JP7019545B2 - Fusion machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fusion splicer for fusion-bonding optical fibers to each other.

A fusion splicer is used to connect the optical fibers. The fusion splicer is a device in which optical fibers held in a pair of holders are butted against each other, arranged between electrodes, and the tips of the optical fibers are fused by an arc to connect the optical fibers.

FIG. 5A is a plan view of the fusion splicer 1, and FIG. 5B is a partially enlarged view showing a state in which the optical fiber 5 is arranged on the holding member 7. When connecting the optical fiber 5 using the fusion splicer 1, first, the windshield 3 is opened, and a pair of holders 9 in which the optical fiber 5 is held in advance are set in the holder mounting portion inside. The optical fiber 5 protruding from the tip of the holder 9 is arranged in the V groove 13 of the holding member 7, and the tips of the optical fibers 5 are in a state of being butted against each other.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 5B, the optical fiber 5 is pressed onto the holding member 7 by the clamp 15 in order to suppress the displacement of the tip position of the optical fiber 5. In this state, the windshield 3 is closed, the electrodes 11 are energized, and an arc is generated between the pair of electrodes 11, so that the tip of the optical fiber 5 can be melted and joined.

As described above, when the optical fiber 5 is fused, an operation of clamping the optical fiber 5 and an operation of closing the windshield 3 are required. On the other hand, for example, a fusion splicer in which a clamp is provided on a lid has been proposed (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-28842

According to the fusion splicer as in Patent Document 1, the optical fiber 5 can be clamped at the same time only by closing the windshield 3, so that the workability is good.

However, since it is necessary to connect a large number of optical fibers 5 to each other in the field, there is a demand that the operator wants to perform the setting work and the fusion work of the optical fibers 5 as soon as possible. Therefore, after setting the holder 9, the windshield 3 may be closed vigorously. At this time, since the clamp 15 strongly collides with the optical fiber together with the windshield 3, the optical fiber 5 may be damaged by the clamp 15.

Actually, when a dummy optical fiber was set in a fusion splicer with a windshield with a clamp and the windshield was closed slowly and vigorously, the breaking strength of the optical fiber after that was compared. The average breaking strength (N = 10) when closed slowly was 12.6N, whereas when closed vigorously, the average breaking strength was significantly reduced to 4.1N. Thus, the inventors have found that the clamp can damage the optical fiber.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a fusion splicer capable of suppressing damage to an optical fiber due to a clamp.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the first invention is a fusion machine for connecting optical fibers to each other, wherein a holding member for holding the optical fiber and a clamp for pressing the optical fiber held by the holding member are provided. A clamp unit having a clamp unit and a windshield that can be opened and closed in conjunction with the clamp unit are provided, and the windshield and the clamp unit are connected by a link, interlocked through the link, and the windshield is closed. The clamp has a deceleration mechanism that decelerates the pressing operation of the clamp when the clamp presses the optical fiber. The deceleration mechanism is an actuator that can move up and down, and when the windshield is open, the clamp unit. When the windshield is closed, the actuator rises and comes into contact with a part of the clamp unit, so that the pressing operation of the clamp is temporarily stopped and the windshield is completely closed. Immediately after, the clamp is not in contact with the optical fiber, and the clamp unit is stopped at a position where the tip of the clamp and the optical fiber have a gap, and after the windshield is closed. , The actuator is activated, the actuator is lowered, the clamp is lowered at a predetermined speed, the tip of the clamp is in contact with the optical fiber due to the weight of the clamp unit, and the optical fiber is pressed by the clamp. It is a fusion splicer characterized by being possible.

The second invention is a fusion splicer for connecting optical fibers to each other, the holding member holding the optical fibers, a clamp unit having a clamp for pressing the optical fibers held by the holding member, and the clamp. It is equipped with a windshield that can be opened and closed in conjunction with the unit, and has a deceleration mechanism that decelerates the pressing operation of the clamp when the clamp closes the windshield and presses the optical fiber. The clamp unit is connected by a link and interlocked via the link. The deceleration mechanism is a shock absorber, and when the windshield is open, it is not in contact with the clamp unit and closes the windshield. At that time, in the state immediately after the shock absorber comes into contact with the clamp unit and the clamp unit and the shock absorber come into contact with each other, the clamp is not in contact with the optical fiber and is not in contact with the tip of the clamp. A gap is formed between the optical fiber and the shock absorber, and when the shock absorber comes into contact with the clamp unit, the shock absorber is operated by the weight of the clamp unit, and the shock is caused by the weight of the clamp unit. The absorber descends at a predetermined speed, the operation of the clamp unit is restricted, the operation of the clamp unit is decelerated, the clamp unit operates separately from the windshield, and the shock absorber descends. The fusion machine is characterized in that the clamp descends at a predetermined speed and the tip of the clamp comes into contact with the optical fiber due to the weight of the clamp unit .

According to the present invention, the windshield and the clamp unit operate in conjunction with each other, but when the optical fiber is held by the clamp, the operation of the clamp unit is decelerated by the deceleration mechanism, so that the clamp is illuminated even if the windshield is closed vigorously. It is possible to suppress vigorous collision with the fiber. Therefore, the clamp can prevent the optical fiber from being damaged.

Further, by using an actuator that can move up and down as the deceleration mechanism, the operation of the clamp unit can be reliably controlled.

Further, by using a shock absorber as the deceleration mechanism, the operation of the clamp unit can be controlled with a simple structure.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a fusion splicer capable of suppressing damage to an optical fiber due to a clamp.

The schematic diagram which shows the clamp structure 10 in the state which the windshield 3 is open. (A) and (b) are schematic views showing the process of closing the windshield 3 of the clamp structure 10. (A) and (b) are schematic views showing the process of closing the windshield 3 of the clamp structure 10a. (A), (b), (c) are schematic views showing the process of closing the windshield 3 of the clamp structure 10b. (A) is a plan view of the fusion splicer 1, and (b) is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the holding member 7.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a state in which the windshield 3 of the clamp structure 10 is opened in the fusion splicer 1 (FIG. 5A) for connecting the optical fibers described above. The overlapping description of the fusion splicer 1 is omitted, and in the following figures, the structure that does not significantly affect the clamp structure of the optical fiber 5 is not shown.

The clamp structure 10 is mainly composed of a windshield 3, a holding member 7, a clamp 15, a clamp unit 17, an actuator 21, and the like. The holding member 7 is provided with a V-groove 13, and the optical fiber 5 is arranged and held in the V-groove 13.

The windshield 3 is arranged with respect to the fusion splicer main body 29 via a hinge 27a. That is, the windshield 3 can be opened and closed with respect to the fusion splicer main body 29.

The fuser body 29 is further provided with a clamp unit 17 via a hinge 27b. That is, the clamp unit 17 can be opened and closed with respect to the fusion splicer main body 29. A clamp 15 is provided near the tip of the clamp unit 17. The clamp 15 can press the optical fiber 5 held by the holding member 7.

The windshield 3 and the clamp unit 17 are connected by a link 19. The vicinity of one end of the link 19 is attached to the windshield 3 by the pin 23a. On the other end side of the link 19, an elongated hole 25 is provided in a predetermined length range. Further, a pin 23b is provided in a part of the clamp unit 17, and the pin 23b fits into the elongated hole 25. That is, the pin 23b is movable with respect to the link 19 within the range of the slot 25.

In this way, the windshield 3 and the clamp unit 17 are connected by the link 19, and the opening / closing operation of the windshield 3 and the opening / closing operation of the clamp unit 17 are linked. That is, when the windshield 3 is opened and closed, the clamp unit 17 also opens and closes in conjunction with the windshield 3 by the link 19. The interlocking mechanism between the clamp unit 17 and the windshield 3 is not limited to the illustrated example, and the mechanism is not particularly limited as long as the opening / closing operation of the windshield 3 and the opening / closing operation of the clamp unit 17 can be interlocked.

An actuator 21 is arranged on the fusion splicer main body 29. The actuator 21 can be moved up and down by a control unit (not shown). The actuator 21 is held in a state of being moved upward when the windshield 3 is open.

Next, the operation of the clamp structure 10 will be described in detail. As described above, when the windshield 3 is closed from the state of FIG. 1 (arrow A in the figure), the clamp unit 17 operates together with the windshield 3. FIG. 2A is a schematic view showing the clamp structure 10 immediately after the windshield 3 is closed.

As described above, when the windshield 3 is closed, the actuator 21 is in a raised state. Therefore, in the state immediately after the windshield 3 is completely closed, a part of the clamp unit 17 comes into contact with the actuator 21. Therefore, the operation of the clamp unit 17 is restricted, and the closing operation of the clamp unit 17 is temporarily stopped. That is, the pressing operation of the clamp 15 is temporarily stopped.

In this state, the clamp 15 does not come into contact with the optical fiber 5. That is, the clamp unit 17 stops at a position where the tip of the clamp 15 and the optical fiber 5 have a gap.

When the windshield 3 is completely closed, it is detected by a sensor or the like (not shown) that the windshield 3 is closed, and as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the actuator 21 moves in conjunction with the closing operation of the windshield 3. Perform a descending motion (arrow B in the figure). The actuator 21 is, for example, an electric actuator, and can move down at a predetermined speed.

As the actuator 21 descends, the clamp unit 17 rotates about the hinge 27b due to its own weight, and the tip of the clamp 15 comes into contact with the optical fiber 5. That is, the actuator 21 functions as a deceleration mechanism that closes the windshield 3 and decelerates the pressing operation of the clamp 15 when the clamp 15 presses the optical fiber 5.

The clamp 15 may be expanded and contracted with respect to the clamp unit 17 by a spring or the like (not shown) (arrow C in the figure). As described above, the actuator 21 is lowered after the windshield 3 is closed, so that the optical fiber 5 can be pressed against the holding member 7 by the clamp 15.

After detecting that the lowering operation of the actuator 21 is completed by a sensor or the like, the fusion operation can be performed. Further, when the windshield 3 is opened after the fusion work, the clamp unit 17 is also opened in conjunction with the windshield 3 by the link 19. Further, when the windshield 3 is opened, it is detected by a sensor or the like (not shown) that the windshield 3 is opened, and the actuator 21 is raised and held in conjunction with this.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the windshield 3 and the clamp unit 17 are interlocked with each other via the link 19, the clamping operation of the optical fiber 5 and the closing operation of the windshield 3 can be performed at once. Further, when the windshield 3 is closed, the operation of the clamp unit 17 is restricted by the actuator 21. Therefore, even if the windshield 3 is vigorously closed, the clamp unit 17 can rotate only to the portion in contact with the actuator 21. Therefore, the clamp 15 does not collide with the optical fiber 5.

Further, since the actuator 21 operates after the windshield 3 is completely closed, the operation of the clamp 15 with respect to the optical fiber 5 can be controlled by the operating speed of the actuator 21. Therefore, the contact speed between the clamp 15 and the optical fiber 5 can be easily controlled, and damage to the optical fiber 5 can be suppressed.

Further, when the windshield 3 is opened, the clamp unit 17 opens immediately at the same time as the windshield 3. Therefore, the operator can proceed with other work such as replacement of the optical fiber 5 without waiting for the ascending operation of the actuator 21.
In the present embodiment, the vertical direction is a direction in which the optical fiber 5 is pressed (and a direction in which the pressing is released).

Next, the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a state in which the windshield 3 is closed (corresponding to FIG. 2A) for the clamp structure 10a. In the following description, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 2 will be given to the configurations having the same functions as those of the clamp structure 10, and duplicate description will be omitted.

The clamp structure 10a has almost the same structure as the clamp structure 10, except that the shock absorber 31 is used. The shock absorber 31 is pushed upward by an elastic body inside. A fluid is sealed inside the shock absorber 31, and when the upper end of the shock absorber 31 is pushed downward, the speed of the descending operation is regulated by the flow resistance of the fluid inside.

Next, the operation of the clamp structure 10a will be described. As described above, when the windshield 3 is open, the shock absorber 31 is in a state of protruding upward. When the windshield 3 is closed from this state, the clamp unit 17 comes into contact with the shock absorber 31 as shown in FIG. 3A. Therefore, the operation of the clamp unit 17 is restricted, and the clamp unit 17 operates separately from the windshield 3.

Immediately after the clamp unit 17 and the shock absorber 31 come into contact with each other, the clamp 15 does not come into contact with the optical fiber 5. That is, when the clamp unit 17 comes into contact with the shock absorber 31, a gap is formed between the tip of the clamp 15 and the optical fiber 5.

When the clamp unit 17 comes into contact with the shock absorber 31, the shock absorber 31 descends at a predetermined speed due to the weight of the clamp unit 17 as shown in FIG. 3 (b) (arrow B in the figure).

As the shock absorber 31 descends, the clamp unit 17 rotates about the hinge 27b, and the tip of the clamp 15 comes into contact with the optical fiber 5. That is, the shock absorber 31 functions as a deceleration mechanism capable of decelerating the operation of the clamp unit 17 when the windshield 3 is closed and the clamp 15 is brought into contact with the optical fiber 5.

As described above, the clamp 15 may be expanded and contracted with respect to the clamp unit 17 by a spring or the like (not shown) (arrow C in the figure). As described above, the shock absorber 31 is lowered after the windshield 3 is closed, so that the optical fiber 5 can be pressed against the holding member 7 by the clamp 15.

After detecting that the lowering operation of the shock absorber 31 is completed by a sensor or the like, the fusion operation can be performed. Further, when the windshield 3 is opened after the fusion work, the clamp unit 17 can be opened immediately in conjunction with the windshield 3. Further, when the windshield 3 is opened, the shock absorber 31 is raised and held by the elastic body inside.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, the vertical movement of the shock absorber 31 does not require electrical control, and the structure is simple.

Next, a third embodiment will be described. 4 (a) to 4 (c) are views showing the operation of the clamp structure 10b according to the third embodiment. The clamp structure 10b has almost the same structure as the clamp structure 10 and the like, but differs in that springs 33a and 33b, which are elastic members, are provided. The spring 33a is arranged on the fusion splicer main body 29, and the spring 33b is arranged on the inner surface of the windshield 3.

As shown in FIG. 4A, when the windshield 3 is closed in the clamp structure 10b (arrow A in the figure), as shown in FIG. 4B, a part of the clamp unit 17 becomes a spring 33a. Contact. Further, when the windshield 3 is closed and the clamp unit 17 tries to push down the spring 33a, the spring 33a generates a reaction force so as to push up the clamp unit 17 upward (arrow D in the figure).

As described above, since a force is applied to the clamp unit 17 in the direction of being pushed up by the spring 33a, the operation of the clamp unit 17 is limited. For example, even if the windshield 3 is vigorously closed, the rotation speed of the clamp unit 17 is reduced by the spring 33a.

When the windshield 3 is further closed, as shown in FIG. 4C, the reaction force received by the clamp unit 17 from the spring 33a increases, so that the clamp 15 comes into contact with the optical fiber 5 while slowing down. Therefore, the collision between the clamp 15 and the optical fiber 5 is alleviated.

After the clamp 15 and the optical fiber 5 come into contact with each other, the spring 33b on the inner surface of the windshield 3 comes into contact with the clamp unit 17. The spring 33b presses the clamp unit 17 downward with the closing operation of the windshield 3 (arrow E in the figure). Therefore, when the windshield 3 is completely closed, the clamp 15 is pressed downward by the spring 33b, and the optical fiber 5 can be pressed.

As described above, when the windshield 3 is closed, the spring 33a contacts a part of the clamp unit 17 and presses upward to slow down the operation of the clamp unit 17, and when the windshield 3 is closed, the spring 33b Presses the clamp unit 17 downward. Therefore, the springs 33a and 33b function as a deceleration mechanism capable of pressing the optical fiber 5 against the holding member 7 by the clamp 15.

After detecting that the windshield 3 is completely closed by a sensor or the like, the fusion operation can be performed. Further, when the windshield 3 is opened after the fusion work, the clamp unit 17 can be opened immediately in conjunction with the windshield 3.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the same effect as that of the second embodiment can be obtained. In the deceleration mechanism of the clamp unit 17 by the springs 33a and 33b, it is difficult to set the arrangement of the springs 33a and 33b and the spring constant. Therefore, it is desirable to apply the actuator 21 or the shock absorber 31 as a more reliable damping mechanism.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, the technical scope of the present invention does not depend on the above-described embodiments. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can come up with various modifications or modifications within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood that it belongs.

For example, although each of the above-mentioned damping mechanisms limits the operation of the clamp unit 17 with respect to the windshield 3, the operation of the windshield 3 itself may be a damping mechanism capable of damping. For example, the clamp 15 and the optical fiber 5 may be brought into contact with each other by temporarily stopping or decelerating the closing operation of the windshield 3 immediately before the windshield 3 is completely closed, and then decelerating and completely closing the windshield 3. ..

1 ………… Fusing machine 3 ………… Windshield 5 ………… Optical fiber 7 ………… Holding member 9 ………… Holder 10, 10a, 10b ………… Clamp structure 11 ………… Electrode 13 ………… V-groove 15 ………… Clamp 17 ………… Clamp unit 19 ………… Link 21 ………… Actuators 23a, 23b ………… Pin 25 ………… Long holes 27a, 27b ………… Hinge 29 ………… Fusion machine body 31 ……… Shock absorbers 33a, 33b ……… Spring

Claims (2)

It is a fusion splicer that connects optical fibers to each other.
The holding member that holds the optical fiber and
A clamp unit having a clamp for pressing an optical fiber held by the holding member, and a clamp unit.
A windshield that can be opened and closed in conjunction with the clamp unit,
Equipped with
The windshield and the clamp unit are connected by a link and interlocked via the link.
It has a deceleration mechanism that decelerates the pressing operation of the clamp when the windshield is closed and the clamp presses the optical fiber.
The deceleration mechanism is an actuator that can move up and down, and is not in contact with the clamp unit when the windshield is open.
When closing the windshield, the actuator rises and comes into contact with a part of the clamp unit to temporarily stop the pressing operation of the clamp.
Immediately after the windshield is completely closed, the clamp is not in contact with the optical fiber, and the clamp unit is stopped at a position where the tip of the clamp and the optical fiber have a gap.
After the windshield is closed, the actuator is activated, the actuator is lowered, the clamp is lowered at a predetermined speed, and the tip of the clamp is in contact with the optical fiber due to the weight of the clamp unit, and the clamp is used. A fusion splicer characterized by being capable of pressing the optical fiber. It is a fusion splicer that connects optical fibers to each other.
The holding member that holds the optical fiber and
A clamp unit having a clamp for pressing an optical fiber held by the holding member, and a clamp unit.
A windshield that can be opened and closed in conjunction with the clamp unit,
Equipped with
It has a deceleration mechanism that decelerates the pressing operation of the clamp when the windshield is closed and the clamp presses the optical fiber.
The windshield and the clamp unit are connected by a link and interlocked via the link.
The deceleration mechanism is a shock absorber, and when the windshield is open, it is not in contact with the clamp unit.
When closing the windshield, the shock absorber comes into contact with the clamp unit, and the shock absorber comes into contact with the clamp unit.
Immediately after the clamp unit and the shock absorber come into contact with each other, the clamp is not in contact with the optical fiber, and a gap is formed between the tip of the clamp and the optical fiber.
When the shock absorber comes into contact with the clamp unit, the shock absorber operates due to the weight of the clamp unit, and the shock absorber descends at a predetermined speed due to the weight of the clamp unit. The operation of the clamp unit is restricted, the operation of the clamp unit is decelerated, and the clamp unit operates separately from the windshield.
A fusion machine characterized in that , as the shock absorber descends, the clamp descends at a predetermined speed, and the tip of the clamp comes into contact with the optical fiber due to the weight of the clamp unit .

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