JP3845237B2 - Elution device for optical fiber bundle manufacturing - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical fiber bundle manufacturing elution apparatus used when an optical fiber bundle (image bundle) is manufactured from an SIG conduit by an acid elution method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when an optical fiber bundle is produced from a SIG (Soluable Image Guide) conduit by an acid elution method, a long SIG conduit (over 2000 mm) is held vertically. Since it is difficult, as shown in FIG. 6, the elution groove 1 having a substantially semicircular cross section is placed with an inclination, a tank or supply valve for the eluate 2 is provided on the upstream side, and the liquid level is adjusted on the downstream side. It is known that a plate, a waste liquid receiving tank, and the like are provided and an elution process is performed while flowing the eluate 2 through a SIG conduit 3 laid in the elution groove 1.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional technology, since the SIG conduit 3 is directly placed in the elution groove 1, the elution is not sufficiently performed at the portion in contact with the elution groove 1, and a part of the elution may be left undissolved. However, there is a problem that the optical fiber bundle after the elution is broken or broken (one or two fibers on the outermost periphery of the optical fiber bundle are broken) during handling.
[0004]
In addition, since the eluate 2 overflows, the elution residue generated from the fiber does not flow completely at the bottom of the elution groove 1 where the SIG conduit 3 is placed, and the eluate generated from the fiber does not flow completely. As a result, the optical fiber bundle after drying is hard, and the optical fiber bundle is difficult to be scattered when the solid lubricant is applied, so that the solid lubricant is difficult to be attached, and breakage is likely to occur.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art. The object of the present invention is to improve the flow of the eluate around the SIG conduit so that the eluate remains on the fiber. An elution apparatus for producing an optical fiber bundle is to be provided.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a groove portion having a length in which the SIG conduit can be disposed,
A support member for supporting the peripheral wall of the SIG conduit at a predetermined interval and separating the SIG conduit from the bottom of the groove, and an eluent for the SIG conduit supported by the support member in the groove And an elution apparatus for producing an optical fiber bundle . The elution apparatus is configured to recover the eluate supplied by the supply means .
[0007]
The support member may be formed of a plate-like member having a plurality of circular holes in a substantially isosceles trapezoidal shape.
[0008]
Moreover, the said supporting member may form a net-like member so that the shape of the said elution groove may be met.
[0009]
In addition, the support member may be provided with substantially U-shaped linear members arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals along the elution groove.
[0010]
In the elution apparatus for manufacturing optical fiber bundles, a plurality of the elution grooves are arranged in parallel, an elution liquid tank and a supply valve are provided upstream of these elution grooves, and a liquid level adjusting plate and a waste liquid receiving tank are provided downstream. It is good to have.
[0011]
(Function)
Since the SIG conduit is placed in the elution groove through the support member and floats in the elution liquid without directly contacting the elution groove, the flow of the elution liquid around the SIG conduit is improved. Then, the SIG conduit in which the eluate supplied from the tank to the plurality of elution grooves via the supply valve is placed in each elution groove via the support member is uniformly eluted.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elution apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber bundle according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the support member.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1, the elution apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber bundle has three elution grooves 1 arranged in parallel with an inclination, and an eluate (nitric acid, caustic soda, etc.) 2 is disposed upstream of the elution groove 1. A tank 4 and a supply valve 5 are provided, and a liquid level adjusting plate (not shown) and a waste liquid receiving tank 7 are provided on the downstream side.
[0014]
The elution groove 1 is provided with a support member 8 that supports the elution liquid 2 filled in the elution groove 1 without bringing the SIG conduit 3 into contact with the inner curved surface of the elution groove 1. SIG conduit 3 is placed. In addition, the same code | symbol was attached | subjected to the component similar to a prior art.
[0015]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the support member 8 uses a plate material in which circular holes 8a are opened at a predetermined interval on one surface, and two parallel points are set at a predetermined angle θ (for example, θ = 120 °). And is formed into a substantially isosceles trapezoidal shape consisting of a bottom surface 8b and side surfaces 8c, 8c. The support member 8 is supported by bringing two bent portions into contact with the inner curved surface of the elution groove 1. Further, both end portions of the support member 8 may be hung on the upper edge portion of the elution groove 1.
[0016]
Here, the width W of the bottom surface 8b of the support member 8 is set such that the gap d between the bottom surface 8b and the elution groove 1 is at least 5 mm or more in consideration of the curvature of the elution groove 1, for example. The size of the circular holes 8a is desirably 8 to 20 mm in diameter, and the interval between the circular holes 8a is preferably about 2 to 5 mm. This is because if the size of the circular hole 8a is larger than 20 mm, the fiber bundle is bent and bent, and if it is smaller than 8 mm, the flow of the elution residue becomes worse. The same applies to the interval between the circular holes 8a.
[0017]
About the material of the supporting member 8, what does not deform | transform in the range of at least 50-100 degreeC with respect to a heat | fever is not eroded with an acid and an alkali. For example, metal, plastic, preferably SUS punching plate. The surface state of the bottom surface 8b needs to take into account the way of drilling so as not to generate burrs where the fibers are caught. For example, when punching the circular hole 8a, punching may be performed from the surface on which the SIG conduit 3 is placed.
[0018]
In this embodiment, the circular hole 8a is formed in the bottom surface 8b and the side surface 8c of the support member 8, but the circular hole 8a may be formed only in the bottom surface 8b. Further, the support member 8 may be formed only by a flat bottom surface 8b having a circular hole 8a. Further, the shape of the hole is not limited to a circle but may be a square or a triangle.
[0019]
The operation of the elution apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber bundle configured as described above will be described.
The SIG conduit 3 that is the target of acid elution is placed in the elution groove 1 via the support member 8. Next, the eluate 2 is supplied from the tank 4 to the elution groove 1 through the supply valve 5.
[0020]
Then, the eluate 2 flows through the elution groove 1 and the SIG conduit 3 is eluted. In this elution process, the SIG conduit 3 floats in the eluate 2 without coming into direct contact with the elution groove 1, so that the flow of the eluate 2 around the SIG conduit 3 is good, and the eluate residue and acid elution portion The undissolved residue does not occur in the fiber bundle subjected to the elution treatment.
[0021]
The eluate 2 that has been subjected to the elution process reaches the waste liquid receiving tank 7 beyond the liquid level adjusting plate provided at the downstream end of the elution groove 1.
In addition, the liquid level of the eluate 2 shown in FIG. 3 is adjusted by the installation position of the liquid level adjusting plate.
[0022]
4 and 5 show another embodiment of the support member, and the support member 10 shown in FIG. 4 is a curved surface of the elution groove 1 made of acid- and alkali-resistant metal or plastic and formed in a net shape. The mesh 10a is formed along the elution groove 1 at predetermined intervals by being rounded and processed so as to conform to the shape.
[0023]
The support member 11 shown in FIG. 5 is made of an acid and alkali resistant metal or plastic, and a member formed in a ladder shape is rounded and processed so as to follow the curved shape of the elution groove 1. The shaped members 11b are arranged along the elution groove 1 in parallel at predetermined intervals.
[0024]
The sizes of the meshes 10a and 11a in these support members 10 and 11 may be set so that the fiber bundle produced by the elution process does not bend and bend as in the case of the circular hole 8a.
[0025]
In the elution process of the SIG conduit 3, when the SIG conduit 3 is placed in the elution groove 1 via the support members 10 and 11, the SIG conduit 3 floats in the eluate 2 without directly contacting the elution groove 1. Therefore, the flow of the eluate 2 around the SIG conduit 3 is good, and the elution residue and undissolved residue of the acid elution portion do not occur in the fiber bundle subjected to the elution treatment.
[0026]
The present invention can also be grasped by the forms shown in the following items.
[0027]
2. 2. The elution apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber bundle according to claim 1, wherein the support member is formed by forming a plate-like member having a plurality of holes into a substantially isosceles trapezoidal shape. It is.
[0028]
3. 2. The elution apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber bundle according to claim 1, wherein the support member is formed by forming a net-like member along the shape of the elution groove. .
[0029]
4). 2. The optical fiber bundle manufacturing elution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member is formed by arranging substantially U-shaped linear members in parallel at predetermined intervals along the elution groove. This is an elution apparatus for producing fiber bundles.
[0030]
5). 5. The elution apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber bundle according to claim 1 and items 2 to 4, wherein a plurality of the elution grooves are arranged in parallel, and an elution liquid tank and a supply valve are arranged downstream of the elution grooves. An elution apparatus for producing an optical fiber bundle, comprising a liquid level adjusting plate and a waste liquid receiving tank on the side.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the SIG conduit floats in the eluate without directly contacting the elution groove, the flow of the eluate around the SIG conduit is improved. Since the undissolved residue of the acid elution part does not occur in the optical fiber bundle that has been subjected to the elution treatment, the optical fiber bundle is not cut or concentrated.
In addition, since the SIG conduit is not placed directly in the curved elution groove, but is placed through the support member, the fibers easily spread sideways, the fiber surface condition is improved, and the fiber bundle is softened. The workability of mashing in the fiber bundle is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a perspective view of an elution apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber bundle according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the support member. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an elution groove used in a conventional elution apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber bundle.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Elution groove 2 Elution liquid 3 SIG conduit 4 Tank 5 Supply valve 7 Waste liquid receiving tank 8, 10, 11 Support member 8a Circular hole 10a, 11a of support member Net 8b Bottom surface 8c of support member ... Side surface 11b of support member ... substantially U Shaped linear member

Claims (2)

A groove portion having a length in which the SIG conduit can be disposed;
While supporting the peripheral wall of the SIG conduit at a predetermined interval, a support member that separates the SIG conduit from the bottom of the groove,
Supply means for supplying an eluate to the SIG conduit supported by the support member in the groove;
A recovery means for recovering the eluate supplied by the supply means;
The optical fiber bundle for producing dissolution apparatus characterized by comprising a. 2. The optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the groove portion is disposed to be inclined with respect to the horizontal, the supply unit is disposed on the upstream side of the groove portion, and the recovery unit is disposed on the downstream side of the groove portion. Elution device for bundle production.

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