JP2011002858A - Batch fusion splicing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a batch fusion splicing method using an optical fiber holder that facilitates batch fusion splicing by quickly arraying a plurality of single-core secondary coated optical fibers and holding the arrayed state.SOLUTION: The optical fiber holder used in the method includes a base 1 having an optical fiber array groove for arranging and storing a plurality of secondary coated optical fibers 10 in parallel, a fiber array lid disposed as openable and closable above the optical fiber array groove and forming a flat gap where the top ends of the plurality of secondary coated optical fibers are arranged arrayed along a line, and an openable and closable lid for fixing fibers, for cramping the plurality of secondary coated optical fibers at the rear of the fiber array lid, in which the width of the optical fiber array grooves in the top end side is gradually decreased. While secondary coated optical fibers are fixed in the optical fiber holder, coatings are removed and fibers are cut together, then fibers are fused and spliced, and the fusion-spliced part is reinforced by a reinforcing sleeve 12.

Description

  The present invention relates to a collective fusion splicing method for collectively fusing a plurality of optical fiber cores using an optical fiber holder that holds a plurality of optical fiber cores in alignment.

  When a plurality of single-core optical fibers are arranged in parallel and collectively fused, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a plurality of optical fibers are predetermined by a V-groove or a storage groove. Alignment is performed at a pitch, and the aligned state is held and fixed using a terminal fixture to which an adhesive or the like is applied. After this, the coating of the single optical fiber cores that are aligned and held by the terminal fixture is collectively removed, and then the glass fiber exposed by the removal of the coating is collectively cut to a predetermined length. Align. Subsequently, the terminal fixture holding a plurality of single-core optical fibers is set on the fusion splicer as it is, the ends of the optical fibers connected to each other, and the plurality of optical fibers are fused together by arc discharge or the like. Wear and connect. In addition, after the collective fusion connection, a reinforcing member is used to reinforce the fusion-bonded portion where the glass fiber is exposed.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a collective aligner that collects and aligns a plurality of single-core optical fibers. This collective alignment tool is formed of plastic or the like and has a shape having a wide entrance into which an optical fiber core is inserted and a narrow exit that aligns the optical fiber core in a close contact state. The optical fiber cores inserted from the wide entrance are automatically aligned in close contact on the exit side and fixed by a method such as injecting an adhesive. It is said that the plurality of optical fiber cores aligned by the collective aligner can be fusion-bonded to a multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon or connected to an optical connector on the exit side.

JP-A-63-194208 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-19604

  When the ends of the optical fiber cores are aligned and fused together, a special fixture or alignment tool is used as disclosed in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 above, and an optical fiber core wire is used with an adhesive. The method of fixing is not a very welcome form of work on site. In addition, if a fixing tool or alignment tool is attached in the vicinity of the fusion splicing part, it is difficult to use a heat-shrinkable reinforcing sleeve for reinforcement after the fusion splicing, and there is a problem that workability is lowered. .

  Recently, with the increasing demand for optical fibers, there are cases where optical fiber cores of various thicknesses are used according to the purpose of use, or when multiple optical fiber cores and optical fiber tape cores are fused together. It is increasing. When a plurality of optical fiber cores and optical fiber tape cores are fusion-spliced together, depending on the coating diameter of the optical fiber cores, it is necessary to match the alignment pitch of the optical fibers, which reduces workability.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and provides an optical fiber holder that can easily perform batch fusion splicing by quickly aligning a plurality of single-core optical fibers and maintaining the aligned state. The purpose is to provide a batch fusion splicing method used.

  A fusion splicing method according to the present invention includes a base having an optical fiber alignment groove for storing a plurality of optical fiber cores arranged in parallel, and a plurality of optical fiber cores arranged to be openable and closable above the optical fiber alignment groove. A core wire alignment lid that forms a flat gap having a width in which the tip ends of the wires are arranged in a row; and a fiber fixing lid that can clamp a plurality of optical fiber core wires behind the core wire alignment lid. The optical fiber alignment groove is provided with an optical fiber holder having a shape in which the width on the tip side is gradually narrowed.

Only the outer layer coating on the front end side of a plurality of optical fiber core wires coated with two layers of the inner layer coating and the outer layer coating is removed from the flat gap formed by the core alignment lid of the optical fiber holder. After inserting, the process of fixing with an openable / closable lid for fixing the fiber, and removing the coating of the optical fiber core part protruding from the tip of the holder with multiple optical fiber cores fixed to the optical fiber holder And exposing the glass fiber, and cutting the tip of the glass fiber from which the inner layer coating has been removed to a predetermined length.
And the optical fiber tape core wire from which the coating of the tip prepared separately from the optical fiber core wires held by the optical fiber holder is removed, or the optical fibers tape held by the optical fiber holder Two sets of fiber cores are prepared, the ends of the optical fibers are butted together and fusion spliced together, and then the fusion spliced portion is reinforced with a reinforcing sleeve.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily align a plurality of optical fiber core wires by simply inserting them into the optical fiber alignment groove of the optical fiber holder. It can be done efficiently. Further, after performing the fusion splicing while holding the plurality of optical fiber core wires in the optical fiber holder, the reinforcing treatment by the reinforcing sleeve can be carried out efficiently immediately.

It is a perspective view explaining the outline of the optical fiber holder by this invention. It is a figure which shows the plane, center cross section, and end surface explaining the outline of the optical fiber holder by this invention. It is a figure explaining the method of accommodating and fixing a some optical fiber core wire to the optical fiber holder by this invention. It is a figure explaining the method of implementing collective fusion splicing using the optical fiber holder by this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a view for explaining an example of an optical fiber holder used in the fusion splicing method of the present invention, FIG. 2 (A) is a plan view with each lid closed, and FIG. 2 (B) is b- b sectional drawing and FIG.2 (C) show the end elevation seen from cc direction. In the figure, 1 is a base, 1a is a support shaft portion, 2 is a core wire alignment lid, 3 is a clamp lid, 4 is a holder lid, 5 is an optical fiber alignment groove, 5a is a tip groove, 5b is a conversion groove, and 5c is Parallel grooves, 6 is a pressing member, 7a, 7b and 8 are rubber pads, and 9a and 9b are magnets.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an optical fiber holder H used in the present invention includes a base wire 1 having a rectangular block, a core wire alignment lid 2, a clamp lid 3, and a holder lid 4 supported by a support shaft portion 1a. It is configured to pivot so that it can be opened and closed. An optical fiber alignment groove 5 for accommodating and aligning a plurality of optical fiber cores is formed on the upper surface of the base 1. The front end side of the optical fiber alignment groove 5 has a front end groove 5a having a width in which optical fiber cores having a predetermined thickness are arranged in a line, and a conversion groove 5b in which the groove width is gradually narrowed toward the front end side, The shape is a parallel groove 5c having a uniform width.

  The core line alignment lid 2 is provided at a position for pressing the distal end side of the optical fiber alignment groove 5 and is embedded in the base 1 when closed so as to close the open surface on the distal end side of the optical fiber alignment groove 5. The closed state is locked by the magnet 9a. A pressing member 6 that holds the optical fiber core wire is attached to the inner surface side of the core wire alignment lid 2 by bonding or the like. When the core wire alignment lid 2 is closed on the base 1, the presser member 6 closes the opening surface on the distal end side of the optical fiber alignment groove 5 to form a gap through which the optical fiber core wire is inserted. A plurality of optical fiber core wires are inserted into the gap and are aligned in a row.

  The clamp lid 3 is provided on the rear side of the optical fiber alignment groove 5. When the clamp lid 3 is closed so as to close the open surface on the rear side of the optical fiber alignment groove 5, the clamp lid 3 is closed by the magnet 9 b embedded in the base 1. Locked. Rubber pads 7a and 7b for clamping the optical fiber core wire are attached to the inner surface side of the clamp lid 3 by adhesion or the like, and fixed so that the optical fiber core wire placed in the optical fiber alignment groove 5 does not move in the longitudinal direction. .

  The holder lid 4 is provided adjacent to the core wire alignment lid 2 at a position where the intermediate portion of the optical fiber alignment groove 5 can be pressed, and when the holder lid 4 is closed so as to close the open surface of the optical fiber alignment groove 5, The closed state is locked by the embedded magnet 9a. A rubber pad 8 that clamps the tip end side of the optical fiber is attached to the inner surface side of the holder lid 4 by adhesion or the like, and the optical fiber core wires aligned in a line at the tip groove 5a of the optical fiber alignment groove 5 are aligned. Hold and fix the state.

  As an optical fiber core wire used in the present invention, for example, an outer diameter of a glass fiber is 0.125 mm, an inner layer coating having an outer diameter of about 0.25 mm is applied thereto, and the outer diameter is 0.5 mm or 0 on the outer side. Those with an outer layer coating of 9.9 mm are used. Also, as the optical fiber ribbon, many optical fiber cores having a coating diameter of about 0.25 mm are bundled with a common coating, and the standard pitch between the optical fibers is about 0.25 mm. Therefore, when a plurality of optical fiber cores having an outer layer coating with a coating outer diameter exceeding 0.25 mm and the above optical fiber tape cores are fused together, the outer layer coating is removed and the inner layer coating is removed. Although it is necessary to align the fiber cores and align the fiber pitch in a state where they are in close contact with each other, it can be easily realized by using the above optical fiber holder.

  FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a method of housing and fixing a plurality of optical fiber cores in the above-described optical fiber holder H, and FIG. 3 (A) stores a plurality of optical fiber core wires in an optical fiber alignment groove. FIG. 3 and FIG. 3B are diagrams in which the optical fiber core wire is clamped and held. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes an optical fiber core, and the other reference numerals are the same as those used in FIGS.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3 (A), by closing only the core alignment lid 2, the optical fiber cores 10 are arranged in a row between the optical fiber alignment groove 5 and the holding member 6 on the holder tip side. A flat air gap is formed as an insertion hole for alignment. The optical fiber core 10 is composed of, for example, the inner layer coating and the outer layer coating described above, and a predetermined number of optical fiber cores are formed in the distal end groove 5a of the optical fiber alignment groove 5 in a state where the outer layer coating on the distal end side is removed by a predetermined length. For example, the lines 10 are sequentially inserted one by one.

  The optical fiber core wire 10 accommodated in the optical fiber alignment groove 5 of the optical fiber holder H is guided to the tip groove 5a by the conversion groove 5b, and the fiber pitch (for example, 0) is narrowed so that the inner layer coatings are in close contact with each other. 0.25 mm pitch). And in the part of the parallel groove | channel 5c of the back side of the optical fiber alignment groove | channel 5, the outer layer coating is aligned in a line at a wide fiber pitch (for example, 0.5 mm pitch) in close contact with each other.

  After a predetermined number of optical fiber cores 10 are received and aligned in the optical fiber alignment groove 5, as shown in FIG. 3B, the clamp lid 3 is closed, and the optical fiber core wires 10 are sealed by the rubber pads 7a and 7b. Is firmly fixed so that it does not move in the longitudinal direction. Next, the holder lid 4 is closed to hold and fix the alignment state of the optical fiber core wire 10 at the holder outlet portion where the pitch of the optical fiber core wire 10 is narrowed.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of collectively fusion-connecting a plurality of optical fiber core wires using the optical fiber holder H described above. In the figure, 10a is a glass fiber, 10b is an inner layer coating, 10c is an outer layer coating, 11 is an optical fiber ribbon, 12 is a reinforcing sleeve, and 13 is a fixing member. Description of other reference numerals is omitted by using the same reference numerals as those used in FIGS.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4A, a plurality of optical fiber cores 10 are aligned and held by the optical fiber holder H described in FIGS. The method for aligning and holding the plurality of optical fiber cores 10 is performed, for example, by the method described with reference to FIG. 3, and the core wire alignment lid 2, the clamp lid 3, and the holder lid 4 are respectively closed, The optical fiber core wire 10 is fixed in a state where movement in the longitudinal direction is prevented. When the optical fiber core wire 10 is composed of two layers, an inner layer coating 10b and an outer layer coating 10c, and aligned at the outer diameter pitch of the inner layer coating 10b, the outer layer coating 10c on the tip end side is removed and held and fixed. .

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, the coating of the optical fiber core wire 10 protruding from the holder tip side (for example, the inner layer coating 10b) is removed from a predetermined location using a coating removing tool, The glass fiber 10a is exposed. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4C, the exposed glass fiber 10a is cut into a predetermined length, and the ends of the optical fibers are aligned. These coating removal and fiber cutting can be efficiently carried out because the optical fiber core wire 10 is aligned and held at a predetermined pitch at the tip of the holder, so that there are few failures and workability is improved.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4D, in a state where the optical fiber core wire 10 is held and fixed to the optical fiber holder H, it is set in a fusion splicer (not shown), and the ends of the optical fibers are connected. Make a butt batch fusion connection. An optical fiber ribbon 11 can be used as the other optical fiber to be fusion-spliced. In this case, as the optical fiber holder H ′ on the optical fiber ribbon 11 side, a general ordinary one can be used.

  When the optical fibers of the other party to be fusion-bonded are a plurality of similar optical fiber cores (not shown), they are abutted using an optical fiber holder having a similar configuration. If the optical fiber holder H shown in the figure is used as the right holder, the optical fiber holder that holds the optical fiber core wire to be connected is of the wrong shape (axisymmetric) as the left holder. .

  After the collective fusion connection is performed, as shown in FIG. 4E, the optical fiber core wire 10 and the counterpart optical fiber tape core wire 11 (or a plurality of optical fiber core wires) are connected to the optical fiber holder H. , H ′. Here, the reinforcing sleeve 12 inserted before the fusion splicing is moved to the optical fiber ribbon 11 side to cover the fusion splicing portion. The reinforcing sleeve 12 has, for example, a configuration in which a reinforcing rod and a hot-melt adhesive material are placed in a heat-shrinkable tube, and a plurality of optical fibers are bonded and integrated by heating to be reinforced.

  The reinforcing sleeve 12 is desirably provided so as to cover the outer layer coating 10c of the optical fiber core wire 10 by a predetermined distance L in a finished state after heat shrinkage. In addition, as distance L, 2 mm-4 mm are preferable, and, thereby, the fall of the intensity | strength of an optical fiber and an excessive bending | flexion in a reinforcement sleeve edge part can be reduced.

  In addition, if the optical fiber core wire 10 is removed from the optical fiber holder H for the reinforcement process after the collective fusion connection is performed, the alignment state of the fusion splicing part may be dispersed. In addition, when the fusion splicing is a plurality of optical fiber cores 10, one by one is separated. For this reason, the portions of the glass fiber 10a cross each other and are easily damaged, and the reinforcing sleeve 12 is difficult to cover. Therefore, until the above-described reinforcement treatment is performed, an appropriate portion of the outer layer coating 10c is fixed by using a fixing member 13 such as an adhesive or an adhesive tape so as to be partially temporarily held. desirable. The fixing member 13 may be removed after the reinforcement is completed, or may be left as it is.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Base, 1a ... Supporting shaft part, 2 ... Core wire alignment lid, 3 ... Clamp lid, 4 ... Holder lid, 5 ... Optical fiber alignment groove, 5a ... Tip groove, 5b ... Conversion groove, 5c ... Parallel groove, 6 ... Holding member, 7a, 7b, 8 ... Rubber pad, 9a, 9b ... Magnet, 10 ... Optical fiber core wire, 10a ... Glass fiber, 10b ... Inner layer coating, 10c ... Outer layer coating, 11 ... Optical fiber tape core wire, 12 ... reinforcing sleeve, 13 ... fixing member.

Claims (2)

A base having an optical fiber alignment groove for storing a plurality of optical fiber cores arranged in parallel, and an openable and closable arrangement above the optical fiber alignment groove, and the distal end side of the plurality of optical fiber core wires in a row An optical fiber alignment cover, comprising: a core alignment lid that forms a flat gap with a line width; and an openable / closable lid for fixing the fibers that clamps the plurality of optical fiber cores behind the core alignment cover. The groove uses an optical fiber holder whose shape is gradually narrowed on the tip side,
After removing and inserting only the outer layer coating on the tip end side of a plurality of optical fiber core wires coated with two layers of the inner layer coating and the outer layer coating into the flat gap formed by the core wire alignment lid Fixing with an openable / closable lid for fixing the fiber;
In a state where the plurality of optical fiber cores are fixed to the optical fiber holder, removing the inner layer coating of the optical fiber core wires protruding from the tip of the holder to expose the glass fiber;
Cutting the tip of the glass fiber from which the inner layer coating has been removed to a predetermined length;
A step of collectively fusion-connecting a plurality of optical fiber core wires held by the optical fiber holder and an optical fiber tape core wire prepared by removing the coating of the tip prepared separately;
And a step of covering the outer layer coating of the fusion splicing portion with a reinforcing sleeve and reinforcing it for a predetermined distance. A base having an optical fiber alignment groove for storing a plurality of optical fiber cores arranged in parallel, and an openable and closable arrangement above the optical fiber alignment groove, and the distal end side of the plurality of optical fiber core wires in a row An optical fiber alignment cover, comprising: a core alignment lid that forms a flat gap with a line width; and an openable / closable lid for fixing the fibers that clamps the plurality of optical fiber cores behind the core alignment cover. The groove uses an optical fiber holder whose shape is gradually narrowed on the tip side,
After removing and inserting only the outer layer coating on the tip end side of a plurality of optical fiber core wires coated with two layers of the inner layer coating and the outer layer coating into the flat gap formed by the core wire alignment lid Fixing with an openable / closable lid for fixing the fiber;
In the state where the plurality of optical fiber cores are fixed to the optical fiber holder, the step of removing the inner layer coating of the optical fiber core wires protruding from the tip of the holder to expose the glass fiber;
Cutting the tip of the glass fiber from which the inner layer coating has been removed to a predetermined length;
Preparing two sets of a plurality of optical fiber cores held by the optical fiber holder, butting the ends of the optical fibers together and performing a fusion splicing;
And a step of covering the outer layer coating of the fusion splicing portion with a reinforcing sleeve over a predetermined distance to reinforce.

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