Optical fiber pay-out device and control device

Abstract

To provide an optical fiber feeding device capable of improving a yield of an optical fiber, and a control device.SOLUTION: An optical fiber feeding device comprises: a driving device for rotating a bobbin to feed an optical fiber from the bobbin with the optical fiber wound around a barrel part thereof; an imaging device for acquiring an image by imaging the barrel part of the bobbin when the optical fiber is fed; and a control device for controlling the driving device based on the image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an optical fiber unwinding device and a control device used for the optical fiber unwinding device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an unwinding device including an unwinding roller that guides an optical fiber unwound from a bobbin. In the unwinding device, the position of the optical fiber unwound from the bobbin is detected. Based on the detected unwinding position of the optical fiber, the unwinding roller is moved relative to the bobbin, so that the incoming angle of the optical fiber to the unwinding roller is maintained constant.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a bobbin around which an optical fiber is wound. In the bobbin, a cushion layer is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the barrel.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When the optical fiber is unwound from the bobbin until the end, since the end portion of the optical fiber is wound up without being fixed, the end portion of the optical fiber may flail and damage the optical fiber. For this reason, the unwinding of the optical fiber is terminated before the optical fiber is completely unwound from the bobbin. For example, based on the length of the optical fiber unwound from the bobbin, the unwinding of the optical fiber is terminated. However, in this case, from the viewpoint of measurement error, the unwinding of the optical fiber is terminated with a certain length of the optical fiber remaining on the bobbin.

[0006] The present disclosure provides an optical fiber pay-out device and a control device that can increase the yield of optical fibers.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The optical fiber pay-out device of the present disclosure includes a drive device that rotates a bobbin around which an optical fiber is wound on a barrel portion to pay out the optical fiber from the bobbin, an imaging device that acquires an image by imaging the barrel portion of the bobbin when the optical fiber is being paid out, and a control device that controls the drive device based on the image. It is provided with.

[0008] The control device of the present disclosure includes an input unit that acquires image data corresponding to an image obtained by imaging the barrel portion of the bobbin when the optical fiber wound around the barrel portion of the bobbin is being paid out due to the rotation of the bobbin, and a processing unit that calculates an area ratio between the area of the optical fiber region and the area of the barrel portion of the bobbin in the image based on the image data. It is provided with.

[0009] The present invention can be realized not only as a control device including such a characteristic processing unit, but also as a control method including such a characteristic process as steps, or as a program for causing a computer to execute such steps. Further, it can be realized as a semiconductor integrated circuit that realizes part or all of the control device.

Effects of the Invention

[0010] According to the present disclosure, an optical fiber pay-out device and a control device that can increase the yield of optical fibers can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

[0012] (Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure) First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. (1) The optical fiber pay-out device of the present disclosure includes a driving device that rotates the bobbin to pay out the optical fiber from a bobbin around which the optical fiber is wound on the body, an imaging device that acquires an image by imaging the body of the bobbin when the optical fiber is being paid out, a control device that controls the driving device based on the image, and is provided with.

[0013] According to such a configuration, the rotation of the bobbin is controlled based on the state of the optical fiber wound around the body of the bobbin when the optical fiber is being paid out. For example, based on the state of the optical fiber wound around the bobbin, the rotation of the bobbin can be stopped to end the pay-out of the optical fiber. Thereby, the yield of the optical fiber can be increased as compared with the case where the pay-out of the optical fiber is ended based on the length of the optical fiber paid out from the bobbin.

[0014] (2) The control device may calculate an area ratio between the area of the region of the optical fiber and the area of the region of the body of the bobbin in the image, and control the driving device based on the area ratio.

[0015] For example, when the unwinding of the optical fiber progresses and the optical fiber wound around the bobbin reaches about 1 to 2 layers remaining, the body of the bobbin begins to be exposed. Therefore, according to the value of the area ratio between the area of the optical fiber wound around the body of the bobbin and the area of the body of the bobbin where the optical fiber is unwound and exposed, the state of the optical fiber wound around the bobbin can be grasped.

[0016] (3) The imaging device may acquire the image by imaging an end portion in the rotational axis direction of the body of the bobbin when the optical fiber is being unwound.

[0017] According to such a configuration, since the folded portion of the optical fiber wound around the bobbin can be imaged, the change in the number of layers of the optical fiber wound around the bobbin can be grasped.

[0018] (4) The control device may discriminate between the optical fiber and the bobbin based on the difference between the color of the optical fiber in the image and the color of the body of the bobbin.

[0019] According to such a configuration, for example, by making the color of the surface of the body of the bobbin different from the color of the surface of the optical fiber, the optical fiber and the body of the bobbin can be easily discriminated.

[0020] (5) The control device of the present disclosure an input unit that receives image data corresponding to an image obtained by imaging the body of the bobbin when the optical fiber wound around the body of the bobbin is being unwound due to the rotation of the bobbin; a processing unit that calculates an area ratio between the area of the optical fiber and the area of the body of the bobbin in the image based on the image data; and includes.

[0021] According to such a configuration, the state of the optical fiber wound around the body of the bobbin can be grasped according to the value of the area ratio between the area of the region of the optical fiber wound around the body of the bobbin and the area of the region of the body of the bobbin from which the optical fiber is fed out and exposed. For example, based on the state of the optical fiber wound around the bobbin, by stopping the rotation of the bobbin and ending the feeding of the optical fiber, the yield of the optical fiber can be increased.

[0022] [Details of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] A specific example of the optical fiber feeding device of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to these examples, and is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of an optical fiber feeding device 10 according to the present embodiment. The optical fiber feeding device 10 is used to feed out the optical fiber F from a supply bobbin 20 around which the optical fiber F is wound when performing coloring of the optical fiber F or rewinding of the optical fiber F. The supply bobbin 20 is an example of a bobbin.

[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the supply bobbin 20 has a body portion 21 and a flange portion 22. The optical fiber F is wound around the body portion 21. The flange portions 22 are provided at both ends of the body portion 21. The supply bobbin 20 is rotatably installed about the rotation axis direction A.

[0025] The optical fiber feeding device 10 includes a driving device 11, an imaging device 12, and a control device 13. The driving device 11 is configured to rotate the supply bobbin 20 to feed out the optical fiber F from the supply bobbin 20.

[0026] The imaging device 12 is configured to acquire an image by imaging the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20 when the optical fiber F is being unwound. Examples of the imaging device 12 may include a camera or an image sensor. The imaging device 12 outputs an image data ID corresponding to the acquired image to the control device 13. The image data ID may be analog data or digital data.

[0027] The control device 13 is configured to control the drive device 11 based on an image of the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20 when the optical fiber F is being unwound.

[0028] The control device 13 includes an input unit 131, a processing unit 132, and an output unit 133. The input unit 131 is configured as an interface that receives the image data ID. When the image data ID is analog data, the input unit 131 may include an appropriate conversion circuit including an A / D converter.

[0029] The processing unit 132 is configured to determine the state of the optical fiber F wound around the supply bobbin 20 based on the image data ID. The processing unit 132 outputs a control signal CS for controlling the drive device 11 from the output unit 133 based on the state of the optical fiber F wound around the supply bobbin 20. Each of the control signals CS may be an analog signal or a digital signal. When the control signal CS is an analog signal, the output unit 133 includes an appropriate conversion circuit including a D / A converter.

[0030] For example, the portion of the optical fiber F located in the lowermost layer among the optical fibers F wound around the supply bobbin 20 is pressed against the surface of the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20, so deformation or the like may occur. Therefore, in this case, it is preferable to end the unwinding of the optical fiber F with all of the last layer of the optical fiber F remaining on the supply bobbin 20.

[0031] When the processing unit 132 determines, based on the image data ID, that the top (exposed layer) of the optical fiber F wound around the supply bobbin 20 has started to change from the second-to-last layer to the first layer, it determines that the state of the optical fiber F is a state where the feeding of the optical fiber F is to be terminated. Then, while the last first layer of the optical fiber F remains entirely on the supply bobbin 20, the processing unit 132 outputs, from the output unit 133, a control signal CS for stopping the rotation of the supply bobbin 20. The drive device 11 stops the rotation of the supply bobbin 20 based on the control signal CS.

[0032] For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the winding pitch P of the optical fiber F wound around the body 21 of the supply bobbin 20 is larger than the outer diameter D of the optical fiber F, as the feeding of the optical fiber F progresses and the number of layers of the optical fiber F wound around the supply bobbin 20 decreases, a part of the body 21 of the supply bobbin 20 starts to be exposed. When the winding pitch P of the optical fiber F is, for example, 0.4 mm and the outer diameter D of the optical fiber F is, for example, 0.25 mm, when the top of the optical fiber F wound around the supply bobbin 20 starts to change from the second-to-last layer to the first layer, the body 21 of the supply bobbin 20 starts to be exposed. And as the feeding of the optical fiber F progresses, the area of the exposed region of the body 21 of the supply bobbin 20 becomes larger.

[0033] The processing unit 132 determines that the top of the optical fiber F wound around the supply bobbin 20 has started to change from the second-to-last layer to the first layer based on, for example, a comparison between the area of the region of the body 21 exposed from the optical fiber F in the image of the body 21 of the supply bobbin 20 and a threshold value. The threshold value can be appropriately set based on the outer diameter D of the optical fiber F, the winding pitch P of the optical fiber F, the winding method of the optical fiber F, and the like.

[0034] According to the configuration as described above, the rotation of the supply bobbin 20 is controlled based on the state of the optical fiber F wound around the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20 when the optical fiber F is being paid out. For example, based on the state of the optical fiber F wound around the supply bobbin 20, the rotation of the supply bobbin 20 can be stopped to end the payout of the optical fiber F. Thereby, the yield of the optical fiber F can be increased as compared with the case where the payout of the optical fiber F is ended based on the length of the optical fiber F paid out from the supply bobbin 20.

[0035] The control device 13 may be configured to calculate the area ratio between the area of the region of the optical fiber F and the area of the region of the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20 in the image of the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20 when the optical fiber F is being paid out. The control device 13 may be configured to control the drive device 11 based on the area ratio.

[0036] Specifically, the processing unit 132 of the control device 13 calculates the area ratio between the area of the region of the optical fiber F wound around the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20 and the area of the region of the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20 that is exposed due to the payout of the optical fiber F based on the image data ID. The processing unit 132 determines the state of the optical fiber F wound around the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20 based on the calculated area ratio. The processing unit 132 outputs a control signal CS for controlling the drive device 11 from the output unit 133 based on the state of the optical fiber F wound around the supply bobbin 20.

[0037] For example, when the calculated area ratio changes, the processing unit 132 determines that the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20 has begun to be exposed. Alternatively, the processing unit 132 may determine the state of the optical fiber F wound around the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20 based on a comparison between the calculated area ratio and a threshold value. The threshold value can be appropriately set based on the outer diameter D of the optical fiber F, the winding pitch P of the optical fiber F, the winding method of the optical fiber F, and the like.

[0038] According to such a configuration, the state of the optical fiber F wound around the supply bobbin 20 can be grasped according to the value of the calculated area ratio.

[0039] Note that the control device 13 may be configured to control the drive device 11 based on the brightness or RGB information in the image instead of the above area ratio. For example, the control device 13 calculates the brightness or RGB values of all the pixels included in the image, and determines the state of the optical fiber F wound around the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20 by comparing the calculated brightness or RGB values with a threshold value. The threshold value can be appropriately set based on information such as the brightness or RGB values of all the pixels included in an image in a state where the optical fiber F is wound around the supply bobbin 20 in multiple layers, an image in a state where the optical fiber F is wound around the supply bobbin 20 in only the last layer, and an image in a state where the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20 is exposed.

[0040] As shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1, the imaging device 12 may be configured to image an end portion of the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20 in the rotational axis direction A when the optical fiber F is being fed out. Thereby, since the folded portion (the portion where the feeding layer is switched) of the optical fiber F wound around the supply bobbin 20 can be imaged, the change in the number of layers of the optical fiber F wound around the supply bobbin 20 can be grasped. For example, it can be grasped that the topmost part of the optical fiber F wound around the supply bobbin 20 has started to change from the second layer to the first layer.

[0041] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the imaging device 12 may be configured to include two imaging devices 121 and 122 disposed at both end portions of the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20 in the rotational axis direction A. Thereby, the state of the optical fiber F wound around the supply bobbin 20 can be determined more accurately.

[0042] Also, in such a configuration, when the control device 13 determines that the state of the optical fiber F wound around the supply bobbin 20 is a state before the feeding of the optical fiber F is completed, the control device 13 may be configured to decelerate the rotation of the supply bobbin 20 by the drive device 11.

[0043] For example, when the processing unit 132 of the control device 13 determines that the topmost part of the optical fiber F has changed from the second layer to the first layer based on the image data ID acquired by one of the imaging devices 121 and 122, the processing unit 132 causes the output unit 133 to output a control signal CS for decelerating the rotation of the supply bobbin 20. The drive device 11 decelerates the rotation of the supply bobbin 20 based on the control signal CS. Then, when the processing unit 132 determines that the topmost part of the optical fiber F has changed from the second layer to the first layer based on the image data ID acquired by the other of the imaging devices 121 and 122, the processing unit 132 causes the output unit 133 to output a control signal CS for stopping the rotation of the supply bobbin 20. The drive device 11 stops the rotation of the supply bobbin 20 based on the control signal CS. According to such a configuration, since the rotation of the supply bobbin 20 is decelerated before the feeding of the optical fiber F is completed, the feeding end position can be adjusted with high accuracy.

[0044] The processing unit 132 having each function described so far can be realized by a general-purpose microprocessor that operates in cooperation with a general-purpose memory. Examples of the general-purpose microprocessor include a CPU, an MPU, and a GPU. Examples of the general-purpose memory include a ROM and a RAM. In this case, the ROM may store a computer program for executing the above-described processing. The ROM is an example of a storage medium that stores a computer program. The processor designates at least a part of the computer program stored on the ROM and expands it on the RAM, and executes the above-described processing in cooperation with the RAM. The above computer program may be pre-installed in the general-purpose memory, or may be downloaded from an external server via a communication network and installed in the general-purpose memory. In this case, the external server is an example of a storage medium that stores a computer program.

[0045] The processing unit 132 may be implemented by a dedicated integrated circuit capable of executing the above computer program, such as a microcontroller, ASIC, FPGA, etc. In this case, the above computer program is pre-installed in the storage element included in the dedicated integrated circuit. The storage element is an example of a storage medium that stores a computer program. The processing unit 132 can also be implemented by a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a dedicated integrated circuit.

[0046] As described above, the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments. However, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Also, the number, position, shape, etc. of the components described above are not limited to the above embodiments, and can be changed to suitable numbers, positions, shapes, etc. for implementing the present disclosure.

[0047] As the imaging device 12, a line sensor camera in which a plurality of sensors are arranged in a row may be used. For example, the line sensor camera is arranged with the sensor row direction aligned with the rotation axis direction A of the supply bobbin 20. The line sensor camera can be configured to continuously capture images as the supply bobbin 20 rotates. Even when the outer peripheral surface of the body 21 of the supply bobbin 20 and the surface of the optical fiber F wound around the body 21 are curved surfaces, the use of the line sensor camera can prevent defocusing.

[0048] A cushion layer may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the body 21 of the supply bobbin 20. Since the optical fiber F is wound around the body 21 of the supply bobbin 20 via the cushion layer, deformation of the last layer portion of the optical fiber F wound around the supply bobbin 20 can be suppressed. In this case, the control device 13 may control the drive device 11 so that the feeding of the optical fiber F ends between when the last layer of the optical fiber F wound around the supply bobbin 20 starts to be fed out and when all portions of the last layer are fed out. With such a configuration, the yield can be further increased.

[0049] The supply bobbin 20 can be formed such that at least the color of the surface of the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20 is different from the color of the optical fiber F. For example, the supply bobbin 20 is formed such that the surface of the body portion 21 is black. According to such a configuration, the control device 13 can easily distinguish between the optical fiber F and the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20 based on the difference in color between the optical fiber F in the image and the color of the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20.

[0050] The supply bobbin 20 can be formed such that the body portion 21 has a non-glossy surface. According to such a configuration, since the surface of the optical fiber F has gloss, the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20 and the optical fiber F can be easily distinguished based on the difference in gloss in the image.

[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the optical fiber feeding device 10 can include a feeding roller unit 14, a reciprocating mechanism 15, and a position sensor 16. The feeding roller unit 14 feeds the optical fiber F fed from the supply bobbin 20 in a certain direction. The feeding roller unit 14 has a feeding roller 141 that guides the optical fiber F fed from the supply bobbin 20. The feeding roller unit 14 is configured to be relatively reciprocally movable with respect to the supply bobbin 20 in the rotational axis direction A of the supply bobbin 20.

[0052] The reciprocating mechanism 15 relatively reciprocally moves the feeding roller unit 14 with respect to the supply bobbin 20 in the rotational axis direction A of the supply bobbin 20. The position sensor 16 detects the feeding position of the optical fiber F in the rotational axis direction A of the supply bobbin 20.

[0053] The control device 13 is configured to control the reciprocating mechanism 15 so as to keep the incoming angle of the optical fiber F to the feeding roller 141 constant based on the feeding position of the optical fiber F detected by the position sensor 16.

[0054] The control device 13 can be configured to control the drive device 11 based on the reciprocating movement count information of the feeding roller 141 and the image of the body portion 21 of the supply bobbin 20 when the optical fiber F is being fed out. For example, the control device 13 compares the images captured for each movement to one side in conjunction with the reciprocating movement count information of the feeding roller 141. The control device 13 determines, by comparing the image before moving to one side and the image after moving to one side, that, for example, the optical fiber F wound around the supply bobbin 20 is at the last layer.

[0055] In this embodiment, the control device 13 controls the drive device 11 when it determines that the state of the optical fiber wound around the bobbin is a state where the feeding of the optical fiber is to be terminated. However, the control device 13 can be configured to control the drive device 11 not only when the feeding is finished but also when it determines that an abnormality has occurred in the feeding of the optical fiber F based on the image.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0056] 10: Optical fiber feeding device 11: Drive device 12, 121, 122: Imaging device 13: Control device 14: Feeding roller unit 15: Reciprocating movement mechanism 16: Position sensor 20: Supply bobbin 21: Body portion 22: Flange portion 131: Input unit 132: Processing unit 133: Output unit 141: Feeding roller A: Rotation axis direction CS: Control signal D: Outer diameter F: Optical fiber ID: Image data P: Pitch

Claims

1. A driving device for rotating the bobbin to pay out the optical fiber from a bobbin around which the optical fiber is wound around the body; An imaging device for acquiring an image by imaging the body of the bobbin when the optical fiber is being paid out; A control device for controlling the driving device based on the image; comprising: The imaging device acquires the image of the folded portion of the optical fiber wound around the bobbin by imaging an end portion in the rotational axis direction of the body of the bobbin when the optical fiber is being paid out; When the control device determines that the topmost portion of the optical fiber wound around the bobbin starts to change from the second layer to the first layer, the control device terminates the payout of the optical fiber. An optical fiber payout device.

2. The control device calculates an area ratio between the area of the region of the optical fiber and the area of the region of the body of the bobbin in the image, and controls the driving device based on the area ratio. The optical fiber payout device according to claim 1.

3. The control device discriminates between the optical fiber and the bobbin based on a difference between the color of the optical fiber and the color of the body of the bobbin in the image. The optical fiber payout device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. An input unit that receives image data corresponding to an image of a folded portion of the optical fiber wound around the bobbin, the image being obtained by imaging an end portion in the rotational axis direction of the body of the bobbin when the optical fiber wound around the body of the bobbin is being paid out due to rotation of the bobbin; A processing unit that terminates the payout of the optical fiber when it is determined based on the image data that the topmost portion of the optical fiber wound around the bobbin starts to change from the second layer to the first layer; A control device comprising:

Images