JPH0440685B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an optical fiber alignment device for aligning a plurality of optical fibers on a plane at a predetermined pitch.

[Prior art and its problems]

Nowadays, when optical fibers are used for public communications, there is a strong desire to streamline and simplify the sheath removal, cutting, and fusion splicing techniques involved in the production of optical fiber cables.

With the increase in optical transmission capacity, multi-core optical fibers have become necessary, and currently many optical fibers are formed into a ribbon shape at once, or ribbon-shaped fibers (Figure 5a) are formed randomly within a tube. Loose tube type in which a single optical fiber core is inserted
Type) fiber (Figure 5b).

Ribbon fibers simplify the construction process and reduce costs because they can strip, cut, and fusion splice multiple optical fibers at once, and streamline and simplify optical fiber connections. Tube fibers are connected one by one using a single-core fusion splicer, and today, as the capacity of optical transmission lines increases, the number of optical fibers increases from 600 to 3000. The drawback was that it took an increasingly long time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention provides a compact optical fiber alignment device that can easily align optical fiber cores with a simple structure in order to convert conventional loose tube fibers into ribbon-shaped core cores. The purpose is to streamline, facilitate, and speed up connections.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a groove for placing a plurality of coated optical fibers, a guide member protruding along the groove for guiding the coated optical fibers into the groove, and a groove for guiding the coated optical fibers into the groove. In order to determine the position of the optical fiber, a plurality of positioning members protruding from one end of the groove are moved in a direction across the groove each time the optical fiber is successively positioned. a positioning means comprising a member for temporarily holding the optical fibers, an end fixing means for temporarily holding the tip ends of the optical fibers aligned by the positioning means, and a plurality of optical fibers being fixed in a juxtaposed state. The apparatus includes a tape supply means for supplying an adhesive tape for use.

[Effect]

Since this invention is configured as described above,
The interaction of the positioning means, the end fixing means and the tape supply means allows the plurality of optical fibers to be easily aligned in a predetermined pitch and order. Here, the positioning means sequentially aligns the optical fibers in a predetermined pitch and order, and the end fixing means sequentially temporarily fixes the aligned optical fibers,
The tape supply means serves to supply an adhesive tape capable of fixing a plurality of optical fiber cores that have been aligned and temporarily fixed in a juxtaposed state.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the optical fiber alignment device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
For the purpose of explanation, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanation will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical fiber alignment apparatus for aligning twelve loose tube fibers into a ribbon-shaped structure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. A groove 2 is formed in the longitudinal direction on the substantially rectangular fixed base 1, and three sets of guide pins 3, 3', 4, 4', 5, 5' protrude on both sides along the groove 2. It is set up.

The bottom surface of the groove portion 2 may be configured by forming a plurality of V-grooves at the pitches at which the optical fibers are aligned, for example, so that the optical fibers at fixed positions do not easily move. . This has the advantage that positional deviation of the optical fiber can be prevented and positioning can be facilitated.

Moreover, in order to increase the frictional force between the optical fiber core wire and the bottom surface portion and to protect the optical fiber core wire, an elastic body such as rubber may be attached to the bottom surface portion.
It is advantageous in that it is possible to prevent the optical fiber from being misaligned, and it is also possible to prevent the optical fiber from being damaged due to excessive action due to improper installation of the conformal plate 9. The guide pins 3, 3' are provided at one end of the groove 2, and the guide pins 4, 3' are provided at one end of the groove 2.
4', 5, 5' are provided relatively close to each other. Adhesive tape (for example, heat-resistant adhesive tape) for fixing the optical fiber is supplied from the side surfaces of the guide pins 4, 4' and 5, 5'. This adhesive tape is pulled out from a rolled tape 7 stored in a tape storage box 6, and is attached to the guide pins 4, 4' and 5, 5' described above so that the adhesive surface faces the groove 2. The groove 2 is pulled out along the groove 2 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the groove 2, and is used for pasting a plurality of optical fiber cores aligned in the groove 2. Therefore, in the tape storage box 6, the winding axis 7b of the rolled tape 7 to be stored is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the groove 2, and the outlet 6 for the adhesive tape 7a is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the groove 2.
It is installed so that a is on the groove side.

A clamp mechanism 8 is attached near the guide pins 3 and 3' to collectively hold a plurality of optical fibers supplied from the loose tube.
A dodecagonal equiangular plate 9 is attached between the guide pins 3, 3' and 4, 4', and is configured to be rotatable with the vertical direction as the rotation axis.

Fig. 2 shows the state in which 12 optical fiber core wires 10, 10, 10... are temporarily held by this conformal plate 9. Fig. 2 a shows a plan view, and Fig. 2 b shows a view from the optical axis direction. FIG. A scale from "0" to "12" is attached to each corner of the equiangular plate 9, and the distance from the rotating shaft 9a increases in proportion to the number of scales. For example, if the vertical distance from the rotating shaft 9a to the groove 2 is L and the outer diameter of the optical fiber 10 is d, then "0"
The distance between the corner and the rotation axis 9a is L, the distance between the “1” angle and the rotation axis 9a is L+d, and the distance between the “2” angle and the rotation axis 9
The distance from a is L + 2d, ... "12" angle and rotation axis 9a
The distance from the terminal is L+12d. Therefore, when the first optical fiber is positioned, if the "1" angle is set at point A, only the first optical fiber 10 is fixed, but when the next second optical fiber is positioned, There is no problem when inserting the fiber core into the groove 2.

This conformal plate may be a circular plate whose center of rotation is eccentric from the center of the circle by at least twice the width of the groove 2. Since the structure is simpler than that of a conformal plate, it has the advantage of being easier to manufacture. It is desirable to install this conformal plate 9 near the adhesive tape 7a in order to accurately align the optical fiber core wires 10, 10, 10, . . . at a predetermined pitch. The conformal plate 9 is therefore placed adjacent to the guide pins 4, 4'.

From the guide pins 5, 5' to the other end of the groove 2,
A plurality of positioning pins 11a, 11b, 11c... are provided protruding within the groove. This positioning pin 11
a, 11b, 11c... are configured such that their height increases as they approach the adhesive tape 7a, and are arranged at a predetermined pitch, so that the optical fiber core wire 10
can be easily hooked onto a predetermined positioning pin 11. The positioning pins 11 are installed at a pitch that is at least 10 times the outer diameter of the optical fiber core in the longitudinal direction of the groove 2, and at a pitch equal to the outer diameter in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the groove 2, so that the optical fiber core 10, 10, 10 of the optical fiber core wire without applying unreasonable bending stress to the wire 10.
... can be easily positioned.

FIG. 3 shows these positioning pins 11a, 11
b, 11c... with 12 optical fiber cores 10, 1
0, 10, . . . indicate a positioned state. Note that these positioning pins 11a, 11
Adhesive tape is stuck on the fixing base 1 on the side surface adjacent to the highest pins b, 11c, . . . The optical fiber core wire 10 has each positioning pin 11
After being hung on the tape, it is temporarily fixed on the adhesive tape and maintained in this state.

Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be explained based on FIG. 4. First, 12 supplied by Ruth Steve
The ends of the optical fiber core wires 10, 10, 10, . . . of the book are aligned, and the parts around 20 cm from the ends are arranged in parallel and held and fixed together by the clamp mechanism 8 (step 101). At this time, the isometric plate 9 is at point A (Fig. 2 a
(see step 102).

Select one of the first optical fiber cores, insert it into groove 2 along guide pins 3', 4', and 5' (step 103), and hook it onto positioning pin 11a to determine its position. (Step 104). The end of the optical fiber core 10 that has been positioned is fixed to an adhesive tape while being pulled slightly to maintain the determined position of the optical fiber core 10 (step 105).

Next, by rotating the isometric plate 9 and aligning the scale "1" with point A, the first optical fiber core wire 10 is
(Step 106). Further, in the same manner, insert the second optical fiber core 10 into the groove 2 while aligning it with the first optical fiber core 10, hook it on the positioning pin 11b, and fix its end with adhesive tape. . Then, the scale "2" on the equiangular plate 9 is aligned with point A, and the two positioned optical fiber core wires 10, 10 are temporarily held.

This operation is repeated one after another to fix the 12 optical fiber core wires 10, 10, 10, . . . in parallel in the groove 2. After arranging them all in numerical order (or color order), stretch out the adhesive tape 7 from the tape storage box 6 and stick the upper parts of the optical fiber cores 10, 10, 10 with this adhesive tape 7.
107).

Next, the ends of the optical fibers 10, 10, 10 are unfixed, the scale of the isometric plate 9 is set to "0" (aligned with point A), and the optical fibers 10, 10 are removed from the clamping mechanism 8. By opening the optical fibers 10, 10, . . ., the fixed state of the optical fibers 10, 10, 10, . . . is released (step 108).

Finally, the tip of the adhesive tape 7 is wrapped under the optical fiber cores 10, 10, 10, etc. and pasted together in a sandwich pattern (step 109), and one end is cut off (step 110). At this point, 12 ribbon-shaped optical fibers are formed, and optical fibers 10, 10,
The alignment of 10 and 10 is completed (step 111).

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the present invention is configured as described above, a plurality of optical fiber cores can be easily aligned at a predetermined pitch and order. Therefore,
Loose tube fibers can be easily made into ribbon fibers, and batch processing, cutting, and fusing processes for optical fiber connections can be performed rationally and in a short time.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the optical fiber alignment device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view showing a conformal plate used in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a process diagram showing the operation of this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a ribbon fiber and a loose tube fiber. 1... Fixed base, 2... Groove, 3, 3', 4,
4', 5, 5'... Guide pin, 6... Tape storage box, 7... Rolled tape, 8... Clamp mechanism, 9... Isometric plate, 10... Optical fiber core wire, 1
1...Positioning pin.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An optical fiber alignment device for closely aligning a plurality of optical fibers in parallel on a plane, comprising: a groove for placing the plurality of optical fibers; a guide member protruding along the groove for guiding the optical fiber into the groove; and a plurality of positioners protruding from one end of the groove for positioning the optical fiber within the groove. a member; a positioning means comprising a member that moves in a direction across the groove each time the optical fiber is successively positioned and temporarily holds the optical fiber within the groove; and the optical fiber is aligned by the positioning means. an end fixing means for temporarily fixing the tip ends of the optical fiber cores, and a tape supply means for supplying an adhesive tape for fixing the plurality of optical fiber cores in a juxtaposed state. An optical fiber alignment device characterized by: 2. The positioning member has a pitch that is at least 10 times the outer diameter of the optical fiber in the optical axis direction of the optical fiber, and has a pitch that is at least 10 times the outer diameter of the optical fiber in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis. 2. The optical fiber alignment device according to claim 1, wherein the device is arranged so as to have a pitch. 3. The optical fiber core alignment device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning member is configured to increase in height as it approaches the tape fixing means. 4. The optical fiber core alignment device according to claim 1, wherein the guide member and the positioning member are formed of cylindrical members. 5. The optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the member of the positioning means is a rotary plate made of a conformal plate having a number of angles equal to at least the number of optical fiber cores to be aligned. Core wire alignment device. 6. The optical fiber according to claim 5, wherein the rotary plate is constituted by a disk, and the center of rotation thereof is eccentric from the center of the circle by at least twice the width of the positioning groove. Core wire alignment device. 7. The optical fiber core wire according to claim 1, wherein the positioning groove has a V-groove formed at a predetermined pitch in which the plurality of optical fiber core wires are aligned on its bottom surface. Alignment device. 8. Claim 1, wherein the positioning groove is constructed by pasting an elastic body to the bottom surface of the positioning groove.
An optical fiber alignment device as described in 2. 9. The optical fiber core alignment device according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive tape is a heat-resistant adhesive tape. 10. The optical fiber core alignment device according to claim 1, wherein the end fixing means is an adhesive tape.