JPH0240603A - Terminal structure and terminal treatment of bundle fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the release of the luminous flux released by a spherical part to the circumference of the spherical part by forming the terminal part of the bundle fiber bundled with plural pieces of coated fibers to a spherical shape. CONSTITUTION:The terminal of the bundle fiber 3 bundled with plural pieces of the coated fibers is formed to the spherical shape to form the spherical part 7. The circumference of the bundle fiber 3 is protected with a protective tube 6 formed of elastic plastic, etc. The formation of the terminal part to the spherical shape by melting is executed by cooling the terminal which is melted and is made into the spherical shape by surface tension. The luminous flux released from the spherical part is released around the spherical part via the bundle fiber 3 when the luminous flux is guided from a light source part 7 via the bundle fiber 3 having the spherical part 7 at the terminal in such a manner. The easy observation of the deterioration state of the piping joint part in, for example, a water tank filled with water, by illuminating the observation point over the entire part in the state of having the water is possible.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a bundle fiber terminal structure and a terminal processing method. The present invention relates to a bundle fiber terminal processing method for forming the spherical portion, and for forming the spherical portion so that the emitted light beam is emitted from the entire spherical group.

[Conventional technology]

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a bundle fiber has been used to guide a light beam from a light source and emit the light from the end of the bundle fiber to provide various types of illumination.

An example of this is the terminal structure of a bundle fiber as shown in FIG. is forming. When the light beam 2 from the light source 1 is guided through the bundle fiber 3 and emitted from the tip, the light beam 2 is emitted in a substantially straight line and illuminates the front surface of the tip.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

With the structure of the end of the conventional handle fiber as described above, the diffusion range of the emitted light beam is extremely narrow, so for example, it is possible to check the deterioration of the piping joint in a full water tank from inside the tank. When attempting to illuminate and observe, the conventional bundle fiber terminal structure shown in Figure 1 limits the illumination area, so if the observation area has a certain range, the observation area must be The drawback was that it was difficult to grasp the overall picture.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention was devised to provide a bundle fiber terminal structure and a terminal processing method that can solve the problems of the prior art as described above. The method is characterized in that the end portion is formed into a spherical shape, and is characterized in that after a plurality of fiber strands are bundled to form a bundle fiber, the end portion of the bundle fiber is melted and formed into a spherical shape, In addition, after the molten end portion becomes spherical due to its surface tension, the spherical portion is cooled to form the end portion of the bundle fiber into a spherical shape, or the molten end portion is molded and cooled in a mold. This method is characterized in that the end portion of the bundle fiber is formed into a spherical shape by releasing the bundle fiber from the mold.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the terminal structure of a conventional bundle fiber, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the bundle fiber terminal showing the terminal structure of the bundle fiber of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a processing step. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the bundle fiber terminal portion of FIG. 4.

It should be noted that symbols relating to common parts in the drawings of the conventional example and the drawings of the embodiment of the present invention are used as common symbols for explanation purposes. It should be noted that symbols relating to common parts in the drawings of the conventional example and the drawings of the embodiment of the present invention are used as common symbols for explanation purposes.

First, the terminal structure of the bundle fiber of the present invention will be explained based on FIG.

The end portion of the bundle fiber 3, which is a bundle of a plurality of fiber strands, is formed into a spherical shape to form a spherical portion 7. The periphery of the bundle fiber 3 is protected by a protective tube 6. The protective tube 6 may be constructed of an elastic plastic tube or an interlocking flexible tube formed by linearly combining strip materials, depending on the purpose.

Next, a method for processing the ends of bundle fibers to form a spherical portion will be described. In other words, the first method for melting the end portion into a spherical shape is to form the end portion of the bundle fiber into a spherical shape by cooling the spherical portion after the molten end portion becomes spherical due to its surface tension. Form. In the second method, the molten end portion is molded and cooled in a mold, and then released from the mold to form the bundle fiber end portion into a spherical shape. Working conditions such as melting temperature and cooling time vary depending on the material and dimensions of the bundle fibers. Whether the molding method is based on surface tension or a mold is determined by the dimensions of the spherical part. That is, when the size of the spherical part is relatively small, the tip of the molten bundle fiber is formed by cooling so that it becomes spherical due to surface tension, and when the size of the spherical part is larger than a certain value, it is formed by molding. A spherical part is formed using a mold.

Further, an example of the process of forming a ball into a sphere due to surface tension will be explained in detail based on FIG.

In the first step, the bundle fibers 3 are bound at a predetermined distance from the lower end with a copper wire 9. In the second step, the lower end of the bundle fiber 3 is placed near the opening of the electric furnace 8 and fixed until the lower end widens to a certain extent. The temperature and time at this time were 1000°C in the example.
It took 2 minutes. In the third step, the bundle fibers 3 are further inserted into the electric furnace 8 so that the copper wires 9 binding the bundle fibers 3 are at the opening of the electric furnace 8, and fixed in this position for several minutes. do. This fixing time is set depending on the bundle diameter and the desired shape of the sphere. In the fourth step, the shape of the sphere is observed to confirm that the desired shape of the sphere has been achieved. In the fifth step, the bundle fiber 3 is taken out from the electric furnace 8 and cooled.

A sphere is formed using surface tension as described above, but when forming the terminal structure with the mold 11, the mold 11 is used as shown in FIG. 4. 4 and 5 show an example in which a bundle fiber terminal structure is formed in the shape of a substantially spherical polyhedron 10. That is, the bundle fibers in the fourth step of FIG. 3 are taken out, put into a mold 11, cooled, and released from the mold as shown in FIG. 4 to form the terminal structure of the bundle fibers into a sphere or other predetermined shape. be able to.

[Action and effect]

Since the present invention has the configuration as described above, the terminal of the bundle fiber can be formed into a spherical shape, and,
As shown in Fig. 2, if the light beam 2 from the light source 1 is guided through the bundle fiber 3 having a spherical part 7 at the end and emitted from the spherical part 7, the light flux 2 will be shaped like a sphere as shown by the arrow in the figure. The light is emitted around the part 7, and can be used, for example, to illuminate the entire observation area when trying to observe the deteriorated condition of a pipe joint in a water tank filled with water by illuminating it from inside the tank. It can be made easier to observe. Furthermore, when the terminal structure of the bundle fiber is formed into a substantially spherical polyhedron, it can also be used as a decorative lighting device in addition to the above-mentioned applications.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the terminal structure of a conventional bundle fiber, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the bundle fiber terminal showing the terminal structure of the bundle fiber of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a processing step. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the bundle fiber terminal portion of FIG. 4. It should be noted that symbols relating to common parts in the drawings of the conventional example and the drawings of the embodiment of the present invention are used as common symbols for explanation purposes. 1, Light source 2, Luminous flux 3, Bundle fiber Epoxy resin sleeve Protective tube Spherical part Electric furnace Copper wire Spherical polyhedron mold Figure 1 Figure 2 Oni process 2nd process 3 Figure 3 process f5 Nioh! Figure 4

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A bundle fiber terminal structure characterized in that the terminal portion of a bundle fiber in which a plurality of fiber strands are bundled is formed into a spherical shape. (2) A method for processing the ends of bundle fibers, which comprises forming bundle fibers by converging a plurality of fiber strands, and then melting the end portions of the bundle fibers to form a spherical shape. (3) After the molten end part becomes spherical due to its surface tension, the spherical part is cooled to form the end part of the bundle fiber into a spherical shape, or the molten end part is molded and cooled in a mold. Claim 2, characterized in that the end portion of the bundle fiber is formed into a spherical shape by releasing the bundle fiber from the mold.
Terminal treatment method for bundle fibers described in ).