Abstract:
A separator for an optical-fiber tape, the optical-fiber tape including a group of optical-fibers extending in parallel with each other, the separator including a supporting member configured to support a length of the optical-fiber tape along a first lateral edge thereof, a positioner configured to apply a resilient force to the length of the optical fiber tape along a second lateral edge thereof, wherein the first lateral edge and second lateral edge are on opposite sides of the optical fiber tape; and a separation member configured to separate a first portion of the length of the optical-fiber tape by shearing the optical-fiber tape along the direction of extension of the group of optical fibers.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-004437 filed on Jan. 9, 2004 in the Japanese Patent Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to an optical-fiber tape separator, and, specifically, to a separator for an optical-fiber tape which positions an optical-fiber tape at a certain separation location.  
         [0003]     Separators for an optical-fiber tape are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application publication Laid-open No. 2003-84144, No. Hei7-113915, No. Hei8-5843 and No. Hei9-197166.  
         [0004]     Such separators include a pair of upper and lower separation-blades in a rectangular section, where one of the separation-blades slides so that the right corners of the separation-blades pass each other. The separator includes a channel between a lower separation-blade and a wall. The channel has a width equal to or greater than the thickness of an optical-fiber tape.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     These separators, however, require change and adjustment in the channel-depth, or adjustment in a press-down mechanism used to press against the optical-fiber tape, every time an optical-fiber tape with a different width is inserted into the channel. This causes complicated operations, thus lowering the efficiency of productivity.  
         [0006]     The invention is directed to a separator for an optical-fiber tape which positions an optical-fiber tape at a certain location for efficient separation, with optical-fiber tapes having different widths in respective production lots.  
         [0007]     A first aspect of the invention provides a separator for an optical-fiber tape, where the optical-fiber tape includes a group of optical-fibers extending in parallel with each other. The separator includes: a supporting member configured to support a length of the optical-fiber tape along a first lateral edge thereof; a positioner configured to apply a resilient force to the length of the optical fiber tape along a second lateral edge thereof, wherein the first lateral edge and second lateral edge are on opposite sides of the optical-fiber tape; and a separation member configured to separate a first portion of the length of the optical-fiber tape by shearing the optical-fiber tape along the direction of extension of the group of optical fibers.  
         [0008]     The positioner may compress the optical fiber tape to correct errors in a width of the optical-fiber tape to maintain alignment of the separation member and a separation location of the optical-fiber tape.  
         [0009]     The supporting member may support the length of the optical-fiber tape in a supporting direction perpendicular to the direction of extension of the group of optical fibers.  
         [0010]     The positioner may apply a resilient force along the length of the optical-fiber tape in a resilient force direction perpendicular to the direction of extension of the group of optical fibers.  
         [0011]     The supporting member may further include a channel wherein a second portion of the length of the optical-fiber tape is contained, where the second portion of the length of the optical-fiber tape corresponds to a remainder of the length of the optical-fiber tape not including the first portion, and where the first portion of the length of the optical-fiber tape extends from an edge of the supporting member to an outer surface of the positioner.  
         [0012]     The optical-fiber tape may be planar.  
         [0013]     The positioner may be a spring, a spring and press plate, a pressure cylinder, or an elastic body.  
         [0014]     The positioner may also be a material having an elastic force, or a material having an elastic force and a material free from elastic force. In either case, the material having an elastic force may be formed from an original material that is free from elastic force.  
         [0015]     A second aspect of the invention provides a separator for an optical-fiber tape, where the optical fiber tape includes a group of optical-fibers. The separator includes: a pair of blades configured so that a length of the optical-fiber tape is contained therebetween, and so that the pair of blades pass each other during operation to shear the length of the optical-fiber tape, thus separating the group of optical-fibers into two groups of optical fibers; and a positioner configured to resiliently press the length of the optical-fiber tape so that the pair of blades are positioned between said two groups of optical fibers.  
         [0016]     A first blade of the pair of blades may support the length of the optical-fiber tape along a first lateral edge thereof, and the positioner may resiliently press the length of the optical-fiber tape along a second lateral edge thereof, wherein the first lateral edge and second lateral edge are on opposite sides of the optical fiber tape.  
         [0017]     The first blade may support the length of the optical-fiber tape in a supporting direction perpendicular to the direction of extension of the group of optical fibers.  
         [0018]     The positioner may apply a resilient force along the length of the optical-fiber tape in a resilient force direction perpendicular to the direction of extension of the group of optical fibers.  
         [0019]     The first blade may further include a channel wherein one of the groups of optical fibers is contained.  
         [0020]     The pair of blades may have a channel therebetween, and the positioner may resiliently press the length of the optical-fiber tape into the channel so that a lateral edge of the length of the optical-fiber tape is positioned along a bottom of the channel.  
         [0021]     The separator may also comprise a plurality of pairs of blades arranged successively on a support structure, where each of the pair of blades has a channel therebetween, and where the positioner extends closer to each successive interface of the pairs of blades on the support structure 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS  
       [0022]     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:  
         [0023]      FIG. 1A  is a schematic view of a separator for an optical-fiber tape according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 1B  is a schematic view illustrating operation of the separator in  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a separator for an optical-fiber tape according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a separator for an optical-fiber tape according to a third exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an exemplary separation tool for an optical-fiber tape according to the invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged elevation view of the separation tool in  FIG. 4 ; and  
         [0029]      FIGS. 6A  to  6 E are perspective views for illustrating the operation of the separation tool in  FIG. 4 ; and  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged schematic perspective view for illustrating the separating tool in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]     Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described below with reference to the attached Figures. The described exemplary embodiments are intended to assist the understanding of the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.  
       First Exemplary Embodiment  
       [0032]     With reference to  FIG. 1A , an optical-fiber tape  5  includes a group of optical-fibers  6  arranged parallel to each other. A separator  10 A for an optical-fiber tape includes a pair of separation blades  3   a ,  3   b . Separation blades  3   a ,  3   b  are positioned at different heights, respectively. The separation blades  3   a ,  3   b  have right-angled corners  3   a   1 ,  3   b   1  that pass each other when one of the separation blades  3   a ,  3   b  slides in the direction parallel to the other one of the separation blades  3   a ,  3   b . The separation blades  3   a ,  3   b  are elongated to extend to the back of  FIG. 1A . A separation blade  3   b  and a wall  9  have a channel  7  therebetween. The channel  7  has a width that is equal to or has a slight allowance relative to the thickness of the optical-fiber tape  5 . The channel  7  is also elongated to the back of  FIG. 1A . The separator  10 A includes an elastic body  1 A above the channel  7 . The elastic body  1 A is fixed to a stationary wall  15 A.  
         [0033]     The elastic body  1 A includes a substance that is deformable when a force is applied thereto, and that recovers its original form when the force is removed. The elastic body  1 A normally applies a certain amount of pressure to the optical-fiber tape  5  that is inserted in the channel  7 . The pressure is an inherent elastic force of the elastic body  1 A. The elastic force is set in magnitude so as not to produce planar distortion of the optical-fiber tape  5 . The certain amount of pressure corrects any errors in the width of the optical fiber tape  5  to maintain a constant distance from the lower reference level to the separation location  5   c  of the optical fiber tape.  
         [0034]     The elastic body  1 A is constructed of, for example, rubber, plastic, silicon rubber, a tubular structure (e.g., a silicon tube), resin, or highly elastic chemical fiber (e.g, a sponge (EPT (ethylene-propylene terpolymer), neoprene, natural sponge)). Further, the elastic body  1 A may be, for example, rubber that has a certain amount of air filled therein, or a resinous complex that has a certain amount of water filled therein.  
         [0035]     The elastic body  1 A is disposed so as to lessen the width of the optical-fiber tape  5  in a direction transverse to the parallel direction of the optical-fibers  6 . The elastic body  1 A is formed as, for example, an elongated or shortened plate to press the optical-fiber tape  5  under a constant pressure in its width direction. The elastic bodies as shortened plates may also be positioned at intervals.  
         [0036]     The optical-fiber tape  5  includes an optical-fiber ribbon and an optical-fiber ribbon cord. When the optical-fiber ribbon cord is separated, the channel  7  is greater in width than at least the outer size of the cord cover. The optical-fiber tape  5  houses optical-fibers  6 . The number of optical-fibers  6  may be, for example, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12. The number of optical-fibers is not limited to this, and may be an odd number.  
         [0037]     The following describes operation of the optical-fiber tape separator  10 A.  
         [0038]     The transverse end  5   a  of the optical-fiber tape  5  is inserted in the channel  7  with a previously set width. On the transverse end  5   b  opposite to the inserted end  5   a,  the elastic body  1 A is disposed to shorten the optical-fiber tape  5  in its width direction. Here, the elastic body  1 A may be provided with a stopper so as not to apply more than a certain elastic force to the optical-fiber tape  5 . The elastic body  1 A may be also provided with a supporting mechanism for supporting the elastic body  1 A. The supporting mechanism applies a force to the elastic body  1 A in a direction along the width direction of the optical-fiber tape  5 .  
         [0039]     The elastic body  1 A applies a certain amount of pressure longitudinally over the optical-fiber tape  5 . This allows for a pressing force to be applied to the opposite transverse end Sb, with the transverse end  5   a  of the optical-fiber tape  5  fixed in the channel  7 . The pressing force permits the separation location  5   c  of the optical-fiber tape  5  to descend within a range of errors in width of the tape, thus coinciding with the contact of the separation blades  3   a ,  3   b . Upon the above setting, the blade  3   a  slides to pass by the blade  3   b , thus separating the optical fiber  5  at the desired separation location  5   c , as illustrated in  FIG. 1B .  
         [0040]     When the optical-fiber tape  5  has errors in width of the tape in every production lot, the elastic body  1 A shortens the optical-fiber tape  5  in the width direction to offset the errors, thus easily coinciding the separation location  5   c  with the contact of the separation blades  3   a ,  3   b . As a result, the separator  10 A does not require conventional adjustment in depth of the channel or adjustment in movement of the pressing mechanism. This avoids problems, and achieves an efficient separation operation.  
       Second Exemplary Embodiment  
       [0041]     With reference to  FIG. 2 , an optical-fiber tape separator  10 B includes a press mechanism  1 B in place of the elastic body  1 A. The press mechanism  1 B includes springs  11 ; and a press-plate  13  pressed by the springs  11 . The press-plate  13  is disposed longitudinally along the optical-fiber tape  5  to shorten the optical-fiber tape  5  in the width direction. Although two springs are shown in this embodiment, the press-plate  13  may have a single spring  11  disposed thereon.  
         [0042]     The springs  11  have ends  11   a  fixed to a stationary wall  15 B. This allows the press-plate  13  to be pressed under a uniform pressure. The springs  11  have a predetermined spring constant to provide a force for shortening the optical-fiber tape  5  from an errorless width of the tape into a regular one.  
         [0043]     Each of the springs  11  may be made of metal or plastic, or another material, without any particular limitations. Every feature of the optical-fiber tape  5  is identical with the one in the description of the first embodiment, and is omitted.  
         [0044]     The following describes the operation of the optical-fiber tape separator  10 B.  
         [0045]     The transverse end  5   a  of the optical-fiber tape  5  is inserted in the channel  7  with a previously set width. On the transverse end  5   b  opposite to the inserted end  5   a , the press-plate  13  and the springs  11  are disposed to shorten the optical-fiber  5  in the width direction.  
         [0046]     The springs  11  press against the press-plate  13  under a uniform pressure. The press-plate  13 , pressed under a uniform pressure, presses longitudinally against the optical-fiber tape  5  under a constant pressure. This allows a pressing force to be applied to the opposite end  5   b , with the transverse end  5   a  fixed. The pressing force permits the separation location  5   c  of the optical-fiber tape  5  to descend to offset any errors, thus coinciding the separation location  5   c  with the contact of the separation blades  3   a ,  3   b . Upon the above setting, the separation blade  3   a  slides to separate the optical-fiber tape  5  at the separation location  5   c.    
         [0047]     The press-mechanism  1 B is not limited to a spring for an elastic member, and may alternatively employ, for example, a cylinder. For the production of pressure, the cylinder may have a certain amount of a liquid (water, oil or the like) or a gas (air or the like) filled therein.  
         [0048]     When the optical-fiber tape  5  has variations in width of the tape in every production lot, the press-mechanism  1 B shortens the optical-fiber tape  5  to within a range of the variations in the width direction, thus easily coinciding the separation location  5   c  with the contact of the blades  3   a ,  3   b . As a result, the separator  10 B does not require conventional adjustment in channel-depth or adjustment in movement of the pressing mechanism. This avoids problems, and achieves an efficient separation operation.  
       Third Exemplary Embodiment  
       [0049]     With reference to  FIG. 3 , an optical-fiber tape separator  10 C includes a press-mechanism  1 C in place of the elastic body  1 A of the first exemplary embodiment. The press-mechanism  1 C includes a leaf spring  21  fixed to the stationary wall. The leaf spring  21  swings vertically, using its fixing point as a fulcrum. The leaf spring  21  is disposed longitudinally along the end  5   b  of the optical-fiber tape  5  to shorten the tape  5  in the width direction. The leaf spring  21  has a certain spring constant and has a force to shorten the optical-fiber tape  5  from an errorless width of the tape to a regular one.  
         [0050]     Every feature of the optical-fiber tape  5  is identical with the one in the description of the first exemplary embodiment, and therefore detailed description is omitted here.  
         [0051]     The following describes the operation of the optical-fiber tape separator  10 C.  
         [0052]     The transverse end  5   a  of the optical-fiber tape  5  is inserted in the channel  7  with a previously set width. On the transverse end  5   b  opposite to the inserted end  5   a , the leaf spring  11  is disposed to shorten the optical-fiber  5  in the width direction. The leaf spring  21  may be provided with a stopper so as not to apply more than a specific force to the optical fiber tape  5 .  
         [0053]     The leaf spring  21  applies a constant pressure longitudinally over the optical-fiber tape  5  under a certain pressure. This allows for a pressing force to be applied to the opposite end  5   b , with the transverse end  5   a  being fixed in the channel  7 . The pressing force permits the separation location  5   c  of the optical-fiber tape  5  to descend to offset any errors, thus coinciding the separation location  5   c  with the separation blades  3   a ,  3   b . Upon the above setting, the separation blade  3   a  slides to separate the optical-fiber tape  5  at the desired separation location  5   c.    
         [0054]     When the optical-fiber tape  5  has errors in width of the tape in every production lot, the press-mechanism  1 C shortens the optical-fiber tape  5  to within a range of the errors in the width direction, thus coinciding the separation location  5   c  with the contact of the blades  3   a ,  3   b . As a result, the separator  10 C does not require conventional adjustment in channel-depth or adjustment in movement of the pressing mechanism. This avoids problems, and achieves an efficient separation operation.  
         [0000]     Exemplary Tool  
         [0055]     The following describes an exemplary optical-fiber separating tool  100  according to the invention.  
         [0056]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , the tool  100  includes a pair of lower and upper cutters  30 ,  40  (respectively) joined with each other. The tool  100  includes an operation part  50  to operate lower and upper cutters  30 ,  40 .  
         [0057]     The lower cutter  30  includes a lower base  31  movably connected to the operating part  50 . The lower cutter  30  includes a set of lower bladed members  32  on the lower base  31 . The lower cutter  30  also includes a set of lower channels  33  between the lower bladed members  32 . The lower cutter  30  also includes two guides  34  at both longitudinal ends of respective lower bladed members  32 .  
         [0058]     The upper cutter  40  includes an upper base  41  and a lever  45  integral with each other. The upper cutter  40  includes a set of upper bladed members  42  on the upper base  41 . The upper cutter  40  also includes a set of upper channels  43  between the upper bladed members  42 . The upper cutter  40  also includes a sponge rubber  44  as a positioner fixed onto the upper base  41 . The upper cutter  40  further includes a hinge  46  rotatably supported on the operation part  50 .  
         [0059]     The operation part  50  includes a support  51  supporting the upper cutter  40  via the hinge  46 . The operation part  50  also includes a grip  53  extending from the end of support  51 . The operation part  50  also includes a trigger  55  extending parallel to the grip  53  from the support  51 . The operation part  50  further includes a stopper  57  mounted to the end of support  51  for receiving the lever  45 . The operation part  50  also includes a U-shaped guide  59  on the support  51  for the upper base  41 .  
         [0060]     Specifically, with reference to  FIG. 5 , the set of lower bladed member  32  includes lower bladed members  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c ,  32   d  spaced from each other. The lower bladed members  32   a  to  32   d  have distal ends  32   a   1 ,  32   b   1 ,  32   c   1 ,  32   d   1  flush with each other. The lower bladed member  32   a  to  32   d  have right corners  32   a   2 ,  32   ab   2 , and  32   c   2  as blades at the distal ends  32   a   1 ,  32   b   1 ,  32   c   2 , respectively.  
         [0061]     The set of lower channels  33  have lower channels  33   a ,  33   b ,  33   c  between the lower bladed members  32   a  to  32   d . The lower channels  33   a  to  33   c  have different depths in correspondence with the number of optical-fibers, respectively.  
         [0062]     The set of upper bladed members  42  includes upper bladed members  42   a ,  42   b ,  42   c ,  42   d  spaced from each other. The upper bladed members  42   a  to  42   d  coincide with the lower bladed members  32   a  to  32   d  in horizontal positions, respectively. The upper bladed members  42   a  to  42   d  have distal ends  42   a   1 ,  42   b   1 ,  42   c   1 ,  42   d   1  flush with each other. The distal ends  42   a   1  to  42   d   1  are positioned in proximity to the distal ends  32   a   1  to  32   d   1 , with clearances therebetween. The upper bladed members  42   b  to  42   d  have right corners  42   b   2 ,  42   c   2 ,  42   d   2  as blades at the distal ends  42   b   1  to  42   d   3 , respectively. The corners  42   b   2 ,  42   c   2 ,  42   c   3  are opposed to the corners  32   a   2 ,  32   b   2 ,  32   c   2 , respectively. The corners  42   b   2 ,  42   c   2 ,  42   d   2  are mated with the corners  32   a   2 ,  32   b   2 ,  32   c   2  for shearing of the optical-fiber tapes  5 A to  5 C, respectively.  
         [0063]     The set of upper channels  43  have upper channels  43   a ,  43   b ,  43   c  between the upper bladed members  42   a  to  42   d . The upper channels  43   a  to  43   c  have depths identical to each other.  
         [0064]     The sponge rubber  44  extends across the upper bladed members  42   a  to  42   d . The sponge rubber  44  has an oblique distal end  44   a ,  44   b  or  44   c  positioned between the distal and proximal ends of the upper bladed members  42   a  to  42   d . The distal end of the sponge rubber  44  comes vertically closer to the distal ends  42   a   1  to  42   d   1  of the blades, as the channels  33   a  to  33   c  deepen.  
         [0065]     For example, the tool  100  is adapted for the optical-fiber tapes  5 A,  5 B,  5 C with twelve optical-fibers  6 . The lower channel  33   a  houses a portion of the tape  5 A with nine optical-fibers  6  piled on each other, the upper channel  43   a  houses a portion of the tape  5 B with the three remaining optical-fibers  6 , and a separation location  5   c   1  is positioned between the respective groups of nine and three optical-fibers  6 .  
         [0066]     Further, the lower channel  33   b  houses a portion of the tape  5 B with ten optical-fibers  6  piled on each other, the upper channel  43   b  houses a portion of the tape  5 B with the two remaining optical-fibers  6 , and a separation location  5   c   2  is positioned between the respective groups of ten and two optical-fibers  6 .  
         [0067]     Still further, the lower channel  33   c  houses a portion of the tape  5 C with eleven optical-fibers  6 , the upper channel  43   c  houses a portion of the tape  5 C with the one remaining optical-fiber  6 , and a separation location  5   c   3  positioned is between the respective groups of nine and one optical-fibers  6 .  
         [0068]     The sponge rubber  44  resiliently and vertically presses the ends  5   b  of the optical-fiber tapes  5 A to  5 C to position the ends  5   a  of the optical-fiber tapes  5  on the bottoms of channels  33   a  to  33   c . This allows the separation locations  5   c   1 ,  5   c   2 ,  5   c   3  to be positioned vertically to the corners  32   a   2  and  42   b   2 ,  32   b   2  and  42   c   2 ,  32   c   2  and  42   d   2 , respectively.  
         [0069]     The following describes the operation of the separation tool  100  for the optical-fiber tape.  
         [0070]     With reference to  FIG. 6A , the lever  45  is pushed toward the stopper  57 . This operation allows the upper cutter  40  to swing on the hinge  46 , thus rotating the upper base  41  along the guide  59  in the direction of D 1 . This motion allows the set of upper bladed members  42  to be separated from the set of lower bladed members  32 .  
         [0071]     With reference to  FIG. 6B , the transverse end  5   a  of the optical-fiber tape  5  is inserted in a lower channel  33  to approach the bottom of the lower channel  33 . The upper base  41  is then rotated in the direction of D 2  to closing with lower base  31 .  
         [0072]     With reference to  FIG. 6C , the upper base  41  is further rotated in the direction of D 2 . The rotation allows the opposite end  5   b  of the optical-fiber tape  5  to be inserted in an upper channel  43 . The rotation allows the upper base  41  to approach the lower base  31 . This allows the lower and upper bladed members  32 ,  42  to be positioned in proximity to each other. The sponge rubber  44  is deformed to resiliently press transversely the opposite end  5   b  of the optical-fiber tape  5 .  
         [0073]     With reference to  FIG. 7 , the pressing allows the end  5   a  of the optical-fiber tape  5  to securely contact with the bottom of the channel  33   a , thus coinciding the separation location  5   c  of the optical-fiber tape  5  vertically with the mating corners  32   a   2 ,  42   b   2  of the lower and upper bladed members  32   a ,  42   b . That is, the mating corners  32   a   2 ,  42   b   2  are positioned at the separation location  5   c  between desired two groups of optical fibers  6 .  
         [0074]     With reference to  FIG. 6D , the trigger  55  is pulled towards the grip  53  to displace the lower base  31  in the direction of D 3 .  
         [0075]     In  FIG. 7 , lower bladed members  32   a ,  32   b  slide relative to the upper bladed members  42   a ,  42   b  in the direction of D 3 , allowing mating corners or blades  32   a   2 ,  42   b   2  to pass each other. This allows the mating corners  32   a   2 ,  42   b   2  to shear the optical-fiber tape  5  at the separation location  5   c , forming a rip in the tape  5 .  
         [0076]     With reference to  FIG. 6E , the optical-fiber tape  5  is pulled in the longitudinal direction of D 4 . The operation allows the rip to be extended longitudinally in the optical-fiber tape  5 , thereby separating the optical-fiber tape  5  into two pieces. The separation allows a group of optical fibers  6  to be divided into the two groups with respective numbers.  
         [0077]     Although the invention has been described above by reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Modifications and variations of these embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art, in light of the above teachings, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.