JP5777862B2 - Optical fiber cutting device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an optical fiber cutting equipment.

In recent years, a network configuration method (FTTH: Fiber To The Home) in which an optical fiber is directly drawn into an individual home has become widespread, and a process of cutting the optical fiber into an appropriate length is performed at a work site.
As techniques for cutting an optical fiber, for example, the following techniques are known.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an optical fiber cutting device that can realize a series of operations from gripping to cutting of an optical fiber only by operating a lever once.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses an optical fiber cutting device that can cut an optical fiber with a core, a clad, and a coating without cutting the coating.

JP 2005-301142 A JP 2005-345530 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when cutting an optical fiber with a coating, it is necessary to remove the coating to expose the optical fiber composed of the core and the cladding, and then perform a cutting operation. Therefore, the process of peeling off the coating and the process of cutting the optical fiber are required, which takes time for the operator.

Further, in the technique described in Patent Document 2, not only an optical fiber element composed of a core and a clad but also a coating is cut at a time by a rotary blade by a motor. Therefore, a good cut surface cannot be stably obtained at the time of cutting due to the shaft shake of the rotary blade. In addition, since the optical fiber is supported only by the tension, the damaged portion may be expanded due to fine vibration when the cut is made, and the cut into the optical fiber may be complicated. Therefore, also from this, a good cut surface cannot be stably obtained at the time of cutting.
The term “good cut surface” as used herein means that the cut surface of the glass part composed of the core and clad of the optical fiber is not scratched, chipped, cracked or the like, and the cut surface is a mirror surface.

An object of the present invention can be coated by cutting the optical fiber to provide an optical fiber cutting equipment that can stably obtain good cutting surface.

According to the present invention, an optical fiber cutting device that cuts an optical fiber composed of a glass part composed of a core and a clad and a covering part covering the glass part after cutting the entire covering part,
A clamp for gripping and fixing the optical fiber at at least two locations on both sides of the cutting portion;
When making a cut in the optical fiber, the receiving material that contacts the optical fiber on the side opposite to the cut side in the cutting portion;
A slide mechanism that slides in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber held by the clamp;
A blade that is rotatably provided in the slide mechanism, moves with a slide operation of the slide mechanism, and cuts the cutting portion of the optical fiber;
When the cut is made by the blade, the optical fiber is pressed from the side opposite to the cut side in the cutting portion to suppress the bending of the optical fiber, and after the cut is made by the blade, A pressing part that presses and cuts the optical fiber from the side opposite to the cutting side in the cutting part;
With
The blade is supported by a rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft is supported so that a load can be applied to the slide mechanism,
The blade is fixed and loaded so as not to rotate before making a cut in the optical fiber,
The blade while rotating by the friction between the optical fiber only when an incision in contact with the optical fiber by the sliding operation in the state of the optical fiber and the non-contact, and a part of the cover portion the incised part of the glass portion, the optical fiber cutting apparatus further slid by the sliding operation and rotation in a non-contact state with the optical fiber characterized that you stop is provided.

  According to the present invention, the optical fiber can be cut together with the coating, and a good cut surface can be stably obtained.

It is a perspective view of an optical fiber cutting device in the state where a lid was opened. It is a perspective view of an optical fiber cutting device in the state where a lid was closed. It is a flowchart which shows the cutting process of an optical fiber. It is a figure which shows rotation operation | movement of a blade. It is a figure which shows the state of the optical fiber at the time of a cutting | disconnection. It is a figure which shows the state of the optical fiber at the time of a cutting | disconnection. It is a figure which shows blade height. It is a figure which shows the state of the optical fiber at the time of twist cutting. It is a figure which shows the state of the optical fiber at the time of twist cutting. The pressing part of a two-stage structure is shown.

  The configuration of the optical fiber cutting device in the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this embodiment is an example and this invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the optical fiber cutting device 1 in a state where the lid is opened.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the optical fiber cutting device 1 with the lid closed.

As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the optical fiber cutting device 1 includes a main body 2, a lid 3, clamps 4 to 7, an operation lever 8, a blade 9, a pressing portion 10, and the like. In addition, a slide mechanism, a tension applying mechanism, a blade height adjusting mechanism, a twisting mechanism, a rotating mechanism, and the like (not shown) are provided.
The main body 2 is provided with clamps 4 and 5, an operation lever 8, a blade 9 and the like. Further, the lid 3 is provided with clamps 6 and 7, a pressing portion 10 and the like.
The optical fiber cutting device 1 is configured such that the lid 3 can be opened (see FIG. 1) or closed (see FIG. 2).

When the lid 3 is in a closed state, the clamps 4 to 7 hold the optical fiber from above and below on the main body 2 side and the lid 3 side at two points along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber.
Note that tension may be applied to the gripped optical fiber by a tension applying mechanism (not shown). For example, the tension applying mechanism separates the clamps 4 and 6 from the clamps 5 and 7. Thereby, tension can be given to the grasped optical fiber.

  The operation lever 8 is a lever that is operated in a state in which the lid 3 is closed, and is a lever for performing a series of operations from cutting the optical fiber to cutting.

The blade 9 slides in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever 8. The blade 9 first cuts in the lower part of the coating part of the optical fiber, and then cuts in the lower part of the core and the clad (hereinafter referred to as “glass part”).
The blade 9 has a disk shape and is rotatably supported by a slide mechanism (not shown). The slide mechanism slides in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever 8. For example, the blade 9 is provided so as to move in conjunction with a slide mechanism, slides in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever 8, and cuts the optical fiber.

  Since the blade 9 is rotatably supported by the slide mechanism, when the blade 9 comes into contact with the optical fiber by the slide operation, the blade 9 is rotated by a frictional force or the like. The blade 9 rotates by a certain angle while in contact with the optical fiber, and finishes rotating when the blade 9 is in a non-contact state. In addition, operation | movement of a blade is demonstrated in below-mentioned FIG.

  The blade 9 is made of a low-wear metal such as tungsten carbide, a hard metal with a diamond coating, ruby or a metal tip processed with diamonds to avoid deterioration of cutting ability due to wear. That can be cut, and those subjected to surface treatment such as hard chrome plating and SIP treatment as necessary.

  The blade 9 may be supported by a blade height adjusting mechanism (not shown). At this time, the blade height adjusting mechanism is supported by the slide mechanism. By supporting the blade 9 by the blade height adjusting mechanism, the blade height can be adjusted as appropriate. Further, the support portion of the blade 9 may be provided with an elastic member in a direction orthogonal to the sliding direction and / or the sliding direction and causing a pressing force to the optical fiber so that the pressing at the time of contact of the optical fiber can be alleviated.

The pressing portion 10 is in contact with the optical fiber on the side opposite to the cutting side at the cutting portion where the cutting is made by the blade 9 when the lid 3 is closed. Functions as a stand. In addition, after the cut is made, the pressing unit 10 presses and cuts the optical fiber.
It is desirable to use a material softer than the material of the covering portion such as rubber, cork, plastic, etc., as the material of the portion where the pressing portion 10 and the optical fiber come into contact (hereinafter referred to as “receiving material”). When a material harder than the covering portion is used, the optical fiber cannot be bent slightly toward the receiving material when it comes into contact with the blade 9, and the blade 9 cuts the optical fiber more than necessary, and a good cut surface is obtained. This is because it cannot be obtained.

The optical fiber cutting process will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the optical fiber held by the optical fiber folder H is set in the concave groove 2b, the lid 3 is closed, and the optical fiber is clamped from above and below by the clamps 4 to 7 (step S1).
Specifically, the clamps 4 and 5 provided on the main body 2 side hold the optical fiber from the lower part of the optical fiber, and the clamps 6 and 7 provided on the lid 3 side hold the optical fiber from the upper part of the optical fiber.
At this time, the optical fiber is still covered. That is, an optical fiber consists of a glass part and a covering part made up of a core and a cladding. Moreover, the receiving material of the pressing part 10 and the optical fiber are in contact.

When the operation lever 8 is pushed down, the blade 9 slides in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever 8, and a cut is made in the lower part of the optical fiber coating (step S2).
Subsequently, the blade 9 is rotated by friction, and further cuts deeply into the coating of the contact portion, and cuts into the lower part of the glass part of the optical fiber (step S3).
At this time, since the blade comes into contact with the glass portion due to natural rotation during friction, excessive damage is prevented. Further, the receiving member of the pressing portion 10 functions as a pedestal so that the optical fiber is not greatly bent upward due to contact with the blade 9, and suppresses blurring of the optical fiber.

  When the operation lever 8 is further pushed down, the pressing portion 10 presses the cut portion from the opposite side to the cut side to cut the optical fiber (step S4). Further, instead of this pressing step, it may be cut by applying tension to the cutting portion.

As described above, the work for cutting the optical fiber includes (1) setting the optical fiber held by the optical fiber folder H in the concave groove 2b, and (2) closing the lid 3 of the optical fiber cutting device 1. (3) Only the three operations of depressing the operation lever 8 are required. That is, after the lid 3 is closed, the optical fiber can be cut without removing the coating only by operating the operation lever 8.
When the operation lever 8 is further pushed down after the optical fiber is cut, the gripping of the optical fiber by the clamps 4 to 7 is released.

The operation of the blade 9 will be described with reference to FIG.
When the operation lever 8 is pressed, the blade 9 slides toward the optical fiber by a slide operation of a slide mechanism (not shown) (state 1).
When the blade 9 slides further than in the state 1, it comes into contact with the optical fiber (state 2).
The blade 9 is not rotated in the state 1 because it is in a non-contact state with the optical fiber. In the state 2, the blade 9 is not rotated because it is a contact point and no frictional force is applied.

When the blade 9 slides further than in the state 2, an external force is applied by a frictional force with the optical fiber or the like (state 3).
The blade 9 sequentially cuts the coated portion and the glass portion of the optical fiber while rotating. By rotating the blade 9, it is possible to make a cut with an appropriate force without difficulty.
In the state 3, since the pressing portion 10 is pressed with a certain force so that the optical fiber is not bent upward, an appropriate amount of cut can be made in the glass portion. The force for pressing the optical fiber by the pressing portion 10 can be appropriately changed by a pressing mechanism such as a spring.

When the blade 9 is not in contact with the optical fiber, no frictional force or the like is applied, so that the blade 9 stops rotating (state 4).
As a comparative example, an experiment was conducted on a configuration in which the blade 9 is rotated by a motor. As a result, in the comparative example, a plurality of scratches entered into the glass portion of the optical fiber and a good cut surface could not be obtained. However, the blade 9 of this embodiment has a single cut when it is in contact. A good cut surface was obtained.
In addition, as a result of comparison with the configuration in which the conventional fixed blade is used for scratching, it is possible to obtain a better cut surface with the configuration of the present embodiment. This is because when the blade 9 according to the conventional configuration is pressed against the covering portion, the covering is crushed at first, and tension is applied when making a cut in the crushed portion. However, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, it is considered that the crushed coating is prevented from being damaged, and the coating is smoothly damaged. Therefore, it is not necessary to rotate at all times, and the configuration in which the rotation is performed by friction has a simple configuration and is advantageous in terms of cost as compared with the configuration in which the rotation is always performed.
Further, since the blade 9 rotates only at the portion in contact with the optical fiber, it is possible to make the wear of the blade 9 uniform.
Further, the rotation direction of the blade 9 may be any configuration that does not reverse or reverse. When a directional blade is used as the cutting edge, a configuration that does not reverse is good, and when the configuration does not reverse, there is an advantage that the cutting edge in contact with the optical fiber is updated. On the other hand, if it is configured to be reversed and set so that it can be cut back and forth, the blade height can be made lower than the configuration in which cutting is performed with a single slide, and it is possible to prevent excessive cutting, which is more convenient. Further, when the rotation amount at the time of cutting is reversed and used at the time of cutting, it returns to the cutting start position, and therefore there is an advantage that the rotation starting position can be shifted and controlled according to wear.

Next, the state of the optical fiber at the time of cutting will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.
FIG. 5A shows the state of the optical fiber when the cut is made by the blade 9. The blade 9 slides into contact with the optical fiber and, while rotating, cuts into the coated portion of the optical fiber from the vicinity of the contact portion, and further cuts into the glass portion. At this time, the optical fiber is bent upward by being applied with an external force by contact with the blade 9.
Here, in this embodiment, since the receiving material of the pressing part 10 is in contact with the optical fiber on the side opposite to the cut side in the cutting part and holds the optical fiber with a constant force, the optical fiber is upward. Can be prevented from being greatly bent and greatly deflected in the sliding direction. On the other hand, if the optical fiber does not bend at all when the blade 9 comes into contact with the optical fiber, the optical fiber is cut more than necessary, and a good cut surface cannot be obtained. Therefore, it is desirable to use a material softer than the optical fiber (for example, rubber) as the receiving material, and press the pressing portion 10 with a force that can slightly bend the optical fiber.

FIG. 5B shows a state of the optical fiber that has been cut by the blade 9 and is cut by being pressed by the pressing portion 10 from the side opposite to the cut side.
At the time of cutting the optical fiber, the optical fiber is cut at an appropriate position and height by making contact with the receiving material of the pressing portion 10 and the optical fiber, and by cutting while the blade 9 rotates. And a good cut surface can be obtained.

The blade height will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the “blade height” here is the height in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the optical fiber, and is the height between the clamps 4, 5 and the clamps 6, 7. The height from the contact surface to the cutting edge. The blade height of the blade 9 is, for example, preferably in the range of 100 to 300 μm, particularly in the range of 150 to 250 μm. As a result of conducting cutting experiments on optical fibers with a diameter of 250 μm manufactured by major manufacturers with a blade height in the range of 100 to 300 μm, both of the interfaces at the core and cladding end faces of the optical fiber strand part A good quality cut surface was obtained.
As shown in FIG. 6, the blade height is set to a height that penetrates all of the optical fiber, but when the blade 9 slides and contacts the optical fiber, as described above, the optical fiber is Curve upward. Therefore, the blade height is determined considering that the optical fiber is in a curved state. In addition, the blade height is not necessarily limited to the range of 100 to 300 μm as described above, and may be appropriately changed according to the material of the coated optical fiber, the size of the diameter, and the like.

In addition, the following configuration may be provided for the optical fiber cutting device 1.
For example, the blade 9 may be supported by a blade pressure adjusting mechanism such as a spring, and the blade pressure may be adjusted by the blade pressure adjusting mechanism when the optical fiber is cut. By adjusting the blade pressure by the blade pressure adjusting mechanism, unnecessary damage to the glass portion can be suppressed, and a good cut surface can be easily obtained.

Alternatively, the optical fiber may be rotated so as to be twisted in the circumferential direction by a twisting mechanism (not shown) and then cut by applying an external force to the cut portion. By doing in this way, a suitable inclination angle can be provided in the cut end face after cutting.
By applying a twist to the coating, the direction in which the blade can easily enter can be formed. Therefore, the fixed blade has a complicated shape of the scratches entering the glass portion, and the probability of obtaining a good cut end surface is low.
In addition, the method of rotating the blade with a motor also has a low probability of obtaining a good cut end surface for the same reason as described above. However, according to the method of the present application, since the blade rotates in accordance with the penetration of the blade into the coating, unnecessary tension is released, a clean scratch is made on the glass portion, and a good cut end face can be obtained.

With reference to FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the state of the cut surface which cut | disconnected after being cut | incised in the state rotated by twisting the optical fiber is demonstrated.
FIG. 7A shows the state of the optical fiber after being cut by the blade 9.
FIG. 7B shows a state of a cut surface of the optical fiber cut by rotating the optical fiber shown in FIG. 7A so as to be twisted in the circumferential direction.
As shown in FIG. 7B, by cutting while rotating the optical fiber, the cut surface can be inclined at an inclination angle β, and reflection at the time of butt connection can be suppressed. In addition, the inclination angle β of the cut surface is about 8 °.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the structure that can cut the optical fiber composed of the coating portion and the glass portion together with the coating has been described, but both the cutting mechanism for cutting the coating and the glass portion by peeling the coating. It is good also as a structure provided with. At this time, the structure of the pressing portion 10 is preferably a two-stage structure.

FIG. 8 shows a pressing portion 10a having a two-stage structure. The optical fiber folder H is shown in FIG.
The pressing part 10a having a two-stage structure is configured such that one of the two stages contacts the optical fiber coating when cutting, and the other does not contact the glass when cutting. Further, the optical fiber folder H has a concave groove H1 when cutting the entire coating and a concave groove H2 when cutting the coating after removing the coating.
When cutting the entire coating, the optical fiber is accommodated in the concave groove H1, the optical fiber folder H is set in the optical fiber cutting device 1, and the lid 3 is closed (see FIGS. 1 and 2). At this time, the optical fiber is held by the clamps 4 to 7 and is in contact with the receiving material of the pressing portion 10.
On the other hand, when the coating is peeled off and cut, the optical fiber is accommodated in the concave groove H2, the optical fiber folder H is set in the optical fiber cutting device 1, and the lid 3 is closed (see FIGS. 1 and 2). At this time, the optical fiber is gripped by the clamps 4 to 7 and is not in contact with the receiving material of the pressing portion 10.
Thus, the optical fiber cutting device 1 can be used for both the case of cutting the entire coating and the case of removing the coating and cutting it by making the shape of the pressing portion 10 into a two-stage structure for the covering portion and the glass portion. Can be used.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the case where one optical fiber is cut has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a tape core wire in which a plurality of optical fibers are integrated can be similarly cut. it can. That is, when cutting the tape core wire, the tape core wire is accommodated in the optical fiber folder H, the optical fiber folder H is set in the optical fiber cutting device 1, and the lid 3 is closed (see FIGS. 1 and 2). At this time, the tape core wire is held by the clamps 4 to 7 and is in contact with the receiving material of the pressing portion 10. When the operation lever 8 is pushed down, the blade 9 cuts into the coating portion and the glass portion of the plurality of optical fibers included in the tape core wire. When making the cut, the blade 9 rotates.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, since the receiving material and the optical fiber are in contact with each other on the side opposite to the cut side in the cut portion, the optical fiber is greatly curved upward when the cut is made. Can be prevented. Further, the blade 9 can be cut while rotating. Therefore, the optical fiber can be cut at an appropriate position and height, and a good cut surface can be stably obtained.

  In addition, the blade 9 is supported by a rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft is supported so that a load can be applied to the slide mechanism, so that the blade 9 does not rotate before being cut into the optical fiber, and is in contact with the optical fiber. Can rotate when making incisions. With this configuration, the blade is used on average. However, if it is configured to rotate by friction at the time of contact with the optical fiber, the cut itself that is scratched by the optical fiber is the same as that without load.

  In addition, by providing a tension applying mechanism that separates the clamps 4 and 6 and the clamps 5 and 7, the optical fiber is prevented from being greatly bent upward when the optical fiber is cut by the blade 9. can do.

  Further, by providing the blade height adjusting mechanism, it is possible to cut the optical fiber at an appropriate height.

  Further, by providing the twisting mechanism, one of the optical fibers can be twisted in the circumferential direction and the cut end face can be inclined (see FIG. 7B). By inclining the cut end face, reflection at the time of butt connection can be suppressed.

  Further, by providing the operation lever 8, it is possible to easily perform a series of operations for cutting the optical fiber by cutting the optical fiber and pressing the cut portion.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical fiber cutting device 2 Main body 3 Lid 4-7 Clamp 8 Operation lever 9 Blade 10 Press part

Claims (9)

An optical fiber cutting device that cuts an optical fiber composed of a glass part composed of a core and a clad and a covering part covering the glass part after cutting the entire covering part,
A clamp for gripping and fixing the optical fiber at at least two locations on both sides of the cutting portion;
When making a cut in the optical fiber, the receiving material that contacts the optical fiber on the side opposite to the cut side in the cutting portion;
A slide mechanism that slides in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber held by the clamp;
A blade that is rotatably provided in the slide mechanism, moves with a slide operation of the slide mechanism, and cuts the cutting portion of the optical fiber;
When the cut is made by the blade, the optical fiber is pressed from the side opposite to the cut side in the cutting portion to suppress the bending of the optical fiber, and after the cut is made by the blade, A pressing part that presses and cuts the optical fiber from the side opposite to the cutting side in the cutting part;
With
The blade is supported by a rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft is supported so that a load can be applied to the slide mechanism,
The blade is fixed and loaded so as not to rotate before making a cut in the optical fiber,
The blade while rotating by the friction between the optical fiber only when an incision in contact with the optical fiber by the sliding operation in the state of the optical fiber and the non-contact, and a part of the cover portion the incised part of the glass portion, the optical fiber cutting apparatus further slid by the sliding operation and rotation in a non-contact state with the optical fiber characterized that you stopped. The optical fiber cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the blade rotates while being urged against the optical fiber. The optical fiber cutting device according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving material is a material softer than the covering portion . The optical fiber cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a tension applying mechanism that applies tension in a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber held by the clamp . The optical fiber cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a blade height adjusting mechanism that adjusts a blade height of the blade . The optical fiber cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a twisting mechanism that rotates at least one end of the optical fiber so as to be relatively twisted in a circumferential direction . The optical fiber cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein a blade height of the blade is higher than a center of the optical fiber. The optical fiber cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein a blade height of the blade is 100 to 300 µm . A cutting lever is provided in the optical fiber, and an operation lever for performing a series of operations until the optical fiber into which the cutting is cut is pressed from the opposite side of the cutting and is cut.
The slide mechanism slides in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever,
9. The pressing unit according to claim 1, wherein the pressing unit presses the optical fiber after being cut by the blade in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever until the optical fiber is cut . Optical fiber cutting device.

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