JP2019053158A - connector - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a connector which facilitates the work of connecting an optical fiber and a connector, and improves the workability of work of connecting the optical fiber and the connector.SOLUTION: A first housing 11 is provided with a first insertion hole 21 in which an optical fiber 100 is inserted, and a second housing 12 is provided with a second insertion hole 26 in which an optical fiber 100 is inserted in a state of penetrating. The second housing 12 is held in a temporary holding state at a first position 24 with respect to the first housing 11, and it is held in a fixed state at a second position 25. At both the first position 24 and the second position 25, an opening 21a of the first insertion hole 21 and an opening 26a of the second insertion hole 26 face each other. At the time of displacement from the first position 24 to the second position 25, the second housing 12 is engaged with the surface of the optical fiber 100, and the optical fiber 100 is fixed to the second housing 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector to which an optical fiber is connected.

  Conventionally, when an optical fiber is optically connected to a connection object configured as an element such as a light receiving element or a light emitting element, or as another optical fiber, a connector to which the optical fiber is mechanically connected is provided. It is used. The connector to which the optical fiber is connected is mechanically connected to the mating connector holding the optical connection target, so that the optical fiber and the connection target are optically connected. As a connector to which an optical fiber is connected, a connector as disclosed in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 is known.

  The connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an attachment and a jacket gripping member. The attachment includes a grip portion that has first and second walls facing each other and a bottom portion that connects them, and supports an optical fiber. The jacket gripping member is configured to include a main body provided with a housing portion that houses the attachment, and a lid that covers the main body that houses the attachment.

  When an optical fiber is connected to the connector disclosed in Patent Document 1, the optical fiber is first attached to the attachment by being fitted into the grip portion of the attachment. Next, the attachment to which the optical fiber is attached is fitted and housed in the housing portion with respect to the main body portion of the jacket holding member. And the connection to the connector of an optical fiber will be completed by closing a lid | cover with respect to the main-body part which accommodated the attachment.

  The connector disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a boot and a housing. The boot is attached to the optical fiber with the end of the optical fiber inserted. The housing has an upper surface portion and a bottom surface portion that are configured to be freely opened and closed, and is configured to hold an optical fiber to which a boot is attached.

  When an optical fiber is connected to the connector disclosed in Patent Document 2, first, a boot is attached to the optical fiber. Next, the optical fiber to which the boot is attached is placed inside the housing with the top and bottom surfaces open. In this state, the upper surface portion and the bottom surface portion are closed, so that the optical fiber is fixed to the housing via the boot. Thereby, the connection to the connector of the optical fiber is completed.

JP 2006-206340 A US Patent No. 8100588

  In the connector disclosed in Patent Document 1, when an optical fiber is connected to the connector, first, an operation of attaching the optical fiber to the attachment is required. Next, after the attachment to which the optical fiber is attached is fitted into the main body of the jacket holding member and accommodated, it is necessary to close the lid of the jacket holding member. For this reason, the work man-hour at the time of connecting an optical fiber and a connector is large, and a lot of labor is required for the connection work.

  In the connector disclosed in Patent Document 2, when an optical fiber is connected to the connector, first, an operation of attaching a boot to the optical fiber is required. Next, after the optical fiber to which the boot is attached is arranged inside the housing, it is necessary to close the upper surface portion and the bottom surface portion of the housing and fix the optical fiber to the housing through the boot. For this reason, the work man-hour at the time of connecting an optical fiber and a connector is many, and work will require time.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector capable of facilitating the work of connecting an optical fiber and a connector and improving the workability of the work of connecting the optical fiber and the connector.

(1) A connector according to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is a connector to which an optical fiber is connected, and a first housing provided with a first insertion hole into which an end of the optical fiber is inserted. And a second insertion hole to be inserted in a state where the optical fiber penetrates, and by engaging with the first housing, two positions, a first position and a second position with respect to the first housing, are provided. A second housing configured to be held in position. In the connector according to an aspect of the present invention, the second housing is held in a temporarily held state at the first position and fixed at the second position with respect to the first housing. Even when the second housing is held at either the first position or the second position with respect to the first housing, the opening of the end of the first insertion hole and the first housing 2 and the opening of the end of the insertion hole is opposed to each other, and the second housing is in the first housing with respect to the first housing in a state where the optical fiber is inserted into the second insertion hole and the first insertion hole. When the relative displacement from the position to the second position occurs, the second housing is engaged with the surface of the optical fiber, and the optical fiber is fixed to the second housing.

  According to this configuration, the second housing is held in the temporary holding state at the first position with respect to the first housing. In this temporary holding state, the opening at the end of the second insertion hole of the second housing faces the opening at the end of the first insertion hole of the first housing. For this reason, when connecting the optical fiber to the connector, first, the end of the optical fiber is easily inserted into the second insertion hole and the first insertion hole in a state where the second housing is temporarily held by the first housing. Can do. Then, the worker who performs the connection work relatively displaces the second housing from the first position to the second position with respect to the first housing with the optical fiber inserted into the second insertion hole and the first insertion hole. A simple operation for changing the engagement position of the second housing with the first housing is performed. When this simple operation is performed, the second housing is held in a fixed state with respect to the first housing at the second position, the second housing is engaged with the surface of the optical fiber, and the optical fiber is Fixed to the housing. Thereby, the operation of connecting the optical fiber to the connector is completed.

  Therefore, according to the above configuration, when connecting the optical fiber and the connector, the end of the optical fiber is inserted into the connector in a state where the second housing is temporarily held in the first housing, and the second housing is connected to the second housing. It is only necessary to perform a simple operation to relatively displace one housing from the first position to the second position. For this reason, according to said structure, the operation | work which connects an optical fiber and a connector can be made easy. And workability | operativity of the connection operation | work of an optical fiber and a connector can be improved.

  As described above, according to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a connector capable of facilitating the work of connecting the optical fiber and the connector and improving the workability of the work of connecting the optical fiber and the connector.

(2) The connector further includes a connecting portion that integrally connects the first housing and the second housing, and the connecting portion has the first position with respect to the first housing. You may have the flexibility which accept | permits a relative displacement between said 2nd positions.

  According to this configuration, the first housing and the second housing have a flexible connecting portion that allows the second housing to be relatively displaced with respect to the first housing between the first position and the second position. It is comprised integrally through. For this reason, a connector can be comprised by one component. Therefore, unlike the connectors disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, it is not necessary to include a plurality of components, and the number of components can be reduced. Therefore, according to the above configuration, the connector that can facilitate the work of connecting the optical fiber and the connector, improve the workability of the work of connecting the optical fiber and the connector, and can further reduce the number of parts. Can be provided.

(3) The second housing is provided with an engaging convex portion that engages with the first housing, and the first housing is formed with a recess so that the engaging convex portion is engaged. A first recess and a second recess are provided, and the engagement protrusion engages with the first recess, whereby the second housing is held in the first position with respect to the first housing, An engagement convex part may engage with the 2nd crevice, and the 2nd housing may be held in the 2nd position to the 1st housing.

  According to this configuration, the structure in which the second housing is held at the first position and the second position with respect to the first housing is provided with the engaging projection on the first housing and the first on the second housing. It can be constituted by a simple structure provided with a recess and a second recess.

(4) When the second housing is displaced relative to the first housing from the first position to the second position, the opening of the end of the first insertion hole and the end of the second insertion hole The openings of the parts may be displaced so as to approach each other.

  When connecting the optical fiber to the connector, an operator who performs the connection work inserts the second housing from the first position with respect to the first housing in a state where the optical fiber is inserted into the second insertion hole and the first insertion hole. An operation for relative displacement to two positions is performed. According to the above configuration, when the second housing is relatively displaced with respect to the first housing from the first position to the second position, the opening of the end of the first insertion hole and the end of the second insertion hole Are close to each other. Therefore, when the second housing is displaced relative to the first housing from the first position to the second position, the first insertion is performed for the second insertion hole and the optical fiber inserted into the first insertion hole. A force toward the back side of the hole acts, and a force in the direction of coming out of the first insertion hole is prevented from acting. Therefore, when the connection between the optical fiber and the connector is completed by shifting the second housing from the temporarily held state with respect to the first housing to the fixed state, the optical fiber is automatically dropped from the connector. To be prevented. Therefore, the work of connecting the optical fiber and the connector can be further facilitated, and the workability of the work of connecting the optical fiber and the connector can be further improved.

(5) The inner periphery of the first insertion hole in the first housing is provided with an abutting portion that comes into contact with an end of the covering portion of the surface of the optical fiber, and the abutting portion is formed on the surface of the optical fiber. You may comprise so that the position with respect to the said 1st housing of the edge part of the said optical fiber may be positioned by contact | abutting with the edge part of a coating | coated part.

  According to this configuration, the optical fiber inserted into the first insertion hole of the first housing through the second insertion hole of the second housing has an end portion of the covering portion on the surface of the inner periphery of the first insertion hole. Abuts against the abutment portion. Thereby, the position with respect to the 1st housing of the edge part of an optical fiber is positioned. Therefore, according to said structure, when inserting an optical fiber in the 2nd insertion hole and 1st insertion hole of a connector, positioning with respect to the connector of the edge part of an optical fiber can be performed easily.

  When the end face of the tip of the optical fiber is disposed at substantially the same position as the end face of the end of the first housing, the cover at the tip of the tip of the optical fiber has a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber. It will be removed. At this time, the covering portion at the distal end portion of the optical fiber is removed by a length corresponding to the distance dimension between the end surface of the end portion of the first housing and the contact portion. When the covering portion at the front end of the optical fiber is removed by a predetermined length, the main body of the optical fiber configured to have the core at the center and the outer cladding at the front end of the optical fiber is the length of the optical fiber. It is in a state exposed by a predetermined length in the direction. Furthermore, in this state, the end portion of the covering portion is disposed adjacent to the optical fiber main body portion exposed at the tip portion as a stepped diameter-expanded portion. Thus, when the optical fiber from which the covering portion is removed by a predetermined length at the tip portion is inserted into the first insertion hole, the covering portion provided as a portion whose diameter is increased stepwise from the main body portion of the optical fiber. Is in contact with the contact portion on the inner periphery of the first insertion hole. Thereby, the position with respect to the 1st housing of the edge part (tip part) of an optical fiber is positioned. Then, the tip of the optical fiber is positioned in a state where the end face of the tip of the optical fiber is disposed at substantially the same position as the end face of the end of the first housing.

(6) The second insertion hole may be formed so that an opening cross-sectional area increases toward an end portion on a side where the optical fiber is inserted.

  According to this structure, the 2nd insertion hole is formed so that opening cross-sectional area may spread toward the edge part by the side of inserting an optical fiber. For this reason, the worker who performs the connection work inserts the optical fiber into the second insertion hole of the second housing held at the first position in the first housing, and further inserts the optical fiber into the first insertion hole of the first housing. The inserting operation can be easily performed. Further, when the second housing is displaced relative to the first housing from the first position to the second position, the inner peripheral surface of the second insertion hole is excessively pressed against the optical fiber, and the optical fiber is excessively bent. It is also possible to prevent deformation.

(7) A claw portion is provided on an inner periphery of the second insertion hole in the second housing, and the second housing moves from the first position to the second position with respect to the first housing. When the relative displacement occurs, the optical fiber may be fixed to the second housing by the claw portion biting into and engaging the surface of the coating portion of the optical fiber.

  According to this configuration, when the second housing is relatively displaced with respect to the first housing from the first position to the second position, the claw portion on the inner periphery of the second insertion hole of the second housing is the optical fiber covering portion. The optical fiber is fixed to the second housing by biting into and engaging the surface. For this reason, a structure for fixing the optical fiber to the second housing when the second housing is displaced relative to the first housing from the first position to the second position is formed on the inner periphery of the second insertion hole of the second housing. It can be configured by a simple structure provided with a claw portion.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the operation | work which connects an optical fiber and a connector can be made easy, and the connector which can improve the workability | operativity of the connection operation of an optical fiber and a connector can be provided.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a connector together with a part of an optical fiber, and FIG. 1B is a view showing the connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view shown with the other party connector. FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a state in which the second housing is not held at the first position or the second position with respect to the first housing in the connector, and FIG. 2 (B) is a front view, and FIG. 2 (C) is a plan view. FIG. 3A is a perspective view and FIG. 3B is a side view of the connector in a state where the second housing is held at the first position with respect to the first housing. . It is a front view which shows the connector of the state with which the 2nd housing was hold | maintained in the 1st position with respect to the 1st housing. FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the connector, and FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along line X1-X1 in FIG. 4A, and FIG. 5B is X2-X2 in FIG. It is sectional drawing in a line arrow position. FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the connector in a state where the second housing is held in the first position with respect to the first housing and the optical fiber is inserted, and FIG. FIG. FIG. 7A is a front view of the connector in a state where the second housing is held at the first position with respect to the first housing and the optical fiber is inserted, and FIG. 7B is a front view. These are sectional drawings in the X3-X3 line arrow position of FIG. 7 (A). FIG. 8A is a front view of the connector in a state where the second housing is held at the second position with respect to the first housing and the optical fiber is connected, and FIG. 8B is a front view. FIG. FIG. 9A is a view showing the connector in a state where the second housing is held at the second position with respect to the first housing and the optical fiber is connected, and FIG. 9A is a line X4-X4 in FIG. FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X5-X5 in FIG. 8A. It is a perspective view which shows the state in which the several connector to which the optical fiber was each connected was connected to the other party connector.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention can be widely applied to connectors to which optical fibers are connected.

[Outline of connector]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the connector 1 together with a part of an optical fiber 100, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector 1 together with a part of an optical fiber 100 and a mating connector 101. FIG. 1A and 1B show a state where the optical fiber 100 is connected to the connector 1. FIG. 1B shows a state where the connector 1 to which the optical fiber 100 is connected is connected to the mating connector 101.

  The connector 1 shown in FIG. 1 is used, for example, when the optical fiber 100 is optically connected to a connection target (not shown) configured as an element such as a light receiving element or a light emitting element. An optical fiber 100 is mechanically connected to the connector 1. Then, the connector 1 in a state where the optical fiber 100 is connected is fitted and connected to the mating connector 101 holding the optical connection target. Thereby, the optical fiber 100 and the connection target held by the counterpart connector 1 are optically connected.

  The mating connector 101 is provided as a casing-like element that holds an element such as a light receiving element or a light emitting element, and is mounted on a substrate (not shown). Further, the mating connector 101 is provided with a fitting hole 101a into which the end of the connector 1 is fitted and fitted when the connector 1 is connected.

  The optical fiber 100 connected to the connector 1 includes a main body portion 100a and a covering portion 100b. The main body 100a of the optical fiber 100 is configured to have a core at the center and a cladding around the core. Both the core and the clad are made of quartz glass or plastic, and the refractive index of the core is set higher than that of the clad. The covering portion 100b of the optical fiber 100 is made of, for example, resin, and is configured as a portion that covers the outer periphery of the main body portion 100a of the optical fiber 100.

  The connector 1 is formed of an insulating resin material, and is configured to be mechanically connected to the mating connector 101 while being inserted and connected to the optical fiber 100. The connector 1 includes a first housing 11 and a second housing 12. The second housing 12 is configured to be held with respect to the first housing 11 at two positions, a first position 24 and a second position 25 described later. In FIG. 1, a state in which the second housing 12 is held at the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11 is illustrated.

  FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the second housing 12 is not held at either the first position 24 or the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11 in the connector 1. ) Is a perspective view, FIG. 2B is a front view, and FIG. 2C is a plan view (top view). 2A is a plan view showing a state in which the second housing 12 is not held at any of the first position 24 and the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11 in the connector 1. It is a perspective view showing a back surface.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector 1 includes a connecting portion 13 in addition to the first housing 11 and the second housing 12. The first housing 11, the second housing 12, and the connecting portion 13 are integrally formed of a resin material. Various resin materials can be used as the resin material constituting the first housing 11, the second housing 12, and the connecting portion 13, and examples thereof include nylon-based resins and PBT (polybutylene terephthalate resin).

[First housing]
The first housing 11 is provided as an element into which the end of the optical fiber 100 is inserted and fitted into the fitting hole 101 a of the mating connector 101. The first housing 11 is provided with a first insertion hole 21, a pair of holding portions (22, 22), a lock arm 23, and the like.

  The first insertion hole 21 is provided as an insertion hole into which the end of the optical fiber 101 is inserted, and is formed as a through hole that penetrates the inside of the first housing 11. The optical fiber 101 is inserted into the first insertion hole 21 while passing through the second housing 12.

  The pair of holding portions (22, 22) is provided as a portion for holding the second housing 12. Each of the pair of holding portions (22, 22) is provided on both sides of the first housing 11 in the width direction. Each of the pair of holding portions (22, 22) is provided with a first position 24 and a second position 25 as positions for holding the second housing 12. The first position 24 is provided with a first recess 24 a that is recessed so that an engagement protrusion 28 described later in the second housing 12 is engaged. The second position 25 is provided with a second recess 25 a that is recessed so that an engagement protrusion 28 described later in the second housing 12 is engaged.

  With the above-described configuration, the first position 24 defines the first recess 24 a that is recessed so that the engagement protrusion 28 of the second housing 12 is engaged in each holding portion 22 and the first recess 24 a. It is provided as a part. And the 2nd position 25 is provided in each holding | maintenance part 22 as the part which divides and forms the 2nd recessed part 25a and the 2nd recessed part 25a which were recessedly formed so that the engaging convex part 28 of the 2nd housing 12 might engage. It has been.

  In each holding part 22, the first position 24 is provided on the upper surface side of the first housing 11, and the second position 25 is provided on the bottom surface side of the first housing 11. A lock arm 23 is provided on the upper surface side of the first housing 11. One end portion of the connecting portion 13 is integrally connected to the bottom surface side of the first housing 11. Further, when the second housing 12 is attached and held with respect to the first housing 11, a pair of engagement arms (27, 27) described later in the second housing 12 are attached to the first housing 11. . At this time, the pair of engagement arms (27, 27) in the second housing 12 are attached to the first housing 11 while being relatively displaced so as to go around from the upper surface side of the first housing 11.

  The lock arm 23 is engaged with the mating connector 101 when the first housing 11 of the connector 1 is fitted into the mating hole 101 a of the mating connector 101 and the connector 1 is connected to the mating connector 101. It is provided as an element to do. When the lock arm 23 is engaged with the mating connector 101, the position of the connector 1 relative to the mating connector 101 is locked so that the connector 1 is not displaced with respect to the mating connector 101. Is prevented from falling off.

  Further, the lock arm 23 is provided as a leaf spring-like portion extending in a cantilevered manner on the upper surface side of the first housing 11. A lock projection 23 a is provided on the top surface of the lock arm 23 that extends in a cantilevered manner on the top surface side of the first housing 11. On the other hand, the mating connector 101 is provided with an engagement hole 101b that engages with the lock protrusion 23a. When the first housing 11 is fitted into the fitting hole 101a of the mating connector 101, the lock protrusion 23a contacts the edge portion of the fitting hole 101a, and the lock arm 23 is elastically deformed and bent once. Then, when the first housing 11 is fitted further into the fitting hole 101a and the lock protrusion 23a reaches a position corresponding to the engagement hole 101b, the lock arm 23 is elastically recovered, and the lock protrusion 23a is engaged with the engagement hole 101a. It fits into 101b. Thereby, the lock arm 23 engages with the counterpart connector 101, and the position of the connector 1 with respect to the counterpart connector 101 is locked.

[Second housing]
The second housing 12 is inserted as an element through which the optical fiber 100 passes, and is provided as an element that is held with respect to the first housing 11. The second housing 12 is configured to be held at two positions of the first position 24 and the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11 by engaging with the first housing 11. The second housing 12 is held in a temporary holding state at the first position 24 and held in a fixed state at the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11. The second housing 12 is configured to hold the inserted optical fiber 100 in a fixed state with respect to the second housing 12. The second housing 12 is provided with a second insertion hole 26, a pair of engagement arms (27, 27), and the like.

  The second insertion hole 26 is provided as an insertion hole that is inserted in a state in which the optical fiber 100 penetrates, and is formed as a through hole that penetrates the inside of the second housing 12. The optical fiber 100 is inserted into the second insertion hole 26 before being inserted into the first housing 11. That is, the optical fiber 100 is first inserted into the second insertion hole 26 of the second housing 12 and inserted into the first insertion hole 21 of the first housing 11 in a state of passing through the second insertion hole 26.

  The pair of engagement arms (27, 27) is provided as a portion for engaging the first housing 11 when the second housing 12 is held by the first housing 11. Each of the pair of engagement arms (27, 27) is provided on both sides of the second housing 12 in the width direction. Each of the pair of engagement arms (27, 27) is provided as a cantilever extending portion on each side of the second housing 12 in the width direction. Furthermore, each of the pair of engaging arms (27, 27) is provided with an engaging convex portion 28 on the tip end side extending in a cantilever manner.

  The engagement convex portion 28 is provided on the inner side in the width direction of the second housing 12 on each distal end side of the pair of engagement arms (27, 27). In addition, the engagement convex portion 28 is provided as a portion formed in each engagement arm 27 so as to protrude in a convex shape with a substantially L-shaped cross-section toward the inner side in the width direction of the second housing 12. It has been. And the engagement convex part 28 has an insertion convex part 28a which is a part constituting the short side of the L-shaped part in the part where the cross section of the engagement convex part 28 is L-shaped, and a cross section of the engagement convex part 28. And an abutment convex portion 28b which is a portion constituting the long side of the L-shaped portion of the L-shaped portion. The insertion convex part 28a and the contact convex part 28b are provided so as to protrude integrally toward the inner side in the width direction of the second housing 12, and are further formed to extend in directions perpendicular to each other. .

  The engaging convex portion 28 is configured to engage with the first concave portion 24 a and the second concave portion 25 a of the first housing 11, respectively. The second housing 12 is held at the first position 24 with respect to the first housing 11 by the engagement convex portion 28 engaging with the first concave portion 24 a. Then, the engagement convex portion 28 engages with the second concave portion 25 a, whereby the second housing 12 is held at the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11.

  When the engaging convex portion 28 engages with the first concave portion 24a or the second concave portion 25a, the insertion convex portion 28a of the engaging convex portion 28 is inserted into the first concave portion 24a or the second concave portion 25a. . Then, in a state where the insertion convex portion 28a of the engaging convex portion 28 is inserted into the first concave portion 24a or the second concave portion 25a, the abutting convex portion 28b of the engaging convex portion 28 is the first concave portion 24a or the first concave portion 24a. 2 Abuts against the edge of the recess 25a. That is, the insertion convex portion 28a is inserted into the first concave portion 24a or the second concave portion 25a, and the abutting convex portion 28b is brought into contact with the edge portion of the first concave portion 24a or the second concave portion 25a. The convex part 28 will be engaged with the 1st recessed part 24a or the 2nd recessed part 25a.

[Connecting part]
The connecting portion 13 is provided as a portion that integrally connects the first housing 11 and the second housing 12. The connecting portion 13 is set as a belt-like portion having flexibility in which the dimension in the width direction and the longitudinal direction is set larger than the dimension in the thickness direction. Further, the connecting portion 13 is integrally provided on the bottom surface side of the first housing 11 with respect to the first housing 11 at one end portion in the longitudinal direction. Further, the connecting portion 13 is provided integrally with the second housing 12 on the bottom surface side of the second housing 12 at the other end in the longitudinal direction.

  In addition, since the connecting portion 13 that connects the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 is provided as a flexible belt-shaped portion, the other of the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 with respect to the other is provided. It is configured to allow relative displacement. The connecting portion 13 has flexibility to allow the second housing 12 to be relatively displaced with respect to the first housing 11 between the first position 24 and the second position 25.

[Connector operation]
Next, the operation of the connector 1 will be described, and a more detailed configuration of the connector 1 will be described. 3 is a view showing the connector 1 in a state where the second housing 12 is held at the first position 24 with respect to the first housing 11, and FIG. 3 (A) is a perspective view, and FIG. B) is a side view. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the connector 1 in a state in which the second housing 12 is held at the first position 24 with respect to the first housing 11. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the connector 1, FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X1-X1 in FIG. 4A, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. It is sectional drawing in the X2-X2 arrow direction position of ().

  In a state before the optical fiber 101 is connected to the connector 1, the connector 1 is not held in any of the first position 24 and the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11. It is in a state. That is, the connector 1 is in the state shown in FIG. Alternatively, in a state before the optical fiber 101 is connected to the connector 1, the connector 1 is in a state where the second housing 12 is held in the temporary holding state at the first position 24 with respect to the first housing 11. . That is, the connector 1 is in the state shown in FIGS.

  When the optical fiber 101 is connected to the connector 1, the connector 1 is connected to the optical fiber 100 and the connector 1 in the state shown in FIGS. That is, the connecting operation between the optical fiber 100 and the connector 1 is performed in a state where the connector 1 is held in the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 is temporarily held at the first position 24. When the connector 1 is in the state shown in FIG. 2 where the second housing 12 is not held by the first housing 11, first, the second housing 12 is temporarily held at the first position 24 by the first housing 11. The operation of holding in the state is performed. Next, the connection operation between the optical fiber 100 and the connector 1 is performed.

  When the state of the connector 1 is shifted from the state where the second housing 12 is not held to the first housing 11 to the state where the second housing 12 is held at the first position 24, (2) The operation of engaging the housing 12 with relative displacement is performed. This operation is performed, for example, by an operator who performs a connection operation between the optical fiber 100 and the connector 1 by relatively displacing the second housing 12 with respect to the first housing 11.

  In the above operation, the pair of engagement arms (27, 27) of the second housing 12 is relatively displaced with respect to the first housing 11 so as to go around from the upper surface side of the first housing 11, It is attached. In other words, the pair of engagement arms (27, 27) are attached to the first housing 11 so as to be relatively displaced so as to go around from the upper surface side of the first housing 11 where the lock arm 23 is provided. When the pair of engagement arms (27, 27) are attached to the first housing 11, the connecting portion 13 that has been extended flat in the state shown in FIG. 2 is shown in FIGS. As shown, it is bent and bent in a substantially arc shape. When the connecting portion 13 having flexibility is bent and bent, relative displacement of the second housing 12 with respect to the first housing 11 is allowed.

  Further, when the pair of engagement arms (27, 27) are attached to the first housing 11, the respective engagement protrusions 28 of the pair of engagement arms (27, 27) A pair of engagement arms (27, 27) are attached to the first housing 11 so as to engage with the first recess 24a at the first position 24, respectively. That is, the engaging convex portion 28 of one engaging arm 27 engages with the first concave portion 24 a at one first position 24 in the width direction of the first housing 11, and the engaging convex portion of the other engaging arm 27. The pair of engagement arms (27, 27) are attached to the first housing 11 so that the portion 28 engages with the first recess 24 a at the other first position 24 in the width direction of the first housing 11.

  The engagement projections 28 of the respective engagement arms 27 engage with the respective first recesses 24a, so that the second housing 12 is held by the first housing 11 in the temporarily held state at the first position 24; Become. When the engaging convex portion 28 is engaged with the first concave portion 24a, the inserting convex portion 28a of the engaging convex portion 28 is inserted into the first concave portion 24a, and the engaging convex portion 28 abuts. The convex part 28b will be in the state contact | abutted with respect to the edge of the 1st recessed part 24a (refer FIG.5 (B)).

  Moreover, the 1st recessed part 24a is formed in the groove shape which is open | released largely toward the entrance side in which the insertion convex part 28a is inserted, and narrows toward the back | inner side where the insertion convex part 28a is inserted. For this reason, the insertion convex portion 28a engages with the first concave portion 24a so as to be fitted in a loose fit state. As a result, the second housing 12 rotates with respect to the first housing 11 within a predetermined range around a region in the vicinity of the position of the distal end portion of the insertion convex portion 28a and the innermost portion of the first concave portion 24a. Held in a possible state. For this reason, the engagement convex part 28 engages with the first concave part 24a, so that the second housing 12 is not fixed to the first housing 11 at the first position 24 and is engaged in a loosely fitted state. It is held in the temporarily held state held together.

  When the second housing 12 is held at the first position 24 with respect to the first housing 11, the opening 21 a at the end of the first insertion hole 21 and the opening 26 a at the end of the second insertion hole 26 are provided. Are opposed to each other (see FIG. 5A). The opening 21a at the end of the first insertion hole 21 is configured as an opening 21a at the end of the first insertion hole 21 on the side where the optical fiber 100 is inserted. The opening 26 a at the end of the second insertion hole 26 is an opening at the end where the optical fiber 100 inserted into the second insertion hole 26 penetrates the second insertion hole 26 and protrudes from the second insertion hole 26. 26a. When the second housing 12 is temporarily held by the first housing 11 at the first position 24, the direction of the center line of the first through hole 21 of the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 The second through hole 26 is obliquely intersected with the hole center line direction.

  As described above, the connection operation between the optical fiber 100 and the connector 1 is performed in a state where the second housing 12 is held by the first housing 11 in the temporarily held state at the first position 24. In this connection operation, first, the optical fiber 100 is inserted into the connector 1. FIG. 6 is a view showing the connector 1 in a state in which the second housing 12 is held at the first position 24 with respect to the first housing 11 and the optical fiber 100 is inserted. FIG. 6 (A) is a perspective view. FIG. 6B is a side view. FIG. 7 is a view showing the connector 1 in a state in which the second housing 12 is held at the first position 24 with respect to the first housing 11 and the optical fiber 100 is inserted. FIG. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along line X3-X3 in FIG. 7A.

  When the optical fiber 100 is inserted into the connector 1, the optical fiber 100 is inserted into the second insertion hole 26 of the second housing 12 that is temporarily held in the first housing 11 at the first position 24. An end portion 100c (hereinafter also referred to as a front end portion 100c) which is a front end portion is inserted. At this time, the end portion 100c of the optical fiber 100 extends from the opening 26b at the end opposite to the end of the second insertion hole 26 facing the first insertion hole 21 with respect to the second insertion hole 26. Inserted. The second insertion hole 26 is formed so that the opening cross-sectional area of the opening 26b increases toward the end on the side where the optical fiber 100 is inserted.

  The optical fiber 100 inserted into the second insertion hole 26 of the second housing 12 from the opening 26 b is inserted into the second insertion hole 26 while penetrating the second insertion hole 26. Then, the optical fiber 100 penetrating through the second insertion hole 26 is inserted into the first insertion hole 21 from the opening 21a of the first insertion hole 21 facing the opening 26a of the second insertion hole 26. The optical fiber 100 inserted through the second insertion hole 26 into the first insertion hole 21 is arranged such that the end surface 100d of the distal end portion 100c is substantially the same as the end surface 29a of the front end portion 29 of the first housing 11. Until it is done, it is inserted into the first insertion hole 21 (see FIG. 7). The front end 29 of the first housing 11 is an end on the side where the end 100c of the optical fiber 100 inserted into the first insertion hole 21 is exposed to the outside. Further, the front end portion 29 of the first housing 11 is an end portion that is inserted into the fitting hole 101 a when the connector 1 is fitted and connected to the mating connector 101.

  It should be noted that the coating portion 100 b at the distal end portion 100 c of the optical fiber 100 is removed by a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 100. For this reason, in the front-end | tip part 100c of the optical fiber 100, the main-body part 100a of the optical fiber 100 will be in the state exposed only for predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 100. FIG. And the end part 100e of the coating | coated part 100b is arrange | positioned adjacent to the main-body part 100a of the optical fiber 100 exposed by the front-end | tip part 100c as a part expanded in the step shape.

  A contact portion 30 is provided on the inner periphery of the first insertion hole 21 in the first housing 11 so as to contact the end portion 100e of the covering portion 100b on the surface of the optical fiber 100 inserted into the first insertion hole 21. (See FIG. 7B). The contact portion 30 is configured to position the end portion 100c of the optical fiber 100 with respect to the first housing 11 by contacting the end portion 100e of the covering portion 100b on the surface of the optical fiber 100. In the present embodiment, the contact portion 30 is stepped toward the front end portion 29 side of the first housing 11 in the longitudinal direction of the first insertion hole 21 in the inner periphery of the first insertion hole 21. It is provided as a part formed so as to reduce the diameter. Further, in the present embodiment, the contact portion 30 is a portion formed so as to be reduced in a step shape in a part of the inner circumference of the first insertion hole 21 in the circumferential direction of the first insertion hole 21. As provided.

  In the present embodiment, the covering portion 100b of the tip portion 100c of the optical fiber 100 has a length corresponding to the distance dimension between the end surface 29a of the front end portion 29 of the first housing 11 and the contact portion 30. Only minutes have been removed. When the optical fiber 100 from which the covering portion 100b has been removed by a predetermined length at the distal end portion 100c is inserted into the first insertion hole 21, the covering portion provided as a portion whose diameter is increased stepwise from the main body portion 100a of the optical fiber 100 The end portion 100 e of 100 b comes into contact with the contact portion 30 on the inner periphery of the first insertion hole 21. Thereby, the position of the end portion 100c of the optical fiber 100 with respect to the first housing 11 is positioned. In addition, the distal end portion 100c of the optical fiber 100 is positioned in a state where the end surface 100d of the distal end portion 100c of the optical fiber 100 is disposed at substantially the same position as the end surface 29a of the end portion 29 on the front side of the first housing 11. Become.

  Further, in the vicinity of the opening 21a in the inner periphery of the first insertion hole 21 in the first housing 11, a locking claw 31 that locks against the covering portion 100b of the optical fiber 100 is provided (FIG. 7B). See). The locking claw 31 is provided as a portion protruding in a protruding shape from the inner periphery of the first insertion hole 21 toward the inside. When the optical fiber 100 is inserted into the first insertion hole 21, the locking claw 31 is locked so as to bite into the coating portion 100 b of the optical fiber 100. Thereby, the optical fiber 100 inserted into the first insertion hole 21 of the first housing 11 in which the second housing 12 is temporarily held is prevented from easily falling out of the first insertion hole 21.

  As described above, when the optical fiber 100 is inserted into the connector 1 in which the second housing 12 is temporarily held at the first position in the first housing 11, the operator then moves the second housing 12. Is operated to relatively displace the first housing 11 from the first position 24 to the second position 25. That is, the second housing 12 is temporarily held by the first housing 11 at the first position 24, and the second housing 12 is in the state where the optical fiber 100 is inserted into the second insertion hole 26 and the first insertion hole 21. The connector 1 is operated so that the housing 11 is relatively displaced from the first position 24 to the second position 25.

  Then, when the second housing 12 is relatively displaced from the first position 24 to the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11, the second housing 12 is engaged with the surface of the optical fiber 100, and the optical fiber is engaged. 100 is fixed to the second housing 12. The second housing 12 is held in a state of being fixed at the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11. In this way, the second housing 12 is displaced relative to the first housing 11 from the first position 24 to the second position 25 in a state where the optical fiber 100 is inserted into the second insertion hole 26 and the first insertion hole 21. Thus, the connection operation between the optical fiber 100 and the connector 1 is completed.

  FIG. 8 is a view showing the connector 1 in a state where the second housing 12 is held at the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11 and the optical fiber 100 is connected. FIG. 8A is a front view. FIG. 8B is a side view. FIG. 9 is a view showing the connector 1 in a state where the second housing 12 is held at the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11 and the optical fiber 100 is connected. FIG. It is sectional drawing in the X4-X4 arrow position of FIG. 8 (A), FIG.9 (B) is sectional drawing in the X5-X5 arrow position of FIG. 8 (A).

  When the second housing 12 is moved relative to the first housing 11 from the first position 24 to the second position 25, the pair of engagement arms (27, 27) of the second housing 12 are The first housing 11 is attached while being relatively displaced from the upper surface side of the first housing 11 toward the end portion 29 on the front side of the first housing 11. When the pair of engaging arms (27, 27) is attached to the first housing 11 at the second position 25, the connecting portion 13 bent and bent in a substantially arc shape is shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 9, it is further bent and bent into a substantially arc shape. When the connecting portion 13 having flexibility is further bent and bent, relative displacement of the second housing 12 from the first position 24 to the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11 is allowed.

  Further, when the pair of engagement arms (27, 27) are attached to the first housing 11 at the second position 25, the respective engagement convex portions 28 of the pair of engagement arms (27, 27) are provided. A pair of engagement arms (27, 27) are attached to the first housing 11 so as to engage with the second recess 25a at the second position 25 of the first housing 11, respectively. That is, the engagement convex portion 28 of one engagement arm 27 engages with the second concave portion 25 a of one second position 25 in the width direction of the first housing 11 and the engagement convex portion of the other engagement arm 27. The pair of engagement arms (27, 27) are engaged with the first housing 11 in the second position 25 so that the portion 28 engages with the second recess 25 a in the other second position 25 in the width direction of the first housing 11. It is attached with.

  A state in which the second housing 12 is held in a state of being fixed to the first housing 11 at the second position 25 by the engagement convex portions 28 of the respective engagement arms 27 being engaged with the respective second concave portions 25a. It becomes. In addition, when the engagement convex part 28 engages with the 2nd recessed part 25a, the insertion convex part 28a of the engagement convex part 28 is inserted with respect to the 2nd recessed part 25a, and the contact of the engagement convex part 28 is carried out. The convex part 28b will be in the state contact | abutted with respect to the edge of the 2nd recessed part 25a (refer FIG.9 (B)).

  The second recess 25 a is formed in a groove shape that opens along a direction parallel to the front-rear direction of the first housing 11. The front-rear direction of the first housing 11 is a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the first insertion hole 21 in the first housing 11, and is a direction parallel to the direction in which the optical fiber 100 is inserted into the first insertion hole 21. . By engaging the engagement convex portion 28 in the second concave portion 25a opened toward the front side of the first housing 11 along the direction parallel to the front-rear direction of the first housing 11, The pair of engagement arms (27, 27) are attached to the first housing 11 in a state of extending in parallel with the front-rear direction of the first housing 11. For this reason, the second housing 12 is fixed to the first housing 11 in a state where the second housing 12 is aligned in a direction parallel to the front-rear direction of the first housing 11.

  Further, in the first housing 11, the second recess 25 a is disposed on the bottom surface side and the front side of the first housing 11 with respect to the first recess 24 a. Then, as described above, the pair of engagement arms (27, 27) are directed from the upper surface side of the first housing 11 toward the front end portion 29 side of the first housing 11 with respect to the first housing 11. As a result, the engaging convex portion 28 is engaged with the second concave portion 25a. For this reason, the engaging convex part 28 is fitted and engaged with the second concave part 25a so that the second housing 12 is fitted further into the first housing 11. Thus, the second housing 12 is held in a fixed state at the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11.

  In the above state, the second housing 12 is attached to the second housing 12 toward the rear side of the first housing 11 by the elastic force of the connecting portion 13 that is further bent and bent in a substantially arc shape. It is acting like a force. For this reason, the engagement convex part 28 fits firmly by the 2nd recessed part 25a, and the 2nd housing 12 is hold | maintained in the state fixed more firmly with respect to the 1st housing 11 in the 2nd position 25. .

  When the second housing 12 is held at the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11, the opening 21 a at the end of the first insertion hole 21 and the opening 26 a at the end of the second insertion hole 26 are provided. Are opposed to each other (see FIG. 9A). Therefore, in the connector 1, the end of the first insertion hole 21 is opened even when the second housing 12 is held at either the first position 24 or the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11. 21 a and the opening 26 a at the end of the second insertion hole 26 are configured to face each other.

  In addition, as described above, the second recess 25a is disposed on the bottom side of the first housing 11 and on the front side of the first housing 11 with respect to the first recess 24a. Then, the engaging projection 28 is fitted into and engaged with the second recess 25a so that the second housing 12 is fitted further into the first housing 11. Therefore, in the connector 1, the second housing 12 is relatively displaced with respect to the first housing 11 from the first position 24 to the second position 25, so that the opening 21 a at the end of the first insertion hole 21 and the second housing 12 are 2 The opening 26a at the end of the insertion hole 26 is displaced so as to approach each other.

  A plurality of claw portions (32, 33, 34) are provided on the inner periphery of the second insertion hole 26 in the second housing 12 (see FIG. 9A). Each of the plurality of claw portions (32, 33, 34) is provided as a portion protruding in a protruding shape from the inner periphery of the second insertion hole 26 toward the inside. In the connector 1, when the second housing 12 is relatively displaced with respect to the first housing 11 from the first position 24 to the second position 25, the claws (32, 33, 34) are covered with the optical fiber 100. The optical fiber 100 is fixed to the second housing 12 by biting into and engaging the surface of the portion 100b. The claw portion 32 and the claw portion 33 are provided on the opening 26 a side on the inner periphery of the second insertion hole 26. On the other hand, the claw portion 34 is provided on the opening 26 b side in the inner periphery of the second insertion hole 26.

  Further, the edge portion of the opening 21a of the first insertion hole 21 is formed in a shape in which a portion on the bottom surface side of the first housing 11 projects to the rear side of the first housing 11 (that is, the side facing the second housing 12). Has been. And the latching claw 31 is provided in the part which is a part of inner periphery of the 1st insertion hole 21, and protruded to the back side of the 1st housing 11 in the edge part of the opening 21a. On the other hand, the edge of the opening 26 a of the second insertion hole 26 is located on the front side of the second housing 12 (that is, the first housing 11), corresponding to the upper surface side of the first housing 11. It is formed in a shape projecting to the side opposite to the surface. And the nail | claw part (32, 33) is provided in the part which is a part of inner periphery of the 2nd insertion hole 26, and protruded in the front side of the 2nd housing 12 in the edge part of the opening 26a. For this reason, the nail | claw part 32 and the nail | claw part 33 are provided so that it may bite and engage with the surface of the coating | coated part 100b of the optical fiber 100 in the position substantially corresponding to the latching claw 31 on both sides of the optical fiber 100. Yes.

[Operational effects of this embodiment]
According to the present embodiment, the second housing 12 is held in a temporarily held state at the first position 24 with respect to the first housing 11. In this temporary holding state, the opening 26 a at the end of the second insertion hole 26 of the second housing 12 and the opening 21 a at the end of the first insertion hole 21 of the first housing 11 face each other. Therefore, when connecting the optical fiber 100 to the connector 1, first, in a state where the second housing 12 is temporarily held by the first housing 11, the end portion 100 c of the optical fiber 100 is inserted into the second insertion hole 26 and the first insertion. It can be easily inserted into the hole 21. Then, the worker who performs the connection work places the second housing 12 from the first position 24 to the second position with respect to the first housing 11 with the optical fiber 100 inserted into the second insertion hole 26 and the first insertion hole 21. A simple operation of changing the engagement position of the second housing 12 to the first housing 11 by relative displacement to 25 is performed. When this simple operation is performed, the second housing 12 is held in a state of being fixed at the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11, and the second housing 12 is engaged with the surface of the optical fiber 100. The optical fiber 100 is fixed to the second housing 12. Thereby, the operation of connecting the optical fiber 100 to the connector 1 is completed.

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, when connecting the optical fiber 100 and the connector 1, the end portion 100 c of the optical fiber 100 is inserted into the connector 1 in a state where the second housing 12 is temporarily held in the first housing 11. Then, it is only necessary to perform a simple operation to relatively displace the second housing 12 from the first position 24 to the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11. For this reason, according to this embodiment, the operation | work which connects the optical fiber 100 and the connector 1 can be made easy. And the workability | operativity of the connection operation | work of the optical fiber 100 and the connector 1 can be improved.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the connector 1 that facilitates the work of connecting the optical fiber 100 and the connector 1 and can improve the workability of the work of connecting the optical fiber 100 and the connector 1. it can.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 are displaced relative to each other between the first position 24 and the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11. It is integrally configured through a connecting portion 13 having flexibility to allow. For this reason, the connector 1 can be comprised with one component. Therefore, unlike the connectors disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, it is not necessary to include a plurality of components, and the number of components can be reduced. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the work of connecting the optical fiber 100 and the connector 1 can be facilitated, the workability of the connection work of the optical fiber 100 and the connector 1 can be improved, and the number of parts can be reduced. The connector 1 which can be provided can be provided.

  According to the present embodiment, the structure in which the second housing 12 is held at the two positions of the first position 24 and the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11 is formed on the first housing 11 with the engaging convex portion 28. And a simple structure in which the first housing 24 is provided with the first recess 24a and the second recess 25a.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when connecting the optical fiber 100 to the connector 1, the worker who performs the connection work inserts the optical fiber 100 into the second insertion hole 26 and the first insertion hole 21, in the second state. An operation of relatively displacing the housing 12 with respect to the first housing 11 from the first position 24 to the second position 25 is performed. According to this embodiment, when the second housing 12 is relatively displaced with respect to the first housing 11 from the first position 24 to the second position 25, the opening 21a at the end of the first insertion hole 21 and the second housing 12 2 The opening 26a at the end of the insertion hole 26 approaches each other. For this reason, when the second housing 12 is displaced relative to the first housing 11 from the first position 24 to the second position 25, the optical fiber 100 inserted into the second insertion hole 26 and the first insertion hole 21 On the other hand, a force toward the back side of the first insertion hole 21 acts, and a force in the direction of coming out of the first insertion hole 21 is prevented from acting. Therefore, when the second housing 12 is shifted from the temporarily held state to the first housing 11 to the fixed state and the connection between the optical fiber 100 and the connector 1 is completed, the optical fiber 100 is detached from the connector 1. Is automatically prevented. Therefore, the work of connecting the optical fiber 100 and the connector 1 can be further facilitated, and the workability of the work of connecting the optical fiber 100 and the connector 1 can be further improved.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the optical fiber 100 inserted through the second insertion hole 26 of the second housing 12 and inserted into the first insertion hole 21 of the first housing 11 is the end 100e of the covering portion 100b on the surface thereof. However, it contacts the contact portion 30 on the inner periphery of the first insertion hole 21. Thereby, the position of the end portion 100c of the optical fiber 100 with respect to the first housing 11 is positioned. Therefore, according to this embodiment, when the optical fiber 100 is inserted into the second insertion hole 26 and the first insertion hole 21 of the connector 1, the end portion 100 c of the optical fiber 100 can be easily positioned with respect to the connector 1.

  In the case where the end surface 100d of the end portion 100c of the optical fiber 100 is disposed at substantially the same position as the end surface 29a of the end portion 29 of the first housing 11 as in the present embodiment, The covering portion 100 b at the distal end portion 100 c is removed by a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 100. At this time, the covering portion 100 b of the distal end portion 100 c of the optical fiber 100 is removed by a length corresponding to the distance dimension between the end surface 29 a of the end portion 29 of the first housing 11 and the contact portion 30. When the covering portion 100b of the distal end portion 100c of the optical fiber 100 is removed by a predetermined length, the distal end portion 100c of the optical fiber 100 has a core portion of the center portion and a clad on the outer periphery thereof. The portion 100a is exposed by a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 100. Further, in this state, the end portion 100e of the covering portion 100b is disposed adjacent to the main body portion 100a of the optical fiber 100 exposed at the tip end portion 100c as a stepped diameter-expanded portion. When the optical fiber 100 from which the covering portion 100b has been removed by a predetermined length is inserted into the first insertion hole 21 in this manner, the portion of the optical fiber 100 whose diameter has been increased stepwise from the main body portion 100a. The end portion 100e of the covering portion 100b provided as is in contact with the contact portion 30 on the inner periphery of the first insertion hole 21. Thereby, the position of the end portion 100c of the optical fiber 100 with respect to the first housing 11 is positioned. Then, the distal end portion 100c of the optical fiber 100 is positioned in a state where the end surface 100d of the distal end portion 100c of the optical fiber 100 is disposed at substantially the same position as the end surface 29a of the end portion 29 of the first housing 11.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, the 2nd insertion hole 26 is formed so that opening cross-sectional area may spread toward the edge part by which the optical fiber 100 is inserted. For this reason, the worker who performs the connection work inserts the optical fiber 100 into the second insertion hole 26 of the second housing 12 held at the first position 24 in the first housing 11, and further, The operation of inserting the optical fiber 100 into the one insertion hole 21 can be easily performed. Further, when the second housing 12 is displaced relative to the first housing 11 from the first position 24 to the second position 25, the inner peripheral surface of the second insertion hole 26 is excessively pressed against the optical fiber 100. Thus, excessive bending deformation of the optical fiber 100 can be prevented.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the second housing 12 is relatively displaced from the first position 24 to the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11, the inner periphery of the second insertion hole 26 of the second housing 12. The claw portions (32, 33, 34) bite into and engage with the surface of the covering portion 100 b of the optical fiber 100, and the optical fiber 100 is fixed to the second housing 12. For this reason, the structure in which the optical fiber 100 is fixed to the second housing 12 when the second housing 12 is relatively displaced from the first position 24 to the second position 25 with respect to the first housing 11 is the second housing 12. (2) A simple structure in which the claw portions (32, 33, 34) are provided on the inner periphery of the insertion hole 26 can be configured.

[Modification]
Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible as long as they are described in the claims. For example, the following modifications may be made.

(1) In the above-described embodiment, the connector in the form in which the first housing and the second housing are integrally connected via the connecting portion has been described as an example, but this need not be the case. There may be implemented a connector in which the first housing and the second housing are not provided with a connecting portion that integrally connects the first housing and the second housing, and the first housing and the second housing are formed separately.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the contact portion that contacts the end portion of the covering portion of the surface of the optical fiber inserted into the first insertion hole is provided on the inner periphery of the first insertion hole in the first housing. However, this need not be the case. A connector in a form in which an abutting portion that abuts on an end portion of the covering portion on the surface of the optical fiber is not provided in the inner periphery of the first insertion hole in the first housing may be implemented.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, one connector is connected to one counterpart connector, so that one optical fiber is connected to one connection object configured as an element such as a light receiving element or a light emitting element. However, this is not necessarily the case. A plurality of poles in which a plurality of optical fibers are optically connected to a plurality of connection objects configured as elements such as a light receiving element or a light emitting element by connecting a plurality of connectors to one counterpart connector A type of form may be implemented.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the plurality of connectors 1 to which the optical fibers 100 are connected are connected to the mating connector 102. The mating connector 102 is provided as a casing-like element that holds a plurality of elements such as a light receiving element or a light emitting element, and is mounted on a substrate (not shown). The mating connector 102 is provided with a plurality of fitting holes 102a into which end portions of the connectors 1 are fitted and fitted when the plurality of connectors 1 are connected.

  The plurality of connectors 1 and the mating connector 102 are connected by the respective end portions of the plurality of connectors 1 being fitted into the respective fitting holes 102 a of the mating connector 102. The plurality of connectors 1 and the mating connector 102 are connected by fitting, so that the plurality of optical fibers 100 and the plurality of connection objects held by the mating connector 1 are optically connected to each other. Connected.

  Further, the mating connector 102 is provided with a plurality of engagement holes 102b. Each of the plurality of engagement holes 102 b is configured as a hole that engages with each lock protrusion 23 a of the plurality of connectors 1. When the first housings 11 of the plurality of connectors 1 are fitted into the fitting holes 102a of the mating connector 102, the lock protrusions 23a abut against the edge portions of the fitting holes 102a, and the lock arms 23 are elastic. Deform and bend once. When each first housing 11 is fitted further into each fitting hole 102a and each lock projection 23a reaches a position corresponding to each engagement hole 102b, each lock arm 23 is elastically recovered, and each lock The protrusion 23a fits into each engagement hole 102b and engages. Thereby, each lock arm 23 engages with the mating connector 102, and the position of each of the plurality of connectors 1 with respect to the mating connector 102 is locked.

  As described above, a plurality of connectors 1 are connected to one mating connector 102, whereby a plurality of optical fibers 100 are connected to a plurality of connection objects configured as elements such as light receiving elements or light emitting elements. A multi-pole type optically connected form may be implemented.

  The present invention can be widely applied to a connector to which an optical fiber is connected.

1 connector 11 first housing 12 second housing 21 first insertion hole 21a opening 24 first position 25 second position 26 second insertion hole 26a opening 100 optical fiber

Claims (5)

A connector to which an optical fiber is connected,
A first housing provided with a first insertion hole into which an end of the optical fiber is inserted;
A second insertion hole to be inserted in a state where the optical fiber penetrates is provided, and is engaged with the first housing so that the first housing is in two positions, ie, a first position and a second position. A second housing configured to be held,
The second housing is held in a temporary holding state in the first position and held in a fixed state in the second position with respect to the first housing,
Even when the second housing is held at either the first position or the second position with respect to the first housing, the opening at the end of the first insertion hole and the second insertion hole The opening at the end of the
When the second housing is relatively displaced from the first position to the second position with respect to the first housing in a state where the optical fiber is inserted into the second insertion hole and the first insertion hole, The connector, wherein the second housing is engaged with a surface of an optical fiber, and the optical fiber is fixed to the second housing. The connector according to claim 1,
A connecting portion that integrally connects the first housing and the second housing;
The connecting portion has flexibility that allows the second housing to be relatively displaced with respect to the first housing between the first position and the second position. ,connector. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
The second housing is provided with an engaging convex portion that engages with the first housing,
The first housing is provided with a first concave portion and a second concave portion that are recessed so that the engaging convex portion engages,
The second protrusion is held in the first position with respect to the first housing by engaging the engagement protrusion with the first recess.
The connector is characterized in that the second housing is held in the second position with respect to the first housing by engaging the engaging convex portion with the second concave portion. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
When the second housing is displaced relative to the first housing from the first position to the second position, the opening at the end of the first insertion hole and the opening at the end of the second insertion hole And the connectors are displaced so as to approach each other. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
The inner periphery of the first insertion hole in the first housing is provided with an abutting portion that abuts an end portion of the covering portion of the surface of the optical fiber inserted into the first insertion hole,
The connector is configured to position the end portion of the optical fiber with respect to the first housing by contacting the end portion of the covering portion on the surface of the optical fiber. .

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