JP2006284839A - Method and apparatus of cutting optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and apparatus of cutting optical fiber in which an optical fiber is easily cut without a process of removing the coating of the optical fiber. <P>SOLUTION: The optical fiber 8 is clamped at two points with an upper and a lower clamps 7 and 10, the coating of the optical fiber 8 is cut in by moving a blade member 4 in the state that side pressure is applied on the optical fiber 8 with an action member 12, a scratch is given to the surface of glass. Then, downward force is generated on the action member 12 by the falling of the falling member 14, and the optical fiber is cut with the edge of the action member 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fiber cutting method and an optical fiber cutting device.

  Conventionally, an optical fiber cutting device and a cutting method as shown in FIG. 5 are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this optical fiber cutting device 100, a blade 101 is provided, and a pair of upper and lower clamps 104a and 104b for holding the bare fiber 103 of the tape core wire 102 are provided on both sides of the blade 101, respectively. Further, on the side opposite to the blade 101, a pillow portion 105 is disposed so as to be movable in the vertical direction with the bare fiber 103 interposed therebetween.

  In order to cut an optical fiber using this optical fiber cutting device, as shown in FIG. 5A, after holding the bare fiber 103 with two clamps 104a, 104b, 104a, 104b, the blade 101 is moved. The blade 101 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bare fiber 103 (a direction from the front side to the back side of the drawing) to damage the surface of the bare fiber 103. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, the pillow portion 105 is moved downward as viewed in the figure, and an external force is applied to the bare fiber 103 to cut it.

JP-A-11-264909 (FIGS. 4 and 6)

  In the above-described optical fiber cutting apparatus and cutting method, a step of removing the coating is necessary when cutting the optical fiber. In addition, since the two fibers are made to hold the bare fiber, the coating removal has been in a long range. In addition, care must be taken in handling the bare fiber after cutting and the cut bare fiber waste. In addition, if the bare fiber cannot be cut well, it is necessary to remove the coating of the optical fiber once again.

  A main object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber cutting method and a cutting apparatus that can easily cut an optical fiber without an optical fiber coating removal step.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an optical fiber cutting method according to the present invention is configured to grip both sides of a planned cutting position of an optical fiber including glass and a coating, and apply a side pressure to the planned cutting position. In this case, the coating is cut from the direction opposite to the direction in which the optical fiber is applied, and the glass is scratched, and then the optical fiber is cut by applying an external force to the planned cutting position.

  In the optical fiber cutting method according to the present invention, the optical fiber may cut a multi-core optical fiber.

  Further, in the method for cutting an optical fiber according to the present invention, the glass may have a core and a clad, and the coating may cut an optical fiber made of a resin material, or the glass may have a core and the coating may be a resin material. An optical fiber made of may be cut.

  Moreover, the optical fiber cutting method according to the present invention may cut an optical fiber in which the diameter of the glass of the optical fiber is 70 to 150 μm and the diameter of the coating of the optical fiber is 80 to 300 μm.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an optical fiber cutting device according to the present invention includes a clamp that holds both sides of a planned cutting portion of an optical fiber including glass and a coating, and a coating of the planned cutting portion, It is provided with the blade member which gives a damage | wound to glass, and the side pressure and the external force provision member which gives a side pressure to a cutting plan location at the time of cutting of a coating | coated and glass scratching, and gives an external force to a cutting plan location.

  In the optical fiber cutting device according to the present invention, it is desirable that the blade member has a disk shape and is rotatable and movable in the vertical direction.

  In the optical fiber cutting device according to the present invention, it is desirable that a holder fixing portion for fixing a holder holding the optical fiber is provided on each of both sides of the blade member.

  In the optical fiber cutting device according to the present invention, it is desirable that the side pressure and the side pressure of the external force applying member can be adjusted.

  According to the method and apparatus for cutting an optical fiber of the present invention, a step of removing the coating of the optical fiber is not required when cutting the optical fiber, and the cutting operation can be easily performed. In particular, the blade member can be used to cut the coating and further damage the glass, so that the cutting operation can be performed in the state of the optical fiber provided with the coating. By using the cutting method and the cutting device according to the present invention, the glass of the optical fiber is not exposed, so that the optical fiber after cutting can be easily handled. Moreover, since the glass of the optical fiber of cutting waste is not exposed, handling becomes easy.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of an optical fiber cutting method and cutting device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main configuration of an optical fiber cutting device according to the present invention. The cutting device 1 includes a main body 2 having a substantially U-shape when viewed in cross-section, and is slidable from the front side to the back side of the main body 2 when viewed from the front side when the main body 2 is recessed in the U-shape. A slider 3 is provided. The slider 3 may be slid manually by an operator's operation, or may be slid automatically by an elastic member such as a spring.

  A disk-shaped (disk-shaped) blade member 4 is attached to the slider 3 via a fastening member 5. The blade member 4 can be adjusted up and down by loosening the fastening member 5. The outer peripheral edge 6 of the blade member 4 has an acute shape, and the sharp outer peripheral edge 6 can cut the coating of the optical fiber 8 or scratch the surface of the glass. The outer peripheral edge 6 may not be an acute angle, that is, it may be difficult to cut by repeating the work of cutting the coating and scratching the glass surface. In such a case, the sharp outer peripheral edge can be applied to the optical fiber coating or glass by loosening or releasing the fastening member 5 and rotating the blade member 4. In this embodiment, the blade member has a disk shape, but a blade member other than this shape, for example, a blade member having a polygonal shape, is applicable to the present invention. Although not shown, the slider 3 is provided with a convex cam projection, which will be described later, but can lift a dropping member for applying an external force.

  Lower clamps 7 and 7 for holding the optical fiber 8 are respectively provided on both sides of the main body 2 with the blade member 4 interposed therebetween so as to protrude from the main body 2. Rubbers 9 and 9 are attached. Upper clamps 10, 10 are provided so as to face the lower clamps 7, 7, and the upper clamps 10, 10 are connected to each other at the upper part to form a gate shape. The upper clamps 10 and 10 are provided with upper rubbers 11 and 11 at their lower ends, and are movable in the vertical direction as viewed in the figure. After gripping the optical fiber 8, the upper clamps 10, 10 are moved upward to place the optical fiber 8 on the lower rubbers 9, 9, and then the upper clamps 10, 10 are moved downward. The optical fiber 8 can be sandwiched and gripped by the upper and lower rubbers 11 and 9. The upper and lower rubbers 9 and 11 can securely hold the optical fiber 8 and prevent inadvertent deformation of the optical fiber 8.

  Between the two upper clamps 10, 10, an action member 12 for applying a lateral pressure to the optical fiber 8 or applying an external force is disposed. The action member 12 and the blade member 4 sandwich the optical fiber 8. Facing each other. The action member 12 is made of metal as an example, and a resin member 13 is attached to the tip of the action member 12 (where it comes into contact with the optical fiber). A cylindrical drop member 14 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the action member 12, and flanges 15 and 15 are formed on the drop member 14. The flanges 15 and 15 are further surrounded by wall members 16 and 16 erected from the upper clamps 10 and 10, and a spring member 18 is provided between the wall members 16 and 16 and a ceiling 17 and 17 formed continuously. , 18 are arranged. The spring members 18 and 18 act so as to urge the dropping member 14 downward, and the spring members 18 and 18 are moved downward to the restriction members 19 and 19 disposed between the flanges 15 and 15 and the upper clamps 10 and 10. It is possible to move to. The restricting members 19 and 19 are movable in the vertical direction as seen in the figure, and the restricting positions can be adjusted.

  In the upper part of the flanges 15 and 15, a cylindrical space 30 is formed continuously with the flanges 15 and 15, and members forming the space 30 are upward from the openings 17 </ b> A of the ceilings 17 and 17. Can protrude. A spring 31 is disposed in the space 30 and is in contact with a flat portion 32 formed at the upper end of the action member 12 to urge the action member 12 downward. The flat surface portion 32 can contact the shoulder portion 33 of the internal space 30, and the downward movement of the action member 12 is restricted by the shoulder portion 33.

  Next, the operation of the spring member 18 and the spring 31 will be described. The spring member 18 is urged to move the dropping member 14 downward, and is moved upward by a cam (not shown) at the time of cutting the coating of the optical fiber 8 or imparting scratches to the glass. It is regulated. When the optical fiber 8 is broken, the engagement with the cam is released, the dropping member 14 is dropped, and the action member 12 is collided with the optical fiber to determine the optical fiber. The spring 31 is disposed so as to bias the action member 12 downward. This is because the blade 31 presses the action member 12 against the optical fiber 8 by the spring 31 at the time of cutting the coating of the optical fiber 8 or imparting scratches to the glass, thereby generating a lateral pressure. By adjusting the force of the spring 31, it is possible to adjust the side pressure generation force and the glass cutting depth.

  Although not shown in the drawing, a cam follower (passive) member is attached to the dropping member 14 urged downward by the spring member 18. This cam follower member is a member that abuts on a cam projection (not shown) provided on the slider 3 and can lift the dropping member 14 upward. When the slider 3 moves in a direction perpendicular to the optical fiber 8 (in the direction from the front to the back of the drawing), the optical fiber is cut, and the glass is scratched. At this time, the cam protrusion fixed to the slider 3 is also moved together, and the cam passive member engaged with the cam protrusion is lifted. Then, after the scratch is applied, the engagement between the cam projection and the cam follower is released, the spring member 18 moves the dropping member 14 downward, and the action member 12 moves downward toward the scratched optical fiber 8. As a result, it collides with the optical fiber 8, the scratches develop, and the glass of the optical fiber can be broken into a mirror surface.

  A grooved holder fixing part 20 is formed on the upper right side of the main body 2. The holder fixing unit 20 can easily hold the optical fiber 8 by the upper and lower clamps 7 and 10 by fixing the holder 21 to which the optical fiber 8 is fixed and fixing the holder 21 by the bottom surface 23 and the end surface 22. Although not shown in the drawing, the holder 21 is composed of two upper and lower members, and a groove is formed in one or both of the upper and lower members, and an optical fiber is set in the groove. It is fixed with a tape core.

  In the cutting apparatus shown in FIG. 1, only one holder fixing portion is formed on the right side. However, as shown in FIG. 2, the holder fixing portions may be formed on both sides with the blade member interposed therebetween. There may be a small work place where the work for cutting the optical fiber and connecting the optical fibers is performed. When cutting an optical fiber in a small space, the direction of the optical fiber may not be changed. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 2, if the holder fixing portions are formed on both sides, the holder fixing portion on the side suitable for the direction of the optical fiber can be used, and the cutting operation can be easily performed.

  The optical fiber applicable to the optical fiber cutting device according to the present invention can be applied to a glass having a core and a clad at the center, and the glass is covered with a resin or the like. Both do not need to be a single layer, and a plurality of layers are also applicable. The present invention can also be applied to an optical fiber whose glass is only a core. Furthermore, not only a single optical fiber but also an optical fiber ribbon (multi-fiber optical fiber) in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged can be cut. The glass diameter of the optical fiber is desirably 70 to 150 μm, and the coating diameter of the optical fiber is desirably 80 to 300 μm. When the glass diameter is 70 μm or less, it is difficult to make shallow scratches on the glass surface, and the glass may break. When the glass diameter is 150 μm or more, scratching is difficult unless the glass is deeply scratched to some extent, and the end face of the glass may be difficult to break into a mirror shape when the final external force is applied. When the coating diameter is 80 μm or less, it becomes difficult to cut the coating and adjust the height of the blade member for making a shallow scratch on the glass surface. On the other hand, when the coating diameter is 300 μm or more, it may be difficult to break because the coating is thick.

  An optical fiber cutting method will be described using the above-described optical fiber cutting device. FIG. 3 shows an example of an embodiment of an optical fiber cutting method according to the present invention. The holder 21 fixing the optical fiber 8 is fixed to the main body 2 of the cutting device (see FIG. 1), and the optical fiber 8 is held between the upper and lower clamps 10 and 7, as shown in FIG. The acting member 12 is applied with a downward biasing force by the spring 31 to generate a pressing force on the optical fiber 8 and a lateral pressure is applied. The slider 3 is moved from the front side to the back side of the drawing so that the outer peripheral edge 6 of the blade member 4 is brought into contact with the optical fiber 8 as shown in FIG. The coating of the fiber 8 is cut. Further, when the blade member 4 moves, as shown in FIG. 4, the coating H is completely cut and contacted with the glass G of the optical fiber 8 to give scratches. During the cutting of the coating of the optical fiber 8 and the application of scratches to the glass, the cam protrusion C attached to the slider 3 and the cam follower member K attached to the dropping member 14 are engaged to cause the dropping member 14 to move. The spring members 18 and 18 are lifted against the urging force.

  When the blade member 4 passes through the optical fiber 8, the engagement between the cam projection C and the cam driven member K is released, and the dropping member 14 is moved downward by the action of the spring member 18, as shown in FIG. It will fall. As the dropping member 14 is dropped, the spring 31 is compressed, and this compressive force becomes a downward force on the action member 12, and the action member 12 makes the glass of the optical fiber 8 as shown in FIG. Break G. The dropping movement of the dropping member 14 is stopped by the regulating member 19. Then, the upper clamp 10 is moved upward, the optical fiber 8 is removed, and the cutting operation is completed. The end face where the glass was broken was inspected, and the fracture surface was mirror-like. For example, it can be used in a cut state without being subjected to end face processing as an optical connector by attaching a ferrule.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the main structures of the optical fiber cutting device concerning this invention. It is a block diagram which shows another structure of the cutting device of the optical fiber concerning this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the cutting method of the optical fiber concerning this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the notch | incision of the coating | cover of an optical fiber, and the flaw attachment to glass. It is explanatory drawing which shows the conventional optical fiber cutting device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cutting device 2 Main body 3 Slider 4 Blade member 7 Lower clamp 8 Optical fiber 10 Upper clamp 12 Action member 14 Dropping member 18 Spring member 31 Spring

Claims (9)

  Grasping both sides of the planned cutting location of the optical fiber including glass and coating, and cutting the coating from the direction opposite to the direction in which the lateral pressure is applied in a state in which a lateral pressure is applied to the planned cutting location, An optical fiber cutting method comprising: cutting an optical fiber by applying an external force to the planned cutting portion after scratching the glass.   2. The optical fiber cutting method according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is a multi-core optical fiber, and the multi-fiber optical fiber is cut.   3. The method for cutting an optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the glass has a core and a clad, the coating is made of a resin material, and the optical fiber is cut.   3. The method of cutting an optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the glass has a core, the coating is made of a resin material, and the optical fiber is cut.   The diameter of the glass of an optical fiber is 70-150 micrometers, and the diameter of the coating of an optical fiber is 80-300 micrometers, This optical fiber is cut | disconnected, The any one of Claims 1-4 characterized by the above-mentioned. An optical fiber cutting method.   A clamp that holds both sides of a planned cutting portion of an optical fiber including glass and a coating, a cutting member that cuts the coating of the cutting planned portion, a blade member that gives scratches to the glass, a cutting of the coating, and the glass An optical fiber cutting device comprising: a side pressure / external force applying member that applies a lateral pressure to the planned cutting location and applies an external force to the planned cutting location when a scratch is applied.   7. The optical fiber cutting device according to claim 6, wherein the blade member has a disk shape, is rotatable, and is movable in the vertical direction.   The optical fiber cutting device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a holder fixing portion for fixing a holder holding the optical fiber is provided on each of both sides of the blade member.   The optical fiber cutting device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein a side pressure of the side pressure / external force applying member is adjustable.

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