JPS63110401A - Cutting device for optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To cut an optical fiber at two points to a desired length, by independently moving a cutting mechanism which holds both ends of the optical fiber having an optional length and is composed of a cutting blade and pushing tool against a holding mechanism and, at the same time, providing a moving quantity measuring mechanism. CONSTITUTION:Clamps 52 and 62 of the 1st optical fiber holding mechanism 74A are caused to hold the strand part 14 at one end of an optical fiber core 10 and a cutting table 84 (together with a display box 78) is moved so that a cutting blade 34 can come to the midpoint of the clamps 52 and 62. Then the cutting table 84 is moved along a scale 76 to the position of a desired optical fiber length (l). Then the cutting blade 34 is brought to the midpoint of other clamps 52 and 62 by moving the 2nd optical fiber holding mechanism 74B and the optical fiber core 10 is set by lightly pulling the other end of the core 10 so that the optical fiber does not get slackened, and thus, the optical fiber core 10 is held. After the strand part 14 is cut off, the cutting table 84 is brought back from the cutting position by the length (l) and the strand part 14 of the other end is cut off.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] Accurately determining the length of an optical fiber in units of several cm or several meters, and cutting both ends of the fiber for fusion splicing, connector connection, etc. Recently, it has become necessary to do this for use in sensors, etc.

The present invention relates to a cutting device for this purpose, that is, a cutting device for forming both end faces of an optical fiber of arbitrary length.

[Prior Art] The purpose of conventional optical fiber cutting devices is not to cut both ends of an optical fiber, but to cut one end of the fiber to form an end face for fusion splicing or the like.

As an example, the one shown in Figure 4 has been proposed (
(See Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 184207/1983).

1O is the entire optical fiber, 12 is its covering portion, 1
4 is the wire part (glass part).

For convenience of explanation below, the direction in which the optical fiber core 10 is placed is defined as the Z direction, and the other X and X directions are indicated by the arrow 1.
5.

16 is a first clamp, which includes a fixed part 18 and a movable part (presser)
It is made up of 20.

22 is a second clamp, which includes a fixed part 24 and a movable part (presser).
It is made up of 26.

The fixing portions 18.24 are fixed on the substrate 28 at predetermined intervals in two directions.

A stand 30 is fixed on the board 28, and an arm 3 is mounted on it.
2 is attached so as to be able to swing within the yx plane, and a cutting blade 34 is attached to the tip thereof. The cutting blade 34 has a semicircular cutting edge 36.

Therefore, the cutting blade 34 can perform a circular motion within the yx plane, and in the middle of the movement, the semicircular cutting edge 36 contacts and scratches the fiber strand.

Further, on the substrate 28, a cutting blade 34 is placed across the fiber wire.
On the opposite side, a stand 38 is fixed, on which a pusher 40 is mounted so that it can move forward and backward in the X direction, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the fiber strand. Push tool 40
The front surface 42 of is an arcuate surface.

・The effect: The coated portion 12 (or strand portion) of the optical fiber is held between the first clamp 16 and the strand portion 14 is held between the second clamp 22.
to hold.

Then, a cut is made on the side of the wire portion 14 with the cutting blade 34,
The pushing tool 40 is advanced to push and bend the wire portion 14 and break it.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The conventional cutting device described above does not have the function of measuring the length or gripping the entire optical fiber of a certain length. Cutting both ends is difficult.

[Means for solving the problem] A mechanism for gripping both ends of an optical fiber of arbitrary length is provided, and a cutting mechanism consisting of a cutting blade and a pusher is moved independently with respect to the gripping mechanism. The above problem has been solved by providing a mechanism for measuring the amount of movement.

[Example] Overall, as shown in Figure 1, ■An optical fiber gripping mechanism 74; ■Positioning mechanism 82; ■Cutting mechanism 88, It consists of.

■ Regarding the fiber 74: In Fig. 1, 50 is a rail, which is installed in the X direction.

A first clamp 52 is composed of a main body 54 and a presser foot 56. The lower part 58 of the main body 54 straddles the rail 50 and
The upper part protrudes forward in the X direction (see arrow 15 for front and back), and the strand 1 is moved on the protrusion 60.
Grasp 4.

A second clamp 62 is composed of a main body 64 and a presser foot 66. The lower part 68 of the main body 64 is movable in two directions by riding on the - of the rail 50, and the upper part projects forward in the X direction, and the covered part 12 (or the strand part 1
4) Grasp.

Further, the rear portion 72 of the main body 64 is bent into an L shape and joined to the main body 54 of the first clamp to form a first optical fiber gripping mechanism 74A.

Therefore, the entire gripping mechanism 74A is
of rail 50 while keeping the predetermined distance between 2 and 62.
The two can be moved in two directions.

74B is a second optical fiber gripping mechanism.

This has the same configuration as the first gripping mechanism 74A, so a description thereof will be omitted.

■ Standing Regarding 82, the near 6 is a digital linear scale (linear encoder), which is installed in the X direction (parallel to the rail 50). In this system, the position of the display box 78 is set as the origin, and the amount of movement from there is digitally displayed on the meter 80 (incremental system).

■Therefore, there are 2 people in the castle structure: A cutting table 84 is fixed on top of the display box 78.

As in the case of Fig. 4, the arm 32
is swingably attached, and a cutting blade 34 is provided at its tip. Then, the lower side of the wire portion 14 is scratched. Note that the cutting blade 34 may be one that moves horizontally.

The pusher 40 is supported by a bracket 86 containing a spring 87.
It is supported above the wire portion 14. It is pushed down by a suitable means (not shown) to break and cut the wire portion 14.

88 is the entire cutting mechanism.

[Function] (1) First, prepare the optical fiber core 10 as long as the desired length (see Fig. 2a), and remove the covering portion 12 at both ends in consideration of the clamping portion (see Fig. 2b). figure).

(2) Next, the clamps 52 and 62 of the first optical fiber gripping mechanism 74A are made to grip the bare wire portion 14 at one end of the optical fiber core 10 (FIG. 3a).

Then, the cutting table 84 (along with the display box 78) is moved so that the cutting blade 34 is located between the clamps 52 and 62. The position of this cutting table 84 becomes the origin of length measurement.

(3) Move the cutting table 84 on the scale 76 from this position to the position of the desired optical fiber length (
Figure 3b).

(4) Move the second optical fiber gripping mechanism 74B so that the cutting blade 34 is located between the clamps 52 and 62 (FIG. 3C), and hold the remaining one side of the optical fiber core 10 so that the optical fiber Set while pulling lightly to prevent slack.
grasp.

(5) As in the conventional case, the wire portion 14 is cut using the cutting blade 34 and the push tool 40 (FIG. 3C).

(6) From that position, return the cutting table 84 by the same length (see FIG. 3d) and cut the remaining strand 14 at the other end.

(7) Open all the clamps 52 and 62, take out the optical fiber core 10 and the optical fiber waste, and complete the cutting.

[Other Embodiments] In the above embodiments, a digital display linear scale was used as the positioning mechanism, but any device that can set and display the position may be used.

[Effects of the invention] In contrast to the mechanism that has positioning and measurement functions and can grip the entire optical fiber of any length (by clamping both ends), the cutting mechanism operates independently. The length of the fiber can be set freely and both ends can be cut.

Of course, by using one set of gripping mechanisms at one end, it can also be used as a conventional cutting device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Figs. 2a and 2b are explanatory diagrams of preparation for cutting, Figs. 3a, 3b, 3C, and 3d are explanatory diagrams of the cutting procedure; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the prior art.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Two clamps that can be opened and closed and grip the coated part or bare wire part of the optical fiber core when closed.
A first optical fiber gripping mechanism arranged at a predetermined interval in the direction and a second optical fiber gripping mechanism having the same configuration are arranged in the z direction, and at least one of them is arranged in the z direction. z at a position close to both the optical fiber gripping mechanisms.
A blade that moves in the yx plane and whose cutting edge contacts and scratches the fiber strand during the movement, and a side opposite to the blade, which is placed on a cutting table that is movable in the direction. , further comprising: a pushing tool for breaking the optical fiber strand that can move forward and backward in a direction perpendicular to the fiber strand; and a positioning mechanism for the cutting table.
Optical fiber cutting device.