JPH07333466A - Insertion method and insertion device of multiple optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to exactly insert an optical fiber ribbon into a multiple optical fiber connector ferrule without depending upon a skilled person by guiding the front end of this optical fiber ribbon by guide grooves at the base. CONSTITUTION:The MT connector ferrule 1 supported and fixed at a mounting section 15 is inclined in such a manner that the optical fiber ribbon insertion port side exists downward in accordance with the output signal from a sensor 18 by an angle theta of inclination around an axis 16 in the stage the front ends of optical fibers 7 arrive at the upward position of U grooves 4. The front ends of the optical fiber ribbon 6 are, therefore, pressed to the base and are so fitted in the U-grooves 4 that the front ends of the optical fibers 7 are placed along these grooves. While the front ends of the optical fibers 7 are guided in the V-grooves 4, the front ends advance along the U-grooves 4 and are guided into fine holes 5 according to the further insertion of the optical fiber ribbon 6. A moving means 21 is controlled via a control means 20 in accordance with the signal from the sensor 18 and the mounting base 15 is turned and returned to an original horizontal state when the front ends of the optical fibers 7 are inserted into the fine holes 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical fiber tape,
The present invention relates to a multi-fiber optical fiber insertion method for inserting into a multi-fiber optical connector ferrule and a multi-fiber optical fiber insertion device for suitably implementing this method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently, construction of an information communication network using an optical fiber cable is being actively promoted. Optical fiber connection technology is important for the construction of this information communication network, and connector connection is one of the connection technologies. In this method, a highly accurate MT connector ferrule is attached to an optical fiber whose coating is removed, and the MT connector ferrules are connected with pins or the like.

Here, in the process of attaching the MT connector ferrule to the optical fiber, although an insertion tool is used, there are many parts that depend on manual work, and at present the skill of the operator is required. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the MT connector ferrule and the stripped optical fiber tape (a plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel with each other). In the figure, reference numeral 1 is an MT connector ferrule (multi-core optical connector ferrule), 2 is an optical fiber tape insertion port, 3 is a step,
Reference numeral 4 is a wide U-shaped groove having a guide function, 5 is a fine hole having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the optical fiber, 6 is an optical fiber tape, and 7 is an optical fiber. The U groove 4 is provided to guide the optical fiber 7 along the fine hole 5 from the vicinity of the step 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of the above insertion tool. Reference numeral 8 denotes a connector ferrule fixing portion, 9 a movable slide, and 10 a tape groove. In order to insert the optical fiber tape into the MT connector ferrule 1 with the insertion tool, the MT is first attached to the connector ferrule fixing portion 8.
The connector ferrule 1 is fixed, and then the optical fiber tape 6 is guided along the tape groove 10 so that the tip end of the optical fiber tape 6 is held by the movable slide 9. Then, the movable slide 9 is moved toward the connector ferrule fixing portion 8 so that the optical fiber tape 6 is inserted into the MT connector ferrule 1.

[0005]

The conventional multi-fiber optical fiber inserting device described above has the following problems. That is, the movable slide 9 is moved toward the connector ferrule fixing portion 8 to move the optical fiber tape 6 to the MT.
At the time of insertion into the connector ferrule 1, the optical fiber 7 at the tip of the optical fiber tape 6 is pressed and moved without being set accurately in the U groove 4 of the MT connector ferrule 1, and the tip of the optical fiber 7 is pushed. However, there was a problem in that when it moved from the U-groove 4 to the fine hole 5, it could not be inserted into the fine hole 5 well, and the tip of the optical fiber 7 hits the wall portion around the fine hole 5 and breaks. In particular, since the optical fiber tape 6 is usually wound around a bobbin and used, it is wound, which makes it more difficult to insert the optical fiber 7 into the fine holes 5.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a method of inserting a multi-fiber optical fiber which can automatically insert an optical fiber tape into a multi-fiber optical connector ferrule without breaking the optical fiber, and It is intended to provide an insertion device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention of claim 1, a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in parallel with each other, and an optical fiber tape is formed by forming the optical fibers into a tape shape. A method for inserting into a multi-fiber optical connector ferrule, wherein when the optical fiber tape is inserted into the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule, the angle of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule is inclined with respect to the insertion direction of the optical fiber tape. By causing the tip of the optical fiber tape to be pressed against the bottom surface in the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule, the optical fiber tape advances in the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule along the guide groove of the bottom surface, The tip of the optical fiber tape is inserted into the fine hole on the front surface of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the optical fiber tape is inserted into the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule and the tip of the optical fiber tape is pushed into the fine hole on the front surface of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule, and the optical fiber. In the vicinity of the tip of the tape, an optical fiber guide means for guiding the tip position of the optical fiber tape by regulating the direction of the optical fiber tape; A sensor for detecting a position and, when inserting the optical fiber tape into the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule, by inclining the insertion direction of the optical fiber tape and the angle of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule, the optical fiber tape And a tilting mechanism for pressing the tip against the bottom surface in the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule. It is characterized in.

[0009]

In the present invention, when the optical fiber tape is inserted into the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule, the angle of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule is inclined with respect to the insertion direction of the optical fiber tape, so that the end of the optical fiber tape is The optical fiber connector is pressed against the bottom of the ferrule. Therefore, the tip of the optical fiber tape is surely guided by the guide groove on the bottom surface, and in this state, by advancing in the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule, the tip of the optical fiber tape is made into a fine hole on the front surface of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule. Is inserted into. As a result, the reliability of the insertability of the tip of the optical fiber tape into the fine hole on the front surface of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule is increased.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The same components as those of the optical fiber tape and the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule described in the conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals to simplify the description.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 is a chuck type holder for gripping and fixing the tip portion of the optical fiber tape. The holder 11 is set on the table 12. Table 1
Reference numeral 2 is movable and adjustable in the X direction and the Y direction in FIG. 1 by driving means such as a motor (not shown). In addition, the holder 11 is a light guide that guides the tip position by correcting the curling of the optical fiber 7 that composes the multi-fiber optical fiber tape 6 that is gripped and fixed by the holder 11 to regulate the direction of the optical fiber tape. A fiber guide means 14 is also provided. The optical fiber guide means 14 is fixed to the tip of the table 12 and supports the multi-fiber optical fiber tape 6 gripped and fixed by the holder 11 from below.
And an upper guide 14b that presses the optical fiber 7 extending forward of the optical fiber tape 6 from above at a position further forward of the portion supported by the lower guide 14a.
The upper guide 14b can be adjusted to move up and down by a driving means (not shown). By these means, the optical fiber tape 6 can be adjusted.
The tip position of is guided.

Reference numeral 15 is a mount for supporting and fixing the MT connector ferrule 1 on the upper portion. The mounting base 15 is supported by a base 17 via a shaft 16 extending in the same direction as the width direction of the MT connector ferrule 1 supported and fixed on the mounting base 15, and an inclining mechanism including a motor and a power transmission system. The shaft 16 is tilted by the shaft 15a. Further, the base 17 can be moved and adjusted in the vertical direction (Z direction in the drawing) by a driving means (not shown).

Reference numeral 18 indicates the vicinity of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule,
For example, a sensor arranged above the fiber mount 15. The sensor 18 detects the positions of the MT connector ferrule 1 and the optical fiber tape 6, and the optical fiber tape 6 held by the holder 11 approaches the MT connector ferrule 1 supported and fixed on the mount 15. MT connector ferrule 1 when moving in advance
This is to detect whether or not the optical fiber tape 6 and the optical fiber tape 6 are deviated in the width direction of the optical fiber tape 6 with a TV camera and detect them by image processing. Further, the sensor 18 moves when the optical fiber tape 6 gripped by the holder 11 approaches the MT connector ferrule 1 fixed by the mounting base 15 as described above.
Whether the tip of the MT connector ferrule 1 reaches the U groove 4 at the substantially center of the MT connector ferrule 1 is detected through the upper opening 1a which is the adhesive injection port of the MT connector ferrule 1.

A control means 20 is electrically connected to the sensor 18. The control means 20 controls the holder 11 in the X direction and the Y direction based on the signal output from the sensor 18.
Drive means for moving the base 17 in the vertical direction (Z direction) may be provided, if necessary. Further, the control means 2
0 indicates the mount 15 supported by the base 17 as the shaft 1
The moving means 21 is composed of an inclining mechanism 15a that rotates about 6. The control means 2
In the case of 0, the upper guide 14b can also be adjusted to move up and down through a driving means (not shown). Since the specific control of the control means 20 will be apparent from the description given later, its explanation is omitted here.

Next, a method of inserting the optical fiber tape 6 into the MT connector ferrule 1 by using the multi-fiber optical fiber inserting device having the above-mentioned structure will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 1, the coated portion of the optical fiber tape 6 from which the coating on the tip portion has been removed in advance is gripped and fixed to the holder 11,
The holder 11 is fixed to the table 12. On the other hand, the MT connector ferrule 1 is fixed on the mount 15.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, positioning is performed so that the center line of the optical fiber tape 6 and the center line of the MT connector ferrule 1 coincide with each other. For this positioning, the sensor 18 measures the outer shapes of the MT connector ferrule 1 and the optical fiber tape 6, and the moving means 21 is operated via the control means 20 based on the output signal output from the sensor 18, and the MT connector ferrule 1 is operated. This is done by moving the table 12 in accordance with the deviation in the Y direction between the optical fiber tape 6 and the optical fiber tape 6. If necessary, when the insertion of the insertion tape 6 of the optical fiber 6 is started, the upper guide 1
The optical fiber tape 6 and the MT connector ferrule 1 are positioned in the Z-axis direction by 4b. At this time,
As shown in, the center line of the optical fiber tape 6 is offset by a predetermined distance H higher than the center line of the MT connector ferrule 1. The positioning in the Z-axis direction may be performed using a height sensor (not shown),
The base 17 may be set at a position lowered from the initial position by a predetermined amount without using the sensor.

Next, the moving means 21 is driven based on the signal from the control means 20, the table 12 is moved in the X-axis direction, and the optical fiber tape 6 is moved to the MT connector ferrule 1.
Insert inside. At this time, the optical fiber tape 6 is usually wound from the state wound on the bobbin, and therefore, the optical fiber tape 6 has a curl, and the optical fiber 7 at the tip tends to hang down just by grasping it in the holder 11, so that the insertion is difficult. There is concern that it will become. However, in this optical fiber inserting device, as shown in FIG. 3, the lower guide 14a abuts the lower surface of the optical fiber tape 6 to correct the downward sag of the optical fiber tape 6, and at least the optical fiber 7 By the time the tip approaches the tape insertion opening of the MT connector ferrule 1, the upper guide 14b has lowered and has come into contact with the tip of the optical fiber 7 that has risen upwards, and the tip of the optical fiber 7 has the tip of the MT connector ferrule 1. It descends to a position that prevents it from coming off the optical fiber tape insertion slot 2. In this state, by moving the table 12 in the X direction, the optical fiber 7 can be surely inserted into the optical fiber tape insertion opening 2 of the MT connector ferrule 1.

Thereafter, the optical fiber 7 is continuously inserted into the MT connector ferrule 1, but the optical fiber 7
When the optical fiber tape 6 is inserted into the optical fiber tape insertion opening 2, the first role of the upper guide 14a ends and the optical fiber tape 6 rises somewhat. However, as described above, the center line of the optical fiber tape 6 is the center of the MT connector ferrule 1. Since it is offset so as to be higher than the line by a predetermined distance H, the tip of the optical fiber 7 comes into contact with the step 3 which is the beginning of the U groove (guide groove) 4 and the position above the U groove 4 without breaking. Leading to.

Then, as shown in FIG.
When the tip of the sensor reaches the position above the U groove 4, the sensor 18
Based on the output signal from the MT connector ferrule 1 supported and fixed to the mounting portion 15, the inclination angle θ around the shaft 16 is set.
Therefore, the optical fiber tape insertion side is inclined downward. By this operation, the tip of the optical fiber tape 6 is pressed against the bottom surface, and the tip of the optical fiber 7 is fitted along the U groove 4. Since the U groove 4 is smoothly connected to the fine hole 5 in a taper shape, the optical fiber 7 is advanced along the U groove 4 while being guided by the U groove 4 as the optical fiber tape 6 is further inserted. , Are guided into the fine holes 5.

When the tip of the optical fiber 7 is inserted into the fine hole 5, the moving means 21 is controlled by the control means 20 based on the signal from the sensor 18, and the mounting base 15 is rotated to return to the original horizontal position. It is returned to the state. After that, the table 12 further moves, the optical fiber 7 is inserted to the fixed position, and the operation is completed.

During the insertion operation, a sensor unit (not shown) for detecting the insertion resistance of the MT connector ferrule 1 and the optical fiber 7 functions to prevent the optical fiber 7 from being broken due to overload. Further, in order to prevent breakage, the upper guide 14b does not retract completely and regulates the bending of the optical fiber.

In the above description, the inclination angle and the moving direction are relative. Therefore, the portion on which each means (mechanism) acts may be either the optical fiber tape or the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule side, and can be changed in any way according to the design specifications.

After the insertion is completed, image processing is performed by the sensor 18 or another sensor disposed in front of the base 17, and the presence or absence of breakage of the optical fiber 7 is recognized by recognizing the state of the tip of the optical fiber 7. To judge.

[0024]

According to the invention described in claim 1, when the optical fiber tape is inserted into the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule,
The tip of the optical fiber tape is surely guided by the guide groove on the bottom surface, and in this state, by advancing in the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule, the tip of the optical fiber tape is inserted into the fine hole on the front surface of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule. To be done. As a result, the reliability of the insertion of the optical fiber tape into the fine hole on the front of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule at the tip of the optical fiber tape is improved, and the optical fiber tape can be accurately and accurately transferred to the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule without relying on skilled personnel. Can be inserted into.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a moving means for inserting the optical fiber tape into the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule and pushing the tip of the optical fiber tape into the fine hole on the front surface of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule. In the vicinity of the tip of the optical fiber tape, optical fiber guide means for guiding the tip position of the optical fiber tape by regulating the direction of the optical fiber tape, and image processing arranged near the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule By inserting a sensor for detecting the position of the object by the optical fiber tape into the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule, by tilting the angle of the insertion direction of the optical fiber tape and the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule Inclination mechanism that presses the tip of the optical fiber tape against the bottom of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule Since having a can suitably implement the method of inserting the multi-fiber optical fiber described above.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a multi-fiber optical fiber inserting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the multi-fiber optical fiber inserting device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an MT connector ferrule mounting portion of the multi-fiber optical fiber inserting device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an MT connector ferrule and an uncovered optical fiber tape.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional multi-fiber optical fiber inserting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... MT connector ferrule, 2 ... Optical fiber insertion hole,
4 ... U groove, 5 ... Micro hole, 6 ... Optical fiber tape, 7 ... Optical fiber, 11 ... Holder (optical fiber tape gripping means), 12 ... Mounting base, 14 ... Optical fiber guiding means, 14
a ... lower guide, 14b ... upper guide, 15 ... mounting base,
15a ... Tilt mechanism, 16 ... Shaft, 17 ... Base, 18 ... Sensor, 20 ... Control means, 21 ... Moving means.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Mikio Yoshinuma 1440 Rokuzaki, Sakura-shi, Chiba Fujikura Co., Ltd. Sakura factory (72) Makoto Okada, Kitahara, Hara-machi, Fukushima 18 Haramachi, Japan Automatic Machine Co., Ltd. in the factory

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A method of arranging a plurality of optical fibers in parallel with each other and inserting the optical fiber tape formed into a tape shape into a multi-fiber optical connector ferrule, wherein the optical fiber tape is When inserting into the optical fiber connector ferrule, by inclining the angle of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule with respect to the insertion direction of the optical fiber tape, the optical fiber tape tip is on the bottom surface in the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule. When pressed, the optical fiber tape advances in the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule along the guide groove on the bottom surface, whereby the tip of the optical fiber tape is inserted into the fine hole on the front surface of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule. A method for inserting a multi-fiber optical fiber, which is characterized in that 2. A moving means for inserting an optical fiber tape into a multi-fiber optical connector ferrule and pushing the tip of the optical fiber tape into a fine hole on the front surface of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule, and in the vicinity of the tip of the optical fiber tape. An optical fiber guide means for guiding the tip position of the optical fiber tape by regulating the direction of the optical fiber tape, and a sensor arranged near the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule for detecting the position of an object by image processing. When the optical fiber tape is inserted into the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule, the tip of the optical fiber tape is moved to the multi-fiber optical tape by inclining the insertion direction of the optical fiber tape and the angle of the multi-fiber optical connector ferrule. Inserting a multi-fiber optical fiber that has a tilting mechanism that presses against the bottom surface of the connector ferrule. Apparatus.