Optical Fiber Container with One-Way Ratchet Drive
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical fiber containers are limited in length and capacity, making it difficult to collect long discarded fibers efficiently, and the bidirectional rotation of fiber collecting shafts can push fibers away from the container.
Innovation Solution
A full-automatic optical fiber container design featuring a NO. 1 shell with a pivotally connected cover and two fiber collecting shafts, and a NO. 2 shell with a container driving unit, transmission unit, and lever, allowing for one-way rotation of the shafts to ensure fibers are collected and stored effectively, with a ratchet and gear drive system for controlled movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the main part of the container is made short, then the structure is compact, but the fiber collecting shaft cannot collect long discarded fiber
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into two separate shells: NO. 1 shell for fiber collection and NO. 2 shell for driving mechanisms. This segmentation allows the fiber collecting shaft to be extended without increasing the overall container footprint, as the shaft extends into the fiber cutting unit's top cap space rather than requiring additional container length.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiber collecting shaft extends in a different spatial dimension by reaching into the top cap of the fiber cutting unit, rather than simply lengthening the container body. This allows long fiber collection without proportionally increasing container volume.
2Reliability
If the fiber collecting shafts can rotate both-way, then the shafts are simple in structure, but the shafts will rollback to drive the fiber away from the container when discarded fiber is relatively long
Solution Approach 1:
A one-way transmission mechanism (ratchet and gear drive) is introduced as an intermediary between the container driving unit and the fiber collecting shafts. This intermediary allows the shafts to rotate in the correct direction to collect fiber while preventing reverse rotation that would push fiber away, without requiring complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The bidirectional rotation control is replaced with a one-way mechanical transmission system using ratchets and gears. This substitution provides reliable unidirectional rotation through pure mechanical means, eliminating the need for electronic controls or complex mechanical braking systems.
3Productivity
If the existing optical fiber container holds about 300 fiber ends, then the container is compact, but its operational efficiency is very low
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into two functional shells: NO. 1 shell for fiber storage and NO. 2 shell for driving mechanisms. This allows the fiber storage capacity to be increased in NO. 1 shell without proportionally increasing the overall device size, as NO. 2 shell contains the necessary driving components separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The container cover is made pivotally connected to allow automatic opening and closing during operation. This dynamic feature enables the container to automatically discharge accumulated fiber ends, maintaining high operational efficiency by eliminating manual intervention and allowing continuous operation.
4Ease of operation
If the operator is cautious about fiber length when stripping, then fiber collection accuracy is improved, but the operation becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The container automatically collects and accumulates fiber ends without requiring operator intervention for each fiber. The automatic accumulation function frees the operator from manually monitoring and handling each fiber, significantly simplifying the operation and reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiber collecting shafts continuously accumulate fiber ends as they are generated by the cutting unit, without interruption. This continuous collection process eliminates the need for periodic manual emptying or monitoring, maintaining constant operational efficiency and reducing overall operation time.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The container can collect longer fibers up to 45 mm with higher operational efficiency, preventing fibers from being pushed out and allowing for easier handling, as the one-way rotation ensures fibers are securely stored within.
Implementation Method 1
The transmission unit includes the ratchet drive components and the gear drive components. The ratchet drive components are rotationally connected within the NO. 2 shell and can only drive in one direction.
Implementation Method 2
The ratchet drive components and gear drive components can engage one-way meshing transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
A full-automatic optical fiber container connected with an optical fiber cutting unit includes a first shell and a second shell. The first shell includes a bottom case for containing optical fiber, and a cover pivotally connected with a top of the bottom case. An upper fiber collecting shaft is set at the cover and a lower fiber collecting shaft is set at the bottom case. The two shafts are rotationally connected to an opening of the first shell. The second shell includes a container driving unit that connects with the fiber cutting unit's top cap fixedly, a transmission unit that connects with the container driving unit and the lower fiber collecting shaft, and only engages one-way transmission; and a container lever that is flexibly connected with the first shell's cover. The three parts are set in the second shell with flexible connection respectively.