JP2013041089A - Optical connector protective cap, optical fiber cable with connector cap and cap pulling tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To develop a technique capable of easily pulling out, from an optical connector, a cap externally fitted onto a tip of the optical connector, and highly densely arranging multiple optical connectors.SOLUTION: There are provided: an optical connector protective cap 20 including a projection piece 24 for pulling which projects from a front end wall part closing one end in an axis direction of a cylindrical body part to be externally fitted to the optical connector 3, and which applies pulling out force at the time of pulling out operation from an optical connector 3; an optical fiber cable with the connector cap obtained by attaching the cap 20 to the optical connector 3 assembled at optical fibers in an optical fiber cable terminal; and a cap pulling tool 30 having a pulling tool body 31 for engaging with the projection piece 24 for pulling of the cap 20 from a side of the front end wall part, and applying the pulling out force from the optical connector.

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector protective cap that is fitted to an optical connector to protect the end face of the optical connector, and an optical fiber cable with a connector cap in which the optical connector protective cap is fitted to an optical connector provided in an optical fiber cable terminal. The present invention relates to a cap removal tool used for removing an optical connector protective cap fitted to the optical connector from the optical connector.

In an optical connector, a detachable cap is externally fitted to the tip of the optical connector to protect the end face (tip face) of the optical connector (for example, Patent Document 1). The cap is fitted on the tip of the optical connector to cover the end face of the optical connector and protect the tip end face of the optical fiber exposed to the end face of the optical connector from scratches and dust adhesion. This technique can be applied not only to a single-fiber optical connector but also to a multi-fiber optical connector (for example, Patent Document 2). However, this technology requires a space for the work of removing the cap from the optical connector around the cap that is externally fitted to the tip of the optical connector. I can't.
Further, as a technique for protecting the end face of the optical connector, there is a technique using a plug member (“cap” in Patent Document 3) that can be inserted into and removed from the connector insertion hole of the optical connector adapter, as in Patent Document 3, for example. In this technique, the connector insertion hole penetrating the optical connector adapter is closed at one end in the axial direction with the plug member inserted into the connector insertion hole, so that the connector insertion hole has the other end in the axial direction. The end face (tip face) of the optical connector inserted and fitted from the side is protected from scratches and dust adhesion. However, this technique requires an optical connector adapter and cannot be applied to protect the end face of an optical connector that is not inserted into the optical connector adapter.

JP 2001-290046 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2068689 JP 2001-201664 A

  In view of the above-described circumstances, the present invention can easily perform the work of removing the cap fitted on the tip of the optical connector from the optical connector, and aligns the plurality of optical connectors with high density. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector protective cap, an optical fiber cable with a connector cap, and a cap removal tool.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following configuration.
1st invention is the optical connector by which the protrusion for a tension | pulling is protruded from the front-end wall part which plugs the axial direction one end of the cylindrical trunk | drum extrapolated to an optical connector to the opposite side to the said cylindrical trunk | drum Provide a protective cap.
The second invention provides the optical connector protective cap according to the first invention, wherein the pulling projecting piece has a projecting claw at a tip of an extending portion extending from the front end wall portion.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a thin wall portion is formed at a central portion of the front end wall portion to increase light transmittance, and the pulling projecting piece protrudes from the front end wall portion while avoiding the thin wall portion. An optical connector protective cap of the first or second invention is provided.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an optical connector protective cap is attached to an optical connector assembled in an optical fiber of an optical fiber cable terminal, and the optical connector protective cap has one end in the axial direction of a cylindrical body portion to be externally inserted into the optical connector. An optical fiber cable with a connector cap is provided in which a pulling protruding piece protrudes from a front end wall portion to be closed to a side opposite to the cylindrical body portion.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the cap removing tool further comprising a removing tool main body that engages with the engaging portion formed on the pulling protruding piece of the optical connector protective cap from the front end wall portion side. An optical fiber cable with a connector cap is provided.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the pulling projection piece of the optical connector protective cap has a protruding claw as the locking portion at the tip of the extending portion extending from the front end wall portion, The main body is formed so that a protruding piece insertion hole into which the extending portion of the pulling protruding piece of the optical connector protective cap is inserted penetrates the protruding nail so as to be engageable from the front end wall portion side. An optical fiber cable with a connector cap according to a fifth invention is provided.
7th invention provides the optical fiber cable with a connector cap of 6th invention by which the said protrusion piece insertion hole is arranged in multiple numbers by the extraction tool main body of the said cap removal tool.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the pulling projection piece of the optical connector protective cap protrudes from a position shifted from the outer periphery of the front end wall portion toward the center portion side, The connector cap according to the sixth or seventh aspect of the present invention, wherein the connector cap is secured between the engaging portion and the front end wall portion and is prevented from coming off by the engaging portion of the pulling protrusion of the connector protection cap and the outer peripheral portion of the front end wall portion. Provided optical fiber cable.
9th invention provides the optical fiber cable with a connector cap of any one of the 5th-8th invention in which the said cap removal tool has a handle part protruding from the said removal tool main body.
A tenth aspect of the invention provides an optical fiber cable with a connector cap according to any one of the fourth to ninth aspects, further comprising a collective holder in which a plurality of the optical connectors are aligned and held together.
An eleventh aspect of the invention is the optical fiber cable with a connector cap according to the tenth aspect of the invention, wherein each of the optical fiber cables has optical connector alignment units that collectively hold the optical connectors by aligning a plurality of the optical connectors using the collective holder. provide.
In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, a pulling protrusion protrudes from the front end wall portion of the optical connector protective cap in which one end in the axial direction of the cylindrical body portion to be extrapolated to the optical connector is blocked by the front end wall portion, A puller main body that engages with the engaging portion formed on the projecting piece from the front end wall portion side and applies a pulling force for pulling out the optical connector protection cap from the optical connector to the pulling projecting piece. Provide a cap removal tool.
In a thirteenth aspect of the invention, the pulling protrusion of the optical connector protective cap has a protruding claw as the locking portion at the tip of the extending portion extending from the front end wall portion, A twelfth insertion hole through which the extension of the pulling protrusion of the optical connector protective cap is inserted penetrates and is formed to be engageable with the protrusion from the front end wall side. An invention cap remover is provided.
The fourteenth invention provides the cap removing tool of the thirteenth invention, wherein a plurality of the protruding piece insertion holes are formed in the removing tool body.
In a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the pulling protrusion of the optical connector protection cap protrudes from a position shifted from the outer periphery of the front end wall portion toward the center portion, and the punching tool body includes the optical connector protection cap. The cap removing tool of the thirteenth or fourteenth aspect of the invention, which is prevented from coming off by the locking portion of the pulling projection piece and the outer peripheral portion of the front end wall portion and can be disposed between the locking portion and the front end wall portion. I will provide a.
A sixteenth aspect of the invention provides the cap removal tool according to any one of the thirteenth to fifteenth aspects of the invention, which has a handle portion that projects from the removal tool body.

  According to the present invention, the optical connector protective cap attached to the optical connector can be easily obtained by applying a pulling force (tensile force) to the optical connector to the pulling protrusion protruding from the optical connector protective cap. Can be removed from the optical connector. The pulling protruding piece protrudes from the front end wall portion of the optical connector protection cap that covers one end in the axial direction of the cylindrical body portion to be extrapolated to the optical connector to the side opposite to the cylindrical body portion, It is possible to achieve high-density alignment of optical connectors without obstructing high-density alignment of optical connectors.

It is a perspective view which shows an example of the unit with a cap removal tool assembled to the terminal of the optical fiber cable with a connector cap of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view explaining the unit with a cap removal tool of FIG. It is a figure explaining the operation | work which draws in the optical connector adapter attached to the apparatus with the optical fiber cable terminal with a connector cap of one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing explaining the relationship between the optical connector of the unit with a cap removal tool of FIG. 1, and a package holder. (A), (b) is a perspective view explaining the cap of the unit with a cap removal tool of FIG. It is a figure explaining the cap of the unit with a cap removal tool of FIG. 1, Comprising: (a) is the perspective view seen from the rear end side, (b) is a rear view (figure seen from the rear end side). It is a figure explaining the cap of the unit with a cap removal tool of FIG. 1, Comprising: (a) is a side view, (b) is a front view (figure seen from the front side). It is a partial enlarged plan view explaining the relationship between the cap remover and the cap of the unit with a cap remover of FIG. It is a partial expansion perspective view explaining the relationship between the cap removal tool and cap of the unit with a cap removal tool of FIG. It is a perspective view explaining the cap remover of the unit with a cap remover of FIG. It is a partial expansion perspective view explaining the structure of the extraction tool main body of the cap removal tool of FIG. It is a partial expansion perspective view which shows the structure seen from the direction different from FIG. 11 of the extraction tool main body of the cap removal tool of FIG. It is a partial expansion perspective view which shows the structure seen from the rear end side of the extraction tool main body of the cap removal tool of FIG. It is the elements on larger scale which show the structure which looked at the extraction tool main body of the cap removal tool of FIG. 10 from the direction different from FIG. 13 from the rear end side. It is a partial expanded rear view (figure seen from the rear end side) of the extraction tool main body of the cap removal tool of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the unit with a cap removal tool comprised using the cap removal tool of the structure which abbreviate | omitted the cover plate from the cap removal tool of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the unit with a cap removal tool comprised using the cap removal tool which has a plate-shaped extraction tool main body in which the engagement piece penetration hole was formed. It is a perspective view which shows the cap removal tool of the unit with a cap removal tool of FIG. It is a partial expanded sectional view explaining the relationship between the extraction tool main body of the cap removal tool of FIG. 17, and the elastic engagement piece of a cap. It is a figure which shows an example of the optical fiber cable with a connector cap of a structure which has a unit with a cap removal tool in the longitudinal direction both sides of an optical fiber cable. It is a model figure explaining the fiber contrast operation | work using the optical fiber cable with a connector cap of FIG. It is a figure which shows the modification of the elastic engagement piece of a cap, Comprising: The protrusion nail which engages with a cap removal tool protrudes from the both ends of the front-end | tip part of one extension part extended from the cap main body front end. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the elastic engagement piece of the structure which an elastic piece extends toward a cap main body. It is a figure explaining the cap of the structure which the three elastic engagement pieces protrude from the front-end wall part of a cap main body, Comprising: (a) is a perspective view which shows the elastic engagement piece vicinity, (b) is a cap removal tool. It is a top view explaining the relationship between the formed triangular engagement piece insertion hole and 3 elastic engagement pieces. It is a figure explaining an example of the cap of the structure which made the protrusion part for a tension engaged with the elastic engagement piece protrudingly provided by the cap removal tool protruded from the front-end wall part of the cap main body. It is a perspective view explaining the modification of a cap removal tool.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 3 show an example of an optical fiber cable with a connector cap according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an optical fiber cable 10 with a connector cap exemplified here includes an optical connector 3 provided at a distal end portion of an optical fiber 2 exposed at a terminal of a multi-core optical fiber cable 1. A plurality of optical connector alignment units 11 (see FIG. 3) are arranged and aligned. In this optical fiber cable 10 with a connector cap, each optical connector 3 of the optical connector alignment unit 11 is attached with an optical connector protective cap 20 (hereinafter also simply referred to as a cap) that covers the tip of each optical connector 3. It is the structure which assembled the unit 12 with a cap remover provided with the cap remover 30 to engage.
Hereinafter, the optical fiber cable 10 with a connector cap is also referred to as a cable with a cap. The cable 10 with a cap has a configuration in which the unit 12 with the cap removing tool is assembled to the optical fiber cable 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the optical connector alignment unit 11 has a configuration in which the optical connector alignment unit 11 is aligned horizontally and in a row using a collective holder 40 capable of holding a plurality of optical connectors 3.
As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 (a) and 4 (b), the collective holder 40 has optical connector housing holes 42 formed at a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction of a holder body 41 having a generally elongated plate-like appearance. It has a configuration. The optical connector housing hole 42 penetrates the holder body 41 in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction. The optical connector accommodation holes 42 are opened on the front and rear end faces (front end face 41 a and rear end face 41 b) of the holder body 41.

In the illustrated cable 10 with a cap, the optical connector 3 is specifically an MPO type optical connector (F13 type optical connector established in JIS C5982. Or an optical connector established in IEC 61754-7. MPO: Multi- fiber Push On).
As shown in FIG. 4B, the collective holder 40 accommodates in the optical connector accommodation hole 42 the central portion in the front-rear direction where the coupling 3a (knob) of the optical connector 3 which is an MPO optical connector is provided. doing. The front end side of the optical connector 3 where the ferrule 3 b is provided from the coupling 3 a and the rear end side opposite to the front end side are projected forward and backward of the collective holder 40.

The collective holder 40 includes a front-side retaining projection wall 43a that projects from the inner periphery of the front end of the optical connector housing hole 42, and a rear-side retaining projection that projects from the inner periphery of the rear end of the optical connector housing hole 42. And a wall 43b. The front retaining projection wall 43a and the rear retaining projection wall 43b are formed in the plurality of optical connector housing holes 42 of the collective holder 40, respectively.
The coupling 3a of the optical connector 3 is disposed between the front and rear protruding protrusion walls 43a and 43b in the front-rear direction of the collective holder 40. The sleeve-like coupling 3a has a contact protrusion 3g that protrudes to the outer surface side of a portion located between both ends in the axial direction. The contact protrusion 3g is formed to extend in the axial direction of the coupling 3a. In the coupling 3a, the front end face 3g1 of the abutting projection 3g can abut against the front side retaining projection wall 43a from the rear side, and the rear end face 3g2 from the front side against the rear side retaining projection wall 43b. Contact is possible. Therefore, the coupling 3a of the optical connector 3 is restricted from coming out of the optical connector accommodation hole 42 by the front and rear retaining projection walls 43a and 43b.
The collective holder 40 holds the coupling 3a of the optical connector 3 between the protrusion preventing walls 43a and 43b before and after the optical connector housing hole 42, so that the optical connector 3 is held in the front and rear direction. 41 can be held in the direction aligned in the front-rear direction.

The optical connector accommodation holes 42 of the collective holder 40 are formed in parallel at a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction of the holder body 41 with the central axes aligned in the longitudinal direction of the holder body 41.
Each of the plurality of optical connectors 3 of the optical connector alignment unit 11 has a front end portion protruding from the front side of the holder body 41 of the collective holder 40 and a rear end portion protruding from the rear side of the holder body 41 of the batch holder 40. It is held by the batch holder 40 in the direction.

The collective holder may be configured to hold the plurality of optical connectors 3 in a lump so that the optical connectors 3 are aligned in the front-rear direction so as not to be easily detached, and the specific configuration is not particularly limited. As the collective holder, for example, a configuration that holds and holds the rear side portion from the front end portion of the optical connector 3 with a clamping force can be employed.
Further, the optical connector is not limited to the MPO optical connector as long as it has a configuration that can be held by a collective holder, and various configurations for multi-core and single-core can be employed.

The optical fiber cable 1 of the cable 10 with a cap in the illustrated example is specifically a cord cable in which an optical fiber cord is used as the optical fiber 2 and a plurality of the optical fiber cords are collectively covered with the jacket 4. As the optical fiber cord, either a single core or a multi-core can be adopted. A multi-fiber optical connector such as an MPO optical connector is assembled as the optical connector 3 at the tip of the multi-fiber optical fiber cord.
Examples of the multi-core optical fiber cord include a configuration in which an optical fiber ribbon is inserted into a reinforcing tube. However, the multi-core optical fiber cord is not limited to the configuration using the optical fiber ribbon, and for example, a configuration in which a plurality of single-core optical fibers or an optical fiber strand is inserted into a reinforcing tube may be used. It can be adopted.

  The optical fiber 2 is not limited to an optical fiber cord, and is not provided with an exterior protective material that covers a coated optical fiber such as an optical fiber core or an optical fiber, that is, a coated optical fiber such as a protective tube. It is also possible to use the coated optical fiber itself. The coated optical fiber is obtained by covering the peripheral surface (side surface) of a bare optical fiber with a coating. The bare optical fiber is, for example, a quartz optical fiber. The coating is a resin coating such as an ultraviolet curable resin or a polyamide resin.

The cable 10 with a cap is a connector in which an optical connector 3 is provided (assembled) at each end of a plurality (eight in the illustrated example) of optical fibers 2 exposed (extended) at the end of the optical fiber cable 1. Assembled using attached optical fiber cable.
The optical connector 3 provided at the tip of each optical fiber 2 exposed (extended) at the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is collectively held and aligned by one collective holder 40.
The optical connectors 3 are accommodated one by one in the optical connector accommodation holes 42 of the collective holder 40. As the collective holder 40, one having the same number of optical connector receiving holes 42 as the number of optical connectors 3 at the tip of the optical fiber 2 exposed at the end of the optical fiber cable 1 or more is used. The cap 20 is attached to the tip portion of the optical connector 3 that protrudes from the collective holder 40.

Next, the cap 20 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5 </ b> B, 6 </ b> A, and 6 </ b> B, the cap 20 has a front end wall at one end in the axial direction of a cylindrical body portion 21 that is extrapolated to the distal end portion of the optical connector 3. Schematic having a bottomed cylindrical cap main body 23 closed by the portion 22 and a pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 protruding from the front end wall portion 22 on the side opposite to the inner surface side inside the cap main body 23. It has a configuration. The rear end side opposite to the front end wall portion 22 of the cylindrical body portion 21 is an open end. The inner space of the cap body 23 is closed on one side in the axial direction of the cylindrical body 21 (cap front end side) by the front end wall portion 22, and the opposite rear end side is entirely cylindrical in cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the cylindrical body 21. An opening is formed inside the rear end of the cylindrical body 21.
In addition, about the cap main body 23, the axis line of the cylindrical trunk | drum 21 is demonstrated as an axis line of the cap main body 23. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the cap 20 is detachably attached to the optical connector 3 by externally fitting the cap body 23 to the plug frame 3c from the distal end side of the optical connector 3 which is an MPO type optical connector. it can. When the cap 20 is attached to the optical connector 3, the tip of the plug frame 3 c and the ferrule 3 c protruding from the tip of the plug frame 3 c are accommodated inside the cap body 23.

The cap 20 in the illustrated example is an integrally molded product made of plastic.
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the cylindrical body portion 21 of the cap 20 is formed in a rectangular tube shape. The cylindrical body portion 21 includes a pair of face plate portions 21a and 21b (first face plate portion 21a and second face plate portion 21b) provided in parallel to each other, and a pair of side plate portions 21c perpendicular to the face plate portions 21a and 21b. , 21d (the first side plate portion 21c and the second side plate portion 21d) are connected in a rectangular tube shape. The separation distance between the pair of face plate portions 21a and 21b that are separated from each other is smaller than the separation distance between the pair of side plate portions 21c and 21d. The cap body 23 has a longitudinal dimension that is a distance direction between the pair of face plate parts 21a and 21b of the cylindrical body part 21 compared to a lateral dimension that is a distance direction between the pair of side plate parts 21c and 21d that are separated from each other. It is formed in a rectangular tube shape having a small and narrow cross section.

The shape and size of the inner circumference of the cylindrical body portion 21 perpendicular to the axis thereof substantially match the outer circumference of the sleeve-like plug frame 3c of the optical connector 3 perpendicular to the axis direction.
The cap 20 accommodates a key 3d that protrudes from the outer periphery of the plug frame 3c of the optical connector 3 and extends in the front-rear direction of the optical connector in a key groove 21e formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical body 21 along the axis thereof. Thus, the optical connector 3 can be extrapolated to the tip. Specifically, the key groove 21e is formed on the inner surface side of the cap body 23 of the first face plate portion 21a.

6 (a) and 6 (b), when the cap body 23 is extrapolated to the plug frame 3c of the optical connector 3 on the inner surface side of the cap body 23 of the face plate portions 21a and 21b of the cap body 23. A spacer projection 21f is provided so as to abut against the plug frame 3c and secure a minute clearance between the face plate portions 21a, 21b and the plug frame 3c. This spacer projection 21f secures an air passage by the clearance so that the optical connector 3 can be smoothly inserted and removed from the cap body 23. The spacer protrusions 21f are formed on the face plate portions 21a and 21b in a protrusion shape extending in the axial direction of the cap body 23.
However, the projecting dimension of the spacer projection 21f from the face plate portions 21a and 21b is, for example, as small as about 0.05 to 0.15 mm. The cap 20 can sufficiently secure the dust-proof property inside the cap body 23 because the protruding dimension of the spacer protrusion 21f from the face plate portions 21a and 21b is very small.

In addition, the structure which does not have the protrusion 21f for spacers as a cap is also employable.
In addition, as a cap, a ventilation path between the inner surface of the cap body 23 and the optical connector inserted in the inner side thereof by a groove extending in the axial direction on the inner surface of the cap body 23 instead of the spacer projection 21f. A clearance that functions as the above may be secured.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 are provided so as to be spaced apart from each other on both sides in the lateral direction through the central portion of the front end wall portion 22. However, each elastic engagement piece 24 protrudes from a position shifted from the edge on both sides in the lateral direction of the front end wall portion 22 toward the center.
The elastic engagement piece 24 has a structure in which a protruding claw 24b is projected from the tip of an extended portion 24a extending from the front end wall portion 22. The protrusion 24b protrudes from the distal end of the extending portion 24a to the opposite side of the pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 opposite to each other.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 9, the cap removal tool 30 includes a cap body housing hole 33 that houses the cap body 23 of the cap 20, and an engagement piece insertion hole that communicates with the cap body housing hole 33. And a punching tool body 31 having a cap through-hole 34 formed of 32 (projection piece insertion hole). The elastic engagement piece 24 of the cap 20 can be inserted into the engagement piece insertion hole 32.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the removal tool main body 31 of the illustrated cap removal tool 30 has an elongated housing portion 31 </ b> H. As shown in FIGS. 10-15, the said cap through-hole 34 is formed in the longitudinal direction several places of the said housing part 31H. The through-hole 34 for cap is penetrated by the extraction tool main body 31 by the axis line of the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing part 31H. Further, all the cap through holes 34 of the housing portion 31H are formed in the punching tool body 31 with their axes aligned in parallel with each other. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the engagement piece insertion holes 32 of the cap through holes 34 are opposite to the rear end of the housing portion 31 </ b> H in which the cap body accommodation holes 33 of all the cap through holes 34 are opened. Opened to the front end of the housing portion 31H.

The cap removal tool 30 illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 10 and the like is an integrally molded product made of plastic. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 10, the cap remover 30 is connected to the remover main body 31 on both sides in the width direction of the rear end of the housing portion 31 </ b> H of the extractor main body 31 through thin portions 35. A pair of cover plates 361 and 362 are provided. The width direction of the housing part 31 </ b> H of the punching tool body 31 indicates a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing part 31 </ b> H and perpendicular to the axis of the cap through-hole 34.
The cover plates 361 and 362 are rotatable with respect to the housing part 31H of the punching tool main body 31 with a rotation axis along the longitudinal direction of the housing part 31H with the thin part 35 as a hinge part.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cap remover 30 can hold the collective holder 40 on the rear side of the extractor main body 31 by being sandwiched between a pair of cover plates 361 and 362 that are closed together.
The unit 12 with cap removal tool of the cable 10 with cap accommodates the cap main body 23 of the cap 20 attached to the optical connector 3 in the cap main body accommodation hole 33 of the housing part 31H of the extraction tool main body 31, and the optical connector 3 is accommodated. The held batch holder 40 is sandwiched and held between a pair of cover plates 361 and 362.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the cap main body accommodation hole 33 of the housing portion 31 </ b> H of the extraction tool main body 31 is formed in a rectangular hole shape having an elongated cross section that substantially matches the cross sectional outline perpendicular to the axis of the cap main body 23. ing. Regarding the cap through hole 34 and the cap main body accommodation hole 33, the cross-sectional longitudinal direction of the cap main body accommodation hole 33 is hereinafter also referred to as a cross-sectional lateral direction, and the cross-sectional short direction of the cap main body accommodation hole 33 is hereinafter referred to as a cross-sectional vertical direction.

The front end wall portion 22 of the front end of the cap main body 23 of the cap 20 inserted into the cap main body receiving hole 33 from the rear side opening portion is in contact with the inner surface of the front end portion of the cap through hole 34 on both sides in the transverse direction. Abutting protrusions 31a and 31b are projected. In the cap removal tool 30 of the illustrated example, the cap contact protrusions 31 a and 31 b extend along the cross-sectional lateral direction of the cap through-hole 34 on the inner surfaces of the front end portions on both sides of the cap through-hole 34 in the vertical direction. Is formed.
Further, the removing tool main body 31 of the cap removing tool 30 in the illustrated example has an engaging protruding wall 31c that protrudes from the inner surface of the front end portion on both sides in the cross-sectional lateral direction of the cap body housing hole 33 and protrudes from the housing portion 31H to the front side. .
As shown in FIGS. 8 to 15, specifically, the engagement piece insertion hole 32 includes cap contact protrusions 31 a and 31 b on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the cap through hole 34, and the cap through hole 34. It is ensured on the inner side surrounded by the base end portions of the engaging projecting walls 31c on both sides in the transverse direction.

  In the unit 12 with a cap removal tool, the elastic engagement piece 24 extending from the cap body 23 accommodated in the cap body accommodation hole 33 of the housing part 31H of the removal tool body 31 of the cap removal tool 30 The engaging claw 24 b is passed through the engaging piece insertion hole 32, and the protruding claw 24 b at the tip thereof is disposed on the front side of the extraction tool main body 31. An engaging surface 31d that can be engaged with the protruding claw 24b from the cap body 23 side is formed at the tip of the engaging protruding wall 31c of the extracting tool body 31 of the cap removing tool 30. In the unit 12 with a cap removal tool, the protruding claws 24b of the pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 of the cap 20 are protruded from both sides of the engagement piece insertion holes 32 through which the pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 are passed. It arrange | positions in the front side of the engaging surface 31d of the said protrusion wall 31c for an engagement. The protrusion 24b of the elastic engagement piece 24 of the cap 20 functions as a locking portion that locks the extraction tool main body 31 so as not to come out from the tip of the elastic engagement piece 24. Therefore, the extraction tool main body 31 is attached to the cap 20 that is attached to the optical connector 3 held by the batch holder 40 by restricting the cap 20 from dropping from the elastic engagement piece 24.

  The arrangement pitch of the cap through-holes 34 in the extraction tool main body 31 (specifically, the housing portion 31H) is aligned with the arrangement pitch of the optical connector accommodation holes 42 of the batch holder 40. The extraction tool main body 31 is attached to all the caps 20 respectively attached to the plurality of optical connectors 3 held by the collective holding tool 40. In the unit 12 with a cap removal tool, all the caps 20 are collectively held by the removal tool body 31.

Assembling of the cap-clamped unit 12 of the cable 10 with cap is performed by first holding a plurality of optical connectors 3 provided at the distal end portion of the optical fiber 2 exposed at the end of the optical fiber cable 1 in a batch holder 40. Assemble the connector alignment unit 11. Next, the cap 20 is attached to the tip of each optical connector 3 of the optical connector alignment unit 11, and the optical connector with cap is assembled. Next, the removal tool main body 31 of the cap removal tool 30 is pressed toward the cap body 23 from the distal end side of the elastic engagement piece 24 of each cap 20, and the elastic engagement piece 24 of each cap 20 is removed. The cap body 23 is accommodated in the cap body accommodation hole 33 by being inserted into the engagement piece insertion hole 32. Thus, the engagement surface 31d of the extraction tool body 31 is disposed on the rear side (cap body 23 side) of the protruding claw 24b at the tip of the elastic engagement piece 24 of each cap 20, and the unit with cap removal tool 12 is assembled.
When the cap removing tool 30 presses the removing tool body 31 toward the cap body 23, the cap removing tool 30 sufficiently opens the pair of cover plates 361 and 362 so that the cover plates 361 and 362 contact the cap 20. To avoid.

  As shown in FIG. 8 and the like, the protrusion 24b of the elastic engagement piece 24 of the cap 20 has a distance from the extension 24a as it approaches the cap body 23 from the tip of the extension 24a of the elastic engagement piece 24. Inclined surface 24c is formed. The inclined surface 24c is formed so as to extend from the distal end of the extending portion 24a to the apex portion 24d having the largest projecting dimension from the extending portion 24a of the protruding claw 24b. Further, the protrusion 24b is formed with a locking surface 24e which is a surface (the latter in the illustrated example) that is slightly inclined from the top 24d to the tip of the extending portion 24a. ing.

  In the assembling operation of the unit 12 with cap removal tool, the removal tool body 31 of the cap removal tool 30 is pressed from the distal end side of the elastic engagement piece 24 of the cap 20 toward the cap body 23, and the elastic engagement piece 24 is moved. When the pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 of the cap 20 are inserted into the engagement piece insertion holes 32, the inclined surfaces 24 c of the protruding claws 24 b are pressed against the proximal end portions of the engagement protruding walls 31 c of the extraction tool body 31. As a result, they are elastically deformed and approach each other, and smoothly enter between the engaging projection walls 31 c on both sides of the cap through-hole 34 of the extraction tool body 31. The pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 of the cap 20 engages the protruding claws 24b by the advancement of the extraction tool body 31 toward the rear end of the cap body 23 (extrapolation to the cap body 23). It can be arranged on the front side of the housing part 31H through the one insertion hole 32. Further, the pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 of the cap 20 is configured such that the protrusions 24b are moved by the elasticity of the elastic engagement pieces 24 as a result of the advancement of the extraction body 31 to the rear end of the cap body 23. The front end of the engaging projection wall 31c on both sides of the cap through-hole 34 of the main body 31 can be inserted into a notch 31e cut out on the side facing each other.

As shown in FIG. 8 and the like, the engaging surface 31d of the engaging protruding wall 31c has a notch 31e in the engaging protruding wall 31c and a portion closer to the proximal end of the engaging protruding wall 31c than the notch 31e. It is a level | step difference surface located in the boundary between. This engagement surface 31d is perpendicular to the axis of the cap through-hole 34 of the extraction tool body 31 (the longitudinal direction of the extraction tool body 31) or is separated from the opposite engagement projection wall 31c, and the engagement projection wall. 31c It is the surface (the latter in the example of illustration) inclined so that it may approach a base end part.
Therefore, when the protrusion 24b of the elastic engagement piece 24 of the cap 20 is inserted into the notch 31e at the tip of the engagement protrusion 31c of the extraction tool body 31, the engagement surface 31d of the engagement protrusion 31c protrudes. The claw 24b can be arranged facing the locking surface 24e. As a result, the engaging protruding wall 31c is disposed at a position that can be engaged with the protruding claw 24b from the cap body 23 side.

  The engaging surface of the engaging protruding wall 31c is not limited to the stepped surface at the boundary between the notched portion 31e and the portion where the notched portion 31e is not formed in the engaging protruding wall 31c. It may be the leading end surface (protruding end surface) of the protruding end of the wall 31c.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the cap main body 23 of the illustrated cap 20 has an error for specifying the insertion direction of the cap removing tool 30 with respect to the cap through hole 34 of the removing tool main body 31. Insertion preventing protrusions 251 and 252 are provided to protrude. The erroneous insertion preventing protrusions are provided at two locations on the cap body 23.

  One of the two erroneous insertion prevention protrusions (the first erroneous insertion prevention protrusion 251) of the cap body 23 protrudes from the front end wall portion 22 of the cap body 23 to the front side (the side opposite to the cylindrical body portion 21). It is a protruding piece. The first erroneous insertion preventing protrusion 251 protrudes from the center in the horizontal direction at one end of the front end wall portion 22 in the vertical direction. The first erroneous insertion preventing protrusion 251 has a first face plate portion 21a (FIG. 6) in which a key groove 21e into which the key 3d of the optical connector 3 is inserted is formed on both sides of the front end wall portion 22 in the vertical direction. (See (a), (b)) and projecting at the laterally central portion of the end portion on the side that is connected.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 to 13 and 15, one of the cap contact protrusions 31 a and 31 b (first cap contact protrusion 31 a) on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the front end portion of the cap through-hole 34 of the extraction tool body 31. Extends over the entire cross-sectional lateral direction of the front end of the cap through-hole 34. The second cap abutting protrusion 31b positioned opposite to the first cap abutting protrusion 31a in the longitudinal direction of the front end portion of the cap through hole 34 is located through the central portion in the transverse direction of the cross section of the cap through hole 34. It is formed on both sides. In the transverse direction of the cross section of the cap through-hole 34, a key groove 31f (hereinafter referred to as a front end key) into which the first erroneous insertion prevention protrusion 251 of the cap 20 is inserted between the two second cap contact protrusions 31b. (Also referred to as a groove) is secured in a concave shape recessed from the engagement piece insertion hole 32.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, another erroneous insertion prevention protrusion (second erroneous insertion prevention protrusion 252) of the cap 20 is one of the pair of side plate portions 21 c and 21 d of the cap body 23. It is a protrusion projectingly provided on the outer surface side (the side opposite to the space inside the cap body 23) of the (first side plate portion 21c). In the illustrated example of the cap 20, the second erroneous insertion preventing protrusion 252 is a protrusion that protrudes from the outer surface of the first side plate 21 c over the entire length in the front-rear direction along the axial direction of the cap body 23. One end in the extending direction of the second erroneous insertion preventing protrusion 252 reaches the vicinity of the front end wall portion 22 at the front end of the cap body 23.

As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, etc., the housing portion 31 </ b> H of the punch body 31 of the cap remover 30 has the second error of the cap 20 on the inner surface located on one side in the transverse direction of the cross section of the cap body housing hole 33. A key groove 31g into which the insertion preventing protrusion 252 is inserted (hereinafter also referred to as a main body accommodation hole key groove) is formed.
The cap 20 has a smooth movement of the cap body 23 into the cap body accommodation hole 33 of the removal tool body 31 only in the direction in which the second erroneous insertion prevention protrusion 252 is inserted into the body accommodation hole key groove 31 g of the removal tool body 31. Insertion is possible.

Further, when the cap 20 is inserted into the cap through-hole 34 in the direction in which the second erroneous insertion prevention protrusion 252 is inserted into the main body accommodation hole key groove 31g of the extraction tool body 31, the first erroneous insertion prevention protrusion 251 can be inserted into the front end keyway 31 f of the punching tool body 31. The cap 20 in which the first erroneous insertion preventing protrusion 251 is inserted into the front end key groove 31 f of the extractor body 31 is the cap body 23, and the front end (front end wall portion 22) is the cap contact protrusion of the extractor body 31. It can be inserted into the cap body accommodation hole 33 up to the position where it abuts on 31a, 31b.
The cap body 23 is brought into contact with the cap contact protrusions 31a and 31b from the rear side in the front-rear direction of the extraction tool body 31. The engagement piece insertion hole 32 has a cap body contact portion which is a front portion of the cap contact protrusions 31a and 31b on the surface (rear contact surface) of the cap contact protrusions 31a and 31b. It is a through hole that penetrates.

The protrusion 24b of the elastic engagement piece 24 of the cap 20 is inserted into the front end key groove 31f of the first erroneous insertion prevention protrusion 251 and then the cap body 23 is brought into contact with the cap of the extraction tool body 31. It is arranged on the front side of the engaging surface 31d of the extraction tool body 31 when it comes into contact with the projections 31a and 31b or until it comes into contact. The protrusion 24b is positioned on the rear side of the extraction tool body before the insertion of the first erroneous insertion prevention protrusion 251 into the front end key groove 31f, compared to the engagement surface 31d of the extraction tool body 31, and It is not arranged at a position where it can engage with the mating surface 31d.
It should be noted that the punching tool main body 31 is arranged so that the cap main body 23 inserted into the cap main body receiving hole 33 can be in contact with both the first and second cap contact protrusions 31a and 31b at the same time. The formation positions of the cap contact protrusions 31a and 31b in the direction are aligned with each other.

  The cap 20 has the second erroneous insertion preventing projection 252 with respect to the cap main body receiving hole 33 of the punching tool main body 31 on the side opposite to the main body receiving hole key groove 31 g in the transverse direction of the cross section of the cap main body receiving hole 33. Even if the cap main body 23 is inserted into the cap main body receiving hole 33 by forcibly pushing it in the direction (hereinafter also referred to as reverse insertion direction), the first erroneous insertion preventing protrusion 252 is not By being in contact with the one cap contact protrusion 31a, further insertion into the cap through hole 34 is restricted. For this reason, the cap 20 cannot make the protruding claw 24 b of the elastic engagement piece 24 reach a position where it can engage with the engagement surface 31 d of the extraction tool main body 31.

The cap according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a configuration including both the first erroneous insertion preventing protrusion 251 and the second erroneous insertion preventing protrusion 252, and the first erroneous insertion preventing protrusion 251 and the second erroneous insertion. A configuration including only one of the prevention protrusions 252 can also be employed.
Further, as the cap, a configuration in which neither the first erroneous insertion preventing protrusion 251 nor the second erroneous insertion preventing protrusion 252 is provided can be employed.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the cap body 23 of the illustrated example of the cap 20 has a mark notch 23 a that allows the orientation of the cap 20 to be visually recognized from the rear end surface of the cap body 23. It is formed in a recessed shape. Specifically, in the cap 20 of the illustrated example, the notch portion 23a for marking is a lateral direction of the rear end portion of one of the pair of face plate portions 21a and 21b (the first face plate portion 21a in the illustrated example) of the cap body 23. It is formed at the center. The mark notch 23a is not formed in the second face plate 21b.
The notch portion 23a for marking is a first face plate portion 21a of the cap body 23 and the first error when the cap 20 is inserted into the cap body housing hole 33 of the extraction tool body 31 from the elastic engagement piece 24 side of the front end side. It functions as a mark for confirming the position of the insertion insertion protrusion 251 from the rear side of the cap 20. When the cap 20 is inserted into the cap through-hole 34 of the cap removal tool, the first face plate portion 21a in which the mark cutout portion 23a is formed among the pair of face plate portions 21a and 21b of the cap body 23 is provided. The cap through-hole 34 has a direction in contact with the inner wall surface of the cap main body accommodation hole 33 on the side where the front end keyway 31f is formed in the longitudinal direction of the cross section. Accordingly, the cap 20 can insert the first erroneous insertion preventing protrusion 251 into the front end key groove 31f of the cap removal tool, and can smoothly insert the cap body 23 into the cap body accommodation hole 33.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the optical connector 3 of the cable 10 with a cap is covered and protected by a cap 20 and a cap removal tool 30. For this reason, the cable 10 with a cap, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, is used when the unit 12 with a cap removal tool is pulled in to approach the optical connector adapter 91 provided in the device 90 in a building or the like. There is no fear of damaging the optical fiber end face located at the tip end or the ferrule tip end face (joint end face), and the characteristics (optical characteristics, etc.) can be stably maintained.

As shown in FIG. 1, the removal tool main body 31 of the illustrated cap removal tool 30 has a tapered shape in which the width direction dimension increases from the front side to the rear side.
Further, in the unit 12 with cap removing tool, the pair of cover plates 361 and 362 of the cap removing tool 30 are closed to each other, and the case portion 37 (the collective holder 40 is accommodated) on the rear side of the removing tool body 31. The case portion (see FIGS. 1 and 3) is configured, and the thickness of the case portion is equal to or smaller than the width dimension of the rear end of the punching tool body 31.
Therefore, the cap-clamped unit 12 of the capped cable 10 is advantageous for avoiding obstacles when performing under-floor wiring, on-floor wiring, etc. in a building, for example, and the capped cable 10 to a narrow space or the like. This also contributes to the efficiency of the pull-in work.

As shown in FIG. 10, the pair of cover plates 361 and 362 of the cap removing tool 30 has a fitting pin 36 a protruding from one cover plate 361 and a fitting protruding from the other cover plate 362. By inserting and fitting in the inner tube portion 36b, the closed state can be maintained, and the cover plates 361 and 362 in the closed state can be prevented from being inadvertently opened.
Further, the fitting pin 36a fitted to the fitting cylinder portion 36b is forcibly removed from the fitting cylinder portion 36b by a force that the operator pushes between the cover plates 361 and 362 in a closed state with fingers. I can leave. If the fitting pin 36a fitted to the fitting cylinder part 36b is removed from the fitting cylinder part 36b, the fitting between the fitting pin 36a and the fitting cylinder part 36b is released, and the cover is in a closed state. The space between the plates 361 and 362 can be opened.

Note that the closed state maintaining means for maintaining the closed state of the pair of cover plates 361 and 362 is not limited to the fitting pin 36a and the fitting cylinder portion 36b that are fitted to each other. As this closed state maintaining means, any configuration can be used as long as the closed state of the pair of cover plates 361 and 362 can be maintained and the operator can manually release the closed state. For example, one cover plate It may be an elastic engaging claw or the like that protrudes from and engages with the other cover plate in a detachable manner.
Further, the closed state maintaining means may be a band that binds a pair of cover plates 361 and 362 in a closed state and restricts the opening, or a screw for fastening and fixing.

The cable with cap 10 releases the pair of cover plates 361 and 362 in the closed state of the cap remover 30 of the unit 12 with cap remover and releases the cap remover 30 from the collective holder 40 in a lump. , The cap 20 can be easily removed from the optical connector 3 together with the cap removal tool 30.
The cover plates 361 and 362 opened from the closed state can be used as handle portions for pulling the extraction tool main body 31 with respect to the collective holder 40.

When the cap holder 30 is pulled with respect to the collective holder 40 so as to be separated from the collective holder 40, the extractor main body engaged with the protruding claws 24b of the pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 of the cap 20 from the cap main body 23 side. 31 (specifically, the engaging surface 31d of the engaging protruding wall 31c) can press the protruding claws 24b away from the batch holder 40. Therefore, the cap 3 can be removed from the optical connector 3 of the optical connector alignment unit 11 by performing a pulling operation on the collective holder 40 so as to separate the cap remover 30 from the collective holder 40.
If the cap removal tool 30 to which the cap 20 attached to each of the plurality of optical connectors 3 held by the collective holder 40 is attached is pulled with respect to the collective holder 40, the optical connectors 3 of the plurality of caps 20 are provided. It is possible to remove from the batch. For this reason, the cap removal work can be performed efficiently.

When the removal of the cap 20 from the optical connector 3 is completed, the tip of each optical connector 3 held by the collective holder 40 can be exposed.
The optical connector alignment unit 11 with the cap 20 and the cap removal tool 30 removed is simply pushed into an optical connector adapter (for example, the optical connector adapter 91 in FIG. 3), and a plurality of optical connectors 3 collectively held by the collective holder 40. Can be collectively fitted to the optical connector adapter.

The cap removing tool used for removing the cap 20 attached to the distal end portion of the optical connector 3 from the optical connector 3 is not limited to the above-described cap removing tool 30 illustrated in FIGS. . As a cap removal tool applicable to the removal of the cap 20 from the optical connector 3, an engagement piece insertion hole into which the extended portion 24a of the pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 can be inserted is formed. It is possible to employ one having an extraction tool main body that can engage the protruding claw 24b of the elastic engagement piece 24 in which the extending portion 24a is inserted into the one insertion hole. As this cap remover, for example, as shown in FIG. 16, the pair of cover plates 361 and 362 is omitted from the previously described cap remover 30, that is, the remover main body 31 of the aforementioned cap remover 30. (Cap removing tool 30A) can be mentioned.
In addition, in FIG. 16, about the cap removal tool 30A, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component as the removal tool main body 31 of the already-described cap removal tool 30.

FIG. 17 shows an example of a unit 12A with a cap removal tool having an optical connector alignment unit 11A in which a large number of optical connectors 3 assembled at the tip of the optical fiber 2 are aligned and held together in a matrix shape using a collective holder 40A. Indicates.
The collective holder 40A illustrated in FIG. 17 holds 48 optical connectors 3 in a matrix by arranging them in a matrix. As a collective holder 40A that holds a large number (for example, eight or more) of optical connectors 3 in a matrix and collectively holds them, the number of optical connectors 3 that can be held (the number of connectors that can be held) is 48. There is no limitation, and the number of connectors that can be held may be other than 48.
The collective holder 40A illustrated in FIG. 17 holds the coupling 3a of the optical connector 3, and the optical connector 3 protrudes from the one side of the collective holder 40A whose tip side is configured in a plate shape as a whole. Support in the direction you want.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the unit with cap removal tool 12 </ b> A of the illustrated example is a cap removal tool for removing the cap 20 attached to the tip of the optical connector 3 of the optical connector alignment unit 11 </ b> A from the optical connector 3. In addition, it is assembled using a structure having a plate-shaped extraction tool body 51 in which a plurality of engagement piece insertion holes 52 are formed.
17 and 18, the cap remover 50 illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18 is provided with handle portions 53 that can be gripped with fingers by an operator on both sides of a plate-like remover main body 51 in which a plurality of engagement piece insertion holes 52 are formed. It has a configuration.

  The handle portion 53 is erected on one side of the punching tool body 51 from both sides of the rectangular plate-shaped punching tool body 51 (a pair of long sides in the illustrated example). In addition, the handle portion 53 of the cap removing tool 50 in the illustrated example is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape standing vertically from the removing tool body 51. With this configuration of the cap remover 50, for example, as will be described later, when a plurality of cap removers 50 are provided in the optical connector alignment unit 11A having a configuration in which the optical connectors 3 are arranged in a matrix, adjacent cap removers 50 are provided. The handle portions 53 of the tool 50 can be brought into contact with each other so as to overlap each other. For this reason, this cap remover 50 is advantageous for high-density installation of a plurality of cap removers 50 with respect to the optical connector alignment unit 11A.

  The handle portion is not limited to the above-described rectangular frame shape and may be designed as long as it can be used by the operator to pull the cap removal tool against the collective holding tool 40A when removing the cap. It can be changed.

  Of the two surfaces of the plate-shaped extraction tool main body 51, the surface on which the handle 53 is projected is hereinafter referred to as the front surface, and the opposite surface is also referred to as the back surface.

The engagement piece insertion hole 52 of the extraction tool main body 51 of the cap removal tool 50 illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18 is formed in a rectangular cross section (in the illustrated example, a rectangle).
As shown in FIGS. 17 and 19, the cap remover 50 includes a pair of elastic engagement pieces of the cap 20 attached to the optical connector 3 of the optical connector alignment unit 11 </ b> A in the engagement piece insertion hole 52 of the removal tool main body 51. 24 is inserted and attached to the optical connector alignment unit 11 </ b> A so that the back surface of the extraction tool body 51 faces the cap body 23 of the cap 20. Extending portions 24 a of the pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 of the cap 20 are inserted into the engagement piece insertion holes 52 of the cap removal tool 50. The protruding claws 24 b of the pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 of the cap 20 are arranged on the surface side of the punching tool main body 51. The pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 of the cap 20 has portions of the extension portion 24a on the cap main body 23 side (base end side) from the protruding claws 24b at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular engagement piece insertion holes 52. Has been passed.

As shown in FIG. 19, the separation distance between the top portions 24 d of the protruding claws 24 b of the pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 is larger than the longitudinal dimension of the rectangular engagement piece insertion hole 52. Further, the projecting dimension of each protruding claw 24b from the elastic engagement piece 24 is a portion where each protruding claw 24b on both sides is engaged via the engagement piece insertion hole 52 in the extraction tool body 51 (hereinafter referred to as a protruding claw engagement). The difference between the separation distance between the pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 and the separation distance between the outer surfaces opposite to the inner surfaces facing each other is larger. In the unit with cap removal tool 12A illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 19, the distance between the claw engagement portions 51a on both sides via the engagement piece insertion hole 52 is the rectangular engagement piece insertion hole 52 in the illustrated example. Refers to the longitudinal dimension.
In addition, as for a pair of elastic engagement piece 24, the part penetrated by the engagement piece insertion hole 52 contact | abuts to the nail | claw engaging part 51a of both sides via the engagement piece insertion hole 52 of the extraction tool main body 51, respectively. May be.

  The protruding claws 24b of the pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 are disposed so as to be engageable with portions located on both sides of the extraction tool main body 51 through the engagement piece insertion holes 52 through the extending portion 24a. Yes. The cap removal tool 50 is prevented from being pulled out from the tip of the elastic engagement piece 24 by the protrusion 24b. The protrusion 24b of the elastic engagement piece 24 functions as a locking portion that restricts the extraction of the cap removal tool 50 from the distal end of the elastic engagement piece 24 by engaging with the cap removal tool 50.

The plate | board thickness of the extraction tool main body 51 of the cap extraction tool 50 is small compared with the separation distance between the cap main body 23 of the cap 20, and the protrusion 24b. The extraction tool main body 51 of the cap removal tool 50 is provided between the cap main body 23 of the cap 20 and the protruding claw 24b while ensuring a slight movable range in the cap front-rear direction (the axial direction of the cap main body 23). .
The engagement piece insertion hole 52 is a through hole that penetrates the plate-shaped extraction tool main body 51 that functions as a cap main body abutting portion with which the cap main body 23 can abut on the front and back.

The optical connector alignment unit 11A illustrated in FIG. 17 is provided with a plurality of rows (6 in the illustrated example) in which a plurality (eight in the illustrated example) of optical connectors 3 are aligned in a row. The connector 3 is arranged in a matrix.
A plurality of (eight in the illustrated example) engaging piece insertion holes 52 are formed in a row in the unplugging body 51 of the cap unplugging tool 50 corresponding to two adjacent connector rows of the optical connector alignment unit 11A. Two aligned rows of holes are formed in parallel. The formation pitch of the engagement piece insertion holes 52 of each hole row formed corresponding to the connector row of the optical connector alignment unit 11A is aligned with the arrangement pitch of the optical connectors 3 constituting the connector row of the optical connector alignment unit 11A. ing.

A total of 16 engagement piece insertion holes 52 are formed in the extraction tool body 51 of the cap removal tool 50 illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18.
The unit 12A with cap removal tool illustrated in FIG. 17 is provided with a plurality (three in the illustrated example) of cap removal tools 50 each having a plurality of caps 20 attached to the tip of the optical connector 3 attached to the optical connector alignment unit 11A. It has a configuration. The cap 20 attached to the optical connector 3 of the optical connector alignment unit 11A is attached to be engageable with any one of the cap removal tools 50 provided in the cap removal tool-equipped unit 12A.
The unit 12A with cap remover is attached to the cap remover 50 by pulling the cap remover 50 with respect to the collective holder 40A to increase the separation distance from the collective holder 40A. The work of removing the cap 20 from the optical connector 3 can be performed in a lump.

In addition, the cap removal tool 50 illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18 forms two hole rows of the engagement piece insertion holes 52 in parallel with each other, corresponding to two adjacent connector rows of the optical connector alignment unit 11A. However, the number of the hole rows of the engaging piece insertion holes 52 formed in the plate-like punching tool body may be one or three or more.
The cap removal tool in which three or more hole rows of the engagement piece insertion holes 52 are formed in the removal tool body has more caps at a time than the cap removal tool in which only two hole rows of the engagement piece insertion holes 52 are formed. The disconnection from the 20 optical connectors 3 can be realized.
The unit with the cap removal tool having the optical connector alignment unit in which the optical connectors 3 are arranged in a matrix form is not limited to the configuration using a plurality of cap removal tools, and a structure assembled using only one cap removal tool is also possible. It can be adopted.

The cap removal tool 50 in the illustrated example is a metal integrally formed product. The cap removal tool can be easily formed, for example, by punching or bending a single metal plate.
Further, as the cap removal tool, for example, an integrally molded product made of plastic can be employed.

  The cap removal tool having a plate-shaped extraction tool body in which the engagement piece insertion holes 52 are formed has a simple structure of the extraction tool body, and is designed to change the number of engagement piece insertion holes 52 formed in the extraction tool body. Easy to change. Further, since the cap removal tool can easily adjust the formation position, size, and shape of the engagement piece insertion hole 52 in the main body of the removal tool, the caps are respectively attached to the tips of the plurality of optical connectors 3 of the optical connector alignment unit. The position and design of the 20 elastic engagement pieces 24 can be easily accommodated.

As a cable with a cap, in addition to a configuration in which a unit with a cap removal tool is assembled only on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cable 1, for example, as shown in FIG. A configuration in which the unit C is assembled can also be adopted. Reference numeral B is added to the cable with a cap in FIG. Also, a reference C1 is added to one of the units C with cap removal tools on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cable 1, and a reference C2 is added to the other.
The cable B with a cap uses an optical fiber cable with a connector (optical fiber cable with a connector at both ends) in which an optical connector 3 is provided at the tip of an optical fiber 2 exposed at both ends of the optical fiber cable 1 in the longitudinal direction. Units C1 and C2 with cap removal tools are assembled on both sides in the direction.

The cap-clamped units C1 and C2 are optical connector alignment units formed by holding a plurality of optical connectors 3 at the distal end of the optical fiber 2 extending from the end of the optical fiber cable 1 with the collective retainer D. A cap removal tool E for removing the cap 20 attached to the part is attached to the cap 20 and provided.
The unit C with a cap removal tool has a configuration capable of holding and aligning a plurality of optical connectors 3 as a batch holder D, such as the batch holders 40 and 40A illustrated in FIGS. adopt. The cap 20 is attached by being externally fitted to the tip portion protruding from the collective holder D of the optical connector 3.

As the cap remover E, the remover main body (specifically, the cap main body abutting portion) capable of contacting the cap main body 23 of the cap 20 is extended to the engagement piece insertion hole penetrating the remover main body. It can be disposed between the protruding claw 24b and the cap body 23 so as to be engageable with the protruding claw 24b at the distal end portion of the elastic engagement piece 24 through 24a.
As this cap remover E, for example, the cap penetration through which the engagement piece insertion hole communicates with the cap main body accommodation hole as in the cap remover 30 and 30A illustrated in FIGS. One having a structure in which a plurality of holes are formed, and having a plate-like extraction tool body in which a plurality of protruding piece insertion holes (engagement piece insertion holes in FIG. 17) are formed like the cap removal tool 50 illustrated in FIG. Etc. can be adopted.
Further, the cap-clamped units C1 and C2 on both sides of the cable B with a cap do not necessarily have the same configuration, and may have different configurations.

  In addition, when it is not necessary to irradiate light to the thin part 22c of the cap 20 from the front side of the unit with the cap removing tool, as the cap removing tool E, a locking portion formed on the pulling protruding piece protruding from the front end wall portion of the cap (In the example of FIG. 21, the protruding claw 24 b of the elastic engagement piece 24) has a removal tool main body engaged from the front end wall portion side, and a plurality of caps can be removed from the optical connector 3 at once. There is no particular limitation on the specific configuration thereof.

  The cable with a cap according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to a cable having a unit with a cap removal tool. In addition, as a cable with a cap, not only a unit with a cap removal tool but also a configuration that does not have an optical connector alignment unit, a configuration that has an optical connector alignment unit but does not have a unit with a cap removal tool Can also be adopted. However, as a cable with a cap, a cap with a cap 20 attached to the optical connector 3 at the tip of a plurality of optical fibers 2 exposed (extended) on both ends or one end of the optical fiber cable 1 in the longitudinal direction. A configuration having an optical connector is employed.

  A cable 60 with a cap illustrated in FIG. 21 is a cap in which the cap 20 is attached to the optical connector 3 at the distal ends of a plurality of optical fibers 2 exposed (extended) at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cable 1. The attached optical connector 5 is provided. However, the cable 60 with a cap does not have an optical connector alignment unit and a unit with a cap removal tool.

The cap 20 illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 6A, 6B, 7A, and 7B has a central portion of the front end wall portion 22 of the cap body 23 (on the axis of the cap body 23). A thin portion 22c formed thinner than other portions of the front end wall portion 22 is provided in the central portion in the vertical direction. The cap 20 has a light transmittance that is suppressed by using a plastic material that does not have a high light transmittance or by a contaminant such as a colorant mixed in the plastic material. However, the light transmittance of the cap 20 depends on the thickness of the forming material of the cap 20. The portion of the cap 20 other than the thin-walled portion 22c has a light transmittance that is significantly lower than that of the thin-walled portion 22c, and a high light-shielding property is ensured. The thin portion 22 c has a higher light transmittance than the other portions of the cap body 23.
Then, the optical connector 3 fitted with the cap 20 irradiates the joint end surface 3e including the fiber exposed region 3f of the optical connector 3 from the outside of the cap 20 through the thin portion 22c while wearing the cap 20, End face inspection can be performed to check whether the joining end face 3e (particularly the fiber exposed region 3f) is scratched or dust is attached.

As shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7A, a recess is formed in the central portion of the front end wall portion 22 of the cap body 23 from the inner surface 22a (cap body 23 inner surface) side. 22b is formed. The thin wall portion 22c refers to a portion where the central portion of the front end wall portion 22 is thinner than the portion where the recess 22b is not formed due to the formation of the recess 22b.
As shown in FIG. 5A, FIG. 7A, and the like, the thin portion 22c is formed between a pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 of the cap 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7B, an optical fiber in which the optical connector 3 is assembled is provided at the center of the joining end face of the optical connector 3 (more specifically, the joining end face 3e at the front end of the ferrule 3b). There is a region (fiber exposed region 3f) where the end face of the bare optical fiber 2 is exposed. In the fiber exposed region 3f at the center of the joint end face 3e of the ferrule 3b of the optical connector 3 in the illustrated example, the end faces of a plurality of bare optical fibers 2a of the optical fiber 2 that is a multi-core optical fiber cord are arranged. .

  When the cap 20 is externally fitted to the tip of the optical connector 3, the thin portion 22c is exposed to the fiber at the center of the joining end surface 3e of the optical connector 3 (also simply referred to as an optical connector end surface in this specification). It is arranged facing the region 3f. The thin-walled portion 22c is a front end wall portion of the cap main body 23 so that the thin-walled portion 22c can be face-to-face arranged on the front end surfaces of all bare optical fibers 2a exposed in the fiber exposed region 3f of the optical connector 3 to which the cap main body 23 is fitted. The formation range at 22 is secured. Then, the optical connector 3 assembled at the distal end of the optical fiber 2 can observe the joint end surface 3e by irradiating the joint end surface 3e with light through the thin portion 22c of the cap 20 with the cap 20 attached. Therefore, the optical connector 3 to which the cap 20 is attached can transmit light from the outside of the cap 20 to the joint end surface 3e including the fiber exposed region 3f of the optical connector 3 through the thin portion 22c while the cap 20 is not removed. It is possible to perform an end face inspection by irradiating and examining the joint end face 3e for scratches or dust.

An optical fiber cable with a connector in which an optical connector is assembled at the tip of an optical fiber exposed at the end of the optical fiber cable has a conventional configuration in which the optical connector does not have a thin portion 22c that enables observation of the end face of the optical connector. When the cap is attached, when the end face inspection of the optical connector is performed as the final product, the cap is once removed, and the cap is reinserted after the inspection is completed. For this reason, when the cap that has been removed from the optical connector is reattached to the optical connector after the inspection is completed, even if the optical connector end face is damaged or dust is attached, this cannot be detected by the inspection.
On the other hand, since the optical connector 3 to which the cap 20 having the thin portion 22c is attached can perform the end face inspection without removing the cap 20, the end face of the optical connector 3 is damaged after the inspection is completed. There is no worry of dust adhering to the connector 3 end face.

The cap 20 can employ a material obtained by adding an antistatic agent to the forming material.
The cap 20 formed of a forming material such as plastic to which an antistatic agent is added is difficult to adhere dust. For this reason, the cap 20 is difficult to entrain dust inside the cap body 23 when the cap body 23 is externally fitted to the tip of the optical connector 3, and effectively contributes to preventing dust from adhering to the end face of the optical connector 3. .

  In addition to improving the light transmittance of the thin portion 22c, the cap 20 needs to ensure mechanical strength, so that the thickness of the thin portion 22c is not too thin. In the plastic cap 20, it is appropriate that the thickness of the thin portion 22c is about 0.2 to 0.5 mm.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the cap 20 is attached to the optical connector 3, the fiber exposed region 3 f of the joining end surface 3 e of the optical connector 3 is formed by a recess 22 b formed in the front end wall portion 22 of the cap body 23. A clearance can be secured between the cap main body 23 and the thin portion 22c.
As shown in FIG. 7B, the fiber exposed region 3 f of the joining end surface 3 e of the optical connector 3 is disposed so as to face the thin portion 22 c that forms the bottom surface of the recess 22 b of the front end wall portion 22 of the cap body 23. Is done. For this reason, when the cap 20 is attached to the optical connector 3, the entire fiber exposed region 3f does not come into contact with the front end wall portion 22 of the cap body 23 due to the recess 22b, and the fiber exposed region 3f is not in contact with the front end wall portion 22. The state separated from is maintained. At this time, the front end surfaces of all bare optical fibers 2a exposed in the fiber exposed region 3f of the optical connector 3 can avoid contact with the front end wall portion 22 (specifically, the thin portion 22c) of the cap body 23. .
Thus, the configuration capable of avoiding the contact between the fiber exposed region 3f and the front end surface of the bare optical fiber 2a exposed in the fiber exposed region 3f and the front end wall portion 22 of the cap body 23 includes the fiber exposed region 3f and the bare optical fiber. 2a It is advantageous in terms of preventing damage to the tip surface.

  The cable 60 with a cap allows the output light of the light source 81 to enter the optical fiber 2 from the optical connector 3 on one end side in the longitudinal direction (left side in FIG. 21) while the cap 20 is attached to the optical connector 3 on both sides in the longitudinal direction. Thus, fiber control (fiber identification) can be performed.

In the line contrast method shown in FIG. 21, the output light of the light source 81 is incident on the optical fiber 2 from the optical connector 3 on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the cable 60 with cap. The incident light incident on the optical fiber 2 from the light source 81 is emitted from the front end surface of the optical fiber 2 exposed at the joint end surface of the front end of the optical connector 3 on the other end side in the longitudinal direction (right side in FIG. 21). Light is received by the light receiving unit (light receiver 82).
Light incident on the optical fiber 2 from one end in the longitudinal direction of the cable 60 with a cap is obtained by joining the output light of the light source 81 to the optical connector 3 via the thin portion 22c of the cap 20 attached to the optical connector 3. The light is incident on the optical fiber 2 whose end face is exposed at the end face. Incident light incident on the optical fiber 2 is emitted from the front end surface of the optical fiber 2 exposed at the joint end surface of the optical connector 3 on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the cable 60 with cap. The emitted light passes through the thin portion 22c of the cap 20 attached to the optical connector 3 and is received by the light receiving portion (light receiver 82).

Identification portions 61 (numbering) are provided on portions of the cable 60 with a cap of FIG. 21 that extend from both sides in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cable 1 of the optical fiber 2. In addition to verification of the identification display 61, the fiber reference (fiber identification) of the optical fiber 2 on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cable 1 is incident on the optical fiber 2 from one end in the longitudinal direction of the cable 60 with cap. It is possible to use a fiber contrast of a system in which incident light is received by the light receiving unit from the end face of the optical fiber 2 on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the cable 60 with cap. Thereby, more accurate fiber control can be realized.
The fact that the optical fibers 2 on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cable 1 can be accurately compared is that when the optical connector 3 is accurately arranged when assembling the units with cap removal tools on the both sides in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cable 1. Contributes effectively.

  End face inspection performed by irradiating light to the end face of the optical connector 3 from the outside of the cap 20 attached to the optical connector 3 through the thin wall portion 22c of the front end wall part 22 of the cap body 23 is shown in FIGS. The present invention can also be applied to an optical connector of a unit with a cap removal tool exemplified in FIG.

1, 2, 16, etc., the cap removal tool 30, 30 </ b> A has the extension portions 24 a of the pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 of the cap 20 inserted through the engagement piece insertion holes 32, and the cap body abuts. When the portion is disposed between the projecting claw 24b of each elastic engagement piece 24 and the cap body 23, the pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 can be kept separated from each other. For this reason, the unit with a cap remover configured using this cap remover can irradiate light on the thin portion 22c of the cap body 23 through the engagement piece insertion hole 32 from the front side.
The cap removal tool 50 illustrated in FIG. 17 includes a pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 of the cap 20 in which the removal tool body 51 functioning as a cap body contact portion is inserted into the engagement piece insertion hole 52 through the extension portion 24a. When the protrusions 24b and the cap body 23 are disposed, the pair of elastic engagement pieces 24 can be kept separated from each other. The unit with a cap remover configured using the cap remover 50 can irradiate light to the thin portion 22c of the cap body 23 from the front side through the engagement piece insertion hole 52.
Therefore, the end face inspection of the optical connector 3 is performed on the cable with the cap having the unit with the cap removing tool configured by using the cap removing tools 30, 30 </ b> A, 50 without removing the cap 20 attached to the optical connector 3. Can be done.

  The cap remover that enables the end face inspection of the optical connector 3 to be performed without removing the cap 20 attached to the optical connector 3 is not limited to the cap removers 30, 30 </ b> A, and 50. As the cap removal tool, the removal tool main body (specifically, the cap main body contact portion) that can contact the cap main body 23 of the cap 20 is extended to the engagement piece insertion hole that penetrates the removal tool main body. When the elastic engagement piece 24 is inserted between the protruding claw 24b at the front end portion and the cap body 23, the front side of the central portion of the front end wall portion 22 of the cap 20 is not covered, and the front side of the unit with the cap removal tool is The thing of the structure which enables light irradiation to the thin part 22c is employable.

In addition, the thing of the structure which does not have the thin part 22c is employable as a cap of embodiment concerning this invention.
When the end face inspection of the optical connector and the fiber comparison performed by guiding to the optical fiber 2 of the optical fiber cable are not required, it is not necessary to use the cap having the thin portion 22c.

The elastic engagement piece of the cap is not limited to the one illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 7A and the like. As the elastic engagement piece, for example, as shown in FIG. 22, the distal end portion of one extending portion 26 a that protrudes from the front end wall portion 22 of the cap body 23 to the front side (the side opposite to the cylindrical body portion 21). Further, it is possible to employ a configuration in which a pair of elastic pieces 26b projecting on both sides of the pair of protrusions 26c are provided on the pair of elastic pieces 26b. It is. An elastic piece 26b of the elastic engagement piece 26 in FIG. 20 extends from the side surface of the distal end portion of the extending portion 26a to the cap body 23 from the distal end of the proximal end portion 26d. A cantilevered elastic piece body 26e. The protruding claw 26c protrudes from the surface of the elastic piece main body 26e opposite to the extending portion 26b.
The elastic engagement piece 26 is inserted into any of the engagement piece insertion holes of the removal tool body 31 of the cap removal tool 30 illustrated in FIG. 2 and the like, and the removal tool body 51 of the cap removal tool 50 illustrated in FIGS. Can be inserted, and the main body of the extraction tool can be locked by the protruding claw 26c. The protruding claw 26c functions as a locking portion that locks the extraction tool main body.

Moreover, as a cap, as shown to FIG. 23 (a), (b), the thing of the structure which has the three elastic engagement pieces 24 is also employable.
In this case, as the engagement piece insertion hole of the cap removal tool 50 having the plate-shaped removal tool main body 51, one having a triangular cross section (engagement piece insertion hole 54) corresponding to the protruding claw of each elastic engagement piece is used. It is preferable to form.

Note that the cap 27 illustrated in FIGS. 23A and 23B has a cylindrical end cap 27c with a single-ended bottom, in which only one axial end of the cylindrical cylindrical body 27a is closed by the front end wall 27b. It is a thing of the structure which comprises.
The cap 27 is, for example, an FC type optical connector (F01 type optical connector established in JIS C 5970. FC: Fiber transmission system optical connector) or a so-called ST type optical connector (F09 type optical connector established in JIS C 5978). ), Etc., so that the cap body 27c is detachably fitted to the coupling tip of the optical connector having a cylindrical coupling (FC type optical connector is a connection nut, and ST type optical connector is a connection sleeve) to cover the ferrule tip. It is something that can be done.

However, the configuration in which the three elastic engagement pieces 24 protrude from the front end wall portion of the cap body to the front side opposite to the cylindrical body portion is the one-end bottomed cylinder illustrated in FIGS. 23 (a) and 23 (b). The present invention is not limited to the cap 27 having the cap body 27c having a shape, and can be applied to a cap having a cap body having a single-ended bottomed rectangular tube shape.
Further, like the cap 20 illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the two elastic engagement pieces 24 protrude from the front end wall portion of the cap body to the front side opposite to the cylindrical body portion. The configuration can also be applied to a cap having a cap body having a circular shape with a bottom at one end.
The cap main body of the cap can be appropriately changed in design to a one-end-bottomed cylindrical shape that can be externally fitted and attached in accordance with the configuration of the tip of the optical connector. This is common to the cap of the embodiment according to the present invention.

  Moreover, as a unit with a cap removal tool, for example, as shown in FIG. 24, an engagement recess 28b is formed as a cap on the front side opposite to the cylindrical body portion 21 from the front end wall portion 22 of the cap body 23. It is also possible to employ a configuration in which the pulled protruding piece 28a is provided. The cap 28 illustrated in FIG. 24 employs a pulling projection piece 28a having engagement recesses 28b formed on both sides thereof. 24 employs a unit provided with a pair of elastic engagement pieces 61 as the cap removal tool 60, and the engagement recesses on both sides of the pulling projection piece 28a of the cap 28. The projecting claw 62 at the tip of the pair of elastic engagement pieces 61 of the cap removal tool 60 is inserted into the place 28b and engaged therewith.

In addition, a cap (hereinafter referred to as a cap with a projecting piece) having a pulling projecting piece (including an elastic engagement piece) is pulled out from the optical connector by an operator by directly pulling the pulling projecting piece with fingers. Is also possible. In other words, the cap with a protruding piece attached to the optical connector can be pulled directly to the cap with a protruding piece from the front side of the optical connector by an operator without using a cap removal tool. By applying a relative displacement force (extraction force) to the optical connector, the extraction work from the optical connector can be performed easily.
The pulling protrusion of the cap with the protrusion protrudes from the front end wall portion of the cap body to the side opposite to the cylindrical body portion. For this reason, the cap with a protruding piece is, for example, a case where a plurality of optical connectors with caps mounted on the optical connector are arranged in high density, or an obstacle such as a wall of a building near the optical connector with caps. Even if it exists, the operator can easily grasp the pulling protrusion with his / her fingers and can be efficiently and easily removed from the optical connector.

The cap removal tool is not limited to the cap removal tool 50 illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18, and is not limited to a plurality of protruding piece insertion holes 52 (engagement piece insertion holes) formed in the removal tool main body 51. For example, as shown in FIG. 24, a configuration having a plate-shaped extraction tool body 55a in which only one protruding piece insertion hole 52 (engagement piece insertion hole) is formed can be employed. The cap removal tool 55 illustrated in FIG. 24 has a configuration in which handle portions 55b projecting on one side of the removal tool body 55a are erected on both sides of the removal tool body 55a in which only one protruding piece insertion hole 52 is formed. Is. The shape of the projecting piece insertion hole 52 is such that the projecting claw at the distal end of the elastic engaging piece can be engaged with the extraction tool body according to the number, arrangement, etc. of the elastic engaging pieces (tensile for pulling) of the cap. The design can be changed as appropriate.
However, the cap removal tool is not necessarily limited to the one having a handle portion erected on the removal tool body, and the cap is made by applying a pulling force for removing the cap to the outer periphery of the removal tool body itself. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the can be removed from the optical connector.
Moreover, as a cap removal tool, the structure which made only one through-hole for caps of the cap removal tool illustrated in FIG.1, FIG.16 etc. is also employable.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical fiber cable, 2 ... Optical fiber, 3 ... Optical connector, 10 ... Optical fiber cable with a connector cap, 11, 11A ... Optical connector alignment unit, 12, 12A ... Unit with cap removal tool, 20 ... Optical connector protective cap , 22c: Thin portion, 24: Pulling projection piece (elastic engagement piece), 24a ... Extension portion, 24b ... Projection claw, 26 ... Elastic engagement piece, 26c ... Locking portion (projection claw), 27 ... Light Connector protective cap, 27a ... cylindrical body, 27b ... front end wall, 27c ... cap body, 28 ... optical connector protective cap, 28a ... pulling protrusion, 30 ... cap removal tool, 31 ... removal tool body, 32 ... Projection piece insertion hole (engagement piece insertion hole), 40, 40A ... Collective holder, 50 ... Cap removal tool, 51 ... Removal tool body, 52 ... Projection piece insertion hole (engagement piece insertion hole), 53 ... Handle part 54 ... protrusion insertion hole (engaging piece insertion hole), 55 ... cap male dies, 55a ... male die body, 55b ... handle.

Claims (16)

  An optical connector protective cap from which a protruding protrusion for applying a pulling force is projected from a front end wall portion that closes one end in an axial direction of a cylindrical body portion that is externally attached to the optical connector.   The optical connector protective cap according to claim 1, wherein the pulling projecting piece has a projecting claw at a distal end of an extending portion extending from the front end wall portion.   The center portion of the front end wall portion has a thin wall portion that is formed thin and has increased light transmittance, and the pulling protruding piece protrudes from the front end wall portion while avoiding the thin wall portion. The optical connector protective cap according to 1 or 2.   An optical connector protective cap is attached to the optical connector assembled to the optical fiber of the optical fiber cable terminal, the optical connector protective cap from the front end wall portion that closes one end in the axial direction of the cylindrical body portion to be externally inserted into the optical connector, An optical fiber cable with a connector cap from which a pulling protruding piece for applying a pulling force during a pulling operation to an optical connector is projected.   5. The light with a connector cap according to claim 4, further comprising a cap removal tool including a removal tool body that engages with a locking portion formed on the pulling protrusion of the optical connector protection cap from the front end wall portion side. Fiber cable.   The pulling protrusion of the optical connector protection cap has a protruding claw as the engaging portion at the tip of an extension portion extending from the front end wall portion, and the removal tool body of the cap removal tool is the optical connector 6. The protruding piece insertion hole into which the extending portion of the protruding protruding piece of the protective cap is inserted penetrates and is formed to be engageable with the protruding claw from the front end wall portion side. Fiber optic cable with connector cap.   The optical fiber cable with a connector cap according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of the projecting piece insertion holes are formed in the punch body of the cap remover.   The optical connector protective cap pulling protrusion protrudes from a position shifted from the outer periphery of the front end wall portion toward the central portion, and the removal tool body of the cap removing device is used for pulling the optical connector protective cap. 8. The optical fiber cable with a connector cap according to claim 6, wherein the optical fiber cable is attached between the locking portion and the front end wall portion by being prevented from coming off by a locking portion of a projecting piece and the outer peripheral portion of the front end wall portion.   The optical fiber cable with a connector cap according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the cap removal tool has a handle portion protruding from the removal tool body.   The optical fiber cable with a connector cap according to any one of claims 4 to 9, further comprising a collective holder that holds a plurality of the optical connectors aligned and held together.   The optical fiber cable with a connector cap according to claim 10, wherein the optical fiber cable has an optical connector alignment unit at each end of the optical fiber cable, wherein the optical connector alignment unit is configured to collectively hold the optical connectors by using the collective holder.   A pulling protrusion protrudes from the front end wall portion of the optical connector protective cap in which one end in the axial direction of the cylindrical body portion to be extrapolated to the optical connector is closed by the front end wall portion, and is formed on the pulling protrusion piece. A cap removal tool having a removal tool main body that engages with a locking portion from the front end wall portion side and causes a pulling force for pulling out the optical connector protection cap from the optical connector to the pulling projection piece.   The pulling projection piece of the optical connector protection cap has a protruding claw as the locking portion at the tip of an extension portion extending from the front end wall portion, and the extraction tool body includes the optical connector protection cap The cap removing tool according to claim 12, wherein a protruding piece insertion hole into which the extending portion of the pulling protruding piece is inserted penetrates the protruding protrusion and is engageable with the protruding nail from the front end wall portion side. .   The cap removal tool according to claim 13, wherein a plurality of the protruding piece insertion holes are formed in the removal tool body.   The pulling projection piece of the optical connector protection cap protrudes from a position shifted from the outer periphery of the front end wall portion toward the center portion side, and the extraction tool body is engaged with the pulling projection piece of the optical connector protection cap. The cap removal tool according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the cap removal tool is formed so as to be disposed between the locking portion and the front end wall portion by being prevented from being detached by a stop portion and an outer peripheral portion of the front end wall portion.   The cap removal tool according to any one of claims 13 to 15, further comprising a handle portion protruding from the body of the removal tool.

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