JP6906069B1 - Transport jig - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve workability of fusion splicing work of an optical fiber. SOLUTION: This is a transfer jig 1 for transporting a fusion-bonded optical fiber after the optical fiber and the optical fiber are fusion-bonded by using a fusion-bonding machine, and two optical fibers can be fixed. A connecting portion 20 for connecting the two grip portions 10 and the two grip portions 10 while maintaining a predetermined interval is provided. The grip portion 10 is provided with a storage space for accommodating the fiber protective sleeve at the time of fusion splicing. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

The present invention relates to a transfer jig.

In equipment that provides optical services to users, drop cables are pulled from fictitious optical closures to the cabinets of users' homes.

If the drop cable is cut or breaks down, a fusion splicer (see Non-Patent Document 1) is brought to the site and the optical fiber is fusion-bonded at the site in order to replace a part of the section. In the fusion splicing work, the optical fiber from which the coating has been removed is set in the fusion splicer and fusion spliced. The fiber protection sleeve is put on the fusion splicing point of the optical fiber, and the fiber protection sleeve is heat-shrinked to reinforce the fusion splicing point.

"Drop fusion splicer (single core to 4 cores) TYPE-201e-M4-D / TYPE-201e-VS-D", [online], Kawamitsu Sangyo Co., Ltd., [Search on December 10, 1st year of Reiwa] , Internet <URL: http: www.kawamitu.co.jp/it/o-comm/01/type-201em4d.html>

After the fusion splicing, the operator needs to move the optical fiber covered with the fiber protective sleeve to the heater while maintaining the tension of the fusion splicing optical fiber. At this time, if the force is not well controlled and the optical fiber is bent or a strong force is applied to the optical fiber, the optical fiber is broken.

Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a transfer jig used when transporting a fusion-bonded optical fiber to a heater. This conventional transfer jig can be set on the side surface of the fusion splicer, and includes a groove through which the optical fiber is passed and a lid for fixing and gripping the optical fiber passed through the groove. The transfer jig is set in the fusion splicer, and the optical fiber is fused and connected with the optical fiber passed through the groove. After fusion splicing, close the lid to fix the optical fiber to the transfer jig, cover the fiber protection sleeve over the fusion splicing point, hold the transfer jig with one hand, and lightly pull the optical fiber with the other hand. Move the fiber optic protection sleeve to the heater. When the transfer jig of Non-Patent Document 1 is used, it is sufficient to hold the transfer jig with one hand and apply a force to maintain the tension of the optical fiber with the other hand, so that the transfer to the heater becomes easy.

However, the fusion splicing work may have to be performed in an unstable posture, such as work on a ladder or work in a narrow bucket of an aerial work platform. As a result, there was a problem that the force control did not go well and the wire was broken.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to improve the workability of the fusion splicing work of an optical fiber.

The transfer jig of one aspect of the present invention is installed in the fusion splicer when the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are fusion spliced using the fusion splicer, and after the fusion splicing is performed. , A transport jig for transporting fused and connected optical fibers, the first grip portion capable of fixing the first optical fiber, the second grip portion capable of fixing the second optical fiber, and the above. and said first gripping portion the second gripping portion includes a connecting portion connecting holding a predetermined distance, said at least one of the first gripper and the second gripper, fiber protection sleeve during fusion splicing It is characterized in that it is provided with a mounting portion for mounting.

According to the present invention, the workability of the fusion splicing work of the optical fiber can be improved.

It is a perspective view of the transfer jig of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state of connecting the transfer jig of 1st Embodiment to a fusion splicer. It is a figure which shows the state which set the optical fiber in the fusion splicer, and put the fiber protection sleeve on the transfer jig. It is a figure which shows the state that the optical fiber is fusion-bonded. It is a figure which shows the state which covered the fiber protection sleeve on the fusion | fusion connection point. It is a figure which shows the state which moved the optical fiber and the fiber protection sleeve to a heater part. It is a perspective view of the transfer jig of the 2nd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
The transfer jig of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The transfer jig 1 of the present embodiment includes two grip portions 10 and a connecting portion 20. Hereinafter, the grip portion 10 side will be described as the front, the connecting portion 20 side as the rear, the direction in which the grip portions 10 are arranged as the left-right direction, the upper part of the figure as the upper direction, and the lower part of the figure as the lower direction.

Each of the grip portions 10 is connected to the tip of the U-shaped connecting portion 20. The connecting portion 20 connects the two grip portions 10 so as to maintain the same distance as the width of the fusion splicer 50. The connecting portion 20 may be made of a material that does not easily bend or has a structure that does not easily bend so that the distance between the grip portions 10 is maintained. The connecting portion 20 may be U-shaped so as to pass through the side surface and the rear of the fusion splicer 50 when the transfer jig 1 is attached to the fusion splicer 50 so as not to interfere with the work. If it does not interfere with the work, the connecting portion 20 may be passed over the upper part of the fusion splicer 50. Further, the shape of the connecting portion 20 is not limited to the U shape, and any shape may be used as long as the distance between the grip portions 10 can be maintained.

In the transfer jig 1 of the present embodiment, a horizontally long hole is provided on the upper surface of the grip portion 10, the connecting portion 20 is fixed to the horizontally long hole with a screw 16, and the distance between the grip portions 10 is the fusion splicer 50. Made it possible to make fine adjustments so that it is the same as the width. The method of connecting the grip portion 10 and the connecting portion 20 is not limited to this. The connecting portion 20 may be connected to the rear surface or the side surface of the grip portion 10, or may be connected to the lower surface of the grip portion 10. The grip portion 10 and the connecting portion 20 may be welded together, or the grip portion 10 and the connecting portion 20 may be detachable.

The grip portion 10 includes a mounting portion 11, a fiber holding portion 12, a fixing portion 13, and an insertion portion 14. After the grip portion 10 is attached to the fusion splicer 50, an optical fiber to be fusion spliced is placed on the upper surface of each grip portion 10. A fiber protective sleeve is placed on either one of the grip portions 10.

The mounting portion 11 is a surface on which the optical fiber and the fiber protection sleeve are temporarily mounted when the optical fibers are fused and connected. In the example of FIG. 1, rubber is arranged on the upper surface of the main body of the grip portion 10 to form the mounting portion 11. By arranging the rubber on the upper surface of the grip portion 10 to form the mounting portion 11, the frictional force is increased, and the movement of the fiber protective sleeve can be suppressed by the frictional force generated between the mounting portion 11 and the fiber protective sleeve. Further, when the optical fiber is sandwiched between the mounting portion 11 and the fixing portion 13 described later, the optical fiber can be firmly gripped. The upper surface of the grip portion 10 may be used as the mounting portion 11 without arranging the rubber.

The fiber protective sleeve is a heat-shrinkable tube having a steel core inside to reinforce the fusion splicing point of the optical fiber. After the optical fiber is fused and connected, the fiber protection sleeve is placed over the fusion connection point of the optical fiber and heat-shrinked to reinforce the fusion connection point. Since the fiber protection sleeve is tubular and the fiber protection sleeve cannot be passed through the optical fiber after fusion splicing, the fiber is connected to either of the optical fibers to be fusion spliced before fusing the optical fiber. Keep it through the protective sleeve. By allowing the fiber protection sleeve to be placed on the grip portion 10, fusion splicing can be performed without worrying about the fiber protection sleeve moving.

The fiber holding portion 12 is a member arranged at the end in the extending direction of the optical fiber, that is, the end in the left-right direction of the grip portion 10. The fiber holding portion 12 is provided with a groove through which the optical fiber is passed to hold the optical fiber so that the optical fiber does not slip off from the upper surface of the grip portion 10, and also suppresses the movement of the fiber protective sleeve to the outside of the grip portion 10. The groove has a width larger than the diameter of the optical fiber and smaller than the diameter of the fiber protective sleeve.

The length from the fiber holding portion 12 to the other side of the grip portion 10 (the side on the fusion splicer 50 side), that is, the length in the left-right direction of the grip portion 10, is such that the fiber protection sleeve is stored on the upper surface of the grip portion 10. Make it as long as possible. The upper surface of the grip portion 10 serves as a storage space for storing the fiber protection sleeve. Since a general fiber protection sleeve has a length of about 60 mm, the length of the grip portion 10 in the left-right direction is made longer than 60 mm. The grip portion 10 of the present embodiment has a length of 80 mm in the left-right direction and a length of 15 mm in the front-rear direction, but the size of the grip portion 10 is not limited to this.

The fixing portion 13 is a member for firmly gripping the optical fiber when the optical fiber is conveyed to the heater portion of the fusion splicer 50 after the optical fiber is fused and connected. The fixing portion 13 of the present embodiment is L-shaped with the front bent, and is provided with a rubber 13A inside (a position where the optical fiber is gripped). When the fixing portion 13 is rotated forward from the state shown in FIG. 1, the fixing portion 13 is closed. By sandwiching the optical fiber between the mounting portion 11 and the rubber 13A, the optical fiber is firmly gripped. When the fixing portion 13 is rotated forward, if the fixing portion 13 is urged in the direction of sandwiching the optical fiber, the optical fiber can be gripped more firmly. The fixing portion 13 may have a shape other than the L-shape as long as the optical fiber can be firmly gripped.

As shown in FIG. 2, the insertion portion 14 is a portion to be inserted into the slits 61 and 62 provided in the transfer jig fixing base 60 attached to the fusion splicer 50. The slits 61 and 62 are formed on both sides of the fusion splicer 50. By inserting the insertion portion 14 into the slits 61 and 62, each of the grip portions 10 can be fixed to both sides of the fusion splicer 50.

Here, the fusion splicer 50 will be briefly described. The fusion splicer 50 shown in the figure includes a fusion splicing portion 51 for fusing and connecting optical fibers, a heater portion 52 for heating and shrinking the fiber protection sleeve, and a touch panel 53 for receiving an operation and displaying a work status. When fusing and connecting the optical fibers, each of the grip portions 10 is inserted into the slit 61, the cover of the fusing and connecting portion 51 is opened, and the optical fiber is set. When the fiber protection sleeve is heated and shrunk, the cover of the heater portion 52 is opened and the fiber protection sleeve is moved to the heater portion 52. At this time, each of the grip portions 10 is inserted into the slit 62.

A step of fusing and connecting optical fibers using the transfer jig 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

Before setting the optical fibers 100A and 100B in the fusion splicer 50, the fiber protection sleeve 110 is passed through one of the fusion splicing optical fibers 100A and 100B. Then, each of the optical fibers 100A and 100B is set in the fiber holder 120, the coating on the tip portion is removed, and the tip end of the optical fiber is cut vertically.

Before setting the optical fibers 100A and 100B in the fusion splicer 50, each of the grip portions 10 is inserted into the left and right slits 61 on the fusion splicing portion 51 side.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cover 51B of the fusion splicing portion 51 is opened, the fiber holder 120 in which the optical fibers 100A and 100B are set is set in the fusion splicing portion 51, and the tips of the optical fibers 100A and 100B are set in the electrode portion. Place it at 51A.

The optical fibers 100A and 100B are placed on the mounting portion 11 and passed through the groove of the fiber holding portion 12. The fiber protection sleeve 110 is also placed on the mounting portion 11. At this time, both the fixing portions 13 are left open, and the optical fibers 100A and 100B are not fixed.

After the optical fibers 100A and 100B are set in the fusion splicing portion 51, the cover 51B is closed and the optical fibers 100A and 100B are fusion spliced as shown in FIG. In the fusion splicing portion 51, the tips of the optical fibers 100A and 100B are melted by the heat generated by the electric discharge, and the optical fibers 100A and 100B are fused and connected.

After the fusion splicing, the cover 51B is opened, the fixing portion 13 on the right side holding the optical fiber 100B is rotated and closed, and the optical fiber 100B is fixed to the grip portion 10. After opening the fiber holder 120, the fiber protection sleeve 110 is moved to cover the fusion splicing point. The fixing portion 13 on the left side holding the optical fiber 100A is rotated and closed, and the optical fiber 100A is fixed to the grip portion 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the fiber protection sleeve 110 is put on the fusion splicer, and the optical fibers 100A and 100B are fixed to the transfer jig 1.

When the optical fibers 100A and 100B are fixed to the grip portion 10 as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to prevent the portion of the optical fibers 100A and 100B from which the coating has been removed from bending or applying a strong force. In the conventional transfer jig, it is necessary to hold the optical fiber on the side that is not fixed by the transfer jig to maintain the tension applied to the optical fiber. Since the tension applied to the optical fibers 100A and 100B is maintained, both hands can be released.

After the fusion splicing, the cover 52B of the heater portion 52 is opened, the left and right grip portions 10 are pulled out from the slits 61, and the optical fibers 100A and 100B and the fiber protection sleeve 110 are moved rearward together with the transfer jig 1. As shown in FIG. 6, each of the grip portions 10 is inserted into the left and right slits 62 on the heater portion 52 side, and the fiber protection sleeve 110 is placed on the heater 52A. After that, the cover 52B is closed and the fiber protection sleeve 110 is heat-shrinked. The covers 52B are opened, the left and right fixing portions 13 are opened, and the optical fibers 100A and 100B fused and connected are taken out.

Since each of the optical fibers 100A and 100B is fixed to the grip portion 10 and the grip portions 10 are connected by the connecting portion 20 at intervals, the transfer jig 1 is held with one hand when the optical fibers 100A and 100B are transported. Can be transported.

As described above, in the transfer jig 1 of the present embodiment, the optical fiber 100A and the optical fiber 100B are fused and connected using the fusion splicer 50, and then the fusion-bonded optical fibers 100A and 100B are conveyed. The transfer jig 1 for this purpose includes two grip portions 10 capable of fixing the optical fibers 100A and 100B, and a connecting portion 20 for connecting the two grip portions 10 while maintaining a predetermined interval. At the time of fusion splicing, the upper surface of the grip portion 10 is used as a space for placing the fiber protection sleeve 110. As a result, the fiber protection sleeve 110 can be placed on the transfer jig 1 at the time of fusion splicing, and the optical fibers 100A and 100B are fixed to the grip portions 10 holding a predetermined interval after the fusion splicing. can. The optical fibers 100A and 100B can be transported with one hand, and the workability of the fusion splicing work of the optical fibers can be improved.

In the transfer jig 1 of the present embodiment, both the left and right grip portions 10 have the same structure, and the fiber protection sleeve 110 can be mounted on either of the left and right grip portions 10, but one of the left and right grip portions is gripped. The fiber protection sleeve 110 may be placed only on the portion 10. For example, a conventional transfer jig may be attached instead of the grip portion 10 on the right side. If the fiber protection sleeve 110 can be placed on one of the grips 10, the other grip 10 may have a structure capable of fixing the optical fiber during transportation. By allowing the fiber protection sleeve 110 to be placed on either of the left and right grip portions 10, it is not necessary to worry about the optical fibers 100A and 100B through which the fiber protection sleeve 110 is passed.

[Second Embodiment]
The transfer jig 1 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The description of the same part as that of the first embodiment will be omitted. The transfer jig 1 of the second embodiment has a wider interval between the grip portions 10 than the transfer jig 1 of the first embodiment, and one of the grip portions 10 and the fusion splicer 50 A separation member 30 to be attached between them is provided. The fiber protection sleeve 110 is housed between the grip portion 10 separated by the separating member 30 and the fusion splicer 50, that is, above the separating member 30. The separation member 30 includes a hole 31 for inserting the insertion portion 14 of the grip portion 10 and an insertion portion 32 for inserting the separation member 30 into the slits 61 and 62 of the fusion splicer 50. The separating member 30 of FIG. 7 has wide holes 31 on the left and right, but is not limited to this. The hole 31 may be inserted into the insertion portion 14 of the grip portion 10.

The separating member 30 is removable. In FIG. 7, the insertion portion 14 of the grip portion 10 on the left side is inserted into the hole 31 of the separation member 30. The insertion portion 32 of the separating member 30 is inserted into the slit 61 on the left side of the fusion splicer 50. The separating member 30 may be arranged between the grip portion 10 on the right side and the fusion splicer 50, depending on the situation at the site and the ease of work. That is, the separating member 30 may be inserted into the slit 61 on the right side of the fusion splicer 50, and the gripping portion 10 on the right side may be inserted into the separating member 30.

Since the upper part of the separating member 30 is used as a storage space for storing the fiber protection sleeve 110, the grip portion 10 may be fixed while maintaining the force applied to the optical fibers 100A and 100B during transportation. That is, the length of the grip portion 10 in the left-right direction may be shortened, or a conventional transfer jig may be attached to both ends of the connecting portion 20 as the grip portion 10.

Here, a method of attaching the transfer jig 1 of the second embodiment will be briefly described. First, the insertion portion 32 of the separating member 30 is inserted into one slit 61 of the fusion splicer 50. Then, the insertion portion 14 of one grip portion 10 is inserted into the hole 31 of the separation member 30, and the insertion portion 14 of the other grip portion 10 is inserted into the slit 61 on the opposite side. The fiber protection sleeve 110 is passed through the optical fiber on the side to which the separating member 30 is attached.

After that, as described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, the optical fibers 100A and 100B are set in the fusion splicer 50, and the optical fibers 100A and 100B are fusion-bonded. The fiber protection sleeve 110 is put on the fusion splicer, and the optical fibers 100A and 100B are fixed to both grips 10.

The left and right grip portions 10 are pulled out from both the fusion splicer 50 and the separating member 30, and the fusion-bonded optical fibers 100A and 100B are conveyed to the heater portion 52. At this time, the insertion portion 14 of the grip portion 10 that has been directly inserted into the slit 61 of the fusion splicer 50 is inserted into the slit 62 on the heater portion 52 side. The grip portion 10 on the opposite side does not have to be attached to the fusion splicer 50. Since it is only necessary to insert only one grip portion 10 into the fusion splicer 50, improvement in workability is expected. When it is desired to attach the grip portion 10 on the opposite side to the fusion splicer 50, the separating member 30 is reinserted into the slit 62, and the insertion portion 14 of the grip portion 10 is inserted into the hole 31 of the separating member 30.

As described above, the transfer jig 1 of the present embodiment is provided with a separating member 30 between the fusion splicer 50 and either one of the gripping portions 10, and the fiber protective sleeve 110 is placed above the separating member 30. It will be a storage space for storage. As a result, the fiber protective sleeve 110 can be housed between the fusion splicer 50 and the grip portion 10 at the time of fusion splicing, and further, after the fusion splicing, each of the grip portions 10 holding a predetermined interval. Optical fibers 100A and 100B can be fixed. The optical fibers 100A and 100B can be transported with one hand, and the workability of the fusion splicing work of the optical fibers can be improved.

1 ... Transfer jig 10 ... Grip part 11 ... Mounting part 12 ... Fiber holding part 13 ... Fixed part 13A ... Rubber 14 ... Inserting part 16 ... Screw 20 ... Connecting part 30 ... Separation member 31 ... Hole 32 ... Inserting part

Claims (3)

When connecting the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber by fusion splicing using the fusion splicer, the optical fiber is installed in the fusion splicer, and after the fusion splicing, the fusion-bonded optical fiber is conveyed. It is a transport jig for
A first grip portion to which the first optical fiber can be fixed, and
A second grip that can fix the second optical fiber,
A connecting portion for connecting the first grip portion and the second grip portion while maintaining a predetermined interval is provided.
A transfer jig characterized in that at least one of the first grip portion and the second grip portion includes a mounting portion for mounting a fiber protection sleeve at the time of fusion splicing. The placement section is wider than the diameter of the optical fiber to the end of the extending direction of the optical fiber, Bei give a fiber holding portion having grooves of smaller width than the diameter of the fiber protection sleeve,
The transfer jig according to claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber is passed through the groove at the time of the fusion splicing, and the movement of the fiber protection sleeve is suppressed by the fiber holding portion. The fusion splicer has two slits on the side surface for attaching the first grip portion and the second grip portion.
The first grip portion and the second grip portion have an insertion portion that can be inserted into the slit.
A separating member having a hole to which the insertion portion of the second grip portion can be attached and an insertion portion to be inserted into the slit is provided.
The insertion portion of the separating member is inserted into one slit of the fusion splicer, the insertion portion of the first grip portion is inserted into the other slit of the fusion splicer, and the insertion portion of the second grip portion is inserted. The transfer jig according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the portion is inserted into a hole of the separating member.

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