JPH01147414A - Mechanism for feeding optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To move optical fibers with high accuracy by providing clamping means, 1st moving means and 2nd moving means to the title mechanism. CONSTITUTION:An optical fiber tape 1 is gripped and fixed to the clamping means 2 in the state of removing the covering from the end part thereof. A gear 7 rotates when a motor 6 runs. A ball screw 3 is then rotated together with the gear by belt driving and the clamping means 2 is horizontally moved on a stage 4a of a rotating member 4 in an optical axis direction (Z direction) by means of a screw coupling part 2c. A micrometer head 16 is rotated by gear coupling and a front end part 16a moves in a direction B upon running of a motor 30. The clamping means 2 is then inclined in a direction C. Since the moving quantity in the direction B is about 100mum, the inclined locus in the direction C can be regarded straight and the fine adjustment in the direction (y) is possible. The optical fiber is thereby moved with the high accuracy, by which the connection of the optical fibers is rationalized and the accuracy is improved.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to an automatic optical fiber supply device.

[Prior art and its problems]

Optical fiber connection technology is indispensable in the construction of optical fiber cable lines, but with the recent introduction of optical fiber cables including subscriber systems, the number of fibers in cables reaching several hundred or more has increased, As the number of connections increases, higher efficiency of optical fiber connections is desired.

As a method for splicing optical fibers, fusion splicing technology is generally used because it is low loss and economical.

By the way, fusion splicing consists of the steps of terminal processing, fusion splicing, and reinforcement, and requires approximately 10 minutes per splice, and also has the problem that splicing characteristics and workability are affected by the skill of the splicer. was there. Therefore, construction costs (personnel costs) account for more than 80% of the connection cost, and there has been a demand for shorter connection times and fewer workers. Technological innovations are being made to improve work efficiency through multi-fiber-to-bundle connections, but taking into account the occupation of roads due to construction inside manholes and the lengthening of connection times due to an increase in the number of cable fibers, manual work is required. There are limits to optical fiber connections.

By the way, when automatically fusion splicing optical fibers, in order to match two optical fibers with high precision, a technique is required to move the optical fibers with high precision in the direction of the optical axis and in a direction perpendicular thereto. If this is left to manual labor, the work will take a long time and the optical fiber cannot be fed with high precision (in microns).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to rationalize and improve the accuracy of optical fiber connections by providing a feeding mechanism for optical fibers that moves optical fibers with high precision.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention grips the optical fiber almost horizontally in an optical fiber feeding mechanism that moves the optical fiber in the direction of the optical axis and in a direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis. It is characterized by being comprised of a clamping means, a first moving means for moving the clamping means in the optical axis direction, and a second moving means for moving the clamping means in a horizontal direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis. .

[Effect]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the optical fiber can be moved with high precision by the effects of the clamp means, the first moving means, and the second moving means.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in the explanation, the same symbols are used for the same elements,
Duplicate explanations will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention (FIG.
)) and a cross-sectional view along the line A-A' ((b) of the same figure).

The optical fiber tape 1 is gripped and fixed by the clamping means 2 with the end portion of the optical fiber tape 1 having its coating removed.

The clamp means 2 is composed of a clamp part 2a, a straight guy 1 part 2b, and a screw connection part 2C.

The clamp part 2a has a function of gripping and fixing the optical fiber, can be opened and closed around an axis 2d parallel to the optical axis of the optical fiber, and can clamp the optical fiber tape 1. Note that in order to make it easier to hold the optical fiber tape 1, a groove 2e is provided on one side of the holding member.

The linear guide portion 2b has an inverted gate shape and is configured with a rail connection, and is movable in the optical axis direction. This straight guide part 2
Since the contact surface b has been processed with high precision in micron units, movement in the optical axis direction can be performed with high precision.

The threaded coupling portion 2C has a thread threaded therein in a direction parallel to the optical axis, and is threadedly coupled to the ball screw 3. This ball screw 3 is connected to a rotating member 4 via a bearing (not shown) or the like.
is fixed. A gear 5 is attached to one end of the ball screw 3, and this gear 5 is arranged in parallel with a gear 7 attached to a motor 6 having a rotating shaft 6a parallel to the axis of the ball screw 3. Gear 5 and gear 7 are hung parallel to each other by a timing belt 8 and rotate in the same direction. A spur gear 9 is attached to the other end of the ball screw, and this spur gear 9 is connected to a rotary encoder 10 having a rotating shaft 10a parallel to the axis of the ball screw 3.
It is arranged in parallel with the spur gear 11 attached to the. Spur gear 9 and spur gear 11 mesh with each other.

The rotating member 4.4 is pivotally connected to the fixed base 13 by a shaft 12.12 parallel to the axis of the ball screw 3. The shafts 12, 12 have concave bearings mounted on a member 13.
a, supported by 13a.

As shown in FIG. 1(b), a ball screw 14 is erected behind the fixed base 13, and is attached to the motor 22 via bevel gears 16 and 17.

A micrometer head 16 is attached to the sliding plate 15 so that it can be pressed in a direction perpendicular to the ball screw 3 and the ball screw 14. This micrometer head 1
The distal end 16a of 6 is in contact with the clamping means 2, and the other end 16b is attached to a spur gear 18. The spur gear 18 meshes with another spur gear 19 attached to the drive motor 30.

Further, the spur gear 18 meshes with another spur gear 21 attached to the rotary encoder 20.

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail. When the motor 6 rotates, the gear 7 rotates, and the gear 5 is rotated by belt drive. Since the gear 5 is attached to the ball screw 3,
The ball screw 3 rotates together with the gear 5. ball screw 3
is screwed onto the screw joint 2C, so the ball screw 3
Due to the rotation of the clamping means 2, the stage 4 of the rotating member 4
a horizontally in the optical axis direction (hereinafter referred to as the "Z direction"). When the ball screw 3 rotates, the rotary encoder 10 rotates due to the gear coupling and detects the output pulses of the motor 6 during operation. The amount of movement in the Z direction can be determined based on the number of output pulses of the rotary encoder 10.

When the motor 30 rotates, the micrometer head 16 rotates due to the gear coupling, causing the tip 16a to move forward or backward. The clamping means 2 is biased in the D direction by a biasing means such as a spring, so that it is always in contact with the tip 16a of the micrometer head. Therefore, the tip 16
When a moves in the B direction, the clamping means 2 tilts in the C direction.

Since the amount of movement in the B direction is actually about 100 μm, the inclined locus in the C direction can be regarded as a straight line, and fine adjustment in the X direction is realized. When the micrometer head 16 rotates, the rotary encoder 20 rotates due to gear coupling and detects the output pulses of the motor 19 during operation.

In addition, the sliding plate 15 is connected to the ball screw 14 and the screw connection part 15a.
Since it is configured to be able to move in the X direction by the action of , the contact position can be changed arbitrarily.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the optical fiber feeding mechanism according to the present invention. The rotary encoder 35 is connected to the pulse count circuit 23, which includes the CPU circuit 24 and the servo drive circuit 2.
5 and a constant voltage circuit 26. The servo drive circuit 25 and the constant voltage circuit 26 are configured to be selectively switched by a relay 27. The other end of the relay 27 is connected to the motor 6.

After the optical fibers are fusion spliced, to determine whether the two optical fibers are completely connected, each optical fiber is pulled with a certain tension and the presence or absence of breakage is detected. However, although the servo drive circuit can perform position control and speed control, it cannot perform force control.

Therefore, by using a relay to switch to a constant voltage circuit that can control the force of the motor, the motor is configured to be driven with a constant torque.

According to this embodiment, the relay 27 is connected to the servo drive circuit 25.
If set to the constant voltage circuit 26, servo (position, speed) control can be performed, and if set to the constant voltage circuit 26, force control based on the current value can be performed.

Therefore, feeding during fusion splicing of the optical fiber cable is performed by servo control, and a constant voltage circuit 26 is used for strength testing after splicing. In this way, by switching between the two control circuits using the relay 27, the system can be rationalized.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the optical fiber feeding mechanism according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, photosensors 28a, 28b, and 28c are installed near both ends of the ball screw 3, and the clamping means 2 includes light shielding plates 29a, 29b.

29c is installed. Photo sensors 28a and 28c
define the limits of the amount of movement in the Z direction, respectively. That is, the clamping means 2 moves in the Z direction until the light shielding plate 29a blocks the photosensor 28a or until the light shielding plate 29c blocks the photosensor 28c. After the light shielding plate 29a blocks the photosensor 28a, the clamp means 2 moves slightly to the right until the light shielding plate 29b blocks the photosensor 28b. Using the position where the light shielding plate 29b blocks the photo sensor 28b as a reference point, the absolute coordinates at which the rotary encoder 6 rotates are determined.

According to this embodiment, since the moving position is detected by the sensor, the clamping means can be moved with high precision by matching the output pulses of the rotary encoder.

Also, a sensor 28a that indicates the right end limit and the left end limit;
In addition to 28c, a third sensor 28b is provided between them, so that no matter what position the clamping means 2 is in, it can be moved to the photosensor 28a at high speed and fine adjustments can be made between the photosensors 28a and 28b. By performing the adjustment over a short distance between the two, highly accurate adjustments can be made in a short time.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the optical fiber can be moved with high precision.

Additionally, if it is possible to switch between the servo drive circuit and the constant voltage circuit using a relay, strength tests can be easily performed after fusion splicing of optical fibers, streamlining the system and improving the reliability of optical fiber connections. I can figure it out.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the optical fiber feeding mechanism according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the optical fiber feeding mechanism according to the invention, and FIG. The figure is a diagram showing another embodiment of the optical fiber feeding mechanism according to the present invention. 1... Optical fiber tape, 2... Clamping means, 3
... Ball screw, 4... Rotating member, 5.7... Gear, 6.30... Motor, 8... Timing belt, 9.11.18, 19.21... Flat Gear, 10°20... Rotary encoder, 12... Axis, 13.
...Fixed stand, 16...Micrometer head, 23.
...Pulse count circuit, 24...CPU circuit, 25
... Servo drive circuit, 26... Constant voltage circuit, 27.
... Relay, 28... Photo sensor, 29... Light shielding plate. Optical fiber feeding mechanism Fig. 1 (a) Optical fiber feeding mechanism Fig. 1 (b)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an optical fiber feeding mechanism that moves the optical fiber in the direction of the optical axis and in a direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis, a clamp that grips the optical fiber almost horizontally. means, a first moving means for moving the clamping means in the optical axis direction, and a second moving means for moving the clamping means in a horizontal direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis. Features a feeding mechanism for optical fiber cores. 2. The clamping means is composed of a linear guide part having a groove bored in the optical axis direction and a threaded coupling part having a thread groove bored in the optical axis direction, and the first moving means has a stage section on which the linear guide section is placed, a ball screw screwed into the screw coupling section and driven by a first motor, and is energized in a horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis. a micrometer configured to be pivotally mounted on a shaft parallel to the optical axis in a state in which the second moving means contacts the clamping means in a direction opposed to the urging means and is driven by a second motor; 2. The optical fiber coated wire feeding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the feeding mechanism comprises a head. 3. The ball screw is servo-controlled by a first servo drive circuit with a first rotary encoder that adds output pulses during operation of the first motor, and the micrometer head is servo-controlled during operation of the second motor. 3. The optical fiber feeding mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the optical fiber feeding mechanism is servo-controlled by a second servo drive circuit using a second rotary encoder that adds output pulses. 4. Claim 3, characterized in that the first servo drive circuit can be switched to a constant voltage circuit by a relay, and the clamp means can be moved in the optical axis direction with a constant torque. The optical fiber feeding mechanism described in . 5. After the fusion splicing of the optical fibers, the first motor is driven with a constant torque by the constant voltage circuit, and the output pulse during operation of the first motor is controlled to a predetermined value by the first rotary encoder. 5. The optical fiber coated wire feeding mechanism according to claim 4, further comprising a function of determining whether or not the optical fiber coated wire has been cut by detecting the time. 6. Installing sensors for detecting the position of the clamping means in the optical axis direction before and after the moving direction of the clamping means, and determining absolute coordinates when the encoder makes one revolution based on these input positions. An optical fiber feeding mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that: