A full-automatic optical fiber fusion tapering machine

Abstract

The present application relates to optical fiber processing equipment technical field, disclose a kind of full-automatic optical fiber fusion tapering machine, comprising: tapering machine main body, heating head and optical fiber stretching mechanism;Heating head is used to heat optical fiber to molten state;Optical fiber stretching mechanism is set on the operating station of the tapering machine main body, including two symmetrically distributed installation platform in the heating head two sides, and for driving two the installation platform synchronous movement towards or away from each other driving device;Each installation platform is provided with: signal fiber mounting seat, two pump fiber mounting seat and attitude switching drive assembly.The present application is by setting movable pump fiber mounting seat and attitude switching drive assembly, so that installation platform can automatically switch between pre-drawing attitude and tapering attitude, realizes the automatic adjustment of optical fiber position between pre-drawing stage and tapering stage, avoids the operation cumbersome, inefficiency and optical fiber damage, position deviation and other problems caused by artificial transfer optical fiber.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of optical fiber processing equipment technology, and more specifically, to a fully automatic optical fiber fusion tapering machine. Background Technology

[0002] Fiber fusion tapering machines are key equipment used in the manufacture of passive fiber optic devices such as fiber couplers and wavelength division multiplexers. Their working principle involves bringing two or more optical fibers together, heating them to a molten state using a heating head, and simultaneously stretching the fibers using a fiber stretching mechanism. This stretches the fibers into a tapered structure within the molten region, thereby achieving optical power coupling or splitting.

[0003] In the fiber optic fusion tapering process, it is typically necessary to position and fix the signal fiber and pump fiber. Existing tapering machines have pre-stretching grooves and tapering grooves on their mounting platform. During the pre-stretching stage, two pump fibers are placed in the pre-stretching groove for pre-stretching. After pre-stretching, the operator needs to remove the pump fibers from the pre-stretching groove and then reinsert them into the upper and lower grooves of the tapering groove. The signal fiber is then placed into the middle groove of the tapering groove, forming a star-shaped distribution. This operation requires manual fiber transfer, which is not only cumbersome and inefficient, but also prone to damaging the fiber or causing positional misalignment during manual transfer, affecting tapering accuracy and product quality. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a fully automatic optical fiber fusion tapering machine to solve the aforementioned technical problems.

[0005] The present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems through the following technical solutions:

[0006] This invention provides a fully automatic optical fiber fusion tapering machine, comprising:

[0007] The main body of the tapered cone machine;

[0008] A heating head, used to heat the optical fiber to a molten state;

[0009] The fiber optic stretching mechanism is located on the operating station of the tapered machine body and includes two mounting platforms symmetrically distributed on both sides of the heating head, and a drive device for driving the two mounting platforms to move synchronously towards or away from each other.

[0010] Each of the aforementioned installation platforms is equipped with:

[0011] A signal fiber mounting base is fixedly installed on the top surface of the mounting platform, and the top surface of the signal fiber mounting base is provided with a signal fiber mounting groove for accommodating the signal fiber.

[0012] Two pump fiber mounting bases are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the signal fiber mounting base, and the top surface of each pump fiber mounting base is provided with a pump fiber mounting groove for accommodating the pump fiber.

[0013] An attitude switching drive assembly is driven to the two pump fiber mounting seats and is used to drive the two pump fiber mounting seats to move relative to the signal fiber mounting seat so that the mounting platform switches between a pre-tensioned attitude and a tapered attitude.

[0014] In the pre-tensioned state, the two pump fiber mounting bases and the signal fiber mounting base are in the first relative position, and the pump fiber mounting slots and the signal fiber mounting slots are parallel.

[0015] In the tapered posture, the two pump fiber mounting bases and the signal fiber mounting base are in a second relative position, and a preset angle is formed between the pump fiber mounting slot and the signal fiber mounting slot.

[0016] Preferably, the top surface of the mounting platform is provided with a movable groove, the signal fiber mounting base is detachably installed in the middle of the bottom surface of the movable groove, and the two pump fiber mounting bases are movably arranged in the movable groove and respectively located on both sides of the signal fiber mounting base.

[0017] Preferably, the attitude switching drive assembly includes two movable base plates slidably disposed in the movable slot and a drive structure. The two pump fiber mounting seats are respectively disposed on the top surface of the two movable base plates, and the end of each pump fiber mounting seat near the heating head is rotatably connected to the corresponding movable base plate. The drive structure is drively connected to the two movable base plates and the two pump fiber mounting seats, and is used to drive the two movable base plates to translate relative to the signal fiber mounting seat, and drive the two pump fiber mounting seats to rotate relative to the movable base plates.

[0018] Preferably, the driving structure includes a translational driving unit and a rotational driving unit. When the mounting platform switches from a pre-tensioned posture to a tapered posture, the translational driving unit drives the two movable base plates to move synchronously away from the signal fiber mounting base to a preset position. Subsequently, the rotational driving unit drives the two pump fiber mounting bases to rotate synchronously by a preset angle.

[0019] Preferably, the translation drive unit includes a linear telescopic source, two extrusion members, two pressure-bearing members, and an elastic reset member. The two pressure-bearing members are respectively fixed to the bottom of the movable base plate, and each pressure-bearing member is provided with a pressure-bearing inclined surface. The two extrusion members are connected to the output end of the linear telescopic source, and each extrusion member is provided with an abutment portion that abuts against the corresponding pressure-bearing inclined surface. The elastic reset member is connected between the movable base plate and the mounting platform to provide a reset force for moving the movable base plate toward the signal fiber mounting base.

[0020] Preferably, the rotary drive unit includes a toothed plate fixedly connected to the two extruders and gears respectively fixed to the rotating ends of the two pump fiber mounting seats. When the extruders move to a preset position, the toothed plate and the gears begin to mesh and drive the pump fiber mounting seats to rotate.

[0021] Preferably, the top surface of each of the movable base plates is provided with an arc-shaped limiting groove, and the bottom surface of each of the pump fiber mounting bases is provided with a limiting shaft that slides in cooperation with the arc-shaped limiting groove.

[0022] Preferably, the fully automatic fiber optic fusion tapering machine further includes at least two magnetic fixing weights. The signal fiber mounting base and the pump fiber mounting base are both made of a metal material that can be magnetically attracted. The magnetic fixing weights are used to press the optical fiber against the corresponding signal fiber mounting slot or pump fiber mounting slot.

[0023] Preferably, each of the pump fiber mount and signal fiber mount surfaces is coated with a wear-resistant protective layer.

[0024] Preferably, the tapering machine body is movably equipped with a microscope device, which is used to magnify and observe the tapered optical fiber.

[0025] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0026] This invention enables the installation platform to automatically switch between pre-stretching and tapering postures by setting a movable pump fiber mounting base and posture switching drive component. This achieves automatic adjustment of the fiber position between the pre-stretching and tapering stages, avoiding the cumbersome operation, low efficiency, fiber damage, and positional deviation caused by manual fiber transfer, and improving the efficiency and quality of tapering processing.

[0027] In addition, by setting up a movable base plate and a driving structure, the present invention separates and controls the translation and rotation of the pump fiber mounting base, realizing a predetermined action sequence of translation first and then rotation, ensuring that the attitude switching process is carried out in an orderly manner, avoiding interference between translation and rotation, and improving the reliability and positional accuracy of the action. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a fully automatic optical fiber fusion tapering machine according to the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the fiber stretching mechanism in a fully automatic fiber optic fusion tapering machine according to the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the installation platform in a fully automatic optical fiber fusion tapering machine according to the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4 This is the present invention. Figure 3A magnified view of a portion of point A in the middle;

[0032] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the side structure of the mounting platform in a fully automatic fiber optic fusion tapering machine according to the present invention;

[0033] Figure 6 This is the present invention. Figure 5 Cross-sectional view of plane AA;

[0034] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the attitude switching drive assembly in a fully automatic fiber optic fusion tapering machine according to the present invention;

[0035] Figure 8 This is an exploded view of the movable base plate and the pump fiber mounting base in a fully automatic optical fiber fusion tapering machine according to the present invention;

[0036] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the installation platform in the fully automatic fiber optic fusion tapering machine of the present invention when it switches to the tapering posture.

[0037] In the diagram: 10. Main body of the tapering machine; 20. Heating head; 30. Fiber optic stretching mechanism; 301. Mounting platform; 3011. Movable slot; 3012. Arc-shaped limiting slot; 302. Drive device; 303. Signal fiber mounting base; 3031. Signal fiber mounting slot; 304. Pump fiber mounting base; 3041. Pump fiber mounting slot; 3042. Limiting shaft; 305. Attitude switching drive assembly; 3051. Movable base plate; 3052. Linear telescopic source; 3053. Extrusion component; 3054. Pressure-bearing component; 3055. Elastic reset component; 3056. Toothed plate; 3057. Gear; 3058. Roller; 40. Magnetic fixing weight; 50. Microscope device. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The subject matter described herein will now be discussed with reference to exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are discussed only to enable those skilled in the art to better understand and implement the subject matter described herein, and changes may be made to the function and arrangement of the elements discussed without departing from the scope of this specification. Various processes or components may be omitted, substituted, or added as needed in the examples. Furthermore, features described in some examples may be combined in other examples.

[0039] Please refer to the following: Figures 1 to 9 A fully automatic optical fiber fusion tapering machine includes: a tapering machine body 10, a heating head 20, and an optical fiber stretching mechanism 30.

[0040] The main body 10 of the tapering machine serves as the foundational support structure for the entire equipment, and an operating station is located on it. A heating head 20 is installed in the center of the operating station and is used to heat and melt the optical fiber. The heating head 20 can employ resistance heating, laser heating, or flame heating, and its heating temperature can be adjusted according to the optical fiber material and the tapering process requirements.

[0041] The fiber stretching mechanism 30 includes two mounting platforms 301 and a drive device 302. The two mounting platforms 301 are symmetrically distributed on the left and right sides of the heating head 20. The drive device 302 is connected to the two mounting platforms 301 and drives them to move synchronously towards or away from each other. When the two mounting platforms 301 move synchronously towards each other, the molten fiber is stretched; when they move synchronously away from each other, the mounting platforms 301 are reset. The drive device 302 is installed inside the tapering machine body 10 and can use a servo motor in conjunction with a lead screw mechanism to ensure stretching accuracy and repeatability.

[0042] Each mounting platform 301 is equipped with a signal fiber mounting base 303, two pump fiber mounting bases 304, and an attitude switching drive assembly 305. Specifically, the top surface of the mounting platform 301 has a movable groove 3011, which extends along the length of the mounting platform 301 and has a flat bottom surface. The signal fiber mounting base 303 is detachably fixed to the middle position of the bottom surface of the movable groove 3011 by fasteners such as bolts, and the top surface of the signal fiber mounting base 303 is flush with the top surface of the mounting platform 301. The top surface of the signal fiber mounting base 303 has a signal fiber mounting groove 3031 extending along the fiber stretching direction. The cross-sectional shape of the signal fiber mounting groove 3031 matches the outer diameter of the signal fiber to accommodate the signal fiber and position it in a predetermined position.

[0043] Two pump fiber mounting bases 304 are movably disposed within the movable slot 3011, located on the left and right sides of the signal fiber mounting base 303, respectively. Each pump fiber mounting base 304 has a pump fiber mounting groove 3041 on its top surface. The cross-sectional shape of the pump fiber mounting groove 3041 matches the outer diameter of the pump fiber, used to accommodate the pump fiber and position it in a predetermined location. Both the pump fiber mounting base 304 and the signal fiber mounting base 303 are coated with a wear-resistant protective layer, such as a ceramic coating, to reduce friction between the optical fiber and the mounting base and prevent scratches on the optical fiber.

[0044] The attitude switching drive assembly 305 is used to drive the two pump fiber mounts 304 to move relative to the signal fiber mount 303, so that the mounting platform 301 switches between a pre-tensioned attitude and a tapered attitude. The attitude switching drive assembly 305 includes two movable base plates 3051 and a drive structure.

[0045] The movable base plate 3051 is slidably disposed within the movable groove 3011 and can slide along the length of the movable groove 3011, that is, along the direction of approaching or moving away from the signal fiber mounting base 303. Two pump fiber mounting bases 304 are respectively disposed on the top surface of the two movable base plates 3051. The end of each pump fiber mounting base 304 near the heating head 20 is rotatably connected to the movable base plate 3051 via a rotating shaft, so that the pump fiber mounting base 304 can rotate relative to the movable base plate 3051 around the rotating shaft.

[0046] The drive structure is installed inside the mounting platform 301 and is connected to the movable base plate 3051 and the pump fiber mounting base 304 for transmission. It is used to drive the movable base plate 3051 to translate and drive the pump fiber mounting base 304 to rotate. The drive structure includes a translation drive part and a rotation drive part.

[0047] Specifically, the translation drive unit includes a linear telescopic source 3052, two pressing members 3053, two pressure-bearing members 3054, and an elastic reset member 3055. The linear telescopic source 3052 is a cylinder. The two pressure-bearing members 3054 are respectively fixed to the bottom of the two movable base plates 3051, and each pressure-bearing member 3054 is provided with a pressure-bearing inclined surface. The two pressing members 3053 are fixedly connected to the piston rod of the cylinder, and each pressing member 3053 is provided with an abutment part, which is a roller 3058, to reduce friction with the pressure-bearing inclined surface. The abutment part abuts against the pressure-bearing inclined surface of the corresponding pressure-bearing member 3054. The elastic reset member 3055 is a spring, one end of which is connected to the movable base plate 3051, and the other end is connected to the side wall of the movable groove 3011. It is used to provide a reset force to move the movable base plate 3051 toward the signal fiber mounting base 303. Two symmetrically distributed springs are provided at the bottom of each movable base plate 3051.

[0048] The rotary drive unit includes a toothed plate 3056 and two gears 3057. The toothed plate 3056 is fixedly connected to two extrusion members 3053 and moves synchronously with the extrusion members 3053. The toothed plate 3056 is provided with a rack segment for meshing with the gears 3057. The two gears 3057 are respectively fixed to the rotating ends of the two pump fiber mounting seats 304 and rotate synchronously with the pump fiber mounting seats 304.

[0049] In addition, each movable base plate 3051 has an arc-shaped limiting groove 3012 on its top surface, with the center of the arc-shaped limiting groove 3012 centered on the rotational connection point (i.e., the center of the rotating shaft) between the pump fiber mounting base 304 and the movable base plate 3051. Each pump fiber mounting base 304 has a limiting shaft 3042 on its bottom surface, which slides within the arc-shaped limiting groove 3012. The central angle corresponding to the arc length of the arc-shaped limiting groove 3012 is equal to the preset angle required for the pump fiber mounting base 304 to rotate.

[0050] To facilitate fiber optic cable mounting, this embodiment also includes at least two magnetic fixing weights 40. Both the signal fiber mounting base 303 and the pump fiber mounting base 304 are made of magnetically attractable stainless steel. In use, after placing the fiber optic cable in the mounting slot, the magnetic fixing weights 40 are placed above the fiber optic cable, using magnetic force to press and fix the fiber optic cable in place.

[0051] To facilitate observation of the tapering effect, a microscope device 50 is movably mounted on the tapering machine body 10 via a universal bracket. The microscope device 50 includes a microscope body and a camera, and the camera is connected to a monitor.

[0052] The working process of the fully automatic fiber optic fusion tapering machine in this embodiment is as follows:

[0053] During the pre-tensioning stage, the mounting platform 301 is in a pre-tensioned posture; at this time, the piston rod of the cylinder is in a retracted state, and the movable base plate 3051 approaches the signal fiber mounting seat 303 under the reset force of the elastic reset member 3055. The two pump fiber mounting seats 304 and the signal fiber mounting seat 303 are in the first relative position, and the pump fiber mounting groove 3041 and the signal fiber mounting groove 3031 are parallel to each other.

[0054] Afterwards, the operator placed the signal fiber in the signal fiber mounting slot 3031 and placed the two pump fibers in the pump fiber mounting slots 3041 on both sides respectively. Then, the operator used magnetic fixing weights 40 to press and fix each fiber. Then, the operator started the tapering machine and the drive device 302 drove the two mounting platforms 301 to move synchronously towards each other to pre-stretch the fiber.

[0055] After pre-stretching, a posture switch is required to enter the tapering stage. At this time, the piston rod of the cylinder extends, driving the extrusion component 3053 to move. The roller 3058 on the extrusion component 3053 slides along the pressure slope of the pressure component 3054. Through the wedge action of the slope, the movable base plate 3051 overcomes the elastic force of the spring and moves away from the signal fiber mounting seat 303. During this process, the toothed plate 3056 moves together with the extrusion component 3053, but the rack section on the toothed plate 3056 has not yet meshed with the gear 3057. Therefore, the pump fiber mounting seat 304 remains in a parallel state.

[0056] When the movable base plate 3051 moves to the preset position, the rack segment on the toothed plate 3056 begins to mesh with the gear 3057, the cylinder continues to extend, the toothed plate 3056 drives the gear 3057 to rotate, thereby causing the pump fiber mounting base 304 to rotate around the rotating shaft by a preset angle. During this process, the limiting shaft 3042 on the bottom surface of the pump fiber mounting base 304 slides along the arc-shaped limiting groove 3012 on the top surface of the movable base plate 3051. When the limiting shaft 3042 slides to the end of the arc-shaped limiting groove 3012, the limiting shaft 3042 abuts against the end wall of the arc-shaped limiting groove 3012, preventing the pump fiber mounting base 304 from continuing to rotate, thereby precisely controlling the rotation angle. At this time, the mounting platform 301 switches to the tapered posture, and a preset included angle is formed between the pump fiber mounting groove 3041 and the signal fiber mounting groove 3031.

[0057] After the attitude switch is completed, the drive device 302 continues to drive the two mounting platforms 301 to move synchronously towards each other to perform tapering operation on the optical fiber. During or after tapering, the operator can move the microscope device 50 to the tapering area and magnify the tapered area of ​​the optical fiber through the display to check the tapering quality.

[0058] After tapering is completed, the mounting platform 301 needs to be reset to the pre-tightened position. At this time, the piston rod of the cylinder retracts, the extrusion member 3053 releases the pressure on the pressure-bearing member 3054, and the movable base plate 3051 moves toward the signal fiber mounting seat 303 under the action of the spring's reset force. During this process, the toothed plate 3056 retracts with the extrusion member 3053 and disengages from the gear 3057. The pump fiber mounting seat 304 rotates back to the pre-tightened position under the action of gravity, and the limiting shaft 3042 slides back along the arc-shaped limiting groove 3012 to reset. At this point, the mounting platform 301 returns to the pre-tightened position and can be used for the next tapering operation.

[0059] As can be seen from the above, by setting up a movable pump fiber mounting base 304 and an attitude switching drive component 305, the present invention realizes the automatic switching of the attitude of the mounting platform 301, avoids the tedious operation of manually transferring optical fibers, and improves the efficiency and quality of tapered processing; at the same time, the precise control of the rotation angle by the cooperation of the arc-shaped limiting groove 3012 and the limiting shaft 3042 ensures the accuracy of the optical fiber angle under the tapered attitude.

[0060] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. The specific embodiments described above are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art can make many other forms under the guidance of the present invention, all of which are within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fully automatic optical fiber fusion tapering machine, characterized in that, include: The main body of the tape drawer; A heating head, used to heat the optical fiber to a molten state; The fiber optic stretching mechanism is located on the operating station of the tapered machine body and includes two mounting platforms symmetrically distributed on both sides of the heating head, and a drive device for driving the two mounting platforms to move synchronously towards or away from each other. Each of the aforementioned installation platforms is equipped with: A signal fiber mounting base is fixedly installed on the top surface of the mounting platform, and the top surface of the signal fiber mounting base is provided with a signal fiber mounting groove for accommodating the signal fiber. Two pump fiber mounting bases are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the signal fiber mounting base, and the top surface of each pump fiber mounting base is provided with a pump fiber mounting groove for accommodating the pump fiber. An attitude switching drive assembly is driven to the two pump fiber mounting seats and is used to drive the two pump fiber mounting seats to move relative to the signal fiber mounting seat so that the mounting platform switches between a pre-tensioned attitude and a tapered attitude. In the pre-tensioned state, the two pump fiber mounting bases and the signal fiber mounting base are in the first relative position, and the pump fiber mounting slots and the signal fiber mounting slots are parallel. In the tapered posture, the two pump fiber mounting bases and the signal fiber mounting base are in a second relative position, and a preset angle is formed between the pump fiber mounting slot and the signal fiber mounting slot; The top surface of the installation platform is provided with a movable groove, the signal fiber mounting base is detachably installed in the middle of the bottom surface of the movable groove, and the two pump fiber mounting bases are movably arranged in the movable groove and respectively located on both sides of the signal fiber mounting base. The attitude switching drive assembly includes two movable base plates slidably disposed in the movable slot and a drive structure. The two pump fiber mounting seats are respectively disposed on the top surface of the two movable base plates, and the end of each pump fiber mounting seat near the heating head is rotatably connected to the corresponding movable base plate. The drive structure is drively connected to the two movable base plates and the two pump fiber mounting seats, and is used to drive the two movable base plates to translate relative to the signal fiber mounting seat, and drive the two pump fiber mounting seats to rotate relative to the movable base plates.

2. The fully automatic optical fiber fusion tapering machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive structure includes a translation drive and a rotation drive. When the mounting platform switches from a pre-tensioned posture to a tapered posture, the translation drive drives the two movable base plates to move synchronously away from the signal fiber mounting base to a preset position. Subsequently, the rotation drive drives the two pump fiber mounting bases to rotate synchronously by a preset angle.

3. The fully automatic optical fiber fusion tapering machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The translation drive unit includes a linear telescopic source, two extrusion members, two pressure-bearing members, and an elastic reset member. The two pressure-bearing members are respectively fixed to the bottom of the movable base plate, and each pressure-bearing member is provided with a pressure-bearing inclined surface. The two extrusion members are connected to the output end of the linear telescopic source, and each extrusion member is provided with an abutment part that abuts against the corresponding pressure-bearing inclined surface. The elastic reset member is connected between the movable base plate and the mounting platform to provide a reset force for moving the movable base plate toward the signal fiber mounting base.

4. The fully automatic optical fiber fusion tapering machine according to claim 3, characterized in that, The rotary drive unit includes a toothed plate fixedly connected to two extruders and gears respectively fixed to the rotating ends of two pump fiber mounting seats. When the extruders move to a preset position, the toothed plate and gears begin to mesh and drive the pump fiber mounting seats to rotate.

5. The fully automatic optical fiber fusion tapering machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the movable base plates has an arc-shaped limiting groove on its top surface, and each of the pump fiber mounting bases has a limiting shaft on its bottom surface that slides in conjunction with the arc-shaped limiting groove.

6. The fully automatic optical fiber fusion tapering machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes at least two magnetic fixing weights. The signal fiber mounting base and the pump fiber mounting base are both made of metal material that can be magnetically attracted. The magnetic fixing weights are used to press the optical fiber against the corresponding signal fiber mounting slot or pump fiber mounting slot.

7. The fully automatic optical fiber fusion tapering machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the pump fiber mounts and signal fiber mounts is coated with a wear-resistant protective layer.

8. The fully automatic optical fiber fusion tapering machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tapering machine is movably equipped with a microscope device, which is used to magnify and observe the tapered optical fiber.

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