Optical Fiber Terminal Fixing Tool for Automated Winding

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for winding optical fibers around bobbins with narrow width winding portions require manual operation, making it difficult to automate the process and reducing labor-saving and efficiency in the optical fiber manufacturing process.

Innovation Solution

An optical fiber terminal fixing tool with a disc-shaped substrate and a protrusion that securely introduces the fiber to the narrow width winding portion by interposing the terminal between the holding surface and the flange portion, allowing for automated winding without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If manual operation is used to introduce optical fiber to narrow width winding portion, then fiber introduction can be achieved, but automation is difficult and labor-saving is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of fiber introductionVSAvoiddifficulty of fiber introduction

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A guide member with a guide groove is introduced as an intermediary device between the optical fiber and the narrow width winding portion. The guide groove physically guides and directs the optical fiber along a predetermined path, enabling automated introduction without manual intervention while maintaining ease of operation through the guiding mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide member is positioned and configured in advance before the winding process begins. The guide groove is pre-formed to match the required fiber path, allowing the optical fiber to be automatically directed to the correct position on the narrow width winding portion without requiring real-time manual adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If separate winding assistance members are used, then fiber introduction is facilitated, but device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of fiber introductionVSAvoidnumber of winding assistance members

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide member is integrated with the existing winding machine structure, merging the guidance function into the overall device rather than using separate assistance members. This reduces device complexity and the number of components while maintaining the ease of fiber introduction through the incorporated guide groove mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9810870B2Optical fiber terminal fixing tool for winding optical fiber and optical fiber winding method

Publication Date: 2017.11.07 FUJIKURA LTD

AI summary

An optical fiber terminal fixing tool includes: a disc-shaped substrate having a plate surface; a holding surface which is provided on the plate surface and interposes the terminal portion of the optical fiber between the holding surface and the first flange portion; and a protrusion which continues in a circumferential direction with a larger diameter than an outer diameter of the first flange portion in an outer circumferential portion on the plate surface while protruding toward the bobbin in a state where the fixing tool is mounted on the rotating shaft of the optical fiber winding machine.