JP2007309894A - Device and method for forming deflection of optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inhibit that an optical fiber crosses, when a deflection is formed in the optical fiber. <P>SOLUTION: In a state where the movable plate of a deflection forming system has been arranged at a right end in a long hole, ten support members 17 shift by a predetermined distance by only the odd-numbered support member 17 in horizontal directions while ten support members 17 fixes the even-numbered support member 17 regarding longitudinal direction. The second to 10th support members 17 are moved in a direction of approaching the first support member 17 thereby it is made to be contacted by two adjacent support members 17. Then, a movable plate is moved to a state where it is arranged with the left end inside a long hole. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a deflection forming apparatus and a deflection forming method for forming a deflection in an optical fiber when a tactile sensor using the optical fiber is manufactured.

  A tactile sensor in which a large number of optical fiber pairs are arranged inside an elastic member such as urethane foam is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The tactile sensor has an optical fiber pair composed of a light emitting optical fiber and a light receiving optical fiber for each pressure sensitive point. And the front-end | tip of the light emission optical fiber and the front-end | tip of the light reception optical fiber are arrange | positioned so that it may adjoin in each pressure-sensitive point vicinity. Therefore, in the above-described tactile sensor, when a portion corresponding to each pressure-sensitive point of the elastic member is bent by a force applied from the outside, it is emitted from the tip of the light-emitting optical fiber according to the magnitude of the force. The force applied to each pressure-sensitive point is detected using the characteristic that the luminance of light changes.

Here, even when the elastic member of the tactile sensor is deformed (curved / elongated), a bend is formed in the optical fiber so that the inner optical fiber is not cut. It is necessary to provide a margin enough to cope with the deformation. As a method for forming the deflection in the optical fiber, there is a method of fixing the optical fiber on the elastic member in a state where the elastic member is stretched (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In this method, after the optical fiber is fixed, the elastic member is restored to the original state (a state in which the elastic member is not stretched), so that a deflection is formed in the optical fiber.
JP-T-2002-507279 US Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0076103

  However, in the above method, when the elastic member to which the optical fiber is fixed is restored to its original state, if the optical fiber bends irregularly, the optical fiber crosses and the surface of the optical fiber is damaged. , Light may leak from there. At this time, the degree and direction of deflection of the optical fiber often vary depending on the location. Further, when the elastic member is stretched when fixing the optical fiber, the elastic member may be torn or broken.

  Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber deflection forming apparatus and a deflection forming method capable of preventing the optical fibers from crossing each other.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  The optical fiber deflection forming device of the present invention is arranged along the first direction while being separated from each other, and a plurality of optical fibers extending in a straight line substantially along the first direction are arranged in parallel. A plurality of support members fixed to each other, with respect to each optical fiber, the respective optical fiber fixing portions of the two adjacent support members are shifted in the second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, and the two adjacent support members The holding means for holding the gap in a state where the gap between them is smaller than the initial gap, and the plurality of support members held by the holding means, the gap between two adjacent support members is smaller than the initial gap. And a moving means for moving the optical fiber fixing portions of the two adjacent support members so as not to be displaced in the second direction while maintaining the state.

  In the optical fiber deflection forming method according to the present invention, the plurality of optical fibers extending in a straight line substantially along the first direction are parallel to the plurality of support members arranged along the first direction while being separated from each other. The first step of fixing each of the plurality of support members to which the optical fibers are fixed in the first step, and the optical fiber fixing portions of the two adjacent support members with respect to each optical fiber are the first step. A second step of holding the second support member in a state of being shifted in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the direction and having a gap between two adjacent support members smaller than the initial gap, and the plurality of supports held in the second step While maintaining the state in which the gap between the two adjacent support members is smaller than the initial gap, the optical fiber fixing portions of the two adjacent support members do not shift in the second direction. And a third step of moving.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to form a deflection in the optical fiber while preventing the plurality of optical fibers fixed so as to be parallel to the plurality of support members from crossing each other. Further, at this time, it is possible to prevent the bending condition and direction of the optical fiber from varying.

  In the optical fiber deflection forming apparatus according to the present invention, the plurality of support members are arranged along the first direction while being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and the holding means is among the plurality of support members. With the odd-numbered and even-numbered support members fixed from the endmost support member in the second direction, only the other support member is shifted in the same direction along the second direction by a predetermined distance. By moving a support member other than the endmost support member among the plurality of support members in a direction approaching the endmost support member, the two adjacent support members may be held in contact with each other. Good.

  In the optical fiber deflection forming method of the present invention, the plurality of support members are arranged along the first direction while being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and in the second step, among the plurality of support members With the odd-numbered and even-numbered support members fixed with respect to the second direction from the endmost support member, only the other support member is shifted by a predetermined distance in the same direction along the second direction. At the same time, the support members other than the endmost support member among the plurality of support members are moved in a direction approaching the endmost support member, thereby holding the two adjacent support members in contact with each other. May be.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to form a deflection in a certain direction and the same length with respect to the plurality of optical fibers fixed so as to be parallel to the plurality of support members.

  The optical fiber deflection forming apparatus of the present invention may further include a temperature changing unit that heats and cools the optical fibers fixed to the plurality of support members moved by the moving unit.

  The optical fiber deflection forming method of the present invention may further include a fourth step of heating and then cooling the optical fibers fixed to the plurality of support members moved in the third step.

  According to this configuration, since the optical fiber in which the deflection is formed is heated and then cooled, the deflection can be fixed in a short time.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a tactile sensor using an optical fiber in which a deflection is formed by a deflection forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of the sensor sheet.

  A tactile sensor 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a sensor sheet 10 and a substrate unit 30 housed in a light shielding cover 5. A large number of pressure sensitive points (illustrated by black circles in FIG. 1) are arranged on the sensor sheet 10 in a substantially grid pattern in the same plane. One end portions of a large number of optical fiber pairs are arranged at positions corresponding to the respective pressure sensitive points of the sensor sheet 10, and the other end portions are connected to the substrate portion 30 in a bundled state. When the luminance of the light emitted from the tip of the light emitting optical fiber at each pressure sensitive point is received by the substrate unit 30, the change is displayed on the personal computer 50 connected to the substrate unit 30.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor sheet 10 has an upper layer 11 and a lower layer 12 made of a material having light scattering characteristics such as urethane foam, and a large number of optical fiber pairs 13 arranged therebetween. is doing. The optical fiber pair 13 includes a plastic light emitting optical fiber 13a and a light receiving optical fiber 13b. Here, in FIG. 1, only a pair of optical fibers 13 is shown, and actually, as will be described later, in addition to the optical fiber pair 13, both surfaces are disposed between the upper layer 11 and the lower layer 12. Although the adhesive tape 16 (refer FIG. 4) is arrange | positioned, illustration is abbreviate | omitted.

  Next, the manufacturing process of the tactile sensor 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the manufacturing process of the tactile sensor.

  First, each material such as the double-sided adhesive tape 16 and urethane foam is cut into a product size (step S101). Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 16 has a rectangular shape, and two sheets of an upper side and a lower side are prepared. The double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 16 has ten belt-like support members 17 and slit portions 18 formed between adjacent support members 17. Accordingly, the ten support members 17 are arranged along the vertical direction of FIG. 4 while being separated from each other by a predetermined interval.

  The double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 16 has a large number of openings 19 formed at positions corresponding to the respective pressure-sensitive points, and a large number of through-holes 21 that are used when set in a deflection forming apparatus 40 described later. Yes. On the surface of the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 16, a large number of adhesive portions 20 are formed around each opening 19, and the entire back surface is an adhesive portion. Each support member 17 has two through-holes 21 formed at both ends of the support member 17 and five through-holes 21 formed one by one between two adjacent adhesive portions 20. Yes. In the present embodiment, the opening 19 and the through hole 21 are circular, and the adhesive portion 20 is a quadrangle. Further, although not shown, the urethane foam has a rectangular shape that is almost the same size as the double-sided adhesive tape 16.

  Next, many optical fiber pairs 13 are fixed to the double-sided adhesive tape 16 (step S102). Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the multiple optical fiber pairs 13 extend in a straight line substantially along the vertical direction and are parallel to each support member 17 on the surface of the lower double-sided adhesive tape 16. It is fixed at the adhesive part 20. Specifically, one end of each of the plurality of optical fiber pairs 13 is disposed in a position corresponding to each pressure sensitive point, that is, in the opening 19. The optical fiber pair 13 extends downward from each opening 19, and the other end is disposed outside the double-sided adhesive tape 16.

  Then, the upper double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape is bonded to the surface of the lower double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 16 to which many optical fiber pairs 13 are fixed (step S103). Here, since many adhesive parts 20 are formed in the upper double-sided adhesive tape 16 in the same pattern as the lower double-sided adhesive tape 16, many optical fiber pairs 13 are composed of the lower double-sided adhesive tape. 16 and the upper double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 16, the adhesive portions 20 are fixed. That is, the multiple optical fiber pairs 13 are fixed only at the rectangular adhesive portions 20 in FIG. 5 and are not fixed between the adjacent adhesive portions 20.

  In FIG. 5, a large number of optical fiber pairs 13 are sandwiched between the lower double-sided adhesive tape 16 and the upper double-sided adhesive tape, so that they are actually invisible. In order to make it easier to understand, the optical fiber pair 13 is shown by a solid line. Further, in FIG. 5, the optical fiber pair 13 is illustrated by one solid line, but actually, as described above, the optical fiber pair 13 is composed of the light emitting optical fiber 13a and the light receiving optical fiber 13b. The same applies to the other drawings.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6, the slit portion 18 formed between the adjacent support members 17 is removed (step S104). Therefore, a gap is formed between the ten support members 17, and the ten support members 17 are connected only by the optical fiber pair 13. In this way, the preparation of the double-sided adhesive tape 16 to which a large number of optical fiber pairs 13 to be set in the deflection forming apparatus 40 are fixed is completed.

  Here, a schematic configuration of the deflection forming apparatus used in the manufacturing process of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 are plan views of the deflection forming apparatus.

  The deflection forming device (deflection forming jig) 40 is a substantially flat plate-like member and has five long holes 41 spaced from each other. The five long holes 41 have the same width as the support member 17 of the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 16 and are separated by the same width as the support member 17 of the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 16. Further, the length of the long hole 41 is longer than the length of the support member 17 of the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 16. A movable plate 42 having the same length as that of the support member 17 of the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 16 is disposed inside each of the five long holes 41. Therefore, the movable plate 42 can move in the longitudinal direction in the long hole 41. FIG. 7 illustrates a state in which the movable plate 42 is disposed at the right end in the long hole 41, and is a state in which the double-sided adhesive tape 16 to which a large number of optical fiber pairs 13 are fixed is set. On the other hand, FIG. 8 shows a state in which the movable plate 42 is disposed at the left end in the long hole 41, in which a large number of optical fiber pairs 13 are bent.

  Further, on the upper surface of the movable plate 42, there are two columnar convex portions 43 disposed at both ends thereof, and five columnar convex portions 44 disposed between the two convex portions 43. Is formed. Similarly to the movable plate 42, two convex portions 43 and five convex portions 44 are formed in a portion corresponding to the gap between the adjacent long holes 41 of the deflection forming apparatus 40. These convex portions 43 and 44 are used when the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 16 to which a large number of optical fiber pairs 13 are fixed is set in the deflection forming apparatus 40.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the two convex portions 43 on each movable plate 42 are arranged on a straight line in a state where the movable plate 42 is disposed at the left end in the long hole 41. At this time, the five convex portions 44 are arranged on a straight line inclined in each of the upper half region and the lower half region of the deflection forming apparatus 40. In addition, the through-hole 21 formed in the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 16 has the same arrangement as the arrangement of the convex portions 43 and 44 shown in FIG. 8 and has the same shape as the cross-sectional shape of the convex portions 43 and 44.

  The double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 16 prepared as described above, to which the multiple optical fiber pairs 13 are fixed (the upper side and the lower side are bonded together) is set in the deflection forming apparatus 40 (step S105). That is, in the state where the movable plate 42 of the deflection forming apparatus 40 is disposed at the right end in the long hole 41 as shown in FIG. In the following description, the ten support members 17 are referred to as the first, second,. Further, the five long holes 41 of the deflection forming apparatus 40 are referred to as the first, second,.

  Here, when the double-sided adhesive tape 16 to which a large number of optical fiber pairs 13 are fixed is set in the deflection forming apparatus 40, the ten support members 17 arranged in the vertical direction are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. In a state where the even-numbered support members 17 are fixed in the left-right direction, only the odd-numbered support members 17 are shifted to the right by a predetermined distance, and the 2-10th support members 17 are brought closer to the first support member 17. By moving in the direction, the two adjacent support members 17 are brought into contact with each other.

  Specifically, first, the first support member 17 is set so that the convex portions 43 and 44 of the movable plate 42 in the first long hole 41 are inserted into the through holes 21 of the first support member 17. Is done. Subsequently, the second support member 17 is inserted so that the convex portions 43 and 44 between the first long hole 41 and the second long hole 41 are fitted into the through holes 21 of the second support member 17. Set.

  Here, in the state before being set in the deflection forming apparatus 40, the first support member 17 and the second support member 17 are separated from each other, and a gap is formed. Since the portion does not exist in the deflection forming device 40, when setting the second support member 17, the first support member 17 is brought into contact with the first support member 17 by moving in the direction approaching the first support member 17. Will be set. As shown in FIG. 7, the convex portions 43 and 44 between the first long hole 41 and the second long hole 41 are convex portions 43 and 44 of the movable plate 42 in the first long hole 41. Therefore, when the second support member 17 is set, the second support member 17 is set while being moved leftward with respect to the first support member 17.

  Next, the third support member 17 is set so that the convex portions 43 and 44 of the movable plate 42 in the second long hole 41 are fitted into the through holes 21 of the third support member 17. Here, when the third support member 17 is set, the third support member 17 is moved so as to approach the second support member 17 so as to come into contact with the second support member 17. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the convex portions 43 and 44 of the movable plate 42 in the second long hole 41 are convex portions 43 and 44 between the first long hole 41 and the second long hole 41. Therefore, when the third support member 17 is set, the third support member 17 is set while being moved in the right direction with respect to the second support member 17.

  Subsequently, when the fourth,..., And tenth support members 17 are set in the deflection forming apparatus 40, as shown above, the result is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, only ten support members 17 that are set in the deflection forming apparatus 40 and to which the optical fiber pair 13 is fixed are illustrated. As can be seen from FIG. 9, the portion corresponding to the adhesive portion 20 of the optical fiber pair 13 is fixed, so that it extends in the vertical direction, whereas the other portion of the optical fiber pair 13 (the adhesive portion 20 Since the non-corresponding portion is not fixed, it tilts in a zigzag according to the shift of the support member 17 in the left-right direction.

  Next, in a state where ten support members 17 are set (the state shown in FIG. 9), the movable plate 42 of the deflection forming device 40 is arranged at the left end in the long hole 41 as shown in FIG. As a result, the ten support members 17 are not displaced in the left-right direction, and a deflection is formed in the optical fiber pair 13 (step S106). When the movable plate 42 is moved to the left, as can be seen from FIG. 10, the portion corresponding to the adhesive portion 20 of the optical fiber pair 13 is fixed, so that it is in the state of extending vertically, whereas the optical fiber Since the other part of the pair 13 (the part not corresponding to the adhesive part 20) is not fixed, it curves so as to protrude rightward as the shift of the support member 17 in the left-right direction disappears.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 10, in a state where the deflection is formed in the optical fiber pair 13, the deflection is fixed by pressing with the fixing plate (step S107). In this embodiment, when fixing the deflection, the optical fiber pair 13 fixed to the support member 17 is heated to 50 ° C. for about 10 minutes and then left at room temperature for 10 minutes. Here, the heating temperature of the optical fiber pair 13 is preferably set based on the maximum storage temperature and the maximum use temperature of the optical fiber. In this embodiment, since the maximum storage temperature of the optical fiber is 70 ° C. and the maximum use temperature is 60 ° C., the heating standing temperature is set to 50 ° C. within a range that does not impair the characteristics of the optical fiber.

  Thereafter, the release paper on the back surface of the upper double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 16 is peeled off, and the upper layer 11 of the urethane foam is pasted. (Step S108). And the board | substrate part 30 connected by bundling the other end part of the optical fiber pair 13 arrange | positioned on the outer side of the sensor sheet | seat 10 is attached (step S109). Finally, the sensor sheet 10 and the substrate unit 30 are accommodated in the light shielding cover 5, and the tactile sensor 1 is completed (step S110).

  As described above, in the manufacturing process of the tactile sensor 1 of the present embodiment, the plurality of optical fiber pairs 13 fixed so as to be parallel to the plurality of support members 17 intersect by using the deflection forming device 40. It is possible to form a deflection in a certain direction and with the same length in the optical fiber. Further, at this time, it is possible to prevent the bending condition and direction of the optical fiber from varying. Moreover, since the optical fiber pair 13 in which the deflection is formed is heated and then cooled, the deflection can be fixed in a short time.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various design changes can be made as long as they are described in the claims. . For example, in the above-described embodiment, the optical fiber pair 13 fixed to the support member 17 is heated and then cooled to fix the deflection. However, the optical fiber pair 13 fixed to the support member 17 is fixed at room temperature. It is also possible to fix the deflection by leaving it for 10 hours or more.

Here, in the case of the following Example 1, Example 2, and Comparative Example 3, an evaluation test related to deflection formation was performed. The optical fiber, urethane foam, double-sided adhesive tape, etc. were made of the same material.
Example 1
When the optical fiber pair 13 fixed to the supporting member 17 is heated to 50 ° C. for about 10 minutes and then left at room temperature for 10 minutes to fix the deflection (Example 2)
When bending is fixed by leaving the optical fiber pair 13 fixed to the support member 17 at room temperature for 10 hours or more (comparative example)
When bending is formed by fixing the optical fiber pair with the urethane foam stretched and restoring it to its original state

表１から分かるように、（実施例１）では、全ての項目において、良好な結果が得られた。一方、（実施例２）では、「たわみ方向の均一性」、「たわみ量の均一性」において良好な結果が得られたが、「たわみ形成スピード（時間）」において、低い評価となった。（比較例）では、全ての項目において、低い評価となった。 The evaluation test items include “deflection speed (time)”, “uniformity in deflection direction”, “uniformity in deflection amount”, “degree of deflection fixing”, “workability”, “output characteristics as sensor” The results of the evaluation test are shown in Table 1.

As can be seen from Table 1, in (Example 1), good results were obtained for all items. On the other hand, in (Example 2), good results were obtained in “uniformity in deflection direction” and “uniformity in deflection amount”, but the evaluation was low in “deflection speed (time)”. In (Comparative Example), the evaluation was low in all items.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the tenth support members 17 arranged in the vertical direction while being separated from each other by a predetermined interval are fixed to the odd-numbered support members in a state where the even-numbered support members 17 are fixed in the left-right direction. By shifting only 17 by a predetermined distance in the right direction and moving the 2nd to 10th support members 17 in a direction approaching the first support member 17, two adjacent support members 17 are set in contact with each other. After that, the deflection is formed by eliminating the deviation of the ten support members 17 in the left-right direction, but the procedure for forming the deflection in the deflection forming apparatus can be changed. Therefore, for example, with the ten support members fixed in the left-right direction with the even-numbered support members fixed, the first, fifth, and ninth support members are shifted to the right by a predetermined distance, and the third and seventh support members. Is shifted to the left by a predetermined distance, and the second to tenth support members are moved in a direction approaching the first support member, so that the two adjacent support members are set in contact with each other. The deflection may be formed by eliminating the horizontal shift of the individual support members. In this case, the direction of deflection changes alternately. Further, the number of support members can be changed, and the intervals between the plurality of support members need not all be the same.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the optical fiber pair 13 composed of the light emitting optical fiber 13a and the light receiving optical fiber 13b is provided for each pressure sensitive point, but the light emitting optical fiber and the light receiving optical fiber are provided. Even when the optical fiber shared as is formed in the optical fiber used in the tactile sensor provided for each pressure sensitive point, the same effect as described above is obtained.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the tactile sensor using the optical fiber in which the bending was formed with the deflection forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure inside a sensor sheet. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the manufacturing process of a tactile sensor. It is a figure which shows the structure of a double-sided adhesive tape. It is a figure which shows each process of the manufacturing process of a tactile sensor. It is a figure which shows each process of the manufacturing process of a tactile sensor. It is a top view of a deflection forming apparatus. It is a top view of a deflection forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows each process of the manufacturing process of a tactile sensor. It is a figure which shows each process of the manufacturing process of a tactile sensor.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tactile sensor 10 Sensor sheet 13 Optical fiber pair 16 Double-sided adhesive tape 17 Support member 30 Substrate part 40 Deflection apparatus

Claims (6)

A plurality of support members that are arranged along the first direction while being spaced apart from each other and that are fixed so that the plurality of optical fibers extending in a straight line substantially along the first direction are parallel to each other. Regarding the optical fiber, the respective optical fiber fixing portions of the two adjacent support members are shifted in the second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and the gap between the two adjacent support members is smaller than the initial gap. Holding means for holding in a state;
The plurality of support members held by the holding means maintain the state in which the gap between the two adjacent support members is smaller than the initial gap, and the optical fiber fixing portions of the two adjacent support members. And a moving means for moving the optical fiber so as not to shift in the second direction. The plurality of support members are arranged along the first direction while being separated from each other by a predetermined interval,
The holding means is
Among the plurality of support members, one of the odd-numbered and even-numbered support members from the endmost support member is fixed with respect to the second direction, and only the other support member is along the second direction. While shifting by a predetermined distance in the same direction,
A support member other than the endmost support member among the plurality of support members is moved in a direction approaching the endmost support member, thereby holding the two adjacent support members in contact with each other. The optical fiber deflection forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The deflection of the optical fiber according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature changing unit that heats and cools the optical fiber fixed to the plurality of support members moved by the moving unit. Forming equipment. A first step of fixing a plurality of optical fibers extending in a straight line substantially along the first direction so as to be parallel to the plurality of support members arranged along the first direction while being spaced apart from each other;
The plurality of support members to which the optical fibers are fixed in the first step are shifted in a second direction in which the respective optical fiber fixing portions of the two adjacent support members are substantially orthogonal to the first direction. And a second step of holding the gap between two adjacent support members in a state where the gap is smaller than the initial gap;
The plurality of support members held in the second step are fixed to the optical fibers of the two adjacent support members while maintaining a state where the gap between the two adjacent support members is smaller than the initial gap. And a third step of moving the part so as not to shift in the second direction. The plurality of support members are arranged along the first direction while being separated from each other by a predetermined interval,
In the second step,
Among the plurality of support members, one of the odd-numbered and even-numbered support members from the endmost support member is fixed with respect to the second direction, and only the other support member is along the second direction. While shifting by a predetermined distance in the same direction,
By holding a support member other than the endmost support member among the plurality of support members in a direction approaching the endmost support member, two adjacent support members are held in contact with each other. The method for forming a deflection of an optical fiber according to claim 4, wherein:   The optical fiber according to claim 4, further comprising a fourth step of heating and cooling the optical fiber fixed to the plurality of support members moved in the third step. Deflection method.

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