Excess length processing unit

The slack handling unit efficiently manages optical fiber cable slack by using a panel with adjustable support parts, minimizing costs and labor through flexible positioning and eliminating the need for screws.

JP2025078385APending Publication Date: 2025-05-20FDK CORP
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2023190908
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-11-08
Publication Date
2025-05-20

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing techniques for handling slack in optical fiber cables are inefficient and result in high costs and increased man-hours due to the need for multiple cable supports and screw-fastening to ensure varying bending radius values.

Method used

A slack handling unit comprising a panel member with a cutout hole and mounting position changing portions, and a support part that can be slid and fixed to multiple positions on the panel, allowing flexible adjustment of the bending radius without the need for screws.

Benefits of technology

Reduces unnecessary component costs and manufacturing labor by allowing the support parts to be installed only in necessary positions, improving workability and reducing the number of required parts and manufacturing steps.

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Abstract

To provide an excess length processing unit that can efficiently perform excess length processing of an optical fibre cable.SOLUTION: An excess length processing unit 100 is the unit that can perform excess length processing of an optical fibre cable 200, and the excess length processing unit comprises: an excess length control panel 10 (a panel member); a support component 60 (an attachment member) that is a member supporting a wound optical fibre cable 200, and attachable to the excess length control panel 10; a cut-out hole 20 that is formed in the excess length control panel 10, and is for attaching the support component 60; and an attachment position change part 30 that is formed in the cut-out hole 20, has a plurality of support component fixation parts 31 to 35 (fixation parts), attaches the support component 60 to any support component fixation part of the plurality of support component fixation parts 31 to 35 and thereby enables changing an attachment position of the support component 60.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1
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Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an excess length handling unit. [Background technology]

[0002] Optical fiber cables are sometimes subjected to slack processing. Techniques relating to such slack processing are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-338338 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2009-14898 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2012-244817 A [Patent Document 4] Special Publication No. 2006-510950 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Although various techniques have been proposed as conventional techniques, there is a demand for a slack handling unit that can efficiently handle the slack of optical fiber cables.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS An object of the present invention is to provide a slack handling unit capable of efficiently handling slack of optical fiber cable. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention employs the following solutions. Note that the solutions below are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention can be an invention that includes at least one of the invention-specifying matters shown in the solutions below. Furthermore, each invention-specifying matter shown in the solutions below can be made into a subordinate concept by adding an element that limits the invention-specifying matter, and can also be made into a superordinate concept by deleting an element that limits the invention-specifying matter.

[0007] The slack processing unit of the solution is, for example, a slack processing unit capable of processing slack of an optical fiber cable, and includes a panel member, a mounting member which is a member supporting the wound optical fiber cable and can be attached to the panel member, a cutout hole formed in the panel member for attaching the mounting member, and a mounting position changing portion formed in the cutout hole, which has a plurality of fixing portions and enables the mounting position of the mounting member to be changed by attaching the mounting member to any one of the plurality of fixing portions.

[0008] In addition, the slack processing unit of the solution is, for example, a slack processing unit capable of processing slack of an optical fiber cable, and is provided with a panel member and a mounting member which is a member supporting the wound optical fiber cable and can be attached to the panel member, and the panel member has a cutout hole for attaching the mounting member, and the cutout hole has a plurality of fixing parts, and an attachment position change part is formed which enables the mounting position of the mounting member to be changed by attaching the mounting member to any one of the plurality of fixing parts. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a slack handling unit capable of efficiently handling slack of optical fiber cable. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an excess length handling unit 100 according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the extra length control panel 10. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a support part 60. [Figure 4] 11A to 11C are diagrams showing a method of inserting the support part 60 into the cutout hole 20. [Diagram 5] 11A to 11C are diagrams showing a sliding method of the support part 60. [Figure 6] 1A to 1C are diagrams showing a specific example of excess length handling using an excess length control panel 10 and a support part 60. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional method for processing excess length. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiment is shown as a preferred example of an excess length handling unit, and the embodiment is not limited to this example.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an excess length handling unit 100. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing an excess length control panel 10. The slack processing unit 100 is a unit (device) capable of processing the slack of the optical fiber cable 200. The slack processing is a process of winding the slack portion of the optical fiber cable 200 in a circular shape. The optical fiber cables 200 are sometimes manufactured with the same length in order to reduce manufacturing costs. However, the required length of the optical fiber cable 200 differs depending on the place of use, and therefore a slack portion is generated. If this slack portion is left as it is, the optical fiber cable 200 may be damaged because it is weak against bending. For this reason, the optical fiber cable 200 may need to be wound in a circular shape to protect it.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the slack handling unit 100 includes a slack control panel 10 (panel member, control display) and a support part 60 (mounting member).

[0014] The slack control panel 10 is a plate-like member, and is installed at a location for processing slack in the device for installing the optical fiber cable 200. The slack control panel 10 is, for example, a metal plate.

[0015] The extra length control panel 10 has a cutout hole 20, an attachment position change portion 30, and a panel attachment hole 40. The cutout hole 20 is formed in the center of the excess control panel 10 and is a hole for attaching the support part 60 .

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the cutout hole 20 is formed by a plurality of elongated holes 21 to 24 extending outward from the center C of the extra length control panel 10. As shown in FIG. The long hole 21 is a long hole that extends from the center C of the extra length control panel 10 toward the upper side in the figure. The long hole 22 is a long hole that extends from the center C of the extra length control panel 10 to the right side in the figure. The long hole 23 is a long hole that extends downward in the figure from the center C of the extra length control panel 10. The long hole 24 is a long hole that extends from the center C of the extra length control panel 10 to the left side in the figure. With this configuration, the cutout holes 20 are cross-shaped in plan view. Note that each of the long holes does not reach the edge of the control panel 10.

[0017] The mounting position changing portion 30 is formed in the cutout hole 20 and has multiple support part fixing portions 31-35 (fixing portions), and makes it possible to change the mounting position of a support part 60 (see Figure 1) by attaching the support part 60 to any one of the multiple support part fixing portions 31-35. The mounting position change portions 30 are formed in each of the plurality of elongated holes 21 to 24. The support parts 60 are attached to each of the plurality of elongated holes 21 to 24.

[0018] The support part fixing portions 31 to 35 are each provided with a pair of fixing portion recesses 31a to 35a, which are formed on the side wall of the cutout hole 20 and into which a rod-shaped member recess 67 (see FIG. 3) described later is fitted.

[0019] The panel mounting holes 40 are formed at each of the four corners of the excess length control panel 10 (four locations in total), and are used to mount the excess length control panel 10 to the metal plate or the like of a device in which the optical fiber cable is installed using fastening members such as screws.

[0020] The slack control panel 10 includes an information display unit 50 that displays the bending radius value of the optical fiber cable in the vicinity (surrounding position, adjacent position) of each of the support part fixing portions 31 to 35. The information display unit 50 displays information (text information) for visually confirming the bending radius value to be secured when processing the slack.

[0021] Specifically, in information display section 50, near support part fixing section 31, "R=30" is displayed indicating that the bend radius value is 30 mm, near support part fixing section 32, "R=40" is displayed indicating that the bend radius value is 40 mm, near support part fixing section 33, "R=50" is displayed indicating that the bend radius value is 50 mm, and near support part fixing section 34, "R=60" is displayed indicating that the bend radius value is 60 mm.

[0022] No particular information is displayed near support part fixing portion 35, although "R=70" may be displayed to indicate that the bending radius value is 70 mm, or support part fixing portion 35 may be used as a place to store support part 60 when not in use without such a display.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 1, the support part 60 is a member that supports the wound optical fiber cable 200 and is a member that can be attached to the slack control panel 10. The support part 60 is a sliding member. When performing slack processing, the support part 60 can be positioned at the square position indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 1. The optical fiber cable 200 is fixed to the support part 60 with a cable tie 70 or the like.

[0024] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the support part 60. Fig. 3(A) shows a plan view of the support part 60, Fig. 3(B) shows a side view of the support part 60, and Fig. 3(C) shows a front view of the support part 60.

[0025] The support part 60 includes a first member 61 disposed on an upper portion of the support part 60 and a second member 62 disposed on a lower portion of the support part 60. The first member 61 is a member that supports the optical fiber cable 200 (see FIG. 1). The second member 62 is a member that is connected to the underside of the first member 61 and that fixes the support part 60 to the excess length control panel 10 (see FIG. 1).

[0026] The first member 61 has a plurality of (five) through holes 63 formed along the longitudinal direction of the first member 61 (the vertical direction in the figure). The multiple through holes 63 are circular holes formed in the first member 61 from the front surface to the rear surface.

[0027] The optical fiber cable 200 can be arranged between each of the through holes 63. Furthermore, cable ties 70 (see FIG. 1 ) that fix the optical fiber cable 200 to the support part 60 can be inserted into the through holes 63. The cable ties 70 hold the optical fiber cable 200 so that the optical fiber cable 200 does not drop.

[0028] The second member 62 includes a pair of rod-shaped members 65 that expand outward toward the tip (the lower side in the figure). The upper end of the rod-shaped members 65 is connected to the first member 61, and the lower end is bent outward.

[0029] The pair of rod-shaped members 65 each have a protruding portion 66 that protrudes outward. The pair of rod-shaped members 65 can be made of an elastic material such as resin, for example. Further, the pair of rod-shaped members 65 each have an inwardly recessed rod-shaped member recess 67. The rod-shaped member recess 67 is fitted into the fixed portion recess 31a etc. (see FIG. 1).

[0030] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a method of inserting the support part 60 into the cutout hole 20. As shown in FIG. When inserting the support part 60 into the cutout hole 20, first, as shown in Fig. 4(A), the support part 60 is inserted from the cross portion (hatched portion in the figure) of the cutout hole 20. The support part 60 can be slid up, down, left and right from the cross portion of the cutout hole 20 (see arrow X).

[0031] 4(B), the left and right protrusions 66 of the support part 60 are pressed toward the inside of the support part 60 (see arrow Y). As a result, the lower ends of the pair of rod-shaped members 65 each move toward the inside.

[0032] 4(C), when inserting the support part 60, the left and right protrusions 66 of the support part 60 are pressed to narrow the gap, while the support part 60 is slid to fit into the support part fixing part 31. In this case, the pair of rod-shaped member recesses 67 of the support part 60 are fitted into the pair of fixing part recesses 31a of the excess length control panel 10.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method for sliding the support part 60. As shown in FIG. 5(A), support part 60 can be slid along cutout hole 20 while pressing left and right protrusions 66. Support part 60 can be slid in the direction toward the front in the figure (see arrow Z1) and in the direction toward the back in the figure (see arrow Z2).

[0034] 5(B), when the support part 60 is moved to the desired installation location (support part fixing portion 31 in the illustrated example), the left and right protrusions 66 are stopped from being pressed to fix the support part 60. In this case, the pair of rod-shaped members 65 of the support part 60 are subjected to a force returning them to their original positions due to their elasticity, and this force fixes the support part 60 (see arrow Z3). As a result, the pair of rod-shaped member recesses 67 of the support part 60 are fitted into the pair of fixing portion recesses 31a of the excess length control panel 10.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of excess length handling using the excess length control panel 10 and the support part 60. 6(A), when processing the slack of optical fiber cable 201 with a bending radius of 30 mm, four support parts 60 are fixed to four support part fixing parts 31. As a result, a space capable of securing a bending radius of 30 mm is formed inside the four support part fixing parts 31, and optical fiber cable 201 can be wound in that space to process the slack.

[0036] The optical fiber cable 201 is adapted to pass through the inside of the support part 60 (hereinafter the same applies). The reason for this is that the optical fiber cable 201 itself has elasticity and expands, so that the optical fiber cable 201 is turned around the inside of the support part 60 and supported by the inner surface of the support part 60.

[0037] In addition, the optical fiber cable 201 extends in a straight line from the outside of the excess length handling unit 100 toward the excess length handling unit 100, makes a half turn or one or more turns inside the support part 60, and then extends in a straight line from the inside of the excess length handling unit 100 toward the outside of the excess length handling unit 100 (the same applies below).

[0038] 6(B), when processing the slack of optical fiber cable 202 with a bending radius of 40 mm, four support parts 60 are fixed to four support part fixing parts 32. As a result, a space capable of securing a bending radius of 40 mm is formed inside the four support part fixing parts 32, and optical fiber cable 202 can be wound in that space to process the slack.

[0039] 6(C), when processing the slack of optical fiber cable 203 with a bending radius of 50 mm, four support parts 60 are fixed to four support part fixing parts 33. As a result, a space capable of securing a bending radius of 50 mm is formed inside the four support part fixing parts 33, and optical fiber cable 203 can be wound in that space to process the slack.

[0040] 6(D), when processing the slack of optical fiber cable 204 with a bending radius of 60 mm, four support parts 60 are fixed to four support part fixing parts 34. As a result, a space capable of securing a bending radius of 60 mm is formed inside the four support part fixing parts 34, and optical fiber cable 204 can be wound in that space to process the slack.

[0041] In this way, in the slack handling unit 100 of this embodiment, when performing slack handling, the support parts 60 are slid and set to positions corresponding to the desired bending radius value according to the length of the optical fiber cable 200. Therefore, the support parts 60 can be set only in necessary positions.

[0042] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a conventional method for handling excess length. A conventional method for handling slack length uses a cable support 80. The cable support 80 is an L-shaped metal fitting or the like, which is fastened with a screw 90 to a metal plate or the like of a device in which the optical fiber cable is installed.

[0043] The optical fiber cable 200 has a property of being weak when bent (prone to breakage). For this reason, it is considered important to perform slack processing (wiring work) that ensures a bending radius value of the optical fiber cable 200 (generally 30 mm or more) as a measure to prevent breakage.

[0044] However, since the lengths of the optical fiber cables 200 are not uniform and vary, the conventional method of ensuring the bending radius value involves fitting the excess length to the actual cable by installing a large number of cable supports 80 (screw-fixed) on the metal plate (a method of using cable supports 80 that match the cable length).

[0045] Specifically, in the conventional method of handling excess length, in order to secure four types of bending radius values ​​(R=30 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm), 16 cable supports 80 must be arranged. In this way, when a large number of cable supports 80 are installed (screw-fastened) and excess length is handled by matching the actual parts, unused cable supports 80 are generated, which causes problems such as high costs due to the surplus parts and increased man-hours for screw-fastening.

[0046] In contrast, in this embodiment, as a method for organizing the slack of the optical fiber cable 200, the slack control panel 10 and the support parts 60 are adopted, and the support parts 60 are made freely movable, so that a processing method that can handle changes in the length or bending radius of the optical fiber cable 200 is adopted. That is, in this embodiment, by adopting the sliding support parts 60, it is not necessary to install multiple cable supports 80 and fix them with screws, and the support parts 60 are installed only in necessary locations, reducing unnecessary component costs and manufacturing man-hours, thereby achieving lower costs and improved workability. As a result, it is possible to provide a slack processing unit 100 that can efficiently process the slack of the optical fiber cable 200.

[0047] As described above, according to this embodiment, the following effects are obtained. (1) According to this embodiment, by using the slack control panel 10 and the support parts 60, the bending radius value can be secured while the support parts 60 are installed only in necessary positions to handle the slack, thereby reducing unnecessary component costs and manufacturing labor. (2) According to this embodiment, the support part 60 is fixed by fitting, and no screws are required, which makes it possible to reduce manufacturing costs and manufacturing steps. (3) According to this embodiment, the slack control panel 10 is provided with an information display unit 50 that displays the bending radius value of the optical fiber cable 200 (e.g., R=30), thereby enabling work to be performed while checking (visually) the bending radius value, thereby improving workability.

[0048] (4) According to this embodiment, the mounting position changing unit 30 is provided, which enables the mounting position of the support part 60 to be changed. Therefore, one support part 60 can be used in various positions, thereby reducing unnecessary parts costs and manufacturing labor.

[0049] (5) According to this embodiment, the cutout hole 20 is formed by the multiple long holes 21-24, which can simplify the configuration of the cutout hole 20. Also, the mounting position changing portion 30 is formed in each of the multiple long holes 21-24, and the support parts 60 are attached to each of the multiple long holes 21-24, which can reduce the arrangement of the mounting position changing portions 30 and the support parts 60 to the minimum required.

[0050] (6) According to this embodiment, the cutout hole 20 is a cross-shaped hole when viewed in a plane, making it easy to form the cutout hole 20 in the excess length control panel 10 and allowing the support part 60 to be easily inserted from the center of the cross.

[0051] (7) According to this embodiment, the support part 60 includes the first member 61 and the second member 62. Therefore, the roles of the two members can be divided, making the support part easy to manufacture.

[0052] (8) According to this embodiment, since the first member 61 has a plurality of through holes 63, the optical fiber cable 200 can be freely disposed at a convenient location between the plurality of through holes 63.

[0053] (9) According to this embodiment, the pair of rod-shaped members 65 each have the protrusions 66 that protrude outward. Therefore, the pair of rod-shaped members 65 can be easily pushed inward by using the protrusions 66 .

[0054] (10) According to this embodiment, the rod-shaped member recess 67 and the fixing portion recesses 31a to 35a are fitted together, so that the support part 60 can be securely fixed to the excess length control panel 10.

[0055] Comparisons with the above-mentioned patent documents are as follows. (1) The technology in Patent Document 1 is a technology in which rubber is used to clamp the cable so as not to damage the cable. However, this is different from the method in the present embodiment, and furthermore, no specific wrapping method is specified. (2) The technology of Patent Document 2 is a technology that can be adjusted even if the cable length is different. In the case of the present embodiment, the position of support part 60 is adjusted by moving support part 60, whereas this technology has four holding parts and cannot be freely changed. (3) The technology of Patent Document 3 allows the clamp position to be changed on the panel, but it requires prior setting and cannot be changed on the spot. In addition, the technology of Patent Document 3 is characterized by its clamping method, but it is different from the support part 60 of the present embodiment. (4) The technology of Patent Document 4 is a technology in which a matrix is ​​set up on a panel and winding is performed according to the matrix, but it is not a method of clamping only the necessary parts as in this embodiment. The excess length handling unit 100 of this embodiment has a simpler structure than the prior art, and is functional in that the support parts 60 are of a sliding type.

[0056] [Modifications] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be practiced in various modified forms. (1) Although the cutout hole has been described as an example having four cross-shaped long holes, it may have three or fewer long holes, or may have five or more long holes, as long as the bending radius value of the optical fiber cable can be ensured. (2) Although five fixing portions are formed in the above embodiment, the number of fixing portions may be four or less, or six or more. (3) Although the cutout holes have been described as oblong holes, they may be circular or elliptical. (4) A plurality of mounting position changing portions may be formed in the plurality of oblong holes. A plurality of mounting members may be attached to the plurality of oblong holes.

[0057] (5) The mounting member may be a member of a simple shape (for example, a cylindrical shape) so long as it can be inserted into the cutout hole and fixed. (6) The number, shape, and arrangement of the through holes can be changed as desired. In addition, the through holes do not have to be formed. (7) The information display portion may be formed at any desired location on the panel member. Also, the information display portion does not have to be formed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 10 Extra length control panel 20 Cutout hole 21~24 long hole 30 Mounting position change part 31~35 Support part fixing part 31a~35a Fixed part recess 40 Panel mounting holes 50 Information display section 60 Support Parts 61 First member 62 Second member 63 Through hole 65 Rod-shaped member 66 Convex 67 Rod-shaped member recess 70 Cable Ties 80 Cable Support 90 Screw 100 Excess length processing unit 200~204 Fiber optic cable

Claims

1. A slack processing unit capable of processing slack of an optical fiber cable, A panel member; a mounting member that supports the wound optical fiber cable and that can be attached to the panel member; a cutout hole formed in the panel member for attaching the mounting member; an attachment position changing section that is formed in the cutout hole, has a plurality of fixing sections, and enables changing of an attachment position of the attachment member by attaching the attachment member to any one of the plurality of fixing sections; The slack processing unit includes:

2. The excess length handling unit according to claim 1, The cutouts are formed by a plurality of slots extending outwardly from a center of the panel member, The mounting position changing portion is formed in each of the plurality of long holes, The excess length handling unit is characterized in that the mounting members are attached to the plurality of long holes one by one.

3. The excess length handling unit according to claim 1, The slack handling unit is characterized in that the cutout hole is a cross-shaped hole when viewed in a plane.

4. The excess length handling unit according to claim 1, The mounting member comprises a first member that supports the optical fiber cable, and a second member that is connected to the first member and fixes the mounting member to the panel member.

5. The excess length handling unit according to claim 4, The first member has a plurality of through holes formed along a longitudinal direction of the first member.

6. The excess length handling unit according to claim 4, The second member includes a pair of rod-shaped members that expand outwardly toward a tip thereof, The slack handling unit is characterized in that the pair of rod-shaped members each have a protrusion that protrudes outward.

7. 7. The excess length handling unit according to claim 6, The pair of rod-shaped members each include a rod-shaped member recess that is recessed inward, The fixing portion is a portion formed on a side wall of the cutout hole and has a pair of fixing portion recesses into which the rod-shaped member recesses are fitted.

8. The excess length handling unit according to claim 1, The panel member is provided with an information display section, disposed near each of the plurality of fixing sections, for displaying a bending radius value of the optical fiber cable.

Citation Information

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