JP2016095345A - Device and method for manufacturing optical connector ferrule and optical connector ferrule - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device and a method for manufacturing an optical connector ferrule that can prevent interference of a ferrule hole formation pin and an ejector pin provided in the core.SOLUTION: A manufacturing device 20 includes: a lower mold 21 having a recess 29 forming at least a part of an optical connector ferrule; an upper mold above the lower mold 21; a core 23 capable of advancing and retreating between the lower mold 21 and the upper mold, having a ferrule hole formation pin 28 with a fiber hole formation pin 26; and ejector pins 36 and 37 pushing up the optical connector ferrule to take the ferrule out of the recess 29, the lower mold 21 having ejector pin holes 38 and 39 opening in the bottom surface of the recess 29 and containing vertically-movable ejector pins 36 and 37, and the ejector pin holes 38 and 39 being not located in a position corresponding to the ferrule hole formation pin 28 with the core 23 entering between the lower mold 21 and the upper mold.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

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

  As a conventional optical connector ferrule manufacturing apparatus, for example, an optical ferrule molding die as described in Patent Document 1 is known. An optical ferrule molding die described in Patent Document 1 includes a lower die having a cavity for molding a ferrule body, an upper die that covers the cavity, and a core that is disposed between the lower die and the upper die. And. The core has a plurality of optical fiber insertion passage forming pins for forming the optical fiber holes of the optical ferrule. The lower mold has an eject pin hole through which an eject pin for abutting the optical ferrule and taking out the optical ferrule is inserted into the cavity.

  When manufacturing an optical ferrule using such an optical ferrule molding die, first, in a state where a core is disposed between a lower die and an upper die, a resin liquid is injected into the cavity, and the resin liquid is injected. Harden. Then, after opening the optical ferrule molding die and removing the upper die and the core from the ferrule main body, the ferrule main body is taken out by abutting the eject pin against the ferrule main body and pushing the ferrule main body upward.

Patent No. 5213957

  However, the following problems exist in the prior art. In other words, the eject pin may not return to the inside of the lower mold due to a sliding failure of the eject pin after the eject pin (ejector pin) is abutted against the ferrule body and the ferrule body is taken out. In the prior art optical ferrule molding die, an eject pin hole is provided at the center in the direction corresponding to the arrangement direction of the optical fiber insertion path molding pins in the lower die. Therefore, if the eject pin does not return to the inside of the lower mold, when the core is inserted between the lower mold and the upper mold in order to form the next optical ferrule, The fiber insertion path forming pin interferes with the eject pin, and the optical fiber insertion path forming pin or the eject pin is damaged.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector ferrule manufacturing apparatus and method and an optical connector ferrule capable of preventing interference between a ferrule hole forming pin provided in a core and an ejector pin.

  An optical connector ferrule manufacturing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an optical connector ferrule manufacturing apparatus having a ferrule hole including a fiber hole into which an optical fiber is inserted, and a recess that forms at least a part of the optical connector ferrule And a ferrule including a fiber hole forming pin that is disposed between the lower mold and the upper mold so as to be movable forward and backward and forms a fiber hole. Equipped with a core having a hole forming pin and an ejector pin for pushing up the optical connector ferrule and taking it out from the recess. The lower mold has an ejector pin hole that opens to the bottom surface of the recess and accommodates the ejector pin so as to be movable up and down. The ejector pin hole is provided so as to avoid the position corresponding to the ferrule hole forming pin when the core is inserted between the lower mold and the upper mold. It is located in.

  An optical connector ferrule manufacturing method according to another aspect of the present invention is an optical connector ferrule manufacturing method having a ferrule hole including a fiber hole into which an optical fiber is inserted, and forms at least a part of the optical connector ferrule. A lower mold having a recess; an upper mold disposed on the lower mold; and a fiber hole forming pin disposed between the lower mold and the upper mold so as to be movable back and forth and forming a fiber hole Ejector pin hole that has a core having a ferrule hole forming pin and an ejector pin for pushing up the optical connector ferrule and taking it out from the recess, and the lower mold has an opening at the bottom surface of the recess and accommodates the ejector pin so that it can be raised and lowered The ejector pin hole avoids the position corresponding to the ferrule hole forming pin when the core is inserted between the lower mold and the upper mold. A preparation step of preparing a manufacturing device arranged in a manner, and a molding step of forming an optical connector ferrule by supplying resin to the recess while the core is inserted between the lower die and the upper die The position corresponding to the ferrule hole forming pin in the optical connector ferrule with the core retracted from between the lower mold and the upper mold and the upper mold removed from the lower mold after performing the molding process And an ejecting step of pushing up the optical connector ferrule by abutting the ejector pin at such a place as to avoid the above and taking it out from the recess.

  An optical connector ferrule according to still another aspect of the present invention is an optical connector ferrule which is manufactured by mold molding and has a ferrule hole including a fiber hole into which an optical fiber is inserted, and an ejector pin protrudes at the time of mold molding. A surface having ejector pin marks formed by contact is provided, and the ejector pin marks are arranged to avoid positions corresponding to the ferrule holes.

  According to the present invention, interference between the ferrule hole forming pin provided in the core and the ejector pin can be prevented.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the optical connector ferrule of one Embodiment. It is a top view of the optical connector ferrule shown by FIG. It is a perspective view of the manufacturing apparatus used for manufacture of the optical connector ferrule shown by FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a lower mold and a core shown in FIG. 3. It is sectional drawing which shows a mode that an optical connector ferrule is taken out with the ejector pin shown by FIG.3 and FIG.4. As a comparative example, it is a perspective view which shows one lower metal mold | die and core of the conventional manufacturing apparatus.

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

  An optical connector ferrule manufacturing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an optical connector ferrule manufacturing apparatus having a ferrule hole including a fiber hole into which an optical fiber is inserted, and a recess that forms at least a part of the optical connector ferrule And a ferrule including a fiber hole forming pin that is disposed between the lower mold and the upper mold so as to be movable forward and backward and forms a fiber hole. Equipped with a core having a hole forming pin and an ejector pin for pushing up the optical connector ferrule and taking it out from the recess. The lower mold has an ejector pin hole that opens to the bottom surface of the recess and accommodates the ejector pin so as to be movable up and down. The ejector pin hole is provided so as to avoid the position corresponding to the ferrule hole forming pin when the core is inserted between the lower mold and the upper mold. It is located in.

  In such an optical connector ferrule manufacturing apparatus, the ejector pin hole that accommodates the ejector pin so as to be movable up and down corresponds to the ferrule hole forming pin when the core is inserted between the lower mold and the upper mold. Arranged to avoid the position to do. For this reason, even if the ejector pin does not return to the inside of the lower mold due to a sliding failure of the ejector pin, and the ejector pin remains protruding from the bottom surface of the recess, the lower mold and the upper mold When the core is inserted in between, the ferrule hole forming pin hardly hits the ejector pin. Thereby, interference with a ferrule hole formation pin and an ejector pin is prevented.

  The ferrule hole includes a pair of guide holes disposed so as to sandwich the fiber hole, and the ferrule hole forming pin includes a pair of guide hole forming pins disposed so as to sandwich the fiber hole forming pin. The hole may be arranged so as to avoid a position corresponding to the fiber hole forming pin and the guide hole forming pin in a state where the core is inserted between the lower mold and the upper mold. In this case, even when the ejector pin remains protruding from the bottom surface of the recess, the fiber hole forming pin and the guide hole are formed when the core is inserted between the lower mold and the upper mold. The pin rarely hits the ejector pin. This prevents interference between the fiber hole forming pin and the guide hole forming pin and the ejector pin.

  The ejector pin hole may be disposed outside the guide hole forming pin in a state in which the core is inserted between the lower mold and the upper mold. In this case, interference between the fiber hole forming pin and the guide hole forming pin and the ejector pin can be prevented more reliably.

  An optical connector ferrule manufacturing method according to another aspect of the present invention is an optical connector ferrule manufacturing method having a ferrule hole including a fiber hole into which an optical fiber is inserted, and forms at least a part of the optical connector ferrule. A lower mold having a recess; an upper mold disposed on the lower mold; and a fiber hole forming pin disposed between the lower mold and the upper mold so as to be movable back and forth and forming a fiber hole Ejector pin hole that has a core having a ferrule hole forming pin and an ejector pin for pushing up the optical connector ferrule and taking it out from the recess, and the lower mold has an opening at the bottom surface of the recess and accommodates the ejector pin so that it can be raised and lowered The ejector pin hole avoids the position corresponding to the ferrule hole forming pin when the core is inserted between the lower mold and the upper mold. A preparation process for preparing a manufacturing apparatus arranged in a manner, and a molding process for forming an optical connector ferrule by supplying resin to the cavity recess with the core inserted between the lower mold and the upper mold And after carrying out the molding process, the core is retracted from between the lower mold and the upper mold, and the upper mold is removed from the lower mold, so that it corresponds to the ferrule hole forming pin in the optical connector ferrule. And an ejecting step of pushing up the optical connector ferrule by abutting the ejector pin at a location that avoids the position and taking it out from the recess.

  Such an optical connector ferrule manufacturing method is performed by using the above-described optical connector ferrule manufacturing apparatus. In the optical connector ferrule manufacturing apparatus described above, the ejector pin hole that accommodates the ejector pin so as to be movable up and down is a position corresponding to the ferrule hole forming pin when the core is inserted between the lower mold and the upper mold. Arranged to avoid. For this reason, even if the ejector pin does not return to the inside of the lower mold due to a sliding failure of the ejector pin, and the ejector pin remains protruding from the bottom surface of the recess, the lower mold and the upper mold When the core is inserted in between, the ferrule hole forming pin hardly hits the ejector pin. Thereby, interference with a ferrule hole formation pin and an ejector pin is prevented.

  The ferrule hole includes a pair of guide holes disposed so as to sandwich the fiber hole, and the ferrule hole forming pin includes a pair of guide hole forming pins disposed so as to sandwich the fiber hole forming pin. The holes are arranged so as to avoid positions corresponding to the fiber hole forming pins and the guide hole forming pins in a state where the core is inserted between the lower mold and the upper mold. The optical connector ferrule may be pushed up and taken out from the recess by abutting the ejector pin at a location that avoids the position corresponding to the fiber hole forming pin and the guide hole forming pin in the connector ferrule.

  The ejector pin hole is disposed outside the guide hole forming pin in a state where the core is inserted between the lower mold and the upper mold, and in the take-out process, the ejector pin hole is disposed outside the guide hole in the optical connector ferrule. The optical connector ferrule may be pushed up and taken out from the recess by abutting the ejector pin at the location.

  An optical connector ferrule according to still another aspect of the present invention is an optical connector ferrule which is manufactured by mold molding and has a ferrule hole including a fiber hole into which an optical fiber is inserted, and an ejector pin protrudes at the time of mold molding. A surface having ejector pin marks formed by contact is provided, and the ejector pin marks are arranged to avoid positions corresponding to the ferrule holes.

  In such an optical connector ferrule, the ejector pin mark formed by pressing the ejector pin at the time of mold forming is arranged so as to avoid a position corresponding to the ferrule hole. By manufacturing an optical connector ferrule using the optical connector ferrule manufacturing apparatus described above, an optical connector ferrule having such ejector pin marks can be obtained. In the optical connector ferrule manufacturing apparatus described above, the ejector pin hole that accommodates the ejector pin so as to be movable up and down is a position corresponding to the ferrule hole forming pin when the core is inserted between the lower mold and the upper mold. Arranged to avoid. For this reason, even if the ejector pin does not return to the inside of the lower mold due to a sliding failure of the ejector pin, and the ejector pin remains protruding from the bottom surface of the recess, the lower mold and the upper mold When the core is inserted in between, the ferrule hole forming pin hardly hits the ejector pin. Thereby, interference with a ferrule hole formation pin and an ejector pin is prevented.

  The ferrule hole may include a pair of guide holes arranged so as to sandwich the fiber hole, and the ejector pin mark may be arranged so as to avoid a position corresponding to the fiber hole and the guide hole.

The ejector pin mark may be disposed outside the guide hole.
[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 plan 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 is produced by mold forming. 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 surface 4a, an upper surface 4b, a lower surface 4c (see FIG. 5), and two side surfaces 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. The flange 5 has an upper surface 5b, a lower surface 5c (see FIG. 5), and two side surfaces 5d.

  A fiber inlet (not shown) 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 circular fiber holes 6 into which the optical fibers 3 are inserted, and a plurality of fiber guide grooves that are arranged on the rear side of the fiber holes 6 and guide the optical fibers 3 to the fiber holes 6. 7.

  The ferrule body 4 has a window portion 8 into which an adhesive for fixing the optical fiber 3 inserted into the fiber hole 6 to the ferrule body 4 is injected. The window 8 is provided so as to open on the upper surface 4 b of the ferrule body 4. The window 8 has a rectangular cross section.

  The optical connector ferrule 1 is provided with a pair of circular guide pin holes 9 into which guide pins (not shown) are inserted so as to sandwich each fiber hole 6. The fiber hole 6 and the guide pin hole 9 constitute a ferrule hole 10 provided in the optical connector ferrule 1. That is, the plurality of ferrule holes 10 include a plurality of fiber holes 6 and a pair of guide pin holes 9.

  The upper surface 4b of the ferrule body 4 is provided with a pair of rectangular ejector pin marks 11 formed by abutting ejector pins 36 and 37 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) at the time of molding a mold, which will be described later. Yes. The ejector pin mark 11 is arranged so as to avoid a position corresponding to the ferrule hole 10 (the fiber hole 6 and the guide pin hole 9) on the upper surface 4b. Specifically, the ejector pin mark 11 is disposed outside the guide pin hole 9 on the upper surface 4b. Here, the ejector pin trace 11 is disposed at a side end portion of the upper surface 4b. The side end portion of the upper surface 4b is an end portion in the arrangement direction of the ferrule holes 10 on the upper surface 4b. The ejector pin mark 11 is arranged in a region on the front end side of the upper surface 4b than the window portion 8 (on the opposite side of the fiber introduction port with respect to the window portion 8).

  A pair of rectangular ejector pin traces 12 formed by abutting ejector pins 36 and 37 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) at the time of mold forming, which will be described later, are provided on the upper surface 5 b of the flange portion 5. Yes. The ejector pin mark 12 is arranged so as to avoid a position corresponding to the ferrule hole 10 (the fiber hole 6 and the guide pin hole 9) on the upper surface 5b. Specifically, the ejector pin mark 12 is disposed outside the guide pin hole 9 on the upper surface 5b. Here, the ejector pin trace 12 is disposed at a side end portion of the upper surface 5b. A side end portion of the upper surface 5b is an end portion in the arrangement direction of the ferrule holes 10 on the upper surface 5b.

  The upper surface 4b of the ferrule body 4 and the upper surface 5b of the flange portion 5 are abutting surfaces having ejector pin marks 11 and 12, respectively.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a manufacturing apparatus used for manufacturing the optical connector ferrule 1 described above. 4 is a partial plan view of the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. In each figure, the manufacturing apparatus 20 is disposed so as to be movable back and forth between a lower mold 21, an upper mold 22 disposed on the lower mold 21, and the lower mold 21 and the upper mold 22. And a core 23. The lower mold 21, the upper mold 22, and the core 23 are made of metal (for example, iron).

  The core 23 is attached to a rectangular parallelepiped core base 24. The core 23 is fixed to one side surface of the core base 24, and a stepped protrusion 25 that forms a fiber inlet (not shown) and the fiber guide groove 7 of the optical connector ferrule 1, and the stepped protrusion 25 A plurality of fiber hole forming pins 26 that form the fiber hole 6 of the optical connector ferrule 1 and the stepped protrusion 25 are fixed to one side surface of the core base 24 so as to sandwich the optical connector. It has a pair of guide pin hole forming pins 27 that form the guide pin holes 9 of the ferrule 1.

  The fiber hole forming pin 26 and the guide pin hole forming pin 27 have a cylindrical shape. The fiber hole forming pin 26 and the guide pin hole forming pin 27 constitute a ferrule hole forming pin 28 that forms the ferrule hole 10 of the optical connector ferrule 1. That is, the plurality of ferrule hole forming pins 28 includes a plurality of fiber hole forming pins 26 and a pair of guide pin hole forming pins 27.

  A cavity recess 29 that forms a part of the optical connector ferrule 1 is provided at the center of the upper surface of the lower mold 21. The cavity recess 29 has a main body region 29 a that forms a part of the ferrule main body 4, and a flange region 29 b that is disposed on the rear side of the main body region 29 a and forms a part of the flange portion 5.

  An accommodation recess 30 in which the stepped projection 25 of the core 23 is accommodated is provided adjacent to the cavity recess 29 on the rear end side of the upper surface of the lower mold 21 with respect to the cavity recess 29. The rear end side of the lower mold 21 corresponds to the retracting direction of the core 23.

  A pin support portion 31 that supports the ferrule hole forming pin 28 is adjacent to the cavity recess 29 on the front end side of the upper surface of the lower mold 21 relative to the cavity recess 29 (on the opposite side of the housing recess 30 with respect to the cavity recess 29). Are arranged. The front end side of the lower mold 21 corresponds to the entry direction of the core 23. The pin support portion 31 includes a plurality of pin housing groove portions 32 that support the fiber hole forming pins 26 and a pair of pin housing groove portions 33 that support the guide pin hole forming pins 27. The pair of pin housing grooves 33 are arranged so as to sandwich the plurality of pin housing grooves 32.

  On the bottom surface of the cavity recess 29, a rectangular parallelepiped protrusion 34 that forms the window 8 of the optical connector ferrule 1 is provided. On the upper surface of the lower mold 21, a pair of resin flow channel grooves 35 for supplying resin to the cavity recesses 29 are provided so as to sandwich the cavity recesses 29.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a pair of ejector pins 36 and a pair of ejector pins for pushing up the optical connector ferrule 1 as a molded product and taking it out from the cavity recess 29 are also provided inside the lower mold 21. 37 is incorporated. The ejector pin 36 pushes up the side end portion of the upper surface 4 b of the ferrule body 4. The ejector pin 37 pushes up the side end portion of the upper surface 5 b of the flange portion 5. The ejector pins 36 and 37 have a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The ejector pins 36 and 37 are made of metal (for example, iron).

  A pair of rectangular ejector pin holes 38 for receiving the ejector pins 36 so as to be movable up and down are provided in a portion of the lower mold 21 corresponding to the main body region 29a of the cavity recess 29. The ejector pin hole 38 opens to the front side (pin support part 31 side) of the protrusion 34 on the bottom surface of the main body region 29a. A pair of ejector pin holes 39 having a rectangular cross section for receiving the ejector pins 37 so as to be movable up and down are provided in a portion of the lower mold 21 corresponding to the flange region 29b of the cavity recess 29. The ejector pin hole 39 is opened on the bottom surface of the flange region 29b.

  The ejector pin holes 38 and 39 are formed in the ferrule hole forming pin 28 (the fiber hole forming pin 26 and the guide pin hole forming pin 27) in a state where the core 23 is inserted between the lower mold 21 and the upper mold 22. Arranged to avoid corresponding positions. In a state where the core 23 is inserted between the lower mold 21 and the upper mold 22, the ferrule hole forming pin 28 is supported by the pin support portion 31. That is, the tip of the fiber hole forming pin 26 is placed in the pin receiving groove 32 and the tip of the guide pin hole forming pin 27 is placed in the pin receiving groove 33.

  Specifically, the ejector pin holes 38 and 39 are arranged outside the guide pin hole forming pin 27 in a state in which the core 23 is inserted between the lower mold 21 and the upper mold 22. Here, the ejector pin holes 38 and 39 are arranged at portions corresponding to the side end portions of the cavity concave portion 29 in the lower mold 21. The side end of the cavity recess 29 is an end in a direction corresponding to the arrangement direction of the ferrule hole forming pins 28 in the cavity recess 29.

  The upper mold 22 includes a holding recess 40 for pressing the ferrule hole forming pin 28 supported by the pin support portion 31 of the lower mold 21 against the lower mold 21, and a cavity recess 29 of the lower mold 21. A cavity recess (not shown) is provided which constitutes a cavity that forms the optical connector ferrule 1 as a molded product.

  When manufacturing the optical connector ferrule 1, first, the manufacturing apparatus 20 is prepared (preparation process).

  Then, the core 23 is inserted between the lower mold 21 and the upper mold 22 in a state where the upper mold 22 is arranged on the lower mold 21. Then, the stepped protrusion 25 of the core 23 and the ferrule hole forming pin 28 are sandwiched between the lower mold 21 and the upper mold 22. At this time, the distal end portion of the fiber hole forming pin 26 is accommodated in the pin accommodating groove portion 32, and the distal end portion of the guide pin hole forming pin 27 is accommodated in the pin accommodating groove portion 33. In this state, resin is poured into the cavity recess 29 from the resin flow channel groove 35. The resin is then cooled and cured. Thereby, the optical connector ferrule 1 is shape | molded (molding process). At this time, the ejector pin marks 11 and 12 are not formed on the abutting surfaces (the upper surfaces 4b and 5b) of the optical connector ferrule 1.

  Subsequently, the core 23 is retracted from between the lower mold 21 and the upper mold 22. Then, the upper mold 22 is removed from the lower mold 21 as shown in FIG. In this state, as shown in FIG. 5B, the ejector pins 36 and 37 (only the ejector pin 36 is shown in FIG. 5) are raised so as to avoid the position corresponding to the ferrule hole 10 in the optical connector ferrule 1. The optical connector ferrule 1 is pushed up and taken out from the cavity concave portion 29 by being brought into contact with a certain portion (extraction step). At this time, ejector pin marks 11 and 12 are formed on the abutting surfaces (upper surfaces 4 b and 5 b) of the optical connector ferrule 1. Thereafter, the ejector pins 36 and 37 are lowered and retracted into the lower mold 21.

  The optical connector ferrule 1 is continuously manufactured by repeatedly performing such a molding process and an extraction process.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing one of conventional manufacturing apparatuses as a comparative example. The manufacturing apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 6 is different from the manufacturing apparatus 20 in the shape of the ejector pins and the ejector pin holes and the positions where the ejector pin holes are formed. In FIG. 6, the upper mold 22 is omitted.

  The manufacturing apparatus 50 includes two columnar ejector pins 51 incorporated in the lower mold 21. The lower mold 21 is provided with two ejector pin holes 52 having a circular cross section for accommodating the ejector pins 51 so as to be movable up and down. The ejector pin holes 52 are respectively disposed in the center portions of the regions corresponding to the arrangement direction of the ferrule hole forming pins 28 in the main body region 29a and the flange region 29b of the cavity recess 29.

  By the way, since the lower die 21 and the ejector pin 51 are made of metal, the slidability between the lower die 21 and the ejector pin 51 is lowered, and the ejector pin 51 is difficult to move with respect to the lower die 21. Sometimes. For example, the ejector pin 51 may not return to the inside of the lower mold 21 while protruding from the bottom surface of the cavity recess 29. In this case, since the ejector pin hole 52 is disposed at the center of the cavity recess 29, the operator does not know that the ejector pin 51 protrudes from the bottom surface of the cavity recess 29, and the lower mold 21 and the upper mold When the core 23 is inserted between the ferrule hole forming pin 28 and the ejector pin 51, the core pin 23 enters the core pin 23. As a result, the ferrule hole forming pin 28 or the ejector pin 51 may be damaged.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, ejector pin holes 38 and 39 for accommodating the ejector pins 36 and 37 so as to be movable up and down are provided in the lower mold 21. However, the ejector pin holes 38 and 39 are arranged so as to be shifted from positions corresponding to the ferrule hole forming pins 28 in a state where the core 23 is inserted between the lower mold 21 and the upper mold 22. In other words, each ferrule hole forming pin 28 and each ejector pin 36, 37 are arranged so as to be in a so-called twisted relationship that is not parallel to each other and does not intersect. For this reason, the ejector pins 36 and 37 do not return to the inside of the lower mold 21 due to a sliding failure of the ejector pins 36 and 37, and the ejector pins 36 and 37 remain protruding from the bottom surface of the cavity recess 29. Even in this case, when the core 23 is inserted between the lower mold 21 and the upper mold 22, the ferrule hole forming pin 28 hardly hits the ejector pins 36 and 37. Thereby, interference with the ferrule hole formation pin 28 and the ejector pins 36 and 37 can be prevented. As a result, breakage of the ferrule hole forming pin 28 or the ejector pins 36 and 37 can be prevented.

  Further, the ejector pin holes 38 and 39 are displaced from positions corresponding to the fiber hole forming pin 26 and the guide pin hole forming pin 27 in a state where the core 23 is inserted between the lower mold 21 and the upper mold 22. Are arranged. Therefore, interference between the fiber hole forming pin 26 and the guide pin hole forming pin 27 and the ejector pins 36 and 37 can be prevented.

  Further, the ejector pin holes 38 and 39 are arranged outside the guide pin hole forming pin 27 in a state in which the core 23 is inserted between the lower mold 21 and the upper mold 22. Accordingly, interference between the fiber hole forming pin 26 and the guide pin hole forming pin 27 and the ejector pins 36 and 37 can be prevented more reliably.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the ejector pin holes 38 and 39 that respectively accommodate the ejector pins 36 and 37 so as to be movable up and down are guides in a state in which the core 23 is inserted between the lower mold 21 and the upper mold 22. The pin hole forming pin 27 is disposed outside. However, the location of the ejector pin holes 38 and 39 is not particularly limited thereto, and the fiber hole forming pin 26 and the guide pin in a state where the core 23 is inserted between the lower mold 21 and the upper mold 22. It may be between the hole forming pins 27.

  In the above embodiment, the lower mold 21 is provided with a pair of ejector pin holes 38 and a pair of ejector pin holes 39, but the core 23 is located between the lower mold 21 and the upper mold 22. As long as the ejector pin holes are arranged so as to avoid the position corresponding to the ferrule hole forming pin 28 in the state of entering, the number of ejector pin holes is not particularly limited to the above.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the optical connector ferrule 1 has a pair of guide pin hole 9, this invention is applicable also to the optical connector ferrule which does not have a guide pin hole. In this case, the ejector pin hole may be disposed so as to avoid a position corresponding to the fiber hole forming pin 26 in a state where the core 23 is inserted between the lower mold 21 and the upper mold 22.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the pin support part 31 of the lower metal mold | die 21 has the pin accommodation groove parts 32 and 33 in which the ferrule hole formation pin 28 is mounted, it is not restricted to the structure in particular, A ferrule You may have a pin accommodation hole part in which the hole formation pin 28 is inserted. In this case, the optical connector ferrule 1 as a molded product may be formed by the cavity recess 29 of the lower mold 21 and the lower end surface of the upper mold 22 without providing the cavity recess in the upper mold 22.

  Furthermore, although the optical connector ferrule 1 of the present embodiment is an MT connector ferrule, the present invention is applicable to any optical connector ferrule having a fiber hole into which an optical fiber is inserted, 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, 5b ... Upper surface, 6 ... Fiber hole, 9 ... Guide pin hole, 10 ... Ferrule hole, 11, 12 ... Ejector pin trace, 20 ... Manufacturing apparatus, 21 ... Lower die, 22 ... Upper die, 23 ... Core, 26 ... Fiber hole forming pin, 27 ... Guide pin hole forming pin, 28 ... Ferrule hole forming pin, 29 ... Cavity recess, 36, 37 ... Ejector pin, 38 39 ... Ejector pin hole.

Claims (5)

An optical connector ferrule manufacturing apparatus having a ferrule hole including a fiber hole into which an optical fiber is inserted,
A lower mold having a recess that forms at least a part of the optical connector ferrule;
An upper mold disposed on the lower mold;
A core having a ferrule hole forming pin including a fiber hole forming pin which is disposed between the lower mold and the upper mold so as to be movable back and forth, and forms the fiber hole;
An ejector pin for pushing up the optical connector ferrule and removing it from the recess;
The lower mold is provided with an ejector pin hole that opens to the bottom surface of the recess and accommodates the ejector pin so as to be movable up and down.
The ejector pin hole is manufactured so as to avoid a position corresponding to the ferrule hole forming pin when the core is inserted between the lower mold and the upper mold. apparatus. The ferrule hole includes a pair of guide holes arranged so as to sandwich the fiber hole,
The ferrule hole forming pin includes a pair of guide hole forming pins arranged so as to sandwich the fiber hole forming pin,
The ejector pin hole is disposed so as to avoid a position corresponding to the fiber hole forming pin and the guide hole forming pin when the core is inserted between the lower mold and the upper mold. The apparatus for manufacturing an optical connector ferrule according to claim 1.   3. The optical connector ferrule according to claim 2, wherein the ejector pin hole is disposed outside the guide hole forming pin in a state in which the core is inserted between the lower mold and the upper mold. apparatus. A method of manufacturing an optical connector ferrule having a ferrule hole including a fiber hole into which an optical fiber is inserted,
A lower mold having a recess forming at least a part of the optical connector ferrule, an upper mold disposed on the lower mold, and being movable back and forth between the lower mold and the upper mold A core having a ferrule hole forming pin that is disposed and includes a fiber hole forming pin that forms the fiber hole, and an ejector pin for pushing up the optical connector ferrule and taking it out from the recess, An ejector pin hole is provided in the bottom surface of the recess and accommodates the ejector pin so that the ejector pin can be moved up and down. The ejector pin hole is inserted into the core between the lower mold and the upper mold. A preparation step of preparing a manufacturing apparatus arranged so as to avoid a position corresponding to the ferrule hole forming pin in a state of being performed;
In a state where the core is inserted between the lower mold and the upper mold, a molding process for supplying the resin to the recess and molding the optical connector ferrule;
After performing the molding step, the ferrule in the optical connector ferrule is retracted from between the lower mold and the upper mold, and the upper mold is removed from the lower mold. A method of manufacturing an optical connector ferrule, comprising: a step of pushing up the optical connector ferrule and pulling out the optical connector ferrule from the recess by abutting the ejector pin at a location avoiding a position corresponding to the hole forming pin. An optical connector ferrule made by molding and having a ferrule hole including a fiber hole into which an optical fiber is inserted,
A surface having an ejector pin mark formed by abutting an ejector pin at the time of molding the mold;
The ejector pin mark is an optical connector ferrule arranged so as to avoid a position corresponding to the ferrule hole.

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