JPS5930893Y2 - Optical fiber connection equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement in a device for longitudinally connecting optical fibers.

The means for longitudinally connecting optical fibers used in optical communications and the like is being improved from manual work to mechanical work and even automation, but this type of connection work using heat fusion There are still many points that need technical improvement and new ideas.

For example, in the case of a heat fusion method called the preheating method, the terminals of both optical fibers to be connected are set facing each other on a pair of moving tables that can move close to each other, and the terminals of both optical fibers to be connected are set facing each other by moving the moving tables. Discharge heat is applied to each terminal from the time when the terminals are brought close to each other at a predetermined interval, preheating from this point, followed by heating for a certain period of time, and furthermore, the two terminals are matched in synchronization with this. The ends of both optical fibers were fused to each other, but it took a lot of time to adjust the ends to the optimal distance for starting the discharge, which was done under a microscope. Moreover, the workability is poor as it depends on the sensitivity and skill of the operator, and if the above-mentioned spacing is set using a block cage, etc., not only is the workability poor, but there is also the risk of accidentally damaging the terminal. However, problems that existed before this type of work was mechanized and automated remained.

Of course, if the distance between the two terminals is not adjusted satisfactorily, the effect of shaping the terminals by preheating will be reduced and the loss during optical fiber connection will increase.

The present invention enables this type of connection work to be performed mechanically and electrically without requiring any skill, thereby ensuring accurate and highly efficient connection work without failure.
The configuration will be explained below using examples.

In Figures 1 and 2, IA and IB are optical fibers, 2
at2b is the terminal, 3a and 3b are the respective terminals 2at2b
This is the coating removal part from which the coating was removed.

Furthermore, in the same figure, reference numeral 4 designates a fuselage body, and 5A and 5B designate a pair of movable tables disposed oppositely on the fuselage body 4 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the upper surface of the fuselage body 4.

The above-mentioned movable platforms 5A and 5B are guided in the above-mentioned moving direction by rails on the machine body 4 (not shown) and rail grooves formed on the lower surface of each of the movable platforms 5A and 5B. Mobile platform 5A.

5B is moved in the above direction by electric drive mechanisms 8A and 8B equipped with motors 6a and 6b and gearboxes 7a and 7b with built-in transmission gears. a, moving platform 5 in 7b
Output shafts 9 a t 9 b of motors 6 a t 6 b mounted on the lower surfaces of A and 5 B, respectively, and supported within the fuselage 4
are connected within the same boxes 7a and 7b.

Furthermore, a linear V groove 10at10b into which an optical fiber 1B terminal 2at2b can be fitted is formed in the central longitudinal direction of the upper surface of the moving bases 5A, 5B, and each of the V grooves 10a, 1 A fixing holding mechanism 1 for holding each of the terminals 2 a t 2 b is provided at a predetermined position of ob.
1A, 11B and slip-type holding mechanisms 12A, 12B are provided, respectively.

In this case, one of the holding mechanisms 1 is used for fixation.
1A and 11B are electromagnetic suction parts 13a.

13b and a suctioned part 14at14b that is sucked by the suction parts 13a and 13b, and the suction part 13at
13b is attached to the lower surface of the movable tables 5A, 5B, and the suction part 14a has a rectangular frame shape.

14b (/i, the one side walls 15a and 15b thereof are arranged so as to pass through the through holes 16a and 16b formed on one side of the groove 10atlOb in the movable tables 5A and 5B, and the suctioned parts 14a and 14b lower part 17 a t 1
7b is sucked, the upper parts 18a and 18b of the optical fiber terminals 2a and 2b in the V grooves 10a and 10b
It can be pressed to prevent it from shifting.

Furthermore, the other holding mechanism 12A is of a slip type.

12B has three pins 19 a t 19 b t 19 c and 19 a, respectively, as shown in FIG.
.

19b' and 19c' are the main buttons, and two of these pins 19bt19c and 19b'.

19c' is a V-groove 10a on the moving tables 5A and 5B.

Each of the remaining pins 19a and 1 is planted on one side edge of 10b.
9a' passes through the midpoint between the two pins 19b, 19c and 19b't19c' and connects to the V grooves 10a, 10.
The guide slots 20a of the movable platforms 5A and 5B intersect with b.
20b and each pin 19a, 19a'
Sliding pieces 21a, 21b attached to the lower ends of the sliding receivers 22a, 22a' buttons and 22b are attached to the lower surfaces of the moving platforms 5A, 5B.

22b' and each pin 19a.

Springs 23a and 23b are hung on 19a' to press the pin toward grooves 10a and 10b, and in the case of these holding mechanisms 12A and 12B, grooves 1
Optical fiber IA fitted in 0 a t 10 b
, IB terminal 2 a t 2 b is pin 19b.

19c and 19b' t 19c' and pins 19a and 19a' having a pressing force in both pin directions.
This allows it to be held in a slippery manner with a constant frictional force.

Note that when the terminals 2a, 2b of the optical fibers IA, IB receive a force in the axial direction, the holding mechanisms 12A, 12B hold these terminals 2a, 2b with a force above a certain value.
For example, as shown in FIG.
24b' is provided, each roller 24at24b and 24a'.

24b' each pin shaft 25at25b-$= and 25a
.

A constant rotational braking force may be applied to 25b'.

Furthermore, in FIGS. 1 and 2 described above, reference numeral 26 denotes a pressing plate disposed on the fuselage 4 at the end abutting position between the moving bases 5A and 5B, and passes through the fuselage 4 in the vertical direction. This pressing plate 26 has an electromagnetic suction section 2γ and a suctioned section 28 that is sucked by the suction section 27, and is connected to the suctioned section of a push/pull mechanism 29 installed on the lower surface of the fuselage 4. The pressing plate 26 is attached to the holding plate 28 and can move forward and backward from the end abutting position, and an electrostrictive element 30 is also attached to the pressing plate 26.

FIG. 5A shows an extracted version of the pressing plate 26 in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the pressing plate 26 here is made of a flexible material such as metal or synthetic resin, and The strain element 30 is made of barium titanate porcelain, zirconium titanate porcelain, etc., and as shown in FIG. A display 31 that can display the voltage generated by the element 30 and its power source 3
2 is provided.

Therefore, this pressing plate 26 has a coating removal section 3 for one optical fiber.
When a is pressed and the plate 26 is bent, and a voltage is generated due to distortion in the electrostrictive element 30, the generated voltage is applied to the electric detection circuit 3.
3 is now displayed on the display 31, and when the sheath removal part 3b of the optical fiber 1B is pressed against the pressing plate 26 in the same state and the plate 26 is restored straight, When the voltage generated by the electrostrictive element 30 reaches O, this can also be continued by the display on the display 31.

In addition, as such a pressing plate, as shown in FIG.
In this case, both plates 26a may be configured with an insulating material 34 interposed between the plates 26b.

When 26b is bent by the pressing force of both coating removal parts 3a * 3b and comes into contact with each other, a current flows and the indicator 31 becomes energized, and at this time,
In addition to both the pressing plates 26a and 26b being made of a flexible material, the pressing plates 26a and 26b may be made of a flexible material and the other being made of a hard material, or they may be made of a long or short material with different bending characteristics. , 26b can contact each other.

Furthermore, when two pressing plates 26a and 26b are used, the arrangement shown in FIG. 5 may be used. In this case, both pressing plates 26a and 26b
, 26b, and an insulating material 34a, 34b is interposed between each of the plates 26a, 26b, 35.

When using the other two pressing plates 26a and 26b, these two plates may be regarded as capacitors, and the capacitance that increases when the drawing board approaches is detected.

Furthermore, in FIG. 1, 36 is a pair of discharge electrodes 37.
a, 37b, and a heat fusion device 36 with
The discharge electrodes 37a and 37b are disposed at the terminal abutting position on the body 4 with a discharge facing interval therebetween.

Next, the terminals 2a of the optical fibers IA and IB are formed using the device of the present invention explained in FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIG. 5A.

2b is fusion spliced.

1. As shown in the figure, the terminals 2a of the optical fibers IA and IB,
2b is the V-groove 10a of the same group moving tables 5A and 5B.

However, at this point, the holding force of the fixing holding mechanisms 11A and IIB is not effective, and only the slip-type holding mechanisms 12A and 12B are used to hold both the terminals 2 a t.
2b is held on each moving platform 5A, 5B.

1, fixed pin 19b, 19 ch and 19
b', 19c' and the pins 19a, 19a' which are receiving pressing force from the springs 23at23b hold the respective terminals 2a, 2b, thereby keeping the coating removed parts 3a, 3b facing each other in a separated state. Let it happen.

Next, the motor 6a is energized and driven to move one of the movable bases 5A in the direction of the pressing plate 26, and removes the coating removal portion 3a of the optical fiber 1A whose end 2a is held on the movable base 5A. is pressed against one plate surface of the pressing plate 26.

In the relative relationship between the coating removal part 3a and the pressing plate 26 at this time, the iron plate 26 is bent in the pressing direction by the pressing force of the rotating part 3a moving via the moving table 5A. When the reaction force in the restoring direction of 26 exceeds a certain value, the pin 19a and the other pins 19b have the elastic force of the spring 23a.

The terminal 2a held by the pins 19c starts to slip between the pins 19at, 19bt, and 19c due to the above-mentioned reaction force, and therefore, the moving force from this point forward does not feed the terminal 2a, and the coating removal portion 3a comes into contact with the pressing plate 26 by a predetermined pressing force (pressing force immediately before slipping).

Furthermore, due to the above bending of the pressing plate 26, the electrostrictive element 30 is also strained and a voltage is generated, which is displayed on the display 31 of the electric detection circuit 33. It is thus possible to know that a slip has occurred in the terminal 2a.

For example, in the case of an optical fiber with an outer diameter of 120 to 150 μm, if the terminal is pressed against the pressing plate 26 with a force of 40 g or less, specifically 20 g, the electrostrictive element 30 will have a +0.5
The above-mentioned slip has occurred at the time when voltage (2) is generated, and therefore, this generated voltage can be detected by
1 and stop the motor 6a.

Next, the movable table 5B is moved by the motor 6b in the same manner as described above to press the coating removed portion 3b of the other optical fiber 1B against the opposite surface of the bent pressing plate 26, in the direction in which the iron plate 26 is restored. I press it.

When the pressing plate 26 is restored to its straight state, the voltage generated by the electrostrictive element 30 becomes O, and therefore the display 31
It is sufficient to stop the motor 6b when this is displayed.

Note that even if the motor 6b continues to be driven in the state in which the pressing plate 26 is restored, as long as the frictional holding forces of the pins 19a, 19b19c and 19a' t 19 b' t 19 c' are equal to each other, the movable table 5B The terminal does not move via the pins 19a' on the moving table 5B side,
A slip occurs between 19b' t 19c' and the terminal 2b.

When both the coating removal parts 3 a t 3 b are pressed against both sides of the pressing plate 26 in this way, there is a gap of about 0.5 to 1.0 mm between the two parts 3 a and 3 b via the thickness of the corresponding plate 26 . A predetermined interval will be set.

Below, both terminals 2 are fixed by holding mechanisms 11A and 11B.
a and 2b are fixed on the respective movable tables 5A and 5B using an electromagnetic suction section 13a.

13b is energized to attract the attracted portion 14a.

14b, and these 14 a t 14 b
The upper portions 18a and 1sb of the terminals 2a and 2b are strongly pressed against each other to prevent the terminals 2at and 2b from shifting from the movable platforms 5A and 5B.

Thereafter, the pressing plate 26 is removed from between the coating removal parts 3a and 3b, and at this time, the suction part 27 of the push/pull mechanism 29 is energized to suck the suctioned part 28. The contact plate 26 is moved away from the terminal abutting position.

As described above, the terminals 2a of the optical fibers IA and IB are established.

2b is specifically the coating removal part 3a of the terminals 2a and 2b.
, 3b can be set at a predetermined interval, and from this point both parts 3at3b are fused together.In this case, the motor 6a and 6b is driven to fuse both parts 3at3b.
Once the gap is set to about 10 to 20 μm, the heat fuser 36
While discharging between the discharge electrodes 37a and 37b, the motors 6a and 6b are simultaneously driven to apply fine-speed synchronized feeding to the moving tables 5A and 5B. Both of the coating removed portions 3at3b are fused and connected to each other.

In addition, in this fusion, the above-mentioned discharge and feeding are stopped when the heat supply and butt force necessary for the fusion are obtained.

Of course, the above operations can be performed automatically in a predetermined order.

In the automation in the above embodiment, after the motor 6a is started, the electric detection circuit 33 detects that the coating removal part 3a is pressed against the pressing plate 26 with a predetermined pressing force. The pressing plate 26 is used as a detection element, and the motor 6a is stopped after the motor 6a is started (the moving table 5A is moved), and the motor 6b is started (the moving table 5B is moved).
and its stop, energization of both holding mechanisms 11A and 11B (fixing of the optical fiber terminal), energization of the push/pull mechanism 29 (the pressing plate 26 moves away from the terminal abutment position), synchronous starting of both motors 6a + 6b (same group moving base) 5A, 5B restart), start discharging of the thermal fuser 36, and stop the motor 6at6b after a predetermined time (
The electric detection circuit 33 described above is equipped with relays, timers, semiconductors, resistors, etc. so that these operations such as stopping the synchronized feeding of the movable tables 5A and 5B and stopping the discharging of the thermal fuser 36 can be performed continuously in a predetermined order. It is sufficient to incorporate circuits for amplifying, shaping, and calculating electric signals from the electric circuit components and the pressing plate 26, thereby achieving a certain degree of automation.

Note that the pressing plate 26 in Figure 5A is replaced with the opening in the same figure, and the pressing plate 26 in Figure 5C is
In the case where the motors 6a and 26b are replaced, both the motors 6a and 6b can be started at the same time to synchronously press the coating removal section 3a and 3b against the plates 26a and 26b.
After a predetermined distance between the ends has been obtained, the motors 6 at 6 b can be stopped by means of these pressing plates 26 at 26 b as electrical contacts.

Of course, automation can also be achieved using these pressing plates 26a and 26b, and in this case, the electric detection circuit 33 described above will be constructed by taking into account the functions of iron plates 26a and 26b. In the present invention, a pair of movable tables 5A and 5B holding each optical fiber terminal and a group movable table 5A are used.

The pressing plates 26a and 26b are arranged so as to be able to freely move forward and backward into the terminal abutting position of 5B, and the electrostrictive element 30 detects that the optical fiber terminal is pressed against the pressing plates 26a and 26b.
Since the terminal spacing can be set mechanically and electrically using the electric detection circuit 33 that displays or sets the stop timing of A and 5B, this type of operation does not require any skill. The work can be carried out with high efficiency, accuracy and error-free, and therefore optical fiber connections with good properties can be obtained by subsequent thermal fusion.

It is also effective for fully automatic operation of the heat fusion machine, from setting the distance between the ends of the optical fibers.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 and 2 are an implied plan view and partially cutaway front view showing one embodiment of the device of the present invention, and Figures 3 and 4 are plan views showing various examples of the slip-type holding mechanism in the same device. Figures 5A and 5C are front views showing various examples of the pressing plate in the same as above. IA, IB...Optical fiber, 2 a t 2 b...
・Terminal, 5A, 5B...Movement stand, 26, 26a, 26
b... Pressing plate, 30... Electrostrictive element, 33... Electric detection circuit, 36... Heat fusion device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a device that butts the ends of both optical fibers to be connected in the longitudinal direction and connects the two ends by heat fusion, a pair of movable tables that hold each of the optical fiber ends are opposed to each other to align the optical fiber axes. A push plate for setting the distance between the two terminals is arranged at the terminal abutting position of both movable bases so as to be able to move back and forth with respect to the same position, and a press plate for setting the distance between the two terminals is arranged in the vicinity of the terminal abutting position. A heat fusion device is placed on the pressing plate, and an electrostrictive element is placed on the pressing plate, and when the optical fiber terminal is pressed against the pressing plate, it is detected by the voltage generated by the electrostrictive element. An optical fiber connection device equipped with an electrical detection circuit that displays or sets the stop time of both moving platforms.