Optical Fiber Cutter Alignment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical fiber cutters face difficulties in aligning multiple glass portions in a row due to intersection, overlap, and attraction issues during the cutting process, making it challenging to accurately cut and align the fibers.
Innovation Solution
An optical fiber cutter design featuring a fiber holder, an alignment member with an insertion hole, and a blade member, where the alignment member is movable to separate from the fiber holder, allowing the glass portions to be aligned in a row without being pressed, and a blade member scratches the surfaces to cut the fibers accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If glass portions are inserted into V-grooves for alignment, then alignment precision is improved, but glass portions intersect or overlap making accommodation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment process is segmented into two independent stages: first aligning optical fibers in the fiber holder, then aligning glass portions in the alignment member. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently, solving the contradiction between alignment precision and ease of accommodation.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment member serves as an intermediary between the fiber holder and the cutting blade. It receives glass portions from the fiber holder, aligns them in a row without pressing, and maintains this alignment during the cutting process, thereby resolving the accommodation difficulty while preserving alignment precision.
2Stability of the object's composition
If glass portions are pressed during alignment, then alignment stability is improved, but glass portions are deformed or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment member is designed to be movable relative to the fiber holder, allowing dynamic adjustment during the alignment process. This movability enables alignment stability to be achieved without applying pressing force that could deform or damage the glass portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment member's insertion hole structure and movable design enable self-alignment of glass portions without external pressing forces. The glass portions naturally align in a row as the alignment member moves into position, maintaining both alignment stability and glass portion integrity.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple glass portions are aligned in a row, then cutting precision is improved, but attraction and overlap occur making alignment difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment function is extracted from the fiber holder and implemented in a separate alignment member. This extraction eliminates the interference between fiber holder constraints and glass portion alignment, allowing multiple glass portions to be aligned in a row without attraction or overlap issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment member introduces a new spatial dimension for alignment by being positioned at a distance from the fiber holder and moving in a direction perpendicular to the optical fiber longitudinal direction. This dimensional change allows glass portions to align in a row without the constraints that cause attraction and overlap.
4Measurement precision
If alignment member is fixed to base, then positioning accuracy is improved, but flexibility and adjustability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment state of the alignment member is changed from fixed to movable, allowing the system to adapt between requiring high positioning accuracy (when attached) and requiring flexibility (when detached or adjustable). This parameter change resolves the contradiction between positioning accuracy and flexibility.
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 design enables easy alignment and cutting of multiple glass portions in a row, minimizing variations and ensuring aligned end surfaces, thus improving the precision and efficiency of the cutting process.
Implementation Method 1
a blade member which scratches surfaces of the plurality of glass portions by moving in the first perpendicular direction between the first placement portion and the second placement portion with respect to the base
Data Source
AI summary
An optical fiber cutter includes: a fiber holder that holds optical fibers disposed in a row in a first perpendicular direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the optical fibers, wherein each of the optical fibers includes a glass portion and a coated portion that covers the glass portion; an alignment member having an insertion hole through which the glass portions extending from the fiber holder are inserted; a base including; a first placement portion on which the fiber holder is disposed; and a second placement portion positioned at a distance from the first placement portion, and on which the alignment member is disposed; and a blade member that scratches surfaces of the glass portions by moving in the first perpendicular direction between the first placement portion and the second placement portion with respect to the base.