Transfer device for optical fiber array production
By designing a transfer device for fiber optic array production, the problems of damage and secondary contamination during the transfer process between the V-groove and the cover plate were solved, enabling efficient and low-cost batch transfer and cleaning, and improving production efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-02-25
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-13
Smart Images
Figure CN223990306U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to a storage and transfer device, and more particularly to a transfer device for fiber optic array production. Background Technology
[0002] Fiber optic arrays are high-precision, high-reliability optical communication components widely used in the packaging of planar optical waveguide splitters and arrayed waveguide gratings. With the rapid growth in demand for fiber optic arrays from data centers and 5G commercial applications, fiber optic arrays have also found wider applications in microelectromechanical systems, sensors, silicon photonics, and other fields.
[0003] The production steps of the fiber array are as follows: (1) cleaning of V-groove, cover plate and fiber; (2) fiber array assembly; (3) dispensing and curing; (4) high temperature baking; (5) grinding and polishing. Among them, one of the important factors affecting production capacity and quality is the transfer and storage of V-groove and cover plate after cleaning. In the current production operation, the cleaned V-groove and cover plate are generally placed in a glass container or cleaning fixture for storage and transfer. The former method will cause collision between V-groove and cover plate, resulting in scratches or cracks. The latter will occupy the cleaning fixture, which is less efficient and prone to secondary pollution. In addition, both methods have the disadvantage of limited number of V-groove and cover plate that can be transferred each time. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a transfer device for fiber array production that can transfer V-grooves and cover plates in large quantities, and can prevent secondary contamination of the cleaned V-grooves and cover plates during the transfer process.
[0005] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows: a transfer device for fiber optic array production, including a cabinet and at least one carrier plate. The cabinet is provided with a number of storage compartments corresponding to the number of carrier plates. When there are two or more carrier plates, the storage compartments are arranged at intervals from top to bottom in the cabinet. Each carrier plate is slidably arranged in the storage compartment along the inside and outside direction of the cabinet. A pulling component is fixedly provided on the outside of the carrier plate. The carrier plate is provided with a first storage area and a second storage area. The first storage area is recessed downward and provided with a plurality of first storage cells arranged in a row and column at intervals for storing V-grooves and matching the size of the V-grooves. Each of the first storage cells has a first clamping groove protruding outward on both sides. Two adjacent first storage cells in the same row share one first clamping groove.
[0006] The second storage area is recessed and has multiple second storage compartments arranged in rows and columns to store the cover plates and whose size matches the cover plates. Each of the second storage compartments has a second clamping groove protruding outward on both sides. Two adjacent second storage compartments in the same row share one second clamping groove.
[0007] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are that it can simultaneously store multiple sets of V-grooves and covers on a single carrier plate, and multiple carrier plates can be slidably inserted into the storage compartment of the cabinet as needed, thereby achieving batch transfer of multiple sets of V-grooves and covers, greatly improving overall production efficiency. The design of the first and second clamping slots facilitates the insertion of tweezers for gripping the V-grooves and covers, achieving a gentle handling effect and effectively protecting the surface structure of the V-grooves and covers, while also facilitating rapid flow of internal liquids during cleaning. It also reduces secondary contamination of the cleaned V-grooves and covers during transfer, especially when the outer end of the carrier plate is in contact with the outer inlet of the storage compartment, resulting in better anti-contamination. The entire transfer device has the advantages of low cost, simple structure, convenient operation, and simple maintenance.
[0008] Furthermore, the bottom of the first storage compartment has at least one first drain hole communicating with the outside, and the bottom of the second storage compartment has at least one second drain hole communicating with the outside. This design allows the V-grooves and covers to be placed on a carrier plate for batch cleaning. After cleaning, they are then dried or spun dry. During cleaning, drying, or spun dry, water flows downwards from the first and second drain holes. This design eliminates the need to individually clean and dry each V-grooves and cover before placing them in the machine, effectively improving the efficiency of the cleaning process.
[0009] Furthermore, the storage compartment slopes downwards from the outside to the inside, with an angle ranging from 5 to 20°. This effectively prevents the carrier plate from easily sliding out of the storage compartment.
[0010] Furthermore, at least one side of the carrier plate has a protruding positioning protrusion near its outer end, and the inner wall of the storage compartment has a recessed positioning hole near its outer end that engages with the positioning protrusion for positioning. The carrier plate and the storage compartment can be stably stored by mutual friction. The positioning protrusion and the positioning hole work together to achieve a further positioning effect, preventing the carrier plate and the storage compartment from easily sliding relative to each other, which could cause the internal V-groove and cover plate to fall off. At the same time, when the pulling or pushing force is greater than a certain level, the positioning protrusion can slide into the positioning hole and be positioned, or it can come out of the positioning hole.
[0011] Specifically, the pulling component is a pull handle or a pull block, which facilitates pulling the carrier plate. Attached Figure Description
[0012] Figure 1 This is a top view of the carrier plate in Example 1;
[0013] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of Embodiment 1;
[0014] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the V-groove and cover plate in this utility model;
[0015] Figure 4 This is a top view of the carrier plate in Example 2. Detailed Implementation
[0016] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
[0017] Example 1: As Figures 1-3 As shown, a transfer device for fiber optic array production includes a cabinet 1 and four carrier plates 2. The cabinet 1 has storage compartments 11 in number corresponding to the number of carrier plates 2, spaced apart from top to bottom. Each carrier plate 2 slides within the storage compartment 11 along the inward and outward directions of the cabinet 1. A positioning protrusion 21 is raised near the outer end of one side of each carrier plate 2. A positioning recess (not shown) is recessed near the outer end of the inner wall of the storage compartment 11 to engage with the positioning protrusion 21 for positioning. The edges of the positioning protrusion 21 and the positioning recess are generally machined into an arc-shaped chamfer to facilitate the insertion and release of the positioning protrusion 21 from the positioning recess. Alternatively, this can be achieved by... Positioning protrusions 21 are provided on both sides of the 2, and corresponding positioning recesses are provided on the inner walls of both sides of the storage compartment 11; a pulling component is fixedly provided on the outer side of the carrier plate 2. The pulling component is a pulling block 22, or a conventional pulling structure such as a pulling handle or a recessed handle groove. A first storage area 3 and a second storage area 4 are provided on the carrier plate 2. Multiple first storage compartments 31 are arranged in rows and columns to store V grooves 51 and are matched with the size of V grooves 51. Each first storage compartment 31 has a first clamping groove 32 protruding outward on both sides. Two adjacent first storage compartments 31 in the same row share a first clamping groove 32.
[0018] The second storage area 4 is recessed and has multiple second storage compartments 41 arranged in rows and columns to store cover plates 52, with each compartment matching the size of the cover plate 52. Each second storage compartment 41 has a second clamping slot 42 protruding outward on both sides. Two adjacent second storage compartments 41 in the same row share a second clamping slot 42. The number of carrier plates 2 can be any number, more than one, depending on actual needs. The V-groove 51 and the cover plate 52 can also be placed on different carrier plates 2, which can reduce the area of a single carrier plate 2, but will increase the height of the cabinet 1.
[0019] Example 2: Figure 4 As shown, the rest is the same as in Embodiment 1, except that the bottom of the first storage compartment 31 has a first drain hole 33 communicating with the outside, and the bottom of the second storage compartment 41 has a second drain hole 43 communicating with the outside. This enables batch cleaning, drying, or spin-drying of the V-groove and the cover plate. Multiple first drain holes 33 and second drain holes 43 can also be provided.
[0020] Example 3: The rest is the same as in Example 1, except that the storage compartment 11 slopes downwards from the outside to the inside, with an inclination angle ranging from 5 to 20°. This further prevents the carrier plate from easily detaching from the cabinet during handling.
Claims
1. A transfer device for optical fiber array production, characterized by The utility model provides a cabinet, including cabinet and at least one board, the cabinet is provided with the number of storage partition layer corresponding with the board, when the number of the board is two or more, the storage partition layer is interval setting from top to bottom in the cabinet, each board is slidingly arranged in the storage partition layer along the inside and outside direction of the cabinet, the outer side of the board is fixedly provided with a pulling component, the board is provided with first storage area and second storage area, the first storage area is provided with a plurality of first storage cells for storing V groove and matching with the size of V groove in the form of row and column interval arrangement, the both sides of each first storage cell are respectively provided with first clamping groove, the first clamping groove is shared between two adjacent first storage cells in the same row, The second storage area is provided with a plurality of second storage cells for storing cover plate and matching with the size of cover plate in the form of row and column interval arrangement, the both sides of each second storage cell are respectively provided with second clamping groove, the second clamping groove is shared between two adjacent second storage cells in the same row.
2. A transfer device for optical fiber array production according to claim 1, characterized in that The bottom of the first storage cell is provided with at least one first drainage through hole communicating with the outside, and the bottom of the second storage cell is provided with at least one second drainage through hole communicating with the outside.
3. The transfer device for optical fiber array production of claim 1, wherein The storage partition layer is inclined from outside to inside in turn, and the inclination angle ranges from 5 to 20 degrees.
4. The transfer device for optical fiber array production of claim 1, wherein The outer end of at least one side of the board is provided with a positioning convex point, and the inner wall of the storage partition layer is provided with a positioning concave hole matched with the positioning convex point.
5. The transfer device for optical fiber array production of claim 1, wherein The pulling component is a pulling handle or a pulling block.