JPS61175603A - Method and jig for treating and fixing terminal of tape core - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase the frictional force between the secondary coating and optical fiber of a tape core and prevent the optical fiber from coming out of the coating, and to true up and cut end surfaces of plural optical fibers by fixing the tape core by bending the tape core, or bending the tape core and applying lateral pressure. CONSTITUTION:The tape core having its coating removed is fitted in the groove 19a of a lower substrate 19 and an upper substrate 18 is inserted; and the upper and lower substrates 18 and 19 are fixed together by a metallic fixture 20, which is slid from a tapered part 18b provided to the upper substrate 18 to fix the core in a metallic fixture groove 18c. At this time, the tape core is bent and applied with the lateral pressure and sufficient frictional force is obtained between the secondary coating 1 and optical fiber 3 of the tape core. In this state, a batch cutter for the tape core is used to cut optical fibers 2 at a time, thereby treating the terminal of the tape core.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention is directed to the treatment of tape cores that occur when cutting the optical fibers of a tape core wire at once in the terminal treatment of a tape core wire in which a plurality of optical fibers are collectively coated. A method for processing the ends of tape cores with the aim of preventing the movement of optical fibers within the tape cores that occurs between pulling out the optical fibers from the wires and connecting the tape cores, and improving workability during coating removal. The present invention also relates to an end treatment fixing jig used for unprocessing the ends of a tape core wire.

[Summary of the invention]

In the present invention, when fusion splicing a tape core of 1 m in which a plurality of optical fibers are collectively coated, the coating of the tape core is removed,
When cutting multiple uncoated optical fibers at once, in order to align the end faces of the optical fibers, bend the coated part of the tape core and fix it with lateral pressure applied, then cut the multiple optical fibers at once. In addition, at this time, as a jig for fixing the covering portion of the tape core wire, the tape core wire is housed in a curved groove provided on the lower substrate in order to bend and apply lateral pressure to the tape core wire, This is an end processing fixing jig that holds down the housed tape core wire with a protrusion that fits into a groove provided on the upper substrate, and fixes the side substrate with metal fittings.

[Conventional technology]

As a conventional method for connecting tape core wires, there is a multi-fiber batch fusion splicing method in which a plurality of optical fibers are fusion spliced at once. The prior art will be explained below. Until now, the end treatment of a tape fiber with the cross-sectional structure shown in FIG. Optical fibers are cut in batches using a core fiber batch cutter.

In Fig. 6, 1 is a secondary coating made of plastic such as nylon, 2 is a buffer layer, 3 is an optical fiber wire (hereinafter referred to as an optical fiber), and 4 in Fig. 7 is a cut 5 of the optical fiber. comb teeth for alignment, 6 a plate spring for holding the core wire, 7 a clamp (optical fiber fixing part) for fixing the optical fiber, 8 an arm housing the cutting blade 4, 9 a plate spring for holding the core wire, 8 an arm housing the cutting blade 4; This is the axis of rotation for freely rotating the arm. FIG. 8 .alpha. shows the optical fiber 3 in the -activation-deactivation state by the tape cable batch cutter. Figure 8
It is a sectional view taken along AA'K in Figure α. After damaging the surface of the optical fiber all at once using the cutting blade in step 6,
By bending the optical fiber 3 along the leaf spring, the optical fiber 3 is cut all at once. Generally, the frictional force between the secondary coating 1 of the tape core wire and the optical fiber 3 is not so large, so when the optical fiber 3 is bent along the leaf spring 6, the optical fiber 3 is pulled in the axial direction, and the tape core The optical fiber 3 is pulled out by about 30 to 60 μm from inside the wire. Figure 9 α
3 shows the state after cutting the optical fibers 3 all at once. The maximum deviation Xmax of the end face position of the optical fiber 5 shown in the figure is about 20 μm even for an expert. In addition, as shown in Figure 9, the tape core wire may be bent or twisted before it is set in the connecting device, and the tape core wire may be bent or twisted. Optical fiber 3 has a maximum of 100
Moves ~200 μm. As described above, with the conventional terminal processing method, it is impossible to cut the optical fibers 3 with their end faces aligned. Conventionally, in order to connect the optical fibers 3 all at once, the positions of the optical fiber end faces are corrected on the connecting device. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a mechanism for correcting the position of an optical fiber end face. The ends of the optical fibers 3 are aligned by arranging them through comb teeth 11 in a multi-striped V groove formed on the upper surface of the V-series stand 10. Soft clamp 1
2. After holding the optical fiber 3 in the V fermenter, the fine movement table 14
is moved so that all the optical fiber end faces abut against the abutment plate 15, and the optical fiber 3 is fixed to the fine movement table 14 by the node clamp 13.

Under this hard clamp 13, the optical fiber <3 cannot move in the left-right direction in FIG. In this state, the end faces of the optical fibers 6 are aligned, the pusher abutment plate 15 is lowered, and the distance between the optical fiber end faces is set to an appropriate amount, and the ends of the optical fibers are heated and melted while being pressed against each other to be fused. Connecting.

Although electric discharge is used as the heating source, it is also possible in principle to use CO, laser, or gas flame.

In this mechanism, when the end face of the optical fiber is brought into contact with the abutment plate 15, the root portion (covering edge) of the optical fiber 3 is bent, and after the optical fiber 3 comes into contact with the abutment plate 15, it is pushed further. The coating portion of the optical fiber 3 covered with the secondary coating 1 is held upward at an angle so that the secondary coating 1 is absorbed by the groove portion 14α. 16 is a covering portion clamp. At this time, the longest optical fiber is pushed further into the groove 14α by at least Xmax than the shortest optical fiber.

FIG. 11 shows the optical fiber 3 in a bent state. In this way, the optical fiber 3 has a shape in which it bends downwardly υ on the side closer to the sheathing clamp 16 than the hardened amplifier 13, and then bends upwardly.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

When the conventional end face alignment mechanism for optical fiber connection shown in FIG. 10 is used, local contact pressure is generated on the optical fiber 3 at the edge portion 17 of the fine movement table 14 shown in FIG. 11, so that the surface of the optical fiber may be damaged. The strength of the optical fiber 3 deteriorates due to
In some cases, it may cause breakage. Further, in the process of bending and deforming the optical fiber 3, the optical fiber 3 slides against the inner wall of the tooth 11, which causes damage to the optical fiber 3.

Since the positions of the optical fiber end faces are thus uneven, the splicing device requires a complicated mechanism, and a mechanism for correcting the position of the optical fiber end faces has a problem in that it reduces the reliability of the spliced optical fiber. In addition, the method of correcting the position of the optical fiber end face by bending the optical fiber 3 requires the length of the optical fiber 6 to be at least about 20 m, and is also difficult to miniaturize the connecting portion.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve these problems, the present invention provides a tape core in which a plurality of optical fibers are cut at once after being fixed by bending or bending and applying lateral pressure to the tip side of the tape core coating. A wire end processing method, a lower substrate with a groove for accommodating the tape core used for fixing the tape core, and a protrusion that fits into the groove from above the tape core and holds the tape core. This is a tape cable end processing fixing jig consisting of an upper substrate provided with an upper substrate and a tool for winding and holding the upper and lower substrates.

[For production]

The present invention increases the frictional force between the secondary coating of the tape core and the optical fiber by bending or bending and applying lateral pressure to the tip side of the tape core, thereby increasing the frictional force between the tape core and the optical fiber. It is possible to prevent the fibers from being pulled out from the coating and to cut a plurality of optical fibers with their end faces aligned. The drawings will be explained below.

〔Example〕

FIGS. 1a to 1f show the structure of an embodiment of the end processing fixing jig of the present invention. 18 is an upper substrate having a protrusion 18 (L) for applying bending and lateral pressure to the tape core wire; 186 is a tapered portion; 18c is a metal fitting fixing groove; 19 is a groove 19cL that can accommodate the tape core wire; death,
In addition, the groove 19α connects the tape core wire to the protrusion 18α of the upper substrate 18.
The lower board has a shape that allows it to be accommodated without any gaps when it is pressed in. 20 is a fixing fitting for fixing both boards 18° 19 after fitting the upper board 18 and the lower board 19. It is. Here, the protrusion 18α of the upper substrate 18 is
It is not limited to this shape only. Figure 1 d, g, f are AA', E-B', CC' of Figure 1 αybpC, respectively.
A cross-sectional view is shown.

FIGS. 2C to 2C show a process in which the tape core wires are mounted on the end processing fixing jig shown in FIG. 1 and cut with a batch cutter for the tape core wires.

FIG. 2 α shows a state in which the tape core wire from which the coating has been removed is fitted into the groove j9a of the lower substrate 19, and the upper substrate 18 is inserted. FIG. 2 shows a metal fitting 20 for fixing the upper and lower substrates 18 and 19 to the upper substrate 18. It is slid from the tapered part 18b provided in the metal fitting fixing groove 18G and is fixed in the metal fitting fixing groove 18G. Here, bending and lateral pressure are applied to the tape cable, and sufficient frictional force is applied between the secondary coating 1 of the tape cable and the optical fiber 3. In this state, the optical fibers 3 are cut all at once using the tape fiber bundle cutter shown in FIG. 2C, and the end processing of the tape fibers is completed. Reference numeral 8 indicates an arm of the cutter, and reference numeral 20 indicates a fixture.

Here, the batch cutting of the optical fibers 3 is performed by cutting the optical fibers 3 at once.
It is not limited to the batch cutter. Further, in this embodiment, the coating of the tape cable may be removed after the end treatment fixing jig is attached to the tape cable. In this case, it can be expected that the workability of the coating removal work will be improved.

Experiments related to the present invention will be described below.

Table 1 shows an experimental example using the embodiment of the end treatment fixing jig shown in FIG. The graph shows the results of a comparison with a conventional terminal processing method in terms of removal of the optical fiber 3 and movement of the optical fiber 3 due to twisting of the tape core when cutting the optical fiber 3 at once by applying a .

In this way, the effect of pulling out the optical fiber and suppressing the movement of the optical fiber has been revealed.

Table 1. Effects of Embodiment FIGS. 3 α to d are diagrams showing the structure of another embodiment of the terminal processing fixing jig of the present invention, in which 18 and 19 respectively indicate an upper substrate;
On the lower board, Fig. 3c and d are respectively Fig. 3α and c in Fig. 3b.
-c', sectional view taken along vv'.

FIGS. 4 α to d are diagrams showing the configuration of still another embodiment of the terminal processing fixing jig of the present invention, 18 and 19 are the upper and lower substrates, respectively, and FIGS. 4 c and d are the Figure 4 α,
FIG.

FIGS. 5C to 5D are views showing the configuration of another embodiment of the terminal processing fixture of the present invention, in which 18 and 19 are the upper and lower substrates, respectively, and FIGS. Figure 5 α, b
FIG.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the optical fibers from being pulled out from within the tape core that occurs when the optical fibers are cut in bulk, and to suppress the movement of the optical fibers that occurs due to the bending of the tape core. It is possible to cut a plurality of optical fibers with their end faces aligned. That is, there is an advantage that the tape core wire connection work can be made more efficient and reliable.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 α to f are a front view and a sectional view of essential parts showing the structure of an embodiment of the terminal processing fixing jig of the present invention, and Figures 2 α and b are front views showing the assembly order of the embodiment of Figure 1. 2C is a sketch of an embodiment in which optical fibers are cut at once using the terminal processing fixing jig of the embodiment in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 α to d to FIG.゛Diagrams showing the configuration of various embodiments of the end processing fixing jig of the invention, Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the tape cable core, Fig. 7 is a front view of the bulk cutting device for tape cable cores, and Fig. 8 α, b are a front view and a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the state where the optical fiber is damaged in batch cutting of the tape core wire. Figure 9 α, b is the state after cutting the optical fiber of the tape core wire. FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway sectional view of a conventional end face position alignment mechanism for connecting optical fibers, and FIG. 11 is a partial front view showing the optical fiber in FIG. 10 in a bent state. 1... Secondary coating of tape core wire 2... Buffer layer 3... Optical fiber 4... Cutting blade 5... Comb teeth 6... Leaf spring 7... Island fiber fixing part 8...・Arm 9...Rotary axis 10...V gantry 11...Comb tooth 12...Soft clamp 13...Hard clamp 14...Fine movement table 14α...Groove 15...Protrusion Contact plate 16... Covering portion clamp 17... Edge portion 18... Upper substrate 18α of terminal processing fixing jig... Projection portion 18b... Taper portion 18C... Metal fitting fixing groove 19... Lower board 19α...Groove 20...Fixing metal fittings

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a method for processing the end of a tape coated wire, the method comprises: removing the covering of a tape coated wire of a plurality of optical fibers, and cutting the plurality of coated optical fibers at once; 1. A method for processing the end of a tape core wire, comprising bending and applying lateral pressure to a coated portion of the core wire to fix the core wire, and then cutting the plurality of optical fiber strands at once. (2) The tape core wire in terminal processing of the tape core wire, in which the coating of the tape core wire in which a plurality of optical fiber strands are collectively coated is removed, and the plurality of optical fiber strands from which the coating has been removed are cut at once. An end processing fixing jig for fixing the tape, comprising: a lower substrate provided with a groove for accommodating the tape core; a protrusion that fits into the groove of the lower substrate; and a surface opposite the protrusion. an upper substrate provided with a groove for attaching the end of the fixing metal fitting, and fitting both ends into the groove for attaching the end of the fixing fitting of the upper substrate, and winding the upper substrate and the lower substrate. A fixing jig for end processing of tape core wire, consisting of metal fittings for fixing.