JP4252940B2 - Tool for cutting optical fiber holder and optical fiber provided therewith or removing the coating - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fiber holder that is detachably attached to a holder mounting portion of a tool that cuts or removes the coating of an optical fiber, and holds the position of the optical fiber, and an optical fiber including the optical fiber holder is cut or coated It is related with the tool which removes.

  One method for connecting optical fibers is a fusion splicing method. According to this method, the coating at the tip of the optical fiber is removed with a coating removal tool, and the exposed optical fiber thus removed is cut into a predetermined length by the optical fiber cutting tool, and then fused. The ends of the optical fibers are abutted and fused by the connecting device. Generally, at the time of coating removal or cutting, the optical fiber is positioned on a coating removal tool or an optical fiber cutting tool via an optical fiber holder.

  12 and 13 show a conventional optical fiber cutting tool. FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a state in which the lid portion of the optical fiber cutting tool is opened. FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a state in which the lid portion of the optical fiber cutting tool is closed. A structure of a conventional optical fiber cutting tool and a method for cutting an optical fiber using an optical fiber cutting tool cutter will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 12, an optical fiber tool 100 for cutting an optical fiber includes, for example, a metal main body 101 and a lid 102 attached to the upper part of the main body. The upper surface 103 of the main body is provided with a holder guide 104 for positioning an optical fiber holder for holding an optical fiber or a tape core, and an optical fiber holder (not shown) is disposed and positioned on the holder guide. The holder guide is composed of, for example, a rectangular recess.

  An exposure hole 106 through which the circular blade portion 105 is exposed is formed at the center portion of the upper surface 103, and the blade portion protrudes upward from the lower surface of the upper surface 103 of the main body portion through the exposure hole. A slidable slider 107 is attached to the main body 101, and a blade part 105 is attached and fixed to the slider 107. A pair of lower clamps 108 are provided on both sides of the exposure hole 106 formed on the upper surface of the main body so as to sandwich the exposure hole.

  The lid portion 102 is attached to the upper surface of the main body portion via a support shaft so as to be freely opened and closed by a torsion spring 114. A pillow portion 111 and a pair of upper clamps 109 are provided on the surface of the lid portion 102 facing the main body portion. When the lid is closed, the pair of upper clamps 109 sandwiches the optical fiber together with the corresponding pair of lower clamps 108.

  The pillow portion 111 is normally in a protruding state due to repulsion of a compression spring (not shown), and is held in a state in which the optical fiber is bent. The slide of the blade part 105 and the movement of the pillow part 111 are arranged so as to be interlocked. That is, the pillow portion 111 is provided with a pillow portion support piece 110 that extends downward, and the slider of the blade portion is provided with a projection 115 that protrudes upward and contacts the pillow portion support piece 110. In the stage until the optical fiber is damaged, the pillow portion support piece 110 and the projection 115 are brought into contact with each other, and the pillow portion 111 is pushed back into a state of not contacting the optical fiber. When the optical fiber is scratched, the protrusion 115 passes under the pillow portion support piece, the pillow portion is protruded by the pressing force of the compression spring, the optical fiber is bent, and the optical fiber is cut.

The above-described optical fiber cutting tool cuts an optical fiber as follows.
That is, the optical fiber is held in the optical fiber holder in a state where the coating at the end of the optical fiber core wire is removed and the optical fiber is exposed. At this time, the optical fiber is left exposed from the optical fiber holder. The lid 102 is opened, and the optical fiber holder holding the optical fiber is positioned by the holder guide 104. The optical fiber is sandwiched between upper and lower clamps. At this time, as described above, the pillow portion support piece is in contact with the protrusion and the pillow portion is pushed back. Next, the slider is slid and the blade is brought into contact with the optical fiber to be damaged. When the optical fiber is scratched, as described above, the protruding portion passes below the pillow portion supporting piece and is returned to the protruding state of the pillow portion, thereby bending the optical fiber. Since the optical fiber is sandwiched by the upper and lower clamps on both sides of the blade, tension is applied to break the optical fiber. When the cutting is finished, the optical fiber holder is removed from the optical fiber cutter, and the optical fiber core wire is taken out from the optical fiber holder.

As described above, the optical fan holder is held in advance in the optical fiber holder, and the optical fiber holder holding the optical fiber is positioned on the optical fiber cutting tool or the coating removal tool, and the tool is fixed to the optical fiber holder. Others hold the optical fiber in a fixed optical fiber holder. 9 and 10 are diagrams schematically showing a conventional method for fixing an optical fiber holder to a tool.
Hereinafter, an optical fiber cutting tool will be described as an example. FIG. 9 is a plan view, and FIG. 10 is a side view. In a cutting tool for cutting an optical fiber to a certain length, an optical fiber holder for fixing the optical fiber to the tool is used to facilitate fixing and positioning of the optical fiber core or the tape core. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, an optical fiber holder for holding an optical fiber or a tape core wire is fixed to a holder mounting portion of the optical fiber cutting tool by a screw 121 by a screw or the like.

In addition, there is an optical fiber holder that can be removed using a ball plunger. In any case, the optical fiber holder, the holder mounting portion, and the holder guide are typically made of a hard material such as metal.
JP 2001-356216 A

However, the above-described method of fixing the optical fiber holder with a screw takes time to dispose the optical fiber holder at a desired position, and further requires a tool such as a screwdriver to remove the optical fiber holder. When performing an optical fiber cutting operation, a specific tool has to be prepared, and the removal is not easy. In the case of a holder attached to the optical fiber core wire in advance, as shown in FIG. 11, for example, the holder guide 104 for positioning the optical fiber holder 120 of the optical fiber cutting tool 100 is easy to remove the optical fiber holder. As shown, a predetermined clearance 123 is provided. Although clearance facilitates removal of the fiber optic holder, small movements within the holder guide are possible. Thus, by simply placing the optical fiber holder to the holder guide, since the clearance is present, the optical fiber holder is arranged on e Rudagaido to not a small movement, it is difficult to fix the optical fiber obliquely It was in a state of being cut or misaligned.

In this case, it is necessary to cut the optical fiber again. If the optical connector or mechanical splice (optical fiber connection part) is assembled without being noticed, the connection loss will not be within the standard and reassembly will be required. There was a problem that it took. Furthermore, when the holder is fixed using components such as a ball plunger, there is a problem that the number of components of the optical fiber cutter increases and becomes expensive.
Furthermore, with the spread of FTTH, the construction time on site is sought to be shortened.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to cut an optical fiber having a low-cost optical fiber holder that can be easily removed from an optical fiber cutting tool and can accurately cut an optical fiber, and an optical fiber including the holder. It is to provide a tool for removing the coating.

The present inventor has been made as a result of earnest research to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.
A first aspect of the optical fiber holder of the present invention is an optical fiber holder that is removably attached to a holder attaching portion of a tool that cuts or removes the coating of the optical fiber, and holds the position of the optical fiber,
The optical fiber holder includes a housing portion, formed in the housing portion, a holding portion for holding the optical fiber,
The housing portion is formed with a protruding fixing member formed integrally with the housing portion on a side surface of the housing portion, and at a position inside the housing portion in the vicinity of the fixing member. A hollow portion is provided ,
When the optical fiber holder is mounted to the holder mounting portion, said with casing and the fixing member is fixed with a preload to the holder mounting portion by elastic deformation, the housing portion and the fixing member The elastic deformation is not transmitted to the holding portion by absorbing the elastic deformation of the optical fiber holder.

The 2nd aspect of the optical fiber holder of this invention is a tool which cut | disconnects the optical fiber provided with the optical fiber holder of the aspect mentioned above, or removes the coating | cover .

According to the present invention, the optical fiber holder can be removed without using a tool. Furthermore, since the optical fiber holder and the holder mounting portion are fixed with a preload, the optical fiber can be cut more accurately without rattling. In addition, since the above preload is applied by elastic deformation of the housing part of the optical fiber holder itself, elastic deformation of the fixing member formed integrally with the housing part, or elastic deformation of the holder mounting part, the ball plunger It is not necessary to provide a special mechanism for applying preload. Further, by providing the cavity portion close to the fixing member, the housing portion is easily deformed, and the force required for attachment / detachment can be reduced. That is, according to the present invention, the optical fiber cutting tool can be easily detached from the optical fiber cutting tool, the construction time can be shortened, and the low-cost optical fiber holder capable of accurately cutting the optical fiber, and the It is possible to provide a tool for cutting the provided optical fiber or removing its coating.

An optical fiber holder of the present invention and a tool for cutting an optical fiber provided with the optical fiber holder or removing its coating will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
A first aspect of the optical fiber holder of the present invention is an optical fiber holder that is removably attached to a holder attaching portion of a tool that cuts or removes the coating of the optical fiber, and holds the position of the optical fiber,
The optical fiber holder includes a housing part and a holding part for holding an optical fiber formed in the housing part, and is fixed to the holder attaching part with a preload by elastic deformation of the housing part. An optical fiber holder.

  That is, the optical fiber holder is detachably attached to a holder attaching portion of a tool that cuts the optical fiber or removes its coating. The optical fiber includes a housing and a holding unit that holds the optical fiber formed in the housing. The housing part is formed of a material having a predetermined elasticity, and the housing part itself or a part of the housing part is elastically deformed and fixed to the holder mounting part with a preload. In other words, the casing itself is elastically deformed and fixed to the holder mounting portion with a preload.

  The housing part may further include a fixing member integrally formed with the housing part, for example, by integral molding of resin or the like. That is, a part of the housing part projects to form a projecting part, and the projecting part and / or the housing part are elastically deformed to fix the optical fiber holder to the holder mounting part with a preload. By the way, when the amount of elastic deformation of the housing portion is large, the elastic deformation propagates also to the optical fiber holding portion formed in the housing portion and reduces the positioning accuracy of the optical fiber. However, when the fixing member is provided, the housing Even if the elastic deformation of the portion is small, it is effective because a sufficient preload can be generated by the elastic deformation of the fixing member. In addition, even when a large force that hinders attachment / detachment work is required to sufficiently elastically deform the casing itself, an appropriate attachment / detachment force can be achieved by reducing the thickness of the fixing member. Can also be set. Moreover, when a cavity part and a thin part are provided in a housing | casing part or a fixing member, propagation of the elastic deformation to an optical fiber holding part can be suppressed more effectively.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining one embodiment of the optical fiber holder of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the optical fiber holder 1 includes a housing portion 9, a holding portion 3, a protruding fixing member 4, and a cavity portion 5. In this embodiment, the housing portion 9 and the fixing member 4 is formed by integral molding of PO M.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view for explaining a state in which the optical fiber holder of the present invention is attached to a tool for cutting an optical fiber. The main body of the tool is provided with a blade 15, and clamps 18 are disposed on both sides of the blade 15 so that the optical fiber 6 is removed and fixed with the optical fiber 6 exposed to sandwich the blade 15. ing. The optical fiber holder 1 is fitted into a holder mounting portion 7 formed of, for example, a rectangular recess provided on the upper surface portion 8 of the tool body. As shown in FIG. 2, when the optical fiber holder 1 is fitted into the holder mounting portion 7, the housing portion 9 and the fixing member 4 are elastically deformed. That is, the sidewall of the fixing member 4 and the holder mounting portion 7 formed on the side surface of the casing 9 can be fixed without rattling occurs preload.

  A cavity 5 is formed at a position inside the housing corresponding to the fixing member 4, and elastic deformation of the housing and the fixing member is absorbed by the cavity 5. That is, the elastic deformation of the housing 9 and the fixing member 4 does not propagate to the holding unit 3. In addition, by providing the cavity part 5, the housing | casing part 9 becomes easy to deform | transform and can also reduce the force required for attachment or detachment.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a partial cross section for explaining an example of fixing the optical fiber holder to the holder mounting portion. The optical fiber holder 1 of this aspect is fixed to the holder mounting portion with a preload by elastic deformation of only the housing portion 9. As shown in FIG. 3, the length of the optical fiber holder 1 in the width direction is larger than the length of the width d of the concave portion of the holder mounting portion 7 formed of a rectangular concave portion, and the optical fiber holder 1 itself is elastically deformed. Then, it is pushed into the recess of the holder mounting portion. That is, it is fixed to both side walls of the holder mounting portion with a preload by elastic deformation of the optical fiber holder. In this case, since no fixing member or the like is provided, it is sufficient to form only the housing 9 and it can be realized at low cost.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a partial cross section for explaining another example of fixing the optical fiber holder to the holder mounting portion. The optical fiber holder 1 according to this aspect includes a pair of leg-shaped fixing members 11 and 11 projecting toward the holder mounting portion on the bottom surface of the housing portion 9, and the holder mounting portion includes a pair of legs. Protruding portions 12 corresponding to the portions 11 and 11 are provided. The pair of fixing members 11 and 11 are arranged so that the protruding portion 12 is sandwiched between the inner wall surfaces facing each other.

  The pair of fixing members and the casing 9 of the optical fiber holder are integrally formed by POM and have a desired elasticity. The pair of fixing members 11 and 11 are attached to the holder mounting portion with a preload by elastic deformation of the leg portions. It is fixed to the columnar protrusion. In this case, as compared with the case where the housing 9 itself is elastically deformed as in the first embodiment, the elastic deformation is less likely to propagate to the optical fiber holding portion, and it is easy to suppress a decrease in the positioning accuracy of the optical fiber. In addition, since the dimensions of the fixing members 11 and 11 can be determined regardless of the dimensions of the housing 9 determined by other design factors, the freedom of setting the detachment force is increased.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a partial cross section for explaining another situation in which the optical fiber holder is fixed to the holder mounting portion. The optical fiber holder 1 according to this aspect includes a leg-shaped fixing member 13 that protrudes toward the holder mounting portion at the center of the bottom surface of the housing portion 9, and the fixing member 13 is provided at the center of the holder mounting portion 7. The concave holder attachment part 14 corresponding to is provided. The fixing member 13 is fitted into the holder mounting portion 14 with a preload, and the tool and the optical fiber holder are fixed. Also in this case, as compared with the case where the housing 9 itself is elastically deformed as in the first embodiment, the elastic deformation is less likely to propagate to the optical fiber holding portion, and it is easy to suppress a decrease in the positioning accuracy of the optical fiber. In addition, since the dimensions of the fixing members 11 and 11 can be determined regardless of the dimensions of the housing 9 determined by other design factors, the freedom of setting the detachment force is increased.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a partial cross section for explaining another example of fixing the optical fiber holder to the holder mounting portion. The optical fiber holder 1 of this aspect is fixed to the holder mounting portion with a preload by elastic deformation of only the housing portion 9 as in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the length of the optical fiber holder 1 in the width direction is larger than the length of the width d of the concave portion of the holder mounting portion 7 formed of a rectangular concave portion, and the optical fiber holder 1 itself is elastically deformed. Then, it is pushed into the recess of the holder mounting portion. That is, it is fixed to both side walls of the holder mounting portion with a preload by elastic deformation of the optical fiber holder. This aspect is different from the first embodiment in that the hollow portions 20 are respectively provided at both end portions of the housing portion 9 of the optical fiber holder 1 along the longitudinal direction of the housing portion (that is, the axial direction of the optical fiber). Is provided. The cavity 20 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape, for example.

  Elastic deformation of the housing 9 is absorbed by the cavity 5. That is, the elastic deformation of the housing 9 and the fixing member 4 does not propagate to the holding unit 3. In addition, by providing the cavity part 5, the housing | casing part 9 becomes easy to deform | transform and can also reduce the force required for attachment or detachment. Note that the cross-sectional shape that absorbs deformation may be a thin-walled portion that absorbs deformation in the horizontal direction in the figure, instead of being completely hollow, instead of a rectangular cavity.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a partial cross section for explaining another example of fixing the optical fiber holder to the holder mounting portion. The optical fiber holder 1 is fitted into a holder mounting portion 7 formed of, for example, a rectangular recess provided on the upper surface portion 8 of the tool body. In this embodiment, a locking projection 21 protruding in the lateral direction is formed at the center of both side walls of the holder mounting portion 7. The optical fiber holder 1 includes a locking concave portion 26 corresponding to the locking convex portion 21 of the holder mounting portion 7 at the center of both side surfaces of the housing portion. The cross-sectional shapes of the locking projection 21 and the locking recess 26 may be generally triangular or rectangular as shown in the figure. Locking recesses 26 formed on both side surfaces of the housing portion of the optical fiber holder 1 are locked and locked with locking protrusions 21 formed at the center of both side walls of the holder mounting portion 7.

  The housing portion 9 of the optical fiber holder has a desired elasticity, and is fixed to the holder mounting portion with a preload by elastic deformation of the housing portion 9, but is locked in addition to the friction between the housing portion 9 and the holder mounting portion. Since the locking of the convex portion 21 and the locking concave portion 26 contributes to the fixing, positioning is easier and the mounting and dismounting can be performed with a small mounting force. In FIG. 7, the locking projection 21 is provided on the holder mounting portion side and the locking recess 26 is provided on the optical fiber holder side. However, as shown in FIG. The locking recess 26 may be provided on the holder mounting portion side.

  In the first to fifth embodiments, the housing portion 9 and the fixing member of the optical fiber holder are elastically deformed and fixed to the holder mounting portion with a preload. However, the optical fiber holder is conventionally formed of a hard material such as metal. The holder mounting portion may be formed of a material that can be elastically deformed, such as a spring material or resin, and the holder mounting portion may be elastically deformed to fix the optical fiber holder with a preload. In this case, as shown in the fifth embodiment, it is of course possible to combine a mode in which the locking projection and the locking recess are locked. It goes without saying that both the housing part and the fixing member of the optical fiber holder and the holder mounting part can be elastically deformed and fixed with preload.

  According to the present invention, a low-cost optical fiber holder that can be easily detached from an optical fiber cutting tool, can shorten the construction time, and can accurately cut an optical fiber, and the same are provided. A tool for cutting an optical fiber or removing its coating can be provided, which has high industrial utility value.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining one embodiment of the optical fiber holder of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view for explaining a state in which the optical fiber holder of the present invention is attached to a tool for cutting an optical fiber. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a partial cross section for explaining a situation in which the optical fiber holder is fixed to the holder mounting portion. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a partial cross section for explaining another situation in which the optical fiber holder is fixed to the holder mounting portion. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a partial cross section for explaining another situation in which the optical fiber holder is fixed to the holder mounting portion. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a partial cross section for explaining another situation in which the optical fiber holder is fixed to the holder mounting portion. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a partial cross section for explaining another situation in which the optical fiber holder is fixed to the holder mounting portion. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a partial cross section for explaining another situation in which the optical fiber holder is fixed to the holder mounting portion. FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a conventional method for fixing an optical fiber holder to a fiber guide. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating a conventional method for fixing an optical fiber holder to a fiber guide. FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing another conventional method for fixing the optical fiber holder to the fiber guide. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a conventional optical fiber cutter with a lid part opened. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a conventional optical fiber cutter with the lid portion closed.

Explanation of symbols

1. 1. Optical fiber holder 2. Optical fiber core wire Holding unit 4. 4. Projection part Cavity 6 Optical fiber 7. Holder mounting part 8. Upper surface part 9. Case parts 11, 13, 22. Leg 12. Projection 14. Hollow part 15. Blade part 18. Clamp 20. Cavities 21, 23. Locking projections 25, 26. Locking recess

Claims (2)

An optical fiber holder that is detachably attached to a holder attachment portion of a tool that cuts or removes the coating of the optical fiber, and holds the position of the optical fiber,
The optical fiber holder includes a housing portion, formed in the housing portion, a holding portion for holding the optical fiber,
The housing portion is formed with a protruding fixing member formed integrally with the housing portion on a side surface of the housing portion, and at a position inside the housing portion in the vicinity of the fixing member. A hollow portion is provided ,
When the optical fiber holder is mounted to the holder mounting portion, said with casing and the fixing member is fixed with a preload to the holder mounting portion by elastic deformation, the housing portion and the fixing member the optical fiber holder, wherein the go the elastic deformation such is transmitted to the holding portion by the elastic deformation is absorbed by the cavity of the. A tool for cutting an optical fiber provided with the optical fiber holder according to claim 1 or removing its coating.

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