JPH04361205A - Optical fiber excessive-length processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an optical fiber excessive-length processing device which gives proper tension by absorbing the slack of the optical fiber of an optical connector switching device. CONSTITUTION:An X-axial excessive length processing part 4 has an X-axial guide rail 8 arranged on the top surface of a base plate 7 to hold a reel 9 rotatably and guide a reel base 10. The external diameter of the reel 9 is >=30mm. The optical fiber 3 which is led in from the right upper side is fixed on the right side below the base plate 7 after making a nearly half round of the groove part at the outer periphery of the reel 9. When an arm 2 is moved in an X-axial direction, the optical fiber 3 is drawn or pulled in by a quantity corresponding to the movement quantity to adjust its excessive length. In a figure, 11 is a tension coil spring as a tension imparting means an energizes the reel base 10 to the right through a wire 12 and a pulley 13 impart tension to the optical fiber 3 at all times.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber surplus length processing device used in optical connector switching devices and the like.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the mass production of optical fibers, there has been a demand for an apparatus that can efficiently measure (inspect) hundreds of optical fibers. An example of such a device is the "IEICE General National Conference (1986)"
describes a large-scale, low-loss 1×N optical switch (so-called optical connector switching device). This device uses a robot hand to perform measurements by sequentially inserting and removing optical connectors for measurement into and out of a large number of multi-core optical connectors fixed on an adapter panel, thereby automating, speeding up, and reducing measurement costs. This realizes a reduction in passing loss. The optical connector for measurement held by the robot hand moves in the left-right (hereinafter referred to as the Sometimes it moves in the front-back (hereinafter referred to as the Z-axis) direction. The optical fibers (tape-type optical fibers) connected to the optical connectors also move within the space as they move, and are stretched or loosened by gravity or the tension of the optical fibers themselves.

0003

However, in the optical connector switching device described above, the following problems have occurred because the optical fiber paths are not regulated. That is, a space is required to prevent interference between the optical fiber and other components, which increases the size of the device. In addition, local bending or catching was likely to occur for some reason. In addition, when arranging the optical fiber, it is desirable to set the minimum curvature to a radius of 30 mm or more. Furthermore, when moving the robot hand or optical connector at high speed,
The optical fiber dances or irregularly vibrates, causing transmission loss. The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber surplus length processing device that absorbs slack in an optical fiber in an optical connector switching device or the like and applies appropriate tension to the optical fiber.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, in order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a reel around which an optical fiber is wound, a guide rail that slidably guides the reel, and a guide rail that guides the optical fiber through the reel. The present invention proposes an optical fiber surplus length processing device characterized by comprising a tension applying means for applying a predetermined tension to the optical fiber.

[0005]

[Operation] When an optical connector moves in the direction of loosening, the reel moves in one direction to absorb the slack of the optical fiber.
When the reel moves in the tensioning direction, the reel moves in the opposite direction and the optical fiber is unwound. At this time, an appropriate tension is applied to the optical fiber by the tension applying means, thereby preventing an increase in transmission loss.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail based on the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the optical fiber surplus length processing device according to the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 show the plane and side surface of the X-axis surplus length processing section, and FIGS. 4 and 5 show the Y and The plane and side surface of the Z-axis extra length processing section are shown, FIG. 6 shows the operation in the Y-axis direction, FIG. 7 shows the operation in the Z-axis direction, and FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the entire optical connector switching device. FIG. 9 shows a cross section of the optical fiber.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a measuring optical connector, ie, a master connector, which is held by an arm 2 and connected to
Move in the three orthogonal directions of Y and Z. An optical fiber 3 protrudes toward the rear from the master connector 1, and after being bent several times, is introduced into the X-axis extra length processing section 4 at the upper back in FIG. In the figure, 5 is an X-axis drive rail of the arm 2, and 6 is a Y-axis drive rail.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the X-axis extra length processing section 4 has a guide rail 8 in the X-axis direction arranged on the upper surface of the base plate 7, and a reel base 10 that rotatably holds the reel 9. It is designed to guide you. Note that the outer diameter of the reel 9 is 30 mm or more. The optical fiber 3 introduced from the upper right side in FIG. 2 travels approximately half way around the groove on the outer periphery of the reel 9, and then is fixed at the lower right side of the base plate 7. Therefore, when the reel base 10 moves to the right, the reel 9 rotates clockwise and the optical fiber 3 is reeled out by an amount twice the amount of movement of the reel base 10. Further, when the reel base 10 moves to the left, the reel 9 rotates counterclockwise and the optical fiber 3 is drawn in by an amount twice the amount of movement of the reel base 8. As a result, when the arm 2 moves in the X-axis direction, an amount of the optical fiber 3 commensurate with the amount of movement is extended or retracted, and the remaining length is adjusted. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a tension coil spring which is a tension applying means, and by biasing the reel base 10 to the right via a wire 12 and a pulley 13, the optical fiber 3
It constantly applies tension to.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, 14 is the optical fiber 3.
This is a fixing clip that fixes the 15 near the arm 2.
are a pair of guide holders that slidably hold the optical fiber 3. These guide holders 15 are attached to the Z-axis rail 1
6 in the Z-axis direction, and a Y-axis block 18 that slides in the X-axis direction along the X-axis drive rail 5. R guides 19 and 20 are attached near both guide holders 15 to ensure that the bending radius of the optical fiber 3 is 30 mm or more. In addition, since the optical fiber 3 is tape-shaped, it is hardly bent in the long side direction, and furthermore, both R guides 19 and 20
Since the bending directions at the two guide holders 15 are different, the optical fiber 3 is twisted by 90° between the two guide holders 15.

In this embodiment, when the arm 2 moves along the Y-axis drive rail 6, the dimension between A and A' of the optical fiber 3 changes as shown in FIG. Then, the optical fiber 3 is fed out from the X-axis extra length processing section 4, or the slack is absorbed, and the extra length is processed. Further, when the Z-axis block 17 moves along the Z-axis drive rail 16, the dimension between B and B' of the optical fiber 3 changes as shown in FIG. In this case as well, the optical fiber 3 is fed out from the X-axis extra length processing section 4 or the slack is absorbed, and the extra length is processed. In this way, in this embodiment, the X-axis surplus length processing section 4 performs surplus length processing in the three axis directions of X, Y, and Z.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the entire optical connector switching device that employs the optical fiber surplus length processing device of this embodiment. Five rows of adapter boards 22 to which a large number of multi-core optical connectors 21 are fixed are arranged at positions facing this. The overall size of the device is 700mm wide and 300m deep.
m, and the height is 200 mm, and the total number of multi-core connectors 21 is 300. Also, the movement strokes of arm 2 in the X, Y, and Z axis directions are 500 mm and 200 mm, respectively.
, 50mm. Note that the drive mechanism for the arm 2 consists of a pulse motor, a belt, and a pulley. Further, the optical fiber 3 on the optical connector switching device side is housed in a PVC tube 23, as shown in FIG. 9, to protect it from external forces.

The inventors set the moving speed of the arm 2 at a maximum of 200 mm/sec in the X-axis direction and a maximum of 50 m/sec in the Y-axis direction.
The test was conducted at a maximum speed of 20 mm/sec in the Z-axis direction. When the arm 2 was moved 100,000 times and the master connector 1 was connected and disconnected 100,000 times, good results were obtained in which the change in the transmission loss of the optical fiber 3 was 0.01 dB or less. Further, the change in the passage loss of the optical fiber 3 during movement was 0.02 dB or less, which was within the range of error.

[0013]

Effects of the Invention According to the optical fiber surplus length processing device according to the present invention, while using a simple mechanism of a reel, a guide rail, and a tension applying means, the slack of the optical fiber can be absorbed and adjusted properly in an optical connector switching device, etc. This has the effect of preventing local bending or catching of the optical fiber as well as passage loss when the optical connector is moved at high speed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical fiber surplus length processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an X-axis extra length processing section.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an X-axis extra length processing section.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a Y- and Z-axis extra length processing section.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a Y- and Z-axis extra length processing section.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the embodiment device in the Y-axis direction.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the embodiment device in the Z-axis direction.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the entire optical connector switching device.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an optical fiber.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Master connector 2 Arm 3 Optical fiber 4 X-axis extra length processing section 7 Base plate 8 Guide rail 9 reel 10 Reel base 11 Tension coil spring 12 Wire 13 Pulley

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A reel around which an optical fiber is wound, a guide rail that slidably guides the reel, and tension applying means that applies a predetermined tension to the optical fiber via the reel. An optical fiber surplus length processing device.