JP2000206370A - Tool for optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily insert a tool even in an narrow space and reduce the work space secured in the periphery of an optical connector intended to be pulled out by storing an engagement movable piece having a claw engaged with an engagement part of an optical connector side part in a connector storing area or in a storing groove between both insert pieces. SOLUTION: A tool 20 for an optical connector includes a tool main body 222 to which a grip 21 is fixed, a pair of insert pieces 24 projected from the projecting tips of a pair of support parts 23 projected from the tool main body 22 in a further projecting state, and a pair of engagement movable pieces which are disposed along the respective insert pieces 24 and formed by projecting a claw 25 on the tip part 26a. Both engagement movable pieces 26 are like elongated pins, the central parts of which are rotatably supported by pivots 27 as a movable support part, and the tip parts 26a are freely opened and closed. The tip part 26a of each engagement movable piece 26 is freely moved inside and outside a connector storing area 29 between both insert pieces 24 through a storing groove 28 formed in the insert piece 24.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector tool used for pulling out an optical connector from a female housing such as an optical connector adapter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a so-called MU type optical connector (Miniature-Unit coupe) defined in JIS C5983.
When multiple optical connectors (optical connector plugs) are connected at high density in a narrow area, such as an optical connector adapter of a plimg optical fiber connector, a special tool for pulling out the target optical connector is provided. I have. MU
The tool of the conventional configuration applied to the optical connector has a complicated configuration and is unsatisfactory in terms of cost and operability. Therefore, simplification of the configuration, cost reduction, and improvement in operability have been demanded. On the other hand, an SC type optical connector (Single fiber Coupling optical fiber connector) specified in JIS C5973.
For example, as a tool applied to the (ector), a tool as shown in FIG. 4 is provided. In FIG.
Is an optical connector tool, 2 is a grip, 3 is a tool body, 4
Is a movable engagement piece. A pair of support parts 5 protrude from the tool main body 3, and further, insert pieces 6 protrude from the tips of these support parts 5, respectively. The engaging movable piece 4 is rotatably attached to a pivot 7 provided on both support portions 5. For example, an operator manually operates the grip 2
When the rear end portions 4a of the adjacent movable engagement pieces 4 are operated so as to approach each other, the movable engagement pieces 4 around the pivot 7 are centered.
Is rotated to open the distal end portions 4b located in the vicinity of the insertion pieces 6, and when the hands are released, the biasing force of the spring 8 pushes and opens the rear end portions 4a of both engagement movable pieces 4 to each other. Conversely, the space between the tip portions 4b approaches. The engagement movable piece tip 4
By contacting the outside of the insertion piece 6, b is restricted from moving in directions approaching each other. Then, the claw 4 c protruding from the engagement movable piece tip 4 b passes through the opening 6 a opened in the insertion piece 6 and projects into the connector storage area 9 between the two insertion pieces 6.

When the two insertion pieces 6 are inserted along both sides of a target optical connector 10 (here, an optical connector plug of an MU-type optical connector), the projecting wall 6b at the tip of the insertion piece 6 inserts the two insertion pieces. , An optical connector 10 of a claw (not shown) on the female housing 12 (here, an optical connector adapter) side.
Is released. After the optical connector 10 is housed in the connector housing area 9, the claws 4 c are projected from the opening 6 a into the connector housing area 9 by rotation of the engagement movable piece 4. Part 11
(Refer to FIG. 5, here, the engaging recess). In this state, when the optical connector tool 1 is pulled, the optical connector 10 inserted into the female housing 12 can be pulled out.

[0004]

However, in the optical connector tool 1 described above, (1) the tip is thicker by the amount of the engaging movable piece tip 4b outside the insertion piece 6, It is difficult to insert it into a narrow place. (2) In order to engage the claw 4c with the engaging portion 11 while avoiding the protrusion on the side of the optical connector 10, the engaging movable piece distal end 4b is once connected to the connector. There is a problem that it is necessary to secure a sufficient space around the target optical connector 10 in order to secure a movable range for moving the optical connector 10 to the outside of the storage area 9. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when pulling out the optical connector 10 inserted into a plurality of arranged female side housings 12 using the optical connector tool 1, (1) the thickness of the distal end portion, (2)
In view of securing the movable range of the engagement movable body tip 4b, the arrangement pitch L1 of the female housing 12 cannot be reduced, which hinders an increase in mounting density. For this reason, for example, as compared with the SC type optical connector, such as the MU type optical connector,
It cannot be applied to an optical connector with a higher density as it is, and it is necessary to overcome the above-mentioned problem in order to apply it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and can be easily inserted even in a narrow space, and a work space to be secured around an optical connector to be pulled out can be reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector tool capable of improving the mounting density of a side housing.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an optical connector tool used for pulling out an optical connector from a female housing such as an optical connector adapter. A pair of insertion pieces inserted on both sides of the optical connector inserted into the housing, and an engagement portion of the optical connector side portion disposed along each insertion piece and housed between the two insertion pieces. A pair of engaging movable pieces each having an engageable claw protruding from a distal end thereof, and both of the engaging movable pieces are movably supported by a movable supporting portion.
The front end portion is openable and closable, and the front end portion of each engagement movable piece is movable freely into and out of a connector storage area between the two insertion pieces through a storage groove formed in the insertion piece. An optical connector tool characterized in that the above-mentioned problem is solved. When inserting the insertion pieces into both sides of the optical connector, the engagement movable piece is stored in the connector storage area or the storage groove between the two insertion pieces, so that the insertion piece of this tool is substantially formed. The insertion work is performed with the thickness of the vicinity reduced. Thus, the insertion operation can be smoothly performed without being caught in the middle. In order to open the gap between the engagement movable piece tips, the claw at the tip of the engagement movable piece is moved out of the connector storage area by moving the engagement movable piece out of the storage groove of the insertion piece. Because it is good, the protrusion dimension to the outside of the insertion piece can be minimized, and the contact and interference with the surroundings can be avoided.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of an optical connector tool according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 is an overall perspective view showing the optical connector tool 20, FIG. 2 is a plan view, and FIG. 3 is a conceptual view (plan view) showing the operation of the optical connector tool 20. In the drawings, the same components as those in FIGS. 4 and 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be simplified. The optical connector 10 is an optical connector plug of a MU type optical connector, and the female housing is an optical connector adapter.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an optical connector tool 20 includes a tool body 22 to which a grip 21 is fixed,
A pair of insertion pieces 24 provided further in a protruding state from the tips of the pair of support portions 23 protruding from the tool body 22 in the protruding direction, and are disposed along the respective insertion pieces 24, and the claw 25 is provided. And a pair of movable engagement pieces 26 protruding from the distal end portion 26a. Both engagement movable pieces 26 are in the shape of an elongated pin, and are pivoted by a pivot 27 as a movable support.
The central portion is rotatably supported, and the space between the tip portions 26a is freely openable and closable. Tip 2 of each engagement movable piece 26
6a is movable through a storage groove 28 formed in the insertion piece 24 into and out of a connector storage area 29 between the two insertion pieces 25.

The movable supporting portion is not limited to the pivot 27, but may be any member capable of realizing a movable support that makes the pair of engaging movable piece tips 26a approach and separate from each other. The configuration in which the movable pieces are supported at a variable distance while maintaining parallelism with each other and the both movable pieces are supported so as to be slidable obliquely allow the claws 25 to be inserted into and retracted from the connector storage area 29. Various configurations, such as the configuration described above, can be adopted. The storage groove formed in the insertion piece is not limited to the storage groove 28 opened at the center of the plate-shaped insertion piece 24, and may have a shape in which a part of the insertion piece 24 in the surface direction is cut out from the outside. Various configurations, such as a storage groove, can be adopted.

The operation of pulling out the optical connector 10 using the optical connector tool 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the insertion pieces 24 are inserted and inserted into both sides of the target optical connector 10 inserted into the female housing 12, and the optical connector 10 is stored in the connector storage area 29. At this time, the tool 20 can be efficiently inserted in a state where the tool 20 is positioned with respect to the female housing 12 by the protruding wall 24a at the tip of the insertion piece 24 that has been inserted before the female housing 12 side. At the time of insertion of the insertion piece 24, the biasing force of the spring 30 pushes and opens the rear end portions 26b of the both engagement movable pieces 26, and conversely, the front end portions 26a of the both engagement movable pieces 26 It is preferable to be in a state of being housed in the housing groove 28. Thereby, the thickness near the insertion piece 24 can be substantially reduced, and contact with components around the optical connector 10 to be pulled out, for example, the adjacent optical connector 10 or the optical fiber 14 can be avoided. Thus, the operation of inserting the insertion piece 24 is efficiently performed. Further, the engagement movable piece distal end portion 26a has a distal end inclined surface 26c, and further, by the action of the spring 30,
Since it is possible to escape to the outside of the connector housing area 29 as appropriate, it is easy to reach the vicinity of the side of the optical connector 10 along the outer surface of the tapered boot 13 at the rear end of the optical connector 10.

However, the insertion pieces 2 on both sides of the optical connector 10
In order to prevent the claw 25 from being caught by the unevenness or the like on the side of the optical connector 10 in the insertion operation of 4, it is necessary to open the space between the engagement movable piece tip portions 26a. At this time, for example, when the operator manually operates the rear end portions 26b of the both engagement movable pieces 26 near the grip 21 to approach each other, the both engagement movable pieces 26 rotate around the pivot 27. Then, the space between the tip portions 26a is opened. Each engagement movable piece 26
If the amount of rotation is large, as shown by a virtual line in FIG.
It protrudes outward from the insertion piece 24. In addition, each engagement movable piece 2
6 changes the protruding amount of the stopper 31 provided on the rear end portion 26b, thereby setting the closest distance of the rear end portion 26b to the tool body 22. This prevents the distal end portion 26a of the movable engagement piece 26 from being unnecessarily opened widely, thereby avoiding contact with the surrounding optical connector 10 or the like.

The claw 2 is engaged with the engaging portion 11 of the optical connector 10.
5 is positioned, the release restriction between the engagement movable piece rear ends 26b is released, so that the urging force of the spring 30 pushes and opens the engagement movable piece rear ends 26b, and conversely, the tip The portions 26a approach each other, and the claw 25 engages with the engaging portion 11 on the side of the optical connector 10 in the connector housing area 29. Then, in this state, if the optical connector tool 20 is pulled, the optical connector 10 can be pulled out from the female housing 12.

According to the optical connector tool 20 of the present invention, when the insertion piece 24 is inserted into the target optical connector 10, the distal end portions 26 a of both the engagement movable pieces 26 are placed in the connector storage area 29 or in the storage area 29. It is housed in the groove 28 and avoids contact with components around the optical connector 10, for example, the adjacent optical connector 10 or the optical fiber 14, so that the insertion operation can be performed efficiently. Thus, it is possible to avoid affecting the optical connector 10 and the optical fiber 14 in the live state. Since the tip of the optical connector tool 20 in the insertion direction is substantially narrowed, the insertion operation can be performed efficiently even in a narrow place. Even when the gap between the movable engagement tip portions 26a is opened, compared with the conventional example in which the engagement movable piece is not housed inside from the outer surface of the insertion piece, the engagement movable piece distal end portion 26a can be opened.
The protrusion amount of “a” to the outside of the insertion piece 24 is small. Therefore, the rotation space of the engagement movable piece 26 secured around the target optical connector 10 can be reduced. As a result, as can be seen by comparing FIG. 3 and FIG.
Can be mounted at a high density by reducing the arrangement pitch L2.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes can be made. For example, the entire engagement movable piece may be accommodated not only in the tip portion but also in the accommodation groove for the insertion piece or a groove separately formed in the tool body. In this case, insertion of a tool into a narrow place, avoidance of contact with surrounding optical components, and the like can be further facilitated. The engaging portion on the optical connector side is not limited to the engaging recess, but an engaging protrusion or the like can also be employed. The female housing is not limited to the optical connector adapter applied to the MU type optical connector, but may be an optical connector adapter of another configuration, for example, an optical connector adapter such as an SC type optical connector. Other than connector adapter,
It may be an optical connector receptacle, a jack, a housing for holding an unused optical connector, or the like. In the case of an SC type optical connector or the like, the protruding wall 24a at the tip of the insertion piece 24 of the tool 20 shown in FIG. 1 is engaged with an engaging claw that is engaged with the optical connector (optical connector plug) from the optical connector adapter side. It can function as an engagement release piece for releasing the engagement. The optical connector is not limited to the optical connector plug of the MU type optical connector, and various optical connector plugs for single core and multiple cores can be adopted. In the above-described embodiment, a configuration in which the engagement movable piece is manually operated is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which the operation of the engagement movable piece is automatically performed by the driving device can be adopted. Further, a configuration in which positioning with respect to the target optical connector, operation of the engagement movable piece, and the like are automatically performed by a driving device controlled by the control device can be adopted. In this case, the optical connector can be automatically pulled out.

[0015]

As described above, according to the optical connector tool of the present invention, the engaging movable piece having the claw to be engaged with the engaging portion of the optical connector side portion is located between the two insertion pieces. Because it can be stored in the connector storage area or storage groove of,
The insertion operation can be performed in a state where the thickness of the tool near the insertion piece is reduced, and thereby the insertion operation can be smoothly performed without being caught in the middle. Also, if necessary, even when the gap between the movable ends of the engagement pieces is opened, the protrusion dimension to the outside of the insertion piece can be minimized, and contact with the surroundings and interference can be avoided. There is no need to unnecessarily secure a large space for the opening operation of the engaging movable piece around the periphery of the optical connector, and an excellent effect that the density of the optical connector and the female housing can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an embodiment of an optical connector tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the optical connector tool of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the operation of the optical connector tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a conventional optical connector tool.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the operation of the optical connector tool of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 optical connector (MU type optical connector plug), 11 ...
Engaging portion (engaging recess), 12 female side housing, 20 tool for optical connector, 22 tool body, 24 insertion piece, 25
... Claws, 26 ... Movable engagement piece, 26a ... Tip, 27 ... Pivot, 28 ... Storage groove, 29 ... Connector storage area.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yukio Hayashi 1440 Mukurosaki, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture Inside Fujikura Sakura Plant (72) Inventor Yoshikazu Nomura 1440 Mukurosaki, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture Inside Fujikura Sakura Plant ( 72) Inventor Tsuneji Mine Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, 3-9-1-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 2H036 QA46 QA53

Claims (1)

[Claims] An optical connector tool used for pulling out an optical connector (10) from a female housing (12) such as an optical connector adapter, the tool being provided in a projecting state from a tool body (22), A pair of insertion pieces (24) inserted on both sides of the optical connector inserted into the side housing, and arranged along each insertion piece;
The engaging portion (1) on the side of the optical connector housed between the two insertion pieces
1) a pair of engaging movable pieces (26) each of which has a claw (25) that can be engaged with the distal end portion (26a) of the movable supporting section (27). ), The front end of each engagement movable piece can be opened and closed freely, and the front end of each engagement movable piece is inserted into the two insertion pieces through a storage groove (28) formed in the insertion piece. The optical connector tool (20), which is movable in and out of a connector storage area (29) between the optical connector and the connector.