JP3567446B2 - Reinforcing device and reinforcing method for optical fiber core connection portion - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique for connecting optical fiber cores, and more particularly to a technique for collectively reinforcing a plurality of optical fiber cores having a core connection part.
[0002]
Problems to be solved by the prior art and the invention
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional example of a member for reinforcing an optical fiber core connecting portion. The reinforcing member 150 surrounds the connecting portion 2 of the optical fiber 1 formed by connecting the two optical fibers 1 ′ and 1 ″, and is provided inside the heat-shrinkable tube 3 as an outer tube. In addition, a tube-shaped hot-melt adhesive (hereinafter, referred to as a “hot-melt adhesive tube”) 4 and a columnar strength member 5 having an arc-shaped cross section are arranged. In order to use the reinforcing member 150 to reinforce the connection portion 2 of the optical fiber 1, first, one of the optical fibers 1 ′ and 1 ″ before connection is connected to the heat-shrinkable tube 3 and the heat-meltable adhesive. After passing through the tube 4, it is connected to the other by fusing, etc. Next, the reinforcing member 60 is slid along the one optical fiber core wire 1 obtained by the connection and carried to the connecting portion 2, and FIG. As shown, the connection 2 is accommodated in a hot-melt adhesive tube 4 so as to be located approximately in the center of the tube.
[0003]
Next, by heating the reinforcing member 150 using a heating means such as a heater, the heat-shrinkable tube 3 is thermally contracted, and the volume in the tube is reduced. At the same time, the heat-fusible adhesive tube 4 melts and fills the inside of the heat-shrinkable tube 3 (the gap between the heat-shrinkable tube 3 and the strength member 5), and surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber 1. Thereafter, when the reinforcing member 150 is cooled, the adhesive is solidified, whereby the optical fiber 1 including the connecting portion 2, the strength member 5, and the heat-shrinkable tube 3 are integrated. Thus, the reinforcement of the connection portion 2 of the optical fiber core 1 is completed. The tensile strength member 5 prevents breakage of the brittle optical fiber due to bending.
[0004]
The reinforcing method using the reinforcing member of FIG. 6 is to reinforce one connection portion of the optical fiber core with one reinforcing member, and a single-core optical fiber as shown in FIG. Not only fiber cores but also tape-type optical fibers in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in a line are included. A technique for reinforcing the multi-core optical fiber ribbon is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-32208.
[0005]
However, in the case of constructing an optical fiber communication network using optical fiber cores, for example, a plurality of optical fiber cores are connected and reinforced at the same location, and then all the connection parts are collectively stored in a connection box. Work is taking place. At this time, in order to reinforce the plurality of optical fiber core connection parts by the method of reinforcing one connection part with one reinforcing member as described above, a large connection box for accommodating a large number of reinforcement parts is required, and space saving is required. Is not preferred from the viewpoint of In order to improve this, a plurality of core wires having connection portions are hollowed out by a single heat-meltable adhesive tube (reference numeral 4 in the drawing) of one reinforcing member so as to house optical fiber core wires at high density. When inserted into the adhesive tube, the core wires are entangled in the adhesive tube, and the reliability may be impaired, for example, the possibility of strength deterioration or breakage increases.
[0006]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, a method of collectively reinforcing a plurality of connecting portions 2 by using alignment jigs 6a and 6b for arranging and holding several optical fiber cores in a line in parallel is also available. Has been devised. In this method, individual optical fibers 1 'and 1 "to be connected are collectively fixed by alignment jigs 6a and 6b, respectively, and then one of optical fibers 1' and 1" is fixed. After passing through the reinforcing member 151, it is connected to the other optical fiber core. Next, the reinforcing member 151 is slid and carried to the connection portion 2 so that all the connection portions 2 are accommodated in the gap 7 between the heat-shrinkable tube 3 and the tensile strength member 5. The adhesive disposed on the inner surface of the tube is melted and filled, or the adhesive is poured and filled separately from the heat-shrinkable tube and solidified. Thereby, the reinforcement of the optical fiber core connection part is completed. The reinforcing technique of such a method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-194208.
[0007]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-142506 discloses a method of arranging a plurality of connecting portions in a three-dimensional reinforcing box provided with partitions and injecting an adhesive.
[0008]
However, in these methods, since the work of attaching the alignment jig to each optical fiber core wire and injecting an adhesive is required, the skill of the work is required, and the number of steps required for reinforcement increases, There is a problem that work efficiency is poor.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and is a reinforcing member for collectively reinforcing a connection portion of a plurality of optical fiber core wires, and does not take up a large space and is easy to operate. It is an object of the present invention to provide a reinforcing member that can easily reinforce the core wire connecting portion.
[0010]
Further, the present invention also provides a reinforcing device used when reinforcing a plurality of core wire joints collectively, and it is also possible to provide an apparatus capable of suitably reinforcing the core wire joint. Aim.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an optical fiber core connecting portion reinforcing member according to the present invention comprises: (a) a heat-shrinkable tube for protecting a connection portion of an optical fiber core; A tensile strength member housed in the heat-shrinkable tube and extending along the axis of the heat-shrinkable tube at a distance from the inner surface of the heat-shrinkable tube; A heat-fusible adhesive that fills the space between the shrinkable tube and the strength member and integrates the optical fiber core, the heat-shrinkable tube and the strength member, and wherein the heat-shrinkable tube includes an optical fiber. A plurality of core wire guide portions for guiding the core wire and penetrating the reinforcing member are provided separately.
[0012]
Here, the heat-meltable adhesive may be a tubular adhesive inserted between the heat-shrinkable tube and the tensile strength member and extending substantially along the axis of the heat-shrinkable tube. The wire guide portion may be a hollow portion of the tubular adhesive.
[0013]
Further, the strength member is a flat plate having a width substantially equal to the inner diameter of the heat-shrinkable tube, and the tubular adhesive is provided between the upper surface of the flat-plate strength member and the inner surface of the heat-shrinkable tube, and It may be inserted between the lower surface of the flat plate strength member and the inner surface of the heat-shrinkable tube.
[0014]
According to the reinforcing member according to the present invention, by reinforcing the connection portions of each core wire through the optical fiber core wires one by one to each core wire guide portion, a plurality of connection portions are collectively formed by a single reinforcing member. Can be reinforced. By adjusting the shape and size of the tensile strength member, it is possible to reduce the cross-sectional area of the reinforcing member required per one core wire as compared with the case where a conventional reinforcing member of the type that reinforces a single connection portion is used. Therefore, this makes it possible to house the reinforced optical fiber at a higher density. Further, since the guide portions for accommodating the respective optical fiber cores are provided separately, unlike the conventional reinforcing member of a type in which a plurality of cores are accommodated in a single tube, the optical fiber cores are separated from each other. There is no entanglement.
[0015]
Next, the first aspect of the optical fiber core connection part reinforcing device according to the present invention, by heating a reinforcing member that accommodates a plurality of optical fiber cores including the connection part and reinforces these connection parts, , Which is provided with a core wire pulling portion for individually gripping and pulling each optical fiber core wire.
[0016]
Here, the above-described core wire pulling unit includes a plurality of clamps for individually gripping each optical fiber core wire, and each of these clamps is moved by moving these clamps along a predetermined direction so that each of the optical fiber core wires is moved. And a clamp moving mechanism for pulling the clamp.
[0017]
According to the first aspect of the stiffener according to the present invention, since each optical fiber core is individually grasped and pulled, even when only some optical fiber cores are loosened, each optical fiber core is Unlike the case where the wires are collectively gripped and pulled, the tensile stress does not concentrate on the optical fiber core having no slack. Therefore, according to this reinforcing device, loosening of the optical fiber core wire can be suitably removed, and thereafter, by heating the reinforcing member, the optical fiber core wire connecting portion can be suitably reinforced.
[0018]
Next, the second aspect of the optical fiber core connection part reinforcing device according to the present invention, by heating a reinforcing member for housing a plurality of optical fiber cores including the connection part and reinforcing these connection parts, An optical fiber core connector reinforcing device for reinforcing the connection portion, wherein the means for heating the reinforcing member has a groove extending from one end to the other end of the optical fiber core, and the reinforcing member can be embedded therein. And a radiator for radiating heat through the inner surface of the groove.
[0019]
Here, the groove may have a substantially U-shaped or V-shaped cross section.
[0020]
According to the second aspect of the stiffener according to the present invention, by burying the stiffening member in the above-described groove and performing heating, the stiffening member of the stiffener more uniformly than the conventional stiffener that radiates heat through the flat upper surface. Heating can be performed, which allows for suitable connection reinforcement. This stiffener is particularly useful when a plurality of optical fibers are symmetrically arranged with respect to the axis of the reinforcing member.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description. Also, the dimensional ratios in the drawings do not always match those described.
[0022]
FIG. 1A is an overall perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of an optical fiber core wire connecting portion reinforcing member according to the present invention, and this reinforcing member is denoted by reference numeral 50. The reinforcing member 50 includes a heat-shrinkable tube 3 for covering the optical fiber core connection portion, and a flat tensile strength member extending along the axis of the tube 3 is provided in a hollow portion of the heat-shrinkable tube 3. 8 are accommodated. The strength member 8 has a width substantially equal to the inner diameter of the heat-shrinkable tube 3, and is inserted into the tube 3 with the central axis substantially coincident with the tube 3.
[0023]
A tubular heat-meltable adhesive (adhesive tube) 4a extending along the axis of the heat-shrinkable tube 3 is inserted between the upper inner surface of the heat-shrinkable tube 3 and the upper surface of the strength member 8. An optical fiber core having a connection to be reinforced can be inserted into the hollow portion of the tube. The hot-melt adhesive tube 4a has a substantially elliptical cross section, and is arranged such that its short axis is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the tensile strength member 8. The elliptical cross section has a short diameter such that the tube 4a can be held between the strength member 8 and the heat-shrinkable tube 3 when the adhesive tube 4a is inserted. Accordingly, the adhesive tube 4a is loosely held by being inserted between the strength member 8 and the heat-shrinkable tube 3.
[0024]
An adhesive tube (tubular hot-melt adhesive) 4b similar to the above-mentioned adhesive tube 4a is provided between the lower surface of the strength member 8 and the lower portion of the inner surface of the heat-shrinkable tube 3 with the strength member 8 interposed therebetween. 4a is inserted almost symmetrically.
[0025]
As described above, the reinforcing member 50 of the present embodiment includes the two hot-melt adhesive tubes 4a and 4b, into each of which an optical fiber core having a connecting portion to be reinforced can be inserted. It has become. Therefore, according to the reinforcing member 50, a plurality of optical fiber core connection parts can be collectively reinforced by a single reinforcing member. In the conventional method of reinforcing a single connection portion with a single reinforcing member (FIG. 6), one core is inserted into one reinforcing member, the next reinforcing member is prepared, and the next core is prepared. However, when the reinforcing member 50 of the present embodiment is used, the frequency of preparing a new reinforcing member can be reduced, so that the reinforcing work time can be shortened accordingly. In addition, since the heat-shrinkable tube and the tensile member are configured to be shared by a plurality of core wires, there is an advantage that parts can be saved. By adjusting the width and thickness of the strength member 8, the cross-sectional area of the reinforcing member 50 can be made smaller than twice the conventional reinforcing member. In this case, the required cross-sectional area of the reinforcing member per fiber is smaller than in the case of reinforcing with a single reinforcing member, and the optical fiber connecting portion can be housed at a high density.
[0026]
Further, in the reinforcing member 50, an adhesive tube for accommodating the core wire is prepared for each core wire, and one optical fiber core wire is inserted into one adhesive tube. Compared to a system in which the wires are accommodated in a single adhesive tube, the risk that the core wires become entangled when the heat-shrinkable tube 3 shrinks, resulting in deterioration in strength or breakage can be reduced.
[0027]
Furthermore, according to the reinforcing member 50, there is no need to use an alignment jig, and there is no need to inject an adhesive into the heat-shrinkable tube 3, so that the reinforcing operation is simple. For this reason, in addition to the above-mentioned advantage that a plurality of core wire connecting portions can be reinforced at once, the efficiency of the reinforcing work can be increased and the working time can be shortened.
[0028]
Although the reinforcing member in FIG. 1A is used to collectively reinforce the connection portion between the two optical fibers, a larger number of the reinforcing members are adjusted by adjusting the shape of the strength member and the arrangement of the adhesive tube. It is also possible to collectively reinforce the optical fiber core connection. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), a columnar tensile strength member 9 having a square cross section is inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube 3, and an adhesive is provided between each side surface of the strength-resistant body 9 and the inner surface of the heat-shrinkable tube 3. By inserting the tubes 4a to 4d, it is possible to collectively reinforce the connection portions of the four optical fibers.
[0029]
In the present embodiment, the hollow portion of the hot-melt adhesive processed into a tube shape is used as a core wire guide portion for inserting an optical fiber core wire and penetrating the heat-shrinkable tube. Other forms may be used as long as they guide the fiber core wire and penetrate the heat-shrinkable tube. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, grooves 36a and 36b extending in the axial direction of the heat-shrinkable tube 3 and having a rectangular cross section are provided on the surfaces of the plate-like hot-melt adhesives 34a and 34b. It may be a line guide. In FIG. 2, reference numerals 30a and 30b denote tape-shaped optical fibers. Further, instead of providing the core guide portion on the hot-melt adhesive, a core guide portion (such as a groove) may be provided on the tensile strength member.
[0030]
Next, a method for reinforcing the optical fiber core connection portion using the reinforcing member according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 3A is a partially cut-away schematic plan view showing a stiffener 60 that heats the reinforcing member 16 to reinforce the core wire connection part, and FIG. 3B illustrates the same stiffener 60. It is a partial notch schematic disassembled side view shown. As shown in FIG. 3B, the reinforcing method will be described below, taking up the case where the optical fiber cores having the connection parts to be reinforced are the four-core optical fiber cores 30a and 30b. . The reinforcing member 16 used here has substantially the same structure as the above-described reinforcing member 50, but since the one inserted into the reinforcing member is a tape-shaped optical fiber core wire, the reinforcing member 16 has a hollow portion of the adhesive tube. The size is adjusted for a tape-shaped optical fiber core. In these drawings, for the sake of simplicity, the strength member and the heat-meltable adhesive tube in the reinforcing member 16 are omitted. In FIG. 3A, the box-shaped windshield 38 shown in FIG. 3B is omitted.
[0031]
The illustrated reinforcing device 60 includes a heater 17 installed on the upper surface of a box-shaped housing 62, a fixed clamp 64 attached to the housing 62, movable clamps 70 a and 70 b protruding from the housing 62, A movable mechanism 74 is provided within the housing 62 and moves the movable clamps 70a and 70b substantially in parallel with the flat upper surface of the housing 62. A groove 18 extending in the vertical direction of the heater 17 is provided above the heater 17, and the reinforcing member 16 is embedded in the groove 18. A transparent windshield 38 is provided around the heater 17 so as to surround the heater 17 and block it from the outside air, thereby increasing the heating efficiency of the heater 17. The fixed clamp 64 is configured to collectively clamp the two connected optical fiber ribbons 30a and 30b at the same location. On the other hand, the movable clamps 70a and 70b individually hold the optical fibers 30a and 30b. The movable clamps 70a and 70b include clamp portions 71a and 71b and clamp arms 72a and 72b attached to lower portions of the clamp portions 71a and 71b and extending substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the housing 62. These clamp arms 72a and 72b are connected to the movable plate 76 via springs 79a and 79b inside the housing 62, respectively. The movable plate 76 is connected to the movable plate 75 via connection bars 77 and 78.
[0032]
When the movable plate 75 is moved in the direction of the arrow 80 by a driving device such as a motor (not shown), the movable plate 76 connected to the movable plate 75 also moves in the direction of the arrow 80, and accordingly, the springs 79a and b move in the directions of the arrows. It extends in the direction of 80. Due to the extension of the spring, the amount of movement of the movable plate 76, that is, the tensile stress corresponding to the amount of extension of the spring, is applied to each of the tape-shaped optical fibers 30a, 30b via the clamp arms 72a, b and the clamp portions 71a, b. It will be added to the connection parts 2a and 2b.
[0033]
In this stiffener 60, each tape-shaped optical fiber core 30a, b is individually clamped by a corresponding clamp 70a, b, and separate springs 79a, b attached to the respective clamp arms 72a, b. A tensile stress is applied through the contact. Therefore, unlike the case where both the tape-shaped optical fiber cores are collectively gripped and pulled, stress concentrates on the other tape-shaped optical fiber core even when only one tape-shaped optical fiber core is loosened. Never. Further, by individually gripping and pulling each of the tape-shaped optical fiber core wires, there is an advantage that it is easy to determine the breakage when the connection portion is subjected to the pull screening.
[0034]
In the above-described movable mechanism 74, a spring may be attached between the movable plate 75 and each of the clamp arms 72a, b. In this case, a stress is applied to the connecting portions 2a, b by compressing the spring. Is done.
[0035]
Next, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a cross section of the heater 17, the reinforcing member 16, and the tape-shaped optical fibers 30a and 30b along the line AA in FIG. The heater 17 includes a groove 18 having a V-shaped cross section and extending along the longitudinal direction of the heater 17. The tape-shaped optical fibers 30a, 30b with the reinforcing members 16 attached so as to surround the core connection portions 2a, 2b are set in the reinforcing device 60 such that the reinforcing members 16 are embedded in the V-grooves 18. Is done.
[0036]
When reinforcing the connection parts 2a and 2b, heat is radiated from the side wall of the V-groove 18 and thereby the reinforcing member 16 is heated. As described above, since the stiffener 60 of the present embodiment performs heating by the heat radiating portion that covers the lower side and both sides of the reinforcing member 16, the normal heater 27 that heats the reinforcing member placed on the flat heat radiating surface is heated. Heating can be performed more efficiently and more uniformly than (FIG. 4C). In addition, the melting state of the tubular adhesives 4a and 4b can be observed from the opening of the V-shaped groove.
[0037]
In the heater 17, the reinforcing member 16 is embedded in the V-groove 18 for heating. However, instead of the V-groove 18, the cross section is substantially U-shaped as shown in FIG. (U groove) 19 may be formed along the longitudinal direction, and the reinforcing member may be heated through the inner surface of the U groove 19. More generally speaking, a heating means having a concave heat radiating portion capable of burying a reinforcing member and capable of radiating heat from the inner surface thereof to heat the reinforcing member is used as a reinforcing device. Is preferable, uniform and efficient heating can be performed.
[0038]
Next, referring to FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (d), these tape-shaped optical fiber cores are set in a reinforcing device 60 prior to collective reinforcement of the connection portions of the tape-shaped optical fiber cores 30a and 30b. The procedure to be performed will be described. This setting operation can be performed in parallel with the operation of connecting the tape-shaped optical fiber core.
[0039]
In order to set the two tape-shaped optical fiber cores 30a and 30b in the reinforcing device 60, first, insert each tape-shaped optical fiber core into the heat-meltable adhesive tubes 4a and 4b of the reinforcing member 16, respectively. The reinforcing member 16 is made to penetrate. Next, one end of one of the tape-shaped optical fiber cores 30a and 30b (here, 30a) is connected to another tape-shaped optical fiber core to be connected by a method such as fusion. After the connection, the tape-shaped optical fiber core 30a is temporarily placed on the reinforcing device 60 (FIG. 5A). At this time, the tape-shaped optical fiber core 30a is clamped at two places by the fixed clamp 64 and the movable clamp 70a of the reinforcing device 60, and the portion located between these clamped places is accommodated in the V groove 18 of the heater 17. . On the other hand, the tape-shaped optical fiber 30b and the tape-shaped optical fiber 30b 'to be connected to the tape-shaped optical fiber 30b are not clamped by any clamp.
[0040]
Next, after connecting the tape-shaped optical fiber cores 30b and 30b '(hereinafter, the connected tape-shaped optical fiber core is denoted by reference numeral 30b), as shown in FIG. The tape-shaped optical fiber core 30b is clamped by the fixed clamp 64 and the movable clamp 70b. At this time, the connection portion 2b of the tape-shaped optical fiber core 30b is accommodated in the V-groove 18 of the heater 17 in alignment with the connection 2a of the tape-shaped optical fiber core 30a. Next, the tape-shaped optical fibers 30 a and 30 b are collectively clamped outside the reinforcing device 60 by an external clamp 90 prepared separately from each clamp of the reinforcing device 60. As a result, the tape-shaped optical fiber core wires 30a and 30b are collectively held on both sides of the reinforcing member 16.
[0041]
When reinforcing the connecting portions 2a and 2b with the use of the reinforcing device 60, as shown in FIG. 5C, of the tape-shaped optical fiber core wires 30a and 30b, the outer side of the portion clamped by the movable clamps 70a and 70b. While holding the parts 24a and 24b by hand, each clamp of the reinforcing device 60 is released, and the reinforcing member 16 is slid along the optical fiber ribbon and moved to the connecting portions 2a and 2b. As a result, when the connection portions 2a and 2b of the respective tape-shaped optical fiber cores are accommodated in the reinforcing member 16, as shown in FIG. Each tape-shaped optical fiber core 30a, 30b is clamped by the fixed clamp 64 and the movable clamps 70a, 70b, and then the clamping of the external clamp 90 is released. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 2, each of the tape-shaped optical fibers 30 a and 30 b can be set in the reinforcing device 60 in a state where the connecting portions 2 a and b are aligned in the reinforcing member 16.
[0042]
Next, before the heating by the heater 17, a tensile screening test is performed on the tape-shaped optical fibers 30 a and 30 b using the reinforcing device 60. This is to avoid waste of reinforcing the defective tape-shaped optical fiber core. Specifically, by moving each of the clamps 71a, b in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3B by the movable mechanism 74, each of the tape-shaped optical fibers is pulled. Conduct a screening test for the cord.
[0043]
If no defect is found in the screening test, the reinforcing member 16 is heated by the heater 17 described above, and the connecting portions 2a and 2b of the respective tape-shaped optical fiber cores are collectively reinforced. That is, by heating the reinforcing member 16, the heat-shrinkable tube 3 is thermally contracted, and the adhesive tubes 4a and 4b are melted. After the heating, the tape-shaped optical fiber cores 30a and 30b are cooled, so that the heat-shrinkable tube 3, the tensile strength member 8, and the connection parts 2a and b of the tape-shaped optical fiber core are integrated with an adhesive. The heat-shrinkable tube 3 surrounds the connection portions 2a, b, the adhesive firmly fixes the connection portions 2a, b in the heat-shrinkable tube 3, and the strength members 8 prevent the tape fibers 30a, b from breaking due to bending. By preventing this, the connection portions 2a and 2b are reinforced. This is the same as the conventional case.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the reinforcing member of the present invention, a plurality of connecting portions are collectively reinforced by a single reinforcing member, and the reinforced optical fiber cores are housed at a higher density. This is particularly useful when expanding an optical communication network. In addition, since the guide portions for accommodating the respective optical fiber cores are provided separately, the cores do not become entangled with each other, and there is no danger of strength deterioration or breakage, and reliable reinforcement is performed. be able to. Furthermore, according to the reinforcing member of the present invention, there is no need to use an alignment jig and no need to inject an adhesive, so that the reinforcing operation is simple and the operation time can be reduced.
[0045]
Next, according to the optical fiber core connecting portion stiffener according to the present invention, according to the optical fiber core connecting portion reinforcing device having the core wire pulling portion that individually grips and pulls each optical fiber core, only a part of the optical fiber cores is provided. Even when looseness occurs, tensile stress does not concentrate on the loose optical fiber core wire, and the looseness of the core wire can be suitably removed and the core wire connection portion can be suitably reinforced.
[0046]
Further, according to the optical fiber core connecting portion reinforcing device according to the present invention, the reinforcing member is heated through the inner surface of the groove in which the reinforcing member can be embedded. By doing so, it is possible to heat the reinforcing member more uniformly than before, and it is possible to suitably reinforce the core wire connecting portion.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of an optical fiber core connecting portion reinforcing member according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the reinforcing member according to the present invention.
FIG. 3A is a partially cutaway schematic plan view showing a stiffener 70 for heating a reinforcing member 16 to reinforce a core wire connection portion, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a partial cutaway schematic exploded side view showing (a).
FIG. 4 is a view showing a cross section of the heater 17, the reinforcing member 16, and the tape fibers 30a and 30b along the line AA in FIG.
FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (d) show that these tape-shaped optical fiber cores are connected to a stiffener 55 prior to collectively reinforcing the connection between the two tape-shaped optical fiber cores 30a and 30b. It is a schematic diagram explaining the setting procedure.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional reinforcing member.
FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing another example of a conventional reinforcing member.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical fiber core wire, 2 ... Core wire connection part, 3 ... Heat-shrinkable tube, 4a, b ... Hot-melt adhesive tube, 8 and 9 ... Tensile body, 50 ... Reinforcement member.

Claims (4)

A reinforcing device for an optical fiber core connecting portion that reinforces the connecting portion by heating a reinforcing member that houses the connecting portion of the tape-shaped optical fiber core including the connecting portion,
A heat radiating portion having a groove in which the reinforcing member can be embedded so that the tape-shaped optical fiber core is oriented vertically, and radiating heat from both sides of the tape-shaped optical fiber core through an inner surface of the groove. With
In the groove, a reinforcing member for accommodating a plurality of tape-shaped optical fiber cores including a connection part and reinforcing these connection parts may be embedded so that each of the tape-shaped optical fiber cores is oriented vertically. Can,
A reinforcing device for an optical fiber connecting portion , further comprising a core pulling portion that individually grips and pulls each of the tape-shaped optical fiber cores. The stiffener according to claim 1 , wherein the groove has a substantially U-shaped or V-shaped cross section. The core wire pulling section includes a plurality of clamps for individually gripping each of the tape-shaped optical fiber cores, and these clamps are individually moved by moving these clamps in a predetermined direction so that each of the tape-shaped optical fibers is The reinforcing device according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising a clamp moving mechanism configured to pull the core wire. A method of collectively reinforcing the connection portions of the first and second tape-shaped optical fiber core wires each including a connection portion by using a reinforcing member,
The reinforcing member is a heat-shrinkable tube, and a plate-like strength member that is housed in the heat-shrinkable tube and extends at a distance from the inner surface of the heat-shrinkable tube substantially along the axis of the heat-shrinkable tube. A first tubular hot-melt adhesive inserted between the inner surface of the heat-shrinkable tube and the upper surface of the strength member and extending substantially along the axis of the heat-shrinkable tube; A second tubular hot-melt adhesive inserted between the inner surface of the tube and the lower surface of the strength member and extending substantially along the axis of the heat-shrinkable tube;
The connection portions of the first and second tape-shaped optical fiber cores are accommodated in the first and second tubular hot-melt adhesives, respectively, and the first and second tape-shaped optical fiber cores are vertically oriented. Burying the reinforcing member in the groove so that
The first and second tape-shaped optical fibers are melted by radiating heat from both sides of the tape-shaped optical fiber through the inner surface of the groove to melt the first and second tubular heat-meltable adhesives. A step of integrating the connecting portion of the core wire, the heat-shrinkable tube, and the tensile strength member.

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