JP2014123057A - Fiber splicer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fiber splicer capable of easily clamping glass fibers and of firmly fixing glass fibers.SOLUTION: A mechanical splicing part 3 of a fiber splicer 1 includes: a base member having a fiber groove 5a formed thereon; a cover member 7 for retaining glass fibers F1 and F2 on the base member 5; and a clamping member 9 for clamping the base member 5 and the cober member 7. The clamp member 9 is provided so as to be movable to a first position for clamping the base member and the cover member 7 so as to form a space S where the glass fiber F1 is movable between the base member 5 and the cover member 7, and a second position for clamping the base member 5 and the cover member 7 so as to press and fix the glass fibers F1 and F2 by the base member 5 and the cover member 7. When the clamping member 9 is located in the first position, the space S is opened on the side where a closed cross section is not formed by the clamping member 9, the base member 5, and the cover member 7.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fiber connector.

  As a conventional fiber connector, a base member in which a fiber groove for positioning a glass fiber is formed, a lid member for pressing the glass fiber disposed in the fiber groove against the base member, and the base member and the lid member A mechanical splice portion that has a clamp spring that sandwiches the base member and the lid member so as to press and fix the glass fiber, and mechanically connects the two glass fibers by abutting, and a wedge member attached to the mechanical splice portion (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 09-96733 A

  In the configuration in which the wedge member is inserted between the base member and the lid member as in the conventional fiber connector, a force is always applied in the direction opposite to the direction in which the clamp member sandwiches the base member and the lid member. The clamp member may be plastically deformed. Thereby, the urging force of the clamp member is reduced, and there may be a problem that the glass fiber cannot be firmly pressed and fixed by the base member and the lid member. In this regard, it is possible to prevent plastic deformation of the clamp member by attaching the clamp member after sandwiching the glass fiber between the base member and the lid member, but since the clamp member is a small part, attachment is not easy, In addition, a new problem that it is easy to lose occurs.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a fiber connector that can be easily clamped and can firmly fix a glass fiber.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a fiber connector according to the present invention is a fiber connector including a mechanical splice unit that mechanically connects two glass fibers by abutting each other, and the mechanical splice unit includes a glass fiber. A base member formed with a fiber groove for positioning, a lid member for pressing the glass fiber disposed in the fiber groove against the base member, and the base member so as to press and fix the glass fiber with the base member and the lid member And a clamp member that sandwiches the lid member. The clamp member sandwiches the base member and the lid member so that a gap is formed between the base member and the lid member so that the glass fiber can move freely. A second position for sandwiching the base member and the lid member so as to press and fix the glass fiber between the first position to be performed and the base member and the lid member. Is provided movably in a position, in the first position of the clamp member, characterized in that it opens a gap on a side closed cross section by the clamping member and the base member and the lid member is not formed.

  In this fiber connector, the clamp member includes a first position for sandwiching the base member and the lid member so as to form a gap in which the glass fiber is movable between the base member and the lid member, and the base The glass fiber is pressed and fixed between the member and the lid member so as to be movable to a second position for sandwiching the base member and the lid member. Therefore, when the glass fiber is pressed and fixed, the clamp member may be moved from the first position to the second position. With such a configuration, the base member and the lid member can be easily sandwiched, and since the wedge member is not used, plastic deformation of the clamp member can be prevented. Therefore, the clamping force of the clamp member can be maintained, and as a result, the glass fiber can be firmly fixed and the reliability can be improved.

  In one embodiment, the clamp member has a main body portion that has a curved shape, and an overhang portion that projects to both sides in the width direction of the main body portion at the end portion of the main body portion in the bending direction. The lid member includes a main body portion that presses and fixes the glass fiber, and a pair of projecting portions that protrude from the main body portion toward the first position in the moving direction of the clamp member and that are separated from each other in the extending direction of the fiber groove. And the clamp member is in contact with only the overhanging portion and the pair of projecting portions at the first position, and the main body portion and the overhanging portion with the main body portion of the lid member at the second position. Abut. Thereby, when the clamp member moves between the first position and the second position, interference with the main body portion of the lid member can be avoided, so that the moving distance of the clamp member can be reduced, and the fiber connector can be It can be downsized.

  In one embodiment, the end of the clamp member is provided with a bent portion that rises outward. According to such a configuration, for example, a jig or the like can be hooked on the bent portion, so that the clamp member can be easily moved.

  In one embodiment, each of the end portions of the clamp member is provided with a recess that opens to the base member and the lid member side, and each recess of the clamp member is provided in the base member and the lid member at the first position. Protrusions that engage with each other are provided. According to such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the clamp member from being detached from the base member and the lid member when the clamp member is in the first position.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily clamp and fix the glass fiber firmly.

It is a perspective view which shows the 1st state of the mechanical splice part of the fiber connector which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the 2nd state of a mechanical splice part. (A) is the IIIa-IIIa sectional view taken on the line in FIG. 1, (b) is the IIIb-IIIb sectional view taken on the line in FIG. (A) is the IVa-IVa sectional view taken on the line in FIG. 2, (b) is the IVb-IVb sectional view taken on the line in FIG. It is a figure which shows the cross-sectional structure of the mechanical splice part of the fiber connector which concerns on another form. It is a figure which shows the cross-sectional structure of the fiber connector which concerns on another form.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or equivalent elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

  Drawing 1 is a perspective view showing the 1st state of the mechanical splice part of the fiber connector concerning one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a second state of the mechanical splice part. 3A is a sectional view taken along line IIIa-IIIa in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along line IIIb-IIIb in FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IVa-IVa in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IVb-IVb in FIG.

  The fiber connector 1 includes a mechanical splice unit 3. The mechanical splice part 3 is for butting and mechanically connecting two glass fibers (glass fiber F1 and glass fiber F2). The mechanical splice unit 3 includes a base member 5, a lid member 7, and a clamp member 9. The glass fiber F1 is, for example, a fiber of an optical cable (not shown), and the glass fiber F2 is, for example, a built-in short fiber built in a ferrule (not shown). The ferrule is connected to one end of the mechanical splice part 3. Moreover, in the fiber connector 1, the mechanical splice part 3 is accommodated in a housing (not shown).

  The base member 5 is formed with a fiber groove 5a having a V-shaped cross section for positioning the glass fiber F1 and the glass fiber F2. The clamp member 9 has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and sandwiches the base member 5 and the lid member 7 so that the glass fiber F1 and the glass fiber F2 are pressed and fixed by the base member 5 and the lid member 7. The clamp member 9 is provided to be movable between a first position and a second position.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the first position of the clamp member 9 is formed with a gap S between the base member 5 and the lid member 7 so that the glass fiber F1 can move along the fiber groove 5a. In this way, the base member 5 and the lid member 7 are sandwiched. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the second position of the clamp member 9 is a position where the base member 5 and the lid member 7 are sandwiched so that the glass fiber F <b> 1 is pressed and fixed by the base member 5 and the lid member 7. It is.

  The lid member 7 presses the glass fiber F1 and the glass fiber F2 disposed in the fiber groove 5a against the base member 5. The lid member 7 has a main body portion 7a and a pair of projecting portions 7b and 7c. The main body portion 7a and the pair of projecting portions 7b and 7c are integrally formed.

  The main body portion 7a is a portion that covers the fiber groove 5a of the base member 5 and presses and fixes the glass fiber F1 and the glass fiber F2. The protruding portions 7b and 7c protrude from the main body portion 7a in the moving direction of the clamp member 9 and toward the first position, and are spaced apart from each other in the extending direction of the fiber groove 5a. The lid member 7 is formed with a concave portion 7d by the main body portion 7a and the protruding portions 7b and 7c.

  The clamp member 9 is formed of, for example, a metal member, and includes a main body portion 9a, overhang portions 9b and 9c, and bent portions 9d and 9e. The main body portion 9a, the overhang portions 9b and 9c, and the bent portions 9d and 9e are integrally formed of sheet metal. The main body 9a has a curved shape. The overhanging portions 9b and 9c overhang both sides of the main body portion 9a in the width direction (longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice portion 3) at both ends of the main body portion 9a in the bending direction. The bent portions 9d and 9e are bent substantially vertically so as to rise outward at both end portions of the main body portion 9a. The bent portions 9d and 9e are provided across the main body portion 9a and the overhang portions 9b and 9c.

  The clamp member 9 is attached to the base member 5 and the lid member 7 so that the main body 9 a is positioned in the recess 7 d of the lid member 7. That is, the main body 9a of the clamp member 9 is located between the protrusions 7b and 7c of the lid member 7 at the second position. Further, in the clamp member 9, the protruding portions 9 b and 9 c are in contact with only the protruding portions 7 b and 7 c of the lid member 7 in the first position. That is, in the first position, the clamp member 9 holds the projecting portions 7b and 7c of the lid member 7 and the base member 5 between the projecting portions 9b and 9c and the main body portion 9a, and in the second position. The body portion 7a of the lid member 7 and the lid member 5 are sandwiched between the body portion 9a, the overhang portions 9b and 9c, and the body portion 9a.

  Next, a method for connecting the glass fiber F1 and the glass fiber F2 in the mechanical splice unit 3 will be described.

  In the initial state (first state), the mechanical splice unit 3 holds the base member 5 and the lid member 7 at the first position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. At this time, a gap S is formed between the base member 5 and the lid member 7. The gap S is open to the side where the closed cross section is not formed by the base member 5 and the lid member 7 and the clamp member 9, that is, the side where the clamp member 9 is not provided.

  Then, the glass fiber F1 is arrange | positioned along the fiber groove | channel 5a, and the glass fiber F1 and the glass fiber F2 are faced | matched. And the clamp member 9 is moved to a 2nd position in the state which faced | matched glass fiber F1 and glass fiber F2. In FIG. 3, the clamp member 9 is slid to the left side in the short direction of the mechanical splice part 3.

  Thereby, the base member 5 and the lid member 7 are clamped by the clamp member 9, and the glass fiber F1 and the glass fiber F2 are pressed and fixed by the base member 5 and the lid member 7 (second state). Thus, the glass fiber F1 and the glass fiber F2 are connected in the mechanical splice unit 3.

  Note that when the connection between the glass fiber F1 and the glass fiber F2 is released, the clamp member 9 is slid from the second position to the first position. At this time, the clamp member 9 can be easily moved by hooking the jig on the bent portions 9d and 9e of the clamp member 9.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the clamp member 9 includes the base member 5 and the lid member so that the gap S between which the glass fiber F2 is movable is formed between the base member 5 and the lid member 7. 7 is provided movably between a first position for sandwiching the base member 5 and a second position for sandwiching the base member 5 and the lid member 7 so that the glass fiber F2 is pressed and fixed by the base member 5 and the lid member 7. It has been. Therefore, when the glass fiber F1 is pressed and fixed, the clamp member 9 may be moved from the first position to the second position.

  With such a configuration, the base member 5 and the lid member 7 can be easily sandwiched, and since the wedge member is not used, plastic deformation of the clamp member 9 can be prevented. Therefore, the clamping force of the clamp member 9 can be maintained. As a result, the glass fiber F1 can be firmly fixed, and the reliability can be improved.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the clamp member 9 has the main-body part 9a and the overhang | projection parts 9b and 9c, and the cover member 7 has the main-body part 7a and the protrusion parts 7b and 7c, and is clamped. The member 9 is in contact with only the protruding portions 9b and 9c and the protruding portions 7b and 7c at the first position, and the main body portion 9a and the protruding portions 9b and 9c and the main body portion 7a of the lid member 7 at the second position. And abut. Thereby, when the clamp member 9 moves between the first position and the second position, interference with the main body portion 7a of the lid member 7 can be avoided, so that the moving distance of the clamp member 9 can be reduced. The fiber connector 1 can be reduced in size.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional configuration of a mechanical splice portion of a fiber connector according to another embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the mechanical splice portion 3A includes a base member 5A, a lid member 7A, and a clamp member 9A.

  The clamp member 9A is provided with concave portions 10a and 10b that open to the base member 5A and the lid member 7A side at both ends thereof. The recesses 10a and 10b have, for example, a semicircular cross section. The base member 5A is provided with a protrusion 11 that engages with the recess 10a at the first position of the clamp member 9A. The protrusion 11 protrudes toward the clamp member 9A (outside). Further, the lid member 7A is provided with a protrusion 12 that engages with the recess 10b at the first position of the clamp member 9A. The protrusion 12 protrudes toward the clamp member 9 side.

  With the above configuration, in the clamp member 9A, the recesses 10a and 10b engage with the protrusion 11 of the base member 5 and the protrusion 12 of the lid member 7 at the first position. Thereby, in mechanical splice part 3A, it is further prevented that clamp member 9A comes off in the 1st position.

  6A and 6B are diagrams showing a cross-sectional configuration of a fiber connector according to another embodiment, in which FIG. 6A shows a state where the clamp member is in the first position, and FIG. 6B shows that the clamp member is in the second position. It shows a certain state.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the mechanical splice portion 3B includes a base member 5B, a lid member 7B, and a clamp member 9B. The lid member 7 </ b> B includes a first lid part 20 and a second lid part 21. The first lid 20 presses a glass fiber of an optical cable (not shown) disposed in the fiber groove 5a against the base member 5B. The second lid portion 21 holds the cable jacket of the optical cable against the base member 5B.

  The first lid portion 20 is formed with a first surface 20a and a higher position 20b than the first surface 20a. The first surface 20a and the second surface 20b are continuously formed by the continuous surface 20c. The continuous surface 20c is an inclined surface having an upward gradient from the first surface 20a toward the second surface 20b.

  The second lid portion 21 is formed with a first surface 21a and a higher position 21b than the first surface 21a. The first surface 21a and the second surface 21b are continuously formed by the continuous surface 21c. The continuous surface 21c is an inclined surface having an upward gradient from the first surface 21a toward the second surface 21b.

  In the mechanical splice portion 3B having the above-described configuration, the clamp member 9B is provided to be movable between a first position and a second position. The first position of the clamp member 9B is, as shown in FIG. 6A, a gap is formed between the base member 5 and the lid member 7 so that the glass fiber F1 can move along the fiber groove 5a. As shown, the base member 5B and the first surface 20a, 21a of the first lid portion 20, 21 of the lid member 7B are sandwiched. At this time, the clamp member 9 </ b> B holds the base member 5 </ b> B and the first and second lid portions 20, 21 with a force that does not disengage from the base member 5 </ b> B and the first and second lid portions 20, 21.

  As shown in FIG. 6 (b), the second position of the clamp member 9B is such that the glass fiber and the cable jacket are pressed and fixed by the base member 5B and the lid member 7B. This is a position where the second surfaces 20b and 21b of the first and second lid portions 20 and 21 are sandwiched.

  Next, a method for connecting the glass fibers in the mechanical splice part 3B will be described.

  In the initial state, the mechanical splice portion 3B has the first and second lid portions 20 and 21 of the base member 5B and the lid member 7B at the first position as shown in FIG. One surface 20a, 21a is clamped. At this time, a gap is formed between the base member 5B and the lid member 7B.

  Then, a glass fiber is arrange | positioned along a fiber groove and glass fibers are faced | matched. And the clamp member 9 is moved to a 2nd position in the state which faced | matched glass fibers. In FIG. 6, the clamp member 9 is slid to the left along the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice portion 3B. At this time, the second surface of the clamp member 9B that is higher than the first surfaces 20a and 21a from the first surfaces 20a and 21a along the continuous surfaces 20c and 21c in the first and second lid portions 20 and 21 of the lid member 7B. In order to move to 20b, 21b, the base member 5B and the lid member 7B are clamped by the clamp member 9B. Thereby, the glass fiber is pressed and fixed by the base member 5 and the lid member 7.

  The present invention can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Fiber connector, 3, 3A, 3B ... Mechanical splice part, 5, 5A, 5B ... Base member, 5a ... Fiber groove, 7, 7A, 7B ... Cover member, 7a ... Main-body part, 7b, 7c ... Projection part , 9, 9A, 9B ... Clamp member, 9a ... Main body part, 9b, 9c ... Overhang part, 9d, 9e ... Bending part, 10a, 10b ... Recessed part, 11, 12 ... Projection part, F1 ... Glass fiber, F2 ... Glass fiber.

Claims (4)

A fiber connector provided with a mechanical splice part for butting two glass fibers and connecting them mechanically,
The mechanical splice part is
A base member formed with a fiber groove for positioning the glass fiber;
A lid member for pressing the glass fiber disposed in the fiber groove against the base member;
A clamp member that sandwiches the base member and the lid member so as to press and fix the glass fiber between the base member and the lid member;
Have
The clamp member has a first position for sandwiching the base member and the lid member so as to form a gap in which the glass fiber is movable between the base member and the lid member; The base member and the lid member are provided so as to be movable to a second position for sandwiching the base member and the lid member so as to press and fix the glass fiber.
The fiber connector according to claim 1, wherein, in the first position of the clamp member, the gap is open to a side where a closed cross section is not formed by the clamp member, the base member, and the lid member. The clamp member is
A main body having a curved shape;
An overhanging portion projecting on both sides in the width direction of the main body at the end of the main body in the bending direction;
The lid member is
A main body for pressing and fixing the glass fiber;
A pair of protrusions protruding from the main body in the moving direction of the clamp member and toward the first position, and spaced apart from each other in the extending direction of the fiber groove,
The clamp member is in contact with only the projecting portion and the pair of projecting portions at the first position, and at the second position, the main body portion, the projecting portion, and the main body portion of the lid member. The fiber connector according to claim 1, wherein abuts against each other.   The fiber connector according to claim 2, wherein a bent portion that rises outward is provided at the end of the clamp member. Each of the end portions of the clamp member is provided with a recess that opens to the base member and the lid member side,
4. The fiber connector according to claim 2, wherein the base member and the lid member are each provided with a protrusion that engages with each of the recesses of the clamp member at the first position. 5. .

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