JPS60162204A - Method and device for removing covering of optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To maintain an optical fiber after removing a primary covering at high strength without damage of the glass surface of the optical fiber by forming rollers of a spongy material or fiber assemblage and adjusting the surface pressure for press contact between the rollers to a specified value or above. CONSTITUTION:Plural rollers 1, 2 each formed of a highly hydrous and resilient spongy material or fiber assemblage impregnated preliminarily with a solvent liquid such as acetone or alcohol for removing the primary covering of an optical fiber are pressed to each other and are rotated. An optical fiber 16 is inserted between the rollers 1 and 2 under rotation thereby removing the primary covering. The face pressure between the rollers is adjusted by means of a spring 4, etc. with a screw 11 for adjusting the face pressure so that the force for removing the covering in the axial direction of the optical fiber is maintained at a specified value of <=50g. The removed covering scrap is received in a container 15 for the covering scrap.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber coating removal method and apparatus;
In particular, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing coatings from optical fibers without deteriorating their strength.

Background of the technology When removing the coating from optical fibers, especially when performing fusion splicing of optical fibers outdoors such as at construction sites, silicone, etc.
When removing the subsequent coating, conventionally, gauze impregnated with a solvent such as acetone or alcohol is used, the optical fiber is manually sandwiched between the gauze, and the primary coating such as silicone is scraped off. Another method for automatic removal is to rotate a pair of metal rollers with plastic, rubber, or animal hair attached to their surfaces in a solvent solution such as acetone or alcohol, and then insert an optical fiber between the rollers. It has been proposed to remove the primary coating with a hair-like object soaked in a solvent solution.

Conventional technology and problems When conventional manual gauze is used to remove the primary coating from an optical fiber, the gauze adheres to the glass surface, causing scratches on the glass surface of the optical fiber, reducing the strength of the optical fiber. In reality, (2 is 1! 1 or less C2), depending on the experience of the operator, there may be variations in the method of removal using gauze (2). Furthermore, since solvents such as acetone and alcohol are handled directly by hand, safety and health concerns may arise. In addition, in automatic removal, when the primary coating is removed by inserting an optical core between a pair of rollers with a hair-like object rotating in a solvent solution attached to the surface. , since the use of rollers with hair-like objects attached still leaves the problem of reduced strength, broken optical fiber 1 < and removed optical fiber 1
The problem remains that the resin of the next coating floats in the solvent solution, making it difficult to replace the contaminated solvent solution, and furthermore requiring a closed container to accommodate the solvent solution, which increases the size of the coating removal device.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention solves the conventional problems, maintains high strength of the optical fiber after removing the primary coating without damaging the glass surface of the optical fiber, improves work efficiency, and provides a light beam that is preferable from the viewpoint of safety and health. A fiber stripping method and apparatus is provided.

Components of the Invention The present invention comprises a plurality of ropes formed of a highly water-containing and flexible spongy material or fiber aggregate that has been impregnated with a solvent solution such as acetone or alcohol for removing the primary coating of an optical fiber. An optical fiber is inserted between the rotating rollers, which are pressed against each other and rotated, and the surface pressure between the rollers is adjusted to a constant value of 50 f for removing the coating in the axial direction of the optical fiber.
1 or less, and is provided with an easily removable removed coating waste storage device.

Embodiment of the Invention FIG. 1 schematically shows a cross-section of essential parts of an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention. Further, FIG. 2 shows an outline of the main parts of a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. 1, viewed from above. In this embodiment, rollers 1 and 2 made of felt material with a diameter of 25 mm are impregnated with alcohol in advance, and by pressing a start switch (not shown) of the motor 3, the rollers 1 and 2 are pressed against each other (-) as shown in FIG. Rotates for a certain period of time in the direction of the arrow shown.Rollers 1 and 2
In this embodiment, the mutual pressing force is applied to the springs 4 and 5 by the surface pressure adjustment screw 11 as a mechanism for adjusting the pulling force on the optical fiber 170 and the rollers 1 and 2 to be 50 f or less.
was applied and the spring pressure was adjusted and set in advance. The rotation speed of rollers 1 and 2 was 200 rprn. In this embodiment, the springs 4 and 5 with the surface pressure adjustment screws 11 were used as the pressure adjustment mechanism for the rollers 1 and 2, but this is not particularly limited.
It is also possible to apply a mechanism that adjusts the value below f by appropriately attaching a mechanism using the roller shaft supports 6 and 7 and allowing adjustment from the outside. For example, FIG. 3 and FIG. , the surface pressure of rollers 1 and 2 can be adjusted.

In Figure 1, 8 is a glass plate, 9 is a case, 10 and 11 are the shafts of rollers 1 and 2, 12 is a motor shaft, 16 is a shaft coupling that connects the shaft 10 of roller 1 and the motor shaft 12, and 14 is a motor power supply. The code 15 is a removed coating waste storage device, in this embodiment, the coating waste storage device is used, and 16 in FIG. 2 is an optical fiber core wire.
18 is an optical fiber insertion port. Also, Figures 6 and 4
In the figures, the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate the same parts. 62
is a roller shaft support.

In this example, the nylon coating was removed, the silicone-coated optical fiber was inserted between the cables 1 and 2, and the silicone coating was completely removed in about 7 seconds, and the light after removal was The strength of the fiber was found to be more than 1 in 2. If the felt material that makes up rollers 1 and 2 is sufficiently impregnated with alcohol, it is possible to remove about 10 silicone coatings, and the rollers made of felt material can remove 600
It has been confirmed that the silicon coating can be removed from more than one optical fiber. Also, instead of felt material, porous PV,
pvy (
Similar results were obtained when using a roller made of felt material (polyvinyl formal). Also, coating waste removed by rollers 1 and 2 is removed by roller 1.
, 2 is received by a coating waste storage device 15 installed at the lower part of the device. The storage device 15 is just one example, and a bag-shaped one was used separately, but the bag-shaped one can be thrown away in the bag as a post-processing of waste, and is also excellent in workability. Further, alcohol as a removal solvent is supplied to the rollers 1 and 2 through the insertion port 18 of the optical fiber 16.

Figure 5 shows the coating removal force of the roller as a parameter.

The results of measuring the strength of the optical fiber after removing the coating are shown.

Measurement results when using conventional manual gauze P
(2) As can be seen from Figure 5, when gauze is used manually, the strength of the optical fiber after removing the coating is about 800 f, but according to the present invention (2), the strength of 2 K1 or more is ensured, and the roller If the removal power is 10g or less, 5K1
The above strength was guaranteed. It has been confirmed that by fusion splicing these high-strength coat-removed optical fibers, a fusion splice with a strength of 1.5K1 or higher can be obtained.

FIGS. 6a and 6b schematically illustrate the differences between the conventional roller and the roller of the present invention, respectively.

The conventional roller shown in FIG. 6 α does not have the ability to absorb water because the surface of the metal roller 19 (niblast, rubber, or animal hair-like material 20 is attached).

In contrast, the roller of the present invention shown in Figure 6 is
Since it is made of a fiber aggregate such as felt or a spongy material 21 such as PVF, it has a high water absorption capacity and can be immersed in a solvent solution (there is no need to immerse the Nirola), and it is a flexible elastic material.
Since it is a solid material, it does not cause any scratches on the surface of the glass body of the optical fiber core wire, and the strength of the optical fiber after the coating is removed as described above can be maintained.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a primary coating by forming the rope from a highly water-containing spongy substance or fiber aggregate, and adjusting the mutual pressure between the rollers to a certain value or less. It is possible to maintain high strength of the optical fiber after removal, and there is no need to manually use gauze impregnated with a remover solution, and the removed coating waste can be stored in an easily removable coating waste storage device, making the work easier. It is also favorable from a safety and health standpoint, and is easy to clean.Also, when actually splicing optical fibers, the side of the fusion splicing device (2) Since the sheath removal device according to the present invention can be hooked to perform fusion splicing, it is usually installed on an outdoor pole. Space can be used effectively even when there are restrictions on the work area.Furthermore, when removing using gauze rather than the conventional manual method, workers can However, according to the present invention, the coating can always be completely removed by carrying out the coating for a certain period of time or longer.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an outline of a cross section of the main part of an embodiment of the device of the present invention, Fig. 2
The figure is an outline of the main part of the AA cross section of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is another embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is an outline of the main part of the AA cross section of Fig. 3.
FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the coating removing force of the roller and the strength of the optical fiber after removing the coating, and FIG. 6 α and h show the differences between the conventional roller and the roller of the present invention. 1.2... Roller, 3... Motor, 4, 5... Pressure adjustment spring, 6, 7... Roller shaft support, 8... Glass plate, 9... Case, 10, 11...Roller shaft, 12...Motor shaft, 13...Shaft coupling, 14...
Motor power cord, 15...Sheathing waste storage device, 16...
・Optical fiber core wire, 17... Optical fiber, 18...
Optical fiber insertion port, 19...metal roller, 20...
hair-like substance, 21... spongy substance or fiber aggregate, 6
1... Surface pressure adjustment screw, 32... Roller shaft support,
33...Spring patent applicant Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (one other person) agent
Patent Attorney Tamamushiku Part 5 Part 10 Figure 3

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an optical fiber coating removal method, a plurality of rollers made of a spongy material or fiber aggregate impregnated with a solvent for coating removal are pressed against each other and rotated, and an optical fiber is inserted between the rotating rollers. 1. A method for removing a coating from an optical fiber, characterized in that the coating is removed by inserting a roller into the optical fiber and suppressing a coating removal force in the axial direction of the optical fiber to a certain value or less. (2) In an optical fiber coating removal device, a plurality of rollers formed of a spongy substance or fiber aggregate impregnated with a solvent for coating removal and rotated while being pressed against each other, and an optical fiber inserted between the rollers a surface pressure adjustment mechanism between the rollers that adjusts the coating removal force in the axial direction of the optical fiber against the roller to a certain value or less, a coating waste storage device for the original fiber removed by the roller, and a mechanism that is connected to the axis of the roller. and a motor that drives the roller, the roller, a surface pressure adjustment mechanism,
1. An optical fiber coating removal device, characterized in that a coating waste storage device is housed in a case provided with an optical fiber insertion port.