JP2004233860A - Optical fiber jacket dust removing apparatus, optical fiber jacket dust removing method, optical fiber cleaning apparatus and optical fiber cleaning method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber jacket dust removing apparatus, an optical fiber jacket dust removing method, an optical fiber cleaning apparatus and an optical fiber cleaning method for reliably removing jacket dust on optical fibers with a simple apparatus when cleaning the jacket dust on the optical fibers from which a jacket part is removed. <P>SOLUTION: The optical fiber jacket dust removing apparatus 100 comprises: rotation brushes 1a, 1b which scrape down the jacket dust of the optical fibers; dust-spreading prevention walls 2a, 2b which prevent the dust removed by the rotation brushes 1a, 1b from being attached to the optical fibers again; dust removing parts 3a, 3b which remove the jacket dust attached to bristle tops of the rotation brushes 1a, 1b; brush shaft fixing parts 4a, 4b which fix the rotation brushes 1a, 1b; and a rack 5 and a pinion 6 which open and close the rotation brush 1a on a gear 7a and the rotation brush 1b on a gear 7b. The optical fiber jacket dust removing apparatus 100 is singly used or is used in combination with other apparatus and the jacket dust on the optical fibers are reliably removed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical fiber debris removal apparatus and an optical fiber debris removal method for quickly cleaning coating debris on the surface of a fiber strand from which a coating has been removed and providing a bare fiber having no surface debris. The present invention relates to an optical fiber cleaning device and an optical fiber cleaning method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The optical fiber has a small outer diameter of about 0.1 to 0.2 mm and is difficult to handle, and if it is used as it is, the surface is easily damaged and the mechanical strength tends to decrease. Depending on the structure, a plastic material such as a nylon resin is further coated thereon.
[0003]
Therefore, when connecting optical fibers to each other or processing them into a fusion-type optical device or the like, it is necessary to appropriately remove the coating applied to the optical fibers over a required length. Known methods for removing the coating include a method of stripping the coating using a hard blade, a method of immersing the coating in a solution of concentrated sulfuric acid or the like for about 7 to 15 minutes, and then stripping the coating with a piece of plastic or the like and a method of removing the coating by electric discharge. Have been.
[0004]
Since the coating debris adheres to the surface of the uncoated fiber strand, it is necessary to clean the debris. Conventional techniques include a method of scraping off coating debris on an optical fiber from which the coating has been removed with a fingertip using wipe paper or gauze impregnated with alcohol, or inserting an optical fiber between a pair of rotating or micro-vibrating brushes. Then, a method of removing the coating debris (for example, refer to Patent Document 1), a method of cleaning the fiber strand after removing the coating with an ultrasonic cleaner (for example, see Patent Document 2), a discharge electrode and a gas torch And the like, in which the coating-removed optical fiber is heated at a temperature lower than the softening point of the optical fiber and higher than the flash point of the coating resin to incinerate the coating waste (for example, see Patent Document 3). .
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-60-79305
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-61-185701
[Patent Document 3]
JP-A-63-318506
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the method of scraping off the coating debris on the optical fiber from which the coating has been removed with a fingertip using wipe paper or gauze impregnated with alcohol, since it is performed manually, it takes a long time, and further skill is required. There was a problem that it was necessary.
[0009]
In the technique of inserting an optical fiber between a pair of rotating or micro-vibrating brushes to remove coating debris, there is a problem that although large coating debris can be removed, small coating debris remains on the fiber strand.
[0010]
In the method of cleaning the fiber strand after removing the coating with an ultrasonic cleaner, the coating debris remains in the cleaning liquid after cleaning, and if the cleaning is repeated in that state, the coating debris in the cleaning liquid adheres to the fiber strand again. Therefore, it was necessary to frequently change the cleaning solution. In addition, there are problems that the cost of the cleaning liquid is increased and that the cleaning device itself becomes huge.
[0011]
In the method of incinerating the coating waste using a discharge electrode and a gas torch, etc., in order to completely incinerate large coating waste, the temperature of the device becomes high and the tensile strength of the optical fiber decreases. There is a problem that the cutting step and the fusion step may not be performed. In addition, there is a problem that the cleaning device itself becomes huge due to the mounting of the discharge circuit and the gas torch.
[0012]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when cleaning the coating debris on the fiber strand from which the coating has been removed, the coating debris on the fiber strand is reliably removed by a simple device. The present invention relates to an optical fiber coating dust removing device, an optical fiber coating dust removing method, an optical fiber cleaning device, and an optical fiber cleaning method.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first feature of the present invention is (a) an apparatus for cleaning coating debris adhering to an optical fiber from which an optical fiber coating has been removed, and (b) traveling. A light that is disposed so as to be in contact with the path of the fiber strand and that removes the coating debris; and (c) a light that includes a debris diffusion preventing wall that prevents the brush-removed debris from scattering in the running direction. The gist of the present invention is to be a fiber coating waste removing device. Further, a first feature of the present invention is that (d) the removal of the coating debris is performed by rotating the brush to scrape the coating debris, and (e) contacting the bristle tip of the rotating brush. (G) the dust diffusion preventing wall and the dust removing portion are integrated with each other, and (h) the dust diffusion preventing wall is provided with a dust removing portion for removing the coating dust attached to the hair tips. A CCD camera provided with a dust collecting portion for collecting the scattered covering dust, (i) a CCD camera arranged in a running direction of the fiber strand and photographing a state of the covering dust on the fiber strand; A cleaning control unit that performs feedback control of removal of the covering dust by the brush according to the state of the covering dust captured by the CCD camera may be added.
[0014]
A second feature of the present invention is that (a) a brush which is disposed so as to be in contact with the running path of the fiber strand from which the coating of the optical fiber has been removed, and which removes coating debris on the fiber strand by rotation; An optical fiber having a debris diffusion preventing wall for preventing scattering of the coated debris in the traveling direction, a debris removing portion disposed to be in contact with the bristle tips of the rotating brush, and for removing the debris attached to the bristle tips An optical fiber cleaning apparatus comprising: a coating waste removing unit; and (b) an incineration unit that incinerates the coating waste on the fiber wire at a temperature below the softening point of the fiber wire and above the flash point of the coating waste. Is the gist.
[0015]
A third feature of the present invention is that (a) a brush which is disposed so as to be in contact with the running path of the optical fiber from which the coating of the optical fiber has been removed, and which removes coating debris on the optical fiber by rotation; An optical fiber having a debris diffusion preventing wall for preventing scattering of the coated debris in the traveling direction, a debris removing portion disposed to be in contact with the bristle tips of the rotating brush, and for removing the debris attached to the bristle tips The gist of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber cleaning device including a coating waste removing unit and (b) a cleaning unit that cleans the coating waste on the fiber strand with a cleaning liquid.
[0016]
A fourth feature of the present invention is that (a) a step of removing coating debris adhering at the time of the coating removal by rotating a brush that is in contact with the running path of the fiber after removing the coating of the optical fiber; (B) a step of preventing the scattering of the covering debris removed by the brush in the running direction by a debris diffusion preventing wall; and (c) a debris removing portion in contact with the rotating bristles of the brush; Removing the coating debris.
[0017]
A fifth feature of the present invention is that (a) a step of removing a coating debris adhered at the time of the coating removal by rotating a brush that is in contact with a running path of the optical fiber after the coating removal of the optical fiber; (B) a step of preventing the scattering of the covering debris removed by the brush in the running direction by a debris diffusion preventing wall; and (c) a debris removing portion in contact with the rotating bristles of the brush; An optical fiber cleaning method comprising the steps of: removing coating debris; and (d) incinerating the coating debris on the fiber strand at a temperature below the softening point of the fiber strand and above the flash point of the coating strand. That is the gist.
[0018]
A sixth feature of the present invention is that (a) a step of removing a coating debris adhered at the time of the coating removal by rotating a brush in contact with a running path of the optical fiber after the coating removal of the optical fiber; (B) a step of preventing the coating waste removed by the brush from scattering in the running direction by the waste diffusion preventing wall; and (c) the coating removal adhering to the bristle tip of the rotating brush. The gist of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber cleaning method including a step of removing dust and a step of (d) washing the coating dust on the fiber strand with a cleaning liquid.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, an optical fiber coating dust removing apparatus and an optical fiber cleaning apparatus according to the first to fifth embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar symbols. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and specific thicknesses and dimensions should be determined in consideration of the following description. In addition, it is needless to say that the drawings include portions having different dimensional relationships and ratios.
[0020]
(First Embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, an optical fiber covering dust removing apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes rotating brushes 1a and 1b, dust diffusion preventing walls 2a and 2b, dust removing units 3a and 3b, a brush shaft. It is composed of fixing parts 4a, 4b, rack 5, pinion 6, gears 7a, 7b and the like.
[0021]
The rotating brushes 1a and 1b are brushes for scraping off coating debris on the fiber strand, and are rotated by power from a motor (not shown). The wire diameter of the rotating brushes 1a and 1b is preferably 0.125 mm or less, which is the pitch of the tape-type optical fiber core wires. This is because, as shown in FIG. 2, in a general tape-type optical fiber core, optical fibers having a diameter of 0.125 mm are arranged at intervals of 0.125 mm. The inventor conducted an experiment on the material and the number of rotations of the rotating brushes 1a and 1b. In this experiment, a plurality of optical fibers were brush-cleaned and run at a speed of 160 mm / s by a heater at about 700 ° C. As a result, the result as shown in the table of FIG. 3 was obtained. In the table, “○” indicates that a good removal effect was obtained, and “×” indicates that a good removal effect was not obtained. From this, it was found that the same material removal effect can be obtained by using either nylon or animal hair as the material of the brush, and that the rotation speed of the rotating brushes 1a and 1b is preferably 300 rpm or more. Further, it is preferable that the rotating brushes 1a and 1b are installed so as to intersect at right angles with the traveling direction of the optical fiber.
[0022]
The debris diffusion preventing walls 2a and 2b are components for preventing the debris removed by the rotary brushes 1a and 1b from adhering to the fiber strand again. After the debris removal and cleaning by 1a and 1b, it is arranged on the pulling-out direction side. The debris diffusion prevention walls 2a and 2b are made of a material such as iron or plastic. The debris removal units 3a and 3b are components for flipping and removing the coating debris attached to the tips of the rotating brushes 1a and 1b, and are disposed so as to be in contact with the tips of the rotating brushes 1a and 1b. Further, the dust diffusion preventing walls 2a, 2b and the dust removing portions 3a, 3b may be present as separate components, or may be present as an integral component as shown in FIGS. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the dust diffusion preventing walls 2a and 2b may be provided with a dust collecting portion 14 for collecting the scattered coating dust. The dust collecting section 14 is removable, and it is preferable to discard and wash the coating waste collected at regular intervals. In order to remove the dust collecting portion 14, a method of manufacturing the dust collecting portion 14, the dust diffusion preventing walls 2a, 2b, the dust removing portions 3a, 3b, and the like as an integrated component, and removing the entire component can be employed. , The dust collecting portion 14 and the dust diffusion preventing walls 2a, 2b and the dust removing portions 3a, 3b, etc. can be separated, and as shown in FIG. There is a method in which one or more claw holes 14b are provided in the wall 2a and the debris removing portion 3a, and the claw portions 14a and the claw hole portions 14b are supported by fitting. In addition, a method of fixing using a bolt and a nut or the like, an inner protruding portion is provided along the circumferential direction on the inner wall surface of the dust collecting portion 14, and the inside of the dust diffusion preventing walls 2a and 2b and the dust removing portions 3a and 3b are formed. By providing an outer protrusion on the wall surface along the circumferential direction, and rotating the cylinder of the dust collecting portion 14 at a predetermined angle of about 10 degrees with respect to the dust diffusion preventing walls 2a, 2b and the dust removing portions 3a, 3b, etc. There is a method of setting such that the inner protrusion and the outer protrusion are arranged on the fitting direction side.
[0023]
The brush shaft fixing portions 4a and 4b are components for fixing the rotating brushes 1a and 1b, and are arranged on the side surfaces of the rotating brushes 1a and 1b in parallel with the rotating brushes 1a and 1b. The rotating brushes 1a and 1b push up the rotatable upper end surface 11 of the brush shaft fixing portions 4a and 4b as shown in FIG. 2), the upper end surface 11 is lowered again to fix the rotating brushes 1a and 1b. For fixing inside the gears 7a and 7b, for example, the fitting may be performed by fitting into the gear hole 12 as shown in FIG. 5, or as shown in FIG. Is also good.
[0024]
The rack 5 and the pinion 6 are components for opening and closing the rotating brush 1a on the gear 7a and the rotating brush 1b on the gear 7b, and adjust the opening and closing ratio according to the width of the optical fiber to be cleaned and the degree of contamination. This operation may be automatically controlled by a motor or the like (not shown) or may be set manually.
[0025]
Next, the operation of the optical fiber coating dust removing apparatus 100 will be described below.
[0026]
(A) First, the rotating brushes 1a and 1b rotate in the opposite direction to the direction in which the optical fiber is pulled out by the power of a motor (not shown). The rotation speed is preferably about 160 mm / s.
[0027]
(B) Next, the rack 5 and the pinion 6 are adjusted, and the gears 7a and 7b are arranged at appropriate positions. The appropriate position refers to a position where the tips of the rotating brushes 1a and 1b slightly overlap each other. The degree of the overlap is adjusted by the remaining amount of the coating dust on the fiber strand.
[0028]
(C) The coating dust scraped off by the rotating rotating brushes 1a and 1b is sieved by the dust removing units 3a and 3b. Furthermore, the debris diffusion prevention walls 2a and 2b prevent the scattered coating debris from re-adhering to the drawn fiber strand 9.
[0029]
As described above, according to the optical fiber coating dust removing apparatus 100, it is possible to reliably remove the coating dust on the fiber by a simple device. Further, since the apparatus is simple, it is possible to reduce the cost and reduce the size of the cleaning apparatus.
[0030]
(Example of change)
As shown in the structural view of the rotary brush in FIG. 7 as viewed from above, the above-described optical fiber coating debris removing apparatus 100 can obtain a desired effect even with one rotary brush. Of course. This is particularly effective when there is little coating debris on the fiber strand or when there is no space for mounting two rotating brushes.
[0031]
By combining the optical fiber coating dust removing device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention with another device, it is possible to obtain an optical fiber cleaning device that can expect a more reliable cleaning effect. Details will be described in the following second to fifth embodiments.
[0032]
(Second embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 8, an optical fiber cleaning device 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention includes rotating brushes 1a, 1b, dust diffusion preventing walls 2a, 2b, dust removing portions 3a, 3b, and a brush shaft fixing portion. 4a, 4b, a heater 15, and the like. The rotating brushes 1a and 1b are moved and rotated by motors, racks, pinions, gears, and the like (not shown). The heater 15 is heated to about 700 ° C. and incinerates fine covering dust on the fiber strand 9. Further, the shape of the heater 15 may be a double heater 15a shown in FIG. 9A or a U-shaped heater 15b shown in FIG. 9B. Hereinafter, the description is omitted because the same device as that of the first embodiment is used.
[0033]
Hereinafter, the operation of the optical fiber cleaning device 200 will be described.
[0034]
(A) First, the rotating brushes 1a and 1b rotate in the opposite direction to the direction in which the optical fiber is pulled out by the power of a motor (not shown). The rotation speed is preferably about 160 mm / s.
[0035]
(B) Next, the rack 5 and the pinion 6 are adjusted, and the gears 7a and 7b are arranged at appropriate positions.
[0036]
(C) The coating dust scraped off by the rotating rotating brushes 1a and 1b is sieved by the dust removing units 3a and 3b. Furthermore, the debris diffusion prevention walls 2a and 2b prevent the scattered coating debris from re-adhering to the drawn fiber strand 9.
[0037]
(D) Further, the heater 15 incinerates fine covering debris on the fiber strand 9 that cannot be scraped off by the rotating brushes 1a and 1b. At a temperature of about 700 ° C., there is a sufficient removal effect for incineration of the fine covering dust after cleaning by the rotating brushes 1a and 1b. For this reason, the fiber strand 9 does not deteriorate due to heat generated around it during incineration. Since the heater 15 may melt the coating 10, the heater 15 moves to a position away from the coating 10 when the coating 10 of the optical fiber 8 runs on the heater 15 side.
[0038]
As described above, according to the optical fiber cleaning device 200, it is possible to more reliably remove the coating debris on the fiber by a simple device by combining the melting of the coating debris by the heater and the scraping by the rotating brush. Become. Further, since the apparatus is simple, it is possible to reduce the cost and reduce the size of the cleaning apparatus.
[0039]
(Third embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 10, the optical fiber cleaning device 300 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes rotating brushes 1a and 1b, dust diffusion preventing walls 2a and 2b, dust removing units 3a and 3b, and a brush shaft fixing unit. 4a, 4b, electrode rods 16a, 16b and the like. The rotating brushes 1a and 1b are moved and rotated by motors, racks, pinions, gears, and the like (not shown). The electrode rods 16a and 16b perform a weak discharge by an aerial arc discharge. This is performed within a range that does not affect the tensile strength of the optical fiber 8. Hereinafter, the description is omitted because the same device as that of the first embodiment is used.
[0040]
Hereinafter, the operation of the optical fiber cleaning device 300 will be described.
[0041]
(A) First, the rotating brushes 1a and 1b rotate in the opposite direction to the direction in which the optical fiber is pulled out by the power of a motor (not shown). The rotation speed is preferably about 160 mm / s.
[0042]
(B) Next, the rack 5 and the pinion 6 are adjusted, and the gears 7a and 7b are arranged at appropriate positions.
[0043]
(C) The coating dust scraped off by the rotating rotating brushes 1a and 1b is sieved by the dust removing units 3a and 3b. Furthermore, the debris diffusion prevention walls 2a and 2b prevent the scattered coating debris from re-adhering to the drawn fiber strand 9.
[0044]
(D) Further, by the weak discharge of the electrode rods 16a and 16b, the fine coating dust on the fiber strand 9 that has not been scraped off by the rotating brushes 1a and 1b is incinerated and removed.
[0045]
According to the above, since the cleaning is once performed by the rotating brushes 1a and 1b and the covering dust is fine, a sufficient removal result can be obtained by a weak discharge, and the heat generated at the time of the discharge deteriorates the fiber strand 9. There is no.
[0046]
As described above, according to the optical fiber cleaning device 300, by combining the removal of the coating waste by discharge and the scraping by the rotating brush, it is possible to more reliably remove the coating waste on the fiber strand with a simple device. . Further, since the apparatus is simple, it is possible to reduce the cost and reduce the size of the cleaning apparatus.
[0047]
(Fourth embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 11, an optical fiber cleaning device 400 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention includes rotating brushes 1a and 1b, dust diffusion preventing walls 2a and 2b, dust removing portions 3a and 3b, and a brush shaft fixing portion. 4a, 4b, a tank 20, a pump 21, a washing tank 22, a vibrator 23, a tube 24, and the like. The rotating brushes 1a and 1b are moved and rotated by motors, racks, pinions, gears, and the like (not shown).
[0048]
The tank 20 is a container for storing the cleaning liquid. As the cleaning liquid, methyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol is suitable. Methyl alcohol (CH ₃ OH) is a colorless transparent flammable liquid and one of solvents such as polyvinyl acetate. Ethyl alcohol (C ₂ H ₅ OH) is a colorless flammable liquid having an acetone odor and is one of the solvents for thermoplastic resins.
[0049]
The pump 21 sends the cleaning liquid to the cleaning tank 22 via the tube 24. The cleaning tank 22 temporarily stores a cleaning liquid for immersing the fiber 9. In addition, the coating dust on the fiber strand 9 is washed away by the vibration of the vibrator 23 attached to the washing tank 22. Hereinafter, the description is omitted because the same device as that of the first embodiment is used.
[0050]
Hereinafter, the operation of the optical fiber cleaning device 400 will be described.
[0051]
(A) First, the rotating brushes 1a and 1b rotate in the opposite direction to the direction in which the optical fiber is pulled out by the power of a motor (not shown). The rotation speed is preferably about 160 mm / s.
[0052]
(B) Next, the rack 5 and the pinion 6 are adjusted, and the gears 7a and 7b are arranged at appropriate positions.
[0053]
(C) The coating dust scraped off by the rotating rotating brushes 1a and 1b is sieved by the dust removing units 3a and 3b. Furthermore, the debris diffusion prevention walls 2a and 2b prevent the scattered coating debris from re-adhering to the drawn fiber strand 9.
[0054]
(D) Further, in the cleaning tank 22, fine coating debris on the fiber strand 9 that cannot be scraped off by the rotating brushes 1a and 1b are cleaned and removed.
[0055]
According to the above, since the cleaning is once performed by the rotating brushes 1a and 1b and the coating dust is fine, the size of the cleaning tank 22 and the amount of the cleaning liquid can be smaller and smaller than those in the related art.
[0056]
As described above, according to the optical fiber cleaning device 400, it is possible to more reliably remove the coating debris on the fiber strand with a simple device by combining the cleaning of the coating debris with the cleaning liquid and the scraping by the rotating brush. . Further, since the apparatus is simple, it is possible to reduce the cost and reduce the size of the cleaning apparatus.
[0057]
(Fifth embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 12, an optical fiber cleaning device 500 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention includes rotating brushes 1a and 1b, dust diffusion preventing walls 2a and 2b, dust removing portions 3a and 3b, and a brush shaft fixing portion. 4a, 4b, a CCD camera 30, an image memory 31, a cleaning controller 32, and the like. The rotating brushes 1a and 1b are moved and rotated by motors, racks, pinions, gears, and the like (not shown).
[0058]
The CCD camera 30 reads the state of the coating dust on the fiber strand 9 as an image. The image memory 31 stores an image of the optical fiber read by the CCD camera 30. The cleaning control unit 32 determines whether or not cleaning by the rotating brushes 1a and 1b is necessary again based on the image of the fiber element wire 9, and if it is determined that cleaning is necessary, the cleaning element 32 applies the fiber element to the rotating brushes 1a and 1b. Feedback control is performed to clean the line 9 at the portion requiring re-cleaning. Hereinafter, the description is omitted because the same device as that of the first embodiment is used.
[0059]
Hereinafter, the operation of the optical fiber cleaning device 500 will be described.
[0060]
(A) First, the rotating brushes 1a and 1b rotate in the opposite direction to the direction in which the optical fiber is pulled out by the power of a motor (not shown). The rotation speed is preferably about 160 mm / s.
[0061]
(B) Next, the rack 5 and the pinion 6 are adjusted, and the gears 7a and 7b are arranged at appropriate positions.
[0062]
(C) The coating dust scraped off by the rotating rotating brushes 1a and 1b is sieved by the dust removing units 3a and 3b. Furthermore, the debris diffusion prevention walls 2a and 2b prevent the scattered coating debris from re-adhering to the drawn fiber strand 9.
[0063]
(D) Further, the CCD camera 30 captures an image indicating the state of the covering dust on the fiber strand 9 and stores it in the image memory 31. The cleaning control unit 32 acquires an image indicating the state of the covering dust from the image memory 31 and, when there is a portion that needs to be cleaned again, causes the rotating brushes 1a and 1b to clean the corresponding portion.
[0064]
The feedback control using the CCD camera 30 can be used in the second to fourth embodiments. For example, after large coating dust is scraped off by the rotating rotating brushes 1a and 1b, fine coating dust is removed by melting with heat, discharging, washing with a cleaning liquid, or the like. Thereafter, by performing feedback control using the CCD camera 30 and the cleaning control unit 22, it is possible to more reliably remove the coating dust.
[0065]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, an optical fiber debris removing device and an optical fiber coated debris removing device capable of quickly cleaning coating debris on the surface of a fiber strand from which a coating has been removed and providing a bare fiber having no surface debris A removal method, an optical fiber cleaning device, and an optical fiber cleaning method can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical fiber coating dust removing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a fiber strand at an end of an optical fiber cable.
FIG. 3 is a table showing experimental results such as a material, a linear shape, and a rotation speed of a rotating brush.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a method of fixing a rotating brush.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a method of fixing a rotating brush.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a method of fixing a rotating brush.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an optical fiber coating dust removing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing an optical fiber cleaning device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the shape of a heater.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an optical fiber cleaning device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an optical fiber cleaning device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an optical fiber cleaning device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a view showing a modified example of the waste diffusion preventing wall.
[Explanation of symbols]
1a, 1b: rotating brushes 2a, 2b: debris diffusion preventing walls 3a, 3b: debris removing portions 4a, 4b: brush shaft fixing portion 5: rack 6: pinions 7a, 7b: gear 8: optical fiber 9: fiber strand 10 ... Coating part 15 ... Heaters 16a and 16b ... Electrode rod 20 ... Tank 21 ... Pump 22 ... Cleaning tank 22 ... Cleaning controller 23 ... Vibrator 24 ... Tube 30 ... CCD camera 31 ... Image memory 32 ... Cleaning controller 100 ... Light Fiber coating debris removal device 200 Optical fiber cleaning device 300 Optical fiber cleaning device 400 Optical fiber cleaning device 500 Optical fiber cleaning device

Claims (15)

An apparatus for cleaning coating debris adhering to a fiber strand from which an optical fiber coating has been removed,
A brush arranged to be in contact with the traveling path of the traveling fiber strand, and a brush for removing the covering debris;
An optical fiber coating dust removing device, comprising: a dust diffusion preventing wall for preventing the coating dust removed by the brush from scattering in a running direction. The removal of the coating waste is performed by rotating the brush to scrape the coating waste,
2. The optical fiber coating waste removing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a waste removing unit that is disposed so as to be in contact with the bristle tip of the rotating brush and that removes the coating waste attached to the bristle tip. 3. The optical fiber covering dust removing device according to claim 2, wherein the dust diffusion preventing wall and the dust removing unit are integrated. The optical fiber coating dust removing device according to claim 1, wherein the dust diffusion preventing wall includes a dust collecting unit for collecting the scattered coating dust. A CCD camera arranged in the running direction of the fiber strand and imaging a state of the covering dust on the fiber strand,
2. The optical fiber coating waste removing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a cleaning control unit that performs feedback control of removal of the coating waste by the brush according to a state of the coating waste captured by the CCD camera. 3. . A brush that is disposed so as to be in contact with the running path of the fiber strand from which the coating of the optical fiber has been removed, and removes the coating dust on the fiber strand by rotation, and prevents the coating dust removed by the brush from scattering in the running direction. A debris diffusion preventing wall, an optical fiber coating debris removing unit that is disposed so as to be in contact with the bristle tip of the rotating brush, and has a debris removing unit that removes the coating debris attached to the bristle tip;
An optical fiber cleaning apparatus, comprising: an incineration section that incinerates the coating dust on the fiber strand at a temperature equal to or lower than the softening point of the fiber strand and equal to or higher than the flash point of the coating strand. A CCD camera arranged in the running direction of the fiber strand, for photographing a state of the coating dust on the fiber strand,
The optical fiber cleaning device according to claim 6, further comprising: a cleaning control unit that performs feedback control of removal of the covering dust by the brush according to a state of the covering dust captured by the CCD camera. A brush that is disposed so as to be in contact with the running path of the fiber strand from which the coating of the optical fiber has been removed, and removes the coating dust on the fiber strand by rotation, and prevents the coating dust removed by the brush from scattering in the running direction. A debris diffusion preventing wall, an optical fiber coating debris removing unit that is disposed so as to be in contact with the bristle tip of the rotating brush, and has a debris removing unit that removes the coating debris attached to the bristle tip;
An optical fiber cleaning device, comprising: a cleaning unit that cleans the coating debris on the fiber strand with a cleaning liquid. A CCD camera arranged in the running direction of the fiber strand, for photographing a state of the coating dust on the fiber strand,
The optical fiber cleaning apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a cleaning control unit that performs feedback control of removal of the covering dust by the brush according to a state of the covering dust captured by the CCD camera. Removing the coating debris adhered at the time of the coating removal by rotating the brush in contact with the running path of the optical fiber after the coating removal of the optical fiber,
A step in which the dust is prevented from scattering in the running direction of the coating waste removed by the brush by a waste diffusion prevention wall,
A debris removal unit in contact with the bristle tip of the rotating brush, comprising the step of removing the coating debris attached to the bristle tip. CCD camera arranged in the running direction of the fiber strand, photographing the state of the coating waste on the fiber strand,
11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: performing a feedback control of the removal of the coating waste by the brush in accordance with a state of the coating waste. 12. Removing the coating debris adhered at the time of the coating removal by rotating the brush in contact with the running path of the optical fiber after the coating removal of the optical fiber,
A step in which the dust is prevented from scattering in the running direction of the coating waste removed by the brush by a waste diffusion prevention wall,
A step of removing the covering debris adhering to the tip of the brush, wherein the debris removing unit in contact with the tip of the rotating brush;
Burning the sheathing debris on the fiber strand at a temperature below the softening point of the fiber strand and above the flash point of the coating strand. CCD camera arranged in the running direction of the fiber strand, photographing the state of the coating waste on the fiber strand,
13. The optical fiber cleaning method according to claim 12, further comprising: a step of performing a feedback control of removal of the coating waste by the brush in accordance with a state of the coating waste. Removing the coating debris attached at the time of the coating removal by the rotation of the brush in contact with the running path of the optical fiber after the coating removal of the optical fiber,
A step in which the dust is prevented from scattering in the running direction of the coating waste removed by the brush by a waste diffusion prevention wall,
A step of removing the covering debris adhering to the tip of the brush, wherein the debris removing unit that contacts the tip of the rotating brush;
Cleaning the coating debris on the fiber strand with a cleaning liquid. CCD camera arranged in the running direction of the fiber strand, photographing the state of the coating waste on the fiber strand,
15. The optical fiber cleaning method according to claim 14, further comprising: a step in which a cleaning control unit performs feedback control of removal of the coating waste by the brush according to a state of the coating waste.

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