Abstract:
The present invention relates to an optical fiber treatment apparatus and, more particularly, to an optical fiber treatment apparatus in which an outer cover of an optical fiber is peeled off by hot blast, and processes for peeling off an outer cover of a optical fiber, a cleaning and cutting of the optical fiber, and sleeving can be performed in sequence in order to connect cleaved optical-fibers and to make an optical-fiber device. In order to realize to the present invention, an outer cover peeling-off part is installed on a base, which holds an optical fiber with straight, and discharges a heated air to the straight held optical to remove the outer cover of the optical fiber by using a difference of thermal deformation between the inside outer cover and the outside outer cover. Further, a heater, a clamp means, a cutting means, a sleeve welding part and a control panel are installed on the same base in order to treat the optical fiber is in one apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     (1) Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an optical fiber treatment apparatus and, more particularly, to an optical fiber treatment apparatus in which an outer cover of an optical fiber is peeled off by hot blast, and processes for peeling off an outer cover of a optical fiber, a cleaning and cutting of the optical fiber, and sleeving can be performed in sequence in order to connect cleaved optical-fibers and to make an optical-fiber device.  
         [0003]     (2) Description of the Related Arts  
         [0004]     An optical fiber is a wave-guide for transmitting light and, in general, used in the form of a bundle of cable. The optical fiber is made of a synthetic resin, and in general, a glass having high transparency. The optical fiber is a double cylinder structure, and has a core and a cladding formed around the core. A synthetic resin encloses the cladding 2 or 3 times.  
         [0005]     The optical fiber is very tolerant of electromagnetic interference, crosstalk and wiretap. The optical fiber is also small-sized and light weight to be robust against flexion, is strong against external environment and can contain numbers of communication lines therein to be used widely.  
         [0006]     In order to fabricate an optical device or to couple optical fibers with each other, an optical fiber, which is enclosed by an outer cover in defined thickness, should be processed with a clean process and a cutting process.  
         [0007]     In detail, there are conventional peeling-off methods for peeling off an outer cover. The methods are a contact method using a mechanical peeling device such as a stripper, a heating method for peeling off an outer cover by heating the outer cover through a heater, and a chemical method. The contact method would form a fine crack in a surface of optical fiber, in peeling of an outer cover, to produce a serious problem of reliability. In order to overcome the problem, a method for peeling off an outer cover by using a heater was proposed. In peeling-off of the outer cover of the optical fiber, the peeling-off is not constant due to the daily range, the seasonal temperature difference, and the humidity difference. In particular, as the physical property of the outer cover is different from maker to maker, the outer cover would not be removed perfectly, thereby welded to the optical fiber.  
         [0008]     Further, after the peeling-off, a process for cleaning the optical fiber by means of alcohol and benzol, and a process for removing the remaining outer cover or the welded outer cover are subsequently performed, and finally, a process for cutting the cleaned optical fiber in a separate apparatus is performed to complete the processes.  
         [0009]     However, in these kinds of processes, as each of the processes is performed in an individual apparatus and by manually, the processes are annoying to perform, and consumes lots of times. There is not any problem in case of small product, however, productivity is decreased in case of mass product.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The present invention has been developed to solve the problems with above-described optical fiber treatment apparatus.  
         [0011]     It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber treatment apparatus in which an outer cover of an optical fiber can be peeled off clearly by a heated air irrespective of a property difference of outer cover by makers, or an external conditions such as temperature and humidity, a cutting process can be performed without an additional cleaning process due to the perfect peeling-off, and successive processes for fitting a sleeve in an optical fiber, which is welded by a separate device, and heating and welding the sleeve and making a device can be performed in one apparatus in sequence.  
         [0012]     In order to achieve the objects, the present invention has characteristic structures as described below.  
         [0013]     An outer cover peeling-off part is installed on a base, which holds an optical fiber with straight, and discharges a heated air to the straight held optical to remove the outer cover of the optical fiber by using a difference of thermal deformation between the inside outer cover and the outside outer cover. The temperature for the heated air is set to 400° C.˜500° C.  
         [0014]     The outer cover peeling-off part includes a heater, installed on the base, for heating air injected from outside to discharge the heated air to the outside; and a clamp means, installed on the base, for clamping both side of the optical fiber at a point for the heated air discharged by the heater to remove the outer cover by means of the heated air from the heater.  
         [0015]     At this time, the heater includes a housing having a hollow body, one end of the hollow body connected to a nozzle for discharging air, and the other end of the hollow body connected with a closing body for closing the hollow body; a blastpipe connected in the housing and having a passage for passing air injected through the closing body to the nozzle; and a heating body installed in the blastpipe, said heating body being heated by electric power from outside to heat the injected air.  
         [0016]     In here, the heating body is preferably any one of a coil type heating body formed by winding a heating line as a coil-shape and a ceramic heating body formed as a ceramic rod.  
         [0017]     In here, the coil type heating body is formed by bending the heating line to have 3 and more angles, said heating body being shown as a twisted shape. The heater is slightly inclined to discharge the heated air downwardly.  
         [0018]     The clamp means includes a sliding guide, said sliding guide having a straight line in front of the heated air discharging opening of the heater. the clamp means comprises a clamp bundle connected on an axis of the sliding guide to perform selectively a straight movement and a rotational movement; a finger base having a receiving groove for positioning the optical fiber on the lower side of the clamp bundle; a finger connected by a hinge and for clamping the optical fiber in the receiving groove on the upper side of the finger base; a torsion spring elastically connected the hinge to apply always elasticity in a direction for unclamping the finger; and a finger operating lever rotatably connected the finger base in the rear of the finger to clamp the finger through a rotation operation.  
         [0019]     The clamp means comprises a rotation preventing axis for connecting the clamp bundles to prevent an individual movement of clamp bundle, and the clamp means further comprises a tension controlling means for adjusting a tension of the clamped optical fiber by moving the tension controlling means centering around an axis of an fixing axis by a clearance in the equally divided clamp bundles.  
         [0020]     The tension controlling means comprises a ball bearing positioned with a point contact between the outer diameter of the fixing axis and the inner diameter of the clamp bundles to guide a rotational movement, or the rotational movement and a straight movement; a big diameter and a small diameter ring bushes connected slidably with each other and positioned between the inner diameter of each one end of the clamp bundles and the outer diameter of the fixing axis with a slack; a elastic member elastically connected in the inner side of each of the clamp bundles between the ring bushes to push the clamp bundles at all times; a tension applying pusher coupled slidably on the fixing axis from a tip end of the fixing axis to a tip end of the clamp bundle; and a cam lever rotatably connected to an end of the fixing axis, and having a curved cam line to move the tension applying pusher with a predetermined clearance according to a rotation of the fixing axis and to supply an operational power to the elastic member.  
         [0021]     The present invention further includes a cutting means, positioned on the base at a side of the outer cover peeling-off part, for clamping the optical fiber and for cutting the clamped optical fiber.  
         [0022]     The cutting means comprises a body having a straight guiding groove perpendicular to the sliding guide and installed on a side of base  10 , the side being not faced to the heater and included in a straight section of the clamp means; a slider connected in the straight guiding groove of the body; a slider controlling means provided to both of the body and the slider to control a forward and backward movement of the slider to make it possible to scratch the optical fiber when the clamp means in a cutting position, and to maintain the backward movement of the slider for cutting the optical fiber; a cutter, mounted on the slider having the slider controlling means, for scratching a circumference of the optical fiber along a movement of the slider; a press means operated in the direction of rotating axis on the optical fiber scratched by the cutter to cut the scratched portion of the optical fiber; and a cover rotatably connected to a side of the body and pivoted on the hinge to control the forward and backward movement of the slider, and to control the rise and fall of the press means in connection with the forward and backward movement of the slider.  
         [0023]     The slider controlling means comprises an elastic member positioned between the slider and the straight guiding groove to provide a forward force to the slider; a pusher formed at the rear of the cover to operate in connection with an opening of the cover, and to overcome elasticity of the elastic member to back the slider; a lower stopper elastically supported by a elastic member in vertical direction on the slider to obtain a climbing power in order to maintain the slider backed by the pusher or to move the slider forward; an upper stopper, operated in connection with a closing motion of the cover, for controlling the lower stopper to provide a forward force to the slider; and a protrusion, formed on a side of the slider, for falling the press means after the optical fiber being scratched by an operation of the lower and upper stoppers together with the forward movement of the slider.  
         [0024]     Further, the press means comprises a plunger positioned under the cover opposite to the cutter moved forward and backward, and risen and fallen by an elastic member; and a plunger stopper protruded downwardly from a side of the plunger and supported by the protrusion of the slider, the plunger stopper stroking and cutting a scratched portion of the optical fiber as a supporting of the protrusion being released after the optical fiber scratched by a forward movement of the slider and the cutter.  
         [0025]     In addition, the cutting means is an ultrasonic cutter, and the ultra sonic cutter cuts an optical fiber with a removed outer cover when the optical fiber with the outer cover removed by the outer cover peeling-off part is mounted.  
         [0026]     The ultrasonic cutter comprises a body mounted on the base to be straight to the clamp means, the body having a slidably connected guide axis, the guide axis being moved in straight in parallel to a length direction of the clamped optical fiber; a sliding body slidably connected to move forward and backward with respect to the clamped optical fiber on the upper part of the body, and having a stopper for limiting the forward and backward movement to the body in the rear; a damper installed at the rear of the body to interfere with the stopper at all times, and providing a reduced forward moving force to the sliding body through a spring pushing the sliding body and a piston generating an air resistance; a cutting lever rotated by a rotating axis at the front of the body, and providing a reduced backward moving force to the sliding body by overcoming the damper by means of an interfering protrusion projected from the sliding body in a rotating position; and a cutter installed on the upper part of the sliding body to be operated with the operation of the damper and the cutting lever, and cutting the optical fiber by using a vibration from an ultrasonic oscillator.  
         [0027]     Further, the present invention also comprises an exhaust pipe, in the base, for removing and discharging a smoke or a stench produced by the peeling-off of the outer cover from the heater, and an exhaust fan connected to the exhaust pipe.  
         [0028]     In addition, the present invention includes a sleeve welding part for inserting a sleeve in an optical fiber and welding the sleeve is installed on the base, the optical fiber being performed with a peeling-off of outer cover, a cutting by a cutter and a welding by a separate welder.  
         [0029]     The sleeve welding part comprises a heating room connected to a passage for a heated air, and a door for opening/closing the heating room when an optical fiber with a shrinking sleeve being positioned in the heating room.  
         [0030]     The sleeve welding part further comprises a sleeve heater in the heating room to shorten the heating time of the shrinking sleeve. In other example, the sleeve welding part also comprises a heating room with a door for opening/closing the inner space of the room in the base, and a sleeve heater for heating an optical fiber with a shrinking sleeve in the inner space and welding the sleeve.  
         [0031]     In another example, the sleeve welding part comprises another heater for peeling off the outer cover in addition to the heater for discharging a heated air, a heating room connected to a section for discharging the air heated by the another heater, and a door for opening/closing the heating room when an optical fiber with a shrinking sleeve being positioned in the heating room.  
         [0032]     In addition, the present invention comprises a control panel for turning on/off electric power, controlling a heating temperature gradually, and controlling processes for peeling-off of outer cover, cutting and sleeve welding.  
         [0033]     The control panel comprises a key pad for inputting requirements for turning on/off electric power, setting of heating temperature and processes for peeling-off of outer cover and welding of cut sleeve; a temperature sensing part, installed on a side of a space, for sensing air heated by the heater or the sleeve heater in the space; a control part for receiving the temperature signal sensed by the temperature sensing part in real time, and controlling an operation of the heater or the sleeve heater and an operation of a driver for moving a cutting means when a difference between the sensed temperature and the set up temperature being sensed; and the driver for driving the cutting means for moving the heater, the sleeve heater and the cutting means through a signal from the control part.  
         [0034]     The control part comprises a data part for storing a temperature data for the outer cover of optical fiber and the shrinking sleeve in order to drive the heater or the sleeve heater based on working temperature according to the kind of outer cover of the optical fiber or the shrinking sleeve.  
         [0035]     The present invention comprises a driving part for moving the heater horizontally or vertically in order to oppose a heated air discharging section to an outer cover removing section in a moment to remove the outer cover.  
         [0036]     In another example, the present invention comprises a driving part, in the base, for moving an optical fiber with straight or rotating the optical fiber in order to oppose a heated air discharging section to an outer cover removing section in a moment to remove the outer cover.  
         [0037]     Further the present invention is structured such that a length of a heated air discharging section is formed to be equal to that of au outer cover removing section to peel of an outer cover of optical fiber in a process for opposing the heated air discharging section to the outer cover removing section.  
         [0038]     In another example, the present invention is structured such that a heated air discharging section is formed to shortened than that of an outer cover removing section to peel off an outer cover of optical fiber by moving the heated air discharging section along the outer cover removing section, or moving the optical fiber with respect to the heated air discharging section by the outer cover removing section.  
         [0039]     The heater comprises a heater, installed on the base, for heating air injected from outside to discharge the heated air to the outside; a heating body connected in the housing to heat an injected air through electric power form an outside power supply; and a passage forming pipe connected between the housing and the heating body to go and return air injected through a closing body from the inner circumference of the housing and the heating body two time and more, and to discharge the air to the nozzle. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0040]     The above objects, other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0041]      FIG. 1  is a plan view showing an optical fiber treatment apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0042]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A in  FIG. 1 , showing a clamp means according to the present invention.  
         [0043]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of important element in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0044]      FIGS. 4-6  are a cross-sectional view taken along line B in  FIG. 1 , showing a cutting means.  
         [0045]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of a second embodiment of an optical fiber treatment apparatus according to the present invention.  
         [0046]      FIG. 8  is a enlarged plan view showing a clamp means in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0047]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in  FIG. 7 , showing a tension controlling means according to the present invention.  
         [0048]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0049]      FIGS. 12-14  are a view showing a peeling-off of an outer cover of an optical fiber.  
         [0050]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view showing a further embodiment 1 according to the present invention.  
         [0051]      FIG. 16  is an enlarged front view of an important element in  FIG. 15 .  
         [0052]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view showing a further embodiment 2 according to the present invention.  
         [0053]      FIG. 18  is a block diagram of a further embodiment 3 according to the present invention.  
         [0054]      FIGS. 19 and 20  are a conceptual view of a further embodiment 4 according to the present invention.  
         [0055]      FIGS. 21 and 22  are a conceptual view of a further embodiment 5 according to the present invention.  
         [0056]      FIGS. 23 and 24  are a conceptual view of a further embodiment 6 according to the present invention.  
         [0057]      FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment 7 according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0058]     Referring now to attaching the drawings, an optical fiber treatment apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. It is noted that like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the accompanying drawings.  
         [0059]      FIG. 1  shows a plan figure of an optical fiber treatment apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which a process for peeling off an outer cover of optical fiber  1 , a process for totally blowing off the outer cover by using a blowing and a process for cutting the optical fiber are performed.  
         [0060]     The optical fiber treatment apparatus according to the present invention has a plane base  10  for mounting elements for the present invention thereon. An air generator, a compressor, is installed on one side of the base  10 .  
         [0061]     A heater  22 , which is connected to a supplying hose  21  for supplying with an air and has a heated-air discharging opening  22   a , is provided a place adjacent to the air generator  20 , in which an air is pre-heated and sent through a narrow passage to the discharging opening. It is preferably to provide an outside of case of the heater  22  with a radiating pin  22   b.    
         [0062]     In here, the temperature of a heated-air discharged from the heater  22  is set to 400° C.-500° C. As the temperature depends on an outer cover of optical fiber by makers, the temperature is set to the highest and lowest temperature for removing the outer cover.  
         [0063]     Meanwhile, a control panel  24  for controlling the heater  22  and operating of the apparatus is mounted on the base  10  adjacent to the heater  22 . Installed on the control panel  24  are a power switch  24   a  for turning on/off power, a temperature controlling button  24   b  capable of increasing a heating temperature gradually in order to prevent the outer cover from being burned and stuck to the optical fiber by adjusting the heating temperature according to the physical property of the outer cover and other conditions, and a temperature displaying LED  24   c  for displaying a gradually increased temperature.  
         [0064]     Further, a sliding guide  26  is provided to a position adjacent to the heated-air discharging opening  22   a  of the heater  22 , which is a straight section and is fixed with a bracket  26   a  to ensure a straight movement of clamp means  30  which will be described later.  
         [0065]     The clamp means  30  is connected on the equally divided sliding guide  26  to enable a straight movement and rotation movement of the clamp means with simultaneous or with selective. In the clamp means, an outer cover of an optical fiber is removed by clamping the optical fiber in length direction and inserting the fiber into the heated-air discharging opening  22   a.    
         [0066]     A detailed embodiment of the clamp means  30  will be described later.  
         [0067]     In here, the heater  22  and the clamp means  30  are essential means for peeling off and removing the outer cover of the optical fiber, and forms a outer cover peeling-off part.  
         [0068]     Finally, a cutting means  40  is installed on a side of the base  10 , which is not faced to the heater  22  but included in the straight section of the clamp means  30 , to perform a scratching and cutting of a clamped optical fiber with continuous by moving the clamp means  30  on the sliding guided  26 . A detailed embodiment of the cutting means  40  will be described later.  
         [0069]     Meanwhile, an exhaust pipe  12  for discharging a smoke or stench, which is produced in the peeling off and removing of the outer cover, and an exhaust fan  14  connected to the exhaust pipe  12  are further provided in the base  10 .  
         [0070]     First, as will be seen from the  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the clamping means  30  in an embodiment of the optical fiber treatment apparatus according to the present invention includes a clamp bundle  31  capable of performing a straight movement and a rotational movement with simultaneous or concurrent on the sliding guide  26 , a finger base  33  having a receiving groove  33   a  for receiving an optical fiber in a lower part of the clamp bundle  31 , a finger  35  connected with a hinge  34  to clamp the optical fiber in the receiving groove  33  on a upper part of the finger base  33 , a torsion spring  36  pivoted on to the hinge  34  applying elasticity to always unclamp the finger  35 , and a finger operating lever  37  connected to the finger base in the rear of the finger  35  and clamping the finger  35  by rotating.  
         [0071]     Next, as shown in  FIG. 4 - FIG. 6 , the cutting means  40  is installed on a side of the base  10  which is not faced to the heater  22  and is include in the straight section of the clamp means  30 . The cutting means includes a body  42  having a straight-guiding groove  41  perpendicular to the sliding guided  26 ; a slider  43  connected in the straight-guiding groove  41  of the body  42 ; a slider controlling means  44  provided to both of the body  41  and the slider  43  to control a forward and backward movement of the slider  43  to make it possible to scratch an optical fiber when the clamp means  30  in the cutting position, and to maintain the backward movement of the slider  43  for cutting the optical fiber; a cutter, mounted on the slider  43  having the slider controlling means  44 , for scratching circumference of the optical fiber along a movement of the slider; a press means  46  operated in the direction of rotating axis on the optical fiber scratched by the cutter  45  to cut the scratched portion of the optical fiber; and a cover  48  connected to a side of the body and pivoted on the hinge  47  to control the forward and backward movement of the slider  43 , and to control the rise and fall of the press means  46  in connection with the forward and backward movement of the slider  43 .  
         [0072]     Next, an embodiment of the slider controlling means  44  and the press means will be described in detail.  
         [0073]     The slider controlling means  44  according to the present invention includes an elastic member  44   a  positioned between the slider  43  and the straight-guiding groove  41  to provide a forward force to the slider  43 ; a pusher  44   b  formed at the rear of the cover to operate in connection with an opening of the cover  48 , and to overcome elasticity of the elastic member  44   a  to back the slider; a lower stopper  44   c  elastically supported by a elastic member  44   d  in vertical direction on the slider  43  to obtain a climbing power so as to maintain the slider  43  backed by the pusher  44   b  or to move the slider forward; an upper stopper  44   e , operated in connection with a closing motion of the cover  48 , for controlling the lower stopper  44   c  to provide a forward force to the slider  43 ; and a protrusion  44   f , formed on a side of the slider, for falling the press means  46  after the optical fiber is scratched by the operation of the lower and upper stoppers  44   c  and  44   e  together with the forward movement of the slider  43 .  
         [0074]     Next, an embodiment of the press means  46  will be described in detail.  
         [0075]     The press means  46  according to the present invention includes a plunger  46   b  positioned under the cover  48  opposite to the cutter  45  moved forward and backward, and risen and fallen by an elastic member  46   b ; and a plunger stopper  46   c  protruded downwardly from a side of the plunger  46   b  and supported by the protrusion  44   f  of the slider  43 . The plunger stopper strokes and cuts a scratched portion of the optical fiber as a supporting of the protrusion  44   f  is released after the optical fiber is scratched by a forward movement of the slider  43  and the cutter  45 .  
         [0076]     Next, the second embodiment of the optical fiber treatment apparatus according to the present invention will be described.  
         [0077]     The structure of this optical fiber treatment apparatus is the same as that of the above-described one embodiment excepting a clamping means  300  and a cutting means  400 .  
         [0078]     That is, as shown in  FIG. 7 , an air generator  200 , installed on a base  100 , for generating a compressed air; a heater  220  supplied with an air though a supplying hose  210  from the air generator  100 , and having a heated-air discharging opening  200   a , which is pre-heated and discharges a heated air from an upper part to a lower part, and a radiating pin  220   b ; and a control panel provided with a power switch  240   a  for turning on/off power; a temperature controlling button  240   b  for increasing a heating temperature gradually, and a temperature displaying LED  240   c  for a controlling of temperature are the same as those of the above-described one embodiment.  
         [0079]     But, a clamp means  300  which is positioned on a place facing toward the heater  220 , and clamps an optical fiber in length direction and inserts the optical fiber into the heated-air discharging opening  220   a  in a moment to remove an outer cover of the optical fiber, in which numbers of equally divided clamp members are connected together on a fixing axis  260  to rotate freely; and a cutting means  400  which is positioned on a portion of base  100  facing toward the clamp means  300 , and cuts the optical fiber, with the outer cover removed, by using an ultrasonic cutting method from an opposite direction of length are different from those of the above-described one embodiment.  
         [0080]     That is, a structure for the ultrasonic cutting method for cutting an optical fiber with an outer cover removed constitutes an ultrasonic generating part. A structure for the ultrasonic generating part will be described in detail below.  
         [0081]     As shown in  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , the clamp means  300  comprises a pair of clamp bundle  310   a  and  310   b  which is equally divided and positioned in parallel to be connected to a fixing axis  260 ; a rotation preventing axis which connects the clamp bundles  310   a  and  310   b  to prevent an individual movement of the bundles; a finger base  330  having a receiving groove  330   a  for positioning an optical fiber on lower parts of the clamp bundles  310   a  and  310   b ; a finger  350  connected to a hinge  340  to clamp the optical fiber in the receiving groove  330   a  on a upper part of the finger base  330 ; a torsion spring  360  which is elastically connected to the hinge  340  to produce elasticity in the direction that the finger  350  is unclamped; a finger-operating lever  370 , rotatably connected the finger base  330  in the rear of the finger  350 , for clamping the finger  350  through a rotating operation; and a tension controlling means  390  which adjusts the tension of the clamped optical fiber by moving the tension controlling means centering around the axis of the fixing axis  260  by a clearance in the equally divided clamp bundles  310   a  and  310   b.    
         [0082]     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the tension controlling means  300  comprises a ball bearing  391  which is positioned with a point contact between the outer diameter of the fixing axis  260  and the inner diameter of the clamp bundles  310   a  and  310   b ) to perform a straight movement and a rotational movement with selective or at the same time; a big diameter and a small diameter ring bushes  392  and  393  which are connected with each other and positioned between the inner diameter of each one end of the clamp bundles  310   a  and  310   b  and the outer diameter of the fixing axis  260  with a slack; a elastic member  394  which is elastically connected in the inner side of each of the clamp bundles  310   a  and  310   b  between the ring bushes  392  and  393  to push the clamp bundles  310   a  and  310   b  at all times; a tension applying pusher  395  which is coupled on the fixing axis  260  from a tip end of the fixing axis  260  to a tip end of the clamp bundle  310   a ; and a cam lever  396  which is rotatably connected to an end of the fixing axis  260  and has a curved cam line to move the tension applying pusher  395  with a predetermined clearance according to a rotation of the fixing axis and to supply an operational power to the elastic member  394 .  
         [0083]     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the cutting means  400  includes the heater  100 ; a body  410  which is mounted on the base  100  to be straight to the clamp means  300 , and has a slidably connected guide axis  420 , the guide axis being moved in straight parallel to the length direction of the clamped optical fiber  1 ; a sliding body  440  which is slidably connected to move forward and backward with respect to the clamped optical fiber  1  on the upper part of the body and has a stopper  430  for limiting the forward and backward movement to the body  410  in the rear; a damper  450  which is installed at the rear of the body to interfere with the stopper  430  at all times, and provides a reduced forward moving force to the sliding body  440  through a spring  450   a  pushing the sliding body  440 , and a piston  450   b  generating the air resistance and a piston rod  450   c ; a cutting lever  480  which is rotated by the rotating axis  460  at the front of the body, and provides a reduced backward moving force to the sliding body  440  by overcoming the damper  450  by means of an interfering protrusion  470  projected from the sliding body  440  in a rotating position when rotated manually; and a cutter  490  which is installed on the upper part of the sliding body  440  to be operated with the operation of the damper  450  and the cutting lever  480 , and cuts the optical fiber by using the vibration from an ultrasonic oscillator  491 .  
         [0084]     In here, it is possible to construct that the cutting lever  480  for moving the cutter  490  is driven by a motor (Ref. No  770  in  FIG. 17 ) to cut an optical fiber automatically.  
         [0085]     An exhaust pipe  120  and an exhaust pan  140  can be provided in the second embodiment.  
         [0086]     Meanwhile, although not shown in Figs., the air generator and the heater in the first and second embodiments can be embodied in various ways. That is, the air generator can be substituted with a blow fan using a natural air, and the heater can be substituted with a gas burner type heating means.  
         [0087]     From now, the operation of the embodiments according to the present invention will be described below.  
         [0088]     In the first embodiment, the optical fiber  1  is first positioned in the receiving groove  33   a  of the finger base  33  before operating of the optical fiber treatment apparatus according to the present invention. After this, the finger-operating lever  37  is pushed to interfere with the finger  35  and to overcome the elasticity of the torsion spring  36 . Then, a clamping state of the finger  35  is set.  
         [0089]     Next, the clamp means  30  is slidably moved through the sliding guide  26  to the heater  22  to ready operation. The clamp bundle  31  of the clamp means  30  has a bearing to perform a straight movement and a rotational movement with respect to the sliding guide  26  with selective or at the same time.  
         [0090]     Meanwhile, at the operation, a power switch  24   a  in the control panel  24  is pushed to provide electrical power with the air generator  20  and the heater  22 . A compressed air from the air generator  20  is passed through the supplying hose  22   a  to the heater  22 , and the heater heats the compressed air to discharge the heated air through the heated-air discharging opening  22 . At this time, a clamp rotating lever  38  is pressed down by an operator and the clamped optical fiber is exposed to the heated air in an instant at the heated-air discharging opening  22   a.    
         [0091]     By this instant operation, an inside outer cover of the optical fiber exposed to the heated air, shown in  FIG. 12 , is received with a high temperature to be changed to gaseous state, shown in  FIG. 13 . Thus, the space in the inside outer cover is expanded to expand an outside outer cover.  
         [0092]     Then, the expanded outer cover is, as shown in  FIG. 14 , pushed and peeled off by the heated air from the heater. As the direction of the heated air is blown from the lower part to the upper part in the figure, the outer cover is removed clearly.  
         [0093]     In addition, as the physical property of the outer cover is different from maker to maker and a condition for operation is different from site to site, the temperature for heating the air needs to be varied. Without this condition, the outer cover may be attached to the optical fiber. In the present invention, the temperature can be gradually adjusted by the temperature controlling button  24   b  and the temperature displaying LED  24   c . Further, the temperature can be adjusted quickly and easily as the temperature is displayed through the LED.  
         [0094]     Further, the exhaust pipe  12  and the exhaust pan  14  are installed in the present invention to remove a smoke and stench produced by the peeling of the outer cover continuously and to improve environment of the working place.  
         [0095]     In addition, after the peeling off and removing (cleaning) processes, the clamp means  30  is returned through the sliding guide  26  to its original state (a level state) to ready a process for cutting another optical fiber. That is, another optical fiber clamped by the clamp means  30  is positioned on the cutter  45  of the cutting means  40 .  
         [0096]     After this, the process for cutting the optical fiber is started. As shown in  FIG. 4 - FIG. 6 , the cover  48  overcomes the elasticity of the elastic member  44   a  of the upper stopper  44   e  to lift down the lower stopper  44   c  as the cover  48  is pressed. The upper stopper  44   e  also overcomes the elasticity of the elastic member  44   d  to lift down the lower stopper  44   c . Therefore, the slider  43  is moved forward by the elasticity of the elastic member  44   a , and the cutter  45  installed on the slider  43  scratches the optical fiber. At this moment, the plunger stopper  46   c  is supported by the protrusion  44   f  to hold its lifted-up state.  
         [0097]     In the lifted-up state of the plunger  46   c , the plunger stopper  46   c  is not supported by the protrusion  44   f  the slider anymore as the slider  43  is advanced in a moment. Therefore, the plunger stopper  46   c  and the plunger  46   b  are lifted down by the elasticity of the elastic member  46   a  in an instant. With the lifting down of the plunger  46 , the scratched optical fiber  1  is cut wholly. Thus, the first process for peeling off, cleaning and cutting the outré cover is completed.  
         [0098]     An operation of another embodiment of the optical fiber treatment apparatus according to the present invention is similar in many aspects.  
         [0099]     That is to say, the processes for clamping the optical fiber  1  in the receiving groove  330   a  of the finger base  330  of the clamp means  300 , applying electrical power through the control panel  240  (a power switch  240   a ), supplying air from the air generator  200  to the heater  220 , controlling a temperature (a temperature controlling button  240   b ) and discharging a heated air from the heated-air discharging opening  220   a  are similar to those of the first embodiment.  
         [0100]     Further, pressing a rotating lever  380  of the clamp means  300  and approaching the optical fiber the heated air in a moment, removing the optical fiber from the heated air just after peeling off the outer cover, removing a smoke and stench caused by the peeling-off of the outer cover through a exhaust pipe  120  and the exhaust pan  140  are similar to those of the first embodiment.  
         [0101]     In the process for preparing the cutting after peeling off the outer cover of the optical fiber, moving the clamp means  300  is different from the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the clamp means  300  is approached to the cutting step by only a rotating operation as the heater  220 , the clamp means  300  and the cutting means  400  are in the same straight line.  
         [0102]     In addition, the optical fiber  1  with the outer cover removed undergoes a cutting process. Constant tension is applied to the optical fiber before the cutting process in order to make a good cut plan as the cutting method is by an ultrasonic cutting.  
         [0103]     That is, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , when the cam lever  396  fixed to the tip end of the fixing axis  260  is rotated from the vertical state to the level state, the equally divided clamp bundles  310   a  and  310   b  are guided in the big and small diameter ring bushes  392  and  393  by the curved cam line  396   a  and the elasticity of the elastic member  394  to push the tension applying pusher  396  to the outer direction and to make a constant slack. At this time, constant tension is applied to the optical fiber due to a pulling force applied to both sides of the optical fiber.  
         [0104]     Then, the cutting process is started. First, when rotating the cutting lever  480  connected rotatably to the tip end of the body  410  to the clamp means  300  after the ultrasonic oscillator  491  is started to operate the cutter  490 , the interfering protrusion  470  on the sliding body  440  in interfered state by the lever is released and the spring  450   a  of the damper  450  at the rear of the body  440  is expanded to advance the piston  450   b  and the piston rod  450  slowly due to an air resistance. The advance force by the piston and the piston rod makes the sliding body slidably connected to the body  410  and the cutter  470  of tip end of the ultrasonic oscillator  491  fixed on the upper side of the sliding body  440  reach to and cut the circumference of the optical fiber through the inference state between the piston rod  450   c  and the stopper  430 . Thus, the first process of the second embodiment for cutting, cleaning and cutting the optical fiber is completed.  
       FURTHER EMBODIMENT 1  
       [0105]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of further embodiment according to the present invention.  FIG. 16  is an enlarged front view of important parts in  FIG. 15 . The figure illustrates the heart in the first and second embodiments in detail  
         [0106]     Referring to figure, a heater  500  in the further embodiment comprises a housing  510 , blastpipe  520  and a heating body  530 .  
         [0107]     In the housing, a nozzle  512  for discharging air is connected to one end of a hollow body  511  and a closing body  513  for closing the body  511  is connected to the other end of the body. A sharpened point is formed in the tip end of the nozzle  512 , and a nozzle opening for discharging air is formed in the sharpened point.  
         [0108]     Further, the closing body  513  is formed with a passing-through hole  514  for passing the heating body  530  from the outside to the inside of the housing  510 . An air passage  515  is also formed in the closing body and connected to the blastpipe  520  to supply air from the outside (the air generator in the first and second embodiments) to the inside of the housing.  
         [0109]     The blastpipe  520  is connected in the housing  510  and the hollow body having a passage for advancing the injected air to the nozzle. Preferably, an adiabatic member  540  is filled between the outside of the blastpipe  520  and the body  511  of the housing  510  in order to isolate the heat in the housing.  
         [0110]     The heating body  530  is connected in the inside of the blastpipe  520 , and its one end is supported by the closing body  513  to be heated by electric power from the outside.  
         [0111]     In here, a heating line  531  in the heating body  530  may be wound as a coil-type to form a coil-type heating body, and may be made as a ceramic rod to form a ceramic heating body. The heating body type is selected as a need.  
         [0112]     The preferred structure for the coil type heating body is such that, as shown in  FIG. 15 , the heating line  531  is bent to have 3 and more angles (4 angles in Fig.). The coil is shown as a twisted.  
         [0113]     That is, the winding shape of a subsequent bent heating line  531  is rotated by a predetermined angle comparing with the winding shape of just preceding bent heating line to be shown as a twisted shape.  
         [0114]     Such shaped coil type heating body increases the temperature of air by increasing points in contact with the air from the closing body  513 .  
         [0115]     Further, the heater is slightly inclined to discharge a heated air downwardly and to more easily remove the peeled-off outer cover through the exhaust pipe  12 .  
       FURTHER EMBODIMENT 2  
       [0116]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of further embodiment 2 according to the present invention. In fig., a sleeve welding part is installed in front of the heater, which is for installing a shrinking sleeve in order to protect a welded point and to weld the shrinking sleeve to the welded point after performing a welding process of optical fibers.  
         [0117]     Referring Fig, a sleeve welding part  600  is structured such that a passage  600  for a heated air from the heater  22  is formed on the base  10  in front of the heater  22 , and a heating room is formed in the passage  610 .  
         [0118]     The heating room  620  has a door  630  for opening/closing the heating room  620  in order to insert an optical fiber with a shrinking sleeve S in the room. The shrinking sleeve S inserted in the heating room  620  is welded to the optical fiber by a heated air from the heater  22 , the heated air also peeling off an outer cover of the optical fiber.  
         [0119]     With such structure, the welding time of the sleeve by the heated air is effectively shortened comparing with a welding by a conventional heater. If a sleeve heater  22  is further installed in the heating room  620 , the welding time is further shortened to increase efficiency.  
         [0120]     In here, in addition to the heater for peeling off the outer cover of the optical fiber, a heated air discharging heater connected to the heating room  620  is provided to perform the welding of the sleeve S.  
         [0121]     Further, with different from the above described structure, if the heated air is not used for welding the sleeve and the heating room  620  on the base  10  has a sleeve heater  640  therein, a conventional sleeve welding apparatus and the sleeve welding apparatus according to the present invention are operated simultaneously to increase efficiency for the welding of sleeve S two times or more.  
       FURTHER EMBODIMENT 3  
       [0122]      FIG. 18  is a circuit block diagram of further embodiment according to the present invention. This circuit is more detailed and advanced comparing with the control panel in the foregoing embodiments.  
         [0123]     Referring figure, a control panel  700  according to the further embodiment 3 comprises a key pad  710 , a thermistor  720  for sensing temperature, a microprocessor as control part, and a driver  740 .  
         [0124]     The key pad  710  is structured to have a key board for turning on/off electronic power and inputting a set-up heating temperature and so forth, and a predetermined button on the base  10 . The thermistor  720  is for sensing temperature in a space heated by the heater  22  or the sleeve heater  640  in the further embodiment 2, and installed on a side of the space.  
         [0125]     The microprocessor  730  receives the temperature signal sensed by the thermistor  720  in real time, and controls the heater or the sleeve heater when a difference between the sensed temperature and the set up temperature. The driver  740  receives a signal from the microprocessor  730  to drive the heater  22  or the sleeve heater  640 .  
         [0126]     In here, the microprocessor  730  has a data part  750  for storing a temperature data for an outer cover of optical fiber and a shrinking sleeve S in order to drive the heater  22  or the sleeve heater  640  based on working temperature according to the kind of outer cover of the optical fiber or the shrinking sleeve S.  
         [0127]     Further, the microprocessor  730  comprises a display means  760  such as a LCD, a monitor or 7-segments to display the controlled temperature and the set up temperature.  
         [0128]     The driver  740  can drive the cutting lever by means of a motor  770  in order to move the cutter  490  used in other embodiment. At this moment, the motor  770  is controlled by a control signal from the microprocessor  730 .  
       FURTHER EMBODIMENT 4  
       [0129]      FIGS. 19 and 20  are conceptual views of the further embodiment according to the present invention.  
         [0130]     Referring figures, in the optical fiber treatment apparatus of the further embodiment 4, a heated air discharging section of a heater  810  for discharging a heated air and a removing outer cover section of a clamped optical fiber by using a clamp  820  are opposed in a moment to remove an outer cover of an optical fiber.  
         [0131]     The heater  810  and a driving part  830  connected on the base  10  in order to move the heater  810  straight as shown in  FIG. 14   a , or to move the heater vertically as shown in  FIG. 14   b.    
         [0132]     In here, the driving part  830  is a motor or a cylinder to mover or to rotate the heater  810 .  
       FURTHER EMBODIMENT 5  
       [0133]      FIGS. 21 and 22  are conceptual views of further embodiment 5 according to the present invention.  
         [0134]     Referring figures, in the optical fiber treatment apparatus of the further embodiment 5, a heated air discharging section of a heater  810  for discharging a heated air and a removing outer cover section of a clamped optical fiber by using a clamp  820  are opposed in a moment to remove an outer cover of an optical fiber. Different from the further embodiment 4, however, the optical fiber is moved straight or rotated.  
         [0135]     A driving part  840  for moving straight or rotating the clamp  820  clamping the optical fiber is installed on the base in order to move straight or to rotate the optical fiber.  
         [0136]     In here, the driving part  840  is a motor or a cylinder to mover or to rotate the clamp  820 .  
       FURTHER EMBODIMENT 6  
       [0137]      FIGS. 23 and 24  are conceptual views of further embodiment 6 according to the present invention.  
         [0138]     Referring figures, in the optical fiber treatment apparatus of the further embodiment 6, a correlation between the length of an outer cover removing section and the length of a heated air discharging section is proposed.  
         [0139]     In  FIG. 23 , the length of a heated air discharging hole  910  as the heated air discharging section is equal to the length of the outer cover removing section for the optical fiber to peel off an outer cover of optical fiber in a process for opposing the hole  910  to the outer cover removing section.  
         [0140]     Further, in  FIG. 24 , the length of a heated air discharging hole  920  as the heated air discharging section is shorter than that of the outer cover removing section for the optical fiber to peel off an outer cover of optical fiber by moving the hole  920  along the outer cover removing section, or moving the optical fiber with respect to the hole  920  by the outer cover removing section.  
         [0141]     In here, a driving part for opposing the heater to the optical fiber is the same as that of other embodiment and the further embodiments 4 and 5.  
       FURTHER EMBODIMENT 7  
       [0142]      FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional view of further embodiment 7 according to the present invention.  
         [0143]     Referring figure, a heater  550  different from that of the further embodiment 1 is provided in the further embodiment 7.  
         [0144]     The heater  550  comprises a housing  560 , a heating body  570 , and a passage forming pipe  580 .  
         [0145]     In the housing  560 , a nozzle  561  for discharging air is connected to one end of a hollow body and a closing body  562  for closing the body is connected to the other end of the body. The heating body  570  is connected in the housing  560  to heat through electric power from an outside power supply, and is a coil type heating body for a ceramic heater for heating an injected air.  
         [0146]     The passage forming pipe  580  is structured such that numbers of pipes  581  (3 in figure, thus 2 passages formed) having different diameters are connected in closing body  562  and the nozzle  561  to go and return the air injected through the closing body  562  two times and more from the inner circumference of the housing to the heating body between the housing  560  and the heating body  570 .  
         [0147]     In the heater  550 , numbers of air passages are formed between the heating body  570  and the outside of passage in contact with air to prevent the hot air heated by the air from being discharged outside.  
         [0148]     With such structure, the heat loss of the heated air for welding the outer cover of optical fiber or the sleeve in the further embodiment 2 is minimized to increase efficiency.  
         [0149]     As described above, as all the processes for peeling-off of the optical fiber, cleaning and cutting, and a process for welding of a sleeve performed by a separate apparatus in past can be performed in one apparatus, the apparatus according to the present invention increases operation efficiency and saves working hours comparing with a conventional apparatus.  
         [0150]     Further, in the present invention, the increasing of temperature of the heater can be gradually controlled by the control panel. Thus, the problem caused by the physical property difference of the outer cover, the daily range, the seasonal temperature difference and the humidity difference can be solved by controlling the temperature.  
         [0151]     Although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being included therein.