JPH10115715A - Coating remover and coating removing method for coated optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber coating remover which is applied to remove coating of a coated optical fiber and is particularly suitable for removing only the outer coating of the coated optical fiber having the multilayered coatings. SOLUTION: This coating remover includes stoppers 3, 3' and flawing blades 4, 4' at the other-side ends of opposite handles 2, 2' having a hinge mechanism 1 at one-side ends. First clamping parts 5, 5' for clamping the coating of the coated optical fiber are disposed on the inside surfaces of these handles 2, 2'. A second clamping part 6 which is connected to the one handle 2 by a sliding shaft 8 and clamps the coating of the coated optical fiber is disposed on the opposite side of the first clamping parts with respect to the flawing blades. The second clamping part 6 is linearly movable by the sliding shaft 8 in the direction perpendicular to the opening and closing direction of the flawing blades.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coating remover for removing a coating of an optical fiber core and a coating removing method using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent progress of information communication, there is an increasing demand for faster signal transmission. A practical example of such a high-speed signal transmission technique is the practical use of an optical communication technique. In optical signal transmission, high-speed transmission is realized by the characteristics of light itself, and an optical fiber as a transmission path is lightweight and has advantages in communication technology such as being less affected by a magnetic field and an electric field. However, even with such an optical fiber transmission line, there is still a demand for signal transmission with a larger capacity, and various new devices have been proposed for optical fibers for signal transmission.

[0003] Multi-core optical fiber cores (batch-coated optical fiber cores) have been developed under such a technical background and are attracting attention for realizing high-density signal transmission with simple handling. No. The multi-core optical fiber is generally obtained by coating a single optical fiber by coating an optical fiber glass wire with an ultraviolet curable resin or the like, forming a plurality of the optical fibers in parallel, and coating them collectively. When this multi-core optical fiber is connected to the same type, the single-core coating and the collective coating are removed and the multi-core optical fiber is connected by fusion splicing. When the optical fiber core is connected to the optical fiber core, it is necessary to remove the collective coating of the multi-core optical fiber core, separate the single core fiber, and connect to the single optical fiber core. However, the outer diameter of the single-core optical fiber is not the same as that of the multi-core optical fiber, and the outer diameter of the single-core optical fiber is usually larger. In this state, it is necessary to prepare an optical connector for each outer diameter of a single optical fiber core, or when multiple optical fiber cores are connected and housed, it is not possible to arrange at the pitch of multi-core optical fiber cores. Such a problem arises. Therefore, in such a case, a method of coating the optical fiber core wire on the single core side in a plurality of layers, removing the outer layer, and adjusting the outer diameter may be considered.

For example, the optical fiber core shown in FIG. 4 is obtained by providing a first coating layer 22, a second coating layer 23, and a third coating layer 24 on an optical fiber glass wire 21. The core wire having such a structure is suitable for the above-mentioned application. In this case, the third coating layer usually functions as the outermost layer,
If the outer diameter is too large due to connection or the like, the outer diameter can be made a desired size by removing the layer and making the second coating layer the outermost layer. In addition, since the connection work, the optical connector attachment work, and the like are usually performed at the end of the optical fiber, the outermost layer can be removed only by the end.

Conventionally, as a jig for removing the coating of the optical fiber core wire, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-134501, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-57601 and Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 61-160401 are known. A typical example is shown in FIG.

[0006]

The sheath remover shown in FIG. 5 has two handles 3 having a hinge mechanism 31 at one end.
Stoppers 33, 33 'and flawed blade 3 at the other end of 2, 32'
4 and 34 'are provided, and the covering clamp portions 35 and 35' are provided inside the two handles, respectively. The covering core wire is clamped along the longitudinal direction of the covering clamp portion, and at the same time, the covering wire is covered by a flawed blade. Is cut, and the coated core wire is pulled off to the opposite side of the stripping device, thereby stripping the coating of the coated core wire. However, when pulling out the coated core wire, usually, the coated core wire is grasped by hand and pulled out, so that a force is not necessarily applied in a direction perpendicular to the damaged blade,
A force may be applied obliquely, and when only the outermost layer is removed in the case where the coating of the coated core wire is multilayered, there is a problem that the inner layer is damaged. The present invention overcomes such problems of the prior art, even if it is a core wire of a multilayer coating and only the outermost layer is removed, even if all the coating layers are removed at once, An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber core stripper which is sufficiently usable.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a coating remover comprising:
A first clamp having a stopper and a flawed blade at the other end of a pair of opposing grips whose one end is openably and closably connected by a hinge mechanism, and for clamping the coating of the optical fiber core on the inner surface of the grip; And a second clamp portion that is connected to the front of the other end of the pair of handles by a slide shaft and clamps the coating of the optical fiber core, and the second clamp portion is connected to the optical fiber core. The slide shaft is capable of linearly moving in a parallel direction.

The second clamping portion is made of a material having a higher frictional force than the first clamping portion, so that the coating gripping force of the second clamp portion is made larger than the coating gripping force of the first clamp portion. Thus, if the clamping force of the first clamp portion is not applied to the inner layer to facilitate the removal of the clamped outer layer coating, there is an effect when only two or more outer layer coatings are removed. As one of the methods, a rubber-like elastic body is attached to one of the surfaces of the second clamp portion which is in contact with the optical fiber core, and the first clamp portion is made of a metal surface having a V groove or a hard plastic surface. Conceivable.

By making the hinge axis of the second clamp section parallel to the direction of the slide axis, the operation of closing the first clamp section and then closing the second clamp section can be made smooth. Further, the slide shaft may have a cross section of an irregular shape other than a circle such as an ellipse or two or more slide shafts may be provided to prevent the second clamp from rotating around the slide shaft. As a coating removal target, it is conceivable to simultaneously remove and coat a plurality of single-core optical fiber cores in addition to coating and removing single core optical fiber cores one by one.
In that case, it is possible to provide the blade portions at equal intervals on the damaged blade, and to provide a plurality of parallel grooves for gripping the optical fiber core wires in the first and second clamps. Further, when only the outermost layer of the multilayer optical fiber core is covered at once, or when the inner layer is removed all at once, the outermost layer of the multilayer optical fiber core is removed by a certain length, and then only a part of the length is removed. Various cases, such as when the inner layer is removed, can be considered. In order to cope with such various cases, a suitable shape of the flawed blade can be considered.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of a coating remover of the present invention, in which (A) is a front view, (B) is an AA cross-sectional view, and (C) is an AA cross-sectional view in which an upper part is opened. However, (D) shows a BB sectional view, and (E) shows a CC sectional view. In the figure, 1 is a hinge mechanism, 2 and 2 'are handles,
3, 3 'is a stopper attached to the tip of the handle, 4,
4 'is a flawed blade, 5 and 5' are first clamps for clamping the coating of the optical fiber, and 6 is a second clamp for clamping the coating of the optical fiber.

The handles 2, 2 'are always opened by a spring provided in a hinge mechanism. Also,
The second clamp portion 6 is connected to one handle 2 by two slide shafts 8 and is movable in a direction perpendicular to the flawed blade. Further, the second clamp portion 6 can be opened and closed by a hinge shaft 9 parallel to the slide shaft 8 in the lower portion 6-1 and the upper portion 6-2 as shown in FIG. A rubber-like elastic body 7 is attached to 6-2. The first and second clamps are usually made of metal, but can be made of hard plastic. In the figure, an example is shown in which two slide shafts having a circular cross section are used. However, it is only necessary that the second clamp unit does not rotate around the slide shaft. It may have a cross section, for example, a rectangle.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the coating is removed across the optical fiber core wire, and the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same parts. Reference numeral 10 denotes an optical fiber core, reference numeral 11 denotes a portion where the coating of the optical fiber core is removed, and reference numeral 12 denotes a removed coating. In removing the coating, the grips 2 and 2 'of the coating remover are closed while holding the optical fiber core wire between the first clamp portions 5 and 5', and the coating is cut with a flaw and a second cut is made. The clamp is closed to clamp the coating, and then the second clamp 6 is manually moved in a direction away from the damaged blade, that is, in the direction of the arrow, to pull out the coating.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example in which the coating of one optical fiber core is removed. However, a blade and a groove provided in a flawed blade, a first clamp portion, and a second clamp portion are shown. By making the number of the optical fibers plural, it is possible to simultaneously remove the coatings of the optical fibers of a plurality of optical fibers. Further, as shown in FIG. ,
By changing its size, it is also possible to remove the coating of the outer layer on the one hand and the coating of the inner layer on the other hand.

The first clamp portion is made of a metal having a triangular groove in cross section or a hard surface such as hard plastic, the lower portion of the second clamp portion is made of a metal having a triangular groove, and the upper portion is a rubber-like elastic body. If the second clamp portion is attached, the coating can be firmly gripped to the inner layer in the second clamp portion, and only the outer layer coating can be gripped in the first clamp portion. Therefore, this is suitable for removing only the outer layer of the multilayer coating. .

FIG. 3 shows examples of various scratched blades. (A)
Is a blade having a semicircular blade, (B) is a blade having a triangular blade, (C) is a blade having two semicircular blades having different diameters, and (D) is a plurality of blades having the same diameter. Are arranged at equal pitches. Along with the use of the wound blade,
It is needless to say that the shape and the number of the coating holding grooves formed in the first and second clamp portions need to be changed. Further, if the shape of the blade is adjusted to the shape of the collective covering of the tape-shaped optical fiber, it is possible to remove only the collective covering.

[0016]

According to the coating removing device of the present invention, since the second clamp portion is moved only in the direction of a constant straight line by the slide shaft, the pulling force when removing the coating is uniform by the circumferential method. Therefore, no force such as bending is applied to the optical fiber, and damage to the optical fiber is extremely reduced. Further, since the optical fiber core wire does not bend and the damaged blade does not damage the coating of the inner layer, it is particularly suitable for removing only the coating of the outer layer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are views showing an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a front view, FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA, and FIG. Is a BB cross-sectional view, and (E) is C
It is -C sectional drawing.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the sheath of the optical fiber is removed by using the sheath remover according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D are diagrams illustrating various shapes of a flawed blade.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a multilayer-coated optical fiber cable.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a conventional optical fiber coating remover.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Hinge mechanism 2, 2 ': Handle 3, 3': Stopper 4, 4 ': Scratched blade 5, 5': First clamp 6: Second clamp 7: Rubber elastic body 8: Slide axis

Claims (8)

[Claims] An end of a pair of opposite grips, one end of which is opened and closed by a hinge mechanism, is provided with a stopper and a flawed blade, and the inner surface of the grip is clamped with a coating of an optical fiber core. A first clamp portion is provided, and a second clamp portion is provided in front of one other end of the pair of handles to be connected by a slide shaft to clamp a coating of the optical fiber core wire,
The optical fiber core stripper is characterized in that the second clamp part is linearly movable by the slide shaft in a direction parallel to the optical fiber core. 2. The optical fiber stripping device according to claim 1, wherein the second clamp portion is made of a material having a larger frictional force than the first clamp portion. 3. A rubber-like elastic body is adhered to at least one of the surfaces of the second clamp portion which is in contact with the coating of the optical fiber core, and the surface of the first clamp portion which is in contact with the coating of the optical fiber core is 3. An optical fiber core stripper according to claim 1, wherein the V-groove is a hard surface. 4. The optical fiber stripping device according to claim 1, wherein the hinge axis of the second clamp portion is parallel to the direction of the slide axis. 5. The slide shaft is at least two parallel
2. The optical fiber stripping device according to claim 1, wherein said coating stripper is provided. 6. The optical fiber stripping device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of blade portions of the flawed blade are provided at equal intervals. 7. The first clamp and the second clamp each have a groove for arranging a coating of two optical fiber core wires in parallel, and the flawed blade has two grooves corresponding to the respective grooves.
2. The stripper for an optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the stripper has two blades, and the blades have different inscribed diameters. 8. A flaw having a stopper and a blade having an inscribed diameter equal to the outer diameter of the inner coating of the optical fiber core wire at the other end of a pair of opposing grips whose one end is opened and closed by a hinge mechanism. A first clamp portion provided with a blade, for clamping the coating of the optical fiber core on the inner surface of the handle, and connected to the front of the other end of the pair of handles by a slide shaft to cover the optical fiber core; A coating remover provided with a second clamp unit for clamping the coating of the optical fiber core by a first clamp and a second clamp;
The outer cladding of the optical fiber core is scratched by the flawed blade, and while maintaining the state, the second clamp portion is moved in a linear direction by the slide shaft, and only the outer layer coating from the optical fiber core is removed. A method for removing coating of an optical fiber core, comprising: