JP2019144312A - Optical connector and optical connector connection method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an optical connector which is easy to attach to and detach from another optical connector and also easy to clean.SOLUTION: A first housing has: a plurality of first inner housings 30 which houses a plurality of first ferrules 31 respectively; and a first outer housing 11 which can be released from latched state with respect to the plurality of first inner housings. The plurality of first inner housings are latched to the first outer housing at a common initial position. When the plurality of first inner housings and a second housing are fitted into each other, the first inner housings and the first outer housing are released from being latched to each other at the initial position, and the first inner housings are latched to the first outer housing at fitting positions different from the initial position; and the plurality of first inner housings are fitted to the second housing in steps at the different fitting positions, and the first inner housing and the first outer housing fitted to each other at the fitting positions are released from being latched to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector and an optical connector connection method.

  As an example of an optical connector in which a ferrule is retractably accommodated in a housing, for example, an MT type optical connector (an optical connector defined by JIS C 5981, MT: Mechanically Transferable) is known. In such an optical connector, the end faces of the ferrule that holds the end of the optical fiber abut each other, so that the end faces of the optical fibers held by the ferrule physically abut against each other and the optical fibers are connected.

  In relation to such an optical connector, Patent Document 1 discloses a housing unit (a receiving-side outer housing unit 128 and a movable-side outer housing unit 138) in which a ferrule biased forward by a spring is accommodated in a housing. A plurality of optical connectors arranged in the width direction are disclosed (see FIGS. 11 to 13). In such an optical connector, the plug-side housing (movable-side housing 131) is fitted into the receptacle-side housing (receiving-side housing 121), so that the ferrules in a plurality of arranged housing units are butt-connected at a time. be able to.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-227938

  In the optical connector described in Patent Document 1, increasing the number of housing units and the number of ferrules accommodated in the housing unit can increase the number of ferrules that can be butt-connected in a lump with one optical connector. is there. Thereby, it becomes possible to connect many optical connectors. However, when multi-fiber optical connectors are connected in this way, the number of ferrules to be pushed back against the elastic force of the spring increases, so that the force required to fit the housings increases accordingly. That was a problem.

  An object of the present invention is to make it easy to attach and detach a multi-fiber optical connector. Another object of the present invention is to enable easy cleaning of a multi-fiber optical connector.

Some embodiments of the invention include:
An optical connector that butt-connects a plurality of first ferrules accommodated in the first housing and a plurality of second ferrules accommodated in the second housing by fitting the first housing and the second housing. Because
The first housing has a plurality of first inner housings that respectively accommodate the plurality of first ferrules, and a first outer housing that can be unlocked with respect to the plurality of first inner housings,
The plurality of first inner housings are locked at a common initial position with respect to the first outer housing,
When fitting the plurality of first inner housings with the second housing,
The locking between the first inner housing and the first outer housing at the initial position is released,
The first inner housing is locked to the first outer housing at a fitting position different from the initial position;
The plurality of first inner housings and the second housings are fitted in stages at different fitting positions, respectively.
The optical connector is characterized in that the locking between the first inner housing fitted at the fitting position and the first outer housing is released.

  Other characteristics of the present invention will be made clear by the description and drawings described later.

  According to some embodiments of the present invention, attachment / detachment and cleaning of a multi-fiber optical connector is facilitated.

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the optical connector 1 of the first embodiment. FIG. 2A is a front view of the optical connector 1 of the first embodiment. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2A. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fitting mechanism of the optical plug 10 as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fitting mechanism of the optical plug 10 as viewed obliquely from below. 5A to 5C are cross-sectional views showing a state until the housing is engaged. 6A to 6C are cross-sectional views illustrating a state from the housing engagement state to the floating state. FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view (A-A cross-sectional view of FIG. 2A) of the central plug-side internal connector 12A. 7B is a cross-sectional view (CC cross-sectional view of FIG. 2A) of the left plug-side internal connector 12C. 8A to 8C are explanatory views of the movement of the left plug-side internal connector 12C. 9A to 9C show the relationship between the position of the optical plug 10 relative to the optical receptacle 60 and the force received by the optical plug 10 when the plurality of plug-side internal connectors 12 are fitted to the receptacle-side housing 61 in stages. FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the fitting mechanism of the optical plug 10 of the comparative example as seen obliquely from below. FIG. 11 is an overall perspective view of the optical connector 1 of the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the fitting mechanism of the optical plug 10 according to the second embodiment viewed obliquely from below. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the fitting mechanism of the optical plug 10 of the third embodiment as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the fitting mechanism of the optical plug 10 according to the third embodiment as viewed obliquely from above in another direction.

  At least the following matters will be apparent from the description and drawings described below.

An optical connector that butt-connects a plurality of first ferrules accommodated in the first housing and a plurality of second ferrules accommodated in the second housing by fitting the first housing and the second housing. Because
The first housing has a plurality of first inner housings that respectively accommodate the plurality of first ferrules, and a first outer housing that can be unlocked with respect to the plurality of first inner housings,
The plurality of first inner housings are locked at a common initial position with respect to the first outer housing,
When fitting the plurality of first inner housings with the second housing,
The locking between the first inner housing and the first outer housing at the initial position is released,
The first inner housing is locked to the first outer housing at a fitting position different from the initial position;
The plurality of first inner housings and the second housings are fitted in stages at different fitting positions, respectively.
The optical connector is characterized in that the engagement between the first inner housing fitted at the fitting position and the first outer housing is released. According to such an optical connector, attachment / detachment and cleaning of the multi-fiber optical connector are facilitated.

The first outer housing has a first locked portion and a second locked portion,
The first inner housing has an elastic locking portion having a locking piece locked to the first locked portion or the second locked portion,
When fitting the plurality of first inner housings with the second housing,
When the elastic locking portion pushed by the second housing is deformed and the locking between the first locked portion and the locking piece is released, the first internal portion at the initial position is released. The locking between the housing and the first outer housing is released;
When the second locked portion and the locking piece are locked at the fitting position, the first inner housing is locked with respect to the first outer housing,
The elastic locking portion pushed by the second housing is deformed, and the locking between the second locked portion and the locking piece is released, so that the fitting at the fitting position is performed. It is desirable that the locking between the first inner housing and the first outer housing is released. This facilitates the attachment and detachment and cleaning of the multi-fiber optical connector.

  The first locked portion is disposed on one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the first outer housing when the direction in which the plurality of first ferrules accommodated in the first inner housing are arranged in the vertical direction. It is desirable that the second locked portion is disposed on the other of the upper surface and the lower surface. As a result, the width of the first inner housing can be reduced.

  When the direction in which the plurality of first inner housings are arranged in the left-right direction, it is desirable that the first locked portion and the second locked portion are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. Accordingly, the first locked portion and the second locked portion can be arranged on one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the first outer housing.

An optical connector that butt-connects a plurality of first ferrules accommodated in the first housing and a plurality of second ferrules accommodated in the second housing by fitting the first housing and the second housing. Connection method,
Preparing the first housing having a plurality of first inner housings that respectively accommodate the plurality of first ferrules and a first outer housing that can be unlocked with respect to the plurality of first inner housings;
Locking the plurality of first inner housings at a common initial position with respect to the first outer housing;
When fitting the plurality of first inner housings with the second housing,
Releasing the locking between the first inner housing and the first outer housing at the initial position;
Locking the first inner housing with respect to the first outer housing at a fitting position different from the initial position;
The plurality of first inner housings and the second housing are mated in stages at the different fitting positions, and the first inner housing and the first outer parts fitted at the fitting positions. The connection method of the optical connector characterized by releasing the locking with the housing is clarified. This facilitates attachment / detachment of a multi-fiber optical connector that can be easily cleaned.

=== First Embodiment ===
<Overall configuration of optical connector 1>
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the optical connector 1 of the first embodiment. FIG. 2A is a front view of the optical connector 1 of the first embodiment. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2A. 1, FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B show a state before the optical connector 1 is connected (a state where the optical connector 1 is removed).

  In the following description, each direction is defined as shown in the figure. That is, the direction in which the optical connector 1 is attached / detached is the front / rear direction, the connection partner side of each of the optical plug 10 and the optical receptacle 60 is “front”, and the opposite side is “rear”. Further, the width direction of the ferrule (the plug-side ferrule 31 or the receptacle-side ferrule 64) is referred to as “left-right direction”. Further, the thickness direction of the ferrule (the plug-side ferrule 31 or the receptacle-side ferrule 64) is defined as “vertical direction”. The vertical direction is also a direction orthogonal to the “front-rear direction” and the “left-right direction”.

  The optical connector 1 is a connector for connecting a multi-core optical fiber. In the optical connector 1 according to the first embodiment, three 24-fiber ferrules (plug-side ferrule 31 or receptacle-side ferrule 64) are arranged in the vertical direction and three in the left-right direction. However, the number of optical fibers held by the ferrule and the number of ferrules included in the optical connector 1 are not limited to this.

  The optical connector 1 includes an optical plug 10 (hereinafter also referred to as “first connector”) and an optical receptacle 60 (hereinafter also referred to as “second connector”).

<Configuration of optical plug 10>
The optical plug 10 is a connector that becomes a movable side when the optical connector 1 is connected. In the first embodiment, the operator holds the optical plug 10 in his / her hand, and connects the optical connector 1 by inserting the optical plug 10 into the optical receptacle 60 on the receiving side. Further, the operator pulls out the optical connector 1 by pulling out the optical plug 10 from the optical receptacle 60.

  The optical plug 10 includes a plug-side external housing 11 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “first external housing”) and a plurality of plug-side internal connectors 12 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “first internal connectors”). And the connection holding part 13, the cover part 14, and the cable cylinder part 15 (refer FIG. 1, FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B).

  The plug-side external housing 11 is a member that houses a plurality of plug-side internal connectors 12. The plug-side outer housing 11 is a cylindrical member extending in the front-rear direction, and accommodates a plurality of (here, three) plug-side internal connectors 12 therein. As will be described later, the plug-side external housing 11 accommodates the plug-side internal connector 12 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. The plug-side outer housing 11 can also fix (lock) the plug-side internal connector 12 that can move in the front-rear direction. A pair of connection holding portions 13 are provided on the left and right sides of the plug-side outer housing 11. A cover portion 14 is provided on the rear side of the plug-side outer housing 11. The plug-side external housing 11 is provided with a plurality of window portions 22 corresponding to the number of plug-side internal connectors 12, and a part of the plug-side internal connector 12 (plug-side internal housing 30) is formed from these window portions 22. Exposed. The detailed configuration of the other plug-side outer housing 11 will be described later.

  The plug-side internal connector 12 is a unit including at least one ferrule among a plurality of ferrules (a plug-side ferrule 31 described later) of the optical plug 10. In the optical plug 10 of the first embodiment, three plug-side internal connectors 12 are arranged in the left-right direction in the plug-side outer housing 11. However, the number and arrangement direction of the plug-side internal connectors 12 are not limited to this.

  In the following description, the suffixes “A” to “C” are attached to the reference numerals of the three plug-side internal connectors 12. The plug-side internal connectors 12A to 12C may be simply referred to as “plug-side internal connector 12”. As will be described later, the plug-side internal connector 12 is fitted to the receptacle-side housing 61 in stages in the order of the plug-side internal connectors 12A to 12C.

  The plug-side internal connector 12 includes a plug-side internal housing 30 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “first internal housing”), a plug-side ferrule 31 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “first ferrule”), a plug Side spring 32 (hereinafter also referred to as “first spring”) (see FIG. 2B).

  The plug-side inner housing 30 is a member that houses the plug-side ferrule 31 and the plug-side spring 32. The plug-side inner housing 30 is a cylindrical member extending in the front-rear direction, and houses a plurality (here, three) of plug-side ferrules 31 therein. The plug-side inner housing 30 is accommodated in the plug-side outer housing 11. As will be described later, the plug-side inner housing 30 is accommodated in the plug-side outer housing 11 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. The plug-side inner housing 30 is fixed to the plug-side outer housing 11 by being locked to the plug-side outer housing 11. A detailed configuration of the plug-side inner housing 30 will be described later. The plurality of plug-side inner housings 30 and the plug-side outer housing 11 may be collectively referred to as a plug-side housing (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “first housing”).

  The plug-side ferrule 31 is a member that holds the end of the optical fiber on the optical plug 10 side. The plug-side ferrule 31 is, for example, a ferrule of an MT type optical connector (optical connector defined by JIS C 5981, MT: Mechanically Transferable). In the optical plug 10 of the first embodiment, three plug-side ferrules 31 are arranged in the vertical direction in the plug-side inner housing 30. However, the number and arrangement direction of the plug-side ferrules 31 are not limited to this.

  The front end face of the plug-side ferrule 31 is a ferrule connection end face when the optical connector 1 is connected. A ferrule collar is formed on the rear side of the plug-side ferrule 31, and is pressed forward by the plug-side spring 32 when the ferrule collar comes into contact with a front-extraction preventing projection formed inside the plug-side inner housing 30. This prevents the plug-side ferrule 31 from slipping forward.

  The plug-side spring 32 is an elastic member for restoring the positional relationship between the plug-side ferrule 31 and the plug-side inner housing 30. The plug-side spring 32 is disposed in a compressible state between a pin clamp 33 provided behind the plug-side ferrule 31 and a spring receiving portion (not shown) fixed to the plug-side inner housing 30. (See FIG. 2B). Specifically, the front end portion of the plug-side spring 32 is held by a pin clamp 33, and the rear end portion of the plug-side spring 32 is held by a spring receiving portion (not shown). When the optical connector 1 is connected, the front end surface of the receptacle ferrule 64 abuts on the front end surface of the plug side ferrule 31, and the plug side ferrule 31 moves rearward with respect to the plug side inner housing 30. The side spring 32 is compressed and deformed. The plug-side ferrule 31 is biased forward via the pin clamp 33 by the elastic force of the plug-side spring 32 that has been compressed and deformed. Further, the plug-side ferrule 31 can be retracted (movable backward) against the elastic force of the plug-side spring 32.

  The connection holding unit 13 is a member that holds the connection state of the optical connector 1. The connection holding portion 13 holds the fitting state between the housing of the optical plug 10 (the plug-side outer housing 11 and the plug-side inner housing 30) and the housing of the optical receptacle 60 (receptacle-side housing 61). The connection status of is maintained. The connection holding portion 13 is attached to the left and right of the plug-side external housing 11. A pair of latch portions 18 are provided in a portion of the connection holding portion 13 on the front side of the place where the connection holding portion 13 is attached to the plug-side external housing 11. In addition, a portion of the connection holding portion 13 on the rear side of the place where the connection holding portion 13 is attached to the plug-side external housing 11 is an operation lever 16 for operating the pair of latch portions 18. In the first embodiment, the pair of latch portions 18 are hooked on latch projections 67 (described later) of the optical receptacle 60 (latched state) so that the housing of the optical plug 10 and the housing of the optical receptacle 60 are fitted. By maintaining the combined state, the connection state of the optical connector 1 can be maintained. Further, when the connection of the optical connector 1 is released, the operator presses the operation lever 16 downward, so that the connection holding portion 13 is rotated about the operation rotation shaft 17, and the pair of latch portions 18 are lifted. The state in which the latch portion 18 is hooked on the latching projection 67 (latched state) is released.

  The cover part 14 and the cable cylinder part 15 are members that accommodate the optical fibers of the optical plug 10. The cover part 14 is also a part held by an operator when attaching or detaching the optical connector 1. The cover part 14 is attached to the rear side of the plug-side outer housing 11. The cable tube portion 15 is attached to the rear side of the cover portion 14. Although the cable cylinder part 15 is formed in the bellows shape, the shape of the cable cylinder part 15 is not restricted to this.

<Configuration of Optical Receptacle 60>
The optical receptacle 60 is a connector that becomes a receiving side when the optical connector 1 is connected. In the first embodiment, an operator connects the optical connector 1 by inserting the optical plug 10 into the optical receptacle 60. Further, when the operator pulls out the optical plug 10 from the optical receptacle 60, the optical connector 1 is removed.

  The optical receptacle 60 includes a receptacle-side outer housing 62, a plurality of receptacle-side inner housings 63, a plurality of receptacle-side ferrules 64 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “second ferrules”), and a plurality of receptacle-side springs 65 ( Hereinafter, it may be referred to as a “second spring”) and a latching projection 67.

  The receptacle-side outer housing 62 is a member that accommodates the receptacle-side inner housing 63. The receptacle-side outer housing 62 is a cylindrical member extending in the front-rear direction, and houses a plurality (three in this case) of receptacle-side inner housings 63 in the left-right direction.

  The receptacle-side inner housing 63 is a member that houses a plurality of receptacle-side ferrules 64 and a plurality of receptacle-side springs 65. The receptacle-side inner housing 63 is a cylindrical member extending in the front-rear direction, and has a plurality (three in this case) of receptacle-side ferrules 64 and a plurality (three in this case) of receptacle-side springs in the vertical direction. 65 is accommodated. The receptacle-side inner housing 63 may be formed integrally with the receptacle-side outer housing 62. Further, the plurality of receptacle-side inner housings 63 and receptacle-side outer housings 62 may be collectively referred to as a receptacle-side housing 61 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “second housing”). Detailed configurations of the receptacle-side outer housing 62 and the receptacle-side inner housing 63 will be described later.

  The receptacle-side ferrule 64 is a member that holds the end portion of the optical fiber on the optical receptacle 60 side. The receptacle-side spring 65 is an elastic member for restoring the positional relationship between the receptacle-side ferrule 64 and the receptacle-side inner housing 63. Note that the receptacle-side ferrule 64 and the receptacle-side spring 65 have the same configuration as the plug-side ferrule 31 and the plug-side spring 32, and thus description thereof is omitted. In the following description, the receptacle-side inner housing 63 and the receptacle-side ferrule 64 may be collectively referred to as a receptacle-side subconnector (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “second subconnector”). The receptacle-side sub-connector may further include a receptacle-side spring 65. The optical receptacle 60 of the first embodiment has a plurality (three) receptacle-side sub-connectors each including a plurality (three) receptacle-side ferrules 64.

  The latch protrusion 67 is a portion (receptacle side latch portion) where the pair of latch portions 18 provided on the connection holding portion 13 of the optical plug 10 are hooked. The latch projections 67 are provided on the left and right sides of the receptacle-side outer housing 62.

<Fitting mechanism>
Plug-side fitting mechanism FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fitting mechanism of the optical plug 10 as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fitting mechanism of the optical plug 10 as viewed obliquely from below.

  The plug-side outer housing 11 includes a convex portion 21, a window portion 22, a first locked portion 231, and a second locked portion 232. The convex portion 21 is a convex portion formed so as to protrude outward from the upper surface and the lower surface of the plug-side outer housing 11. The convex portion 21 has a function of elastically deforming the engaged portion 71 of the receptacle-side inner housing 63 in the vertical direction. The window 22 is an opening provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the plug-side outer housing 11. The window portion 22 has a function of exposing the fitting mechanism (for example, the elastic locking portion 41) of the plug-side inner housing 30. The first locked portion 231 is a portion where the locking piece 44 of the plug-side inner housing 30 is caught. The first locked portion 231 has a function of fixing the plug-side inner housing 30 to the initial position with respect to the plug-side outer housing 11. The first locked portion 231 is provided for each of the three plug-side inner housings 30, and the positions of the three first locked portions 231 in the front-rear direction are common. As a result, the three plug-side inner housings 30 can be fixed to the plug-side outer housing 11 in a state where they are aligned at a common initial position. The second locked portion 232 is a portion where the locking piece 44 of the plug-side inner housing 30 is caught. The second locked portion 232 has a function of fixing the plug-side inner housing 30 to the fitting position with respect to the plug-side outer housing 11. The second locked portion 232 is provided for each of the three plug-side inner housings 30, and the positions of the three second locked portions 232 in the front-rear direction differ in stages. For example, the second locked portion 232 with respect to the central plug-side internal connector 12A is disposed at the position of the locking piece 44 of the plug-side internal housing 30 at the initial position, whereas the right plug-side internal connector 12B. The second locked portion 232 is disposed at a position rearward from the locking piece 44 of the plug-side internal housing 30 at the initial position by a distance L2, and the second locked portion 232 with respect to the left-side plug-side internal connector 12C. The portion 232 is disposed at a position rearward from the locking piece 44 of the plug-side inner housing 30 at the initial position by a distance L3.

  The plug-side inner housing 30 includes an elastic locking portion 41 and an engagement piece 43.

The elastic locking portion 41 is a cantilever-shaped portion provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the plug-side inner housing 30. The elastic locking portion 41 is a portion that is deformed by being pressed against the pressing portion 70 of the receptacle-side outer housing 62. The elastic locking portion 41 has a locking piece 44 and a pressed protrusion 45.
The locking piece 44 is a part that is hooked on the first locked portion 231 or the second locked portion 232 of the plug-side outer housing 11. In the present embodiment, the locking pieces 44 are formed on the left and right edges of the end portion of the elastic locking portion 41. As shown in the area surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. 3, the locking pieces 44 of the three plug-side inner housings 30 are hooked on the first locked portions 231 of the plug-side outer housing 11 at the initial position. Thus, the three plug-side inner housings 30 are fixed to the plug-side outer housing 11 at a common initial position. As shown in FIG. 4, at the initial position, the locking piece 44 of the central plug-side inner housing 30 is hooked on the second locked portion 232 of the plug-side outer housing 11. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, in the initial position, there is a gap in the front-rear direction between the locking piece 44 of the left and right plug-side inner housings 30 and the second locked portion 232 of the plug-side outer housing 11. I'm open. As will be described later, the left and right plug-side inner housings 30 are released from the locked state at the initial position, and after the left and right plug-side inner housings 30 have moved rearward with respect to the plug-side outer housing 11, The stop piece 44 is hooked on the second locked portion 232 of the plug-side outer housing 11.
The pressed protrusion 45 is a portion that is pressed against the pressing portion 70 of the receptacle-side outer housing 62. The pressed protrusion 45 is a portion protruding outward at the end of the elastic locking portion 41. When the pressed protrusion 45 is pressed against the pressing portion 70 of the receptacle-side outer housing 62, the elastic locking portion 41 is deformed, whereby the locking piece 44 is locked (the first locked portion 231 and the first locking portion 231). 2) The state of being caught by the two locked portions 232 is released.

  The engagement piece 43 is a part that engages with the engaged portion 71 (engagement hole 73) of the receptacle-side inner housing 63. When the engagement piece 43 of the plug-side inner housing 30 is engaged with the engaged portion 71 (engagement hole 73) of the receptacle-side inner housing 63, the plug-side inner housing 30 and the receptacle-side inner housing 63 are predetermined. It becomes positional relationship. At this time, the end face of the plug-side ferrule 31 and the end face of the receptacle-side ferrule 64 are in contact with each other with a predetermined pressing force. The engagement force 43 of the plug-side inner housing 30 is engaged with the engaged portion 71 (engagement hole 73) of the receptacle-side inner housing 63, whereby the pressing force between the plug-side ferrule 31 and the receptacle-side ferrule 64 is increased. Even if a repulsive force acts between the plug-side internal housing 30 and the receptacle-side internal housing 63 due to the reaction force, the positional relationship between the plug-side internal housing 30 and the receptacle-side internal housing 63 is maintained.

Receptacle-side fitting mechanism The receptacle-side fitting mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B.

  The receptacle-side outer housing 62 has a pressing portion 70. The pressing portion 70 is a portion protruding forward from the front ends of the upper surface and the lower surface of the receptacle-side outer housing 62. The pressing portion 70 is a portion that contacts the pressed protrusion 45 of the elastic locking portion 41 of the plug-side inner housing 30 and deforms the elastic locking portion 41. The pressing portion 70 presses the pressed protrusion 45 of the plug-side inner housing 30 to deform the elastic locking portion 41, whereby the locking piece 44 is brought into contact with the first locked portion 231 or the second locked portion 232. The hooked engagement state is released, and the plug-side inner housing 30 can move with respect to the plug-side outer housing 11.

  The receptacle-side inner housing 63 has an engaged portion 71. The engaged portion 71 is a cantilever portion provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the receptacle-side inner housing 63. The engaged portion 71 has an engaging convex portion 72 and an engaging hole 73. The engaging convex part 72 is a convex part formed so as to protrude inward from the inner surface of the engaged part 71. The engaging convex part 72 has a function of deforming the engaged part 71 to the outside by riding on the convex part 21 of the plug-side outer housing 11. The engagement hole 73 is a hole formed in the engaged portion 71. When the engagement piece 43 of the plug-side internal housing 30 is engaged with the edge of the engagement hole 73, the plug-side internal housing 30 and the receptacle-side internal housing 63 are in a predetermined positional relationship.

<Connection Procedure of Optical Connector 1 (Part 1)>
The plug-side internal connector 12 is fitted into the receptacle-side housing 61 so that the plug-side ferrule 31 of the optical plug 10 and the receptacle-side ferrule 64 of the optical receptacle 60 are connected to each other. In the present embodiment, first, the plug-side internal connector 12A located at the center in the plug-side external housing 11 is fitted into the receptacle-side housing 61, and thereafter, the other plug-side internal connectors 12B, 12C arranged in the left and right directions are the receptacles. The side housing 61 is fitted in stages. Then, all the plug-side internal connectors 12 of the optical plug 10 are fitted into the receptacle-side housing 61, whereby the optical connector 1 is connected.

  Here, first, the fitting between the central plug-side internal connector 12A and the receptacle-side housing 61 will be described. In the initial position, as shown in FIG. 2A, the locking piece 44 of the plug-side inner housing 30 is locked to the first locked portion 231 of the plug-side outer housing 11 (first locking state). The plug-side inner housing 30 is fixed to the plug-side outer housing 11 at the initial position.

  5A to 5C and FIGS. 6A to 6C are explanatory diagrams of a fitting procedure between the central plug-side internal connector 12A and the receptacle-side housing 61. FIG. First, the engagement piece 43 of the plug-side inner housing 30 enters a “housing engagement state” in which the engagement piece 43 is engaged with the engaged portion 71 of the receptacle-side inner housing 63 (receptacle-side housing 61) (see FIG. 5C). ). Next, the state in which the elastic locking portion 41 of the plug-side internal housing 30 is locked to the first locked portion 231 of the plug-side external housing 11 is released, and the plug-side internal connector 12 is connected to the plug-side external housing 11. On the other hand, it becomes a “floating state” which is a state where the floating is possible (a state where the plug-side internal connector 12 is movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the plug-side external housing 11). In this embodiment, the floating state is a state in which the engagement piece 43 of the plug-side inner housing 30 is again engaged with the engagement hole 73 of the engaged portion 71 of the receptacle-side inner housing 63, The internal housing 30 and the plug-side external housing 11 are in a predetermined positional relationship (see FIG. 6C). The plug-side internal connector 12 in the floating state can be retracted with respect to the plug-side external housing 11. When the plug-side internal connector 12 is in a floating state in which the plug-side internal connector 12 is retractable with respect to the plug-side external housing 11, the plug-side internal housing 30 and the plug-side external housing 11 are held in a predetermined positional relationship, The optical plug 10 can be further moved closer to the optical receptacle 60 until 18 can be latched by the latching projection 67.

Housing Engagement State FIGS. 5A to 5C are cross-sectional views showing how the housing is engaged. Note that a graph of the position of the optical plug 10 with respect to the optical receptacle 60 and the force received by the optical plug 10 is shown on the left side in the drawing (the horizontal axis of the graph indicates the position of the optical plug 10 with respect to the optical receptacle 60). The vertical axis of the graph indicates the force that the optical plug 10 receives (force that the operator receives).

  FIG. 5A shows a state before the end face of the plug-side ferrule 31 and the end face of the receptacle-side ferrule 64 are abutted. As shown in FIG. 5A, the guide pin of one ferrule is inserted into the guide hole (not shown) of the other ferrule. Further, the engaged portion 71 is elastically deformed upward so that the engaging convex portion 72 of the receptacle-side inner housing 63 rides on the convex portion 21 of the plug-side outer housing 11. Thereby, when the optical plug 10 is further moved with respect to the optical receptacle 60, the engaged portion 71 of the optical receptacle 60 can get over the engaging piece 43 of the optical plug 10.

  FIG. 5B shows a state in which the end face of the plug-side ferrule 31 and the end face of the receptacle-side ferrule 64 are abutted. As described above, the plug-side ferrule 31 is pressed forward by the plug-side spring 32. The receptacle-side ferrule 64 is also pressed forward by the receptacle-side spring 65. For this reason, when the operator moves the optical plug 10 with respect to the optical receptacle 60, the worker receives the elastic force of the plug-side spring 32 and the receptacle-side spring 65 that have been compressed and deformed. That is, the operator needs to move the optical plug 10 with respect to the optical receptacle 60 against the elastic force of the plug-side spring 32 and the receptacle-side spring 65. Therefore, as shown in the left side view of FIG. 5B, the force received by the optical plug 10 increases with the movement of the optical plug 10 thereafter.

  FIG. 5C shows a state where the engagement piece 43 of the plug-side inner housing 30 is engaged with the engagement hole 73 of the engaged portion 71 of the receptacle-side inner housing 63. That is, the housing engagement state between the plug-side internal connector 12 and the receptacle-side housing 61 is shown. By this engagement, the abutting surfaces (mechanical reference surfaces) of the end surfaces of the plug-side ferrule 31 and the receptacle-side ferrule 64 are fixed. In a state where the engagement piece 43 is engaged with the engagement hole 73 of the engaged portion 71, the plug-side inner housing 30 and the receptacle-side inner portion are in a state where the end surfaces of the plug-side ferrule 31 and the receptacle-side ferrule 64 are abutted with each other. The housing 63 has a predetermined positional relationship, and the plug-side spring 32 and the receptacle-side spring 65 are compressed and deformed by a predetermined amount. Therefore, in a state where the engagement piece 43 is engaged with the engagement hole 73 of the engaged portion 71, the plug-side ferrule 31 and the receptacle-side ferrule 64 are pushed by the plug-side spring 32 and the receptacle-side spring 65 by a predetermined push. It is fixed in a state where it is abutted by pressure. That is, in the stage of FIG. 5C, the reaction force of the elastic force of the plug-side spring 32 and the receptacle-side spring 65 is received at the engagement portion between the plug-side inner housing 30 and the engaged portion 71 of the receptacle-side inner housing 63. become. For this reason, as shown in the left side view of FIG. 5C, the force received by the optical plug 10 is greatly reduced.

  In the stage of FIG. 5C, the locking piece 44 of the elastic locking portion 41 of the plug-side inner housing 30 is locked by the first locked portion 231 of the plug-side outer housing 11. The plug-side external housing 11 is in a locked state (a state in which the plug-side external housing 11 cannot move relative to each other).

Floating State FIGS. 6A to 6C are cross-sectional views showing a state from the housing engagement state to the floating state. 6A to 6B, graphs of the position of the optical plug 10 with respect to the optical receptacle 60 and the force received by the optical plug 10 are shown on the left side (the horizontal axis of the graph indicates the light with respect to the optical receptacle 60). It shows the position of the plug 10. The vertical axis of the graph shows the force that the optical plug 10 receives (force that the operator receives).

  FIG. 6A shows a state where the pressing portion 70 of the receptacle-side outer housing 62 is in contact with the pressed protrusion 45 of the elastic locking portion 41 of the plug-side inner housing 30. When the operator further moves the optical plug 10 relative to the optical receptacle 60 from the stage of FIG. 5C described above, the housing engagement state is temporarily released. That is, the engagement piece 43 of the plug-side inner housing 30 is separated from the state in which it is engaged with the engagement hole 73 of the engaged portion 71 of the receptacle-side inner housing 63, and the plug-side spring 32 and the receptacle-side that are compressed and deformed again It will be in the state which receives the elastic force of the spring 65. FIG. Furthermore, in the state shown in FIG. 6A, the plug-side spring 32 and the receptacle-side spring 65 are further compressed and deformed compared to immediately before the housing is engaged. Therefore, as shown in the left side view of FIG. 6A, the force received by the optical plug 10 is increased more than immediately before the housing is engaged. At this stage, the pressing portion 70 of the receptacle-side outer housing 62 is in contact with the pressed protrusion 45 of the elastic locking portion 41 of the plug-side inner housing 30, but the pressing portion 70 does not support the elastic locking portion 41. It is not elastically deformed toward the plug-side ferrule 31 and is not in the unlocked state. For this reason, at this stage, the positional relationship between the plug-side inner housing 30 and the plug-side outer housing 11 remains fixed.

  FIG. 6B shows a state immediately before the locking piece 44 of the elastic locking portion 41 of the plug-side inner housing 30 is released from the locked portion of the plug-side outer housing 11. At this stage, the plug-side spring 32 and the receptacle-side spring 65 are most compressed and deformed. Therefore, as shown in the left side view of FIG. 6B, the force received by the optical plug 10 is the largest. Further, the pressing portion 70 of the receptacle-side outer housing 62 is in a state where the elastic locking portion 41 of the plug-side inner housing 30 is elastically deformed to the plug-side ferrule 31 side (lower side in FIG. 6B). 6B, when the operator further moves the optical plug 10 with respect to the optical receptacle 60, the pressing portion 70 of the receptacle-side outer housing 62 causes the elastic locking portion 41 of the plug-side inner housing 30 to be connected to the plug-side. By further elastically deforming to the ferrule 31 side (lower side in FIG. 6B), the first locking portion 231 of the plug-side outer housing 11 unlocks the elastic locking portion 41 of the plug-side inner housing 30, The lock is released. When the locking state between the plug-side inner housing 30 and the plug-side outer housing 11 is released, the plug-side inner housing 30 is located on the rear side (opposite to the optical receptacle 60) with respect to the plug-side outer housing 11. It becomes movable.

  FIG. 6C shows a state in which the engagement piece 43 of the plug-side inner housing 30 is again engaged with the engagement hole 73 of the engaged portion 71 of the receptacle-side inner housing 63. When in the unlocked state as shown in FIG. 6B, the plug-side inner housing 30 can move to the rear side (the side opposite to the optical receptacle 60) with respect to the plug-side outer housing 11, and as shown in FIG. 6C. Further, due to the elastic force of the plug-side spring 32 and the receptacle-side spring 65, the plug-side inner housing 30 moves to the rear side (the side opposite to the optical receptacle 60) with respect to the plug-side outer housing 11. The engagement piece 43 is again engaged with the engagement hole 73 of the engaged portion 71 of the receptacle-side inner housing 63. As a result, the plug-side inner housing 30 and the plug-side outer housing 11 are again in a predetermined positional relationship, and the plug-side spring 32 and the receptacle-side spring 65 are again compressed and deformed by a predetermined amount. The receptacle-side ferrule 64 is again brought into contact with the plug-side spring 32 and the receptacle-side spring 65 with a predetermined pressing force. In the floating state, the plug-side inner housing 30 and the receptacle-side inner housing 63 are brought into contact with each other with a predetermined pressing force (the plug-side ferrule 31 and the receptacle-side ferrule 64 are abutted by the plug-side spring 32 and the receptacle-side spring 65 with a predetermined pressing force. The plug-side internal connector 12 (plug-side internal housing 30) can be moved to the rear side (opposite to the optical receptacle 60) with respect to the plug-side external housing 11, while maintaining the plug-side internal connector 12. The elastic force of the spring 32 and the receptacle-side spring 65 is not applied to the optical plug 10. For this reason, as shown in the left side view of FIG. 6C, the force received by the optical plug 10 is significantly reduced again.

<Connection Procedure of Optical Connector 1 (Part 2)>
FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view (A-A cross-sectional view of FIG. 2A) of the central plug-side internal connector 12A. 7B is a cross-sectional view (CC cross-sectional view of FIG. 2A) of the left plug-side internal connector 12C. 7A and 7B, both plug-side inner housings 30 are arranged at a common initial position.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, cantilever-like elastic locking portions 41 are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the plug-side internal housing 30 of the central plug-side internal connector 12A. A locking piece 44 is formed. As already described, when the plug-side inner housing 30 is in the initial position, the locking piece 44 is locked to the first locked portion 231 of the plug-side outer housing 11 (first locking state). It has become. Moreover, as shown to FIG. 7A, the 1st to-be-latched part 231 and the 2nd to-be-latched part 232 of the plug side outer housing 11 are formed in the same position of the front-back direction. Therefore, when the plug-side internal housing 30 of the central plug-side internal connector 12A is at the initial position, the locking piece 44 is locked to the second locked portion 232 of the plug-side external housing 11. ing. That is, when the central plug-side inner housing 30 is in the initial position, the upper and lower locking pieces 44 of the plug-side inner housing 30 are locked by the first locked portion 231 and the second locked portion 232, respectively. It becomes a state. The second locked portion 232 functions substantially the same as the first locked portion 231 with respect to the central plug-side inner housing 30.

  As already described, when the plug-side internal housing 30 of the central plug-side internal connector 12A is in the initial position, the locking piece 44 of the plug-side internal housing 30 is connected to the first locked portion 231 of the plug-side external housing 11. The plug side inner housing 30 is fixed to the plug side outer housing 11 at the initial position. Then, in the state where the locking piece 44 of the plug-side inner housing 30 is locked to the first locked portion 231 (and the second locked portion 232) of the plug-side outer housing 11, The engagement piece 43 is in a “housing engagement state” in which the engagement piece 43 is engaged with the engaged portion 71 of the receptacle-side inner housing 63 (receptacle-side housing 61) (see FIG. 5C). Next, the state where the elastic locking portion 41 of the plug-side inner housing 30 is locked to the first locked portion 231 (and the second locked portion 232) of the plug-side outer housing 11 is released (FIG. 6B). In the state in which the plug-side internal connector 12 can float with respect to the plug-side external housing 11 (the state in which the plug-side internal connector 12 is movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the plug-side external housing 11). It becomes a certain “floating state” (see FIG. 6C).

  On the other hand, as can be understood by comparing the positions of the first locked portion 231 and the second locked portion 232 in the front-rear direction shown in FIG. The part 232 is disposed rearward from the first locked part 231 by a distance L3. Further, as can be understood by comparing the positions of the second locked portions 232 in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the second locked portion 232 with respect to the plug-side internal connector 12C on the left side is the central plug-side internal connector 12A. It is arrange | positioned only the distance L3 rather than the 2nd to-be-latched part 232 with respect to. The first locked portion 231 has a function of fixing the plug-side inner housing 30 to the initial position with respect to the plug-side outer housing 11. The second locked portion 232 has a function of fixing the plug-side inner housing 30 to the fitting position with respect to the plug-side outer housing 11.

  8A to 8C are explanatory views of the movement of the left plug-side internal connector 12C. FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view when the plug-side inner housing 30 is in the initial position. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view when the plug-side inner housing 30 is in the fitting position. FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view when the plug-side inner housing 30 is in a floating state.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, when the plug-side internal housing 30 of the left plug-side internal connector 12C is in the initial position, the locking piece 44 of the plug-side internal housing 30 is the first locked portion of the plug-side external housing 11. The plug-side inner housing 30 is fixed to the plug-side outer housing 11 at the initial position. When the operator moves the optical plug 10 with respect to the optical receptacle 60 (not shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C), the pressing portion 70 of the receptacle-side outer housing 62 elastically elastically engages the elastic locking portion 41 of the plug-side inner housing 30. As a result, the elastic locking portion 41 of the plug-side inner housing 30 is released by the first locked portion 231 of the plug-side outer housing 11, and the lock is released. When the locking state between the plug-side inner housing 30 and the plug-side outer housing 11 is released, the plug-side inner housing 30 can move rearward with respect to the plug-side outer housing 11. When the operator moves the optical plug 10 with respect to the optical receptacle 60, the plug-side inner housing 30 is pushed and moved by the optical receptacle 60.

  When the plug-side internal housing 30 of the left plug-side internal connector 12C moves rearward from the reference position (see FIG. 8A) by a distance L3, as shown in FIG. 8B, the locking piece 44 on the lower surface of the plug-side internal housing 30 Is engaged with the second locked portion 232 of the plug-side outer housing 11 (second locking state), and the plug-side inner housing 30 is connected to the plug-side outer housing 11 at that position (fitting position). It is fixed against. Accordingly, when the optical plug 10 is further moved with respect to the optical receptacle 60, the housing is engaged as in the order shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C. That is, the left plug-side internal connector 12C is in the housing engagement state when the plug-side internal housing 30 is in the fitting position shown in FIG. 8B.

  After the left plug-side internal connector 12C is in the housing engagement state at the fitting position shown in FIG. 8B, when the optical plug 10 is further moved with respect to the optical receptacle 60, the pressing portion 70 of the receptacle-side external housing 62 is moved. The elastic locking portion 41 of the plug-side inner housing 30 is elastically deformed, whereby the second locking portion 232 of the plug-side outer housing 11 is unlocked by the elastic locking portion 41 of the plug-side inner housing 30, The lock is released. Thus, when the optical plug 10 is further moved with respect to the optical receptacle 60, the housing engagement state is changed to the floating state, similarly to the order shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C.

  In this embodiment, the central plug-side internal connector 12A is in the housing engagement state (and in the floating state) with the initial position being the mating position, whereas the left plug-side internal connector 12C is from the initial position. Also, the housing is engaged (and is in a floating state) at the rear fitting position by the distance L3. Thus, first, the central plug-side internal connector 12A in the plug-side external housing 11 is fitted into the receptacle-side housing 61, and then the other plug-side internal connectors 12 (plug-side internal connector 12B, 12C) fits into the receptacle housing 61 stepwise. Then, all the plug-side internal connectors 12 of the optical plug 10 are fitted into the receptacle-side housing 61, whereby the optical connector 1 is connected.

  9A shows the position of the optical plug 10 relative to the optical receptacle 60 and the optical plug when the plurality of plug-side internal connectors 12 are fitted to the receptacle-side housing 61 in stages in the optical connector 1 of the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the relationship with the force which 10 receives.

  As described above, when an operator moves the optical plug 10 with respect to the optical receptacle 60 to connect the optical connector 1, the force received by the optical plug 10 is the plug-side spring 32 until just before the housing is engaged. And increases due to the elastic force of the receptacle-side spring 65, and decreases when the housing is engaged. Further, when the operator further moves the optical plug 10 with respect to the optical receptacle 60 from the housing engaged state, the force received by the optical plug 10 immediately before the housing engaged state further increases, and immediately before the floating state. Maximum.

  If the plurality of (three) plug-side internal connectors 12 of the present embodiment are all arranged at the same position in the front-rear direction within the plug-side outer housing 11, a plurality (three) of plug-side internal connectors 12 are provided. Are simultaneously fitted to the receptacle-side housing 61. If it does so, the force which the optical plug 10 which becomes the maximum just before a floating state will also increase only by the part of several (3 pieces) plug side internal connectors 12. FIG. In order to attach and detach such a multi-fiber optical connector 1, a great amount of force is required, and the workability of the attaching and detaching work is deteriorated.

  In the optical connector 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the three plug-side internal connectors of the optical plug 10 are formed by gradually changing the positions of the three second locked portions 232 in the front-rear direction. 12 is provided so as to be fitted to the receptacle-side housing 61 in a stepwise manner. Then, the force received by the optical plug 10 shown in FIGS. 5A to 6C is gradually applied to each of the plurality of plug-side internal connectors 12, as shown in FIG. 9A. Thereby, the force received by the optical plug 10 is suppressed, and the multi-fiber optical connector 1 can be easily connected.

  Moreover, in the optical connector 1 of this embodiment, the plug side internal located in the center among the several plug side internal connectors 12 (plug side internal connectors 12A-12C) arranged in the left-right direction within the plug side external housing 11 is shown. The connector 12A is initially in a floating state. In this way, the plug-side internal connector 12 </ b> A located at the center among the plurality of plug-side internal connectors 12 is first fitted into the receptacle-side housing 61. In other words, some plug-side internal connectors 12 (for example, the plug-side internal connector 12A) among the plurality of plug-side internal connectors 12 are connected to the corresponding receptacle-side housing 61 in advance, and some plugs are connected. The side internal connector 12 (plug side internal connector 12 </ b> A) is in a floating state with respect to the plug side external housing 11. Thereby, the inclination of the optical plug 10 at the time of connecting the optical plug 10 to the optical receptacle 60 can be suppressed.

  Further, in the optical connector 1 of the present embodiment, after the plug-side internal connector 12A located at the center enters the floating state, the plug-side internal connector 12B adjacent to the plug-side internal connector 12A enters the floating state. After the plug-side internal connector 12B enters the floating state, the plug-side internal connector 12C located on the opposite side of the plug-side internal connector 12A from the plug-side internal connector 12B in the left-right direction enters the floating state. . Thus, after the plug-side internal connector 12A located at the center is fitted into the receptacle-side housing 61, the plug-side internal connector 12B on the right side of the plug-side internal connector 12A located at the center is fitted into the receptacle-side housing 61. Thereafter, the plug-side internal connector 12C on the left side (the side opposite to the right-side plug-side internal connector 12B when viewed from the central plug-side internal connector 12A) is fitted into the receptacle-side housing 61. Thereby, the inclination of the optical plug 10 at the time of connecting the optical plug 10 to the optical receptacle 60 can be suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, in this embodiment, when the optical plug 10 and the optical receptacle 60 are connected, immediately after the stage (A2) in which one plug-side internal connector 12A is in a floating state, another plug is connected. The plug-side ferrule 31 and the receptacle-side ferrule 64 of the side internal connector 12B begin to face each other. Thereby, the force received by the optical plug 10 is suppressed, and the multi-fiber optical connector 1 can be easily connected.

<Another embodiment>
As shown in FIG. 9B, when the optical plug 10 and the optical receptacle 60 are connected, the plug-side internal connector 12B is connected to the other plug-side internal connector 12B after the stage (A1) where the one plug-side internal connector 12A is in the housing engagement state. The plug-side ferrule 31 and the receptacle-side ferrule 64 begin to face each other. Compared to the example shown in FIG. 9A, in the example shown in FIG. 9B, the plug-side ferrule of the other plug-side internal connector 12B is placed before the stage (A2) in which one plug-side internal connector 12A enters the floating state. 31 and the receptacle-side ferrule 64 begin to face each other. However, if the ferrules (the plug-side ferrule 31 and the receptacle-side ferrule 64) are in the initial stage of matching, the springs (the plug-side spring 32 and the receptacle-side spring 65) have a relatively small elastic force, so that the optical plug 10 receives them. The force is suppressed, and the multi-fiber optical connector 1 can be easily connected.

  As shown in FIG. 9C, when the optical plug 10 and the optical receptacle 60 are connected, the other plug-side internal connector is connected to the plug-side internal connector 12A before the stage (A1) in which the housing is engaged. The 12B plug-side ferrule 31 and the receptacle-side ferrule 64 start to face each other. Even in this case, since the floating state (A2 to C2) in which the force received by the optical plug 10 is maximized is stepwise, the force received by the optical plug 10 is suppressed, and the multi-fiber optical connector 1 can be easily formed. Can be connected.

<Comparative example>
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the fitting mechanism of the optical plug 10 of the comparative example as seen obliquely from below.

  Also in the comparative example, since the positions of the three second locked portions 232 (and the first locked portion 231) in the front-rear direction differ in stages, the three plug-side internal connectors 12 of the optical plug 10 It is provided so as to be fitted to the receptacle-side housing 61 in a stepwise manner. Thereby, also in the comparative example, as shown in FIG. 9A, the force received by the optical plug 10 is gradually applied to each of the plurality of plug-side internal connectors 12. Thereby, the force received by the optical plug 10 is suppressed, and the multi-fiber optical connector 1 can be easily connected.

  However, in the comparative example, the initial positions of the three plug-side inner housings 30 differ stepwise. For this reason, the plug-side ferrule 31 of the central plug-side internal connector 12A and the plug-side ferrules 31 of the left and right plug-side internal connectors 12B, 12C have different positions in the front-rear direction. If the position of the end face of the ferrule is shifted in the front-rear direction as in the comparative example, it becomes difficult to clean the ferrule using the cleaning tool. Moreover, when it is necessary to prepare the cleaning tool according to the position of the end surface of the ferrule, it is necessary to prepare a plurality of types of cleaning tools in the comparative example.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, since the initial positions of the three plug-side inner housings 30 are common, all the ferrules are arranged so that the positions in the front-rear direction are aligned. ing. For this reason, in this embodiment, although the plurality of plug-side internal connectors 12 are fitted to the receptacle-side housing 61 in stages, the cleaning operation of the ferrule using the cleaning tool is facilitated.

=== Second Embodiment ===
FIG. 11 is an overall perspective view of the optical connector 1 of the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the fitting mechanism of the optical plug 10 according to the second embodiment viewed obliquely from below.

  Also in the second embodiment, the optical connector 1 includes the optical plug 10 and the optical receptacle 60. The optical plug 10 includes a plug-side external housing 11 and a plurality of plug-side internal connectors 12. The optical receptacle 60 includes a receptacle-side outer housing 62, a plurality of receptacle-side inner housings 63, and a plurality of receptacle-side ferrules 64 (not shown in FIG. 11). Also in the second embodiment, as a plug-side fitting mechanism, the plug-side outer housing 11 has a first locked portion 231 and a second locked portion 232, and the plug-side inner housing 30 is And an elastic locking part 41 and an engaging piece 43. As a receptacle-side fitting mechanism, the receptacle-side outer housing 62 has a pressing portion 70, and the receptacle-side inner housing 63 has an engaged portion 71.

  The optical plug 10 of the first embodiment has three plug-side internal connectors 12, whereas the optical plug 10 of the second embodiment has five plug-side internal connectors 12. In addition, the optical receptacle 60 of the first embodiment has three receptacle-side inner housings 63, whereas the optical receptacle 60 of the second embodiment has five receptacle-side inner housings 63. Thus, the number of plug-side internal connectors 12 (plug-side internal housing 30 and plug-side ferrule 31) of the optical plug 10 and the number of receptacle-side internal housings 63 of the optical receptacle 60 can be changed as appropriate.

  Also in the second embodiment, the first locked portion 231 is provided for each of the plurality of plug-side inner housings 30, and the positions of the plurality of first locked portions 231 in the front-rear direction are common. It is. As a result, the plurality of plug-side inner housings 30 can be fixed to the plug-side outer housing 11 in a state where they are aligned at a common initial position. For this reason, also in the second embodiment, since the initial positions of the plurality of plug-side inner housings 30 are common, all the ferrules are arranged so that the positions in the front-rear direction are aligned, so that a ferrule using a cleaning tool is used. Cleaning work becomes easier. Also in the second embodiment, the second locked portion 232 is provided for each of the plurality of plug-side inner housings 30, and the positions of the plurality of second locked portions 232 in the front-rear direction are as follows. It is different in stages. Thereby, when the optical plug 10 and the optical receptacle 60 are connected, the plurality of plug-side internal connectors 12 of the optical plug 10 are fitted into the receptacle-side housing 61 in a stepwise manner. Is provided stepwise for each of the plurality of plug-side internal connectors 12. As a result, the force received by the optical plug 10 is suppressed, and the multi-fiber optical connector 1 can be easily connected.

  Further, in the optical connector 1 of the second embodiment, after the plug-side internal connector 12A located at the center is fitted into the receptacle-side housing 61, the plug-side internal connector 12B on the right side of the plug-side internal connector 12A located at the center is After fitting into the receptacle-side housing 61, the plug-side internal connector 12C on the left side (the side opposite to the right-side plug-side internal connector 12B when viewed from the central plug-side internal connector 12A) is fitted into the receptacle-side housing 61. To do. Thereby, the inclination of the optical plug 10 at the time of connecting the optical plug 10 to the optical receptacle 60 can be suppressed. Further, in the optical connector 1 of the second embodiment, after the plug-side internal connector 12A located at the center is fitted into the receptacle-side housing 61, the plug-side internal connectors 12 are alternately arranged on the left and right as viewed from the center plug-side internal connector 12A. Are fitted to the receptacle-side housing 61 in stages (fitted in the order of the plug-side internal connectors 12B to 12E). Thereby, the inclination of the optical plug 10 at the time of connecting the optical plug 10 to the optical receptacle 60 can be suppressed.

=== Third Embodiment ===
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the fitting mechanism of the optical plug 10 of the third embodiment as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the fitting mechanism of the optical plug 10 according to the third embodiment as viewed obliquely from above in another direction.

  Also in the third embodiment, the optical connector 1 includes the optical plug 10 and the optical receptacle 60 (not shown). The optical plug 10 includes a plug-side external housing 11 and a plurality of plug-side internal connectors 12. The optical receptacle 60 (not shown) includes a receptacle-side outer housing 62, a plurality of receptacle-side inner housings 63, and a plurality of receptacle-side ferrules 64. Also in the second embodiment, the plug-side outer housing 11 includes the first locked portion 231 and the second locked portion 232. The plug-side inner housing 30 includes an elastic locking part 41 and an engagement piece 43.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, the first locked portion 231 is formed in the upper portion of the plug-side outer housing 11, and the second locked portion 232 is formed in the lower portion. On the other hand, in 3rd Embodiment, the 1st to-be-latched part 231 and the 2nd to-be-latched part 232 are formed in the upper part of the plug side outer housing 11 (each of the five plug side inner housings 30). In contrast, the first locked portion 231 is formed on the right side, and the second locked portion 232 is formed on the left side). In the first and second embodiments described above, the elastic locking portions 41 are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the plug-side inner housing 30, and the locking pieces 44 of the elastic locking portions 41 on the upper surface are It was configured to be hooked on the first locked portion 231 of the plug-side outer housing, and the locking piece 44 of the elastic locking portion 41 on the lower surface was hooked to the second locked portion 232 of the plug-side outer housing. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, two elastic locking portions 41 are formed side by side on the upper surface of the plug-side inner housing 30, and the locking piece 44 of one elastic locking portion 41 is a plug It is configured to be caught by the first locked portion 231 of the side outer housing, and the locking piece 44 of the other elastic locking portion 41 is hooked to the second locked portion 232 of the plug side outer housing. As described above, the arrangement of the first locked portion 231 and the second locked portion 232 (and the arrangement of the locking pieces 44 hooked on the first locked portion 231 and the second locked portion 232) are appropriately determined. It may be changed.

  Also in the third embodiment, the first locked portion 231 is provided for each of the plurality of plug-side inner housings 30, and the positions of the plurality of first locked portions 231 in the front-rear direction are common. It is. As a result, the plurality of plug-side inner housings 30 can be fixed to the plug-side outer housing 11 in a state where they are aligned at a common initial position. For this reason, also in the third embodiment, since the initial positions of the plurality of plug-side inner housings 30 are common, all the ferrules are arranged so that the positions in the front-rear direction are aligned, so that a ferrule using a cleaning tool is used. Cleaning work becomes easier. Also in the third embodiment, the second locked portion 232 is provided for each of the plurality of plug-side inner housings 30, and the positions of the plurality of second locked portions 232 in the front-rear direction are as follows. It is different in stages. Thereby, when the optical plug 10 and the optical receptacle 60 are connected, the plurality of plug-side internal connectors 12 of the optical plug 10 are fitted into the receptacle-side housing 61 in a stepwise manner. Is provided stepwise for each of the plurality of plug-side internal connectors 12. As a result, the force received by the optical plug 10 is suppressed, and the multi-fiber optical connector 1 can be easily connected.

=== Summary ===
As shown in FIG. 2, the optical connector 1 according to the first to third embodiments is configured so that the plug side housing (first housing) and the receptacle side housing 61 (second housing) are fitted to each other. It is an optical connector that butt-connects a plurality of plug-side ferrules 31 (first ferrules) housed in a housing and a plurality of receptacle-side ferrules 64 (second ferrules) housed in a receptacle-side housing 61. In the above embodiment, the plug-side housing can be unlocked from the plurality of plug-side inner housings 30 (first inner housings) that respectively accommodate the plurality of plug-side ferrules 31 and the plurality of plug-side inner housings 30. The plug-side outer housing 11 (first outer housing) and the plurality of plug-side inner housings 30 and the receptacle-side housing 61 are fitted step by step, and the fitting is performed at the time of each fitting. The engagement between the plug-side inner housing 30 and the plug-side outer housing 11 is released. Thereby, in the said embodiment, a multi-fiber optical connector can be attached or detached easily.
On the other hand, in order to cause the plug-side inner housing 30 and the receptacle-side housing 61 to be fitted stepwise in this way, as shown in the comparative example of FIG. If the position of the end face of the plug-side ferrule 31 is shifted in the front-rear direction, cleaning of the plug-side ferrule 31 becomes difficult. Therefore, in the first to third embodiments described above, the plurality of plug-side inner housings are locked at a common initial position with respect to the plug-side outer housing (see FIGS. 3, 11, and 13). This makes it easy to clean the plug-side ferrules because all plug-side ferrules are aligned in the front-rear direction even though multiple plug-side internal connectors are mated in stages with the receptacle-side housing. Become.

  In the optical connector 1 of the first to third embodiments described above, the plug-side housing serving as the first housing has a plurality of plug-side inner housings 30 (first inner housings) each housing the plurality of plug-side ferrules 31. And a plug-side outer housing 11 (first outer housing) that can be unlocked with respect to the plurality of plug-side inner housings 30, and the plurality of plug-side inner housings 30 and the receptacle-side housing 61 are fitted in stages. Was done. However, the receptacle-side housing may be the first housing, the plurality of receptacle-side inner housings 63 of the receptacle-side housing may be the first inner housing, and the receptacle-side outer housing 62 of the receptacle-side housing may be the first outer housing. The plurality of receptacle-side inner housings 63 and the plug-side housing may be fitted in stages by changing the fitting positions of the plurality of receptacle-side inner housings 63. Even in such a configuration, the multi-fiber optical connector can be easily attached and detached. And when comprised in this way, it is desirable to make the initial position of the some receptacle side internal housing 63 used as a 1st internal housing common. Thereby, since the position of the receptacle-side ferrule 64 in the front-rear direction can be aligned, the cleaning operation of the receptacle-side ferrule 64 is facilitated.

  In the above first to third embodiments, the plug-side outer housing 11 has the first locked portion 231 and the second locked portion 232, and the plug-side inner housing 30 has the locking piece 44. It has the elastic latching | locking part 41 which has. In the state before the optical connector 1 is connected, as shown in FIG. 8A, the plurality of plug-side inner housings 30 are in a common initial position, and the first locked portion 231 and the locking piece 44 are in the first locking position. The plug-side inner housing 30 is fixed to the plug-side outer housing 11 at a common initial position. When the plurality of plug-side inner housings 30 and the receptacle-side housing are fitted together, the elastic locking portion 41 pushed by the receptacle-side housing is deformed, and the first locked portion 231 and the locking piece 44 are deformed. Is released, the locking between the plug-side inner housing 30 and the plug-side outer housing 11 at the initial position is released, whereby the plug-side inner housing 30 is connected to the plug-side outer housing 11. It becomes possible to retreat against. When the plug-side inner housing 30 moves backward relative to the plug-side outer housing 11, as shown in FIG. 8B, the second locked portion and the locking piece 44 are locked at the fitting position (second locking). In this state, the plug-side inner housing 30 is fixed to the plug-side outer housing 11. Then, after the engagement piece 43 of the plug-side inner housing 30 is engaged with the engaged portion 71 of the receptacle-side inner housing 63 at the fitting position (see FIG. 5C), the plug-side inner housing 30 is moved to the receptacle-side housing. The plug-side inner housing 30 and the plug fitted in the fitting position are released by the deformation of the pushed elastic locking portion 41 and the locking between the second locked portion 232 and the locking piece 44 being released. The engagement with the side outer housing 11 is released, and thereby the plug side inner housing 30 enters a floating state in which the plug side inner housing 30 can be retracted with respect to the plug side outer housing 11. However, the components for locking the plug-side inner housing 30 and the plug-side outer housing 11 at the initial position are limited to the first locked portion 231 and the elastic locking portion 41 (locking piece 44). Instead, other configurations and shapes may be used. Further, the components for locking the plug-side inner housing 30 and the plug-side outer housing 11 at the fitting position are limited to the second locked portion 232 and the elastic locking portion 41 (locking piece 44). It may be other configurations / shapes.

  In said 1st, 2nd embodiment, the 1st to-be-latched part 231 was arrange | positioned at the upper surface of the plug side outer housing 11, and the 2nd to-be-latched part 232 was arrange | positioned at the lower surface (FIG. 3, FIG. (See FIGS. 4, 7B, 11, and 12). Thereby, compared with the case where the 1st to-be-latched part 231 and the 2nd to-be-latched part 232 are arranged in the left-right direction like 3rd Embodiment, the width | variety (dimension in the left-right direction) of the plug side internal housing 30 is made. It becomes the structure which can be narrowed. The first locked portion 231 may be disposed below the plug-side outer housing 11, and the second locked portion 232 may be disposed above the plug-side outer housing 11 (first locked portion). 231 and the second arrangement of the second locked portion 232 may be reversed.

  In said 3rd Embodiment, the 1st to-be-latched part 231 and the 2nd to-be-latched part 232 are arrange | positioned along with the left-right direction (refer FIG. 13, FIG. 14). Thereby, it becomes a structure which can arrange | position the 1st to-be-latched part 231 and the 2nd to-be-latched part 232 only to one of the upper surface or lower surface of the plug side external housing 11. FIG. However, the first locked portion 231 and the second locked portion 232 may be arranged side by side in the left-right direction on both the upper and lower surfaces of the plug-side outer housing 11.

=== Others ===
The above-described embodiments are for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and it goes without saying that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

1 optical connector, 2/3 optical fiber,
10 Optical plug (first connector),
11 Plug side outer housing (first outer housing),
12 (12A-12E) Plug side internal connector (first internal connector),
13 connection holding part, 14 cover part, 15 cable tube part,
16 operation lever, 17 operation rotation shaft, 18 latch part,
21 convex part, 22 window part,
231 first locked portion, 232 second locked portion,
30 Plug side inner housing (first inner housing),
31 Plug side ferrule (first ferrule),
32 Plug side spring (first spring),
33 Pink lamp,
41 elastic locking part, 43 engagement piece,
44 locking pieces, 45 pressed protrusions,
60 optical receptacle (second connector),
61 Receptacle side housing (second housing),
62 receptacle side outer housing,
63 Receptacle side internal housing,
64 receptacle side ferrule (second ferrule),
65 Receptacle side spring (second spring),
67 Protrusion for latch,
70 pressing part, 71 engaged part,
72 engaging convex part, 73 engaging hole

Claims (5)

An optical connector that butt-connects a plurality of first ferrules accommodated in the first housing and a plurality of second ferrules accommodated in the second housing by fitting the first housing and the second housing. Because
The first housing has a plurality of first inner housings that respectively accommodate the plurality of first ferrules, and a first outer housing that can be unlocked with respect to the plurality of first inner housings,
The plurality of first inner housings are locked at a common initial position with respect to the first outer housing,
When fitting the plurality of first inner housings with the second housing,
The locking between the first inner housing and the first outer housing at the initial position is released,
The first inner housing is locked to the first outer housing at a fitting position different from the initial position;
The plurality of first inner housings and the second housings are fitted in stages at different fitting positions, respectively.
The optical connector, wherein the locking between the first inner housing fitted at the fitting position and the first outer housing is released. The optical connector according to claim 1,
The first outer housing has a first locked portion and a second locked portion,
The first inner housing has an elastic locking portion having a locking piece locked to the first locked portion or the second locked portion,
When fitting the plurality of first inner housings with the second housing,
When the elastic locking portion pushed by the second housing is deformed and the locking between the first locked portion and the locking piece is released, the first internal portion at the initial position is released. The locking between the housing and the first outer housing is released;
When the second locked portion and the locking piece are locked at the fitting position, the first inner housing is locked with respect to the first outer housing,
The elastic locking portion pushed by the second housing is deformed, and the locking between the second locked portion and the locking piece is released, so that the fitting at the fitting position is performed. An optical connector, wherein the locking between the first inner housing and the first outer housing is released. The optical connector according to claim 2,
When the direction in which the plurality of first ferrules housed in the first inner housing are arranged in the vertical direction,
The first locked portion is disposed on one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the first outer housing, and the second locked portion is disposed on the other of the upper surface and the lower surface. connector. The optical connector according to claim 2,
When the direction in which the plurality of first inner housings are arranged in the left-right direction,
The optical connector, wherein the first locked portion and the second locked portion are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. An optical connector that butt-connects a plurality of first ferrules accommodated in the first housing and a plurality of second ferrules accommodated in the second housing by fitting the first housing and the second housing. Connection method,
Preparing the first housing having a plurality of first inner housings that respectively accommodate the plurality of first ferrules and a first outer housing that can be unlocked with respect to the plurality of first inner housings;
Locking the plurality of first inner housings at a common initial position with respect to the first outer housing;
When fitting the plurality of first inner housings with the second housing,
Releasing the locking between the first inner housing and the first outer housing at the initial position;
Locking the first inner housing with respect to the first outer housing at a fitting position different from the initial position;
The plurality of first inner housings and the second housing are mated in stages at the different fitting positions, and the first inner housing and the first outer parts fitted at the fitting positions. A method of connecting an optical connector, wherein the locking with a housing is released.

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