Optical waveguides – Accessories – Bushing structure
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-22
2004-10-05
Kim, Ellen E. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
Accessories
Bushing structure
C385S147000, C225S093000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06801705
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical fiber cutting apparatus for cutting a tip of an optical fiber which is to be connected by using a fusion splicing method in which optical fibers are butt-connected. Also, the present invention relates to an optical fiber cutting method therefor.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, it is common for fusion splicing of optical fibers to be performed by a butt-connecting method in which an end of the optical terminal is cut so as to form a lead wire of the optical fiber and tips of the optical fiber are butt-connected. In a fusion splicing operation of the optical fiber, in order to avoid connection loss, it is necessary to cut the optical fiber so that a cutting surface is orthogonal to an optical axis and cutting surfaces are finished as fine as a mirror. For such a cutting apparatus, an optical fiber cutting apparatus has already been realized.
FIG. 14
is a front view of a first example of conventional optical fiber cutting apparatus (See Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. Sho 60-184207, hereinafter called patent document 1).
In order to cut an optical fiber
1
by using the optical fiber cutting apparatus in the example, an uncoated section
1
a
, from which the coating layer was removed from its tip, is fixed by clamps
2
and
3
. Next, a cutter
4
contacts the optical fiber
1
from beneath the optical fiber
1
in an orthogonal manner to an optical axis of the optical fiber
1
. Thus, a crack is formed on a surface of the uncoated section
1
a
. Consequently, the uncoated section
1
a
is pushed by a cushion
5
from above the uncoated section
1
a
in an orthogonal manner to the optical axis of the optical fiber
1
so as to be bent toward an opposite surface which the crack occurs; and thus, the crack grows and the optical fiber is cut.
FIG. 15
is a front view of a second example of a conventional optical fiber cutting apparatus (See Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. Sho 61-232404, hereinafter called patent document 2).
In order to cut an optical fiber
1
by using the optical fiber cutting apparatus in the example, an uncoated section
1
a
, from which the coating layer was removed from its tip, is fixed by clamps
2
and
3
while applying a constant tension such as 200 gf. Next, a cutter
4
contacts the optical fiber
1
from a front end of the optical fiber
1
in an orthogonal manner to an optical axis of the optical fiber
1
. Thus, a crack is formed on a surface of the uncoated section
1
a
. Accordingly, the crack is enlarged by the tension which is applied on the uncoated section
1
a
; thus, the uncoated section
1
a
is cut.
FIG. 16
is a front view of a third example of a conventional optical fiber cutting apparatus (See Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. Hei 7-80798, hereinafter called patent document 3).
In order to cut an optical fiber
1
by using the optical fiber cutting apparatus in the example, a coated section in the tip of the optical fiber
1
is removed so as to expose the uncoated section
1
a
. Next, a slider
6
is manipulated such that a cutter
7
is disposed in front of the uncoated section
1
a
. Consequently, an uncoated section clamp
8
and a coated section clamp
9
are released, and the uncoated section
1
a
is fit to a fixed groove (not shown in the drawing). Also, the coated section of the optical fiber
1
is fitted to a guide groove (not shown in the drawing). Next, the coated section clamp
9
is closed, and a coated section clamp base
10
is pushed in an approaching direction to the cutter
7
until it reaches a predetermined position. In this condition, the uncoated section clamp
8
is closed. At this time, the coated section clamp base
10
tends to move away from the cutter
7
by a built-in spring
11
. Therefore, constant tension is applied to the optical fiber
1
. Next, the cutter
7
contacts the optical fiber
1
from a front end of the optical fiber
1
in an orthogonal manner to an optical axis of the optical fiber
1
so as to form a crack on a surface of the uncoated section
1
a
. At this time, the cutter
7
contacts the uncoated section
1
a
. Also while sliding in a horizontal direction, a tip of a plunger
12
disposed on the cutter
7
contacts a slanted surface
13
. By doing this, the tension of optical fiber
1
increases gradually, and a crack which is formed on the uncoated section
1
a
is enlarged; thus, the uncoated section
1
a
is cut.
In the first example of a conventional optical fiber cutting apparatus, a clamp
3
clamps a portion of the uncoated section
1
a
which is not cut. Therefore, there was a case in which a small flaw was produced on the uncoated section
1
a
. As a result, there was a problem that strength of the optical fiber
1
decreased.
Also, in the second example of a conventional optical fiber cutting apparatus, there was a problem in that flatness and surface smoothness of the cutting surface were insufficient.
Also, in the third example of conventional optical fiber cutting apparatus, when a crack formed on the uncoated section
1
a
, the plunger
12
contacts the slant surface
13
, and a vibration due to the contact is transferred to the cutter
7
. Because of this, there were problems in that the crack was not formed on the uncoated section
1
a
stably and thus, acceptable cutting surface could not be obtained. Also, when the uncoated section clamp
8
and the coated section clamp
9
were closed so as to fix the optical fiber
1
, an operator had to perform the clamping operation with both hands; therefore, there was a problem in that operating efficiency was insufficient. Furthermore, if the operator forgot to push the coated section clamp base
10
in an approaching direction to the cutter
7
, it was not possible to obtain tension on the optical fiber for forming the crack on the uncoated section
1
a
. Therefore, there was a problem in that the uncoated section
1
a
could not be cut.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was made in consideration of the above-explained problems. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber cutting apparatus which can cut an optical fiber easily and optical fiber cutting method without decreasing the strength of the optical fiber. The above-explained problems can be solved by an optical fiber cutting apparatus comprising:
a coated section holder for holding a coated section of an optical fiber terminal;
an uncoated section holder for holding an uncoated section of an optical fiber; and
a cutter for cutting the uncoated section between the coated section holder and the uncoated section holder, wherein
a ferromagnetic substance or a magnet is disposed on facing surfaces of the uncoated section holder and a cutter holder for holding the cutter.
It is preferable that a ferromagnetic substance or a plurality of magnets having different magnetic force be disposed on the uncoated section holder or the cutter holder with a certain interval.
The above-explained problems can be solved by an optical fiber cutting apparatus comprising:
a coated section holder for holding a coated section of an optical fiber terminal;
an uncoated section holder for holding an uncoated section of an optical fiber; and
a cutter for cutting the uncoated section between the coated section holder and the uncoated section holder, wherein
a ferromagnetic substance or a magnet is disposed on facing surfaces of the coated section holder and a cutter holder for holding the cutter.
It is preferable that a ferromagnetic substance or a plurality of magnets having different magnetic force be disposed on the coated section holder or the cutter holder with a certain interval.
The above-explained problems can be solved by an optical fiber cutting apparatus comprising:
a coated section holder for holding a coated section of an optical fiber terminal;
an uncoated section holder having a first uncoated section holder which is disposed next to the coated section
Sasaki Katsumi
Sato Takeshi
Takahashi Kenji
Fujikura Ltd.
Hoffmann & Baron , LLP
Kim Ellen E.
LandOfFree
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