JPH02306208A - High strength fusion connector for constant polarization optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the followability of an optical fiber head to the rotation of a friction roller and to smoothly and speedily execute a theta centering adjusting operation by providing an auxiliary clamping device at the rear side of a clamping device and driving the auxiliary clamp in synchronizing to the friction roller of the clamping device. CONSTITUTION:At the rear side of the clamping device with a V groove of a V groove block 6 and a friction roller 12, the auxiliary clamping device to contain an auxiliary clamp 33 on a slide block 3 is provided, and an optical fiber (f) is clamped with both clamping devices. When the head part of the optical fiber (f) is driven in a friction way by the friction roller 12, the auxiliary clamp 33 is rotated synchronizing it, and even a part at a somewhat rear side from the head part of the optical fiber (f) is rotated. Consequently, the rotation resistance of the optical fiber (f) is not made into the load of the friction roller 12, the optical fiber (f) head surely follows the rotation of the friction roller 12, and the theta centering adjusting operation can be smoothly executed. After the theta centering adjustment is completed, the slide block 3 is shifted in a Z direction at a left side by a motor 4, and a fusion connection is executed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a fusion splicing device for constant polarization optical fibers, and improves the alignment ability of a so-called θ alignment mechanism performed before fusion splicing. This enables high-strength connections for applications that require high strength, such as those for undersea applications.

[Prior art and problems] Regarding a fusion splicing and reading device for a polarization-controlled optical fiber, it is necessary to align the stress applying parts arranged on both sides of the core of the optical fiber on the same straight line, or to align them with the positions shifted by 45 degrees or 90 degrees. In order to align the positions, a so-called θ alignment mechanism is provided, which is a mechanism that rotates the optical fibers connected to each other and adjusts the positions of the stress-applying parts of both optical fibers (details can be found in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1983-1992, as an example). (Refer to Publication No.-272207). This θ alignment mechanism rotates the optical fiber by rotating the clamp device at the tip of the optical fiber.
The center of the optical fiber and the center of rotation of the clamp must precisely match so that the centers of the optical fibers do not shift from each other during the θ alignment operation. To do this, the coating at the tip of the optical fiber is removed and the bare wire section is held by the clamp, and the other section is grasped from above the coating and the optical fiber is twisted to resist the gripping force of the clamp. A mechanism is adopted that rotates the tip of the optical fiber. This conventional θ
Regarding the alignment mechanism, the bare tip of the optical fiber is held directly with a clamp, and the optical fiber is rotated while resisting the clamping force of the clamp and sliding against the clamp. Therefore, the following problems exist. In other words, the surface of the part of the optical fiber held by the clamp is scratched, and this scratch significantly reduces the physical strength of the optical fiber. Since the optical fiber is twisted and rotated, an unreasonable twisting force is applied to the optical fiber.

On the other hand, in order to avoid damaging the optical fiber by grasping the bare optical fiber with a clamp, it is common for optical fibers (not polarization-controlled optical fibers) to be grasped with a clamp with the tip of the optical fiber coated. This is a conventionally known fusion splicing device (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-2-2
10406). Therefore, it can be fully expected that the above-mentioned problem will be solved in polarization-controlled optical fiber connection devices if the tip of the optical fiber is held with a clamp while it is coated, rather than holding the bare part with a clamp. . However, as a clamp device for polarized optical fiber,
It is not possible to employ the above-mentioned known clamp device that grips the tip of the optical fiber while keeping it coated. This is because in order to perform O-alignment by having a clamp device grip the tip of the optical fiber from above with the coating still on, a mechanism for rotating the clamp device itself is required, but it is necessary to attach the optical fiber to the center of the outer periphery of the coating. When the center of the optical fiber core is eccentric, it is impossible to align the center of the optical fiber core with the rotation center of the clamp device due to the deviation. If this misalignment exceeds 10 μm, θ alignment itself becomes virtually impossible.

Also, the coating diameter is 0.25mm, 014m [11,0,9m
This is especially true when the diameter changes to +n, since this difference in diameter causes the center of the optical fiber core to deviate greatly from the center of rotation of the clamp. For this reason, if the optical fiber clamp device of the constant polarization optical fiber fusion splicer is gripped with the optical fiber tip coated, the center position of the optical fiber tip will change due to the rotation (autorotation) of the optical fiber during the θ alignment operation. The task is to ensure that there is no deviation,
To solve this problem, an optical fiber piece moving friction roller is rotatably attached to the tip of the clamp arm, and the coated optical fiber tip is held down by the friction roller.
The applicant has recently developed a technology in which an optical fiber is clamped by an inclined groove surface and a friction roller, and the optical fiber is frictionally driven by the friction roller to rotate within the groove. technology).

The present invention is based on the above-mentioned basic technology.

The above-mentioned premise technology is that (1) the tip of the coated optical fiber fitted in the V-groove of the groove block is held down by a friction roller, and the tip of the optical fiber is frictionally driven by the II rubbing roller to rotate it. Therefore, the following points remain to be improved.

In other words, the optical fiber exhibits a large resistance in the direction of being driven by the friction roller due to curls, twists, etc., and this causes slippage between the optical fiber and the friction roller, making it difficult to achieve θ alignment smoothly. It may not be possible. The resistance due to the curling described above is particularly significant for constant polarization optical fibers that are coated with a secondary nylon coating. It is especially easy for Nosuberi to grow. For these reasons, the rotation of the optical fiber by the friction roller may not be stable, and the θ alignment operation may not be performed smoothly.

An object of the present invention is to improve the followability of the tip of an optical fiber to the rotation of a friction roller so that the θ alignment operation can be performed smoothly and quickly.

[Means taken to solve the problem] The measures taken to solve the above problem are the following elements (a) ~
It is composed of (c).

(a) ■ An auxiliary clamp device is provided on the slide block behind the clamp device using the V groove of the groove block and the friction roller, and the optical fiber is clamped by this auxiliary clamp device.

(b) The auxiliary clamp of the auxiliary clamp device is rotatably supported on the clamp base; (c) the auxiliary clamp is provided with a drive device that drives the auxiliary clamp in synchronization with the friction roller; and the drive of (c) above. The device may be composed of a friction roller north motion motor and a transmission device, or a motor other than the friction roller motion motor may be used, and this motor may be composed of a friction roller waste motion motor and a synchronous control device. Alternatively, the rotations of both motors may be synchronized by a synchronous control device.

[Function] When the tip of the optical fiber is frictionally driven by the friction roller, the auxiliary clamp rotates in synchronization with this and rotates the part slightly behind the tip of the optical fiber, so the rotation of the optical fiber is The resistance does not become a load on the friction roller, and the friction roller mostly serves only to control the rotation angle of the optical fiber tip. Therefore, the optical fiber tip reliably follows the rotation of the friction roller, and the θ alignment operation is performed smoothly.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

■The groove block 6 is the same as the conventional technology, and is
It is supported slidably in the Z-7 direction by an alignment arm a that swings in the X direction or in the Y-Y direction, and is supported independently of the slide block 3 in the X-X direction or in the Y-Y direction. to sway. A slide block 3 is supported on a support base by a slide bearing 2 so as to be slidable in the Z-axis direction, and a motor 4. Slide block 3 by screw shaft 5
is shifted in the Z-axis direction. This is an operation for pressing the fused ends f' of the optical fibers f against each other.

■The alignment arm a that supports the groove block is equipped with an appropriate alignment mechanism (
For example, refer to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 62-210408), it is displaced in either the X-X direction or the Y-Y direction shown in the drawing. Aligning arm a for alignment,
The mechanism of the slide block 3 is a known matter and is not the essence of the present invention, so details thereof will be omitted, but the alignment arm a is attached to the groove base 34 of the mechanism shown in the above-mentioned publication. Correspondingly, the motor 4 is the motor 54 of the same publication.
corresponds to In addition, the slide block 3 is the base 44 of the same publication.
The groove block 6 corresponds to the V groove 26 of the same publication.

Clamp arm 1 is attached to slide block 3 by pin 7.
is pivoted so that it can swing up and down. ■Insert the tip of the optical fiber f into the V-groove of the groove block 6, and
Clamp the tip of the optical fiber, which remains covered, by pressing the bottom of the tip. The above belongs to conventionally known techniques.

Next, matters related to the underlying technology of the present invention will be explained.

A timing pulley 9 is fixed to a horizontal shaft 8 at the tip of the clamp arm 1, and a small diameter drive roller 10 is fixed to the tip of the horizontal shaft 8.

An intermediate shaft 11 is provided on the clamp arm 1 to project directly below the small diameter opening roller 10, and a friction roller 12 is rotatably supported on the intermediate shaft 11. Friction roller 12
is pressed against the small-diameter drive roller 10, and its outer peripheral portion projects downward from the lower surface of the clamp arm 1.

The reason why the drive roller 10 is made into a small diameter roller is to slow down the circumferential speed of this roller that functions as a drive roller.
This is to reduce the rotational speed for O alignment of the optical fiber f.

Furthermore, the ratio between the diameter of the optical fiber and the diameter of the friction roller 12 is made small to smooth frictional transmission between the two.

Furthermore, (2) it is preferable that the groove block is made of glass or ceramics to reduce the coefficient of friction between the optical fiber coating and the inclined surface of the V-groove, so that the driving force by the friction roller is at least twice the resistance by the V-groove.

Install O alignment motor M to slide block 3.

The timing belt 14 is wound around the timing pulley 13 of the motor shaft and the timing pulley P concentric with the pivot pin 7, and is further wrapped around another timing pulley P' concentric with the pivot pin 7 and the timing pulley 9 of the shaft 8. A timing belt 14' is wrapped around it.

Timing pulley 13, P, P by zero alignment motor
', timing belt] 4.14', drives the timing pulley 9, and drives the friction roller 12 by the small diameter opening roller 10.

Before pressing the optical fiber f with the friction roller 12,
By slightly displacing the alignment arm a, the centers of the fused ends f' of the left and right optical fibers to be connected are aligned. Thereafter, the clamp arm 1 is rotated clockwise, the tip of the optical fiber f is pressed by the friction roller 12, and the optical fiber f is clamped by the friction roller 12 and the V-groove block 6. Thereafter, the friction roller 12 is rotated by the θ alignment motor M.

The optical fiber is frictionally driven and rotated within the V-groove of the V-groove block by a friction roller. The above is the θ alignment device as an example of the underlying technology.

Next, matters related to the essence of the present invention will be explained.

An auxiliary clamp stand 30 is fixed on the rear portion 3' of the slide block 3, and one end of an auxiliary clamp presser arm 31 is pivotally connected to this auxiliary clamp stand by a pin 32.

Auxiliary clamps 33, 33 are rotatably supported in the semicircular grooves 34 of the auxiliary clamp stand 30 and the auxiliary clamp arm 31. The auxiliary clamp 33 has a shape in which a cylindrical body is vertically divided into two parts, and a vertical V-groove g is provided at the center of the mating surface 33'. Attach auxiliary clamp arm 31 to pin 3
Rotate counterclockwise around 2.

One auxiliary clamp 33 is separated from the other auxiliary clamp 33 together with the auxiliary clamp arm 31 . The auxiliary clamp arm 31 is attracted to the auxiliary clamp base 30 by the auxiliary clamp base 30 and the magnet of the auxiliary clamp arm 31, and clamps the optical fiber f by the V groove g of the auxiliary clamp 33.33.

Auxiliary clamp 33. Split pinion 3 on the left end surface of 33
5' and 35' are provided in a protruding manner, and when the auxiliary clamp is closed, the two split pinions 35' and 35' are brought together to form a pinion 35.

This pinion 35 is connected to θ through intermediate gears 36 and 37.
It is driven by the gear 38 of the aligning motor M. The auxiliary clamp 33 is connected to the friction roller 12 by a zero-alignment motor M through a transmission device consisting of gears 36,37°38.
is driven synchronously.

When the tip of the optical fiber f is driven by the friction roller 12, the auxiliary clamp 33 rotates in synchronization with this and rotates the rear of the tip of the optical fiber. It doesn't take 12.

After θ alignment is completed, the motor 4 moves the slide block 3 to Z.
-Shift 1- to the left in the Z direction to perform fusion splicing. After completing the fusion splicing, clamp arm 1 and auxiliary clamp arm 3
1 in a counterclockwise direction to release the clamps on the optical fiber f by both clamp devices, and remove the optical fiber from the fusion splicing device.

[Effects] The problem of the present invention is a novel problem. Therefore, it is an advantage unique to the present invention that this problem is solved, the problem in the underlying technology is eliminated, and the θ alignment operation can be performed smoothly and quickly. In addition to this, the present invention improves the durability of the friction roller (usually a rubber roller) since the rotational resistance on the friction roller is reduced and the slip between the friction roller and the optical fiber coating becomes zero; This has the effect of being able to reduce deterioration in the frictional characteristics of the friction roller.

Ideally, the center of the optical fiber and the center of the friction roller are located on the same vertical line, and the pressing force by the friction roller acts perpendicularly to the optical fiber.
In reality, the V-groove block is used for alignment of the optical fiber.
, since it swings slightly in the y-y direction, the centers of the optical fiber and the friction roller inevitably shift slightly to the left and right. The greater the friction roller's pressing force and friction driving force on the optical fiber, the more adverse effects caused by the above-mentioned misalignment (the driving force of the friction roller pushes the tip of the optical fiber laterally within the V-groove of the V-groove block, causing (the tendency for the center to shift laterally) increases.

According to the present invention, the pressing force and frictional driving force against the optical fiber by the friction roller can be significantly reduced, so that the above-mentioned adverse effects associated with the above-mentioned misalignment are significantly reduced.

In addition, ■ When the groove block is displaceable in the Y-Y direction shown in the figure, the light can be adjusted by positioning the pivot pin 7 of the clamp arm 1 below the optical fiber f (Fig. 1). The friction roller 12 can be made to follow the lateral displacement of the optical fiber f due to the displacement of the fiber in the Y-Y direction, but when the optical fiber f is displaced in the X-X direction, the pivot pin By setting the position above the optical fiber f (7' in FIG. 1), the friction roller can follow the lateral displacement of the optical fiber f. In this case, it is necessary to also move the timing pulleys P, P' to the pivot pin 7'.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a front view of the auxiliary clamp. FIG. 2 is a diagram and a side view. In the figure, 1... Clamp arm, 2... Slide bearing, 3... Slide block, 3'... Rear part of slide block, 4... Motor, 5... Screw shaft, 6... ...V groove block. 7.7'...Pin, 8...Horizontal shaft, 9...Timing belt, 10...Small diameter drive roller, 11...Intermediate shaft, 12...Friction roller, 13...Timing Pulley, 14.14'...Timing belt, 30
...Auxiliary clamp stand, 31...Auxiliary clamp holding arm, 32...Pin, 33...Auxiliary clamp, 33
'...Auxiliary clamp mating surface, 34...Semicircular groove, 35...Pinion, 35'...Half-split pinion, 36.37.38...Gear, a...Aligning arm , b... Support stand, f... Optical fiber, f'...
Optical fiber fusion end, M...θ alignment motor, P, P'
...timing pulley, g...■groove,

Claims (1)

[Claims] An optical fiber-driven friction roller is rotatably attached to the tip of the clamp arm, and the coated optical fiber tip is held down by the friction roller, and the optical fiber is clamped by the V-groove inclined surface of the V-groove block and the friction roller, and the above-mentioned friction In a fusion splicing device for constant polarization optical fibers, which performs θ alignment by frictionally driving the optical fiber with a roller and rotating it within the V groove, the V groove of the V groove block is
An auxiliary clamp device is provided on the slide block behind the clamp device using the groove and the friction roller, the optical fiber is clamped by the auxiliary clamp device, and the auxiliary clamp of the auxiliary clamp device is rotatably supported on the clamp base. . A high-strength fusion splicing device for constant polarization optical fibers, comprising a drive device that drives an auxiliary clamp in synchronization with the friction roller.