JPH09138317A - Connecting device for coated optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automate reinforcement by a heat-shrinkable tube by moving the coated optical fiber and heat-shrinkable tube relatively and inserting and positioning the fusion-splicing connection part of the coated optical fiber in the heat-shrinkable tube. SOLUTION: After coated optical fibers 1A and 1B are connected by fusion splicing at an operation part 5, a coated optical fiber cassette 10A is moved forward to insert the tip of the heat-shrinkable tube 2 into between rollers 13. The rollers 13 are closed, a tube clamp 16 is opened, and a coated optical fiber clamp 15 is closed; and the rollers 13 are rotated forward to insert the tube 2 into a clamping mechanism 14. The clamping mechanism 14 is closed, the coated optical fiber clamp 15 is released, and the rollers 13 are rotated backward to position the fusion-splicing connection part of the coated optical fibers 1A and 1B in the center along the length of the tube 2. The coated optical fibers 1A and 1B are taken out and the part where the tube 2 is mounted is sent in a heating device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber cable connecting device having a function of positioning a fusion spliced portion of an optical fiber cable in a heat-shrinkable tube for reinforcement.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a device for connecting a single-core or multi-core optical fiber core wire used for optical communication or the like, an optical fiber core wire connecting device for automatically making the connection has been provided (special feature: See Kaihei 5-224072). In this connecting device, the optical fiber core wires are set in the core wire cassette, attached to the main body of the device, and the connecting device is driven, so that the optical fiber core wires set in the core wire cassette are set one by one in a predetermined working unit. , Stripping the optical fiber core, cutting the end face of the bare optical fiber, moving to the V groove,
Each step of fusion is automatically performed in sequence.

[0003]

By the way, since the fusion splicing portion of the optical fiber core wire is weak in mechanical strength and needs to be reinforced, conventionally, as disclosed in JP-A-5-224067. The fusion splicing part is sandwiched and reinforced by two reinforcing members. However, in the method of reinforcing using two reinforcing members, it is necessary to supply the two as a set, and both of them must be aligned and joined together. However, there was a drawback that it became complicated.

Therefore, as a method for avoiding such an inconvenience, there is a method of reinforcing with a heat-shrinkable tube. In the conventional method of this kind, the heat-shrinkable tube is manually set in the fusion splicing portion, It has not yet been applied to automatic connection equipment.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides an optical fiber cable connecting device which also has a function of positioning the fusion spliced part of the optical fiber cable in the heat-shrinkable tube for reinforcement. To aim.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, one optical fiber core wire is abutted against the other optical fiber core wire, and the abutted portion is fusion-bonded to reinforce the fusion-bonded portion. In a connecting device for an optical fiber core wire to be reinforced with a member, a core wire cassette capable of setting one of the optical fiber core wires in a state in which a heat-shrinkable tube as the reinforcing member is fitted to the outer circumference, and the core wire cassette is set. And an optical fiber core guiding mechanism for guiding the tip of the optical fiber core to a working unit for fusion splicing, and an optical fiber core after fusion-splicing with the counterpart optical fiber core at the working unit. A positioning mechanism for moving the heat shrinkable tube relative to the axial direction of the optical fiber core to insert and position the fusion splicing portion of the optical fiber inside the heat shrinkable tube.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the positioning mechanism moves the holding mechanism for holding the heat-shrinkable tube at a fixed position and the optical fiber core wire after fusion-splicing to move the fusion fiber. It is characterized in that it is composed of a transfer roller for pulling the connecting portion into the heat shrinkable tube.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the optical fiber core wire guiding mechanism includes a gripping mechanism for gripping the tip of the optical fiber core wire and guiding it to a working portion. It is characterized in that it also serves as a gripping mechanism of the positioning mechanism.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing an overall schematic configuration of an optical fiber connecting device according to an embodiment. However, in this figure, the heating device for the heat-shrinkable tube and the robot hand that conveys the optical fiber core wire after fusion splicing to the heating device are not shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this connection device, a core wire cassette 1 for setting an optical fiber core wire 1A on one side is set.
0A and an optical fiber cassette 10B for setting the optical fiber optical fiber 1B on the other side are arranged opposite to each other with a distance therebetween, and a working portion 5 for fusion splicing is arranged in the middle of both.

Working unit 5 and core cord cassettes 10A and 10B
Are arranged along the axial direction X of the optical fiber core wires 1A and 1B, and the optical fiber core wire 1A having the heat-shrinkable tube 2 fitted to the outer periphery thereof is set in one core wire cassette 10A.

The working unit 5 includes optical fiber core wires 1A, 1B.
7 is a peeling portion for peeling the tip of the optical fiber, a cutting portion 6 for cutting the end surface of the peeled bare optical fiber, and both optical fiber core wires 1A and 1B are axially aligned using a V groove and fused by electric discharge. A fusing work section 8 to be connected is provided, and the peeling section 7 and the fusing section 8 can be vertically moved according to the work process.

Further, between the core cord cassettes 10A, 10B and the working part 5, a guide mechanism for guiding the tips of the optical fiber core cords 1A, 1B to the working part 5, and the heat shrink tube 2.
As a positioning mechanism for positioning the
The transport roller 13 and the gripping mechanism 14 are sequentially arranged from the A and 10B sides.

FIG. 2 mainly shows the mechanism of the right half of FIG. The transport roller 13 is composed of a pair of an upper roller 13a and a lower roller 13b arranged at a fixed position, and the upper and lower rollers 1
The space between 3a and 13b can be opened or closed.

The gripping mechanism 14 is composed of a pair of an upper block 14a and a lower block 14b.
By opening or closing the interval of b in the vertical direction (the direction of the arrow Y in the figure), the gripping can be released or gripped. Further, the gripping mechanism 14 can move forward and backward along the axial direction X of the optical fiber cores 1A and 1B.

As shown in FIG. 4, the gripping mechanism 14 has a core wire gripping portion 17 and a tube gripping portion 18, and moves in the horizontal direction (Z direction in the drawing) orthogonal to the axial direction of the optical fiber core wire 1A. It is free, and the supply position of the optical fiber core is 20
In addition, the core gripping portion 17 and the tube gripping portion 18 can be switched and positioned.

Further, in a state in which the heat shrinkable tube 2 is fitted on the optical fiber core wire 1A on one side in advance, the core wire cassette 1
Since the optical fiber core wire 1A is set to 0A, the core wire cassette 10 on one side is provided with the core wire cassette body 11 and the tube cassette 12. The tube cassette 12 is located on the front side of the core cassette body 11 with respect to the working unit 5.

The core cable cassette 10A can be moved as a whole in the axial direction X of the optical fiber core wire 1A.

The core wire cassette body 11 and the tube cassette 12 are provided with a core wire clamp 15 and a tube clamp 16, respectively. These clamps 15 and 16 can be opened and closed vertically. When closed, the optical fiber core wire 1A and the tube 2 can be clamped respectively.

The robot hand (not shown) has a grip portion at the tip thereof, and the optical fiber core wires 1A and 1B after fusion splicing are provided.
It has a function of gripping the whole, taking it out laterally from the above-mentioned gripping mechanism 14, the transport roller 13, and the like, and setting it in the heating device for the heat-shrinkable tube.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. In these figures, the gripping mechanism 14 and the clamp 1
5 and 16 are shown in white when they are in the open state, and hatched when they are in the closed state.

(1) FIG. First, the tube clamp 16
And the core cable cassette 10A with the core cable clamp 15 opened
Then, the heat-shrinkable tube 2 and the optical fiber core wire 1A are set.

(2) FIG. The tube clamp 16 and the core wire clamp 15 are closed, and the tube 2 and the optical fiber core wire 1A.
Are respectively held.

(3) FIG. The core wire cassette 10A is advanced, and the tip of the optical fiber core wire 1A is inserted between the rollers 13 in the open state.

(4) FIG. The roller 13 is closed and the cord clamp 15 of the cord cassette 10A is released.

(5) FIG. The roller 13 is rotated forward and only the optical fiber core wire 1A is advanced. Then, the tip of the optical fiber core wire 1A is inserted into the gripping mechanism 14 in the open state, and when the tip protrudes from the gripping mechanism 14 by a predetermined dimension, the roller 13
To stop feeding.

(6) FIG. Figure 4
As shown in (a), the core wire gripping portion 17 of the gripping mechanism 14 is positioned at the optical fiber core wire supply position, and in that state, the gripping mechanism 14 is closed to grip the optical fiber core wire 1A.
After gripping, the roller 13 is opened.

(7) FIG. Advance the gripping mechanism 14,
The tip of the optical fiber core wire 1A is guided to the working unit 5. Then, a predetermined work such as peeling, end face cutting, and fusion bonding is performed. At this time, the gripping mechanism 14 is moved back and forth as necessary.

(8) FIG. After fusion splicing, the core cassette 10A is further advanced and the tip of the tube 2 is moved to the roller 1
Insert between 3

(9) FIG. After inserting the tube 2, the roller 13 is closed, and then the tube clamp 16 is opened. Further, the core wire clamp 15 is closed to hold the optical fiber core wire 1A.

(10) FIG. In that state, the gripping mechanism 14
Open and return to the initial position. At this time, the gripping mechanism 14
As shown in FIG. 4B, the tube gripping portion 18 is switched to be positioned at the optical fiber core wire supplying position. Then, the roller 13 is pre-rotated to advance the tube 2,
The tube 2 is inserted into the gripping mechanism 14.

(11) FIG. Grip mechanism 1 for tube 2
After inserting into 4, the gripping mechanism 14 is closed.

(12) FIG. After the tube 2 is gripped by the gripping mechanism 14, the roller 13 is opened, and in this state, the gripping mechanism 14 is moved slightly forward, and the rear end of the tube 2 is moved to the roller 13
And the gripping mechanism 14 stands by at that position.

(13) FIG. When the rear end of the tube 2 separates from the roller 13, the roller 13 is closed. Then, the core wire clamp 15 is released, the roller 13 is rotated backward, the fused optical fiber core wires 1A and 1B are moved backward as indicated by the arrow X2, and the fusion spliced portion 30 is drawn into the tube 2. The tube 2 is positioned at the center in the length direction.

(14) FIG. After positioning, the gripping portion 50 of the robot hand grips the entire optical fiber cores 1A and 1B.

(15) FIG. In that state, the gripping mechanism 1
4, the roller 13, the clamps 15 and 16 are all opened, and the optical fiber core wires 1A and 1B are taken out from these devices.
Then, the portion on which the heat-shrinkable tube 2 is mounted is sent to a heating device and heated, and the heat-shrinkable sleeve 2 is shrunk to complete the reinforcing structure of the fusion spliced portion of the optical fiber core wires 1A and 1B.

In the above embodiment, the heat shrinkable tube 2 is used.
Is fixed by the gripping mechanism 14, the optical fiber core wires 1A and 1B are moved in the axial direction thereof, and the fusion splicing portion 30 is drawn into the heat shrinkable tube 2, but the optical fiber core wires are not moved in the axial direction. Alternatively, the heat-shrinkable tube 2 can be attached so that the heat-shrinkable tube 2 is moved to cover the outer periphery of the fusion-spliced portion 30 by gripping it.

[0038]

As described above, the fusion splicing portion of the optical fiber core wire can be positioned at a predetermined position in the heat-shrinkable tube without any manual labor, and the reinforcement by the heat-shrinkable tube can be automatically performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a configuration of a main part of the embodiment.

3A is a sectional view taken along the line IIIa-IIIa in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along the line IIIb-IIIb in FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2, in which (a) is a view showing a state in which an optical fiber core wire gripping part of the gripping mechanism is positioned at an optical fiber core wire supply position, and (b) is a gripping part. It is a figure which shows the state which positioned the tube holding part of the mechanism in the optical fiber core wire supply position.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the next operation of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the next operation of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the next operation of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the next operation of FIG. 9;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the next operation of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the next operation of FIG. 10;

12 is an explanatory diagram of the next operation of FIG. 11. FIG.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the next operation of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the next operation of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the next operation of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of the next operation of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of the next operation of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of the next operation of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of the next operation of FIG. 18;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1A, 1B Optical fiber core wire 2 Heat-shrinkable tube 5 Working part 10A, 10B Core wire cassette 13 Conveying roller 14 Grasping mechanism 15 Core wire clamp 16 Tube clamp

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A connecting device for optical fiber core wires, wherein one optical fiber core wire and another optical fiber core wire are abutted against each other, and the abutted portions are fusion-bonded to each other, and the fusion-spliced portion is reinforced with a reinforcing member. In the above, in a state in which a heat-shrinkable tube as the reinforcing member is fitted to the outer periphery, one optical fiber core wire can be set, and the tip of the optical fiber core wire set in the core wire cassette is fusion-spliced. For guiding the optical fiber core wire to the working part, and the optical fiber core wire and the heat shrinkable tube after fusion-splicing with the optical fiber core wire of the other side at the working part. A device for connecting an optical fiber core, comprising a positioning mechanism that relatively moves in an axial direction and inserts and positions a fusion splicing part of the optical fiber core into a heat-shrinkable tube. 2. The positioning mechanism moves the heat-shrinkable tube to a fixed position and a gripping mechanism that moves the optical fiber core wire after fusion-splicing to draw the fusion-spliced portion into the heat-shrinkable tube. The optical fiber connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device comprises a conveying roller. 3. The optical fiber core wire guide mechanism includes a gripping mechanism for gripping the tip of the optical fiber core wire and guiding it to a working unit, and the gripping mechanism also serves as the gripping mechanism of the positioning mechanism. The connection device for an optical fiber core wire according to claim 2, wherein: