Optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus

• US 6,655,433 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Inventors: Hirayama, Mamoru, Arishima, Koichi, Sumida, Shin
• Primary Examiner(s): Ball, Michael W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOFF II, JOHN L
• Application Number:
  US09/722,662
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 156/166, 156/180, 156/181, 156/379.6, 156/379.8, 156/380.9, 156/436, 156/272.2, 156/272.8, 156/275.5, 156/275.7, 385/97, 385/114, 264/1.27, 264/1.28, 427/163.2
• US Class Current: 156/436
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/448 Ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4486 Protective covering

Abstract

An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus is disclosed which arranges a plurality of optical fibers in parallel, applies a resin to peripheries of the plurality of optical fibers, and hardens the resin to form the optical fibers into a ribbon. The apparatus comprises a ribbonizing jig integrally including an optical fiber aligning mechanism for aligning the plurality of optical fibers in parallel, a resin applying mechanism for applying the resin to the optical fibers aligned by the fiber aligning mechanism and a resin hardening device for hardening the resin applied to the optical fibers by the resin applying mechanism, the optical fiber aligning mechanism, the resin applying mechanism and the resin hardening device being arranged in a line in an optical fiber inserting direction, and movement mechanism for moving at least one of the ribbonizing jig and the optical fibers in a predetermined direction relative to the other.

Claims

1. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus that arranges a plurality of optical fibers in parallel, applies a resin to peripheries of the plurality of optical fibers, and hardens the resin to form the optical fibers into a ribbon, the apparatus comprising:

a ribbonizing jig including;

fiber aligning means for aligning the plurality of optical fibers in parallel;

resin applying means for applying the resin to the plurality of optical fibers aligned by the fiber aligning means, said resin applying means including;

a main body having a resin vessel formed therein, first and second guide grooves being formed in said main body for guiding and aligning the plurality of optical fibers before and after traversing the resin vessel;

first and second presser plates for pressing the optical fibers aligned in the first and second guide grooves; and

a humped presser plate having a projection on a surface thereof for pressing the aligned optical fibers into said resin vessel;

resin hardening means for hardening the resin applied to the optical fibers by the resin applying means, said fiber aligning means, said resin applying means and said resin hardening means being arranged in a line in an optical fiber inserting direction; and

movement means for moving at least one of said ribbonizing jig and said plurality of optical fibers in a predetermined direction relative to the other.

2. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movement means comprises a linear motion stage including a movement table that linearly moves in a longitudinal direction of said optical fibers and a fixed table.

3. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movement means comprises a pair of rotary rollers for rotationally moving said optical fibers while vertically sandwiching them therebetween.

4. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movement means comprises a belt conveyor for moving said optical fibers while holding them.

5. An optical fiber ribonnizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fiber alignment means comprises a comb-shaped member having slits for individually guiding the plurality of optical fibers.

6. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fiber aligning means comprises an alignment slit member having a gap corresponding to one optical fiber and through which a plurality of optical fibers can be inserted in parallel, and a spacer sliding through the slit.

7. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fiber alignment means comprises a drum having guide grooves formed along a circumferential direction of a peripheral surface thereof in such a manner that a pitch of the optical fibers increases gradually from a pitch wherein the optical fibers are closely aligned with one another.

8. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fiber alignment means comprises a plate having guide grooves formed in a plane thereof in such a manner that a pitch of the optical fibers increases gradually along the plane from a pitch wherein the optical fibers are closely aligned with one another.

9. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second presser plates are movable from a first open position to a second position for pressing the optical fibers in said main body, said first and second presser plates being maintained in said second position by a magnetic force.

10. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second presser plates press said optical fibers by sliding over said first and second guide grooves in a direction that crosses the optical fibers.

11. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said humped presser plate is movable from a first open position to a second position for pressing the optical fibers into said resin vessel, the projection on said humped presser plate extending beyond bottom surfaces of said first and second guide grooves when the optical fibers are pressed.

12. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said resin hardening means comprises ultraviolet ray-applying and fiber-holding members located above and below said optical fibers, light guides for applying ultraviolet rays for hardening, the light guides being held in said ultraviolet ray-applying and fiber-holding members, and gas introducing pipes for introducing an inert gas into a chamber between each of said ultraviolet ray-applying and fiber-holding members and the corresponding light guide.

13. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said ultraviolet ray-applying and fiber-holding members are cylindrical members, and the lower cylindrical member is mounted in a hole formed in a movement table while the upper cylindrical member is mounted on said movement table via an adapter.

14. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least portions of said fiber aligning menas, said resin applying means, and resin hardening means which are in contact with the optical fibers comprise a material having a smaller friction coefficient than a coating material for the optical fibers.

15. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus that arranges a plurality of optical fibers in parallel, applies a resin to peripheries of the plurality of optical fibers, and hardens the resin to form the optical fibers into a tape or a ribbon, the apparatus comprising:

fiber aligning means for aligning the plurality of optical fibers in parallel;

resin applying means for applying the resin to the plurality of optical fibers aligned by the fiber aligning means;

resin hardening means for hardening the resin applied to the optical fibers by the resin applying means, said fiber aligning means, said resin applying means and said resin hardening means being arranged in a line in an optical fiber inserting direction; and

movement means for moving said plurality of optical fibers in a predetermined direction relative to said fiber aligning means, said resin applying means and said resin hardening means, said movement means comprising a pair of rotary rollers driven by a motor activated by a trigger for rotationally moving said optical fibers while sandwiching them therebetween; and

said fiber aligning means, said resin applying means, said resin hardening means, and said movement means being formed within an integral main body, said main body having a built-in resin tank and a handle providing hand held support for the main body.

16. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said resin hardening means comprises ultraviolet ray-applying and fiber-holding means located above and below said optical fibers, light guides for applying ultraviolet rays for hardening, the light guides being held in said ultraviolet ray-applying and fiber-holding means, and a gas introducing pipe for introducing an inert gas into a chamber between each of said ultraviolet ray-applying and fiber-holding means and the corresponding light guide, and

said upper ultraviolet ray-applying and fiber-holding means is a member hinged to said main body, while said lower ultraviolet ray-applying and fiber-holding means is said main body.

17. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus that arranges a plurality of optical fibers in parallel, applies a resin to peripheries of the plurality of optical fibers, and hardens the resin to form the optical fibers into a plurality of tapes or ribbons, the apparatus comprising:

fiber aligning means for aligning the plurality of optical fibers in parallel;

resin applying means for applying the resin to the plurality of optical fibers aligned by the fiber aligning means which is comprised of a main body including;

a resin vessel formed therein, first and second guide grooves being formed in said main body for guiding and aligning the plurality of optical fibers before and after traversing the resin vessel;

first and second presser plates for pressing the optical fibers aligned in the first and second guide grooves; and

a humped presser plate for pressing the aligned optical fibers into said resin vessel;

resin hardening means for hardening the resin applied to the optical fibers by the resin applying means, said fiber aligning means, said resin applying means and said resin hardening means being arranged in a line in an optical fiber inserting direction; and

movement means for moving said plurality of optical fibers in a predetermined direction relative to said fiber aligning means, said resin applying means and said resin hardening means, said movement means being a belt conveyor for carrying an optical part and for moving said optical fibers extending from said optical part,

wherein said fiber aligning means, said resin applying means and said resin hardening means are each formed to allow plural bundles of optical fibers to be individually inserted therethrough to individually and collectively ribbonize the plural bundles of optical fibers.

18. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said first and second presser plates are movable from a first open position to a second position for pressing the optical fibers in said main body, said first and second presser plates being maintained in said second position by a magnetic force.

19. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said first and second presser plates press said optical fibers by sliding over said first and second guide grooves in a direction that crosses the optical fibers.

20. An optical fiber ribbonizing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said humped presser plate has a projection thereon and is movable from a first open position to a second position for pressing the optical fibers into said resin vessel, said projection extending beyond bottom surfaces of said first and second guide grooves when the optical fibers are pressed.