KR100411626B1 - The abrasive apparatus of fiber optic connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connector polishing apparatus for optical communication, and more particularly, by utilizing a non-circular sheet-shaped abrasive 35 or a roll-shaped abrasive 35 ', the abrasive is almost 100% utilized. By installing the two-axis robot 28 can be used a polishing method of the eight-shape and similar forms, rather than a vibrating or elliptic polishing method, and by applying a static pressure unit 29 is applied to the abrasive The present invention relates to an optical connector connector polishing apparatus capable of constantly adjusting the pressure of the optical connector. The polishing apparatus according to the present invention has the effect of reducing the abrasive, and processing the optical communication connector 50 to have a uniform quality and the optimum polishing surface.

Description

Optical Communication Connector Polishing Device {THE ABRASIVE APPARATUS OF FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR}

The present invention relates to a connector polishing apparatus for optical communication, and more particularly, by using a non-circular sheet or roll-type abrasive, almost 100% of the abrasive can be utilized, and vibrating by installing a two-axis robot 8 type and other types of polishing methods can be used instead of the polishing method of the form or ellipse type, and the optical communication connector polishing apparatus capable of constantly adjusting the pressure of the optical communication connector applied on the abrasive by installing a positive pressure unit. It is about.

In general, optical communication transmits light through optical fibers to exchange information, and can transmit tens of thousands of times more information than electric communication using current coaxial cable. In addition, since information can be transmitted safely without being influenced by radio waves and magnetic fields from the outside, it is currently widely used in the field of communication, and its use range is continuously expanding.

Since optical cables used for optical communication are provided with lines over a distance of hundreds of kilometers or more, connection and branching of optical cables are required between them. However, since the optical fiber having a very small diameter (μm unit) is formed inside the optical cable, it is very difficult to connect the core of the optical fiber, especially in the case of multi-core optical cable is more difficult to connect the core of the optical fiber.

The fusion splicing method and the mechanical splicing method are typically used for splicing optical fibers. The fusion splicing method mainly involves melting and splicing optical fibers for permanent connection. It is inconvenient in the field where power supply is difficult because it requires the use of, but has the advantage of high reliability of optical characteristics, and the mechanical connection method is a method of using a connector, that is, an optical communication connector, which is convenient for work and additional addition. There is no need for a device, and it can be easily connected even when there is no power source, and the reliability of optical characteristics is almost the same as that of fusion splicing. Therefore, it is common to use an optical communication connector in the connection of the optical fiber.

Such an optical communication connector is generally polished into a predetermined shape so that each end surface thereof is closely contacted with one or more optical fibers inserted into a ferrule. In the polishing of the optical communication connector, the connection of the optical cable is performed. Alternatively, if the cross section of the optical fiber of the branched portion is not in close contact with each other, loss of transmission information occurs and the reliability of the optical properties is deteriorated. Therefore, it is most important to connect the cross section of the optical fiber so that it can be closely contacted without any error. . Therefore, in the optical communication connector, much research has been carried out to grind the cross section of the optical fiber of the connection or branching portion of the optical cable to a perfect plane.

FIG. 1 shows an APM MODEL HDC-4000, which is an optical connector connector polishing apparatus manufactured by Domaille Engineering, Inc. of the United States, as a conventional polishing apparatus 10 for a connector for optical communication, which has various driving means and a control unit therein. A body 11 including a circular turntable 12 driven by the driving means and the control unit and disposed on an upper surface of the body 11, and pivotable on an upper surface of the body 11. An over arm 13, a circular fixture 14 attached to an end side of the over arm, which can be positioned on the top of the turntable, and a plurality of holders spaced apart from the fixture at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction ( 15).

The turntable 12 is attached with a circular abrasive 16 (see FIG. 6) coated with specific abrasive particles, and the ferrule into which the optical fiber is inserted is fixed to the holder 15, respectively. The polishing apparatus generally polishes the cross section of the optical fiber while the turntable 12 vibrates in a predetermined direction by the control unit and the driving means, or performs an elliptical motion in parallel with the rotational and eccentric motion. .

Since the circular abrasive 16 used in the conventional polishing apparatus is generally manufactured by die-cutting an abrasive in the form of a large rectangular film in a circle, not only the abrasive is wasted at the manufacturing stage, but also in the actual polishing process, the circular abrasive ( Since the middle face and the end face of 16) are discarded without being used (see FIG. 6A), there is a problem that a relatively expensive abrasive is wasted twice.

Further, in the polishing step of the cross section of the optical fiber, the polishing apparatus first processes the cross section of the abrasive 16 having a high surface roughness on a turntable, and then removes the abrasive 16 and then has an abrasive having an intermediate surface roughness ( 16 ') is attached to the turntable to process the cross section, and then the abrasive 16' is removed and the abrasive 16 " having a low surface roughness is attached to the turntable to complete the polishing process. In general, each of the abrasives having different roughnesses is discarded after approximately 10 to 15 times of use, and therefore, the polishing process of the optical fiber cross section in the polishing apparatus is not performed on an abrasive having a uniform surface roughness. Since the surface roughness is performed on different abrasive materials depending on the number of times, a difference in the polishing force and the surface scratch degree occurs, so that the quality is constant. There is a problem that can not be guaranteed.

In addition, the pressure of the optical communication connector applied on the abrasive is preferably 250 to 350 g / connector in the initial epoxy removal process, and 150 to 200 g / connector is preferable in the process of using a special abrasive for post-processing. It is common for optical connector polishing apparatus to be applied depending on the experience of the skilled person without installing a separate sophisticated pressure regulating system for accurately and consistently adjusting the pressure. When the pressure of the optical communication connector applied on the abrasive is too high, the consumption of the abrasive increases and a deep scratch occurs on the processing surface due to the high abrasive force. On the contrary, the pressure of the optical communication connector applied on the abrasive is too low. In this case, it is difficult to remove the machining scratch of the previous stage.

Accordingly, the conventional optical communication connector polishing apparatus without a separate pressure regulating system is more difficult to guarantee the uniformity of processing quality, and the optical fiber of the optical fiber that requires ultra-precision processing by the conventional vibration or elliptic polishing method. There is a problem that the polishing surface of the cross section cannot be achieved.

The present invention can utilize almost 100% of the abrasive by preventing the waste of abrasive in the manufacturing process as well as in the polishing process, and the polished optical fiber cross section is not only the most uniform, but also processed under uniform polishing force and surface roughness of the abrasive. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector polishing apparatus for optical communication, in which the uniformity of quality can be ensured.

The purpose is to use a non-circular sheet or roll type abrasives, and by installing a two-axis robot is processed in the eight-shaped and other forms of polishing, rather than vibration or elliptic polishing, static pressure The provision of the unit solves the optical communication connector polishing apparatus according to the present invention, which can constantly adjust the pressure of the optical communication connector applied on the abrasive.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view of a conventional connector polishing apparatus for optical communication,

2 is a front view of the connector polishing apparatus for optical communication according to the present invention;

3 is a side view of the connector polishing apparatus for optical communication according to the present invention;

4 is a plan view of the connector polishing apparatus for optical communication according to the present invention;

5 is a schematic view of a roll feed mechanism in the case where a roll-shaped abrasive according to the present invention is used,

6A is a view of an abrasive of a conventional connector polishing apparatus for optical communication after use;

6B is a view of an abrasive of the connector polishing apparatus for optical communication according to the present invention after use.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

20; Optical communication connector polishing apparatus according to the present invention

21; Body

22; Servo controller

23; Abrasive fixing plate

24; Plate transfer unit

27; Connector fixing head

28; 2-axis robot

29; Static pressure unit

31; holder

35; Sheet Abrasives

35 '; Abrasive in roll form

36; Roll feed unit

50; Optical communication connector

Figure 2 shows a front view of an optical communication connector polishing apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 3 shows a side view of the optical communication connector polishing apparatus according to the invention, Figure 4 is a plan view of an optical communication connector polishing apparatus according to the present invention Shows.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the optical fiber connector polishing apparatus 20 according to the present invention includes a body 21 and a servo controller installed in the body 21 to control various driving devices. 22, an abrasive fixing plate 23 installed on the body 21 and to which an abrasive 35 (see FIG. 6) is fixed, and an abrasive fixing plate 23 installed below the abrasive fixing plate 23. And a plate feed unit (24) which enables parallel movement in the X-axis direction, and a holder (31) installed on the abrasive fixing plate (23) and to which the optical communication connector (50) to be polished is fixed. A two-axis robot 28 installed above the fixed head 27 and the connector fixing head 27 and horizontally moving the connector fixing head 27 in the X-axis and the Y-axis; and the 2-axis robot 28. Of the optical communication connector 50 installed therein and applied on the abrasive It consists of a static pressure unit 29 which constantly adjusts the pressure in the vertical direction, and a control panel 30 installed above the two-axis robot 28 to enable various control operations.

Here, the optical connector polishing apparatus 20 according to the present invention can be operated through the control panel 30, and the servo controller 22 of the two-axis robot 28 in accordance with the operation of the control panel 30 The horizontal motion, the operation of the constant pressure unit 29 and the operation of the servo motor 25 are controlled.

The abrasive fixing plate 23 is attached with an abrasive 35 in the form of a sheet as shown in FIG. 6B, and the abrasive fixing plate 23 is optimally processed by the plate transfer unit 24 to a connector processing surface for optical communication. The plate conveying unit 24 is preferably composed of a servo motor 25 controlled by the servo controller 22 and a linear sliding guide 26 for horizontal conveyance. Do.

The connector fixing head 27 includes a holder 31 to which the optical communication connector 50 is fixed. The holders 30 may be arranged in a row in a row at regular intervals from each other. The rows may also be arranged zigzag apart at regular intervals from each other. The connector fixing head 27 is subjected to a constant plane motion by the two-axis robot 28 controlled by the servo controller 22. In this case, the connector fixing head 27 is continuously operated at an optimum constant speed by the two-axis robot 28 under the control of the servo controller 22 so that the holder 31 can obtain an optimum machining surface. It is preferable to perform an eight-shaped movement, and it is also possible to perform Z-, W-, and M-shaped movements by the two-axis robot 28 under the control of the servo controller 22.

The constant pressure unit 29 is installed to constantly adjust the pressure in the vertical direction of the optical communication connector 50 applied on the abrasive, and the constant pressure valve 32 for supplying a constant air pressure, Pneumatic device comprising a pneumatic cylinder 33 for pressing down the connector fixing head 27, and a linear sliding guide 34 for vertical conveyance to enable the conveying of the connector fixing head 27 in the vertical direction. Preferably, the constant pressure unit 29 may be composed of an electrical device including a pressure sensor such as a load cell and an actuator such as a servo motor, or may be configured by simply adding a weight having a constant weight. .

Therefore, prior to the start of the polishing process, the optimum speed of transport of the abrasive 35 according to the optimum working conditions, that is, the abrasive fixing plate 23 through the control panel 30, and the abrasive 35 by the positive pressure unit 29 In order to set the optimum pressure of the optical communication connector 50 applied on the optical fiber connector and the optimum moving speed of the optical communication connector 50 by the two-axis robot 28, it is continuously processed to the optimum and constant quality. The optical communication connector 50 can be obtained.

5 shows a schematic view of an abrasive transport mechanism in roll form according to the invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, a roll-type abrasive 35 ′ may be used for the optical connector connector polishing apparatus 20 according to the present invention, not a sheet-type abrasive 35. In this case, the optical connector polishing apparatus according to the present invention includes a body 21, a servo controller 22 installed inside the body 21 and controlling various driving devices, and on the body 21. A connector fixing member including an abrasive fixing plate 23 installed to fix the roll-shaped abrasive 35 ', and a holder 31 installed on the abrasive fixing plate 23 and to which the optical communication connector 50 is fixed. A head 27, a two-axis robot 28 installed above the connector fixing head 27 and horizontally moving the connector fixing head 27 in the X-axis and the Y-axis; and inside the 2-axis robot 28. And a constant pressure unit 29 which is installed at the upper surface of the biaxial robot 28 to control the pressure in the vertical direction of the optical communication connector 50 applied on the abrasive, and to allow various control operations. Horizontally move the control panel 30 and the rolled abrasive 35 ' It is comprised by the roll feed unit 36 to convey. Here, the same parts as the optical connector connector polishing apparatus 30 in which the sheet-shaped abrasive 35 is used are denoted by the same reference numerals as described above.

In other words, the optical connector connector polishing apparatus uses a roll-shaped abrasive 35 'rather than a sheet form, that the roll conveying unit 36 is installed, and that the abrasive fixing plate 23 does not move. It is different from the optical connector connector polishing apparatus 30 in which the sheet-shaped abrasive 35 is used in that it is fixed.

The roll conveying unit 36 includes a roller 37 on which a new abrasive roll is installed, a roller 38 on which used abrasive is wound, and two guide rollers for horizontally conveying the abrasive on the abrasive fixing plate 23 ( 39, 40).

When the sheet-shaped abrasive 35 is used, the abrasive fixing plate 23 should be conveyed at a constant speed by the servo motor 25 and the linear sliding guide 26 for horizontal feeding, but the abrasive 35 'in the form of a roll ) Is used when the feed speed of the abrasive 35 'is controlled by a servo motor (not shown) connected to the guide rollers 39 and 40, and the sheet-shaped abrasive 35 is used. The same effect can be achieved.

Fig. 6A shows an abrasive of a conventional optical communication connector polishing apparatus after use.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the abrasives 16, 16 'and 16 "of the conventional optical communication connector polishing apparatus 10 have a circular shape, and the circular abrasives 16, 16' and 16" are polished. As the optical communication connector 50 fixed to the holder 17 disposed in a circular shape during the process vibrates in an ellipse shape or up, down, left and right, only the middle part between the center part and the edge part is not used. . In FIG. 6A the use portion of the abrasives 16, 16 ', 16 "is shown in terms of no points.

Fig. 6B shows an abrasive of the connector polishing apparatus for optical communication according to the present invention after use.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the abrasives 35 and 35 'of the optical connector connector polishing apparatus 10 according to the present invention have a rectangular shape, and the entire region except the minimum edge portion is used throughout the polishing process. This is because the optical communication connector 50 fixed to the holder 31 is moved by the biaxial robot 28 in eight characters and other forms, and at the same time, the entire area of the abrasives 35 and 35 'is utilized. The optical communication connector 50 fixed to the holder 31 so as to be spaced apart at regular intervals according to the movement shape is arranged in a straight line in a row or in a zigzag form in two rows, and faces of the abrasives 35 and 35 '. This is because the feed speed of the abrasive 35, 35 "is controlled by the plate feed unit 24 or the roll feed unit 36 so that this can be utilized optimally. In FIG. 6B, the abrasive 35, 35 'is controlled. Use part of) does not contain dots It is shown as a surface.

Therefore, the above-described optical connector connector polishing apparatus according to the present invention uses a non-circular sheet or roll type abrasive to prevent waste of the abrasive in manufacturing as well as in use, so that the abrasive can be utilized almost 100%. By using the 8 type and the similar type of grinding method rather than the vibration type or the elliptic type grinding method, the polished optical fiber cross section is not only the most uniform, but also processed under the uniform polishing force and the surface roughness of the abrasive, There is an effect that can guarantee the uniformity of the machining quality of the polishing surface.

Claims (11)

In the conventional optical connector polishing apparatus, The polishing apparatus includes a body 21, a servo controller 22 installed inside the body 21 and controlling various driving devices, and a polishing material 35 in a sheet form, which is installed on the body 21. The abrasive holding plate 23, a plate conveying unit 24 installed below the abrasive fixing plate 23, and allowing the X-axis parallel movement of the abrasive fixing plate 23, and the abrasive fixing plate ( 23) a connector fixing head 27 which is installed on the upper part and includes a holder 31 to which the optical communication connector 50 is fixed, and is installed on the connector fixing head 27 and X is connected to the connector fixing head 27. Positive pressure to constantly adjust the pressure in the vertical direction of the two-axis robot 28 to move horizontally in the axis and Y-axis, and the optical communication connector 50 is installed inside the two-axis robot 28 and applied to the abrasive On the unit 29 and the two-axis robot 28 Installation, the connectors polishing apparatus for optical communication, characterized in that consisting of the control panel 30 to enable various control operations on the. In the conventional optical connector polishing apparatus, The polishing apparatus includes a body 21, a servo controller 22 installed inside the body 21 and controlling various driving devices, and a polishing material 35 ′ mounted on the body 21. A connector fixing head 27 including an abrasive fixing plate 23 to be fixed, a holder 31 mounted on the abrasive fixing plate 23 and to which an optical communication connector 50 is fixed, and the connector fixing head ( 27) a two-axis robot 28 installed on the upper side and horizontally moving the connector fixing head 27 in the X-axis and Y-axis, and an optical communication connector installed in the two-axis robot 28 and applied to the abrasive A static pressure unit 29 which constantly adjusts the pressure in the vertical direction of the 50, a control panel 30 installed above the two-axis robot 28, which enables various control operations, and the roll-shaped abrasive Consisting of a roll conveying unit 36 for horizontally conveying 35 '. , Optical connector polishing apparatus as. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The optical communication connector (50) is polished by eight-axis movement by the two-axis robot (28), characterized in that the connector for polishing optical communication. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The optical communication connector 50 is polished by Z-axis, W-shape, or M-shape by a two-axis robot, characterized in that the connector for polishing optical communication. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The positive pressure unit 29 includes a positive pressure valve 32 for supplying a constant air pressure, a pneumatic cylinder 33 for pushing down the connector fixing head 27 with a constant force, and a vertical direction of the connector fixing head 27. And a pneumatic device comprising a linear sliding guide (34) for vertical conveyance which enables the conveyance of the optical communication connector. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The static pressure unit (29) is characterized in that the electrical device including a pressure sensor, such as a load cell, and an actuator, such as a servo motor, optical connector connector polishing apparatus. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The static pressure unit (29) is configured by adding a weight having a constant weight, optical communication connector polishing apparatus. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The holders (31) are arranged in a straight line apart from each other at regular intervals in a row, optical connector connector polishing apparatus. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The holders (31) are each arranged in a zigzag spaced apart from each other at regular intervals, optical connector connector polishing apparatus. The method of claim 1, The plate conveying unit (24) is characterized by comprising a servo motor (25) controlled by the servo controller (22) and a linear sliding guide (26) for horizontal conveying, the optical communication connector polishing apparatus. The method of claim 2, The roll conveying unit 36 includes a roller 37 on which a new abrasive roll is installed, a roller 38 on which used abrasive is wound, and two guide rollers for horizontally conveying the abrasive on the abrasive fixing plate 23 ( 39, 40), the connector polishing apparatus for optical communication.