JPH08178810A - Proof tester - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain a proof tester suitable for simplification of mechanism and reduction of size wherein the disconnection is prevented in a recoat. CONSTITUTION: The proof tester comprises a pair of mandrels 101 for winding an optical fiber 100 wherein at least one mandrel is turnable about the rotary shaft and movable, and means 1 for shifting the movable mandrel 101 to separate from the fixed mandrel to stretch the optical fiber 100 thus imparting a tensile load. The rotary shaft 101A of the movable mandrel is locked until the tensile load being applied to the optical fiber 100 reaches a predetermined level. Upon application of a predetermined tensile load to the optical fiber 100, a push-pull solenoid 2 unlocks the rotary shaft 101A of movable mandrel to release the optical fiber instantaneously from stretched state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a proof tester device for applying a tensile load having a specific strength to a fusion-spliced optical fiber to confirm the strength reliability of the optical fiber splicing portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A proof tester device shown in FIG. 4 is known as a screening device for conducting a test for confirming the strength reliability of the spliced portion after splicing optical fibers with high strength. This proof tester includes a pair of mandrels 101 and 102 on which a large number of optical fibers 100 are wound and stretched in FIG. 4, and a tensioning mechanism (not shown) using a ball screw or the like. The proof tester uses the clampers 101A and 102A attached to the mandrels 101 and 102 on both sides of the optical fiber 10.
While avoiding slippage and looseness of 0, both mandrels are moved by the tensioning mechanism in the direction in which they separate (see FIG. 5 in this embodiment).
The mandrel 101 is moved as shown in (1), and the connection strength of the optical fiber 100 is confirmed. In the figure, reference numeral 100A indicates a high strength fusion spliced portion.

Using such a ball screw, as shown in FIG. 6, the load strength on the optical fiber under test increases linearly with time until the maximum proof load set value is reached, and this setting is also set. After reaching the value, it is linear and gradually decreases to zero.

[0004]

Further, in such a proof tester, when the durability strength of the fusion spliced portion of the optical fiber is weaker than the load applied value by the proof tester, most of the optical fibers under test are under load. Increasing time t
It breaks between ₀ and t ₁ .

However, even in such a case, minute damage or the like on the surface of the optical fiber, which causes breakage, progresses without greatly expanding within the load increase time, and then at time t _1.
Occasionally, but rarely, the optical fiber under test breaks between t ₂ and t ₂ . In this case, the load applied at the time of breakage gradually decreases, so there is almost no change in the appearance of the fusion spliced part, and although apparently the proof test is passed, the optical fiber is substantially That is, there is a state in which the wire is broken (breakage in the recoat). Of course, in this case, the fact of disconnection is unknown until the light is actually incident on the optical fiber.
It's an embarrassing problem.

In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, therefore, the present invention prevents the occurrence of disconnection within the recoat that is connected and connected at the recoat portion even though the wire is substantially disconnected, and the mechanism of An object of the present invention is to provide a proof tester device suitable for simplification and size reduction.

[0007]

That is, the present invention provides:
A proof tester device for applying a tensile load of a specific strength to a fusion-spliced optical fiber to check the strength reliability of an optical fiber splicing portion, wherein the optical fiber is installed and wound from a pair. , At least one side of which is rotatable about a rotation axis and is movable, and a mandrel on the moving side of these mandrels,
Pulling means for tensioning the optical fiber by moving it in a direction away from the fixed-side mandrel and applying the tensile load, and within a time until the tensile load applied to the optical fiber reaches a predetermined value, the moving-side mandrel The rotation of the rotating shaft is locked, and at the moment when the load strength reaching the predetermined value is applied to the optical fiber, the locking operation of the rotating shaft of the moving-side mandrel is released to instantly release the optical fiber from the tension state. And a locking means.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the tensile force is transmitted to and applied to one of the mandrels by the operation of the pulling means and the locking means, for example, the push-pull solenoid, and the load strength is gradually increased with respect to the optical fiber. When the proof load set value is reached, the transmission of the tensile load from the pulling means is stopped by stopping the operation of the push-pull solenoid at that moment, and thereby the tensile load applied to the optical fiber can be instantaneously dropped to zero. it can.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, the same parts as those shown in the prior art are designated by the same reference numerals and their duplicate description will be omitted. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a proof tester device according to the present invention. This proof tester device includes a pair of mandrels 10 composed of a movable side and a fixed side.
1, 102, a pulling means 1, and a push-pull solenoid 2 which is a locking means.

The pulling means 1 has a hole 13A through which the slide rail 11 penetrates and a screw hole 1 into which the ball screw 12 is screwed.
3B is provided with a moving body 13 and a motor (not shown) for rotating the ball screw 1 to slide the moving body 13. The pulling means 1 tensions the optical fiber 100 by moving the moving-side mandrel 101 in a direction away from the fixed-side mandrel 102, and the optical fiber 10 installed between these mandrels.
A tensile load is applied to 0.

The push-pull solenoid 2 is attached to the moving-side mandrel 101 within the time until the tensile load applied to the optical fiber 100 reaches a predetermined value (FP) (that is, the time from t ₀ to t ₁ in FIG. 2). Fixed rotating shaft 10
1A is locked by an electromagnetic adsorption force to prevent the moving-side mandrel 101 from rotating during a pulling operation, and this pulling operation applies a tensile load to the optical fiber 100. The push-pull solenoid 2 of this embodiment includes an electromagnet 21 provided on the moving body 13 and a magnetic body 22 fixed to the rotating shaft 101A and attracted to the moving body 13 side by the magnetic force B generated from the electromagnet 21. .

Further, the push-pull solenoid 2 is
At a time after the moment when the tensile load applied to the optical fiber 100 reaches a predetermined value (FP) (that is, time t _{1 in} FIG. 2) and thereafter, the energization of the coil forming the electromagnet 21 is stopped. As a result, the rotating shaft 101A of the moving mandrel 101
Is free in the fitting hole 21A in the electromagnet 21 and can rotate freely. Therefore, even if the moving body 13 still moves after the time t _1, the tensile force is not transmitted to the moving-side mandrel 101 at all, so that the tensile load value is from that moment, that is, from the time t _1. As shown in FIG. 3, the moving-side mandrel 101 rotates counterclockwise due to inertial force and escapes, so that the tensile load on the optical fiber 100 ceases to act and the tensile load suddenly drops to zero. Become. The magnitude (B) of the magnetic force generated from the push-pull solenoid 2 is at least the optical fiber 1
It is preferable to set the moving mandrel 101 so that the moving mandrel 101 does not rotate due to the maximum tensile load value (FP) applied to No. 00. This adjustment can be easily performed by the current value or the like applied to the coil. .

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, the tensile force is transmitted / applied to one mandrel by the cooperative work of the tension means and the lock means, and the load strength is gradually increased with respect to the optical fiber. When the load strength reaches the maximum proof load set value, the transmission of the tensile load from the pulling means is stopped by stopping the operation of the instant locking means, and the tensile load applied to the optical fiber is momentarily stopped. Since it can be dropped to zero, there is an effect that the disconnection in the recoat due to the gradually decreasing load after the maximum tensile load is applied can be prevented.

Further, according to the present invention, each clamper attached to the conventional proof tester is not required, and the structure is simplified by that amount, which is also suitable for downsizing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a main part of a proof tester device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the operation of the proof tester device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the proof tester device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional proof tester device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the proof tester device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the operation of the proof tester device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Pulling means 2 Push-pull solenoid

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A proof tester device for applying a tensile load of a specific strength to a fusion spliced optical fiber to confirm and test the strength reliability of an optical fiber spliced portion, wherein the optical fiber is installed and wound. A mandrel, at least one side of which is rotatable about a rotation axis and is movable, and a movable mandrel of these mandrels, which is moved in a direction away from the fixed mandrel. A tension means for tensioning the optical fiber and applying the tensile load, and while the tension load applied to the optical fiber reaches a predetermined value, locks the rotation of the rotating shaft of the moving-side mandrel, and the optical fiber At the moment when the load strength reaching a predetermined value is applied to the optical fiber, the locking operation of the rotating shaft of the moving-side mandrel is released to tighten the optical fiber. A proof tester device comprising: locking means for instantly releasing the tension state.