JPS6054642B2 - Optical fiber end processor - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an instrument that simultaneously removes the coating from a coated optical fiber and cuts the bare optical fiber.

Optical fiber has the advantages of being lighter than conventional metal transmission lines, superior in flexibility, capable of high-capacity transmission, and non-inductive. Since it is glass, it breaks very easily.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 1, the optical fiber strand 1 is covered with a primary coating (such as silicone, outer diameter approximately 400μTrL) 2 and a secondary coating (such as nylon, outer diameter approximately 900μ7TL) 3, and the optical fiber Generally used as the core wire 4. The primary coating and secondary coating protect the optical fiber from external forces and prevent it from being damaged. By the way, in order to connect optical fibers,
The coating must be removed to expose the optical fiber. For this reason, generally, as shown in Figure 2, after removing the secondary coating from the end of the optical fiber, the optical fiber is wrapped using absorbent cotton, gauze, paper, etc. impregnated with ascent or ethyl alcohol. Scrape axially to completely remove the primary coating as shown in FIG. Thereafter, the optical fiber wire is cut using a known optical fiber cutter or the like. After this cutter makes small scratches on the surface of the wire,
The system applies bending stress and tensile stress to the wire at the same time, causing sudden damage and cutting the wire. Figure 4 shows the state after cutting. The optical fiber wire is cut to the desired length,
Then, the end face 5 is cut so as to be perpendicular to the axial direction.
In this terminal forming method, a coating remover as shown in FIG. 5 has been used to remove the secondary coating.

Explain how to use this device. First, after the optical fiber is engaged with the optical fiber guide 6, when force is further applied to the handle 7, the secondary coating removing blades 8, 8'' move around the secondary coating as shown in FIG. Scratch the optical fiber in the circumferential direction.At this time, the shape and spacing of the blades are adjusted so as not to damage the optical fiber.Next, while holding the handle, scratch the optical fiber in the axial direction. When force is applied, the blade pushes out only the secondary coating in the axial direction of the optical fiber, as shown in Figure 7, and the secondary coating is removed. Removal of the primary coating and cutting of the optical fiber strands are required, as well as equipment and chemicals depending on the purpose, and the configuration and operation of the equipment is complex, resulting in poor work efficiency and economic efficiency. There was a drawback.

By the way, the length of the optical fiber is 15T using the method described above.
When the ends of two optical fibers are each treated so that rrnL and these are connected using a known optical fiber fusion device, the length of the exposed portion of the optical fiber is 3.
It becomes 0m.

As mentioned above, this exposed portion is easily damaged and is extremely susceptible to breakage. Basic. If the exposed portion of the wire is completely absent or extremely short, the optical fiber will hardly be damaged, and the strength of the spliced portion of the optical fiber will be dramatically increased. However, in conventional methods, tensile stress and bending stress are applied at the same time, so even if you try to cut the optical fiber very close to the coating or when the strands do not protrude at all, it is difficult to cut the strands of the strands. An extreme difference in stress distribution occurs between the covered portion and the exposed portion, and irregular unevenness occurs on the end face after cutting.

If the end face of the strands after cutting is irregular, it is not possible to connect the strands of optical fiber. As described above, the conventional cutter has the disadvantage that the above-mentioned terminal portion cannot be manufactured. The present invention provides a main body of an optical fiber processing device with a coating removing blade for the optical fiber coated wire and a cutting blade for the optical fiber bare wire, or a coating removing blade that also serves as the cutting blade and a groove for holding the coated optical fiber. Its purpose is to remove the coating from the optical fiber core and to
The object of the present invention is to make it possible to cut the fiber strand using the same tool, and to cut the strand using only the tensile force generated on the optical fiber strand by the coating removal force.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and is 9,9''
1 is a coating removal blade for the optical fiber, 10 is a cutting blade for the optical fiber, 11 and 11″ are holding grooves for the optical fiber, 1
2, 12″ are optical fiber holding parts, 13, 13″,
14 is a spring, and 15, 15'' is the main body of the terminal processor.

Next, the operation of removing the coating of the coated optical fiber and cutting the bare optical fiber using this will be explained step by step. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the optical fiber is fixed in the holding groove.

At this time, the covering portion of the terminal to be removed is firmly held by the holding portion. Next, as shown in FIG. 10, when force is applied to the terminal processor main body, the removal blades 9, 9'' cut the coating, and at the same time, the cutting blade 10 makes scratches 16 on the wire. Both blades A predetermined blade pressure is applied by a spring,
Always cut the coating or damage the surface of the optical fiber under the same conditions. It is known that scratches on the surface of an optical fiber will be of the same size if the blade pressure applied to the blade is constant. After this, when the force applied to the terminal processor body is relaxed, the sheath removal blade and cutting blade retreat as shown in Figure 11, and the optical fiber core is held with one hand, as shown in Figure 12. When the main body 15, 15'' of the terminal processor is moved in the axial direction of the optical fiber, the holding parts 12, 1
2" moves while holding the coating due to frictional force or sawtooth-like unevenness, and at the same time, the coating is removed.
A tensile force is applied to the strand due to the frictional force between the coating and the strand, and the optical fiber strand is cut to form an end face 17 perpendicular to the axial direction. FIG. 13 shows the state in which the coating has been completely removed. As described above, the distance between the coating removal blade and the cutting blade is determined according to the desired length of the optical fiber strand.

Further, the blade pressure applied to the cutting blade and the length from the end of the optical fiber strand before cutting to the cutting blade are determined by the mutual relationship between the two. In other words, as shown in Figure 14, the length from the end of the wire before cutting to the cutting blade is proportional to the tension appearing on the wire. Communication Society National Conference, No.
．． It can be easily known from 3O3. Furthermore, although the breaking force caused by pulling the optical fiber strand and the depth of the scratch vary depending on the type of the strand, they have a certain relationship. Moreover, the depth of the wound is determined by the blade pressure of the cutting blade. Moreover, Mikawa et al. 1. A Study on Stress Cutting of Optical Fibers, 1981 National Conference of Electronics and Communication Science, Communication Division, No. According to 3O2, there is an optimum breaking force for optical fiber strands. Therefore, the blade pressure of the cutting blade and the length from the end of the optical fiber strand before cutting to the cutting blade can be determined depending on the strand to be cut and taking into account the above conditions. .

FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of the present invention, and is a state diagram before cutting the optical fiber coated wire of an instrument having a cutting mechanism 18 in which the cutting blade of the optical fiber wire operates separately from the terminal processor main body. It is.

The cutting blade is pushed upward by a spring 19, and after applying force to the terminal processor main body to cut the coating, as shown in Fig. 17, the cutting blade is pushed down to release the light. A scratch 16 is made on the fiber wire. Next, as shown in FIG. 18, when the force is released from the cutting blade, the cutting blade returns to its original position. The subsequent operations and the state of the optical fiber are the same as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 described above. FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of the present invention, in which 20, 2'' is a coating removal blade for the optical fiber core, 21 is a cutting blade for the optical fiber strand, and 22, 22'' is the optical fiber core. Line holding groove, 23, 23
'', 24, 25, 25'' are springs, 26, 26'' are the terminal processor main body, and 27 is a cutting mechanism that moves the cutting blade separately from the main body.

The distance between the coating removal blade and the cutting blade is determined according to the desired length of the optical fiber strand. Next, the operation of removing the coating of the coated optical fiber and cutting the bare optical fiber using this will be explained step by step. FIG. 20 shows a state in which the optical fiber is fixed in the holding groove. Then the 21st
When force is applied to the main body as shown in the figure, the sheath removal blade cuts the sheath. Thereafter, when the optical fiber strand cutting blade is pushed down, the cutting blade makes a scratch 16 on the optical fiber strand, as shown in FIG. Next, when you release the force from the cutting blade, the second
The cutting blade returns to its original position as shown in Figure 3. The coating removal blade remains in the state where the coating is cut. As shown in Figure 24,
When you hold the optical fiber with one hand and move the main body in the axial direction of the optical fiber, the sheathing removal blade pushes out the sheathing of the optical fiber in the axial direction, and at the same time, due to the friction between the sheathing and the strands, As a result, a tensile force is generated in the optical fiber strand. In this way, as described above, the optical fiber is cut to a desired length as shown in FIG. 25. The cut surface is also formed perpendicular to the axial direction of the optical fiber as described above. FIG. 26 is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of the present invention,
28, 2' are sheath removal blades that partially serve as optical fiber strand cutting blades, 29, 29'' are optical fiber holding grooves, 30, 3', 31, 31'' are springs, 32, 32'' Reference numeral 33 indicates a terminal processor main body, and 33 a cutting mechanism that moves a coating removal blade.

FIG. 27 is an enlarged view of the coating removal blade. The operation of cutting an optical fiber using this will be explained step by step.
FIG. 28 shows a state in which the optical fiber core is fixed in the holding groove. Next, as shown in FIG. 29, when force is applied to the end processor main body, the sheath removal blade cuts the sheath. Furthermore, force is applied to the mechanism that moves the sheath removal blade, and as shown in FIG. 30, the optical fiber is scratched 16 with an appropriate blade pressure. Thereafter, when the force is released from this mechanism, the coating removal blade returns to the position before injuring the line, as shown in FIG. Next, as shown in Figure 32, when holding the optical fiber with one hand and moving the main body in the axial direction of the optical fiber, the coating removal blade pushes out the coating of the optical fiber in the axial direction. At the same time, a tensile force is generated in the optical fiber. In this way, as shown in Figure 33,
An end 34 is formed on the optical fiber core, in which no optical fiber strand protrudes from the coating. Note that it is also possible to apply a structure in which a part of the coating removal blade is an optical fiber strand cutting blade to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.

As explained above, the optical fiber end processor of the present invention is equipped with a coat removal blade for the optical fiber core and a cutting blade for the optical fiber bare wire, and the blade pressure and interval of each blade can be adjusted. This method has the advantage that coating removal and cutting can be performed with the same instrument, and that the optical fiber can be cut with only the optimum tensile force.

Additionally, if the sheath removal blade and the optical fiber strand cutting blade are used together, there is the advantage that it is possible to form terminals in which the optical fiber strand does not protrude from the coating at all, which could not be done with conventional sheath removers and cutters. be.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a coated optical fiber, and Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a coated optical fiber whose secondary coating has been removed using a conventional coating remover.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a cored optical fiber with the primary coating completely removed, and Figure 4 is a diagram of the optical fiber being cut with a conventional cutter to a certain length and with the end face perpendicular to the axial direction. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional coating remover, Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of cutting a secondary coating by a conventional coating remover, and Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a conventional coating remover. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of cutting the coating and scratching the optical fiber, Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of cutting the coating and making a scratch, and Fig. 12 shows the coating removed and the optical fiber. Schematic diagram showing the start of cutting the strands, No. 13
The figure is a schematic diagram of an optical fiber coated wire after coating removal and cutting of the optical fiber strands have been completed, and FIG. The tension club appearing in the line, FIG. 15 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention,
Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram of cutting the coating, Fig. 17 is a schematic diagram of a scratched optical fiber, Fig. 18 is a schematic diagram of the cutting blade returned, and Fig. 19 is another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of an optical fiber core set in another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 19, FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram with the coating cut away, and FIG. A schematic diagram of the fiber strand being scratched, FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of the cutting blade returned, and FIG. 24 is a diagram of the state where coating removal and cutting of the optical fiber strand have started.
FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing the completed cutting of the optical fiber wire, FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the configuration of still another embodiment of the present invention,
Fig. 27 is an enlarged view of the coating removal blade, Fig. 28 is a schematic diagram of the optical fiber core set in the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 26, Fig. 29 is a schematic diagram of the coating removed, and Fig. 30 Figure 31 is a schematic diagram of the optical fiber being scratched, Figure 31 is a schematic diagram of the coating removal blade being returned to its original position, Figure 32 is a schematic diagram of the coating being removed and the optical fiber being cut, and Figure 33 is a schematic diagram of the optical fiber being damaged. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an optical fiber terminal after cutting of the fiber wire has been completed. 1... Optical fiber strand, 2... Primary coating, 3... Secondary coating, 4... Optical fiber core wire, 5... ...End face, 6...Optical fiber guide, 7...Handle, 8,8''...
Secondary sheath removal blade, 9,9''... Optical fiber core wire sheath removal blade, 10... Optical fiber strand cutting blade, 11,1''... Optical Fiber core holding groove, 12
, 12″... Optical fiber holding part, 13, 13″
, 14... Spring, 15, 15''... Main body of terminal processor, 16... Scratch, 17... End surface,
18... Cutting mechanism, 19,19''... Spring, 2
0,20″・・・Optical fiber sheath removal blade, 2
1...Optical fiber wire cutting blade, 22, 22''...
・・Optical fiber core wire holding groove, 23, 23″, 24, 2
5,25''...Spring, 26,26''...Terminal processor body, 27...Cutting mechanism, 28,2''...
...Optical fiber sheath removal blade, 29,29''...
・Optical fiber core holding groove, 30, 3'', 31, 3''・
... Spring, 32, 32'' ... Terminal processor main body, 33 ... Cutting mechanism, 34 ... Terminal.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A vertically opposed groove for holding a coated optical fiber, and an optical fiber installed perpendicularly to the groove at a predetermined interval in the middle of the groove. An opening/closing support having an optical fiber cutting blade that makes minute scratches on the optical fiber, a coating removing blade that cuts the optical fiber coating in the circumferential direction, and a gripping part that grasps the optical fiber at both ends of the groove. The opening/closing support has a gripping portion on one side, a portion consisting of the optical fiber strand cutting blade and the sheath removal blade, and a portion of the other gripping portion that are mutually slidable, and an optical fiber core is attached to the opening/closing support. By sandwiching and pressing the wire, the cutting blade makes a scratch on the surface of the optical fiber, and the coating removal blade cuts the coating, and then both gripping parts are removed. An optical fiber coated wire terminal processing device characterized in that the optical fiber is cut by pulling out the coating portion and simultaneously cutting the optical fiber by mutually sliding the optical fiber and applying an external force parallel to the optical fiber axis. 2. The optical fiber coated wire terminal processor according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber cutter blade has a mechanism that allows it to be moved separately from the opening/closing support. Terminal processor. 3. The optical fiber core end processor according to claim 1, wherein a part of the coating removal blade serves as an optical fiber strand cutting blade.