JPH079329A - Polishing sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide a polishing sheet that can be polished cleanly without damaging the finished surface of the ferrule end face even if it is a loose abrasive grain type. [Structure] The polishing sheet is a base sheet made of a material that can be deformed into a curved surface when the ferrule end surface of the optical connector is pressed with a predetermined pressure and can be quickly restored when the pressure is removed. And S provided on the surface of the substrate sheet to have a substantially uniform thickness.
and n layers. The abrasive grains dispersed and suspended in the polishing liquid sink so as to be partially embedded inside the Sn layer and do not move around the surface of the Sn layer. Since each abrasive grain is supported by the Sn layer, which is a relatively soft metal, it does not come into contact with the ferrule end face with an extremely large force, and therefore the final finished surface of the ferrule end face can be polished cleanly.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a polishing sheet capable of polishing a ferrule end surface of an optical connector into a curved surface, and particularly to a relatively small size of 1 micron or less which has been conventionally used for final polishing. It is possible to polish the ferrule end face of the optical connector by applying a polishing liquid in which diamond abrasive grains of 1 are dispersed in a solution on the surface and sliding it relative to the surface while pressing the ferrule end face with a predetermined pressure. A polishing sheet that can be used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of essential parts of a ferrule end face polishing machine according to the present invention.

In the drawing, the wheel 2 is, for example, one minute per minute around the X axis by a rotary drive mechanism (not shown).
Rotate around. The large gear 4 which is rotationally driven by an axis passing through the center of the wheel 2 synchronously rotates a pair of small gears 8 via an idle gear 6. Above each pinion 8,
Pin 8a is projected the same distance from the center O _1.
The pin 8a of the pair of small gears 8 is engaged with a pin hole formed on the lower surface of the surface plate 10.

Therefore, the large gear 4 causes the pair of small gears 8 to
When they are rotated synchronously, the surface plate 10 slidably mounted on the wheel 2 moves from the center O _{1 of the} pinion 8 to the pin 8a.
With a parallel crank mechanism having a crank arm as a crank arm, it makes a circular motion in the upper surface of the wheel 2 and rotates about the X axis once a minute. A rubber plate 12 having elasticity such as silicon rubber or synthetic rubber is placed on the surface plate 10. Further, on the rubber plate 12, a diamond film 14 having diamond abrasive grains of a predetermined grain size dispersed and fixed by an adhesive called a binder is placed. The diamond film 14 which is a fixed abrasive grain type,
Depending on the type of finish, it is divided into rough finish, intermediate finish and final finish. The size of the abrasive grains in each application is 9 to 15, 3 to 6 and 0.5 to 1 micron, respectively.

The optical connector 16 to be polished is detachably fixed to the hexagonal jig 18 so that the end face of the ferrule contacts the diamond film 14.

The wheel 2 is rotated about the X axis once per minute so that the end face of the ferrule contacts the diamond film 14 by a predetermined pressing force, and the pair of small gears 8 are synchronized by the large gear 4. When rotated, each ferrule end surface moves on the diamond film 14 in a trajectory as shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the optical connectors 16 are fixed only at three positions of the hexagonal jig 18 and the loci of contact points of the end faces of the ferrules at these positions are drawn for the sake of easy viewing of the drawing.

[0007]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Diamond film 1 used in the above-described conventional ferrule end face polishing machine.
In No. 4, as described above, the diamond abrasive grains were fixed to the polyester base sheet with an adhesive called a binder.

However, when the particle size of the diamond abrasive grains becomes small as in the final-finishing diamond film 14, the diamond abrasive grains are easily separated from the base sheet and can be moved on the base sheet. Such peeled diamond abrasive grains move around on the base sheet,
Traces 17a or 17c as shown in FIG. 4 are left on the end surface of the finally finished ferrule. In this trace, there were scratches 17b having a relatively deep depth in some places, and therefore, the polishing operation had to be redone from the middle finish.

Therefore, conventionally, the diamond film 14 is formed before such peeled diamond abrasive grains are generated.
Had to frequently replace with a new one.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.
From the fixed-abrasive type as shown in No. 4, while containing free abrasive grains, that is, while applying a polishing liquid in which special-purpose abrasive grains are dispersed and suspended, to the surface, press the ferrule end face with a predetermined pressure. Polishing that can change the type of loose abrasive grains that slide relative to each other, and that even with such loose abrasive grains, the ferrule end face of the optical connector can be polished neatly without damaging the finished surface of the ferrule end face. Is to provide a sheet.

[0011]

The polishing sheet according to the present invention, when the ferrule end surface of an optical connector is pressed with a predetermined pressure, is deformed into a curved surface and is quickly restored when the pressure is removed. And a Sn layer provided on the surface of the base material sheet so as to have a substantially uniform thickness.

[0012]

Function: The Sn layer of the polishing sheet is coated with the polishing liquid in which the abrasive grains of a predetermined particle size are dispersed and suspended in the solution.

Thereafter, when the ferrule end face polishing machine is operated, the abrasive grains dispersed and suspended in the polishing liquid are pushed by the ferrule end face and adhered to the Sn layer surface. The abrasive grains attached in this way sink so as to be partially embedded inside the Sn layer, and do not move around on the surface of the Sn layer.
Further, since each abrasive grain is supported by the Sn layer, which is a relatively soft metal, it does not come into contact with the ferrule end face with an extremely large force, and therefore, the final finished surface of the ferrule end face may be seriously damaged. Absent.

When the polishing sheet according to the present invention is placed on the surface plate of the ferrule end face polishing machine with the elastic rubber plate interposed and operated, the base sheet and the Sn layer are pressed by the end face of the ferrule to form a curved surface. Deform. As a result, the ferrule end surface can be polished into a curved surface.

When the end face of the ferrule moves to another position on the polishing sheet, the elasticity of the base material sheet and the Sn layer causes the elasticity of the base material sheet to quickly restore the flat shape.

On the other hand, when the elastic rubber plate is removed and the polishing sheet according to the present invention is directly placed on the surface plate and the ferrule end face polishing machine is operated, the polishing sheet polishes the ferrule end face into a flat surface. You can also

[0017]

The polishing sheet according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the polishing sheet according to the present invention, and (a) and (b) are longitudinal sectional views of the polishing sheet before and during polishing, respectively.

The illustrated polishing sheet 20 is generally
The base sheet 22, the Sn layer 24 provided on the base sheet 22 so as to have a substantially uniform thickness, and the adhesive 2 interposed between the base sheet 22 and the Sn layer 24.
It is composed of 5 and.

The base sheet 22 is made of a material that is deformed into a curved surface when the ferrule end surface of the optical connector 16 is pressed with a predetermined pressure and can be quickly restored when the pressure is removed. It is necessary. For example, metal sheets such as beryllium copper, copper phosphate and spring steel,
Alternatively, a synthetic resin sheet having a predetermined durability such as polyester can be used.

The base sheet 22 has strength enough to hold the Sn layer 24 while keeping the thickness of the Sn layer 24 substantially constant, and is curved when the ferrule end face of the optical connector 16 is pressed with a predetermined pressure. It has a thickness that can be transformed into. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the thickness of the substrate sheet 22 is 10-100 microns.

The Sn layer 24 is formed on the base sheet 2 by various methods.
Fixed to 2. In the illustrated embodiment, they are adhesively fixed by an adhesive 25. For example, when the base sheet 22 is a metal sheet, the Sn layer 24 can be provided on the base sheet 22 by electroplating, cold rolling, or the like.
Moreover, when the base material sheet 22 is a synthetic resin sheet, the Sn foil which comprises the Sn layer 24 can be adhere | attached using an adhesive agent or a double-sided tape. In any case, any method may be used as long as the Sn layer 24 is provided on the surface of the base material sheet 22 and the polishing sheet 20 has predetermined characteristics. The Sn layer 24 has at least abrasive grains 26.
Has a thickness capable of containing and holding, for example, 3 to 50 μm. In the preferred embodiment shown, Sn
The thickness of layer 24 is 20 microns.

The abrasive particles 26 dispersed and suspended in the polishing liquid are conventionally known abrasive particles such as diamond, and the particle size thereof is 0.
In the range of 5 to 2.5 μm, and particularly in the range of 0.5 to 1.0 μm, the occurrence rate of scratches was reduced as compared with the scratches on the end surface of the ferrule when the conventional fixed abrasive type polishing sheet was used. .

Next, a method of manufacturing the polishing sheet according to the present invention will be described.

First, a strip of metal sheet of beryllium copper having a thickness of 10 to 100 microns is produced. This strip is passed through an electrolytic plating bath to plate the Sn layer 24 to a thickness of 3 to 50 microns and cut into a predetermined shape to complete the polishing sheet according to the present invention.

Alternatively, a polishing sheet according to the present invention may be manufactured by preparing a polyethylene film having a predetermined thickness and a Sn foil having a thickness of 3 to 20 μm, and adhering these with an adhesive or a double-sided tape. it can.

Finally, a method of polishing the ferrule end surface of the optical connector using the polishing sheet according to the present invention will be described.

First, manufactured as described above, that is:
A polishing sheet 20 for final finishing in the form of loose abrasive grains and a polishing sheet 14 manufactured by a conventional method, that is, polishing sheets 14 for rough finishing and intermediate finishing in the form of fixed abrasive grains are prepared. For polishing sheets with a grain size of 3 microns or more, even if the conventional bonding method using a binder is used, there is little generation of grains that move around after peeling from the base sheet. And the polishing sheet 14 for semi-finishing can be used.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, a rough-finishing polishing sheet 14 of a fixed-abrasive type in which abrasive grains having a particle size of 9 to 15 microns are dispersed and fixed is placed on a disk 12 having elasticity. On the other hand, a predetermined number of optical connectors 16 are fixed to the hexagonal jig 18 with good balance. A wheel 2 rotates about the X axis once a minute by a drive mechanism (not shown), and a large gear 4 rotates a pair of small gears 8 in synchronization. After performing this for 1 minute, the ferrule end face polishing machine is turned off. By rough finishing, the ferrule end surface is shaped into a spherical surface having a radius of about 20 mm.

Next, the polishing sheet 14 for rough finishing is treated with a grain size of 3
The polishing sheet 14 for intermediate finishing in which abrasive grains of ˜6 μm are dispersed and fixed is replaced and the same operation as that for rough finishing is performed. The intermediate finish improves the surface roughness of the ferrule end surface.

Finally, the intermediate-finishing polishing sheet 14 is replaced with the polishing sheet 20 according to the present invention, and a polishing liquid in which abrasive grains of a predetermined particle size are dispersed and suspended in a solution is added to Sn of the polishing sheet 20.
Coating on layer 24.

Thereafter, the end face grinding machine of the ferrule is operated to rotate the wheel 2 about the X axis once a minute, and the large gear 4 rotates the pair of small gears 8 in synchronization. As a result, the end surface of the ferrule is pressed against the Sn layer 24 to which the polishing liquid is applied at a predetermined pressure, and draws a locus as shown in FIG.
Can be slid relatively on top.

As best shown in FIG. 1B, each abrasive grain 29 dispersed and suspended in the polishing liquid 28 is pushed by the ferrule end face 17 and adhered to the surface of the Sn layer 24. The abrasive grains 29 attached in this way are the Sn layer 2
4 does not move around the surface of the Sn layer 24 so as to be partially buried inside. As described above, since each abrasive grain 29 is supported by the Sn layer 24 which is a relatively soft metal, it does not come into contact with the ferrule end face 17 with an extremely large force, and thus the final finished surface of the ferrule end face 17 is not contacted. Doesn't hurt big.

After performing such a polishing operation for 1 minute, the ferrule end face polishing machine is turned off. By the final finishing, the ferrule end surface is made a mirror surface. Polishing sheet 2 according to the present invention
In No. 0, since the abrasive grains do not move around on the Sn layer 24, scratches on the end face of the ferrule after final finishing are drastically reduced.

As described above, when the polishing sheet 20 according to the present invention is placed on the surface plate 10 of the end face polishing machine of the ferrule with the elastic rubber plate 12 interposed and operated,
The base sheet 22 and the Sn layer 24 are pressed by the end face of the ferrule and deformed into a curved shape. As a result, the ferrule end surface can be polished into a curved surface. On the other hand, when the elastic rubber plate 12 is removed and the polishing sheet 20 according to the present invention is directly placed on the surface plate 10 and the end face polishing machine of the ferrule is operated, the polishing sheet 20 polishes the ferrule end face into a flat surface. You can also do it.

[0036]

The polishing sheet according to the present invention is made of a material which, when the ferrule end surface of the optical connector is pressed at a predetermined pressure, is deformed into a curved surface and can be quickly restored when the pressure is removed. Since the structured base sheet and the Sn layer provided on the surface of the base sheet to have a substantially uniform thickness are included, free abrasive grains that are not in the fixed-abrasive type such as a diamond film are formed. Even when it is used, that is, even when a polishing liquid in which abrasive particles of a predetermined particle size are dispersed and suspended in a special solution is used, the abrasive particles sink to the inside of the Sn layer so as to be partially embedded, and I can't move around.

As described above, since each abrasive grain is supported by the Sn layer, which is a relatively soft metal, it does not come into contact with the end face of the ferrule with an extremely large force. Does not hurt.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a polishing sheet according to the present invention,
(A) And (b) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the polishing sheet before polishing and during polishing, respectively.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of essential parts of a conventional ferrule end surface polishing machine.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a locus of contact points of an end surface of a ferrule on a polishing sheet.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a scratch attached to an end surface of a ferrule by the abrasive grains peeled from a base material sheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Surface Plate 12 Disc 14 Polishing Sheet 16 Optical Connector 18 Hexagonal Jig 20 Polishing Sheet 22 Base Material Sheet 24 Sn Layer 26 Abrasive Grain 28 Polishing Machine 29 Abrasive Grain

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A ferrule for an optical connector by coating a surface with a polishing liquid in which abrasive grains of a predetermined particle size are dispersed in a solution, and sliding the ferrule end face against the surface while pressing the ferrule end face with a predetermined pressure. A polishing sheet capable of polishing the end face, which deforms into a curved surface when the ferrule end face of the optical connector is pressed with a predetermined pressure, and is made of a material that can be quickly restored when the pressure is removed. A polishing sheet comprising: a structured base sheet; and a Sn layer provided on the surface of the base sheet so as to have a substantially uniform thickness. 2. The base sheet is a metal sheet selected from the group consisting of beryllium copper, copper phosphate and spring steel or a synthetic resin sheet having a predetermined durability, and has a thickness of 10 to 100 microns. The polishing sheet according to claim 1, wherein 3. The Sn layer according to claim 1, wherein the Sn layer is formed on the base sheet by metal plating or is formed by cold rolling or bonding an Sn foil with an adhesive. A polishing sheet for polishing an end face of a ferrule of the optical connector described. 4. The polishing sheet for polishing a ferrule end surface of an optical connector according to claim 3, wherein the Sn layer has a thickness of 3 to 50 μm.