JPH0337895Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Outline A ferrule to which a joint end of an optical fiber is attached is held by a holding means provided so as to be rotatable about the attachment direction of the optical fiber, and the optical fiber is further covered. The optical fiber is clamped and fixed at at least one part of the optical fiber that is not attached to the ferrule via the elastic covering material, and in this state, the holding means is rotated relative to the polishing surface to remove the optical fiber. An optical connector joint end surface polishing machine is configured to polish the joint end together with the ferrule, thereby preventing the optical fiber core wire from being twisted and peeled off at the attachment part with the ferrule.

Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to an optical connector joint end face polishing machine (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a polishing machine) that rotates the optical connector joint end face with respect to the polishing surface.
In particular, it relates to its optical fiber holding structure.

In recent years, with the increase in transmission capacity, optical fibers have come to be used as transmission paths in fields such as communications. Examples of methods for connecting optical fibers include a splicing method in which the joint end surfaces are permanently connected by gluing or fusion, and a removable optical connector method. Connection using the optical connector method requires axis misalignment of about 1/10 or less of the core diameter and good adhesion between the spliced end faces. Usually, the spliced end faces of the optical fibers to be connected are connected to a centered ferrule. The above requirements are met by attaching the ferrule and polishing the joint end surface of the ferrule. Therefore, there is a need for an optical connector bonding end face polishing machine that can accurately polish a ferrule with an optical fiber attached.

BACKGROUND ART FIG. 5 shows a state in which the joint ends of optical fibers to be connected are attached to a ferrule. In the figure, 1 is an optical fiber, 14 is an optical fiber 1
8 is an optical fiber cord having a coating 7 of nylon or the like applied around the optical fiber core 14, and an optical fiber cord 8 having a coating 10 of PVC or the like applied around the optical fiber core 14 via a high tensile strength tension member 9. Each is shown below. In this specification, the coatings 7 and 10, the tension member 9, and other inclusions (not shown) between the optical fiber 1 and the coating 10 are collectively referred to as a coating material. Cylindrical ferrule 2 with a cavity inside
has a tip 11 having a center hole centered with high accuracy at its tip, and the cut optical fiber core 14 of the tension member 9 has a tip 11 in the vicinity of the joint end surface. The ferrule 2 is attached to the ferrule 2 so as to be inserted into the center hole of the ferrule 11, and is fixed with, for example, an epoxy adhesive. And the 2 to connect processed like this
The optical fibers are each coaxially connected by having their joining end surfaces polished together with the ferrules and fitting or screwing the ferrules into a common sleeve (not shown).

Various types of polishing machines have been proposed for use in the above-mentioned process, but recently, in order to bring the core end faces of both optical fibers into close contact with each other without any gaps at the joint, a polishing machine has been proposed that is capable of polishing the joint end faces. A polishing machine that produces a spherical finish has been put into practical use, and is attracting attention as a connection method with extremely low connection loss among optical connector systems.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic configuration of a polishing machine which finishes the joint end surface into a substantially spherical shape. The ferrule 2 to which the optical fiber core 14 is attached is fixed to a holding member 12 that is rotatably supported around the ferrule 2 (the mechanism is not shown).
Reference numeral 13 denotes a polishing disk driven to rotate, and the polishing surface 4 is coated with a suitable abrasive or is constantly supplied with it. Therefore, the polished surface 4
If the holding member 12 is positioned so that the ferrule 2 comes into contact with a portion separated by a predetermined distance from the center of rotation, and the polishing plate 13 is rotated in this state, the holding member 12 is also rotated in a predetermined cycle. The ferrule 2 rotates eccentrically (rotates) due to the slight bending that occurs in each member, and the surface pressure against the polishing surface 4 increases in the radial direction of the ferrule 2, resulting in a polished finished shape of the ferrule 2. The finished product has a substantially spherical shape with a radius of curvature that corresponds to the amount of eccentricity.

Problems to be solved by the invention However, in general, the coating 7 of the optical fiber core 14 is made of nylon or the like and the ferrule 2 is made of metal or the like.
The adhesion with the
When the joint end surface is polished with a mechanical polisher, the rotational movement of the ferrule 2 causes torsional stress on the optical fiber core 14, etc., and the problem is that the bonded part may gradually become fatigued and peel. be.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a polishing machine in which the optical fiber core does not separate from the ferrule even when polishing is performed while rotating the ferrule.

Means for Solving the Problems FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the polishing machine of the present invention.

The optical connector joining end face polishing machine of the present invention has a ferrule 2 to which the joining end of the optical fiber 1 is attached.
The optical fiber 1 is held by a holding means 3 rotatably provided around the attachment direction of the optical fiber 1, and the optical fiber 1 is
In an optical connector joining end face polishing machine, the part extending upward from the ferrule 2 is held by a guide, and the holding means 3 is rotated relative to the polishing surface 4 to polish the joining end together with the ferrule 2, A width that is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the covering material 5 that clamps and fixes the optical fiber 1 at at least one part of the part that is not attached to the ferrule 2 via the elastic covering material 5 that covers the optical fiber 1. A fastener 6 having a groove is provided integrally with the holding means 3.

Function: In the polishing machine of the present invention, a fastener with a specific configuration is used to hold the optical fiber at at least one part of the part that is not attached to the ferrule, so there is a gap between the fastener and the ferrule. As a result, when the ferrule is rotated and polished, the optical fiber or the optical fiber and its coating material are prevented from peeling off from the ferrule.
According to the configuration of the present invention, the optical fiber is twisted between the fastener and the guide, but the length of this part is generally long, and the optical fiber is twisted between the fastener and the guide (see Figure 5). Since there are no parts where peeling is a problem, there is no problem even if the optical fiber is twisted between the fastener and the guide.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a holding device 20 for setting the conventional set of ferrule 2 and optical fiber cord 8 (hereinafter referred to as fiber connection section) shown in FIG. The rotating (rotating) portion serving as the holding means is the main body 24, the main body 2
4, a pulley 26, a tapered pipe 22,
Chuck portion 28, handle 32, and fastener 30
Consisting of The fiber connection part inserted into the tapered tube 22 is held by fixing the ferrule 2 to the chuck part 28, and the tapered tube 22 is inserted into the main body 24, which has the same taper, and then is inserted into the tapered tube 22. Handle 3 engaged with 22
2 is attached to the main body 24 by screwing it onto the main body 24. The fastener 30 that is integrally formed with the tapered tube 22 has two guides 38, 38 for holding the optical fiber cord 8, as shown in FIG. are arranged with a width slightly smaller than the diameter of the optical fiber cord 8. Therefore, by pushing the optical fiber cord 8 between the guides 38, 38, the coating material of the optical fiber cord 8 is elastically deformed, and the friction between the coating material and the guides 38, 38 caused by the restoring force is reduced. Due to the force, the optical fiber cord 8 is attached to the fastener 3.
Fixed to 0.

On the other hand, the fixed part that rotatably supports the rotating part of the holding device 20 described above is composed of a cylindrical member 35 and a case 36 fixed to this cylindrical member 35 with a screw 37. is pivotally supported by a cylindrical member 35 via bearings 34, 34.

FIG. 4 shows the main body of the polishing machine in which the holding device 20 to which the fiber connection section is attached is set. Reference numeral 46 denotes a control section on which rotationally driven polishing disks 52 and 54 are provided, and in which necessary control circuits, power supply circuits, polishing disk drive motors, etc. are incorporated. A base 48 on which the holding device 20 and the drive motor 56 are disposed is provided on a column 47 provided at the upper part of the control unit 46 so as to be rotatable and vertically movable. It can also be fixed in position.
A drive belt (not shown) is wound around the pulley 26 of each holding device 20 (four in this embodiment), and this belt is driven by a drive motor 56. 60 and 64 are stand 4
This is a guide provided on a support column 61 fixed to
The optical fiber cord 8 on the opposite side of the fiber connection section held by the holding device 20 can be passed through.

Then, the table 48 is positioned so that the tip of the ferrule 2 of the held fiber connection part comes into contact with the polishing surface (not shown) of a predetermined polishing disk (the polishing disk 52 in the figure), and in this state, the polishing disk 52 and the pulley 26
By driving the ferrule 2 and the optical fiber 1, the bonding end surfaces of the ferrule 2 and the optical fiber 1 are polished. For example, the pulley 26 starts rotating at 10 rpm and rotates at 30 rpm.
The direction of rotation may be changed every second.
In this case, the fiber connection is secured to the ferrule 2 by the chuck 28 and fastener 30 of the retaining device 20.
Since it is held by the optical fiber cord 8 and the optical fiber cord 8, no torsional stress is generated at the fiber connection portion, and the adhesive portion between the fiber core wire 14 and the ferrule 2 does not peel off. Further, in the above rotation cycle, since the total number of rotations of the fiber connecting portion is about 5 rotations, twisting of the optical fiber cord 8 on the guides 60 and 64 side does not pose a problem.

In this embodiment, a type in which the polishing discs 52 and 54 are rotationally driven is illustrated, but in place of the polishing disc, for example, an endless belt stretched between a pair of rotating rolls may be polished. It can also be a face.

In addition, although only a fastener provided outside the main body of the holding device 20 is shown as an example, this fastener may be provided inside the main body. Any structure can be adopted as long as it does not deviate from the spirit of the present invention, which is to sandwich the .

Effects of the Invention As detailed above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a polishing machine in which the optical fiber core does not separate from the ferrule even if the joint end face is polished while rotating the fiber connection part. This makes it extremely useful in practice.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic structure of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional front view of a holding device of an optical connector joining end face polishing machine showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the fastener of the holding device, FIG. 4 is an overall view of an optical connector joining end face polishing machine showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the optical fiber is attached to the ferrule. , FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a conventional optical connector joint end face polishing machine. 1... Optical fiber, 2... Ferrule, 3...
Holding means, 4... Polished surface, 5... Covering material, 6, 3
0... Fastener, 8... Optical fiber cord, 12...
...Holding member, 13, 52, 54... Polishing disc, 14
... Optical fiber core wire, 20 ... Holding device.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A ferrule 2 to which a spliced end of an optical fiber 1 is attached is held by a holding means 3 rotatably provided around the attachment direction of the optical fiber 1; 1, a portion extending upward from the ferrule 2 is held by guides 60, 64, and the holding means 3 is rotated relative to the polishing surface 4 to polish the joint end together with the ferrule 2. In the connector joint end face polishing machine, the optical fiber 1 is clamped and fixed at at least one part of the part not attached to the ferrule 2 via the elastic covering material 5 that covers the optical fiber 1. An optical connector joining end face polishing machine characterized in that a fastener 6 having a groove having a width slightly smaller than the outer diameter is provided integrally with the holding means 3.