Optical fiber laying unit

Abstract

An optical fiber laying unit (108, 208, 308, 408) comprises a support (106) for supporting a substrate, and a work head (110, 210, 310, 410) movable relative to the support along a first path parallel to an X axis, along a second path parallel to a Y axis, and along a third path parallel to a Z axis, the Y axis being perpendicular to the X axis, the Z axis being perpendicular to the X and Y axes, the working head is engageable with an optical fiber segment (128) and is movable along at least one of the first path, the second path, and the third path to lay at least a portion of the optical fiber segment on a substrate supported by the support. The invention further discloses an optical fiber processing machine which at least comprises the optical fiber laying unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical fiber laying unit and an optical fiber processing machine including such a unit. Background Technology

[0002] Optical fiber is now widely used, especially in long-distance data communication. It is coupled with various connectors to allow for fixed or releasable connection to different types of communication and / or data processing equipment, such as computers and servers. Until now, workers had to be at least partially involved in handling optical fibers, such as laying them on a substrate. This not only increased handling costs but also made it difficult to ensure consistent quality.

[0003] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber laying unit and an optical fiber processing machine, wherein at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages is mitigated, or at least an alternative useful to businesses and the public is provided. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to a first aspect of the invention, an optical fiber laying unit is provided, comprising: a support member for supporting at least one substrate; and a working head movable relative to the support member along a first path parallel to a first axis, a second path parallel to a second axis, and a third path parallel to a third axis, the second axis being substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and the third axis being substantially perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis; wherein the working head is engageable with an optical fiber segment and is movable along at least one of the first path, the second path, and the third path to lay at least a portion of the optical fiber segment on the substrate supported by the support member.

[0005] According to a second aspect of the invention, an optical fiber processing machine is provided, comprising at least an optical fiber laying unit, the optical fiber laying unit including a support member for supporting at least one substrate; and a working head movable relative to the support member along a first path parallel to a first axis, a second path parallel to a second axis, and a third path parallel to a third axis, the second axis being substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and the third axis being substantially perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis; wherein the working head is engageable with an optical fiber segment and is movable along at least one of the first path, the second path, and the third path to lay at least a portion of the optical fiber segment on the substrate supported by the support member. Attached Figure Description

[0006] The fiber optic laying unit and the fiber optic processing machine including the fiber optic laying unit according to embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0007] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an automatic optical fiber processing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0008] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A front view of an automated fiber optic processing machine;

[0009] Figures 3 to 12 It shows Figure 1 Operation diagram of an automated fiber optic processing machine;

[0010] Figure 13 A portion of an automated fiber optic laying unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0011] Figure 14 A portion of an automated fiber optic laying unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown; and

[0012] Figure 15 A portion of an automated fiber optic laying unit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0013] The automatic fiber optic processing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown in the diagram, and generally represented as 100, machine 100 is under computer numerical control (CNC) to improve efficiency, reduce processing costs, and ensure consistency of the final product. Machine 100 has a main body 102 on which a control panel 104 is mounted, providing an interface that allows input of commands to machine 100 and displays the operating status of machine 100. Machine 100 also includes a support 106 for supporting one or more substrates (not shown) to be processed by machine 100.

[0014] Machine 100 includes an optical fiber laying unit 108 for laying a segment of optical fiber onto one or more substrates on a support 106. Unit 108 includes a working head 110 (which may be in the form of a rotatable roller) carried by a retainer 112 for simultaneous movement. The retainer 112 is mounted on a track 114 (parallel to the X-axis). Figure 1 As shown), and can be driven by one or more cylinders (e.g., servo motors / electric cylinders) (not shown) to move back and forth along track 114 and relative to support 106.

[0015] Track 114 is installed parallel to the Y-axis (e.g.) Figure 1The Y-axis is perpendicular to the X-axis and can move relative to two parallel side rails 116 (shown). The rails 114 can be driven by one or more cylinders (e.g., servo motors / electric cylinders) (not shown) to reciprocate along the side rails 116, thereby causing the retainer 112 (and the working head or roller 110) to reciprocate simultaneously along a path parallel to the Y-axis.

[0016] The retainer 112 (to which the working head 110 is connected for simultaneous movement) may also be driven by one or more cylinders (e.g., servo motors / electric cylinders) (not shown) to move relative to the support 106 along a direction parallel to the Z-axis (e.g. Figure 1 The working head 110 reciprocates along the path shown, with the Z-axis perpendicular to the X and Y axes. Furthermore, the working head 110 can also be driven to rotate relative to the retainer 112 about an axis parallel to the Z-axis.

[0017] Although at any given time, the working head 110 may move only along a first path parallel to the X-axis, or along a second path parallel to the Y-axis, or along a third path parallel to the Z-axis, or rotate around an axis parallel to the Z-axis, it is conceivable that two or more (or even all four) such movements may occur simultaneously, thereby increasing the operating speed.

[0018] The machine 100 also includes a rotatable spool 118 for storing an optical fiber segment (e.g., by winding the optical fiber segment onto the spool 118) for subsequent operation. The optical fiber segment can be moved by a driver to extend away from the spool 118 toward the working head 110, thereby causing the spool 118 to rotate about its own axis of rotation.

[0019] Figures 3 to 12 A close-up diagram shows an exemplary operating sequence of the fiber laying unit 108 of the fiber processing machine 100. Figure 3 The diagram shows the working head 110 positioned above the support 106 after the previous operating sequence. Then, the retainer 112 moves along the track 114 in direction A (parallel to the X-axis) until the working head 110 is positioned above the clamp 120, as shown. Figure 4 As shown. The clamp 120 has a pair of jaws 122 with a pair of opposing flat surfaces 124. The jaws 122 may be driven by one or more cylinders (e.g., servo motors / electric cylinders) to move toward each other (so that the two flat surfaces 124 come into contact with each other) or away from each other (so that the two flat surfaces 124 disengage from each other).

[0020] The working head 110 also includes a channel 126 through which an optical fiber segment 128 extends, allowing the optical fiber segment 128 to move longitudinally through the channel 126, wherein the channel 126 guides this longitudinal movement of the optical fiber 128 relative to the working head 110. Figure 4 As can be seen, the free end 130 of the optical fiber 128 extends from the channel 126.

[0021] Figure 5 This illustrates the downward movement of the working head 110 (parallel to the Z-axis) toward the clamp 120. (As shown...) Figure 6 As shown, after the working head 110 reaches a predetermined position above the clamp 120, the fiber segment 128 is driven to extend further away from the channel 126 until at least a portion of the fiber segment 128 is between the flat surfaces 124 of the jaws 122 of the clamp 120 (which is in a jaw-open configuration). Then, the jaws 122 are driven (e.g., by one or more servo motors / electric cylinders) to move toward each other to secure and hold the fiber segment 128 between a pair of flat surfaces 124 of the jaws 122 of the clamp 120 (which is in a jaw-closed configuration), as... Figure 7 As shown, when the clamp 120 is in the open gripper configuration, the fiber segment 128 can be detached from the clamp 120, and when the clamp 120 is in the closed gripper configuration, the fiber segment 128 held by the clamp 120 cannot be detached from the clamp 120.

[0022] After securing the end of the fiber segment 128 with clamp 120, and as Figure 8 As shown, the retainer 112 (simultaneously with the working head 110 carried by it) moves along the track 114 in relation to... Figure 3 In the opposite direction, A moves away from the clamp 120 and toward the support 106. As it does so, more fiber segments 128 are drawn from the spool 118 (see...). Figure 1 and Figure 2 Pulling it out increases the length of the fiber segment 128 between the clamp 120 and the working head 110 accordingly.

[0023] When the working head 110 reaches the predetermined position above the support 106, such as Figure 9 As shown, the retainer 112 is driven downwards (in a direction parallel to the Z-axis) until the fiber segment 128 contacts a portion of the substrate (not shown), for subsequent laying of the fiber segment 128 onto the substrate. Since no substrate is currently placed on the support 106, the support 106 is treated as the substrate for illustrative purposes. It can be seen that the working head 110 is a rotatable roller 111 that applies and guides the fiber segment 128 onto the substrate. The working head 110 also has two balancing springs 113, which provide automatic mechanical balancing for the working head 110. The working head 110 also has a vertical spring, which provides damping for the working head 110 on the fiber segment 128.

[0024] Figure 10The movement of the working head 110 along a path parallel to the X-axis is shown to lay more fiber segments 128 onto the support 106. During this movement, the working head 110 moves along the fiber segments 128 pulled from the spool 118 to guide and lay the fiber 128 onto the substrate. After moving a predetermined distance along the path parallel to the X-axis and thus laying the first segment of fiber segment 128 of a predetermined length onto the support 106 along the path parallel to the X-axis, and as... Figure 11 As shown, the working head 110 rotates approximately 90° counterclockwise (when viewed from above) about an axis parallel to the Z-axis. Figure 12 As shown, the retainer 112 (and the working head 110 carried by it), which is supported by the track 114, then moves in a path parallel to the Y-axis (as shown). Figure 1 As shown), a second segment of fiber segment 128 is laid on support 106, the second segment being perpendicular to the first segment of fiber segment 128.

[0025] Figure 13 A schematic diagram of a portion of an optical fiber laying unit according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown, generally indicated as 208. The laying unit 208 includes a roller 240 that assists in guiding optical fibers 128 from a spool 118 (not shown) to a working head 210. A spring 242, vertically oriented along its longitudinal axis, is disposed above the working head 210 to provide damping on the optical fibers 128.

[0026] Figure 14 A schematic diagram of a portion of an optical fiber laying unit according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown, generally indicated as 308. The working head 310 of the laying unit 308 includes two finger-like members 342 for controlling the movement of the optical fiber 128.

[0027] Figure 15 A schematic diagram of a portion of an optical fiber laying unit according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown, the optical fiber laying unit generally represented by 408. It can be seen that the segment of optical fiber 128 is arranged to follow a different path before being joined with the working head 410.

[0028] Although machine 100 is shown and discussed above as comprising only one fiber laying unit 108, 208, 308, 408, it should be understood that, firstly, machine 100 may include multiple fiber laying units for working on multiple substrates on support 106. Secondly, machine 100 may include additional processing units for performing other kinds of processing or operations on substrates and / or optical fibers 128, such that further steps for operating, processing and / or fabricating substrates and / or optical fibers 128 can be automated and handled by a single machine 100.

[0029] Machine 100 can provide automatic mechanical balancing and / or damping characteristics on optical fiber 128 via a working head or roller 110, and can operate on optical fibers of different sizes. Furthermore, since machine 100 is under computer numerical control (CNC), high precision can be achieved (e.g., in terms of the length of linear movement along each of the X, Y, and Z axes and the degree of rotational movement about the Z axis).

[0030] It should be understood that the above are merely examples illustrating how the invention can be implemented, and various modifications and / or alterations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. It should also be understood that certain features of the invention described in the context of individual embodiments for clarity may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, for brevity, various features of the invention described in the context of individual embodiments may also be provided individually or in any suitable sub-combination.

Claims

1. An optical fiber laying unit, comprising: Support member, the support member being used to support at least one base; as well as The working head is movable relative to the support member along a first path parallel to a first axis, a second path parallel to a second axis, and a third path parallel to a third axis, the second axis being substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and the third axis being substantially perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis. The working head is capable of engaging an optical fiber segment and moving along at least one of the first path, the second path, and the third path to lay at least a portion of the optical fiber segment on a substrate supported by the support member.

2. The unit according to claim 1, wherein, The working head is capable of rotating about an axis that is substantially parallel to the third axis.

3. The unit according to claim 1 or 2 further includes a storage component for storing at least a portion of the optical fiber segment.

4. The unit of claim 3 further includes a driver for moving the optical fiber segment away from the storage member and into the working head.

5. The unit according to any one of the preceding claims further includes a clamp for releasably holding the optical fiber segment.

6. The unit according to claim 5, wherein, The clamp is movable between a closed configuration that prevents the fiber segment from detaching from the clamp and an open configuration that allows the fiber segment to detach from the clamp.

7. The unit according to claim 6, wherein, The clamp includes two gripper members that are movable toward or away from each other by at least one servo motor / electric cylinder, thereby moving the clamp between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

8. The unit according to any one of claims 5, 6 and 7, wherein, When the free end of the fiber segment is held by the clamp, the working head can move away from the clamp to extract the fiber segment from the storage member.

9. The unit according to claim 8, wherein, When the free end of the optical fiber segment is held by the clamp, the working head can move away from the clamp and along the optical fiber segment to increase the length of the optical fiber segment between the clamp and the working head.

10. The unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The working head includes a channel through which the optical fiber segment can extend to move relative to each other in the length direction.

11. The unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The working head includes rollers.

12. The unit according to claim 11, wherein, The roller is adapted to apply and guide the movement of the optical fiber segment on the substrate.

13. The unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The working head includes two springs for providing automatic mechanical balance.

14. The unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The working head includes a substantially vertical spring that provides damping for the working head on the fiber segment.

15. An optical fiber processing machine, comprising at least the optical fiber laying unit according to claim 1.

Images