JP6462626B2 - Base member, fusion machine, and optical fiber fusion method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a base member used in a fusion machine for connecting optical fibers, a fusion machine, and an optical fiber fusion method.

  A fusion splicer is used to connect the optical fibers. The fusion machine is a device in which optical fibers held by a pair of holders are butted together, arranged between electrodes, and the ends of the optical fibers are fused by a heat source such as an arc to connect the optical fibers. .

  When connecting an optical fiber, it is necessary to accurately determine the position of the tip of the optical fiber. For this reason, the optical fiber is usually placed and positioned in a V-groove formed in the support member.

  In recent years, the types of optical fibers and optical fiber ribbons have been diversified, and optical fibers having various outer diameters and optical fiber ribbons having various pitches have been used. In order to fuse optical fiber ribbons with different pitches, the pitch of the optical fiber ribbon with the narrower pitch is widened or the pitch of the optical fiber ribbon with the wider pitch is narrowed. Are arranged so as to have the same pitch, and fusion splicing is performed (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-283901 A

  However, it takes time to align the optical fibers at a predetermined pitch, and even if the method of Patent Document 1 is used, a separate mechanism for aligning the optical fibers with the same pitch is required. This complicates the structure of the member that holds the optical fiber.

  Also, when changing the pitch of the optical fiber, the optical fiber is once bent in the direction of increasing or decreasing the pitch of the optical fiber, and the tip portions of the optical fiber are aligned in parallel with each other. Need to bend. That is, in order to change the pitch of the optical fiber, it is necessary to bend the optical fiber into an S shape. Therefore, in order to reduce the stress due to bending, a sufficient length is required for pitch conversion.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and has a base member, a fusing machine and a base member that have good optical fiber fusing workability and can fuse tape core wires having different pitches. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for fusing an optical fiber using the optical fiber.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the first aspect of the present invention is a base member used in a fusion machine for connecting optical fibers, and the base member is provided on one side end side and on the other side end side. A V-groove for holding a pair of optical fibers arranged and fused, and the V-groove for holding a pair of optical fibers to be fused is formed on a straight line. A plurality of the V-grooves are respectively formed on the plurality of straight lines that are not parallel to each other, assuming a straight line connecting one side end of the member to the other side end. It is a base member.

  The plurality of V-grooves are preferably formed such that the distance between the V-grooves is increased radially from one side end to the other side end.

  The base member includes a hole provided between the one side end and the other side end, and each of the V-grooves is formed so as to straddle the hole, and the one side from the hole. The depth of the V groove on the end side may be different from the depth of the V groove on the other side end side than the hole.

  A second invention is a base member according to the first invention, a base holding member that holds the base member, and a holder that is provided on both sides of the base holding member and on which holders for holding optical fibers are placed. A fusing machine comprising: a mounting portion; and an electrode rod disposed on the base member.

  A third invention is a method of fusing an optical fiber using the base member according to the first invention, and is a coating resin in a predetermined range at the tip of the optical fiber ribbon while being held by the optical fiber holding member. The optical fiber is cut at a predetermined length, and a pair of optical fiber holding members holding optical fiber ribbons having different pitches are installed on both sides of the base member so as to face each other, The tip ends of the optical fibers are opposed to each other, the pair of optical fiber holding members are moved toward each other, the tips of the optical fibers are butted together, and a discharge electrode is used to discharge the tips of the optical fibers. By doing so, the optical fiber fusion method is characterized in that the optical fibers are fused together.

  Each of the V grooves of the base member may be formed on a straight line that connects the bases of the coating removal portions of the optical fibers facing each other in a state in which the ends of the optical fibers are abutted with each other.

  Each of the V grooves of the base member has an optical fiber tape having a narrow pitch with respect to a straight line connecting bases of the coating removal portions of the optical fibers facing each other with the tips of the optical fibers butting each other. Even if it is formed on a straight line formed so as to widen the pitch of the V-groove on the side of the core wire by a predetermined amount and widen the pitch of the V-groove on the side of the optical fiber tape having a wide pitch by an amount smaller than the predetermined amount. Good.

  Each of the V grooves of the base member has an optical fiber tape having a narrow pitch with respect to a straight line connecting bases of the coating removal portions of the optical fibers facing each other with the tips of the optical fibers butting each other. It may be formed on a straight line formed such that the pitch of the V-groove on the side of the core wire is narrowed and the pitch of the V-groove on the side of the optical fiber tape having a wide pitch is widened.

  With the ends of the optical fibers facing each other, the center line of each optical fiber with respect to the axial direction of the optical fiber ribbon is a range in the width direction of each V-groove on the base member. It is desirable to fit within.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a base member, a fusing machine, and an optical fiber fusing method using the same, which are capable of fusing optical fibers having good fusion workability and having different pitches. Can be provided.

The perspective view which shows the melt | fusion machine 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the fusion machine 1. The top view which shows the base member 3. FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the optical fibers 17a and 17b hold | maintained at the holder 21 on both sides of the base member 3, (b) is an enlarged view of the base member 3 vicinity of (a). FIG. 5A is a detailed conceptual diagram of FIG. 4B, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the V groove 15a. The figure which shows the state which hold | maintained the optical fibers 17a and 17b to V groove 15a, 15b, respectively. (A) is a figure which shows the state which moved the holder 21 of the both sides of the base member 3, (b) is an enlarged view of the base member 3 vicinity of (a). The figure which shows the other form which shows arrangement | positioning of V groove 15a, 15b of the base member 3a. The figure which shows the other form which shows arrangement | positioning of V groove 15a, 15b of the base member 3b. The figure which shows the state which faced | matched optical fiber 17a, 17b from which the diameter of the base member 3c differs.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the fusing machine 1, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which a holder 21 is arranged on the fusing machine 1. The fusion machine 1 includes a holder mounting portion 11 on which a holder 21 (see FIG. 2) for holding an optical fiber is mounted, a base member 3 on which the tip and electrodes of the optical fiber are disposed, an electrode rod 7 and the like. It has.

  The fusion machine 1 connects a pair of optical fiber ribbons 5a and 5b (see FIG. 2) by fusion. The optical fiber ribbons 5 a and 5 b are divided into a plurality of optical fibers in advance and are held by a pair of holders 21. The holder 21 that is an optical fiber holding member is placed on the holder placement portions 11 on both sides of the base member 3. The optical fiber ribbons 5a and 5b have the same number of optical fibers, but the pitches of the optical fibers are different.

  Although details will be described later, the base member 3 holds a branched optical fiber. The optical fiber on the base member 3 is pressed by a clamp 9 provided on the back surface of the lid from above. In this state, the tips of the optical fibers are brought into contact with each other and an arc is generated between the pair of electrode rods 7, whereby the tip portions of the optical fibers can be melted and joined.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the base member 3 used in the fusion machine 1. As described above, the base member 3 is attached to the fusion machine 1, and an optical fiber or the like is held on the base member 3. The base member 3 may be detachable from the fusion machine 1. For example, by making the base member 3 detachable without using a tool or the like, a plurality of types of base members 3 can be exchanged and used, or a dirty base member 3 can be exchanged on site.

  The base member 3 is a member that holds the optical fiber and the electrode rod. The base member 3 is provided with V grooves 15 a and 15 b and a V groove 23. A hole 13 is provided in the vicinity of the substantially central portion of the base member 3. On both sides of the base member 3 in the longitudinal direction, V grooves 23 are arranged on substantially the same straight line. The V groove 23 is a portion where the electrode rod 7 is held. V-grooves 15a and 15b are portions where optical fibers are held.

  Each of the base members 3 in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the V-groove 23 is formed (W direction in the drawing) is between one side end (left side in the drawing) and the other side end (right side in the drawing). A plurality of V grooves 15a and 15b are provided. In the following description, an example in which four V grooves 15a and 15b are formed is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  The V-groove 15a and the V-groove 15b are provided on a straight line so as to straddle the hole 13. The V grooves 15a and 15b are formed on different straight lines that are not parallel to each other. That is, when assuming a straight line connecting one side end of the base member 3 to the other side end, the respective V grooves 15a and 15b are respectively formed on a plurality of straight lines that are not parallel to each other.

  More specifically, as shown in the figure, the pitch of the V grooves 15a and 15b (space between the V grooves 15a and the V grooves 15b) is increased radially from one side end to the other side end. Formed. In FIG. 3 and subsequent figures, for easy understanding, the change in the pitch of the V grooves 15a and 15b (formation angle of the V grooves 15a and 15b with respect to the direction perpendicular to the V groove 23 (W direction)) is emphasized. Show.

  For example, when connecting the optical fiber tape core wire 5a with a pitch of 200 μm and the optical fiber tape core wire 5b with a pitch of 250 μm, it is necessary to change the pitch of 50 μm. Although details will be described later, the distance (distance in the W direction in the drawing) between the base portions (end portions of the coating resins 19a and 19b) when connecting the optical fibers is generally about 20 mm. Therefore, in this case, a pitch change of about 2.5 μm per mm with respect to the W direction may be used.

  Next, a method for fusing optical fibers will be described. FIG. 4A is a view showing a state in which the optical fibers 17 a and 17 b held by the holder 21 are arranged on both sides of the base member 3. In the following drawings, illustration of other configurations of the fusion machine 1 is omitted.

  First, optical fiber tape cores 5a and 5b (optical fibers 17a and 17b) having different pitches are held in the holder 21. While holding the optical fiber ribbons 5a and 5b, the coating resins 19a and 19b in a predetermined range at the tips of the optical fibers 17a and 17b are removed, and the coating removal portions of the optical fibers 17a and 17b are set to a predetermined length. Disconnect.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), a pair of holders 21 holding optical fiber tape cores 5a and 5b having different pitches are placed on both sides of the base member 3 so as to face each other (the holders shown in FIG. 1). It installs in the mounting part 11). Thereby, the front-end | tips of the optical fibers 17a and 17b hold | maintained at each holder 21 oppose.

  FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the base member 3 in FIG. The optical fibers 17 a and 17 b are arranged in parallel to each other at the portion held by the holder 21. For example, the optical fibers 17a and 17b are aligned at a pitch corresponding to the outer diameter of the coating resins 19a and 19b. Therefore, the optical fibers 17a and 17b protruding from the holders 21 are arranged straight in the directions facing each other. For this reason, the axial direction of the optical fibers 17a and 17b is different from the forming direction of the V grooves 15a and 15b.

  FIG. 5A is a conceptual diagram in which the portion A of FIG. 4B is enlarged. Here, as described above, in FIG. 4B, the pitch change of the V grooves 15a and 15b is emphasized, but actually, as shown in FIG. 5A, the angle change of the V groove 15a is It is slight. Therefore, in practice, as shown in FIG. 4B, the optical fibers 17a and 17b are not completely removed from the V grooves 15a and 15b.

  FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the V groove 15a. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the center of the optical fiber 17a with respect to the axial direction is B, the center B of the optical fiber 17a is the width of the V-groove 15a (the range of FIG. 5B). C) will not deviate. Similarly, although not shown, the center of the optical fiber 17b with respect to the axial direction does not deviate from the width of the V-groove 15b. That is, with the tips of the optical fibers 17a and 17b facing each other, the center lines of the optical fibers 17a and 17b with respect to the axial direction of the optical fiber ribbons 5a and 5b are on the base member 3, respectively. It fits in the range of the width direction of V groove 15a, 15b.

  By doing so, even when the clamp 9 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is pressed from above the optical fiber 17a, even if the position is shifted from the center of the V groove 15a (for example, the E position in FIG. 5B). ) The optical fiber 17a is accommodated in the center of the V groove 15a along the slope of the V groove 15a (position D in FIG. 4B).

  That is, if the center lines of the optical fibers 17a and 17b are within the respective ranges in the width direction of the V grooves 15a and 15b over the entire lengths of the V grooves 15a and 15b on the base member 3, the optical fibers 17a and 17b. Does not run from the V grooves 15a, 15b. For this reason, the optical fibers 17a and 17b can be easily accommodated in the V-grooves 15a and 15b.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the optical fibers 17a and 17b are arranged in the V grooves 15a and 15b in this way. In this state, the optical fibers 17a and 17b are disposed along the V grooves 15a and 15b. As described above, the coating resins 19a and 19b are arranged in parallel to each other. For this reason, the exposed portions of the optical fibers 17a and 17b from the coating resins 19a and 19b are generally from the base portions (end portions of the coating resins 19a and 19b) of the coating removing portions 18a and 18b from which the coating resins 19a and 19b have been removed. The pitch changes.

  For example, the pitch of the optical fiber 17a increases as it goes to the tip, and the pitch of the optical fiber 17b decreases as it goes to the tip. Details of the formation angles of the V grooves 15a and 15b will be described later.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7A, the pair of holders 21 are moved in a direction to approach each other (arrow I in the figure), and the tips of the optical fibers 17a and 17b are brought into contact with each other. FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the base member 3 in this state.

  As described above, the V-groove 15a and the V-groove 15b are formed on a straight line. For this reason, the optical fibers 17a and 17b are abutted on a straight line. In this state, the optical fibers 17a and 17b can be fused to each other by discharging the tip of the optical fibers 17a and 17b with the electrode rod 7 that is a discharge electrode.

  A pair of cameras is provided below the portion where the base member 3 is installed. When the base member 3 is installed, the camera can photograph the tip portions of the optical fibers 17 a and 17 b installed in the base member 3 through the holes 13. Therefore, the operator can confirm the tip positions of the optical fibers 17a and 17b with the camera.

  Next, a method for setting the arrangement of the V grooves 15a and 15b will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 7B, when connecting the optical fiber ribbons 5a and 5b having different pitches, between the bases of the coating removal portions 18a and 18b from which the coating resins 19a and 19b have been removed. Thus, the pitch of the optical fibers 17a and 17b is changed. That is, in the range of the coating resins 19a and 19b, all the optical fibers 17a and 17b are arranged in parallel and straight to each other.

  Here, the base of the coating removal portion 18a of the optical fiber 17a is F, and the base of the coating removal portion 18b of the optical fiber 17b corresponding thereto is G. In this case, the optical fibers 17a and 17b are generally arranged on a straight line H that connects the base F of the coating removal portion 18a and the base G of the coating removal portion 18b. Therefore, in this embodiment, each V-groove 15a, 15b is on a straight line H connecting the base F of the coating removal portion 18a and the base G of the coating removal portion 18b with the optical fibers 17a, 17b being abutted. It is formed. That is, when assuming a straight line H connecting the one side end of the base member 3 to the other side end, a plurality of V grooves 15a and 15b are respectively formed on a plurality of straight lines that are not parallel to each other. The

  By forming the V grooves 15a and 15b in this manner, the pitch of the optical fibers 17a and 17b can be efficiently changed in a state where the optical fibers 17a and 17b are abutted. In the present embodiment, the straight lines passing through the respective V grooves 15a and 15b change at a constant angle. That is, at any position in the width direction (W direction) of the base member 3, the pitch between the optical fibers 17a or between the optical fibers 17b is constant.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the plurality of V grooves 15a and 15b are provided on a plurality of straight lines that are not parallel to each other, and the pitches between the plurality of V grooves 15a and the V grooves 15b are gradually changed. It is formed. For this reason, the optical fiber tape core wires 5a and 5b having different pitches can be easily fused.

  At this time, when the optical fibers 17a and 17b are arranged in the V-grooves 15a and 15b, the optical fibers 17a and 17b do not need to be parallel to each other, so that it is not necessary to bend the optical fibers 17a and 17b twice. For this reason, the bending part of optical fiber 17a, 17b may be one place, the stress concerning optical fiber 17a, 17b can be reduced, and the distance from the site | part which grasps optical fiber 17a, 17b to a connection part is shortened. be able to. Further, since the V grooves 15a and 15b are formed on the same straight line, the optical fibers 17a and 17b can be abutted on the same straight line.

  Further, since the V grooves 15a and 15b are formed on a straight line H connecting the base F of the coating removal portion 18a and the base G of the coating removal portion 18b in a state where the optical fibers 17a and 17b are abutted with each other, The pitch change portions 17a and 17b can be made longer. For this reason, the influence of the bending to the optical fibers 17a and 17b accompanying the pitch change can be reduced.

  Further, with the tips of the optical fibers 17a and 17b facing each other, the center lines of the respective optical fibers 17a and 17b are within the range in the width direction of the respective V-grooves 15a and 15b on the base member 3. . For this reason, when the optical fibers 17a and 17b are clamped from above, the optical fibers 17a and 17b do not run over the edges of the V grooves 15a and 15b, and can be reliably guided to the center of the V grooves 15a and 15b. it can.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the V grooves 15a and 15b of the base member 3a. In the following description, components having the same functions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 7, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

  The base member 3 described above is formed on a straight line H connecting the base F of the coating removal portion 18a and the base G of the coating removal portion 18b with the V grooves 15a and 15b in contact with the optical fibers 17a and 17b. However (see FIG. 7B), the arrangement of the V grooves 15a and 15b is different in this embodiment.

  In FIG. 8, illustration of the optical fibers 17a and 17b is omitted, but F and G in the figure are coating removal portions 18a in a state where the optical fibers 17a and 17b are abutted, as in FIG. 7B. The base part of 18b is shown, and the straight line H is a straight line connecting this. That is, the V grooves 15 a and 15 b of the base member 3 described above are formed on the straight line H.

  On the other hand, the V grooves 15a and 15b of the base member 3a are formed on the straight line J that is displaced with respect to the straight line H in a direction in which the pitch is widened (a direction that spreads outside the base member 3a). At this time, the pitch of the straight line J with respect to the straight line H on the side of the optical fiber tape core 5b having a larger pitch than the amount of spread of the pitch of the straight line J with respect to the straight line H on the side of the optical fiber tape core 5a having a narrow pitch (K in the figure). The spread amount (L in the figure) is small. Therefore, compared with the base member 3, the base member 3a is formed with the V-grooves 15a and 15b expanding as a whole and has a smaller inclination.

  Usually, when the coating resins 19a and 19b of the optical fiber ribbons 5a and 5b (optical fibers 17a and 17b) are removed, the pitch of the optical fibers 17a and 17b in the coating removal portions 18a and 18b tends to slightly increase. is there. Accordingly, the pitch of the optical fiber 17a on the side of increasing the pitch (on the side of the optical fiber tape core 5a having a narrow pitch) is likely to naturally increase.

  On the other hand, it is necessary to narrow the pitch of the optical fiber 17b on the side of narrowing the pitch (on the side of the optical fiber tape core 5b having a wide pitch) with a larger bending amount than the pitch that naturally spreads. For this reason, guiding the optical fiber 17b into the V-groove 15b is worse than guiding the optical fiber 17a into the V-groove 15a.

  Therefore, the base member 3a of the present embodiment has the pitch of the V-groove 15b on the side of the optical fiber tape core 5b having a wide pitch with respect to the straight line H connecting the bases of the coating removal portions 18a and 18b of the optical fibers 17a and 17b. A predetermined amount is widened and the angle of the V groove 15b is further reduced. By doing in this way, the optical fiber 17b can be more easily arrange | positioned in the V groove 15b in consideration of the breadth at the time of the coating removal of the optical fiber 17b.

  Since the formation angle of the V grooves 15a and 15b is reduced and the V grooves 15a and 15b are formed in a straight line, the amount of spread of the pitch of the V grooves 15a on the optical fiber tape core wire 5a side with a narrow pitch is V groove It becomes larger than the spread amount of the pitch of 15b. However, since the optical fiber 17a tends to naturally increase the pitch, the optical fiber 17a can be easily disposed in the V-groove 15a.

  Thus, according to the second embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, in consideration of the spread of the optical fibers 17a and 17b when the coating resins 19a and 19b are removed, even if the optical fibers 17a and 17b are spread, the optical fibers 17a and 17b can be easily attached to the V-groove 15a, 15b.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the V grooves 15a and 15b of the base member 3b. The base member 3 described above is formed on a straight line H connecting the base F of the coating removal portion 18a and the base G of the coating removal portion 18b with the V grooves 15a and 15b in contact with the optical fibers 17a and 17b. However (see FIG. 7B), the arrangement of the V grooves 15a and 15b is different in this embodiment.

  In FIG. 9, illustration of the optical fibers 17a and 17b is omitted, but F and G in the figure are the covering removal portions 18a in a state where the optical fibers 17a and 17b are abutted, as in FIG. 7B. The base part of 18b is shown, and the straight line H is a straight line connecting this. That is, the V grooves 15 a and 15 b of the base member 3 described above are formed on the straight line H.

  On the other hand, the V grooves 15a and 15b of the base member 3b are formed on a straight line M that is displaced in a direction in which the angle increases with respect to the straight line H (a direction in which the pitch difference between both sides of the base member 3b increases). That is, the optical fiber tape core wire 5a side with a narrow pitch has a narrow pitch with respect to the straight line H (N in the figure), and the optical fiber tape core wire 5b side with a wide pitch has a wide pitch with respect to the straight line H. (G in the figure).

  Usually, when the pitch of the optical fibers 17a and 17b is to be changed, the optical fibers 17a and 17b are not bent sharply at the base of the coating removal portions 18a and 18b of the optical fibers 17a and 17b, but have a certain R shape. Have. For this reason, the position of the straight line part of optical fiber 17a, 17b shifts with respect to the straight line H which connects the base parts of the coating removal parts 18a, 18b of optical fiber 17a, 17b.

  On the other hand, by narrowing the pitch of the V15a groove on the side of the optical fiber 17a having a narrow pitch and widening the pitch of the V groove 15b on the side of the optical fiber 17b having a wide pitch, the optical fibers 17a and 17b can be made more efficient. 15a, 15b can be arranged.

  Thus, according to the third embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, the optical fibers 17a and 17b can be easily arranged in the V-grooves 15a and 15b by taking into account the R shape of the bent portions of the optical fibers 17a and 17b.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view in the width direction W of the base member) near the hole 13 of the base member 3c. The base member 3c has substantially the same configuration as the base member 3, but the depth differs between the depth of the V groove 15a (P in the figure) and the depth of the V groove 15b (Q in the figure).

  Here, the present invention is not limited to the case where the 200 μm pitch optical fiber ribbon and the 250 μm pitch optical fiber ribbon as described above are connected. For example, in addition to this, when connecting an optical fiber ribbon with a pitch of 160 μm and an optical fiber ribbon with a pitch of 250 μm, an optical fiber ribbon with a pitch of 230 μm, and an optical fiber ribbon with a pitch of 250 μm For example, when connecting the optical fiber tape cores of any pitch difference, it can be applied.

  On the other hand, for example, when connecting the optical fiber tape core 5a (optical fiber 17a) with a pitch of 160 μm and the optical fiber tape core 5b (optical fiber 17b) with a pitch of 250 μm, the coating resins 19a, The diameters of the glass fibers of the coating removal portions 18a and 18b from which 19b has been removed may be different from 80 μm and 125 μm, respectively. In this case, in order to make the axial centers of the optical fibers 17a and 17b coincide with each other, it is necessary to align the axial positions not only with respect to each other but also with respect to the height direction.

  In the present embodiment, by changing the depth of the V grooves 15a and 15b in accordance with the diameters of the optical fibers 17a and 17b, the axial center positions of the optical fibers 17a and 17b can be adjusted. For example, the depth of the V-groove 15a is set so that the position in the height direction of the axis of the optical fiber 17a is the upper surface position of the base member 3c in a state where the optical fiber 17a is disposed in the V-groove 15a. Similarly, the depth of the V-groove 15b is set so that the position in the height direction of the axis of the optical fiber 17b is the upper surface position of the base member 3c in a state where the optical fiber 17b is disposed in the V-groove 15b. .

  Thus, according to the fourth embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, by making the depths of the V-grooves 15a and 15b provided across the hole 13, the optical fibers 17a and 17b having different diameters as well as the pitches can be connected with the core positions aligned. .

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, the technical scope of this invention is not influenced by embodiment mentioned above. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims of the utility model registration. It is understood that it belongs to the range.

  For example, by making the base member 3 detachable with respect to the fusion machine 1 by screwing or the like without using a tool or the like, only the base member is exchanged according to the combination of optical fiber ribbons to be connected. Can be used.

  In this case, V grooves 15a and 15b having different pitches may be formed on the front and back surfaces of the base member. By doing in this way, one base member is applicable to the combination of the some pitch of optical fiber tape core wires. Needless to say, the above-described embodiments can be combined with each other.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ......... Fusing machine 3, 3a, 3b, 3c ......... Base member 5a, 5b ......... Optical fiber tape core wire 7 ......... Electrode rod 9 ......... Clamp 11 ......... Holder mounting part 13 ......... Vacuums 15a, 15b ......... V-grooves 17a, 17b ......... Optical fibers 18a, 18b ......... Coating removal portions 19a, 19b ......... Coating resin 21 ......... Holder 23 ......... V-groove

Claims (9)

A base member used in a fusion machine for connecting optical fibers,
The base member includes a V-groove that holds a pair of optical fibers that are arranged and fused on one side end side and the other side end side, respectively .
The V-grooves for holding a pair of fused optical fibers are formed on a straight line,
A plurality of the V-grooves are respectively formed on the plurality of straight lines that are not parallel to each other when assuming a straight line from one side end to the other side end of the base member facing each other. Base member.   2. The base member according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of V grooves are formed so that a distance between the V grooves is radially increased from one side end to the other side end. The base member includes a hole provided between the one side end and the other side end, and each of the V grooves is formed so as to straddle the hole.
The depth of the V groove on the one side end side from the hole is different from the depth of the V groove on the other side end side from the hole. The base member as described. A base member according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A base holding member for holding the base member;
A holder mounting portion provided on both sides of the base holding member, on which holders for holding optical fibers are mounted;
An electrode rod disposed on the base member;
A fusing machine comprising: An optical fiber fusion method using the base member according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
In a state where the optical fiber ribbon is held by a holder, the coating resin in a predetermined range at the tip of each optical fiber is removed, and the optical fiber is cut by a predetermined length,
A pair of holders holding the optical fiber ribbons having different pitches are installed on both sides of the base member so as to face each other, and the tips of the respective optical fibers are made to face each other,
Placing each of the optical fibers in a respective V-groove;
Move the pair of holders in a direction to bring them closer to each other, butt the ends of each optical fiber,
A method for fusing optical fibers, characterized in that the optical fibers are fused together by discharging them to the front ends of the optical fibers with a discharge electrode.   Each of the V grooves of the base member is formed on a straight line connecting the bases of the coating removal portions of the optical fibers facing each other in a state where the tips of the optical fibers are abutted with each other. The method for fusing an optical fiber according to claim 5.   Each of the V grooves of the base member has an optical fiber tape having a narrow pitch with respect to a straight line connecting bases of the coating removal portions of the optical fibers facing each other with the tips of the optical fibers butting each other. It is formed on a straight line formed so as to widen the pitch of the V-groove on the side of the core wire by a predetermined amount and widen the pitch of the V-groove on the side of the optical fiber tape having a wide pitch by an amount smaller than the predetermined amount. The method for fusing an optical fiber according to claim 5.   Each of the V grooves of the base member has an optical fiber tape having a narrow pitch with respect to a straight line connecting bases of the coating removal portions of the optical fibers facing each other with the tips of the optical fibers butting each other. The pitch of the V-groove on the core wire side is narrowed, and the optical fiber tape is formed on a straight line formed so that the pitch of the V-groove on the core wire side is wide. The method for fusing optical fibers as described.   With the ends of the optical fibers facing each other, the center line of each optical fiber with respect to the axial direction of the optical fiber ribbon is a range in the width direction of each V-groove on the base member. The optical fiber fusion method according to claim 5, wherein the optical fiber fusion method is within the range.

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