JPS62180306A - Method and tool for reinforcing optical fiber connecting part - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily reinforce an optical fiber connecting part by installing the reinforc ing substrates on which a pressure sensitive adhesive agent is stuck at their surfaces opposed to each other, to at least one of upper and lower arms of a pressure welding tool which is opened and closed centering around a fulcrum, positioning the optical fiber connecting part between the reinforcing base plates, and closing the arm. CONSTITUTION:An optical fiber core wire guide 8 for easily aligning an optical fiber connecting part and reinforcing base plates 11a, 11b is provided on both side parts of a lower clamp part 4. When reinforcing the optical fiber connecting part, first of all, the reinforcing base plates 11a, 11b are installed to clamp parts 3, 4 of a reinforcing tool. Subsequently, an alignment of an optical fiber B and the reinforcing base plates 11a, 11b is executed by setting an optical fiber core wire A to the guide 8. Thereafter, when the clamp parts 3, 4 are closed to each other by holding a holding part 6, the optical fiber B and a terminal part of the optical fiber core wire A are fixed and welded by pressure between the reinforcing base plates 11a, 11b through pressure sensitive adhesive agents 12a, 12b, and a reinforcing part is formed. In the end, the optical fiber core wire A is taken out together with the reinforcing base plates 11a, 11b by opening the clamp parts 3, 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to a method for reinforcing the spliced portion after removing the end coating of a coated optical fiber and splicing the optical fibers at the upper neck, and a method for re-reinforcing the spliced portion, and a reinforcing method used therefor. Regarding tools for use.

(Prior Art) The above-mentioned connection method is usually used for permanent connection of optical fibers. This method involves removing a certain length of the end coating of two optical fibers to be connected, cutting the exposed optical fibers so that their end faces are at right angles, and then butting both end faces together and using arc discharge as a heat source. This is a method of melting and connecting.

After this, it is necessary to re-reinforce the above-mentioned fusion spliced portion which is not coated. Conventionally, a method using a heat shrink tube as a reinforcing member as shown in FIG. 8 has been generally used. As shown in FIG. 8(A), this method uses a reinforcing member in which a heat-shrinkable tube (31) is placed at the outermost end, and a hot melt adhesive tube (32) and a steel core (33) are arranged inside the tube. As a reinforcing method, the optical fiber core wire is coated with the above-mentioned hot-melt wetting agent tube (32
), and after connection, move the reinforcing member onto the connection part and heat it from the outside to about 180°C to shrink the heat shrink tube (31) and heat it up as shown in Figure (b). The melt necking agent is melt filled (32') and consolidated around the steel core (33).

As another method, as shown in Fig. 9, two flat plates (41tL) (416) are each pasted with Hoytmelt adhesive B (41a) (416) on their opposing surfaces. Using hot melt adhesive Fj (421L), sandwich the optical fiber (B) connection part and heat it.
) (426) has been proposed.

(Problem to be solved) However, the above-mentioned method of using a heat-shrinkable tube as a reinforcing member requires the reinforcing member to be inserted into the half-clouded optical fiber core before connection, which reduces work efficiency. The problem is that it's not good.

In addition, the method of using a flat plate with a hot melt adhesive layer pasted as a reinforcing member solves the above problems, but because the reinforcing time is long (2 to 3 minutes), the reinforcing member and the optical fiber may be damaged during reinforcing. There is a risk that the device may shift, and the device that provides heating and positioning at the same time is large-scale and has poor portability.

Furthermore, since the connection work is carried out in places with poor conditions such as inside a manhole, on a pole, or on an overhead wire, all of the above methods require heating and cannot be said to be fully suitable.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a method for reinforcing an optical fiber connection part that eliminates the above-mentioned failure point, and a reinforcing tool used therein.
The first feature is that a reinforcing substrate with a pressure-sensitive young agent affixed to opposing surfaces is attached to at least one of the upper and lower arms of a compression tool that opens and closes around a fulcrum, and an optical fiber is connected between the reinforcing substrates. The reinforcing method consists in fixing the reinforcing board to the optical fiber connecting part by positioning the connecting part and closing the arms. Both of the reinforcing tools include a clamp portion on one side of which a reinforcing substrate to which a pressure-sensitive young agent is attached is mounted.

(Example) FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a reinforcing tool used in the reinforcing method of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a clamp portion of the tool of FIG. 1.

As shown in Figure 1, the reinforcing tool is equipped with upper and lower arms (1) and (2) that open and close around a fulcrum (5), and the opposing surfaces of the tips of the arms (1 and 2) It is equipped with clamp parts (3) and (4) having grooves into which reinforcing members are fitted, and by attaching the reinforcing members to the clamp parts (3) and (4) and grasping the grip part (6), Upper and lower arms (1)
(2) is configured to close around a fulcrum and fix the reinforcing member to the optical fiber connection portion.

FIG. 2(A) is an explanatory diagram of a state in which reinforcing members are attached to the clamp portions (3) and (4) of the upper and lower arms (1) and (2) of FIG. 1.

The reinforcing members used in this example are two reinforcing substrates (lla).
(+161 opposite pressure sensitive young agent (+24) (+
28) are fitted into the grooves of the clamp parts (3) and (4) so that they face each other. At this time, to prevent the reinforcing board (IIa) (116) once installed from falling off carelessly, the clamp parts (3) and (4) are provided with board fixing springs (7).
) is provided.

This spring (7) does not need to be very strong so that it can be easily removed after the reinforcing boards (IIa) and (ha) are integrated, and the spring 721f supports the weight of the reinforcing boards (l16L) (+16). is sufficient. Also, lower clamp R (4
) on both sides of the optical fiber connection part and the reinforcing board (ll
a) An optical fiber guide (8) is provided to facilitate alignment with (114). This optical fiber core guide (8) does not necessarily have to be a V-groove, and may be composed of a plate spring as shown in FIGS. 2(B) and 2(C), for example.

When reinforcing the optical fiber connection, first refer to Figure 2 (4).
As shown in the figure, the reinforcing board (■^) (116) is attached to the clamp part (3H4) of the reinforcing tool. Next, set the optical fiber (A) (see Figure 4) on the guide (8), align the optical fiber (B) and the reinforcing board (llaX114), and then grasp the grip part (B). When the clamp parts (3) and (4) are closed together, the end portions of the optical fiber (B) and the optical fiber core (A) are coated with the pressure-sensitive adhesive (2^) (126) as shown in Fig. 4. Reinforced substrate (ha) (o
n) A reinforcing portion is formed by being fixedly placed in between. Finally, open the clamp parts (3) and (4) and attach the reinforcing board (II^) (l1
At the same time as step 6), the optical fiber (A) is taken out, which takes about 10 seconds.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the reinforcing method of the present invention. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the upper and lower reinforcing substrates (
■^) (118) is integrally formed so that it can be opened and closed by a hinge 03). Therefore, there is no need to clamp the upper reinforcing board (11^), so only the lower arm (2) is provided with a clamping part (4) for fitting the reinforcing board, and the upper arm (violet) is made smooth so that it cannot be compressed. Since it is better to make it easier to handle, a lining (3) is provided on the lower arm (2) at a position corresponding to the clamp part (4).

For reinforcement, with the upper reinforcing board (lla) open, the lower reinforcing board (+78) is installed on the clamp part (4) of the lower arm (2), and the upper and lower reinforcing boards (Ila) (t+6
), set the optical fiber (B) between them, grasp the grip part (8), close the upper and lower arms (1) and (2), and apply pressure sensitive adhesive 02^) (126) as shown in Figure 5. The optical fiber (B) is fixedly placed between the upper and lower reinforcing substrates (Ila) (+16) to form a reinforcing portion, as in the case of FIG. 2(A).

・Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram of another jig for further pressurizing the reinforcing part by the method shown in Figures 1 and 3, removing air holes, and pushing it out; Figure (A) is a front view; The same figure (cO is a side view with a partially exposed cross section. Two rollers (22) and (23) rotating in the direction of the arrow in the figure are provided on the base body (21), and these rollers (22H23) Reinforcement part (C
) from the right to the left in the figure, the reinforcement part (C
) is removed, and the pressure becomes even stronger. Note that the lower roller (23) has a spacing adjustment knob (
24) is provided, which allows the upper and lower rollers (22) (
23) can be optimally spaced.

Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram of an example in which a tension applying section is provided for the optical fiber core (A) set in the optical fiber core guide, where (a) is a front view before reinforcement, and (b) is a front view before reinforcement. It is a front view of the inside. Since the optical fiber set in the optical fiber guide (8) is easily bent, it can be directly attached to the upper and lower arms (1).
(2) and connect the optical fiber (B) to the upper and lower reinforcing substrates (Il).
a) If reinforced by sandwiching between (116), it may break or be reinforced while bent, resulting in deterioration of connection characteristics (coupling loss, loss fluctuation due to heat cycle, strength, etc.) at the connection point. For upper arm (1)
Add tension to both sides? JS (10) is provided. As a result, when the upper arm (1) is lowered, a tension is applied to the optical fiber (A) as shown in the arrow in FIG. Some deflection is removed and a good reinforcement is obtained. Note that this tension applying part (
IO) simply attaches a member having a triangular cross section that deforms elastically, but is not necessarily limited to this.

Further, when applying this tension to remove a low-strength connection part, it may be set appropriately, but in other cases, it is preferable to set the tension to a low enough level to take up the slack in the optical fiber.

In addition, although the above-mentioned embodiment was explained using a single-core optical fiber as an example, it goes without saying that it can be similarly applied to a multi-core optical fiber coated with a plurality of optical fibers integrated with a common coating.

(Effects of the Invention) - By using the above-mentioned reinforcing method and reinforcing tool of the present invention, the following effects are provided.

■We use a M) strong substrate with pressure-sensitive adhesive pasted on it as a reinforcing member, and we attach this reinforcing substrate to the arm of the reinforcing tool.
However, since the reinforcing portion is formed by closing the arm, there is no need for heating as in the conventional method, and reinforcement of the optical fiber connecting portion can be easily achieved. Therefore, it can be easily carried out in places with poor conditions such as inside manholes, on pillars, and on overhead lines.

(2) By providing an optical fiber core guide in the clamp part of the arm, positioning of the optical fiber and the reinforcing board is easy, and the reinforcing fiber and the reinforcing board will not be misaligned.

■After forming the reinforced part with a reinforcing tool, the reinforced part is passed between two rollers whose interval can be adjusted to remove the remaining air layer inside and extrude it, making the pressure pipe even stronger. A reinforced part can be obtained.

(2) By providing the tool with a tension applying section for the optical fiber core, tension is automatically applied to the optical fiber core, and a reinforcing section with excellent connection characteristics can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is an overall explanatory diagram of the reinforcing tool used in the reinforcing method of the present invention, Figure 2 (a) is an explanatory diagram of the clamping part of the tool in Figure 1, and (b) and (c) are both diagrams. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of another example of the optical fiber core guide, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are reinforcement parts obtained in FIGS. 1 and 3, respectively. FIG. Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the roller device for removing the air layer remaining in the reinforcing part. This is an explanatory diagram of an example in which an optical fiber cable tension applying section is provided, in which (a) is a front view before reinforcement, and (b) is a front view during reinforcement. Also is an explanatory diagram of a conventional reinforcing method. A... Optical fiber core wire, B... Optical fiber, C...
- Reinforcement part, 1... Upper arm of tool, 2... Lower arm of tool, 3.4... Clamp part, 5... Fulcrum, 6.
. . . Gripping portion, 7 . . . Board fixing plate spring, 8 . . . Optical fiber core wire guide, 9 . I
26...Pressure sensitive young agent. Mourning 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (7)

[Claims] (1) A reinforcing board with pressure-sensitive adhesive pasted on opposing surfaces is attached to at least one of the upper and lower arms of a crimping tool that opens and closes around a fulcrum, and an optical fiber connection section is positioned between the reinforcing boards. . A method for reinforcing an optical fiber connection part, characterized in that the reinforcing board is fixedly crimped onto the optical fiber connection part by closing the arm. (2) After fixing and reinforcing the reinforcing board to the optical fiber connection part, the reinforcing part is passed between a pair of rollers whose interval can be adjusted to push out the air remaining in the reinforcing part and press it. A method for reinforcing an optical fiber connection portion according to claim 1. (3) An optical fiber connection section characterized in that it has a clamp section for attaching a reinforcing board to which a pressure-sensitive adhesive is attached to at least one of the opposing surfaces of the upper and lower arms that open and close around a fulcrum. Reinforcement tools. (4) The tool for reinforcing an optical fiber connection portion according to claim 3, wherein clamp portions for mounting the reinforcing board are provided on both opposing surfaces of the upper and lower arms. (5) The optical fiber connecting portion according to claim 3, characterized in that one arm is provided with a clamp portion for mounting the reinforcing board, and the other arm is lined with a low-friction material. Reinforcement tools. (6) Claims 3 to 5 are characterized in that the clamp portion to which the reinforcing board is mounted is provided with an optical fiber core guide that determines the relative position of the optical fiber connection portion and the reinforcing board.
The tool for reinforcing the optical fiber connection portion according to item 5. (7) A tool for reinforcing an optical fiber connection portion according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the clamp portion to which the reinforcing board is mounted is provided with a plate spring for fixing the board.