JP4570366B2 - Conveying jig and coating removal machine - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to the stopping of the communication time as short as possible, it relates to a switching former light fiber switching destination transportable oct instrument that can be switched connection to the optical fiber and a coating remover.

  Conventionally, when a utility pole with an optical fiber installed is moved along with the widening of a road, the current switching source optical fiber is cut, and the switching destination optical fiber is inserted during the cutting. . For example, FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a general switching connection method in a case where a change occurs in which a part of the path of the switching source optical fiber L1 is switched to the switching destination optical fiber L2. In FIG. 11, when the switching destination optical fiber L2 is inserted between the cutting points P1a and P1b of the switching source optical fiber L1, it is cut once at the cutting points P1a and P1b, and then the switching destination light is transferred to the cutting points P1a and P1b. It is necessary to fusion-connect the end points of the fiber L2. Communication is stopped between this disconnection and fusion splicing.

JP 2002-169050 A JP-A-4-232905 JP-A-8-194126 JP-A-8-194127 JP 2003-337247 A

  However, in the conventional switching connection method described above, even if the time during which the actual signal cannot be transmitted is during the time when the fiber is cut and connected to the switching destination, transmission loss will occur if the fiber is bent when the work is started. There is a risk that communication will be interrupted due to sudden increase. Therefore, it is necessary to stop communication until the work is completed. As a result, there is a problem that it is necessary to take a long communication stop time. When the communication stop time becomes long, it greatly affects the communication of the user connected to the switching source optical fiber L1.

  On the other hand, for users who use communication using the switching source optical fiber L1, there is still a demand for securing continuous communication.

The present invention was made in view of the above, to shorten the communication downtime, continuous transportable oct instrument that can be switched connection without significantly affect the communication and coating remover The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the optical fiber switching connection method according to the present invention includes a pre-processing step of disposing the end of the switching destination optical fiber at the connection-side end of the fusion splicer, A cover removing step of fixing and holding the switching connection portion of the switching source optical fiber, removing the coating of the switching connection portion, and cleaning the connection portion, and a state of fixing and holding the switching connection portion from which at least the coating has been removed Holding and cutting a predetermined position of the switching connection portion, and one end connected to the switching destination optical fiber cut by the cutting step is disposed at the other end of the fusion splicer on the connection side, And a connection step of fusion-connecting the switching destination optical fiber and the switching source optical fiber by the fusion splicer.

  Further, the optical fiber switching connection method according to the present invention is the above-described invention, wherein in the above invention, when the two points of the switching source optical fiber are cut and each point is fusion-connected to each end of the switching destination optical fiber, the cutting is performed. The process is characterized by cutting the two points simultaneously.

  The optical fiber switching connection method according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the switching source optical fiber is fixedly held using the same fiber folder from the coating removal step to the connection step. And

  The transport jig according to the present invention is a transport jig used when the switching source optical fiber is switched and connected to the switching destination optical fiber, and fixes and holds both ends of the switching connection portion of the switching source optical fiber. Further, the present invention is characterized in that a work space for removing and cutting the covering of the switching connection portion is provided.

  Further, in the conveying jig according to the present invention, in the above invention, the fixed holding portions at both ends of the switching connection portion include a guide on which a general-purpose fiber folder for fixing and holding the optical fiber is detachably installed. Features.

  Further, the conveying jig according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, at least the guide portion is formed of a magnetic material, and the fiber folder is fixed to the guide portion using the magnetic force of the fiber folder. To do.

  Further, in the transport jig according to the present invention, in the above invention, the transport jig includes a grip portion that is substantially parallel to the switching connection portion that is fixedly held, and the flat portion of the fixed hold portion and the grip portion The flat portion is connected with an inclination.

  Further, the coating removal machine according to the present invention is a coating removal machine used when switching and connecting the switching source optical fiber to the switching destination optical fiber, and carries both ends of the switching connection portion of the switching source optical fiber. It has a both end holding part which fixes and hold | maintains the said both ends of a jig | tool, The cutter which removes the coating | cover of the said switching connection part is arrange | positioned between this both end holding parts.

  Further, in the coating removal machine according to the present invention, in the above invention, the cutter is at a coating removal start position that is a predetermined distance away from an end side connected to the switching destination optical fiber, and is connected to the switching destination optical fiber. It is arranged so as to be directed toward the end to be connected.

  In the coating removal machine according to the present invention, in the above invention, the cutter is detachable, and a cutter matching the coating thickness of the switching connection portion is arranged.

  The present invention fixes and holds the switching connection portion of the switching source optical fiber, removes the coating of the switching connection portion, cleans the connection portion, and fixes and holds the switching connection portion from which at least the coating has been removed. The communication using the switching source optical fiber is continuously performed until the disconnection process of cutting the predetermined position of the switching connection portion while maintaining the state is performed, and after the disconnection until the fusion connection In the meantime, since the end of the switching destination optical fiber is arranged at one end on the connection side of the fusion splicer in advance by the pretreatment process, for example, the communication stop time can be kept within 10 minutes to a maximum of 1 minute. There is an effect that the switching connection can be performed without greatly affecting the continuous communication.

  Embodiments of an optical fiber switching connection method, a conveying jig, and a coating removing machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of an optical fiber switching connection method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the optical fiber switching connection method according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, as shown in FIG. 11, a process of inserting the switching destination optical fiber between the cutting points P1a and P1b of the switching source optical fiber L1 will be described. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, first, the fiber folder holding the switching destination optical fiber L2 of the two optical fibers to be fused installed in the fusion splicer 10 is fixed on the folder table by magnetic force (step). S101). This switching destination optical fiber L2 is cut after its end portion is removed and cleaned, and the tip portion of this end portion is arranged at the tip portion of the discharge electrodes 11a and 11b.

  Thereafter, the switching source optical fiber L1 is cut. First, the switching source optical fiber L1 is stretched and fixed to the transport jig 30. At this time, the fiber holder 50 used in the fusion splicer 10 is detachably fixed to one end of the conveying jig 30, and the switching source optical fiber L <b> 1 is fixedly held by the fiber folder 50. The other end of the transport jig 30 has a folder provided in advance in the transport jig 30, and the switching source optical fiber L1 is fixed by this folder. That is, the switching source optical fiber L1 is fixed and held by the fiber folder 50 and the folder. The transport jig 30 having the tensioned switching source optical fiber L1 is positioned and arranged at a predetermined position of the coating removing machine 20, the coating of the switching source optical fiber L1 is removed by the cutter 60, and The part from which the coating has been removed by alcohol is cleaned (step S102). The portion where the coating is removed is between the fiber folder 50 and the folder of the conveying jig 30. Here, when the cutter 60 is slid from the folder 35 side to the fiber folder 50 side with the switching source optical fiber L1 interposed therebetween, the coating of the switching source optical fiber L1 is removed. Here, the switching source optical fiber L1 and the switching destination optical fiber L2 are parallel 8-core optical fibers.

  Thereafter, with the switching source optical fiber L1 held and fixed, the conveying jig 30 is removed from the coating removal machine 20 and installed in the cutting machine 40. Furthermore, the predetermined position of the part from which the coating has been removed is cut at a predetermined timing, for example, a timing at which the cutting point P1a and the cutting point P1b are simultaneously cut (step S103). Communication via the switching destination optical fiber L2 is continuously performed until immediately before this disconnection is performed. In particular, since the optical fiber from which the coating has been removed by the conveying jig 30 maintains a stretched state, no loss occurs due to bending or twisting of the optical fiber, and the increase in the data error rate is suppressed. The deterioration of the communication state can be prevented.

  Thereafter, the cut switching source optical fiber L1 is placed on the other folder base of the fusion splicer together with the fiber folder 50, and the switching destination optical fiber L2 that has already been placed and the switching source optical fiber L1 that has now been placed Are fused and the connecting portions of the spliced connection points P2a and P2b are reinforced by a fiber protection sleeve or the like (step S104). A new communication path is formed by the fusion-connected connection points P2a and P2b.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the transport jig 30 in a state where the optical fiber is fixedly held is arranged in the coating removal machine 20. FIG. 4 is a front view of the transport jig 30 and the coating remover 20 in the state shown in FIG. Furthermore, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state where the coating of the optical fiber has been removed. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the conveying jig 30, and FIG. 7 is a right side view of the conveying jig 30. As shown in FIG. 6, the conveying jig 30 has a U shape, has a guide 34 in which the fiber folder 50 is arranged at one end, and has a folder 35 at the other end. The guide 34 is formed of at least a magnetic material and is fixed at a predetermined position by the magnetic force of the magnet of the fiber folder 50. The folder 35 is fixed to the grip portion 31, and an optical fiber is held by opening and closing the lid 35a with a pin 35c as an axis. The holding of the lid is realized by a magnet. An anti-slip rubber 35b is provided inside the lid 35a so that the optical fiber is not displaced when the optical fiber is fixed.

  In a state where the fiber folder 50 is fixedly held on the guide 34, the conveying jig 30 is disposed on the sheath removing machine 20 as shown in FIGS. In this case, the mutual positional relationship is positioned by fitting the holes 32 and 33 of the conveying jig 30 into the protrusions 22 and 23 of the sheath removing machine 20. At this time, it is preferable that the cutter 60 is disposed in the coating removal machine 20. The switching source fiber L1 is in a state in which the transport jig 30 is arranged in the sheath removing machine 20, and the lids 50a and 50b of the fiber folder 50, the lid 60a of the cutter 60, and the lid 35a of the folder 35 are open. After that, the lids 50a and 50b and the lid 35a are closed and fixedly held. In this state, as shown in FIG. 4, the cutter 60 is disposed on the folder 35 side, and its start position is positioned by the stopper 52. Then, after closing the lid 60a, the cutter 60 is slid by the stroke 53 toward the fiber folder 50, and the coating of the switching source optical fiber L1 is removed by the blades 61a and 61b. The cutter 60 is slid from the folder 35 side to the fiber folder 50 side, which is used as a tip where the optical fiber on the fiber folder 50 side is fusion-spliced. This is for avoiding the use of this portion (see FIG. 5). The coating remover 20 has a linear motion guide 54 that slides along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber, and guides the cutter 60 (see FIG. 3). Further, the cutter 60 is detachable from the coating removal machine 20. This is because when the thickness of the coating of the optical fiber and the cross-sectional shape of the optical fiber are different, a cutter corresponding to the thickness can be attached and detached.

  Here, the conveying jig 30 is formed in a U-shape to ensure a coating removal work space. Moreover, the conveyance jig 30 has a gripping portion 31, and the gripping portion 31 is supported obliquely forward from the plane of the folder 35 as shown in FIG. 7 to form a gripping portion. As a result, not only the space between the guide 34 and the folder 35 but also the front working space is secured, and the cleaning work is facilitated. Of course, since the holding part 31 is formed, the carrying work in a state where the optical fiber is fixedly held is also facilitated. That is, the conveyance jig 30 is conveyed to the cutting machine 40 side in the state as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the conveying jig 30 that holds and holds the optical fiber whose coating has been removed is arranged in the cutting machine 40. As shown in FIG. 9, the conveying jig 30 is placed on the cutting machine 40 with the lid 41 of the cutting machine 40 opened. In this case, the lid 41 is passed through the space formed by the U-shape of the conveying jig 30 and the switching source fiber L1, and the fiber folder 50 is disposed at a predetermined position. Thereafter, the lid 41 is closed and the blade 42 is slid to cut the optical fiber from which the coating has been removed. By pressing the pressing portion 43, the cut portion of the optical fiber is cut by cleavage. Even in this case, the conveying jig 30 provides a sufficient space for cutting work. Thereafter, the lid 41 is opened, and only the fiber folder 50 in which the switching source optical fiber L1 is fixedly held is conveyed to the fusion splicer 10.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the fusion splicer 10. The switching destination optical fiber L2 is already arranged on one holder base 11 of the fusion splicer 10. In this state, the fiber folder 50 that fixes and holds the switching source optical fiber L1 cut by the cutting machine 40 is disposed on the other holder base 12. Then, the cover 13 is put on, the tip positions of the switching source optical fiber L1 and the switching destination optical fiber L2 are matched, and fusion splicing is performed by the discharge of the discharge electrodes 11a and 11b. Further, the fusion spliced portion is reinforced.

  In addition, in embodiment mentioned above, although the structure of the fusion splicer 10, the coating removal machine 20, and the cutting machine 40 was shown separately, not only this but these fusion splicing machine 10, the coating machine removal machine 20, The cutting machine 40 may be an integrated device by a combination of two or more. By adopting such a configuration, the switching operation can be performed more easily and quickly when the operation is at a high place.

  In the above-described embodiment, the switching source optical fiber L1 is cut at two points, and the switching destination optical fiber L2 is inserted between the two points. Obviously, the same applies to the case.

For example, when there are four optical fibers L1, L2, L3, and L4, the optical fibers L1 to L4 are connected to the left side from the cut point or the connection point by L _1a , L _2a , L, respectively. _3a, L _4a, L _1b, respectively to the right from the connection point, L _2b, L _3b, to distinguish between the L _4b, L _1a and L _4b, L _2a and L _3b, L _3a and L _1b, and L _4a and L _2b It can also be applied to the case where each is connected.

  In the above-described embodiment, the optical fibers L1 and L2 are multi-core (commonly referred to as ribbon) fibers. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to single-core fibers. Further, the fiber folder 50 and the folder 35 may be configured to be able to grip single-core / multi-core fibers in common.

  In addition to the above-described embodiment of FIG. 3, the fiber folder 50 can also be mounted on the folder 35 side, that is, a structure in which the optical fiber is held by the fiber folder 50 on both sides may be adopted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the coating of the optical fiber is removed by the blade of the cutter 60 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the cutter is made by removing the blade from cotton or the like infiltrated with a solution capable of removing the coating. If it is set inside 60 so as to contact the periphery of the optical fiber, the coating can be removed without using a blade. In this case, there is no possibility of damaging the optical fiber. Therefore, the both-side fibers after being cut can be used.

It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of the switching connection method of the optical fiber which is embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the switching connection method of the optical fiber which is embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the conveyance jig is arrange | positioned at the coating removal machine. It is a front view which shows the state by which the conveyance jig was arrange | positioned at the coating removal machine. It is a figure which shows the state from which the coating | coated of the optical fiber was removed. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a conveyance jig. It is a right view of a conveyance jig. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the conveyance jig which fixes and holds the optical fiber by which the coating removal was carried out from the coating removal machine. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the conveyance jig which fixedly hold | maintains the optical fiber by which the coating removal was carried out has been arrange | positioned at the cutting machine. It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of a fusion splicer. It is a figure which shows an example of switching of an optical fiber.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fusion splicer 11a, 11b Discharge electrode 11,12 Folder stand 13 Cover 20 Cover removal machine 22, 23 Protrusion 30 Conveying jig 31 Gripping part 32, 33 Hole 34 Guide 35 Folder 35a, 50a, 50b, 60a, 41 Cover 40 cutting machine 42, 61a, 61b blade 43 pressing part 50 fiber folder 54 linear motion guide 60 cutter L1 switching source optical fiber L2 switching destination optical fiber

Claims (6)

A transport jig used when switching and connecting the switching source optical fiber to the switching destination optical fiber,
A grip portion substantially parallel to the switching connection portion of the switching source optical fiber is provided,
Fixed holding portion for fixing and holding the both ends of the switch connection portion, and the optical fiber holding folder, which has a guide generic fiber folder for fixedly holding an optical fiber is installed detachably, replacement該切by the gripper A conveying jig characterized by having a working space for removing the covering of the connecting portion and cutting. The conveyance jig according to claim 1 , wherein at least the guide portion is formed of a magnetic material, and the fiber folder is fixed to the guide portion using a magnetic force of the fiber folder. The conveying jig according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the conveying jig is connected with an inclination between the flat portion of the fixed holding portion and the flat portion of the gripping portion. A sheath removal machine used when switching and connecting the switching source optical fiber to the switching destination optical fiber,
The conveyance jig as described in any one of Claims 1-3 is arrange | positioned so that attachment or detachment is possible,
A sheath removing machine, wherein a cutter for removing the coating of the switching connection portion is disposed between both ends of the switching connection portion of the switching source optical fiber fixed and held by the transport jig. The cutter is disposed at a coating removal start position that is a predetermined distance away from an end side connected to the switching destination optical fiber and directed toward an end side connected to the switching destination optical fiber. The coating remover according to claim 4 . 6. The coating remover according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein the cutter is detachable, and a cutter that matches the coating thickness of the switching connection portion is disposed.

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