JPH075103U - V-groove member cleaning tool - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] The present invention relates to a cleaning tool for removing dust and the like adhering to a V-groove wire when axially aligning an optical fiber. [Structure] V used when aligning optical fibers
In the cleaning tool 3 for the grooved wire 5, a plurality of wires 1 each having a smaller diameter than the optical fiber outer diameter and having rigidity are arranged in parallel, and one end thereof is fixed to the tip of the holder 2 to form a brush.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a cleaning tool for removing dust and the like adhering to a V-groove member when aligning an optical fiber.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 It is necessary to align the optical fibers with each other, such as when connecting optical fibers to each other with a connector or by fusion, or when combining optical fibers with a measuring instrument to measure the characteristics of the optical fiber. Many members are used. However, if the glass particles of the optical fiber or the residue of the coating adheres to the V groove during the connection, the optical axis of the optical fiber shifts and the connection loss increases. In order to prevent this point, conventionally, a method of wiping the groove portion of the V groove with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol has been used.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 When such a method is used, it is impossible to clean the inside of the V groove because the swab is larger than the V groove. Further, if the coating material of the optical fiber adheres, it is difficult to eliminate it because of its high viscosity. Further, there is a problem that the glass particles cannot be removed with a cotton swab if they are burned by the discharge heat. Then, this invention aims at providing the cleaning tool of the V groove member which solved such a problem.

[0004]

[Means for solving the problem]

 The V-groove member cleaning tool of the present invention is a V-groove member cleaning tool used for aligning optical fibers, in which a plurality of wire rods having a smaller diameter than the optical fiber outer diameter and having rigidity are arranged in parallel. It is characterized in that one end thereof is fixed to the tip of the holder to form a brush.

The wire rod of the cleaning tool is a steel wire, and the tip of the fixed wire rod is square or inclined with respect to the holder shaft, and the width of the fixed wire rod is not larger than the V groove width. Characterize.

[0006]

[Action]

 According to the above construction, since the wire rod of the cleaning tool according to the present invention is thinner than the outer diameter of the optical fiber to be connected and has rigidity, dust adhering to the V groove can be removed. In addition, since the width of the fixed wire is not larger than the width of the V groove, it is less likely that the V groove is inadvertently scratched and its accuracy is lowered.

[0007]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a V-groove member cleaning tool according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the cleaning tool is used. The cleaning tool 3 is formed by fixing the wire 1 to the tip of the holder 2. The outer diameter of the wire 1 is smaller than the outer diameter of the optical fiber held in the groove 4, and dust adhering to the groove is removed. Therefore, a steel wire of 0.1 mmφ was used because it requires rigidity. Forty steel wires are attached to the tip of the holder 2 in a brush shape with a wire material width of 1.5 mm and a length of 5 mm protruding, but it is preferable that the width of the adhered wire material is not larger than the width of the V groove. This is for preventing the wire rod 1 from being in contact with the inner surface of the groove of the ceramic V-shaped groove member 5 more than necessary and causing scratches. The tip of the fixed wire is usually attached at right angles to the holder shaft, but it may be provided at an angle.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a case where the optical fiber is fusion-spliced by using the cleaning tool of the present invention. A tape type optical fiber 8-1 composed of four optical fibers 7-1 and 7-2 is provided. The ends of 8-2 are abutted on the V-groove members 5-1 and 5-2, respectively, and are fixed by the holding plates 6-1 and 6-2. The abutted portion 9 is fixed by arc discharge (not shown). The state of fusion splicing is shown. During fusion splicing, fine particles of glass of the optical fiber, coating waste of the optical fiber, and the like adhere to the V-grooves, and unless the inner surface of the V-grooves is always cleaned, misalignment may occur.

Therefore, regarding the optical fiber of which 1 to 4 SM fibers are tape-shaped, the fibers are connected by using a cotton swab at the time of fusion splicing and the fibers connected while being cleaned by using the cleaning tool of the present invention. The amount of axial deviation was comparatively measured from the X and Y directions by a microscope observation method. The measurement results are shown in Table 1. When this amount of axis deviation is 5 μm, the connection loss is 0. Since it is 2 dB, it is controlled to be 3 μm or less. Therefore, by using the cleaning tool of the present invention, a sufficiently stable fusion splicing can be achieved.

[0010]

[Table 1]

[0011]

[Equation 1]

[0012]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, since the wire rod of the cleaning tool is thinner than the outer diameter of the optical fiber to be connected and has rigidity, the dust adhering to the V groove can be removed. In addition, since the width of the fixed wire is not larger than the width of the V groove, it is less likely that the V groove is inadvertently scratched and its accuracy is lowered.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a V-groove member cleaning tool according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state in which the cleaning tool of the present invention is used.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the case where the optical fiber is fusion-spliced using the cleaning tool of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Wire 2: Holder 3: Cleaning tool 4: Groove 5: V groove member 6: Holding plate 7: Optical fiber 8: Tape type fiber 9: Butt part

Claims (4)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A cleaning tool for a V-groove member used for axial alignment of an optical fiber, wherein a plurality of wire rods having a smaller diameter than the optical fiber outer diameter and having rigidity are juxtaposed, one end of which is a tip of a holder. A cleaning tool for a V-groove member, characterized in that it is adhered to and is formed into a brush shape. 2. The V-groove member cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the wire is a steel wire. 3. The wire rod fixedly attached has a tip which is perpendicular or inclined to the holder shaft.
The V-groove member cleaning tool described. 4. The V-groove member cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the width of the fixed wire is not larger than the V-groove width.