JP2007193011A - Optical connector tool and tool-attached optical connector having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent connection defect between optical fibers by visually confirming insertion/removal of an interposing member between a pair of elements of an optical connector. <P>SOLUTION: The optical connector 3 is provided with a clamp part for holding a pair of optical fibers 9, 11 between elements 3H, 3H3 that are divided into halves. The optical connector tool 5 is composed of an interposing member 7 that keeps the elements released by squeezing in between the elements of the clamp 3B of the optical connector 3, and a ring-shaped interposing member driving part 15 that has a movable end part 15B for driving the interposing member 7 for the purpose of inserting/removing this interposing member 7 between the elements of the clamp part. The interposing member 7 is structured such that it is held on an interposing member holding part 19 installed in the movable end and that it slides in a first direction to be inserted between the elements and forms a gap 21 between the interposing member and its holding part 19. The interposing member driving part 15 has restoring force for restoring the movable end part and the interposing member holding part to the original position, even when the movable end part is pressed from the original position and the interposing member 7 is inserted between the elements. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an optical connector tool and an optical connector with a tool to which the optical connector tool is attached, and in particular, an optical device having a mechanism for maintaining a connection state between optical fibers by clamping a pair of optical fibers that are butt-connected. The present invention relates to an optical connector tool applied to a connector, and an optical connector with a tool to which the optical connector tool is attached.

  In recent years, as an optical connector that can be assembled to the tip of an optical fiber at a connection site other than a factory, a ferrule in which the optical fiber is fixed in advance and the tip surface is polished, and the rear portion of this ferrule (tip A clamp portion disposed at a position facing the surface), and in this clamp portion, an optical fiber on the ferrule side and another optical fiber for connection abutting against the optical fiber are divided in half by the clamp portion. It is known that an optical connector can be assembled in a short time by maintaining the butt connection state by clamping to the element. Here, since the size of the clamp portion is small, a dedicated tool (optical connector assembling tool) for opening and closing an element has been proposed as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.

  However, in the optical connector assembly tool having the structure of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above, in order to realize the operation of the clamp portion of the optical connector, a wedge processed with high precision is accurately placed between small-sized elements. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the cost. In addition, there are cases where the size cannot be inserted into a narrow work space such as in the device housing, for example, and the connector is attached to the tip of the optical fiber with an optical connector assembly tool installed outside the device housing. In this case, there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the size and cost because it is necessary to secure an extra length for pulling out the optical fiber from the apparatus housing.

  Therefore, an optical fiber connecting tool disclosed in Patent Document 3 has been developed. That is, this optical fiber connection tool pushes open between the elements by interrupting between the elements from the outside of the clamp portion of the optical connector, so that the other optical fiber can be inserted and removed between the elements. An insertion member for maintaining a possible state, a ring-shaped insertion member driving unit for pulling out the insertion member interrupted between the elements of the clamping unit, and a periphery of the insertion member driving unit A stopper wall provided so as to be interposed in a part of the direction and pressed against the optical connector when the insertion member is pulled out from the clamp portion of the optical connector.

  Further, the insertion member penetrates an insertion member window formed in the stopper wall from a movable end that is an end opposite to the stopper wall of the insertion member drive unit. It protrudes to the outer surface side of the stopper wall.

  In addition, the insertion member drive unit has a distance between the stopper wall and the movable end due to a side pressure applied from both sides facing a portion located between the stopper wall and the movable end. By being deformed so as to increase, the insertion member is moved so that the protruding amount from the stopper wall decreases or the protruding from the stopper wall is eliminated.

In addition, an optical connector with a tool to which the above-mentioned optical fiber connecting tool is attached has been proposed.
JP 2002-23006 A JP 2002-55259 A JP 2005-99706 A

  By the way, the optical connector with a tool shown in the conventional patent document 3 is shipped with an optical fiber connecting tool attached in advance to the optical connector. That is, the inter-element is pushed open by the insertion member of the optical fiber connecting tool interrupted between the elements from the outside of the clamp portion of the optical connector, and the other optical fiber can be inserted and removed between the elements. The state is maintained and shipped.

  In the field, when the optical fiber is connected, the insertion member is inserted into the element by the side pressure applied by the insertion member driving unit from both sides in a state where the other optical fiber is inserted between the elements and the optical fibers are abutted with each other. By performing the operation of pulling out from the space, the optical fiber is clamped by the half-divided element of the clamp portion, so that the butt connection state between the optical fibers is maintained.

  It is necessary that the insertion member is extracted from between the elements in a state where the optical fibers are butted together, and there is a problem in that the butted connection between the optical fibers is disconnected when this timing is shifted. . For example, when the next operation such as processing on the rear side of the optical fiber is performed in a state where the insertion member is not sufficiently pulled out between the elements, the optical fiber butt connection state between the elements As a result, insufficient connection will occur.

  However, in the optical fiber connecting tool, the insertion member and the insertion member driving unit are integrally provided, and it is possible to visually check whether the insertion member is sufficiently removed from between the elements. Since there are cases where it cannot be performed, there is a problem in that the above-described connection failure occurs.

  In addition, in order to confirm whether or not the insertion member is sufficiently removed from between the elements, as a structure that generates a detection sound when the insertion member is completely removed, for example, on the side surface of the insertion member An elastic piece is provided on the stopper wall, for example, which is deformed by contact with the protrusion when the insertion member moves, and the insertion member moves and slips out from between the elements. By the way, although it can be set as the structure which generate | occur | produces a detection sound when the said elastic piece remove | deviates from a projection part and returns, in this noisy environment where a detection sound cannot be confirmed with this structure, it is inadequate.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems.

The optical connector tool of the present invention holds an optical connector provided with a clamp portion that clamps a pair of butt-connected optical fibers between the halved elements by the elasticity of a spring to maintain the connection state between the optical fibers. A connector holder part, an insertion member that pushes between the elements of the optical connector held by the connector holder part to interrupt the optical fiber so that the optical fiber can be inserted and removed, and the insertion member A light having a ring-shaped insertion member driving portion that drives the insertion member to insert and detach a member between the elements of the clamp portion and the connector holder portion is provided in a part of the circumferential direction In connector tools,
The insertion member driving part forms a part of the connector holder part, and is formed on the stopper wall part and the stopper wall part against which the optical connector is pressed when the insertion member is pulled out from the clamp part of the optical connector. And an insertion member window portion that can pass through the insertion member, and a movable end portion that is located on the opposite side of the stopper wall portion via a ring-shaped internal space of the insertion member drive portion. An insertion member holding portion that is provided at the movable end and holds the insertion member,
The insertion member is provided at a distal end that passes through the insertion member window and protrudes to the outer surface side of the stopper wall, and is inserted between the elements, and the insertion member holding A base portion that is held by a portion and slidable in a first direction in which the tip portion is inserted between the elements and can be locked, and the base portion relative to the insertion member holding portion. A gap portion formed between the insertion member holding portion when sliding in one direction,
The insertion member drive unit is configured to bias the insertion member in a second direction that eliminates the gap portion, and the insertion member drive unit moves the movable end portion to the original position. When the pressing force is released after pressing in the first direction, a return force is provided to return the movable end portion and the insertion member holding portion to their original positions.

  In the optical connector tool of the present invention, it is preferable that a plurality of insertion members are slidably provided on the insertion member holding portion in the optical connector tool.

  In the optical connector tool according to the present invention, in the optical connector tool, the insertion member holding portion includes an engagement hole corresponding to the insertion member, and a base portion of the insertion member is the engagement. It is preferable to have a slide part that is slidable through the hole part, and an engaging part that is provided at the rear end of the slide part and engages with the engaging hole part.

  The optical connector tool of the present invention is an identification for identifying the gap portion in the vicinity of a relative surface between the insertion member holding portion and the base portion of the insertion member forming the gap portion in the optical connector tool. It is preferable to provide a mark.

  In the optical connector tool of the present invention, in the optical connector tool, the gap portion is preferably colored for identification.

  An optical connector with an optical tool according to the present invention is provided on the outside of an optical connector provided with a clamp portion that clamps a pair of optical fibers that are butt-connected to each other by the elasticity of a spring between halved elements and maintains the connection state between optical fibers. The optical connector tool of the present invention described above is attached, and the distal end portion of the insertion member of the optical connector tool is inserted between the elements of the clamp portion, and the restoring force of the insertion member drive portion Therefore, it is possible to confirm that a gap is formed between the insertion member and the insertion member holding portion.

  As can be understood from the means for solving the above problems, according to the optical connector tool of the present invention, the optical connector is held in the connector holder portion, and then moved in the original position of the insertion member driving portion. The end portion is pressed, the insertion member held by the insertion member holding portion is moved, and the distal end portion of the insertion member is inserted between the pair of elements of the clamp portion of the optical connector. If the tip of the insertion member is inserted between the elements, when the pressing of the movable end is released, the insertion member drive unit returns to its original position by its own return force, Since the insertion member does not return, a gap portion can be formed between the insertion member holding portion and the base portion.

  On the other hand, when the distal end portion of the insertion member is not inserted between the elements, when the pressing of the movable end portion is released, the insertion member drive portion returns to the original position by its own return force, and the The insertion member is also restored by the biasing force in a direction to eliminate the gap portion, and the gap portion is eliminated.

  Thereby, the user of the tool for optical connectors can confirm reliably that the front-end | tip part of the said insertion member was inserted between the elements of a clamp part by visually confirming the said clearance gap part. As a result, the optical fibers can be reliably butt-connected between the elements, and in this state, the insertion member driving unit is arranged so as to increase the distance between the movable end of the insertion member driving unit and the connector holder unit. By operating, the insertion member of the insertion member holding part can be extracted from between the elements, and the optical fibers between the elements can be clamped and fixed by the clamp part. Therefore, since the incomplete extraction from between the elements of the insertion member is eliminated, the occurrence of poor connection of the optical fiber can be eliminated.

  According to the optical connector with a tool of the present invention, since the optical connector tool of the present invention is attached to the outside of the optical connector described above, there is a gap between the insertion member and the insertion member holding portion. By visually confirming that it is formed, it can be surely confirmed that the distal end portion of the insertion member of the optical connector tool is inserted between the elements of the clamp portion of the optical connector. This is the same as the effect of the optical connector tool described above.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 4, the optical connector 1 with a tool according to this embodiment has a configuration in which the optical connector tool 5 according to this embodiment is mounted on the outside of an optical connector 3 that is an optical connector plug. Is.

  The optical connector 3 in FIG. 1 is a so-called SC2 type optical connector, in which a knob attached to the outside of the plug frame 3C (see FIGS. 9 and 13) of the SC type optical connector is omitted from the SC type optical connector. It is. In addition, said SC type | mold optical connector (SC: Single fiber Coupling optical fiber Connector) means the F04 type optical connector (optical connector plug) etc. which are established by JISC5973. Further, the optical connector 3 is not limited to the SC2 type optical connector described above, and various types of optical connector plugs having a single core or multiple cores can be employed.

  Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the optical connector 3 houses a ferrule 3A, a clamp portion 3B disposed on the rear end side facing the joining end surface 3A1 of the front end surface of the ferrule 3A, and the ferrule 3A. Thus, the sleeve-like plug frame 3C, which is mounted on the outer side thereof while restricting the rotation of the ferrule 3A around the axis, is engaged with and attached to the rear end on the right side of the plug frame 3C in FIG. A stop ring 3D for accommodating 3B and a spring 3E provided in the stop ring 3D are provided.

  In the stop ring 3D, reference numerals 3D1, 3D2 denote insertion ports into which the insertion members 7 of the optical connector tool 5 shown in FIG. 1 are inserted, and reference numeral 3F denotes a rear end of the stop ring 3D. The boot | wear with which is mounted | worn is shown. However, when the optical fiber 9 is inserted into the clamp portion 3B from the rear end side on the right side in FIG. 10 of the optical connector 3, the boot 3F is passed through the optical fiber 9 in advance, and the optical fiber 9 to the clamp portion 3B is inserted. Is attached to the stop ring 3D.

  Said clamp part 3B is the structure by which the several member was assembled | attached to extension part 3A3 extended toward the rear end side of the optical connector 3 from the flange part 3A2 of ferrule 3A, and is integrated with ferrule 3A. Hereinafter, the ferrule 3A in which the clamp portion 3B is assembled may be referred to as a “ferrule 3G with a clamp portion”.

  The clamp part 3B of the ferrule 3G with the clamp part is housed in the stop ring 3D so as to be movable in the axial direction of the sleeve-like stop ring 3D. The spring 3E takes a reaction force at the rear end portion of the stop ring 3D and presses the clamp portion 3B toward the left end side of the optical connector 3 in FIG. It is biased toward the tip side. For example, when the optical connector 3 is inserted into an optical connector adapter (not shown) or the like and connected to another optical connector (not shown), the ferrule 3A has a function of giving a butt force between the optical connector on the other end of the connection. Is.

  The ferrule 3G with a clamp portion is directed toward the distal end side of the optical connector 3 against the urging force of the stop ring 3D when the flange portion 3A2 of the ferrule 3A abuts against a stopper projection 3C1 projecting in the plug frame 3C. Further movement, that is, relative movement with respect to the stop ring 3D is restricted.

  Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, the clamp portion 3B includes an extension portion 3A3 extending from the flange portion 3A2 of the ferrule 3A, and lid-side elements 3H1 and 3H2 disposed on the mating surface 3I3 of the extension portion 3A3. The structure is housed inside a sleeve-like spring 3J (C-shaped spring) having a C-shaped cross section. Note that FIG. 12 shows a mating surface between the two lid-side elements 3H1 and 3H2 and the base-side element 3H3 (extending portion 3A3) constituting the clamp portion 3B of the ferrule 3G with a clamp portion in FIG. .

  In addition, the above-described extension portion 3A3 constitutes one of the half-divided elements constituting the clamp portion 3B, and is hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “3H3”. Two lid-side elements 3H1 and 3H2 (the two together are referred to as “element 3H”) constitute the other of the half-divided elements constituting the clamp portion 3B. That is, the clamp part 3B has a structure for clamping the optical fiber between the pair of halved elements 3H and 3H3.

  The two lid-side elements 3H1, 3H2 are arranged in the front-rear direction of the optical connector 3, that is, in the left-right direction in FIG. 10, so that one element 3H1 is closer to the ferrule 3A than the other element 3H2. ing. The spring 3J has the elasticity of the spring 3J acting on the two lid-side elements 3H1 and 3H2 separately by the slit 3J1 formed in the spring 3J near the boundary between the two lid-side elements 3H1 and 3H2. It is configured as follows. In other words, the set of one lid side element 3H1 and the extending portion 3A3 and the set of the other lid side element 3H2 and the extending portion 3A3 can function as independent clamp portions. Various shapes of the spring 3J can be adopted such as a U-shaped cross section.

  The optical fiber 11 is inserted and fixed to the ferrule 3A. In this embodiment, the optical fiber 11 is a bare optical fiber, and is hereinafter also referred to as a “ferrule side optical fiber”. The ferrule side optical fiber 11 protrudes from the rear end of the ferrule 3A. The protruding portion 11A, which is a portion protruding from the rear end of the ferrule, is inserted between the pair of elements 3H and 3H3 of the clamp portion 3B, and one or both of the pair of elements 3H and 3H3 of the clamp portion 3B are combined. It is accommodated in the alignment groove 3K formed on the surface and is accurately positioned and aligned. In this embodiment, the alignment groove 3K is formed only on the mating surface 3I3 of the element 3H3 as shown in FIG.

  Further, grooves 3K1 and 3K2 are formed in the clamp portion 3B to guide the tip of the optical fiber 9 inserted between the pair of elements 3H and 3H3 from the rear end portion of the clamp portion 3B to the alignment groove 3K. . In this embodiment, the optical fiber 9 is a single-core optical fiber. The grooves 3K1 and 3K2 are formed on one or both mating surfaces of the pair of elements 3H and 3H3 of the clamp portion 3B at a position shifted to the rear end side of the clamp portion 3B from the alignment groove 3K. Further, the grooves 3K1, 3K2 have an opening 3K3 that opens at the rear end of the clamp 3B, and are formed to extend from the opening 3K3 toward the ferrule 3A.

  Further, the end of the grooves 3K1, 3K2 on the ferrule 3A side communicates with the aligning groove 3K. In the optical connector 3 of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, grooves 3K1 and 3K2 are formed on both the mating surface 3I3 of the element 3H3 and the mating surface 3I2 of the element 3H2. The grooves 3K1 and 3K2 are formed at positions just facing each other between the pair of elements 3H and 3H3, specifically, at positions just facing the elements 3H3 and 3H2.

  For example, when the insertion member 7 of the optical connector tool 5 is inserted between the elements 3H and 3H3, the gap between the pair of elements 3H and 3H3 of the clamp portion 3B is previously resisted against the elasticity of the spring 3J. When the tip of the optical fiber 9 exposed from the bare optical fiber 9A is inserted into the opening 3D3 at the rear end of the stop ring 3D, the optical fiber 9 is moved from the opening 3D3 to the rear of the clamp portion 3B. It can be inserted into the opening 3K3 opening at the end, that is, into the openings of the grooves 3K1 and 3K2.

  Furthermore, the optical fiber 9 is pushed into the grooves 3K1 and 3K2 from the opening 3K3 at the rear end of the clamp portion 3B by being pushed toward the ferrule 3A. By being pushed further in, the bare optical fiber 9A at the tip of the optical fiber 9 can be pushed into the alignment groove 3K from the grooves 3K1 and 3K2 and butt-connected to the ferrule side optical fiber 11.

  The ferrule side optical fiber 11 is housed in a range from the end of the aligning groove 3K on the ferrule 3A side to the center in the longitudinal direction, and the bare optical fiber 9A at the tip of the optical fiber 9 is aligned with the aligning groove 3K. Is inserted into the ferrule side optical fiber 11 (specifically, the tip of the protruding portion 11A) in a state where the tip of the bare optical fiber 9A is precisely positioned and aligned by the alignment accuracy of the alignment groove 3K. A butt connection is possible.

  Note that the optical fiber 9 extends over almost the entire length of the grooves 3K1 and 3K2 when the bare optical fiber 9A is abutted against the ferrule side optical fiber 11 in the alignment groove 3K by setting the lead length of the bare optical fiber 9A. The covering part is stored.

  As described above, when the spread between the pair of elements 3H and 3H3 is released with the bear in which the bare optical fiber 9A at the tip of the optical fiber 9 and the ferrule side optical fiber 11 are kept in contact with each other, for example, When the insertion member 7 inserted between 3H and 3H3 is pulled out between the elements 3H and 3H3, the elements 3H and 3H3 are opened by the elasticity of the spring 3J, and the ferrule side optical fiber 11 and the optical fiber 9 are paired. Are clamped between the elements 3H and 3H3.

  As a result, the butted state of the bare optical fiber 9A at the tip of the optical fiber 9 and the ferrule side optical fiber 11 is maintained. Further, the coated portion of the optical fiber 9 is clamped and fixed in the grooves 3K1 and 3K2, and the extraction of the optical fiber 9 from the clamp portion 3B is restricted. The grooves 3K1 and 3K2 constitute a covering housing groove for storing the covering portion of the optical fiber 9 and clamping by the elastic clamping force of the spring 3J.

  In addition, as the ferrule side optical fiber 11 mentioned above, the silica type optical fiber is employ | adopted, for example. Further, the optical fiber 9 described above is not limited to the optical fiber core wire, and for example, an optical fiber strand, an optical fiber cord, or the like can be adopted. As this another optical fiber (specifically, a bare optical fiber 9A), for example, a quartz optical fiber is employed.

  In addition, the alignment groove 3K described above is a V-groove as shown in FIG. 4 in this embodiment, but various configurations such as a U-groove and a round groove (groove having a semicircular cross section) are employed. Is possible.

  Next, the optical connector tool 5 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 6, an optical connector tool 5 includes a connector holder portion 13 assembled to the outside of the optical connector 3 and elements of the clamp portion 3B of the optical connector 3 assembled to the connector holder portion 13. An insertion member 7 having a distal end portion 7C that is inserted between the elements 3H and 3H3 so as to push the gap between 3H and 3H3 and maintain the optical fibers 9 and 11 in an insertable / removable manner; A ring-shaped insertion member in which the insertion member 7 is driven and the connector holder portion 13 is provided in a part in the circumferential direction in order to insert and remove the distal end portion 7C between the elements 3H and 3H3 of the clamp portion 3B. And a drive unit 15.

  In this embodiment, the insertion member 7 is provided with a plurality (two in this case) of the insertion member drive unit 15. The installation position of each insertion member 7 (7A, 7B) in the insertion member drive unit 15 is shifted in the axial direction of the ring-shaped insertion member drive unit 15.

  The connector holder part 13 will be described in detail. The connector holder part 13 is a part of a stopper wall part against which the optical connector 3 is pressed when the insertion member 7 is pulled out from the clamp part 3B of the optical connector 3. There is a bottom wall 13D, a pair of side walls 13B, 13C projecting from the bottom wall 13D toward the outside of the insertion member drive unit 15, and an accommodation recess 13A provided between the side walls 13B, 13C. It is formed in a U-shaped cross section. The accommodating recess 13A has a groove shape for accommodating the optical connector 3 in a removable manner. In addition, holding claws 13E and 13F for holding the optical connector 3 against the bottom wall 13D and holding the optical connector 3 are provided at the tips of the pair of side walls 13B and 13C.

  In addition, the connector holder portion 13 is a protruding wall-shaped connector cradle 13G that protrudes into the housing recess 13A from the bottom wall 13D in a form separated into left and right at the center in the extending direction of the groove-shaped housing recess 13A. , 13H. The connector receiving bases 13G and 13H are formed with concave connector fitting concave portions 13I for fitting the stop rings 3D of the optical connector 3 from both sides. The extending direction of the accommodation recess 13A is aligned so as to be along the central axis of the ring-shaped insertion member drive unit 15.

  Therefore, the side surfaces of the plug frame 3C of the optical connector 3 facing the bottom wall 13D are pressed against the pair of side walls 13B and 13C. Further, the optical connector 3 held in the housing recess 13A is pressed against the central axis of the insertion member drive unit 15 by the stop ring 3D being pressed from both sides by the connector fitting recesses 13I of the connector bases 13G and 13H. On the other hand, it is supported in a desired posture.

  The side walls 13B and 13C of the connector holder portion 13 and the connector receiving bases 13G and 13H are divided into two via the insertion member window portion 17 except for the portion connected by the bottom wall 13D. It is the structure by which the part 13E, 13F side is opened right and left.

  In the illustrated optical connector tool 5, the center axis of the clamp 3 </ b> B of the optical connector 3 fitted in the housing recess 13 </ b> A (the alignment axis of the alignment groove 3 </ b> K) and the center of the insertion member drive unit 15. The direction of the axis is aligned.

  Furthermore, depending on the structure of the optical connector 3, the portion of the optical connector 3 that fits into the housing recess 13A of the connector holder portion 13 is not necessarily limited to the plug frame 3C. A housing different from a so-called plug frame may be used. In this regard, the optical connector tool 5 can be applied to, for example, an optical connector having a structure not having a so-called plug frame, or an optical connector having a housing attached to the outside of the plug frame. The connector holder portion 13 may have any structure that can stably support the optical connector 3 without causing the optical connector 3 to rattle in a desired posture with respect to the central axis of the insertion member driving portion 15 and can be appropriately changed in design.

  Further, the positioning of the optical connector tool 5 in the axial direction of the optical connector 3 (the direction of the center axis of the clamp portion 3B and the alignment axis of the alignment groove 3K) is performed by the connector receiving base 13G on the rear end surface 3C2 of the plug frame 3C. The contact of 13H is not limited. In short, a protrusion or recess on the side of the optical connector 3 is brought into contact with the optical connector tool 5 to provide a positioning contact portion for realizing the positioning of the optical connector 3 in the axial direction. Preferably it is. As the positioning contact portion, various configurations other than the above-described connector receiving bases 13G and 13H can be adopted.

  The bottom wall 13D is divided into two through an insertion member window portion 17 through which the insertion member 7 passes and can protrude into the housing recess 13A. The other insertion member window portion 17 may be, for example, a small hole drilled in the bottom wall 13D configured to connect the both side walls 13B and 13C of the connector holder portion 13. It should be noted that the insertion member window portion 17 prevents movement of the insertion member 7 disposed through the insertion member window portion 17 even if the insertion member driving portion 15 is deformed as will be described later. There is nothing.

  Next, the insertion member driving unit 15 will be described in detail.

  The insertion member driving portion 15 includes a stopper wall portion 15A that forms a part of the bottom wall 13D of the connector holder portion 13, the above-described insertion member window portion 17 formed on the stopper wall portion 15A, A movable end portion 15B located on the opposite side of the stopper wall portion 15A via the ring-shaped inner space S of the insertion member driving portion 15 and the movable end portion 15B integrally project toward the inner space S side. And a pair of side portions 15C and 15D (hereinafter referred to as the insertion member holding portion 19 for holding the insertion member 7) and connecting the movable end portion 15B and the connector holder portion 13 to each other. , A connecting wall portion).

  The connecting wall portions 15C and 15D are substantially "<"-shaped including the plate-like connecting plate portions 15E facing each other, and each of the connecting wall portions 15C, 15D is bent in the shape of "<". The connecting plate portion 15E of the bent portion is movable with the connector holder portion 13 so that the connecting plate portion 15E of the bent portion protrudes on both sides in a direction in which the connecting plate portions 15E face each other, that is, between the connector holder portion 13 and the movable end portion 15B. The end 15B is connected. That is, the pair of connecting wall portions 15C and 15D protrude from the bottom wall 13D of the connector holder portion 13 in the opposite direction to the side walls 13B and 13C, and the protruding tips are respectively connected to the movable end portion 15B. Yes.

  The movable end portion 15B has a plate shape, and the projecting tips of the connecting wall portions 15C and 15D from the connector holder portion 13 are connected to opposite sides of the movable end portion 15B, and the movable end portion 15B has a pair of connecting walls. The parts 15C and 15D are supported so as to be substantially parallel to the plate-like bottom wall 13D of the connector holder part 13.

  Therefore, the insertion member drive unit 15 described above includes a bottom wall 13D of the connector holder unit 13 and constitutes a drive structure that is a substantially octagonal (or hexagonal) shaped sleeve.

  Here, specifically, the insertion member drive unit 15 has a substantially C-shape protruding from the connector holder unit 13 except for the insertion member holding unit 19. The “ring shape” indicating the shape of the member driving unit 15 refers to all shapes that bulge from the connector holder unit 13 such as a circle, an ellipse, a diamond, and a C-shape. Further, the driving structure constituted by the insertion member driving portion 15 and the connector holder portion 13 (specifically, the bottom wall 13D) also has a “ring shape” such as a circle, an ellipse, a rhombus, and a C shape. is there.

  However, the configuration of the insertion member drive unit 15 is formed so that both side portions (connection wall portions in this embodiment) that connect between the connector holder portion 13 and the movable end portion 15B protrude to both sides. The distance between the connector holder portion 13 and the movable end portion 15B is increased by bringing both side portions (connecting wall portions) closer to each other by pressing force (side pressure) from opposite sides, and the insertion member A configuration is adopted in which 7 is driven in a direction to reduce the projecting dimension (or cancel the projecting) to the accommodating recess 13A. Further, the shape of the insertion member driving unit 15 includes a sleeve shape.

  In addition, the insertion member drive part 15 in this embodiment is formed symmetrically about the insertion member 7 attached to the insertion member holding part 19 as shown in FIGS. However, it is not necessarily limited to being formed symmetrically about the insertion member 7.

  Next, the insertion member holding part 19 and the insertion member 7 held by the insertion member holding part 19 will be described in detail.

  5 and 6, in this embodiment, the insertion member holding portion 19 has an engagement hole portion 19A corresponding to the two insertion members 7A and 7B along the axis of the insertion member driving portion 15. It is shifted in the direction. As shown in FIG. 6A, a step-shaped slide locking portion 19B for locking the slide of the insertion member 7 is provided on the upper portion of the engagement hole portion 19A.

  On the other hand, each of the insertion members 7A and 7B is provided at a distal end protruding through the insertion member window portion 17 of the stopper wall portion 15A and projecting to the outer surface side of the stopper wall portion 15A, and the clamp portion 3B of the optical connector 3. 7C inserted between the pair of elements 3H and 3H3, and the tip 7C held by the insertion member holding part 19 and inserted in the first direction between the elements 3H and 3H3. A base portion 7D provided so as to be slidable and locked by a distance is provided. In addition, the base portion 7D of the insertion member 7 is provided with a slide portion 7E that is inserted into the engagement hole portion 19A of the insertion member holding portion 19, and the slide portion 7E is divided into two forks. At the rear end of the bifurcated shape, there is provided a locking projection 7F that is locked to the slide locking portion 19B of the engagement hole 19A.

  Note that the wedge-shaped tip portion 7C may have, for example, a sharp tip shape (tip portions 7C1 and 7A2) as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B. Further, the shape of the distal end portion 7C is not limited to the illustrated example. For example, when only taking out between the pair of elements 3H and 3H3 is considered, the insertion member 7 is inserted between the pair of elements 3H and 3H3 so that the pair of elements 3H and 3H3 is spring 3J. It is sufficient if it can be held by a bear that is slightly pushed open against the elasticity of. In this regard, the distal end portion 7C of the insertion member 7 may have another shape such as a simple plate shape or a pin shape.

  Further, the insertion member 7 mounted on the insertion member holding portion 19 is configured such that the base portion 7D of the insertion member 7 slides in the first direction relative to the insertion member holding portion 19. A gap portion 21 is formed between the insertion member holding portion 19 and the base portion 7D when the locking projection 7F is locked to the slide locking portion 19B of the engagement hole portion 19A. ing.

  Further, the insertion member 7 is biased in the second direction in which the gap 21 is eliminated at the original position of the insertion member drive unit 15. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a contact protrusion 7 </ b> G protrudes from the side surface of the base 7 </ b> D of the insertion member 7, and the stopper wall portion of the insertion member drive unit 15. 15A (bottom portion 13D) is engaged with the contact protrusion 7G so that a gap portion 21 does not occur between the insertion member holding portion 19 and the base portion 7D of the insertion member driving portion 15 in the original position. An elastic piece 23 that constantly urges the insertion member 7 in the direction of the insertion member holding portion 19 and has an urging force is projected.

  In addition, the insertion member drive unit 15 is configured to move the movable end 15B after pressing the movable end 15B from the original position in a direction in which the distal end portion 7C of the insertion member 7 is inserted between the elements 3H and 3H3. When the pressing force to the portion 15B is released, a return force is provided to return the movable end portion 15B and the insertion member holding portion 19 to the original positions.

  Note that, as another embodiment of the structure for eliminating the gap portion 21 described above, instead of the elastic piece 23 described above, for example, as shown in FIGS. A spring mounting hole 25 is provided in a stepped slide locking portion 19B of the portion 19A, and the spring mounting hole 25 is mounted between the spring mounting hole 25 and the locking projection 7F of the interposing member 7, and the above-mentioned engagement. An elastic member such as a spring 27 that constantly biases the insertion member 7 in the second direction via the stopping protrusion 7F may be provided. Or although not shown in figure, the insertion member 7 is provided between the 1st hook part provided in the lower surface of the insertion member drive part 15, and the 2nd hook part provided in the side of base 7D of the insertion member 7. A tension spring that is always urged in the second direction may be provided.

Here, the optical connector tool 5 is a single part integrally formed of synthetic resin, with the insertion member drive unit 15 including the connector holder unit 13. However, in this invention, it is not limited to this, For example, even if it formed by multiple components, such as what attached the insertion member drive part 15 and the separate connector holder part 13 to this I do not care. Further, the insertion member drive unit 15 itself and the connector holder unit 13 itself are not limited to those formed by one component, but may be assembled by a plurality of components.

  Next, the operation of the optical connector 1 with tool and the optical connector tool 5 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  As described above, the optical connector 1 with a tool has a configuration in which the optical connector tool 5 is attached to the outside of the optical connector 3. That is, in the optical connector 1 with a tool, the optical connector 3 is accommodated in the accommodation recess 13A of the optical connector tool 5, and the insertion member 7 is further inserted between the elements 3H and 3H3 of the clamp portion 3B. Thus, the optical connector 3 is assembled and shipped, and constitutes a part of the so-called optical connector 1 with a tool.

  Therefore, an operation when an optical fiber is connected to the optical connector 3 after the optical connector tool 5 is mounted outside the optical connector 3 will be described.

  Referring to FIG. 8A, the side walls 13B and 13C of the connector holder part 13 and the connector receiving bases 13G and 13H are opened to the left and right. The stop ring 3D of the optical connector 3 is pressed from both sides by the connector fitting recesses 13I of the connector receptacles 13G and 13H so that the plug frame 3C of the optical connector 3 is received in the opened receiving recess 13A. By closing the side walls 13B and 13C and the connector cradles 13G and 13H, the optical connector 3 is further pressed against the stopper wall 15A of the bottom wall 13D by the holding claws 13E and 13F. Is mounted so as to be supported in a desired posture with respect to the central axis of the insertion member driving unit 15.

  At this time, the insertion member drive unit 15 is in the original position, and the insertion member 7 is in contact with the base 7D of the insertion member 7 by the urging force of the elastic piece 23 as shown in FIG. Since it is pressed against the insertion member holding part 19 via the protrusion 7G, no gap 21 is formed between the insertion member holding part 19 and the base part 7D.

  Next, when the movable end 15B at the original position of the insertion member drive unit 15 is pressed in the first direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. When the insertion member 7 held by the insertion member holding portion 19 is moved downward in FIG. 6A due to the deformation, the elastic piece 23 is a contact protrusion provided on the base portion 7D of the insertion member 7. 7G is pressed downward and elastically deformed. As indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6 (A), the distal end portion 7C of the insertion member 7 is moved by the further movement of the insertion member 7, as shown in FIG. 8 (B). It is inserted between the elements 3H and 3H3. At this time, the elastic piece 23 is engaged with the contact protrusion 7G as shown in FIG. 6B.

  When the distal end portion 7C of the insertion member 7 is inserted between the elements 3H and 3H3, when the pressing of the movable end portion 15B is released, the insertion member driving portion 15 is caused by its own restoring force. Although it returns to the original position, since the insertion member 7 remains as it is, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 8C, the insertion member holding portion 19 and the base portion 7D are interposed. Thus, the gap 21 is formed.

  However, although the movable end 15B at the original position of the insertion member driving unit 15 is pressed, the distal end portion 7C of the insertion member 7 is not connected to the elements 3H, 3H3 for some reason, for example, it cannot be fully pressed. If the movable end 15B is not pressed, the insertion member drive unit 15 returns to the original position by its own return force, and the insertion member 7 also has the elastic piece 23. The gap 21 is lifted in the second direction by the urging force, and the gap 21 to be generated between the insertion member holding portion 19 and the base portion 7D is eliminated as shown in FIGS. 6 (A) and 8 (A). Will be.

  Therefore, when the gap portion 21 is formed, the user of the optical connector tool 5 visually confirms that the gap portion 21 is generated, so that the distal end portion 7C of the insertion member 7 is It can be confirmed with certainty that it has been inserted between the elements 3H and 3H3 of the clamp part 3B. On the other hand, when the gap portion 21 is not formed, the movable end portion 15B at the original position of the insertion member driving portion 15 is pressed again so that the distal end portion 7C of the insertion member 7 becomes the elements 3H, 3H3. The presence or absence of the gap 21 can be visually confirmed as to whether or not it has been inserted between.

  After confirming that the gap 21 has been formed as described above, as shown in FIG. 10, stop the tip of the optical fiber 9 where the bare optical fiber 9A is exposed as shown in FIG. By inserting the optical fiber 9 into the ferrule 3A side by inserting it into the opening 3D3 at the rear end of the ring 3D, the bare optical fiber 9A at the tip of the optical fiber 9 is pushed into the alignment groove 3K from the grooves 3K1, 3K2. Therefore, the ferrule side optical fiber 11 can be butt-connected with certainty.

  In this state, the optical connector tool 5 is detached from the optical connector 3. This detachment operation may be performed by removing the optical connector 3 from the housing recess 13A between the side walls 13B and 13C of the optical connector tool 5.

  That is, the insertion member drive part 15 is shown by the arrow in FIG. 8D with respect to the connecting wall parts 15C and 15D on both sides located between the movable end part 15B and the connector holder part 13. When the pressing wall (side pressure) is applied from both sides facing each other to bring the connecting wall portions 15C and 15D closer to each other, the movable end portion 15B and the connector holder portion are deformed by the deformation of the insertion member driving portion 15 as a whole. The distance to 13 increases. As a result, the insertion member 7 moves in a direction that reduces the amount of protrusion from the bottom wall 13D into the housing recess 13A (or eliminates the protrusion from the bottom wall 13D). As shown in FIG. 8B and FIG. 8D, the locking projection 7F of the slide portion 7E of the insertion member 7 is connected to the slide locking portion 19B of the engagement hole portion 19A of the insertion member holding portion 19. The insertion member 7 is pulled out from between the elements 3H and 3H3 by being locked.

  At this time, when the insertion member 7 is extracted from between the elements 3H and 3H3, the gap portion 21 is eliminated by instantaneously lifting in the second direction by the urging force of the elastic piece 23. Become. That is, it can be confirmed that the insertion member 7 is completely cut out between the elements 3H and 3H3.

  In the case of the structure that eliminates the gap portion 21 as shown in FIG. 7, when the insertion member 7 is extracted from between the elements 3H and 3H3, the insertion member is urged by the urging force of the elastic member such as the spring 27. 7 is instantaneously lifted in the second direction to eliminate the gap 21.

  The bottom wall 13D functions as a stopper wall portion 15A that restricts the optical connector 3 from moving together with the insertion member 7, so that the insertion member 7 can be smoothly pulled out between the elements 3H and 3H3. realizable.

  When the detaching operation for extracting the insertion member 7 from between the pair of elements 3H and 3H3 is completed as described above, the optical fibers 9 and 11 are sandwiched between the pair of elements 3H and 3H3 by the elasticity of the spring 3J. The clamp is fixed. Thereby, the connection state of optical fibers 9 and 11 is maintained stably. As a result, the optical connector 3 is assembled at the tip of the optical fiber 9.

  As described above, when the user of the optical connector tool 5 visually confirms the presence or absence of the gap portion 21, the distal end portion 7C of the insertion member 7 is inserted between the elements 3H and 3H3, and It can be surely confirmed that the distal end portion 7C of the insertion member 7 has been completely removed from between the elements 3H and 3H3. Therefore, incomplete extraction from between the elements 3H and 3H3 of the interposing member 7 is eliminated, so that the occurrence of poor connection between the optical fibers 9 and 11 can be eliminated.

  Further, the optical connector tool 5 according to the embodiment of the present invention is supplied to the site or the like alone, that is, in a state separated from the optical connector 3, and is assembled to the optical connector 3 as necessary, to the tip of the optical fiber. It is also possible to use this for assembling the optical connector 3. Alternatively, the optical connector tool 5 can be used for an operation of assembling an optical connector already assembled at the tip of the optical fiber and detaching the optical connector from the optical fiber. That is, it also functions as an opening member.

  Further, in the vicinity of the relative surface 7H between the insertion member holding part 19 forming the gap part 21 and the base part 7D of each insertion member 7, for example, the gap part 21 is shown in FIG. As shown, an identification mark 29 such as an arrow can be provided. Thereby, the presence or absence of the gap 21 can be easily identified.

  Or the coloring part 31 for identification can also be attached | subjected to the gap part 21 mentioned above, for example in the part used as the gap part 21 of the slide part 7E of the insertion member 7 as FIG. Thereby, the presence or absence of the gap 21 can be easily identified.

It is a perspective view which shows the tool for optical connectors and the optical connector with a tool of embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the tool for optical connectors of FIG. It is a front view which shows the tool for optical connectors of FIG. It is a front view which shows the optical connector with a tool of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the insertion member 7 of the tool for optical connectors of FIG. (A), (B) is side sectional drawing which shows the relationship between the insertion member of the tool for optical connectors of FIG. 1, and the insertion member holding | maintenance part of an insertion member drive part. (A), (B) is side part sectional drawing of the structure of other embodiment which replaces FIG. (A)-(D) are the states in which the insertion member drive part is deformed and the insertion member is inserted into and removed from the optical connector when the insertion member drive part of the optical connector with tool of FIG. 1 is pressurized. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows. It is a disassembled perspective view of the optical connector (optical connector plug) of FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the optical connector (optical connector plug) of FIG. 9. It is a perspective view which shows the ferrule with a clamp part incorporated in the optical connector of FIG. It is a figure which shows the mating surface of each element which comprises the clamp part of the ferrule with a clamp part of FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the optical connector of FIG. 9. (A), (B) is a side view which shows another aspect of the front-end | tip shape of an insertion member.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical connector with tool 3 Optical connector 3A Ferrule 3B Clamp part 3C Plug frame 3G Ferrule 3H with clamp part Element 3H1, 3H2 Cover side element (element 3H)
3H3 Base side element (corresponds to extension 3A3)
3J Spring 5 Optical connector tool 7, 7A, 7B Insertion member 7C, 7C1, 7C2 Tip 7D Base 7E Slide 7F Locking protrusion 7G Contact protrusion 7H Relative surface 9 Optical fiber (on ferrule side)
9A Bare optical fiber 11 Optical fiber 13 Connector holder part 13A Housing recess 13B, 13C Side wall 13D Bottom wall 13E, 13F Holding claw part 15 Insertion member drive part 15A Stopper wall part 15B Movable end part 15C, 15D Side part 15E Connecting plate Portion 17 Window for insertion member 19 Insertion member holding portion 21 Gap 23 Elastic piece 25 Spring mounting hole 27 Spring 29 Identification mark 31 Colored portion

Claims (6)

A connector holder portion that holds an optical connector having a clamp portion that clamps a pair of butt-connected optical fibers between the halved elements by the elasticity of a spring to maintain the connection state between the optical fibers, and the connector holder portion An insertion member that pushes between the elements of the optical connector held by the optical connector to interrupt the optical fiber so that the optical fiber can be inserted and removed, and the insertion member between the elements of the clamp portion. In an optical connector tool comprising: a ring-shaped insertion member driving portion in which the connector holder portion is provided in a part in the circumferential direction while driving the insertion member to be inserted and removed;
The insertion member driving part forms a part of the connector holder part, and is formed on the stopper wall part and the stopper wall part against which the optical connector is pressed when the insertion member is pulled out from the clamp part of the optical connector. And an insertion member window portion that can pass through the insertion member, and a movable end portion that is located on the opposite side of the stopper wall portion via a ring-shaped internal space of the insertion member drive portion. An insertion member holding portion that is provided at the movable end and holds the insertion member,
The insertion member is provided at a distal end that passes through the insertion member window and protrudes to the outer surface side of the stopper wall, and is inserted between the elements, and the insertion member holding A base portion that is held by a portion and slidable in a first direction in which the tip portion is inserted between the elements and can be locked, and the base portion relative to the insertion member holding portion. A gap portion formed between the insertion member holding portion when sliding in one direction,
The insertion member drive unit is configured to bias the insertion member in a second direction that eliminates the gap portion, and the insertion member drive unit moves the movable end portion to the original position. An optical connector tool comprising: a return force for returning the movable end portion and the insertion member holding portion to their original positions when the pressing force is released after being pressed in the first direction.   The optical connector tool according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of insertion members are slidably provided on the insertion member holding portion.   The insertion member holding portion has an engagement hole portion corresponding to the insertion member, and a slide portion in which a base portion of the insertion member can be inserted and slid through the engagement hole portion, and a rear portion of the slide portion The optical connector tool according to claim 1, further comprising: a locking portion that is provided at an end and locks into the engagement hole portion.   The identification mark which identifies the said clearance gap part is provided in the vicinity of the relative surface of the insertion member holding | maintenance part which forms the said clearance gap part, and the base part of the insertion member, The Claim 1, 2, or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Optical connector tool.   The optical connector tool according to claim 1, wherein the gap is colored for identification. Claims 1, 2, 3, and 4 outside the optical connector having a clamp portion that clamps a pair of butt-connected optical fibers between the halved elements by the elasticity of a spring to maintain a connection state between the optical fibers. Or the optical connector tool according to 5 is attached, and the tip of the insertion member of the optical connector tool is inserted between the elements of the clamp portion, and the return force of the insertion member drive portion An optical connector with a tool, characterized in that it can be confirmed that a gap is formed between the insertion member and the insertion member holding portion.

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