JPH01186906A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the number of parts, to simplify the structure and to simplify the assembling work by using only a ferrule and a holder to not only align the off-center direction of the core of an optical fiber but also stop whirl of the ferrule. CONSTITUTION:In case of assembling, a ferrule 8 is prepared which is preliminarily provided with projections 9a at equal intervals in the peripheral direction, and the projection 9a placed in the direction nearest to the off-center direction of the core is cut away by a nipper, etc., when the off-center direction of the core is confirmed after an optical fiber 7 is fixed to the ferrule 8 by adhesion, and thereby, the direction where no projections exist of the ferrule 8 and the off-center direction of the core are easily matched. Therefore, assembling is facilitated. The ferrule is inserted to the holder only in such manner that the direction where no grooves are provided in the holder and the direction where the projection is removed in the ferrule coincide with each other. Thus, the off-center direction of the core of the ferrule and the direction of the projecting part on the outside peripheral part of the holder automatically coincide with each other to prevent erroneous confirmation of the off-center direction when the ferrule is inserted to the holder.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an optical connector for interconnecting optical fibers,
In particular, it relates to preventing rotation of the ferrule and adjusting the eccentric direction.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of optical connector is equipped with a ferrule 2 that holds and fixes the optical fiber 1 in a predetermined position with high precision, as shown in FIG. A collar 3 is provided. Furthermore, a protrusion 4a is provided on the holder 4 disposed around the ferrule 2, and the protrusion g4a fits into the notch 3a of the ferrule 2, thereby preventing the ferrule 2 from rotating. On the other hand, the direction of the core eccentricity of the optical fiber 1 is adjusted by attaching an eccentricity adjusting claw 6 to a frame 5 screwed onto the holder 4.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional optical connector described above, the function of aligning the eccentric direction of the core of the optical fiber 1 and preventing rotation of the ferrule 2 is configured using separate parts (the eccentric alignment claw 6, the protrusion 4 of the holder 4, and the notch 3a of the ferrule 2). As a result, there were problems in that the number of parts increased and the structure became complicated.

Also, when assembling, as mentioned above, the eccentric alignment claw 6 is required separately from the ferrule 2, so first mark the eccentric direction on a part of the ferrule 2, and after assembly, the eccentric alignment claw 6 is required. An eccentric alignment claw 6 must be attached in the direction. Generally, after assembly, it is difficult to understand the direction of the markings on the ferrule 2, and it is easy to attach the eccentric alignment claw 6 incorrectly. For these reasons, it takes time to assemble the optical connector, and there is a possibility that the eccentric direction may not be aligned accurately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, and is to provide an optical connector that reduces the number of parts, simplifies assembly work, and allows for accurate and easy alignment of core eccentricity. It is in.

[Means to solve the problem]

The optical connector according to the present invention includes a collar having a plurality of protrusions provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and the protrusion closest to the eccentric direction of the core of the optical fiber fixed to the ferrule is removed. the ferrule has a protrusion extending in the same direction as the axial direction on the outer periphery, and a plurality of grooves provided on the inner periphery at the same intervals as the protrusions of the ferrule; The structure includes a holder in which no groove is formed at a position corresponding to the part.

[Effect]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the eccentric direction of the optical fiber core and the rotation prevention of the ferrule can be performed using only the ferrule and the holder, the number of parts can be reduced and the structure can be simplified.

Additionally, when assembling, the ferrule can only be inserted into the holder so that the direction in which the holder is not pre-grooved and the direction in which the ferrule's protrusions are removed are the same. Since the protrusions on the outer periphery coincide with each other, there is no error in the direction of eccentricity, and assembly is very simple.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the optical connector according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the same optical connector.

The optical fiber 7 is held and fixed to the ferrule 8 at a predetermined position by adhesive means. As is clear from FIG. 2, this ferrule 8 has a collar 9 provided with a plurality of protrusions 9a at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and
Among these plurality of protrusions 9a, the protrusion located closest to the core eccentric direction of the optical fiber 7 (in FIG. 2, the dotted line 9b
) has been removed.

A holder 10 is arranged around the ferrule 8,
A protrusion 10a extending in the same direction as the axial direction is provided on the outer circumference of the holder IO. Also, holder 1
A plurality of grooves 10b, which are the same as the protrusions 9a of the ferrule 8, are formed on the inner circumference of the ferrule 1.
The structure is such that this groove 10b is not formed at a position corresponding to 0a. Note that a spring 11 is interposed between the collar 9 of the ferrule 8 and the holder 10, and constantly biases the ferrule 8 in a predetermined direction.

In the above configuration, the ferrule 8 is attached to the holder 10.
When assembling the ferrule 8, the location where the protrusion is removed (the location indicated by the dotted line 9b in FIG. 2), that is, the eccentric position of the core, and the location where the groove 10b of the holder 10 is not formed, that is, the location of the holder 10. The ferrule 8 is inserted into the holder 10 so that the position of the protrusion 10a provided on the outer periphery coincides with that of the ferrule 8. As a result, when the optical fibers 7 are coupled together, the cores of the optical fibers 7 are oriented in the same direction, making it possible to connect with extremely low loss.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the optical connector according to the present invention,
Aligning the eccentric direction of the optical fiber core and preventing rotation of the ferrule can be performed using only the ferrule and holder.
It does not require as many parts as conventional methods. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, and the structure can be simplified.

When assembling, prepare in advance a ferrule with protrusions provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and after gluing and fixing the optical fiber to the ferrule, when checking the core eccentricity direction, the most By cutting out the protrusions located in the near direction with nippers or the like, the direction in which the ferrule has no protrusions can be easily aligned with the direction of eccentricity of the core. Therefore, assembly can be easily performed. Further, when assembling the ferrule, the ferrule can only be inserted into the holder so that the direction in which the groove is not provided in the holder and the direction in which the protrusion of the ferrule is removed are the same. As a result, when inserting the ferrule into the holder, the eccentric direction of the core of the ferrule and the protrusion on the outer circumference of the holder automatically match, so that there is no error in the eccentric direction. Furthermore, since the protrusion for positioning the ferrule can be formed integrally with the ferrule, it has the advantage of being extremely mechanically strong.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of an optical connector according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the same optical connector, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional optical connector. 7...Optical fiber, 8...Ferrule ζ 9...Brim, 9a...Protrusion, 10...Holder, 10a... ...protrusion, 10b...groove.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An optical connector for interconnecting optical fibers is provided with a collar having a plurality of protrusions provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and the protrusion closest to the eccentric direction of the core of the optical fiber fixed to the ferrule is The ferrule has been removed, and has one protrusion extending in the same direction as the axial direction on the outer periphery, and a plurality of grooves provided at the same intervals as the protrusions of the ferrule on the inner periphery, and An optical connector comprising: a holder in which a groove is not formed at a position corresponding to the protrusion.