JP2008225133A - Adapter for optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save space, to achieve a decrease in number of component and improvement in assembly performance, to secure sufficient energizing force needed to completely seal an engagement end of a connector housing from inside, and to prevent mechanical damage when an optical connector is inserted into the engagement end. <P>SOLUTION: The connector housing has, at both ends, an engagement portion A for an optical connector P and an engagement portion B for the optical connector P and other optical components so that optical axes are aligned with each other, a shutter plate 11 which closes the engagement portion A at an oblique position and a leaf spring 18 energizing the shutter plate 11 in a closing direction are arranged, and the optical connector p is engaged with the engagement portion A to open the shutter plate 11 against the pressing force of the leaf spring 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector adapter used for optically connecting two optical fibers to each other, having fitting portions of optical connector parts at both ends.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, adapters for optical connectors are provided with fitting ends that fit with optical connectors at both ends of the housing, and the optical axes of the optical connectors that are fitted into both fitting ends are made to coincide with each other. . At this time, in a state where the optical connector is not inserted into one fitting end, when the optical component related to the optical connector connected to the other fitting end is in an operating state, 5 mW to the one fitting end. When the harmful laser beam described above is guided and the optical fiber connector is inserted into the fitting end, there is a risk of serious harm to the worker's body, particularly the eyes.

  In order to avoid such a risk, conventionally, a plastic shutter plate as shown in Patent Document 1 is urged by a rotating shaft and a coil spring in a direction to close the fitting end from the inside.

  In other words, this is to connect the laser beam emitting side optical connector plug and the incident side optical connector plug, which are provided with a ferrule provided with an optical fiber to be connected to the axis at the tip, along the optical axis. And a housing for fitting both optical connector plugs opposite to each other. The housing is integrally provided with a plurality of optical connector plug fitting holes provided in the plug frame at one end in the optical axis direction. One end is pivotally attached to the opening edge of the plug frame fitting hole so that the shutter can be opened inward and can be held closed in an inclined state. And the shutter is configured to be pushed open at the end of the plug frame.

Then, when a plurality of optical connector plugs are fitted in the plug fitting holes of the plug frame and the plug frame is pushed into the plug frame fitting holes of the housing, the projecting portion provided at the tip of the plug frame becomes the shutter. At the end, the shutter is pivotally opened into the plug frame fitting hole against the closing force of the spring. At this time, a coil spring is wound around the support shaft of the shutter plate that can be opened and closed via a support shaft at the lower end of the opening of the plug frame fitting hole, and the coil spring winding portion of the support shaft is exposed. The left and right sides of the lower end of the are open.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-267887

  However, in the conventional technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the fitting end of a plastic shutter plate is closed by the urging force of the rotating shaft and the coil spring, the fitting end becomes larger by the amount of space for accommodating the coil spring. In addition, the assembly performance is inferior. Moreover, in the conventional coil spring, there is a problem that a sufficient urging force necessary for completely sealing the fitting end from the inside cannot be secured.

  Furthermore, since the lower end left and right sides of the shutter plate that can be opened and closed via the support shaft are opened at the lower end of the opening portion of the plug frame fitting hole, the support shaft around which the coil spring is wound is exposed, There is a problem that there is a concern that foreign matter, dust, or the like may enter the plug frame from this opening, resulting in poor connection or the like.

  Therefore, the present invention has been devised in view of the conventional circumstances as described above, and it is possible to save space for an adapter with a shutter, while reducing the number of parts and improving the assembly performance, the connector housing Sufficient energizing force necessary to completely seal the mating end from the inside can be secured, and foreign matter intrusion into the mating end and defective connection due to this can be reliably eliminated. To provide an adapter for an optical connector that has excellent resistance even when heated with strong light of a laser beam and can prevent mechanical damage when inserting the fitting end of the optical connector. Objective.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention includes an optical connector fitting portion and optical connector and other optical component fitting portions so that the optical axes coincide with each other at both ends of the connector housing. In the optical connector adapter, a shutter plate that closes the fitting portion in an oblique arrangement and a leaf spring that biases the shutter plate in the closing direction are disposed at the fitting portion of the optical connector of the connector housing. The shutter plate is opened against the pressing force of the leaf spring by fitting an optical connector to the fitting portion of the connector housing.

  The shutter plate is integrally provided with a support shaft at the lower end thereof, and projecting portions provided at both ends of the support shaft are rotatably supported on the lower portion of the optical connector fitting portion of the connector housing.

  The shutter plate is provided with a guide member for guiding the optical connector fitted to the fitting portion of the connector housing above the outer surface and holding the shutter plate in a horizontal position.

  The leaf spring is bent into a substantially L shape, pressed against the inside of the fitting portion of the shutter plate and the connector housing, and outside the center of the support shaft through an opening provided at the center of the lower end of the shutter plate. The shutter plate is fitted to urge the shutter plate in the closing direction.

  When the shutter spring is brought into pressure contact with the inside of the fitting portion of the connector housing, one end of the leaf spring is arranged to extend to the optical axis.

  The shutter plate covers substantially the entire fitting portion of the connector housing when closed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to save the space for the adapter with the shutter, improve the assembly performance, and ensure a sufficient urging force necessary to completely seal the fitting portion of the connector housing from the inside. In addition, it is possible to reliably eliminate the intrusion of foreign matter inside the fitting portion and the resulting poor connection, etc., and it has excellent resistance even when heated by the strong light of the laser beam, and the fitting of the optical connector Mechanical damage during insertion of the joint can also be prevented.

  That is, the present invention provides a shutter plate that closes the fitting portion in an oblique arrangement and a leaf spring that biases the shutter plate in the closing direction at the fitting portion of the optical connector of the connector housing, Because the shutter plate is opened against the pressing force of the leaf spring by fitting the optical connector to the fitting part of the connector housing, it is possible to save space for the adapter with shutter, and assembly performance Will also improve. In particular, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembling performance can be improved as compared with the method of obtaining the same function with the coil spring and the rotating shaft in the existing product. In addition, since the shutter plate is arranged obliquely and closes the fitting portion, it is possible to avoid the contact of the ferrule core portion of the optical connector to be inserted with the shutter plate surface, thereby contaminating the optical connector end surface and reducing the performance. Can be prevented beforehand.

  The shutter plate integrally has a support shaft at its lower end, and the protrusions provided at both ends of the support shaft are rotatably supported by the lower portion of the optical connector fitting portion of the connector housing. The position of the support shaft of the shutter plate, which is determined by avoiding obstacles such as the engagement piece of the split sleeve on the opening / closing track of the shutter plate, for example, can be optimized, so that the total length of the adapter can be optimized. In addition, it is possible to save space for the adapter with a shutter and to improve the assembly performance.

  Since the shutter plate is provided with a guide member for holding the shutter plate in a horizontal position while guiding the optical connector fitted to the fitting portion of the connector housing above the outer surface thereof, the fitting portion of the optical connector is inserted. The optical connector itself can be smoothly inserted and inserted while preventing mechanical damage at the time.

  The leaf spring is bent into a substantially L shape, pressed against the inside of the fitting portion of the shutter plate and the connector housing, and outside the center of the support shaft through an opening provided at the center of the lower end of the shutter plate. Since the shutter plate is urged in the closing direction by fitting, it is possible to save space for the adapter with the shutter, and the assembly performance is improved. Defects can be eliminated.

  The leaf spring is configured such that when the shutter plate is brought into pressure contact with the inside of the fitting portion of the connector housing, one end of the leaf spring is extended and disposed on the optical axis. Moreover, since the leaf spring itself is made of metal, the resistance can be maintained even when heat is applied with light of strong energy.

  Since the shutter plate covers almost the entire fitting portion of the connector housing when closed, it is possible to reliably eliminate entry of foreign matter or dust into the fitting portion inside the connector housing and poor connection due to this. it can.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the adapter 1 for an optical connector according to the present invention is provided at both ends of a rectangular tubular connector housing 2 made of a synthetic resin molded product so that two optical connectors P can be connected to each other. The optical connector P includes one fitting portion A and the optical connector P and the other fitting portion B of other optical components so that the optical axes coincide with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 1 or 3, the connector housing 2 is formed by integrally forming an upper side wall 3a and left and right side walls 3c, and a bottom wall 3b is attached between the left and right side walls 3c so as to face the upper side wall 3a. It has been. In the center, a pair of left and right joining end wall members 3d having a substantially U-shaped frame shape is disposed, and the fitting end 3e in one fitting portion A is opened obliquely upward. Moreover, the connection end 3f in the other fitting part B is opened in the horizontal direction.

  1, 2, and 4, a straight groove along the optical axis direction is provided in the center of the inner side of the upper side wall 3 a in one fitting portion A for guiding when the optical connector P is inserted. A key groove 12 which is a strip is formed. Then, when a shutter plate 11 to be described later is disposed obliquely and the fitting end 3e of the fitting portion A is closed, a protrusion projecting from the center of the upper end of the shutter plate 11 in order to prevent dust from entering from the outside. The key groove 12 is sealed from the inside by the portion 13. That is, in a state where the fitting end 3e of the fitting portion A is closed from the inside by the shutter plate 11, the key groove 12 and the convex portion 13, and the upper wall 3a of the connector housing 2 and the upper edge of the shutter plate 11 are in contact with each other. By doing so, the shutter plate 11 reliably locks the fitting end 3e. A guide groove 14 is formed in the upper side wall 3a of the other fitting portion B from the connection end 3f toward the inside.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, one cylinder 5a protrudes toward the fitting end 3e on one of the pair of left and right joining end wall members 3d arranged at the center of the connector housing 2. At the same time, the other joining end wall member 3d is formed with the other cylinder 5b toward the connection end 3f, and the cylinders 5a and 5b are aligned with the central axis on the optical axis to join the joining end wall members 3d. The sleeve holder 5 is formed by engaging and fixing these via the fitting claws 4. At this time, a cylindrical split sleeve 6 is mounted and held inside the sleeve holder 5. In addition, latch pieces 7 and 8 for the optical connector P are formed between the respective cylinders 5a and 5b and the side walls 3c at the left and right symmetrical positions of the joint end wall members 3d.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the fitting end 3 e that is an oblique opening in one fitting portion A is closed in the same oblique arrangement as the fitting end 3 e. A shutter plate 11 is provided so as to be openable and closable inside. That is, the shutter plate 11 has a support shaft 15 integrally projecting at the lower left and right symmetrical positions thereof, and the protrusions 15a provided at both ends of the support shaft 15 are connected to the bottom wall 3b at the left and right facing positions below the fitting end 3e, The shaft hole 16 formed so as to straddle the left and right side walls 3c is rotatably supported.

  A rectangular opening 17 is formed at the approximate center where the lower end of the shutter plate 11 and the support shaft 15 are connected, and the opening 17 is bent into an approximately L shape. The plate spring 18 is externally fitted to the center of the support shaft 15, one end of the plate spring 18 is pressed against the bottom wall 3 b, and the other end is pressed against the inner surface of the shutter plate 11, thereby closing the shutter plate 11 in the closing direction. Energized.

  At this time, the convex portion 13 protruding from the center of the upper end of the shutter plate 11 is hermetically locked to the key groove 12 provided on the upper side wall 3a of the connector housing 2. The opening 17 is always closed by the elastic force of the leaf spring 18. Accordingly, dust or the like does not enter the connector housing 2 from the opening 17. The leaf spring 18 is arranged so that one end of the leaf spring 18 extends to the optical axis when the shutter plate 11 is brought into pressure contact with the inside of the fitting end 3e in one fitting portion A of the connector housing 2. It is long enough.

  Thus, the shutter plate 11 is opened against the pressing force of the leaf spring 18 by fitting the optical connector P into one fitting portion A of the connector housing 2.

  Further, a guide member 21 having an inclined guide 20 is attached to the protrusion 19 at a symmetrical position above the outer surface of the shutter plate 11, and an optical connector that fits into one fitting portion A of the connector housing 2. While guiding P, the shutter plate 11 is held in a horizontal position.

Next, an example of assembly, use, and operation of the best mode configured as described above will be described.
When assembling the optical connector adapter 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the cylinders 5a and 5b are mounted on the optical axis with the split sleeve 6 mounted between the cylinders 5a and 5b forming the sleeve holder 5. The joint end wall members 3d are engaged and fixed through the fitting claws 4 with the central axes aligned. The sleeve holder 5 is assembled on the bottom wall 3 b of the connector housing 2.

  At the same time, after the leaf spring 18 is fitted to the center of the support shaft 15 through the opening 17 of the shutter plate 11, the protrusions 15a at both ends of the support shaft 15 of the shutter plate 11 are connected to the shaft hole of the bottom wall 3b. 16, the upper side wall 3 a and the left and right side walls 3 c that are integrated with each other are incorporated on the bottom wall 3 b.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, one end of the leaf spring 18 is pressed against the bottom wall 3 b and the other end is pressed against the inner surface of the shutter plate 11. The fitting end 3e, which is an oblique opening in A, is urged in a state of substantially the same inclination in the closing direction.

  Next, when the optical connector adapter 1 is used, first, as shown in FIG. 5A, before the optical connector P is fitted to one fitting portion A of the connector housing 2, the shutter plate 11 is The leaf spring 18 closes the fitting end 3e in one fitting portion A.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the shutter plate 11 is pushed by the optical connector P, and the shutter plate 11 tilts inside the fitting end 3 e against the elastic force of the plate spring 18.

  As shown in FIG. 5C, when the optical connector P is further pushed in, the shutter plate 11 is in a horizontal state, and the optical connector P is connected to the inclined guide 20 in the projection 19 of the guide member 21 formed above the outer surface. Move while being guided.

  As shown in FIG. 5D, when the optical connector P is completely pushed in, the elastic force of the leaf spring 18 causes the protrusion 19 of the guide member 21 and the upper side wall 3a of the connector housing 2 to move. In this state, the optical connector P is firmly sandwiched between them, and the connection is completed.

It is a disassembled perspective view of the adapter with a shutter in the best mode for carrying out the present invention. It is a perspective view of an adapter with a shutter similarly. Similarly, an adapter with a shutter is shown, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view, and (c) is a front view. It is a center longitudinal section of an adapter with a shutter similarly. Similarly, the process of inserting an optical connector into an adapter with a shutter will be described. (A) is a central longitudinal cross-sectional view of the state before insertion, and (b) is the center of the state where the shutter plate is tilted by insertion. (C) is a central longitudinal cross-sectional view in a state of being inserted while being guided by a guide projection of the shutter plate, and (d) is a central longitudinal cross-sectional view in a state after insertion.

Explanation of symbols

P optical connectors A and B fitting portion 1 optical connector adapter 2 connector housing 3a upper side wall 3b bottom wall 3c left and right side walls 3d joint end wall member 3e fitting end 3f connection end 5a, 5b cylinder 5 sleeve holder 6 split sleeve 7 , 8 Latch piece 11 Shutter plate 12 Key groove 13 Protruding portion 14 Guide groove 15 Support shaft 15a Protruding portion 16 Shaft hole 17 Opening portion 18 Plate spring 19 Protruding portion 20 Inclined guide 21 Guide member

Claims (6)

  An optical connector adapter having a fitting portion of an optical connector and a fitting portion of an optical connector or other optical component so that the optical axes coincide with each other at both ends of the connector housing. A shutter plate that closes the fitting portion in an oblique arrangement and a leaf spring that biases the shutter plate in the closing direction are disposed in the joint portion, and the optical connector is fitted to the fitting portion of the connector housing. Thus, the adapter for an optical connector is configured to open the shutter plate against the pressing force of the leaf spring.   2. The shutter plate has a support shaft integrally formed at a lower end thereof, and a protrusion provided at both ends of the support shaft is rotatably supported by a lower portion of the fitting portion of the optical connector of the connector housing. Adapter for optical connectors.   3. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the shutter plate is provided with a guide member for guiding the optical connector fitted to the fitting portion of the connector housing above the outer surface and holding the shutter plate in a horizontal position. Adapter.   The leaf spring is bent into a substantially L shape, pressed against the inside of the fitting portion of the shutter plate and the connector housing, and outside the center of the support shaft through an opening provided at the center of the lower end of the shutter plate. 4. The adapter for an optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the adapter is fitted to urge the shutter plate in the closing direction.   5. The leaf spring according to claim 1, wherein when the shutter plate is brought into pressure contact with the inside of the fitting portion of the connector housing, one end of the leaf spring extends to the optical axis. Adapter for optical connectors.   The optical connector adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the shutter plate covers substantially the entire fitting portion of the connector housing when closed.

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