Abstract:
A device is for actuating the flaps of an optical waveguide splicer. The device includes a wind protection flap that can be rotated around a first rotational axis between a closed state and an open state, a first holding flap that&#39;s is arranged underneath the wind protection flap on a side of a splicing location and can be swiveled around a second rotational axis between a closed state and an open state and a second holding flap that is arranged underneath the wind protection flap on the remaining side of the splicing location and can be swiveled around the second rotational axis. The wind protection flap is provided with a first coupling device via which the first holding flap and/or the second holding flap can be coupled to the movement of the wind protection flap from the closed state into the open state.

Description:
This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT International Application No. PCT/DE01/01172 which has an International filing date of Mar. 27, 2001, which designated the United States of America and which claims priority on German Patent Application number DE 100 17 008.0 filed Apr. 5, 2000, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to a device for actuating a flap of an optical waveguide splicer. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Microprocessor-controlled splicers are known which are used for producing mechanically firm, long-term stable and low-attenuation connections between optical waveguides. In this case, the ends of two fibers, which are aligned exactly with respect to one another, are welded by using an arc which is produced between two electrodes. The fiber positioning and the welding process are carried out automatically, thus ensuring equally good results irrespective of the operator. 
   Appliances such as these (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,827 A), which are generally portable, are used for welding optical waveguides in situ. 
   These splicers have various flaps for picking up and holding the optical waveguides on the splicer, and these flaps can be operated individually by the operator. In detail, these flaps have a right-hand LID (Local Injection and Detection) flap, a right-hand and a left-hand holding flap, and a wind protection flap. In order to insert a fiber, for example the right-hand fiber, this fiber is inserted into a right-hand fiber guide so that it projects toward the splicing location, and the right-hand holding flap is closed by rotating it about an axis. The right-hand fiber is then held firmly in the right-hand fiber guide. The right-hand LID flap is then closed, so that the right-hand fiber is held firmly in a groove under the right-hand LID flap. A corresponding procedure is carried out on the left-hand side. When the right-hand and left-hand holding flaps and the right-hand and left-hand LID flaps are closed, the wind protection flap is rotated above the right-hand and left-hand holding flaps, by rotating it about an axis. Further, it is closed, with the wind protection flap providing protection against the wind while working in situ, since such wind could move and interfere with the arc which is produced between two electrodes at the splicing location. The wind protection flap contains a lighting unit, with whose aid an image of the splicing location is produced and is displayed on a monitor. After the splicing process, the flaps are opened individually in order to remove the welded optical waveguide, and in order to insert new fibers. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a device for flap operation in an optical waveguide splicer, by which flap operation can be considerably simplified. 
   An advantage of an embodiment of the present invention is that, when carrying out splicing operations, an operator can operate the flaps of a splicer, namely the right-hand and left-hand LID flaps, the right-hand and left-hand holding plates and the wind protection flap considerably more easily. That is to say, one can operate it with only a few actions, and more quickly than is the case with the known splicers. 
   This also takes account of the need to be able to open and close the flaps selectively, individually or at the same time. While, in known splicers, the flaps have to be opened and closed individually in a specific sequence, in the case of the device according to an embodiment of the invention, when the wind protection flap is opened, the right-hand and left-hand holding flaps and the right-hand and left-hand LID flaps are automatically operated at the same time, and are moved to the respective open state. From the open state, each flap of the right-hand and left-hand holding flaps can then be closed in order to fix a new right-hand or left-hand fiber in a fiber guide, after which each of the right-hand and left-hand LID flaps can be closed in order to hold the right-hand and left-hand fibers, respectively, in the groove which is located under the right-hand or left-hand LID flap, respectively, and in order to carry out an attenuation measurement. When the wind protection flap is subsequently closed before carrying out the splicing operation, the wind protection flap is once again automatically locked to the right-hand and left-hand holding flaps, in order to carry out the next opening operation. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention and its refinement will be described in more detail in an exemplary format in the following text in conjunction with the figures, in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows the design of an existing splicer; 
       FIG. 2  uses a separate illustration to show the right-hand and left-hand holding flaps, the right-hand and left-hand LID flaps and the wind protection flap of the splicer as shown in  FIG. 1 , in order to explain the device according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
       FIG. 3  shows, illustrated schematically, the design and the arrangement of a hook part on the wind protection flap. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The splicer for optical waveguides with the present device for operation of the flaps is annotated  2  in FIG.  1 . The splicer  2  is controlled fully electronically with regard to fiber positioning and the actual welding process, with the splicing location being displayed on a monitor  27 . The flaps which are operated by the present device comprise a left-hand LID flap  1 , a right-hand LID flap  10 , a left-hand holding plate  5  and a right-hand holding plate  50 , which cannot be seen in  FIG. 1 , and a wind protection flap  11 . For splicing, the splicer  2  is supplied with a right-hand optical waveguide or a right-hand fiber F 0 , and with a left-hand optical waveguide or a left-hand fiber F. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , which shows the arrangement of the individual abovementioned flaps, with the wind protection flap  11  being opened independently of the holding plates  5 ,  50  and the LID flaps  1 ,  10 , the left-hand holding flap  5  and the left-hand LID flap  1  are arranged on one side of the splicing location S, and the right-hand holding flap  50  and the right-hand LID flap  10  are arranged on the other side of the splicing location S. The fiber ends are welded by use of an arc, which is produced at the splicing location S by electrodes E. 
   The holding flaps  5  and  50  can be pivoted on the splicer  2  about a common rotation axis  7  between the closed state, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , and an open state, in which they are pivoted upward through an opening angle of about 95°. A fiber guide (not illustrated) is located underneath each holding plate  5 ,  50 , in which the respective fiber F or F 0  is held in V-shaped grooves which are open at the top, are spaced apart from one another in the direction parallel to the rotation axis  7 , and are closed during closure of the holding flaps, in order to firmly clamp the respective fiber F or F 0  via the respective holding flap  5  or  50 , with the fiber ends projecting beyond the respective holding plate  5  or  50 , toward the splicing location S. 
   The LID flaps  1  and  10 , which are arranged on opposite sides of the splicing location S outside the respective holding plates  5  and  50 , can pivot upward about a common rotation axis  3  from the closed state, as shown in  FIG. 2 , to an open state. A groove which runs parallel to the rotation axis  3  and into which the respective fibers F and F 0  are inserted is located underneath each of the LID flaps  1  and  10 , and is closed at the top when the LID flaps  1  and  10  are closed. The LID flaps are used for holding the fibers F, F 0  during the measurement of the splice attenuation. 
   The wind protection flap  11  can pivot about a rotation axis  12 , covering the holding plates  5  and  50  in the closed state, as shown in FIG.  1 . The wind protection flap  11  has a lighting unit, which is not illustrated in any more detail but which, when the wind protection flap  11  is in the closed state, illuminates the splicing location S in order to produce a picture of the fiber ends on the monitor  27 . The rotation axes  3 ,  7  and  12  run parallel to one another. 
   The holding flaps  5  and  50  each have a projecting latching-in part  9  or  90 , respectively, preferably in the form of a plate, on the side facing away from the rotation axis  7 , which latching-in part  9  or  90  can interact with respective hook parts  13  and  130 , which are arranged on the side of the wind protection flap  11  facing away from the rotation axis at  12 . The hook parts  13  and  130  are designed such that they spring open when the wind protection flap  11  is being closed and engage in a sprung manner behind the respective latching-in parts  9  and  90 , so that, when the wind protection flap  11  is being closed, the holding flaps  5  and  50  are coupled to its movement. The hook parts  13 ,  130  preferably have guide inclines  8 , which simplify the spring-open capability of the latching-in parts  9 ,  90 . 
     FIG. 3  shows one advantageous refinement of the hook parts  13  and  130 . According to this figure, each hook part  13 ,  130  has a hook element  22 , which in the rest state runs downward at right angles to the upper wall  14  of the wind protection flap  11  through an opening  4  in the upper wall  14 ; and a hook element  20 , which runs at right angles to the hook element  22  above the upper wall  14 ; has an operating button  19  on its side facing away from the hook element  22 ; and can pivot with respect to the upper wall  14  about a rotation point  23  in a bearing part  21  (arrow  24 ). The hook parts  13 ,  130  are each prestressed by use of a compression spring to the position shown in  FIG. 3 , in which they engage under the respective latching-in part  9  or  90 . 
   On its side facing the respective LID flap  1  or  10 , each holding flap  5 ,  50  has a respective driver part  15  or  150 , preferably on the side facing away from the rotation axis  7 , which extends under the edge region of the respective LID flap  1  or  10  facing the respective holding part  5  or  50 , with the respective LID flap  1  or  10  resting on the respective driver part  15  or  150  in the closed state. The respective driver part  15  or  150  is preferably in the form of a finger part, which extends laterally from the respective holding flap  5  or  50 . 
   Since, in the preferred embodiment, the rotation axis  12  of the wind protection flap  11  is arranged above the rotation axis  7  of the holding flaps  5  and  50 , a relative movement takes place between the wind protection flap  11  and the holding flaps  5 ,  50  during opening of the wind protection flap  11  and of the holding flaps  5 ,  50  which are coupled to it. In the end, this leads to the hook parts  13  and  130  no longer engaging behind the respective latching-in parts  9  and  90 . In order to achieve and to maintain a coupling between the wind protection flap  11  and the holding flaps  5 ,  50  despite this, each holding flap  5 ,  50  has a respective permanent magnet  25  or  250  on its side facing the wind protection flap  11 . The permanent magnet  25  or  250  interacts with a respective sheet-metal part  16  or  160  which is provided on the inside of the wind protection flap  11  (see FIG.  3 ). During opening, this ensures that when, as a consequence of the relative movement that has been mentioned, the hook parts  13 ,  130  are moved sufficiently that they no longer engage behind the respective latching-in parts  9  and  90 , the respective permanent magnet  25  or  250  is moved into the area of the respective sheet-metal part  16  or  160 , thus ensuring the coupling between the wind protection flap  11  and the holding flaps  5 ,  50  by virtue of the attraction between the respective permanent magnet  25  or  250  and the respective sheet-metal part  16  or  160 . Conversely, as a consequence of the relative movement, the respective sheet-metal parts  16  and  160  do not move out of the region of the respective permanent magnets  25  and  250  until the respective hook parts  13  and  130  once again engage behind the respective latching-in parts  9  and  90 . 
   The operation of the present device for automatic operation of the flaps of the splicer  2  will be explained in more detail in the following text. In this case, first of all, it is assumed that a splicing operation has just been carried out and that, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the wind protection flap  11 , the holding flaps  5 ,  50  and the LID flaps  1 ,  10  are closed. In order to remove the fibers F, F 0  which have just been welded and in order to prepare for a subsequent welding operation, the wind protection shroud  11  is opened manually. During this process, owing to the locking of the hook parts  13 ,  130  on the respective latching-in parts  9  and  90 , and owing to the attraction between the permanent magnets  25 ,  250  and the sheet-metal parts  16 ,  160 , and owing to the contact between the LID flaps  1 ,  10  and the respective driver parts  15  and  150 , the flaps  1 ,  5 ,  10  and  50  are also opened automatically, together with the wind protection flap  11 . Once the welded fibers have been removed, new fibers F, F 0  can then be inserted into the fiber guides underneath the holding flaps  5 ,  50 . The wind protection flap  11  is closed in order to clamp these fibers F, F 0  firmly, with the holding flaps  5 ,  50  also automatically being closed at the same time in order to clamp the fibers F, F 0  firmly in the fiber guides, and with the hook parts  13 ,  130  engaging behind the latching-in parts  9 ,  90 , such that they are locked. The LID flaps  1  and  10  remain open and are closed separately, in order to carry out the attenuation measurement, once the fibers F, F 0  have been inserted into the grooves associated with the LID flaps  1 ,  10 . 
   A new splicing operation can now be carried out. 
   If it is found after closing the wind protection flap  11  that one of the fibers F, F 0  is not located in the correct position, it is possible by operating the appropriate button  19  on the hook part  13  or  130  to decouple the corresponding holding flap  5  or  50  together with the corresponding LID flap  1  or  10 , which are associated with the correctly adjusted fiber, from an opening operation. Thus, only the holding flap  50  which is associated with the fiber that has not been adjusted correctly, together with the corresponding LID flap  10 , is now opened together with the wind protection flap  11 , in order to allow a new fiber to be inserted. 
   The following flap operations can be carried out using the present device for flap operation. 
   The flaps  1 ,  5 ,  10 ,  50  are opened automatically by manually raising the wind protection flap  11 . 
   The wind protection flap  11  and the right-hand holding flap  5  (left-hand holding flap  50 ) are opened by manually operating the left-hand hook part  13  (right-hand hook part  130 ) and raising the wind protection flap  11 . 
   When the wind protection flap  11  is open, the left-hand LID flap  1  (right-hand LID flap  10 ) is opened automatically when the left-hand holding flap  5  (right-hand holding flap  50 ) is opened. 
   The left-hand and right-hand LID flaps  1  and  10  can be opened manually, separately, when the respective holding flaps  5  and  50  which are associated with them are closed. 
   The left-hand or right-hand holding flap  5  or  50  can be closed manually when the wind protection flap  11  is open and the LID flaps  1 ,  10  are open. 
   The left-hand or right-hand holding flap  5  or  50  is also closed automatically by closing the left-hand or right-hand LID flap  1  or  10  when the wind protection flap  11  is open. 
   The left-hand and right-hand holding flaps  5  and  50  are closed automatically when the wind protection flap  11  is closed manually. 
   It should be mentioned that the flaps  1 ,  5 ,  10  and  50  are held in exact positions, in a known manner, by magnet devices when they are in their closed states. 
   It should also be mentioned that, in a simplified form of the present device, there is no need for the driver parts  15 ,  150 , so that there is no coupling between the LID flaps  1 ,  10  and the associated respective holding flaps  5  and  50 . 
   The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.