JPH0354288B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to an inspection line that can continuously measure various transmission characteristics of optical fibers. As an example, regarding the measurement of multimode fiber,
Items to be measured include loss, band, structure, etc., and the present invention relates to an optical fiber inspection line that continuously measures these measurement items.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 1 shows a conceptual diagram of a conventional inspection device. 1,
2 holds both ends 3 and 4 of the optical fiber to be measured;
This is an alignment stand that has the function of aligning and aligning the end faces of the optical fibers 5 and 6 on the measuring instrument side, respectively.
Reference numerals 7 and 8 denote holders for fixing the ends of the measuring instrument side optical fibers 5 and 6. 7' is the main body of the measuring instrument, and 8' is a light source. These devices are usually assembled into a surface plate (not shown) to form one unit. 9 is a bobbin around which the optical fiber to be measured is wound. One measurement item A (for example, loss) is measured using the apparatus described above, and then item B, item C, and bobbin 9 are manually transferred and measured. First, processing both ends of the optical fiber (removal of coating and fiber cutting)
After doing this, set it on alignment blocks 1 and 2. Since the measuring instrument side optical fibers 5 and 6 are set in advance, the optical fibers to be measured 3 and 4 are attached to the end faces of the fibers.
Butt the end faces of the two together and adjust the optical axis. The optical axis is adjusted by the alignment devices (not shown) of the alignment tables 1 and 2. For example, this can be done with a commercially available fine movement table in the X, Y, and Z three-axis directions, or it can be done automatically. There is.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In this way, with conventional equipment, it is necessary to set the optical fiber as the test sample for each testing equipment, and each time the optical fiber must be mounted on the alignment tables 1 and 2, the optical axis aligned, and removed after measurement. etc. had to be carried out. Moreover, since the working time required for this series of settings was almost the same as the working time required for measurement, the working efficiency was extremely poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber inspection line that minimizes the work time required for setting and shortens the overall work time for inspection.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an optical fiber inspection line that can continuously measure various characteristics of optical fibers, and includes a plurality of measuring stations arranged in parallel, each having a predetermined measuring device. a carry-in station for setting the optical fiber, which is disposed in front of the plurality of measuring stations in the direction in which they are lined up; a conveyor capable of step feeding that extends along each of these stations in the direction in which they are lined up;
A setting jig for a plurality of optical fibers is disposed on the conveyor, and a plurality of measurement stations are positioned at approximately equal intervals in the direction in which the optical axes of the input and output ends of each measurement device are lined up. and the plurality of setting jigs are arranged at substantially the same intervals as the above-mentioned intervals so that the optical axis of the optical fiber to be set coincides with the optical axis of the input/output end. Features.

[Effect]

The optical fiber, which is the test sample, is set in a setting jig at the loading station, and is sequentially step-fed to each measurement station by a conveyor.
At each measuring station, a measuring device measures a different characteristic of the optical fiber, and each is sent to the next measuring station until the entire measuring operation is completed. The optical fiber is removed from the setting jig after the final measurement is completed.

In this way, a carry-in station and a plurality of measuring stations are arranged side by side, and a conveyor with a setting jig arranged along the direction in which they are lined up is provided, and the optical fibers are set in this setting jig and sequentially moved through the steps. If the optical fibers are sent, the optical fibers can be set and removed at the beginning and end of the line, and this attachment/detachment work can be omitted at each measurement station.In addition, the measurement work at each measurement station can be performed simultaneously. can.

Further, a plurality of measuring stations are arranged so that the optical axes of the input and output ends of each of the measuring devices are positioned at approximately equal intervals in the alignment direction, and a plurality of setting jigs are set. By arranging the optical fibers at substantially the same intervals as the above-mentioned intervals so that the optical axes of the optical fibers coincide with the optical axes of the input/output ends, the distance between the input/output ends of the measuring device and the optical fibers at each measurement station is maintained. The optical axis can be automatically aligned with the optical axis, and even if a slight deviation occurs, the correction work can be greatly simplified.

〔Example〕

The configuration of the present invention will be explained by showing a configuration diagram of an inspection line according to an embodiment of the present invention in Fig. 2, and Figs. 3 to 7 show embodiments around the alignment mechanism, which is an important device of the present invention. .

As shown in FIG. 2, this inspection line includes, from the front, a loading station 10, four measuring stations 11, 11, 11, 11, a dispensing station 12, and these stations 10, 11, 1.
The conveyor 13 is provided with a conveyor 13 extending along the direction in which the two are lined up. Each measuring station 11 is equipped with a predetermined measuring device 14, and is arranged in the direction in which the measuring devices 14 are arranged. That is, the mutual distances between the optical axes of the pair of measuring device side optical fibers 15, 15, which are the input and output ends of each measuring device 14, are arranged at approximately equal intervals in the direction in which the measuring devices 14 are lined up. On the other hand, an optical fiber to be measured 16 is set on the conveyor 13.
The setting jig 17 is arranged so that the optical axes of the measuring instrument side optical fibers 15 are at the same interval in the arrangement direction of the measuring instrument side optical fibers 15, and the optical axes coincide with each other. and,
The conveyor 13 is configured to be able to feed in steps, and the set jig 1 is loaded at the loading station 10.
The optical fiber 16 to be measured set at 7 is sequentially fed step by step to a measurement position where both optical fibers 15 and 16 face each other, and finally removed from the setting jig 17 at the dispensing station 12. It's summery.

The optical fiber 16 to be measured is, for example, a long object wound around a bobbin 18 as shown in FIG. I'm going to be carried away.

Further, although details are not shown in the drawings, the conveyor 13 can circulate between the payout station 12 and the carry-in station 10 with a setting jig 17 attached thereto.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the setting jig 17 is composed of a carrier 19 and a pair of measurement target holders 20, 20 mounted on the carrier 19. The carrier 19 is guided by a pair of rails 21, 21 of the transport conveyor 13 with the optical fiber 16 to be measured set therein, and is guided to each measurement position (stop position).
The carriers are sequentially fed while their movement is restricted by the carrier stopper 22. Each measured side holder 20 consists of a fixed part 23 and a guide part 24.
The optical fiber 16 to be measured is fixed with a holding piece 26 provided on the fixing table 25 of the optical fiber 16, and the exposed portions of the optical fiber 16 from which the coating is removed at both ends are removed using the guide grooves 24a formed in the guide portion 24. It is designed to lock. Note that 27 is an operation knob for positioning the optical fiber 16 to be measured in the optical axis direction, which will be described later.

The loading station 11 is provided with a positioning jig 28 that can position the optical fiber 16 to be measured in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction). As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, this positioning jig 28 has plate-shaped fiber stoppers 30, 30 protruding from a base 29, and both ends of the optical fiber 16 to be measured are covered in advance. It is fixed to the measurement side holder 20, and the optical fiber 16 to be measured is moved forward together with the fixing table 25 using the operating knob 27, and is positioned in the Z-axis direction by abutting against this. As a result, both tips of the optical fiber 16 to be measured can be connected to either measuring instrument side optical fiber 15 of each measurement station 11.
Even when faced with a wall, a predetermined clearance can be maintained between both end faces.

The measuring device 14 of each measuring station 11 is
As shown in the figure, a light source 31 that sends light to the optical fiber 16 to be measured, a measuring instrument body 32 that measures predetermined optical characteristics using the light returned from the optical fiber 16 to be measured, and a measuring device connected to these, respectively. A pair of measuring instrument side optical fibers 15, 15 directly facing both ends of the measuring optical fiber 16, and a pair of measuring instrument side holders 33 that have an alignment mechanism and hold the distal ends of these measuring instrument side optical fibers 15, 15. , 33, and a controller 34 for controlling this alignment mechanism.

Both measuring instrument side optical fibers 15, 15 are arranged so that the ends of the optical fiber 16 to be measured are positioned in the Z-axis direction, and the ends of the optical fiber 16 to be measured are opposed to each other with a small distance between them. They are attached to each measuring instrument side holder 33 in alignment parallel to the feeding direction. Then, the light from the light source 31 passes through one of the measuring instrument side optical fibers 15 to the optical fiber 16 to be measured.
Light entering from one tip and exiting from the other tip is guided to the measuring instrument main body 32 via the other measuring instrument side optical fiber 15.

As shown in Fig. 2, the alignment mechanism
Based on the signal from 2, each measuring device side holder 33 is slightly moved in two axis directions (X and Y axis directions) perpendicular to the optical axis via the controller 34, and the measuring device side optical fiber 15 and the optical fiber to be measured 16 are connected. It is now possible to correct the optical axis alignment.

This will be explained in detail based on FIGS. 5 to 7.
The measuring instrument side holder 33 includes a pair of fixing pieces 3 that fix the supporting stand 35 and the measuring instrument side optical fibers 15, 15.
6, 36 and a pair of fine movement devices 37, 37, each fine movement device 37 is cantilevered and fixed to the support base 35, and the exposed portion of the tip of the measuring instrument side optical fiber 15 is inserted into the guide groove 38a. It is composed of a flexible member 38 that locks the flexible member 38, and a fine movement member 39 that slightly moves the flexible member 38 in the X and Y axis directions. The fine movement member 39 also includes a pair of actuators 40, 40 which are drive sources attached to the extending portion of the support base 35, coil springs 41, 41 attached thereto, and a rotation link 42 which changes the direction of force. In the X-axis direction (horizontal direction), one actuator 40
The force is transmitted to the coil spring 41 and further transmitted to the rotation link 42, so that the tip of the flexible member 38 can be slightly moved in the horizontal direction. On the other hand, in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction), the force of the other actuator 40 is transmitted to the flexible member 38 via the coil spring 41 so that its tip can be slightly moved in the vertical direction. In this way, since the fine movement member 39 of this embodiment is finely moved via the coil spring 41, the displacement of the fine movement member 39 is reduced by the ratio of the spring constants of the flexible member 38 and the coil spring 41, making positioning control easier and , become accurate.

Further, both actuators 40, 40 are operated separately by the controller 34, and the controller 34 controls each actuator 40 so that the input from the measuring instrument main body 32 is maximized.
Activate.

In this way, even if there is a slight misalignment between the optical axes of the optical fiber 15 on the measuring instrument side and the optical fiber 16 to be measured at the measuring position, the optical axis can be easily corrected using the fine adjustment device 37, and a perfect optical fiber can be obtained. Axis alignment is possible.

Next, the procedure of measurement work using this inspection line will be explained.

First, at the loading station 10, the optical fiber 16 to be measured is transferred to the setting jig 1 of the conveyor 13.
Set to 7. At this time, the positioning jig 28 is used to align both tips of the optical fiber 16 in the optical axis direction (Z
axial direction).

Next, the transport conveyor 13 is moved one step, and the optical fiber 16 to be measured is brought to face the measurement station 11 closest to the user. Here, first, controller 3
4, the fine movement device 37 is activated to slightly move the tips of the measuring instrument side optical fibers 15, 15, and the optical axis alignment with both tips of the optical fiber 16 to be measured is automatically performed, and then a predetermined optical characteristic is measured. will be carried out. At the same time, the next optical fiber 16 to be measured is set at the loading station 10.

When the above measurement work and setting work are completed, the conveyor 13 is further moved one step and the same work is performed. In this way, each measuring station 1
Various measurement work at 1 and setting work at loading station 10 are carried out simultaneously.

After various measurements are completed, the dispensing station 1
The optical fiber 16 to be measured which has reached 2 is removed from the setting jig 17 and discharged from this inspection line.

According to this embodiment described above, one operator can measure multiple items. In other words, all the stations 10, 11, 12 are connected to the optical fiber 1 to be measured.
In the steady state in which 6 is present, one optical fiber 16 to be measured is dispensed after all measurements are completed in one takt, and this is regardless of the number of measurement items. The conventional method has a limit of two items, but according to this embodiment, the number of items to be measured per person and the ability to measure per person can be dramatically improved. Furthermore, during various measurement operations, the attachment and detachment of the optical fiber 16 to be measured, which involves troublesome optical axis alignment, only needs to be done once, and the overall operation time can be significantly shortened.

In this embodiment, the fine movement device 37 is provided on the measuring instrument side holder 33 side, but the fine movement device 37 may be provided on the measured side holder 20 side. In addition, a fine movement device in one direction of the X axis or the Y axis is attached to the measuring instrument side holder 33, and the holder to be measured 20
It is also possible to provide a fine movement device in the other direction.

Further, in this embodiment, optical fibers are used at the input and output ends of each measuring device 14, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, if the measuring device is used to measure the cross-sectional structure of an optical fiber, a microscope This applies to lenses, etc.

Furthermore, the fiber stops 30, 30 for positioning in the Z-axis direction of this embodiment may be optical or electrical detectors.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to omit the work of attaching and detaching the optical fiber at each measurement station, and the work of measuring and attaching and detaching the optical fiber at each station can be performed simultaneously. The overall work time can be significantly reduced.

Furthermore, since the optical axis of the input/output end of the measuring device and the optical axis of the optical fiber can be automatically aligned, it has the effect of shortening the working time of the measuring work.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional optical fiber inspection device, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the inspection line of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the loading station, Fig. 4 is a side view thereof, Fig. 5 is a plan view of the centering mechanism, and Fig. 6 is a plan view of the loading station.
The figure is a side view thereof, and FIG. 7 is a front view thereof. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Carrying-in station, 11... Measuring station, 12... Discharging station, 13... Conveyor, 14... Measuring device, 15... Measuring instrument side optical fiber, 16... Optical fiber to be measured, 17... Setting jig, 18... Bobbin, 19...Carrier, 20...Measurement side holder, 21...Rail, 22...Carrier stopper, 23...fixing part, 24...guiding part, 25...fixing base, 26...pressing piece, 27...operating knob, 28...
Positioning jig, 29... Base, 30... Fiber stopper, 31... Light source, 32... Measuring instrument body, 33...
Measuring instrument side holder, 34... Controller, 35... Support stand, 36... Fixed piece, 37... Fine movement device, 38... Flexible member, 39... Fine movement member, 40... Actuator, 41... Coil spring, 42... Rotating link.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An optical fiber inspection line capable of continuously measuring various characteristics of optical fibers, comprising a plurality of measuring stations arranged in parallel, each having a predetermined measuring device; A carry-in station for setting optical fibers disposed in front of the plurality of measurement stations in the direction in which they are lined up, a conveyor capable of step feed extending along each of these stations in the direction in which they are lined up, and a conveyor disposed on the conveyor. and a setting jig for a plurality of optical fibers, the plurality of measurement stations are arranged such that the distances between the optical axes of the input and output ends of each of the measurement devices are substantially equal in the alignment direction, and the plurality of measurement stations The jig is arranged at substantially the same interval as the above-mentioned interval so that the optical axis of the optical fiber to be set coincides with the optical axis of the input/output end, and the setting jig and the measuring device are 1. An optical fiber inspection line comprising a fine movement device capable of relatively minute movement in two axial directions perpendicular to the optical axis. 2. A patent characterized in that the fine movement device is composed of a cantilevered bending member that supports the tip of the optical fiber, and a fine movement member that bends the bending member from the two axial directions via an elastic member. An optical fiber inspection line according to claim 1.