JP3122546B2 - Automatic optical fiber cutting device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic optical fiber cutting apparatus for automatically cutting an optical fiber, and more particularly, to an automatic optical fiber cutting apparatus applied to a fully automatic fusion splicer for optical fibers. It is related to the improvement of.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional automatic optical fiber cutting apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1-147408, etc. Clamping means, an up / down pillow member that presses against the optical fiber between the core wire clamping means and the fiber clamp means, and an up / down pillow that cuts and wounds the surface of the optical fiber that is in contact with the pillow member It is composed of a cutter and makes it possible to automate optical fiber cutting in a short time.

However, the automatic optical fiber cutting apparatus disclosed in the above publication focuses on an optical fiber cutting method, and it has not been detected whether or not the optical fiber cutting has actually succeeded.

[0004] Such an automatic cutting device is an automatic device, for example, a fully automatic fusion for automatically performing a series of operations of peeling, cutting, cleaning, image measurement, fusion splicing, and reinforcement of the coating of the optical fiber. When incorporated in a connection machine, even if the cutting of the optical fiber in the cutting process fails for any reason, the failure is not detected in the cutting process, but in the image measurement process of measuring the optical fibers aligned on the V-groove. It was usually detected for the first time.

[0005]

A conventional automatic optical fiber cutting apparatus is configured as described above and does not inspect the success or failure of the cutting of the optical fiber immediately after the cutting step. Without it, the success or failure of cutting the optical fiber could not be inspected at all.

[0006] For this reason, when the cutting of the optical fiber fails for some reason, there is a serious drawback that the operation must be restarted from the cutting step.

Further, there is a serious drawback that sputter discharge applied to an optical fiber in a cleaning step burns a resin film remaining when cutting fails, which is extremely dangerous.

Furthermore, there is a considerable problem that a long optical fiber which has not been cut to a predetermined length and remains is in contact with the end faces of the optical fibers on the right and left sides and causes a wound.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is possible to easily prevent rework and burning of a resin film, and to surely prevent the end face of the optical fiber on the opposite side from being wound. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic optical fiber cutting device.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a clamp mechanism for holding an exposed optical fiber, cutting means for wounding and cutting the held optical fiber. A movable pulling mechanism for gripping the optical fiber covering the optical fiber and pulling the wound optical fiber in the direction of the anti-clamp mechanism; and detecting whether the optical fiber is cut or not based on the movement of the pulling mechanism. Means.

In the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a clamp mechanism for holding a horizontally exposed optical fiber from above and below, and an optical fiber core covering the optical fiber for holding an elastic member to return the elastic member. A movable pulling mechanism for pulling the optical fiber in the direction of the anti-clamp mechanism based on the action, a cutting means for wounding and cutting the optical fiber between the clamp mechanism and the pulling mechanism, and a moving pulling mechanism. A switch for detecting the success or failure of cutting the optical fiber from the contact.

Further, in the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a lower clamp abutting from below on the horizontally exposed optical fiber, an upper clamp for holding the optical fiber between the lower clamp, A movable clamp that is suspended by an upper clamp via an elastic member and holds the optical fiber between the lower clamp and the movable clamp; an operable cutting blade for wounding the held optical fiber; An up-and-down pillow that cuts by pressing against the fiber,
A movable pulling mechanism for holding the optical fiber covering the optical fiber and pulling the wound optical fiber is provided, and detecting means for detecting the success or failure of the cutting of the optical fiber.

[0013]

According to the present invention, when the optical fiber is successfully cut, the pulling mechanism moves from the position facing the clamp mechanism toward the anti-clamp mechanism, and the detecting means quickly detects the success of the optical fiber cut. If the optical fiber cutting fails, the detection means quickly detects the failure of the optical fiber cutting while maintaining the stopped state of the traction mechanism,
The success or failure of the cutting of the optical fiber can be detected at the final stage of the cutting process.

Therefore, it is possible to quickly detect the success or failure of cutting the optical fiber without reaching the image measuring step, and even if the cutting of the optical fiber fails for some reason, the operation is restarted from the cutting step. The need to redo can be reliably eliminated.

Further, it is possible to extremely easily prevent the resin film from burning, and it is possible to reliably prevent the end face of the optical fiber from being wounded.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to one embodiment shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the optical fiber automatic cutting device according to the present embodiment causes the clamp mechanism 3 to hold the optical fiber 1 and the pulling mechanism 4 to hold the optical fiber core wire 2, and the cutting means to pull the optical fiber core 2 and the pulling mechanism. After wounding and cutting the optical fiber 1 with the mechanism 4, the pulling mechanism 4 moving in the direction of the anti-clamping mechanism 3 is brought into contact with the switch 5 to determine the success or failure of cutting the wound optical fiber 1 in a cutting step. I try to detect.

The optical fiber 1 is formed into an optical fiber by covering a primary coating (not shown) and a buffer layer on the peripheral surface, and a secondary coating (not shown) is provided on the peripheral surface of the optical fiber. It is covered to form a tape-shaped optical fiber core wire 2, and is aligned in a horizontal line and directed in a plurality of directions in the horizontal longitudinal direction of FIG. 1.

However, the plurality of optical fibers 1 are mostly coated, but in the cutting step, as shown in FIG. 1, a part of the optical fibers 1 discarded after cutting is completely stripped of the coating, leaving the bare state. Exposed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the clamp mechanism 3 for holding the optical fiber 1 is in contact with the lower peripheral surfaces of the plurality of optical fibers 1 separated in a bare state via a buffer material 31 such as rubber. Lower clamp 30 that can be moved up and down (see arrow)
And an upper clamp 32 (see arrow) that can hold the plurality of optical fibers 1 via a buffer material 31A such as rubber between the lower clamp 30 and the buffer material 31 of the lower clamp 30 to expose a naked state. It has a function of restraining the plurality of optical fibers 1 in a horizontal state.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pulling mechanism 4 for holding the optical fiber core 2 has a mounting table 42 erected above a vehicle body 41 having a plurality of wheels 40. On the upper surface, a plate-shaped lower jaw 43 on which the optical fiber core 2 to be conveyed to the next step is mounted is placed, and a pair of guide rods 44 are erected on the upper surface side of the lower jaw 43, A plate-shaped upper jaw 45 for holding the optical fiber core wire 2 between the pair of guide rods 44 and the lower jaw 43 is fitted in a vertically movable manner (see arrows).

An end of a coil spring 46 is stretched on the back surface of the mounting table 42, and the traction mechanism 4 is moved from a position facing the clamp mechanism 3 to the anti-clamp mechanism 3 on the basis of the returning action of the coil spring 46 from the extended state. (See arrow).

Further, the cutting means is not shown,
It is composed of a liftable cutter that damages the lower peripheral surfaces of the plurality of optical fibers 1 that are exposed, and a liftable pillow that presses down and cuts the upper peripheral surfaces of the damaged optical fibers 1 to cut. Has a function of wounding and cutting a plurality of optical fibers 1 between the clamp mechanism 3 and the traction mechanism 4.

Further, as shown in the figure, the switch 5 is disposed immediately below the coil spring 46 and operates based on contact with the moving traction mechanism 4 to cut the wound optical fiber 1. It has a function to detect success or failure.

On both sides of the switch 5, there are provided a plurality of stoppers 6 which are stopped by being stopped by the moving traction mechanism 4.
Is erected.

Therefore, in order to detect the success or failure of the cutting of the optical fiber 1 in the cutting step, first, the plurality of optical fibers 1 whose bare state is exposed to the clamp mechanism 3 and the optical fiber core 2 to the pulling mechanism 4 are respectively connected. As shown in FIG. 1, the optical fibers 1 are clamped, and tension is applied to the plurality of optical fibers 1.

At the time of this clamping, the traction mechanism 4 is moved in the direction of the clamp mechanism 3 to extend the coil spring 46 in the same direction.

Next, the cutter is raised and the clamp mechanism 3
The lower surfaces of the plurality of optical fibers 1 between the optical fiber 1 and the traction mechanism 4 are damaged, and then the cutter descends and returns to the original position.

When the cutter returns, the pillow descends and presses against the upper surface of the plurality of optical fibers 1 between the clamp mechanism 3 and the pulling mechanism 4, and this pillow exerts a bending load on the plurality of optical fibers 1. The pillow then rises and returns to its original position (see FIG. 2).

Then, the traction mechanism 4 moves from the position facing the clamp mechanism 3 in the direction of the anti-clamp mechanism 3 (see the arrow) due to the returning action of the elongated coil spring 46, and the traction mechanism 4 is moved within a predetermined time. The switch is operated in contact with the switch 5 to detect the cutting of the plurality of optical fibers 1 at the final stage of the cutting process (see FIG. 3).

On the other hand, when even one of the plurality of wound optical fibers 1 fails to cut, the tension of the failed optical fiber 1 is superior to the restoring force of the elongated coil spring 46, and thus the traction is performed. The mechanism 4 does not move in the direction of the anti-clamp mechanism 3 from the position facing the clamp mechanism 3 and maintains a stopped state (see FIG. 4).

However, the pulling mechanism 4 does not come into contact with the switch 5 within a predetermined time due to the pulling-back action of the optical fiber 1 that has failed to cut, and the failure of cutting the optical fiber 1 is detected here.

According to the above configuration, when the optical fiber 1 is successfully cut, the pulling mechanism 4 moves from the position facing the clamp mechanism 3 toward the anti-clamp mechanism 3 and switches the switch 5 within a predetermined time. If the cutting of the optical fiber 1 fails, the pulling mechanism 4 maintains the stopped state and does not contact and operate the switch 5 within a predetermined time. The success or failure can be detected at the final stage of the cutting process.

Therefore, it is possible to quickly inspect the success or failure of the cutting of the optical fiber 1 without going to the image measuring step, and even if the cutting of the optical fiber 1 fails for some reason, the operation can be stopped. This eliminates the need to start over.

Further, it is possible to easily prevent the burning of the resin film (not shown), and it can be expected that the end face of the optical fiber 1 can be reliably prevented from being wounded.

5 to 7 show another embodiment of the present invention. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, an optical fiber 1 is connected to a lower clamp 30, an upper clamp 32 and a movable clamp 34. After the optical fiber 1 is held by the traction mechanism 4 and the optical fiber 1 is wound and cut by the cutter 7 and the pillow 8, a pulse generated by the rotary encoder 9 based on the rotation of the ball screw 48 is generated. The counting is performed to detect the success or failure of the cutting of the optical fiber 1 in the cutting step.

As shown in the figure, the lower clamp 30 is arranged so as to be able to ascend and descend (see arrows) immediately below the plurality of optical fibers 1 which have been stripped in a bare state, and the upper surface of the optical fiber 1
A cushioning material 31 such as rubber is affixed to the lower peripheral surface of the upper surface and is opposed to the upper clamp 32 and the movable clamp 34.

As shown in FIG. 5, the upper clamp 32 is formed in a substantially L-shape, and a buffer material 31A such as rubber which is in contact with the upper peripheral surface of the optical fiber 1 is attached to the lower part of the long side of the upper clamp. I have.

As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of elevating rods 33 penetrates vertically (see arrows) above the upper clamp 32, and a movable clamp 34 is provided below the pair of elevating rods 33. On the lower surface of the movable clamp 34, a cushioning material 31B such as rubber which abuts on the upper peripheral surface of the optical fiber 1 is attached.

As shown in the drawing, compression coil springs 35 for biasing the movable clamp 34 downward are fitted into the pair of lifting rods 33, respectively.

The lower clamp 30 and the upper clamp 32
Is connected to the end of the vertically movable rod 36, respectively.
The plurality of rods 36 are accommodated in the accommodation holes 37, respectively. In the accommodation holes 37, a plurality of rollers 38 for facilitating the lifting and lowering of the rods 36 are arranged so as to surround them.

The traction mechanism 4 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, a ball screw 48 that is rotatable in the longitudinal direction at the center of the inside of the housing 47 is mounted on the shaft, and guides 49 that are oriented in the longitudinal direction are mounted on both upper sides of the housing 47, respectively. Bearings 50 having a substantially concave cross section of the vehicle body 41A that cover the upper surface of the opening of the housing 47 are slidably fitted to the guides 49, respectively.

A DC motor 51 is connected to the end of the ball screw 48.
Are connected via a joint 52. As shown in FIG. 6, a convex portion 41a that penetrates a rotatable ball screw 48 is provided on a lower surface of the vehicle body 41A so as to protrude downward.

A mounting table 42 is erected on the upper part of the vehicle body 41A. On the upper surface of the mounting table 42, a plate-shaped lower jaw 43 on which the optical fiber core 2 to be conveyed to the next step is mounted is mounted. A pair of guide rods 44 is erected on the upper surface side of the lower jaw 43, and a plate-shaped upper jaw 45 for holding one optical fiber between the lower jaw 43 and the pair of guide rods 44. It is inserted into a vertically movable part (see the arrow).

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cutter 7 is disposed vertically in the concave portion of the lower clamp 30 and rises to the lower peripheral surface of the plurality of optical fibers 1 which are exposed. Has a function to hurt.

On the other hand, the pillow 8 is disposed between the upper clamp 32 and the movable clamp 34, as shown in FIG.
Is attached to the upper surface of each of the plurality of damaged optical fibers 1 so as to be pressed down and cut.

Further, the rotary encoder 9
Is mounted on the back of the DC motor 51 and has a function of generating a pulse based on the driving of the DC motor 51, in other words, based on the rotation of the ball screw 48.
The success or failure of the cutting of the optical fiber 1 is detected in the cutting step from the electrical count of the pulse. Other parts are the same as in the above embodiment.

Therefore, in order to detect the success or failure of the cutting of the optical fiber 1 in the cutting step, first, the plurality of optical fibers 1 exposed to the lower clamp 30, the upper clamp 32 and the movable clamp 34 are exposed to the pulling mechanism 4. The optical fiber cores 2 are sandwiched between the optical fibers 1 as shown in FIG. 5, and the driving of the DC motor 51 is controlled to apply tension to the plurality of optical fibers 1 (see FIG. 7A).

At this time, the upper portions of the pair of lifting rods 33 project from the upper clamp 32, and the compression coil spring 35 exposes the compressed state.

In the present embodiment, the tension is applied to the optical fiber 1 shown in FIG. 7A. However, the tension may be applied to the optical fiber 1 at the stage shown in FIG. 7D for the first time. .

Next, the cutter 7 rises to damage the lower surfaces of the plurality of optical fibers 1, and then the cutter 7 descends and returns to the original position (see FIG. 7B). When the cutter 7 returns, the pillow 8 descends and presses against the upper surface of the plurality of optical fibers 1, and the pillow 8 cuts the plurality of optical fibers 1 by applying a bending load (see FIG. 7C). Thereafter, the pillow 8 rises and returns to the original position (see FIG. 7D).

Next, the upper clamp 32 is slightly lifted and returned, but the movable clamp 34 keeps the state in which the plurality of optical fibers 1 are clamped without being raised because the compression coil ridges 35 are constantly urged downward. (See FIG. 7D).

The DC motor 5 is controlled while controlling the torque.
1 drives to rotate the ball screw 48, and the vehicle body 41 </ b> A of the traction mechanism 4 screwed into the ball screw 48
5 to pull the plurality of optical fibers 1 in the same direction by sliding in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5, the vehicle body 41A of the pulling mechanism 4 moves backward by a predetermined distance within a predetermined time, and
7 is detected at the final stage of the cutting process (FIG. 7).
(E)).

On the other hand, if at least one of the plurality of wound optical fibers 1 fails to cut, the failed optical fiber 1 restrains the body 41A of the traction mechanism 4, so that the body 41A 5 is maintained without moving in the direction of the arrow (see FIG. 7 (f)).

However, when the vehicle body 41A is kept stopped for a predetermined period of time, the failure of cutting the optical fiber 1 is detected at the final stage of the cutting process.

According to the above configuration, the success or failure of the cutting of the optical fiber 1 can be detected based on whether or not the optical fiber 1 is pulled back. Therefore, the success or failure of the cutting of the optical fiber 1 can be promptly inspected without going to the image measurement step. Thus, even if the cutting of the optical fiber 1 fails for some reason, it is possible to eliminate the necessity of restarting the operation from the cutting step.

Further, it is expected that the burning of the resin film can be easily prevented, and that the end face of the optical fiber 1 can be reliably prevented from being wounded.

In each of the above embodiments, the optical fiber 1 is held by the pulling mechanism 4. However, the optical fiber 1 or the optical cable may be held by the pulling mechanism 4. The same effect as the example can be expected.

In each of the above embodiments, the pulling mechanism 4 having the shape shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 is used. However, the pulling mechanism 4 can hold one optical fiber and can move in the pulling direction. If there is, the traction mechanism 4 having the shape shown in FIG.

In the above embodiments, the optical fiber 1 is cut. However, the same operation and effect as those of the above embodiments can be obtained by cutting the optical fiber 2 or the optical fiber.

In the above embodiments, the cutter and the cutter 7 are raised. However, the cutter and the cutter 7 may be moved in a horizontal direction, an oblique direction, or the like. 1 may be wounded or the like.

Further, in the above embodiment, the rotary encoder 9 and the ball screw 48 are used, but the combination of the timing belt, the light shielding plate and the photo interrupter may be used instead. Needless to say, the same operation and effect can be expected.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the cutting of the optical fiber is successful, the detecting means quickly detects the success of the cutting of the optical fiber from the normal movement of the traction mechanism, and If the cutting of the optical fiber fails, the detecting means quickly detects the failure of the cutting of the optical fiber from the stopped state of the traction mechanism, so that the success or failure of the cutting of the optical fiber can be detected very easily at the final stage of the cutting process. There is a remarkable effect that can be done.

Therefore, if this apparatus is incorporated in a fully automatic fusion splicer, the success or failure of optical fiber cutting can be detected in the cutting process without delay in the process, and the working time can be significantly reduced and the operational reliability can be reduced. A remarkable effect that remarkable improvement can be easily achieved can be expected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an embodiment of an automatic optical fiber cutting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state where the optical fiber is automatically cut by the optical fiber cutting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a state where the automatic optical fiber cutting apparatus according to the present invention has succeeded in cutting.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the automatic optical fiber cutting apparatus according to the present invention has failed in cutting.

FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view showing another embodiment of the automatic optical fiber cutting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory sectional view showing another embodiment of the automatic optical fiber cutting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for sequentially explaining the operation of the optical fiber automatic cutting device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical fiber, 2 ... Optical fiber core wire, 3 ... Clamp mechanism, 4 ... Traction mechanism, 5 ... Switch (detection means), 7 ... Cutter, 8 ... Pillow, 9 ... Rotary encoder (Detection means),
Reference numeral 30: lower clamp, 32: upper clamp, 34: movable clamp, 35: compression coil spring (elastic member), 46:
Coil firing (elastic member), 48 ... ball screw.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Seiichi Kawana 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Naoshi Ogawa 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Japan Telegraph and Telephone Co., Ltd. (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 6/24-6/42

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A clamp mechanism for holding an exposed optical fiber, a cutting means for wounding and cutting the held optical fiber, and an optical fiber core covering the optical fiber being gripped and wounded. An automatic optical fiber cutting apparatus comprising: a movable pulling mechanism for pulling an optical fiber in a direction opposite to a clamping mechanism; and a detecting means for detecting whether the optical fiber has been cut or not based on the movement of the pulling mechanism. . 2. A clamp mechanism for holding a horizontally exposed optical fiber from above and below, an optical fiber core covering the optical fiber being held, and the optical fiber being pulled in the direction of the anti-clamp mechanism based on a return action of an elastic member. A movable pulling mechanism, cutting means for wounding and cutting the optical fiber between the clamp mechanism and the pulling mechanism, and a switch for detecting whether or not the optical fiber is cut from contact with the moving pulling mechanism An automatic optical fiber cutting device comprising: 3. A lower clamp that abuts the optical fiber exposed horizontally from below, an upper clamp that sandwiches the optical fiber between the lower clamp, and an upper clamp that is suspended from the upper clamp via an elastic member. A vertically movable movable clamp for holding the optical fiber between the lower clamp, an operable cutting blade for wounding the held optical fiber, and a vertically movable pillow for cutting by pressing against the wound optical fiber. A movable pulling mechanism that pulls the wound optical fiber by sandwiching the optical fiber covering the optical fiber,
An automatic optical fiber cutting device, comprising: a detecting unit for detecting whether or not the optical fiber can be cut.