Optical fiber preform etching device and method for measuring etching amount

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of optical fiber production technology, and specifically to an optical fiber preform etching device and a method for measuring etching amount. The technical problem to be solved is to overcome the defects of inaccurate pickling process and etching amount measurement in the prior art, which is mainly achieved through the following technical scheme: an optical fiber preform etching device, comprising a pickling machine, a preform, a test piece, and also a bearing structure, a driving structure and a sealing structure. The bearing structure comprises a supporting member and a fixing member, the supporting member comprises a bearing wheel, a bearing block and a limiting member, and the driving structure comprises a rotating drive and a sliding drive. The device can meet the demand of pickling multiple preforms at the same time, and reduce the possibility of rolling of the preforms during pickling, effectively improving the pickling effect. The measurement method is simple to calculate and effectively reduces the preparation time of the test piece. The measurement result is accurate and convenient for subsequent adjustment of the pickling concentration.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of optical fiber production, and in particular to an optical fiber preform etching device and a method for measuring etching amount. Background Art

[0002] Optical fiber preform is mainly composed of quartz glass cladding and germanium-doped glass core. In the process of optical fiber production and manufacturing, in order to improve the quality of optical fiber preform and ensure the low loss of optical fiber, it is necessary to continuously improve the strength of optical fiber, thereby improving the production efficiency of optical fiber.

[0003] The strength of optical fiber depends on many factors, such as the quality of optical fiber preform, the speed of drawing, the stability of the temperature field of the drawing furnace, the quality of the inner and outer coatings, the curing state of the coating, etc. Among them, the quality of optical fiber preform plays a decisive role. The production of optical fiber preforms is mostly prepared by OVD process. The main principle is to spray high-purity gaseous raw materials on the outside of the core rod through a blowtorch. The raw gas undergoes hydrolysis reaction at high temperature to produce silica particles, which are deposited on the core rod through thermophoresis effect. Through the relative movement between the blowtorch and the core rod, the particles are deposited layer by layer on the surface of the core rod to obtain a loose body of optical fiber preform, which is then dehydrated and sintered to obtain a dense preform. After sintering, HF acid will be used to etch the surface of the optical fiber preform to improve the production strength of the optical fiber. HF acid can easily corrode and polish the surface of the optical fiber preform.

[0004] In current technology, during the pickling process of optical fiber, due to the activation of the circulating pump, the internal acid circulates, which may cause the preform to roll in the pickling equipment, touch the tube groove, and even cause the tube groove to bend, affecting the surface etching effect. After the pickling is completed, the etching amount of the corrosion sample is calculated to obtain the etching amount of this pickling. The existing corrosion sample preparation is relatively complicated, and the calculation process is relatively cumbersome, and it is impossible to accurately calculate the etching amount of hydrofluoric acid on the optical fiber preform. Summary of the invention

[0005] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the defects in the pickling process and measurement in the prior art, thereby providing an optical fiber preform etching device and a method for measuring the etching amount.

[0006] The above technical objectives of the present invention are achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0007] An optical fiber preform etching device comprises a pickling machine, a preform, a test piece, a pickling liquid inlet and outlet circuit, an exhaust device, a control system and a plurality of liquid storage tanks, wherein a pickling tank is arranged in the pickling machine, a cover plate is arranged at the top interface of the pickling machine, and further comprises:

[0008] A bearing structure, the bearing structure is arranged in the pickling tank, the bearing structure includes a support member for bearing the preform and a fixing member for bearing the test piece, the support members are arranged in pairs and a plurality of them are arranged along the length direction of the pickling tank, the fixing member is arranged at one side in the pickling machine, the fixing member includes an abutment wheel in contact with the surface of the test piece, the abutment wheels are arranged in pairs and parallel to each other and the axes are parallel, the test piece is arranged above the fixing member, the supporting member includes a bearing wheel arranged in pairs and a bearing block arranged below the bearing wheel, the axes of the two bearing wheels are parallel and a gap is left in between, and the bearing wheel is positioned and rotatably mounted on the bearing block;

[0009] A driving structure, wherein the driving structure includes a rotation drive and a sliding drive, wherein the rotation drive is arranged in the pickling machine, wherein the rotation drive drives the paired bearing wheels to rotate relative to each other, wherein the sliding drive is arranged between two supporting members arranged in pairs, wherein the sliding drive includes a driving member and a sliding member, wherein the driving member is arranged in the pickling machine and located between the two supporting members arranged in pairs and connected to the sliding member, wherein the sliding member is slidingly connected to the bearing block;

[0010] A sealing structure, wherein the sealing structure comprises a first sealing member and a second sealing member, wherein the first sealing member is arranged between the cover plate and the pickling machine, and the second sealing member is arranged on the side wall of the pickling machine, wherein the first sealing member comprises a sealing groove opened on the top of the pickling machine and a sealing strip embedded around the bottom of the cover plate, and a disassembly opening is also arranged at the bottom of the cover plate.

[0011] By adopting the above technical solution, the bearing structure is used to fix the preform without affecting its pickling process, and cooperates with the driving structure to realize the movement of the preform during the pickling process, thereby improving the pickling efficiency. The limiter is limited when the preform moves to prevent its rolling from affecting the pickling quality; the limiter abuts against the side wall of the preform, and resets the preform after it has a rolling tendency, thereby reducing the rolling probability and avoiding touching the bottom pipe groove, which causes the pipe groove to bend. The device is reasonably designed and simple in structure, and can meet the needs of pickling multiple preforms at the same time, and reduces the problem of rolling of the preform during pickling, which affects the pickling effect, thereby improving the pickling effect and having strong practicality.

[0012] Furthermore, the support member also includes a limit member, which is arranged on two opposite sides of the supporting block. The limit member includes an introduction plate and a limit block. The introduction plate is arc-shaped and is arranged on a side close to the inner wall of the pickling tank. The diameter of the introduction plate is larger than the diameter of the preform, and the limit block is hingedly arranged in the supporting block.

[0013] By adopting the above technical solution, the limiting member limits the position of the prefabricated part on the two load-bearing wheels, thereby preventing the prefabricated part from being bumped due to excessive movement; the introducing member facilitates the insertion of the cylindrical prefabricated part.

[0014] Furthermore, the limit block is L-shaped, and a spherical protrusion is provided at one end of the limit block close to the preform. The corner of the limit block is hinged to the supporting block. A limit groove for accommodating the limit block is provided in the supporting block, and the limit groove is arc-shaped. The side wall of the supporting block is also provided with an abutment block abutting against the other end of the limit block.

[0015] By adopting the above technical solution, the spherical protrusion abuts against the side of the preform, and can respond promptly when the preform has a rolling tendency. The abutment block is made of elastic butyl rubber material, which is resistant to hydrofluoric acid corrosion and has elasticity, and can provide good elastic force to the other end of the limit block.

[0016] Furthermore, a reset member is also provided in the limit groove, and the reset member includes a fixing pin and a toggle plate, the fixing pin is fixed in the limit groove on the side close to the preform, one end of the toggle plate is sleeved on the fixing pin, and the other end abuts against the bottom of a section of the limit block close to the preform.

[0017] By adopting the above technical solution, the preform rolls and presses down the limit block, and the limit block presses down the toggle plate. The toggle plate itself has an upward force to make the limit block bounce up, thereby abutting against the side of the preform, reducing the possibility of the preform rolling or reducing the rolling distance of the preform, thereby preventing the preform from touching the pipe groove.

[0018] Furthermore, the rotation drive is arranged on the supporting block, and the rotation drive includes a driving shaft, a driving main gear, a driving sub-gear and a driving motor arranged in pairs, the driving main gear, the driving sub-gear and the driving motor are arranged at one end in the pickling tank, the supporting wheels are all sleeved on the driving shaft, the driving main gear and the driving sub-gear are arranged at one end of the driving shaft and mesh with each other, and the driving motor controls the rotation of the driving main gear.

[0019] By adopting the above technical solution, the rotary drive controls the rotation of the preform during pickling, thereby ensuring that the surface of the preform is pickled evenly and thoroughly, ensuring the pickling effect.

[0020] Furthermore, the sliding member includes a sliding block, a hinged rod and a rotating disk, the two ends of the hinged rod are respectively hinged to the sliding block and the rotating disk, the sliding block is fixedly connected to the bottom of the supporting block, and a fixed block is also provided at the bottom of the supporting block. A sliding groove is opened on the fixed block, and the sliding block is slidably set in the sliding groove.

[0021] By adopting the above technical solution, the rotation of the rotating disk drives the articulated rod to make reciprocating motion. Since the articulated rod is hinged to the sliding block and a sliding groove is provided on the fixed block, the sliding block is driven to slide back and forth in the sliding groove. Since the sliding block is fixedly connected to the bottom of the supporting block, the supporting block is driven to slide back and forth, thereby driving the prefabricated parts on the supporting block to slide, and the two parallel prefabricated parts approach / move away from each other or move synchronously (determined according to the initial position of the hinge between the articulated rod and the rotating disk under the two parallel supporting blocks).

[0022] Furthermore, the driving member includes a rotating gear, a center gear, a driving shaft and a rotating motor. The rotating gear is coaxially arranged with the rotating disk and is arranged on the outer side wall of the rotating disk. The rotating gear is meshed with the center gear. The bottom of the center gear is meshed with the driving shaft. The rotating motor drives the driving shaft to rotate. The rotating motor is arranged in the pickling machine.

[0023] By adopting the above technical solution, the rotating motor drives the driving shaft to rotate. Since the driving shaft is meshed with the center gear, the center gear is driven to rotate, and the rotating gears on both sides of the center gear rotate accordingly but in the same direction. The rotation of the rotating gears drives the rotating disk to rotate, thereby realizing the rotation of the sliding part, and finally achieving the purpose of controlling the sliding of the prefabricated part.

[0024] Furthermore, the second sealing member includes a sealing ring and a sealing sleeve. The sealing ring is arranged at one end of the driving shaft close to the driving main gear and the driving sub-gear. The sealing sleeve is arranged at the connection between the pickling machine and the driving shaft. The sealing sleeve is in a circular ring shape and has extension rings at both ends. The top of the extension ring of the sealing sleeve close to one end of the driving shaft is a bevel.

[0025] By adopting the above technical solution, the second sealing component isolates the outside and the inside of the pickling machine, thereby preventing acid leakage during pickling and ensuring the safety of pickling.

[0026] A method for measuring the etching amount of an optical fiber preform, which is used to test the optical fiber preform produced by an etching device, comprises the following steps: S1: slitting, slitting the preform that needs to be pickled, and processing it into a test piece in the shape of a cylinder; S2: measuring, measuring the initial weight m1 of the test piece, measuring the radius r1 and height h of the test piece, and calculating the surface area s1, volume v1 and density ρ of the test piece; S3: pickling, placing the test piece in a pickling machine for pickling together with the preform, and after the pickling is completed, taking out the test piece, washing it with pure water and alcohol, and then drying it with nitrogen; S4: measuring again, measuring the weight m2 of the test piece after pickling, and calculating the weight m reduced during the pickling process 减 ; S5: Calculate, use the formula to calculate the volume reduction: Finally, the etching depth is obtained:

[0027] Furthermore, a high-precision electronic balance is used to weigh the test piece during measurement, and a vernier caliper is used to measure the radius and height of the test piece during measurement.

[0028] In summary, the technical solution of the present invention has the following advantages:

[0029] 1. The optical fiber preform etching device and the method for measuring the etching amount provided by the present invention have reasonable design and simple structure, can meet the needs of simultaneous pickling of multiple preforms, and reduce the problem of rolling of the preforms during pickling, which affects the pickling effect, thereby improving the pickling effect and having strong practicality.

[0030] 2. The optical fiber preform etching device and the method for measuring the etching amount provided by the present invention have a limit block abutting against the side wall of the preform, and resetting the preform after it has a rolling tendency, thereby reducing the rolling probability and avoiding touching the bottom tube groove, which causes the tube groove to bend. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] In order to more clearly illustrate the specific implementation methods of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the specific implementation methods or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some implementation methods of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0032] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an optical fiber preform etching device provided in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view of a support member provided in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of an explosion structure of a support member and a sliding drive provided in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a partial structure of a slip drive provided in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 5 A schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of a second sealing member provided in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a partial structure of a rotation drive provided in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Description of reference numerals:

[0039] 1. Pickling machine; 11. Pickling tank; 12. Cover plate; 121. Disassembly port; 2. Prefabricated part; 3. Test piece; 4. Bearing structure; 5. Support member; 51. Bearing wheel; 52. Bearing block; 521. Limiting groove; 522. Abutment block; 53. Fixed block; 531. Sliding groove; 54. Limiting member; 541. Introducing plate; 542. Limiting block; 55. Reset member; 551. Fixed pin; 552. Toggle plate; 6. Fixed member; 61. Abutment wheel; 7. Driving structure; 71. Rotation drive; 711. Driving shaft; 712 , driving main gear; 713, driving sub-gear; 714, driving motor; 72, sliding drive; 721, driving member; 7211, rotating gear; 7212, central gear; 7213, driving shaft; 7214, rotating motor; 722, sliding member; 7221, sliding block; 7222, hinged rod; 7223, rotating disk; 8, sealing structure; 81, first sealing member; 811, sealing groove; 812, sealing strip; 82, second sealing member; 821, sealing ring; 822, sealing sleeve; 8221, extension ring. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention.

[0041] An optical fiber preform etching device comprises a pickling machine 1, a preform 2, a test piece 3, a pickling liquid inlet and outlet circuit, an exhaust device, a control system and a plurality of liquid storage tanks. The pickling machine 1 is provided with a pickling tank 11, and a cover plate 12 is provided at the top of the pickling machine 1. Figure 1 As shown, it also includes a bearing structure 4, a driving structure 7 and a sealing structure 8. The bearing structure 4 is arranged in the pickling tank 11. The bearing structure 4 includes a support member 5 for bearing the preform 2 and a fixing member 6 for bearing the test piece 3. The support members 5 are arranged in pairs and multiple members are arranged along the length direction of the pickling tank 11. The fixing member 6 is arranged on one side of the pickling machine 1. The driving structure 7 is arranged in the pickling tank 11 and controls the rotation and sliding of the preform 2 during pickling. The bearing structure 4 is used to fix the preform 2 without affecting its pickling process. At the same time, it cooperates with the driving structure 7 to realize the movement of the preform 2 during the pickling process, thereby improving the pickling efficiency. The sealing structure 8 is used to seal the pickling machine 1 to achieve isolation between the inside and the outside of the pickling machine 1 to ensure the safety of pickling.

[0042] The device has reasonable design and simple structure, can meet the demand of pickling multiple preform rods at the same time, reduces the problem of rolling of the preform rods during pickling, and affects the pickling effect, improves the pickling effect, and has strong practicality.

[0043] like Figure 1 , Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, the sealing structure 8 includes a first sealing member 81 and a second sealing member 82, wherein the first sealing member 81 is arranged between the cover plate 12 and the pickling machine 1, and the second sealing member 82 is arranged on the side wall of the pickling machine 1. The first sealing member 81 includes a sealing groove 811 opened at the top of the pickling machine 1 and a sealing strip 812 embedded around the bottom of the cover plate 12, and a disassembly port 121 is also arranged at the bottom of the cover plate 12. The disassembly port 121 can facilitate the disassembly of the sealing strip 812 without affecting the sealing, so as to timely update and ensure the sealing effect between the cover plate 12 and the pickling machine 1.

[0044] The second sealing member 82 includes a sealing ring 821 and a sealing sleeve 822. The sealing ring 821 is sleeved on one end of the driving shaft 711 close to the driving main gear 712 and the driving sub-gear 713. The sealing sleeve 822 is arranged at the connection between the pickling machine 1 and the driving shaft 7213. The sealing sleeve 822 is in a circular ring shape and has extension rings 8221 at both ends. The top of the extension ring 8221 of the sealing sleeve 822 close to one end of the driving shaft 7213 is a slope.

[0045] like Figure 2 As shown, the fixing member 6 includes abutment wheels 61 in contact with the surface of the test piece 3, the abutment wheels 61 are arranged in pairs and parallel with their axes parallel, and the test piece 3 is arranged above the fixing member 6. Since the test piece 3 is small in size, it is very easy to be affected by the acid liquid and roll along with it after the circulation in the pickling machine 1 is started, thereby bumping against the surface of the preform 2. Therefore, the test piece 3 is placed on the upper side of the pickling machine 1 to prevent it from floating and rolling and completely immersed in the pickling machine 1, and the pickling operation is completed together with the preform 2 to ensure the accuracy of the subsequent measurement of the etching amount.

[0046] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the support member 5 also includes a limiter 54, which is arranged on two opposite sides of the bearing block 52. The limiter 54 includes an introduction plate 541 and a limiter 542. The introduction plate 541 is arc-shaped and is arranged on the side close to the inner wall of the pickling tank 11. The diameter of the introduction plate 541 is larger than the diameter of the preform 2. The limiter 542 is hingedly arranged in the bearing block 52. The limiter 542 is in an inclined L-shape. A spherical protrusion is arranged at one end of the limiter 542 close to the preform 2. The corner of the limiter 542 is hinged to the bearing block 52. A limiter groove 521 for accommodating the limiter 542 is provided in the bearing block 52. The limiter groove 521 is arc-shaped. The side wall of the bearing block 52 is also provided with an abutment block 522 abutting against the other end of the limiter 542. The spherical protrusion abuts against the side of the preform 2 and can respond promptly when the preform 2 has a rolling tendency. The abutment block 522 is made of elastic butyl rubber material, which is resistant to hydrofluoric acid corrosion and has elasticity, and can provide good elasticity to the other end of the limit block 542.

[0047] A reset member 55 is also provided in the limit groove 521. The reset member 55 includes a fixing pin 551 and a toggle plate 552. The fixing pin 551 is fixed in the limit groove 521 on the side close to the preform 2. One end of the toggle plate 552 is sleeved on the fixing pin 551, and the other end abuts against the bottom of a section of the limit block 542 close to the preform 2. The preform 2 rolls and presses down the limit block 542, and the limit block 542 presses down the toggle plate 552. The toggle plate 552 itself has an upward force to make the limit block 542 bounce up, thereby abutting against the side of the preform 2, reducing the possibility of the preform 2 rolling or reducing the rolling distance of the preform 2, thereby preventing the preform 2 from touching the pipe groove.

[0048] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, the non-motor active parts in the driving structure 7 are all made of polytetrafluoroethylene material, which is resistant to hydrofluoric acid corrosion. The driving structure 7 includes a rotation drive 71 and a sliding drive 72. The rotation drive 71 is arranged in the pickling machine 1. The rotation drive 71 drives the paired bearing wheels 51 to rotate relatively. The sliding drive 72 is arranged between the two supporting members 5 arranged in pairs. The sliding drive 72 includes a driving member 721 and a sliding member 722. The driving member 721 is arranged in the pickling machine 1 and is located between the two supporting members 5 arranged in pairs and is connected to the sliding member 722. The sliding member 722 is slidingly connected to the bearing block 52. The relatively rotating bearing wheel 51 is arranged at the bottom of the preform 2, so as to realize the positioning and rotation of the preform 2 on the bearing wheel 51; the sliding drive 72 drives the bearing block 52 to slide, and the parallel bearing blocks 52 realize the relative movement or the same direction movement of the two according to the initial position of the sliding member 722.

[0049] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the sliding member 722 includes a sliding block 7221, a hinged rod 7222 and a rotating disk 7223. The two ends of the hinged rod 7222 are respectively hinged to the sliding block 7221 and the rotating disk 7223. The sliding block 7221 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the supporting block 52. A fixed block 53 is also provided at the bottom of the supporting block 52. A sliding groove 531 is opened on the fixed block 53. The sliding block 7221 is slidably set in the sliding groove 531. The driving member 721 includes a rotating gear 7211, a center gear 7212, a driving shaft 7213 and a rotating motor 7214. The rotating gear 7211 is coaxially arranged with the rotating disk 7223 and is arranged on the outer side wall of the rotating disk 7223. The rotating gear 7211 is meshed with the center gear 7212. The bottom of the center gear 7212 is meshed with the driving shaft 7213. The rotating motor 7214 drives the driving shaft 7213 to rotate. The rotating motor 7214 is arranged in the pickling machine 1.

[0050] The rotating motor 7214 drives the driving shaft 7213 to rotate. Since the driving shaft 7213 is meshed with the central gear 7212 (the driving shaft 7213 and the central gear 7212 are quasi-hypoid gear transmission), the central gear 7212 is driven to rotate, and the rotating gears 7211 on both sides of the central gear 7212 rotate accordingly but in the same direction. The rotation of the rotating gear 7211 drives the rotating disk 7223 to rotate, and the rotation of the rotating disk 7223 drives the articulated rod 7222 to reciprocate. Since the articulated rod 7222 is hinged to the sliding block 7221 and the sliding groove 531 is provided on the fixed block 53, the sliding block 7221 is driven to move in the sliding groove 531. 31 reciprocates and slides, and since the sliding block 7221 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the supporting block 52, the supporting block 52 is driven to slide reciprocally, thereby driving the preform 2 on the supporting block 52 to slide, and the two parallel preforms 2 approach / move away from each other or move synchronously (determined according to the initial position of the hinge between the hinge rod 7222 and the rotating disk 7223 under the two parallel supporting blocks 52. If the two hinges are located at the closest / farthest point, then after the rotating motor 7214 is started, the two parallel supporting blocks 52 approach or move away from each other; if the initial positions of the two hinges are both located at the left / right, the two parallel bearings move to the right / left at the same time).

[0051] like Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, the rotation drive 71 is arranged on the bearing block 52, and the rotation drive 71 includes a driving shaft 711, a driving main gear 712, a driving sub-gear 713 and a driving motor 714 arranged in pairs, and the driving main gear 712, the driving sub-gear 713 and the driving motor 714 are arranged at one end of the pickling tank 11, and the bearing wheel 51 is sleeved on the driving shaft 711, and the driving main gear 712 and the driving sub-gear 713 are arranged at one end of the driving shaft 711 and mesh with each other, and the driving motor 714 controls the driving main gear 712 to rotate. The rotation drive 71 controls the rotation of the preform 2 during pickling, thereby ensuring that the surface of the preform 2 is pickled evenly and thoroughly, and ensuring the pickling effect.

[0052] A method for measuring the etching amount of an optical fiber preform, which is used to test the optical fiber preform produced by an etching device, comprises the following steps: S1: slitting, slitting the preform that needs to be pickled, and processing it into a test piece in the shape of a cylinder; S2: using a high-precision electronic balance to measure, measuring the initial weight m1 of the test piece, the unit is kg, using a vernier caliper to measure, measuring the radius r1 and height h of the test piece, and calculating the surface area s1, volume v1 and density ρ of the test piece; S3: pickling, placing the test piece in a pickling machine for pickling together with the preform, after the pickling is completed, taking out the test piece, washing it with pure water and alcohol, and then drying it with nitrogen; S4: measuring again, measuring the weight m2 of the test piece after pickling, and calculating the weight m reduced during the pickling process 减; S5: Calculate, use the formula to calculate the volume reduction: Finally, the etching depth is obtained:

[0053] Compared with the original method of using a corrosion ring to measure the etching amount, this method changes the corrosion ring into a solid cylinder, reduces the amount of calculation during calculation, reduces the inner ring area of ​​the corrosion ring, simplifies the calculation, and can obtain a more accurate value of the optical rod etching amount, thereby laying a foundation for the subsequent adjustment of the pickling time and the concentration of the pickling solution for the optical fiber preform, which is beneficial to improving the accuracy of the optical rod surface treatment and achieving the purpose of controlling and improving the optical fiber strength.

[0054] The working principle and use method of the optical fiber preform etching device are as follows: the preform 2 is placed according to the pickling requirements, and the cover plate 12 is tightly closed and then started. After the preform 2 is soaked in acid, the driving structure 7 is started, and the rotation drive 71 drives the preform 2 on the bearing wheel 51 to rotate, and the sliding drive 72 controls the relative movement of two parallel bearing blocks 52. The bearing blocks 52 arranged along the length direction of the pickling machine 1 move synchronously and in the same direction, driving the preform 2 to move relative to each other, so as to achieve the purpose of improving the pickling efficiency.

[0055] The above description shows and describes the preferred embodiments of the present invention. As mentioned above, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the form disclosed herein, and should not be regarded as excluding other embodiments, but can be used in various other combinations, modifications and environments, and can be modified within the scope of the invention concept described herein through the above teachings or the technology or knowledge of the relevant field. The changes and modifications made by those skilled in the art do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and should be within the scope of protection of the claims attached to the present invention.

Claims

1. An optical fiber preform etching device, comprising a pickling machine (1), a preform (2), a test piece (3), a pickling liquid inlet and outlet circuit, an exhaust device, a control system and a plurality of liquid storage tanks, wherein the pickling machine (1) is provided with a pickling tank (11), and a cover plate (12) is provided at the top interface of the pickling machine (1), characterized in that: Also includes: A bearing structure (4), the bearing structure (4) is arranged in a pickling tank (11), the bearing structure (4) comprises a support member (5) for bearing a preform (2) and a fixing member (6) for bearing a test piece (3), the support members (5) are arranged in pairs and a plurality of them are arranged along the length direction of the pickling tank (11), the fixing member (6) is arranged on one side of the pickling machine (1), the fixing member (6) comprises an abutment wheel (61) in contact with the surface of the test piece (3), the abutment wheels (61) are arranged in pairs and parallel to each other and their axes are parallel, the test piece (3) is arranged above the fixing member (6), the supporting member (5) comprises a pair of bearing wheels (51) and a bearing block (52) arranged below the bearing wheels (51), the axes of the two bearing wheels (51) are parallel to each other and a gap is left in between, and the bearing wheels (51) are positioned and rotatably mounted on the bearing block (52); A driving structure (7), the driving structure (7) comprising a rotation drive (71) and a sliding drive (72), the rotation drive (71) being arranged in the pickling machine (1), the rotation drive (71) driving the paired bearing wheels (51) to rotate relative to each other, the sliding drive (72) being arranged between two paired supporting members (5), the sliding drive (72) comprising a driving member (721) and a sliding member (722), the driving member (721) being arranged in the pickling machine (1) and between the two paired supporting members (5) and connected to the sliding member (722), the sliding member (722) being slidingly connected to the bearing block (52); A sealing structure (8), the sealing structure (8) comprising a first sealing member (81) and a second sealing member (82), the first sealing member (81) being arranged between the cover plate (12) and the pickling machine (1), the second sealing member (82) being arranged on the side wall of the pickling machine (1), the first sealing member (81) comprising a sealing groove (811) provided on the top of the pickling machine (1) and a sealing strip (812) embedded around the bottom of the cover plate (12), the bottom of the cover plate (12) also being provided with a disassembly opening (121); The support member (5) further comprises a limiting member (54), the limiting member (54) being arranged on two opposite sides of the bearing block (52), the limiting member (54) comprising an introduction plate (541) and a limiting block (542), the introduction plate (541) being arc-shaped and being arranged on a side close to the inner wall of the pickling tank (11), the diameter of the introduction plate (541) being larger than the diameter of the preform (2), and the limiting block (542) being hingedly arranged in the bearing block (52); The limiting block (542) is L-shaped, and a spherical protrusion is arranged at one end of the limiting block (542) close to the prefabricated part (2). The corner of the limiting block (542) is hinged to the bearing block (52). A limiting groove (521) for accommodating the limiting block (542) is provided in the bearing block (52), and the limiting groove (521) is arc-shaped. The side wall of the bearing block (52) is also provided with an abutting block (522) abutting against the other end of the limiting block (542); A reset member (55) is also provided in the limiting groove (521), and the reset member (55) comprises a fixing pin (551) and a toggle plate (552), wherein the fixing pin (551) is fixed in the limiting groove (521) on a side close to the preform (2), and one end of the toggle plate (552) is sleeved on the fixing pin (551), and the other end abuts against the bottom of one end of the limiting block (542) close to the preform (2); The sliding member (722) comprises a sliding block (7221), a hinge rod (7222) and a rotating disk (7223); the two ends of the hinge rod (7222) are respectively hinged to the sliding block (7221) and the rotating disk (7223); the sliding block (7221) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the bearing block (52); a fixed block (53) is further provided at the bottom of the bearing block (52); a sliding groove (531) is provided on the fixed block (53); and the sliding block (7221) is slidably arranged in the sliding groove (531); The driving member (721) comprises a rotating gear (7211), a central gear (7212), a driving shaft (7213) and a rotating motor (7214); the rotating gear (7211) is coaxially arranged with the rotating disk (7223) and is arranged on the outer wall of the rotating disk (7223); the rotating gear (7211) is meshed with the central gear (7212); the bottom of the central gear (7212) is meshed with the driving shaft (7213); the rotating motor (7214) drives the driving shaft (7213) to rotate; and the rotating motor (7214) is arranged in the pickling machine (1).

2. The optical fiber preform etching device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotation drive (71) is arranged on the bearing block (52), and the rotation drive (71) comprises a driving shaft (711), a driving main gear (712), a driving sub-gear (713) and a driving motor (714) arranged in pairs. The driving main gear (712), the driving sub-gear (713) and the driving motor (714) are arranged on one side of the pickling tank (11), and the bearing wheel (51) is sleeved on the driving shaft (711). The driving main gear (712) and the driving sub-gear (713) are arranged at one end of the driving shaft (711) and mesh with each other. The driving motor (714) controls the rotation of the driving main gear (712).

3. The optical fiber preform etching device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second sealing member (82) comprises a sealing ring (821) and a sealing sleeve (822); the sealing ring (821) is sleeved on one end of the driving shaft (711) close to the driving main gear (712) and the driving sub gear (713); the sealing sleeve (822) is arranged at the connection between the pickling machine (1) and the driving shaft (7213); the sealing sleeve (822) is in the shape of a circular ring and is provided with extension rings (8221) at both ends; the top end of the extension ring (8221) of the sealing sleeve (822) close to the driving shaft (7213) is an inclined surface.

4. A method for measuring etching amount of an optical fiber preform, characterized in that: The method for testing the optical fiber preform produced by the etching device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 comprises the following steps: S1: Slitting: Slitting the prefabricated parts that need pickling and processing them into cylindrical test pieces; S2: measurement, measuring the initial weight m1 of the test piece, measuring the radius r1 and height h of the test piece, and calculating the surface area s1, volume v1 and density ρ of the test piece; S3: Pickling: Place the test piece in the pickling machine and pickle it together with the prefabricated piece. After pickling, take out the test piece, rinse it with pure water and alcohol, and then dry it with nitrogen; S4: Measure again, measure the weight m2 of the test piece after pickling, and calculate the weight m reduced during the pickling process 减 ; S5: Calculate the volume reduction using the formula: Finally, the etching depth is obtained:

5. The method for measuring etching amount of an optical fiber preform according to claim 4, characterized in that: A high-precision electronic balance is used to weigh the test piece during measurement, and a vernier caliper is used to measure the radius and height of the test piece during measurement.

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