JPS6216403B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical fiber holding device used for fusion splicing of optical fibers.

When optical fibers are fusion spliced, a support base having a V-shaped groove on its upper surface is often used, and a holding member having a V-shaped push part is also used together with the support base.

In other words, the groove of the support base can be machined with high precision, the end of the optical fiber can be fitted into the groove with good stability, and the mutual alignment of the optical fibers can be easily aligned during fusion splicing. .

On the other hand, the holding member prevents the end of the optical fiber fitted into the groove from unintentionally coming out of the groove, and firmly presses the end of the optical fiber into the groove.

However, since both the groove of the support base and the pressing portion of the presser member are V-shaped, the following problems frequently occur.

This will be briefly explained below with reference to FIG.

In the case of Fig. 1A, the optical fiber (particularly the end part) A is fitted into the groove C of the support base B in a normal state, and the pressing part E of the holding member D is in the groove C and the optical fiber is not emitted. Although the fiber A is pressed properly, this condition can only be obtained when the optical fiber A is settled in the center of the groove C. For example, if the optical fiber A is off the center of the groove C. If it springs up into position, the pressing part E of the pressing member D
When the optical fiber A is inserted into the concave groove C, the optical fiber A gets caught between the pusher inclined surface E' and the concave groove inclined surface C', as shown in Figure 1B. The axis alignment position cannot be obtained.

The main cause of the bounce is distortion of the coating near the end of the optical fiber, and this distortion occurs when the optical fiber is clamped via a holder for butt movement.

Of course, if a situation like the one shown in FIG. 1B occurs, it will be a major hindrance to the work since it will be necessary to carry out many correction operations using a microscope until the proper condition is obtained.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and its configuration will be explained below with reference to illustrated embodiments.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a support base for fitting and receiving the optical fiber, and reference numeral 2 denotes a pressing member for pressing the optical fiber.

On the upper surface of the support base 1 described above, a high base surface portion 3 is formed at the center in the longitudinal direction, and low base surface portions 4 and 5 are formed on both sides of the high base surface portion 3.

Further, V-shaped grooves 6, 7, 8 are formed in a straight line in the high base surface portion 3 and low base surface portions 4, 5, but the groove bottoms of the respective grooves 6, 7, 8 are They are at the same height, and the groove width and depth of the grooves 6 on the high base surface part 3 are larger than those of the grooves 7 and 8 on the low base surfaces 4 and 5.

On the other hand, on the lower surface of the holding member 2, there is a V-shaped push part 9 for fitting into the groove 6 of the high base surface part 3, and a V-shaped push part 9 located on both sides of the push part 9 and protruding onto both low base surfaces 4 and 5. Guide protrusions 10 and 11 are respectively formed to allow the guide protrusions to move, and the widths of these guide protrusions 10 and 11 are larger than the width of the groove 6.

When the present invention comprises the above-mentioned embodiment, the end portion of the optical fiber from which the coating has been removed (hereinafter simply referred to as optical fiber A) is placed across the grooves 6, 7, and 8 of the support base 1 as shown in FIG. After fitting, the support base 1
The pressing member 2 is placed on top of the pressing member 2, and the pushing part 9 is fitted into the groove 6 of the high base surface part 3, and the guide convex parts 10, 11 are stacked on the low base parts 4, 5. In such a case, the guide convex part 10 , 11 presses the optical fiber A into the groove 6, but until this state is reached, the guide protrusions 10, 1
1 properly guides the optical fiber A to the center of the groove 6.

FIG. 4 shows a situation in which the optical fiber A is guided to the center of the groove 6. When the optical fiber A is inserted into the groove 6, the optical fiber A may bounce as shown in FIG. Even if the optical fiber A is located at _one point P, as the guide protrusions 10 and 11 descend, the optical fiber A will be pushed down to the lower part of the concave groove 6. A moves along the V-shaped slope of the groove 6 toward the center _P2 of the groove.

Therefore, when the presser member 2 is placed on the support base 1 and the presser member 2 is used to press the optical fiber A into the concave groove 6, the optical fiber A is pressed against the guide protrusions 10 and 1.
1 to the center of the groove 6, thereby making it possible to hold the optical fiber A accurately at the center of the groove 6.

In the above embodiment, two low base surface parts 4 and 5 are formed on the upper surface of the support base 1, but either one of these parts 4 and 5 may be omitted, and the presser foot may be omitted accordingly. Both guide protrusions 10 and 11 on member 2
One of them is also omitted.

Furthermore, in the case shown, the pusher 9 is closer to the guide protrusion 1.
Although the protrusion length is larger than that of 0 and 11, the protrusion lengths of these three members 9, 10, and 11 may be considered to be the same.

5 and 6 show an example in which the presser member 2 placed above the support base 1 is attached to the lifting mechanism. To briefly explain this, the presser member 2
A shaft 13 is erected on the upper surface by a universal joint structure with a sphere 12 interposed therebetween. A downward elastic force is applied through the container body 14, and the container body 14 is attached to an elevating arm 16 of an elevating mechanism (not shown).

When the presser member 2 is attached to the elevating mechanism in this manner, it can be pressed against the support base 1 elastically, and the optical fiber A will not be damaged by an impactful presser force.

As explained above, the present invention provides a device for holding a portion of an optical fiber with a constant outer diameter, which includes a support base for fitting and receiving the optical fiber, and a pressing member for pressing the optical fiber. Become,
A high base surface part and a low base surface part are formed adjacent to each other on the upper surface of the support base, and a concave groove having a V-shaped cross section is formed in a straight line across these high base surface parts and low base surface parts, and the high base surface part The bottom surface of the groove and the bottom surface of the groove on the low base surface are at the same level, and the groove on the high base surface is deeper than the groove on the low base surface, and
The width of the groove on the elevated surface is larger than the width of the groove on the lower surface, and the lower surface of the presser member has a V-shaped push part that fits into the groove on the elevated surface and forms a pair. It is characterized in that guide convex portions having a width larger than the groove width and overlapping with the low base portion to form a pair are formed adjacent to each other.

Therefore, in the case of the device of the present invention, when fitting the portion of the optical fiber with a constant outer diameter into each groove formed across the high and low surface portions, the groove width of the high surface portion is large. The optical fiber can be easily fitted into each groove from the groove, and the fitted state can be maintained due to the deep groove on the elevated surface. When the optical fiber is held down by the holding member, the optical fiber can be guided to the center of the concave groove of the elevated surface portion via the guide convex portion.

Therefore, when using the apparatus of the present invention, the optical fiber can be properly held at all times through the support base and the holding member without requiring any skill, and work efficiency is also improved because there is no failure.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are explanatory diagrams of the conventional example, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the support stand and presser member in the device of the present invention.
Figures 3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams showing usage examples of the same as above;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are a front view and a sectional view of a main part showing an example of mounting the presser member in the same as above. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Support stand, 2... Pressing member, 3... High base surface part, 4, 5... Low base surface part, 6... Concave groove in high base surface part, 7, 8... Concave groove in low base surface part, 9... ...Push part, 1
0, 11...Guiding convex portion, A...Optical fiber.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A device for holding a portion of an optical fiber with a constant outer diameter, comprising a support base for fitting and receiving the optical fiber, and a holding member for holding the optical fiber. , a high base surface part and a low base surface part are formed adjacent to each other on the upper surface of the support base, and a concave groove having a V-shaped cross section is formed in a straight line across these high base surface part and low base surface part, and the high base part is formed in a straight line. The bottom of the groove on the face and the bottom of the groove on the low base are at the same level, and the groove on the high base is deeper than the groove on the low base, and the width of the groove on the high base is equal to the width of the groove on the low base. The lower surface of the presser member has a V-shaped push part that fits into the concave groove on the elevated surface and forms a pair, and a lower surface having a width larger than the groove width on the elevated surface. An optical fiber holding device characterized in that guide protrusions that overlap and form a pair of guide protrusions are formed adjacent to each other. 2. On the upper surface of the support base, low base surface parts are formed on both sides of the high base surface part, and on the lower surface of the presser member, guide protrusions are formed on both sides of the push part.Claim 1 The optical fiber holding device described.