JP2010224195A - Optical transmission object with connector, optical connector, and method for assembling the optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology capable of easily fusing and connecting an optical fiber extended from a code or a cable with an optical fiber incorporated in a ferrule, and preventing inconvenience such as excessive bending of an optical fiber between a fixed connected part in a housing and the ferrule when an optical connector is attached to a terminal of an optical fiber code, a cable or the like. <P>SOLUTION: An optical transmission object 1 includes a connection reinforcing part 20 formed by burying a fused connection part 3 between a built-in optical fiber 43 interpolated and fixed in the ferrule 40 (MT optical connector) of a multifiber optical connector 10 and an optical fiber tapered core wire 2a exposed to the terminal of an optical fiber code 2 into a resin 22 disposed in a reinforced sleeve 21 extrapolated to the fused connection part. One end of the reinforce sleeve 21 is extrapolated to be fixed to the sleeve fixing part 42 of the rear end of the ferrule, and the ferrule 40 and the connection reinforcing part 20 are integrated. An optical connector and a method for assembling the same are provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is an optical fiber cord or an optical fiber cable, and an optical connector is assembled at the tip of an optical transmission body in which an optical fiber and a tensile body extending along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber are covered with an outer sheath. More particularly, the present invention relates to an optical transmission body with connector, an optical connector, and an optical connector assembling method, and more particularly, to an optical transmission body with connector, an optical connector, and an optical connector assembling method employing fusion splicing.

  Conventionally, several structures have been proposed in which an operation of assembling an optical connector at the tip of an optical fiber can be performed at a connection site. In addition, as a technology for assembling a multi-fiber optical connector at the tip of a multi-fiber optical fiber such as an optical fiber ribbon, the optical fiber and a plurality of built-in optical fibers inserted into a multi-core ferrule are butt-connected. There is a configuration in which a mechanical splice mechanism is built in that is sandwiched between halved parts and maintained in a butt connection state (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-196189 A

The optical connector described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which optical fibers are precisely positioned by a positioning groove formed in a halved part to obtain a butted state, and the cost is reduced due to the presence of parts that require precision processing. There was dissatisfaction that there was a limit.
On the other hand, as a technique for assembling an optical connector at the tip of the optical fiber, the optical fiber and the built-in optical fiber inserted in the ferrule are connected by fusion splicing, and the fusion splicing portion is reinforced with resin or the like. Conventionally, a technique for storing the attachment reinforcing portion in the housing of the optical connector is also known. In the case of connection by fusion, for example, an arc discharge-type fusion splicer or the like is used to store the connection part in which the fusion connection is completed in the housing of the optical connector. There is no need for precision positioning parts, and there is an advantage that cost reduction is easy.

However, when the fusion reinforcing portion is stored in the housing of the optical connector, the fusion reinforcing portion is free (swingable) in the housing, so that when the ferrule is pushed into the housing when the connector is connected In addition, there has been a problem that excessive bending may occur in the optical fiber (built-in optical fiber) between the ferrule and the fusion-strengthening portion. That is, the inner space of the housing can accommodate the fusion reinforcing portion corresponding to the variation in the size and shape of the fusion reinforcing portion due to the variation in the size of the fusion splicing portion or the uneven distribution of the reinforcing resin. From the necessity, the size is set such that a sufficient margin can be secured with respect to the assumed size of the fusion reinforcing portion. For this reason, in many cases, the fusion reinforcing portion is housed in a free (swingable) state in the housing.
In the case of a multi-fiber connector, since the size of the fusion reinforcing portion is larger than that of a single core, the stress applied to the optical fiber due to the oscillation of the fusion reinforcing portion in the housing is large.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can provide an optical transmission body with a connector, an optical connector, an optical connector, and the like, which can prevent inconveniences such as excessive bending in an optical fiber between a fusion splicing portion in a housing and a ferrule. It is an object to provide a method for assembling a connector.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following configuration.
The invention according to claim 1 is an optical transmission body with a connector in which an optical connector is assembled at the tip of a multi-core optical fiber that is an optical transmission body. The optical connector includes a ferrule in the housing, and the ferrule. Reinforcement sleeve in which the fusion-bonded portion between the optical fiber and the portion protruding from the rear end opposite to the joint end surface on the front-end side of the ferrule of the built-in optical fiber inserted and fixed therein accommodates the fusion-bonded portion A connection reinforcing portion embedded in a resin provided inside and a spring for elastically urging the ferrule, and the ferrule has a plurality of built-in optical fibers inserted and fixed therein. A ferrule body having the joint end face exposed in a side-by-side arrangement with the front ends of the fibers, and a three-protruded tube projecting from the rear end side opposite to the joint end face of the ferrule body A fixing portion, one end of the reinforcing sleeve is extrapolated and fixed to the sleeve fixing portion to integrate the ferrule and the connection reinforcing portion, and the built-in optical fiber is connected to the sleeve fixing portion from the ferrule body. An optical transmission body with a connector, characterized in that it penetrates the inside and protrudes to the rear side of the ferrule.
The invention according to claim 2 is a connector in which an optical connector is assembled at the tip of an optical transmission body in which a multi-core optical fiber and a tensile body extending along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber are covered with an outer sheath. The optical connector is protruded from a rear end opposite to a joint end face of the front end side of the ferrule of the built-in optical fiber inserted and fixed in the ferrule in the housing. A connection reinforcing portion in which a fusion splicing portion between the portion and the optical fiber exposed at the end of the optical transmission body is embedded in a resin provided inside a reinforcing sleeve housing the fusion splicing portion; A spring for elastically biasing the ferrule, wherein the ferrule has a plurality of built-in optical fibers inserted and fixed, and the tips of the built-in optical fibers are exposed side by side and arranged. A ferrule body having a surface, and a sleeve fixing portion protruding in a cylindrical shape on the rear end side opposite to the joining end surface of the ferrule body, and one end of the reinforcing sleeve is extrapolated to the sleeve fixing portion The ferrule and the connection reinforcing portion are fixed so as to be integrated, and the built-in optical fiber protrudes from the ferrule body through the inside of the sleeve fixing portion to the rear side of the ferrule. An optical transmission body with a connector is provided.
The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the tensile body extending from the end of the optical transmission body is embedded and fixed in a resin inside a reinforcing sleeve of the connection reinforcing portion. An optical transmission body with a connector according to Item 2, is provided.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the ferrule is a pin fitting positioning type ferrule that is positioned and butt-connected by fitting a pair of guide pins, and the guide pins are located at two spaced apart locations on the ferrule body. 4. The optical transmission body with a connector according to claim 1, wherein a guide pin hole into which is fitted is formed so as to penetrate the ferrule main body in the front-rear direction. 5.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a terminal of the optical transmission body is inserted and fixed to the other end of the ferrule of the ferrule opposite to one end fixed to the sleeve fixing portion. The ferrule, the connection reinforcing portion, and the end of the optical transmission body are integrally movable in the central axis direction of the sleeve-shaped housing. An optical transmission body with a connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is provided.
The invention according to claim 6 provides the optical transmission body with a connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the reinforcing sleeve is a heat shrinkable tube and the resin is a thermoplastic resin.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the housing has a sleeve shape, and is disposed in the housing so as to surround both sides of the connection reinforcing portion or the connection reinforcing portion, and is a direction along the central axis of the housing. A movable slider is provided between the portion of the ferrule projecting on both sides from the sleeve fixing portion of the ferrule body and the spring provided at a position spaced rearward from the ferrule. The optical transmission with a connector according to claim 1, wherein an urging force of the spring is transmitted to the ferrule via the slider. Provide the body.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the housing includes a sleeve-like plug frame and a sleeve-like stop ring attached to the plug frame, and the slider is opposite to the ferrule end. The rear end portion is an insertion portion accommodated in the stop ring so as to be movable in the front-rear direction of the housing, and the retaining portion engaged with the retaining portion formed in the stop ring at the insertion portion. 8. The connector according to claim 7, further comprising: an engaging projection, wherein the spring is housed in the stop ring, and the spring can be elastically biased toward the ferrule by the spring. Provided is an optical transmitter.
In the invention according to claim 9, a reinforcing core material extending in a longitudinal direction of the reinforcing sleeve is embedded in the reinforcing sleeve, and an end portion of the reinforcing core material provided at one end of the reinforcing sleeve is the reinforcing sleeve. The optical transmission body with a connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the optical transmission body is attached to the sleeve fixing portion of the ferrule together with one end of the sleeve.
The invention according to claim 10 provides the optical transmission body with a connector according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the optical connector is an MPO optical connector.
The invention according to claim 11 is an optical connector that is assembled at the tip of a multi-core optical fiber that is an optical transmission body, on the tip side of the ferrule of a ferrule and a built-in optical fiber that is internally fixed to the ferrule. Reinforcing sleeve for accommodating the fusion spliced portion of the optical fiber and a portion protruding from the rear end opposite to the joining end surface, a spring for elastic biasing of the ferrule, and the fused splicing portion are accommodated One end of the reinforcing sleeve is inserted and fixed to a cylindrical sleeve fixing portion at the rear end of the ferrule, and the connection reinforcing portion is assembled by embedding the fusion connecting portion in a resin provided inside the reinforcing sleeve. A ferrule and a housing for housing the spring. The ferrule has a plurality of built-in optical fibers inserted and fixed therein. A ferrule main body having the joint end surface exposed in a side-by-side arrangement and the sleeve fixing portion; and the built-in optical fiber passes through the inner side of the sleeve fixing portion from the ferrule main body and follows the ferrule. The housing is composed of a sleeve-like plug frame and a sleeve-like stop ring attached to the plug frame. After assembling the ferrule with the connection reinforcing portion, the stop ring is attached to the plug frame. An optical connector characterized in that the ferrule with a connection reinforcing portion and the spring can be accommodated by attaching a spring.
The invention according to claim 12 is an optical connector which is assembled at the tip of an optical transmission body in which a multi-core optical fiber and a tensile body extending along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber are covered with an outer sheath. The ferrule, a portion of the built-in optical fiber that is inserted and fixed to the ferrule, the portion protruding from the rear end opposite to the joint end surface of the ferrule, and the optical fiber exposed at the end of the optical transmission body A reinforcing sleeve for storing the fusion splicing portion, a spring for elastic biasing of the ferrule, and a cylindrical sleeve fixing at the rear end portion of the ferrule with one end of the reinforcing sleeve housing the fusion splicing portion A ferrule with a connection reinforcing portion and the spring that are assembled by embedding the fusion spliced portion in a resin provided on the inner side of the reinforcing sleeve and being externally fixed to the portion. The ferrule includes a ferrule main body having the joint end surface in which a plurality of built-in optical fibers are inserted and fixed, and the tips of the built-in optical fibers are exposed side by side and in an array state, and the sleeve fixing portion. And the built-in optical fiber protrudes from the ferrule body through the inside of the sleeve fixing portion to the rear side of the ferrule, and the housing is attached to the sleeve-like plug frame and the plug frame. It comprises a sleeve-like stop ring, and after assembling the ferrule with a connection reinforcing portion, the ferrule with a connection reinforcing portion and the spring can be stored by attaching the stop ring to the plug frame. An optical connector is provided.
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the housing has a sleeve shape, the flange portion of the ferrule in the housing, and the spring provided at a position separated rearward from the ferrule by being housed in the stop ring. It is arranged so as to surround both sides of the connection reinforcing portion or the connection reinforcing portion with being interposed therebetween, and is provided so as to be movable in the front-rear direction which is a direction along the central axis of the housing. The slider includes a slider that transmits to the ferrule, and the slider has an insertion portion in which a rear end portion opposite to the ferrule side end portion is accommodated in the stop ring so as to be movable in the front-rear direction of the housing. The stop ring, a retaining protrusion protruding from the insertion portion, and a drop formed in the stop ring The stop ring of the spring pressure application unit comprising the slider provided to be prevented from coming off from the stop ring by engagement with the engagement portion and the spring housed in the stop ring. The optical connector according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the housing is assembled by being attached to the plug frame, and the ferrule with a connection reinforcing portion and the spring can be accommodated in the housing.
The invention according to claim 14 is the optical connector according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the reinforcing sleeve is provided with a thermoplastic resin layered on the inner surface side of the heat shrinkable tube. I will provide a.
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, a reinforcing core material extending in a longitudinal direction of the reinforcing sleeve is embedded in the reinforcing sleeve, and an end of the reinforcing core material is fitted to one end of the reinforcing sleeve that is extrapolated to the sleeve fixing portion. An optical connector according to any one of claims 11 to 12 is provided.
The invention according to claim 16 is an assembly for assembling an optical connector comprising a ferrule and a housing for housing the ferrule, which is assembled by attaching a stop ring to a ferrule and a plug frame at the tip of a multi-core optical fiber as an optical transmission body. The ferrule includes a ferrule body in which a plurality of built-in optical fibers are inserted and fixed, and a joint end surface of the ferrule body in which tips of the plurality of built-in optical fibers are exposed side by side and in an array state. A sleeve fixing portion projecting in a cylindrical shape on the opposite rear end side, and penetrates the inside of the sleeve fixing portion of the built-in optical fiber of the ferrule and protrudes rearward from the ferrule. A fusion splicing step for fusion splicing the portion and the optical fiber, and after the fusion splicing step, the built-in optical fiber and the optical fiber The reinforcing sleeve is extrapolated to the fusion splicing portion, one end of the reinforcing sleeve is extrapolated to the sleeve fixing portion of the ferrule, and the fusion splicing portion and the thermoplastic resin are stored in the reinforcing sleeve. The thermoplastic resin is heated and melted and then cooled and solidified to embed the fusion spliced portion in the solidified thermoplastic resin, and one end of the reinforcing sleeve is interposed between the one end and the sleeve fixing portion of the ferrule A connection reinforcing portion assembling step for assembling the connection reinforcing portion by fixing the sleeve fixing portion to the sleeve fixing portion with the thermoplastic resin thus obtained, and a plug frame after the connecting reinforcing portion assembling step. A housing assembly step for housing the ferrule with a connection reinforcing portion and the spring by attaching the stop ring to It provides a method of assembling an optical connector which is characterized by comprising.
The invention according to claim 17 is an assembling method for assembling an optical connector at a terminal of an optical transmission body in which a multi-core optical fiber and a tensile body extending along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber are covered with an outer sheath. The ferrule is opposite to a ferrule body in which a plurality of built-in optical fibers are inserted and fixed, and a joint end face of the ferrule body in which tips of the plurality of built-in optical fibers are exposed side by side and in an array state. A sleeve fixing portion projecting in a cylindrical shape on the rear end side, and a portion protruding through the inner side of the sleeve fixing portion of the built-in optical fiber of the ferrule and projecting rearward from the ferrule A fusion splicing step of splicing the optical fiber exposed at the end of the optical transmission body; and after the fusion splicing step, fusion splicing of the built-in optical fiber and the optical fiber of the optical transmission body The thermoplastic resin is inserted in a state where one end of the reinforcing sleeve is extrapolated to the sleeve fixing portion of the ferrule and the fusion splicing portion and the thermoplastic resin are accommodated in the reinforcing sleeve. The heat-melted and then solidified by cooling, so that the fusion-bonded portion is embedded in the solidified thermoplastic resin, and one end of the reinforcing sleeve is interposed between the one end and the sleeve fixing portion of the ferrule. Assembling the connection reinforcing portion by fixing the sleeve fixing portion with a thermoplastic resin to obtain the ferrule with the connection reinforcing portion, and after the connection reinforcing portion assembling step, after the connection reinforcing portion assembling step, the stop on the plug frame By attaching a ring, a ferrule with a connection reinforcing portion and a housing assembly process for storing the spring are provided. Provides a method of assembling an optical connector, characterized in that.
The invention according to claim 18 is characterized in that, in the connection reinforcing portion assembling step, the fusion splicing portion and the thermoplastic resin are housed in the reinforcing sleeve and the tensile strength extended from the end of the optical transmission body. 18. The thermoplastic resin is heated and melted in a state in which a body is drawn into the reinforcing sleeve, and then cooled and solidified to embed and fix the tensile body in the solidified thermoplastic resin. A method for assembling the described optical connector is provided.
According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the connection reinforcing portion assembling step, the other end of the reinforcing sleeve opposite to one end of the ferrule that is externally fixed to the sleeve fixing portion is the terminal of the optical transmission body. The optical connector according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the optical connector is extrapolated and fixed to the sleeve fixing portion by the thermoplastic resin interposed between the one end and the sleeve fixing portion of the ferrule. An assembly method is provided.
20. The optical connector assembling method according to claim 16, wherein the reinforcing sleeve is a heat shrinkable tube, and is thermally contracted in the connection reinforcing portion assembling step. I will provide a.
In the invention according to Claim 21, the reinforcing sleeve is embedded with a reinforcing core extending in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing sleeve, and the end of the reinforcing core is fitted to one end of the reinforcing sleeve that is externally inserted into the sleeve fixing portion. 21. The optical connector assembly according to claim 16, wherein one end of the reinforcing sleeve is fixed to the sleeve fixing portion together with the reinforcing core material in the connection reinforcing portion assembling step. Provide a method.
According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the housing assembly step, the stop ring, the spring housed in the stop ring, and both sides of the connection reinforcing portion or the connection reinforcing portion are disposed so as to surround the stop ring. The spring is attached by being interposed between a portion of the ferrule body of the ferrule protruding from the sleeve fixing portion on both sides and the spring so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, which is a direction along the central axis of the housing. A plug that transmits a force to the ferrule, and is configured to press the spring into the stop ring by a slider provided so as not to come off the stop ring. It attaches to in any one of Claims 16-21 characterized by the above-mentioned. It provides a method of assembling the mounting of the optical connector.

According to the present invention, the fusion spliced portion between the built-in optical fiber inserted and fixed to the ferrule and the optical fiber of the optical transmission body is housed in the reinforcing sleeve and embedded in the resin provided inside the reinforcing sleeve. The connection reinforcing portion is housed in the housing of the optical connector. The connection reinforcing portion is connected to the ferrule by externally fixing one end of the reinforcing sleeve to the cylindrical sleeve fixing portion at the rear end portion of the ferrule. Integrated. As a result, when the ferrule is pushed into the housing (when pushed into the optical transmission body) during connector connection, the optical fiber (built-in optical fiber) between the ferrule and the fusion splicing portion is bent. This can prevent the deterioration of the optical characteristics of the built-in optical fiber. Regardless of the size and shape of the connection reinforcing portion, stable maintenance of the optical characteristics of the optical fiber (built-in optical fiber) between the ferrule and the fusion splicing portion can be easily realized.
Further, if the connection reinforcing portion is integrated with the ferrule as described above, to ensure workability of the fusion splicing between the built-in optical fiber inserted and fixed to the ferrule and the optical fiber of the optical transmission body. Of course, even if the protruding length of the built-in optical fiber from the ferrule to the rear side is increased, it is possible to prevent the optical fiber (built-in optical fiber) between the ferrule and the fusion splicing portion from being bent. No. For this reason, good workability can be ensured in the fusion splicing work.

1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an optical fiber cord with a connector (an optical transmission body with a connector) according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the optical fiber cord with a connector (optical transmission body with a connector) of FIG. 1, Comprising: (a) is a top view, (b) is sectional drawing. It is a plane sectional view showing the structure near the optical connector of the optical fiber cord with a connector of FIG. 1, where (a) is in a state where the ferrule is at the movement limit position to the front side, and (b) is the movement limit to the front side. The state which exists in the position shifted | deviated to the movement back from the position is shown. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the optical connector of the optical fiber cord with a connector of FIG. It is a figure which shows the ferrule of the optical connector of the optical fiber cord with a connector of FIG. 1, Comprising: (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a figure which shows the structure seen from the sleeve fixing | fixed part side (rear end side). It is a figure which shows the structure of the optical fiber cord used for the assembly of the optical fiber cord with a connector of FIG. 1, and is a perspective view which shows the state which extended the optical fiber and the tension body to the terminal (exposed). It is sectional drawing which shows the reinforcement sleeve used for the assembly of the optical fiber cord with a connector of FIG. It is a figure explaining the fusion splicing process in the assembly method of the optical connector which concerns on this invention. It is a figure explaining another aspect of the sleeve fixing | fixed part of the ferrule of the optical connector of the optical transmission body with a connector which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing explaining an example of the connection reinforcement part assembled using the reinforcement sleeve of FIG. It is a figure explaining the other aspect of an optical transmission body, Comprising: It is a perspective view which shows the structure of an optical fiber cable. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional plan view for explaining the configuration in the vicinity of the optical connector of the optical transmission body with connector (optical fiber with connector) according to another aspect of the present invention, in which (a) is in a state where the ferrule is at the movement limit position to the front side; (B) shows a state in which the ferrule is in a position shifted from the movement limit position toward the front side to the rear side. (A) is sectional drawing explaining the structure of the reinforcement sleeve of another aspect, (b) is sectional drawing explaining the structure of the reinforcement sleeve with embedding resin of another aspect. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the optical connector of the optical fiber cord with a connector which concerns on this invention, and is a figure explaining another aspect of a slider especially. It is a plane sectional view explaining composition near an optical connector of an optical transmission object with a connector of another mode concerning the present invention (thing using a ferrule with a guide pin for an optical connector), (a) is a ferrule to the front side The state in the movement limit position, (b) shows the state in which the ferrule is in a position shifted from the movement limit position to the front side to move backward. It is a figure explaining another aspect of the multi-fiber optical connector which can apply this invention.

Hereinafter, a method for assembling an optical transmission body with a connector, an optical connector, and an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, with reference to FIGS. 1-5, the structure of the optical fiber cord 1 with a connector (optical transmission body with a connector) which is one Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, this optical fiber cord 1 with a connector is obtained by assembling an optical connector 10 at the end of an optical fiber cord 2 (optical transmission body).
In the following description, the left side in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B may be referred to as “front” or “tip direction”, and the right side may be referred to as “rear”. . That is, in the optical fiber cord 1 with a connector, the side on which the ferrule 40 (described later) is provided is the front side, and the opposite side is the rear side. Further, regarding the ferrule 40, the side of the joint end surface 41 a at the tip of the ferrule body 41 is the front side, and the opposite side is the rear side.

As shown in FIG. 6, the optical fiber cord 2 extends along the longitudinal direction of an optical fiber 2a (hereinafter also referred to as an optical fiber ribbon), which is an optical fiber ribbon, and the optical fiber ribbon 2a. The tensile strength body 2b to be constructed has a structure in which it is accommodated in a tube-like outer sheath 2c (exterior coating) made of a resin such as polyethylene, and a typical optical fiber cord can be exemplified. The optical fiber cord 2 in the illustrated example is housed in the outer sheath 2c as a single optical fiber tape core 2a as a multi-core optical fiber. Here, the optical fiber cord 2 in the illustrated example employs a tape-type optical fiber cord.
As the strength member 2b, an aramid fiber is preferably used, but a glass fiber, a carbon fiber, or the like can also be used.

  The optical fiber ribbon 2a is formed in an appearance tape shape by covering a plurality of bare optical fibers 2d side by side with a covering material (outer sheath 2c, exterior covering). The number of cores of the optical fiber ribbon 2a (the number of bare optical fibers 2d) is, for example, 2, 4, 8, 12, or the like. 1 to 5 exemplify a configuration using 12 optical fiber ribbons 2a. As the optical connector 10, one having a multi-fiber ferrule 40 having a corresponding number of cores corresponding to the number of cores of the optical fiber cord 2 (here, the number of cores of the optical fiber ribbon 2 a) is employed.

  2 (b), 3 (a), and 3 (b), the optical connector 10 terminates the optical fiber ribbon 2a so that it can be connected to the connector, and has a sleeve shape (specifically, In a sleeve-shaped housing 30 comprising a plug frame 31 having a rectangular tube shape) and a sleeve-like stop ring 32 attached to the rear end side of the plug frame 31. A connection reinforcing portion 20 (described later) provided on the rear side and integrated with the ferrule 40, a spring 50 (specifically a coil spring) for elastic biasing of the ferrule 40, and a slider 60 (described later). I have.

  The optical connector described here is a multi-fiber optical connector, and the illustrated example illustrates an MPO optical connector (F13 optical connector established in JIS C 5982; MPO: Multi-fiber Push On). As shown in FIGS. 2A, 3 </ b> A, and 3 </ b> B, the optical connector 10 includes a ring-shaped coupling 12 outside the housing 30. The coupling 12 is provided so as to be movable along the central axis direction (longitudinal direction) of the sleeve-shaped housing 30. 3A and 3B, reference numeral 13 denotes a spring for elastically urging the coupling 12 forward.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 (b) and 5 (a), the ferrule 40 includes a ferrule body 41 having a configuration similar to that of the MT type optical connector, and a joining end face 41a for butt joining of the tip of the ferrule body 41. Is between a sleeve fixing portion 42 projecting in a cylindrical shape from the rear end surface 41b on the opposite side, a square hole-shaped window hole 41d opened on one side of the outer plate-like ferrule body 41, and the joint end surface 41a. A built-in optical fiber 43 inserted and fixed in a fiber hole 41c (fine hole) penetrating the front wall portion 41e in the front-rear direction is configured. One end of a reinforcing sleeve 21 of a connection reinforcing portion 20 to be described later is externally fixed to the sleeve fixing portion 42.

The ferrule body 41 is formed with a pair of guide pin holes 41f penetrating the ferrule body 41 in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 5A, the guide pin holes 41f are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular joining end surface 41a.
As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B, one end in the longitudinal direction of the guide pin hole 41f is opened in the joining end surface 41a, and the other end is behind the ferrule body 41. Opening is made on the end surface (rear end surface 41 b of the ferrule body 41) of the end portion of the end portion protruding from the sleeve fixing portion 42.
A plurality of the fiber holes 41c are formed side by side in the front wall portion 41e of the ferrule body 41, and are opened side by side and arranged in a position between the pair of guide pin holes 41f on the joining end surface 41a. The ferrule 40 has a plurality of built-in optical fibers 43 inserted and fixed one by one into each fiber hole 41c.

  Further, the entire ferrule 40 is an integrally molded product made of plastic.

  As shown in FIGS. 2B, 3A, and 3B, the inner space of the cylindrical sleeve fixing portion 42 has one end (end on the ferrule body 41 side) at the window hole 41d of the ferrule body 41. It is a through hole that communicates with. Inside the sleeve fixing portion 42, a collective covering portion 43 a in which central portions in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of built-in optical fibers 43 of the ferrule 40 are collectively covered with a covering material is accommodated. Each built-in optical fiber 43 has a bare optical fiber portion (a portion where there is no coating material and the cladding is exposed) extending from both sides of the collective covering portion 43a. In each fiber hole 41 c of the ferrule body 41, an insertion fiber portion 43 b that is a bare optical fiber portion extending forward from the collective coating portion 43 b of the built-in optical fiber 43 is fixedly inserted.

Also, a fusion extending portion 43c, which is a bare optical fiber portion extending from the collective covering portion 43a to the opposite side of the insertion fiber portion 43b, extends from the ferrule 40 to the rear side.
As shown in FIG. 5 (b), the sleeve fixing portion 42 has a flat cylindrical shape extending along the ferrule width direction which is a direction coinciding with the longitudinal direction of the joining end surface 41a of the ferrule body 41. The inner space is also a through hole having an elongated cross section extending along the ferrule width direction. The plurality of built-in optical fibers 43 of the ferrule 40 are arranged side by side in the ferrule width direction in the ferrule body 41, and are also arranged side by side in the ferrule width direction in the inner space of the sleeve fixing portion 42.

The built-in optical fiber 43 is provided by bonding and fixing the insertion fiber portion 43b inserted into the fiber hole 41c of the ferrule body 41 using an adhesive. However, the built-in optical fiber 43 is, for example, only adhesive fixing of the collective covering portion 43a to the sleeve fixing portion 42, or adhesive fixing of the collective covering portion 43a to the sleeve fixing portion 42 and the interpolating fiber portion 43b to the ferrule body 41. Both of these adhesive fixing methods may be applied.
The built-in optical fiber 43 may have a configuration in which, for example, the collective covering portion 43a does not exist and the entire length is a bare optical fiber.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), on the inner surface side of the front end portion of the plug frame 31, a flange portion 41g provided in a flange shape around the rear end portion of the ferrule 40 is brought into contact. A stopper protrusion 31a is provided. The ferrule 40 is restricted from further movement to the front side with respect to the housing 30 by the flange portion 41g coming into contact with the stopper protrusion 31a from the rear side.

As shown in FIGS. 2 (b), 3 (a), 3 (b), and 4, the stop ring 32 has a rectangular tube-shaped front tube portion 32a and a rectangular tube shape slightly narrower than the front tube portion 32a. And a rear cylinder part 32b extending rearward from the rear end of the front cylinder part 32a.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the spring 50 is accommodated in the front tube portion 32a. The stop ring 32 has a sleeve shape in which the inner space of the rear cylinder portion 32b and the inner space of the front cylinder portion 32a are communicated with each other. The spring 50 (specifically, a coil spring) has a center axis substantially aligned with the center axis of the housing 30 due to contact with the inner surface of the front cylinder part 32a, and one end of the spring 50 (rear side of the front cylinder part 32a) It is positioned so as to be seated on a step 32c portion between the cylindrical portion 32b. The step 32c is provided over the entire circumference of the rear end portion of the front cylinder portion 32a, and the spring 50 is seated so as to contact the step 32c over the entire circumference.
Here, as the spring 32, an elliptical inner shape that substantially coincides with (or is slightly larger than) the inner periphery of the opening of the through hole 63 (FIG. 4) having an elliptical cross section on the rear end surface of the slider 60. A coil spring having a circumference is adopted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the slider 60 is a long cylindrical part having a rectangular cross section (cross sectional outer shape is rectangular) extending along the longitudinal direction of the housing 30.
One end (rear end) of the slider 60 is an insertion portion 62 accommodated in the front cylinder portion 32a of the stop ring 32 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction of the housing 30 (the direction along the central axis of the housing 30). ing.
An inner space of the slider 60 is a through hole 63 having an oval cross section that substantially coincides with the inner space of the rear cylinder portion 32 b of the stop ring 32.

  The insertion portion 62 is formed in an external rectangular tube shape having an outer peripheral surface having a shape substantially coinciding with the inner peripheral surface of the front cylindrical portion 32a of the stop ring 32, and slides on the inner peripheral surface of the front cylindrical portion 32a. It moves in the front-rear direction of the housing 30 with respect to the stop ring 32 (back and forth movement) while in contact therewith. The slider 60 is restricted from rotating around its central axis with respect to the stop ring 32 by contact between the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 62 and the inner peripheral surface of the front tube portion 32a.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the slider 60 has a trailing end protruding into the front cylinder portion 32a of the stop ring 32 (see FIG. 2B). The position abutted from the front side (not shown in other figures) is the rear limit position of movement relative to the stop ring 32. The slider stopper protrusion 32h protrudes at the four corners of the inner peripheral surface of the front cylinder part 32a having an inner space with a rectangular cross section so as to avoid contact with the spring 50 accommodated in the front cylinder part 32a. It is provided so that the elastic deformation of the spring 50 is not hindered.

As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3 </ b> B, and 4, the slider 60 is provided with a retaining engagement protrusion 64 for retaining the stopper ring 32 on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 62. ing. The retaining engagement protrusion 64 is inserted into an engagement window 32e formed on the front cylindrical portion 32a of the stop ring 32.
The portion of the front cylindrical portion 32a of the stop ring 32 that is located on the front side of the engagement window 32e is engaged with the retaining projection 64 for preventing the slider 60 from being engaged, so that the slider 60 is further forward. , And functions as a retaining engagement portion 32 i for retaining the slider 60 from the stop ring 32. In the optical connector 10, the slider 60 is attached to the stop ring 32 by engagement of a retaining engagement protrusion 64 protruding from the insertion portion 62 and a retaining engagement portion 32 i of the stop ring 32. On the other hand, it is provided to prevent it from coming off.

  The forward movement limit position of the ferrule 40 relative to the housing 30 is a position where the flange 41g of the ferrule 40 abuts against the stopper protrusion 31a (FIG. 2B) of the plug frame 31 from the rear side, and the slider The forward movement limit position 60 of the stop ring 32 and the housing 30 is a position where the slider 60 comes into contact with the ferrule 40 that has reached the forward movement limit position. In the state where the stop ring 32 is not attached to the plug frame 31, the contact position (engagement position) of the retaining protrusion 64 for preventing the slider 60 with respect to the retaining part 32i for retaining the stop ring 32 is shown. In the state in which the stop ring 32 is attached to the plug frame 31 and the optical connector 10 is assembled, before the retaining engagement protrusion 64 of the slider 60 comes into contact with the retaining engagement portion 32i of the stop ring 32, the front side The slider 60 comes into contact with the ferrule 40 that has reached the movement limit position of the slider 60 from the rear side, and this contact position becomes the movement limit position of the slider 60 toward the front side.

  Note that the engagement window 32e of the stop ring 32 has a clearance C (see FIG. 4) in a state where the engagement protrusion 64 for preventing the slider 60 from being inserted is inserted in order to allow the slider 60 to move back and forth with respect to the stop ring 32. ) Is secured (size in the front-rear direction), but the position at which the slider 60 comes into contact with the ferrule 40 that has reached the movement limit position toward the front side (movement of the slider 60 toward the front side). The movable range in the front-rear direction with respect to the stop ring 32 of the slider 60 determined by the limit position) and the contact position of the rear end of the slider 50 with respect to the slider stopper protrusion 32h (see FIG. 2B) of the stop ring 32 is The clearance C is smaller than the longitudinal dimension.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the slider 60 has a rear end face (rear end face, that is, a rear end face of the insertion portion 62) in contact with the spring 50 from the front side. Here, as the spring 32, a coil spring having an oval inner periphery that substantially coincides with (or is slightly larger than) the inner periphery of the opening of the through hole 63 (FIG. 4) on the rear end surface of the slider 60. The rear end surface of the slider 60 is in contact with the front end of the spring 50 over the entire circumference.

As shown in FIG. 4, the optical connector 10 includes the stop ring 32, the slider 60 provided so as not to be detached from the stop ring 32, and the spring 50 housed in the stop ring 32. A spring pressure application unit 33 is provided. In the spring pressure application unit 33, the slider 60 is provided so as not to be detached from the stop ring 32, so that the spring 50 is prevented from dropping from the stop ring 32 by the slider 60.
For this reason, when assembling the housing 30, the stop ring 32 is attached (assembled) to the plug frame 31, whereby the housing of the spring 50 and the slider 60 constituting the spring pressure application unit 33 can be completed. That is, there is no need to individually house the spring 50 and the slider 60 in the housing 30, which is advantageous in terms of improving workability in assembling the housing 30. Thereby, the assembly work of the optical connector 10 to the optical fiber cord 2 terminal at the site can be easily performed.

  The boot 11 may be fixed by fitting the stop ring 32 into the plug frame 31 and then fitting it into the stop ring 32. However, the spring pressure application unit 33 in the illustrated example is fitted into the stop ring 32. Since the boot 11 fixed in this way is also included, the stop ring 32 can be fitted and attached to the plug frame 31 and the installation of the boot 11 can be completed at the same time.

  The retaining engagement protrusions 64 are sliders so as to correspond to engagement windows 32e respectively formed on a pair of side walls parallel to each other among the four side walls of the square frame-shaped front cylindrical portion 32a of the stop ring 32. However, the number of the retaining protrusions 64 and the engagement windows 32e is not limited to this, and can be changed as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the slider 60 has a fusion extending portion 43 c protruding from the rear end of the ferrule 40 of the built-in optical fiber 43 inserted and fixed in the ferrule 40 in the through-hole 63. A connection having a structure in which a fusion splicing portion 3 with an optical fiber ribbon 2 a exposed at the end of the optical fiber cord 2 is embedded in a resin provided inside a reinforcing sleeve 21 that accommodates the fusion splicing portion 3. The reinforcement part 20 is accommodated.
In this optical connector 10, since the slider 60 is disposed so as to surround the connection reinforcing portion 20, the connection reinforcing portion 20 can be double protected by the housing 30 and the slider 60. More reliable protection can be realized against collisions of colliding objects with the optical connector 10.
Further, since the slider 60 also functions as a reinforcing material for reinforcing the housing 30, the so-called side pull (an optical transmission body (here, the optical fiber cord 2) extending from the rear end of the optical connector 10) is inclined with respect to the central axis of the housing 30. The deformation of the housing 30 against the action of a pulling force in the direction in which the force is large) can be suppressed, and this is also advantageous for protecting the connection reinforcing portion 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 2B, 3 </ b> A, and 3 </ b> B, in this optical connector 10, the tip surface 65 of the cylindrical main body 61 of the slider 60 is formed on the ferrule main body 41 of the ferrule 40. Abutting on the rear end surfaces 41 b on both sides of the sleeve fixing portion 42 from the rear side, the spring pressure of the spring 50 can be applied to the ferrule 40 via the slider 60. When the optical connector 10 is connected to the connector, when the ferrule 40 is pushed into the housing 30 (moves rearward with respect to the housing 30), the slider 60 is also moved rearward and the spring 50 is compressed and deformed. In the optical connector 10, since the slider 60 can be elastically biased toward the ferrule 40 by the spring 50 of the spring pressure application unit 33, the spring pressure of the spring 50 is thereby ferruled through the slider 60. 40, the butting force between the ferrules when the connector is connected can be secured.

  That is, the slider 60 is interposed between the ferrule main body 41 of the ferrule 40 and the spring 50 provided at a position spaced rearward from the ferrule 40, and the optical connector 10 includes the spring 50. The urging force is transmitted to the ferrule 40 via the slider 60. The slider 60 also functions as an urging force transmission member that transmits the urging force of the spring 50 to the ferrule 40.

Next, the connection reinforcing part 20 will be described.
2 (b), 3 (a), and 3 (b), as described above, the connection reinforcing portion 20 is provided after the ferrule 40 of the built-in optical fiber 43 that is inserted and fixed to the ferrule 40. Reinforcing the fusion splicing portion 3 between the fusion splicing extension portion 43 c protruding from the end and the optical fiber cord core 2 a exposed (extending) from the end of the optical fiber cord 2. The structure is embedded in a resin 22 provided inside the sleeve 21. In the connection reinforcing portion 20, the mechanical strength of the connection portion between the optical fibers is improved (reinforced) by the reinforcing sleeve 21 and the resin 22.

  One end of the reinforcing sleeve 21 of the connection reinforcing portion 20 is externally fixed to the sleeve fixing portion 42 at the rear end portion of the ferrule 40, and the other end is the end of the optical fiber cord 2 (the front end portion of the jacket 2c). ) Is fixed by extrapolation. For this reason, in the optical connector 10 and the optical fiber cord 1 with a connector, the ferrule 40 and the connection reinforcing portion 20, and the optical fiber cord 2 terminal and the connection reinforcing portion 20 are integrated.

In the optical connector 10 of the optical fiber cord 1 with connector of the illustrated example, the end of the optical fiber cord 2 (tip of the outer cover 2c) is the rear end of the housing 30 (specifically, the rear end of the stop ring 32). The optical fiber cord 2 is inserted into a boot through hole 11a penetrating in the longitudinal direction of an elongated boot 11 that is assembled by being externally attached to the rear cylinder portion 32b of the stop ring 32. However, the optical fiber cord 2 is not fixed to the boot 11 but is movable along the longitudinal direction of the boot 11.
For example, when the ferrule 40 is pushed into the housing 30 by the connector connecting operation of the optical connector 10 (when moved to the rear side), the optical fiber cord with connector 1 includes the ferrule 40 and the connection reinforcing portion. 20 and the optical fiber cord 2 end are moved together with respect to the housing 30.

  As described above, the ferrule 40A with the connection reinforcing portion in which the connection reinforcing portion 20 is integrally provided on the ferrule 40 has the slider 60 in contact with the ferrule 40 that has reached the movement limit position toward the front side. The housing 30 has a movable range in the front-rear direction with respect to the stop ring 32 of the slider 60, which is determined by the position of the slider 50 and the contact position of the rear end of the slider 50 with respect to the slider stopper protrusion 32 h (see FIG. 2B). Can be moved back and forth (see FIGS. 3A and 3B).

Further, according to the optical fiber cord 1 with a connector, for example, the optical connector 10 extends rearward from the optical connector 10 of the optical fiber cord 2 in a state where the optical connector 10 is fitted to an adapter (optical connector adapter), an optical connector receptacle or the like. When a pulling force is applied to the protruding portion, the rear end of the slider 50 abuts against the slider stopper protrusion 32h (FIG. 2B) of the stop ring 32, so that the housing 30 of the ferrule 40A with a connection reinforcing portion is provided. Further movement backward with respect to is restricted. As a result, the connector connection is released, that is, the distance between the ferrule 40 of the optical connector 10 of the optical fiber cord 1 with a connector and the ferrule on the other side where the ferrule 40 is abutted is separated in the adapter or the receptacle. Can be prevented.
With this configuration, according to the optical fiber cord with connector 1, when the optical connector 10 is inserted into and fitted into a positioning housing such as an optical connector adapter or an optical connector receptacle, the optical connection within the positioning housing is performed. The distance between the reference surface and the mechanical reference surface can be kept below the minimum value of the standard.

Here, the reinforcing sleeve 21 employs a heat shrinkable tube, and the reinforcing sleeve 21 is firmly fixed by tightening the sleeve fixing portion 42 of the ferrule 40 and the end of the optical fiber cord 2 by the contraction force of the heat shrinkable tube. Has been. The reinforcing sleeve 21 is a resin tube (here, a heat-shrinkable tube) having an oval cross section as shown in FIG. 4 before heat-shrinking.
As the reinforcing sleeve 21, one made of a heat-shrinkable resin is used, and for example, polyolefin that shrinks at 100 to 160 ° C. can be used.

The resin 22 is a thermoplastic resin here.
As the thermoplastic resin 22, a hot melt resin (hot melt adhesive) can be suitably used. Examples of the hot melt resin include ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), polyethylene, polyisobutylene, polyamide, and ethylene-acrylic acid ester copolymer.
The thermoplastic resin 22 is preferably softened at the contraction temperature of the reinforcing sleeve 21. This softening temperature is, for example, 100 to 160 ° C.

  When assembling the connection reinforcing portion 20, as shown in FIG. 7, the reinforcing sleeve 21 provided with the thermoplastic resin on the inner surface side (reinforcing sleeve 21 </ b> A with embedding resin) is preferably used. Can do. Specifically, the reinforcing sleeve 21 has a configuration in which a thermoplastic resin is attached to the inner surface side thereof. Specifically, the thermoplastic resin is attached to the inner surface of the reinforcing sleeve 21 in a layered manner by a coating layer, molding, or the like to form a thermoplastic resin layer 22a. The thermoplastic resin layer 22 a is not limited to the one that is attached to the inner surface of the reinforcing sleeve 21, and may be a tube-like one that is separate from the reinforcing sleeve 21.

The connection reinforcing portion 20 is a state in which a thermoplastic resin is housed in the reinforcing sleeve 21 together with the fusion splicing portion 3 (in this embodiment, the reinforcing sleeve 21A with the embedding resin is used to melt the thermoplastic resin into the reinforcing sleeve 21. By simply storing the splice connection portion 3, the thermoplastic resin is also stored), and the entire reinforcing sleeve 21 and its contents (the fusion splicing portion 3 and the thermoplastic resin) are heated to provide the thermoplastic resin 22 (heat The plastic resin layer 22a) is melted and the reinforcing sleeve 21 is heat-shrinked for assembly.
Here, the molten thermoplastic resin 22 is inserted between the sleeve fixing portion 42 of the ferrule 40 and a portion (one end) of the reinforcing sleeve 21 that is extrapolated to the sleeve fixing portion 42, and the end of the optical fiber cord 2 (in detail). When the thermoplastic resin 22 is solidified by the temperature drop, by interposing between the end portion of the outer sheath 2c) and the portion (the other end) of the reinforcing sleeve 21 that is extrapolated to the end of the optical fiber cord 2, The reinforcing sleeve 21 can be fixed to the sleeve fixing portion 42 of the ferrule 40 and the optical fiber cord 2 end by the plastic resin 22.

  The use of the reinforcing sleeve 21 provided with the thermoplastic resin on the inner surface side is such that the molten thermoplastic resin 22 is extrapolated to the sleeve fixing portion 42 of the ferrule 40 and the sleeve fixing portion 42 of the reinforcing sleeve 21 (one end). ) And between the end of the optical fiber cord 2 (specifically, the tip of the outer sheath 2c) and the portion of the reinforcing sleeve 21 that is extrapolated to the end of the optical fiber cord 2 (the other end). It goes without saying that it is advantageous.

In this way, between the sleeve fixing portion 42 of the ferrule 40 and the portion (one end) of the reinforcing sleeve 21 that is extrapolated to the sleeve fixing portion 42, the optical fiber cord 2 end (specifically, the distal end portion of the jacket 2 c) The reinforcing sleeve 21 is attached to the sleeve fixing portion 42 of the ferrule 40 and the two ends of the optical fiber cord by a thermoplastic resin interposed between a portion (the other end) of the reinforcing sleeve 21 that is extrapolated to the end of the optical fiber cord 2. As long as the structure can be fixed, the fixing can be performed without using a heat-shrinkable tube as the reinforcing sleeve.
For this reason, the present invention also includes a configuration in which a sleeve other than the heat shrinkable tube (resin tube having heat shrinkability), for example, a resin tube having no heat shrinkability, is used as the reinforcing sleeve 21. Further, as the reinforcing sleeve 21, the one having the thermoplastic resin (for example, the above-described thermoplastic resin layer 22 a) on the inner surface side (the reinforcing sleeve 21 </ b> A with the embedding resin) is used as the reinforcing sleeve 21. It is preferable.
The reinforcing sleeve is preferably flexible. Here, as the reinforcing sleeve 21, one having flexibility before and after thermal contraction is employed.

  On the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve fixing portion 42 of the ferrule 40, a concave portion or a convex portion such as a groove for increasing the pulling resistance of the reinforcing sleeve 21 from the sleeve fixing portion 42 may be formed. As described above, when the concave portion or the convex portion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve fixing portion 42, the pull-out resistance of the reinforcing sleeve 21 from the sleeve fixing portion 42 can be mechanically improved, and the sleeve fixing portion The thermoplastic resin 22 can be easily interposed between the reinforcing sleeve 21 and the reinforcing sleeve 21, which is advantageous in terms of securing the fixing force of the thermoplastic resin 22.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2B, 3A, and 3B, in this optical fiber cord 1 with a connector, the tensile body 2b extended from the end of the optical fiber cord 2 is connected to the connection member. It is embedded and fixed in the resin 22 (thermoplastic resin) inside the reinforcing sleeve 21 of the reinforcing portion 3. Thereby, the pulling-out proof strength from the connection reinforcement part 3 of the optical connector 10 of the optical fiber cord 1 with a connector is improved significantly.

  Next, an assembling method for assembling the optical connector 10 on the optical fiber cord 2 terminal (an assembling method of the optical connector) will be described. It goes without saying that an optical fiber cord with a connector (optical transmission body with a connector) can be obtained by assembling the optical connector 10 at the end of the optical fiber cord 2 by this assembling method. For this reason, in other words, this assembly method can also be said to be an assembly method of an optical transmission body with a connector.

  This assembling method is a fusion splicing step in which the fusion extending portion 43c of the built-in optical fiber 43 of the ferrule 40 and the optical fiber ribbon 2a extending from the end of the optical fiber cord 2 are fusion spliced (FIG. 8). After performing the connection reinforcement part 20, the connection reinforcement part assembly process (refer FIG.2 (b), FIG.3 (a), (b)) which obtains the ferrule 40A with a connection reinforcement part by assembling is performed, Then, the said plug By attaching the stop ring 32 to the frame 31 and assembling the housing 30, a housing assembling step for housing the ferrule 40 </ b> A with connection reinforcing portion and the spring 50 in the housing 30 is performed. Upon completion of the housing assembly process, the optical connector 10 is assembled to the end of the optical fiber cord 2, and the optical fiber cord 1 with connector (optical transmission body with connector) is obtained.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the fusion splicing step, the fusion extending portion 43c of the built-in optical fiber 43 of the ferrule 40 and the optical fiber tape core wire 2a extending from the end of the optical fiber cord 2 (here, a single core) The bare optical fiber 2d exposed by removing the coating on the tip of the optical fiber core wire) is fused and connected by, for example, an arc discharge type fusion splicer using a discharge electrode.
This fusion splicing operation is performed in a state in which the reinforcing sleeve 21, the stop ring 32, the spring 50, the slider 60, and the boot 11 are extrapolated in advance to the optical fiber cord 2 and are arranged at positions that do not interfere with the operation.

  In the connection reinforcing portion assembling step, as shown in FIGS. 2B, 3A, and 3B, first, the built-in optical fiber 43 of the ferrule 40 and the optical fiber tape core 2a of the optical fiber cord 2 are used. A reinforcing sleeve 21 (here, a reinforcing sleeve 21A with a resin for embedding) is extrapolated to the fusion splicing portion 3, and one end of the reinforcing sleeve 21 is extrapolated to a sleeve fixing portion 42 of the ferrule 40. The end is extrapolated to the end of the optical fiber cord 2. Further, the strength member 2b extended from the end of the optical fiber cord 2 is also accommodated in the reinforcing sleeve 21.

  Next, the reinforcing sleeve 21 and its contents (the fusion connecting portion 3 and the thermoplastic resin) are heated in a state where the fusion splicing portion 3 is housed in the embedding resin-equipped reinforcing sleeve 21 </ b> A. The thermoplastic resin (thermoplastic resin layer 22a) is heated and melted, and the reinforcing sleeve 21, which is a heat shrinkable tube, is heat shrunk. This heating is performed to a temperature higher than the heat shrinkage temperature of the reinforcing sleeve 21 and the melting temperature of the thermoplastic resin.

  In this connection reinforcing portion assembling step, the reinforcing sleeve 21A with the embedding resin is used, so that the reinforcing sleeve 21A with the embedding resin can be melted inside the reinforcing sleeve 21 simply by extrapolating the fusion sleeve 21A. Although it is possible to easily obtain a state in which the landing connection portion 3 and the thermoplastic resin are accommodated, the present invention does not use the reinforcing sleeve 21A with the embedding resin, and does not use the reinforcing sleeve 21A in the connection reinforcing portion assembly process. It also includes storing a thermoplastic resin separately. As the thermoplastic resin stored in the reinforcing sleeve 21, for example, a rod-shaped one or a granular one can be adopted. However, as described above, if the configuration uses the reinforcing sleeve with embedded resin 21A having the configuration in which the thermoplastic resin layer 22a is provided on the inner surface side of the reinforcing sleeve 21, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of storing work, so on site work, preferable.

After the reinforcing sleeve 21 and its entire contents are heated, the reinforcing sleeve 21 is thermally contracted and the thermoplastic resin is heated and melted, and then cooled (cooled down), for example, by being left at room temperature, to solidify the thermoplastic resin. The fusion-bonding portion 3 is embedded in the thermoplastic resin 22 thus solidified, and one end of the reinforcing sleeve 21 is interposed between the one end and the sleeve fixing portion 42 of the ferrule 40. To be fixed to the sleeve fixing portion. Further, the tensile body 2b is fixed in the thermoplastic resin while being embedded.
Further, the other end of the reinforcing sleeve 21 is fixed to the sleeve fixing portion 42 by the thermoplastic resin 22 interposed between the other end and the optical fiber cord 2 end.

In the housing assembling step, after the connection reinforcing portion assembling step, the housing 30 is assembled by attaching the stop ring 32 to the plug frame 31, as shown in FIGS. 2 (b), 3 (a) and 3 (b). As a result, the ferrule 40 </ b> A with connection reinforcing portion, the spring 50, and the slider 60 are accommodated in the housing 30.
The optical connector 10 of the optical fiber cord 1 with the connector includes a spring pressure application unit 33 (see FIG. 4 and the like), and the stop ring 32 of the spring pressure application unit 33 is attached (assembled) to the plug frame 31. The operation of housing the ferrule 40A with connection reinforcing portion, the spring 50, and the slider 60 in the housing 30 can be easily performed.

In addition, the attachment (assembly) of the stop ring 32 to the plug frame 31 of the optical fiber cord 1 with the connector and the optical connector 10 is specifically engaged by pushing the stop ring 32 into the plug frame 31 from the rear side. This is realized.
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the stop ring 32 is inserted into the plug frame 31, and the engagement protrusions 32 g protruding from both sides of the front cylinder portion 32 a of the stop ring 32 are connected to the rear end of the plug frame 31. The engagement of the stop ring 32 from the plug frame 31 is restricted by fitting into the engagement windows 31 c formed in the wall portions on both sides of the plug frame 31 and engaging with the plug frame 31. It will be in the assembled state.

  According to the present invention, the fusion splicing portion 3 between the built-in optical fiber 43 inserted and fixed to the ferrule 40 and the optical fiber ribbon 2a of the optical transmission body (here, the optical fiber cord 2) is the fusion splicing portion. 3 is housed in the housing 30 of the optical connector 10, and the connection reinforcing portion 20 is connected to the reinforcing sleeve 21 of the reinforcing sleeve 21. One end of the ferrule 40 is integrated with the ferrule 40 by extrapolating and fixing to the sleeve fixing portion 42 at the rear end of the ferrule 40. Thereby, when the ferrule 40A is pushed into the housing 30 (when pushed into the optical transmission body) during connector connection, the optical fiber (in this embodiment) between the ferrule 40A and the fusion splicing portion 3 is used. The bending extension 43c) of the built-in optical fiber can be prevented from being bent, and the optical characteristics of the built-in optical fiber 43 can be prevented from deteriorating.

  If the connection reinforcing portion 20 is integrated with the ferrule 40 as described above (ferrule 40A with connection reinforcing portion), the built-in optical fiber 43 inserted and fixed to the ferrule 40 and the optical fiber of the optical transmission body In order to secure the workability of the fusion splicing with the tape core wire 2a, even if the protruding length of the built-in optical fiber 43 from the ferrule 40 to the rear side is increased, the distance between the ferrule 40 and the fusion splicing portion 3 is Needless to say, it is possible to prevent bending of the optical fiber (built-in optical fiber. In this embodiment, the fusion extending portion 43c of the built-in optical fiber). For this reason, good workability can be ensured in the fusion splicing work.

(Modification)
As the reinforcing sleeve, for example, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, a configuration in which a reinforcing core member 23 a extending in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing sleeve is embedded may be employed. In the figure, reference numeral 23 is given to this reinforcing sleeve. The reinforcing core material 23 a is embedded over the entire length of the reinforcing sleeve 23.
9 and 10 exemplify a reinforcing sleeve with an embedding resin having a configuration in which a thermoplastic resin layer 22a is provided on the inner surface side of the reinforcing sleeve 23. FIG.

  The reinforcing core material 23a is, for example, a rod-shaped tensile body made of stainless steel such as SUS304, and this tension is reduced by relaxing the tension applied to the bare optical fibers 43c and 2d including the fusion splicing portion 3. This effectively contributes to preventing the optical fiber from being broken due to the above. Needless to say, the reinforcing core member 23a effectively contributes to prevention of bending and bending of the connection reinforcing portion 20A assembled integrally with the ferrule 40 using the reinforcing sleeve 23 with respect to bending stress.

Further, in terms of prevention of bending and bending against the bending stress of the connection reinforcing portion 20A, as shown in FIG. 10, one end of the reinforcing sleeve 23 is connected to the sleeve fixing portion of the ferrule 40 together with the reinforcing core material 23a in the connection reinforcing portion assembling step. It is preferable to fix to 42.
This configuration is effective in securing the rigidity of the portion where the front end portion (end portion on the ferrule 40 side) of the connection reinforcing portion 20A, in particular, the front end (one end) of the reinforcing sleeve 23 is externally fixed to the sleeve fixing portion 42 of the ferrule 40. Yes, it is possible to prevent the front end portion of the connection reinforcing portion 20A from being bent or broken.

Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist thereof.
(1) The optical fiber cord is not limited to a configuration in which one optical fiber ribbon is housed in the jacket. For example, a configuration in which a plurality of single-core optical fibers are housed, a plurality of light A configuration in which a fiber tape core is accommodated, a configuration in which one or more optical fiber tapes and a single optical fiber core are accommodated, or the like can also be employed. In either case, by using a multi-core ferrule corresponding to the number of optical fiber cord cores (the total number of optical fiber cores housed inside), the optical fiber cord core is attached to the end of the optical fiber cord. A multi-fiber optical connector corresponding to the number can be assembled, and an optical transmission body with a connector can be obtained.

(2) The optical transmission body having a configuration in which the optical fiber and the tensile body extending along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber are covered with the outer sheath is not limited to the optical fiber cord. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, an optical fiber 4a and a tensile body 4b disposed on both sides of the optical fiber 4 and extending along the optical fiber 4a are embedded in a covering material 4c (exterior covering). An optical fiber cable 4 or the like having a configuration can also be used. Examples of the optical fiber cable 4 having such a configuration include an optical drop cable and an optical indoor cable. As the optical fiber 4a, an optical fiber core, an optical fiber, or the like is used. As the tensile body 4b, for example, a tensile member (tensile fiber) excellent in tensile strength and elasticity such as aramid fiber and FRP is employed.

(3) The optical transmission body according to the present invention is not limited to a configuration in which an optical fiber and a tensile body extending along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber are covered with an outer sheath. It is also possible to use the line itself as an optical transmitter. Hereinafter, this optical transmission body with a connector is also referred to as an optical fiber with a connector. For example, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the optical fiber ribbon 5 itself can be used as an optical transmission body. Reference numeral 1A in the drawing is added to the optical transmission body with connector (optical fiber with connector) illustrated in FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b).

  In this case, when assembling the optical connector at the tip (terminal) of the optical fiber ribbon 5, the bare optical fiber 5 a led to the tip of the optical fiber ribbon and the built-in optical fiber 43 of the ferrule 40 are fusion-bonded. To do. Then, as in the case of the optical fiber cord, a fusion sleeve (in this case, a reinforcement sleeve with an embedding resin) is extrapolated to the fusion splicing portion 3, and the fusion splicing portion 3 is inserted into a thermoplastic resin that has been cooled and solidified after heating and melting. Is embedded to form the connection reinforcing portion 20B, and the ferrule 40B with the connection reinforcing portion is obtained. As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B, the reinforcing sleeve 21 extrapolated to the tip (end) of the optical fiber ribbon 5 is not in contact with the optical fiber ribbon 5, but the heat A plastic resin is interposed between the reinforcing sleeve 21 and the optical fiber ribbon 5 so as to embed the clearance, and the reinforcing sleeve 21 is fixed to the optical fiber ribbon 5 by the interposed thermoplastic resin. ing.

(4) As the reinforcing sleeve with resin for embedding, an outer tube 25b (flexible resin) for accommodating the inner tube 25a made of thermoplastic resin, like the reinforcing sleeve with resin for embedding 25 shown in FIG. A tensile sleeve (strength fiber 25c) having excellent tensile strength and elasticity such as aramid fiber, FRP, etc., as a tensile body is provided along the longitudinal direction of the outer tube 25b (vertical length). Attached) Like an embedded structure or a reinforcing sleeve 26 with an embedded resin shown in FIG. 13B, an inner tube 26a made of thermoplastic resin and an outer tube 26b (flexible) for accommodating the inner tube 26a Reinforcement sleeves, such as heat-shrinkable tubes (for example, heat-shrinkable tubes), tensile strength of aramid fibers, FRP, etc. Can be employed those degrees and elasticity excellent strength members (tensile strength fiber 26c) along the longitudinal direction of the inner tube 26a and an outer tube 26b (Tatesoe) configuration are interposed so extend.

In the reinforcing sleeve 25 with embedded resin in FIG. 13A, a number of tensile strength fibers 25c are provided over the entire cross-section of the outer tube 25b. In the reinforcing sleeve 26 with embedded resin in FIG. 13B, a number of tensile strength fibers 26c are provided between the inner tube 26a and the outer tube 26b over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction.
When a bending stress is applied to the connection reinforcing portion, a tensile force acts on the outer peripheral side of the bending of the connection reinforcing portion due to the bending stress. However, the tensile strength member vertically attached to the reinforcing sleeve like the above-described reinforcing sleeve If the (strength fiber) is provided over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the reinforcing sleeve, the tensile force acting on the outer peripheral side of the bending of the connection reinforcing portion due to bending stress is applied to the tensile body (particularly, the bending of the connecting reinforcing portion). The tensile force applied to the internal optical fiber can be alleviated by the burden of the tensile body located on the outer peripheral side. Needless to say, the bending of the connection reinforcing portion can be alleviated.

(5) The structure of the slider may be any structure that can transmit the elastic biasing force of the spring to the ferrule. In this regard, for example, a configuration including a plurality of rod-like or elongated plate-like pressing pieces 67 extending from the insertion portion 62 (the pressing piece 67 in the illustrated example is an elongated plate shape), such as a slider 60A shown in FIG. Is possible. The pressing piece 67 of the slider 60 </ b> A illustrated in FIG. 14 has a tip surface 67 a that comes into contact with the flange portion 42 a of the ferrule 40 from the rear side.
In the case where the number of the pressing pieces 67 is two, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the two pressing pieces 67 are configured to face each other on both sides of the connection reinforcing portion 20, so that the ferrule is evenly pressed. However, it is preferable. When there are three or more pressing pieces, the pressing pieces are preferably arranged so as to surround the connection reinforcing portion.

(6) Although the optical connector of the above-described embodiment has an example in which the guide pin hole 41f of the ferrule body 41 of the ferrule 40 is empty (no guide pin is included), it is not limited to this, and FIG. As shown to a) and (b), it is also possible to comprise a guide pin 41h fitted in the guide pin hole 41f and a pin clamp 41i for preventing the guide pin 41h from coming off.
In this case, as shown in FIGS. 15 (a) and 15 (b), the pins are housed in pin housing grooves 42a (see FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b)) formed on both sides of the sleeve fixing portion 42 of the ferrule 40, respectively. The rear ends of the pair of guide pins 41h are fixed by using a pin clamp 41i disposed on the rear end side of the sleeve fixing portion 42 and are prevented from coming off. In this case, the pin clamp 41 i is embedded in the thermoplastic resin 22 inside the reinforcing sleeve 21.

(7) As an optical connector, an optical connector having a structure in which a multi-fiber ferrule is built-in, that is, the joint in which a plurality of built-in optical fibers are inserted and fixed and the tips of these built-in optical fibers are exposed side by side and in an arrayed state. What is necessary is just to comprise the ferrule which has an end surface, and it is not limited to a MPO type | mold optical connector, Various multi-core optical connectors can be employ | adopted.
For example, FIG. 16 illustrates a so-called MT-RJ type optical connector.
An optical connector 10A illustrated in FIG. 16 has a latch 34a that is removably engaged with a positioning housing such as the optical connector adapter 6 in the housing 34 thereof.
Further, as the ferrule 45 of the optical connector 10A, a so-called mini-MT connector ferrule is usually used. The mini-MT connector ferrule can realize connector connection by a pin coupling positioning method similar to that of the MT type optical connector. In FIGS. 16A and 16B, reference numeral 45a is a guide pin hole for fitting the guide pin. Here, it goes without saying that the reinforcement sleeve can be externally fixed by adopting a structure in which a sleeve fixing portion protrudes from the rear end side of the mini-MT connector ferrule. Thereby, the assembly of a connection reinforcement part, a ferrule with a connection reinforcement part, and an optical transmission body with a connector can be performed similarly to the above-mentioned embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical transmission body with connector (optical fiber cord with connector), 1A ... Optical transmission body with connector (optical fiber with connector), 2 ... Optical transmission body (optical fiber cord), 2a ... Optical fiber (optical fiber tape core wire) ), 2b ... tensile body (strength fiber), 2c ... outer sheath (outer coating), 2d ... bare optical fiber, 3 ... fusion splicer, 4 ... optical transmission body (optical fiber cable), 4a ... optical fiber, 4b ... Tensile body, 4c ... Exterior coating (coating material), 5 ... Optical transmission body (fiber optic tape core), 5a ... Bare optical fiber,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 10A ... Optical connector, 11 ... Boot, 20, 20A, 20B ... Connection reinforcement part, 21 ... Reinforcement sleeve, 22 ... Thermoplastic resin, 22a ... Thermoplastic resin (thermoplastic resin layer), 23 ... Reinforcement sleeve, 23a Reinforcement core, 25 ... Reinforcement sleeve with embedding resin, 25a ... Thermoplastic resin (inner tube), 25b ... Reinforcement sleeve (heat shrinkable tube, outer tube), 26 ... Reinforcement sleeve with embedding resin, 26a ... Thermoplastic resin (Inner tube), 26b ... reinforcing sleeve (heat-shrinkable tube, outer tube), 30 ... housing, 31 ... plug frame, 32 ... stop ring, 33 ... spring pressure application unit, 34 ... housing, 40 ... ferrule, 40A, 40B ... Ferrule with connection reinforcing part, 42 ... Sleeve fixing part, 43 ... Built-in optical fiber, 43c ... Fusion Extending portion, 45 ... ferrule, 50 ... spring, 60,60A ... slider.

Claims (22)

An optical transmission body with a connector in which an optical connector (10) is assembled at the tip of a multi-core optical fiber (5) which is an optical transmission body,
The optical connector includes a ferrule (40) in the housing (30), and a rear end opposite to the joint end surface (41a) on the front side of the ferrule of the built-in optical fiber (43) inserted and fixed to the ferrule. The fusion splicing portion (3) between the portion (43c) protruding from the optical fiber (1) is embedded in a resin provided inside the reinforcing sleeve (21) containing the fusion splicing portion. And a spring (50) for elastic biasing of the ferrule,
The ferrule includes a ferrule body having the joint end face in which a plurality of built-in optical fibers are inserted and fixed and the tips of the built-in optical fibers are exposed side by side and in an array state, and the ferrule body is opposite to the joint end face And a sleeve fixing portion (42) projecting in a cylindrical shape on the rear end side. One end of the reinforcing sleeve is externally fixed to the sleeve fixing portion, and the ferrule and the connection reinforcing portion are integrated. The optical fiber (1A) with a connector, wherein the built-in optical fiber protrudes from the ferrule body through the inside of the sleeve fixing portion to the rear side of the ferrule. A multi-fiber optical fiber (2a, 4a) and a tensile body (2b, 4b) extending along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber are covered with an outer sheath (2c, 4c). 4) An optical transmission body with a connector in which an optical connector (10) is assembled at the tip of
The optical connector includes a ferrule (40) in the housing (30), and a rear end opposite to the joint end surface (41a) on the front side of the ferrule of the built-in optical fiber (43) inserted and fixed to the ferrule. Reinforcement in which a fusion splicing portion (3) between the portion (43c) protruding from the optical fiber (2a, 4a) exposed at the end of the optical transmission body (2, 4) accommodates the fusion splicing portion A connection reinforcing portion embedded in a resin provided inside the sleeve (21), and a spring (50) for elastically urging the ferrule;
The ferrule includes a ferrule body having the joint end face in which a plurality of built-in optical fibers are inserted and fixed and the tips of the built-in optical fibers are exposed side by side and in an array state, and the ferrule body is opposite to the joint end face And a sleeve fixing portion (42) projecting in a cylindrical shape on the rear end side. One end of the reinforcing sleeve is externally fixed to the sleeve fixing portion, and the ferrule and the connection reinforcing portion are integrated. An optical transmission body with a connector (1), wherein the built-in optical fiber protrudes from the ferrule body through the inside of the sleeve fixing portion to the rear side of the ferrule.   3. The optical transmission with a connector according to claim 2, wherein the strength member extending from the end of the optical transmission body is embedded and fixed in a resin inside a reinforcing sleeve of the connection reinforcing portion. body.   The ferrule is a pin fitting positioning type ferrule that is positioned and butt-connected by fitting a pair of guide pins, and a guide pin hole into which the guide pin is fitted at two spaced apart positions of the ferrule body The optical transmission body with a connector according to claim 1, wherein the optical transmission body is formed so as to penetrate the ferrule body in the front-rear direction.   The terminal of the optical transmission body is inserted and fixed to the other end of the reinforcing sleeve opposite to the end fixed to the sleeve fixing portion (42) of the ferrule, and the terminal of the optical transmission body and the connection are connected. A reinforcing portion is integrated, and the ferrule, the connection reinforcing portion, and the end of the optical transmission body are integrally movable in a central axis direction of the sleeve-shaped housing. The optical transmission body with a connector in any one of Claims 1-4.   The optical transmission body with a connector according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing sleeve is a heat-shrinkable tube and the resin is a thermoplastic resin.   The housing has a sleeve shape, and a slider is provided in the housing so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, which is disposed on both sides of the connection reinforcing portion or around the connection reinforcing portion, and is along the central axis of the housing. The slider is interposed between a portion of the ferrule protruding from the sleeve fixing portion on both sides of the ferrule body and the spring provided at a position spaced rearward from the ferrule. The optical transmission body with a connector according to claim 1, wherein an urging force of a spring is transmitted to the ferrule through the slider. The housing comprises a sleeve-like plug frame (31) and a sleeve-like stop ring (32) attached to the plug frame,
The slider has an insertion portion in which a rear end portion opposite to an end portion on the ferrule side is housed in the stop ring so as to be movable in the front-rear direction of the housing, and the insertion portion is formed in the stop ring. A retaining protrusion for retaining to be engaged with the retaining portion that is retaining,
8. The optical transmission body with a connector according to claim 7, wherein the spring is housed in the stop ring, and the slider can be elastically biased toward the ferrule side by the spring.   A reinforcing core material extending in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing sleeve is embedded in the reinforcing sleeve, and an end portion provided at one end of the reinforcing sleeve of the reinforcing core material together with one end of the reinforcing sleeve, the ferrule The optical transmission body with a connector according to claim 1, wherein the optical transmission body is attached to a sleeve fixing portion.   The optical transmission body with a connector according to claim 1, wherein the optical connector is an MPO optical connector. An optical connector (10) assembled at the tip of a multi-core optical fiber (5) that is an optical transmission body,
The fusion between the ferrule (40) and the portion of the built-in optical fiber (43) inserted and fixed to the ferrule from the rear end opposite to the joint end surface (41a) of the ferrule and the optical fiber One end of the reinforcing sleeve (21) for storing the splicing connection portion (3), the spring (50) for elastically urging the ferrule, and the reinforcing sleeve (21) storing the fusion splicing portion Ferrule with connection reinforcing portion and spring which are assembled by inserting and fixing the fusion spliced portion in a resin provided inside the reinforcing sleeve and fixed to the cylindrical sleeve fixing portion (42) at the rear end portion of the ferrule A housing (30) for storing
The ferrule includes a ferrule body having the joint end surface in which a plurality of built-in optical fibers are inserted and fixed and the tips of the built-in optical fibers are exposed side by side and in an array state, and the sleeve fixing portion (42). The built-in optical fiber protrudes from the ferrule body through the inside of the sleeve fixing portion to the rear side of the ferrule,
The housing includes a sleeve-like plug frame (31) and a sleeve-like stop ring (32) to which the plug frame is attached. After assembling the ferrule with the connection reinforcing portion, the stop ring is attached to the plug frame. An optical connector characterized in that the ferrule with a connection reinforcing portion and the spring can be stored by being attached. A multi-fiber optical fiber (2a, 4a) and a tensile body (2b, 4b) extending along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber are covered with an outer sheath (2c, 4c). 4) an optical connector assembled at the tip of
A ferrule (40), a portion of the built-in optical fiber (43) inserted and fixed to the ferrule, protruding from the rear end opposite to the ferrule joining end surface (41a), and the optical transmission body (2 4) a reinforcing sleeve (21) for accommodating a fusion splicing part (3) with the optical fiber (2a, 4a) exposed at the end of the terminal, and a spring (50) for elastically biasing the ferrule. One end of the reinforcing sleeve (21) containing the fusion splicing portion is fixed to the tubular sleeve fixing portion (42) at the rear end portion of the ferrule and fixed inside the resin provided inside the reinforcing sleeve. A ferrule with a connection reinforcing portion that is assembled by embedding the fusion spliced portion and a housing (30) for housing the spring,
The ferrule includes a ferrule body having the joint end surface in which a plurality of built-in optical fibers are inserted and fixed and the tips of the built-in optical fibers are exposed side by side and in an array state, and the sleeve fixing portion (42). The built-in optical fiber protrudes from the ferrule body through the inside of the sleeve fixing portion to the rear side of the ferrule,
The housing includes a sleeve-like plug frame (31) and a sleeve-like stop ring (32) to which the plug frame is attached. After assembling the ferrule with the connection reinforcing portion, the stop ring is attached to the plug frame. An optical connector characterized in that the ferrule with a connection reinforcing portion and the spring can be stored by being attached. The housing has a sleeve shape, and is interposed between the flange (42a) of the ferrule and the spring that is housed in the stop ring and spaced apart from the ferrule in the housing. And arranged so as to surround both sides of the connection reinforcing portion or the connection reinforcing portion, and is provided so as to be movable in the front-rear direction which is a direction along the center axis of the housing, thereby transmitting the biasing force of the spring to the ferrule. Comprising a slider,
The slider has an insertion portion in which the rear end portion opposite to the ferrule end portion is housed in the stop ring so as to be movable in the front-rear direction of the housing,
Provided with the stop ring by being engaged with the retaining protrusion formed on the insertion portion and the retaining protrusion formed on the stop ring. The housing is assembled by attaching the stop ring of a spring pressure application unit comprising the slider and the spring housed in the stop ring to the plug frame, and a connection reinforcing portion is provided in the housing. 13. The optical connector according to claim 11, wherein the ferrule and the spring can be stored.   The optical connector according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the reinforcing sleeve is provided with a thermoplastic resin layered on the inner surface side of the heat shrinkable tube.   A reinforcing core material extending in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing sleeve is embedded in the reinforcing sleeve, and an end portion of the reinforcing core material is provided at one end of the reinforcing sleeve that is extrapolated to the sleeve fixing portion. The optical connector according to any one of claims 11 to 12, An optical connector comprising a ferrule (40) and a housing (30) for housing the ferrule assembled by attaching a stop ring to the plug frame at the tip of a multi-fiber optical fiber (5) as an optical transmission body is assembled. An assembly method,
The ferrule includes a ferrule body (41) in which a plurality of built-in optical fibers (43) are inserted and fixed, and a joint end face of the ferrule body in which tips of the plurality of built-in optical fibers are exposed side by side and in an array state ( 41a) and a sleeve fixing part (42) projecting in a cylindrical shape on the rear end side opposite to the inner side of the sleeve fixing part of the built-in optical fiber (43) of the ferrule (40). A fusion splicing step of fusion splicing the optical fiber (5) with a portion projecting rearward from the ferrule through
After the fusion splicing step, a reinforcing sleeve (21) is extrapolated to a fusion splicing portion (3) between the built-in optical fiber and the optical fiber, and one end of the reinforcing sleeve is connected to a sleeve fixing portion ( 42), the thermoplastic resin is heated and melted in a state in which the fusion splicing portion and the thermoplastic resin are accommodated in the reinforcing sleeve, and then cooled and solidified, whereby the molten thermoplastic resin is solidified in the solidified thermoplastic resin. The connection reinforcing portion is embedded by embedding the landing connection portion and fixing one end of the reinforcing sleeve to the sleeve fixing portion with the thermoplastic resin interposed between the one end and the sleeve fixing portion (42) of the ferrule. Assembling the connection reinforcing part to obtain the ferrule with the connection reinforcing part,
An assembly method of an optical connector comprising: a housing assembling step for housing a ferrule with a connection reinforcing portion and the spring by attaching the stop ring to the plug frame after the connecting reinforcing portion assembling step. A multi-fiber optical fiber (2a, 4a) and a tensile body (2b, 4b) extending along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber are covered with an outer sheath (2c, 4c). An assembly method for assembling an optical connector,
The ferrule includes a ferrule body (41) in which a plurality of built-in optical fibers (43) are inserted and fixed, and a joint end face of the ferrule body in which tips of the plurality of built-in optical fibers are exposed side by side and in an array state ( 41a) and a sleeve fixing part (42) projecting in a cylindrical shape on the rear end side opposite to the inner side of the sleeve fixing part of the built-in optical fiber (43) of the ferrule (40). A fusion splicing step of fusion splicing a portion projecting rearward from the ferrule and the optical fiber (2a, 4a) exposed at the end of the optical transmission body (2, 4);
After the fusion splicing step, a reinforcing sleeve (21) is extrapolated to a fusion splicing portion (3) between the built-in optical fiber and the optical fiber of the optical transmission body, and one end of the reinforcing sleeve is connected to the ferrule. The thermoplastic resin solidified by extrapolating to a sleeve fixing portion (42), and by cooling and solidifying the thermoplastic resin after heating and melting in a state where the fusion splicing portion and the thermoplastic resin are housed in the reinforcing sleeve. The fusion splicing portion is embedded therein, and one end of the reinforcing sleeve is fixed to the sleeve fixing portion by the thermoplastic resin interposed between the one end and the sleeve fixing portion (42) of the ferrule. A connection reinforcement part assembling step for assembling the connection reinforcement part to obtain the ferrule with the connection reinforcement part;
An assembly method of an optical connector comprising: a housing assembling step for housing a ferrule with a connection reinforcing portion and the spring by attaching the stop ring to the plug frame after the connecting reinforcing portion assembling step.   In the connection reinforcing portion assembling step, the fusion splicing portion and the thermoplastic resin are accommodated in the reinforcing sleeve, and the strength member extended from the end of the optical transmission body is drawn into the reinforcing sleeve. 18. The method of assembling an optical connector according to claim 17, wherein the thermoplastic resin is heated and melted in an open state and then cooled and solidified to embed and fix the strength member in the solidified thermoplastic resin.   In the connection reinforcing portion assembly step, the other end of the reinforcing sleeve opposite to the end fixed to the sleeve fixing portion (42) of the ferrule is extrapolated to the end of the optical transmission body, and the one end The optical connector assembling method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the optical fiber is fixed to the sleeve fixing portion with the thermoplastic resin interposed between the sleeve and the sleeve fixing portion (42) of the ferrule. .   The optical connector assembling method according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the reinforcing sleeve is a heat shrinkable tube and is thermally shrunk in the connection reinforcing portion assembling step.   The reinforcing sleeve is embedded with a reinforcing core material extending in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing sleeve, and an end portion of the reinforcing core material is provided at one end of the reinforcing sleeve that is extrapolated to the sleeve fixing portion. 21. The optical connector assembling method according to claim 16, wherein one end of the reinforcing sleeve is fixed to the sleeve fixing portion together with the reinforcing core material in the connection reinforcing portion assembling step.   In the housing assembly step, the sleeve is fixed to the ferrule body of the ferrule by arranging the stop ring, the spring housed in the stop ring, and both sides of the connection reinforcing portion or surrounding the connection reinforcing portion. A slider for transmitting the urging force of the spring to the ferrule by being interposed between a portion projecting on both sides from the portion and the spring so as to be movable in the front-rear direction which is a direction along the central axis of the housing The stop ring of a spring pressure application unit having a structure in which the spring is pressed into the stop ring by a slider provided so as not to be detached from the stop ring is attached to the plug frame. The method of assembling the optical connector according to any one of Items 16 to 21 .

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