JPH10118909A - End surface polishing devide - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a processing precision and the work environment by the downsizing of a device. SOLUTION: An abrasive disc 25 having an abrasive member 25a for grinding a bar shape member W is supported rotatably by a drive mechanism. While, the base end of a support arm 30 is supported to a device main body 21 vertically movably and also supported energizingly downward by a compression spring 36. A positioning part 37b is formed by mounting a press member 37 on the tip and also a ball 38 is installed and the positioning part 37b is engagingly locked to the engagingly locking part 27b of a rotary jig disc 27 and rotation- regulated and also the bar shape member W mounted to the rotary jig disc 27 is pressed to the grinding member 25a by press-contacting the ball 38 to a support surface 27a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an end surface polishing apparatus for polishing an end surface of a rod-shaped member such as an optical communication fiber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical communication fiber is used after a fiber is adhered and fixed in a center hole of a ferrule which is a main member of a connector, and then the ferrule end face and the fiber end face are simultaneously polished smoothly and mirror-finished. If the polished surface of the polished ferrule and fiber is not perpendicular to the center axis of the ferrule, or if the polished surface is damaged, the opposing position accuracy of the optical connector in which the ferrules are connected to each other is reduced. It deteriorates and loss increases. Therefore, the polished surface of the ferrule including the optical fiber needs to be polished with high precision.

A conventional optical fiber end surface polishing apparatus is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-26456. The optical fiber end surface polishing apparatus disclosed in this publication has an eccentric disk that rotates on a concentric circle of a rotating disk, and this eccentric disk has a planetary gear that transmits the rotation of a revolving motor, and these are coupled to the polishing disk. Then, the polishing machine is rotated and revolved.

However, in this conventional optical fiber end face polishing apparatus, since the planetary gear is used for the revolving mechanism, the planetary gear is stopped when the rotation shaft is rotated even if the revolving motor is stopped. The polishing machine rotates while meshing along the revolving motor gear, and as a result, the polishing machine revolves. For this reason, there has been a problem that there is a restriction in setting the optimal rotation number and revolution number for the polishing conditions.

In this conventional optical fiber end face polishing apparatus, a fixing jig board for fixing a plurality of ferrules having optical fibers mounted therein is attached to a support table so as to be parallel to the polishing board and opposed thereto. Finished surface accuracy of the polished material is ensured. However, due to the processing accuracy of the support base and the fixing jig board, there is inevitably a mounting error between them, and as a result, a plurality of ferrules fixed to the fixing jig board, that is, fibers are pressed obliquely against the polishing board. Had the disadvantage of becoming Therefore, there is a problem that the finished surface slightly deviates from a convex spherical surface having an apex at the center of the ideal optical fiber, which adversely affects connector connection performance.

Therefore, the present applicant has filed an application for solving the above-mentioned problem. This application is PCT International Publication WO94
In the end face polishing machine described in this publication, a fixing jig board for fixing a plurality of ferrules to which optical fibers are fixed is provided, and while this fixing jig board is supported by a support mechanism, a ferrule is provided. A polishing plate provided with a polishing member for polishing the ferrule is provided opposite to the ferrule, and abuts against the polishing member so that the same pressing force always acts on the end faces of the plurality of ferrules, and the polishing plate rotates independently of revolution and rotation. The end faces of the plurality of ferrules are processed into convex spherical surfaces by being driven by a possible lapping motion mechanism.

[0007]

However, in the end face polishing machine filed by the present applicant, the tip of the conical presser shaft is engaged with the concave portion at the center of the fixing jig board. Although this fixing jig board is swingably supported while applying a spring bias, in order to obtain an ideal convex spherical surface with little eccentricity of curvature, for example, the surface shape of the polishing board is slightly changed from a flat surface. However, there is a problem that a small correction such as a curved surface is required.

In addition, the center of the support tends to shift due to abrasion or the like, which may make it difficult to process the end face of the ferrule into an ideal convex spherical surface having the center of the optical fiber as an apex due to long-term use. In addition, since it is necessary to suppress the rotation of the fixing jig board, a rotation stopping pin is required separately from the presser shaft, which also causes insufficient swing support of the fixing jig board. Further, since the fixing jig board is supported by two shafts, a holding shaft and a detent pin, the structure becomes complicated, and a fixing jig board supporting mechanism including the holding shaft and the detent pin However, there is a problem in that the work space is limited because it is located above it, and the work of attaching and detaching the fixing jig board from the support mechanism is troublesome.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an end face polishing apparatus which improves the processing accuracy and improves the working environment by downsizing the apparatus.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, a rod-shaped member is mounted on a fixing jig board, and the fixing jig board is supported by the apparatus main body by a support mechanism. A polishing plate having a polishing member for polishing the rod-shaped member is rotatably supported on the apparatus main body by a drive mechanism, and is mounted on the fixing jig plate by the support mechanism with respect to the polishing member of the rotating polishing plate. In the end face polishing apparatus for polishing by pressing a rod-shaped member, the support mechanism has a spherical portion, and the central portion of the fixing jig board has a support surface on which the spherical portion is pressed and engaged. In the end face polishing device.

In the first aspect, the spherical portion of the support mechanism is pressed against the polishing member of the rotating polishing plate against the support surface at the center portion of the fixing jig plate, thereby mounting the polishing member on the fixing jig plate. The plurality of rod-shaped members thus pressed are always evenly pressed against the polishing board, and the end surfaces of the rod-shaped members are polished and processed into ideal convex spherical surfaces.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the end face polishing apparatus according to the first aspect, the support mechanism has a support arm extending substantially horizontally from the main body to the center of the fixing jig board. The base end of the support arm is vertically movably supported by the apparatus main body and urged downward by an urging member, while the distal end of the support arm is supported by the support surface of the fixing jig board. The end face polishing apparatus is provided with the spherical portion to be pressed and engaged.

In the second aspect, the support arm is supported so as to be vertically movable and urged downward by an urging member, and the tip end extends to the center of the fixing jig board so as to extend. By providing a spherical surface that is pressed against the support surface,
A work space is secured above the fixing jig board on which the bar-shaped member is mounted, and the work of attaching and detaching the bar-shaped member is facilitated.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the end face polishing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the support mechanism has a support member supported by the support arm, and an outer periphery of a distal end of the support member. A positioning portion is formed on the portion and the spherical portion is formed on the distal end surface, while a positioning portion of the support member is locked at a center portion of the fixing jig board, thereby rotating the fixing jig board. An end-face polishing apparatus, wherein a locking concave portion for regulating the pressure is formed, and a support concave surface is formed on which the fixing jig board is swingably supported by press-fitting engagement of the spherical surface portion. It is in.

[0015] In the third aspect, the positioning portion of the support member is locked to the locking portion of the fixing jig board, so that the spherical portion of the support member is fixed in a state in which the fixing jig board cannot be rotated. By press-contacting and engaging with the supporting concave surface of the fixing jig board, the fixing jig board is swingably supported, and the rod-shaped member mounted on the fixing jig board is a polishing member of the polishing board that rotates and swings. , And the end face is polished to be processed into an ideal convex spherical surface.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the end face polishing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the support mechanism is rotatable about a vertical axis around a column erected on the apparatus main body. Wherein the supporting arm is supported by the supporting portion.

In the fourth aspect, the support arm for supporting the fixing jig board at the tip is provided around the support column, for example, 360 mm.
Rotation is possible, so that it is not necessary to remove the fixing jig board from the support arm each time when cleaning the fixed polishing board for each of a plurality of polishing steps. That is, if the cleaning device is installed in the peripheral space, the polishing and cleaning can be continuously performed by rotating the support arm, and the operation of polishing the rod-shaped member becomes extremely easy.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an end face polishing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the end face polishing apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the end face polishing apparatus.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the center of a first rotation transmission plate 12 is fixed to the rotation shaft of the rotation motor 11, and the first rotation transmission plate 12 has a rotation center as a fulcrum. A plurality of first connecting pins 13 are fixed on concentric circles.
Each of the first connection pins 13 is rotatably connected to an eccentric portion of each of the rotation transmission boards 14, and a first connection pin 15 is fixed to each of the rotation transmission boards 14 at the eccentric section. Each first connection pin 15 is rotatably connected to a second rotation transmission board 16.

On the other hand, a central portion of a drive gear 18 is fixed to the rotation shaft of the revolving motor 17, and a driven gear 19 meshes with the drive gear 18. The driven gear 19 is fixed to the outer periphery of the lower part of the revolution transmission shaft 20,
A bearing cylinder portion 22 of the apparatus main body 21 is fitted to the outer periphery of the upper part. A rotation shaft 23 for rotation is rotatably fitted to the revolving transmission shaft 20 at a position eccentric from the rotation center by a predetermined amount, and a lower end of the rotation shaft 23 for rotation is connected to the second rotation transmission plate 1.
6 at the center.

The upper end of the rotating shaft 23 is connected to a polishing plate 25 via a connecting member 24. And
A polishing member (not shown) is provided on the upper surface of the polishing plate 25. On the other hand, a fixing jig board 27 to which a plurality of rod-shaped members W such as ferrules are fixed is supported by the apparatus main body via a support mechanism 26.

That is, as shown in detail in FIG. 1, upper and lower flange portions 28a and 28b
A support 28 having a flange portion 28 is attached.
A pair of front and rear support shafts 29 are attached between the a and 28b. The support shaft 29 is connected to the horizontal support arm 3.
The support arm 30 penetrates a base end of the support arm 30 and is vertically movable in a horizontal state. A screw hole 31 is formed in the flange portion 28 a of the support 28, and an operation screw 33 having an operation handle 32 is screwed into the screw hole 31. The operation shaft 3 integrated with the operation screw 33
The distal end of the support arm 4 penetrates the support arm 30 and is locked by a locking pin 35. A compression spring 36 is interposed between the operation screw 33 and the support arm 30.

The support arm 30 has a rectangular cross section and extends to the center of the polishing plate 25 and is fitted in a connection hole 37 a of a holding member 37. The pressing member 37 has a rectangular cross section to form a positioning portion 37b, and a ball 38 as a spherical portion is attached to the lower surface. On the other hand, a polishing member 25a is mounted on the upper surface of the polishing plate 25, and a plurality of fixed jig plates 27 are located so as to face the polishing member 25a. Is a support surface 2 on which a plurality of bar-shaped members W are detachably fixed, and a ball 38 of a pressing member 37 is pressed against the center of the upper surface.
A locking portion 27b is formed, which locks the positioning portion 37b of the holding member 37 with the positioning member 37a to make the relative rotation impossible.

Accordingly, the base end of the support arm 30 is biased and supported downward by the compression spring 36, so that the ball 38 of the pressing member 37 mounted on the front end is fixed to the fixing jig board 27.
, And each rod-shaped member W is brought into contact with the polishing member 25a with its end face pressed through the fixing jig board 27. Further, the positioning portion 37b of the pressing member 37 is locked to the locking portion 27b of the fixing jig board 27, thereby supporting the fixing jig board 27 so as not to rotate. By rotating the operation handle 32, the operation screw 3
The urging force of the compression spring 36 interposed between the support arm 3 and the support arm 30 can be changed, and the pressing force of the pressing jig board 27 by the pressing member 37 can be changed via the support arm 30.

The ball 3 provided as a spherical portion in this embodiment
8 may be fixed or rotatably supported. The support surface 27a against which the ball 38 is pressed is
Any shape may be used as long as the fixing jig board 27 is swingably supported by being pressed against the ball 38, or a through hole having a smaller diameter than the ball 38. It is preferable to use a substantially spherical surface, in particular, a spherical surface having a radius of curvature substantially the same as the ball 38 and a slightly larger radius, or a spherical surface having a slightly larger radius of curvature than the ball 38.

The above-mentioned support 28 is provided in the main body 2 of the apparatus.
1, and is supported in a rotatably fitted state with the support column 40, and the support 28, the support arm 30 supported by the support 28, and the fixing jig board 27 are centered on the central axis of the support 40. And can be rotated 360 ° in the horizontal direction.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show this state in detail. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, in the vicinity of the polishing apparatus, there is provided a cleaning device 41 for cleaning the polished rod-shaped member W and the fixing jig board 27, and an end-face inspection device for inspecting the polished rod-shaped end surface. By arranging 42, a plurality of operations can be performed with the ferrule fixed to the fixing jig. That is, after the rod-shaped member W is polished by the polishing member 25 a, the support 28 is rotated about the column 40 to move the fixed jig board 27 held at the tip of the support arm 30 above the cleaning device 41. Thus, the cleaning of each bar-shaped member W and the fixing jig board 27 can be performed continuously. After washing, the support 28
By rotating the fixing jig board 27, the end face inspection device 42
Can be moved upward, and the end face of each bar-shaped member W can be inspected. As described above, since the support 28 is rotatable about the support column 40, a plurality of operations can be performed while the fixing jig board 27 to which the rod-shaped member W is fixed is attached to the support arm 30. There is an effect that the work can be facilitated.

Here, the operation of the above-described end face polishing apparatus of the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
First, regarding the orbital motion, the orbital motor 17 is driven to drive the orbital transmission shaft 20 via the gears 18 and 19.
Is rotated, and the polishing disk 25 revolves by a predetermined eccentric amount. In this case, the rotation transmission shaft 20 is provided inside the revolution transmission shaft 20.
However, since a plurality of rotation transmission boards 14 are arranged between the first rotation transmission board 12 and the rotation transmission board 14, the rotation transmission boards 14 rotate around the first pins 13 in the same phase as the rotation of the revolution transmission shaft 20. I do. Therefore, even if the first rotation transmission board 12 is stopped or rotated, the rotation of the revolution transmission shaft 20 is not restricted.

On the other hand, with respect to the rotation motion, the first rotation transmission board 12 is rotated by driving the rotation motor 11, but since the first pin 13 is on the concentric circle of the rotation transmission board 12, the same locus as described above is used. , The rotation shaft 23 for rotation is eccentric by a predetermined amount, but since it is connected via the rotation transmission plate 14, the rotation of the same rotation speed as the first rotation transmission plate 12 is transmitted to the rotation shaft 23 for rotation. You. In this way, the polishing machine 25 revolves while rotating by the rotational motion of the revolving transmission shaft 20 and the rotation rotating shaft 23. On the other hand, this polishing machine 2
The support arm 30 is biased and supported downward by a compression spring 36 with respect to the polishing member 25a of FIG.
7 is the locking portion 27b of the fixing jig board 27
The ball 38 is pressed against the support surface 27a of the fixing jig board 27 in a non-rotatable state, so that each rod-shaped member W is attached to the polishing member 25a via the fixing jig board 27 by the end face thereof. Is imposed.

At this time, due to the engagement relationship between the ball 38 of the pressing member 37 and the support surface 27a of the fixing jig board 27, the fixing jig board 27 pivots, and the rod-shaped member W has an ideal convex spherical end surface. Processed into Therefore, it is not necessary to correct the shape of the polishing plate 25 or the like, and the surface of the polishing plate 25 may be kept flat.

[0031]

As described above in detail in the embodiment, according to the end face polishing apparatus of the present invention, the rod-like member is mounted on the fixing jig board, and the fixing jig board is supported on the apparatus main body by the support mechanism. On the other hand, a polishing plate having a polishing member for polishing the rod-shaped member is rotatably supported on the apparatus main body by a drive mechanism, and the rod-shaped member mounted on the fixing jig plate by the support mechanism for the polishing member of the rotating polishing plate. By pressing the end surface, the end surface can be polished, and a spherical portion is provided on this support mechanism, while a support surface on which the spherical portion is pressed against the center of the fixing jig plate is provided. It will be supported by being pressed against the supporting surface at the center, and this fixing jig board operates smoothly when the rod-shaped member is pressed against the rotating polishing member of the polishing plate and polished. The end face of the rod It can be processed into specific convex spherical surface.

Further, according to the edge polishing apparatus of the present invention, the positioning portion is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the distal end of the supporting member supported by the apparatus main body, and the spherical portion is formed on the distal end surface. The positioning portion of the support member is locked to the portion to form a locking portion that disables rotation of the fixing jig plate, and the fixing jig plate is swingably supported by the spherical surface portion being pressed and engaged. Since the supporting concave surface is formed, the support member can perform rotation control and support for smooth operation of the fixing jig board, and can reduce the size and simplification of the apparatus.

Further, according to the end face polishing apparatus of the present invention, the base end of the support arm is vertically movably supported by the apparatus main body and is urged and supported downward by the urging member. Since a spherical portion is provided which is pressed against the support surface of the fixing jig board, a work space can be secured above the fixing jig board on which the bar-shaped member is mounted, and the work of attaching and detaching the bar-shaped member is facilitated. Workability can be improved.

Further, since the support arm of the support mechanism is supported by the support rotatable about the vertical axis, the fixing jig board on which the ferrule is fixed can be rotated, for example, 360 °. By arranging the cleaning device and the end face inspection device around the polishing device, it is not necessary to remove the fixing jig board at the time of the cleaning operation in each polishing process. Can be shortened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an edge polishing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the end face polishing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the end face polishing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a front view and a plan view of the end face polishing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 11 rotation motor 12 first rotation transmission board 14 rotation transmission board 16 second rotation transmission board 17 revolution motor 18 drive gear 19 driven gear 20 revolution transmission shaft 21 device main body 23 rotation rotation shaft 25 polishing machine 25a polishing member 26 support Mechanism 27 Fixing jig board 27a Support surface 27b Engagement part 30 Support arm 32 Operation handle 33 Operation screw 36 Compression spring 37 Pressing member 37b Positioning part 38 Ball 40 Support 41 Cleaning device 42 End face inspection device W Rod member

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A bar-shaped member is mounted on a fixing jig board, and the fixing jig board is supported by an apparatus main body by a support mechanism, and a polishing machine having a polishing member for polishing the rod-shaped member is driven by a driving mechanism. An end face polishing apparatus that is rotatably supported by a main body and presses and grinds a rod-shaped member mounted on the fixing jig board by the support mechanism against a polishing member of the polishing board that rotates and swings, wherein the support mechanism is An end face polishing apparatus having a spherical surface portion and a support surface at the center portion of the fixing jig plate, the spherical surface portion being pressed and engaged. 2. The end face polishing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The support mechanism has a support arm extending substantially horizontally from the apparatus main body to the center of the fixing jig board, and a base end of the support arm is supported by the apparatus main body so as to be vertically movable and a biasing member. An end surface polishing device, wherein the spherical surface portion is provided at the distal end portion of the support arm so as to be pressed against and engaged with a support surface of the fixing jig board. 3. The end surface polishing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support mechanism has a support member supported on a distal end of the support arm, and a positioning portion is formed on an outer peripheral portion of the distal end of the support member. In addition, while the spherical portion is formed on the tip end surface, a locking portion that restricts rotation of the fixing jig board by locking a positioning portion of the support member at the center of the fixing jig board. An end surface polishing apparatus, wherein a support concave surface is formed and the fixing jig board is swingably supported by being pressed and engaged with the spherical portion. 4. The end-face polishing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support mechanism includes a support portion rotatably supported around a vertical axis around a column erected on the apparatus main body. An end face polishing apparatus, wherein the support arm supports the support arm.