that the protective cover 6b has a holding force sufficient to maintain a substantially U-shape during the suction work. However, if the suction force is too strong, the substantially U-shape may be deformed, but since one end portion of the protective cover 6b is arranged so as to ride on the optical connector 22, at least the optical connector 22 is disposed. In the vicinity of group 22, the protective cover 6b is kept substantially U-shaped at the height of the base end of the optical connector 22. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to secure a gap between the protective cover 6b and the optical fiber 21a group, or to keep the protective cover 6b and the optical fiber 21a group in contact with each other. The wrap film 4 is prevented from stretching and falling between the optical fibers 21a. Since the protective cover 6b is interposed between the optical fiber 21a group and the wrap film 4 also in the portion where the optical fiber 21a group near the sheet substrate 24 is in contact with the support plate 3, the wrap film 4 covers the optical fiber 21a. I will not get involved. In the present embodiment, the protective cover 6b has been described as being made of a plastic material, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be made of a material such as paper, rubber or metal so that the wrap film 4 can be prevented from stretching. Good. At this time, if the wrap film 4 is heated by a heater (not shown), the stretchability is improved and the wrap film 4 can be easily adhered.

[0024]

The packaging form of the optical fiber wiring board according to the present invention is simpler than the conventional vacuum packaging, in which only a protective cover is added as a packaging material, and it can be packaged in a short time. A wrap film for holding the optical fiber wiring board on the support plate while realizing the body is provided with optical fibers (21a, 21a) drawn from the optical fiber wiring board.
This has achieved the prevention of being caught in b). Therefore,
When the optical fiber wiring board is removed from the package, the wrapping film is not entangled with the optical fiber, so that the risk of damaging the optical fiber is eliminated.

Further, when the protective cover 6b shown in FIG. 4 is used as the protective cover, the protective cover 6b serves as a strut for suppressing the pressing force of the wrap film 4 trying to extend toward the support plate 3. The gap between the optical fiber 21a and the protective cover 6b can be maintained, or the gap between the optical fiber 21a and the protective cover 6b can be maintained. As a result, it is possible to prevent an extra load from being applied to the optical fiber 21a, so that it is possible to suppress a subtle characteristic change of the optical fiber wiring board 2 caused by the influence of an external load.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a package of an optical fiber wiring board according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line xx of the package shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the package shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line yy.

FIG. 4 is a package of the optical fiber wiring board of the present invention.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line zz of the package shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an optical fiber wiring board.

FIG. 7 is a conventional package of optical fiber wiring boards.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the package of FIG.

9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line x'-x 'of the package shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line y′-y ′ of the package shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1'Package of optical fiber wiring board 2 Optical fiber wiring board 21 Optical fibers 21a, 21b Free portion of optical fiber (optical fiber) 24 Sheet substrate 3 Support plate 4 Wrap film 6a Protective sheet (protective cover) 6b Protective cover

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2H038 CA33 CA52                 3E067 AA12 AB31 AC01 BA15A                       BA18A BB01A BB11A BB14A                       BB24A CA02 EA05 EA32                       EB22 EC32 EC33 FA02 FB11                       FC01

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber wiring board in which a part of at least one optical fiber is wire-held on a sheet substrate is sandwiched between a support plate and a stretchable wrap film, and the support substrate and the wrap film are sandwiched. In a package of an optical fiber wiring board in which the optical fiber wiring board is held in close contact with the supporting plate, a protective cover is interposed between the optical fiber pulled out from the sheet substrate and the film. A package for optical fiber wiring boards, characterized by: 2. The package for an optical fiber wiring board according to claim 1, wherein there is a space between the support plate and the optical fiber pulled out from the sheet substrate. 3. The package for an optical fiber wiring board according to claim 1, wherein the protective cover is a sheet that prevents the wrap film from falling on the side surface of the optical fiber.