Optical Fiber Sheath Removal Guide with Inclined Protrusions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical fiber-sheath removing devices are inefficient due to manual operation and prone to positional deviations, which can lead to breakage of the bare optical fiber during sheath removal, especially when dealing with bent fibers.

Innovation Solution

A sheath removing unit with a sheath removing blade, an optical fiber guide, and a positioning plate that includes inclined portions and protruding features to accurately guide and position the optical fiber, ensuring precise alignment and minimizing breakage risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a V-shaped groove is used to guide the optical fiber to the sheath removing blade, then the device structure is simple, but positional deviation occurs between the optical fiber and the blade

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The guide structure is divided into multiple functional components: a V-shaped groove for initial fiber reception, positioning protrusions for precise lateral positioning, and a positioning hole for axial positioning. This segmentation allows each component to address specific positioning requirements, achieving high positioning accuracy without excessive overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide structure acts as an intermediary between the optical fiber and the sheath removing blade. It includes a V-shaped groove that receives the fiber, positioning protrusions that mediate lateral positioning, and a positioning hole that mediates axial positioning, ensuring the fiber is accurately positioned relative to the blade before sheath removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If manual operation is used for sheath removal, then the device is simple to operate, but the success rate varies according to the worker

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidsuccess rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide structure enables self-positioning of the optical fiber through its geometric features. The V-shaped groove automatically centers the fiber, while the positioning protrusions and hole provide self-aligning constraints, allowing the system to position itself without requiring high operator skill or manual adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The guide structure transforms the operational parameters from manual dexterity requirements to simple insertion operations. By changing the geometric parameters of the guide (V-shape angle, protrusion dimensions, hole position), the system achieves reliable positioning regardless of operator variability, maintaining ease of operation while improving success rate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Volume of moving object

If the optical fiber has a small radius of curvature and bends, then the fiber can be stored efficiently, but positional deviation occurs during sheath removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The guide structure provides beforehand cushioning for bent fibers through its geometric constraints. The V-shaped groove and positioning features are designed to accommodate fibers with small radii of curvature, providing gentle guidance that gradually straightens the fiber while maintaining positioning accuracy, thus cushioning against the adverse effects of bending before the sheath removal process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Productivity

If automation is introduced to improve working efficiency, then productivity increases, but the positioning accuracy deteriorates due to V-shaped groove limitations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking efficiencyVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The guide structure is segmented into multiple functional zones: a V-shaped groove zone for initial fiber reception and rough positioning, a positioning protrusion zone for precise lateral alignment, and a positioning hole zone for final axial positioning. This segmentation enables automated systems to achieve high positioning accuracy through a sequence of simple positioning actions, maintaining both productivity and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2405289B1Coating removal unit and optical fiber coating removal apparatus
Publication Date: 2019.05.15 FUJIKURA LTD
  • EP2405289B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2405289B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2405289B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A sheath removing unit (10) according to the invention includes a sheath removing blade (1) that includes a pair of blade bodies (4) disposed so as to face each other, and an optical fiber guide (2) that includes first guide body (7) and the second guide body (8). The first guide body (7) includes a first protruding portion (34) that is disposed so as to be superimposed on one blade body (4A) of the blade bodies (4) and protrudes from one blade body (4A) toward the other blade body (4B). The second guide body (8) includes a second protruding portion (36) that is disposed so as to be superimposed on the other blade body (4B) and protrudes from the other blade body (4B) toward one blade body (4A). The first protruding portion (34) includes a lower inclined portion (13), which is inclined outward toward a protruding direction of the first protruding portion (34), on the surface thereof facing the second guide body (8). The second protruding portion (36) includes an upper inclined portion (11), which is inclined outward toward a protruding direction of the second protruding portion (36), on the surface thereof facing the first guide body (7).