JPH07218754A - Holder for optical fiber ribbon - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To solve the problem that optical fiber of one ribbon are not put accurately in V grooves since the thickness of a coating is added between the endmost optical fibers to make the intervals larger than optical fibers of other fibers when two of 4-fiber ribbons are arrayed for fusion splicing to, for example, an 8-fiber ribbon. CONSTITUTION:Steps 36 and 46 which are perpendicular to the length direction of respective optical fibers are provided on the top surface of the base 30 of the holder and the reverse surface of a lid 40. When the height of the steps 36 and 46 is equalized to the thickness of the ribbon of optical fibers, the interval (a) between the endmost optical fibers 12 can be equalized to the interval (b) of other optical fibers 12 by putting the end parts of the ribbons 10A and 10B of fibers one over the other. Eventually, the intervals of all the optical fibers 12 become equal and plural ribbons 10 of optical fibers can be processed by fusion splicing, etc., at the same time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ribbon fiber holder in a fusion splicer for multi-core optical fibers. In the present specification, the term "optical fiber fusion splicing device" means not only a portion for fusing the optical fiber, but also a portion for removing the coating of the ribbon fiber and a tip of the optical fiber, which is performed at the time of connection. It is used in the meaning including the part to do.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example thereof, FIG. 6 schematically shows a fused portion of an optical fiber. (A) is a side view,
(B) is a state in which (a) is viewed from the B direction (the optical fiber is viewed from a right angle direction), and (c) is a C in (b).
It is an enlarged cross-section. Reference numeral 10 is an entire ribbon fiber, 12 is an optical fiber, 14 is a coating, and 50 is an integrated V groove base provided with V grooves 52 facing each other. 16
Is a movable table, the upper surface 18 of which is inclined forward and downward toward the V groove table 50.

A holder 20 is detachably attached along a slide guide on the inclined upper surface 18. Holder 2
0 consists of a base 30 and a lid 40 (c). Lid 4
0 is attached to the base 30 by a support pin 42 so as to be openable and closable. Ribbon fiber 1 on the base 30
A groove 32 into which 0 is fitted is provided.

The ribbon fiber 10 is put in the groove 32 and the lid 40 is closed. For example, the holder 20 clamps the ribbon fiber 10 by the action of the magnet 34 and the iron piece 44.
Further, the tip portion of the optical fiber 12 is housed in the V groove 52 of the V groove base 50 (b), and is lightly pressed by the fiber clamp 54 on the V groove base 50 so that the tip portions are horizontally arranged in parallel. In this state, the end faces of the right and left fibers 2 face each other. Then, fusion is performed by a predetermined procedure.

[0005]

As for the fusion of optical fibers, for example, the conventional one is a V fiber for aligning the optical fibers 12 of the ribbon fiber 10 such as 8 cores, 12 cores and 16 cores.
The groove 52 is provided so that the ribbon fibers 10 having 8 cores, 12 cores, 16 cores, etc. can be fused together.

However, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, there is a case where two ribbon fibers 10 having a smaller number of cores, for example, four cores, are arranged side by side and fused at the same time. Note that this is done in order to improve the efficiency of fusion, or
This is because, for example, two 4-fiber ribbon fibers are fused to one 8-fiber ribbon fiber.

FIG. 7 shows a case where four ribbon fibers 10A and 10B are arranged side by side and fused at the same time with respect to an eight ribbon fiber. The ribbon fibers 10A and 10B are arranged in the groove 32 of the base 30 and the lid 40 is closed. Then, since the thickness of the coating 14 is added between the endmost ribbon fibers 10, the spacing a becomes larger than the core spacing b (usually 250 μm) of the other ribbon fibers 10.

Since the V-groove pitch on the V-groove base is adjusted to the core wire interval of the ribbon fiber, as shown in the model of FIG.
However, it will not fit into the V groove 52 accurately, and it will be impossible to butt the end face with the ribbon fiber on the other side.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the ribbon fiber holder of the present invention has (1) a first clamping surface 3 inside a base 30 as illustrated in FIG.
7 is a plurality of clamping surfaces 37 depending on the ribbon fiber width.
The height of the plurality of clamping surfaces is 0,372, ..., and the heights of these clamping surfaces are different according to the thickness of the ribbon fiber, and (2) the second clamping surface 4 inside the lid 40.
7 is composed of a plurality of clamp surfaces having a height complementary to the first clamp surface 37.

[0010]

[Operation] The height of the step 36 on the base side and the step 46 on the lid side are appropriate (for example, the same thickness and the same width as the ribbon fiber 10).
When the first and second clamp surfaces 37 and 47 are formed,
The edge portions of the ribbon fibers 10A and 10B can be overlapped and collectively pressed and fixed. Therefore, the distance a between the ribbon fibers 10 at the end can be made equal to the distance b between the other ribbon fibers 10.

[0011]

[Embodiment 1] In the case of FIG. 1, an example is shown in which two ribbon fibers 10A and 10B of four cores are simultaneously fused to the ribbon fiber of eight cores on the relative side. Groove 32 of base 30
There was also a conventional method (FIGS. 6 and 7), but in this case, the cross section is stepped as shown in FIG.
The clamping surface 37 is divided into clamping surfaces 370 and 372 according to the fiber ribbon width. The cross section of the groove 32 of the first clamp surface 37 has the following shape.

First, lower the EF (a). This is groove 3
Make one side of 2. Ribbon fiber 1
The thickness is almost equal to 0, which is about 0.4 mm.・ Then, flatten with FG. This forms one bottom. Its width is approximately equal to the width of the ribbon fiber 10 and is about 1.2 mm.・ Next, start up with GH. This becomes the step 36. The depth is approximately equal to the thickness of the ribbon fiber 10 and is set to about 0.4 mm like the EF.・ Flat with HJ again. This forms the other bottom.
Its width is approximately equal to the width of the ribbon fiber 10 or slightly narrower than 1.0 mm.・ Finally start with JK. This forms the other side surface of the groove 32. The depth is made equal to the above EF and GH. In this way, the height of each clamping surface is made different according to the fiber ribbon thickness.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1 (a), the lid 40 forming the second clamp surface is formed into a complementary shape, that is, a stepped shape, matching the height of the lower first clamp surface 37. -L is defined as a point facing the side surface EF of the groove 32 of the base 30.-M is taken from L toward the support pin 42.
The length of LM is made equal to the length of JH.・ Stand up with MN to form step 46. The depth is
Similar to the above-mentioned EF and GH, the thickness of the ribbon fiber 10 is approximately equal to about 0.4 mm.・ Flat with NP.

The ribbon fiber 10A is placed on the FG in the groove 32 of the base 30 (b). Further, the ribbon fiber 10B is placed on the HJ, and the ends of the ribbon fibers 10A and 10B are overlapped. The distance a between the endmost optical fibers 12 is made equal to the distance b between the other optical fibers 12 (the lengths of FG, HJ, and LM may be determined so as to be automatically equalized). ), Cover 40.

Then, as shown in (c), both the optical fiber 12 of the ribbon fiber 10A and the optical fiber 12 of the ribbon fiber 10B are all accurately accommodated in the V groove 52.

Since the coating thickness of the ribbon fiber is not always uniform and there is some flexibility, the above step width does not need to be strict. The same applies to the following description.

The term "complementary" in this specification means that the irregularities (differences in height of the clamping surfaces) of the upper and lower clamping surfaces are formed in reverse. For example, when the lid is closed, in order to press the ribbon fiber that is dropped into the groove on the base side and stored, the clamp surface in the second clamp surface inside the lid is more convex than the other clamp surfaces ( That is, it is higher than the other surface of the second clamp surface).

[0018]

[Embodiment 2] The case of FIG. 2 is an example in which three ribbon fibers 10A, 10B and 10C of four cores are simultaneously fused to a ribbon fiber of 12 cores. In this case, base 3
The groove 0 is divided into two grooves 32 and 33. The EF, FG, and GH portions of the base 30 are the same as those in the first embodiment. This portion forms one groove 32.・ Next, flatten with HH '. The width is set so that the distance between the optical fibers 12 at the end is equal to the distance between the other optical fibers 12. Form E'F'G'H 'symmetrically with EFGH about an imaginary axis Q passing through the midpoint of HH'. This part is another 1
Make one groove 33.

With respect to the lid 40, the steps up to the LMN are the same as those in the first embodiment (a).・ Next, flatten with NN '. Its width is approximately equal to the width of the ribbon fiber 10 and is about 1.2 mm.・ Next, lower N'M 'and flatten with M'L' to finish.

Ribbon fiber 1 on the FG of the base 30
Place 0A (b). Also, ribbon fiber 10 on HH '
Place B and place ribbon fiber 10C on G'H '.
Then, the ends of the ribbon fibers 10A, 10B, and 10C are overlapped. The distance a between the endmost optical fibers 12 is made equal to the distance b between the other optical fibers 12 (the lengths of FG, HH ', G'F' are determined so that they are automatically equalized). You can put it on), put on the lid 40. Then, the optical fiber 12 of the ribbon fiber 10A is also the ribbon fiber 1
Both the optical fiber 12 of 0B and the optical fiber 12 of the ribbon fiber 10C fit exactly in the V groove 52.

[0021]

[Embodiment 3] FIG. 3 shows an example in which two ribbon fibers 10A and 10B having four cores are fused at the same time.
The base 30 is flattened with FG and raised with GH to make a step 36,
Also, I will just flatten it with HJ. In this case, FG, H
The lateral width of J is appropriately larger than the width of the ribbon fiber 10.

Regarding the lid 40, also: level with the LM, raise with the MN, and make a step 46,
Moreover, it will only be flat with NP. Also in this case, LM, N
The lateral width of P is appropriately larger than the width of the ribbon fiber 10. However, the distance d between the step 36 and the step 46
Is set so that the distance between the optical fibers 12 at the end is equal to the distance between the other optical fibers 12. Incidentally, 48 is a spring, which biases the lid 40 in the closing direction.

The ribbon fibers 10A and 10B are put in contact with the steps 36 and 46, respectively. Other usage is the same as the above case. By doing so, not only the ribbon fiber 10 having four cores but also the ribbon fiber 10 having any other number of cores can be used.

[0024]

[Difference in Height of Ribbon Fiber 10] In the case of the present invention, since the ribbon fiber 10A and the ribbon fiber 10B are set in different steps as shown in FIG. The bottom) is different. 6C is the same as FIG. 6B as viewed from the direction B (the direction perpendicular to the inclined ribbon fiber 10), the ribbon fiber 10A and the ribbon fiber 10B are shown. There is no difference in height.

However, when FIG. 1 (b) is viewed from the side, it becomes as shown in FIG. 4 (a), and when viewed from the direction B (just above) in the same figure, it becomes as shown in FIG. 4 (b). . Ribbon fiber 1
Even if the heights of 0A and the ribbon fiber 10B are different, there is no problem because all the optical fibers 12 enter the V groove 52 and are clamped by the fiber clamp 54.

However, if the lead-out length of the optical fiber 12 is made equal in both the ribbon fibers 10A and 10B,
As shown in (b), irregularity of Δx occurs at the tip. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain the value of Δx by an experiment or the like and correct it in advance.

The shape in which the second clamp surface 47 on the lid side complements the first clamp surface 37 on the base side is not limited to the above embodiment, and for example, as shown in FIG. It may be a clamp surface in which the width of the convex portion of the surface 47 is narrowed to reduce the area of contact with the upper surface of the fiber ribbon.

[0028]

The first clamping surface inside the base is divided into a plurality of clamping surfaces according to the ribbon fiber width,
The heights of the plurality of clamping surfaces differ according to the thickness of the ribbon fiber, and the second clamping surface inside the lid is composed of a plurality of clamping surfaces having a height complementary to the first clamping surface. As described above, even when a plurality of ribbon fibers are set at the same time, the intervals of all the optical fibers become equal, and the plurality of ribbon fibers are simultaneously fused, coated, and cut. be able to. Therefore, the connection work efficiency is improved. It is possible to interconnect different numbers of ribbon fibers, for example, two 4-fiber ribbon fibers and 8-fiber ribbon fibers, or three 4-fiber ribbon fibers and 12-fiber ribbon fibers having different numbers of fibers.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram regarding a difference in height of the ribbon fiber 10.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a modified example of the clamp surface of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a general explanatory view of fusion splicing of the ribbon fiber 10.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a problem to be solved.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ribbon fiber 12 optical fiber 14 optical fiber coating 16 movable table 18 upper surface of movable table 20 ribbon fiber holder 30 base 32, 33 groove 34 magnet 36, 46 step 37 first clamping surface 370, 372 divided first clamping surface Clamping surface 40 Lid 42 Support pin 44 Iron piece 47 Second clamping surface 50 V-groove base 52 V-groove 54 Fiber clamp

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A ribbon fiber holder comprising a base and a lid which can be opened and closed with respect to the base, wherein a ribbon fiber is sandwiched between the base and the lid to hold the ribbon fiber. The clamp surface is divided into a plurality of clamp surfaces according to the ribbon fiber width,
The heights of the plurality of clamping surfaces differ according to the thickness of the ribbon fiber, and the height of the second inner surface of the lid is increased.
The holder for ribbon fiber, wherein the clamp surface is constituted by a plurality of clamp surfaces having a height complementary to the first clamp surface.