JP2756181B2 - Optical fiber positioning device for double-headed optical fiber take-up bobbin switching device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in an optical fiber positioning device for a two-headed optical fiber winding bobbin switching device. Especially,
When switching from one of the two winding bobbins in a two-head type optical fiber winding machine to the other, the object is to prevent the switching from failing due to the swing of the optical fiber and improve the switching success rate. To improve.

[Conventional technology]

The optical fiber refers to an optical transmission line in which a core wire composed of a double cylinder of quartz having an outer diameter of 125 μm is coated with a plastic coat having a thickness of about 60 μm.

 Optical fibers have the following unique properties.

I. Because it is very thin, it is extremely lightweight and breaks easily.

B. Bending with a small radius of curvature (called micro-bending) causes radiation loss of light and reduces the transmission efficiency of the optical fiber.

C. In the case of a metal wire, the transmission loss of the optical fiber increases and the transmission efficiency of the optical fiber decreases only by applying a tension that is considered normal.

To manufacture an optical fiber, a quartz double-column preform (called a preform) having a diameter of 20 to 60 mm is melted in a melting path, and a core of an optical fiber having a diameter of 125 μm is manufactured through a die. Subsequently, the outer periphery of the core wire is coated with a resin in a resin coating tank to produce an optical fiber having a diameter of 250 μm. This optical fiber is paid out by a capstan. When the optical fiber manufacturing apparatus described above is used, an optical fiber having a long length, for example, about 100 km is continuously manufactured from a single preform, and it is particularly important that the optical fiber cannot be stopped halfway. For this reason, it is necessary to continuously wind the manufactured optical fiber. Therefore, conventionally, an optical fiber winding machine has been directly connected to the above optical fiber manufacturing apparatus. If the two winding bobbins are alternately switched and wound in this optical fiber winding machine, continuous winding can be performed extremely efficiently. Thus 2
A winding machine that alternately switches between winding bobbins for winding is called a double-head winding machine.

In a two-head winding machine, a winding bobbin switching device is required to alternately switch between two winding bobbins. Hereinafter, a conventional winding bobbin switching device applied to an optical fiber winding device will be described with reference to FIG.

Referring to FIG. 4, reference numerals 7a and 7b denote two winding bobbins, which are rotatably supported by two rotationally driven shafts 6a and 6b, respectively. Reference numerals 8a and 8b denote two optical fiber capturing rotating bodies which are adjacent to the bobbins 7a and 7b, respectively, are pivotally supported by the shafts 6a and 6b, and have optical fiber capturing claws 9a and 9b. Reference numeral 10 denotes an optical fiber traveling path moving means which is disposed in an intermediate region between the two bobbins 7a and 7b and moves the traveling path of the optical fiber 15 in a direction parallel to the axes 6a and 6b. This optical fiber traveling path moving means 19 is formed of a rod-like body, and its cross section perpendicular to its axis has a substantially constant shape. Reference numeral 16 denotes an optical fiber traveling direction selecting means for selecting a direction in which the optical fiber 15 is fed to the bobbins 7a and 7b.

Next, the operation of the conventional winding bobbin switching device will be described. For example, of the two bobbins 7a and 7b, the winding of the bobbin 7a is completed, and the winding bobbin becomes
In the case of switching from 7a to 7b, in response to the switching command, the optical fiber traveling path moving means 10 moves from a normal position (a position indicated by a broken line in the drawing) in a direction parallel to the axes 6a and 6b. Then, the optical fiber 15 is pushed while reaching the position shown by the solid line in the figure. On the other hand, the bobbin 7b to be switched has already been rotated, and the optical fiber catching claw 9b engages the optical fiber 15 when the optical fiber 15 is pushed to the position shown in the figure. Then, the optical fiber 15 is wound around the bobbin 7b, and switching of the winding bobbin is achieved. The bobbin 7a that has been wound is cut off at the end of the wound optical fiber 15, and is removed from the shaft 6a.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, as described above, since the optical fiber is very thin and extremely lightweight, the optical fiber is likely to swing due to the wind caused by the rotation of the winding bobbin or the breeze in the clean room where the winding machine is placed. Therefore, in the take-up bobbin switching device according to the prior art, when the optical fiber is guided to the position where the catching claw is engaged using the optical fiber traveling path moving means, the optical fiber swings and the optical fiber traveling path is stabilized. However, there is a drawback that the probability that the optical fiber capture by the capture claw fails is not negligible.

An object of the present invention is to prevent a failure in switching due to swinging of an optical fiber or the like when switching from one of two winding bobbins in a two-head type optical fiber winding machine to the other is performed. Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber positioning device for a two-headed optical fiber take-up bobbin switching device that can improve the switching success rate.

[Means for solving the problem]

The above object is achieved by any of the following means.

The first means consists of two axes (6
a) Two bobbins (7a) supported on each of (6b)
(7b), two optical fiber capturing rotators (8a) (8b), each of which is supported by the shaft (6a) (6b) and has optical fiber capturing claws (9a) (9b); The optical fiber traveling path movement is disposed in a region sandwiched between the two bobbins (7a) and (7b) and moves the traveling path of the optical fiber (15) in a direction parallel to the axes (6a) and (6b). A two-headed optical fiber take-up bobbin having means (10) and optical fiber advancing direction selecting means (16) for selecting a feeding direction of the optical fiber (15) to the bobbins (7a) (7b). In the optical fiber positioning device for a switching device, the optical fiber traveling path moving means (10) is connected to the shaft (6a) (6
b) extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by
The rod (1) is composed of a single rod (1) that can move in a direction parallel to the axes (6a) and (6b), and at both ends of the rod (1), an enlarged portion (11) is provided. The opposing surfaces of the enlarged portion (11) are generally hemispherical optical fiber positioning devices for a two-headed optical fiber take-up bobbin switching device. It is more preferable that the expanding portion (11) is movable along the rod-shaped body (1).

The second means consists of two axes (6
a) Two bobbins (7a) supported on each of (6b)
(7b), two optical fiber capturing rotators (8a) (8b), each of which is supported by the shaft (6a) (6b) and has optical fiber capturing claws (9a) (9b); The optical fiber traveling path movement is disposed in a region sandwiched between the two bobbins (7a) and (7b) and moves the traveling path of the optical fiber (15) in a direction parallel to the axes (6a) and (6b). A two-headed optical fiber take-up bobbin having means (10) and optical fiber advancing direction selecting means (16) for selecting a feeding direction of the optical fiber (15) to the bobbins (7a) (7b). In the optical fiber positioning device for a switching device, the optical fiber traveling path moving means (10) is connected to the shaft (6a) (6
b) extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by
It consists of one rod (2) that can move in a direction parallel to the axes (6a) (6b), and this rod (2) is connected from one of the bobbins (7a) (7b) to the other. When switched, the optical fiber (15) is tapered (21) into a polygonal pyramid or conical shape obtained by rotating a triangle having an apex as an angle formed by the axis of the rod (2). This is an optical fiber positioning device for a two-head type optical fiber winding bobbin switching device.

The third means consists of two axes (6
a) Two bobbins (7a) supported on each of (6b)
(7b), two optical fiber capturing rotators (8a) (8b), each of which is supported by the shaft (6a) (6b) and has optical fiber capturing claws (9a) (9b); The optical fiber traveling path movement is disposed in a region sandwiched between the two bobbins (7a) and (7b) and moves the traveling path of the optical fiber (15) in a direction parallel to the axes (6a) and (6b). A two-headed optical fiber take-up bobbin having means (10) and optical fiber advancing direction selecting means (16) for selecting a feeding direction of the optical fiber (15) to the bobbins (7a) (7b). In the optical fiber positioning device for a switching device, the optical fiber traveling path moving means (10) is connected to the shaft (6a) (6
b) extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by
It consists of one rod (3) that can move in a direction parallel to the axes (6a) (6b), and this rod (3) has one end of the bobbin (7a) (7b) and the other end This is an optical fiber positioning device for a two-headed optical fiber take-up bobbin switching device in which a slit (31) is provided in a region through which the optical fiber (15) passes when switching is performed.

In the configuration of the third means, the effect is particularly remarkable when the rod-shaped body (3) is fixed by rotating the rod-shaped body (3) by 180 ° around the axis thereof.

[Action]

In response to the switching command from one of the two winding bobbins to the other, the optical fiber traveling path moving means starts moving, and moves in a direction parallel to the axis of the bobbin while pushing the optical fiber. In the prior art, the optical fiber oscillates mainly in the direction along the rod-shaped body that forms the optical fiber traveling path moving means. Therefore, in the optical fiber positioning device for the take-up bobbin switching device according to the present invention, the above-mentioned optical fiber positioning route corresponding to the normal traveling path of the optical fiber at the time of bobbin switching (varies within a certain range depending on the winding diameter of the bobbin). The portion of the rod is thinner than the portions on both sides sandwiching this portion. Therefore, when the bobbin is switched, the optical fiber is pushed and moved by the thinned portion of the rod. As a result, even if the optical fiber attempts to swing due to wind or the like, the thicker portion of the rod-shaped body suppresses the swing. Therefore, bobbin switching failure due to swing can be prevented, and the switching success rate can be improved.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, an optical fiber positioning device for a two-headed optical fiber take-up bobbin switching device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First embodiment (corresponding to claim [1]) See FIG. 1. In the drawing, 6a and 6b are arranged in parallel with each other.
It is a winding shaft driven by rotation. Reference numerals 7a and 7b denote two winding bobbins that are respectively supported by the two shafts 6a and 6b. 8a ・ 8b is 7a for each of the above bobbins
• Two optical fiber capturing rotating bodies having optical fiber capturing claws 9a and 9b adjacent to 7b and rotatably or integrally supported on the shafts 6a and 6b, respectively. Reference numeral 10 denotes an optical fiber disposed in an area between the two bobbins 7a and 7b.
Optical fiber traveling path moving means for moving the 15 traveling paths in a direction parallel to the axes 6a and 6b. Reference numeral 1 denotes a rod-shaped body according to the gist of the present invention, which constitutes the optical fiber traveling path moving means 10, and has enlarged portions 11 at both ends.
The enlarged portion 11 is movable along the rod-shaped body 1, and mutually facing surfaces of the enlarged portion 11 are substantially hemispherical. Reference numeral 16 denotes an optical fiber traveling direction selecting means for selecting a direction in which the optical fiber 15 is fed to the bobbins 7a and 7b.

Next, the operation of the optical fiber positioning device for a two-head type optical fiber take-up bobbin switching device according to the present embodiment will be described.

For example, when the winding of the bobbin 7a is completed between the two bobbins 7a and 7b and the bobbin 7a is switched to the bobbin 7b, the optical fiber 15 is always in a position where the optical fiber 15 cannot be engaged with the optical fiber catching claws 9a and 9b. A certain optical fiber traveling direction path moving means 10 moves in a direction parallel to the axes 6a and 6b in response to the switching command, and pushes the optical fiber 15 on the rod 1 while the optical fiber 15 The optical fiber catching claw 9b. At this time, even if the optical fiber tries to swing due to wind or the like, the above-mentioned rod-shaped body
Since the expanding portion 11 provided on both sides of the optical fiber suppresses the optical fiber from swinging, the traveling path of the optical fiber 15 is stably maintained with a high probability, and the optical fiber is engaged with the optical fiber catching claw 9a and wound. The take-up bobbin 7b starts winding, and the switching of the take-up bobbin is successful. When the winding of the winding bobbin 7b is completed and the bobbin 7b is switched to the bobbin 7a, the optical fiber advancing direction selecting means 16 is used.
Moves to the position indicated by the broken line in the figure, and the same operation as the above-described operation is performed to switch from the bobbin 7b to the bobbin 7a.

In the rod-shaped body 1 according to the present embodiment, since the enlarged portions 11 provided at both ends thereof can move along the rod-shaped body 1, the rod-shaped body 1 is located at an optimum position corresponding to the target optical fiber traveling path. It has the advantage that it can move a huge part.

By the way, the second embodiment and the following embodiments differ from the first embodiment only in that the rod-shaped body constituting the optical fiber traveling path moving means 10 is different. The emphasis will be placed on the rod-shaped body.

Second Embodiment (corresponding to Claim [2]) See FIG. 2 In the drawings, reference numeral 2 denotes a rod-like body of an optical fiber positioning device for a two-headed optical fiber take-up bobbin switching device according to the present embodiment. The rod 2 rotates a triangle having an apex angle θ formed by the optical fiber 15 with the axis 0-0 of the rod 2 when one of the winding bobbins 7a and 7b is switched to the other. The resulting polygonal or conical taper 21 is narrowed.

Next, the operation of the rod 2 according to the present embodiment will be described.

When the take-up bobbin is switched, the rod-shaped body 2 moves in parallel with the axis of the bobbin in response to the switching command, and the optical fiber is pressed while pushing the optical fiber at the thinned portion of the rod-shaped body 2. Advance to a position where it can engage the optical fiber catching claw. At this time, the optical fiber is prevented from swinging by the tapered surfaces on both sides of the narrowed portion of the rod-shaped body 2. Therefore, the optical fiber can stably maintain the traveling path with a high probability. The switching success rate improves.

The broken line in the figure shows the optical fiber 15 at the time of bobbin switching reverse to the case of the solid line.

The rod 2 of the present embodiment is different from the rod 1 of the first embodiment.
Since the length of the optical fiber that can be in contact with the rod-shaped body is long, the range in which the swing can be suppressed is increased, and the effect of suppressing the swing of the optical fiber is further enhanced.

Third Embodiment (corresponding to claim [3]) See FIGS. 3a and 3b. In the figure, reference numeral 3 denotes a rod-shaped body of an optical fiber positioning device for a two-headed optical fiber winding bobbin switching device according to the present embodiment. The rod-shaped body 3 is provided with the above-described switching bobbin.
These slits are provided in a region where the optical fiber 15 passes when switching from one of 7a and 7b to the other.
There are two types of bobbin switching: a case where the bobbin 7a is switched to the bobbin 7b and a case where the bobbin 7b is switched.
Two types are required, one in FIG. 3a and one in FIG. 3b, and these two types of rods are used alternately.

The rod 3 of the present embodiment moves parallel to the axis of the bobbin in response to the take-up bobbin switching command, and pushes the optical fiber in the slit 31 of the rod 3 while engaging the optical fiber with the optical fiber catching claw. Proceed to a position where you can fit At this time, the optical fiber is suppressed from swinging by the surface facing the slit 31 therebetween. Therefore, the traveling path of the optical fiber is stabilized with a high probability, and the possibility of avoiding switching failure increases.

Since the rod 3 of the present embodiment has a longer length in which the optical fiber can come into contact with the rod than the second embodiment, the range in which the swing can be suppressed is further increased. The effect of doing is even greater. However, in the case of the rod-shaped body of this embodiment, two rod-shaped bodies, the rod-shaped body shown in FIG. 3a and the rod-shaped body shown in FIG. 3b, are required.

Fourth Embodiment (corresponding to claim [4]) In the optical fiber positioning device for a two-headed optical fiber take-up bobbin switching device according to the present embodiment, one of the rod-shaped members shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b is used. In accordance with the bobbin to be switched, the rod is rotated by 180 ° about the axis of the rod as a center axis and fixed to form an optical fiber traveling path moving means.

In the case of the present embodiment, there is an advantage that the configuration is simple because only one bar is required as compared with the fourth embodiment.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, in the optical fiber positioning device for the two-headed optical fiber take-up bobbin switching device according to the present invention, the optical fiber traveling path moving means is formed of a rod-shaped body, and the enlarged portions are provided at both ends of the rod-shaped body. , The mutually facing surfaces of the enormous portion are generally hemispherical, or a polygonal pyramid obtained by rotating a triangle whose apex is the angle between the optical fiber and the axis of the rod when the rod is switched Or a conical taper, or the rod has a slit in the area through which the optical fiber passes when switching, so that the optical fiber when switching the bobbin is thinner than the rod. In the portion where the optical fiber is caught, it is pushed by the rod-shaped body and moves to the position where it is engaged with the optical fiber catching claw. Line path stable, switching failure is prevented with a high probability.

In addition, when a rod having the above slit is used, two rods are originally required. However, when the rod is rotated by 180 ° about the axis of the rod and fixed, one rod is required. There is an advantage that the rod-shaped body simplifies the configuration.

Therefore, the present invention can provide an optical fiber positioning device for a two-head type optical fiber take-up bobbin switching device that can improve the switching success rate at the time of bobbin switching and can improve the productivity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical fiber positioning device and a winding bobbin switching device for a two-head type optical fiber winding bobbin switching device according to a first embodiment (corresponding to claim [1]) of the present invention. . FIG. 2 is a side view of an optical fiber positioning device for a two-head type optical fiber take-up bobbin switching device according to a second embodiment (corresponding to claim [2]) of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of an optical fiber positioning device for a two-head type optical fiber take-up bobbin switching device according to a third embodiment (corresponding to claim [3]) of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an optical fiber positioning device and a winding bobbin switching device for a two-head type optical fiber winding bobbin switching device according to the prior art. 1, 2, 3 ... rod-shaped body, 11 ... expanded part, 21 ... taper, 31 ... slit, 6a, 6b ... shaft, 7a, 7b ... winding bobbin, 8a, 8b ... optical fiber Capturing rotator, 9a / 9b ... Optical fiber catching claw, 10 ... Optical fiber traveling path moving means, 15 ... Optical fiber, 16 ... Optical fiber traveling direction selecting means.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B65H 67/00-67/056 B65H 57/00-57/14

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. Two shafts (6a) arranged parallel to each other
Two bobbins (7a) (7
b), two optical fiber capturing rotators (8a) and (8b) supported by the shafts (6a) and (6b) and having optical fiber capturing claws (9a) and (9b), respectively. Are disposed in a region sandwiched between the bobbins (7a) and (7b), and travel the optical fiber (15) along the axes (6a) and (6b).
An optical fiber traveling path moving means (10) for moving the optical fiber in a direction parallel to the optical fiber; and an optical fiber traveling direction selecting means (1) for selecting a feeding direction of the optical fiber (15) to the bobbins (7a) (7b).
6) An optical fiber positioning device for a two-head type optical fiber take-up bobbin switching device, comprising: the optical fiber traveling path moving means (10) includes the shaft (6a).
The rod-shaped member (1) extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by (6b) and can move in a direction parallel to the axes (6a) and (6b). ) Are provided with enlarged portions (11) at both ends thereof, and mutually facing surfaces of the enlarged portions (11) are substantially hemispherical. Optical fiber positioning device. 2. Two shafts (6a) arranged parallel to each other.
Two bobbins (7a) (7
b), two optical fiber capturing rotators (8a) and (8b) supported by the shafts (6a) and (6b) and having optical fiber capturing claws (9a) and (9b), respectively. Are disposed in a region sandwiched between the bobbins (7a) and (7b), and travel the optical fiber (15) along the axes (6a) and (6b).
An optical fiber traveling path moving means (10) for moving the optical fiber in a direction parallel to the optical fiber; and an optical fiber traveling direction selecting means (1) for selecting a feeding direction of the optical fiber (15) to the bobbins (7a) (7b).
6) An optical fiber positioning device for a two-head type optical fiber take-up bobbin switching device, comprising: the optical fiber traveling path moving means (10) includes the shaft (6a).
The rod (1) extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by (6b) and can move in a direction parallel to the axes (6a) and (6b). ) Is a polygonal pyramid obtained by rotating a triangle whose apex is an angle formed by the optical fiber (15) and the axis of the rod (2) when one of the bobbins (7a) and (7b) is switched to the other. An optical fiber positioning device for a two-headed optical fiber take-up bobbin switching device, characterized in that the optical fiber positioning device is formed into a tapered or conical taper (21). 3. Two shafts (6a) arranged parallel to one another.
Two bobbins (7a) (7
b), two optical fiber capturing rotators (8a) and (8b) supported by the shafts (6a) and (6b) and having optical fiber capturing claws (9a) and (9b), respectively. Are disposed in a region sandwiched between the bobbins (7a) and (7b), and travel the optical fiber (15) along the axes (6a) and (6b).
An optical fiber traveling path moving means (10) for moving the optical fiber in a direction parallel to the optical fiber; and an optical fiber traveling direction selecting means (1) for selecting a feeding direction of the optical fiber (15) to the bobbins (7a) (7b).
6) An optical fiber positioning device for a two-head type optical fiber take-up bobbin switching device, comprising: the optical fiber traveling path moving means (10) includes the shaft (6a).
The rod (3) extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by (6b) and can move in a direction parallel to the axes (6a) and (6b). ), A slit (31) is provided in a region where the optical fiber (15) passes when one of the bobbins (7a) and (7b) is switched to the other. Optical fiber positioning device for take-up bobbin switching device. 4. A two-headed optical fiber winding according to claim 3, wherein said rod-shaped body is fixed by being rotated by 180 ° about the axis of said rod-shaped body as a central axis. Optical fiber positioning device for take-up bobbin switching device.