JP2000056175A - Optical connector connecting tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tool which facilitates and speeds up the operation for inserting optical fibers into a connecting mechanism and the operation for connecting the optical fibers to each other in the connecting mechanism since the connecting mechanism with which an optical connector is equipped is small- sized. SOLUTION: The optical connector connecting tool is equipped with a connecting mechanism support base 3 which supports an optical connector 1 at a fixed position by a movement restricting means 5 and an opening/closing mechanism 14 which opens and closes an element part clamping and holding optical fibers in an abutting connection state in a connecting mechanism 52 by inserting and extracting a wedgelike opening member 55 into and from an insertion hole 61 bored in the connecting mechanism 52 assembled at the rear end side of the optical connector 1 and can easily connect an optical fiber projecting from the ferrule of the optical connector 1 to the rear end side to another optical fiber 64 in the element part in an abutting state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connection mechanism assembled on a rear end side of a ferrule in which an optical fiber is internally fixed and opposed to a polished front end face of the ferrule. The present invention relates to an optical connector connection tool suitable for using a protruding length and another optical fiber in a butt connection operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, on-site optical connectors for terminating an optical fiber connector at a connection site other than a factory have been proposed. Accordingly, various types of on-site SC optical connectors have been proposed. Is being considered. The on-site optical connector is an optical connector of a type in which an optical fiber is inserted and fixed in advance into a ferrule having a polished tip so that a connector polishing operation after connection is omitted. For the connection work between the SC type optical connector and the optical fiber other than for mounting on the site, the optical fiber is inserted in advance in all the connector housing parts such as rubber boots, and after connecting the tip of the optical fiber to the SC ferrule. This was a step of polishing the connector tip and assembling the entire connector.
However, preparing polishing equipment at a connection site outside the factory,
Performing the polishing and assembling work in a place where the working environment is not favorable has been problematic in terms of working cost and working efficiency.

[0003]

In view of the above problems, in recent years, it has been considered to reduce the assembling time by utilizing an on-site optical connector. As disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 9-5875, the applicants have disclosed a ferrule in which an optical fiber is internally fixed in advance and polished on a front end face, and a rear part (a position facing the front end face) of the ferrule. Already proposed an on-site optical connector having a structure in which a connection mechanism is disposed and a structure in which the ferrule-side optical fiber and another optical fiber abutted against the optical fiber are clamped in the connection mechanism to maintain a butt-connected state. I have. However,
Since the size of the connection mechanism is small, there has been a demand for the development of a tool that can easily and quickly perform the work of inserting an optical fiber into the connection mechanism and the work of connecting optical fibers within the connection mechanism.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a connection mechanism assembled on a rear end side of a ferrule in which an optical fiber is internally fixed and opposed to a polished front end face. An optical connector connection tool for butt-connecting a portion protruding to the rear end side of the ferrule and another optical fiber, and connecting the optical connector comprising the ferrule and the connection mechanism to the tip of the target optical fiber, By connecting and disconnecting a wedge-shaped opening member to a connection mechanism support base that supports the connection mechanism of the optical connector in a removable position so that the connection mechanism can be taken out, and an insertion port opened to the connection mechanism supported by the connection mechanism support base. An opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing an element for clamping and holding the optical fibers butt-connected in the connection mechanism, wherein the connection mechanism support base is a ferrule or a connection mechanism. It is provided with a movement restricting means for restricting the movement of the ferrule and the connection mechanism in the direction of the centering axis by engaging with the fixed part, and the connection mechanism can butt the element portion and the optical fibers connected in the element portion. An alignment mechanism for positioning and aligning the optical fiber, and clamping force applying means for applying a clamping force for clamping the optical fiber to the element portion, wherein the insertion opening is opened toward the side of the optical fiber alignment axis. By driving the opening and closing mechanism and inserting the opening member into the insertion port to open the element portion against the clamping force of the clamping force applying means, the optical fiber can be inserted into and removed from the element portion. An optical connector connection tool characterized in that the above-mentioned problem is solved. It is preferable that the connection mechanism support base has a configuration in which the ferrule and the connection mechanism are stored in the groove-shaped storage portion. In this case, since the opening / closing mechanism bears the pressing force for inserting the opening member into the element portion on the inner surface of the groove on the opposite side to the opening / closing mechanism without separately installing fixing parts, the insertion work is stabilized. . The opening / closing mechanism can adopt either a configuration driven manually or a configuration driven by a driving device such as an electric motor. Further, it is preferable that the opening / closing mechanism further includes a pull-back mechanism for pulling out the opening member inserted into the element section. In this case, the element section only needs to be driven after the completion of the butt connection work of the optical fibers in the element section. Can be closed to clamp the optical fiber. As the element portion of the connection mechanism, a flange portion extended from a ferrule hold fixed to the ferrule and a lid superimposed on the flange portion are inserted into a C-shaped spring having a C-shaped cross section and inserted into each other. Pressed configuration,
It is possible to adopt a configuration or the like composed of a split member that is a separate member from the ferrule hold. As the alignment mechanism, an alignment groove formed on the inner surfaces of the element portions that are pressed against each other, a microcapillary, or the like can be used. As the movement restricting means, it is possible to employ a convex portion or a concave portion which engages with a concave portion or a convex portion formed on a component fixed to the ferrule or the connection mechanism, and only engages with the component fixed to the ferrule or the connection mechanism. More preferably, the connection mechanism is positioned and held at a fixed position. For example, a configuration is employed in which flange-shaped engaging projections projecting from both sides of the outer surface of the housing of the optical connector plug that accommodates the ferrule are fitted into a pair of groove-shaped engaging recesses provided on both sides of the housing. Then, not only the movement of the connecting mechanism in the center axis direction,
The orientation of the ferrule and the connection mechanism can be constant.

Further, in the present invention, by driving the pushing mechanism to move the fiber holder, the optical fiber clamped and held by the fiber holder is pushed into the connection mechanism. Such a configuration can also be adopted. The pushing mechanism moves the fiber holder set on the holder set table together with the holder set table,
Various configurations such as a configuration in which only the fiber holder slides using the holder set table as a guide can be employed.
The pushing mechanism can adopt either a configuration driven manually or a configuration driven by a driving device such as an electric motor.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an optical connector connecting tool according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, an optical connector 1 applied to an optical connector connection tool of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, 50 is a ferrule, 51 is a ferrule hold, 52 is a connection mechanism, 53
Is a stop ring, and 54 is a spring. The connection mechanism 52 is housed in a cylindrical stop ring 53, and is urged forward by a spring 54 disposed at the rear (the right side in FIG. 1) of the stop ring 53. A communication port 56 for inserting a wedge-shaped opening member 55 is opened at a side portion of the stop ring 53.

FIG. 2 shows the connection mechanism 52 in detail. The connection mechanism 52 is provided rearward from the ferrule hold 51 (FIG. 2).
A flange portion 57 extending to the upper right back and the upper surface 5 of the flange portion 57
And a sleeve-like clamping force applying means for inserting and holding the integrated element portion 66 for clamping and holding the optical fiber therebetween. 60 (C-shaped spring). As shown in FIG. 1, an insertion port 61 of an opening member 55 is opened on a side surface of the C-shaped spring 60, and the insertion port 61 is aligned with a concave portion 65 formed on a flange upper surface 58. Through the communication port 56 and the insertion port 61, the flange 5
An opening member 55 is inserted between the cover 7 and the lid 59.

As shown in FIG. 2, an alignment groove 62 (alignment mechanism) for precisely positioning and aligning the optical fiber is provided on the lower surface of the lid 59 opposed to the upper surface 58 of the flange portion.
The optical fiber 63 (bare fiber) protruding from the rear of the ferrule 50 and the optical fiber 64 (optical fiber) separately inserted into the connection mechanism 52 are provided by the centering groove 62. (See Fig. 3). Ferrule 5
The optical fiber 63 on the 0 side is internally fixed to the ferrule 50. The optical fiber 64 connected to the ferrule-side optical fiber 63 is inserted into the guide groove 67 extending on the flange upper surface 58 along the central axis of the ferrule 50 from the rear end of the connection mechanism 52, whereby the ferrule-side optical fiber 63 is inserted. Matched with 63.

When the connecting member 52 inserts the opening member 55 into the concave portion 65 and pushes the gap between the flange portion 57 and the lid 59 against the urging force of the clamping force applying means 60, the connection mechanism 52 Insertion and removal of another optical fiber 64 become possible. After the optical fibers 63 and 64 are connected to each other, the release member 55 is pulled out from the connection mechanism 52, so that the flange 57 and the cover 59 are removed.
Is closed, and the optical fibers 63 and 64 are clamped and held in the element portion 66 by the clamping force of the clamping force applying means 60. Note that the flange portion 57 is generally made of metal, and the lid 59 is generally made of hard synthetic resin.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 68 denotes a housing (knob) which is a rectangular tubular component for housing a ring portion 69 of the ferrule 50 and the ferrule hold 51, and an engagement groove 70 formed in the ring portion 69. The engagement restricts rotation of the ferrule 50 and the connection mechanism 52 around the axis. Reference numeral 71 in FIG. 3 denotes an optical fiber hole, which guides the optical fiber 64 connected to the ferrule-side optical fiber 63 into the connection mechanism 52 and inserts it into the guide groove 67 of the element section 66.

Next, the optical connector connecting tool 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 4, the optical connector connection tool 2 includes a connection mechanism support base 3 for supporting the connection mechanism 52 at a fixed position so that the connection mechanism 52 can be taken out. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 5, the connection mechanism support base 3 has an optical connector storage groove 4 for storing the optical connector 1, and extends along the alignment axis of the connection mechanism 52 in the extending direction of the optical connector storage groove 4. In this state, the optical connector 1 is stored horizontally at a fixed position. The inside of the optical connector housing groove 4 is formed to have an inner surface shape substantially coinciding with the housing 68 of the optical connector 1. Control means 5 and 5 (fitting portions) are provided. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the optical connector storage groove 4 is a square groove opening upwardly of the connection mechanism support base 3, and the housing 68 of the stored optical connector 1 is placed on the bottom surface 4a. The optical connector 1 is stably housed at a fixed position in a desired direction by being inserted into the movement restricting means 5. The optical connector housing groove 4 is open to the opening / closing mechanism 14 side adjacent to the connection mechanism support base 3, and the optical connector 1 is inserted into the optical connector housing groove 4 with the communication port 56 facing the open / close mechanism 14. To store.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 2a denotes a holding lid, which is rotatably attached to the connection mechanism support base 3 via a hinge 2b, and opens and closes the optical connector housing groove 4.
A front end of the holding lid 2a and a connection mechanism support base 3 where the front end of the holding lid 2a is located when the holding lid 2a is closed.
On the upper surface, a magnetic attraction means 2c such as a magnet or a magnetic material which magnetically attracts each other is attached. Accordingly, when the holding lid 2a is closed, the optical connector 1 housed in the optical connector housing groove 4 is pressed against the optical connector housing groove bottom surface 4a by the magnetic attraction force between the magnetic attraction means 2c, and the optical connector housing groove 4 is fixed at the fixed position. It is stored stably.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, on the extension of the optical connector housing groove 4, a fiber holder 6 is removably set on a holder set table 7 provided next to the connection mechanism support table 3. Is done. When the fiber holder 6 is set on the holder set table 7, the optical fiber 64 clamped and held by the fiber holder 6 substantially coincides with the alignment axis of the connection mechanism 52 of the optical connector 1 housed in the optical fiber housing groove 4. Is done. Further, the fiber holder 6 set on the holder setting table 7 is urged toward the connection mechanism support table 3 by the pushing mechanism 8 on the holder setting table 7.
When the fiber holder 6 advances toward the connection mechanism support 3, the fiber 64 clamped and held by the fiber holder 6 is pushed into the connection mechanism 52 of the optical connector 1.
As shown in FIG. 4, the fiber holder 6 includes an elongated rectangular plate-like base 6a and an openable / closable lid 6b provided at two locations in the longitudinal direction of the base 6a, and by closing the lid 6b. The optical fiber 64 is configured to be clamped and held.

As shown in FIG. 6, the pushing mechanism 8 includes a movable base 8a which can move forward and backward with respect to the connection mechanism support 3, and a spring for applying a biasing force to the movable base 8a in the direction of the connection mechanism support 3. 8b, and a holder hook 8c protruding upward from the movable base 8a. When the fiber holder 6 is set at a position on the holder setting table 7 that is separated from the connection mechanism support 3, the movable base 8 a is urged in the direction of the connection mechanism support 3 by the urging force of the spring 8 b, and the fiber The holder 6 is also pressed by the holder hook 8c engaged with the rear end of the holder 6 facing the connection mechanism support 3, and is urged toward the connection mechanism support 3. In FIG. 6, a spring 8b is a coil spring, one end of which is locked by a pin 7b projecting from the set base 7a, and the other end of which is a movable base 8a.
It is locked by a pin 8d that is integral with a. The movable base 8a moved in the direction of the connection mechanism support 3
When engaging with the locking piece 7c protruding from the set base 7a, further movement in the direction of the connection mechanism support 3 is restricted, so that the movement of the fiber holder 6 is also restricted.
An excessive insertion of the optical fiber 64 into the connection mechanism 52 of the optical connector 1 can be prevented. The limit of movement of the fiber holder 6 in the direction of the connection mechanism support 3 is also set by the holder hook 8e protruding from the end of the holder set table 7 facing the connection mechanism support 3.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, it is installed next to the connection mechanism support 3 in the width direction of the optical connector housing groove 4 (the direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the optical connector housing groove 4). The opening / closing mechanism 14 has an opening member 55 in an insertion port 61 opened on the side of the connection mechanism 52 housed and supported in the optical fiber housing groove 4.
The element part 66 is opened and closed by inserting and removing the element. The opening member 55 has a small hole 55a which is a long hole having a length of about 4.3 mm.
An engaging pin 33b having a diameter of about 3.0 mm protruding from a moving table 33 (described later) of the opening / closing mechanism 14 is inserted into the small hole 55a. Above the movable table 33, the holding member 33a sandwiches the opening member 55 so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction.

The opening / closing mechanism 14 includes an outer case 31, a rotating shaft 32, a moving table 33, a lever 34, a pull-back spring 35, and a locking pin 36. Outer case 31
Is fixed to the base 80 and houses therein components of the opening / closing mechanism 14 such as the pullback spring 35. The outer case 31 rotatably supports the rotating shaft 32 with a bracket 31a.

As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG.
The male screw portion 32a at one end reaches the vicinity of the connection mechanism support base 3 and is screwed to the moving base 33, and a lever 34 is attached to the other end protruding outside the outer case 31. ing. By operating the lever 34, the rotating shaft 32
When the is rotated, the screwing position between the rotating shaft 32 and the moving table 33 is changed, and the moving table 33 reciprocates between the outer case 31 and the connection mechanism support table 3. At this time, the moving table 33
Are two guide rods 3 protruding from the connection mechanism support 3.
The guide 7 guides and retreats with respect to the connection mechanism support 3 (more specifically, with respect to the optical connector 1 supported by the connection mechanism support 3). Then, the opening member 55 supported on the movable table 33 is also advanced / retracted with respect to the optical connector 1 supported on the connection mechanism support table 3 (more specifically, with respect to the connection mechanism 52).

The lever 34 is a slender part. The central part in the longitudinal direction is fixed to the rotary shaft 32, the lever 34 has a manual operation part 34a at one end in the longitudinal direction, and a guide pin 34b at the other end.
And a locking hole 34c. 4, 7, 9,
As shown in FIG. 10, the guide pin 34 b is inserted into a guide groove 31 b opened on the side surface of the outer case 31, and moves in the guide groove 31 b along the longitudinal direction with the rotation of the lever 34, The rotation range of the lever 34 is set within the movable range along the guide groove 31b. Further, since the guide pin 34b moves while sliding in the guide groove 31b, displacement of the lever 34 and the rotating shaft 32 is prevented as much as possible.

The locking hole 34c engages with the locking pin 36 projecting from the side of the outer case 31 when the lever 34 is rotated clockwise in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the locking pin 36 is urged by a coil spring 31c built in the outer case 31, and the engagement between the locking pin 36 and the locking hole 34c causes the lever 34 to move in the opposite direction in FIG. Manual release is possible by turning clockwise strongly. The projecting position of the locking pin 36 is
The initial position 34e slightly more than the rotation limit 34d of the lever 34
I'm leaning.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, the pull-back spring 35 is a coil spring and is coaxially mounted in the outer case 31 at the longitudinal center of the rotating shaft 32.
Moreover, one end 35a is connected to the guide pin 34b, and the other end 35b is connected to a fixing pin 31d protruding into the outer case 31. When the lever 34 is at the initial position (the position indicated by reference numeral 34e in FIG. 9),
The lever 34 is slightly extended to move the lever 34 to the initial position 34e.
The lever 34 to the rotation limit 3
When it rotates to the vicinity of 4d, it is further extended to exert an urging force to return the lever 34 to the initial position 34e.
Therefore, the lever 34 rotated near the rotation limit 34d
When the engagement between the lever 34 and the locking pin 36 is released, the lever 34 is automatically pulled back to the initial position 34e by the urging force of the pull-back spring 35.

In the optical connector connection tool 2, the communication port 5
When the optical connector 1 is housed in the optical connector housing groove 4 with the opening 6 and the insertion port 61 facing the opening / closing mechanism 14 and the lever 34 is rotated to the rotation limit 34d, the insertion port 61 of the optical connector 1 and the communication port are opened. The opening member 55 is connected to the element portion 66 through the opening 56.
Is pressed in, the element portion 66 is opened against the urging force of the clamping force applying means 60, and the optical fiber 64 can be inserted and removed. This enables operations such as connection, disconnection, and switching connection between the optical fibers 63 and 64 in the connection mechanism 52.

As shown in FIG. 12A, initially, a clearance of about d ₁ = 0.5 mm is interposed between the opening member 55 and the moving table 33. When the press-fitting is started by the contact of the element 21 with the element portion 66 of the connection mechanism 52, as shown in FIG. 12B, the moving table 33 continues to advance while sliding with respect to the opening member 55, resulting in a clearance. Finally, the front surface of the moving table 33 in the traveling direction abuts against and is pressed against the opening member 55 to be pressed into the space between the element portions 66. As shown in FIG. 9, the lever 34 rotated to the rotation limit 34 d is opposed to the urging force of the retraction spring 35 in the retraction direction by the engagement of the locking pin 36 and the locking hole 34 c. It is kept near the rotation limit 34d. For this reason, the lever 34 is artificially moved to the initial position 34e.
Unless returned to the direction, the open state of the element section 66 by the opening member 55 is maintained, so that there is no need for the operator to separately perform the operation of maintaining the open state of the element section 66, and the connection between the optical fibers 63 and 64 is performed. We can concentrate on work such as.

However, at this time, since the rotation limit 34d is slightly farther from the initial position 34e than the engagement position between the locking pin 36 and the locking hole 34c, the lever 34 is once rotated to the rotation limit 34d. After that, it slightly returns to the engagement position between the locking pin 36 and the locking hole 34c, and is retained here. By the way, since the opening member 55 is slidable with respect to the moving table 33 in the moving direction of the moving table 33, the moving table 33 is slightly retracted (small holes 55a and the small holes 55a) as shown in FIG. (Within 1.3 mm millimeter secured between the engaging pin 33b inserted into the opening), the release member 55 is inserted between the element sections 66 by the action of the pull-out resistance caused by the clamping force between the element sections 66. The engaging pin 33b is moved to the center of the small hole 55a by the movement of the movable base 33, and the release member 55 and the movable base 33 are not moved.
The clearance is formed again between the two.

Here, as shown in FIG. 6, when the fiber holder 6 set on the holder set table 7 is moved in the direction of the connection mechanism support table 3 by the urging force of the spring 8b of the pushing mechanism 8, the fiber holder 6 is moved. The optical fiber 64 clamped and fixed to the ferrule 5 is inserted into the element portion 66.
It is butt-connected to the optical fiber 63 on the 0 side. At this time, since the movement of the housing 68 in the direction of the ferrule tip end surface 72 is regulated by the movement regulating means 5, the urging force acting on the optical fiber 64 from the pushing mechanism 8 causes the butting force between the optical fibers 63, 64 to be increased. And the desired connection loss is obtained between the two optical fibers 63 and 64.

After the optical fibers 63 and 64 are butted together, the lever 34 is rotated in the direction of the initial position 34e shown in FIG. 9 to release the engagement between the locking pin 36 and the locking hole 34c. By the action, the lever 34 automatically returns to the initial position 34e, and the moving table 33 retreats with respect to the connection mechanism supporting table 3. At this time, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the release member 55 is pulled out of the connection mechanism 52 by being retracted together with the movable base 33 so as to be hooked on the engagement pin 33b, and is pulled out of the optical fiber 63, 6.
The four members 4 are clamped by the clamping force applying means 60 in an aligned and butted state, and the butted and connected state is maintained in the element portion 66. Thus, the optical connector 1 is connected to the end of the target optical fiber 64. In the pushing mechanism 8, unless the fiber holder 6 is returned to the original position, the urging force is continuously applied to the fiber holder 6 in the direction of the connection mechanism support base 3. Even during the operation, the optical fiber 63 and the optical fiber 63 are clamped in a state in which the desired butting force is continuously applied.
A desired connection loss can be reliably and stably obtained between 3, 64.

When the element section 66 is open,
By pulling the optical fiber 64 in the butt connection state with the optical fiber 63 on the ferrule 50 side in the element portion 66,
It can be easily pulled out from the element section 66. After pulling out the existing optical fiber 64 from the element section 66, another optical fiber 64 is inserted into the element section 66 and the ferrule 5 is inserted.
When the optical fiber 63 on the 0 side is connected, the connection between the optical fiber 63 on the ferrule 50 and the optical fiber 64 can be easily switched. When taking out the optical connector 1,
By lifting the handle 3a shown in FIG. 7, the lifting block 3b built in the connection mechanism support base 3 is raised, and the optical connector 1 is protruded from the optical connector storage groove 4.

Therefore, according to the optical connector connecting tool 2, by driving the opening / closing mechanism 14 and the pushing mechanism 8, the ferrule side light is connected in the connecting mechanism 52 of the optical connector 1 housed in the optical connector housing groove 4. The fiber 63 and another optical fiber 64 can be easily connected, and the working time can be greatly reduced.

The optical connector applied to the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment. A connection mechanism having a split element part or an insertion port or a communication port for inserting an opening member from the outside into the element part is provided. Various configurations can be adopted as long as the configuration is provided. In addition, the configuration of the opening / closing mechanism, the pushing mechanism, and the like is not limited to this embodiment, and it goes without saying that various configurations and shapes are possible.

[0029]

As described above, according to the optical connector connection tool of the first aspect, the opening / closing mechanism is driven to clamp the opening member into the insertion port of the connection mechanism supported by the connection mechanism support base. The insertion of the optical fiber into and out of the element section is enabled by inserting the element section against the clamping force of the applying means to open the element section, and therefore the following excellent effects are achieved. (1) The element section can be opened and closed in a short time only by attaching the connection mechanism to the connection mechanism support base and driving the opening and closing mechanism. (2) While the release member is being inserted into the element section, operations in the element section such as connection and connection switching between the ferrule side optical fiber and another optical fiber can be easily performed,
The efficiency of these operations is improved. (3) Since the movement restricting means restricts the movement of the ferrule-side optical fiber in the direction of the centering axis of the connection mechanism, a desired connection loss can be reliably obtained when the optical fibers are butt-connected.

According to the optical connector connecting tool of the second aspect, the center of the alignment axis of the connection mechanism in which the fiber holder for clamping and holding the optical fiber connected to the optical fiber on the ferrule side so as to be able to be taken out is supported on the connection mechanism support base. A holder set table supported on the extension and a pushing mechanism for moving the fiber holder set on the holder set table to approach the connection mechanism supported on the connection mechanism support table, and driving the pushing mechanism to drive the fiber holder. By moving the optical fiber, the optical fiber clamped and held by the fiber holder is pushed into the connection mechanism, the following excellent effects are obtained. (1) After driving the opening mechanism to open the element section, simply driving the pushing mechanism to move the fiber holder closer to the connection mechanism, the optical fiber clamped and held by the fiber holder is connected to the ferrule side optical fiber and the element section. Can be easily connected by butt connection. (2) Since the optical fiber on the fiber holder side is abutted against the optical fiber on the ferrule whose movement in the centering axis direction is restricted by the movement restricting means, a butt force can be secured between the two optical fibers. Is reliably obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an optical connector applied to an optical connector connection tool of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a ferrule and a connection mechanism of the optical connector of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway front view showing a ferrule and a connection mechanism of the optical connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an overall perspective view showing an embodiment of the optical connector connection tool of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the optical connector connection tool of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a front sectional view showing a pushing mechanism of the optical connector connection tool of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing an opening / closing mechanism of the optical connector connection tool of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a plan sectional view showing an opening / closing mechanism of the optical connector connection tool of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a front view showing an opening and closing mechanism of the optical connector connection tool of FIG. 4;

10 is a side sectional view showing an engagement state between a locking pin and a locking hole of the opening / closing mechanism of the optical connector connection tool in FIG. 4;

11 is a front sectional view showing a pull-back spring of the opening / closing mechanism of the optical connector connection tool of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are conceptual diagrams showing an operation state of an opening member, where FIG. 12A is an initial state, and FIG.
(C) shows when the pushing force of the lever is released, and (d) shows when the lever is raised.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 2 denotes an optical connector connection tool, 3 denotes a connection mechanism support base, 5 denotes a movement restricting means (fitting portion), 6 denotes a fiber holder, 7 denotes a holder set table, 8 denotes a pushing mechanism, 14 denotes an opening / closing mechanism, and 50 denotes a ferrule. 52 connecting mechanism, 55 opening member, 60 clamping force applying means, 61 insertion port, 62 aligning means (aligning groove), 63 optical fiber, 64 optical fiber (single optical fiber) 66, an element portion; 68, a part (housing) fixed to a ferrule or a connection mechanism; 72, a tip surface of a ferrule.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Tanaka 1440 Mukurosaki, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture Inside Fujikura Sakura Plant (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Tamaki 1440 Mukurosaki Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture Fujikura Sakura Plant ( 72) Inventor Kazuhiro Takizawa 1440 Mitsuzaki, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture Fujikura Sakura Factory Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masaaki Takaya 3-19-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Shinji Nagasawa 3-19-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo F-term in Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (reference) 2H036 DA01 EA01 GA12

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A connecting mechanism (52) assembled to a rear end side of a ferrule (50) internally fixed and fixed to a polished front end surface (72) of an optical fiber (63) after the ferrule of the optical fiber. An optical connector connection tool for butt-connecting the portion protruding to the end and another optical fiber (64) and connecting the optical connector (1) having the ferrule and the connection mechanism to the end of the target optical fiber. A connection mechanism support base (3) for supporting the connection mechanism of the optical connector at a fixed position so that it can be taken out; and a wedge-shaped insertion port (61) opened to the connection mechanism supported by the connection mechanism support base. An opening and closing mechanism (14) for opening and closing an element (66) for clamping and holding optical fibers butt-connected in the connection mechanism by inserting and removing the opening member (55); The frame support includes movement restricting means (5) for engaging a ferrule or a component (68) fixed to the connection mechanism to restrict movement of the ferrule and the connection mechanism in the direction of the centering axis. A centering mechanism (62) for positioning and aligning the optical fibers connected in the element section so as to be able to abut each other; and a clamping force applying means (60) for applying a clamping force for clamping the optical fiber to the element section.
The insertion port is opened toward the side of the optical fiber alignment axis, and the opening / closing mechanism is driven to insert the opening member into the insertion port against the clamping force of the clamping force applying means. An optical connector connection tool (2), wherein an optical fiber is inserted into and removed from the element part by opening the element part. 2. A holder for supporting a fiber holder (6), which clamps an optical fiber connected to an optical fiber on the ferrule side so that it can be taken out, on an extension of the centering axis of the connection mechanism supported on the connection mechanism support base. Set stand (7)
And a pushing mechanism (8) for moving the fiber holder set on the holder set table and approaching the connection mechanism supported by the connection mechanism support base, and driving the pushing mechanism to move the fiber holder, 2. The optical connector connecting tool according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber clamped by the fiber holder is pushed into the connection mechanism.