JP2005275058A - Component and structure for housing excess length, and housing box - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low-cost excess length housing component for housing an optical fiber which facilitates take-up of the optical fiber, and is used for housing the optical fiber, and to provide an excess length housing structure, and a housing box. <P>SOLUTION: The excess length housing component is used for housing an excess length of the optical fiber, and has a body part for winding the excess length around the body part, and the body part can be deformed. Further, the component has a hook part which turns up and hooks the middle part of the excess length. The component has a shape maintenance means which maintains the body part to be in a shape with a circumferential part and a straight part. The body part forms an annular band-like body, and is provided with a shape maintenance member with a length equivalent to the diameter of the circumferential part inside the ring which the body part forms, and the shape maintenance member is fixed at a predetermined place in the inside part and maintains the shape of the body part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a surplus length storage component for storing an optical fiber, a surplus length storage structure, and a storage box.

In an operation of connecting an optical fiber by using a connection component or a connection device, the operation is often performed with a margin in the length of the optical fiber. After performing such an operation, it is necessary to store a surplus optical fiber (hereinafter abbreviated as “extra length”). If the extra length is left unattended, the next work will be hindered, and the neglected fiber may be caught by other parts or entangled with the fiber. May cause disconnection.
Conventionally, the extra length is wound by hand while maintaining a prescribed bending radius, and is stored in a storage part (for example, a tray) and stored in a storage box.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-45535 discloses a technique related to an optical fiber storage method. 3 and 4 of the prior art described above describe a method for winding an optical fiber. Further, FIGS. 10 and 11 describe the structure of the storage box to be stored.

  In recent years, the allowable bending radius has become smaller with the improvement of the characteristics of optical fibers. Conventionally, the allowable bending radius is generally about 30 mm. However, in recent years, there are optical fibers having an allowable bending radius of 15 mm or 10 mm. Such a storage box for storing an optical fiber having a small allowable bending radius can be made smaller than before. When an optical fiber having a small allowable bending radius is stored in a small storage box, it is necessary to wind the fiber small by hand and store it in a storage component. A circle with a radius of 15 mm is smaller than the size of the hand and is difficult to work with. In addition, when the optical fiber is wound small, the repulsive force of the optical fiber that attempts to spread outward increases, which makes the operation difficult.

  The storage method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-45535 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1) has a structure in which an optical fiber is wound up by a connection excess length storage tool 1 (see FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1). . The connection excess length storage device 1 has a circular portion and a flat portion, and is a convenient shape when stored in a storage box, but is difficult to wind because there is a flat portion when winding the fiber. It has become. Further, the connection excess length storage tool 1) is rotated to wind up the optical fiber. However, since the connection excess length storage tool 1 is not circular, it is difficult to rotate.

In addition, since the connecting part is set and wound up first, if the length of the right and left optical fibers is different from the center of the connecting part, a part for further winding up the longer optical fiber is required. Was supposed to increase the cost of the storage box.
JP 2004-45535 A

  As described above, the storage device has a circular portion and a flat portion. When the fiber is wound, the circular portion can be wound, but the flat portion is difficult to wind. Further, although the connection excess length storage tool is rotated to wind up the optical fiber, the connection excess length storage tool is not circular and thus has a structure that is difficult to rotate. Furthermore, if the lengths of the optical fibers on the left and right sides of the connecting part are different because the connecting part is set and wound first, parts for further winding up the longer optical fiber are required, resulting in the cost of the storage box. Was supposed to increase.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the conventional problems, easily wind up the optical fiber, and easily store it in the storage box, and is low in cost and can be used for storing the optical fiber. The object is to provide a long storage part, a surplus storage structure and a storage box.

  The present inventor has intensively studied to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. As a result, it has a body part for winding the surplus length, the body part is deformable, has a hooking part that folds and hooks the intermediate part of the surplus length, and the body part is a circumferential part and a straight part. It has been found that by having the shape maintaining means for maintaining the shape having the optical fiber, it is possible to provide an extra length storage component for storing the optical fiber, which is easy to wind up, can be stored, and is low in cost.

  The present invention has been made based on the above research results, and the first aspect of the surplus length storage component of the present invention is a surplus length storage component for storing the surplus length of an optical fiber, wherein the surplus length is It is a surplus length storage component characterized by having a body part to be wound and the body part being deformable.

  According to a second aspect of the surplus length storage component of the present invention, the surplus length storage component includes a hook portion that folds and hooks an intermediate portion of the surplus length.

  According to a third aspect of the surplus length storage component of the present invention, there is provided a shape maintaining means, and the shape maintaining means maintains the body portion in a shape having a circumferential portion and a straight portion. It is a storage part.

  According to a fourth aspect of the surplus length storage component of the present invention, the surplus length storage component is characterized in that the position where the straight portion is formed can be changed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the surplus length storage component of the present invention, the body portion is formed by forming a band-like body in an annular shape, and the inner portion of the ring formed by the body portion has a length corresponding to the diameter of the circumferential portion. The shape maintaining member is provided, and the shape maintaining member is fixed to a predetermined portion of the inner portion to maintain the shape of the body portion.

  A sixth aspect of the surplus length storage component according to the present invention is the surplus length storage component, wherein the shape maintaining member can be fixed to a plurality of locations on the inner side where the circumferential portion can be formed. .

  A seventh aspect of the surplus length storage component according to the present invention is the surplus length storage component, wherein the shape maintaining member also serves as a hook portion that folds and hooks an intermediate portion of the surplus length.

  According to an eighth aspect of the surplus length storage component of the present invention, in the shape maintained by the shape maintaining means or the shape maintaining member, a portion where the surplus length of the wound optical fiber is bent below an allowable curvature of the optical fiber. It is a surplus length accommodating part characterized by not having.

  According to a ninth aspect of the extra length storage component of the present invention, there is a flange portion erected from the winding surface of the barrel portion at both ends of the barrel portion, and the flange portion is accompanied by deformation of the barrel portion. This is a surplus length storage component provided with a cut so as to be deformable.

  According to a tenth aspect of the extra-length storage component of the present invention, there is a collar portion standing from the winding surface of the trunk portion at both ends of the trunk portion, and the collar portion is accompanied by deformation of the trunk portion. A plurality of deformable incisions are provided, and an interval at which the incisions are provided is equal to or less than ¼ of a semicircumference of the circumferential portion of the shape maintained by the shape maintaining means or the shape maintaining member. This is a surplus length storage component.

  An eleventh aspect of the surplus length storage component according to the present invention is the surplus length storage component, wherein the flange is provided with a protrusion protruding in the direction in which the trunk portion is provided.

  A twelfth aspect of the surplus length storage component according to the present invention is the surplus length storage component, wherein the body portion is formed of an elastic body.

  A first aspect of the surplus length storage structure according to the present invention is a surplus length storage structure for storing a surplus length of an optical fiber, and a hook for folding the surplus length around and a middle portion of the surplus length. The surplus length storage structure is characterized in that a surplus length storage component having a portion is used, the halving point of the surplus length is hooked on the hook portion, and the surplus length is wound around the trunk portion.

  A second aspect of the surplus length storage structure according to the present invention is a surplus length storage structure for storing a surplus length including a connecting portion of an optical fiber, wherein the deformable body portion around which the surplus length is wound and an intermediate portion of the surplus length Using a surplus length storage component having a hook portion that is folded back and hooked, hook the half length of the surplus length around the hook portion, wind the surplus length around the trunk portion, and wind the connection portion The surplus length storage structure is characterized in that the body portion is deformed to maintain the shape so that the attached portion becomes a straight line.

  According to a first aspect of the storage box of the present invention, there is provided a storage box comprising the surplus length storage component or surplus length storage structure described in any one of the above.

As described above, the extra-length storage component of the present invention is generally circular, and rotates the circle to store the optical fiber. Therefore, the work is simple and no special technique is required. Furthermore, since the surplus length storage component can be deformed, the surplus length storage component itself becomes small even after the optical fiber is wound, and the connection box can be downsized.
Further, when the optical fiber is wound, the center of the surplus length (the bisection point) can be first set in the surplus length storage component, so that there is no problem that the surplus length cannot be stored well when the surplus length is stored. . Furthermore, it is possible to store the extra length including the connecting portion with one component, which leads to cost reduction.

The surplus length storage component, surplus length storage structure and storage box of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, as a result of research, the extra length storage component of the present invention has been reached. FIG. 1 is a view showing one aspect of the extra length storage component of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the extra length storage component 1 of the present invention is a circular component. The extra-length storage component 1 is configured by forming a body 2 in which an optical fiber is wound and stored in an annular shape. A hook portion 3 for hooking an intermediate point of the extra length of the optical fiber first, a slit portion 4 for guiding the optical fiber from the hook portion 3 to the barrel optical fiber storage portion 2, and a hook for facilitating winding of the optical fiber around the barrel portion Part 5 has a protruding part 6 protruding in the direction in which the body part for preventing the wound optical fiber from jumping out by reaction force is provided.

  Next, an optical fiber housing method will be described. When the optical fiber handled in the connection box is exposed from the jacketed cable, the jacketed cable may be fixed at a predetermined position to handle only the optical fiber. When this optical fiber is connected, both ends of the optical fiber are fixed.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an optical fiber housing method. Find the bisection point of the optical fiber at the same distance from the fixed ends described above, wrap the portion around the hook portion 3 of the present invention, and guide the optical fiber to the trunk portion 2 through the slit portion 4. The optical fiber is stored while turning the entire extra length storage component 1 (see FIG. 2). When winding, the collar portion has a predetermined length so that the optical fiber and the connection portion can be accommodated together in a region defined by the body portion and the collar portion.

  After the extra length fiber has been wound, the flange portion 5 is provided with a protrusion so that the optical fiber does not jump out of the extra length storage component even if the hand is released from the optical fiber. Since the body portion of the extra length storage component 1 is substantially circular when it is not subjected to a deformation force, it is very easy to wind the extra length on the circumference. The working time can be shortened as compared with the method of winding and the extra length storage component in which the circle and the straight portion are mixed. In addition, since the work method is simple, it does not require advanced work skills and can be handled easily.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the width of the body portion. The extra length of the optical fiber stored in the extra length storage component often includes a connection portion. FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the body width D and the connection width d. As shown in FIG. 3, when the extra length is wound up, the connecting portion 11 is accommodated in the body portion 2, and when the extra length is taken up, the extra length 12 is taken up from above the connecting portion 11. is there. Since the connection part is hard, it is difficult to cause deformation. When an optical fiber is wound on the connecting portion 11 described above, a portion that is locally smaller than or equal to the allowable bending radius of the optical fiber may occur. Therefore, the width D of the trunk portion is larger than the width d of the connecting portion, and the extra length is not wound on the connecting portion even if the connecting portion is accommodated and the extra length is wound.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing another aspect of the extra length storage component of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the extra length storage component of the present invention is modified. The extra-length storage component in the state where the optical fiber has been wound is circular, but if it is stored in the connection box as it is, the volume increases and the connection box increases. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the extra-length storage component is deformed to reduce the volume. The extra-length storage component is made of an elastic body and is soft enough to be easily deformed by hand. Also, the notch is provided in the flange portion 5 and is divided into small pieces so as not to cause distortion when the extra length storage component is deformed. Can be deformed.

  Therefore, the width of the notch provided in the collar portion is designed so that it does not collide even if a predetermined portion of the extra length storage component is deformed linearly, for example. Furthermore, even if the extra length storage component is deformed, the portion A shown in FIG. 4 does not fall below the allowable bending radius of the optical fiber. When the extra-length storage component is deformed, the collar itself is not deformed so much. Therefore, if the width of the base of the collar portion is too large with respect to the portion A, the portion A may not be a smooth curve, and a portion that is locally smaller than the allowable bending radius of the optical fiber may be generated. Therefore, the width of the base of the collar portion is designed to be 1/4 or less with respect to the semicircular circumference of the A portion.

In order to maintain the deformed shape even when the hand is released after the extra length storage component is deformed, the hook portion and the back side of the trunk portion can be fixed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the optical fiber is passed through the body part 2 from the slit part 4 provided in the body part and hooked on the hook part 3. The hook portion 3 is provided with a groove portion 7 as shown in FIG. 8, for example. The optical fiber hooked on the hook portion 3 is accommodated in the groove portion 7. The shoulder portion 8 of the hook portion is, for example, one side of the magic tape, and the other side of the magic tape is also provided at a predetermined position on the back side of the trunk portion. Therefore, the hook portion 3 can be fixed to the back side of the trunk portion. When the hook portion is fixed to the back side of the trunk portion, the trunk portion can be maintained in a shape having a straight portion and a circumferential portion as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9 (a), the fixing means includes a locking pin, a locking claw 14 and a locking hole, and a locking groove 15 as shown in FIG. 9 (b). A gripper that grips the outer edge of the torso with the locking claw 16 provided, a gripper that grips the outer edge of the hook with the locking claw 17 provided on the back side of the torso as shown in FIG. Various things such as those using an adhesive can be applied.

  An optical fiber and a connecting portion are accommodated in the extra-length storage component obtained by winding up the extra length. When the surplus length storage component is deformed, the connection portion may jump out of the surplus length storage component if the connection portion is bent. At that time, a large bend occurs in the optical fiber coming out of the connecting portion, causing deterioration of optical characteristics. When the extra length is wound on the circumference, it is not known where the connecting portion comes depending on the extra length. A connection if the connection portion come anywhere because its structure arranged in a flat position required.

  FIG. 5 is a view showing another aspect of the extra length storage component of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the extra-length storage component of this invention can fix a hook part and a trunk | drum back side in several places. Specifically, it is realized by providing a magic tape longer on the back side of the body part or by providing a plurality of locking holes. Therefore, the connection portion can be installed in a flat position regardless of the position of the extra length storage component. In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, if the hook portion is fixed to a portion on the back side of the trunk portion within πR from the trunk portion connecting portion, the curvature of the A portion may be below an allowable value, so that it cannot be fixed to such a portion. It is preferable to adopt a configuration in which no magic tape is provided.

  When the optical fiber is housed in the extra length housing component of the present invention, there is a concern that the bending radius of the optical fiber becomes less than the allowable value at the hook portion. Therefore, the entire hook portion is formed in a substantially circular shape that is equal to or larger than the allowable bending radius of the optical fiber, and an angle α is set as shown in FIG. 11 (a) in the trunk connecting portion, or the curvature is restricted as shown in FIG. 11 (b). It is preferable to provide the piece 9.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating extra-length storage components stored in the connection box. As shown in FIG. 6, the extra length storage component wound up with the extra length is stored in the junction box in a state where the deformation is maintained. In addition, the collar part is abbreviate | omitted in FIG.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an extra-length storage component, an extra-length storage structure, and a storage box for storing an optical fiber, in which the optical fiber can be easily wound, stored in the storage box, and low in cost. Yes, and industrial value is high.

FIG. 1 is a view showing one aspect of the extra length storage component of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an optical fiber housing method. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the width of the optical fiber storage portion. FIG. 4 is a view showing another aspect of the extra length storage component of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a view showing another aspect of the extra length storage component of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating extra-length storage components stored in the connection box. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the optical fiber is hooked on the body portion. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining details of the hook portion. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the details of the fixing means. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the hook portion and the trunk portion communication portion. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining details of the body portion communication portion.

Explanation of symbols

1 Extra length storage parts Torso part 3. Hook 4. 4. Slit part Buttock 6. Projection 7 Groove 8. Shoulder 9. Curvature regulating piece 10. Optical fiber 11. Connection part 12. Extra length 13. Torso communication part 14. Locking pin (locking claw)
15. Locking hole (locking groove)
16. Locking claw

Claims (15)

A surplus length storage component for storing a surplus length of an optical fiber, the surplus length storage component having a barrel portion around which the surplus length is wound, wherein the trunk portion is deformable. The surplus length storage component according to claim 1, further comprising a hook portion that folds and hooks an intermediate portion of the surplus length. The surplus length storage component according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising shape maintaining means, wherein the shape maintaining means maintains the body portion in a shape having a circumferential portion and a straight portion. Extra length storage parts. The surplus length storage component according to claim 3, wherein a position where the straight portion is formed is changeable. The extra length storage component according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the body portion is formed by forming a band-like body in an annular shape, and an inner portion of the ring formed by the body portion has the circumference. A surplus length storage component comprising a shape maintaining member having a length corresponding to a diameter of the portion, wherein the shape maintaining member is fixed to a predetermined portion of the inner portion to maintain the shape of the body portion. 6. The surplus length storage component according to claim 5, wherein the shape maintaining member can be fixed to a plurality of locations on the inner side where the circumferential portion can be formed. The surplus length storage component according to claim 5, wherein the shape maintaining member also serves as a hook portion that folds and hooks an intermediate portion of the surplus length. The surplus length storage component according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the surplus length of the wound optical fiber is a tolerance of the optical fiber in the shape maintained by the shape maintaining means or the shape maintaining member. A surplus length accommodating part characterized by having no portion bent below a curvature. It is a surplus length storage component as described in any one of Claims 1-8, Comprising: It has the collar part standingly arranged from the winding surface of the said trunk | drum in the both ends of the said trunk | drum, The said collar part is the said A surplus length storage component provided with a cut so as to be deformable in accordance with deformation of the body portion. It is an extra length storage component as described in any one of Claims 3-7, Comprising: It has the collar part standingly arranged from the winding surface of the said trunk | drum in the both ends of the said trunk | drum, The said collar part is the said A plurality of cuts are provided so as to be deformable in accordance with the deformation of the body part, and an interval at which the cuts are provided is a semicircular shape of the circumferential part of the shape maintained by the shape maintaining means or the shape maintaining member. Extra length storage component characterized by being 1/4 or less. The surplus length storage component according to claim 9 or 10, wherein a protrusion protruding in a direction in which the trunk portion is provided is provided on the flange portion. It is an extra length storage component as described in any one of Claims 1-11, Comprising: The said trunk | drum was comprised with the elastic body, The extra length storage component characterized by the above-mentioned. A surplus length storage structure for storing a surplus length of an optical fiber, wherein a surplus length storage component having a trunk portion that winds the surplus length and a hook portion that folds and hooks an intermediate portion of the surplus length is used. The surplus length storage structure is characterized in that the surplus length is divided into two halves and the surplus length is wound around the body portion. A surplus length storage structure for storing a surplus length including a connecting portion of an optical fiber, and having a deformable body portion around which the surplus length is wound and a hook portion that folds and hooks an intermediate portion of the surplus length Hang the halves of the surplus length on the hook part, wind the surplus length around the body part, and deform the body part so that the place where the connection part is wound is a straight line. Extra length storage structure characterized by maintaining its shape. A storage box comprising the surplus length storage component according to any one of claims 1 to 12 or the surplus length storage structure according to any one of claims 13 to 14.

Images