JPH09288216A - Optical fiber cutting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To rapidly cut an optical fiber to an exact length. SOLUTION: This device is constituted to set the optical fiber 26 to be cut which is formed by fusion splicing the first and second optical fibers exposed with the bare fibers by removing the coatings on the front end side of the optical fibers and to cut this optical fiber by allowing the front end side of the bare fiber 32 of the second optical fiber to remain by the predetermined length from the fusion spliced part to the first optical fiber. In such a case, the bare fiber 32 of the second optical fiber is cut by a cutter blade 25 from a horizontal X direction approximately orthogonal with the optical axis Z direction of the optical fiber 26 to be cut. At the time of this cutting, a fiber cutter 5 is provided with a light 21 for irradiating the fusion spliced part with transmitted light from the lower side of this part. The exact position of the fusion spliced part is detected by a stereomicroscope 18 by utilizing the transmitted light and the bare fiber 32 of the second optical fiber is cut with this position as a reference.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber cutting device used for cutting an optical fiber to be cut, which is formed by fusion splicing first and second optical fibers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Optical coupling of a light emitting element such as a semiconductor laser and an optical fiber with high coupling efficiency is one of the most important techniques in optical communication. As the technique of this optical coupling, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, a lensed optical fiber in which a spherical lens 43 and a graded index fiber (GIF) 45 are connected to the tip of an optical fiber 46 as a transmission line, or GRIN ( An optical fiber with a lens in which a graded index lens 44 is connected is known. Further, as an optical fiber having the same function as such an optical fiber with a lens, for example, a GRIN lens 44
Also proposed is an optical fiber in which a second optical fiber having the same function as the above and a first optical fiber as a transmission line are fusion-spliced. In the optical fiber formed by fusion splicing the first and second optical fibers, the second optical fiber is cut while leaving a required length.

As an optical fiber cutting device for cutting this kind of optical fiber, conventionally, for example, an optical fiber cutting device as shown in FIG. 11 is used. The optical fiber 26 to be cut by this optical fiber cutting device is fused by welding the first and second optical fibers 1 and 2 whose optical fiber tip side is covered and exposed to expose the bare optical fiber. The optical fiber cutting device 26 is formed by connecting the optical fiber cutting device to the second optical fiber 26.
Is a device for cutting the end side of the bare fiber (second bare fiber 32) of the optical fiber 2 from the fusion spliced portion 40 with the first optical fiber 1 by leaving a predetermined length.

In the figure, on the upper side of the base 37, a small Z moving stage 14 which is movable in the optical axis Z direction of the optical fiber 26 to be cut, and a small Z movable stage 14 which is movable in the horizontal X direction orthogonal to the optical axis Z direction. A small X moving stage 12 is provided, and each stage 14, 12 is provided with an analog micrometer 4 for detecting the moving distance of each stage. On the upper side of the small Z moving stage 14, via a fiber holder mounting jig 38,
A fiber holder 11 is provided, and this fiber holder 11 functions as a fiber holding portion that holds the coating portion of the first optical fiber 1 of the optical fiber 26 to be cut.

In addition, via a space from the fiber holder 11,
A fiber cutter 5 as a cutter device is provided on the base 37, and the fiber cutter 5 is provided with a cutter blade 25 that is movable in the horizontal X direction.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan view of the area within the broken line A in FIG. 11, and as shown in FIG. 12, the fiber cutter 5 introduces the first optical fiber 1 into the fiber. An introduction section 6 is provided, and a bare fiber introduction section is provided on the tip side thereof.
34 is provided, the first optical fiber 1 is introduced into the fiber introducing section 6, and the first bare fiber 31 on the tip side thereof is introduced into the bare fiber introducing section 34.

When cutting the optical fiber 26 to be cut by using this optical fiber cutting device, first, as shown in FIG. 13 (a), first, the coating front end side of the first optical fiber 1 is removed long. Then, the first bare fiber 31 is exposed, and the mark 3 is attached to the tip side of the coating portion. Then, as shown in (b) of the same figure, the tip of the coating portion of the first optical fiber 1 is introduced into the fiber introducing portion 6 of the fiber cutter 5, and the tip of the coating portion is narrowed on the tip side of the fiber introducing portion 6. The first bare fiber 31 is cut by the fiber cutter 5 by setting it against the section. Next, the first optical fiber 1 is removed from the fiber cutter 5, and instead, the same operation is performed on the second optical fiber 2 to cut the bare fiber 32 of the second optical fiber 2.

Then, the tip ends of these first and second optical fibers 1 and 2 are butted against each other and fusion-spliced to form an optical fiber 26 to be cut, and as shown in FIG. The cut optical fiber 26 is set in the optical fiber cutting device.
At this time, the tip end side of the coating portion of the first optical fiber 1 is set as shown in FIG.
In the state where the first optical fiber 1 is introduced, the middle of the coating portion is held by the fiber holder 11 so that the slack of the first optical fiber 1 does not appear between the fiber introducing portion 6 and the fiber holder 11.

Next, as shown in FIG.
Analog micrometer 4 provided on the moving stage 14
The small Z moving stage 14 is moved to the right by a predetermined length (for example, ΔL in the figure) by rotating the scale of, and thereby the optical fiber 26 to be cut is moved to the right in the figure by ΔL to be cut. The fiber cutter 5 is located at a position ΔL away from the fusion spliced portion 40 of the optical fiber 26 toward the second bare fiber 32.
Position the cutter blade 25 of. Then, in this state, move the cutter blade 25 in the horizontal X direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface).
The distal end side of the second bare fiber 32 is slid and moved to cut the second bare fiber 32, so that the fusion splicing section 40 is provided.
Therefore, only ΔL was left and cut.

[0010]

By the way, as described above, the optical fiber cutting device 26 is used to cut the optical fiber 26 to be cut.
In order to cut the bare fiber tip side of the second optical fiber 2 in the above from the fusion splicing section 40 leaving a predetermined length, the position of the fusion splicing section 40 is accurately grasped, and this fusion splicing is performed. The disconnection must be performed based on the position of the connecting portion 40. However, in order to accurately grasp the position of the fusion splicing portion 40, it is necessary to observe the fusion splicing portion 40 using, for example, a microscope, and for that purpose, as shown in FIG. The fusion splicing part 40 from the opposite side of the objective lens 19.
However, in the conventional optical fiber cutting device, since the fiber cutter 5 blocks the transmitted light, the transmitted light is irradiated to the fusion splicing portion 40. Therefore, the fusion spliced portion 40 could not be observed with a microscope.

Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 13 (c), when the optical fiber 26 to be cut is set in the optical fiber cutting device, the coating tip side of the first optical fiber 1 is placed at the fiber introducing portion 6. It is assumed that the optical fiber 26 is abutted against the narrow portion of the fiber, and at this time the position of the cutter blade 25 of the fiber cutter 5 and the position of the fusion splicing part 40 are aligned. However, using such a method, it was not possible to perform accurate alignment with an accuracy on the order of micron, and sometimes an error of several hundreds of microns occurred.

Further, in the conventional optical fiber cutting apparatus, when the optical fiber 26 to be cut is moved from the reference position shown in FIG. 13C to the position shown in FIG. However, it was difficult to calibrate the analog micrometer 4, the workability was poor, and it took about 1 hour from the production of the optical fiber 26 to be cut to the cutting. And like this,
Due to the difficulty of calibrating with the analog micrometer 4, there is an increasing error in the length from the fusion splicing part 40 to the cutting position of the second bare fiber 32, and therefore the second
It was almost impossible to cut the tip end side of the bare fiber 32 from the fusion splicing part 40 leaving a predetermined length with accuracy of the submicron order.

Further, in the conventional optical fiber cutting apparatus, as described above, the fusion splicing portion 40 of the optical fiber 26 to be cut is used.
The optical fiber to be cut because of the inability to observe
The second bare fiber from the fusion splice 40 after cutting 26.
The length up to the cutting position of 32 cannot be performed using the optical fiber cutting device, and in order to measure this length, the cut optical fiber 26 after cutting is removed from the optical fiber cutting device and, for example, another There was no choice but to set it on the fiber holder and observe with a microscope. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 15 (a), if the scale 36 of the microscope and the fiber holder are not aligned with each other, a measurement error will occur, and in order to eliminate this error, the fiber holder and the microscope should be removed. Aligning the axis with the scale 36 of the
Since it has to be in the state as shown in (1), there is a problem that workability is poor and this length measurement takes a very long time.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a fusion spliced portion of an optical fiber to be cut, which is formed by fusion splicing first and second optical fibers. It is possible to accurately grasp the position, which makes it possible to cut the optical fiber to be cut into an accurate length based on this fusion splicing part, and to measure the cutting length in a short time. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber cutting device that can be accurately performed.

[0015]

Means for Solving the Problems To achieve the above object, the present invention provides means for solving the problems by the following constitution. That is, according to the present invention, the first and second bare fibers are exposed by removing the coating on the tip side of the optical fiber.
The optical fiber to be cut is set by fusion-splicing the optical fibers with their tip ends abutted to each other, and the bare fiber tip side of the second optical fiber in the optical fiber to be cut is fused with the first optical fiber. An optical fiber cutting device that cuts a predetermined length from an incoming / outgoing connection part, the fiber holding part holding at least a coating part of a first optical fiber of an optical fiber to be cut, and a second optical fiber. A cutter device having a cutter blade movable in a horizontal X direction for cutting the bare fiber from a horizontal X direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis Z direction of the optical fiber to be cut, and the fusion splicing portion and the cutter blade of the cutter device And an observation device for observing from a vertical Y direction that is substantially orthogonal to the optical axis Z direction of the optical fiber to be cut,
The cutter device is provided with a light for radiating transmitted light from the lower side of the fusion splicing portion.

Further, at least one side of the fiber holding portion and the cutter device is movable in the optical axis Z direction of the optical fiber to be cut, the horizontal X direction orthogonal to the optical axis Z direction, and the rotation direction on the XZ plane. It is also a characteristic configuration of the present invention.

Further, a large movable stage linked to a moving mechanism in the optical axis Z direction of the optical fiber to be cut and in the horizontal X direction is provided, and the large movable stage has a digital micro for obtaining a moving distance in the optical axis Z direction. A meter is provided,
Also, on the large movable stage, the optical axis Z direction and the horizontal X
The first small movable stage movable in the optical axis Z direction and the second small movable stage movable in the rotational direction on the XZ plane are fixed in the optical axis Z direction with a space therebetween. It is also a characteristic configuration of the present invention that the former of the fiber holding unit and the cutter device is mounted on the first small movable stage, and the latter is mounted on the second small movable stage.

Furthermore, the cutter blade is configured to move along a guide in the horizontal X direction, and the guide is configured to have no rattling with respect to the cutter blade in directions other than the horizontal X direction. This is also a characteristic configuration of the present invention.

In the present invention having the above structure, a cutter device having a cutter blade movable in a horizontal X direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis Z direction of the optical fiber to be cut, and the first and second optical fibers to be cut. An observing device for observing the optical fiber fusion splicing portion and the cutter blade of the cutter device from a vertical Y direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis Z direction is provided, and the cutter device is configured to transmit transmitted light from a lower side of the fusion splicing portion. Since a light to irradiate is provided, by observing the fusion splicing part with an observation device using the transmitted light of this light,
It is possible to accurately grasp the position of the fusion spliced portion. for that reason,
Using this fusion spliced portion as a reference, the bare fiber tip side of the second optical fiber is cut by the cutter blade leaving a predetermined length from the fusion spliced portion, whereby the optical fiber to be cut is accurately measured. The length can be cut.

Further, as described above, since the position of the fusion splicing portion can be accurately grasped, by observing the length from the fusion splicing portion to the cutting position by the observing device after cutting the optical fiber to be cut, It is also possible to accurately measure the cutting length (the length from the fusion splicing portion to the cutting position), and the above problem is solved.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description of the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in the conventional example, and the overlapping description will be omitted. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the main configuration of the optical fiber cutting device according to the present invention.
2 shows an enlarged view in a broken line A of FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view in a broken line B of FIG. 2 by a plan view.
The optical fiber cutting device according to the present embodiment shown in these drawings has first and second optical fiber cutting devices as in the conventional optical fiber cutting device.
Of the optical fiber 26 to be cut, which is formed by fusion-splicing the optical fibers 1 and 2, is cut by leaving the tip end side of the second bare fiber 32 from the fusion splicing portion 40 by a predetermined length. The apparatus is also provided with a fiber holder 11 (not shown in these figures) as a fiber holding portion that holds the coating portion of the first optical fiber 1 in this embodiment as well.

Further, as shown in these figures, in the optical fiber cutting device, the second bare fiber 32 of the optical fiber to be cut 26 is placed in the horizontal X direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis Z direction of the optical fiber 26 to be cut. It has a fiber cutter 5 that cuts from any direction, and the fiber cutter 5 is provided with a cutter blade 25 that is movable in the horizontal X direction. This cutter blade 25
In the present embodiment example, the cutter blade holder 7 is provided with a support portion 28 extending in the horizontal X direction at a distance from the cutter blade 25 in the cutter blade holder 7, and the support portion 28 is provided on the tip side of the support portion 28. The light 21 for radiating transmitted light from the lower side of the fusion splicing part 40 is provided on the extension line of the cutter blade 25 in the longitudinal direction. The light 21 and the support portion 28 constitute a side-view type light guide 8, and the side-view type light guide 8 is configured to move in the horizontal X direction together with the cutter blade holder 7 and the cutter blade 25.

Further, the fiber cutter blade holder 7 is constructed so as to move along a horizontal X-direction guide (not shown) provided on the fiber cutter 5, whereby the cutter blade 25 and the side view are seen. The mold light guide 8 is configured to move along this guide. This guide is structured so that it does not rattle against the cutter blade 25 in directions other than the horizontal X direction, and once the position in the Z direction is fixed, as shown in FIG. It does not move in the Z direction and the rotation direction on the XZ plane.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the optical fiber cutting device of this embodiment, the fusion splicing portion 40 of the optical fiber 26 to be cut and the cutter blade 25 of the fiber cutter 5 are A stereoscopic microscope 18 as an observing device for observing from a vertical Y direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis Z direction is provided, and the stereoscopic microscope 18 is provided with an objective lens 19 and a reflection light source (not shown). The light source is an objective lens
It is provided coaxially with 19. And this stereo microscope 18
In the above, the position of the cutter blade 25 can be observed and grasped by the light from the reflection light source.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a Z moving mechanism 29 which is a moving mechanism of the optical fiber 26 to be cut in the optical axis Z direction and an X moving mechanism which is a horizontal X direction moving mechanism. It has a large movable stage 15 linked to a moving mechanism 30, and a large Z stage 16 is fixed to a Z moving mechanism 29 as shown in FIG. 4 (b). As shown in, the large X stage 17 is fixed to the X moving mechanism 30. Further, as shown in (b) of the same figure, on the large Z stage 16 of the large movable stage 15, the optical axis Z direction and the horizontal X stage are displayed.
The first small movable stage 24, which is movable in any direction, is fixed, and as shown in FIG.
A second small movable stage 23, which is movable in the optical axis X direction and the rotation direction on the XZ plane, is fixed on the 15 large X stage 17, and the first small movable stage 24 and the second small movable stage 24 are fixed. As shown in FIG. 5, the small movable stage 23 is arranged at intervals in the optical axis Z direction.

The first small movable stage 24 has a small Z moving stage 14 which is a moving mechanism in the optical axis Z direction and a small X moving stage 12 which is a moving mechanism in the horizontal X direction.
The fiber holder 11 is mounted on the first small movable stage 24. The second small movable stage 23 includes a small Z moving stage 9 which is a moving mechanism in the optical axis Z direction, and an XZ moving stage.
A small rotary stage that is a moving mechanism in the direction of rotation on a plane.
The second small movable stage 23 has a fiber cutter 5.

In this embodiment, as described above,
First small movable stage fixed to large Z stage 16
Since the fiber holder 11 is attached to the 24, the fiber holder 11 is movable in the optical axis Z direction and the horizontal X direction, and the second small size fixed to the large X stage 17 is used. Since the fiber cutter 5 is mounted on the movable stage 23, the fiber cutter 5 is movable in the optical axis Z direction, the horizontal X direction, and the rotation direction on the XY plane.

The structure of the small Z moving stage 14 is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, a precision automatic linear moving stage is used so that the movement in the optical axis Z direction can be performed very precisely. The small Z movement stage 14 is connected to a controller 13 that precisely controls this stage.

Further, the large movable stage 15 is provided with a digital micrometer (not shown) for obtaining the moving distance in the optical axis Z direction and the moving distance in the horizontal X direction, respectively, as shown in FIG. A counter 20 for counting the distance obtained by this digital micrometer is connected.

The present embodiment is constructed as described above. Next, the cutting operation of the optical fiber 26 to be cut using the optical fiber cutting device of the present embodiment will be described. First, the eyepiece scale 36 (cross scale) of the stereomicroscope 18 is aligned with the X and Z axis directions of the large movable stage 15, and in that state, while observing the cutter blade 25 using the stereomicroscope 18 and the reflected light source. , The small Z moving stage 9 and the small rotating stage 10 are driven, and the cutter blade 25 is moved to the scale 36 (36
The fiber cutter 5 is fixed according to a).

Next, the fiber cutter blade holder 7 is moved in the horizontal X direction to move the cutter blade 25 to the upper side of the drawing as shown in FIG. The light 21 is fixed at a position substantially at the center of the cross scale 36 of the eyepiece. Then, the tip end side of the first optical fiber 1 of the optical fiber 26 to be cut manufactured in the same manner as the conventional example is introduced into the fiber introducing portion 6 of the fiber cutter 5 so that the first optical fiber 1 is not bent. Then, the middle of the first optical fiber 1 is held in the fiber holder 11 (not shown in the figure) and the optical fiber 26 to be cut is set.

Then, from the light 21 to the optical fiber 26 to be cut.
The fusion splicing portion 40 is observed by the stereoscopic microscope 18 using the transmitted light irradiated toward the fusion splicing portion 40, and the fusion splicing portion 40 is accurately aligned with the scale 36a.

Next, the cutting length of the second bare fiber 32 of the optical fiber 26 to be cut, that is, the length from the fusion splicing portion 40 to the cutting position of the second bare fiber 32 is input to the controller 13. Then, the controller 13 is driven to move the small Z moving stage to the right side in the figure, which is the direction of the optical axis Z, and the state shown in FIG. Then, in this state, the objective lens 19 of the stereoscopic microscope 18 is moved upward to a position where the lid of the fiber cutter 5 can be closed, then the lid of the fiber cutter 5 is closed, and the cutter blade holder 7 (D), the second bare fiber 32 is cut at a predetermined cutting position by moving it to the lower side in the figure, which is the horizontal X direction.

Next, the operation of measuring the cut length of the optical fiber 26 to be cut using the optical fiber cutting device of the present embodiment will be described. With the cut optical fiber 26 cut by the above operation held in the fiber holder 11, as shown in FIG. 9A, the cut optical fiber 26 is slightly moved to the right side of the drawing, and the fiber cutter blade holder 7 The horizontal X
Direction, and moves it to the upper side of the drawing and returns it to the position shown in FIG. 8B (where the light 21 is located at the intersection of the scales 36a and 36b). Next, in this state, the optical fiber 26 to be cut is observed by the stereoscopic microscope 18 using the transmitted light of the light 21, and as shown in FIG. 9B, the cut end face of the second bare fiber 32 is cut. Is aligned with the scale 36a, and at this time, the digital micrometer of the large movable stage 15 is reset.

Next, the large movable stage 15 is moved in the direction of the optical axis Z, and the transmitted light of the light 21 is used to make a change (c) in FIG.
As shown in, the fusion splicing part 40 of the optical fiber 26 to be cut is aligned with the scale 36a. Then, the value of the digital micrometer of the large movable stage 15 at this time is read by the counter 20, and the distance between the cut surface of the second bare fiber 32 and the fusion splicing portion 40 is detected by the second.
Measure the cut length of the bare fiber 32 of.

According to the present embodiment, the above operation causes
The position of the fusion splicing portion 40 is accurately grasped by observing the fusion splicing portion 40 of the optical fiber 26 to be cut with the stereoscopic microscope 18 using the transmitted light of the light 21 of the side-view type light guide 8. Therefore, it is possible to accurately cut the second bare fiber 32 on the basis of the fusion splicing portion 40 on the order of micron, and also to measure the cut length on the order of micron. You can

According to the present embodiment, the cutting of the optical fiber 26 to be cut and the measurement of the cutting length can be performed by using one optical fiber cutting device. Compared with the conventional example in which the measurement of the cutting length is performed using a separate device, it becomes possible to significantly improve the workability of cutting the optical fiber 26 to be cut and measuring the cutting length. It is possible to accurately perform the cutting and the cutting length measurement in a short time.

Further, according to this embodiment, the large movable stage 15 and the first and second small movable stages 24 and 23 are provided, and the fiber cutter 5 side is horizontal X with respect to the optical axis Z direction of the fiber 26 to be cut. Direction and the rotation direction on the XZ plane, and the fiber holder 11 is movable in the optical axis Z direction and the horizontal X direction, so that the optical fiber to be cut 26 and the fiber cutter 5 can be easily aligned. It can be done accurately and accurately. Particularly, according to the present embodiment, the small Z moving stage 14 for moving the fiber holder 11 in the optical axis Z direction is constituted by a precision automatic linear movement stage, and the optical fiber 26 to be cut is extremely moved in the optical axis Z direction. Therefore, it is possible to accurately control the moving distance of the fusion splicing part 40 of the optical fiber 26 to be cut, and the optical fiber 26 to be cut can be cut extremely accurately.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the first, the large, movable stage 15 equipped with the digital micrometer
A second small movable stage is provided, and when the cut length of the optical fiber 26 to be cut is measured, after the cut surface of the second bare fiber 32 and the scale 36a of the stereomicroscope 18 are aligned, Since the large movable stage 15 is moved in the optical axis Z direction while the first and second small movable stages 24 and 23 are fixed, and the cutting length of the optical fiber 26 to be cut is measured by the digital micrometer, When the cutting optical fiber 26 is moved in the optical axis Z direction, the cutting optical fiber 26 is prevented from moving in the horizontal X direction or the rotation direction on the XZ plane,
The cut length of the optical fiber 26 to be cut can be measured easily and accurately.

Further, according to this embodiment, the cutter blade 25 of the fiber cutter 5 and the light 21 of the side-view type light guide 8 are provided in the fiber cutter blade holder 7 so that the cutter blade 25 and the light 21 are integrated. The light 21
Since the cutter blade 25 is provided on the extension line of the cutter blade 25 in the longitudinal direction, when the cutter blade 25 is aligned with the scale 36a of the stereomicroscope 18, for example, as shown in FIG.
21 can always be moved to the position shown in A of the figure. Therefore, for example, when the light 21 is at B in the same figure, when the fusion splicing portion 40 is irradiated with transmitted light from this position, an error occurs in the position of the fusion splicing portion 40 observed by the stereoscopic microscope 18. However, in the present embodiment example, such an error does not occur, it becomes possible to always accurately observe the fusion splicing portion 40 using the transmitted light of the light 21, fusion splicing The position of the section 40 can always be detected accurately, and the cutting of the optical fiber 26 to be cut and the cutting length can be accurately measured.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the cutter blade 25 is configured to move without rattling in the directions other than the horizontal X direction as shown in FIG. When cutting, the cutter blade 25 is, for example, in the optical axis Z direction or X direction.
Since it is moved only in the horizontal X direction without rattling in the rotation direction on the Z plane, the cutting of the optical fiber 26 to be cut by the cutter blade 25 is very smooth and
Can be done accurately.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can take various modes. For example,
The moving mechanism of the fiber cutter 5 and the fiber holder 11 is not limited to the large movable stage as in the above-described embodiment.
15 and the first and second small movable stages 24 and 23 are not necessarily provided, and at least one side of the fiber holder 11 and the fiber cutter 5 has the optical axis Z of the optical fiber 26 to be cut.
Direction, the horizontal X direction orthogonal to the optical axis Z direction, and the rotation direction on the XZ plane.

Further, in the above embodiment, the light 21 for radiating the transmitted light to the fusion splicing portion 40 of the optical fiber 26 to be cut.
The light 21 of the side-view type light guide 8 including the support portion 28.
However, the light 21 is not necessarily a light provided in the side-view light guide 8, and for example, the light 21 is directly attached to the fiber cutter blade holder 7 to form the fusion splicing portion 40.
It may be a light that irradiates the transmitted light from below. As described above, the light 21 is not particularly limited in its mounting method, shape, and the like as long as it can radiate the transmitted light from the lower side of the fusion splicing portion 40. As described above, by providing the light 21 on the extension line of the cutter blade 25 in the longitudinal direction, the fusion splicing portion 40 performed at the time of cutting the optical fiber 26 to be cut and at the time of measuring the cutting length thereof.
The light 21 is installed on the extension of the cutter blade 25 in the longitudinal direction in order to accurately align the
It is desirable to be configured to move integrally with the.

Further, in the above embodiment, the stereomicroscope 18 is used as an observation device for observing the fusion splicing portion 40 of the optical fiber 26 to be cut and the cutter blade 25 of the fiber cutter 5, but the observation device is not necessarily a stereomicroscope. The observation device is not limited to 18 and may be an observation device capable of accurately observing and detecting the position of the fusion splicing portion 40 by using transmitted light emitted from the lower side of the fusion splicing portion 40 by the light 21. Good.

For example, it is possible to use this observation device as an observation device equipped with an image processing device and measure the cut length or the cut length of the optical fiber 26 to be cut while performing image processing by the image processing device. By doing so, it is possible to more efficiently perform the work of cutting the optical fiber 26 to be cut and the work of measuring the cut length.

Further, in the above embodiment, the optical fiber 26 to be cut is an optical fiber formed by fusion splicing one first optical fiber 1 and one second optical fiber 2.
A multi-fiber optical fiber may be formed by fusion-splicing a second optical fiber to each optical fiber tip side of a multi-fiber optical fiber formed by arranging a plurality of first optical fibers in parallel.

[0047]

According to the present invention, a cutter device for cutting an optical fiber to be cut from a horizontal X direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis Z direction of the optical fiber to be cut is provided on the lower side of the fusion splicing portion of the optical fiber to be cut. A light for irradiating transmitted light from the optical fiber is provided, and the transmitted light is used to observe the fusion spliced portion of the optical fiber to be cut and the like from the vertical Y direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis Z direction by the observation device. Therefore, it is possible to observe the position of the fusion splicing portion and the like very accurately by the observation device using the transmitted light of the light, and to accurately grasp the position. Therefore, when the optical fiber to be cut is cut from this fusion splicing part by leaving a predetermined length, it is possible to extremely accurately cut the optical fiber to be cut based on the position of the fusion splicing part.

Further, according to the present invention, as described above, since the fusion spliced portion or the like of the optical fiber to be cut can be accurately observed and the position thereof can be accurately grasped by utilizing the transmitted light from the light, the cutting can be performed. With the optical fiber to be cut later attached to the optical fiber cutting device, the cutting length can also be measured by the optical fiber cutting device. Therefore, it is possible to measure the cutting length efficiently in a very short time as compared with the conventional method in which the optical fiber is replaced with another device and the cutting length is measured after cutting the optical fiber to be cut. Also, there is no need for alignment for observing the fusion spliced portion or cut surface of the optical fiber to be cut, and it is possible to save the troublesome work of alignment.

Therefore, for example, the first optical fiber forming the optical fiber to be cut is formed by an optical fiber as a transmission line in optical communication, and the second optical fiber is provided with a function such as a graded index lens. If it is formed by, it becomes possible to manufacture an optical fiber functioning as an optical fiber with a lens very efficiently and accurately, and it is possible to construct an optical communication system using the optical fiber functioning as an optical fiber with a lens. It can be done efficiently.

At least one side of the fiber holding portion and the cutter device is movable in the optical axis Z direction of the optical fiber to be cut, the horizontal X direction orthogonal to the optical axis Z direction, and the rotation direction on the XZ plane. According to the present invention which is made, it is easy to align the cutter device and the optical fiber to be cut,
In addition, it is possible to accurately perform the cutting, and it is possible to very easily and accurately perform the cutting of the optical fiber to be cut and the measurement of the cutting length thereof using the optical fiber cutting device.

In particular, it has a large movable stage linked to a moving mechanism in the optical axis Z direction of the optical fiber to be cut and in the horizontal X direction, and the large movable stage has a digital micro for obtaining the moving distance in the optical axis Z direction. A meter is provided, and on the large movable stage, a first small movable stage movable in the optical axis Z direction and the horizontal X direction, and in the optical axis Z direction and the rotation direction on the XZ plane. A movable second small movable stage is fixed in the optical axis Z direction with a gap, one of the fiber holding part and the cutter device is mounted on the first small movable stage, and the other is the second small movable stage. According to the present invention mounted on the stage, the movement of the cutter device and the fiber holding unit using the large movable stage,
It is possible to combine various movements of the cutter device and the fiber holding part using the small movable stage, which enables very accurate alignment between the cutter device and the optical fiber to be cut, and the large movable stage. The cutting length of the optical fiber to be cut can be measured very easily and accurately by using the digital micrometer provided in the.

Further, the cutter blade is constructed so as to move along a guide in the horizontal X direction, and this guide is provided in the horizontal X direction.
According to the present invention in which the cutter blade does not rattle in directions other than the direction, the cutting operation of the optical fiber to be cut using the cutter blade is performed very smoothly and accurately. be able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a cutting region of an optical fiber to be cut in an embodiment of an optical fiber cutting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a main part of the embodiment example.

FIG. 3 is a plan configuration diagram within a broken line B in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a moving mechanism of a fiber cutter and a fiber holder used in the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of movable directions of the large movable stage and the first and second small movable stages in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing movable directions of the fiber cutter and the fiber holder when the optical fiber to be cut is cut in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a position of a light for irradiating transmitted light provided in the optical fiber cutting device and a difference in a detection position of a fusion splicing part due to the difference in the position.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a cutting operation of an optical fiber to be cut using the optical fiber cutting device of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of measuring the cut length of an optical fiber to be cut using the optical fiber cutting device of the above embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an optical fiber with a lens.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing an example of a conventional optical fiber cutting device by a side view.

12 is an explanatory plan view showing the inside of a broken line A frame in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a cutting operation of an optical fiber to be cut using a conventional optical fiber cutting device.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a problem of the conventional optical fiber cutting device.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional method for measuring a cut length of an optical fiber to be cut.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 first optical fiber 2 second optical fiber 5 fiber cutter 7 fiber cutter blade holder 15 large movable stage 21 light 23 second small movable stage 24 first small movable stage 25 cutter blade 26 optical fiber 32 cut 2 bare fiber 40 fusion splices

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tsutoo Sato 1-5-28 Fukaminishi Yamato City, Kanagawa Prefecture Okano Electric Cable Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] Claim: What is claimed is: 1. An optical fiber to be cut, comprising: a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber whose bare ends are exposed by coating the front end of the optical fiber, but with the front ends thereof butted against each other; An optical fiber cutting device for cutting a bare fiber tip side of a second optical fiber in a cutting optical fiber from a fusion spliced portion with the first optical fiber by a predetermined length, and at least cutting light to be cut. A fiber holding portion for holding the coating portion of the first optical fiber of the fiber, and a horizontal X direction for cutting the bare fiber of the second optical fiber from the horizontal X direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis Z direction of the optical fiber to be cut. A cutter device having a movable cutter blade, and an observing device for observing the fusion splicing part and the cutter blade of the cutter device from a vertical Y direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis Z direction of the optical fiber to be cut. And a light for irradiating the transmitted light from the lower side of the fusion splicing part is provided in the cutter device. 2. At least one side of the fiber holding portion and the cutter device is movable in the optical axis Z direction of the optical fiber to be cut, the horizontal X direction orthogonal to the optical axis Z direction, and the rotation direction on the XZ plane. The optical fiber cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber cutting device is formed. 3. The optical axis Z direction and horizontal X of the optical fiber to be cut.
Has a large movable stage linked to a moving mechanism in the direction,
The large movable stage is provided with a digital micrometer for obtaining the moving distance in the optical axis Z direction, and the large movable stage has a first small size movable in the optical axis Z direction and the horizontal X direction. The movable stage and a second small movable stage that is movable in the optical axis Z direction and in the rotation direction on the XZ plane are fixed in the optical axis Z direction with a gap, and the former of the fiber holding unit and the cutter device is provided. 3. The optical fiber cutting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein is attached to the first small movable stage and the latter is attached to the second small movable stage. 4. The cutter blade is configured to move along a guide in the horizontal X direction, and the guide is configured to have no rattling with respect to the cutter blade in directions other than the horizontal X direction. The optical fiber cutting device according to claim 1, 2, or 3.