JP2013015727A - Optical connector and connector connection unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector which achieves connection (coupling) to an optical connector (optical connector plug) at a low cost.SOLUTION: An optical connector 10 includes; a connector fitting housing 20 having an optical connector insertion hole 11a opened in the front side; and a coupling unit part 50 where an incorporated ferrule 61 is stored in a unit part housing 51 where a stop ring 41 is fitted to the rear side of a front housing 30 integrally provided in the rear of the connector fitting housing 20. A ferrule of an inserted optical connector inserted to the optical connector insertion hole 11a is butted to the incorporated ferrule 61. A connector connection unit has the optical connector 10 attached to a plate.

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector and a connector connection unit.

As an optical connector, for example, an SC type optical connector (F04 type optical connector established in JIS C5973; SC: Single fiber Coupling optical fiber connector) is coupled by a plug-adapter-plug system, and a connector between optical fibers. What is used for connection is widely provided.
This coupling type optical connector (plug) generally has a structure in which a ferrule is accommodated in a sleeve-shaped housing (for example, Patent Document 1). When the optical connector (plug) is inserted into an adapter, the housing is connected to an engaging claw in the adapter. Engageably engage with the adapter. And this optical connector can be combined by being inserted and fitted to the adapter from both sides thereof and abutting each other in the adapter. Further, the optical connector fitted to the adapter can be removed from the adapter by releasing the engagement of the engaging claws of the adapter with respect to the housing.

JP 2009-128422 A

  The method of connecting and releasing optical connectors using adapters is performed only by operating the connector on the other side of the adapter (inserting / removing the optical connector with respect to the adapter) while the optical connector is fitted to one side of the adapter. Many are taken.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector and a connector connection unit that realizes connection (coupling) with an optical connector (optical connector plug) at a low cost.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following configuration.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector fitting housing having an optical connector insertion hole that opens to the front side, a rear portion of the connector fitting housing, and a built-in ferrule accommodated therein, and a front housing and a rear stop ring. A coupling unit portion formed by fitting, and the front housing includes a base portion through which the built-in ferrule and a positioning sleeve inserted therein pass, and a sleeve-like plug frame that fits into the stop ring. And a ferrule of an insertion optical connector that is inserted into the optical connector insertion hole is inserted into the positioning sleeve, positioned, and abutted against the built-in ferrule.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the connector fitting housing has a front housing insertion hole that communicates with the optical connector insertion hole, and the base portion and the connector are fitted by inserting the front housing into the front housing insertion hole. An optical connector according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided in which the coupling unit portion is attached to the connector fitting housing by fitting with a housing.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the connector fitting housing engages with the front housing inserted into the front housing insertion hole and restricts the movement of the front housing in the front-rear direction with respect to the connector fitting housing. The locking means protrudes in a taper shape in which the protruding dimension from the inner surface of the front housing insertion hole increases toward the front side, and protrudes from the outer periphery of the inserted base portion. A locking protrusion that is capable of overcoming the fixed protrusion and that restricts the movement of the fixing protrusion to the rear, and is protruded to be separated from the locking protrusion to the front side. An optical connector according to a second aspect of the present invention is provided with a stopper protrusion that restricts the forward movement of the fixing protrusion by contacting the fixing protrusion that has moved over from the rear side to the front side. .
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the optical connector according to the third aspect, the locking projection is projected on an elastic wall portion between a pair of elongated holes formed in the connector fitting housing so as to extend in the front-rear direction. I will provide a.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a locking elastic piece which is a protruding piece whose separation distance from the outer peripheral surface increases toward the connector front side formed on the outer peripheral surface of the connector fitting housing, and the locking elastic piece An optical connector according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention has a rib-like protrusion protruding from the front end of the connector to the front side of the connector.
6th invention provides the connector connection unit which inserted and attached the said connector fitting housing of the optical connector of any one of 1st-5th invention to the window hole opened to a plate.

  The optical connector according to the present invention incorporates a built-in ferrule that butt-joins and joins the ferrule of the inserted optical connector inserted into the optical connector insertion hole of the connector fitting housing, and has a coupling unit portion that can be directly connected (coupled) to the inserted optical connector. Have. The built-in ferrule of the coupling unit portion is inserted into a positioning sleeve provided in the front housing. By inserting the ferrule of the insertion optical connector into the positioning sleeve, the ferrule is positioned with respect to the built-in ferrule by the positioning sleeve, and is butt-joined to the built-in ferrule in the positioning sleeve. For this reason, the optical connector according to the present invention is connected to the insertion optical connector, thereby connecting the optical fiber inserted and fixed to the ferrule of the insertion optical connector and the optical fiber inserted and fixed to the built-in ferrule (optical connection). ) Can be realized at low cost without an adapter. According to the present invention, connector connection between optical fibers can be realized with a small number of parts compared to the plug-adapter-plug coupling method, and cost reduction can be easily realized.

It is a perspective view which shows a structure from the front side of the optical connector of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows a structure from the back side of the optical connector of one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the optical connector of FIGS. 1 and 2. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the ferrule with a clamp part of the optical connector of FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and is a figure explaining the relationship between the alignment groove | channel of a rear side extension piece, a coating | coated part storage groove, and two cover members. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the ferrule with a clamp part of the optical connector of FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and is a figure explaining two cover members of a clamp part. It is a figure explaining the structure of the optical connector of FIG. 1, FIG. 2, Comprising: It is sectional drawing (plane sectional drawing) which shows the state which assembled this optical connector to the optical fiber cable terminal. (A)-(e) is a figure explaining the front housing of the coupling | bonding unit part of the optical connector of FIG. 1, FIG. (A)-(d) is a figure explaining the connector fitting housing of the optical connector of FIG. 1, FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the relationship between a gripping element part having a half-split structure of a clamp part of a ferrule with a clamp part of the optical connector of FIGS. 1 and 2 and an insertion piece to be inserted into the gripping element part. It is sectional drawing (side sectional drawing) which shows the structure of the connector fitting part vicinity of the optical connector of FIG. 1, FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view (planar cross-sectional view) illustrating a fitting state between the optical connector of FIGS. 1 and 2 and an optical connector inserted into the optical connector insertion hole. It is a perspective view explaining the assembly method which assembles the optical connector of FIG. 1, FIG. 2 to an optical fiber cable terminal. FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining an outer gripping member that is assembled to the optical fiber cable terminal as a securing member when the optical connector of FIGS. 1 and 2 is assembled to the optical fiber cable terminal. FIGS. 1A and 1B are views for explaining a relationship between an insertion auxiliary slider and a retaining cover of the optical connector of FIGS. 1 and 2 and a securing member fixed to an optical fiber cable terminal, in which FIG. ) Is a view from the rear side of the optical connector. It is a figure explaining an example of the connector connection unit which attached the optical connector of FIG. 1, FIG. 2 to the plate (connector attachment plate). 15. A method of assembling the connector connecting unit of FIG. 15, comprising assembling an optical connector at a terminal of an optical fiber cable drawn from the back side of the plate to the front side through a window hole of the plate (connector mounting plate). It is a figure explaining. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an assembly method of the connector connection unit of FIG. 15, which includes a step of pushing a cable terminal with a fixing member into an optical connector attached to a plate (connector attachment plate). FIG. 15 is an assembling method of the connector connecting unit shown in FIG. 15, which includes a step of fitting 3 the coupling unit portion assembled on the optical fiber cable end to the connector fitting housing attached to the plate (connector mounting plate). It is a figure to do. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the insertion optical connector inserted and fitted in the optical connector insertion hole of the optical connector of FIG. 1, FIG. It is a figure which shows another aspect of the optical connector of embodiment which concerns on this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows an example of the optical connector of the field assembly type assembled to the optical fiber front-end | tip part. It is a figure which shows the coupling unit of the optical connector of FIG. 20, Comprising: (a) is the perspective view seen from the rear side, (b) is the perspective view seen from the front side. It is a disassembled perspective view explaining the structure of the coupling unit of the optical connector of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the relationship between the level | step difference surface (spring receiving surface) inside the stop ring of the optical connector of FIG. 20, and a spring. It is a figure explaining an example of another mode of a coupling unit part of an optical connector of an embodiment concerning the present invention, and is a perspective view which looked at a coupling unit which incorporates a ferrule directly attached to the tip of an optical fiber from the back side. . It is a disassembled perspective view explaining the structure of the coupling unit of FIG. It is a figure explaining the relationship of the ferrule of the coupling | bonding unit of FIG. 24, a spring, and a stop ring. It is a figure which shows an example of the connector attachment plate of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the optical wiring board of the structure which provided the connector connection unit of embodiment which concerns on this invention in the upper and lower multistage. It is a perspective view which shows another aspect of a connector fitting housing. (A)-(d) is a figure which shows the structure of the connector fitting housing of FIG. It is a perspective view explaining an example of the structure of the optical fiber cable which assembles the optical connector of FIG. 1, FIG.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The optical connector 10 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes a rectangular tube-shaped connector fitting housing 20 (specifically, a rectangular tube-shaped fitting housing body 20f described later) and the connector fitting housing 20. A housing 51 is formed by fitting a rear housing 40 to a front housing 30 that is integrally fitted inside and has a coupling unit portion 50 that houses a ferrule 60 with a clamp portion (described later).
Hereinafter, the housing 51 of the coupling unit portion 50 is also referred to as a unit portion housing.

The connector fitting housing 20 of the illustrated optical connector 10 is an integrally molded product made of plastic.
The connector fitting housing 20 has a schematic configuration in which rib-like protrusions 25 and locking elastic pieces 20e (described later) are provided on both sides of a rectangular tube-like fitting housing body 20f.
As shown in FIGS. 8A to 8D, the protrusion 25 protrudes on both sides from the outer peripheral surface of the central portion in the axial direction of the fitting housing body 20f. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the protrusion 25 inserts the fitting housing main body 20 f into a window hole 5 a formed in the plate 5 (hereinafter also referred to as a connector mounting plate), and attaches the connector fitting housing 20 to the plate 5. When it is attached to the plate 5, it is brought into contact with the plate 5. Hereinafter, the protrusion 25 is also referred to as a contact protrusion.
A unit in which the optical connector 10 is attached to the connector attachment plate 5 is also referred to as a connector connection unit 200 hereinafter.

The locking elastic piece 20e of the connector fitting housing 20 is on one side (rear cylinder part 20b, rear part to be described later) from the central part where the protruding part 25 protrudes in the axial direction of the fitting housing body 20f. Projects from the outer peripheral surface. The locking elastic piece 20e protrudes so that the distance from the outer peripheral surface of the fitting housing body 20f increases toward the contact protrusion 25 side. The protruding end of the locking elastic piece 20 e protruding from the fitting housing main body 20 f is located at a position separated from the contact protruding portion 25. A gap is secured between the protruding end of the locking elastic piece 20e and the contact protruding portion 25.
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 15, the connector fitting housing 20 of the optical connector 10 in the illustrated example has a rear cylinder portion 20 b on which a locking elastic piece 20 e is protruded in the window hole 5 a of the connector mounting plate 5. It can be attached to the connector mounting plate 5 by inserting and inserting the connector mounting plate 5 between the abutting protrusion 25 and the elastic piece 20e for locking.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8B to 8D, a through hole (hereinafter also referred to as a housing through hole 26) that penetrates the inside of the fitting housing body 20f has a cross section (housing) The through-hole 26 has a generally rectangular shape (hereinafter also simply referred to as a cross section).
The contact protrusion 25 is a pair of wall portions (side wall portions 23, 24) on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the housing through hole 26 of the connector fitting housing 20 out of the four wall portions of the rectangular tubular fitting housing 20f. ) On the outer surface (the surface opposite to the inner surface facing the housing through hole 26). The contact protrusions 25 are not provided on the wall portions (main wall portions 21, 22) located on both sides in the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the housing through hole 26 of the connector fitting housing 20 in the illustrated example.
The locking elastic piece 20e is also projected only on the outer surface of the side wall portions 23 and 24 of the fitting housing 20f.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the front housing 30 of the coupling unit portion 50 is inserted into the housing through hole 26 of the connector fitting housing 20 and is fitted into the rear cylinder portion 20 b (the rear portion of the connector fitting housing 20). Are combined. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, the inner surface of the rear tube portion 20 b of the fitting housing body 20 f of the connector fitting housing 20 is engaged with a portion inserted into the rear tube portion 20 b of the front housing 30 and the front side. A locking projection 27 and a stopper projection 28 for fixing the housing 30 to the connector fitting housing 20 are provided.

  In this specification, the connector fitting housing 20 will be described with the side on which the locking projection 27 and the stopper projection 28 project in the axial direction of the fitting housing body 20f as the rear and the opposite side as the front. The locking projection 27 and the stopper projection 28 are not projected from the front tube portion 20a located on the front side from the contact projection 25 in the axial direction of the fitting housing body 20f. The locking protrusion 27 and the stopper protrusion 28 will be described in detail later.

As shown in FIG. 11, the connector fitting housing 20 and the front housing 30 fitted and attached to the inside of the fitting housing body 20f are connector fittings into which an optical connector 90 (optical connector plug) can be inserted and fitted. The joint part 11 is comprised. Hereinafter, the optical connector 90 is also referred to as an insertion optical connector.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the optical connector 10 in the illustrated example has a connector fitting portion 11 at its front end, and the coupling unit portion 50 projects rearward from the connector fitting portion 11. It has become. In other words, the optical connector 10 includes a connector fitting portion 11 formed by fitting the front housing 30 inside the connector fitting housing 20 at the front end portion of the coupling unit portion 50.
In this specification, the front housing 30 is fitted into the connector fitting housing 20 by fitting the front housing 30 inside the fitting housing body 20f, more specifically, inside the rear cylinder portion 20b of the fitting housing body 20f. Refers to that.

The connector fitting portion 11 of the optical connector 10 in the illustrated example can insert and fit an SC type optical connector as the insertion optical connector 90. This insertion optical connector 90 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the connector fitting portion 11 is located on the front side from the base portion 31 of the front housing 30 fitted inside the connector fitting housing 20 in the housing through hole 26 of the connector fitting housing 20. It has an optical connector insertion hole 11a which is a portion of. The optical connector insertion hole 11 a is open to the front side of the connector fitting housing 20.
As shown in FIG. 11, the insertion optical connector 90 is inserted into the optical connector insertion hole 11a inside the connector fitting housing 20 from the front end of the connector fitting portion 11 (front end of the connector fitting housing 20). 11 is fitted.
As the insertion optical connector that can be fitted to the connector fitting portion 11 in the illustrated example, a so-called SC2 type optical connector having a configuration in which a knob (coupling) is omitted from the SC type optical connector can also be adopted.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the connector fitting housing 20 has a central portion in the axial direction (the axial direction of the fitting housing main body 20 f. In other words, the axial direction of the housing through-hole 26. It has a front cylinder part 20a that is a part on the front side from the contact projection 25, and a rear cylinder part 20b (rear part) on the opposite side to the front cylinder part 20a. Of the housing through hole 26 of the connector fitting housing 20, a portion located inside the rear cylinder portion 20 b functions as a front housing insertion hole 26 a into which the front housing 30 is inserted and fitted. The connector fitting housing 20 has the optical connector insertion hole 11a and a front housing insertion hole 26a communicating with the optical connector insertion hole 11a inside thereof. The front housing 30 is attached to the connector fitting housing 20 by fitting an external block-shaped base portion 31 (see FIG. 3) inside the rear tube portion 20 b of the connector fitting housing 20.

  The front housing 30 has a protruding cylindrical portion 32 that protrudes forward from the base portion 31. The front housing 30 is formed with a through hole 33 (ferrule insertion hole) that passes through the base portion 31 and opens at the front end of the protruding cylinder portion 32. The through-hole 33 includes an inner hole of the protruding cylinder portion 32 and a portion that penetrates the base portion 31 so as to extend the inner hole to the rear side, and includes the inner hole of the protruding cylinder portion 32. The base portion 31 is open at the rear end.

  A positioning sleeve 52 is accommodated in the through hole 33 so as to be movable in the axial direction of the through hole 33. Further, a ferrule 61 (built-in ferrule, ferrule main body) of a ferrule 60 with a clamp portion, which will be described later, is inserted inside the positioning sleeve 52.

  In the insertion optical connector 90, a key 91d protruding from the outer periphery of a sleeve-like knob 91 (see FIG. 19) is formed on the front tube portion 20a of the connector fitting housing 20 so as to extend from the front end to the rear side. It can be inserted into the optical connector insertion hole 11a of the connector fitting portion 11 by being inserted into the long and narrow key insertion notch 20d (see FIG. 2 and the like). As shown in FIG. 2, the key insertion notch 20 d is only a portion of the connector fitting housing 20 that is located on the front cylinder portion 20 a of one of the pair of main wall portions 21, 22 (the main wall portion of reference numeral 22). Is formed. The insertion optical connector 90 can be inserted into the optical connector insertion hole 11 a of the connector fitting portion 11 only in the direction in which the key 91 d of the knob 91 is inserted into the key insertion notch 20 d of the connector fitting housing 20.

As shown in FIG. 11, the insertion optical connector 90 is configured to push the ferrule 93 inside the plug frame 92 into the through hole 33 of the front housing 30 by pushing (inserting) the connector fitting portion 11 into the optical connector insertion hole 11 a. Can be inserted (press-fitted) into the positioning sleeve 52. Further, the insertion optical connector 90 inserts the ferrule 93 into the positioning sleeve 52 in the through-hole 33 of the front housing 30 of the coupling unit portion 50, so that the plug frame 92 is extrapolated to the protruding cylindrical portion 32 of the front housing 30. And fitted outside.
The insertion optical connector 90 has a ferrule 93 inserted into the positioning sleeve 52 in the through-hole 33 of the front housing 30 and the plug frame 92 is externally fitted to the projecting tube portion 32 of the front housing 30 so that the connector fitting portion 11 can be inserted and fitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 19, the insertion optical connector 90 is assembled at the tip of an optical fiber 94 that is a coated optical fiber such as an optical fiber core or an optical fiber. The tip of the optical fiber 94 is inserted and fixed to the ferrule 93 of the insertion optical connector 90 in the illustrated example. The joint end surface 93a at the tip of the ferrule 93 exposes the tip surface of the bare optical fiber 94a (see FIG. 11) led out to the tip of the optical fiber 94. The leading end surface of the bare optical fiber 94 a is aligned with the joining end surface 93 a of the ferrule 93 so as to form a surface continuous with the joining end surface 93 a of the ferrule 93.

The positioning sleeve 52 positions the ferrule 93 of the insertion optical connector 90 and the ferrule 61 on the coupling unit portion 50 side with high accuracy so as to be coaxial with each other. For this reason, the optical fibers 94 and 62 inserted and fixed to the ferrules 93 and 61, respectively, by abutting the ferrules 93 and 61 with each other within the positioning sleeve 52 (joining the joining end faces 93a and 61b). A butt connection (optical connection) can be realized.
Specifically, the butt connection between the optical fibers 94 and 62 is inserted and fixed to the bare optical fiber 94 a of the optical fiber 94 in which the insertion optical connector 90 is assembled and the ferrule 61 of the coupling unit portion 50 of the optical connector 10. This is a butt connection with the built-in optical fiber 62.

As shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the optical connector 10 in the illustrated example specifically employs a metal split sleeve formed in a sleeve shape with a C-shaped cross section as the positioning sleeve 52.
However, the positioning sleeve 52 is not limited to the split sleeve, and for example, a cylindrical elastic sleeve, a non-elastic sleeve, or the like can be used.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, the front housing 30 is detachably engaged with the housing (specifically, the plug frame 92) of the inserted optical connector 90 inserted and fitted into the optical connector insertion hole 11a. A pair of engaging pieces 34 with claws projectingly project. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 11, the claw engagement piece 34 has an insertion optical connector 90 which is an SC type optical connector at the tip of an elastic extension piece 34 a extending (projecting) forward from the base portion 31. This is a configuration in which a projecting claw 34b that projects into the housing (specifically, the plug frame 92) is provided. A pair of engaging pieces 34 with claws are arranged on both sides of the protruding cylinder portion 32.

The inserted optical connector 90 pushed into the optical connector insertion hole 11a from the front side of the connector fitting portion 11 is inserted between the pair of engaging pieces 34 with claws. In the insertion optical connector 90, the protruding claw 34 b at the tip of each engaging piece 34 with claw engages with the engaging protrusions 92 a on both sides of the plug frame 92 via the window holes 91 a on both sides of the knob 91. The insertion optical connector 90 is restricted from being pulled out from the connector fitting portion 11 by the engagement of the claw engaging piece 34, and the fitting state with respect to the connector fitting portion 11 is maintained.
The protruding claws 34b are provided at the distal ends of the pair of pawl engaging pieces 34 so as to project toward the distal ends of the opposing pawl engaging pieces 34 facing each other.

Note that a slide lock structure is formed between the base portion 31 and the front portion of the front housing 30 with the insertion optical connector 90 in accordance with JIS C 5973.
That is, when the insertion optical connector 90 is inserted and fitted into the connector fitting portion 11, the engagement of the pair of claw engagement pieces 34 and the engagement protrusion 92 a of the plug frame 92 causes the insertion optical connector 90 to The removal from the connector fitting part 11 is locked. Further, when the knob 91 of the insertion optical connector 90 fitted in the connector fitting portion 11 is pulled out from the connector fitting portion 11 in the pulling direction, the pair of claw-engaging engagement pieces 34 are engaged with the plug frame 92. While being released, the insertion optical connector 90 can be detached (removed) from the connector fitting portion 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 7 (a), 7 (b), and 7 (e), a knob of the insertion optical connector 90 fitted to the connector fitting portion 11 is provided at the front end (front end) of the claw engaging piece 34. When the 91 is pulled away from the connector fitting portion 11 in the pulling direction, the disengagement protrusion 34c for releasing the engagement of the claw engagement piece 34 with the engagement protrusion 92a of the plug frame 92 is provided. Projected. The disengagement protrusion 34c is perpendicular to the interval between the pair of claw engagement pieces 34 at the front end of each claw engagement piece 34 and in the connector front-rear direction (here, the axial direction of the connector fitting housing 20). Projecting on both sides perpendicular to the axial direction of the through-hole 33). The disengagement projection 34c is formed by pulling the knob 91 of the insertion optical connector 90 fitted in the connector fitting portion 11 away from the connector fitting portion 11 in the pulling direction. The tip of the engaging piece 34 with the claw that is pressed by the engagement releasing taper wall portion 91b (see FIG. 19) formed at a position facing the plug and engaged with the engagement protrusion 92a of the plug frame 92 is plug frame. Displace from 92 and move away from the engagement projection 92a.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the engagement releasing taper wall portion 91 b of the knob 91 is configured such that when the projection claw 34 b at the tip of the claw engagement piece 34 is engaged with the engagement projection 92 a of the plug frame 92. The optical connector 10 is positioned on the rear side of the projection 34c for disengaging the engagement piece 34 with the claw in the front-rear direction. In the insertion optical connector 90, the projecting dimension from the inner surface facing the plug frame 92 of the knob 91 increases as the engagement releasing taper wall portion 91b moves to the front side of the insertion connector on the joining end surface 93a side of the ferrule 93 tip. It is formed in a tapered shape. Therefore, when the knob 91 of the insertion optical connector 90 fitted to the connector fitting portion 11 is moved in the direction of pulling out from the connector fitting portion 11 by a pulling operation (moving toward the front side of the optical connector 10 in FIG. 11), The disengagement protrusion 34c of the engagement piece 34 is displaced away from the plug frame 92 so as to ride on the disengagement taper wall 91b, and the engagement protrusion 92a of the plug frame 92 has a claw. The engagement of the engagement piece 34 can be released.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the taper wall 91b for releasing the engagement of the insertion optical connector 90 is provided on both sides of the knob 91 in correspondence with the protrusions 34c for releasing the engagement on both ends of the clawd engagement piece 34. Two are provided. Further, the elastic extending piece 34a at the tip of the claw engagement piece 34 engaged with the engagement protrusion 92a of the plug frame 92 is located between the two engagement releasing taper wall portions 91b on both sides of the knob 91. It is stored in the secured extended piece storage groove 91c.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the coupling unit portion 50 of the optical connector 10 includes a unit portion housing 51, a ferrule 60 with a clamp portion, and a spring 53 that elastically biases the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion forward of the connector. And has a schematic configuration.

  The optical connector 10 of this embodiment is an on-site assembly type optical connector and is assembled to the end of the optical fiber cable 1.

As shown in FIG. 31, the optical fiber cable 1 is an optical fiber 2 and a flexible linear strength member 4 that are collectively covered with a synthetic resin jacket 3 so as to be parallel to each other. is there. Two strength members 4 are provided on both sides of the optical fiber 2 in parallel with each other.
The optical fiber 2 is a coated optical fiber having a configuration in which the outer peripheral surface (side surface) of the bare optical fiber 2a is covered with a coating 2b, and examples thereof include an optical fiber core wire and an optical fiber strand. In this embodiment, the optical fiber 2 is a single-core coated optical fiber. The bare optical fiber 2a is, for example, a quartz optical fiber. The coating 2b is a resin coating in which, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin, a polyamide resin, or the like is coated in one or a plurality of layers in a substantially concentric manner. Examples of the strength member 4 include those made of strength fibers such as aramid fibers, steel wires, and the like. Examples of the optical fiber cable 1 include an indoor cable and a drop cable.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the rear housing 40 has a sleeve-like shape in a block portion 42 in which a fiber introduction hole 42 a for inserting the optical fiber 2 from the rear side is inserted into the unit portion housing 51. A stop ring portion 41 provided with a cylindrical portion 41e (cylindrical in the illustrated example), and a fixing member receiver having a U-shaped cross section extending from the block portion 42 to the opposite side (rear side) of the cylindrical portion 41e. Part 43.
Specifically, the unit part housing 51 of the coupling unit part 50 includes a front housing 30 and a stop ring part 41 of the rear housing 40. Reference numeral 50A in the figure is added to the coupling unit section 50, and reference numeral 51A in the figure is added to the unit section housing 51.

  In the present specification, regarding the coupling unit portion 50 and the unit portion housing 51, the side on which the projecting cylindrical portion 32 and the engaging piece 34 with the claw projecting on the front housing 30 are projected is treated as the front and the opposite side is treated as the rear. . Regarding the coupling unit portion 50A and the unit portion housing 51A, the side on which the projecting cylindrical portion 32 and the engaging piece 34 with the claw project is provided as the front and the side on which the fixing member receiving portion 43 is provided as the rear.

From the rear of the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40, the anchoring fixing member 120 fixed to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 can be pushed in and stored (inserted).
As shown in FIG. 12, in the operation of assembling the optical connector 10 to the end of the optical fiber cable 1, the anchoring fixing member 120 fixed to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is pushed into the fixing member receiving portion 43 and the end of the optical fiber cable 1 By pushing the exposed optical fiber 2 into the fiber introduction hole 42a (see FIG. 6) penetrating the block portion 42 back and forth, the optical fiber 2 can be inserted into the unit portion housing 51A.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the front housing 30 has a sleeve-like plug frame portion 35 extending rearward from the base portion 31. The front housing 30 in the illustrated example is an integrally molded product made of plastic, and the plug frame portion 35 is a cylindrical protrusion that protrudes rearward from the base portion 31.

The unit portion housing 51A is fitted into the plug frame portion 35 with the front end portion of the stop ring portion 41 of the rear housing 40 (the front end portion of the body portion 41e, the end portion opposite to the block portion 42), The front housing 30 and the rear housing 40 are integrated.
The stop ring portion 41 of the rear housing 40 pushes the front body portion 41e into the plug frame portion 35 from the rear side, and the engagement protrusion 41a protruding from the outer periphery of the front end portion of the body portion 41e is connected to the plug frame portion. By fitting into locking holes 35 a formed on both sides of 35, the plug frame 35 is fitted and fixed.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion includes a ferrule 61 in which an optical fiber 62 is inserted and fixed. Hereinafter, the optical fiber 2 inserted and fixed to the ferrule 61 is also referred to as a built-in optical fiber 62. The built-in optical fiber 62 has a portion that protrudes rearward from the ferrule 61 (hereinafter also referred to as a rear protrusion 62a). The front end face of the built-in optical fiber 62 is aligned with the joint end face 61 b at the front end (front end) of the ferrule 61.

Next, the ferrule 60 with a clamp part is demonstrated.
The ferrule 60 with a clamp portion includes a rear projecting portion 62a of the built-in optical fiber 62 on the rear side of the ferrule 61, and an optical fiber inserted into the unit housing 51A from the rear side and abutted against the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62. 2 A clamp part 63 is assembled that holds and fixes the tip part and maintains the butt connection state between the optical fibers 62 and 2.
The clamp part 63 has a gripping element part having a half structure composed of a base member 67 (rear extension piece 67) extending rearward from the flange part 64 of the ferrule 61 and lid members 66 and 67. The clamp 63 is disposed between the base member 67 (rear extension piece 67) and the lid members 66 and 67, and the light projecting against the rear protruding portion 62a of the built-in optical fiber 62 and the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62. The tip of the fiber 2 can be sandwiched and held and fixed.

  The rear protrusion 62 a of the built-in optical fiber 62 is disposed between the base member 67 (rear extension piece 67) and the lid members 66, 67 constituting the grip element portion. The optical fiber 2 that abuts against the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62 is inserted between the base member 67 (rear extension piece 67) and the lid members 66 and 67 from the rear side of the clamp portion 63. The built-in optical fiber 62 and the optical fiber 2 (specifically, the bare optical fiber 2a led to the tip) are abutted between the base member 67 (rear extension piece 67) and the lid members 66 and 67. Connected. A reference symbol P in FIG. 6 is attached to a butt connection portion in which the optical fiber 2 is butt-connected to the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62.

  The optical fiber 2 that is inserted into the unit housing 51 </ b> A of the optical connector 10 and butt-connected to the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion is hereinafter also referred to as an insertion optical fiber. In this embodiment, the insertion optical fiber 2 is a portion of the optical fiber 2 of the optical fiber cable 1 that is exposed in a protruding state from the end of the optical fiber cable 1 by removing the outer sheath 3 at the tip of the optical fiber cable 1. Used for insertion into the unit housing 51A.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the ferrule 61 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion is a capillary single-core ferrule used in an SC-type optical connector or the like. Examples of the material of the ferrule 61 include ceramics such as zirconia, and glass.
Here, the built-in optical fiber 62 is a bare optical fiber, for example, a quartz optical fiber. The built-in optical fiber 62 is inserted into a fiber hole 61a which is a fine hole penetrating coaxially with the axis of the ferrule 61, and is fixed to the ferrule 61 by adhesive fixing using an adhesive or the like.

The rear end portion of the ferrule 61 is integrated with a flange portion 64 that is circumferentially provided (projected) on the outer periphery thereof. The flange portion 64 is formed in a ring shape from metal, plastic, or the like, for example.
The clamp portion 63 includes a rear side extension piece 65 extended from the flange portion 64 to the rear side of the ferrule 61 and lid members 66 and 67, and a metal plate having a C-shaped or U-shaped cross section (in the illustrated example, a cross section). The clamp spring 68 formed into an elongated shape (C shape) is collectively held inside. The clamp spring 68 elastically biases the lid members 66 and 67 toward the rear extension piece 65. The clamp portion 63 includes a rear protruding portion 62a of the built-in optical fiber 62 and the optical fiber 2 butt-connected to the built-in optical fiber 62 between the rear extending piece 65 and the lid members 66 and 67. These are clamped and fixed by the elasticity of the clamp spring 68.
The rear extension piece 65 and the lid members 66 and 67 are for holding a half structure that grips and fixes the rear protruding portion 62a of the built-in optical fiber 62 and the optical fiber 2 abutted against the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62. The element part is configured.

The rear side extension piece 65 is formed in an elongated shape having a direction along the axis of the ferrule 61 as a longitudinal direction. The rear extension piece 65 in the illustrated example is formed integrally with the flange portion 64 and is integrated with the ferrule 61.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the clamp portion 63 includes a front lid member 66 and a front lid member as a lid member for gripping and fixing the optical fibers 62 and 2 between the clamp portion 63 and the rear extension piece 65. The rear cover member 67 includes two rear cover members 67 (the side opposite to the ferrule 61 via the front cover member 66). These two lid members 66 and 67 are arranged and arranged along the longitudinal direction of the rear extension piece 65.

  The rear extension piece 65 and the cover members 66 and 67 are formed with opposing surfaces facing each other. The clamp spring 68 of the clamp part 63 elastically urges the rear extension piece 65 and the cover members 66 and 67 in the direction in which the opposing surfaces approach each other (that is, the direction in which they are closed together).

As shown in FIG. 4, the facing surface 65 a facing the lid members 66 and 67 of the rear extension piece 65 extends from the rear protruding portion 62 a of the built-in optical fiber 62 to the rear of the fiber hole 61 a of the ferrule 61. The groove forming surface is formed with an aligning groove 69a positioned above and a covering portion receiving groove 69b extending rearward from the rear end of the aligning groove 69a. Hereinafter, the facing surface facing the lid members 66 and 67 of the rear extension piece 65 is also referred to as a groove forming surface.
The alignment groove 69a is formed in a portion of the groove forming surface 65a facing the front lid member 66, and the covering portion storing groove 69b is formed in a portion of the groove forming surface 65a facing the rear lid member 67. In addition, a covering portion storage groove 69c is also provided on the facing surface 67a of the rear cover member 67 facing the groove forming surface 65a of the rear extension piece 65 at a position corresponding to the covering portion storage groove 69b of the rear extension piece 65. It is formed to extend.

The rear protrusion 62a of the built-in optical fiber 62 is disposed in the alignment groove 69a. The rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62 (rear end of the rear protrusion 62a) is disposed at the center in the longitudinal direction of the alignment groove 69a. The built-in optical fiber 62 is a short optical fiber in which the front end aligned with the joining end surface 61b at the tip of the ferrule 61 and the rear end are both ends in the longitudinal direction.
In the aligning groove 69 a, the bare optical fiber 2 a, which is extracted by removing the coating at the tip of the inserted optical fiber 2, faces the rear extension piece 65 and the rear cover member 67 from the rear side of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion. It inserts via the coating | coated part accommodation grooves 69b and 69c formed in the position where surface 65a, 67a mutually respond | corresponds.

As shown in FIG. 9, the aligning groove 69a is a V-groove, and the rear protruding portion 62a of the built-in optical fiber 62 and the bare optical fiber 2a at the tip of the inserted optical fiber 2 are positioned with high accuracy so that they can be connected to each other. , Fulfill the function of alignment. As the aligning groove 69a, in addition to the V groove, for example, a U groove, a semicircular groove, or the like can be employed.
The covering portion receiving grooves 69b and 69c are grooves formed to have a slightly larger groove width than the aligning groove 69a so as to store the covered portion (covering portion) of the inserted optical fiber 2. The covering portion receiving grooves 69b and 69c are not particularly limited, and for example, U-grooves, semicircular grooves, V-grooves, and the like can be employed.

  As shown in FIG. 9, there is a gap between the rear extension piece 65 and the front lid member 66 that enables smooth insertion of the bare optical fiber 2a at the tip of the insertion optical fiber 2 into the alignment groove 69a. An insertion piece 81 to be secured is inserted so as to be removable. Further, an insertion piece 82 (see FIG. 5) that secures a gap between the rear extension piece 65 and the rear lid member 67 that allows the insertion optical fiber 2 to be smoothly inserted into the covering portion receiving grooves 69b and 69c. 1 and FIG. 2) are inserted so as to be removable.

  The insertion pieces 81 and 82 in the illustrated example are formed in a thin plate shape. These insertion pieces 81 and 82 are sandwiched between the rear extension piece 65 and the lid members 66 and 67 by the elasticity of the clamp spring 68 of the clamp portion 60. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 12, the unit housing 51 </ b> A has insertion piece insertion holes for passing insertion pieces 81 and 82 in and out of the two axial directions (connector longitudinal direction). 41b is formed. In the optical connector 10 of the illustrated example, the insertion piece insertion hole 41b specifically penetrates the thickness of the trunk portion 41e at two locations in the axial direction (connector longitudinal direction) of the trunk portion 41e of the rear housing 40. Is formed. The insertion pieces 81 and 82 are inserted through the insertion piece insertion holes 41b and protrude outside the unit housing 51A.

  The insertion piece insertion hole 41b is formed to avoid a portion of the body portion 41e covered with the plug frame portion 35. In the illustrated optical connector 10, one of the insertion piece insertion holes 41 b formed at two locations in the axial direction of the body portion 41 e is formed in the plug frame portion 35 so as to be elongated from the rear end toward the front side. It is formed at a position communicating with the long and narrow cutout portion 35c. The other of the two insertion piece insertion holes 41b is formed in a portion of the trunk portion 41e located on the rear side of the plug frame portion 35.

  In addition, the insertion pieces 81 and 82 in the illustrated example are provided with removal operation portions 81a and 82a for facilitating the removal work from the clamp portion 63 in the portion protruding to the outside of the unit portion housing 51A. It has a configuration. The removal operation portions 81a and 82a in the illustrated example have a plate shape perpendicular to the insertion pieces 81 and 82, and are integrated with the insertion pieces. The insertion piece can be easily removed manually from the clamp portion 63 by the operator holding and pulling the extraction operation portions 81a and 82a with fingers. The specific configuration of the extraction operation unit is not limited to a plate shape perpendicular to the insertion piece, and can be changed as appropriate.

The insertion pieces 81 and 82 in the illustrated example are projecting pieces that project from one side of the plate-like extraction operation unit.
The optical connector 10 illustrated in FIG. 12 has insertion pieces 81 and 82 protruding from the operation portions 81a and 82a for removal corresponding to the two lid members 66 and 67 of the clamp portion 63 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion. The optical connector assembling tools 83 and 84 having the above structure are provided one by one (the optical connector 110 with a tool). However, as an optical connector assembling tool having a configuration in which an insertion piece protrudes from the removal operation portion, one removal operation portion corresponds to the two lid members 66 and 67 of the clamp portion 63, The thing of the structure which protruded two insertion pieces is also employable.

  The optical connector 10 is a tool in which an insertion piece of an optical connector assembling tool is removably inserted between a rear extension piece 65 of a clamp portion 63 of a ferrule 60 with a clamp portion and lid members 66 and 67. The attached optical connector 110 can be supplied to the site. In this case, the work of inserting the insertion piece between the rear extension piece 65 and the lid members 66 and 67 at the site can be omitted.

Further, the insertion piece is not limited to a thin plate, and for example, a flexible sheet or the like can be used.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, the plate-shaped (thin plate-shaped) insertion piece formed in a tapered shape with a tapered tip presses against the boundary between the rear extension piece 65 and the lid members 66 and 67. It can be interrupted (inserted) only. For this reason, the operation of inserting (inserting) the insertion piece between the rear extension piece 65 and the lid members 66 and 67 is performed, for example, at the site where the optical connector 10 is assembled to the optical fiber. It is also easy.

As shown in FIG. 6, one end in the axial direction of a positioning sleeve 52 (split sleeve in the illustrated example) accommodated in the through hole 33 (ferrule hole) is applied to the inner periphery of the front end of the projecting cylindrical portion 32 of the front housing 30. A retaining protrusion 32a to be contacted is provided to project. The positioning sleeve 52 is restricted from coming out of the projecting cylindrical portion 32 to the front side by a retaining projection 32a.
A portion of the through hole 33 of the front housing 30 on the rear side from the retaining protrusion 32a is formed in a tapered shape whose inner diameter gradually increases toward the rear side of the coupling unit portion 50A. The inner diameter of the rear end of the through-hole 33 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the front end of the portion (main hole portion) located on the rear side of the through-hole 33 from the retaining protrusion 32a.
The outer diameter of the positioning sleeve 52 is the same as or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the front end of the main hole, which is a portion located behind the retaining protrusion 32a of the through hole 33. Yes.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the inner hole of the plug frame portion 35 is a round hole formed coaxially with the through hole 33 of the front housing 30 and having a larger diameter than the rear end of the through hole 33. Yes. A step surface 36 is formed at the boundary between the through hole 33 of the front housing 30 and the inner hole of the plug frame portion 35. The step surface 36 is formed around the entire periphery of the rear end of the through hole 33.
A front end surface 41 f of the body portion 41 e that is fitted and fixed to the plug frame portion 35 is disposed at a position separated from the rear side of the step surface 36 of the front housing 30. The flange part 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part is accommodated in the inner hole of the plug frame part 35 between the stepped surface 36 of the front housing 30 and the front end of the body part 41e.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the coupling unit portion 50 </ b> A in the illustrated example is externally inserted into the ferrule 61 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion, and is inserted between the positioning sleeve 52 and the flange portion 64 of the ferrule 61. Spacer ring 54 is provided. The inner diameter and outer diameter of the spacer ring 54 are substantially the same as the inner diameter and outer diameter of the positioning sleeve 52 (positioning sleeve 52 in which the ferrule 61 is inserted).

  The sum of the axial dimension of the positioning sleeve 52 and the axial dimension of the spacer ring 54 is the same as the axial dimension of the rear portion of the through-hole 33 from the retaining projection 32a. In the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion, a position where the flange portion 64 abuts on the step surface 36 of the front housing 30 is a front movement limit position with respect to the front housing 30. Further, when the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion is in the front side movement limit position, the rear end surface of the spacer ring 54 comes into contact with the flange portion 64 (specifically, the front side surface 64d) of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion, and the front housing 30 One end (front end) in the axial direction of the positioning sleeve 52 comes into contact with the retaining protrusion 32a at the front end of the projecting cylindrical portion 32.

Note that the sum of the axial dimension of the positioning sleeve 52 and the axial dimension of the spacer ring 54 does not need to be exactly the same as the axial dimension of the main hole portion of the through-hole 33. The dimension may be slightly shorter than the dimension in the axial direction.
Further, the coupling unit portion 50A may be configured such that the spacer ring 54 is omitted and a positioning sleeve 52 whose axial dimension is the same as or slightly shorter than the axial dimension of the through-hole main hole is adopted.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion includes a rear end portion of the gripping element portion of the clamp portion 63 housed in the body portion 41 e of the stop ring portion 41, and a rear housing 40. It is elastically biased toward the front side of the connector by a spring 53 interposed between the block portion 42 and disposed at the front side movement limit. Moreover, the flange part 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part of a front side movement limit position is arrange | positioned in the position spaced apart from the front part of the trunk | drum 41e to the front side. The ferrule 60 with a clamp part can be pushed rearward from the front side movement limit position to the unit part housing 51A while pushing and shrinking the spring 53 against the elastic biasing force of the spring 53.

  The coupling unit portion 50A in the illustrated example is configured such that when the spring 53 reaches the compression limit by pushing the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion toward the rear side from the front movement limit position with respect to the unit housing 51A, The flange portion 64 does not contact the front end of the body portion 41e of the stop ring portion 41, and a clearance is secured between the flange portion 64 and the front end of the body portion 41e. That is, in the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion, the position when the spring 53 reaches the compression limit is the push limit position with respect to the unit housing 51A.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the spring 53 is specifically a coil spring, on the inside of the rear extension piece 65 of the gripping element portion of the clamp portion 63 and the rear end portion of the rear lid member 67, respectively. The rear projecting portions 65b and 67b formed in a protruding piece shape are accommodated. The rear extending piece 65 and the rear lid member 67 include the rear projecting portions 65b and 67b projecting to the rear side, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a part of the facing surfaces 65a and 67a of the rear extension piece 65 and the rear lid member 67 facing each other is formed on the rear side extension portions 65b and 67b. The rear projecting portions 65b and 67b are formed with tapered opening portions 69bw and 69cw in which the rear end portions of the covering portion storage grooves 69b and 69c are expanded in a tapered shape. The tapered openings 69bw and 69cw of the covering portion receiving grooves 69b and 69c are opened on the rear end surfaces of the rear side overhang portions 65b and 67b.
The rear extension piece 65 and the rear extension portions 65 b and 67 b of the rear lid member 67 protrude from the clamp spring 68 of the clamp portion 63 to the rear side.

  The rear projecting portions 65b and 67b are formed in a protruding piece shape that is narrower than the rear projecting portions 65b and 67b of the rear cover member 67 from the front projecting portions 65b and 67b. On the rear extension piece 65 and the rear lid member 67, step surfaces 65c and 67c are formed at the boundary between the rear extension portions 65b and 67b and the front portion thereof. The step surfaces 65 c and 67 c of the rear extension piece 65 and the rear lid member 67 are formed at the rear end portions of the rear extension piece 65 and the rear lid member 67.

As shown in FIG. 6, the spring 53 has a stop ring portion 41 whose center axis is parallel to the center axis of the unit housing 51A (in this embodiment, coincides with the center axis of the through hole 33 of the front housing 30). Is housed in the inner hole of the body portion 41e, and is interposed between the stepped surfaces 65c and 67c of the rear extension piece 65 and the rear cover member 67, and the block portion 42 of the rear housing 40.
The step surfaces 65 c and 67 c at the rear end portion of the rear extension piece 65 and the rear lid member 67 function as spring receiving surfaces with which the front end of the spring 53 comes into contact.

  The inner hole of the body part 41e of the stop ring part 41 of the rear housing 40 has a larger cross-sectional area than the fiber introduction hole 42a of the block part 42 and extends coaxially with the fiber introduction hole 42a. Specifically, the inner hole of the trunk portion 41e and the fiber introduction hole 42a of the rear housing 40 of the illustrated example are round holes, and the inner hole of the trunk portion 41e is formed larger in diameter than the fiber introduction hole 42a. . The block portion 42 has a ring-shaped protrusion 42b that protrudes from the central portion of the portion facing the inner hole of the body portion 41e. The front end of the fiber introduction hole 42a opens to the protruding end (front end) of the ring-shaped protrusion 42b.

The rear end portion of the spring 53 is extrapolated to the ring-shaped protrusion 42b of the block portion 42, and is formed in a ring shape by a portion of the front end portion of the block portion 42 facing the inner hole of the body portion 41e around the ring-shaped protrusion 42b. It is in contact with the secured spring receiving surface 42c.
Specifically, the spring 53 is inserted between the stepped surfaces 65c and 67c of the rear projecting portions 65b and 67b of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion and the spring receiving surface 42c of the block portion 42. The spring 53 applies a reaction force to the block portion 42 and elastically biases the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion forward with respect to the unit portion housing 51A.

  When the ferrule 60 with a clamp part is in the front side movement limit position, the rear extension piece 65 and the rear extension part 65b, 67b rear end of the rear cover member 67 are the block part 42 (specifically, ring-shaped protrusion 42b). It is arrange | positioned in the position spaced apart from the front side. At this time, the separation distance c2 between the rear ends of the rear projecting portions 65b and 67b and the block portion 42 is the amount of movement from the front movement limit position to the pushing limit position of the unit housing 51A of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion ( It is set larger (longer) than (movement distance). For this reason, the ferrule 60 with a clamp part is arrange | positioned in the position spaced apart from the block part 42 to the front side, and is not contact | abutted to the block part 42, when it moves to the pushing limit position from the front side movement limit position with respect to the unit part housing 51A. .

As shown in FIG. 10, the separation distance c1 between the flange portion 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion at the front side movement limit position and the front end of the body portion 41e of the stop ring portion 41 is also the unit of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion. It is set larger (longer) than the movement amount (movement distance) from the front side movement limit position to the pushing limit position with respect to the partial housing 51A. The ferrule 60 with a clamp part can move back and forth between the front side movement limit position and the push-in limit position with respect to the unit part housing 51A.
Further, the separation distances of the above-described symbols c1 and c2 of the optical connector 10 in the illustrated example are the same. The movement amount (movement distance) from the front side movement limit position to the push-in limit position with respect to the unit housing 51A of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part is set to be substantially the same (slightly short) as the separation distances c1 and c2.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, key grooves 64 a are formed at a plurality of locations (two locations in the illustrated example) on the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion accommodates a key 35 b protruding from the inner surface of the front end portion of the plug frame portion 35 of the front housing 30 in the key groove 64 a of the flange portion 64. The unit portion housing 51A is assembled with being prevented from rotating.

  The coupling unit portion 50A assembles a rear assembly unit in which the spring 53 and the clamp portion 63 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion are inserted into the body portion 41e of the stop ring portion 41, and the stop ring portion 41 of the rear assembly unit is assembled. An assembling method in which the body portion 41e is pushed into the plug frame portion 35 from the rear side to be fitted can be employed. In this assembling method, the body portion 41e inserted into the plug frame portion 35 is fitted into the plug frame portion 35, whereby the coupling unit portion 50A is placed in a state in which the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion and the spring 53 are accommodated in the unit portion housing 51A. Can be assembled.

  In the case of this assembling method, by inserting the body portion 41e of the stop ring portion 41 of the rear assembly unit into the plug frame portion 35, the portion of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion that protrudes from the front end of the body portion of the stop ring portion 41 is removed. It can be inserted into the plug frame part 35 together with the body part 41e. That is, by inserting the barrel 41e of the stop ring portion 41 of the rear assembly unit into the plug frame 35, the ferrule 61 and the flange 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp can be inserted into the plug frame 35 together with the barrel 41e. .

  For example, the positioning sleeve 52 and the spacer ring 54 are inserted into the through-hole 33 of the front housing 30 together with the ferrule 61 in a state of being extrapolated to the ferrule 61 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the ferrule 61 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion may be inserted into the positioning sleeve 52 and the spacer ring 54 that have been inserted into the through hole 33.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the flange portion 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion in the illustrated example is formed with a protrusion 64 c (hereinafter also referred to as a flange rear key) protruding rearward from the rear surface 64 b. . The ferrule 60 with a clamp part in which the clamp part 63 is inserted into the body part 41e of the stop ring part 41 is formed with the flange rear key 64c of the flange part 64 in a notch shape recessed from the front end face 41f of the body part 41e. The rotation prevention recess 41c (see FIG. 3) is inserted to restrict (rotate) rotation of the stop ring portion 41 in the direction around the axis. Thereby, the direction adjustment of the plug frame part 35 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part in the direction of the axis line direction is adjusted by adjusting the direction of the plug frame part 35 of the stop ring part 41 in which the body part 41e is inserted into the plug frame part 35. Yes. As a result, the key 35b (see FIG. 6) inside the front end of the plug frame portion 35 can be easily accommodated in the key groove 64a of the flange portion 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion.

  The stop ring part 41 can adjust the adjustment of the direction around the axis of the plug frame part 35 with the insertion piece insertion hole 41b formed in the body part 41e as a mark. The stop ring part 41 in which the clamp part 63 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part is inserted into the body part 41e is the front side of the insertion piece insertion holes 41b formed at two locations in the axial direction of the body part 41e. By setting the position to communicate with the elongated cutout portion 35c of the plug frame portion 35, the operation of storing the key 35b of the plug frame portion 35 in the key groove 64a of the flange portion 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion can be easily performed.

  The rear housing 40 is fitted to the plug frame portion 35 by fitting the engaging protrusion 41a (see FIG. 3) on the outer periphery of the front end of the body portion 41e inserted into the plug frame portion 35 into the locking hole 35a of the plug frame portion 35. To be achieved. However, the engagement protrusion 41a of the body portion 41e is inserted into the locking hole 35a of the plug frame portion 35 by inserting the ferrule 60 with the clamp portion into the through hole 33 of the front housing 30 and the ferrule with the clamp portion. If the key 35b inside the front end of the plug frame portion 35 is not inserted into the key groove 64a of the 60 flange portion 64, this cannot be realized.

  When the rear housing 40 is in the detached state from the plug frame portion 35, the flange portion 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion into which the clamp portion 63 is inserted into the barrel portion 41e is opposite to the block portion 42 from the barrel front end surface 41f. It is arranged at a position separated forward. The pushing limit position of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part with respect to the stop ring part 41 is a position where the spring 53 inserted between the clamp part 63 in the body part 41e and the block part 42 of the rear housing 40 reaches the compression limit. It is. When the ferrule 60 with a clamp part is in the pushing limit position with respect to the stop ring part 41, the rear face 64b of the flange part 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part does not contact the front end face 41f of the trunk part and is forward from the front end face 41f of the trunk part. It is arrange | positioned in the position spaced apart. Further, the rotation preventing recess 41c at the front end of the body portion 41e is configured so that the flange rear key 64c of the flange portion 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion disposed at the push-in limit position is located at the back end (rear end) of the rotation stopping recess 41c. The formation depth from the body front end surface 41f is adjusted so that the inner surface (the back bottom surface 41d) does not abut and is spaced from the back bottom surface 41d to the front side.

In addition, one or more of the plurality of flange rear keys 64c of the flange portion 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion can secure an insertion state of the body portion 41e with respect to the rotation preventing recess portion 41c when the spring 53 is not compressed and deformed. Further, a projecting dimension from the rear surface 64b of the flange portion 64 to the rear side is set.
In the coupling unit portion 50A of the illustrated example, the projecting dimensions from the flange portion rear surface 64b of the flange rear portion key 64c projecting at two locations separated from each other in the circumferential direction of the flange portion 64 are different from each other. The coupling unit portion 50A has an insertion state of the body portion 41e with respect to the rotation preventing recess portion 41c in a state where only the flange rear portion key 64c having a larger projecting dimension from the flange portion rear surface 64b is not compressed and deformed. It can be secured.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the flange rear key 64 c is formed at a plurality of locations (two locations in the illustrated example) in the circumferential direction of the flange portion 64. The key groove 64a of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion in the illustrated example is also cut from the front side surface 64d of the flange portion 64 to the flange rear portion key 64c so as to extend to the rear of the flange portion rear surface 64b.
As shown in FIG. 6, when the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion is at the front movement limit position, the key groove 64a of the plug frame portion 35 inserted into the key groove 64a is inserted into the flange rear key 64c. The extending length from the front side surface 64d of the flange portion 64 to the rear side is set so as not to contact the portion blocking the rear side of the key groove 64a but to be spaced apart from the front side.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 15, the connector fitting housing 20 of the optical connector 10 in the illustrated example is as described above from the outer peripheral surface of the rear cylinder part 20 b as it goes from the both sides of the rear cylinder part 20 b to the front side. It has a locking elastic piece 20e protruding so as to increase the distance. The front end (protruding end) of the locking elastic piece 20e is located at a position separated to the rear side through a gap between the front end and the abutting protruding portion 25 in the front-rear direction that coincides with the axial direction of the connector fitting housing 20. Has been placed.
For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the connector fitting housing 20 of the optical connector 10 has a cylindrical portion 20b on one side of the connector mounting plate 5 (the left side surface of the connector mounting plate 5 in FIGS. 15 and 16; hereinafter, the surface 5b). It can also be attached to the connector attachment plate 5 simply by being pushed into the window hole 5a from the side.

As shown in FIG. 27, the window hole 5 a of the connector mounting plate 5 is a rectangular shape having a dimension that substantially matches (coincides with or slightly larger) the cross-sectional outline perpendicular to the axial direction of the rear cylinder portion 20 b of the connector fitting housing 20. Formed. The size of the rectangular window hole 5a in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction in FIGS. 15, 16, and 27) is made smaller than the separation distance between the protruding ends of the locking elastic pieces 20e on both sides of the fitting housing body 20f. .
Further, the thickness of the connector mounting plate 5 is equal to the distance between the contact protrusion 25 and the protrusion of the locking elastic piece 20e in the longitudinal direction of the connector fitting housing 20.

  When the rear tube portion 20b of the connector fitting housing 20 is pushed toward the window hole 5a, the locking elastic piece 20e contacting the connector mounting plate 5 approaches the outer peripheral surface of the rear tube portion 20b. As a result of elastic deformation, it can be inserted and penetrated into the window hole 5a. When the connector fitting housing 20 is inserted and penetrated through the window hole 5a of the connector mounting plate 5 and the contact projection 25 is brought into contact with the surface 5b of the connector mounting plate 5, the connector fitting housing 20 is elastic. The piece 20e passes through the window hole 5a and elastically returns to the original state. As a result, as shown in FIG. 15, the connector fitting housing 20 has the elastic elastic return member 20 e that has been elastically restored to contact the back surface 5 c of the connector mounting plate 5. It is sandwiched between the locking elastic pieces 20 e and attached to the connector mounting plate 5.

FIG. 16 shows an example of an assembling method (hereinafter, unit assembling method) of the connector connecting unit 200 assembled by attaching the optical connector 10 to the connector attaching plate 5.
In the unit assembling method shown in FIG. 16, the optical connector 10 is assembled to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 drawn from the back surface 5c side of the connector mounting plate 5 to the front surface 5b side through the window hole 5a, and then the assembled optical connector. 10 is pushed into the window hole 5a from the surface 5b side of the connector mounting plate 5 to be mounted on the connector mounting plate 5.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the optical connector 110 with a tool is used for the assembly of the optical connector 10 to the end of the optical fiber cable 1. First, as described above, the anchoring fixing member 120 fixed to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is pushed into the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the coupling unit portion 50A of the optical connector 10 (optical connector 110 with a tool). As a result, the optical fiber 2 exposed at the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is inserted into the unit housing 51A from the fiber introduction hole 42a (see FIG. 6) passing through the block 42 on the front side of the fixing member receiving portion 43. I will send it in.

The anchoring fixing member 120 is provided so as to surround the outer periphery of the terminal of the optical fiber cable 1 and is fixed and integrated with the terminal. The optical fiber 2 exposed at the end of the optical fiber cable 1 protrudes from a cable terminal 1a with a fixing member that includes the end of the optical fiber cable 1 and a securing member 120 for anchoring fixed to the end. The cable terminal 1a with a fixing member is configured such that the optical fiber cable 1 extends from the anchoring fixing member 120 to the rear side, and the optical fiber 2 protrudes from the anchoring fixing member 120 to the front side.
The optical fiber 2 is fed into the fiber introduction hole 42a (see FIG. 6) of the block portion 42 by moving the cable terminal 1a with a fixing member forward so as to approach the block portion 42 from the rear of the fixing member receiving portion 43. This is realized by pushing into the unit 43.

The block portion 42 of the rear housing 40 in the illustrated example is formed with a tapered recess 42 d that is tapered from the rear end toward the front side. The rear end of the fiber introduction hole 42a of the block portion 42 opens to the front end portion (the deep end portion when the block portion 42 is viewed from the rear side) of the tapered recess 42d.
The tapered recess 42d performs a function of guiding the tip of the optical fiber 2 protruding from the cable terminal 1a with a fixing member to the fiber introduction hole 42a to facilitate insertion into the fiber introduction hole 42a.

  Here, as the optical fiber 2, an optical fiber having a bare optical fiber 2 a at the tip is used in advance. As shown in FIG. 6, the optical fiber 2 inserted into the fiber introduction hole 42a of the block part 42 is clamped by the ferrule 60 with a clamp part from the front end of the fiber introduction hole 42a through the inside of the spring 53 by feeding to the front side of the connector. It is inserted into the covering portion receiving grooves 69b and 69c opened at the rear end of the portion 63. Further, the optical fiber 2 can be inserted into the alignment groove 69a of the clamp part 63 from the covering part receiving grooves 69b and 69c by feeding the optical fiber 2 to the front side of the connector. The optical connector 10 can abut the end of the bare optical fiber 2a against the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62 (but butt-connect) by simply feeding the optical fiber 2 from the rear side of the block portion 42 into the fiber introduction hole 42a. it can.

As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 12, etc., the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the block portion 42 extends from the block portion 42 to the rear, and both sides in the width direction of the elongated plate-like bottom plate portion 43a whose longitudinal direction is the connector front-rear direction. Further, a side plate portion 43b extending along the longitudinal direction of the bottom plate portion 43a is formed in a U-shaped cross section.
Here, as shown in FIG. 12, the operation of inserting the optical fiber 2 into the fiber introduction hole 42a of the block portion 42 is performed by connecting the optical connector 10 with the pair of side plate portions 43b of the fixing member receiving portion 43 on the bottom plate portion 43a. A case where the orientation is performed will be described. The optical connector 10 will be described with the upper side being the upper side and the lower side being the lower side in FIGS. 12, 14A and 14B. Further, the optical connector 10 and the coupling unit portion 50A will be described with the interval direction of the pair of side plate portions 43b of the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40 as the left-right direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 12, the rear housing 40 of the coupling unit portion 50 </ b> A of the optical connector 10 in the illustrated example approaches the block portion 42 from behind the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the cable terminal 1 a with the fixing member. An insertion assist slider 45 that guides the forward movement is provided. The insertion assisting slider 45 is provided on the bottom plate portion 43a of the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction.

Further, the rear housing 40 is provided with a retaining cover 46 that retains the cable terminal 1 a with a fixing member pushed into the fixing member receiving portion 43 and restricts the falling from the fixing member receiving portion 43 to the rear side.
The unit housing 51A of the coupling unit 50A of the optical connector 10 has a rear unit 44 in which the insertion assisting slider 45 and the retaining cover 46 are provided on the rear housing 40.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 12, and 14A, the insertion assisting slider 45 has an elongated slider body 45a provided on the bottom plate portion 43a of the fixing member receiving portion 43 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. doing. The slider body 45a is provided so as to overlap the unit plate housing 51A of the coupling unit portion 50A in the front-rear direction with the slider body 45a being overlapped on the bottom plate portion 43a of the fixing member receiving portion 43, and the front and rear portions on the bottom plate portion 43a. Slide in the direction.

  The insertion assisting slider 45 has a pressing protrusion 45b that protrudes from the rear end of the slider body 45a. The insertion assisting slider 45 can place the cable terminal 1a with a fixing member on a mounting portion 45c that is a portion extending rearward from the pressing protrusion 45b of the slider body 45a. The pressing protrusion 45b has a front end of the anchoring fixing member 120 of the cable terminal 1a with a fixing member placed on the mounting base 45c (opposite of the rear end of the anchoring fixing member 120 from which the optical fiber cable 1 extends). Can be contacted from the rear side of the pressing projection 45b.

As shown in FIG. 14A, the slider main body 45a of the insertion assisting slider 45 can be inserted from the rear side into a slider insertion hole 47 penetrating the lower portion of the block portion 42 in the front-rear direction. In the insertion assisting slider 45, the pressing protrusion 45 b disposed on the rear side of the block portion 42 contacts the rear end of the intermediate wall portion 42 e between the tapered recess 42 d and the slider insertion hole 47 in the block portion 42. The rear housing 40 can be advanced to a contact position. In the insertion assisting slider 45, the position where the pressing protrusion 45b abuts against the block portion 42 (specifically, the rear end of the intermediate wall portion 42e) from the rear side is the front movement limit position with respect to the unit housing 51A. .
The insertion assisting slider 45 is slidable from the front side movement limit position to the rear side with respect to the unit part housing 51A. By this sliding movement, the pressing protrusion 45b and the mounting part 45c are moved rearward from the block part 42. It can be arranged at a position separated to the side.

In the optical connector 10 of the illustrated example, when the insertion assisting slider 45 is disposed at the front movement limit position with respect to the rear housing 40 (unit housing 51A), the rear end of the slider body 45a (the rear end of the mounting portion 45c). ) In the connecting unit portion 50 </ b> A is substantially aligned with the rear end of the bottom plate portion 43 a of the fixing member receiving portion 43.
The operation of feeding the optical fiber 2 from the fiber introduction hole 42a of the block portion 42 into the coupling unit portion 50A using the insertion auxiliary slider 45 is performed as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14A. Is disposed at a position appropriately shifted from the front movement limit position to the rear side with respect to the rear housing 40, and the anchoring fixing member 120 of the cable terminal with a fixing member 1a is placed on the mounting portion 45c of the slider main body 45a. . Then, the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member is advanced so as to reduce the distance from the block part 42, and the optical fiber 2 projected from the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is connected to the coupling unit part from the fiber introduction hole 42a of the block part 42. Send it into 50A.

The cable terminal 1a with the fixing member advances while pressing the pressing protrusion 45b with the front end of the anchoring fixing member 120. For this reason, the insertion assisting slider 45 moves forward relative to the rear housing 40 as the cable terminal 1 a with the fixing member advances.
As will be described later, the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member reaches the advance limit position with respect to the rear housing 40 before the insertion assisting slider 45 reaches the front movement limit position with respect to the rear housing 40. Therefore, when the anchoring fixing member 120 of the cable terminal with a fixing member 1a is placed on the mounting portion 45c of the slider body 45a, the anchoring fixing member 120 of the cable terminal with the fixing member 1a is in the advance limit position. Further, the insertion assisting slider 45 is disposed at a position where a deviation amount from the front movement limit position to the rear side is ensured so as to start moving forward while pressing the pressing protrusion 45b of the insertion assisting slider 45 from behind.

  As shown in FIG. 12, guide protrusions 128 protruding from both sides of the anchoring fixing member 120 are provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the guide protrusions 128 on both sides of the anchoring fixing member 120 are formed on the inner surfaces of the fixing member receiving portions 43 of the rear housing 30 of the example shown in FIG. A protrusion guide groove 43d to be inserted is formed to extend in the front-rear direction. In the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member, the position where the guide protrusion 128 of the anchoring fixing member 120 abuts on the step surface 43e (see FIGS. 3 and 6) at the front end of the protrusion guide groove 43d is relative to the rear housing 30. It is the forward limit position.

  When the cable terminal with a fixed member 1a reaches the advance limit position, the insertion assisting slider 45 does not reach the front movement limit position where the pressing projection 45b contacts the block portion 42 of the rear housing 40. When the cable terminal 1a with a fixing member reaches the advance limit position, the insertion assisting slider 45 has a pressing projection 45b between the retaining member 120 for retention and the block portion 42 of the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member. The housing 40 is arranged to be movable back and forth.

  The optical fiber 2 that protrudes from the cable end 1a with the fixing member is embedded in the bare optical fiber 2a that is led out to the tip of the optical fiber 2 when the cable end 1a with the fixing member reaches the advance limit position by advancement. The protruding length from the end of the optical fiber cable 1 to the end of the bare optical fiber 2a is adjusted so that a butt connection state with respect to the rear end of the optical fiber 62 can be secured.

When the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member is placed on the mounting part 45c of the auxiliary insertion slider 45, the optical fiber 2 protruding from the terminal of the optical fiber cable 1 is extended backward from the fiber introduction hole 42a of the block part 42. It can be placed in a state that extends upward.
When the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member placed on the mounting portion 45c of the insertion assisting slider 45 arranged at a position shifted rearward from the front movement limit position is advanced, the insertion assisting slider 45 is moved to the fixing member receiving portion 43. It advances while being guided by the bottom plate portion 43a and the side plate portions 43b on both sides thereof. As a result, the cable terminal 1 a with the fixing member advances while maintaining the state where the optical fiber 2 protruding from the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is positioned on the rear extension of the fiber introduction hole 42 a of the block portion 42. For this reason, the operation of feeding the optical fiber 2 into the fiber introduction hole 42a using the insertion assist slider 45 is performed, for example, when the optical fiber 2 is moved forward of the cable terminal 1a with a fixing member and the axis of the fiber introduction hole 42a. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent inconveniences such as a large tilt and breakage, and the operation of feeding the optical fiber 2 into the fiber introduction hole 42a can be performed smoothly.

FIG. 13 shows a specific example of the anchoring fixing member 120.
Here, as the anchoring fixing member 120, an outer gripping member is used that is attached to the optical fiber cable 1 terminal by holding the optical fiber cable 1 terminal from both sides thereof. Hereinafter, when the anchoring fixing member 120 refers to an outer gripping member, the anchoring fixing member 120 is also referred to as an outer gripping member.
The jacket gripping member 120 includes a grip base 121 having a U-shaped cross section formed with a cable fitting groove 122 into which the optical fiber cable 1 is fitted, and side walls on both sides in the groove width direction of the cable fitting groove 122 of the grip base 121. A holding lid 123 pivotally attached to one of the portions 125.

  The jacket gripping member 120 includes a jacket 3 of the optical fiber cable 1 in which a plurality of gripping projections 125 c that are provided on the mutually facing surfaces of the pair of side wall portions 125 of the grip base 121 are fitted in the cable fitting groove 122. The optical fiber cable 1 can be gripped and fixed between the pair of side wall portions 125. The grip base 121 is a U-shaped member in which the cable fitting groove 122 is secured between a pair of side wall portions 125 protruding from one side of the bottom wall portion 124. The groove width direction of the cable fitting groove 122 refers to the interval direction of the side wall portions 125 on both sides via the cable fitting groove 122. Note that the gripping protrusion 125 c of the jacket gripping member 120 in the illustrated example is formed in a triangular cross section extending in the depth direction of the cable fitting groove 122.

  The jacket gripping member 120 grips the pressing lid 123 after the gripping base 121 is externally fitted and fixed to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 in an open state in which the pressing lid 123 is separated from the other side wall portion 125. The opening of the cable fitting groove 122 between the ends opposite to the bottom wall portion 124 of the pair of side wall portions 125 of the base 121 is rotated to a closed position to close the holding lid 123 to the other side wall portion 125. It is locked and attached to the end of the optical fiber cable 1.

  The jacket holding member 120 in the illustrated example is an integrally molded product made of plastic. The pressing lid 123 is connected to a protruding end of one of the pair of side wall portions 125 (hereinafter also referred to as a first side wall portion, denoted by reference numeral 125a in the figure) via a thin portion 126 that functions as a hinge portion. The holding lid 123 is pivotally attached to the first side wall portion 125a of the grip base 121 by the thin portion 126 along an axis along the extending direction of the cable fitting groove 122. Hereinafter, the other of the pair of side wall portions 125 of the grip base 121 is also referred to as a second side wall portion 125b.

  The holding lid 123 of the jacket holding member 120 in the illustrated example is formed in an L-shaped plate shape. The presser lid 123 includes a top plate portion 123a pivotally attached to the first side wall portion 125a of the grip base 121 via the thin portion 126, and an end of the top plate portion 123a opposite to the thin portion 126. And a locking plate portion 123b formed perpendicular to the top plate portion 123a. When the top cover 123 a is placed in a closed position where the top plate 123 a is in contact with the protruding ends of the pair of side walls 125 of the grip base 121 and the opening of the cable fitting groove 122 is closed, the locking plate 123b can be superimposed on the outer surface of the second side wall portion 125b of the grip base 121 opposite to the cable fitting groove 122. Then, the holding lid 123 causes the locking claw 125d protruding from the outer surface of the second side wall portion 125b of the grip base 121 to enter the locking window hole 123c formed in the locking plate portion 123b. As a result, the gripping base 121 is locked, and the closed state with respect to the gripping base 121 can be stably maintained.

  The jacket holding member 120 (fixing member for retention) in the illustrated example has a pair of front protruding wall portions 127 protruding from one end in the front-rear direction along the extending direction of the cable fitting groove 122 of the holding base 121. Yes. The pair of front projecting wall portions 127 are formed in a plate-like shape that protrudes from the side wall portions 125 a and 125 b on both sides of the grip base 121 so as to extend the side wall portions 125 a and 125 b along the longitudinal direction of the grip base 121. Yes. Hereinafter, the outer gripping member 120 will be described with the front projecting wall 127 side as the front and the opposite side as the rear.

  A pair of front projecting wall portions 127 of the envelope gripping member 120 in the illustrated example are formed to extend in the front-rear direction on the side plate portions 43b on both sides of the fixing member receiving portion 43 (see FIG. 3) of the rear housing 30. A guide protrusion 128 that is inserted into the portion guide groove 43 d is provided. In the front protruding wall portion 127, the guiding protruding portion 128 protrudes on the outer surface side opposite to the inner surfaces facing each other of the pair of front protruding wall portions 127.

In addition, as a jacket holding member, it is not limited to the structure of the example of illustration. As the outer cover gripping member, for example, a pressing lid is provided, and the engaging plate portion 123b is omitted, and an engagement portion that engages with the protruding end of the second side wall portion 125b of the grip base 121 is provided on the top plate portion 123a. It is also possible to adopt a configuration changed to a holding lid with a different structure. Further, as the outer cover gripping member, a configuration including only a gripping base can be employed. Moreover, as a jacket holding member, it is not limited to the plastic integral molded product, The thing assembled by the multiple member is also employable.
The anchoring fixing member is not limited to the jacket gripping member, and may be a member that is fixed to the outer periphery of the end of the optical fiber cable 1 by adhesive bonding or thermal welding, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 12, a cable terminal with a fixing member 1a configured using the jacket gripping member 120 as a retaining member for retention is configured such that an insertion optical fiber 2 protruding from the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is connected to the coupling unit portion 50A. In the operation of feeding into the fiber introduction hole 42a of the block portion 42, the front protruding wall portion 127 of the jacket gripping member 120 is directed to the front side (block portion 42 side) on the mounting portion 45c of the insertion assisting slider 45. Placed on. The cable terminal 1a with the fixing member is placed on the mounting portion 45c with the front and rear direction of the jacket gripping member 120 (front and rear direction of the grip base 121) aligned with the front and rear direction of the coupling unit portion 50A.

The pressing protrusions 45b of the insertion assisting slider 45 are provided on both sides of the elongated plate-like slider main body 45a in the width direction (coincident with the horizontal direction of the coupling unit portion 50A). The pair of pressing protrusions 45b protruding from the slider body 45a are spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the slider body 45a at an interval corresponding to the interval between the pair of front protruding wall portions 127 of the jacket gripping member 120. It has been. When the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member is placed on the platform 45c and advanced (reducing the distance from the block portion 42), the front end of the front projecting wall portion 127 of the outer gripping member 120 The pair of pressing protrusions 45b of the insertion assisting slider 45 is pressed.
When the cable end with fixed member 1a reaches the advance limit position by advancing, the bare optical fiber 2a at the tip of the optical fiber 2 protruding from the end of the optical fiber cable 1 abuts against the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62 of the ferrule 60 with clamp portion. Connected.

The assembly of the optical connector 10 to the optical fiber cable 1 terminal is performed by first attaching the cable terminal 1a with a fixing member placed on the mounting portion 45c of the insertion assisting slider 45 disposed at a position shifted from the front movement limit position to the rear side. The unit part housing 51A (specifically, the rear housing 40) is advanced to the advance limit position. As a result, the optical fiber 2 protruding from the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is sent from the fiber introduction hole 42a of the block portion 42 into the alignment groove 69a via the covering portion receiving grooves 69b and 69c of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion. Two bare optical fibers 2a are butt-connected to the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62.
The cable terminal 1a with the fixing member is pushed forward toward the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40 toward the front block portion 42 by advancement, and is stored inside the fixing member receiving portion 43 when reaching the advance limit position. The

  Next, the retaining cover 46 is pivotally attached to the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member inside the fixing member receiving portion 43 from the upper side by a turning operation with respect to the rear housing 40 (described later) pivotally attached to the rear housing 40. (See FIGS. 1 and 2). As a result, as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 14 (a), the retraction restricting piece 46f (described later) provided on the retaining cover 46 is attached to the securing member 120 (in the illustrated example, the jacket) The rear end of the cable terminal with a fixing member 1a from the forward limit position is regulated by contacting the rear end of the gripping member). As a result, the butt connection state of the optical fiber 2 (specifically, the bare optical fiber 2a opened to the tip thereof) with respect to the built-in optical fiber 62 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion is maintained.

Next, it is inserted from the clamp part 63 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part between the rear side extension piece 65 and the lid members 66 and 67 constituting the half-shaped gripping element part of the clamp part 63. The inserted insertion pieces 81 and 82 are removed.
As a result, the bare optical fiber 2a at the tip of the optical fiber 2 is held and fixed between the rear extension piece 65 and the front lid member 66 by the elasticity of the clamp spring 68 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion, and the rear extension piece A portion (covering portion) with the coating 2 b of the optical fiber 2 is gripped and fixed between the 65 and the rear lid member 67. Thereby, the butt connection state of the optical fiber 2 (specifically, the bare optical fiber 2a opened to the tip thereof) with respect to the built-in optical fiber 62 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion can be kept stable.

  The front cover member 66 is formed with a flat facing surface 66 a that faces the facing surface 65 a of the rear extension piece 65. When the insertion pieces 81 and 82 are removed from between the rear extension piece 65 and the lid members 66 and 67 constituting the half-divided gripping element portion of the clamp portion 63 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion, the front lid The member 66 aligns the rear protruding portion 62a of the built-in optical fiber 62 and the bare optical fiber 2a at the tip of the inserted optical fiber 2 abutted against the rear end of the rear protruding portion 62a by a flat facing surface 66a. It is pressed against 69 a and is held and fixed between the rear extension piece 65. As a result, it is possible to maintain a state in which the leading end of the bare optical fiber 2a of the inserted optical fiber 2 is butt-connected to the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62 with high alignment accuracy.

  The assembly of the optical connector 10 to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is completed by gripping and fixing the insertion optical fiber 2 to the clamp part 63 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 12, the retaining cover 46 is formed in an elongated plate shape on both sides of the top plate portion 46 a disposed on the cable terminal 1 a with the fixing member pushed into the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40. The cover main body 46H is provided with a cover side plate portion 46b. The cover side plate portions 46b on both sides of the top plate portion 46a are provided so as to protrude perpendicularly to the top plate portion 46a on the one surface 46c side of the top plate portion 46a, and extend parallel to each other with the direction along the one surface 46c as the longitudinal direction. doing.

The pair of cover side plate portions 46b provided on both sides of the top plate portion 46a has one end side in the longitudinal direction protruding from the top plate portion 46a.
The retaining cover 46 has a pair of cover-side plate portions 46b protruding from the top plate portion 46a to the rear housing 40 by means of a rotation shaft 41g (see FIGS. 1 and 12). The housing 100 </ b> H is pivotally attached to the housing 100 </ b> H so as to be rotatable with a rotation axis in the direction of the distance between the pair of side plate portions 43 b of the receiving portion 43.

The front end portion of the cover side plate portion 46b pivotally attached to the rear housing 40 by the rotation shaft 41g is also referred to as a pivot end portion hereinafter.
In the coupling unit portion 50A of the illustrated example, the rotating shaft 41g protrudes in a protruding shape on both sides in the left-right direction of the rear housing 40, more specifically on both sides in the left-right direction of the block portion 42. The retaining cover 46 is formed on the rear housing 40 with the pivot shaft 41g fitted into a shaft insertion hole 46e formed through the pivot end portion of the pair of cover side plate portions 46b in the thickness direction. It is pivotally mounted so as to be rotatable with a horizontal axis (rotating axis).

  The pivoting structure for the rear housing 40 of the retaining cover 46 is not limited to the illustrated structure. As the pivot attachment structure, for example, a shaft insertion projecting on the left and right sides of the block portion 42 of the rear housing 40 with shaft portions projecting on opposite sides of the pivot end portions of the pair of cover side plate portions 46b. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the retaining cover 46 is inserted into the hole and pivotally attached to the rear housing 40 around the shaft portion so as to be rotatable about its axis (rotation axis).

As shown in FIGS. 1, 14A, and 14B, the retaining cover 46 is opposite to the rotation shaft 46d of the cover main body 46H extending from the rotation shaft 46d (hereinafter also referred to as an extended end side). In addition, the backward restricting piece 46f is provided.
The retaining cover 46 is fixed to the fixing member by rotating around the rotating shaft 41g from a state in which the end on the extending end side is separated from the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40. The receiving part 43 can be covered from the upper side. At this time, the position of the retaining cover 46 with respect to the fixing member receiving portion 43 is also referred to as a covering position (see the solid line in FIG. 1, FIGS. 14A and 14B).

  The operation of pushing the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member into the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40 from the rear side is performed by extending the retaining cover 46 so as not to obstruct the operation of pushing the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member. This is performed in a state in which the end portion on the protruding end side is sufficiently separated from the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40 and opened to the fixing member receiving portion 43. The retaining cover 46 is disposed at the covering position by rotating around the rotation shaft 41g after the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member is pushed into the fixing member receiving portion 43.

  When the retaining cover 46 is disposed at the covering position with respect to the fixing member receiving portion 43, the top plate portion 46 a is oriented along the bottom plate portion 43 a of the fixing member receiving portion 43. In addition, the retaining cover 46 disposed in the covering position has a bottom plate of the fixing member receiving portion 43 between a pair of cover side plate portions 46b protruding in a rib shape on one side 46c (hereinafter also referred to as an inner surface) side of the top plate portion 46a. The pair of side plate portions 43b protruding from the portion 43a is stored.

  As shown in the phantom line of FIG. 14B, the retaining cover 46 disposed at the covering position has an inner surface 46 c of the top plate portion 46 a opposite to the bottom plate portions 43 a of the pair of side plate portions 43 b of the fixing member receiving portion 43. It abuts on the end (upper end). Further, when the retaining cover 46 is disposed at the cover position, the retaining cover 46g formed on the cover side plate portions 46b on both sides is fitted to the outer surfaces (a pair of side plate portions 43b of the fixing member receiving portion 43). A locking projection 43c projecting from the side plate 43b opposite to the inner surface facing each other enters and is locked to the fixed member receiving portion 43 at the covering position. As a result, the retaining cover 46 is restricted from rotating in the direction in which the end portion on the extending end side is separated from the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40, and is in a covering position with respect to the fixing member receiving portion 43. The state is kept stable.

As shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (b) imaginary lines, the retaining cover 46 has the retraction restricting piece 46f at the front movement limit position relative to the rear housing 40 when it is disposed at the cover position. It can be arranged behind the certain anchoring fixing member 120 and brought into contact with the anchoring fixing member 120.
The cover main body 46H of the retaining cover 46 includes a U-shaped cover portion 46d that includes a pair of cover side plate portions 46b and a top plate portion 46a and extends in a U-shaped cross section. The end of the cover main body 46H on the extending end side is constituted by a U-shaped cover portion 46d.

In the retaining cover 46 of the illustrated example, the retreat restricting piece 46f is a rib-like protrusion projecting along the inner periphery of the end portion of the U-shaped cross section on the extending end side of the cover body 46H, and has a portal shape. Is formed. The retraction restricting piece 46f avoids the optical fiber cable 1 extending rearward from the anchoring fixing member 120 when the retaining cover 46 is placed in the covering position, and the pulling restricting piece 46f is aligned with the right and left direction of the fixing member receiving portion 43. It arrange | positions and contact | abuts on the rear side of the wall part of the right-and-left both sides of the fixation member 120. As a result, the cable terminal 1 a with the fixing member can be secured to the optical connector 10 by the retaining cover 46.
The optical fiber cable 1 is passed through the cable insertion recess 46k inside the portal-shaped retraction restricting piece 46f and extends from the retaining cover 46 to the rear side.

  The backward restricting piece 46f is not limited to a gate shape along the inner periphery of the end portion having a U-shaped cross section on the extending end side of the cover body 46H. For example, the retraction restricting piece is configured to protrude only on the inner surfaces facing each other of the end portions on the extension end side of the pair of cover side plate portions 46b of the cover main body 46H, and the protrusion from the top plate portion 46a is omitted. Etc. can also be adopted.

  The retaining means for retaining the anchoring fixing member 120 on the coupling unit portion 50A and holding it at the forward limit position is not limited to the retaining cover described above. As the retaining means, for example, an elastic claw that engages with the anchoring fixing member 120 of the cable terminal with the fixing member 1a pushed into the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40 from the rear side can be adopted.

  As an assembling method of the connector connecting unit 200 (see FIG. 15) in which the optical connector 10 assembled to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is attached to the connector attaching plate 5, for example, the following three methods can be mentioned.

  In the first assembly method, for example, as shown in FIG. 16, first, an optical fiber cable 1 drawn out from the back surface 5c side to the front surface 5b side of the connector mounting plate 5 through the window hole 5a of the connector mounting plate 5 is used. The optical connector 10 is assembled. Next, the rear tube portion 20b of the connector fitting housing 20 of the optical connector 10 is pushed into the window hole 5a from the surface 5b side of the connector mounting plate 5 and attached to the connector mounting plate 5, and the optical connector 10 is attached to the connector mounting plate 5. The connector connection unit 200 is assembled as shown in FIG.

  In the second assembly method, for example, as shown in FIG. 17, first, the optical connector 10 before assembly is attached to the connector mounting plate 5 at the end of the optical fiber cable 1. The connector fitting housing 20 of the optical connector 10 is then attached to the connector attachment plate 5 by pushing the cylindrical portion 20b from the surface 5b side of the connector attachment plate 5 into the window hole 5a. In the optical connector 10, the rear housing 40 (the rear unit 44 in the case of the illustrated optical connector 10) is protruded toward the back surface 5 c of the connector mounting plate 5. Next, the cable terminal 1a with a fixing member formed by attaching the anchoring fixing member 120 to the optical fiber cable 1 terminal from the rear side to the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40 of the coupling unit portion 50A of the optical connector 10 is provided. The inserted optical fiber 2 that has been pushed in and exposed to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is butt-connected to the built-in optical fiber 62 of the optical connector 10, and the optical connector 10 is assembled to the end of the optical fiber cable 1. When the assembly of the optical connector 10 to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is completed, the connector connection unit 200 can be assembled.

  In the third assembling method, as shown in FIG. 18, first, the coupling unit portion 50A of the optical connector 10 is assembled (assembled) to the end of the optical fiber cable 1. The coupling unit portion 50A has a configuration in which the connector fitting housing 20 is omitted from the optical connector 10, and the assembly of the coupling unit portion 50A to the optical fiber cable 1 end is the assembly of the optical connector 10 to the optical fiber cable 1 end. The same can be done. Next, the front housing 30 of the coupling unit portion 50A assembled to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is pushed into the housing through hole 26 from the rear cylinder portion 20b side of the connector fitting housing 20 attached to the connector attachment plate 5, and the base portion 31 is fitted into the connector fitting housing 20 and integrated. As a result, the optical connector 10 is assembled to the end of the optical fiber cable 1, and as a result, the connector connecting unit 200 having a configuration in which the optical connector 10 assembled to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is attached to the connector mounting plate 5 is obtained. Assembled.

In the third assembling method, the front housing 30 of the coupling unit portion 50A assembled to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is pushed into the housing through hole 26 of the connector fitting housing 20 from the rear cylinder portion 20b side to the connector fitting housing 20. By assembling, the assembly of the optical connector 10 to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is realized.
The assembly of the optical connector 10 to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 in the first assembling method uses, for example, the optical connector 10 having a configuration in which the coupling unit portion 50A is assembled to the connector fitting housing 20, and the optical connector 10 is Assemble optical fiber cable 1 end. However, in the first assembly method, after the coupling unit portion 50A is assembled to the optical fiber cable 1 end, the front housing 30 of the coupling unit portion 50A is fitted to the connector fitting housing 20, and the optical fiber cable 1 end is assembled. Alternatively, the optical connector 10 may be assembled.

The front housing 30 of the coupling unit portion 50A can be fitted into the connector fitting housing 20 by being pushed into the housing through hole 26 of the connector fitting housing 20 from the rear cylinder portion 20b side.
As shown in FIGS. 8A to 8D, the connector fitting housing 20 is inserted and fitted into the connector fitting housing 20 on the inner surface of the portion located in the rear cylinder portion 20 b of the housing through hole 26 of the connector fitting housing 20. A locking protrusion 27 and a stopper protrusion 28 are provided as locking means for restricting the movement of the front housing 30 in the front-rear direction (the axial direction of the connector fitting housing 20) relative to the connector fitting housing 20. The locking protrusions 27 and the stopper protrusions 28 are provided so as to be shifted in the front-rear direction of the connector fitting housing 20, and the locking protrusions 27 are located on the rear side of the stopper protrusions 28. .

As shown in FIGS. 8 (a) to 8 (d), the locking protrusion 27 extends from the inner surface of the housing through hole 26 toward the front side (the opening side of the front cylindrical portion 20a of the housing through hole 26). It is the protrusion formed in the taper shape which a protrusion dimension increases.
On the other hand, the rear surface of the stopper projection 28 is formed perpendicular to the axis of the connector fitting housing 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 10, the base portion 31 of the front housing 30 of the coupling unit portion 50 </ b> A has a housing through hole of the connector fitting housing 20 on two outer peripheries that are separated from each other in the front-rear direction. 26, hole inner surface abutting protrusions 31a and 31b that abut on the inner surface are provided. When the front housing 30 is pushed into the housing through-hole 26 of the connector fitting housing 20 and fitted, the hole inner surface abutting protrusions 31a and 31b extending over the entire outer periphery of the base portion 31 are extended in the extending direction. It is in contact with the inner surface of the housing through hole 26 over its entire length and is positioned and provided in the housing through hole 26.

Of the two hole inner surface abutting protrusions 31 a and 31 b in the front-rear direction of the base portion 31 of the front housing 30, the hole inner surface abutting protrusion 31 a located on the front side serves as a housing for the connector fitting housing 20. When it is inserted into the through hole 26, it gets over the locking projection 27 and enters between the locking projection 27 and the stopper projection 28 (see FIG. 10). As a result, the hole inner surface abutting protrusion 31a abuts on a portion of the inner surface of the housing through hole 26 located between the locking protrusion 27 and the stopper protrusion 28, and the locking protrusion 27 and the stopper protrusion. The movement of the connector fitting housing 20 in the front-rear direction is restricted by the portion 28.
At this time, the hole inner surface contact protrusion 31b on the rear side of the hole inner surface contact protrusion 31a is positioned on the rear side of the locking protrusion 27 in the front-rear direction of the connector fitting housing 20 and contacts the inner surface of the housing through hole 26. Touch. As a result, the front housing 30 is fitted and fixed to the connector fitting housing 20 while restricting movement in the front-rear direction.

Of the two hole inner surface contact protrusions 31a and 31b in the front-rear direction of the base portion 31 of the front housing 30, the hole inner surface contact protrusion 31a positioned on the front side is also referred to as a fixing protrusion 31a.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, the fixing protrusion 31 a has a rectangular cross section perpendicular to the extending direction, and both front and rear sides are formed on a surface perpendicular to the front and rear direction of the front housing 30. .

  As shown in FIG. 10, the front side of the locking projection 27 is a surface perpendicular to the axis of the connector fitting housing 20. The fixing projection 31a that has passed over the locking projection 27 and entered between the locking projection 27 and the stopper projection 28 comes into contact with the locking projection 27 from the front side thereof, so that the connector fitting housing 20 Backward movement with respect to is restricted. The locking projection 27 engages with the fixing projection 31a that has passed over the locking projection 27 and has entered between the locking projection 27 and the stopper projection 28, so that the connector of the fixing projection 31a is engaged. The backward movement with respect to the fitting housing 20 is restricted.

On the other hand, the stopper protrusion 28 moves forward with respect to the connector fitting housing 20 of the fixing protrusion 31 a that has passed over the locking protrusion 27 and entered between the locking protrusion 27 and the stopper protrusion 28. regulate.
Further, the separation distance between the locking projection 27 and the stopper projection 28 in the front-rear direction of the connector fitting housing 20 is such that the fixing projection 31 a that enters between the locking projection 27 and the stopper projection 28. In order to restrict movement in the front-rear direction with respect to the connector fitting housing 20, the size is matched with the dimension (thickness dimension) of the fixing protrusion 31 a in the front-rear direction of the front housing 30.

  For this reason, the fixing protrusion 31 a that has passed over the locking protrusion 27 and entered between the locking protrusion 27 and the stopper protrusion 28 is sandwiched between the locking protrusion 27 and the stopper protrusion 28 from the front and rear. The movement in the front-rear direction with respect to the connector fitting housing 20 is restricted. As a result, the base portion 31 of the front housing 30 inserted into the housing through hole 26 of the connector fitting housing 20 is fitted and fixed to the connector fitting housing 20 and integrated with the connector fitting housing 20. The front housing 30 inserted into the housing through hole 26 of the connector fitting housing 20 is assembled to the connector fitting housing 20 by integrating the base portion 31 with the connector fitting housing 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8 (a) to (d), the locking projection 27 of the connector fitting housing 20 has a housing through hole in the pair of main wall portions 21 and 22 of the connector fitting housing 20. 26 are provided so as to protrude from the inner surface facing 26.

A pair of long holes 29a extending in the front-rear direction are formed in portions of the connector fitting housing 20 located in the rear cylinder portions 20b of the main wall portions 21 and 22, respectively. The locking protrusion 27 protrudes from the elastic wall portion 29 which is a portion located between the pair of long holes 29 a in the main wall portions 21 and 22.
None of the elongated holes 29 a at both ends in the extending direction reaches the end surface in the front-rear direction of the connector fitting housing 20. Both ends of the elongated hole 29a in the extending direction are positioned away from the front and rear end surfaces of the connector fitting housing 20.

  The elastic wall 29 is not limited to the configuration shown in the drawing (hereinafter also referred to as a double-supported elastic wall). The elastic wall portion extends in parallel to each other from the rear end surface of the connector fitting housing 20 (the end surface on the side of the rear tube portion 20b) to the front end surface at the portion located in the rear tube portion 20b of the main wall portions 21 and 22. It may be a portion (hereinafter also referred to as a cantilevered elastic wall portion) positioned between a pair of slit-shaped cut portions.

  The cantilevered elastic wall portion can be elastically deformed by displacing the rear end portion forming a part of the rear end surface of the connector fitting housing 20 in a direction away from the axis of the housing through hole 26. As a result, the engagement of the locking protrusion 27 with the fixing protrusion 31 a held between the locking protrusion 27 and the stopper protrusion 28 can be released. The structure in which the locking projections 27 project on the inner surface side of the cantilevered elastic wall portions formed on the main wall portions 21 and 22 on both sides of the rear tube portion 20b of the connector fitting housing 20 is the cantilevered elastic wall portion. By engaging the rear end portion, the engagement of the locking projection 27 with the fixing projection 31a can be released. For this reason, it is possible to remove the front housing 30 fitted and fixed inside the connector fitting housing 20 from the connector fitting housing 20.

  On the other hand, the connector fitting housing 20 having a configuration in which a locking projection 27 is provided on the inner surface side of the double-supported elastic wall portion 29 formed on the main wall portions 21 and 22 on both sides of the rear cylinder portion 20b includes a coupling unit portion. After the 50A front housing 30 is fitted, it is not easy to elastically deform the elastic wall portion 29 by applying an external force. That is, the elastic wall portion 29 is unlikely to be elastically deformed by the action of external force after the front housing 30 is fitted to the connector fitting housing 20. For this reason, the connector fitting housing 20 adopting the both-end-supporting elastic wall portion 29 has an engagement state of the locking projection 27 with the fixing projection 31a as compared with the configuration employing the cantilever-type elastic wall portion. It can be kept stable.

The protruding position and the number of protruding protrusions of the locking protrusions 27 protruding from the inner surface of the portion of the connector fitting housing 20 located in the rear cylinder portion 20b of the housing through hole 26 are not limited to the illustrated example.
The locking projection 27 protruding from the inner surface of the rear cylinder portion 20b may be at least one. Further, the protruding position of the locking projection 27 is not limited to the main wall portion of the connector fitting housing 20, and may be a side wall portion, or may be both the main wall portion and the side wall portion.
The locking protrusion 27 is preferably provided so as to protrude from a double-sided elastic wall part or a cantilevered elastic wall part provided on the rear tube part 20 b of the connector fitting housing 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 6, 11 and the like, the optical connector 10 has an optical connector insertion hole 11a (hereinafter also referred to as a connector hole) into which the insertion optical connector 90 can be inserted, and is inserted into the connector hole 11a. It can be directly connected to the inserted optical connector 90 fitted. The ferrule 93 of the insertion optical connector 90 inserted and fitted into the connector hole 11a is butted (joined) to the ferrule 61 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion in the positioning sleeve 52 housed in the ferrule insertion hole 33 of the front housing 30. End surfaces 61b and 93a can be matched). The optical connector 10 can realize connector connection (optical connection) between the optical fibers 2 and 94 by abutting the ferrules 61 and 93 in the positioning sleeve 52.

The optical connector 10 is attached to the front housing 30 by being fitted to a front housing 30 integrally provided in the connector fitting housing 20 and a plug frame portion 35 extending rearward from the front housing 30. The ferrule 60 with a clamp part is accommodated in a unit part housing 51 </ b> A composed of the side housing 40. On the front side of the front housing 30 having the plug frame portion 35, a protruding cylinder portion 32 that houses the positioning sleeve 52 and an engaging piece 34 with a claw that engages with the insertion optical connector 90 protrude. In other words, the claw engagement piece 34 and the protruding cylinder portion 32 that engage with the insertion optical connector 90 protrude from the front housing 30 of the unit housing 51 </ b> A of the coupling unit portion 50 </ b> A that houses the ferrule 61.
Therefore, the connection between the optical connector 10 and the insertion optical connector 90 inserted into the connector hole 11a of the connector fitting portion 11 (see FIGS. 6 and 11) is compared to the plug-adapter-plug coupling method. Therefore, it can be realized with a small number of parts, and the cost can be easily reduced.

FIG. 28 shows an optical wiring board 300 in which connector connection units 200 are provided in multiple stages.
The optical wiring board 300 has a unit support 310 for supporting the connector connection unit 200. The unit support 310 has a configuration in which a column 312 is erected on a base 311.
Each connector connection unit 200 has a mounting member 5 d for mounting the connector mounting plate 5 to the column 312 of the unit support 310. The mounting member 5d is fixed to the connector mounting plate 5. The connector connection unit 200 is attached to the unit support 310 by fixing the attachment member 5d to the column 312 of the unit support 310. The connector connection unit 200 is attached to the unit support 310 in such a posture that the connector attachment plate 5 is erected on the attachment member 5d.

As the connector connection unit 200 provided in the optical wiring board 300 illustrated in FIG. 28, for example, as shown in FIG. 27, a connector in which a plurality of connector mounting window holes 5a (connector insertion window holes) are formed side by side. A configuration using the mounting plate 5 can be employed. And as this connector connection unit 200, the thing of the structure by which multiple optical connectors 10 were attached to the connector attachment plate 5 side by side using the said window hole 5a can be used suitably.
Note that the optical wiring board may have a configuration in which a plurality of connector connection units 200 are attached to a unit support, and is not necessarily limited to a configuration in which the connector connection units 200 are provided in multiple upper and lower stages. The design of the unit support can be changed as appropriate in accordance with the arrangement of the plurality of connector connection units 200.

The coupling unit portion 50 of the optical connector has a configuration in which a ferrule is housed in a unit portion housing 51 including a front housing 30 provided integrally with the connector fitting housing 20 and a rear housing 40 attached to the front housing 30. The configuration is not limited to the configuration described with reference to FIGS.
As the coupling unit section, for example, a coupling unit section 50B shown in FIGS. 20 to 23 and a coupling unit section 50C shown in FIGS.

The coupling unit 50B shown in FIGS. 20 to 22 is assembled (attached) to the tip of the optical fiber 7 that is a coated optical fiber such as an optical fiber core.
The coupling unit portion 50B employs a sleeve-like stop ring 55 in place of the rear unit 44 of the coupling unit portion 50A of the optical connector 10 described above. The coupling unit portion 50B is different from the coupling unit portion 50A described above only in that the stop ring 55 is adopted instead of the rear unit 44.

The coupling unit portion 50B includes a front housing 30 of the coupling unit portion 50A of the optical connector 10 described above, and a sleeve-like stop ring 55 fitted to the plug frame portion 35 of the front housing 30 and attached to the front housing 30. The ferrule 60 with a clamp part and the spring 53 are accommodated in the unit part housing 51B which consists of these.
The coupling unit portion 50B is not assembled to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 and does not include a retaining means for retaining the end of the optical fiber cable.
As the optical fiber 7 used here, for example, there is no portion cabled over the entire length, and the coating covering the outer periphery of the bare optical fiber forms the outer peripheral surface (side surface) over the entire length, or a part in the longitudinal direction. Except where the exposed portion of the bare optical fiber is secured, the coating covers the outer circumference of the bare optical fiber over the entire length.

  The stop ring 55 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The stop ring 55 can be attached to the front housing 30 by fitting a front end portion thereof to a plug frame portion 35 extending rearward from the front housing 30. The stop ring 55 has a front end portion inserted into the plug frame portion 35 from its rear end, and engaging protrusions 55c (see FIG. 22) projecting on both sides of the front end portion are formed on both sides of the plug frame portion 35 rear end portion. By fitting into the formed locking hole 35a, the plug frame portion 35 is fitted.

Insertion pieces 51 and 52 inserted between the rear extension piece 65 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part and the lid members 66 and 67 at a plurality of places (two places in the illustrated example) in the axial direction of the stop ring 55. The insertion piece insertion hole 55a for letting it pass is formed.
An optical connector employing the coupling unit portion 50B is a field assembly type optical connector. Assembling (attachment) of the coupling unit portion 50B of the optical connector to the distal end portion of the optical fiber 7 is performed between the rear extension piece 65 and the lid members 66 and 67 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion. The optical fiber 7 is inserted from the optical fiber insertion port 55b at the rear end of the stop ring 55 in a state in which is inserted (in the state of the unit portion with the insertion piece). Then, the bare optical fiber 7a (see FIG. 22) that has been laid out at the front end of the optical fiber 7 (insertion optical fiber) is abutted against the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62 (with a butt connection), and with a clamp portion. The insertion pieces 51 and 52 are removed from the clamp part 63 of the ferrule 60, and the tip of the optical fiber 7 is held and fixed to the clamp part 63 together with the rear-side protruding part 62 a of the built-in optical fiber 62 (see FIGS. 4 and 6).

The coupling unit portion 50C shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 is a sleeve-like stop fitted to the front housing 30 by fitting to the front housing 30 of the coupling unit portion 50A described above and the plug frame portion 35 of the front housing 30. In a unit housing 51C composed of a ring 56, a ferrule 57 (built-in ferrule) attached to the tip of an optical fiber 7 that is a coated optical fiber such as an optical fiber core wire, and the ferrule 57 toward the front side of the connector The elastic spring urging spring 58 (coil spring) is housed.
The coupling unit portion 50 </ b> C is assembled at the distal end portion of the optical fiber 7.
The optical fiber 7 extends from the rear end opening 56 a of the rear end of the stop ring 56.

As shown in FIG. 26, the ferrule 57 is a ferrule for a single-core optical connector, and a flange part 57g is fixed to a capillary-shaped ferrule body 57f through which a fiber hole 57a passes. The flange part 57g has a sleeve portion that extends from the rear end of the ferrule body 57f to the rear side on a ring-shaped flange portion 57h that is fixed to the rear end of the front end of the ferrule body 57f opposite to the joining end surface 57b. 57i is projectingly provided.
The fiber hole 57a of the ferrule 57 extends from the joint end surface 57b at the front end (front end) of the ferrule body 57f toward the rear side of the ferrule 57, and reaches the rear end surface of the ferrule, that is, the rear end surface of the sleeve portion 57i of the flange part 57h. . In the ferrule 57, the tip end portion of the optical fiber 7 inserted into the fiber hole 57a is inserted and fixed. The distal end portion of the optical fiber 7 inserted into the fiber hole 57a is fixed to the ferrule 57 by, for example, adhesive fixing with an adhesive filled in the fiber hole 57a.

As shown in FIG. 26, the fiber hole 57a has a positioning hole portion 57c which is a fine hole extending from the joining end surface 57b of the front end (front end) of the ferrule body 57f toward the rear side of the ferrule 57. A portion of the fiber hole 57a on the rear side from the rear end of the positioning hole portion 57c is a covering portion receiving hole portion 57d formed with a diameter larger than that of the positioning hole portion 57c. The covering portion storage hole 57d extends rearward from the rear end of the positioning hole 57c and reaches the rear end surface of the ferrule.
In the ferrule 57, the bare optical fiber 7a led out from the tip of the optical fiber 7 is inserted and fixed in the positioning hole portion 57c of the fiber hole 57a, and from the bare optical fiber 7a of the optical fiber 7 to the covering portion accommodation hole portion 57d. A covering portion, which is a portion with the rear covering 7b, is inserted and fixed.

  The optical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention is coupled in accordance with the configuration of the optical transmission body such as the optical fiber 7 and the optical fiber cable 1 that are connected to the optical fiber 94 to which the insertion optical connector 90 is attached. The configuration of the unit unit 50 can be selected as appropriate.

Although the present invention has been described based on the best mode, the present invention is not limited to the above-described best mode, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, the specific configuration of the optical connector is not limited as long as it conforms to the technical idea of the present invention. The specific procedure for assembling the optical connector can also be modified according to the specific configuration of the optical connector.

For example, the connector fitting housing is not limited to an integrally molded plastic product that is integrally molded including the locking elastic piece 20e protruding from the fitting housing body 20f.
As the connector fitting housing, for example, as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, a plastic integrated molded product in which the locking elastic piece 20e is omitted from the connector fitting housing 20 described above (connector) A fitting housing 20A) can also be employed.

  The connector fitting housing 20A illustrated in FIGS. 29 and 30 omits the locking elastic piece 20e from the connector fitting housing 20 described above, and is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 20b of the fitting housing body 20f. A metal plate mounting recess 20 c for mounting the metal plate 6 for attachment to the plate 5 is formed. The front tube portion 20a, the rear tube portion 20b, the key insertion notch 20d, the main plate portions 21 and 22, the side plate portions 23 and 24, the contact protrusion 25, and the housing through hole 26 of the connector fitting housing 20A are shown in FIG. In the middle, the same reference numerals as those of the fitting housing body 20f of the connector fitting housing 20 described above are added.

  The connector fitting housing 20A has a fitting housing body 20g having a configuration in which the metal plate mounting recess 20c is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 20b of the fitting housing body 20f of the connector fitting housing 20 described above. The fitting housing body 20g is different from the fitting housing body 20f of the connector fitting housing 20 described above only in that the locking elastic piece 20e is omitted and the metal plate mounting recess 20c is formed. Also in the fitting housing body 20g, the locking projection 27, the stopper projection 28, the elastic wall 29, and the long hole 29a are formed in the same manner as the fitting housing body 20f of the connector fitting housing 20 described above. . The inner structure of the fitting housing main body 20g is the same as the fitting housing main body 20f of the connector fitting housing 20 described above.

  As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the metal plate 6 is formed in a U-shaped plate shape. This metal plate 6 has one of a pair of main wall portions 21 and 22 among the main wall portions 21 and 22 and the side wall portions 23 and 24 that form four side surfaces of the outer periphery of the rectangular tube-shaped rear tube portion 20b (see FIG. In the example shown, it is mounted on the rear cylinder portion 20b so as to overlap the main wall portion 21) and the side wall portions 23, 24 on both sides thereof. The metal plate 6 has a configuration in which standing plate portions 6 b that are superimposed on the side wall portions 23 and 24 are erected on both sides of the main plate portion 6 a that is superimposed on the main wall portion 21. Standing plate portions 6b on both sides of the main plate portion 6a are formed perpendicular to the main plate portion 6a.

The metal plate mounting recess 20c of the fitting housing body 20g is formed in a groove shape having a shape matching the outer shape of the metal plate 6 on the outer periphery of the rear cylinder portion 20b. The metal plate mounting recess 20 c is formed in a shallow groove shape whose depth is approximately equal to the thickness of the metal plate 6. The pair of upright plate portions 6b of the metal plate 6 are arranged in the front-rear direction, which is a direction coinciding with the front-rear direction of the fitting housing main body 20g when the metal plate 6 is mounted on the outer periphery of the fitting housing main body 20g. It is formed in a size that protrudes on both sides. The metal plate 6 is mounted on the outer periphery of the rear cylinder part 20b by restricting the positional deviation with respect to the rear cylinder part 20b simply by fitting into the metal plate mounting recess 20c formed in a shape matching the outer shape of the metal plate 6 Can be maintained stably. The metal plate 6 is attached to the rear cylinder portion 20b with its front-rear direction aligned with the front-rear direction of the connector fitting housing 20.
The metal plate 6 is not limited to a configuration in which the standing plate portion 6b projects to both sides of the main plate portion 6a in the front-rear direction of the metal plate 6, but is configured to project only to one side of the main plate portion 6a in the front-rear direction. Can also be adopted.

The locking elastic piece 6c of the metal plate 6 extends from the upright plate portion 6b toward the front side from the rear end portion of the upright plate portion 6b to the inner surface sides of the pair of upright plate portions 6b facing each other. It is a tongue-like projecting piece that projects at an angle with respect to the standing plate portion 6b so that the separation distance increases on the opposite outer surface side. The metal plate 6 is mounted on the outer periphery of the rear cylinder portion 20b of the fitting housing main body 20g in such a direction that the protruding end side of the locking elastic piece 6c protruding from the standing plate portion 6b is the front side and the base end side is the rear side.
The locking elastic piece 6c of the metal plate 6 attached to the outer periphery of the rear cylinder part 20b of the fitting housing body 20g is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the rear cylinder part 20b as it goes to the front cylinder part 20a side of the connector fitting housing 20A. Inclined with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the rear cylinder part 20b so as to increase the distance and protrude from the standing plate part 6b. The front end (protruding end) of the locking elastic piece 6c is separated from the abutting protrusion 25 at the central portion in the front-rear direction that coincides with the axial direction of the connector fitting housing 20 via a gap. Placed in.
In the connector fitting housing 20A to which the metal plate 6 is mounted, the rear cylinder portion 20b is inserted into the window hole 5a of the connector mounting plate 5, and the protruding end of the locking elastic piece 6c of the metal plate 6 and the contact protruding portion 25 are connected. The connector mounting plate 5 can be attached to the connector mounting plate 5 by sandwiching the connector mounting plate 5 therebetween.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical fiber cable, 2 ... Optical fiber (insertion optical fiber), 7 ... Optical fiber (insertion optical fiber), 10 ... Optical connector, 11a ... Optical connector insertion hole (connector hole), 20 ... Connector fitting housing, 26a ... front housing insertion hole, 30 ... front housing, 40 ... rear housing, 31 ... base part, 32 ... projecting cylinder part, 33 ... ferrule insertion hole (through hole), 34 ... engagement claw with claw, 35 ... plug frame , 40 ... rear housing, 41 ... stop ring (stop ring part), 50, 50A, 50B ... coupling unit part, 51, 51A, 51B, 50C ... unit part housing, 52 ... positioning sleeve (split sleeve), 53 ... Spring, 55 ... Stop ring, 56 ... Stop ring, 57 ... Built-in ferrule (ferrule), 58 ... Spring , 60 ... clamp portion with a ferrule, 61 ... internal ferrule (ferrule, ferrule body).

Claims (6)

A connector fitting housing with an optical connector insertion hole opening on the front side, and attached to the rear part of the connector fitting housing. The built-in ferrule is housed inside and the front housing and the rear stop ring are fitted together. A coupling unit
The front housing has a base portion through which the built-in ferrule and a positioning sleeve inserted therein pass, and a sleeve-like plug frame portion that fits into the stop ring,
An optical connector in which a ferrule of an insertion optical connector to be inserted into the optical connector insertion hole is inserted into the positioning sleeve, positioned, and abutted against the built-in ferrule.   The connector fitting housing has a front housing insertion hole communicating with the optical connector insertion hole, and the base housing and the connector fitting housing are fitted by inserting the front housing into the front housing insertion hole. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the coupling unit portion is attached to the connector fitting housing. The connector fitting housing has a locking means that engages with the front housing inserted into the front housing insertion hole and restricts the movement of the front housing in the front-rear direction with respect to the connector fitting housing,
The locking means protrudes in a taper shape in which the protruding dimension from the inner surface of the front housing insertion hole increases toward the front side, and the fixing protrusion protrudes from the outer periphery of the inserted base portion. A locking protrusion that restricts the rearward movement of the fixing protrusion that can and can be overcome, and is protruded away from the locking protrusion to the front side, and the locking protrusion is projected from the rear side. The optical connector according to claim 2, further comprising: a stopper protrusion that restricts the forward movement of the fixing protrusion by contacting the fixing protrusion over the front side.   4. The optical connector according to claim 3, wherein the locking protrusion protrudes from an elastic wall between a pair of long holes formed in the connector fitting housing so as to extend in the front-rear direction.   An elastic piece for locking which is a protruding piece whose separation distance from the outer peripheral surface increases toward the front side of the connector formed on the outer peripheral surface of the connector fitting housing, and from the front end of this elastic piece for locking to the front side of the connector The optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a rib-shaped protrusion projecting apart.   The connector connection unit which inserted and attached the said connector fitting housing of the optical connector of any one of Claims 1-5 to the window hole opened to a plate.

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