JP2008292836A - Spacer component for optical connector and optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a spacer component for an optical connector which can make joining pressure uniform on a joint end surface of an optical connector ferrule and prevent connection loss between optical fibers at part of the joint end surface from increasing even when an area where optical fibers are present on the joint end surface expands as the optical connector includes more fiber units. <P>SOLUTION: A spacer component body 13 has, on an end surface 14 on the side of a coil spring 11, a cradle portion 15 that abuts against an end portion 25 of the coil spring 11 over nearly the entire circumference and an engagement projection portion (17), which engages an inner side of the coil spring 11, in a projection state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector spacer part and an optical connector.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an optical connector (for example, as defined in JIS C 5982) is provided with a guide pin for relative positioning so that ferrules can be butted and connected to each other. MPO type optical connectors and the like are known. The optical connector spacer part also receives the urging force of a coil spring built in the MPO type optical connector or the like and transmits it to the optical connector ferrule side.

  As such an optical connector spacer part, there is provided a spring housing recess that is interposed between one optical connector ferrule to be butt-connected and a coil spring and engages with an end of the coil spring on the optical connector ferrule side. Is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1). Similarly to Patent Document 1, it has a recess that accommodates the end of the spring, and a connecting pin that is inserted and fitted into the guide pin hole of the female optical connector ferrule is provided on the end surface on the female optical connector ferrule side. Have been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

According to the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the spring housing recess provided in the pin clamp prevents the relative displacement between the pin clamp and the coil spring, and stabilizes the biasing force that acts on the pin clamp from the coil spring. Can do. Further, according to Patent Document 2, the installation of the spacer component relative to the optical component can be improved by inserting and fitting the connecting pin into the guide pin hole of the female optical connector ferrule. Thereby, the connection of an optical connector can be stabilized at the time of butt joining of optical connector ferrules.
JP-A-10-319275 JP 2002-258105 A

  However, in the conventional spacer component for an optical connector, there is a problem that it is difficult to equalize the bonding pressure on the bonding end surface of the optical ferrule as the number of optical connectors increases. In the case of a small-core optical connector with a small number of optical fibers, the end faces of the optical fibers are integrated in a relatively small area within the joining end face of the optical connector ferrule. For this reason, the influence which the bias of the joining pressure in a joining end surface has on connection loss was small.

  However, as the number of optical connectors is increased, the region where the optical fiber is present in the joining end surface is expanded. Therefore, the influence of the uneven bonding pressure on the bonding end surface on the connection loss increases. When the bonding pressure is biased at the bonding end face, there is a problem that the connection loss of some optical fibers in the bonding end face increases.

  Therefore, the present invention makes the bonding pressure at the bonding end surface of the optical connector ferrule uniform, even in the case where the region where the optical fiber of the bonding end surface is present increases with the increase in the number of optical connectors. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector spacer component and an optical connector capable of preventing an increase in connection loss of some optical fibers.

  An optical connector spacer component according to claim 1 of the present invention is disposed on an optical connector ferrule having a joining end face from which an end face of an optical fiber is exposed, and on a rear end side opposite to the joining end face of the optical connector ferrule. An optical connector spacer component disposed between the coil spring and the end portion of the spacer spring body, the end portion of the spacer spring body being in contact with the end surface of the coil spring. And the fitting convex part fitted to the inner side of the said coil spring is protrudingly provided, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  An optical connector spacer component according to a second aspect of the present invention is the optical connector spacer part according to the first aspect, wherein the fitting convex portion is divided into a plurality in the circumferential direction of the coil spring.

  A spacer part for an optical connector according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first or second aspect, a part of the receiving part protrudes from a side surface of the spacer part main body.

  The spacer component for an optical connector according to claim 4 of the present invention is the spacer component main body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the spacer component main body is formed with an accommodating portion penetrating the spacer component main body. The housing portion includes a boot formed on an end surface of the rear end side of the optical connector ferrule and holding the optical fiber therein, and a slit that extends from the housing portion to the outside of the component main body is formed. Features.

  An optical connector spacer component according to claim 5 of the present invention is characterized in that, in claim 4, a receiving recess surrounding the receiving portion is formed on an end surface of the spacer component main body on the optical connector ferrule side. To do.

  An optical connector spacer component according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the optical connector spacer part according to the fourth or fifth aspect, wherein the accommodating portion is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view, and the slit is formed in a corner portion of the accommodating portion. It is characterized by.

  An optical connector spacer component according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the optical connector ferrule according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the optical connector ferrule is joined to the end surface of the spacer component main body on the optical connector ferrule side. A pin fixing recess for receiving and fixing the rear end portion of the guide pin whose front end portion projects from the end surface is formed corresponding to the shape of the rear end portion of the guide pin.

  An optical connector spacer component according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the optical connector ferrule according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the optical connector ferrule is formed in an end surface of the spacer component main body on the optical connector ferrule side. A connecting pin that is inserted into and fixed to the guide pin hole formed is projected.

  An optical connector according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is an optical connector ferrule in which the optical connector spacer component according to any one of the first to eighth aspects has a joint end face from which an end face of the optical fiber is exposed. The optical connector ferrule is disposed between a coil spring disposed on the rear end side opposite to the joining end surface of the optical connector ferrule.

  With this configuration, the urging force generated by the coil spring is received by the spacer component main body and transmitted to the rear end side of the optical connector ferrule. At this time, while receiving the edge part of a coil spring by a receiving part, a fitting convex part fits inside a coil spring. This prevents the coil spring from being displaced relative to the end face direction of the spacer component body. For this reason, the coil spring can be prevented from tilting, and the biasing force generated by the coil spring is evenly received by the end surface on the coil spring side of the spacer component body, and the end surface on the rear end side of the optical ferrule is more in-plane. Uniform urging force can be transmitted.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, even when the region where the optical fiber is present on the joining end face is enlarged along with the increase in the number of optical connectors, the joining pressure at the joining end face of the optical connector ferrule is made uniform. An increase in connection loss of some of the optical fibers can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the scale is appropriately changed for each member so that each member has a size that can be recognized on the drawing. In the following drawings, the X axis is set parallel to the central axis of the optical connector, the Y axis is set in the width direction of the optical connector orthogonal to the X axis, and the Z axis is set in the height direction. An optical connector described below is a multi-fiber optical fiber connector such as an MPO optical connector defined in JIS C 5982, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the optical connector 1 includes an optical connector ferrule 3 in a cylindrical housing 2. The optical connector ferrule 3 is formed of, for example, resin or the like, and holds and fixes the optical fiber 4 therein. A cylindrical boot 23 is bonded and fixed to the end face 10 on the rear end side (the negative direction side of the X axis in FIG. 1) of the optical connector ferrule 3, and the optical fiber 4 is held and fixed by the boot 23. At the distal end side of the optical connector 1 (the positive direction side of the X axis in FIG. 1), the distal end portion of the optical connector ferrule 3 protrudes, and the joining end face 5 of the optical connector ferrule 3 is exposed. The end face of the optical fiber 4 is precisely positioned, fixed, and exposed at the joining end face 5. A step portion 6 is provided on the side surface of the optical connector ferrule 3 so as to reduce the cross-sectional area on the tip side. A stepped portion 7 is provided inside the housing 2 corresponding to the stepped portion 6 of the optical connector ferrule 3.

  From the joining end surface 5 of the optical connector ferrule 3, the tip portions of the guide pins 8 and 8 for positioning when the optical connector ferrule 3 is abutted and joined to an optical connector ferrule such as an optical connector receptacle are projected. The guide pin 8 is made of, for example, stainless steel. The guide pin 8 is formed in a tapered shape by a taper provided at the tip. A hook-shaped stopper 9 is provided at the rear end of the guide pin 8. The guide pin 8 penetrates the optical connector ferrule 3, and the stopper 9 at the rear end is in contact with the end face 10 on the rear end side of the optical connector ferrule 3.

  Between the coupling 16 and the housing 2, coil springs 18 and 18 that urge the housing 2 toward the distal end of the optical connector 1 are incorporated. The coil spring 18 is accommodated in a spring accommodating recess 19 provided in the coupling 16. Further, one end side of the coil spring 18 is in contact with the side face 20 of the coil spring accommodating recess 19 and the biasing convex portion 21 formed on the housing 2 in a slightly compressed state, and the other end side is the rear end side of the coupling 16. It is fixed by taking a reaction force on the negative side of the X-axis in FIG.

  A coil spring 11 is disposed on the rear end side opposite to the joining end surface 5 of the optical connector ferrule 3. An optical connector spacer part 12 is interposed between the optical connector ferrule 3 and the coil spring 11. The end 25 on the spacer component main body 13 side of the spacer component 12 for the optical connector of the coil spring 11 extends to the cradle 15 formed on the end surface 14 on the coil spring 11 side of the spacer component main body 13 over substantially the entire circumference. It is in contact. The other end side of the coil spring 11 is fixed to a cylindrical coupling 16 slidably provided outside the housing 2 by taking a reaction force. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, fitting protrusions 17 and 17 projecting from the spacer component main body 13 are inserted inside the end portion 25 of the coil spring 11 in contact with the cradle portion 15, and the coil spring is inserted. 11 and the fitting convex parts 17 and 17 are fitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the spacer component main body 13 is formed with a receiving portion 22 that penetrates the spacer component main body 13 in the axial direction of the optical connector 1 (X-axis direction in FIGS. 1 and 2). A boot 23 holding the optical fiber 4 therein is accommodated in the accommodating portion 22. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the optical fiber 4 is, for example, a tape core. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the spacer component main body 13 is formed with a slit 24 that reaches from the housing portion 22 to the outside of the spacer component main body 13. The accommodating portion 22 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape by continuously forming inner side walls 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d. The slits 24 are formed between the inner walls 22a and 22d of the housing portion 22 that are substantially perpendicular to each other in the diagonal direction of the housing portion 22 in plan view. The slit 24 is formed continuously in the length direction of the spacer component main body 13 (X-axis direction in FIGS. 4 to 7).

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, on the inner side of the receiving part 15 of the spacer component main body 13, the fitting convex parts 17, 17 are provided on the edge of the rectangular accommodating part 22 on the rear end side of the optical connector 1. It protrudes toward (the negative direction side of the X axis in FIGS. 6 and 7). As shown in FIG. 6, the fitting convex portions 17 and 17 are divided into two in the circumferential direction of the end portion 25 of the coil spring 11 that contacts the bottom surface 15 b of the cradle portion 15, and the substantially circular end portion 25 is formed. It is formed corresponding to the shape. The outer surface 17 a of the fitting convex portion 17 is formed in an arc shape along the inner shape of the end portion 25 so as to fit inside the end portion 25 of the coil spring 11. The arcuate outer surfaces 17a and 17a of the fitting convex portions 17 and 17 constitute a part of the same circumference, and the diameter thereof is formed to be equal to or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the end portion 25 of the coil spring 11. ing. The inner side surfaces of the fitting convex portions 17 and 17 are formed flush with the inner side walls 22 a and 22 c of the accommodating portion 22. A slope is formed at the tip of the fitting projections 17, 17, and the tip is formed in a tapered shape so that the cross-sectional area of the tip gradually decreases toward the center of the coil spring 11.

  On the side surface 13 a of the spacer component main body 13, a plate-like projecting portion 15 a that projects substantially vertically from the side surface 13 a is formed. The outer edge of the overhanging portion 15 a is formed in an arc shape and forms a part of the outer edge of the bottom surface 15 b of the cradle portion 15. The outer edge of the bottom surface 15b of the cradle part 15 is formed along the outer shape of the end 25 of the coil spring 11 that contacts the bottom surface 15b. The diameter of the outer edge of the bottom surface 15 b of the cradle part 15 is formed to be equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the end part 25 of the coil spring 11. The side walls 26 and 26 on both sides of the cradle part 15 are formed so as to be inclined toward the rear end side of the optical connector 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, a receiving recess 28 is formed on the end surface 27 of the spacer component body 13 on the optical connector ferrule 3 side. The receiving recess 28 is formed on the four peripheral edges of the receiving portion 22 having a rectangular shape in plan view over substantially the entire circumference. On both sides of the receiving recess 28, pin fixing recesses 29 and 29 for receiving and fixing the rear end portion of the guide pin 8 are formed. The pin fixing recesses 29 and 29 are provided corresponding to the diameter of the rear end portion of the guide pin 8 so that the rear end portion of the guide pin 8 can be received. Further, the position and dimensions of the hook-shaped stopper 9 of the guide pin 8 are formed corresponding to the dimensions of the receiving recess 28 and the pin fixing recess 29.

  Next, an assembly manufacturing process of the optical connector 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a boot 23 is bonded and fixed to the rear end side of the optical connector ferrule 3 with an adhesive or the like. Next, the boot 23 is housed and fixed in the housing portion 22 of the spacer component body 13. At this time, by passing the optical fiber 4 extending to the rear end side of the boot 23 through the slit 24, the optical fiber 4 can pass through the spacer component body 13. Therefore, it is not necessary to pass the optical fiber 4 through the spacer component body 13 in advance, and the optical fiber 4 can be easily penetrated through the spacer component body 13 and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

  When the boot 23 is bonded to the optical connector ferrule 3 with an adhesive or the like, extra adhesive may protrude from the periphery of the bonded portion and remain on the end face 10 of the optical connector ferrule 3 in some cases. However, according to the present embodiment, the receiving concave portion 28 is formed around the accommodating portion 22 on the end surface 27 of the spacer component body 13 on the optical connector ferrule 3 side. Thereby, the adhesive etc. which protruded and remained around the adhesion part of the boot 23 of the end surface 10 of the optical connector ferrule 3 can be received by the receiving recess 28. Therefore, even if an adhesive or the like protrudes around the bonding portion of the boot 23 and remains on the end face 10 of the optical connector ferrule 3, the inclination of the optical connector ferrule 3 with respect to the axial direction of the optical connector 1 is prevented. Can do.

  Further, since the pin fixing recess 29 and the receiving recess 28 are formed corresponding to the rear end portion of the guide pin 8 and the shape of the stopper 9, the rear end portion of the guide pin 8 is accommodated in the pin fixing recess 29. The stopper 9 is restricted from moving in the direction of the end face 27 (Y-axis direction in FIGS. 1 to 4) by the boot 23 and the side wall 30 of the receiving recess 28, and the length of the guide pin 8 (X in FIGS. 1 and 2). The movement in the axial direction is restricted and fixed by the spacer component body 13 and the end face 10 of the optical connector ferrule 3. Therefore, the guide pin 8 can be fixed easily and reliably only by passing the guide pin 8 through the optical connector ferrule 3 and assembling the optical connector ferrule 3 to the spacer component body 13. Further, since the guide pin 8 is formed in a tapered shape, the distal end portion of the guide pin 8 can be easily inserted into and penetrated through the optical connector ferrule 3.

  Next, the optical connector ferrule 3 assembled with the spacer component main body 13 and the guide pins 8, 8 is inserted into the housing 2 from the rear end side of the housing 2. Next, the optical fiber 4 is accommodated inside the coil spring 11, and the coil spring 11 is disposed on the rear end side of the optical connector ferrule 3. At this time, the fitting convex portion 17 of the spacer component main body 13 is inserted and fitted inside the one end side (X-axis positive direction side in FIG. 1) of the coil spring 11, and the end portion on one end side is a receiving portion 15. Is brought into contact with the bottom surface 15b.

  Here, since the side walls 26 and 26 of the cradle part 15 are inclined so as to spread toward the rear end side (X-axis negative direction side in FIG. 1) of the optical connector 1, the end part of the coil spring 11 can be easily formed. Can be brought into contact with the bottom surface 15 b of the cradle part 15.

  Further, since the fitting convex portions 17 and 17 are divided into two in the circumferential direction of the coil spring, when the fitting convex portions 17 and 17 are inserted inside the coil spring 11 as shown in FIG. The coil spring 11 can be bent toward the center. This not only facilitates insertion, but also causes the outer surfaces 17a and 17a of the fitting projections 17 and 17 to be pressed inside the coil spring 11 by the elastic force of the fitting projections 17 and 17 after insertion. be able to. Therefore, the coil spring 11 can be reliably fitted to the end 25.

  Next, the coupling 16 is assembled to the outside of the housing 2. At this time, the coil springs 18 and 18 are accommodated between the coupling 16 and the housing 2. The optical connector 1 assembled in this way becomes a male optical connector 1 in which guide pins 8 and 8 for positioning are projected from the joining end surface 5.

Next, the female optical connector 101 will be described.
The female optical connector 101 shown in FIG. 8 is different from the male optical connector 1 described above in that the connecting pins 32 and 32 are formed on the spacer component body 113. Since the other points are the same as those of the male optical connector 1 described above, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the optical connector ferrule 103 is provided with guide pin holes 31 and 31 into which the guide pins 8 and 8 protruding from the joining end surface 5 of the male optical connector 1 are inserted. As shown in FIG. 9, on the end surface 27 of the spacer component main body 113 on the side of the optical connector ferrule 103, connecting pins 32, 32 inserted and fixed in the guide pin holes 31, 31 project. The connection pins 32 and 32 are formed at positions corresponding to the guide pin holes 31 and 31 on the bottom surface of the receiving recess 28 toward the distal end side of the female optical connector 101 (X-axis positive direction side in FIGS. 8 and 9). Has been.

  Further, the distal end portion of the connecting pin 32 is also formed in a tapered shape like the distal end portion of the guide pin 8. The length of the connecting pin 32 is such that a guide pin provided in the same manner as the guide pin 8 shown in FIG. 1 in a male receptacle or the like is inserted into the guide pin hole 31, and the joining end face 5 of the optical connector 101 and the receptacle are joined. When joining the end surfaces, the lengths of the guide pins are adjusted such that the tips of the guide pins do not contact the tips of the connecting pins 32 before the joining end surfaces 5 are joined.

  When assembling and manufacturing the female optical connector 101, as with the male optical connector 1, the boot 23 is bonded and fixed to the rear end side (X-axis positive / negative side in FIG. 8) of the optical connector ferrule 103 with an adhesive, The boot 23 is received and fixed in the receiving portion 22 of the spacer component main body 113. At this time, similarly to the male optical connector 1, the slit 24 and the receiving recess 28 are formed in the spacer component body 113. Therefore, similarly to the spacer component main body 13 of the male optical connector 1, the optical fiber 4 can be easily passed through the spacer component main body 113, and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

  Similarly to the spacer component main body 13 of the male optical connector 1, a receiving recess 28 is formed around the accommodating portion 22 for accommodating the boot 23 on the end surface 10 of the spacer component main body 113 on the optical connector ferrule 103 side. . Therefore, similarly to the spacer component main body 13 of the male optical connector 1, the optical connector 101 can be used even when an adhesive or the like protrudes around the adhesive portion of the boot 23 and remains on the end face 10 of the optical connector ferrule 103. The inclination of the optical connector ferrule 103 with respect to the axial direction (X-axis direction in FIG. 8) can be prevented.

  When the boot 23 fixed to the rear end side of the optical connector ferrule 103 is stored and fixed in the storage portion 22 of the spacer component main body 113, the connecting pins 32 and 32 projecting from the spacer component main body 113 are guide pins. Inserted into the holes 31, 31. Thereby, the spacer component main body 113 and the optical connector ferrule 103 are connected. At this time, since the tip of the connecting pin 32 is formed in a tapered shape, it can be easily inserted into the guide pin hole 31. Further, when the connecting pin 32 is inserted into the optical connector ferrule 103, the relative movement of the optical connector ferrule 103 in the direction of the end face 27 (the YZ plane direction in FIGS. 8 and 9) with respect to the spacer component main body 113 is restricted. Thereby, the installation of the optical connector ferrule 103 can be improved, and the inclination and rattling of the optical connector ferrule 103 can be prevented.

  In order to connect the male optical connector 1 described above to a female receptacle or the like, first, guide pins 8 and 8 protruding from the tip of the male optical connector 1 shown in FIG. 1 are provided on the female receptacle. Insert into the guide pin hole. The guide pin hole of the female receptacle is provided in the same manner as the guide pin holes 31 and 31 of the female optical connector 101 in the optical connector ferrule of the female receptacle (see FIG. 8). When connecting the female optical connector 101 shown in FIG. 8 to a male receptacle or the like, the guide pins of the male receptacle are inserted into the guide pin holes 31 and 31 of the female optical connector. The guide pin of the male receptacle protrudes from the joining end face of the optical connector ferrule of the receptacle as in the male optical connector 1 (see FIG. 1).

  Thus, when the joining end face 5 of the optical connector 1, 101 and the joining end face of the receptacle are butt-joined, the guide pins 8, 8 of the receptacle or the optical connector 1, 101 are inserted into the guide pin holes 31, 31. Thus, the optical connectors 1 and 101 and the receptacle are abutted in a state where the joining end faces 5 of the optical connector ferrules 3 and 103 are relatively positioned. When the joining end face 5 of the optical connectors 1 and 101 and the joining end face of the optical connector ferrule of the receptacle are brought into contact with each other, the optical connector ferrules 3 and 103 of the optical connectors 1 and 101 together with the spacer component main bodies 13 and 113 are attached to the housing 2. Slide relative to each other. At this time, the optical connector ferrules 3 and 103 relatively move to the rear end side of the housing 2.

  At this time, the end on one end side of the coil spring 11 is accommodated in the cradle part 15 of the spacer component main body 13, 113 and abuts against the bottom surface 15 b of the cradle part 15, and the other end side exerts a reaction force on the coupling 16. Taken and fixed. For this reason, the coil spring 11 receives a pressing force acting in the axial direction of the optical connectors 1, 101 from the spacer component bodies 13, 113 at the end, and is compressed in the axial direction of the optical connectors 1, 101. A force is applied to the end portion of the coil spring 11 in contact with the spacer component main bodies 13 and 113 to shift the end portion in the direction of the end surface 14 of the spacer component main bodies 13 and 113 due to the compression state of the coil spring 11.

  Here, the end portion on one end side of the coil spring 11 is received by the concave receiving portion 15 of the spacer component main bodies 13 and 113. Further, the outer edge of the cradle part 15 is formed to be equal to or larger than the outer shape of the coil spring 11 along the shape of the outer side of the end part 25 of the coil spring 11 in contact with the bottom surface 15b. Further, fitting projections 17, 17 formed on the inner side of the cradle part 15 are inserted and fitted inside the coil spring 11. The outer surface 17 a of the fitting convex portions 17, 17 is formed along the inner shape of the end portion 25 of the coil spring 11 that contacts the cradle portion 15.

  Therefore, even when a force is applied to shift the end of the coil spring 11 on the side of the spacer component bodies 13 and 113 toward the end face 14 of the spacer component bodies 13 and 113 due to the compression state of the coil spring 11. The movement of the coil spring 11 in the direction of the end face 14 can be restricted by the fitting protrusions 17 and 17. Further, the end portion 25 of the coil spring 11 can be received by the bottom surface 15b of the cradle portion 15 over substantially the entire circumference.

  Thereby, it is possible to prevent the coil spring 11 from moving on the end surfaces 14 of the spacer component main bodies 13 and 113 and causing the coil spring 11 to tilt. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the biasing force of the coil spring 11 from acting on the end surface 14 of the spacer component bodies 13 and 113 on the coil spring 11 side. Further, the outer edge of the cradle part 15 is formed along the outer shape of the end part 25 of the coil spring 11, and the outer surfaces 17 a and 17 a of the fitting convex part 17 are the inner shape of the end part 25 of the coil spring 11. , The play of the end 25 of the coil spring 11 in the cradle 15 is reduced, and the movement of the end 25 on the end surfaces 14 of the spacer component bodies 13 and 113 is further reduced. The inclination of the coil spring 11 can be prevented.

  In addition, the slits 24 of the spacer component bodies 13 and 113 are formed at the corners of the accommodating portion 22 that is rectangular in plan view. For this reason, the cradle part 15 can each be formed in the outer side of four sides of the accommodating part 22 of a planar view rectangle. Thereby, compared with the case where one side of the spacer component bodies 13 and 113 is opened, the urging force generated by the compression of the coil spring 11 is caused by the width of the end surface 14 by the receiving portion 15 of the spacer component bodies 13 and 113. It can receive evenly in the direction (Y-axis direction in FIGS. 1 to 13) and the height direction (Z-axis direction in FIGS. 1 to 13).

  Further, only the corners of the accommodating portion 22 having a rectangular shape in plan view are opened by the slits 24, and the end portions of the coil spring 11 are received by receiving portions 15 formed on the outer sides of the four sides of the accommodating portion 22. be able to. Therefore, unlike the case where one side of the spacer component main bodies 13 and 113 having a rectangular shape in plan view is opened, the end of the coil spring 11 enters the slit 24 and falls off the cradle portion 15 of the spacer component main bodies 13 and 113. Can be prevented.

  As described above, according to the optical connector spacer parts 12 and 112 of the present embodiment, the relative displacement of the coil spring 11 is prevented at the end face on the coil spring 11 side of the spacer part main bodies 13 and 113. Since the bias of the coil spring 11 can be prevented and the biasing force can be received more evenly, a uniform joining pressure can be applied to the joining end face 5 of the optical connector ferrules 3 and 103. Therefore, even when the region where the optical fiber of the joining end face 5 is present is enlarged along with the increase in the number of optical connectors 1 and 101, the joining pressure at the joining end face 5 of the optical connector ferrules 3 and 103 is made uniform. Connection loss between optical fibers can be suppressed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In the above embodiment, the case where the optical connector spacer part is used for the MPO type optical connector plug has been described. However, the optical connector to which the optical connector spacer part according to the present invention is applied is not limited to the MPO type optical connector. For example, various optical connectors such as an optical connector with a latch such as a so-called MTRJ type optical connector can be adopted. Of course, the same effect can be obtained in this case.
Moreover, the fitting convex part may be divided | segmented into 3 or more in the circumferential direction of the coil spring. Moreover, if a cradle part can contact | abut over the perimeter of the edge part of a coil spring, it will not be limited to the shape shown in the above-mentioned embodiment. It is also possible to form the connecting pin separately from the component main body, and insert and fix it in the connecting pin hole formed in the component main body so as to be provided in a protruding state. In this case, for example, it is preferable to use a metal pin such as a stainless steel pin.

It is sectional drawing of the coupling | bond part of the male optical connector using the spacer component for optical connectors in embodiment of this invention. It is an expanded sectional view of the spacer component for optical connectors in embodiment of this invention. It is a partial expanded side view which shows the fitting state of the fitting convex part of the spacer components for optical connectors in embodiment of this invention, and a coil spring. It is a top view of the spacer component for optical connectors in embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the spacer component for optical connectors in embodiment of this invention. It is a bottom view of the spacer component for optical connectors in embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the spacer component for optical connectors in embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the coupling | bond part of the female optical connector using the spacer component for optical connectors in embodiment of this invention. It is an expanded sectional view of the spacer component for optical connectors in embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the spacer component for optical connectors in embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the spacer component for optical connectors in embodiment of this invention. It is a bottom view of the spacer component for optical connectors in embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the spacer component for optical connectors in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Optical connector ferrule, 4 ... Optical fiber, 5 ... Joining end surface, 8 ... Guide pin, 11 ... Coil spring, 12 ... Spacer part for optical connectors, 13 ... Spacer part main body, 14 ... End surface, 15 ... Base part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 17 ... Fit convex part, 22 ... Accommodating part, 23 ... Boot, 24 ... Slit, 25 ... End part, 27 ... End surface, 28 ... Receiving recessed part, 29 ... Pin fixing recessed part, 31 ... Guide pin hole, 32 ... Connecting pin , 103: optical connector ferrule, 112: optical connector spacer part, 113: spacer part main body

Claims (9)

An optical connector ferrule (3, 103) having a joining end face (5) from which the end face of the optical fiber (4) is exposed, and a coil spring disposed on the rear end side opposite to the joining end face of the optical connector ferrule ( 11) an optical connector spacer component interposed between
A cradle part (15) that abuts the end surface (14) of the coil spring side of the spacer component body (13, 113) over substantially the entire circumference of the end part (25) of the coil spring; A spacer part (12, 112) for an optical connector, characterized in that a fitting convex part (17) for fitting inside is projected.   The spacer part for an optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the fitting convex portion is divided into a plurality in the circumferential direction of the coil spring.   The spacer part for an optical connector according to claim 1, wherein a part of the cradle part protrudes from a side surface of the spacer part main body.   The spacer component main body is formed with a receiving portion (22) penetrating the spacer component main body, and the receiving portion is formed on the end face of the rear end side of the optical connector ferrule to hold the optical fiber therein. The optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a boot (23) is accommodated and a slit (24) reaching the outside of the component main body from the accommodating portion is formed. Spacer parts.   The spacer part for optical connectors according to claim 4, wherein a receiving recess (28) surrounding the housing part is formed on an end face (27) on the optical connector ferrule side of the spacer part body.   6. The spacer component for an optical connector according to claim 4, wherein the housing portion is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view, and the slit is formed in a corner portion of the housing portion.   A pin fixing recess (29) for receiving and fixing a rear end portion of a guide pin (8) having a tip protruding from the joining end surface of the optical connector ferrule on an end surface of the spacer component body on the optical connector ferrule side The spacer part for an optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the spacer part is formed corresponding to a shape of a rear end portion of the guide pin.   A connecting pin (32) that is inserted into and fixed to a guide pin hole (31) formed in the optical connector ferrule protrudes from an end face of the spacer component body on the optical connector ferrule side. The spacer part for optical connectors according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   The optical connector ferrule according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the optical connector ferrule having a joining end face from which an end face of an optical fiber is exposed is opposite to the joining end face of the optical connector ferrule. An optical connector (1, 101), which is disposed between a coil spring disposed on the rear end side of the optical connector (1, 101).

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