Optical fiber rotation device, fusion splicer, and optical fiber holder

Abstract

An optical fiber holder (1) is used for a fusion splicer having a rotation device (40) for rotationally aligning an optical fiber (25). The optical fiber holder (1) functions as an optical fiber holding unit for holding the optical fiber (25). When a lid (11) is closed over a body (9), a gear section (3a, 3b) is formed, in which a plurality of blades are arranged in the circumferential direction over substantially an entire outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber holder (1). A motor (29) engages with the gear section (3a, 3b) of the optical fiber holder (1) via a gear (31), and the motor (29) and the gear section (3a, 3b) of the optical fiber holder (1) are linked together. By holding, with the rotation device (40), the optical fiber holder (1) of at least one of a pair of optical fibers (25) arranged facing opposite one another, and rotating such optical fiber holder using the axial direction of the optical fiber (25) as the axis of rotation, it is possible to align the circumferential direction locations of end faces of the optical fibers (25).

Description

Optical fiber rotation devices, fusion splicers, optical fiber holders

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical fiber rotating device for rotationally aligning an optical fiber.

[0002] A fusion splicer is used to connect optical fibers together. The fusion splicer places optical fibers held in a pair of holders, butt-jointing them between electrodes, and fuses the tips of the optical fibers together using an arc generated between the electrodes, thereby connecting the optical fibers together.

[0003] When fusing optical fibers together, alignment work is required to align the tip positions of the optical fibers. For this reason, conventionally, alignment is performed by placing the optical fibers opposite each other and capturing an image of the tip positions of the optical fibers from the side (perpendicular to the axial direction of the optical fibers) using an imaging unit.

[0004] On the other hand, when an optical fiber is not a typical single-core optical fiber but has a circumferential direction relative to its cross-sectional shape, such as a polarization-maintaining fiber or a multi-core fiber, alignment is required not only in the tip position but also in the rotational direction. That is, not only alignment in the so-called X-Y direction at the tip position of the optical fiber but also rotational alignment in the circumferential direction around the axial direction of the optical fiber is required.

[0005] In order to perform such rotational alignment of an optical fiber, for example, an optical fiber rotation device has been proposed which has a shaft portion in which a fiber groove for arranging the optical fiber is formed, and a mounting portion on which the tip of the optical fiber is placed facing the end portion opposite the shaft portion, and which supports the shaft portion on a support portion so that the rotating member can be rotated around the axis of the optical fiber (Patent Document 1).

[0006] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-164985

[0007] 9A is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a conventional rotating device 100. A holder mounting portion 109 is fixed to an abutment portion 111 of the rotating device 100. The holder mounting portion 109 is a portion on which an optical fiber holder for holding an optical fiber is mounted. The abutment portion 111 is disposed via a bearing portion 101 on a support portion 103 fixed to a fusion splicer. A gear portion 105 is disposed behind the abutment portion 111. The gear portion 105 is fixed to the abutment portion 111 by a stop member 107 disposed behind the gear portion 105.

[0008] The gear portion 105 is connected to a motor (not shown) via a gear. That is, the gear portion 105 can be rotated by the motor. By rotating the gear portion 105 by the motor in this manner, the holder placement portion 109 rotates relative to the support portion 103.

[0009] 9B is a diagram showing a state in which the optical fiber holder 113 holding the optical fiber 115 is placed on the holder placement portion 109. The right side in the figure faces the other optical fibers to be spliced. With the optical fiber 115 placed in this manner, as shown in FIG. 9C , the holder placement portion 109 can be rotated around the axial direction of the optical fiber 115 as the rotation axis (in the direction of the arrow X in the figure), thereby performing rotational alignment of the optical fiber 115.

[0010] Here, for example, an optical module may be connected to the rear end (left end in the drawing) of the optical fiber 115 to be connected. When connecting such an optical fiber 115 with an optical module, it is necessary to place the optical module at least outside the rotating device 100 (fusion splicer). Therefore, there must be an excess length of the optical fiber 115 from the rear end of the optical fiber holder 113 to the optical module, at least the length of the rotating device 100 (Y in the drawing).

[0011] Therefore, if the excess length of the optical fiber 115 is short, it may not be possible to set it in the rotating device, making it impossible to perform the splicing work. Furthermore, if the quality of the spliced ​​portion is not sufficient after fusion splicing, it may be necessary to cut the spliced ​​portion and perform the fusion splicing work again. However, in this case, the length of the optical fiber 115 is shorter than that at the time of the initial splicing work, and as mentioned above, it may not be possible to set it in the fusion splicer, making it impossible to perform rotation alignment and splicing. In such cases, it was necessary to discard the optical fiber 115 with the optical module.

[0012] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a compact optical fiber rotating device or the like.

[0013] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the first invention is an optical fiber rotation device comprising an optical fiber holding part for holding an optical fiber, a gear part formed on the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber holding part, and a drive part capable of rotating the gear part, and characterized in that the optical fiber rotation device is capable of rotating the optical fiber holding part with the axial direction of the optical fiber as the rotation axis.

[0014] The optical fiber holding portion is an optical fiber holder having a main body portion and a lid portion, and the optical fiber can be held by placing the optical fiber in the main body portion and closing the lid portion, and the gear portion may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber holder.

[0015] An optical fiber holder that holds an optical fiber may be accommodated inside the optical fiber holding part, and the optical fiber holder may be capable of rotating together with the optical fiber holding part.

[0016] The optical fiber holder may be composed of a holder body and a holder lid, and the holder lid may be openable and closable relative to the holder body.

[0017] According to the first aspect of the present invention, since a gear portion is formed on the outer periphery of the optical fiber holding portion that holds the optical fiber, it is not necessary to arrange the gear portion behind the optical fiber holding portion as in the past. Therefore, compared to when the optical fiber rotation device is arranged behind the optical fiber holding portion, the length of the optical fiber required behind the optical fiber holding portion can be reduced. Therefore, it can be applied even to short optical fibers.

[0018] Furthermore, if the optical fiber holding portion having the gear portion itself is an optical fiber holder, it is possible to easily set the optical fiber in the optical fiber holding portion.

[0019] Furthermore, by making it possible to accommodate an optical fiber holder inside the optical fiber holding portion having a gear portion, it becomes possible to use a conventional optical fiber holder as is.

[0020] In this case, the optical fiber holder is made up of a holder body and a holder lid, and the holder lid can be opened and closed relative to the holder body, making it easy to install the optical fiber holder.

[0021] The second invention is a fusion splicer incorporating the optical fiber rotating device of the first invention, characterized in that at least one of a pair of optical fibers arranged opposite each other is held by the optical fiber rotating device, and the optical fiber holding portion is supported by a bearing portion relative to the fusion splicer main body.

[0022] The drive unit may be disposed on a fusion splicer lid that can be opened and closed relative to the fusion splicer body, and the drive unit and the gear portion of the optical fiber holding unit may be connected by closing the fusion splicer lid.

[0023] According to the second aspect of the present invention, even short optical fibers can be fusion spliced ​​by performing rotational alignment.

[0024] Furthermore, by providing the motor on the cover side of the fusion machine and closing the cover of the fusion machine, the motor and the gear unit can be easily connected and interlocked.

[0025] The third invention is an optical fiber holder capable of holding an optical fiber, comprising a main body portion in which the optical fiber is placed and a lid portion that can be opened and closed relative to the main body portion, and characterized in that when the lid portion is closed to the main body portion, a gear portion having a plurality of blades arranged circumferentially is formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the main body portion and the lid portion.

[0026] According to the third aspect of the present invention, since a gear portion is formed on the outer periphery of the optical fiber holder, it is not necessary to form a gear portion behind the optical fiber holder mounting portion of the fusion splicer, so that even short optical fibers can be set in the fusion splicer.

[0027] According to the present invention, a compact optical fiber rotating device or the like can be provided.

[0028] 1 is a perspective view showing the optical fiber holder 1 in a closed state; a side view showing the optical fiber holder 1 in a closed state; a plan view showing the optical fiber holder 1 in a closed state; a perspective view showing the optical fiber holder 1 in an open state; a side view showing the optical fiber holder 1 in an open state; a plan view showing the optical fiber holder 1 in an open state; a diagram showing a process of setting the optical fiber holder 1 in a fusion splicer; a diagram showing a process of setting the optical fiber holder 1 in a fusion splicer; a diagram showing a state in which the shanks 5a, 5b are sandwiched and fixed between the receiving portions 23a, 23b; a diagram showing a state in which the shanks 5a, 5b are sandwiched and fixed between the receiving portions 23a, 23b; a diagram showing a state before the optical fiber holder 39 is set in the optical fiber holding portion 1a; a diagram showing a state in which the optical fiber holder 39 has been set in the optical fiber holding portion 1a; a diagram showing a state in which the holding portion lid 11a of the optical fiber holding portion 1a is closed. 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing the structure and usage of a conventional rotation device 100. 1B are schematic diagrams showing the structure and usage of a conventional rotation device 100. 1C are schematic diagrams showing the structure and usage of a conventional rotation device 100.

[0029] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical fiber holder 1 in a closed state, Fig. 2A is a side view of the optical fiber holder 1 in a closed state, and Fig. 2B is a front view of the optical fiber holder 1 in a closed state. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the optical fiber holder 1 in an open state, Fig. 4A is a side view of the optical fiber holder 1 in an open state, and Fig. 4B is a plan view of the optical fiber holder 1 in an open state.

[0030] The optical fiber holder 1 is used in a fusion splicer having a rotation device for rotationally aligning an optical fiber. That is, in the fusion splicer, the optical fiber holder 1 functions as an optical fiber holding portion for holding an optical fiber. The optical fiber holder 1 is composed of a main body portion 9 and a lid portion 11, each of which has a split shape, and the main body portion 9 and the lid portion 11 are connected by a hinge 7. That is, the lid portion 11 can be opened and closed relative to the main body portion 9 by the hinge 7, and when the main body portion 9 and the lid portion 11 are closed, the optical fiber holder 1 has a substantially cylindrical shape.

[0031] Shafts 5a are formed on both axial ends of the main body 9, and shafts 5b are formed on both axial ends of the lid 11. When the main body 9 and the lid 11 are closed, the shafts 5a and 5b face each other to form a cylindrical shaft shape. That is, the optical fiber holder 1 has a substantially cylindrical shape in the closed state, and a shaft protrudes from each of the axial ends of the cylindrical shape.

[0032] 3 and 4B, a magnet 17 is disposed on the top surface of the main body 9. When the lid 11, which is made of a magnetic material, is closed on the main body 9, the lid 11 is attracted by the magnet 17 and is maintained in a closed state relative to the main body 9. The main body 9 and the lid 11 do not have to be connected by the hinge 7. Instead of the magnet 17, the main body 9 and the lid 11 may be maintained in a closed state by another method.

[0033] A V-groove 13 is formed on the upper surface of the main body 9. An optical fiber can be placed in the V-groove 13. A pressing member 15 is provided on the underside of the lid 11, corresponding to the V-groove 13. The pressing member 15 is made of, for example, rubber, and can press the optical fiber placed in the V-groove 13 when the lid 11 is closed. In other words, by closing the lid 11 with the optical fiber placed in the main body 9, the optical fiber can be held in the optical fiber holder 1.

[0034] A gear portion 3a consisting of a plurality of blades is provided on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the main body 9 in the axial direction. Furthermore, a gear portion 3b consisting of a plurality of blades is provided on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the lid 11 in the axial direction. When the lid 11 is closed on the main body 9, a gear having a plurality of blades arranged in the circumferential direction is formed over substantially the entire outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber holder 1. The central axis of the gear formed by the gear portions 3a and 3b is coaxial with the axis of the held optical fiber.

[0035] Next, we will explain how to use the optical fiber holder 1. Fig. 5A is a schematic diagram showing the state before being set in the fusion splicer main body 19, and Fig. 5B is a diagram showing the state after the optical fiber holder 1 has been set in the fusion splicer main body 19. The fusion splicer main body 19 has a pair of receiving portions 23a arranged at a predetermined interval, and a V-groove 21 is provided in front of the receiving portions 23a.

[0036] The receiving portion 23a is a portion that supports the shaft portions 5a and 5b at both ends of the optical fiber holder 1. As shown in Fig. 5B, the optical fiber holder 1 is placed on the receiving portion 23a, and the optical fiber 25 protruding from the tip of the optical fiber holder 1 is placed in the V-groove 21.

[0037] 5C is a diagram showing the optical fiber rotating device 40 in a state where the fusion splicer lid 33, which can be opened and closed, is closed relative to the fusion splicer main body 19. The fusion splicer lid 33 has a receiving portion 23b arranged at a position corresponding to the receiving portion 23a. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5C , the shaft portions 5a, 5b of the optical fiber holder 1 can be held by the receiving portion 23b arranged on the fusion splicer lid 33 and the receiving portion 23a of the fusion splicer main body 19.

[0038] 6A and 6B are views showing the state in which the shanks 5a and 5b are sandwiched and held by the receiving portions 23a and 23b. In this embodiment, a bearing member 35 is disposed on the inner peripheral surfaces of the receiving portions 23a and 23b. The bearing member 35 is made of, for example, a low-friction material having a low coefficient of friction with respect to the receiving portions 23a and 23b. In this way, by supporting the optical fiber holder 1 on the fusion splicer main body 19 by the receiving portions 23a and 23b, the optical fiber holder 1 can be rotatably supported with the shanks 5a and 5b as the rotation axis.

[0039] 5C , a clamp 27 is disposed on the fusion splicer lid 33 at a position corresponding to the V-groove 21. Therefore, when the fusion splicer lid 33 is closed, the clamp 27 can press and hold the optical fiber 25 disposed in the V-groove 21 from above.

[0040] In this embodiment, the motor 29 is disposed on the fusion splicer lid 33. When the fusion splicer lid 33 is closed, the motor 29 engages with the gear portions 3 a and 3 b of the optical fiber holder 1 via the gear 31, and the motor 29 is connected to the gear portions 3 a and 3 b of the optical fiber holder 1. That is, the motor 29 functions as a drive unit that rotates the optical fiber holder 1 (gear portions 3 a and 3 b). The motor 29 may be disposed on the fusion splicer main body 19 side, instead of on the fusion splicer lid 33. Depending on the location of the motor 29, the drive force from the motor 29 may be transmitted to the optical fiber holder 1 (gear portions 3 a and 3 b) via another idler gear.

[0041] When performing rotational alignment, first, an image of the end faces of a pair of opposing optical fibers 25 is captured using a reflecting member or the like (not shown). Next, at least one of the pair of opposing optical fibers 25 is held by a rotating device 40 and rotated around the axial direction of the optical fiber 25 as the rotation axis, thereby aligning the circumferential positions of the end faces of the optical fibers 25.

[0042] Although FIG. 5C shows the rotation device 40 on one optical fiber side of the fusion splicer, the other side may have a symmetrical structure, or rotation alignment may be performed only by the rotation device 40 on one side without providing a rotation device on the other side.

[0043] The conventional XY direction alignment work can be performed in the same manner as in the past. After alignment, the reflecting member is retracted, and arc discharge is generated between electrodes (not shown), and the pair of optical fibers 25 are butted together, thereby performing rotational alignment and fusion splicing of the optical fibers 25.

[0044] As described above, according to this embodiment, the gear portions 3 a, 3 b are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber holder 1, and the gear portions 3 a, 3 b are rotated by the drive portion, so that the optical fiber holder 1 can be used in place of the optical fiber holders that have been used conventionally. Therefore, the optical fiber holder 1 can be used in the same procedure as the conventional one.

[0045] Furthermore, because a gear is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber holder 1, the length of the excess optical fiber 25 required behind the optical fiber holder 1 can be made shorter compared to the conventional case in which a rotation device is provided behind the optical fiber holder 1. Therefore, by using a fusion splicer with a built-in rotation device 40, even if the length of the optical fiber 25 is short, it is possible to perform rotation alignment and fusion splicing.

[0046] Next, a second embodiment will be described. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an optical fiber holding part 1a according to the second embodiment. In the following description, the same components as those in the above-mentioned embodiment will be given the same reference numerals, and duplicated description will be omitted.

[0047] The second embodiment has a configuration substantially similar to that of the first embodiment, but differs in that the optical fiber 25 is fixed and held in a conventional optical fiber holder 39. The optical fiber holder 39 comprises a main body 41 and a lid 43, and the optical fiber 25 is held by closing the lid 43. The shape of the optical fiber holder 39 is not particularly limited, and any known optical fiber holder can be used.

[0048] The optical fiber holder 1a is composed of a holder body 9a and a holder lid 11a which can be opened and closed relative to each other. When the holder body 9a and the holder lid 11a are closed, the optical fiber holder 1a has the same outer surface shape as the optical fiber holder 1 described above.

[0049] A recess 37a having a shape corresponding to the main body 41 of the optical fiber holder 39 is formed on the inner surface of the holding unit main body 9a. Furthermore, a recess 37b having a shape corresponding to the lid portion 43 of the optical fiber holder 39 is formed on the inner surface of the holding unit lid 11a. The recesses 37a and 37b provide a space for accommodating the optical fiber holder 39 inside the optical fiber holding unit 1a. In other words, the optical fiber holder 39 that holds the optical fiber 25 can be accommodated inside the optical fiber holding unit 1a.

[0050] 8A is a diagram showing the state in which the optical fiber holder 39 is placed in the recess 37a of the holder main body 9a, and Fig. 8B is a diagram showing the state in which the holder lid 11a is closed. A pin for positioning the optical fiber holder 39 is arranged in the recess 37a of the holder main body 9a, and the optical fiber holder 39 can be positioned and fixed to the holder main body 9a.

[0051] The optical fiber holder 39 is housed in the holding unit main body 9a and the holding unit lid 11a is closed, whereby the optical fiber holder 39 is held by the optical fiber holding unit 1a. Note that a portion of the optical fiber 25 protruding from the front and rear of the optical fiber holder 39 is disposed in, for example, the V-groove 13 of the holding unit main body 9a.

[0052] In this way, the optical fiber holding part 1a incorporating the optical fiber holder 39 can be used in the same manner as the above-described optical fiber holder 1. That is, by setting the optical fiber holding part 1a in the fusion splicer main body 19 (rotation device 40) and driving the motor 29, the optical fiber holder 39 can be rotated together with the optical fiber holding part 1a.

[0053] According to the second embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, by making it possible to accommodate the optical fiber holder 39 inside the optical fiber holding part 1a, it is possible to utilize the optical fiber holder 39 that has been used conventionally. Therefore, it is possible to use an optical fiber cutter or stripper as it is.

[0054] As with the optical fiber holder 1, the optical fiber holding part 1a may also have the holding part main body 9a and the holding part lid 11a completely separated, rather than being connected by the hinge 7. Furthermore, the magnet 17 may not be used to fix the holding part main body 9a and the holding part lid 11a.

[0055] In the above-described fusion splicer, an example has been described in which at least one of a pair of optical fibers 25 arranged oppositely is arranged on the rotating device 40, but when multiple pairs of optical fibers are arranged oppositely, a rotating device 40 may be provided for each pair of optical fibers arranged oppositely. In other words, multiple rotating devices 40 may be arranged in parallel.

[0056] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. It is clear that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications and alterations within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, and it is understood that these modifications and alterations also fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0057] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1....Optical fiber holder 1a....Optical fiber holding portion 3a, 3b....Gear portion 5a, 5b....Shaft portion 7....Hinge 9....Main body portion 9a....Holding portion main body 11....Cover portion 11a....Holding portion cover 13....V-groove 15....Pressing member 17....Magnet 19....Fusion splicer main body 21....V-groove 23a, 23b....Receiving portion 25....Optical fiber 27....Clamp 29....Motor 31....Gear 33....Fusion splicer cover 35....Bearing member 37a, 37b....Recess 39....Optical fiber holder 40....Rotating device 41....Main body portion 43....Cover portion 100....Rotating device 101....Bearing portion 103....Support portion 105....Gear portion 107....Stopping member 109: Holder placement portion 111: Contact portion 113: Optical fiber holder 115: Optical fiber

Claims

1. An optical fiber rotation device comprising: an optical fiber holding part that holds an optical fiber; a gear part formed on the outer peripheral surface of said optical fiber holding part; and a drive part that can rotate said gear part, wherein said optical fiber rotation device is capable of rotating said optical fiber holding part with the axial direction of the optical fiber as the rotation axis.

2. The optical fiber rotating device according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber holding part is an optical fiber holder having a main body and a lid, the optical fiber can be held by placing the optical fiber in the main body and closing the lid, and the gear part is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the optical fiber holder.

3. An optical fiber rotating device as described in claim 1, characterized in that an optical fiber holder that holds an optical fiber can be housed inside the optical fiber holding part, and the optical fiber holder can be rotated together with the optical fiber holding part.

4. An optical fiber rotating device according to claim 3, wherein said optical fiber holder comprises a holder body and a holder lid, said holder lid being openable and closable relative to said holder body.

5. A fusion splicer incorporating an optical fiber rotating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one of a pair of optical fibers arranged opposite each other is held by said optical fiber rotating device, and said optical fiber holding part is supported by a bearing part on the fusion splicer main body.

6. The fusion splicer according to claim 5, wherein the drive unit is disposed on a fusion splicer lid that can be opened and closed relative to the fusion splicer body, and when the fusion splicer lid is closed, the drive unit and the gear unit of the optical fiber holding unit are connected.

7. An optical fiber holder capable of holding an optical fiber, comprising: a main body in which the optical fiber is placed; and a lid that can be opened and closed relative to the main body, wherein when the lid is closed on the main body, a gear portion having a plurality of blades arranged circumferentially is formed on the outer circumferential surfaces of the main body and the lid.

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