JPH08240735A - Optical fiber fusion splicing device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an optical fiber fusion splicing device and optical fiber fusion splicing method capable of simplifying parts for housing reinforcing members, shortening connection time, reducing a cost and reducing the size of a device by forming the reinforcing members to the members of the constitution different from the constitution used thus far with the optical fiber fusion splicing device. CONSTITUTION: This optical fiber fusion splicing device has a fiber supply magazine for housing the plural reinforcing members 20 for reinforcing the parts connected with the optical fibers 22. The fiber supply magazine is provided with a reinforcing member holding section 24 for holding the reinforcing members 20 and an optical fiber holding section 26 for holding the optical fibers 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber fusion splicing device for reinforcing a splicing point of an optical fiber with a reinforcing member, and an optical fiber fusion splicing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a sandwich type reinforcing member used in a conventional optical fiber fusion splicing apparatus. The two optical fibers 10 and 12 are fusion-spliced after the coating is removed. Since the glass is exposed at the portion where the coating is removed, the connecting portion is sandwiched and reinforced by the upper body 14 and the lower body 16 from above and below. The upper body 14 is made of Invar alloy, and the lower body 16 is made of glass ceramics. The upper body 14 and the lower body 16 are joined by the hot melt adhesive 18 applied to each.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional optical fiber fusion splicing apparatus, the upper body 14 is used.
It is necessary to separately provide a space for accommodating the lower body 16 and the lower body 16, and a take-out device must be provided for each space. Therefore, there are problems that the operation time becomes long, the cost increases, and the apparatus becomes large.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to simplify the connecting portion of the reinforcing member by connecting the reinforcing member to a structure different from that used in the conventional optical fiber fusion splicing device. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber fusion splicing device and an optical fiber fusion splicing method capable of shortening the time, reducing the cost, and downsizing the device.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is an optical fiber fusion splicing device for fusion splicing the ends of two optical fibers, wherein the optical fibers are In an optical fiber fusion splicing device including a fiber supply magazine that stores a plurality of reinforcing members that reinforce the connected portion, a reinforcing member gripping portion that grips the reinforcing member,
An optical fiber gripping portion for gripping the optical fiber is provided in the fiber supply magazine, and the reinforcing member includes a heat shrinkable tube whose diameter is reduced by heating, a hot melt adhesive tube inserted in the heat shrinkable tube, and a heat shrinkable member. An optical fiber that is inserted into the tube and has a reinforcing intervening member and that is gripped by the optical fiber gripping portion is inserted into the hot melt adhesive tube.

It is desirable that the tip of the optical fiber protrudes from the end face of the reinforcing member in a state where the optical fiber is inserted into the hot melt adhesive tube.

In the plurality of reinforcing members, it is desirable that the reinforcing interposing member is arranged in the same direction with respect to the hot melt adhesive tube.

A fiber gripping hand for gripping an optical fiber inserted in a hot melt adhesive tube in a reinforcing member housed in a fiber supply magazine, and a reinforcement for gripping a reinforcing member housed in a fiber supply magazine. An optical fiber automatic feeder having a member gripping hand may be provided.

An optical fiber carrying roller for supporting the optical fiber and moving it in the longitudinal direction may be provided.

The optical fiber gripping hand and the reinforcing member gripping hand may be attached, and a carrier device for moving them in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber may be provided.

The optical fiber carrying roller for supporting the optical fiber and moving it in the longitudinal direction may be movable by the carrying device.

Further, the invention according to claim 8 is an optical fiber gripping hand for automatically gripping and releasing an optical fiber, a heat shrink tube whose diameter is reduced by heating, and hot melt bonding inserted in the heat shrink tube. An agent tube, and a reinforcing member gripping hand that automatically grips and releases a plurality of reinforcing members including a reinforcing intervening member that is inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube, and a fiber supply magazine that stores the plurality of reinforcing members, A method for fusion splicing an optical fiber by an optical fiber fusion splicing device comprising an optical fiber transporting roller that transports the optical fiber in its longitudinal direction,
With the optical fiber gripping hand, the reinforcing member gripping hand, and the tips of the optical fibers to be fusion-spliced arranged in this order in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber, the optical fiber is inserted into the hot melt adhesive tube stored in the fiber supply magazine. The first step of gripping the reinforcing member in the state of being held by the reinforcing member gripping hand, and separating the reinforcing member gripping hand from the fiber supply magazine so that the reinforcing member is conveyed from the reinforcing member supply magazine in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber. A second step for stopping the transportation, a third step for stopping the transportation in a state where the tip of the optical fiber inserted into the hot melt adhesive tube is not pulled out from the hot melt adhesive tube, and a roller for transporting the optical fiber. , Transport the optical fiber in the direction in which the part of the optical fiber protruding from the Driver is one with a fourth step of the state through a hot-melt adhesive tube and a fifth step of gripping the optical fiber by the optical fiber holding arm.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, an optical fiber gripping hand for automatically gripping and releasing an optical fiber, a heat shrink tube whose diameter is reduced by heating, and a hot melt adhesive tube inserted in the heat shrink tube. , And a reinforcing member gripping hand that automatically grips and releases a plurality of reinforcing members including a reinforcing intervening member that is inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube, a fiber supply magazine that stores the plurality of reinforcing members, and an optical fiber. Is a method for fusion splicing an optical fiber by an optical fiber fusion splicing device having an optical fiber transporting roller for transporting the optical fiber in its longitudinal direction, the optical fiber gripping hand, the reinforcing member gripping hand, and the fusion splicing. From the state in which the tip of the optical fiber is arranged in this order in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber, the optical fiber is conveyed by the optical fiber transporting roller. A first step of transporting the optical fiber in the hand direction so that the optical fiber penetrates through the hot melt adhesive tube, a second step of gripping the optical fiber with the optical fiber gripping hand, and a reinforcing member gripping hand. And a third step of conveying the reinforcing member from the reinforcing member supply magazine in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a heat-shrinkable tube whose diameter is reduced by heating, a hot-melt adhesive tube inserted in the heat-shrinkable tube, and a reinforcing intervening member inserted in the heat-shrinkable tube and having rigidity. A step of supplying an optical fiber inserted into a hot melt adhesive tube, a step of removing the coating near the tip of the optical fiber, a step of cutting the tip part of the optical fiber, By the steps of aligning the optical fibers, bringing the ends of the two optical fibers thus treated close to each other, and then fusion-splicing them,
The process of gripping the optical fiber on the side opposite to the reinforcing member with respect to the connection point of the optical fiber and the process of gripping and pulling the optical fiber on the same side as the reinforcing member with respect to the connection point of the optical fiber A step of applying a tensile tension to the connection point of, and a step of conveying the reinforcing member to the connection point of the optical fiber by a conveying means having a reinforcing member grasping portion for grasping the reinforcing member and an optical fiber grasping portion for grasping the optical fiber. And a step of reinforcing the connection point of the optical fiber with a reinforcing member.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, a heat-shrinkable tube having a diameter reduced by heating, a hot-melt adhesive tube inserted in the heat-shrinkable tube, and a reinforcing intervening member inserted in the heat-shrinkable tube and having rigidity. And a step of supplying an optical fiber inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube, a step of removing the coating near the tip of the optical fiber, and a step of cutting the tip part of the optical fiber,
A step of aligning a plurality of optical fibers, a step of bringing the tips of the two optical fibers thus treated close to each other, and then fusion-splicing them, and a gripping means to reinforce the connection point of the optical fibers By gripping the optical fiber on the side opposite to the member, and gripping and pulling the optical fiber on the same side as the reinforcing member with respect to the connection point of the optical fiber,
The step of applying tensile tension to the connection point of the optical fiber, the step of conveying the reinforcing member to the connection point of the optical fiber by the conveyance arm having the slit into which the optical fiber is inserted formed at the tip, and the connection point of the optical fiber And a step of reinforcing the same with a reinforcing member.

The width of the slit formed in the transfer arm is
It is desirable to be narrower than the inner diameter of the hot melt adhesive tube and wider than the outer diameter of the optical fiber.

The invention according to claim 13 is a heat-shrinkable tube having a diameter reduced by heating, a hot-melt adhesive tube inserted in the heat-shrinkable tube, and a reinforcing member having a rigidity inserted in the heat-shrinkable tube. A first step of taking out the reinforcing member including the intervening member and the optical fiber inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube from the fiber supply magazine storing the reinforcing member and the optical fiber, and the second step of conveying the optical fiber to the coating removing unit. Step, a third step of removing the coating near the tip of the optical fiber by the coating removing section, a fourth step of transporting the optical fiber to the cutting section, and a fourth step of cutting the tip section of the optical fiber by the cutting section. 5, the sixth step of aligning a plurality of optical fibers by inserting the optical fibers into the V-groove for fusing, and the two optical fibers thus treated. After bringing the tips of the rivals close to each other, a seventh step of fusion-splicing these ends, an eighth step of transporting the connection point of the fusion-spliced optical fibers to the reinforcing section, and the reinforcing section An optical fiber fusion splicing method comprising: a ninth step of reinforcing a connection point with a reinforcing member, wherein the first, second, fourth, sixth and eighth steps include the optical fiber and the reinforcement. It is carried out by a carrying device having a gripping part for gripping a member.

[0018]

In the invention according to claim 1, a heat-shrinkable tube whose diameter is reduced by heating, a hot-melt adhesive tube inserted in the heat-shrinkable tube, and a reinforcing member which is inserted in the heat-shrinkable tube and has rigidity A plurality of reinforcing members including intervening members are stored in the fiber supply magazine, and
The ends of the optical fibers of the book are fusion-spliced, and the connecting portion of the optical fibers is reinforced by the reinforcing member. The fiber supply magazine is provided with a reinforcing member gripping portion for gripping the reinforcing member and an optical fiber gripping portion for gripping the optical fiber, and the optical fiber is inserted through the hot melt adhesive tube.

In the invention according to claim 8, the reinforcing member is grasped by the reinforcing member grasping hand from the state where the optical fiber grasping hand, the reinforcing member grasping hand and the optical fiber tip are arranged in this order, and the reinforcing member is retained. The optical fiber is conveyed from the supply magazine in the longitudinal direction, and this conveyance is stopped while the tip of the optical fiber is not pulled out of the hot melt adhesive tube, and the portion for protruding from the reinforcing member is lengthened by the optical fiber conveying roller. The optical fiber is conveyed in a direction so that the optical fiber penetrates the hot melt adhesive tube, and the optical fiber is gripped by the optical fiber gripping hand.

In the invention according to claim 9, the optical fiber is conveyed by the optical fiber conveying roller in the longitudinal direction from a state in which the optical fiber grasping hand, the reinforcing member grasping hand and the tip of the optical fiber are arranged in this order. , The optical fiber is penetrated through the hot melt adhesive tube, the optical fiber is grasped by the optical fiber grasping hand, the reinforcing member is grasped by the reinforcing member grasping hand, and the reinforcing member is carried out from the reinforcing member supply magazine and reinforced. The member is conveyed in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber.

According to the tenth aspect of the invention, the reinforcing member and the optical fiber are supplied, the coating near the tip of the optical fiber is removed, the tip portion of the optical fiber is cut, and a plurality of optical fibers are aligned. The tips of the two optical fibers thus treated are brought close to each other and fusion-spliced, and the gripping means grips the optical fiber on the side opposite to the reinforcing member with respect to the connection point of the optical fiber, and On the other hand, by holding and pulling the optical fiber on the same side as the reinforcing member, a tensile tension is applied to the connecting point of the optical fiber, and the conveying member conveys the reinforcing member to the connecting point of the optical fiber. Are reinforced by using a reinforcing member.

In the invention according to claim 11, the reinforcing member and the optical fiber are supplied, the coating near the tip of the optical fiber is removed, the tip portion of the optical fiber is cut, and a plurality of optical fibers are aligned. The ends of the two optical fibers thus treated are brought into close proximity to each other by fusion splicing, and one end of the optical fiber is held and the other end of the optical fiber is pulled to thereby apply tensile tension to the connection point of the optical fibers. The reinforcing member is conveyed to the connecting point of the optical fiber by the conveying arm having the slit into which the optical fiber is inserted at the tip, and the connecting point of the optical fiber is reinforced by using the reinforcing member.

Further, in the invention according to claim 13,
The reinforcing member and the optical fiber are taken out from the fiber supply magazine that stores them, the optical fiber is conveyed to the coating removing section, the coating near the tip of the optical fiber is removed by the coating removing section, and the optical fiber is conveyed to the cutting section. The tip portion of the optical fiber is cut by the cutting portion, the plurality of optical fibers are aligned by inserting the optical fiber into the V groove for fusing, and the tips of the two optical fibers thus treated are brought close to each other and fused. The connection points of the optical fibers that are connected and fusion-spliced are conveyed to the reinforcing portion, and the reinforcing portions reinforce the connection points of the optical fibers by using the reinforcing member. Then, some of these steps are performed by a transport device having a gripping portion that grips the optical fiber and the reinforcing member.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same or corresponding parts in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fiber supply magazine of an optical fiber fusion splicing apparatus constructed according to the present invention. The reinforcing member 20 is an optical fiber 22 that is fusion-spliced.
It reinforces the connection point of. A plurality of reinforcing members 20
Is held by the reinforcing member holding portion 24 of the fiber supply magazine, and the optical fiber 22 is held by the optical fiber holding portion 26. The reinforcing member 20 is composed of a heat-shrinkable tube 28 whose diameter is reduced by heating, a hot melt adhesive tube 30, and a reinforcing intervening member 32 having rigidity and a semicircular cross section. The hot melt adhesive tube 30 and the reinforcing interposition member 32 are inserted into the heat shrinkable tube 28. Also, the optical fiber 2
2 is inserted in the hot melt adhesive tube 30. The reinforcing member 20 and the optical fiber 22 are the upper pressing portion 3
It is suppressed by 4.

2 and 3 are a perspective view and a side view showing the detailed structure of the fiber supply magazine. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper pressing portion 34 is configured to open and close with respect to the lower magazine 36 as indicated by an arrow A ₁ . The reinforcing member 20 is fed from the back to the front of the fiber supply magazine, as indicated by the arrow A ₂ . Further, the reinforcing member gripping portion 24 and the optical fiber gripping portion 26 have a shape as shown in FIG. The optical fiber grip 26 is indicated by an arrow A in FIG.
Open and close as shown in ₃ . The same applies to the reinforcing member grip 24.

FIG. 4 (a) is a sectional view of the fiber supply magazine, in which the optical fiber 22 extends to the left and right. 4 (b) is a diagram showing the reinforcing member gripping portion 24, and FIG. 4 (c) is a diagram showing the optical fiber gripping portion 26.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the fiber supply magazine. In the fiber supply magazine shown in FIG. 1, the reinforcing members 20 are stored in a state of being arranged in the horizontal direction, but in the fiber supply magazine shown in FIG. 5, the reinforcing members 20 are arranged in the direction of vertical. It is stored.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the reinforcing member 20
Optical fiber 2 inserted in the hot-melt adhesive tube 30 with the optical fiber 2 stored in the fiber supply magazine.
2 is preferably projected from the end surface of the reinforcing member 20. This is to enable the distal end of the optical fiber 22 to be gripped and pulled when the optical fiber 22 and the reinforcing member 20 are relatively moved while being inserted into the reinforcing member 20.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, in the plurality of reinforcing members 20 housed in the fiber supply magazine, the direction in which the reinforcing interposition member 32 is arranged with respect to the hot melt adhesive tube 30 is It is desirable that they are the same as each other. In this case, the optical fiber 22 inserted through the hot melt adhesive tube 30 and the reinforcing interposition member 32.
Since the relative positional relationship with
It becomes easy to grip the two.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which an automatic optical fiber feeder 40 is arranged next to the fiber feeding magazine 38 along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 22. The automatic optical fiber feeder 40 holds a fiber holding hand 42 for holding the optical fiber 22 inserted in the hot melt adhesive tube 30 and a reinforcing member holding member for holding the reinforcing member 20 stored in the fiber supply magazine 38. Hand 4
4 are provided. These hands hold the optical fiber 22 and the reinforcing member 20 by moving two flat plates up and down.

As shown in FIG. 6, it is preferable that the optical fiber 22 is conveyed by the optical fiber conveying roller 46 attached to the portion that moves together with the fiber supply magazine 38. The optical fiber conveying roller 46 is the optical fiber 2
It is composed of two rollers which sandwich 2 from above and below, and the lower roller is movable up and down as shown by an arrow A ₄ .

The optical fiber automatic feeder 40 is attached to the carrier 48 and is movable in the direction of arrow A ₅ .

In FIG. 6, the optical fiber carrying roller 46 is shown.
Is attached to a portion that moves together with the fiber supply magazine 38, but may be movable by the transport device 48.

FIG. 7 shows that the reinforcing member 20 is taken out from the fiber supply magazine 38 using the apparatus shown in FIG.
It shows a method of projecting the optical fiber 22 from the reinforcing member 20.

First, FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an initial state. In this state, the reinforcing member 20 is housed in the fiber supply magazine 38, and the optical fiber 22 is inserted into the hot melt adhesive tube 30. The optical fiber gripping hand 42, the reinforcing member gripping hand 44, and the tip of the optical fiber 22 are arranged in this order from left to right in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 22. Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, bring the reinforcing member gripping hand 44 close to the reinforcing member 20,
The reinforcing member 20 is gripped by the reinforcing member gripping hand 44 (first step).

Next, as shown in FIG. 7C, the reinforcing member gripping hand 44 is moved to the left and separated from the fiber supply magazine 38. Thereby, the reinforcing member 20
From the reinforcing member supply magazine 38 in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 22 (second step).

This transportation is performed until the tip of the optical fiber 22 penetrating the hot melt adhesive tube 30 in the reinforcing member 20 is not pulled out from the hot melt adhesive tube 30, that is, the state shown in FIG. 7 (c). Performed (third step).

Next, as shown in FIG. 7D, after the lower roller of the optical fiber carrying roller 46 is moved upward, the reinforcing member 2 is moved by the optical fiber carrying roller 46.
The optical fiber 22 is conveyed in a direction in which the portion of the optical fiber 22 protruding from 0 becomes longer. This allows the optical fiber 2
No. 2 is again in a state of penetrating the hot melt adhesive tube 30 (fourth step).

Next, as shown in FIG. 7E, after the optical fiber 22 is gripped by the optical fiber gripping hand 42, the reinforcing member 20 and the optical fiber 22 are moved leftward (fifth step).

In FIG. 8, the reinforcing member 20 is taken out from the fiber supply magazine 38 using the apparatus shown in FIG.
It shows another example of the method of projecting the optical fiber 22 from the reinforcing member 20.

First, FIG. 8 (a) is a diagram showing an initial state. In this state, the optical fiber gripping hand 42, the reinforcing member gripping hand 44, and the tip of the optical fiber 22 are arranged in this order from left to right along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 22. Next, as shown in FIG. 8B, after the lower roller of the optical fiber carrying roller 46 is moved upward, the optical fiber 2 is moved by the optical fiber carrying roller 46.
2 is conveyed in its longitudinal direction from right to left. This allows
The optical fiber 22 is in a state of penetrating the inside of the hot melt adhesive tube 30 (first step).

Next, the optical fiber 22 is held by the optical fiber holding hand 42 (second step).

Next, as shown in FIG. 8C, after the lower roller of the optical fiber carrying roller 46 is moved downward, the reinforcing member gripping hand 44 grips the reinforcing member 20. Next, after carrying out the reinforcing member 20 from the reinforcing member supply magazine 38 as shown in FIG.
As shown in, the reinforcing member 20 is conveyed leftward along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 22 (third step).

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a method of reinforcing the connection point of the optical fiber. By the time the state shown in FIG. 9A is reached, the reinforcing member 20 and the optical fiber 22 inserted into the hot melt adhesive tube 30 are supplied, and the optical fiber 22
After removing the coating near the tip of the optical fiber 22, cutting the tip portion of the optical fiber 22, aligning the plurality of optical fibers 22, and bringing the tips of the two optical fibers 22 thus processed into close proximity, It is connected.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9A, the gripping means 50 grips the optical fiber 22 on the side opposite to the reinforcing member 20 with respect to the connection point 52 of the optical fiber 22.
Next, as shown in FIG. 9B, the optical fiber 22 on the same side as the reinforcing member 20 with respect to the connection point 52 is gripped and pulled by the pulling means 54 to apply a tensile tension to the connection point 52. To do. Next, the reinforcing member 20 is conveyed to the connection point 52 by the conveying means having the reinforcing member grasping portion 24 and the optical fiber grasping portion 26. Next, the reinforcing member 2
0 is heated and the connection point 52 is reinforced with the reinforcing member 20.

In FIG. 9B, the reinforcing member 20 is conveyed by a conveying means having a reinforcing member holding portion 24 and an optical fiber holding portion 26. However, the reinforcing member 20 may be conveyed by a conveying arm 58 having a slit 56 formed at the tip thereof, into which the optical fiber 22 is inserted, as shown in FIG.

Here, the width of the slit 56 is narrower than the inner diameter of the hot melt adhesive tube 30, and
Wider than the outer diameter of This is an optical fiber 2
2 must pass through the slit 56, and the hot melt adhesive tube 30 must not pass through the slit 56 and come off the transport arm 58.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a carrying device capable of performing a plurality of functions such as coating removal and fusion splicing. The fusion splicing of the optical fiber 22 is performed by sequentially performing the following 9 steps, and this transporting apparatus can perform some of these steps.

That is, the reinforcing member 20 and the optical fiber 2
A first step of taking 2 out of the fiber supply magazine 38, a second step of transporting the optical fiber 22 to the coating removing section 60, a third step of removing the coating near the tip of the optical fiber 22 by the coating removing section 60, A fourth step of transporting the two fusion-spliced optical fibers 22 to the cutting portion 62, a fifth step of cutting the tip portion of the optical fiber 22 by the cutting portion 62, and a V groove for fusing the optical fiber 22 64
Sixth for aligning the optical fiber 22 by inserting into the sixth
Step, the seventh step of bringing the ends of the two optical fibers 22 thus treated close to each other, and then splicing them by the splicing portion 66 having the electrode 65, the spliced optical fibers It is an eighth step of transporting the connection points 52 of 22 to the reinforcement portion 68, and a ninth step of reinforcing the connection points 52 with the reinforcement member 20 by the reinforcement portions 68.

Of these nine steps, the first, second, fourth, sixth and eighth steps are carried out by the carrier device 70 having a holding part for holding the optical fiber 22 and the reinforcing member 20. .

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, the reinforcing member has a structure different from that used in the conventional optical fiber fusion splicing device, and thereby the portion for accommodating the reinforcing member is accommodated. Simplified. As a result, it is possible to obtain an optical fiber fusion splicing apparatus and an optical fiber fusion splicing method that can reduce the operating time, reduce the cost, and downsize the apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fiber supply magazine of an optical fiber fusion splicing apparatus constructed according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a detailed configuration of a fiber supply magazine.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a detailed configuration of a fiber supply magazine.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a detailed configuration of a fiber supply magazine, and a view showing a reinforcing member gripping portion and an optical fiber gripping portion.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the fiber supply magazine.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which an automatic optical fiber supply device is arranged next to a fiber supply magazine along the longitudinal direction of an optical fiber.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a method of using the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 to take out the reinforcing member from the fiber supply magazine and project the optical fiber from the reinforcing member.

FIG. 8 is a view showing another example of the method of using the device shown in FIG. 6 to take out the reinforcing member from the fiber supply magazine and project the optical fiber from the reinforcing member.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a method of reinforcing a connection point of an optical fiber.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a reinforcing member is being conveyed by a conveying arm having a slit into which an optical fiber is inserted and which is formed at the tip.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a carrier device capable of performing a plurality of functions such as coating removal and fusion splicing.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a sandwich type reinforcing member used in a conventional optical fiber fusion splicing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 ... Reinforcement member, 22 ... Optical fiber, 24 ... Reinforcement member gripping portion, 26 ... Optical fiber gripping portion, 28 ... Heat shrink tube, 30 ... Hot melt adhesive tube, 32 ... Reinforcing interposition member, 38 ... Fiber supply magazine , 42 ... Fiber gripping hand, 44 ... Reinforcing member gripping hand, 46 ... Optical fiber transporting roller, 48 ... Transporting device, 50 ... Gripping means, 54 ... Pulling means, 56 ... Slit, 58 ... Transporting arm, 60 ... Coating removal Part, 62 ... Cutting part, 64 ... V groove for fusing, 66 ... Fusing part, 68 ... Reinforcing part, 70 ... Conveying device.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hideaki Yusa 1 Taya-cho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Yokohama Works (72) Rie Ono 1 Taya-cho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Sumitomo Electric Ki Industry Co., Ltd. Yokohama Works (72) Inventor Naoshi Ogawa 1-1-6 Uchiyuki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Yutaka Mie 2-6-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber fusion splicing device for fusion splicing the ends of two optical fibers, comprising a fiber supply magazine accommodating a plurality of reinforcing members for reinforcing the portions to which the optical fibers are connected. In the optical fiber fusion splicing device, a reinforcing member gripping portion that grips the reinforcing member and an optical fiber gripping portion that grips the optical fiber are provided in the fiber supply magazine, and the diameter of the reinforcing member is reduced by heating. A heat-shrinkable tube, a hot-melt adhesive tube inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube, and a reinforcing intervening member that is inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube and has rigidity; The optical fiber fusion splicing device, wherein the fiber is inserted through the hot melt adhesive tube. 2. The optical fiber fusion according to claim 1, wherein a tip of the optical fiber projects from an end surface of the reinforcing member in a state where the optical fiber is inserted into the hot melt adhesive tube. Destination connection device. 3. The light according to claim 1, wherein, in the plurality of reinforcing members, the directions in which the reinforcing interposition member is arranged with respect to the hot melt adhesive tube are the same as each other. Fiber fusion splicer. 4. A fiber gripping hand for gripping an optical fiber inserted into the hot melt adhesive tube in the reinforcing member in a state of being stored in the fiber supply magazine, and a state of being stored in the fiber supply magazine. The optical fiber fusion splicing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an optical fiber automatic supply device having a reinforcing member gripping hand that grips the reinforcing member. 5. The optical fiber fusion splicing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an optical fiber conveying roller that supports the optical fiber and moves it in the longitudinal direction. 6. The optical fiber fusion splicing according to claim 4, wherein the optical fiber gripping hand and the reinforcing member gripping hand are attached, and a carrier device for moving them in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber is provided. apparatus. 7. The optical fiber fusion splicing device according to claim 6, wherein an optical fiber conveying roller that supports the optical fiber and moves it in the longitudinal direction is movable by the conveying device. 8. An optical fiber gripping hand for automatically gripping and releasing an optical fiber, a heat shrink tube whose diameter is reduced by heating, a hot melt adhesive tube inserted in the heat shrink tube, and the heat shrink. Automatically grips a plurality of reinforcing members including a reinforcing intervening member that is inserted into the tube and has rigidity.
An optical fiber fusion splicing device provided with a reinforcing member gripping hand that opens, a fiber supply magazine that stores a plurality of the reinforcing members, and an optical fiber transporting roller that transports the optical fiber in its longitudinal direction A method of fusion splicing, wherein the optical fiber gripping hand, the reinforcing member gripping hand, and the tip of the optical fiber to be fusion spliced are arranged in this order in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber in the fiber supply magazine. A first step of gripping the reinforcing member in a state where the optical fiber is inserted through the hot melt adhesive tube by the reinforcing member gripping hand, and separating the reinforcing member gripping hand from the fiber supply magazine Conveys the reinforcing member from the reinforcing member supply magazine in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber. And a third step of stopping this transportation in a state where the tip of the optical fiber inserted in the hot melt adhesive tube is not pulled out from the hot melt adhesive tube, and the optical fiber transportation Fourth step of transporting the optical fiber in a direction in which the portion of the optical fiber protruding from the reinforcing member is lengthened by the roller for making the optical fiber penetrate the hot melt adhesive tube; A fifth step of gripping the optical fiber with a hand, and the optical fiber fusion splicing method. 9. An optical fiber gripping hand for automatically gripping and releasing an optical fiber, a heat shrink tube whose diameter is reduced by heating, a hot melt adhesive tube inserted in the heat shrink tube, and the heat shrink. Automatically grips a plurality of reinforcing members including a reinforcing intervening member that is inserted into the tube and has rigidity.
An optical fiber fusion splicing device provided with a reinforcing member gripping hand that opens, a fiber supply magazine that stores a plurality of the reinforcing members, and an optical fiber transporting roller that transports the optical fiber in its longitudinal direction A method for fusion splicing, wherein the optical fiber gripping hand, the reinforcing member gripping hand, and the tip of the optical fiber to be fusion spliced are arranged in this order in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber, and the optical fiber is conveyed. A first step of transporting the optical fiber in its longitudinal direction by a roller so that the optical fiber penetrates the hot melt adhesive tube; and a second step of gripping the optical fiber with the optical fiber gripping hand. , The reinforcing member is gripped by the reinforcing member gripping hand, and the reinforcing member is carried from the reinforcing member supply magazine. After the optical fiber fusion splicing method comprising: a third step of conveying this to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber, the. 10. A reinforcing member including a heat-shrinkable tube whose diameter is reduced by heating, a hot-melt adhesive tube inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube, and a stiffening intervening member inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube. And a step of supplying the optical fiber inserted into the hot melt adhesive tube, a step of removing the coating near the tip of the optical fiber, a step of cutting the tip portion of the optical fiber, and a step of cutting a plurality of optical fibers. A step of aligning, a step of bringing the tips of the two optical fibers thus treated close to each other, and then fusion-splicing them, and a side opposite to the reinforcing member with respect to the connection point of the optical fibers by the holding means. The step of gripping the optical fiber in step 1 and the step of gripping and pulling the optical fiber on the same side as the reinforcing member with respect to the connection point of the optical fiber A step of applying tensile tension to the connection point of the fiber, and a reinforcing member gripping portion that grips the reinforcing member, and a conveying means that has an optical fiber gripping portion that grips the optical fiber, and the reinforcing member to the connection point of the optical fiber. An optical fiber fusion splicing method comprising a step of transporting and a step of reinforcing the connection point of the optical fiber with the reinforcing member. 11. A reinforcing member including a heat-shrinkable tube whose diameter is reduced by heating, a hot-melt adhesive tube inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube, and a stiffening intervening member inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube. And a step of supplying the optical fiber inserted into the heat shrinkable tube, a step of removing the coating near the tip of the optical fiber, a step of cutting the tip part of the optical fiber, and a plurality of optical fibers aligned with each other. A step of bringing the ends of the two optical fibers thus treated close to each other, and then fusion-splicing them, and a gripping means is provided on the side opposite to the reinforcing member with respect to the connection point of the optical fibers. The step of gripping the optical fiber, and the step of gripping and pulling the optical fiber on the same side as the reinforcing member with respect to the connection point of the optical fiber to connect the optical fiber The step of applying tensile tension to the continuation point, the step of conveying the reinforcing member to the connection point of the optical fiber by the conveyance arm having the slit into which the optical fiber is inserted at the tip, and the connection point of the optical fiber An optical fiber fusion splicing method comprising: a step of reinforcing using a reinforcing member. 12. The optical fiber fusion device according to claim 11, wherein the width of the slit formed in the transfer arm is narrower than the inner diameter of the hot melt adhesive tube and wider than the outer diameter of the optical fiber. Destination connection method. 13. A reinforcing member including a heat-shrinkable tube whose diameter is reduced by heating, a hot-melt adhesive tube inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube, and a stiffening intervening member inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube. And a first step of taking out the optical fiber inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube from a fiber supply magazine containing the reinforcing member and the optical fiber, and a second step of conveying the optical fiber to the coating removing section, A third step of removing the coating near the tip of the optical fiber by the coating removing section, a fourth step of transporting the optical fiber to the cutting section, and a fifth step of cutting the tip section of the optical fiber by the cutting section. A sixth step of aligning a plurality of optical fibers by inserting the optical fibers into a V-groove for fusing, and two optical fibers treated in this way. After bringing the tips of the fibers into close proximity to each other, a seventh step of fusion-splicing them, an eighth step of transporting the connection point of the fusion-spliced optical fiber to a reinforcing section, and the reinforcing section And a ninth step of reinforcing the connection point of using the reinforcing member, wherein the first, second, fourth, sixth and eighth steps are: An optical fiber fusion splicing method, which is performed by a carrier device having an optical fiber and a gripping portion that grips the reinforcing member.