JPH1164649A - Fiber winding and unwinding mechanism and fiber winding and unwinding method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a winding and unwinding mechanism capable of smoothly executing the winding and unwinding of an optical fiber. SOLUTION: A clamping and guiding mechanism 23 which clamps the end of the optical fiber 26 is disposed on the axis of arc-shaped member 21, 22 turned by a turning means 29. Both ends in the thickness direction of these arc-shaped member 21, 22 are provided with collar parts 25 projecting in an outer peripheral direction over the circumferential direction thereof. Plural fiber loosening preventive members 24 are disposed at the circumference of the arc-shaped member 21, 22. The fiber loosening preventive members 24 are pressed to the outer peripheries of the arc-shaped member 21, 22 by energizing members 28. The optical fiber 26 is introduced into a fiber introducing port 27 formed between the arc-shaped member 21 and 22 and the arc-shaped member 21, 22 are turned in this state, by which the optical fiber is wound. The wound optical fiber 26 is unwound by rotating the arc-shaped member 21, 22 backward.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism used in an optical fiber connection changing device and a winding / unwinding method using this mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 9 shows a conventional optical fiber connection changing device. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a connection board, reference numeral 2 denotes an alignment board, reference numeral 3 denotes a holding board, reference numeral 4 denotes an optical fiber, reference numeral 5 denotes a plug, reference numeral 6
Denotes a first robot hand, and reference numeral 7 denotes a second robot hand. In this optical fiber connection changing device, the optical fiber 4 forms a semicircular loop from the holding board 3, passes through the through-hole 2 a on the alignment board 2, and forms one of the adapter rows arranged on the connection board 1. It is connected to the. The connection changing operation is performed in the following sequence. First, after the first mouth bot hand 6 removes the desired plug 5 from the adapter, the optical fiber 4 is pulled up by the second robot hand until the plug 5 reaches the alignment board 2. Next, the pulled up optical fiber 4 is wound up again by the first robot hand, and the plug 5 is connected to a desired adapter. By performing the connection change operation in such a sequence,
Even if a large number of optical fibers 4 are mounted,
It is possible to perform highly reliable operation without causing entanglement. The optical fiber pulled up by the second robot hand 7 is pulled out to the first robot hand 6 side by the first robot hand 6 holding the plug 5 and retreating from the board surface. I have.

[0003]

When the size of the optical fiber 4 for connection replacement in the above-mentioned apparatus increases, the area of each panel increases and the length of the optical fiber required for connection increases. . Therefore, in order to pull out the optical fiber 4 toward the first robot hand 6,
A long stroke accessor is required, which leads to an increase in the size of the device. In addition, as the length of the optical fiber increases, it becomes difficult to handle the optical fiber, and the risk of the optical fiber 4 getting caught on each part of the device increases.

The present invention has been made to solve these problems. It is an object of the present invention to wind and unwind an optical fiber in the above-described sequence without increasing the size of the apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism that realizes easy operation and a fiber winding / unwinding method that enhances the reliability of the operation.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism according to the first aspect of the present invention has an annular fiber inlet having a gap partially provided toward the center. An arc-shaped member, gripping guide means for gripping an end of an optical fiber and guiding the optical fiber to a fiber introduction port of the arc-shaped member, and these arc-shaped members and gripping guide means, A rotating means for rotating the optical fiber around the central axis so as to wind up the optical fiber around the arc-shaped member or to feed out the optical fiber wound around the arc-shaped member, and provided on the outer periphery of the arc-shaped member; A fiber slack preventing member for holding the optical fiber together with the arc-shaped member is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism according to the first aspect, wherein collars projecting in the outer circumferential direction are provided at both ends in the thickness direction of the arc-shaped member. It is characterized in that it is formed over a wide area. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the fiber winding and feeding mechanism according to the first or second aspect, the fiber loosening prevention member is pressed against the arc-shaped member by elastic means. And

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the fiber winding / unwinding mechanism according to any one of the first to third aspects, the fiber loosening prevention member comprises a rotation center shaft of the arc-shaped member. And a roller rotatably supported about an axis in the same direction as the above. The fiber winding / unwinding mechanism according to claim 5 is the fiber winding / unwinding mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a slip ring is provided on the gripping guide unit, and the slip ring is provided through the slip ring. Power supply or signal transmission to the grip guide means is performed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fiber winding / unwinding method in which an annular arc-shaped member having a fiber inlet formed by a gap provided partially toward a center and an end of an optical fiber are gripped. Grip guide means for guiding the optical fiber to the fiber inlet of the arc member, and rotating the arc member and the grip guide means around the center axis of the arc member, to the arc member. A rotating means for winding up the optical fiber or feeding out the optical fiber wound around the arc-shaped member, and a fiber loosening prevention member provided on the outer periphery of the arc-shaped member and holding the optical fiber together with the arc-shaped member. A fiber winding / unwinding method using a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism comprising: the fiber loosening prevention member is provided below the arc-shaped member. At the same time, the direction of entry of the optical fiber into the fiber inlet is set obliquely upward, and the arc-shaped member is rotated in the direction of inclination of the direction of entry of the optical fiber with respect to the vertical to wind up the optical fiber. And the optical fiber is fed out by being turned in the direction opposite to the turning direction.

According to the above configuration, the winding and feeding of the fiber can be realized by a small-sized device. Further, even in the case of a long optical fiber, the winding / unwinding operation can be realized. Further, according to the above method, even in a long optical fiber, the feeding direction of the fiber can be stabilized, and the reliability of the operation can be improved.

[0010]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism and a fiber winding / unwinding method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
Is a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a first arc-shaped member, reference numeral 22 denotes a second arc-shaped member, reference numeral 23 denotes a gripping guide mechanism (gripping guide means), reference numeral 24 denotes a fiber loosening prevention member, reference numeral 25 denotes a collar portion, and reference numeral 26. Is an optical fiber, 27 is a fiber inlet, 28 is a spring,
An urging member (urging means) such as rubber, and the reference numeral 29 denotes a rotating means. The gripping guide mechanism 23 has a gripping mechanism for gripping the end of the optical fiber and a moving mechanism in the direction of the center axis of the arc. Then, the gripping guide mechanism 23 grips the optical fiber end in a state where the optical fiber 26 protrudes forward with respect to the first arc-shaped member 21 and the second arc-shaped member 22, and then retracts to move the optical fiber 26 to the first arc-shaped member. The fiber is guided to a fiber introduction slot 27 between the arc-shaped member 21 and the second arc-shaped member 22.

According to the apparatus having the above structure, the gripping guide mechanism 23 and the first and second arc-shaped members 21 and 22 are provided.
Is rotated around the center axis of the arc, the optical fiber 26 is wound up by the first and second arc-shaped members 21 and 22. FIG. 2 shows first and second arc-shaped members 21 and 2.
2 shows a state where the optical fiber 26 is wound up. The fiber loosening prevention member 24 is pressed against the first and second arc-shaped members 21 and 22 by an urging member 28, and the first and second arc-shaped members 21 and 22 are pressed in the thickness direction. At both ends, flanges 25 protruding to the outer periphery are attached so as to extend in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the optical fiber 26
Is wound up without coming off the periphery of the first and second arc-shaped members 21 and 22. When unwinding the wound optical fiber 26, the first and second optical fibers 26 are used.
Are rotated in the opposite direction. At this time, the optical fiber 26 is also moved by the fiber loosening prevention member 24 so that the first and second arc-shaped members 21
The paper is unwound from the direction without being loosened from 22. Among the fiber loosening prevention members 24, the fiber loosening prevention member 24a for winding and feeding out the optical fiber 26 together with the first and second arcuate members 21 and 22 is the first and second arcuate members 21. , 22 are provided above.

Also, the first and second arc-shaped members 21 and 22
When the fiber introduction port 27 for guiding the optical fiber 26 provided between the first and second arc-shaped members 21 and 22 is disposed on the fiber loosening prevention member 24 while the first and second arc-shaped members 21 and 22 are rotating, the fiber loosening prevention is performed. The member 24 includes the first and second arc-shaped members 2.
No contact with 1,22. Therefore, in order for the fiber slack preventing member 24 to perform its function, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of fiber slack preventing members 24 are attached, and during rotation of the first and second arc-shaped members 21 and 22, At least one of the fiber loosening prevention members 24 must be disposed so as to always contact the first and second arc-shaped members 21 and 22. Also, the fiber inlet 27 of the first arcuate member 21
The side is a curved portion 21a that is rounded so as to prevent the optical fiber 26 from breaking. Optical fiber 2
At the start of the winding of 6, there is a high risk that the optical fiber 26 will come off from between the collar portions 25 due to loosening. In order to avoid this danger, it is effective to provide a fiber loosening prevention member 24a near the fiber introduction port 27 and to press the optical fiber 26 against the first arc-shaped member 21 immediately after starting winding.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 31 in the figure denotes a fiber slack preventing member. The fiber loosening prevention member 31 is composed of a roller having an axis 32 parallel to the center axis of rotation of the first and second arc-shaped members 21 and 22. The shaft (axis) 32 of the fiber loosening prevention member 31 is provided. Are rotatably supported by a bearing member 33 supported by the urging member 28. That is, the fiber loosening prevention member 31 is rotatably supported by the bearing member 33, and the first and second
Are pressed against the arc-shaped members 21 and 22. By doing so, when the optical fiber 26 is wound or unwound, smooth feeding of the optical fiber 26 can be realized, and the winding and unwinding of the optical fiber 26 can be performed more reliably.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 41 denotes a break prevention member. The bending preventing member 41 has a gently curved portion substantially continuous with the curved portion 21 a of the arc-shaped member 21. Here, when the wall of the fiber inlet 27 on the side where the optical fiber 26 is wound up (the first arc-shaped member 21 on the side where the optical fiber 26 contacts) is not facing the center of the arc (for example, see FIG. 2). The wound optical fiber 26 breaks near the gripping guide mechanism 23. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, this problem can be solved by attaching the break prevention member 41 to the first arc-shaped member 21.
In other words, the optical fiber 2
6 can be made gentle. It should be noted that a similar effect can be obtained by changing the shape of the first arc-shaped member 21. That is, the shape of the first arc-shaped member 21 may be formed to the shape when the break prevention member 41 is attached.

Also, in the first arc-shaped member 21,
By setting the curvature of the curved portion 21a with which the optical fiber 26 contacts to a certain value or more, that is, a curvature that does not damage the optical fiber 26 or more, the damage to the optical fiber 26 can be prevented. Further, also in the fiber loosening prevention member 24a installed near the fiber introduction port 27 of the optical fiber 26, it is similarly effective to set the curvature to a certain value or more, that is, to a value not less than the curvature at which the optical fiber 26 is not damaged.

FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 52 denotes an annular electrode, and reference numeral 53 denotes a fixed electrode slidably in contact with the annular electrode 52. A slip ring 54 including the annular electrode 52 and the fixed electrode 53 is provided on the gripping guide mechanism 23. ing. Here, since the gripping guide mechanism 23 rotates during winding and unwinding of the optical fiber 26, wiring to the drive system of the gripping mechanism for gripping the optical fiber end in the gripping guide mechanism 23 and the moving mechanism in the direction of the center axis of the circular arc is The rotation twists.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the wiring of the gripping guide mechanism 23 is connected to the annular electrode 52, and power is supplied and other signals are transmitted through a slip ring 54 which is taken out by the fixed electrode 53. Thereby, it is possible to eliminate a danger such as disconnection due to twisting of the wiring when the gripping guide mechanism 23 is rotated.
Winding of 6. It is effective when feeding out.

FIG. 6 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention and a winding-up operation. It is a figure explaining a feeding method. In the drawing, reference numeral 61 denotes a fiber loosening prevention member, reference numeral 62 denotes a first arc-shaped member, reference numeral 63 denotes a second arc-shaped member, reference numeral 64 denotes a bending prevention member, reference numeral 65 denotes a vertically upward vector, and reference numeral 66 denotes a fiber introduction direction. Vector. Further, a fiber loosening prevention member 61a for winding up and feeding out the optical fiber 26 together with the first and second arc-shaped members 62 and 63 is provided on the lower side. First and second arc-shaped members 62, 6
The rotation axis 3 is horizontal. The rotation direction at the time of winding the optical fiber 26 is such that the vertical upward vector 65 falls toward the introduction direction vector 66 of the optical fiber 26,
That is, the direction is opposite to that of the device shown in FIG. Further, a curved portion 62a is formed at an end of the first arc-shaped member 62 with which the optical fiber 26 abuts upon winding up,
Further, a bending preventing member 64 for preventing bending of the optical fiber 26 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the case of this apparatus, the optical fiber 26 is wound in a direction in which the vertical upward vector 65 falls toward the introduction direction vector 66 of the optical fiber 26, and when the optical fiber 26 is fed out, the optical fiber 26 The direction in which the fiber 26 is sent out is directed downward toward the fiber loosening prevention member 61a that is provided on the lower side and performs winding and feeding (see FIG. 8). Therefore, compared to the case where the optical fiber 26 is wound up in the opposite direction and is drawn out toward the upper fiber loosening prevention member 24a upward, the state of the drawn out optical fiber 26 becomes almost the same every time. This is a payout method.

[0020]

As described above, according to the fiber winding / unwinding mechanism and the fiber winding / unwinding method of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
According to the fiber winding / unwinding mechanism according to the first aspect, in a state where the end of the optical fiber is grasped by the grasping and guiding means and guided to the fiber introduction port of the arc-shaped member, the grasping and guiding means is provided. By rotating the arc-shaped member, the optical fiber can be wound around the outer periphery of the arc-shaped member very easily, and by rotating in the opposite direction, the optical fiber can be unreeled very easily. it can. As a result, by using this fiber winding / unwinding mechanism in an optical fiber connection changing device for switching the connection of optical fibers by inserting and removing a plug from an adapter provided on the board surface by a robot hand, the optical fiber at the time of switching the connection of the optical fibers can be obtained. The fiber can be satisfactorily wound up and paid out. As a result, even if the area of each panel increases or the fiber length increases due to the increase in the scale of the fiber, it is possible to cope without using an accessor having a long stroke of the robot hand. In addition to this, it is possible to reduce the number of obstacles such as entanglement of optical fibers.

According to the fiber winding / unwinding mechanism of the second aspect, the arc-shaped member of the optical fiber to be wound by the flanges provided at both ends in the thickness direction of the arc-shaped member so as to protrude to the outer peripheral side. The optical fiber can be prevented from falling off, and thereby the operation of winding and feeding out the optical fiber can be performed satisfactorily. According to the fiber winding / unwinding mechanism according to the third aspect, since the fiber loosening prevention member is pressed against the outer periphery of the arc member by the elastic means, the optical fiber wound around the arc member is securely held by the arc member. Can be held.

According to the fiber winding / unwinding mechanism according to the fourth aspect, the fiber loosening prevention member is rotated at the time of winding and unwinding the optical fiber, so that the operation of winding and unwinding the optical fiber can be performed smoothly. Can be. According to the fiber winding / unwinding mechanism according to the fifth aspect, since power supply and signal transmission to the gripping guide means are performed via the slip ring, wiring in the rotating portion can be eliminated, thereby enabling rotation. Can be eliminated.

According to the fiber winding / unwinding method of the present invention, when the optical fiber wound up on the arc-shaped member is fed out by reversing the arc-shaped member, the sending direction of the optical fiber is set from the upper side to the lower side. Since the fiber is directed downward toward the provided fiber loosening prevention member, it is possible to perform the feeding better than in the case where the fiber is sent upward, whereby the optical fiber can be fed out in a stable state, and the reliability can be improved. Performance can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view and a side view of a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism for explaining a configuration and a structure of a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a front view and a side view of the fiber winding / unwinding mechanism for explaining how to wind up the optical fiber by the fiber winding / unwinding mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism illustrating a configuration and a structure of a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism illustrating a configuration and a structure of a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a gripping guide mechanism constituting a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism for explaining a configuration and a structure of a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism illustrating a configuration and a structure of a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism for explaining how to wind up an optical fiber by a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism for explaining a method of feeding an optical fiber by a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of an optical fiber connection changing device illustrating a conventional optical fiber connection changing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

21, 22, 62, 63 Arc-shaped member 23 Grasping guide mechanism (Gripping guide means) 24, 24a, 31, 61, 61a Fiber loosening prevention member 25 Collar portion 26 Optical fiber 27 Fiber introduction port 28 Elastic member (Elastic member) 29 Rotating means 32 Shaft (axis) 54 Slip ring

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yasuhide Nishida 3-19-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Inside Japan Telegraph and Telephone Co., Ltd. No. Japan Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An annular arc-shaped member having a fiber inlet formed by a gap provided partially toward the center, and an end of an optical fiber is gripped, and the optical fiber is connected to the arc-shaped member. Gripping guide means for guiding to the fiber introduction port; rotating these arc-shaped members and the gripping guide means around the central axis of the arc-shaped member to wind the optical fiber around the arc-shaped member or to rotate the optical fiber to the arc-shaped member. A fiber winding device comprising: a rotation unit for feeding out a wound optical fiber; and a fiber loosening prevention member provided on an outer periphery of the arc-shaped member and holding the optical fiber together with the arc-shaped member. -Feeding mechanism. 2. The fiber winding and winding device according to claim 1, wherein the arc-shaped member is formed at both ends in a thickness direction with flange portions projecting in an outer peripheral direction so as to extend in a circumferential direction. Feeding mechanism. 3. The fiber winding-up device according to claim 1, wherein the fiber loosening prevention member is pressed against the arc-shaped member by elastic means.
Feeding mechanism. 4. The fiber loosening prevention member according to claim 1, wherein the fiber loosening prevention member comprises a roller rotatably supported about an axis in the same direction as a rotation center axis of the arc-shaped member. The fiber winding / unwinding mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims. 5. The grip guide means is provided with a slip ring, and power is supplied to the grip guide means or a signal is transmitted through the slip ring. 2. The fiber winding and feeding mechanism according to claim 1. 6. An annular arc-shaped member having a fiber inlet formed by a gap partially provided toward the center, and an end of the optical fiber is gripped, and the optical fiber is connected to the arc-shaped member. Gripping guide means for guiding to the fiber introduction port; rotating these arc-shaped members and the gripping guide means around the central axis of the arc-shaped member to wind the optical fiber around the arc-shaped member or to rotate the optical fiber to the arc-shaped member. For a fiber winding / unwinding mechanism, comprising: a rotating means for feeding out the wound optical fiber; and a fiber loosening prevention member provided on the outer periphery of the arc-shaped member and holding the optical fiber together with the arc-shaped member. The fiber loosening prevention member is provided below the arc-shaped member, and an optical fiber to the fiber introduction port is provided. Penetration direction of bar and obliquely upward, the arcuate member, is rotated to the inclined direction of the penetration direction of the optical fiber relative to the vertical roll up the optical fiber,
A method of winding up and feeding out the optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber is turned out in a direction opposite to the turning direction at the time of winding up.