JPH0675124B2 - How to cut optical fiber - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application] In order to connect optical fibers with high strength, it is necessary to cut the optical fibers in a non-contact manner to form end faces. If the optical fiber is cut in a non-contact manner, micro scratches that cause a decrease in strength do not occur.

The present invention relates to a method of cutting the above-mentioned optical fiber in a non-contact manner.

[Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention] [1] In the case of FIG. 5 (Actual No. 62-53401) (1) Structure: Light with the covering portion 14 still attached by the clamps 20 and 22. The fiber 10 is gripped in the x direction (x and y refer to arrow 16).

For example, the cutting blade 30 is moved in the z-direction from above the covering portion 14 to the cutting point p of the bare fiber 12 to scratch it.

On the side opposite to the cutting blade 30, the pressing member 40 is advanced in the y direction, and the optical fiber 10 is pressed on the front surface thereof. Then, the scratched bare fiber 12 receives the bending stress and breaks.

In addition, in FIG. 5 of the use side A, the part on the left side of the cutting point p and the chip side B are the parts.

(2) Problem to be solved: Since the blade is inserted from above the covering portion 14, it is difficult to control the size of the initial scratch.

Since the whole covering portion 14 is cut, a constant stress is hardly applied during cutting, and stable cutting cannot be obtained.

[2] In the case of FIG. 6 (Actual No. 62-53402) (1) Structure: In this case, only the use side A, the fiber 10 from the top of the coating 14
To hold. The coating 14 on the tip of the fiber is removed to expose the bare fiber 12.

Then, the bare fiber 12 is directly scratched by the cutting blade 30.

Further, the CDE portion on the front surface of the pressing member 50 is cut out so that only the EF portion has an arc shape.

When the pressing member 50 is advanced, the portion E is brought into contact with the cutting point p.

Then, the bare fiber 12 on the use side A can be cut without making a minute scratch on the bare fiber 12.

(2) Problem to be Solved: When the bare fiber 12 is cut, the force applied by the pressing member 50 to both sides of the cut portion p becomes uneven. Therefore, it may be difficult to obtain an accurate cutting angle.

[Object of the Invention] The bare fiber 12 is cut without contact so that an accurate cutting angle can be obtained.

[Means for Solving the Problem] As shown in FIG. 1a, (1) at least on the use side A, the covering portion 14 of the optical fiber 10 is gripped by the clamp 20; (2) at the cutting point p, the covering portion 14 14 is removed to expose the bare fiber 12. (3) The depression member 62 is provided in the pressing member 60 to divide the front surface into the left portion 64 and the right portion 66, and when the pressing member 60 is advanced, the left portion of the front surface 64 and the right portion 66 simultaneously contact the optical fiber 10 on both sides of the cutting point p, and (4) and at least on the use side A, the pressing member 60
The left front portion 64 of the optical fiber 10 contacts the optical fiber 10 from above the covering portion 14.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, (5) the covering portion 14 is completely removed on the chip side B to expose the bare fiber 12; (6) The base 26 of the clamp 22 on the cutting side B is covered.
The optical fiber 10 is gripped in the x direction by increasing the thickness d of 14 and the right portion 66 of the pressing member 60 is also increased by the thickness d of the covering portion 14, so that the left portion 64 and the right portion 66 are The fibers 10 may be contacted at the same time.

[First Embodiment] (FIGS. 1a and 1b) First, as shown in FIG. 1a, the covering portion 14 near the end of the optical fiber 10 is scratched, and the covering portion 14 ahead of the scratch is removed. The bare fiber 12 near the cutting point p is exposed by shifting.

The clamp 20 holds the optical fiber on the use side A from above the covering portion 14. The clamp 22 also holds the optical fiber on the chip side B from above the covering portion 14.

At this time, the clamps 20 and 22 firmly hold the optical fiber 10 by the spring 24. The reason is the cutting blade
When scratching with 30 or when pressing and cutting with the pressing member 60, if slip occurs on the bare fiber 12 in the covering portion 14, an appropriate scratch or pressing amount may not be obtained, so the covering portion This is to prevent the bare fiber 12 from slipping within the member 14.

A recess 62 is provided in the central portion HJ of the front surface GK of the pressing member 60 to divide the front surface into a left portion 64 of the GH and a right portion 66 of the JK.

It should be noted that the left and right refer to the drawings for the sake of explanation, and mean one side and the other side.

The left part 64 and the right part 66 have the same width, that is, GH and JK have the same width.

Further, both the left portion 64 and the right portion 66 have a planar shape parallel to the optical fiber 10 so that the distance between the optical fiber 10 and the optical fiber 10 in the y direction becomes equal.

Further, the inner end H of the left portion 64 is made to face the end of the covering portion 14 on the use side A.

Similarly, the inner edge J of the right portion 66 faces the edge of the covering portion 14 on the chip side B.

Therefore, the width HJ of the recess 62 is equal to the exposed bare fiber 12.
Equal to the width of. Alternatively, it may be slightly wider.

[Operation] (1) The cutting blade 30 scratches the exposed bare fiber 12 at the center thereof. Since the position of the cutting blade 30 is actually determined, the optical fiber 10 is set on the clamps 20 and 22 so that the exposed center of the bare fiber 12 and the position of the cutting blade 30 coincide with each other.

(2) The pressing member 60 is moved forward. Left part 64 of pressing member 60
The right part 66 and the right part 66 simultaneously contact the optical fiber 10 from above the covering part 14 and push it down.

Therefore, the bare fiber 12 is stress-ruptured by applying a uniform force to the same position from the cutting points p on both sides of the cutting point p. Therefore, it is possible to easily obtain an optical fiber end face which is a mirror surface and is substantially perpendicular to the optical fiber axis.

FIG. 1b is a perspective view of the actual device.

In this case, the xyz direction is as shown by arrow 16 in the figure.

The cutting blade 30 moves forward and backward in the z direction together with the block 32.

The pressing member 60 is attached to the tip of the arm 68. To disconnect the optical fiber, tilt the arm 68 and press the button 70.
Then, the pressing member 60 is pushed down.

[Second Embodiment] (FIG. 2) In the above case, only the bare fiber 12 near the cutting point p was exposed, but in this case, the covering portion 14 at the end of the optical fiber including the cutting point p is exposed. Remove all.

Mount the base 26 of the clamp 22 on the chip side B to the thickness d of the covering portion 14.
Only the height (hatched portion) is raised so that the optical fiber 10 gripped by the clamps 20 and 22 accurately faces the x direction.

The right portion 66 of the pressing member 60 is also lengthened by the thickness of d (hatched portion).

With this configuration, when the pressing member 60 is moved forward, the bare fiber 12 is cut under the same conditions as in the case of the first embodiment.

In this case, the right portion 66 of the pressing member 60 is the bare fiber 12
However, it does not matter because the contacted part is discarded as chips after cutting.

The second embodiment has the following advantages over the first embodiment. That is, since the coating on the chip side can be previously removed at once, it is possible to shorten the pre-work process of fiber cutting.

[Test Result Example] FIG. 3 shows a histogram of the cutting angle of the optical fiber cutting portion p obtained in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a histogram of the breaking strength of the optical fiber obtained by connecting the optical fiber cutting point p obtained in the first embodiment with the conventional optical fiber fusion splicer for non-contact method.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION (1) At least on the side of use, the coated portion of the optical fiber is clamped by a clamp; at the cut portion, the coated portion is removed to expose the bare fiber; The front surface is divided into a left portion and a right portion, and when the pressing member is advanced, the left portion and the right portion of the front surface simultaneously contact the optical fiber on both sides of the cut point, and at least on the use side, Since the left portion of the front surface of the pressing member contacts the optical fiber from above the covering portion, 1) the force is evenly applied to both sides of the scratched portion of the bare fiber. Therefore, it is possible to easily obtain a fiber end surface which is a mirror surface and has a correct cutting angle.

2) Since it is possible to process the bare fiber in a non-contact manner, there is no need to worry about micro scratches, and high strength connection is possible.

(2) Also, on the chip side, all the coated parts are removed to expose the bare fiber; the clamp base on the chip side is raised by the thickness of the coated part to grip the optical fiber in the x direction; The right part of the pressing member is also lengthened by the thickness of the covering part, so that the left part and the right part are in contact with the optical fiber at the same time, so the chip side covering can be removed at one time, and the fiber cutting The pre-work process can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

 1a to 4 relate to the present invention, FIG. 1a is a principle explanatory view of a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1b is a perspective view thereof, and FIG. 2 is a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a principle explanatory view of an example, Fig. 3 is a histogram of cutting angles, Fig. 4 is a histogram of breaking strength, and Figs. 10: Optical fiber, 12: Bare fiber 14: Covered part, 20, 22: Clamp 24: Spring, 26: Stand 30: Cutting blade 40, 50, 60: Pressing member 62: Recessed part 64: Left part, 66: Right part A: Used side, B: Chip side p: Cut point

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber is supported on the use side and the chip side by clamps in the x direction by gripping it respectively; scratching a cut point of a bare fiber of the optical fiber; and the scratched side. On the side opposite to y
In a direction to push the optical fiber on the front side thereof, and apply bending stress to the damaged bare fiber to break it.
In a method of cutting an optical fiber, at least on a use side, a covering portion of the optical fiber is clamped by a clamp; at a cutting portion, the covering portion is removed to expose a bare fiber; Is divided into a left part and a right part, and when the pressing member is moved forward, the left part and the right part of the front surface simultaneously contact the optical fiber on both sides of the cut point, and at least on the use side, A method for cutting an optical fiber, wherein the left front portion of the pressing member is in contact with the optical fiber from above the covering portion. 2. On the chip side, the bare fiber is exposed by removing all the coated portion; the base of the clamp on the chip side is increased by the thickness of the coated portion so that the optical fiber can be gripped in the x direction. The method of cutting an optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the right portion of the pressing member is also lengthened by the thickness of the covering portion so that the left portion and the right portion simultaneously contact the optical fiber.