JP2009300846A - Method of heating reinforcement sleeve, heating apparatus and fusion splicing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of heating a reinforcing sleeve, a heating device, and a fusion splicer capable of reducing the time required for the heat treatment of the reinforcing sleeve.
A heating method, a heating apparatus, and a fusion splicer for a reinforcing sleeve that reinforces a fusion spliced portion of an optical fiber. In the heating method of the reinforcing sleeve, after the heating device for heating the reinforcing sleeve is preheated, the heating processing of the reinforcing sleeve is started. The reinforcing sleeve heating device 5 includes a heating control unit 53 that starts a preheating mode by inputting a preheating start signal and switches to a heating mode that heats to a target temperature for a predetermined time by inputting the heating start signal, and heats the reinforcing sleeve. Preheat the heating device before.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a heating method, a heating device, and a fusion splicer for a reinforcing sleeve.

  Conventionally, when an optical fiber is fusion-bonded, a reinforcing sleeve is attached to the fusion-bonded portion for protection. This reinforcing sleeve is usually a heat-shrinkable tube in which a tensile body made of metal, glass fiber or the like and an inner tube made of hot melt resin are arranged, and one optical fiber to be fusion-bonded in advance is connected to the inner tube. Insert it into the optical fiber. The reinforcing sleeve is fused to the optical fibers and then moved to the connecting portion and heated by a heating device provided in the fusion splicing machine, thereby welding the inner tube to the connecting portion and the heat shrinkable tube. The tensile strength member is contracted and fixed to the connecting portion (for example, see Patent Document 1). Here, a reinforcing rod formed of stainless steel, glass, ceramic or the like is used as the tensile body. Further, as described above, there are a reinforcing sleeve heating device that is preliminarily incorporated in the fusion splicer and another that is configured separately from the fusion splicer.

JP 2005-148170 A

  By the way, the conventional fusion splicer can perform the fusion splicing of optical fibers in a few seconds, whereas the thermal conductivity decreases when the tensile strength member composed of a plurality of components is heat-treated and the inside. Considering the avoidance of entrainment of bubbles, the heat treatment of the reinforcing sleeve took about 1 minute. For this reason, in the fusion splicer, a large amount of time is taken for the heat treatment of the reinforcing sleeve in the fusion splicing operation, and shortening the heat treatment time has been a major issue.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a heating method, a heating device, and a fusion splicer for a reinforcing sleeve that can shorten the time required for the heat treatment of the reinforcing sleeve. To do.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a heating method for a reinforcing sleeve according to the present invention is a heating method for a reinforcing sleeve that reinforces a fusion splicing portion of an optical fiber, and heats the reinforcing sleeve. After the apparatus is preheated, the heat treatment of the reinforcing sleeve is started.

  The reinforcing sleeve heating method of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the preheating is started by inputting a preheating start signal.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a heating device for a reinforcing sleeve according to the present invention is a heating device for a reinforcing sleeve that reinforces a fusion splicing portion of an optical fiber, and inputs a preheating start signal. And a heating control means for switching to a heating mode for heating to a target temperature for a predetermined time by inputting a heating start signal, and preheating the heating device before heat-treating the reinforcing sleeve. .

  The reinforcing sleeve heating device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the heating control means receives the preheating start signal when a power switch of the heating device is turned on.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a fusion splicer according to the present invention is a fusion splicer that fusion-connects optical fibers arranged opposite to each other at a tip portion, and A heating device for the reinforcing sleeve for reinforcing the fusion splicing portion of the fiber is provided.

  In the fusion splicer according to the present invention, the preheating start signal is input to the heating control means when the power switch of the fusion splicer is turned on.

  Further, the fusion splicer of the present invention comprises the electric discharge machining section having a windshield cover and a detection means for detecting opening and closing of the windshield cover in the above invention, wherein the heating control means A preheating start signal is input.

  In the heating method of the reinforcing sleeve of the present invention, the heating device for heating the reinforcing sleeve is preheated, and then the heating process of the reinforcing sleeve is started. The heating device of the reinforcing sleeve of the present invention enters the preheating mode by inputting a preheating start signal. A heating control means for switching to a heating mode for starting and heating the reinforcing sleeve to a target temperature for a predetermined time by inputting a heating start signal is provided, and the heating device is preheated before the reinforcing sleeve is heated. In addition, since the fusion splicer of the present invention includes the reinforcing sleeve heating device, the time required for the heat treatment of the reinforcing sleeve can be shortened.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a heating method, a heating apparatus, and a fusion splicer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a fusion splicer of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the heating device for the reinforcing sleeve of the present invention mounted on the fusion splicer of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fusion splicer 1 includes an operation unit 2, an electric discharge machining unit 3, and a heating device 5 arranged from the front side to the back side, and includes an ECU having a timer function provided therein. The used control unit receives an input operation from the input panel 2 b of the operation unit 2 and controls the display of the display panel 2 a and the operation of the electric discharge machining unit 3 and the heating device 5.

  The operation unit 2 is provided with a display panel 2a and an input panel 2b. The display panel 2a displays, for example, characters such as a setting value of connection loss, an estimated loss, and a warning about an axis deviation error on the liquid crystal panel. The input panel 2b includes a power switch 2c for starting / stopping the fusion splicer 1, a fusion start switch 2d for starting the fusion connection, a cursor moving operation, an input reset operation, and a selection on the display panel 2a. There are provided various operation keys for inputting the determination operation and the like, an indicator lamp 2e for displaying that the fusion start switch 2d is pressed by blinking.

  The electric discharge machining portion 3 is a portion in which the tips of two optical fibers are arranged opposite to each other and the tip portions of the optical fibers are fusion-connected using arc discharge, and the windshield cover 4 is closed as shown in FIG. Make a fusion splice. Here, the electric discharge machining unit 3 is provided with an open / close sensor using a switch or the like that detects opening / closing of the windshield cover 4. The open / close sensor outputs the detected open / close signal of the windshield cover 4 to the control unit.

  The heating device 5 is a device that is long along the width direction of the fusion splicer 1, and performs heat treatment for attaching the reinforcing sleeve. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the heating device 5 is configured separately from the fusion splicer 1, and can be used alone or incorporated into the fusion splicer 1. Is possible.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the heating device 5 includes a heating unit 52 and a heating control unit 53 in the upper part of the main body 51, and a connection for connecting the adapter 55 and the fusion splicer 1 to the right side surface of the main body 51. A portion 56 is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the heating unit 52 includes a heating unit main body 52a and a lid 52c, and is provided with a temperature sensor that detects the temperature. The heating unit main body 52a has an arrangement groove 52b in which the optical fiber F is arranged in the longitudinal direction, and clamps 52d that hold the optical fiber F are provided on both sides. The heating portion main body 52a is heated by a built-in heater, and heats the reinforcing sleeve S (see FIG. 1) that protects the connection portion of the fusion-bonded optical fiber F. Here, the heating unit main body 52a is provided with an open / close sensor using a switch or the like that detects opening / closing of the lid 52c. The open / close sensor outputs the detected open / close signal of the lid 52 c to the heating control unit 53. On the other hand, the lid 52c has an observation window 52e that is attached to the heating unit main body 52a so as to be freely opened and closed and that confirms the position of the reinforcing sleeve S arranged in the arrangement groove 52b.

  The heating control unit 53 controls switching between a preheating mode for preheating the heating unit 52 and a heating mode for heating the heating unit 52, and sets the heating unit 52 to a target temperature (for example, 200) based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. And a control unit using an ECU or the like having a timer function to be controlled at (° C.). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the heating control unit 53 has a selection panel 53a for selecting the size of the reinforcing sleeve S to be heated and a power switch 53d for starting / stopping the heating device 5 on the upper surface. Is provided. The selection panel 53a is provided with a selection button 53b and a plurality of indicator lamps 53c for displaying the selected size and the like.

  The adapter 55 is connected to an AC power connector when the heating device 5 is used alone. On the other hand, the connector 56 is connected to a connector on the fusion splicer 1 side when the heating device 5 is incorporated in the fusion splicer 1 and used.

  For example, in the case of using the heating device 5 alone, the fusion splicer 1 and the heating device 5 configured as described above are connected by connecting a connector of an AC power source to the adapter 55 and pressing the power switch 53d for heating. The device 5 is activated. Then, the heating control unit 53 receives the preheating start signal when the power switch 53d is turned on, and starts the preheating mode. Thereby, the heating device 5 starts preheating of the heating unit 52. When a signal is input from the open / close sensor by opening / closing the lid 52c, the heating control unit 53 switches the preheating mode to the heating mode after a predetermined time using this signal as a heating start signal, and executes the heating process of the reinforcing sleeve. . A method of heating the reinforcing sleeve will be described below with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, when the power switch 53d is pressed, the heating control unit 53 receives the preheating start signal and starts the preheating mode of the heating unit 52 (step S10). At this time, the preheating temperature of the heating unit 52 in the preheating mode is closer to the target temperature (above the melting temperature of the inner tube constituting the reinforcing sleeve), the time required for the heating treatment of the reinforcing sleeve, in particular, the temperature of the reinforcing sleeve is shortened. This is desirable for raising the target temperature. Next, when the reinforcing sleeve is set in the arrangement groove 52b and a heating start signal is input from the open / close sensor, the heating control unit 53 switches the heating unit 52 from the preheating mode to the heating mode (step S12). As a result, in the heating device 5, a heating mode in which the heating unit 52 is heated to the target temperature is started by the heating control unit 53, and the reinforcing sleeve is heated. And the heating control part 53 complete | finishes the heating mode of the heating part 52, after hold | maintaining to the target temperature for a fixed time after the heating part 52 reaches | attains target temperature (step S14).

  Thereafter, the heating control unit 53 activates the preheating mode again. Then, when a heating start signal is input from the open / close sensor, the heating control unit 53 switches the preheating mode to the heating mode, and ends the heating mode of the heating unit 52 after a predetermined time. In the heating device 5, the heating treatment of the reinforcing sleeve is repeated in this way.

  On the other hand, when the heating device 5 is used by being incorporated in the fusion splicer 1, after setting the optical fiber to be connected to the electric discharge machining unit 3, the fusion start switch 2d of the operation unit 2 is pressed to melt the optical fiber. Start the incoming connection. Then, the fusion splicer 1 outputs a preheating start signal from the control unit to the heating control unit 53 after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the heating control unit 53 starts the preheating mode of the heating unit 52.

  When the fusion splicing of the optical fiber is completed, the operator takes out the fusion spliced optical fiber from the electric discharge machining section 3, opens the lid 52c of the heating device 5, and sets the reinforcing sleeve together with the optical fiber in the arrangement groove 52b. To do. Next, when the lid 52c is closed, a heating start signal is input to the heating control unit 53 from the open / close sensor provided in the heating unit main body 52a. Thereby, the heating control unit 53 switches the preheating mode of the heating unit 52 to the heating mode, and heating of the heating unit 52 to the target temperature is started.

  Then, under the control of the heating control unit 53, after the heating unit 52 is held at the target temperature for a certain time, the heating mode of the heating unit 52 is terminated. In the same manner, the fusion splicing of the optical fiber and the heat treatment of the reinforcing sleeve are repeated.

  At this time, in the present invention, the heating portion 52 is preheated before the reinforcing sleeve is heat-treated. For this reason, the method of the present invention starts the heat treatment after the reinforcing sleeve is preheated by the preheated heating section 52.

  Here, using the fusion splicer 1, the temperature of the heating part 52 and the temperature of the reinforcing sleeve when the reinforcing sleeve was heat-treated by the method of the present invention were measured. The result is shown in FIG. In the measurement, as shown in FIG. 4A, the preheating mode of the heating unit 52 was started at time T1, and the reinforcing sleeve was set in the arrangement groove 52b at time T2. Then, after switching from the preheating mode to the heating mode at time T3 and reaching the target temperature at time T4, the reinforcing sleeve was heated for a certain time tH until time T6. In the figure, the dotted line indicates the temperature of the heating unit 52 detected by the temperature sensor, and the solid line indicates the temperature of the reinforcing sleeve. The temperature of the reinforcing sleeve was measured with a resistance thermometer inserted in parallel with the optical fiber in the reinforcing sleeve.

  On the other hand, the optical fiber having the same structure is fusion-spliced using the fusion splicer 1, and the temperature of the heating part 52 and the temperature of the reinforcement sleeve when the reinforcing sleeve attached to the connecting part is heat-treated without preheating are set. The measurement was performed in the same manner, and the result is shown in FIG. At this time, similarly to the above, the reinforcing sleeve is set in the heating section 52 at time T7 and the heating mode is started. After reaching the target temperature at time T8, the reinforcing sleeve is heated for a certain time tH until time T9. did.

  As is clear from FIG. 4A, in the preheating mode, since the reinforcing sleeve is not set in the heating portion 52, heat is not taken away by the reinforcing sleeve. Compared with the case where heating is started in the state where the heating is performed, the heating unit 52 rapidly rises in temperature. When the reinforcing sleeve is set in the preheated heating section 52, the temperature of the heating section 52 rapidly decreases due to opening and closing of the lid 52c accompanying the setting (see time T2), but the temperature is restored to the target temperature in a short time. For this reason, the reinforcing sleeve is preheated by the heating unit 52 between time T2 and time T3 in the preheating mode, heated within time t1 from time T3 to time T4 in the heating mode, and rapidly rises to the target temperature. Warm up. Therefore, the time ((T8−T7) − (T4−T2)) that can be shortened to reach the target temperature for heating by the method of the present invention was preheated prior to the heating mode start time (T3, T7). It is larger than the time (T3-T1).

  Also, if air bubbles enter the reinforcing sleeve, pressure fluctuations to the optical fiber occur as the environmental temperature changes, affecting the light output, so heat is applied from the center of the reinforcing sleeve and moved to the end. The heating unit 52 may be heated. In this case, if the central part of the heating part 52 is preheated as in the method of the present invention, the end part of the heating part 52 is already warmed by heat conduction due to the preheating of the central part. The time required can be shortened, and the fixed time tH required to complete the contraction of the entire reinforcing sleeve can be shortened.

  In the heating method of the reinforcing sleeve of the present invention, after the reinforcing sleeve is preheated, the heating process of the reinforcing sleeve may be started. For this reason, in the fusion splicer 1, the control unit is heated by an input signal from the open / close sensor that detects opening / closing of the windshield cover 4 provided in the electric discharge machining unit 3 or a signal when the fusion start switch 2d is pressed. A preheating start signal may be output to the control unit 53 so that the heating unit 52 starts the preheating mode. Further, when the fusion start switch 2d is pressed, the indicator lamp 2e is blinked to notify the pressing of the power switch 53d, and when the power switch 53d is pressed, a preheating start signal is input to the heating control unit 53, and the heating unit 52 The preheating mode may be started.

  In the present embodiment, when a heating start signal is input from an open / close sensor that detects opening / closing of the lid 52c provided on the heating unit main body 52a, the heating control unit 53 switches from the preheating mode to the heating mode. However, the heating device 5 is provided with a heating button for starting the heating mode, and when the heating button is pressed, a heating start signal is output. When this heating start signal is input, the heating control unit 53 Alternatively, the preheating mode may be switched to the heating mode. In this case, the heating unit main body 52a does not need to be provided with an open / close sensor that detects opening / closing of the lid 52c.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the heating device 5 and the fusion splicer 1 are configured as separate bodies that can be used, but the fusion splicer 1 including the heating device 5 may be configured integrally. In that case, what is necessary is just to comprise so that the control part of the fusion splicer 1 may function also as the heating control part 53. FIG.

  Moreover, although the above-mentioned embodiment demonstrated the case where a heating part heated a reinforcement sleeve with a heater, you may make it heat a reinforcement sleeve by introduce | transducing the hot air blown from a hot air apparatus into a heating part. . The optical fiber to be spliced may be either a single fiber or a multi-fiber (tape fiber).

It is a top view which shows the fusion splicer of this invention. It is a perspective view of the heating apparatus of the reinforcement sleeve of this invention mounted in the fusion splicer of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the heating method of the reinforcement sleeve of this invention. It is a timing chart explaining the heating method of the reinforcement sleeve of this invention, and the conventional heating method.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fusion splicer 2 Operation part 3 Electric discharge machining part 4 Windshield cover 5 Heating device 51 Main body 52 Heating part 53 Heating control part 55 Adapter 56 Connection part F Optical fiber S Reinforcement sleeve

Claims (7)

A method for heating a reinforcing sleeve for reinforcing a fusion spliced portion of an optical fiber,
A heating method for a reinforcing sleeve, characterized in that after the heating device for heating the reinforcing sleeve is preheated, the heating treatment for the reinforcing sleeve is started.   The method for heating a reinforcing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the preheating is started by inputting a preheating start signal. A heating device for a reinforcing sleeve that reinforces a fusion spliced portion of an optical fiber,
A heating control means for starting a preheating mode by inputting a preheating start signal and switching to a heating mode for heating to a target temperature for a predetermined time by inputting a heating start signal,
A heating device for a reinforcing sleeve, wherein the heating device is preheated before heat-treating the reinforcing sleeve.   The said heating control means is a heating apparatus of the reinforcement sleeve of Claim 3 by which the said preheating start signal is input by turning ON the power switch of the said heating apparatus. A fusion splicer for fusion-splicing optical fibers arranged opposite to each other at a tip portion,
A fusion splicer comprising the reinforcing sleeve heating device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the fusion splicing portion of the optical fiber is reinforced.   6. The fusion splicer according to claim 5, wherein the heating control unit receives the preheating start signal when a power switch of the fusion splicer is turned on. An electric discharge machining section having a windshield cover and a detecting means for detecting opening and closing of the windshield cover;
The fusion splicer according to claim 5, wherein the heating control unit receives the preheating start signal from the detection unit.

Images