JP3836341B2 - Optical fiber coating equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus used for generating a coating for protecting optical fibers and optical components.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in a connection / processing part of an optical fiber or an optical component, after covering and connecting / processing for connection / processing, reinforcement for protection is performed.
[0003]
FIG. 10 shows an example of the reinforcing method, in which a reinforcing member is used instead of the covering lost for connection / processing. This is to cover with a heat-shrinkable tube and attach a tensile body.
[0004]
Conventionally, this method has been frequently used for manufacturing optical amplifiers and optical components.
[0005]
However, in recent years, in the manufacture of optical fiber amplifiers and optical components, due to the demand to make the reinforcement / recovering part as small as possible in the storage, only the connection / processed part shown in FIGS. Reproducing devices have been used. Below, the coating apparatus is demonstrated for optical fiber as an example.
6 is an external view of an optical fiber coating apparatus, FIG. 7 is a perspective view from the front of the optical fiber coating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is an optical fiber coating apparatus illustrated in FIG. It is a perspective view from the back. These will be described later in detail as embodiments of the present invention.
[0006]
This optical fiber coating apparatus includes a clamp 2 for holding the optical fiber 1 to be coated, a mold 5 for forming the UV resin mold portion 13 of the optical fiber 1 in a desired shape, and a tube for feeding the UV resin to the mold 5. 8. Supervises a pump 9 for sucking out UV resin from the tank 10 and sending it to the tube 8, a UV light source 12, a UV sensor 14 for measuring the intensity and duration of the UV light emitted from the UV light source 12, and a control system of the apparatus. The control circuit 11, the high-voltage power supply 16 for supplying power for light emission from the UV light source, the entire device 3 in which these are housed, the lid 4 and the sliding door 17 provided there, constitute a dark box.
[0007]
FIG. 9 shows a configuration diagram of a control system of this conventional optical fiber coating apparatus.
In this optical fiber coating apparatus, the pump 9 is moved by the operation panel 15 to send the UV resin from the tank 10 to the mold 5 through the pipe 8. Further, when setting the light emission amount and instructing light emission from the operation panel 15, the high voltage power supply 16 is operated through the control circuit 11 to turn on the UV light source 12. The light emission state of the UV light source 12 is observed by the UV sensor 14 and sent to the control circuit 11. The control circuit 11 is designed to correct an error in the light emission state of the UV light source 12 by comparing a set value from the operation panel 15 with an observation value from the UV sensor 14.
[0008]
As described above, in recent years, the optical fiber coating apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8 has been used. However, due to the development of the Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) technology, a large number of optical amplifiers / Since it has become necessary to manufacture optical components, shortening of processing time is required in all processing steps such as cutting of optical fibers, peeling of coatings, connection of optical fibers, and reinforcement of peeling parts (recovering of coatings). Yes.
[0009]
In addition, since an optical fiber coating apparatus is increasingly applied to the manufacture of small optical components, a compact apparatus is desired.
[0010]
In the optical fiber coating apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8 which has been used in recent years, when the coating removal portion is recoated, the optical fiber 1 is formed in a mold according to the recoating diameter. The optical fiber 1 was irradiated with UV light by a UV light source 12 capable of emitting an ultraviolet component in a state where a core wire and a UV resin were set.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional UV light source 12 uses only a small part of the emission wavelength of the discharge tube.
For example, a tungsten lamp emits a large amount of radiation in the infrared light region longer than the visible light region, so that the radiation efficiency of UV light is poor. Therefore, the power supply device that supplies the UV light source 12 is also increased in size.
[0012]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber coating apparatus that can emit UV light efficiently, can reduce the processing time in the processing step, and has a small power supply device and therefore a small size.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The inventor of the present application paid attention to a small ultraviolet flash lamp as the UV light source 12. The reason is that the target re-coating part is small in the optical fiber coating device, and the total amount of light required for each curing is small, so if the total amount of light can be secured, the irradiation time required for curing is short. This is because it is possible to realize the idea that it is only necessary to irradiate with strong UV light for a short time. When this ultraviolet flash lamp is used, since the radiation efficiency of UV light is improved, the optical fiber coating apparatus can be miniaturized.
[0014]
However, since the ultraviolet flash lamp emits strong UV light in a short period of time, the amount of ultraviolet rays per unit time cannot be ignored, and it is necessary to avoid the influence.
[0015]
In the optical fiber coating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, the lid 4 blocks the UV light from the viewing window, which is a visual means used for confirming the light emission state of the UV light and the optical fiber coating state. Although the sliding door 17 is provided, conventionally, the sliding door 17 has been mostly opened and closed manually by an operator. Even when it can be mechanically opened and closed by a driving device or the like, the opening and closing command is manually input from the operation panel 15 by the operator.
[0016]
When a UV light source having a long UV light emission time is used, even if the operator opens or closes the sliding door 17 manually or by operating the operation panel 15, the optical fiber coating process is not so badly affected. There was no effect. However, when using an ultraviolet flash lamp to shorten the processing time of the processing step, it is required to block UV light more quickly. Moreover, in order to avoid the influence from UV light, it is necessary to perform the shielding reliably.
[0017]
Therefore, the inventor of the present application further automatically and quickly shuts off the UV light in order to improve the efficiency of the coating operation when coating the optical fiber using this ultraviolet flash lamp (hereinafter referred to as flash lamp). Furthermore, an optical fiber coating apparatus capable of surely blocking it has been invented.
[0018]
According to the present invention, an ultraviolet flash lamp that emits ultraviolet light that cures an ultraviolet curable resin used for coating an optical fiber, and a portion of the optical fiber that is coated with the ultraviolet curable resin are covered. A lid for preventing ultraviolet light from leaking to the outside, and for observing a portion of the lid where the optical fiber inside the lid is coated with the ultraviolet curable resin from the lid. And a shutter means that is closed to prevent the ultraviolet light from leaking out of the lid during the period when the ultraviolet flash lamp emits ultraviolet light, and for opening and closing the shutter means. Shutter control means for applying a command signal,
The shutter control means opens the shutter means when the ultraviolet flash lamp does not emit ultraviolet light so that the portion where the optical fiber is coated with the ultraviolet curable resin can be seen from the outside of the lid. An optical fiber coating apparatus is provided.
[0019]
Preferably, the shutter control means includes a first interlock mechanism for establishing that the lid is closed, and a second interlock mechanism for establishing that the shutter means is closed. And have.
[0020]
Preferably, the shutter control means is a part of coating control means that performs control related to the operation of coating the optical fiber with the ultraviolet curable resin.
Preferably, an ultraviolet cut filter that shields the ultraviolet light is attached to the peephole portion together with the shutter means.
[0021]
According to the present invention, the ultraviolet flash lamp that emits ultraviolet light that cures the ultraviolet curable resin used for coating the optical fiber, the portion of the optical fiber that is coated with the ultraviolet curable resin, A lid that prevents the ultraviolet light from leaking to the outside, and a translucent light that passes the ultraviolet light to enable observation of the coating state of the ultraviolet curable resin on the optical fiber inside the lid from the outside of the lid Or a liquid crystal shutter having a light shielding property which does not transmit ultraviolet light, and a liquid crystal shutter control means for applying a command signal for giving the light transmitting property or the light shielding property to the liquid crystal shutter,
The liquid crystal shutter control means provides a coating device for an optical fiber, wherein the liquid crystal shutter imparts translucency when the ultraviolet flash lamp does not emit ultraviolet light.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of an optical fiber coating apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0023]
First embodiment Figs. 1, 7, and 8 show a schematic structure of an optical fiber coating apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
1 is an external view of an optical fiber coating apparatus, FIG. 7 is a perspective view from the front of the optical fiber coating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 is an optical fiber coating apparatus illustrated in FIG. It is a perspective view from the back. However, FIG. 7 shows a state in which the lid 4 is opened in order to explain the optical fiber coating apparatus in detail. Although FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 have been described as the prior art, the basic configuration is similar, so that it can be applied to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0024]
In the optical fiber coating apparatus according to the first embodiment, the UV light source 12 is provided from the viewing window to the portion of the viewing window provided on the lid 4 as a visual means for observing the optical fiber coating operation. A shutter 19 that is a shutter means for preventing UV light from leaking is fitted, and a switch 18 for confirming the opening and closing of the lid 4 is provided. Each is depicted as a perspective view in FIG.
[0025]
Other internal structures and the like are the same as those of the above-described conventional optical fiber coating apparatus, so that the clamp 2 for holding the coated optical fiber 1 and the UV resin mold portion 13 of the optical fiber 1 are formed in a desired shape. In order to measure the intensity of the UV light emitted from the mold 5, the tube 8 for sending the UV resin to the mold 5, the pump 9 for sucking the UV resin from the tank 10 and sending it to the pipe 8, and the UV light emitted from the UV light source 12 The structure of the UV sensor 14, the control circuit 11 that controls the control system of the apparatus, the high-voltage power supply 16 that supplies the power for emitting the UV light source, the entire apparatus 3 in which these are housed, and the lid 4, constitute a dark box is doing.
[0026]
The optical fiber coating apparatus according to the first embodiment uses an ultraviolet flash lamp as a UV light source and has good radiation efficiency of UV light, so that the processing time of the coating process can be shortened, and the power supply of the UV light source can be reduced. Therefore, the size of the entire apparatus 3 can be reduced.
[0027]
FIG. 4 shows a configuration diagram of a control system of the optical fiber coating apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Filling the mold 5 with the resin mold portion 13 of the optical fiber 1 is instructed to the control circuit 11 by pressing the switch of the operation panel 15 by the operator. Upon receiving the instruction, the control circuit 11 operates the pump 9 to inject an appropriate amount of UV resin from the tank 10 into the pipe 8.
[0028]
On the other hand, the control circuit 11 also acts to turn on the UV light source 12 by giving a command to the high-voltage power supply 16. For this purpose, both the lid open / close confirmation switch 18 and the shutter open / close confirmation switch 23 are turned on, and the circuit is turned on. It needs to be physically connected. The lid opening / closing confirmation switch 18 and the shutter opening / closing confirmation switch 23 are respectively a first interlock mechanism for establishing that the lid 4 is closed, and a second interlock mechanism for establishing that the shutter 19 is closed. The interlock mechanism is also switched, and when each switch is turned on, the opening and closing of the lid 4 and the shutter 19 is also checked in terms of a computer program.
Note that the switches 18 and 23 are two-pole double-throw switches.
[0029]
This will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.
First, when the coating operation is started in Step 1, the optical fiber 1 is set in the mold 5, and in Step 2, this is confirmed by the control circuit 11 based on information from each part sensor of the optical fiber coating apparatus. In step 3, in response to a command from the control circuit 11, the pump 9 fills the mold 5 with UV resin from the tank 10 through the pipe 8.
When the UV resin is filled, the lid 4 is closed, and at the same time, the lid open / close confirmation switch 18 is turned ON. In this state, the first interlock mechanism can emit UV light. In step 4, it is also confirmed programmatically whether the lid 4 is closed.
When it is established that the lid 4 is closed by the first interlock mechanism, the shutter 19 is closed in response to a command from the control circuit 11 in step 5, and simultaneously the shutter open / close confirmation switch 23 is turned on. In this state, the second interlock mechanism is ready to emit light from the UV light source. In step 6, for example, whether or not the shutter 19 is closed is confirmed programmatically based on information such as a sensor for measuring the amount of extension of the shutter 19.
When it is established by the second interlock mechanism of the control circuit 11 that the shutter 19 is closed, in step 7, the control circuit is based on the set value of the light emission amount of the UV light source 12 input from the operation panel 15. The high voltage power supply 16 operates in accordance with the light emission instruction transmitted from 11, and turns on the UV light source 12.
[0030]
As described above, in the optical fiber coating apparatus according to the present embodiment, the opening and closing of the shutter 19 is controlled based on the computer program. Therefore, the shutter 19 is interlocked with various functional operations of the optical fiber coating work such as closing the lid and emitting the UV light source. Thus, the shutter 19 can be automatically opened and closed. Therefore, the processing time of the covering work is greatly shortened as compared with manual opening and closing.
[0031]
Further, in the optical fiber coating apparatus according to the present embodiment, not only the physical switches such as the lid open / close confirmation switch 18 and the shutter open / close confirmation switch 23, but also these switches, for example, the angle sensor of the lid 4 and the extension amount of the shutter 19 are provided. Since an interlock mechanism that establishes opening / closing of the lid 4 and the shutter 19 programmatically using information from each sensor of the coating apparatus such as a measurement sensor is provided, the lid 4 and / or the shutter 19 cannot be closed. The possibility that the UV light source 12 emits light is eliminated.
[0032]
In the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the control circuit 11 issues an opening / closing command to the shutter 19. That is, the control means of the shutter 19 is a control circuit 11 that is a covering control means that controls the overall control of the optical fiber coating apparatus, such as the light amount adjustment of the UV light source 12, the control of the pump 9, and the exchange of commands from the operation panel 15. It has become a part of.
[0033]
As described above, when the light from the UV light source 12 is emitted after the operation of the first and second interlock mechanisms is established, the light emission state of the UV light source 12 is measured by the UV sensor 14 and sent to the control circuit 11. . The control circuit 11 corrects an error in the light emission state of the UV light source 12 by comparing the set value from the operation panel 15 with the measured value from the UV sensor 14.
[0034]
The control circuit 11 is preferably configured using a computer, in particular, a microcomputer, and a computer program for control incorporated in the microcomputer is generated so as to execute various processes described below.
First, the control circuit 11 turns on the UV light source 12 supplied from the high voltage power supply 16 according to the value of the data table written in advance in a ROM (not shown) provided therein. That is, the UV light source 12 is program-controlled by the control circuit 11.
[0035]
Next, the control circuit 11 receives a command signal from the control circuit 11 and receives the UV light from the excited UV light source 12, and converts the intensity and the light emission time into a corresponding electrical signal from the UV sensor 14. Receive output. The received data is held in a data holding device (not shown) and compared with the value of the data table that is the target value. Then, the control circuit 11 instructs the high voltage power supply 16 to adjust the light amount of the UV light source 12 based on the control error obtained by the comparison.
[0036]
First embodiment
A first embodiment of the shutter 19 for blocking UV light is shown in FIG. FIG. 2A is an external view of the liquid crystal shutter 19 ′. The liquid crystal shutter 19 ′ is a panel having a liquid crystal display function, and blocks UV light by displaying the display surface of the panel in black, for example.
[0037]
Whether the liquid crystal shutter 19 ′ is opened or closed is determined by an open / close sensor 23 ′ provided at a corner portion where the liquid crystal is finally displayed in black. As the open / close sensor 23 ′, there are various types such as a sensor that determines the black color of the liquid crystal, and a sensor that determines that a sensor signal such as light has been blocked due to the liquid crystal becoming black.
[0038]
When the liquid crystal shutter 19 ′ is used, the shutter can be opened and closed quickly.
[0039]
Second embodiment
A second embodiment of the shutter 19 for blocking UV light is shown in FIG. FIG. 2B is an external view of the mechanical shutter 19 ″. The mechanical shutter 19 ″ is composed of a light shielding plate 21 made of a light-impervious material such as a thin metal, a drive mechanism 22 such as a gear or a belt for moving the light shielding plate 21, and the light shielding plate 21. It is composed of an open / close sensor 23 ″ for confirming that it is closed.
As the open / close sensor 23 ″, a sensor that senses physical contact of the light shielding plate 21 with the frame of the mechanical shutter 19 ″ is desirable in order to confirm that the light shielding plate 21 is completely closed.
[0040]
When a mechanical shutter 19 ″ is used, if something hard like metal is used for the light shielding plate 21, something falls on the shutter 19 ″ or the UV light source 12 is cracked. It is hard to break, and the safety at the time of shading increases.
[0041]
Second embodiment Fig. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the configuration of a shutter unit according to a second embodiment used in the optical fiber coating apparatus of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 7, and 8.
[0042]
First Example The shutter of the first example in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3A is the liquid crystal shutter 19 of the first example of the first embodiment shown in FIG. A UV-cut filter 20 is attached to '.
[0043]
Second Example The shutter of the second example in the second embodiment shown in Fig. 3B is the mechanical shutter of the second example of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 2B. 19 ″ is equipped with a UV cut filter 20.
[0044]
If the UV cut filter 20 is used in combination with the shutter unit as in the optical fiber coating apparatus of the second embodiment, even if UV light is emitted when the shutter means is not completely closed, the ultraviolet component Can be cut by the UV cut filter 20, so that it is not necessary to install the open / close sensors 23 'and 23''for confirming that the shutter means is closed. Accordingly, the structure of the optical fiber coating apparatus is simplified, and the manufacturing cost is reduced.
[0045]
The present invention can be applied not only to an optical fiber but also to a coating of an optical component using an ultraviolet curable resin.
Further, what has been described so far is an example for explaining the present invention, and the contents of the present invention are not limited to the above expressions, terms, and embodiments, and can be modified within the scope of the claims. It is.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, in an optical fiber coating apparatus using an ultraviolet flash lamp, it is possible to automatically and promptly and reliably block UV light, and to ensure the efficiency of coating work and the removal of the influence of UV light. Is possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of an optical fiber coating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 (A) is an external view showing shutter means of a first example of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 (B) is a second view of the first embodiment of the present invention. It is an external view which shows the shutter means of an Example.
FIG. 3 (A) is an external view showing the shutter means of the first example of the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 (B) is a second view of the second embodiment of the present invention. It is an external view which shows the shutter means of an Example.
4 is a configuration diagram of a control system of the optical fiber coating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation process of first and second interlock mechanisms of the optical fiber coating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is an external view of a conventional optical fiber coating apparatus.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view from the front of the optical fiber coating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view from the back of the optical fiber coating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a control system of the optical fiber coating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 6;
FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples of reinforcing members. FIGS.
[Explanation of symbols]
4 ... Lid 11 ... Control circuit 12 ... UV light source 18 ... Lid opening / closing confirmation switch 19 ... Shutter 23 ... Shutter opening / closing confirmation switch

Claims (5)

An ultraviolet flash lamp emitting ultraviolet light to cure the ultraviolet curing resin used for the covering of optical fiber,
Covering the portion of the optical fiber coated with the ultraviolet curable resin, and a lid for preventing the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet flash lamp from leaking outside ,
A viewing window for observing a portion of the optical fiber inside the lid covered with the ultraviolet curable resin , provided on the lid,
During the period when the ultraviolet flash lamp emits ultraviolet light, shutter means that is closed to prevent ultraviolet light from leaking out of the lid from the peephole, and a command signal for opening and closing the shutter means is applied to the shutter means Shutter control means, and
The shutter control means opens the shutter means when the ultraviolet flash lamp does not emit ultraviolet light so that the portion where the optical fiber is coated with the ultraviolet curable resin can be seen from the outside of the lid. Features
Optical fiber coating equipment. The shutter control means includes
A first interlock mechanism for establishing that the lid is closed;
The optical fiber coating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second interlock mechanism for establishing that the shutter unit is closed. The shutter control unit is a part of a coating control unit that performs control related to the operation of coating the optical fiber with the ultraviolet curable resin .
The optical fiber coating apparatus according to claim 1. Along with the shutter means, an ultraviolet cut filter that shields the ultraviolet light was attached to the portion of the peephole ,
The optical fiber coating apparatus according to claim 1. An ultraviolet flash lamp that emits ultraviolet light that cures the ultraviolet curable resin used to coat the optical fiber; and
A cover that covers the portion of the optical fiber that is coated with the ultraviolet curable resin, and prevents the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet flash lamp from leaking to the outside;
A liquid crystal shutter having translucency through which the ultraviolet light passes or light shielding through which the ultraviolet light does not pass in order to make it possible to observe the coating state of the ultraviolet curable resin on the optical fiber inside the lid from the outside of the lid. When,
Liquid crystal shutter control means for applying a command signal for giving the light transmitting property or the light shielding property to the liquid crystal shutter;
Have
The liquid crystal shutter control means imparts translucency to the liquid crystal shutter when the ultraviolet flash lamp does not emit ultraviolet light.

Images