JPH0155441B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an optical fiber cutting device, and more particularly, to a device for cutting a bare optical fiber wire coated with a resin and having a connector attached thereto at the end face of the connector.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, devices for cutting bare optical fiber have either cut the bare optical fiber held in a straight line with a rotating disc-shaped cutting blade, or cut the bare optical fiber held along a curved cutting table. A structure was adopted in which a cutting blade is brought into contact with the surface of the wire to make a cut in advance, and then a bending force is applied to open the cut along the curved surface of the cutting table to cut the wire.

However, with all conventional devices, the cutting blade applies impact force to the bare optical fiber during cutting, resulting in minute cracks occurring around the cut end of the bare optical fiber, resulting in damage to the optical fiber. There was a problem that the loss of optical transmission was large.

To solve this problem, while applying a tensile force to the bare optical fiber in the axial direction, an initial flaw is created on one side of the bare optical fiber using a cutting blade in a direction perpendicular to this, and then the initial flaw is caused by the tensile force. There is a method of cutting bare optical fiber to obtain a scratch-free mirror surface on the cut surface.

However, when this method is used, the stopper that supports the other side of the bare optical fiber against the cutting blade applies tension to the bare optical fiber to break it after the initial damage is caused by the cutting blade. There was a problem that the end of the wire would be chipped and damaged by contact with the bare wire.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The present invention prevents damage to the end of the bare optical fiber due to the impact of the cutting blade, and also prevents damage from contact with the stopper when the optical fiber is cut by applying tension after the initial damage. This is how it was done.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention involves moving a cutting blade back and forth in a direction perpendicular to the optical fiber while pulling the bare optical fiber in the axial direction, and using this cutting blade to initialize one side of the bare optical fiber. In an optical fiber cutting device that cuts the optical fiber by applying a tensile force in the axial direction while inflicting damage, the cutting blade supports the other side of the bare optical fiber when advancing, and cuts the bare optical fiber when retreating. A stopper is provided to be spaced apart from the optical fiber, and when the optical fiber is pulled and broken, the stopper is moved back to be separated from the optical fiber.
This prevents the cut portion of the bare optical fiber from being damaged by contact with the stopper.

[Effect]

The present invention advances a cutting blade from a direction perpendicular to an optical fiber helix to which a tensile force is applied in the axial direction, by means of a differential pressure between a plurality of springs, and impacts the bare optical fiber wire supported by a stopper. The stopper is separated from the bare optical fiber wire when pulling the bare optical fiber wire in the axial direction and cutting the bare optical fiber wire to prevent scratches from occurring due to contact with the stopper.

〔Example〕

Next, a description will be given with reference to the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a base formed in a substantially L shape; this base 1
A bare optical fiber holder 2 that holds a bare optical fiber F on its upper surface; a tensioning means 3 that clamps and pulls the end of the bare optical fiber F held on the holder 2; and a tensioning means 3. cutting means 4 for imparting an initial flaw to the bare optical fiber F to which tension is applied;
and is provided.

The surface of the bare optical fiber F is coated with resin and a connector 6 is attached thereto, and the end of the bare optical fiber F protrudes from the tip of the sleeve 7 of the connector 6.

The optical fiber bare wire holding stand 2 is provided at the center of the base 1, and a through hole 8 that can pass through the sleeve 7 of the connector 6 is opened at the side of the holding stand 2. A stopper 9 for positioning the tip of the sleeve 7 inserted into the through hole 8 is provided at the end opening.

The stopper 9 is provided on the holding base 2 with the tip line receiving surface 48 facing the cutting blade 42 so as to be movable forward and backward by a slide mechanism 49. Slide mechanism 49
, a guide rod 50 protruding from the rear end of the stopper 9 in parallel with the holding base 2, a coil spring 51 whose one end is connected to the guide rod 50 and expands and contracts in the axial direction of the guide rod 50, and a coil spring 51 that extends and contracts in the axial direction of the guide rod 50. It is composed of a slide rod 52 coaxial with a guide rod 50 connected to the other end, and a slide body 53 connected to the slide rod 52. Further, both ends of the coil spring 51 are supported by stopper pieces 54, 54, and the guide piece 5 is inserted into the coil spring 51 from the stopper pieces 54, 54.
5 and 55 are provided protrudingly. Further, a stopper positioning body 56 for determining the retracted position of the stopper 9 is fixedly provided on the holding base 2 behind the stopper 9, so that the tip thereof does not escape from the end surface of the sleeve 7 when the stopper 9 is retracted. ing. That is, if the distance of the retraction of the stopper 9 is l ₁ and the distance between the position of the tip wire receiving surface 48 when the stopper 9 is advanced and the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 7 in the retracting direction of the stopper 9 is l ₂ , then l ₁ < It is written as l ₂ . moreover,
A stopper piece 58 is protruded from the middle of the slide rod 52 and engages with a slide positioning body 57 that determines the forward position of the slide body 53, and the slide positioning body 57 is fixed to the holding base 2.

Also, stopper holders 59 and 60 are provided on both sides of the stopper 9, one holder 59 is tightly attached to one side of the stopper 9 and fixed on the holder 2, and the other holder 60 is attached to the stopper 9. The holding base 2 can be moved forward and backward toward the other side of 9.
It is slidably engaged upward, and when advanced, comes into close contact with the stopper 9 to fix the stopper 9 together with the other holder 59 on the holder 2.

Next, the tensioning means 3 is provided at one end of the base 1 parallel to the bare optical fiber F held on the holder 2. This tensioning means 3 has a clamping part 11, and the clamping part 11 is provided in a substantially U-shape and has a chuck support frame 13 provided with a fixed chuck piece 12 at one end, and a plurality of chucks attached between this support frame 13. , and a movable chuck piece 15 that is slidably provided on the support shaft 14 and that moves toward and away from the fixed chuck piece 12 and clamps the tip of the bare optical fiber F that protrudes from the holding base 2. Piece 16 and
A plurality of coil springs 17 are attached to the support shaft 14 between the movable piece 16 and the support frame 13 and press the movable piece 16 to urge the movable chuck piece 15 in the direction of the fixed chuck piece 12; The movable piece 1 is screwed onto the end face of the fixed chuck piece 12 of No.
6 and an adjusting screw 18 that comes into contact with the side surface of chuck 6 to adjust the gap between chuck pieces 12 and 15. Further, the movable chuck piece 15 is provided so as to be rotatable about a shaft 19. The clamping portion 11 is provided at the end of a movable plate 22 that is slidably provided on a slide bearing 21 fixed to the base 1 in a pulling direction parallel to the bare optical fiber F. One end of a tension spring 23 is connected to the other end of this movable plate 22, and the other end of this tension spring 23 is connected to a tension rod 2 with a lever 24 vertically provided on the outside.
It is connected to the end of 5. This tension rod 25 is slidably provided on a support frame 26, and this support frame 26
is provided with a cut groove 27 on its upper surface that allows the lever 24 of the tension bar 25 to move in the sliding direction thereof, and a plurality of grooves communicating with the cut groove 27 and into which the lever 24 is fitted in the longitudinal direction of the support frame 26. A locking groove 28 is provided. In addition, the above-mentioned clamping part 1 is attached to the upper surface of the base 1.
A stopper 29 is provided which abuts on the lower part of the optical fiber 1 and holds it in place, and the clamping part 11 clamps the bare optical fiber F at this position.

The cutting means 4 is provided on the upper surface of the base 1 which is orthogonal to the tension means 3, and the cutting means 4 is mounted on a slide bearing 30 provided on the base 1, which is fixed to the lower surface of the movable plate 31. A moving plate 32 is provided so as to be slidable in the direction of approaching and separating from the holding base 2, and a sliding plate 35 fixed to the arm 34 is attached to a slide bearing 33 provided on the movable plate 31. It is provided so as to be slidable in the direction toward and away from the holding table 2. A spring 36 is attached to the movable plate 31 at one end, the spring 36 having one end attached to the base 1 and biasing the holding table 2 in the direction of separation. An adjusting screw 38 is screwed into the adjusting screw 37, and a spring 39 is attached to the tip of the adjusting screw 38, and the spring 39 contacts the sliding plate 35 of the arm 34 and causes the sliding plate 35 to slide in the direction of the holding base 2 due to its elasticity. It is provided. The spring 39 is formed to have a smaller spring constant than the spring 36, that is, the spring 39 is formed to have a smaller pressing force than the spring 36. Further, the end of the arm 34 facing the holding base 2 is bent downward to provide a mounting piece 40, and a cutting blade holder 41 is attached to this mounting piece 40. This holder 41 is provided with a cutting blade mount 43 having a cutting blade 42 made of, for example, a diamond at its tip so as to be slidable in the direction toward and away from the side surface of the holder 2 by means of a holding shaft 44. A cutting blade mounting base 43 and a cutting blade 4 are provided in this holder 41.
2 to the holding base 2 surface
5 is provided. The cutting edge of the cutting blade 42 is located at a distance of a gap h from the surface of the holding table 2, so that a bare optical fiber F having a length of h protrudes from the sleeve 7 of the connector 6 after cutting. Further, a stopper 47 is provided on the upper surface of the base 1 to abut against the lower end of the mounting piece 40 of the arm 34 to regulate its position.

Next, the cutting operation of the bare optical fiber F will be explained.

The sleeve 7 into which the bare optical fiber F has been inserted is inserted into the through hole 8 of the holding base 2, and the sleeve 7 is fixed at the position where the sleeve 7 contacts the lower surface of the stopper 9.

Next, hold the end of this bare optical fiber F at the clamping part 1.
1 between both chuck pieces 12 and 15. At this time, since the movable chuck piece 15 is rotatably provided by the shaft 19, both chuck pieces 12,1
The bare optical fiber F can be clamped by the entire clamping surface of the bare optical fiber F, so that the chuck pieces 12 and 15 of the bare optical fiber F do not come into uneven contact, and the analysis of the bare optical fiber F is possible due to local concentration of the clamping force. Damage accidents, etc. are prevented. Then, the lever 24 of the tension bar 25 is pulled in the opposite tension direction of the holding base 2 to fit into a predetermined locking groove 28 of the support frame 26, and tension is applied to the bare optical fiber F by the tension of the tension spring 23. give. At this time, since tension is applied to the bare optical fiber F by the tension of the spring 23, no large impact force is applied to the bare optical fiber F.

Next, in order to bring the wire receiving surface 48 of the stopper 9 into contact with one side of the peripheral surface of the bare optical fiber F, the slide member 53 is advanced until the stopper piece 58 contacts the slide positioning member 57. At this time, the wire receiving surface 48 of the stopper 9 is elastically brought into contact with one side surface of the bare optical fiber F by the contraction force of the coil spring 51.

Next, one movable side holder 60 is moved forward and pressed against one side of the stopper 9, and the stopper 9 is held and fixed between it and the other fixed side holder 59.

Next, the spring force of the spring 39 of the cutting means 4 is adjusted in advance with the adjusting screw 38, and the movable plate 31
The arm 34 to which the cutting blade 42 is attached is pressed against the spring 36 in the direction of the holding base 2, and the spring 36
Pressed by the elasticity of. At this time, the cutting blade 42
lightly contacts the optical fiber bare wire F, and when the movable plate 31 is further pressed, the pressing force of the movable plate 31 is weakened by the repulsive force of the spring 36 having a large spring constant, and the force of the arm 34 by the spring 39 is reduced. The pressing force also weakens. As a result, a pressing force equal to the difference in spring pressure between the springs 36 and 39 is applied to the bare optical fiber wire F, and an initial flaw is formed on the bare optical fiber wire F.

Next, when the pressing force of the movable plate 31 is released and the arm 34 is moved back, the cutting blade 42 is moved back.

Next, the holder 60 to which the stopper 9 is fixed is moved back to free the stopper 9.

Next, move the slide body 53 backward and stopper 9.
is moved backward until the rear end touches the stopper positioning body 56. At this time, since l ₁ < l ₂ , sleeve 7
The tip is in contact with the stopper 9.

Next, the holding body 60 is advanced to hold the stopper 9 in the retracted position.

When the stopper 9 is retracted, the bare optical fiber F with the initial flaw is transferred to the tension spring 2 of the tension means 3.
With the weak tension of 3, it is gradually broken and cut from the scratched part.

Therefore, when the bare optical fiber wire F is initially scratched, the impact of the cutting blade 42 is not applied to the bare optical fiber wire F due to the differential pressure between the springs 36 and 39, and after the initial scratch is applied, the spring When the optical fiber is broken by the tensile force of 23, the bare optical fiber F does not come into contact with the stopper 9. Therefore, the end of the bare optical fiber F is not scratched and its cut surface becomes a mirror surface, eliminating the need for polishing the end face of the bare optical fiber F and reducing optical transmission loss of the bare optical fiber F. Can be made smaller.

Next, FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the stopper 9, in which the height h ₁ of the cutting blade 42 from the holding base 2 and the wire receiving surface 4 at the tip of the stopper 9 that receives the cutting blade 42 are shown.
The height _h2 of the centers of the optical fibers F is made equal, and the area of the tip is narrowed, so that the bare optical fiber F is fixed to the stopper 9.
The area in contact with the

Further, the tip of the wire receiving surface 48 is rounded to prevent the bare optical fiber F from being scratched by the thin wire receiving surface 48.

A slide mechanism 49 is connected to the stopper 9, and holders 59 and 60 are exposed on both sides, and other structures and functions are the same as in the previous embodiment.

Further, in any of the embodiments, the cutting blade 42 and the stopper 9 can be removed and their tips cleaned every time the breaking operation is completed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, while pulling the bare optical fiber in the axial direction, a cutting blade is moved back and forth by the differential pressure of a plurality of springs in a direction perpendicular to the optical fiber, and the cutting blade moves one side of the bare optical fiber. In an optical fiber cutting device that cuts an optical fiber by applying an axial tensile force while giving an initial flaw to the fiber, the cutting blade is placed opposite to the cutting blade to support the other side surface of the bare optical fiber wire when advancing, and to cut the optical fiber when retracting. Since a stopper is provided that is spaced apart from the bare fiber wire, when an initial flaw is caused on one side of the bare optical fiber wire by the differential pressure of multiple springs, the other side is supported by the stopper, and the impact of the cutting blade is absorbed by the optical fiber. Initial scratches can be formed without affecting bare wires,
Also, when applying axial tension to the bare optical fiber, the stopper is spaced apart from this side surface, so when the bare optical fiber is drawn, the end will not come into contact with the stopper surface and break. Without,
It is possible to prevent cracks and chips from occurring at the ends of bare optical fibers, and to reduce optical transmission losses.

In addition, the cut surface of the bare optical fiber has a mirror finish, so there is no need to polish the end face, and after adjusting the actual length of the fiber at the site where the bare optical fiber is used, terminal processing can be done with an extremely simple operation. It is possible to do this.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment of the optical fiber cutting device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view with a part of the tensioning means cut away, FIG. 3 is a side view thereof, and FIG.
The figure is a side view of the cutting means, FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional plan view of the cutting blade, stopper, and its slide mechanism, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of the same, and FIG. 7 is another embodiment of the stopper. FIG. F... Optical fiber bare wire, 9... Stopper,
36, 39... Spring, 42... Cutting blade.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. While pulling the bare optical fiber in the axial direction, a cutting blade is moved back and forth by differential pressure between a plurality of springs in a direction perpendicular to the optical fiber, and the cutting blade cuts one part of the bare optical fiber. In an optical fiber cutting device that cuts an optical fiber by applying an axial tensile force while giving an initial flaw to a side surface, the cutting blade is placed opposite to the cutting blade to support the other side surface of the bare optical fiber wire when advancing, and to support the other side surface of the bare optical fiber wire when retreating. An optical fiber cutting device characterized by having a stopper spaced apart from a bare optical fiber.