JP5038731B2 - Optical branch connection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical branch connection box for branching and connecting an optical fiber coming out of an optical subscriber line intra-station apparatus to a plurality of optical subscriber line indoor apparatuses. More specifically, the present invention relates to a connector-connected optical branching connection box suitable for constructing an FTTx optical access network.

  In recent years, FTTx optical communication networks using the PON system, such as FTTH, have been widely constructed. In the PON system, a plurality of ONUs (Optical Network Units: optical subscriber line premises equipment) are connected to one OLT (Optical Line Terminal: optical subscriber line equipment) on the equipment center side via an optical splitter ( This is a network system constructed with a point-to-multipoint system of one-to-many connection. In the case of this PON system, demultiplexing is performed up to 32 branches, so the output fiber from the OLT is branched into 4 or 8 branches (16 branches in some cases) in the station, and then an aerial optical closure near the subscriber's home. Further, it is common to make 8 branches or 4 branches (2 branches in some cases). In the case of a large subscriber, the output fiber from the OLT may be drawn into the subscriber's building and branched at the subscriber's home.

  The branching of the optical fiber is performed by a so-called optical branching connection device or an optical connection box or an optical wiring rack arranged in the station. For example, there is an optical wiring rack in which a large number of branch modules and connectors are housed inside a rack as a thin plate package (Patent Document 1). In this optical wiring rack, the tape cord introduced from the rear end side of the thin plate package is branched by a branch module and connected to the optical connector installed at the front end of the thin plate package. The optical connector portion at the front end is fitted, and the rear end of the thin plate package is fixed to the frame with screws.

  In addition, a corresponding wire number display is required for the optical adapter. This wire number display must be provided on both sides of the optical adapter. However, if you want to reduce the thickness of the optical wiring box and increase the density of the optical fiber wiring, place a space for the wire number next to the optical adapter. There are times when it cannot be taken. Therefore, while extending the mounting portions on both sides of the optical adapter, an optical adapter abutting portion is provided on the front end surface of the optical wiring box for contacting and fixing the mounting portions, and mounting portions on both sides of the optical adapter are provided. The surface of the pressing member that is placed on the forefront is a mounting structure that is fastened with screws while pressing from the front with a pressing member that straddles the mounting part of all optical adapters when pressed against the optical adapter abutment. There is one in which line numbers are displayed (Patent Document 2). This optical wiring box is mounted side by side by screwing the optical adapter butting portion to the optical wiring rack.

  Furthermore, in the optical fiber connecting device, there is a risk that the optical fiber cord to be wired will cause kinking when it hangs down in the optical wiring rack. Therefore, an R guide portion is arranged at such a location. . The R guide portion is generally like a curved metal plate, and is supported so as not to be kinked by placing a cord thereon (Patent Document 3).

JP-A-8-152529 JP 2005-165075 A JP-A-10-90525

  However, in order to reduce the size and density of the in-station equipment, even with an optical wiring rack that is arranged in a large number as a thin plate-like package on the gantry, if the machine is screwed to the gantry, the cassette can be attached and detached. Fixing screws is troublesome and requires work time. However, when fixing the cassette using a so-called roller catch or magnet type fixing tool, there is a risk that the entire cassette may be removed from the pedestal when the connector is inserted or removed, which takes time. .

  In addition, the width of the optical adapter will eventually increase even if it is devised to extend the mounting parts on both sides of the optical adapter for wire number display and fix it with a holding member with wire number display on the surface. Therefore, the structure of the optical wiring rack is large, and it is difficult to increase the number of fibers accommodated in the optical wiring rack. For this reason, when adopting the conventional adapter configuration, when the cassette is miniaturized and densified, there is no display place on the front, so the adapter number is printed or sealed on the place visible from the front. Etc. could not be displayed. For this reason, if the line number display is not enough even if the optical distribution box is made to correspond to the higher density, it is necessary to proceed with the work while checking the line number display by taking out the cassette one by one, There is a possibility that the construction becomes troublesome, and therefore, it is not possible to completely eliminate an accident in which confirmation is neglected and erroneous connection is caused. For this reason, there was a problem that it was difficult to cope with higher density.

  Further, conventionally, when the cord passes through the end face of the apparatus, the R member is formed of sheet metal, resin, etc., but when the optical fiber cord hangs down, it deviates from the R member and causes a kink at the edge of the carrier. There is a risk of causing kinking at the edge of the R member itself. In particular, the risk of kinking increases as the number of connecting fibers increases.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an optical branching and connecting device that can easily remove and attach a cassette. It is another object of the present invention to provide an optical branching and connecting device having a structure in which the adapter number / line number display can be seen from the front even when the cassette is downsized and densified. It is another object of the present invention to provide an optical branch connection device that can prevent kinking of an optical fiber cord even when the number of connection fibers increases.

  In order to achieve such an object, the optical branching and connecting apparatus of the present invention includes a cassette to which a plurality of optical fiber cords are connected by connectors, and a carrier that holds a number of the cassettes arranged at regular intervals. Includes a guide fin projecting in the vertical direction, and a lock claw portion that is elastically deformed in the lateral direction at at least one of the upper end and the lower end and engages with the carrier in the detaching direction of the cassette, and the carrier moves the cassette in the depth direction. And a plurality of guide grooves arranged in a direction orthogonal to the cassette attaching / detaching direction, and at least one of the upper and lower guide grooves fits the guide fins of the cassette. The other is for fitting both the guide fins of the cassette and the lock claw portion. Unishi to have.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the optical branching and connecting apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, an extra length accommodating portion for placing the extra length portion of the cable of the optical fiber cord on the front side of the splitter cassette accommodating space of the carrier is provided. A fixing portion for fixing the optical fiber cord connected to both ends is provided.

Moreover, the optical branching connection apparatus of the present invention, the on the end side than the fixing portion, the elastic support sheet for supporting the light Faibakodo fixed by the fixing portion for fixing the optical fiber cord at both ends of the extra length accommodating portion And the elastic support sheet has protrusions protruding in the cable drawing direction at both ends thereof to restrict movement of the optical fiber cord in the width direction.

Moreover, the optical branch connection device of the present invention, prior Symbol flexible adapter number sheets displaying the adapter number on one side of the cassette, a part which displays the adapter number so as to protrude forward from the splitter cassette The adapter number can be read by turning the portion displaying the adapter number toward the front side, and the wire number of the connector inserted into the adapter can be specified.

  According to the optical branching and connecting device of the first aspect, the cassette can be fixed at a predetermined position of the carrier simply by fitting the guide fin of the cassette into the slit of the carrier and pushing it in, and pulling out the lock claw portion of the cassette while elastically deforming it. Just leave the carrier. That is, the cassette can be detached from the carrier with a single touch. In addition, the lock claw that engages the cassette and the carrier is deformed in the direction in which the slits are aligned and in the lateral direction, so even if the carrier is bent due to the weight of the cassette, the lock claw is poorly engaged. Does not occur and can be held securely.

  Further, according to the optical branching and connecting device of the second aspect, the optical fiber cord connected to both ends of the optical fiber cord is fixed with the surplus length accommodating portion for placing the extra length portion of the optical fiber cord on the near side of the cassette accommodating space of the carrier. Since the fixing portion is provided, it is possible to set a sufficient extra length to prevent the connector from being loaded and to prevent the cord from rubbing.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the extra length of the optical fiber cord is placed on and supported by the extra length accommodating portion to prevent the load from being applied to the connector. Since the part to be pulled out is supported by the elastic support sheet so as to be gently bent, there is no risk of kink. In addition, since both sides of the optical fiber cord are regulated by protrusions projecting at both ends of the elastic support sheet, the optical fiber cord can be removed from the elastic support sheet even if the amount of the cord increases and the amount of bending of the elastic support sheet increases. It will not drop out.

  Further, according to the optical branching connection device of the fourth aspect, even when the cassette is held on the carrier so as to be arranged without gaps and the density is increased, when the connection destination of the optical fiber cord is switched, it is flexible. The adapter number can be read by turning the adapter number sheet facing the front side, and the wire number of the connector inserted into the adapter can be specified, so that the work is facilitated.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

  1 to 9 show an embodiment of an optical branching connection device of the present invention. In this optical branching and connecting device, a connector-connected cassette 11 is detachably held with one touch on a carrier 10 fixed to a rack (not shown). In the case of this embodiment, the cassette 11 is a splitter cassette that incorporates a splitter, its input side fibers, and output side fibers.

  The splitter cassette 11 of the present embodiment includes a resin casing 1 and an aluminum plate cover 2, and the aluminum plate cover 2 is also used as a guide member. In this embodiment, the resin casing 1 and the aluminum plate cover 2 are employed, but the material is not particularly limited.

  The resin casing 1 includes a splitter storage portion 1a, an adapter storage groove 1b, a lock claw portion 1c, and a cover mounting screw hole 1d. After the splitter (not shown) is accommodated in the splitter holder 1a shown in FIG. 7 of the resin casing 1, the input side fiber and the output side fiber of the splitter are accommodated in the casing 1 together with the corresponding adapter 12, The splitter cassette 11 is assembled by screwing the cover 2 from above.

  Further, the splitter cassette 11 is provided with a lock claw portion 1c that engages with the carrier 10 in the direction in which the splitter cassette 11 is detached. The lock claw portion 1c has a plate shape extending in the attaching / detaching direction of the cassette 11, the base end portion 1g is integrated with the resin casing 1, and the distal end side is separated from the resin casing 1 so that the resin spring property is obtained. It becomes the free end which becomes the part 1h which exhibits, and can deform | transform in the width direction. In the present embodiment, the base end portion 1g having a vertically long plate shape, which is approximately 1/3 of the entire length, is connected to the resin casing 1, and the remaining distal end side 1h is approximately 2/3. And molded resin so as to be separated from each other. A lock claw 1e protruding in the width direction is formed in the middle of the free end 1h side that exhibits the resin spring property of the lock claw portion 1c. The lock claw 1e has an inclined surface in the cassette insertion direction, and is relatively moved when it comes into contact with the stopper piece 4b formed by the edge of the carrier 10, that is, the bent portion of the upper plate 4. It can be deformed in the width direction to get over. The surface on the cassette detachment direction side is a vertical surface, and can be brought into contact with and engaged with the stopper piece 4b on the carrier 10 side. Therefore, the lock claw 1e is engaged with the stopper piece 4b of the carrier 10, so that the cassette 11 cannot be removed unless the front end knob 1f is operated in the direction to release the engagement of the inner claw 1e. Has been.

  The aluminum plate cover 2 includes a convex portion (upper guide fin) 2 a that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the resin casing 1 and a convex portion (lower guide fin) that protrudes downward from the lower surface of the resin casing 1. 2b, an adapter housing groove 2c for housing the adapter positioning protrusion, and a cover mounting hole 2d for passing a screw screwed into the cover mounting screw hole 1d of the resin casing 1. Yes. The upper and lower guide fins 2a and 2b are integrally formed with the aluminum plate cover in the case of the present embodiment, but may be formed integrally with the resin casing 1 in some cases. . When the cover 2 and the guide fins 2a and 2b are integrally formed to share the cover 2 as a guide means, it is easy to save time and labor when stacking cassettes to increase the number of branches. Can be implemented. That is, when the casing 1 and the guide fins 2a and 2b are integrally formed of resin, when the cassettes are connected and overlapped, one set of upper and lower guide fins 2a and 2b is left, and other cassettes It takes time to remove the guide fins 2a and 2b.

  Furthermore, the aluminum plate cover 2 is provided with a flexible adapter number sheet 9 displaying an adapter number so that the number display portion 9a protrudes forward from the cover 2. In the case of this embodiment, the adapter number sheet | seat 9 is comprised by the seal | sticker which has the sticking part 9b which apply | coated the adhesive agent, and is attached by sticking the sticking part 9b to an aluminum cover. The adapter number sheet 9 can read the adapter number by turning the number display portion 9a toward the front side and specify the wire number of the connector inserted into the adapter 12.

  Although not shown, the plurality of adapters 12 arranged in a vertical line on the front surface of the splitter cassette 11 are connected by connectors corresponding to the input side fibers and the output side fibers connected to the splitter. In the case of the four-branch type splitter cassette 11 of this embodiment, one input adapter (adapter number 0) and four output adapters (adapter numbers 1 to 4) are vertically connected with one dummy interposed. It is prepared side by side. This adapter 12 is located between the adapter housing groove 1b on the resin casing 1 side and the adapter housing groove 2c on the aluminum plate cover 2 side provided in front of the splitter cassette 11, that is, on the front side. The fixing projection 12a is fitted and positioned to be fixed between the aluminum plate cover 2 and the resin casing 1.

  Moreover, the splitter cassette 11 of this embodiment can increase the number of branches by overlapping and connecting the resin casings 1 in a range of up to four stages. For example, two resin casings 1 equipped with a four-branch adapter are stacked on a single aluminum plate cover 2 and a hole is formed by punching out the bottom 1i of the intermediate resin casing 1 May be used to distribute the output fibers from the splitter arranged in one casing 1 into the two casings 1 and connect them to the corresponding eight adapters. Thus, a two-tiered (two rows) 8-branch adapter supported by one aluminum plate cover 2 is configured. Of course, there is only one splitter in this case, and one of the two rows of adapters is for input and the remaining eight are for output. By this method, a splitter tray with a maximum of 4 stages and 16 branches can be configured.

  In the case of this embodiment, the carrier 10 is composed of a bottom plate 3, an upper plate 4, a side plate 5 and a front plate 6 obtained by bending, and is connected by screws or the like to form a box-shaped cassette storage space. 13 is formed. The bottom plate 3 is formed with a guide groove 3a into which a lower guide fin 2b protruding downward from the aluminum plate cover 2 of the splitter cassette 11 is fitted. The upper plate 4 is provided with a guide groove 4a in which the upper guide fin 2a of the aluminum plate cover 2 of the splitter cassette 11 and the lock claw portion 1c of the resin casing 1 are fitted. The guide portions 3a and 4a are constituted by slits. In this embodiment, a channel-shaped reinforcing plate 14 is further provided above the upper plate 4 in order to increase the structural strength.

  Folded portions are formed at the front end edges of the bottom plate 3 and the upper plate 4 of the carrier 10 so that the ends of the plates 3 and 4 are continuous by the slits 3a and 4a, thereby improving the mechanical strength. It is illustrated. Further, a stopper piece 4b with which the lock claw 1e abuts is provided at the outlet of the slit 4a on the side where the lock claw 1c on the cassette 11 side is guided by a bent portion. In the case of the present embodiment, the end portion of the upper plate 4 becomes a curved surface for folding back, so that the stopper piece 4b is left by cutting and raising a part thereof.

  A flange 5a is integrally formed at the front end of the side plate 5 of the carrier 10 so that the edge is folded outward and fixed to a rack (not shown). The flange 5a is provided with a pair of U-shaped grooves 5b through which positioning pins and the like pass, and a flaw hole 5c through which a screw made of a long hole whose position can be adjusted is passed.

  Further, a front plate 6 for placing an extra length portion of the optical fiber cord is provided in front of the bottom plate 3 using the side plate 5 of the carrier 10. The front plate 6 has an extra length accommodating portion 6c and an intermediate inclined portion 6a for supporting the extra cable portion at a height lower than the position of the lowest adapter 12 of the splitter cassette 11, and the intermediate inclined portion 6a The number of mini clamps 6b is approximately the same as or slightly smaller than the number of cassettes. The mini clamp 6b is disposed at a position corresponding to the space between the lower guide groove 3a and the lower guide groove 3a, that is, in front of the space for accommodating the splitter cassette 11 between the two lower guide grooves 3a. Since the optical fiber cord is connected to the adapter through the mini clamp 6b arranged at a position lower than the adapter 12, a space is secured in front of the splitter cassette 11, particularly in the upper part, and the unlocking tip knob 1f can be easily identified. it can.

  Clamps 8 are provided in the vicinity of both ends in the width direction and the lateral direction of the front plate 6 for fixing the optical fiber cord placed on the extra length storage portion 6c. The clamp 8 can be opened and closed by using a resin spring structure and a hook 8a, and is provided so as to elastically sandwich a cord by lining a foamed rubber plate 8b rich in elasticity. Yes.

  Further, elastic support sheets 7 made of a thin resin plate are attached to both ends of the front plate 6 in the width direction and the lateral direction so as to cover the edge of the front plate 6 and further to the end side than the clamp 8. ing. The elastic support sheet 7 supports an optical fiber cord that hangs down from the front fret 6 and prevents the sheet 7 from being kinked by bending as the cord hangs down. In the case of the present embodiment, the holes 7b are appropriately formed so as to bend easily so that the elastic support sheet 7 can be easily bent toward the front end side and dealt with by the kink of the optical fiber. Further, the flexible elastic support sheet 7 has protrusions 7a protruding in the cable drawing direction at both ends thereof, and restricts movement of the optical fiber cord in the width direction to prevent it from falling off the sheet 7. I am doing so.

    According to the optical branching and connecting apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above, the upper and lower guide fins 2a and 2b of the splitter cassette 11 are fitted into the upper and lower guide grooves 4a and 3a of the carrier 10, and then the cassette housing space. 13, the lock claw portion 1 c of the splitter cassette 11 is elastically deformed, and the lock claw 1 e gets over the stopper piece 4 b of the bent portion at the front edge of the carrier 10 and at the same time the lock claw portion 1 c returns to the original position. Then, the locking claw 1e engages with the stopper piece 4b in the separating direction of the splitter cassette 11, and the splitter cassette 11 is automatically fixed. In this state, since the splitter cassette 11 is fixed to the carrier 10, the splitter cassette 11 itself is not detached from the carrier 10 even if the connector is gripped and the connector is inserted or removed. Easy to do. Here, the wire number of the connector inserted into the adapter of the splitter cassette 11 can be specified by turning the flexible adapter number sheet 9 on which the adapter number is displayed to the front side so that the adapter is almost from the front. Since the number can be read, the connection relationship can be determined without taking out the cassette from the carrier one by one.

  When the splitter cassette 11 is removed from the carrier 10, the lock claw 1e that engages with the stopper piece 4b on the front edge of the carrier 10 is used to release the engagement of the lock claw 1c using the tip knob 1f (slits are aligned). By pulling the splitter cassette 11 while being elastically deformed in the direction), it can be easily removed from the carrier 10.

  The above-described embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the description is mainly given by taking as an example a splitter cassette incorporating a splitter, but the present invention is not particularly limited thereto, and various forms of optical connection boxes for connecting a plurality of optical fiber cords by connectors, etc. It is applicable to. In addition, the elastic support sheet 7 that supports the optical fiber cord is a preferable example, although it is preferably applied to the optical branching connection device of the present embodiment having an extra length accommodating portion in front of the carrier 10 that accommodates the splitter cassette 11. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be independently implemented as a means for preventing kinking of the optical fiber cord in any form of carrier. Of course, the same applies to the adapter number sheet 9, and it can also be used to display the adapter number in a cassette that does not incorporate a splitter, for example, a cassette that switches the optical connection relationship by connector connection.

  In this embodiment, the carrier is manufactured by bending with a sheet metal so that the mold is not necessary. However, in some cases, a resin carrier by molding may be used, and the cover 2 of the splitter cassette 11 is also necessary. It is also possible to make it resin.

It is the perspective view seen from the front which shows one Embodiment of the optical branch connection apparatus of this invention. It is the perspective view seen from the back of the optical branching connection apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of a splitter cassette. It is an expansion perspective view near the cord fixing part and elastic support sheet of the carrier of the optical branching connection device. It is the expansion perspective view which looked at the relationship between the carrier of the same optical branching connection apparatus and a lock claw part from the top. It is the expansion perspective view which looked at the relationship between the carrier and lock claw part of the optical branching connection device from the bottom. It is a side view which shows one Embodiment of the housing | casing of a splitter cassette. It is a figure which expands and shows the lock nail | claw part of the housing | casing of a splitter cassette, (A) is a top view, (B) is a side view. It is a side view which shows one Embodiment of the cover of a splitter cassette.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Resin housing | casing 1c Lock claw part 1e Lock claw 1f Tip knob part 2 Aluminum plate cover 2a Upper guide fin 2b Lower guide fin 3 Bottom plate 3a Guide groove (slit)
4 Upper plate 4a Guide groove (slit for fitting upper guide fin and lock claw)
6 Front plate 6b Mini clamp 6c Extra length storage part 7 Elastic support sheet 7a Convex part 8 Clamp 9 Adapter number sheet 9a Number display part 9b Adhering part 11 Splitter cassette 12 Adapter 13 Splitter cassette accommodation space

Claims (4)

A cassette to which a plurality of optical fiber cords are connector-connected, and a carrier for holding a plurality of cassettes arranged side by side at a predetermined interval. The cassette includes guide fins that protrude in the vertical direction and has at least an upper end or a lower end. One side is provided with a lock claw portion that is elastically deformed in the lateral direction and engages with the carrier in the detaching direction of the cassette, and the carrier has a space in which the cassette can be accommodated in the depth direction and a direction orthogonal to the cassette attaching / detaching direction. A plurality of guide grooves arranged, and at least one of the guide grooves on the upper end side or the lower end side fits the guide fins of the cassette, and the other is the guide fins of the cassette and the lock claw portion. An optical branching and connecting device for fitting both of them together. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a surplus length accommodating portion for placing an extra length portion of the optical fiber cord on the front side of the cassette accommodating space of the carrier and a fixing portion for fixing the optical fiber cord connected to both ends thereof. Optical branching connection device. The fixed part end portion than to fix the optical fiber cord at both ends of the extra length accommodating portion, provided with a resilient support sheet for supporting the light Faibakodo fixed by the fixing unit, and the elastic support sheet at both ends The optical branching connection device according to claim 2 , further comprising a protrusion protruding in a cable drawing direction to restrict movement of the optical fiber cord in the width direction. Flexible adapter number sheets displaying the adapter number on one side of the cassette, provided with provided with a part that displays the adapter number so as to protrude forward from the splitter cassette, displaying the adapter number portion 4. The light according to claim 1 , wherein the adapter number can be read by directing it toward the front side and the wire number of the connector inserted into the adapter can be specified. 5. Branch connection device.

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