Optical fiber cross connection apparatus and method

An optical fiber cross connection method,

• with an optical fiber cross connection apparatus for connecting and disconnecting first optical fibers to desired second optical fibers, each of said first optical fibers being equipped with a plug on a tip thereof the apparatus comprising:
• an arrangement board installed approximately vertically, and which has a plurality of alignment holes for releasably holding said plugs and for passing said first optical fibers therethrough;
• a connection board installed approximately vertically, and on which a plurality of connection means are positioned to which said second optical fibers are connected and to which said plugs of said first optical fibers are connectable;
• a handling mechanism which has a first plug grip means for drawing said plug from said alignment hole and for inserting the plug into said connection means and a second plug grip means for holding a plug, for drawing said first optical fibers from the arrangement board so that said first optical fibers are drawn through said alignment holes and for connecting the plugs thereof to desired connection means;
• a roll-up mechanism for paying out said first optical fibers when the fibers are drawn through the alignment holes by the handling mechanism;
• and
• traveling mechanisms for moving the handling mechanism and the roll-up mechanism to a desired position with respect to the connection board and the arrangement board,
• the method comprising:
• when connecting an objective plug of said plugs to an objective connection means of said connection means after disconnecting the other plug which has been already connected to the objective connection means,
• a step of disconnecting the plug from the objective connection means while the second plug grip means of the handling mechanism holds the objective plug which has been disconnected from one of the connection means;
• and
• a step of connecting the objective plug to the objective connection means.

An optical fiber cross connection method,

• with an optical fiber cross connection apparatus for connecting and disconnecting first optical fibers to desired second optical fibers, each of said first optical fibers being equipped with a plug on a tip thereof, the apparatus comprising:
• an arrangement board installed approximately vertically, and which has a plurality of alignment holes for releasably holding said plugs and for passing said first optical fibers therethrough;
• a connection board installed approximately vertically, and on which a plurality of connection means are positioned to which said second optical fibers are connected and to which said plugs of said first optical fibers are connectable;
• a handling mechanism having a first plug grip means for drawing said plug from said alignment hole and for inserting the plug into said connection means, a second plug grip means for holding a plug, and a roll-up means for winding up said optical fiber, the roll-up means comprising a drum which turns with the second plug grip means, wherein the second plug grip means is positioned at the center of rotation of the drum, for drawing said first optical fibers from the arrangement board so that said first optical fibers are drawn through said alignment holes and for connecting the plugs thereof to desired connection means;
• a movement means for moving the first plug grip means of the handling mechanism along the curve formed as a group of optical fibers which are connected to the connection board;
• a roll-up mechanism for paying out said first optical fibers when the fibers are drawn through the alignment holes by the handling mechanism;
• and
• traveling mechanisms for moving the handling mechanism and the roll-up mechanism to a desired position with respect to the connection board and the arrangement board,
• the method comprising:
• a step of moving the first plug grip means along the direction of the group of optical fibers which are connected to the connection board;
• and
• a step of winding up the optical fibers by tuning the drum while transferring the plug which is held by the first plug grip means to the second plug grip means.