JP3122559B2 - Optical fiber alignment 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 optical fiber aligning apparatus, and particularly to a compact and simple construction, which is applied to a multi-core batch fusion splicer and to an optical fiber and a light source or an optical waveguide. The present invention relates to an easy optical fiber alignment device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a multi-core optical fiber tape is sometimes fused by a multi-core batch fusion splicer or the like. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the multi-core optical fiber tape 1 has a plurality of optical fibers 2 embedded in a coating material 1a, and the core 2a of each optical fiber 2 is shifted from the center of the clad 2b. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, it is necessary to align the right and left optical fibers 2 to be fused while moving them in a radial direction of a cross section orthogonal to the optical axis.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 2-273705 discloses a conventional multi-core batch fusion splicer and a conventional centering apparatus applicable to coupling of an optical fiber to a light source or an optical waveguide. 1). In this prior art example 1, as shown in FIG. 10, a small driving source 3 such as a micrometer gear pushes a spring receiver 5 provided on a slide shaft 4 and a spring 6 fitted on the slide shaft 4 causes a lower side surface of a drive lever 7 to be pressed. To rotate the support shaft 8 with the support shaft 8 as a fulcrum, and press the side surface of the flexible arm 10 extending from the fixed portion 9 with the tip side surface of the drive lever 7 to move the V groove 11 at the tip end of the flexible arm 10 in the directions of arrows M and M '. Is rotated to perform centering.

In the optical fiber centering device of the prior art 1, a large V-groove portion 11 is centered through a rotation-linear conversion mechanism using a slide shaft 4 and a driving lever 7 or the like.
However, in this device, the driving efficiency is low, the power consumption of the driving source 3 is large, and the device is downsized to collectively use, for example, a multi-core tape having a pitch between optical fibers of about 0.2 mm. It has been difficult to apply it to a fusion splicer or the like.

As another conventional example of a multi-core individual aligning mechanism, S.AO
SHIMA and other announced individual alignment mechanisms (3rd INTERNATIONAL
(SYMPOSIUM ON MICRO MACHINE AND HUMAN SCIENCE, 1992)
(Hereinafter referred to as Conventional Example 2). There is also an individual alignment mechanism disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-229108 (hereinafter referred to as Conventional Example 3).

In Conventional Example 2, as shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of elevating members 14 each having a 45-degree inclined surface 14a at the upper end are provided as a set of two members, with each inclined surface 14a facing each other. A piezoelectric element 15 is connected in series to a lower end of each lifting member 14, and the piezoelectric element 15 is fixed to a base 16. Each elevating member 14 is inserted through a guide hole 18a of a fixed guide member 18 provided on the mounting base 17 so as to be able to move up and down.

According to the conventional example 2, the V-shaped groove 14b formed by the opposed inclined surfaces 14a of the two lifting members 14
After supporting the optical fiber 2, the piezoelectric elements 15 are energized and driven to raise and lower the respective lifting members 14, and adjust the lifting operation of the two lifting members 14 in each set, thereby controlling the respective optical fibers 2. 2 in FIG.
Alignment can be performed by fine movement in the directions of b, c and d.

In Conventional Example 3, as shown in FIG. 12, a support plate 21 rises from one end of a base 20, and
A V-groove member 23 having a fixed V-groove portion 22 is fixed on the upper part of the first member 1. Further, a V-groove member 23 is provided above the support plate 21.
A plurality of micro arms (rotating arms) 24 (however, only one micro arm is shown in the figure)
Is pivotally supported by a support shaft 28. The tip of the micro arm 24 is set up at a right angle, and a movable V-groove 25 is formed at the tip. Further, each micro arm 24 is supported by an upper end portion of a lifting member 27 having a piezoelectric element 26 adhered to a side surface. When the piezoelectric element 26 is driven, the piezoelectric element 26 expands and contracts. When the elevating member 27 expands and contracts integrally with the micro arm 24, the micro arm 24 moves two-dimensionally with the support shaft 28 of the base end 24a as a fulcrum.

At this time, the fixed V-groove 22 and the movable V-groove 2
The optical fiber 2 inserted in 5 moves in the radial direction of the fiber cross section by fine movement of the movable V-groove portion 25, and is aligned. In the second conventional example, since more piezoelectric elements 26 and the elevating members 27 are provided in a small space, the piezoelectric elements 26 and the elevating members 27 are provided with the positions shifted in the front-rear direction for each micro arm 24. (Not shown). Thus, the elevating members 27 can be arranged at a high density with a reduced dead space.

[0010]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

(1) In the conventional example 2 shown in FIG.
Since the inclined support surface 14a vertically moves up and down,
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the contact point 19 between the optical fiber 2 and the inclined support surface 14a moves, causing a slip in the range L, thereby generating a rotational moment in the optical fiber 2 about the optical axis. However, as the optical fiber 2 rotates, the core 2a moves, and the alignment accuracy deteriorates.

(2) In the conventional example 3 shown in FIG. 12, the distance between the output position, that is, the movable V-groove portion 25 and the driving source, that is, the position of the piezoelectric element 26 is large,
Due to the deformation of the micro arm 24, the input movement amount and the movement amount at the action point are different between the individual micro arms 24, and it is difficult to control the core movement amount. In addition to the deformation of the micro-arms 24, misalignment of the arrangement of the elevating member 27 is likely to occur for each of the micro-arms 24. Differently, it is difficult to control the core movement amount.

(3) In the conventional examples 2 and 3, the optical fiber is V
Although a clamp (pressing member) for making contact with the groove is not shown, when this is replaced with a clamp 29 as shown in FIG. 15, it is possible to uniformly press all of the plurality of optical fibers which move for alignment. Is difficult.

That is, in FIG. 15, a plurality of optical fibers 2 fitted in a plurality of V-grooves 31 of a V-groove substrate 30 are pressed by a flat contact surface 29 a of one clamp 29, and the clamp 29 is The other end 33 a of the arm 33 is inserted into a cylindrical guide 34. Arm 34 of cylindrical guide 34
a is fixed to the mounting surface 35. Also, clamp 2
Numeral 9 is urged downward by a spring 37 fitted to the cylindrical guide 34 via a guide member 36. In the figure, 38 is a stopper, and 39 is an auxiliary spring.

As described above, the contact surface 29a of the clamp 29
Therefore, it is difficult to individually press down a plurality of optical fibers 2 with a uniform force while aligning the plurality of optical fibers 2. Further, when each optical fiber is held by an individual clamp (not shown), it is difficult to perform an adjustment work for properly biasing a plurality of clamps with a spring.
The structure is complicated and it takes time to manufacture.

The present invention is an improvement over the above-mentioned disadvantages (1), (2) and (3). That is, a first object is to provide a fine adjustment device which does not involve the rotation operation of an optical fiber.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a fine movement aligning device in which the distance between each fine movement supporting member (optical fiber contact) and its driving source can be reduced.

It is a third object of the present invention to provide a centering device capable of individually centering not only a single-core optical fiber but also a multi-core optical fiber tape.

Further, an aligning device which solves the problems of the implementing means when the moving means and the clamping means using the parallel leaf spring mechanism and the piezoelectric element which is the driving source of the optical fiber alignment is applied to the above-mentioned objects, respectively. The fourth object is to provide

[0019]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to an optical fiber centering apparatus which moves one optical fiber in the radial direction of the fiber cross section to perform centering on a core basis. A pair of fine movement contacts having a slope for forming a V-groove for supporting the fiber;
An optical fiber moving means including a parallel leaf spring mechanism for supporting the pair of fine moving contacts so as to move the pair in the direction substantially perpendicular to the slope, and a driving device for finely moving the pair of fine moving contacts; It is characterized by.

[0020] The driving device may be constituted by a piezoelectric element coupled to the fine movement contact.

It is preferable that a plurality of the optical fibers are provided, and a plurality of sets of fine movement contacts are provided correspondingly.

According to the present invention, there is also provided an optical fiber alignment apparatus for aligning one optical fiber in a radial direction of a fiber cross section and performing alignment based on a core, wherein the pair of inclined surfaces each having a slope contacting the optical fiber is provided. A clamp means comprising a clamp contact and a parallel leaf spring mechanism for supporting the pair of clamp contacts so as to move the slope in a direction substantially orthogonal to the slope.

[0023]

According to the present invention, a pair of finely moving contacts for supporting the optical fiber so as to be movable in the radial direction of its cross section are:
Since the optical fiber is moved in the direction perpendicular to the inclined surface via the parallel leaf spring mechanism, no rotational force acts on the optical fiber at the time of alignment, and the core does not become eccentric. In addition, since the action point of the moving means using the parallel leaf spring mechanism moves in parallel with respect to the reference point, the fine movement contact moves smoothly and finely while maintaining parallelism, and when the end faces of the optical fibers facing each other are moved. In addition, an angle due to bending does not occur at the end face of each optical fiber.

When the optical fiber is pressed into the V-groove by the clamp, the pair of clamp contacts move in a direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical fiber by the parallel leaf spring mechanism of the clamp. Therefore, no rotational force acts on the optical fiber at the time of clamping, and alignment can be performed smoothly. In addition, the optical fiber is pressed by an appropriate pressing force at the centered position, and is fixed to the V-groove so as not to float out of the V-groove.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment shown as a basic configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing a part of the support table shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of FIG. Referring to the drawings, a support table 42 is provided integrally with a base 41, and the support table 42 and a pair of fine movement contacts 43 are connected to each other via a parallel leaf spring mechanism 44, respectively. The moving means 45 for the optical fiber 2 is composed of the fine movement contact 43, the parallel leaf spring mechanism 44, and the like.

More specifically, the upper end of the support base 42 is formed in a mountain shape, and a plurality of gaps 46 are formed outside the two slopes 42a.
Two spring pieces 4 from each slope 42a in a direction orthogonal to
4a extend in parallel, and one end is attached to the tip of each spring piece 44a.
The lower slopes 43a of the pair of fine movement contacts 43 are connected. In this way, the two parallel spring pieces 44a constitute one set to constitute the parallel leaf spring mechanism 44.

Each of the pair of fine motion contacts 43 has a substantially isosceles triangular shape (that is, a mountain shape), and the tip portions 43b of the fine motion contacts 43 are arranged facing each other at a predetermined interval. Upper slope 43 of the pair of fine movement contacts 43
The V-groove 47 is formed by c, and the optical fiber 2 is inserted into the V-groove 47.

The spring piece 44 constituting the parallel leaf spring mechanism 44
A constricted portion 44b is formed at both ends of the arcuate portion a. A pair of fine movement contacts 43 are formed around the constricted portion 44b as a center of rotation, and the two inclined surfaces 42a of the support base 42 are respectively provided.
Can be translated. At this time, looking at each slope 43c of the pair of fine movement contacts 43, as shown by arrows A and B in FIG.
They move in directions orthogonal to each other with respect to c.

The constricted portions 44 are provided at both ends of the spring piece 44a.
The reason for providing b is to make the fine movement of the pair of fine movement contacts 43 smoother. Also, the constricted portion 44b
Is an arc-shaped concave portion because when the constricted portion 44b becomes a center of rotation and the spring piece 44a operates as a spring, care is taken to prevent the occurrence of cracks or the like in the constricted portion 44b.

As described above, the base 41, the support 42, the parallel leaf spring mechanism 44, and the pair of fine movement
The thickness (depth) indicated by symbol L is integrally formed by electric discharge machining of a metal plate having a size of 3 mm to 5 mm.

A pair of piezoelectric elements 48 are provided on both outer sides of the support table 42 as a driving source of the moving means 45.
Supported above. Each piezoelectric element 48 is in contact with the side surface 43a of the pair of fine movement contacts 43 via a semicircular projection 48a. By driving the piezoelectric element 48, the piezoelectric element 4
When 8 expands and contracts in the directions of arrows c and d in FIG. 1, the movement can be transmitted to the side surface 43d of the fine movement contact 43 via the protrusion 48a.

Therefore, by driving the pair of piezoelectric elements 48 simultaneously or alternately, forces in the directions of arrows c and d act on the fine contact 43, and at this time, the parallel leaf spring mechanism 4
4, the respective inclined surfaces 43c move in the directions indicated by arrows A and B in FIG. 2, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber 2 while being spring-loaded, and a combination of the movements of the fine-movement contacts 43 on the left and right sides. Thereby, the optical fiber 2 supported by the V groove 47 can be moved two-dimensionally.

As described above, since the pair of slopes 43c move orthogonally to each slope to align the optical fiber 2, the alignment at the time of alignment is different from the alignment by raising and lowering the elevating member 14 shown in FIG. The rotational force about the optical axis does not act on the fiber 2, and the alignment can be performed smoothly.

The optical fiber 2 inserted in the V-groove 47
Is held down by the clamp means 50. The clamping means 50 includes a substantially isosceles inverted triangle clamp body 50a.
And a pair of clamp contacts 51 connected to each other via a parallel leaf spring mechanism 52.

More specifically, two spring pieces 52a extend in parallel with the slopes 50b of the clamp body 50a from the slopes 50b through the gaps 54 in a direction perpendicular to the slopes 50b. Is connected to a pair of clamp contacts 51. In this manner, the two parallel spring pieces 52a constitute one set to constitute the parallel leaf spring mechanism 52.

The pair of clamp contacts 51 has a substantially triangular shape in front, and is provided with the tip portions 51b of each clamp contact 51 facing each other at a predetermined interval.
The inverted V-groove 5 is formed on the lower slope 51a of the pair of clamp contacts 51.
3 is formed, and the upper part of the optical fiber 2 is fitted into the inverted V-shaped groove 53 and pressed by the slope 51a.

At both ends of a spring piece 52a constituting the above-mentioned parallel leaf spring mechanism 52, constricted portions 52b formed in an arcuate shape are formed. Following this, the pair of clamp contacts 51 move in parallel with the optical fiber 2 clamped on both slopes 50b of the clamp body 50a with the constricted portion 52b as the center of rotation while being spring-loaded.

The clamp body 50a of the clamping means 50
Like the moving means 45, the parallel leaf spring mechanism 52 and the clamp contact 51 are integrally formed by subjecting a metal plate having a thickness (depth) of about 3 mm to 5 mm to electric discharge machining. The clamp means 50 makes the clamp contactor 51 contact the optical fiber 2 in a state where the parallel leaf spring mechanism 52 is slightly displaced from the natural state (that is, in a state where the spring is charged).

The operation of this embodiment will be described.

The optical fiber 2 is fitted into the moving means 45 and the V groove 47, and the optical fiber 2 is pressed by the clamp means 50.
Thereafter, by driving the piezoelectric element 48, each slope 43c of the pair of fine movement contacts 43 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the slope 43c. As a result, the two opposing optical fibers 2 can be aligned.
Has no rotational force. In addition, the pair of clamp contacts 51 follow the centering movement of the optical fiber 2 and move in the directions orthogonal to each other with respect to the optical axis.
And no rotational force is generated on the optical fiber 2.

In this embodiment, the semicircular projection 48a works effectively when the moving direction of the piezoelectric element 48 (the direction of arrows c and d in FIG. 1) does not coincide with the alignment direction. By using the projections 48a, it is possible to reduce the rubbing caused by the mismatch of the moving directions.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the optical fiber moving means. In the moving means 55 according to the second embodiment, the shape of the gap 58 for forming the parallel leaf spring mechanism 57 and the shape of the support base 59 are slightly different from those of the first embodiment. That is, the spring piece 5 constituting the parallel leaf spring mechanism 57
At both ends of 7a, arc-shaped constrictions 57b larger than the arc-shaped constriction of the first embodiment and having different shapes are formed.

The moving means 55 according to the second embodiment operates in the same manner as the moving means of the first embodiment, and uses a driving source (not shown) such as a piezoelectric element for the pair of finely moving contacts 43 in the C direction. Is applied to move the inclined surface 43c in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber 2, thereby performing centering without applying a rotational force to the optical fiber 2.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory front view showing moving means according to the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, a moving means 60 is shown as an individual aligning mechanism of the multi-core optical fiber 2 such as a multi-core optical fiber tape.

In this embodiment, a pair of fine moving contacts 61 whose slopes 61a face each other, a support portion 61b extending to the lower end of each fine moving contact 61, and a parallel leaf spring mechanism (not shown) are used to move the moving means 60. And a plurality of sets of the moving means 60 are provided by the number of the multi-core optical fibers 2. or,
A space 62 is formed by hollowing the lower part of each fine motion contact 61, and a piezoelectric element 63 is provided in this space 62, and a semicircular protrusion 63 a provided on a side surface of the piezoelectric element 63 that expands and contracts is provided. The fine movement contact 61 is in contact with the side surface of the support portion 61b.

In this embodiment, the centering of the optical fiber 2 is performed by moving each fine movement contact 61 in the direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical fiber 2 in FIG. 5 by driving the piezoelectric element 63. Therefore, a gap 64 is formed between the pair of fine movement contacts 61 constituting each moving means 60 so that they can move. Further, a gap 64a is formed between the fine movement contacts 61 in which the inclined surfaces 61a are arranged back to back between the adjacent moving means 60.

According to the third embodiment, the base (not shown)
The multi-core optical fiber 2 such as a multi-core optical fiber tape is fitted into each V-groove 65 of the plurality of moving means 60 arranged side by side, and the piezoelectric element 63 is driven. By the expansion and contraction in the d direction, the pair of fine movement contacts 61 are moved, and the slope 61a is moved. Thereby, centering can be performed by moving the optical fiber 2 two-dimensionally.
At this time, no rotational force acts on the optical fiber 2 to be aligned, and therefore, no eccentricity of the core accompanying the alignment occurs.

In this embodiment, the gaps 64, 6
A return means such as a piezoelectric element (not shown) or the like is also provided in a gap 64a provided back-to-back of the adjacent moving means 60 so that each fine movement contact 61 can move and return to its original position after having moved. You may interpose.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a centering device according to a fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, a plurality of sets of moving means 68 including a pair of fine movement contacts 67 are provided.
8 is the same as the third embodiment in that the multi-core optical fiber 2 can be aligned. The fourth embodiment is different from the third embodiment in that the piezoelectric element 69, which is the driving source, is shifted in the longitudinal direction of the fine movement contact 67 for each moving means 68, so that the piezoelectric element 69 has a so-called staggered shape when viewed from a plane. It is located.

In the case of the fourth embodiment, since the piezoelectric elements 69 are arranged with the position shifted for each moving means 68, the piezoelectric elements 69 can be efficiently arranged in a smaller space, and this is limited. Space can be used effectively. In the case of the present embodiment, the piezoelectric element 69 has a protrusion 69a at the tip thereof.
A through hole 67b is opened at an appropriate position of the other fine moving contact 69 so that the fine moving contact 69 other than the fine moving contact 67 that makes contact therewith escapes, and the piezoelectric element 69 is inserted through the through hole 67b. It is good to arrange.

In each of the first to fourth embodiments, the inclined surfaces 43c, 61a, and the V-grooves 47, 65, 70 are formed.
67a is inclined by 45 degrees with respect to the vertical plane, but the inclination angle is not limited to the 45-degree direction (the moving direction is orthogonal), and it moves without difficulty as a combination of angles such as 30 degrees and 20 degrees. A combination of directions may be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, the example of the piezoelectric element is shown as the driving source of the moving means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and uses a minutely controllable drive mechanism other than the piezoelectric element, for example, a motor, electromagnetic force means (electromagnet, solenoid, etc.), pneumatic / hydraulic means, electrostatic force means, etc. May be.

Further, the centering device of the present invention can be applied to a fusion splicing device for a single-core or multi-core optical fiber, or to optical coupling between an optical fiber and a light source or an optical waveguide.

[0055]

According to the present invention, each of the inclined surfaces of the pair of finely moving contacts for imparting an aligning operation to the optical fiber is moved in a direction perpendicular to the inclined surface by the parallel leaf spring mechanism, thereby providing the optical fiber at the time of the alignment. Since no rotational force about the optical axis acts on the optical fiber, the eccentricity of the core can be eliminated and the optical fiber can be easily and reliably aligned. Further, according to the present invention, the distance between the fine movement contact and the drive source can be arranged close to each other, and furthermore, a plurality of moving means are arranged in parallel, and the centering of the multi-core optical fiber in which each moving means is individually operated by the drive source. Application to a mechanism is also possible.

Further, according to the clamping means of the present invention, 1
Since the pair of clamp contacts are movable independently of each other in two directions orthogonal to the slope contacting the optical fiber,
No rotational force acts on the optical fiber in accordance with the centering movement of the optical fiber, and no eccentricity of the core occurs. Further, the clamping means has a simple structure, and by providing a plurality of sets of a pair of fine movement contacts for one clamp body, when clamping a multi-core optical fiber, it may affect other optical fibers. Optical fibers can be individually clamped without the need. According to the present invention, these combined effects enable downsizing and power saving of an optical fiber alignment device in an optical fiber fusion splicing mechanism and the like, and also realize an individual alignment device of a multi-core optical fiber. Becomes

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an optical fiber centering device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial front view of the moving unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a moving unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a moving unit according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory plan view of a moving unit according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory side view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the multi-core optical fiber tape.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an optical fiber in which a core is decentered and an alignment state thereof.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a first example of a conventional optical fiber alignment device.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a second example of a conventional optical fiber alignment device.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a third example of a conventional optical fiber alignment device.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between an optical fiber and an elevating member according to second and third examples of the related art.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing that a rotational force acts on the optical fiber during alignment in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a front view showing an example of a conventional optical fiber clamp.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 2: optical fiber, 2a: core, 41: base, 42: support base, 43: fine contact, 44: parallel leaf spring mechanism, 45
... Moving means, 46 air gap, 47 V groove, 48 piezoelectric element, 48 a projection, 50 clamping means, 50 a clamp body, 51 clamp contact, 52 parallel plate spring mechanism.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tomomi Sano 1, Tayacho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Yokohama Works (72) Inventor Isamu Fujita 1, Tayacho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Sumitomo Electric Industries Inside Yokohama Works Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinichi Aoshima 1-6-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (56) References JP-A-2-273705 (JP, A) JP-A 64- 505 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Showa 62-127503 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 63-85605 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 6/24-6 / 42

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An alignment apparatus for an optical fiber, which moves an optical fiber in a radial direction of a cross section of the fiber and aligns the optical fiber on a core basis, comprising: a pair of slopes having a slope for forming a V-groove for supporting the optical fiber. A fine leaf contact mechanism, a parallel leaf spring mechanism that supports the pair of fine movement contacts so as to move the slope in a direction substantially orthogonal to the slope, and a driving device that finely moves the pair of fine movement contacts. An optical fiber centering device comprising an optical fiber moving means comprising: 2. The optical fiber centering device according to claim 1, wherein the driving device is a piezoelectric element coupled to each of the fine movement contacts. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said optical fibers are provided, and a plurality of said fine movement contacts supported by said parallel leaf spring mechanism are provided correspondingly. An optical fiber alignment device as described in the above. 4. A centering device for an optical fiber, which moves an optical fiber in a radial direction of a cross section of the fiber to perform centering on a core basis, comprising: a pair of clamp contacts each having a slope contacting the optical fiber; A centering device for an optical fiber, comprising: a clamp means comprising a parallel leaf spring mechanism for supporting the pair of clamp contacts so as to move the slope in a direction substantially orthogonal to the slope.