JP2016090969A - Method for manufacturing optical connector ferrule and optical connector ferrule - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for manufacturing an optical connector ferrule capable of suppressing deformation of an optical connector ferrule having a window part, and an optical connector ferrule.SOLUTION: A method for manufacturing an optical connector ferrule 1 having a window part 11 into which an adhesive for fixing the optical fiber inserted into a fiber hole 7 is injected includes the steps of: manufacturing a ferrule molded body 25 having the fiber hole 7 (molding step); and forming the window part 11 by removing a part of a wall part 26 constituting the ferrule molded body 25 after performing the molding step (removing step).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector ferrule manufacturing method and an optical connector ferrule.

  Conventionally, for example, an optical connector ferrule described in Patent Document 1 is known. An optical connector ferrule described in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of optical fiber holes through which a plurality of optical fibers are inserted, and an adhesive injection hole for fixing an optical fiber into which an adhesive for fixing each optical fiber is injected. And have.

JP-A-8-313762

  The optical connector ferrule as in the above prior art is generally produced by molding. When the optical connector ferrule is cured after the optical connector ferrule is formed, the optical connector ferrule contracts. However, since the optical connector ferrule is provided with an adhesive injection hole (window), the entire optical connector ferrule is not uniformly cured and contracted. For this reason, the optical connector ferrule may be deformed. In this case, the final shape finishing accuracy of the optical connector ferrule is deteriorated, and for example, the arrangement pitch of the optical fiber holes may be out of the standard.

  The objective of this invention is providing the manufacturing method and optical connector ferrule of an optical connector ferrule which can suppress a deformation | transformation of the optical connector ferrule which has a window part.

  An optical connector ferrule manufacturing method according to one aspect of the present invention is a method of manufacturing an optical connector ferrule having a window portion into which an adhesive for fixing an optical fiber inserted into a fiber hole is injected. And a removing step of forming a window portion by removing a part of the wall portion constituting the ferrule molded body after performing the molding step.

  An optical connector ferrule according to another aspect of the present invention is an optical connector ferrule having a window portion into which an adhesive for fixing an optical fiber inserted into a fiber hole is injected, and constitutes an edge portion of the window portion The first surface has a second surface adjacent to the first surface, and the surface roughness of the first surface is larger than the surface roughness of the second surface.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a deformation | transformation of the optical connector ferrule which has a window part can be suppressed.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the optical connector ferrule of one Embodiment. It is a cross-sectional perspective view of the optical connector ferrule shown by FIG. It is a one part perspective view of the ferrule shaping die used for manufacture of the optical connector ferrule shown by FIG. It is a perspective view of the ferrule molded object produced with the ferrule shaping die shown by FIG. It is a cross-sectional perspective view of the ferrule molded object shown by FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the removal process which removes a part of upper wall part shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the removal process which removes a part of upper wall part shown by FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the removal process which removes a part of upper wall part shown by FIG.

[Description of Embodiment of the Present Invention]
First, embodiments of the present invention will be listed and described.

  An optical connector ferrule manufacturing method according to one aspect of the present invention is a method of manufacturing an optical connector ferrule having a window portion into which an adhesive for fixing an optical fiber inserted into a fiber hole is injected. And a removing step of forming a window portion by removing a part of the wall portion constituting the ferrule molded body after performing the molding step.

  In such an optical connector ferrule manufacturing method, a ferrule molded body having a fiber hole is manufactured, and then a part of the wall portion constituting the ferrule molded body is removed to form a window portion, thereby forming a ferrule molded body. In a state before the body is cured, the ferrule molded body has no window portion. Accordingly, when the ferrule molded body is cured, the entire ferrule molded body is cured and shrunk with good uniformity, so that the ferrule molded body is hardly deformed. Thereby, a deformation | transformation of the optical connector ferrule which has a window part can be suppressed.

  In the molding step, the ferrule molded body may be produced so that the wall portion is provided with a recess, and in the removal step, a part of the wall portion may be removed along the recess with a cutter. In this case, a part of the wall portion can be easily removed.

  In the removing step, a part of the wall portion may be removed by a drill. In this case, a part of the wall portion can be removed without providing the recess portion on the wall portion.

  In the removing step, a part of the wall portion facing the receiving member may be removed in a state where the receiving member is arranged inside the ferrule molded body. In this case, when removing a part of wall part, it can prevent easily that a ferrule molded object is damaged.

  An optical connector ferrule according to another aspect of the present invention is an optical connector ferrule having a window portion into which an adhesive for fixing an optical fiber inserted into a fiber hole is injected, and constitutes an edge portion of the window portion The first surface has a second surface adjacent to the first surface, and the surface roughness of the first surface is larger than the surface roughness of the second surface.

In such an optical connector ferrule, the surface roughness of the first surface constituting the edge portion of the window portion is larger than the surface roughness of the second surface adjacent to the first surface. Here, a ferrule molded body having a fiber hole is prepared, and then a part of the wall portion constituting the ferrule molded body is removed to form a window portion, thereby having the first surface and the second surface described above. An optical connector ferrule is obtained. In this case, in the state before the ferrule molded body is cured, the window portion does not exist in the ferrule molded body. Accordingly, when the ferrule molded body is cured, the entire ferrule molded body is cured and shrunk with good uniformity, so that the ferrule molded body is hardly deformed. Thereby, a deformation | transformation of the optical connector ferrule which has a window part can be suppressed. Further, since the surface roughness of the first surface is larger than the surface roughness of the second surface, the adhesive anchor is attached to the first surface when the adhesive is injected from the window and the optical fiber is bonded to the optical connector ferrule. This produces an effect and increases the adhesive strength of the optical fiber.
[Details of the embodiment of the present invention]

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

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an optical connector ferrule according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the optical connector ferrule shown in FIG. In each figure, the optical connector ferrule 1 of this embodiment is an MT connector ferrule. The optical connector ferrule 1 is made of a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin. The optical connector ferrule 1 holds a plurality of optical fibers 3 in the multi-core optical fiber ribbon 2.

  The optical connector ferrule 1 includes a ferrule main body 4 and a flange portion 5 disposed on the rear side of the ferrule main body 4. The ferrule body 4 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The ferrule body 4 has a front end face 4a, an upper face 4b, a lower face 4c (see FIG. 7), and two side faces 4d. The front end face 4a is a connection end face that abuts against the counterpart optical connector ferrule. The flange 5 protrudes from the upper surface 4b, the lower surface 4c and the side surface 4d of the ferrule body 4.

  A fiber introduction port 6 for introducing a plurality of optical fibers 3 into the optical connector ferrule 1 is provided at the rear end of the optical connector ferrule 1. The ferrule body 4 has a plurality of fiber holes 7 into which the optical fibers 3 are inserted, and a plurality of fiber guide grooves 8 that are arranged on the rear side of the fiber holes 7 and guide the optical fibers 3 to the fiber holes 7. doing. A placement portion 9 is provided on the rear side of each fiber guide groove 8 in the ferrule body 4.

  The optical connector ferrule 1 is provided with a pair of guide pin holes 10 into which guide pins (not shown) are inserted so as to sandwich each fiber hole 7.

  The ferrule body 4 has a window portion 11 into which a liquid adhesive S for fixing the optical fiber 3 inserted into the fiber hole 7 to the ferrule body 4 is injected. The window portion 11 is provided so as to open on the upper surface 4 b of the ferrule body 4 and communicates with the fiber introduction port 6. The window part 11 has a rectangular cross section. The window portion 11 is disposed above the placement portion 9.

  The inner side surface 11a (first surface) constituting the edge of the window portion 11 is a cut surface formed by cutting with a cutter 28 (see FIG. 6) described later. An upper surface 4b (second surface) adjacent to the inner surface 11a is a molding surface formed by a ferrule molding die 12 described later. The lower surface 4c and the side surface 4d are also molding surfaces. Therefore, the surface roughness of the inner side surface 11a is larger than the surface roughness of the upper surface 4b, the lower surface 4c, and the side surface 4d.

  When holding each optical fiber 3 of the multi-core optical fiber ribbon 2 in the optical connector ferrule 1, the optical fiber 3 is introduced into the optical connector ferrule 1 from the fiber introduction port 6, and the fiber along the fiber guide groove 8. Insert into hole 7. Then, the adhesive S is injected into the optical connector ferrule 1 from the window portion 11 and cured. Thereby, each optical fiber 3 is bonded to the optical connector ferrule 1.

  A method for manufacturing such an optical connector ferrule 1 will be described. First, a ferrule molding die 12 as shown in FIG. 3 is prepared. The ferrule molding die 12 has a lower die 13, an upper die (not shown), and a core 14.

  The core 14 has a rectangular parallelepiped base 15 and a stepped protrusion 16 that is fixed to one side surface of the base 15 and forms the fiber inlet 6, the fiber guide groove 8, and the placement portion 9 of the optical connector ferrule 1. have. A plurality of fiber hole forming pins 17 that form the fiber holes 7 of the optical connector ferrule 1 are provided at the tip of the stepped protrusion 16. A pair of guide pin hole forming pins 18 that form the guide pin holes 10 of the optical connector ferrule 1 are fixed to one side surface of the base 15. The pair of guide pin hole forming pins 18 are arranged so as to sandwich the stepped protrusion 16.

  A cavity recess 19 is formed on the upper surface of the lower mold 13 to form a molded product in cooperation with an upper mold (not shown). An accommodation recess 20 in which the stepped protrusion 16 of the core 14 is accommodated is provided at the rear end side of the upper surface of the lower mold 13 with respect to the cavity recess 19. A plurality of pin housing grooves 21 on which the fiber hole forming pins 17 of the core 14 are placed, and guide pin hole forming pins 18 of the core 14 are arranged on the front end side of the upper surface of the lower mold 13 with respect to the cavity recess 19. A pair of pin receiving grooves 22 to be placed is provided. The pair of pin housing grooves 22 are arranged so as to sandwich the plurality of pin housing grooves 21.

  On the bottom surface of the cavity recess 19, a frame-shaped protrusion 23 that forms a notch 27 described later is provided. In addition, a pair of resin flow channel grooves 24 for supplying resin to the cavity recesses 19 are provided on the upper surface of the lower mold 13 so as to sandwich the cavity recesses 19.

  When manufacturing the optical connector ferrule 1, first, resin molding is performed using the ferrule molding die 12 to produce a ferrule molded body 25 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Specifically, the resin is poured from the resin flow channel groove 24 into the cavity recess 19 in a state where the core 14 is sandwiched between the lower mold 13 and the upper mold (not shown). The resin is then cooled and cured. Thereby, the ferrule molded body 25 having the fiber introduction port 6, the plurality of fiber holes 7, the plurality of fiber guide grooves 8, and the pair of guide pin holes 10 is obtained as a molded product (molding step). The ferrule molded body 25 has the ferrule body 4 and the flange portion 5 described above.

  The upper wall portion 26 that is a part of the wall portion constituting the ferrule molded body 25 is provided with a rectangular window portion forming region 26a in which the window portion 11 is formed. The window part formation area 26 a is disposed above the placement part 9. At the edge of the window forming region 26a, a notch (cut) 27 as a recess for cutting is formed in a rectangular shape by the projection 23 of the lower mold 13 over the entire circumference. The notch 27 opens in the upper surface 4 b of the ferrule body 4.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 7A, a cutter 28 having a rectangular blade portion 28 a at the lower end, and a metal receiving plate 29 that receives the blade portion 28 a of the cutter 28. (Receiving member) is prepared. The receiving plate 29 is introduced into the ferrule molded body 25 from the fiber introduction port 6 of the ferrule molded body 25 and placed on the mounting portion 9, thereby arranging the receiving plate 29 below the upper wall portion 26. To do. That is, the receiving plate 29 is disposed so as to face the upper wall portion 26 inside the ferrule molded body 25.

  Then, the blade portion 28a of the cutter 28 is put into the notch 27 of the upper wall portion 26, and in this state, the cutter 28 is pushed into the lower side (receiving plate 29 side) of the ferrule molded body 25. Then, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 7B, the upper wall portion 26 is cut along the notch 27, so that a window that is a part of the upper wall portion 26 is formed from the ferrule molded body 25. The part formation region 26a is removed (removal step). Thereby, as shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2, the optical connector ferrule 1 which has the window part 11 is obtained.

  At this time, the inner side surface 11 a constituting the edge of the window portion 11 is a cut surface formed by cutting with the cutter 28. For this reason, the inner side surface 11a is rougher than the upper surface 4b, the lower surface 4c and the side surface 4d of the ferrule body 4 as described above.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the ferrule molded body 25 having the fiber hole 7 is manufactured, and then the upper wall portion 26 is partially removed to form the window portion 11. In the state before curing, the window part 11 does not exist in the ferrule molded body 25. Accordingly, when the ferrule molded body 25 is cured, the entire ferrule molded body 25 is cured and shrunk with good uniformity, so that the ferrule molded body 25 is hardly deformed. Thereby, a deformation | transformation of the optical connector ferrule 1 which has the window part 11 can be suppressed. As a result, since the final shape finishing accuracy of the optical connector ferrule 1 is improved, the arrangement pitch of the fiber holes 7 can be kept within the standard.

  Further, the ferrule molded body 25 is manufactured so that the notch 27 is provided in the upper wall portion 26, and a part of the upper wall portion 26 is removed along the notch 27 by the cutter 28. It can be easily removed.

  Further, in a state where the receiving plate 29 is disposed inside the ferrule molded body 25, a part of the upper wall portion 26 facing the receiving plate 29 is removed by the cutter 28, so that the blade portion 28a of the cutter 28 is received by the receiving plate 29. Will receive. Therefore, it is possible to easily prevent the surface of the ferrule molded body 25 from being damaged by the blade portion 28a of the cutter 28.

  Further, in the optical connector ferrule 1, the surface roughness of the inner side surface 11a constituting the edge of the window portion 11 is larger than the surface roughness of the upper surface 4b of the ferrule body 4, so that the adhesive S is injected from the window portion 11. When the optical fiber 3 is bonded to the optical connector ferrule 1, an anchor effect of the adhesive S is generated on the inner surface 11a. That is, the adhesive S enters the fine irregularities of the inner surface 11a and is cured. Thereby, the adhesive force of the optical fiber 3 becomes high.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the notch 27 serving as a recess for cutting is provided over the entire periphery at the edge of the window forming region 26a of the upper wall portion 26. However, the shape is not particularly limited, and the window forming region is not limited thereto. A plurality of notches may be provided intermittently at the edge of 26a. Further, the cutter 28 is not limited to the structure having a sharp blade shape at the tip, and may be a structure capable of punching a part of the wall along the cutting recess. In addition, the cutting recess is not particularly limited to a notch, and may be a groove having a V-shaped cross section or a semicircular cross section.

  In the above embodiment, the optical connector ferrule 1 is provided with the window portion 11 having a rectangular cross section. However, the shape of the window portion 11 is not particularly limited, and may be a circular cross section or a polygonal cross section. May be.

  When the optical connector ferrule 1 is provided with the window section 11 having a circular cross section, a part of the upper wall section 26 may be removed using a drill 30 as shown in FIG. In this case, a concave marking 31 for determining the position of the tip of the drill 30 is formed on the upper wall portion 26 by, for example, a punch. Then, a part of the upper wall portion 26 is removed from the ferrule molded body 25 by cutting the upper wall portion 26 with a drill 30 in a state where the receiving plate 29 is disposed below the upper wall portion 26. Thereby, the optical connector ferrule 1 which has the window part 11 of circular cross section is obtained. At this time, the inner surface 11 a constituting the edge of the window portion 11 is a cutting surface formed by cutting with the drill 30. By removing a part of the upper wall part 26 with the drill 30 in this way, a part of the upper wall part 26 can be removed without providing a cutting recess such as the notch 27 in the upper wall part 26 in particular. it can.

  Furthermore, although the optical connector ferrule 1 of this embodiment is an MT connector ferrule, the present invention can be applied to any optical connector ferrule having a window portion into which an adhesive is injected, regardless of whether it is for a single core or a multi-core. Is possible.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical connector ferrule, 3 ... Optical fiber, 4b ... Upper surface (2nd surface), 7 ... Fiber hole, 11 ... Window part, 11a ... Inner side surface (1st surface), 25 ... Ferrule molded object, 26 ... Upper wall Part, 27 ... notch (recessed part), 28 ... cutter, 29 ... receiving plate (receiving member), 30 ... drill, S ... adhesive.

Claims (5)

A method of manufacturing an optical connector ferrule having a window portion into which an adhesive for fixing an optical fiber inserted into a fiber hole is injected,
A molding step for producing a ferrule molded body having the fiber hole,
A manufacturing method of an optical connector ferrule including a removing step of removing a part of the wall portion constituting the ferrule molded body and forming the window portion after performing the molding step. In the molding step, the ferrule molded body is produced so that a concave portion is provided in the wall portion,
The method of manufacturing an optical connector ferrule according to claim 1, wherein in the removing step, a part of the wall portion is removed along the concave portion by a cutter.   The method of manufacturing an optical connector ferrule according to claim 1, wherein in the removing step, a part of the wall portion is removed by a drill.   The method of manufacturing an optical connector ferrule according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, in the removing step, a part of the wall portion facing the receiving member is removed in a state where the receiving member is arranged inside the ferrule molded body. An optical connector ferrule having a window portion into which an adhesive for fixing an optical fiber inserted into a fiber hole is injected,
A first surface constituting an edge of the window,
A second surface adjacent to the first surface;
The surface roughness of the first surface is an optical connector ferrule larger than the surface roughness of the second surface.

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