KR100814303B1 - Device for inspecting grooves of spiral spacer for carrying optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

The groove inspection apparatus of the optical fiber supporting spiral spacer having the spiral groove formed on the outer periphery includes a rotating body which rotates in accordance with the running of the optical fiber supporting spacer, and is more than a groove of the spiral groove which is in sliding contact with the rotational resistance of the first rotating body. And a groove pitch measuring section for detecting the groove pitch of the spiral groove from the rotation angle of the second rotating body and the traveling speed of the optical fiber supporting spacer. The groove abnormality detection unit includes a guide rail extending in a linear shape, a support member slidably mounted on the guide rail, a first rotating body rotatably supported by the support member, and a force greater than a predetermined value applied to the support member. It is provided with a load detector coupled through the magnetic attraction means spaced apart.

Description

Home Inspection Device for Fiber Spacer Helix Spacer {DEVICE FOR INSPECTING GROOVES OF SPIRAL SPACER FOR CARRYING OPTICAL FIBER}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a groove inspection apparatus for an optical fiber supporting spiral spacer, and more particularly, to an optical fiber carrying spiral spacer having a plurality of spiral grooves continuously running while rotating in one direction, and more than an inner surface of the spiral groove. And it relates to a groove inspection device for measuring and measuring the groove pitch.

As is well known, since optical fiber has low transmission loss and very large amount of transmission, it is widely used in the communication field, and when laying a plurality of optical fibers, a spacer having a spiral groove for supporting the optical fiber on the outer periphery is provided. By using it as a cable core wire and inserting an optical fiber into this spiral groove, stresses such as tension, compression, and bending are avoided.

However, when the spiral grooves formed in such spacers have abnormalities such as minute humps or convex portions on the inner circumferential surface, problems such as the inability to stably receive the optical fiber in the grooves during cable formation, Even if possible, such an abnormality causes unnecessary side pressure on the optical fiber during use, which increases the transmission loss and adversely affects the transmission characteristics of the optical fiber.                 

In addition, if the spiral groove is not formed accurately at a predetermined pitch along the length axis direction of the spacer due to the deformation of the groove, the transmission characteristics of the optical fiber stored and held in the spiral groove are the same as in the case where there is an abnormality in the groove shape described above. Adversely affects.

Therefore, conventionally, a rotating body that rotates in accordance with the running of the optical fiber supporting spiral spacer is mounted in the middle of the manufacturing process, and abnormality in the inner surface of the spiral groove is detected based on the difference in the rotational resistance of the rotating body.

However, in such a groove abnormality inspection apparatus of the conventional spiral groove, if there are abnormal portions such as minute humps or convex portions on the inner circumferential surface of the spiral groove, the abnormality can be detected, but whether the groove pitch is accurately formed. There was a problem that it could not be detected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a groove abnormality inspection apparatus for a spiral spacer for supporting an optical fiber, which can simultaneously detect an abnormality in the groove shape and an abnormality in the groove pitch during the manufacturing process.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a groove inspection apparatus of a spiral spacer for the optical fiber carrying the plurality of spiral grooves running continuously while rotating in one direction, the rotation according to the running of the optical fiber carrying spiral spacer A groove abnormality detecting unit for detecting a groove abnormality of the spiral groove in sliding contact with the rotational resistance of the rotating body, and the rotation angle of the rotating body and the traveling speed of the spiral spacer for supporting the optical fiber. The groove pitch measuring part which detects groove pitch was provided.

In this invention, the said rotating body of the said groove | channel abnormality detection part, and the said rotating body of the said groove pitch measuring part can be combined.

Further, in the present invention, the groove abnormality detecting portion is provided with a guide rail extending in a linear shape, a support member slidably disposed on the guide rail, the rotating body rotatably supported by the support member, and the support member. It is possible to install a combined load detector via magnetic attraction means that is spaced apart when a force above a predetermined value is applied.

The rotating body may include a through opening through which the optical fiber supporting spiral spacer is inserted, and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the inner circumferential surface of the through opening and slidingly contacting the spiral groove.

The rotating body may have a through opening through which the optical fiber bearing spiral spacer is inserted, and may be arranged to protrude around the opening with a pin gauge having a tip portion fitted to the spiral groove.

The load detector may be configured as a sealed load cell.

In addition, the groove pitch measuring unit of the present invention, a speed pulse generator for generating a signal corresponding to the amount of travel of the spacer, an angle pulse generator for generating an electrical signal corresponding to the rotation angle of the rotating body, and the angle pulse generator Receiving an electrical signal transmitted every one rotation from the counting pulse number of the pulse generator, it may be composed of a calculation indicator for calculating the groove pitch of the spiral groove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a principal part external view of the spiral spacer which is a test object of the groove | channel inspection apparatus of the optical fiber supporting spiral spacer which concerns on this invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the spiral spacer shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

3 is an overall layout of the groove inspection apparatus of the optical fiber supporting spiral spacer according to the present invention.

4 is a side view illustrating main parts of FIG. 3.

5 is an enlarged view illustrating main parts of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the electrical system of the groove abnormality detecting unit shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a processing procedure of the operation indicator shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the electric system of the groove pitch measuring unit shown in FIG. 5.

9 is a flowchart of a processing procedure of the operation indicator shown in FIG. 8.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, embodiment of this invention is described in detail based on an Example. In the groove inspection apparatus 10 of the optical fiber supporting spiral spacer which concerns on this invention, the spiral spacer A shown to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 becomes the inspection object.

The spiral spacer A shown in these figures is provided with the tension line A1 arrange | positioned at the center, and the main-body part A2 made from the synthetic resin coat | covered in the outer periphery.

The main body portion A2 has a plurality of spiral grooves A3 having a concave cross section running continuously while rotating in one direction along the longitudinal axis direction, and each spiral groove A3 is formed with a predetermined pitch P. The inner surface abnormality of this spiral groove A3 and the groove pitch P are examined.

In the case of this embodiment, the groove | channel test | inspection apparatus 10 is a pair of take-out machine provided in the middle of the manufacturing process of the spiral spacer A which travels in the arrow direction of the same figure as shown in FIG. It is comprised between the groove | channel abnormality detection part 16 and the groove | channel pitch measurement part 18 provided between the supporters 12 and 12.

On the support base 14, a pair of guide roller apparatus 19 of the same structure is provided in the both sides of the groove | dye abnormality detection part 16 and the groove | channel pitch measurement part 18. As shown in FIG. As shown in detail in FIG. 4, each guide roller device 19 supports the spiral spacers A from below and is formed from both side surfaces of the large-diameter roller 19a that rotates in the vertical direction and the spiral spacers A. FIG. It consists of a pair of small diameter roller 19b which abuts on this spiral spacer, and rotates horizontally, and the substantially C-shaped support post 19c which axially supports each roller 19a, 19b rotatably. .

In the guide roller device 19 configured as described above, vibration of the upper, lower, and left and right sides when the spiral spacer A is drawn by the take-in machine 12 causes the measurement error of the groove abnormality detector 16 or the groove pitch measurement unit 18. Consideration does not appear.

The groove abnormality detecting unit 16 is disposed at the front end of the groove pitch measuring unit 18 and includes a first rotating body 20 which rotates in accordance with the running of the spiral spacer A for supporting the optical fiber, and the rotating body ( The basic configuration is to detect groove abnormality of the spiral groove A3 in sliding contact from the rotational resistance of 20).

The groove abnormality detection part 16 of this embodiment is provided on the guide rail 22 fixed to the support stand 14 and extending linearly, as shown in FIG. On this guide rail 22, the support member 24 of the 1st rotating body 20 is provided with the slide movement freely along the longitudinal axis direction of the guide rail 22. As shown in FIG.

The support member 24 has a slide table 26 fitted to the guide rail 22 so as to slide freely, and a vertical support plate 28 supported on the slide table 26 and extending vertically upward.

On the upper part of the vertical support plate 28, a disk-shaped first rotating body 20 is rotatably supported about a horizontal axis through a bearing 30. In the first rotating body 20, a circular spacer into which a spiral spacer A which travels between a pair of take-out machines 12 and 12 provided in the center of the disc-shaped main body 31 during the manufacturing process is inserted. The through opening 32 is formed.

On the inner circumference of the through opening 32 of the first rotating body 20, protrusions 34 of a number corresponding to the number of the spiral grooves A3 formed in the spiral spacer A are projected integrally. Each of the protrusions 34 is formed in a shape in which the protruding shape corresponds to the shape of the spiral groove A3.

The shape relationship between these spiral grooves A3 and the projections 34 is set so that the wall forming the spiral grooves A3 of the spiral spacer A and the outer surface of the projections 34 are in close contact with each other.                 

On the other hand, in the side of the guide rail 22, the load cell (load detector) 36 of the sealed state which is located in the vicinity of the support member 24, converts the magnitude of a load into an electrical signal, and sends it out is arrange | positioned.

As the load cell 36, as is well known, the strain gauge and the strain gage connected thereto are enclosed in a case. In this embodiment, for example, the strain gage is adopted.

The load cell 36 and the slide table 26 are connected by the connecting member 38. This connecting member 38 is comprised from the 1st connection part 38a fixed to the slide stand 26, and the 2nd connection part 38b fixed to the load cell 36 side.

In the present embodiment, the permanent magnet is embedded in the second connecting portion 38b, and the first connecting portion 38a is made of a metal material which can be adsorbed by the magnet, and in the normal state, the first connecting portion 38a is the second connecting portion ( 38b).

In the groove abnormality detection part 16 comprised as mentioned above, when the spiral spacer A runs, since the 1st rotating body 20 is fitted to the spiral groove A3, the rotating body 20 will be made of the spiral spacer A Rotates in the same direction as the rotational direction of the spiral groove A3 as it travels.

At this time, the 1st rotating body 20 becomes a load with respect to the running of the spiral spacer A, and the slide stand 26 which supports the 1st rotating body 20 with the running of the spiral spacer A guides. Attempts to slide the rail 22 on the rear side.

At this time, the action force in the horizontal direction is transmitted to the load cell 36 through the first and second connecting portions 38a and 38b, and as a result, the load cell 36 is loaded in the same direction as the running direction of the spiral spacer A. Is passed.

Here, the connection member 38 which transmits the action force which the slide table 26 is going to slide to the load cell 36 is comprised by the 1st and 2nd connection parts 38a and 38b adsorbed by the permanent magnet. .

Therefore, if the coupling force of the first and second connecting portions 38a and 38b is released when a force of a predetermined value or more is applied to the rotating body 20, the groove abnormality detecting portion ( 16) can be prevented from being damaged.

On the other hand, the load cell 36 is electrically connected to the operation indicator 42 via the amplifier 40, as shown in FIG. The operation display unit 42 is composed of an operation circuit (PLC) and a personal computer, and includes an interface, a memory, an input keyboard, and the like. The operation display unit 42 is connected with an indicator 41 and an alarm unit 44. .

In the present embodiment, the calculation indicator 42 detects an abnormality in the groove of the spiral groove A3 according to the procedure shown in Fig. 7 by using the load detection value R transmitted from the load cell 36 as an input signal.

In the procedure shown in Fig. 7, firstly, the initial setting is executed in step 1 when the procedure starts. In this initial setting, the risk value Rmax which judges that the spiral groove A3 is more than a groove | channel is set with respect to the load detection value R which the load cell 36 detects.

This risk value (Rmax) is derived from past empirical and actual mean values. When setting of the danger value Rmax is complete | finished, the load detection value R of the load cell 36 is input in step 2, and the value is displayed on the display 41 as a measured value.

Next, in step 3, it is determined whether the load detection value R is greater than the danger value Rmax, and when the load detection value R is smaller than the danger value Rmax, the measurement of the groove abnormality is terminated in step 4. If it is judged whether or not the measurement is not completed, the flow returns to step 2 to continue the measurement of the groove abnormality.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 3 that the load detection value R is larger than the dangerous value Rmax, an abnormality has occurred in the spiral groove A3. Therefore, the alarm 44 is operated in step 5 to warn of this. At the same time, it receives the signal from the measuring length counter (not shown) and displays the length at the abnormal point.

In the groove abnormality detection part 16 comprised as mentioned above, when running in the state which let the spiral spacer A pass through the through-opening 32 of the 1st rotating body 20, the spiral groove A3 of the spiral spacer A will be carried out. ) And travel resistance based on sliding contact with the protrusion 34 of the first rotating body 20 fitted into the spiral groove A3 are converted to the rotational force of the rotating body 20, and the slide table 26. A horizontal force is applied to move this on the guide rail 22 to the rear side.

This horizontal force is transmitted to the load cell 36 via the connecting member 38 which is magnetically coupled with the magnet. The load cell 36 detects the load corresponding to this horizontal force, sets it as the load detection value R, converts it into an electrical signal, and outputs it to the calculation display 42.

The operation indicator 42 monitors the state of the spiral groove A3 of the spiral spacer A based on the output signal of the load cell 36, and the spiral groove A3 based on the magnitude of the load detection value R. Detect an inner surface abnormality.

In this case, when the groove abnormality of the spiral groove A3 is very large, the running resistance of the rotating body 20 becomes very large, but at this time, the driving drag exceeds the adsorption force of the permanent magnet, and as a result, the connecting member 38 Coupling between the first and second connecting portions 38a, 38b of the < RTI ID = 0.0 >), < / RTI > permits the rearward movement of the slide table 26 to damage parts of the support member 38, the rotating body 20 and the like and the load cell 36. There is nothing to be done.

In addition, when the slide stand 26 contacts the proximity switch 45, the back movement of the slide stand 26 stops the drive of the take-out machine 12, and ensures safety.

On the other hand, the groove pitch measuring unit 18 detects the groove pitch P of the spiral groove A3 from the rotation angle of the second rotating body 20a and the traveling speed of the optical fiber-bearing spiral spacer A, Generates a second pulse 20a, a velocity pulse generator 46 for generating a signal v corresponding to the amount of travel of the spiral spacer A, and an electrical signal corresponding to the rotation angle of the rotor 20a. The groove pitch of the spiral groove A3 is received by counting the number of pulses of the speed pulse generator 46 by receiving the angular pulse generator 48 and the electrical signal i transmitted every one revolution from the angle pulse generator 48. The calculation display 50 which calculates P) is provided.

As shown in FIG. 5, the second rotating body 20a is substantially the same as the first rotating body 20 that is fitted to the spiral spacer A and rotates along its running. Similarly to the one rotating body 20, the support member 24 and the slide table 26 are provided, and the slide movement is freely provided on the guide rail 22.

The slide table 26 is coupled with the load cell 36 via the connecting member 38, and the connecting member 38 has first and second connecting portions 38a and 38b detachably coupled by a magnet. .

The through-hole opening 32a through which the spiral spacer A is inserted is formed in the center part of the disk-shaped main body 31a of the 2nd rotating body 20a. On the inner circumferential side of the through opening 32a of the second rotating body 20a, instead of the protrusion 34 of the first rotating body 20, the number of pin gauges 35 corresponding to the number of the spiral grooves A3 is provided. It is fixed with a screw, and the front end side of each pin gauge 35 protrudes inward of the through opening 32a.

Each pin gauge 35 is formed in the shape whose protruding shape corresponds to the shape of the spiral groove A3. The operation indicator 42 shown in FIG. 6 is connected to the load cell 36 attached to the second rotating body 20a in the same manner as the first rotating body 20. By executing the control procedure as shown, substantially the same function as the above-described groove abnormality detection unit 16 is obtained, and the groove abnormality of the spiral groove A3 is detected in two stages.

The speed pulse generator 46 is provided in the take-out machine 12 shown in FIG. 3, is connected to the operation indicator 50 as shown in FIG. 8, and has a signal corresponding to the running speed of the spiral spacer A. v) is sent out.                 

As shown in FIG. 5, the angular pulse generator 48 has a convex portion 48a protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the main body 31a of the second rotating body 20a and a proximity sensor 48b mounted to the support member 24. Equipped with.

The angular pulse generator 48 of this embodiment is, for example, a self-sensitive non-contact sensor, and an electric signal i is sent out whenever the convex portion 48a is close to the proximity sensor 48b.

This angular pulse generator 48 is connected to the operation display 50 as shown in FIG. 8, and sends out the signal i to the operation display 50 each time the second rotating body 20a rotates once. .

The operation display unit 50 is composed of an operation circuit (PLC) and a personal computer, and includes an interface, a memory, an input keyboard, and the like. The operation display unit 50 is connected to a pitch display unit 52 and an alarm unit 54. have.

In the case of this embodiment, the calculation indicator 50 uses the signals i and v transmitted from the speed pulse generator 46 and the angular pulse generator 48 as input signals to the spiral groove A3 according to the procedure shown in FIG. Calculate and display the groove pitch (P).

In the procedure shown in Fig. 9, when the procedure is first started, the initial setting is executed in step 10, and in this initial setting, the allowable value Δ for the home pitch P is set.

In the following step 11, the counting counter of the speed signal v is set to 0, and then in step 12, the input of the signal i transmitted from the angle pulse generator 48 every time the second rotating body 20a is rotated once After the input is confirmed, in step 13, the counting of the speed signal v is started.                 

Subsequently, it waits until the 2nd signal i is input in step 14, and when the input is confirmed, the counter which counts the speed signal v is stopped in step 15, and the home pitch ( Calculate P).

The groove pitch P thus obtained is sent to the pitch indicator 52 and its value is displayed, and it is judged whether or not the groove pitch P obtained in the following step 16 is within the allowable value Δ, and the groove If the pitch P is not within the range of the allowable value Δ, the alarm 54 is activated in step 17, notifying the effect and receiving a signal from the measuring length counter (not shown) at the abnormal portion. Display the length.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step 16 that the groove pitch P is within the range of the allowable value Δ, the end of the measurement is judged in step 18, and if it is not the end of the measurement, the process returns to step 11 and the home pitch P The measurement of continues.

According to the groove inspection apparatus 10 of the optical fiber supporting spiral spacer A comprised as mentioned above, the groove abnormality detection part which detects the groove abnormality of the spiral groove A3 in sliding contact from the rotational resistance of the 1st rotating body 20. FIG. (16) and the groove pitch measuring unit 18 for detecting the groove pitch P of the spiral groove A3 from the rotation angle of the second rotating body 20a and the traveling speed of the spiral spacer A for supporting the optical fiber. Since it is equipped, the abnormality of a groove shape and the abnormality of the groove pitch P can be detected simultaneously in the middle of a manufacturing process.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the load cell 36 is provided in each of the first and second rotating bodies 20 and 20a so as to detect groove abnormality of the spiral groove A3 in a two-stage shape. May be given to any one of the rotating bodies.                 

Here, in the case where the groove abnormality detection function is not provided to the second rotating body 20a, the pin gauge 35 does not necessarily correspond to the entire spiral groove A3, for example, a 180 ° interval or a 120 ° interval. You may arrange | position intermittently.

In this case, the shape of the pin gauge 35 does not need to be in a shape that is in close contact with the cross-sectional shape of the spiral groove A3.

In addition, the arithmetic indicators 42 and 50 shown in the above embodiments may be provided in an independent form, or may be used as a single unit, and the control procedure shown in FIG. 7 and the control procedure shown in FIG. The control procedure shown in FIG. 9 may be continued to the control procedure shown in FIG. 7.

In the embodiment, the non-contact magnetic sensing type is illustrated as the angular pulse generator 48, but the implementation of the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, for example, using a rotary encoder geared to the second rotating body 20a, It is also possible to use an angle signal sent out from the encoder every one revolution.

In this case, there is no problem in the case where the second rotating body 20a is not combined with the groove abnormality detecting portion. However, in the method using the rotary encoder, the rotation load becomes larger than that shown in the embodiment, and therefore, the groove abnormality detecting portion In the case where both the rotating body and the rotating body of the groove pitch measuring unit are used as one, it is preferable that the non-contact type magnetic sensitive angle pulse generator 48 shown in the embodiment in which the rotational load becomes small.

The groove inspection apparatus of the optical fiber supporting spiral spacer of the present invention is provided during the manufacturing process of the spiral spacer so that the abnormality of the groove shape and the measurement of the groove pitch can be measured over the entire length of the spiral spacer to be manufactured. This is effective in maintaining the transmission performance of the optical cables assembled into the network.

Claims (7)

In the groove inspection apparatus 10 of the optical fiber bearing spiral spacer (A) formed in the outer periphery, a plurality of spiral grooves running continuously while rotating in one direction, Rotors 20 and 20a that rotate in accordance with the running of the optical fiber bearing spiral spacer, A groove abnormality detection unit 16 for detecting groove abnormality of the spiral groove in sliding contact from the rotational resistance of the rotating body 20, and Groove pitch measuring section 18 for detecting the groove pitch of the spiral groove from the rotation angle of the rotating body 20a and the traveling speed of the optical fiber supporting spiral spacer is provided. Inspection device. 2. The groove inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotating body (20) of the groove abnormality detecting unit and the rotating body (20a) of the groove pitch measuring unit are used as one. The groove abnormality detecting unit 16 according to claim 1, A guide rail 22 extending in a straight line shape, A support member 24 slidably mounted on the guide rail, The rotor 20 rotatably supported by the support member, and And a load detector (36) coupled through a magnetic suction means spaced apart when a force equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied to said support member. The rotating body 20 according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A through opening (32) through which the optical fiber supporting spiral spacer is inserted; and And a plurality of protrusions (34) protruding from the inner circumferential surface of the through opening and slidingly contacting the helical groove. The said rotating body 20a is provided with the through-hole opening 32a through which the said optical fiber bearing spiral spacer is inserted, and is provided in the said spiral groove around the said opening. A groove inspection apparatus for a spiral spacer for supporting an optical fiber, characterized in that a pin gauge (35) having an end portion to be fitted is projected out. 4. The groove inspection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the load detector (36) comprises a load cell in a sealed state. 2. The groove pitch measuring unit 18 according to claim 1, A velocity pulse generator 46 for generating a signal corresponding to the amount of travel of the spacer A; An angle pulse generator 48 for generating an electric signal corresponding to the rotation angle of the rotating body 20a, and And an arithmetic indicator (50) configured to receive an electrical signal transmitted every one revolution from the angular pulse generator, count the number of pulses of the speed pulse generator, and calculate a groove pitch of the spiral groove. Home inspection device of spacer.

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