JP2011247994A - Optical connector, optical connector assembly method, and optical fiber butt connection method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide technique for attaining stabilization in butt force to act on a connection point where optical fibers are butted inside a housing of an optical connector.SOLUTION: An optical connector 1 is constituted such that the rear end of an interpolation optical fiber 3 fixed to a ferrule 2 by interpolation and extended to the rear side is interpolated to a through-hole 4a of a positioning member 4 from the front side, which is arranged on the rear side of the ferrule 2, and a space 6 is secured on the front side of the positioning member 4, where the interpolation optical fiber 3 is bendable. An optical connector assembly method is the method for moving the rear end of the interpolation optical fiber 3 to the front side by an insertion optical fiber 7, which is inserted to a fiber positioning hole 4a of the positioning member 4 from the rear side, so as to bend the interpolation optical fiber 3 inside a space 8. The optical connector 1, the optical connector assembly method, and an optical fiber butt connection method are provided.

Description

  The present invention relates to an on-site assembly type optical connector in which an insertion optical fiber is butted against an optical fiber that is inserted and fixed in advance in a ferrule, an optical connector assembly method, and an optical fiber butt connection method.

For example, a field-assembled optical connector is used as an optical connector attached to the end of an optical fiber cable having a relatively small core and a small cross-sectional size such as an optical fiber drop cable and an optical indoor cable. The field-assembled optical connector has a sleeve-shaped housing, and a ferrule in which a short optical fiber is inserted and fixed in advance at the front end of the housing (this optical fiber is also referred to as an interpolating optical fiber hereinafter). Is housed. The field assembly type optical connector has a retaining portion for retaining the optical fiber cable at a rear end portion of the housing. The field assembly type optical connector feeds the optical fiber led out from the rear side to the optical fiber cable terminal into the housing, and the tip of the optical fiber (hereinafter also referred to as an insertion optical fiber) is inserted into the fiber hole of the ferrule. The configuration is such that it can be butt-connected to the rear end of the interpolating optical fiber. The field assembly type optical connector can maintain the bending formed in the insertion optical fiber on the rear side of the ferrule by holding the optical fiber cable terminal with the retaining portion. For this reason, in the field assembly type optical connector, the bending portion formed in the insertion optical fiber is restored by the restoring force that tries to restore linearity by the rigidity of the insertion optical fiber itself, and the insertion optical fiber and the insertion optical fiber are The butting force between the two can be secured.
As a field assembly type optical connector, a rear end of an insertion optical fiber extended to the rear side of the ferrule and a front end of the insertion optical fiber abutted against the rear end of the insertion optical fiber are sandwiched between half members. There is also known one in which a clamp portion to be fixed is provided at the rear end of the ferrule (for example, Patent Document 1). In the case of this optical connector, a bending of the insertion optical fiber is formed between the clamp portion and the retaining portion at the rear end of the housing, and the bending force between the insertion optical fiber and the insertion optical fiber is secured by this bending.

JP 2005-208220 A

  In the case of the above-mentioned field assembly type optical connector, the butt force applied by the bending of the inserted optical fiber to the butt connection portion (connection point) between the inserted optical fiber and the inserted optical fiber is determined by the coating material, coating diameter, etc. of the inserted optical fiber. Depends on the bending properties due to That is, in this optical connector, the bending force of the insertion optical fiber varies depending on parameters such as the coating material and the coating diameter of the insertion optical fiber, and the butt force also varies with the variation of the bending force. However, the above-described parameters for insertion optical fibers that are usually present in the field are not known. For this reason, it was the actual situation that it was difficult to suppress the dispersion | variation in the said butt | matching force.

  In view of the above-described problems, the present invention facilitates securing a butt force having a desired size (strength) and stabilizes a butt force at a butt connection portion (connection point) between the insertion optical fiber and the insertion optical fiber. It is an object to provide an optical connector, an optical connector assembly method, and an optical fiber butt connection method.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following configuration.
1st invention comprises the ferrule which inserted and fixed the insertion optical fiber, and the positioning member which has the through-hole which can insert the said insertion optical fiber from the front side, and can insert an insertion optical fiber from the back side. A space allowing the bending of the insertion fiber is secured between the ferrule and the positioning member, and the insertion optical fiber is inserted into the through hole from the rear side to position the insertion optical fiber. An optical connector is provided that can bend and further bend the insertion optical fiber in the space by pressing the insertion optical fiber forward and advancing.
The second invention provides the optical connector according to the first invention, wherein a retaining structure capable of retaining the insertion optical fiber with respect to the positioning member is provided on at least one of the insertion optical fiber and the positioning member.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a tubular member that inserts the insertion fiber and secures the space is provided at a rear end of the ferrule, and the positioning member is fixed to the tubular member. An optical connector of the invention is provided.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a slater having a fiber storage hole for storing the insertion optical fiber is further provided on the rear side of the positioning member, and the insertion optical fiber is connected to the positioning member via the fiber storage hole of the strator. An optical connector according to any one of the first to third inventions to be inserted into a through hole is provided.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the insertion optical fiber is an optical fiber core wire or a bare optical fiber led to a tip of the optical fiber strand, and the optical fiber core wire or the optical fiber core is inserted into the fiber accommodation hole of the strator. An optical connector according to a fourth aspect of the present invention that accommodates a wire covering portion is provided.
6th invention provides the optical connector of 4th or 5th invention which integrated the said positioning member and the said strator.
In a seventh aspect of the present invention, the insertion optical fiber is a bare optical fiber led out from an optical transmission body, and as the retention structure, a second attachment member is provided in the optical transmission body including the insertion optical fiber. An optical connector of the invention is provided.
The eighth invention further includes at least a housing that accommodates the ferrule, and the housing includes first to first connector fitting tube portions into which optical connectors that are butt-connected to the ferrule are inserted and fitted. An optical connector according to any one of 7 is provided.
According to a ninth aspect of the invention, there is provided a ferrule in which an insertion optical fiber is inserted and fixed, and a positioning member having a through hole into which the insertion optical fiber is inserted from the front side and the insertion optical fiber can be inserted from the rear side. In an optical connector assembly method, the insertion optical fiber is inserted into the through-hole from the rear side and positioned to the insertion optical fiber, and further pressed and advanced by pressing the insertion optical fiber. There is provided an optical connector assembling method including a step of bending the inserted optical fiber in a space secured between the ferrule and the positioning member.
A tenth aspect of the invention is the light of the ninth aspect of the invention, further comprising a step of retaining the insertion optical fiber with respect to the positioning member using a retaining structure provided in at least one of the insertion optical fiber and the positioning member. A method for assembling a connector is provided.
In an eleventh aspect of the invention, a step of further providing a strator having a fiber accommodation hole on the rear side of the positioning member, and inserting the insertion optical fiber into the through hole of the positioning member through the fiber accommodation hole of the strator. A method for assembling the optical connector according to the ninth or tenth invention is provided.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a positioning member having a through hole into which the insertion optical fiber can be inserted from the rear side and the insertion optical fiber can be inserted from the rear side on the rear side of the ferrule to which the insertion optical fiber is inserted and fixed The insertion optical fiber is inserted into the through-hole from the rear side, positioned and butted against the insertion optical fiber, and further pressed and advanced to insert the insertion optical fiber. Provided is an optical fiber butt connection method that bends in a space secured between a ferrule and the positioning member.

According to the present invention, by inserting the insertion optical fiber into the through hole of the positioning member, the insertion optical fiber can be positioned and butt-connected within the through hole.
Further, according to the present invention, the rear end of the insertion optical fiber inserted in the through hole of the positioning member is pushed and moved to the front side (ferrule side) by the insertion optical fiber abutted against the rear end of the insertion optical fiber. (Being advanced), a bending portion can be formed in the inserted optical fiber in the space between the ferrule and the positioning member. According to the present invention, the butting force between the insertion optical fiber and the insertion optical fiber can be ensured by the elasticity of the bending portion, that is, the restoring force that the insertion optical fiber tries to restore linearly due to its rigidity. In other words, the present invention is configured to ensure the butt force at the butt connection portion (connection point) between the insertion optical fiber and the insertion optical fiber by the elasticity of the bending portion of the insertion optical fiber. With this configuration, the influence of parameters such as the coating material and the coating diameter of the insertion optical fiber on the butt force can be greatly reduced compared to a configuration in which the butt force is secured by bending the insertion optical fiber as in the conventional configuration. . For this reason, it is possible to stabilize the butt force at the butt connection portion (connection point) between the insertion optical fiber and the insertion optical fiber, and the desired butt force can be easily secured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure explaining the structure of the optical connector of one Embodiment of this invention, (a) is the state which has not inserted the insertion optical fiber, (b) is a bending part to the insertion optical fiber which butted the insertion optical fiber. The state which formed is shown. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure explaining the structure of the optical connector of one Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: A connector with a retention part by which a positioning member, a strator, and a retention part are provided in the rear side extension piece extended to the rear side from the ferrule It is sectional drawing which shows the optical connector of the structure which accommodated the main body in the housing. FIG. 2 shows a state in which a bending portion is formed in the inserted optical fiber by pushing the rear end of the inserted optical fiber forward by the inserted optical fiber inserted from the rear side into the positioning member of the connector main body with the retaining portion of the optical connector in FIG. It is sectional drawing. It is a modification of the optical connector of FIG. 2, and is sectional drawing which shows an example of the structure which employ | adopted the coated optical fiber as an insertion optical fiber of the connector main body with a retention part. (A), (b) is a figure explaining the example of the connector main body with a retention part which comprises the positioning member with a strator of the structure which integrated the fiber positioning part which functions as a positioning member, and the strator part which functions as a strator. It is. It is a figure explaining an example of the optical connector receptacle to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows an example of the optical connector using the connector main body with a retention part which comprises the retention part which can hold | maintain the optical fiber with a coating | cover which is an optical fiber core wire or an optical fiber strand. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the optical fiber cable applicable to the optical connector which concerns on this invention. (A), (b) is a figure explaining another aspect of the rear side extension piece of the connector main body with a retention part. It is a figure which shows an example of the retention part of a housing rear end.

Hereinafter, an optical connector, an optical connector assembly method, and an optical fiber butt connection method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of an optical connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, the optical connector 1 will be described with the left side as the front and the right side as the rear.

As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the optical connector 1 has a positioning member 4 having a fiber positioning hole 4a penetrating on the rear side of the ferrule 2 to which the insertion optical fiber 3 is inserted and fixed. The rear end of the interpolating optical fiber extending rearward from the ferrule 2 has a schematic configuration in which it is inserted into the fiber positioning hole 4 a of the positioning member 4.
The positioning member 4 is provided on the ferrule 2 and fixed to a rear extension piece 6 extending rearward from the ferrule 2 and is provided at a position separated from the ferrule 2 rearward. The rear end portion of the insertion optical fiber 3 is inserted into the fiber positioning hole 4a of the positioning member 4 so as to be movable in the axial direction of the fiber positioning hole 4a.

  The illustrated optical connector 1 has a flange part 5 fixed to the rear end of the ferrule 2 (the end opposite to the front end face 2a (joint end face) for butt joining). The rear extension piece 6 is a protruding piece extended from the flange part 5 to the rear side of the ferrule 2.

In the optical connector 1 of the illustrated example, the flange part 5 is specifically provided with a flange portion 5b protruding from the outer periphery of the front end portion of the sleeve-like main body 5a that is externally fixed to the rear end portion of the ferrule 2. It has a configuration.
The flange part 5 is a single part integrally formed of a hard material such as metal or ceramics. The flange portion 5 b functions as a flange portion of the ferrule 2.

The rear extension piece 6 of the flange part 5 is a portion extending rearward from the ferrule 2 of the sleeve-like main body 5a. In the illustrated optical connector 1, the rear extension piece 6 has a sleeve shape, but the rear extension piece 6 is not limited to a sleeve shape, and extends, for example, from the ferrule 2 to the rear side. It may be a plate-shaped piece, a rod shape, or the like. Moreover, the structure provided with two or more plate-shaped elongate pieces may be sufficient.
Further, the rear extension piece according to the present invention may be any configuration as long as it is fixed to the rear end portion of the ferrule, extends rearward from the ferrule, and can support the positioning member 4 on the rear side of the ferrule. It is not limited to the structure which is a part of these, A member different from the member which functions as a flange of a ferrule may be sufficient.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the optical connector 1 can insert the insertion optical fiber 7 into the fiber positioning hole 4 a of the positioning member 4 from the rear side. The inserted optical fiber 7 inserted into the fiber positioning hole 4a of the positioning member 4 can abut against the rear end of the inserted optical fiber 3 inserted into the fiber positioning hole 4a from its front side.

The fiber positioning hole 4a of the positioning member 4 functions as a centering hole for positioning and aligning with high accuracy so that the interpolating optical fiber 3 and the inserting optical fiber 7 can be butted together. Therefore, the end of the inserted optical fiber 7 inserted from the rear side into the fiber positioning hole 4a of the positioning member 4 is abutted against the rear end of the inserted optical fiber 3 in the fiber positioning hole 4a. Optical connection with the insertion optical fiber 7 can be realized.
The optical connector 1 can be attached to the distal end portion of the inserted optical fiber 7 by connecting the inserted optical fiber 7 inserted into the housing 6 and the inserted optical fiber 3 in the housing 6 (optical connection). This is an assembly (on-site) optical connector.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the rear end portion of the insertion optical fiber 3 is accommodated in the fiber positioning hole 4a of the positioning member 4 so as to be movable in the axial direction thereof. Further, a fiber bending portion storage portion 8 which is a space in which the interpolated optical fiber 3 can be bent is secured between the positioning member 4 and the front ferrule 2.

As shown in FIG. 1B, in this optical connector 1, the distal end of the inserted optical fiber 7 inserted from the rear side into the fiber positioning hole 4 a of the positioning member 4 is used as the rear end of the inserted optical fiber 3. The rear end of the insertion optical fiber 3 can be pushed by the front end of the insertion optical fiber 7 and moved forward (moved forward). The rear end portion of the inserted optical fiber 3 pressed by the distal end of the inserted optical fiber 7 can advance in the fiber positioning hole 4a while sliding on the inner surface of the fiber positioning hole 4a.
Thereby, the said bending part 3w can be formed in the part penetrated by the said fiber bending part accommodating part 8 of the insertion optical fiber 3 (step which bends an insertion fiber in the fiber bending part accommodating part 8).

In addition, after the formation of the bending portion 3w, the optical connector 1 is attached (retained) to the rear end portion of the optical connector 1 by using a movement restricting means. Thus, the movement of the insertion optical fiber 7 in the front-rear direction relative to the positioning member 4 can be restricted. As a result, the optical connector 1 has a butt connection portion (connection) between the insertion optical fiber 3 and the insertion optical fiber 7 due to the restoring force that the bending portion 3w tries to restore linearly by the rigidity of the insertion optical fiber 3 itself. The state of acting as a butt force on the point) can be maintained.
The insertion optical fiber 7 is fastened to the optical connector 1 by, for example, a member that is positioned on the rear side of the ferrule 2 and is fixed to the ferrule 2, such as a positioning member 4 and a rear extension piece 6 (hereinafter, rear side). This can be done by attaching to the fixing member using a movement restricting means.
In addition, the rear side extension piece in other embodiment mentioned later and the member (Slater mentioned below etc.) fixed to this rear side extension piece are also structures corresponding to a rear side fixing member.

The movement restricting means functions as a retaining structure for retaining the inserted optical fiber with respect to the positioning member.
As the movement restricting means, for example, an adhesive that can be cured in a short time, such as a photo-curing adhesive, and can realize the adhesive fixing of the insertion optical fiber 7 to the rear-side fixing member may be used, but is not limited thereto. As the movement restricting means, for example, a mechanical splice that sandwiches the insertion optical fiber using the elasticity of an elastic member such as a leaf spring and fixes it to the rear fixing member, or a nut screwed to the outside of the member inserted through the insertion optical fiber It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the insertion optical fiber is mechanically fixed, such as a chuck mechanism for tightening and fixing the insertion optical fiber from its periphery by screwing a member.

  The optical connector according to the present invention has, for example, a configuration in which the entire optical connector 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B is accommodated in a sleeve-like housing so as to be movable in the axial direction of the housing (optical connector). It is also possible to employ an optical connector having a configuration in which the optical connector main body as a whole is accommodated in a housing. In addition, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a positioning member is fixed to a sleeve-like housing in which a ferrule is inserted and fixed, and the housing itself functions as a rear fixing member (for example, a rear extension piece).

  As described above, the rear end of the insertion optical fiber 3 is pressed by the distal end of the insertion optical fiber 7 inserted into the fiber positioning hole 4a of the positioning member 4 to move forward (push forward while sliding on the inner surface of the fiber positioning hole 4a). ) To form a flexure (flexure portion 3w) in the interpolated optical fiber 3, and the butt connection force (connecting point 9) between the interpolated optical fiber 3 and the insert optical fiber 7 by the elasticity of the flexure portion 3w. Is equivalent to the optical fiber butt connection method according to the present invention.

  Further, as described above, the rear end of the insertion optical fiber 3 is advanced by the tip of the insertion optical fiber 7 inserted into the fiber positioning hole 4a of the positioning member 4 to form a deflection (flexure portion 3w) in the insertion optical fiber 3. The elastic force of the bending portion 3w formed in the insertion optical fiber 3 gives a butt force to the optical fibers 3 and 7, and in this state, the insertion optical fiber 7 is retained in the optical connector 1 in the optical connector according to the present invention. Corresponds to the assembly method. The optical connector assembling method includes the step of restricting the movement of the insertion optical fiber 7 relative to the positioning member 4 by holding the insertion optical fiber 7 to the rear fixing member as described above. This step corresponds to a step of securing the insertion optical fiber with respect to the positioning member using a retaining structure provided on at least one of the insertion optical fiber and the positioning member.

  As will be described later, the insertion optical fiber is a terminal of an optical transmission body such as an optical fiber cable or an optical fiber cord in which an optical fiber is stretched along the optical fiber and covered with an outer sheath. It may be an optical fiber that has been led out. In this case, the step of restricting the movement of the inserted optical fiber relative to the positioning member 4 may be configured to restrict the movement in the front-rear direction with respect to the ferrule by holding the optical transmitter terminal on the rear fixing member.

  For the optical connector according to another embodiment of the present invention, the work of butt-connecting the insertion optical fiber to the insertion optical fiber is similarly performed according to the optical connector assembling method and the optical fiber butt-connection method according to the present invention. It can be carried out.

  The optical connector 1 is configured to ensure a butt force that acts on a butt connection portion (connection point 9) between the insertion optical fiber 3 and the insertion optical fiber 7 by a bending portion 3w formed in the insertion optical fiber 3. Therefore, the optical connector 1 is different from the conventional configuration in which the butt force between the insertion optical fiber and the insertion optical fiber is secured by the bending formed in the insertion optical fiber, and the butt force depends on the bending characteristics of the insertion optical fiber. Inconvenience such as fluctuation can be avoided. For this reason, the optical connector 1 can reliably and easily ensure a butt force having a desired size (strength) as compared with the conventional one.

The insertion length of the rear end portion of the insertion optical fiber 3 with respect to the fiber positioning hole 4a of the positioning member 4 (the initial insertion length before the insertion optical fiber is abutted) is bent to a desired size in the insertion optical fiber 3. Needless to say, it is made longer than the necessary movement amount (movement distance) of the rear end of the insertion optical fiber 3 by the insertion optical fiber 7 for forming the portion 3w.
Here, the initial insertion length of the rear end portion of the insertion optical fiber 3 with respect to the fiber positioning hole 4a of the positioning member 4 more specifically, the insertion optical fiber 3 and the insertion optical fiber 7 of the fiber positioning hole 4a are abutted with each other. This refers to the length in which the rear end portion of the interpolated optical fiber 3 is inserted into a portion that functions as a centering hole portion that is positioned and aligned with high accuracy so that it can be connected.
The same applies to other embodiments according to the present invention.

Next, a configuration example of an optical connector in which a connector main body with a retaining portion is housed in a housing will be described.
First, the optical connector 10 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described.
2 and 3, the optical connector 10 will be described with the left side as the front and the right side as the rear. Also, the optical connector 10A in FIG. 4, the connector main body with a retaining portion in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the optical connector in FIGS. 6 and 7, and the connector main body with a retaining portion shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b). Will be described with the left side as the front and the right side as the back.

The optical connector 10 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is an on-site assembly (on-site) optical connector attached to a terminal of an optical fiber cable 50 (optical transmission body).
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the optical connector 10 has a front end portion (a front end portion of the connector main body 11) where the ferrule 21 of the connector main body 20 with a retaining portion is provided accommodated in a sleeve-like housing 30. It is configured.

The connector main body 20 with a retaining portion is attached to the rear end portion of the connector main body 11 which is fixed to the ferrule 21 and extends to the rear side by attaching a positioning member 24 and a strator 25 to the rear side extension piece 22c. A retaining portion 29 (movement restricting means, retaining means) for retaining the fiber cable 50 is provided.
Specifically, the rear-side extending piece 22c is a sleeve-like portion that extends rearward from the ferrule 21 of a substantially cylindrical flange part 22 that is externally fixed to the ferrule 21. Hereinafter, the rear extension piece 22c is also referred to as a rear sleeve portion 22c.

The connector main body 11 includes a ferrule 21, the flange part 22, an insertion optical fiber 23 provided by inserting and fixing a front end portion of the ferrule 21, the positioning member 24, and the strator 25. Configured.
The strator 25 is disposed on the rear side of the positioning member 24 (on the side opposite to the ferrule 21). The strator 25 is provided with a fiber housing hole 25a through which the optical fiber 51 led to the end of the optical fiber cable 50 can be inserted.
The positioning member 24 has a fiber positioning hole 24a in which a rear end of the interpolating optical fiber 23 extending rearward from the ferrule 21 is inserted. The fiber positioning hole 24 a is formed through the positioning member 24.

In the optical connector 10, the optical fiber 51 led out to the terminal of the optical fiber cable 50 can be inserted into the fiber accommodation hole 25 a of the strator 25 of the connector main body 11 from the rear side (connector rear side). In addition, the optical connector 10 inserts the optical fiber 51 into the fiber positioning hole 24a of the positioning member 24 from the rear side of the connector through the fiber housing hole 25a of the strator 25, and connects the optical fiber 51 to the rear end of the inserted optical fiber 23. Butt connection can be made. Hereinafter, the optical fiber 51 is also referred to as an insertion optical fiber.
The fiber positioning hole 24a of the positioning member 24 functions to position the insertion optical fiber 51 and the insertion optical fiber 23 so that they can be connected to each other.

The retaining portion 29 at the rear end of the connector main body 20 with the retaining portion is disposed on the rear side of the housing 30.
The pulling portion 29 is assembled to the rear end portion of the rear sleeve portion 22c of the connector main body 11 (specifically, the flange part 22) that protrudes rearward from the housing 30 and protrudes rearward from the connector main body 11. It is comprised by the protrusion etc. The retaining portion 29 regulates the backward movement of the optical fiber cable 50 from the connector body 11 by attaching the retaining attachment member 54 fixed to the end of the optical fiber cable 50 by engaging, fitting, fixing, or the like. Thus, the connector main body 11 is secured.

  The optical connector 10 has an opening state of the opening 25b (specifically, a tapered opening) at the rear end of the fiber accommodation hole 25a of the strator 25 before the attachment member 54 is attached to the drawing part 29. The insertion optical fiber 51 can be inserted into the fiber accommodation hole 25a of the strator 25 from the rear side of the connector main body 20 with the retaining portion.

As shown in FIG. 8, the optical fiber cable 50 includes an optical fiber 51 and a covering material 53 made of a synthetic resin, and a tensile body 52 disposed on both sides of the optical fiber 51 and extending along the optical fiber 51. The structure is embedded in (exterior coating). Examples of the optical fiber cable 50 having such a configuration include an optical fiber cable used as an optical drop cable, an optical indoor cable, or the like. As the optical fiber 51, an optical fiber core, an optical fiber, or the like is used. As the strength member 52, for example, a strength fiber such as an aramid fiber, or a linear strength member formed in a linear shape having excellent tensile strength and elasticity by FRP or the like is employed.
The optical fiber cable 50 in the illustrated example has a configuration in which only one single-core optical fiber or an optical fiber is built in as the optical fiber 51.

  The ferrule 21 (ferrule main body) of the connector main body 20 with the retaining portion is specifically a capillary-like member, and one end in the longitudinal direction of the interpolated optical fiber 23 is inserted into a fiber hole 21a penetrating the inside thereof ( The front end) is fixed by interpolation. The fixing of the interpolating optical fiber 23 to the ferrule 21 is, for example, adhesive fixing with an adhesive provided in the fiber hole 21a. In addition to this, fixing by press-fitting into the fiber hole 21a can also be adopted.

  As a material of the ferrule 21, for example, zirconia ceramics, glass or the like can be adopted. As the ferrule 21, for example, an SC type optical connector (F04 type optical connector established in JIS C 5973. SC: Single fiber Coupling optical fiber connector) or an MU type optical connector (F14 type optical connector established in JIS C 5983). A capillary-like member similar to a ferrule of a single-fiber optical connector such as a MU (Miniature-Unit coupling optical fiber connector) can be employed.

The front end face 21b (joint end face) for butt joining of the ferrule 21 is polished. This polishing is, for example, PC polishing (PC: Physical Contact). In addition to this, an inclined surface (flat surface) inclined by about 7 to 9 degrees with respect to a virtual vertical plane perpendicular to the axis of the fiber hole 21a is formed. It is also possible to employ oblique polishing, APC polishing (APC: Angulated Physical Contact), or the like.
Further, the tip (front end) of the portion of the interpolating optical fiber 23 that is inserted and fixed to the ferrule 21 is aligned with the front end face 21 b of the ferrule 21. Polishing of the front end surface 21b of the ferrule 21 is also performed collectively on the front end surface of the interpolated optical fiber 23 that has been interpolated and fixed to the ferrule 21. The distal end surface of the interpolating optical fiber 23 forms a polished surface that is continuous with the front end surface 21 b of the ferrule 21.

The flange part 22 has a cylindrical sleeve-like main body 22a, and a flange portion 22b on the outer periphery of a front end portion (one axial end portion) that is externally fixed to the rear end portion of the ferrule 21 of the sleeve-like main body 22a. It is the structure which projected. The sleeve-shaped main body 22a is provided so as to be fixed to the rear end portion of the ferrule 21 and extend rearward from the ferrule 21. The rear sleeve portion 22c of the flange part 22 is a portion extending rearward from the ferrule 21 of the sleeve-like main body 22a.
The flange portion 22b functions as a flange portion of the ferrule 21.
Further, as the flange component 22, for example, a metal integrally molded product or the like can be suitably used.

In the illustrated optical connector 10, the positioning member 24 is fixed to the rear sleeve portion 22 c of the sleeve-like main body 22 a of the flange part 22 and is provided at a position spaced rearward from the ferrule 21. . Further, the positioning member 24 is accommodated in the rear sleeve portion 22c such that a fiber positioning hole 24a (through hole) passing through the inner side of the positioning member 24 extends along the axis of the rear sleeve portion 22c.
In the illustrated optical connector 10, the positioning member 24 is specifically a capillary-like member. The positioning member 24 is positioned by the inner peripheral surface of the rear sleeve portion 22c so that the axis of the fiber positioning hole 24a coincides with the axis of the rear sleeve portion 22c.

  The technique of fixing to the rear sleeve portion 22c of the positioning member 24 is, for example, adhesive fixing with an adhesive, but is not limited thereto. As this fixing method, for example, a fitting between a protrusion protruding on one of the inner surface of the rear sleeve portion 22c and the outer peripheral surface of the positioning member 24 and a recess formed on the other, a structure using engagement of an elastic claw, etc. The mechanical fixing structure can also be adopted.

  The insertion optical fiber 23 has a rear end portion that is movable in the fiber positioning hole 24a of the positioning member 24 in the axial direction of the fiber positioning hole 24a. It is provided. The interpolating optical fiber 23 is led through a fiber bending portion accommodating portion 26 that is a space secured between the ferrule 21 and the positioning member 24 in the rear sleeve portion 22c.

  In the optical connector 10 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the insertion optical fiber 23 is a bare optical fiber. However, as the interpolating optical fiber 23, for example, as in the interpolating optical fiber 23A shown in FIG. 4, a coating covering a bare optical fiber 23a with a coating material 23b (coating) which is a resin coating covering the outer periphery thereof. An attached optical fiber (for example, an optical fiber core wire or an optical fiber strand) in which the bare optical fibers 23a are led out at both ends in the longitudinal direction may be employed. The optical connector 10A in FIG. 4 will be described later.

  The fiber positioning hole 24a of the positioning member 24 of the optical connector 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 positions the inserted optical fiber 23 and the bare optical fiber 51a led out from the distal end of the inserted optical fiber 51 so that they can be butted together. Is. The bare optical fiber 51a led out to the tip of the inserted optical fiber 51 is inserted into the fiber positioning hole 24a of the positioning member 24 from the rear side through the strator 25 from the rear side of the connector.

The fiber positioning hole 24a of the positioning member 24 in the illustrated example has a tapered opening 24b having a rear end formed in a tapered shape in order to facilitate insertion of the insertion optical fiber 51. The fiber positioning hole 24a of the positioning member 24 is positioned so that the portion other than the tapered opening 24b at the rear end positions the inserted optical fiber 23 and the bare optical fiber 51a at the distal end of the inserted optical fiber 51 so that they can be connected to each other. It is a heart hole 24c.
The inner optical fiber 23 and the bare optical fiber 51a of the inserted optical fiber 51 have the same outer diameter (for example, 125 μm).
In this specification, the bare optical fiber of the insertion optical fiber 51, which is an optical fiber core or an optical fiber, is also treated as an insertion optical fiber.

  The strator 25 is housed and fixed on the rear side of the positioning member 24 in the rear sleeve portion 22 c of the flange part 22. The strator 25 is provided in the rear sleeve portion 22c such that the fiber accommodation hole 25a is oriented along the axis of the rear sleeve portion 22c. The fiber accommodation hole 25 a of the strator 25 extends on the extension of the fiber positioning hole 24 a of the positioning member 24. The insertion optical fiber 51 inserted from the rear side into the fiber accommodation hole 25a is pushed into the ferrule 21 side, and the tip (specifically, the bare optical fiber 51a) is inserted into the fiber positioning hole 24a of the positioning member 24. it can.

  In the illustrated optical connector 10, the strator 25 is specifically a capillary member. The strator 25 is positioned by the inner peripheral surface of the rear sleeve portion 22c so that the axis of the fiber accommodation hole 25a coincides with the axis of the rear sleeve portion 22c, and is fixed to the rear sleeve portion 22c.

In the illustrated optical connector 10, the strator 25 is provided at a position separated from the rear side of the positioning member 24 via a slight gap, but on the rear side of the positioning member 24 in the rear sleeve portion 22 c. You may make it contact | abut.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the connector main body and the connector main body with a retaining portion according to the present invention include positioning members 40A and 40B with a strator formed of a single component in which a positioning member and a strator are integrated. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which is fixed in the rear sleeve portion 22c. The strut-equipped positioning members 40A and 40B illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B will be described later.

The fiber accommodation hole 25a of the strator 25 has a tapered opening 25b for smooth insertion of the insertion optical fiber 51 at the rear end thereof. The main hole portion other than the tapered opening portion 25b of the fiber accommodation hole 25a has an inner diameter (insertion optical fiber 51) that substantially matches the outer diameter of the insertion optical fiber 51 (the outer diameter of the covering portion covered with the covering material 51b). The inner diameter of the outer diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter. That is, the main hole portion of the fiber accommodation hole 25a is formed slightly larger in diameter than the alignment hole portion 24c of the fiber positioning hole 24a of the positioning member 24.
The strator 25 has a function of preventing the insertion optical fiber 51 inserted into the fiber accommodation hole 25a from bending and maintaining the state where the insertion optical fiber 51 extends straight along the axis of the fiber accommodation hole 25a. Fulfill.

  The fixing to the rear sleeve portion 22c of the strator 25 is, for example, adhesive fixing with an adhesive, but is not limited thereto. For example, a structure in which a protrusion protruding on one of the inner surface of the rear sleeve portion 22c and the outer peripheral surface of the strator 25 is inserted into a recess formed on the other side and fixed, a protrusion protruding on the inner surface of the rear sleeve portion 22c, and the rear A mechanical fixing structure such as a structure in which the strator 25 is held and fixed between the elastic claws protruding from the rear end of the side sleeve portion 22c can also be employed.

The front end portion of the connector main body 20 with the retaining portion is housed in the housing 30 so that the axis of the flange part 22 is parallel to the axis of the sleeve-shaped housing 30.
As the optical connector 10, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the front end portion (including the flange portion 22 b of the ferrule 21) of the connector main body 20 with the retaining portion is accommodated in the sleeve-like housing 30 so as to be movable in the axial direction. As such an optical connector 10, a configuration in which a coil spring for elastically urging the connector main body 20 with a retaining portion in the connector front side direction with respect to the housing 30 is housed in the housing 30 can be suitably employed. However, as the optical connector according to the present invention, a configuration in which the front end portion (including the flange portion of the ferrule) of the connector main body with the retaining portion is fixed to the housing can be employed.

  As described above, the optical connector 10 pushes the insertion optical fiber 51 forward (from the ferrule 21 side) to the front side (ferrule 21 side) of the fiber housing hole 25a of the strator 25 at the rear end of the connector main body 20 with the retaining portion. The tip can be inserted into the fiber positioning hole 24 a of the positioning member 24. Then, the optical connector 10 is inserted (moved forward) by pushing the forward end of the inserted optical fiber 23 forward (advanced) by the inserted optical fiber 51 that abuts (matches) the rear end of the inserted optical fiber 23. A bent portion 23 w can be formed in the optical fiber 23. The bending portion 23w is formed in a portion of the interpolating optical fiber 23 that is led through the fiber bending portion storage portion 26. The rear end portion of the insertion optical fiber 23 in the fiber positioning hole 24a can be advanced while sliding on the inner surface of the fiber positioning hole 24a by being pressed by the insertion optical fiber 51 from the rear side.

  To attach (assemble) the optical connector 10 to the end of the optical fiber cable 50, first, the optical fiber 51 (inserted optical fiber) is inserted into the fiber of the positioning member 24 from the rear side of the connector through the fiber accommodation hole 25a of the strator 25. It inserts into the positioning hole 24a, and forms the bending part 23w in the insertion optical fiber 23 (the step which bends an insertion optical fiber in a fiber bending part accommodating part).

Next, the attaching member 54 for securing provided to the end of the optical fiber cable 50 so as to surround the outer periphery thereof is attached to the retaining portion 29 at the rear end portion of the connector main body 20 with the retaining portion, thereby attaching the retaining portion. The optical fiber cable 50 is fastened to the connector body 20. Thereby, the movement in the front-rear direction with respect to the positioning member 24 is restricted, and the bending portion 23w of the interpolating optical fiber 23 is maintained (step of retaining the insertion optical fiber with respect to the positioning member using a retaining structure). By assembling the optical fiber cable 50 to the connector main body 20 with the retaining portion, the assembly (attachment) of the optical connector 10 to the terminal of the optical fiber cable 50 is completed.
Both the retaining member 54 and the retaining portion 29 function as a retaining structure that retains the optical fiber cable 50 with respect to the connector main body 20 with the retaining portion.

  As the retaining portion 29, for example, a structure in which a rotation locking tool capable of retaining the retaining attachment member 54 is pivotally attached to the rear sleeve portion 22c, or an elastic engagement claw protruding from the rear sleeve portion 22c is used. The thing etc. which are engaged with the attachment member 54 for retention can be mentioned.

As the retaining portion 29, for example, the one illustrated in FIG.
10 includes a cable terminal mounting plate 291 extending from the rear end of the connector main body 11 (specifically, the rear sleeve portion 22c in the illustrated example) to the rear side, and a rear end of the rear sleeve portion 22c. It is comprised by the rotation latching tool 292 to which the end is pivoted and to which it fastens. The rotation locking member 292 can be engaged with the rear side of the retaining attachment member 54 so as to retain the retaining attachment member 54 with respect to the connector main body 11. Reference numeral 29A in the drawing is added to the retaining portion 29 in FIG.

The rotation locking member 292 is formed in an elongated plate shape, and one end in the longitudinal direction thereof is attached to the distal end (the other end) of the locking member main body 292a pivotally attached to the rear end portion of the rear sleeve portion 22c. A locking piece 292b that is engaged with the rear side of the anchoring attachment member 54 fixed to the terminal is provided in a projecting manner.
The rotation locking tool 292 can be opened and closed with respect to the cable terminal mounting plate 291 by rotation with respect to the rear sleeve portion 22c. The retaining portion 29A is configured to insert the insertion optical fiber 51 into the fiber accommodation hole 25a of the strator 25 from the rear side of the connector by separating the rotation locking member 292 from the cable end mounting plate 291 (open state). It can be inserted without obstruction. Further, when the rotation locking member 292 is in the open state, the end of the optical fiber cable 50 to which the attachment member 54 for anchoring is fixed can be placed on the cable end mounting plate 291.

  The anchoring portion 29A opens the rotation locking member 292, installs the anchoring attachment member 54 fixed to the end of the optical fiber cable 50 on the cable terminal mounting plate 291, and then rotates the rotation locking member 292. The end of the optical fiber cable 50 can be retained by rotating and engaging the locking piece 292b with the rear side of the attachment member 54 for retention. In addition, the retaining portion 29A is between the retaining piece 292b of the rotation retaining tool 292 engaged with the rear side of the retaining member 54 and the rear end of the connector body 11 (rear end of the rear sleeve portion 22c in the illustrated example). The holding member 54 for retaining is held on the optical fiber cable 50 so that the longitudinal movement of the optical fiber cable 50 relative to the connector main body 11 can be restricted.

  10A and 10B, when the rotation locking tool 292 is opened with respect to the cable terminal mounting plate 291, the optical fiber cable 50 terminal to which the attachment member 54 for fixing is fixed is placed on the cable terminal mounting plate 291. Can be slid to the front side of the connector. For this reason, the operation of feeding the optical fiber 51 led out to the end of the optical fiber cable 50 into the fiber accommodation hole 25a of the strator 25 is performed by sliding the optical fiber cable 50 end on the cable end mounting plate 291. Is possible. In this case, the cable end mounting plate 291 functions as a guide member that guides the movement of the end of the optical fiber cable 50 to which the attachment member 54 for anchoring is fixed, and the inserted light with respect to the axis of the fiber accommodation hole 25 a of the strator 25. In order to prevent the fiber 51 from being greatly inclined, the feeding operation can be performed smoothly and efficiently.

The rotation locking member 292 separated from the cable terminal mounting plate 291 rotates in the closing direction with respect to the cable terminal mounting plate 291 after the retaining member 54 is brought into contact with the rear end of the connector body 11. The retaining member 292 b is engaged with the rear side of the retaining member 54.
The locking piece 292b is formed with a notch portion 292c for storing the optical fiber cable 50 in a cutout shape that cuts from the protruding tip from the locking tool body 292a toward the locking tool body 292a. It has a gate shape. The locking piece 292b can be engaged with the rear side of the attachment member 54 by housing the optical fiber cable 50 in the cable housing notch 292c.

  In addition, the optical connector having the retaining portion 29A is configured such that the retaining attachment member 54 fixed to the end of the optical fiber cable 50 is brought into contact with the rear end of the connector main body 11, thereby the rear end of the connector main body 11 of the insertion optical fiber 51. Insertion and push-in are stopped, and further insertion is restricted. Therefore, the insertion length of the insertion optical fiber 51 with respect to the connector main body 11 of this optical connector is such that the insertion length of the insertion optical fiber 51 extended from the end of the optical fiber cable 50 and the length of the attachment member 54 for retention with respect to the end of the optical fiber cable 50 It can be determined by the fixed position.

  The retaining portion 29 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and may be any structure that can retain the retaining attachment member 54 with respect to the connector main body 11 (restrict movement to the rear side). Examples of the retaining portion include a structure in which an elastic engagement claw that engages with the retaining attachment member 54 is provided, and a connecting member that is configured separately from the connector body 11 and that can be engaged with the retaining attachment member 54. In order to stop, the structure etc. which are the protrusions extended to the rear end of the connector main body 11 are also employable.

In FIG. 2, the interpolating optical fiber 23 has a fiber bending portion accommodating portion between the rear end of the ferrule 21 and the positioning member 24 due to the rigidity of the interpolating optical fiber 23 itself before the insertion optical fiber 51 is abutted. 26 extends straight.
The optical connector 10 is moved (advanced) toward the ferrule 21 by the insertion optical fiber 51 that abuts the rear end of the insertion optical fiber 23 against the rear end of the insertion optical fiber 23, and is bent to the insertion optical fiber 23. By forming 23w, a butt force can be applied to the butt connection portion where the insertion optical fiber 51 is abutted against the insertion optical fiber 23 by the elasticity of the bending portion 23w.

When the attachment of the optical connector 10 to the end of the optical fiber cable 50 is completed, the insertion optical fiber 51 is in a state where the entire length from the end of the optical fiber cable 50 to the end abutted against the insertion optical fiber 23 extends straight. It becomes.
In the optical connector 10, the butt force applied to the butt connection portion between the optical fibers 23 and 51 depends on the size of the bending portion 23 w formed in the inserted optical fiber 23. For this reason, in this optical connector 10, in the operation of attaching the optical connector 10 to the end of the optical fiber cable 50, the insertion of the insertion optical fiber 51 is made according to the size of the bending portion 23w formed in the insertion optical fiber 23. By adjusting the length, a butt force having a desired size (strength) can be easily obtained.

  The optical connector 10 has a configuration in which the butting force between the optical fibers 23 and 51 is ensured by a bending portion 23 w formed in the insertion optical fiber 23. The optical connector 10 is different from the conventional configuration in which the abutting force between the insertion optical fiber and the insertion optical fiber is ensured by the bending formed in the insertion optical fiber on the optical fiber cable side. Inconveniences such as fluctuation due to bending characteristics can be avoided. As a result, a desired butting force can be reliably and easily ensured as compared with the conventional case.

  An optical connector 10A shown in FIG. 4 is a coated optical fiber (for example, an optical fiber core or an optical fiber) in which a bare optical fiber 23a is covered with a coating material 23b that is a resin coating coated on the outer periphery thereof as an interpolating optical fiber. Fiber strand). Specifically, the interpolating optical fiber 23A has a configuration in which bare optical fibers 23a are led out at both ends in the longitudinal direction.

  The connector main body 20A with a retaining portion of the optical connector 10A uses a ferrule 27 having a configuration in which the fiber hole of the ferrule 21 of the optical connector 10 illustrated in FIGS. The fiber hole 27a penetrating the ferrule 27 is formed slightly larger in diameter than the positioning hole 27c on the rear side of the positioning hole 27c that opens on the front end surface 27b (joint end surface) of the ferrule 27. The ferrule 27 has a covering portion receiving hole portion 27d opened at the rear end. The covering portion receiving hole 27d extends on the same axis as the positioning hole 27c. Further, the front end portion of the covering portion accommodation hole portion 27d is formed in a tapered shape.

  The insertion optical fiber 23 </ b> A has a front opening portion 23 a 1, which is a portion where the bare optical fiber 23 a is extracted on the front end side, inserted in the positioning hole portion 27 c of the ferrule 27. The insertion optical fiber 23A has a fiber hole 27a of the ferrule 27 in a state where the front end portion of the covering portion covered with the covering material 23b is inserted into the covering portion receiving hole portion 27d of the ferrule 27. The portion inserted into the ferrule 27 is fixed to the ferrule 27 by bonding with an adhesive or the like.

Further, the connector main body 20A with the retaining portion uses a positioning member 28 having a configuration in which the fiber positioning hole of the positioning member 24 of the optical connector 10 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 is changed as the positioning member.
The fiber positioning hole 28 a of the positioning member 28 is a through hole that penetrates the positioning member 28.

The rear end portion of the insertion optical fiber 23A is inserted into the fiber positioning hole 28a of the positioning member 28 so as to be movable in the axial direction thereof. The rear end portion of the insertion optical fiber 23A has a rear side lead portion 23a2 that is a portion where the bare optical fiber 23a is drawn.
The fiber positioning hole 28a of the positioning member 28 has a centering hole 28b for positioning with high accuracy so that the bare optical fiber 51a at the tip of the insertion optical fiber 51 can be abutted and connected. The fiber positioning hole 28a is formed on the front side of the aligning hole 28b to be slightly larger in diameter than the aligning hole 28b, and can cover the rear end of the cover of the interpolating optical fiber 23A. A storage hole 28c is provided. The insertion optical fiber 23A has the rear outlet 23a2 inserted into the alignment hole 28b, the rear end of the cover inserted into the cover receiving hole 28c, and the fiber positioning hole 28a in the axial direction thereof. Is movably interpolated.

Further, the fiber positioning hole 28a of the positioning member 28 is formed in a tapered shape that widens from the rear end of the aligning hole portion 28b so as to smoothly insert the insertion optical fiber 51 into the aligning hole portion 28b. It has a portion 28d. The alignment hole portion 28b is formed to extend between the covering portion accommodation hole portion 28c and the tapered opening portion 28d.
The covering portion receiving hole portion 28c and the tapered opening portion 28d are formed so as to extend coaxially with the aligning hole portion 28b. The rear end portion of the covering portion accommodation hole portion 28c is formed in a tapered shape.

  The configuration of the optical connector 10A other than the interpolating optical fiber 23A, the ferrule 27, and the positioning member 28 is the same as that of the optical connector 10 described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 4, the fiber bent portion storage portion between the ferrule 27 and the positioning member 28 in the rear sleeve portion 22c has the same reference numeral 26 as that of the optical connector 10 described with reference to FIGS. It is added.

  Also for this optical connector 10 </ b> A, the insertion optical fiber 51 can be inserted into the fiber positioning hole 28 a of the positioning member 28 through the fiber storage hole 25 a of the strator 25 in the operation of attaching to the end of the optical fiber cable 50. Further, the optical connector 10A pushes the forward end of the inserted optical fiber 23A toward the ferrule 27 side (advances) by the inserted optical fiber 51 abutted against the rear end of the inserted optical fiber 23A in the fiber positioning hole 28a. Thus, the bending portion 23wa can be formed in the interpolating optical fiber 23A. The bending portion 23wa is formed in a portion that is led through the fiber bending portion storage portion 26 in the rear sleeve portion 22c of the optical insertion fiber 23A. And this optical connector 10A can ensure the butting force of optical fibers 23A and 51 by the elasticity of this bending part 23wa by forming the said bending part 23wa.

  Note that when the bending portion 23wa is formed, the moving amount of the insertion optical fiber 51 to the front side of the rear end of the insertion optical fiber 23A is such that the rear end portion of the covering portion of the insertion optical fiber 23A is covered by the fiber positioning hole 28a. It is set as the range which does not drop out from the part storing hole 28c to the front side.

In this optical connector 10A, the end portion of the covering portion of the inserted optical fiber 23A is inserted into the fiber hole 27a of the ferrule 27 and the fiber positioning hole 28a of the positioning member 28. In the interpolating optical fiber 23A, the entire length of the portion extending between the ferrule 27 and the positioning member 28 is a covering portion.
In the optical connector 10A, even when the bending portion 23wa is formed in the insertion optical fiber 23A, the entire length of the portion extending between the ferrule 27 and the positioning member 28 of the insertion optical fiber 23A is the covering portion. Is maintained. For this reason, the optical connector 10A is configured to bend locally to the inserted optical fiber 23A in the vicinity of the rear end of the ferrule 27 and the front end of the positioning member 28 even if the bent portion 23wa is formed in the inserted optical fiber 23A. Stress concentration is unlikely to occur. As a result, the optical connector 10A can stably maintain the optical characteristics of the insertion optical fiber 23A over a long period of time, and can improve long-term reliability.
The interpolating optical fiber 23A, the ferrule 27, and the positioning member 28 are also applicable to other embodiments according to the present invention.

(Another aspect of the connector body with a retaining part)
As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the connector body with a retaining portion used in the optical connector according to the present invention is a positioning member with a strator in which a stratator portion functioning as the strator is integrated with the positioning member. A configuration including 40A and 40B can also be employed.

  A connector main body 20B with a retaining portion shown in FIG. 5A is provided with a positioning member 24 in the rear sleeve portion 22c of the connector main body 11 of the connector main body 20 with the retaining portion of the optical connector 10 illustrated in FIGS. Instead of the strator 25, the positioning member 40A with the strator is provided. The configuration other than the positioning member 40A with the strator is the same as the connector main body 20 with the retaining portion of the optical connector 10 described above.

The positioning member with strator 40A includes a fiber positioning portion 41 in which a fiber positioning hole 41a is formed (penetrated) and a strator portion 42 provided on the rear side of the fiber positioning portion 41.
The fiber positioning hole 41a of the fiber positioning portion 41 positions the inserted optical fiber 23, which is a bare optical fiber, and the inserted optical fiber 51 (specifically, the bare optical fiber 51a led out at the tip thereof) so that they can be connected to each other. This is a centering hole (alignment hole part).
The strator portion 42 has a configuration in which a fiber accommodation hole 42a formed larger in diameter than the fiber positioning hole 41a of the fiber positioning portion 41 is provided so as to accommodate the covering portion of the insertion optical fiber 51. It has become.
The strut positioning member 40A is fixed at a position spaced rearward from the ferrule 21 in the rear sleeve portion 22c.

A rear end portion of the insertion optical fiber 23 is inserted into the fiber positioning hole 41a of the fiber positioning portion 41 so as to be movable in the axial direction of the fiber positioning hole 41a.
The interpolating optical fiber 23 is led through a fiber bending portion accommodating portion 26a that is a space secured between the ferrule 21 and the positioning member 40A with a strator in the rear sleeve portion 22c.

The fiber accommodation hole 42a of the strator portion 42 is formed to extend straight from the rear end of the fiber positioning hole 41a of the fiber positioning portion 41 to the rear side on the same axis as the fiber positioning hole 41a.
The fiber storage hole 42a is formed with a tapered shape with a tapered front end to facilitate the insertion of the insertion optical fiber 51 from the fiber storage hole 42a into the fiber positioning hole 41a of the fiber positioning portion 41. The tapered hole portion 42b is formed. On the other hand, the rear end portion of the fiber accommodation hole 42a is formed as a tapered opening 42c formed in a tapered shape at the end, and the insertion of the insertion optical fiber 51 into the fiber accommodation hole 42a from the rear side of the positioning member 40A with a strator. Can be done smoothly. A main hole portion 42d between the tapered hole portion 42b and the tapered opening portion 42c of the fiber accommodation hole 42a is provided on the outer side of the insertion optical fiber 51 in order to accommodate the covering portion of the insertion optical fiber 51 and prevent its bending. The pores extend straight with an inner diameter substantially equal to the diameter (an inner diameter that is the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the insertion optical fiber 51).

  In the positioning member 40A with a strator, the fiber positioning part 41 functions as a positioning member according to the present invention, and the strator part 42 functions as a strator according to the present invention.

  A connector main body 20C with a retaining portion shown in FIG. 5B is replaced with a positioning member 28 and a strator 25 in the rear sleeve portion 22c of the connector main body 20A with a retaining portion of the optical connector 10A illustrated in FIG. The positioning member 40B with a strator is provided. The configuration other than the positioning member 40B with the strator is the same as the connector main body 20A with the retaining portion of the optical connector 10A described above.

The positioning member 40B with a strator includes a fiber positioning part 43 having a configuration in which the fiber positioning hole 41a of the fiber positioning part 41 of the positioning member 40A with a strator illustrated in FIG. 5A is changed on the front side of the strator part 42. Is.
As shown in FIG. 5 (b), the fiber positioning portion 43 is provided with a fiber positioning hole 43 a extending forward from the fiber accommodation hole 42 a of the strator portion 42. The fiber positioning hole 43a extends to the front side from the fiber accommodation hole 42a of the strator 42, and opens to the front end of the positioning member 40B with the strator extending from the alignment hole 43b to the front. It is the structure which consists of a coating | coated part storage hole 43c. Further, the alignment hole 43b of the fiber positioning hole 43a of the fiber positioning portion 43 of the positioning member 40B with a strator in the illustrated example and the covering portion storage hole 43c are formed coaxially with the fiber storage hole 42a of the strator portion 42. Yes,

The covering portion accommodation hole portion 43c is opened at the front end of the fiber positioning portion 43 (the front end of the positioning member 40B with a strator). Further, the rear end portion of the covering portion accommodation hole 43c is formed in a tapered shape.
And this positioning member 40B with a strator is being fixed in the back sleeve part 22c in the position spaced apart from the said ferrule 21 to the back side.

The alignment hole portion 43b of the fiber positioning hole 43a of the fiber positioning portion 43 includes a rear outlet portion 23a2 of the bare optical fiber 23a of the insertion optical fiber 23A and a bare optical fiber 51a that is led out at the distal end of the insertion optical fiber 51. Are fine holes that are positioned so as to be butt-connected.
The rear end portion of the insertion optical fiber 23A is formed by inserting the rear opening portion 23a2 of the bare optical fiber 23a into the alignment hole portion 43b of the fiber positioning portion 43 of the positioning member 40B with a strator, and the rear end portion of the covering portion. Is inserted into the sheath housing hole 43c of the fiber positioning portion 43, and is inserted into the fiber positioning hole 43a so as to be movable in the axial direction thereof.
The interpolating optical fiber 23A is led through a fiber bending portion accommodating portion 26b, which is a space secured between the ferrule 27 and the positioning member 40B with a strator in the rear sleeve portion 22c.

  In the positioning member 40B with a strator, the fiber positioning part 43 functions as a positioning member according to the present invention, and the strator part 42 functions as a strator according to the present invention.

Specifically, each of the positioning members 40A and 40B with a strator described above is a capillary-like member. As a structure (fixing structure) for fixing the positioning members 40A, 40B with a strator to the rear sleeve portion 22b of the flange part 22 of the connector main body with a retaining portion, for example, an adhesive fixing using an adhesive, etc., FIG. A structure similar to the structure for fixing the strator 25 of the optical connector 10, 10A of FIG. 4 to the rear sleeve portion 22b can be employed.
The positioning member with a strator can also be applied to other embodiments according to the present invention.

  The optical connectors of the embodiments described so far are all used as plugs (optical connector plugs). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the connector fitting cylinder portion into which the optical connector plug can be inserted and fitted. It is also applicable to a receptacle-type optical connector (optical connector jack or optical connector receptacle) having

(Optical connector receptacle)
The optical connector 10B shown in FIG. 6 is a connector fitting tube portion 36 in which an optical connector 60 that is butt-connected to the ferrule 21 is inserted and fitted on the front side of the housing 30 of the optical connector 10 of FIG. This is an optical connector receptacle using a housing 30A (housing) with a fitting cylinder portion having a configuration comprising:
The optical connector 60 is an optical connector plug having a configuration in which a ferrule 61 fixed to the tip of an optical fiber (not shown) is housed in a sleeve-shaped housing 62. The optical connector 60 is detachably fitted to the connector fitting cylinder portion 36 of the housing 30A with the fitting cylinder portion so that the ferrule 61 is kept in a state of abutting with the ferrule 21 of the optical connector 10B. The optical connection state between the optical fiber cable 50 on the connector 10B side and the optical fiber on the optical connector 60 side is maintained.

The optical connector 60 is inserted and fitted into the connector fitting cylinder portion 36 so that the optical connector 60 is engaged with an elastic engagement claw (not shown) protruding from the connector fitting cylinder portion 36. Removal from the cylindrical portion 36 is restricted.
The optical connector 60 can be inserted into and removed from the connector fitting cylinder portion 36.
As this optical connector 60, for example, a configuration in which a knob (not shown) constituting a slide lock mechanism for the housing 30 </ b> A is provided on the outside of the housing 62 so as to be movable in the axial direction of the housing 62 can be adopted. . In this case, by pulling the knob of the optical connector 60 inserted and fitted into the connector fitting cylinder 36 to the rear side of the connector (from the ferrule 61 to the rear side, left side in FIG. 6), the inside of the connector fitting cylinder 36 is obtained. The engagement between the elastic engagement claw and the optical connector 60 (specifically, the housing 62) can be released, and the optical connector 60 can be removed from the connector fitting cylinder 36.
Moreover, the thing of the structure which does not have the said knob as the optical connector 60 is employable. As this type of optical connector 60, for example, it can be inserted into a gap between the inner peripheral surface of the connector fitting tube portion 36 and the outer peripheral surface of the housing 62 of the optical connector 60 that is inserted and fitted into the connector fitting tube portion 36. A configuration in which the engagement of the elastic engagement claw in the connector fitting cylinder portion 36 with respect to the housing 62 can be released by a simple engagement release tool can be given.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed in design without departing from the gist thereof.
The present invention also includes, for example, an optical connector receptacle having a configuration in which the housing 30 of the optical connector 10A illustrated in FIG. 3 is changed to the housing 30A with a fitting tube portion illustrated in FIG. Further, the connector body with a retaining portion housed in the housing with fitting tube portion 30A is not particularly limited as long as it can be applied to the optical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. For example, FIG. Needless to say, the configuration exemplified in b) can also be employed.

  As the housing of the optical connector according to the present invention, for example, a plug frame of a known optical connector such as an SC type optical connector or an MU type optical connector, or the outer periphery of the plug frame can be slidably moved while securing a movable range in its axial direction. A structure with a sleeve-like knob assembled can be used. Further, as the optical connector according to the present invention, the connector main body with the retaining portion movable in the axial direction is elastically attached to the housing in the front side of the connector in the sleeve-like housing for housing the connector main body with the retaining portion. A configuration in which a coil spring for energizing is housed can also be adopted.

The rear side extending piece (the rear side extending piece of the connector main body) of the connector main body with a retaining portion according to the present invention is not limited to the rear sleeve portion of the above-described embodiment. As the rear extension piece, for example, as shown in FIG. 9A, a plate-like piece 81 extending rearward from the ferrule 21, or from the ferrule 21 rearward as shown in FIG. 9B. A configuration in which a plurality of elongated rod-like or plate-like elongated pieces 82 are provided may be employed.
Note that the plate-like piece 81 in FIG. 9A is an elongated piece whose longitudinal direction is the axial direction of the ferrule 21.

Further, the rear extension pieces 81 and 82 illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B are both part of the flange parts fixed to the ferrule 21 (the ferrule body), and each of the ferrules 21 of the flange parts. It extends from a fixing ring portion 22d that is externally fixed to the rear end portion. A flange portion 22b is projected from the outer periphery of the front end ring portion 22d.
Reference numeral 22A is added to the flange part of FIG. 9A, and reference numeral 22B is added to the flange part of FIG. 9B. FIGS. 9A and 9B show an example of a connector main body with a retaining portion constituted by using flange parts 22A and 22B. Of the configuration of the connector main body with the retaining portion, the ferrule other than the flange parts 22A and 22B, the positioning member, the strator, the interpolating optical fiber, and the interpolating optical fiber can adopt the embodiment according to the present invention. It is not limited to things.

  The optical transmission body is not limited to the above-described optical fiber cable 50. For example, an optical fiber having a configuration in which an insertion optical fiber and a tensile fiber (strength body) along the insertion optical fiber are accommodated in a tube (exterior covering). A fiber cord or the like can also be used. In the case of an optical fiber cord, for example, the tensile strength fiber extended from the terminal is fixed to the drawing portion by caulking of a caulking ring that can be externally inserted into a tubular drawing portion protruding from the connector main body rear side. Thus, it is possible to restrict the movement in the front-rear direction by being fastened to the connector body.

Further, an insertion optical fiber that is inserted from the rear end of the connector main body with a retaining portion of the optical connector according to the present invention and butt-connected to the rear end of the inserted optical fiber of the connector main body with the retaining portion is provided at the optical transmission terminal. The optical fiber is not limited. In the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, there is no optical fiber core wire, light that is covered with an exterior coating and does not have a portion integrated with a tensile body (a portion of the optical transmission body according to the present invention). It is also possible to use the coated optical fiber 70 itself, such as a fiber strand, as the insertion optical fiber.
However, in this case, as the connector body with a retaining portion, a connector body having a retaining portion 29B having a configuration capable of retaining the coated optical fiber 70 by gripping and fixing is employed. As the retaining portion 29B, for example, a clamping mechanism such as a mechanical splice that sandwiches the coated optical fiber 70 between a pair of fiber gripping members by a screw tightening force, spring elasticity, or the like can be employed.
The connector main body of the connector main body with a retaining portion of the optical connector illustrated in FIG. 7 is not particularly limited as long as it can be applied to the optical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. For example, FIG. It goes without saying that a configuration in which a positioning member with a strator is provided in the same manner as the connector main body of the connector main body with a retaining portion exemplified in b).

  In the present invention, the fiber positioning hole of the positioning member is not coaxial with the fiber hole of the ferrule, and the axis of the fiber positioning hole is slightly shifted from the axis of the fiber hole of the ferrule and is inserted into the fiber positioning hole. It is also possible to employ a configuration in which the rear end of the inserted optical fiber is pushed forward by the inserted optical fiber to easily form the bending portion in the inserted optical fiber.

The optical connector according to the present invention can also employ a configuration in which a strator is omitted.
In addition, the connector main body with a retaining portion according to the present invention is not limited to a configuration in which a positioning member and a strator are fixed to the rear extending piece separately from the rear extending piece. The structure used as a part of member which comprises a side extension piece is also included. The same applies to the above-described positioning member with a strator.

  The optical connector has, for example, a configuration including a sleeve-like boot that is provided so as to be externally fixed to the rear end portion of the connector main body with a retaining portion and extended from the rear end portion of the connector main body with the retaining portion to the rear side. May be. In the case of this optical connector, an insertion optical fiber assembled with the optical connector or a portion extending rearward from the optical connector of the optical transmission body is drawn into the boot so as to extend from the rear end of the boot.

  The present invention is also applicable to multi-fiber optical connectors. For example, the total number of cores of one or a plurality of interpolating optical fibers (which may be optical fiber tape core wires) that are interpolated and fixed to the ferrule is 2 or more. It is possible to employ a configuration in which (specifically, the bare optical fiber) is inserted into a plurality of fiber positioning holes formed in the positioning member so as to be movable in the axial direction of the fiber positioning holes.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical connector, 2 ... Ferrule, 3 ... Insertion optical fiber, 3w ... Deflection part, 4 ... Positioning member, 4a ... Through-hole (fiber positioning hole), 5 ... Flange components, 6 ... Rear side extension piece, 7 ... inserted optical fiber, 8 ... space (fiber bending part storage part),
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 10A, 10B ... Optical connector, 11 ... Connector main body, 20, 20A, 20B, 20C ... Connector main body with a retaining part, 21 ... Ferrule, 22 ... Flange component, 22c ... Rear side extension piece (rear side sleeve part) , 23, 23A ... interpolated optical fiber, 23w, 23wa ... flexure, 24 ... positioning member, 24a ... through hole (fiber positioning hole), 25 ... strator, 25a ... fiber accommodation hole, 26, 26a, 26b ... space ( Fiber bending part storage part), 27 ... Ferrule, 27a ... Fiber hole, 28 ... Positioning member, 28a ... Through hole (fiber positioning hole), 29, 29A, 29B ... Fiber movement restricting means, drawing means (drawing part),
30, 30A, 30B ... housing, 36 ... connector fitting cylinder,
40A, 40B ... Positioning member with a strator, 41 ... Positioning member (fiber positioning part), 41a ... Through-hole (fiber positioning hole), 42 ... Strator (strater part), 42a ... Fiber accommodation hole, 43 ... Positioning member (fiber positioning) Part), 43a ... through hole (fiber positioning hole),
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 ... Optical fiber cable, 51 ... Optical fiber, 51a ... Bare optical fiber, 52 ... Strength member, 53 ... Coating material, 54 ... Attachment member for retention,
60: optical connector, 70: insertion optical fiber (coated optical fiber),
81 ... rear side extension piece (plate-like piece), 82 ... rear side extension piece (elongated piece).

Claims (12)

The ferrule (2, 21, 27) having the insertion optical fiber (3, 23, 23A) inserted and fixed, the insertion optical fiber inserted from the front side, and the insertion optical fiber (7, 51, 70) rear A positioning member (4, 24, 28, 41, 43) having through holes (4a, 24a, 28a, 41a, 43a) that can be inserted from the side,
Between the ferrule and the positioning member, ensure a space that allows bending of the insertion fiber,
By inserting the insertion optical fiber (7, 51, 70) into the through hole from the rear side, positioning and abutting the insertion optical fiber, and further pressing the insertion optical fiber to advance, An optical connector (1, 10, 10A, 10B) capable of bending an optical fiber in the space (8, 26, 26a, 26b). The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the insertion optical fiber and the positioning member is provided with a retaining structure capable of retaining the insertion optical fiber with respect to the positioning member. A cylindrical member (22c, 81, 82) is provided at the rear end of the ferrule to insert the insertion fiber and secure the space.
The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the positioning member is fixed to the cylindrical member. Further provided on the rear side of the positioning member is a strator (5, 25, 42) having a fiber accommodation hole (5a, 25a, 42a) for accommodating the insertion optical fiber,
The optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the insertion optical fiber is inserted into a through hole of the positioning member via a fiber accommodation hole of the strator. The insertion optical fiber is a bare optical fiber (51a) led out to the tip of an optical fiber core or an optical fiber,
The optical connector according to claim 4, wherein the optical fiber core wire or the covering portion of the optical fiber strand is accommodated in the fiber accommodation hole of the strator. The optical connector according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the positioning member and the strator are integrated. The insertion optical fiber is a bare optical fiber led out from the optical transmission body (50),
The optical connector according to claim 2, wherein as the retention structure, an attachment member for retention is provided on the optical transmission body including the insertion optical fiber. A housing for accommodating at least the ferrule;
The optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the housing includes a connector fitting cylinder portion (36) into which an optical connector (60) that is butt-connected to the ferrule is inserted and fitted. . The ferrule (2, 21, 27) having the insertion optical fiber (3, 23, 23A) inserted and fixed, the insertion optical fiber inserted from the front side, and the insertion optical fiber (7, 51, 70) rear Assembly of optical connector (1, 10, 10A, 10B) including positioning member (4, 24, 28, 41, 43) having through holes (4a, 24a, 28a, 41a, 43a) that can be inserted from the side A method,
By inserting the insertion optical fiber (7, 51, 70) into the through hole from the rear side, positioning and abutting the insertion optical fiber, and further pressing the insertion optical fiber to advance, An optical connector assembling method including a step of bending an optical fiber in a space (8, 26, 26a, 26b) secured between the ferrule and the positioning member. The optical connector assembling method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of securing the insertion optical fiber to the positioning member using a retaining structure provided in at least one of the insertion optical fiber and the positioning member. Further provided on the rear side of the positioning member is a strator (5, 25, 42) having fiber accommodation holes (5a, 25a, 42a),
11. The optical connector assembling method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of inserting the insertion optical fiber into a through hole of the positioning member through a fiber accommodation hole of the strator. The insertion optical fiber is inserted from the front side to the rear side of the ferrule (2, 21, 27) to which the insertion optical fiber (3, 23, 23A) is fixed, and the insertion optical fiber (7, 51, 70). ) Is provided with positioning members (4, 24, 28, 41, 43) having through holes (4a, 24a, 28a, 41a, 43a) from which the rear side can be inserted,
By inserting the insertion optical fiber (7, 51, 70) into the through hole from the rear side, positioning and abutting the insertion optical fiber, and further pressing the insertion optical fiber to advance, An optical fiber butt connection method in which the optical fiber is bent in a space (8, 26, 26a, 26b) secured between the ferrule and the positioning member.

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