Apparatus and method for measuring degree of cure of adhesive agent

Abstract

A degree of cure measuring apparatus has: a second optical fiber for emitting light from a tip face thereof; a probe for holding adhesive agent and irradiating the adhesive agent with light while the adhesive agent is in contact with the tip face of the second optical fiber; a detector for detecting light that is reflected from an interface between the tip face of the second optical fiber and the adhesive agent and then returns to the second optical fiber; and a computer for calculating the refractive index of the adhesive agent from the rate of the light amount of the light detected by the detector to the emission light amount from the tip face of the second optical fiber.

1 . A degree of cure measuring apparatus for measuring a degree of cure of adhesive agent, comprising:
 an optical fiber for emitting light from a tip face thereof;   a probe for holding the adhesive agent and emitting light to the adhesive agent while the adhesive agent is in contact with the tip face of the optical fiber; and   a detector for detecting light returning from an interface between the tip face of the optical fiber and the adhesive agent to the optical fiber.   
     
     
         2 . The degree of cure measuring apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a refractive index calculator for calculating a refractive index of the adhesive agent from a rate of a light amount detected by the detector to an emission light amount from the tip face of the optical fiber. 
     
     
         3 . The degree of cure measuring apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a recorder for recording time-variation of the refractive index calculated by the refractive index calculator. 
     
     
         4 . The degree of cure measuring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the optical fiber is a single mode optical fiber.   
     
     
         5 . The degree of cure measuring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the probe has a capillary provided to a tip portion of the optical fiber and a cylindrical member in which the capillary is inserted, and   an inner wall surface of the cylindrical member, a tip face of the capillary and the tip face of the optical fiber form an adhesive agent holding space for holding the adhesive agent.   
     
     
         6 . The degree of cure measuring apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the probe further has an enclosing member for enclosing the adhesive agent in the adhesive agent holding space, a surface of the enclosing member that faces the tip face of the optical fiber being tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to the tip face of the optical fiber.   
     
     
         7 . The degree of cure measuring apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the probe further has a capillary provided to a tip portion of the optical fiber, the capillary having a recess portion for holding the adhesive agent that is formed at a tip portion thereof.   
     
     
         8 . A degree of cure measuring method for measuring a degree of cure of adhesive agent, comprising:
 emitting light from a tip face of an optical fiber;   bringing the tip face of the optical fiber into contact with the adhesive agent; and   detecting light returning from an interface between the tip face of the optical fiber and the adhesive agent to the optical fiber.   
     
     
         9 . The degree of cure measuring method according to  claim 8 , further comprising calculating a refractive index of the adhesive agent from a rate of a detected light amount to an emission light amount from the tip face of the optical fiber. 
     
     
         10 . The degree of cure measuring method according to  claim 9 , further comprising recording time-variation of the calculated refractive index. 
     
     
         11 . A degree of cure measuring apparatus for measuring a degree of cure of adhesive agent, comprising:
 an optical fiber for emitting light from a tip face thereof;   a light guide member detachably connected to the optical fiber and for irradiating the adhesive agent with light while a light emission face thereof is in contact with the adhesive agent; and   a detector for detecting light returning from an interface between the light emission face of the light guide member and the adhesive agent to the light guide member.   
     
     
         12 . The degree of cure measuring apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the light guide member has an optical fiber piece connected to the tip face of the optical fiber.   
     
     
         13 . The degree of cure measuring apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the light guide member has a lens that is configured to emit light incident from the optical fiber as parallel light.   
     
     
         14 . The degree of cure measuring apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the light guide member has a lens that is configured so that light incident from the optical fiber is focused onto a light emission face thereof.   
     
     
         15 . The degree of cure measuring apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the light guide member has a light guide part for irradiating the adhesive agent with light incident thereto while a light emission face thereof is in contact with the adhesive agent, and that is formed of a material having substantially the same refractive index as the adhesive agent before cure.   
     
     
         16 . The degree of cure measuring apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the light guide member further has a lens provided between the optical fiber and the light guide part.   
     
     
         17 . The degree of cure measuring apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising a refractive index calculator for calculating a refractive index of the adhesive agent from a rate of a light amount detected by the detector to an emission light amount from the light guide member. 
     
     
         18 . The degree of cure measuring apparatus according to  claim 17 , further comprising a recorder for recording time-variation of the refractive index calculated by the refractive index calculator. 
     
     
         19 . The degree of cure measuring apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the optical fiber is a single mode optical fiber.   
     
     
         20 . The degree of cure measuring apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the light guide member has an adhesive agent holder for holding the adhesive agent.   
     
     
         21 . A degree of cure measuring method for measuring a degree of cure of adhesive agent, comprising:
 bringing a tip face of an optical fiber into contact with the adhesive agent;   emitting light from the tip face of the optical fiber to the adhesive agent;   detecting light returning from an interface between the tip face of the optical fiber and the adhesive agent to the optical fiber; and   forming a new tip face of the optical fiber after the degree of cure is measured.   
     
     
         22 . The degree of cure measuring method according to  claim 21 , wherein
 forming the tip face includes:   cutting the optical fiber; and   polishing a new tip face formed by cutting the optical fiber.