JP2593551B2 - Connector for multi-core optical fiber batch connection - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a connector used for connecting a plurality of multi-core optical fibers at a time.

[Conventional technology and its problems]

In general, a multi-core optical fiber is obtained by arranging a plurality of optical fibers in parallel and coating them collectively. Conventionally, when connecting such a multi-core optical fiber, the end of the core is peeled off, and a ferrule for positioning a plurality of optical fibers at a predetermined pitch is attached thereto. A plurality of optical fibers are collectively connected to the end face of the optical fiber. The alignment of the ferrules is performed, for example, by fitting a pair of pins provided on one ferrule into a pair of pin holes provided on the other ferrule.

When connecting a plurality of multi-core optical fiber cores in this manner, ferrules are attached to the ends of the multi-core optical fiber cores and butt-connected, but a plurality of ferrules are collectively connected. Butting connection requires extremely high accuracy in terms of positioning, uniform contact pressure, and the like, and has been difficult to realize.

[Means for solving the problem and its operation]

The present invention provides a multi-core optical fiber collective connection connector that solves the above problems, and the configuration thereof is
A plurality of ferrules attached to ends of a plurality of multicore optical fibers, a holder for holding these ferrules so as to be movable in the axial direction, and a holder for moving the holder in the axial direction, and a circumferential direction. And a housing for holding the ferrule so that it does not rotate, and between the ferrule and the holder, an individual pressing spring that presses the ferrule so that its end face projects forward from the end face of the holder is interposed, and the holder Between the housing and the housing, a push spring for pressing the holder so that its end face protrudes forward from the end face of the housing is interposed.Each ferrule has a pin or pin hole for centering with the other ferrule. And the holder also has a pin or pin hole for centering with the counterpart holder, and the tip of the pin of the holder projects forward from the tip of the pin of the ferrule Characterized in that it is positioned so that.

With this arrangement, when the connectors having the same configuration are butt-connected, first, the holders are centered by the pins and the pin holes of the holder, and then the corresponding ferrules are centered by the pins and the pin holes of the ferrule. Thereafter, the end faces of the ferrules come into contact with each other, and the pressing force is applied to the ferrule by the individual pressing springs. Then, the end faces of the holder come into contact with each other, and the pressing force is applied to the holder by the collective pressing springs. In this way, a plurality of ferrules can be easily butted. Further, each ferrule comes into close contact with the opponent with an appropriate force by an individual pressing spring. Furthermore, even if a bending force is applied to the housing after connection, the pressing force of the collective pressing spring and the individual pressing springs is working, so that at least the contact pressure on the ferrule end surface does not change, and the transmission state is kept stable. Can be.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 11 denotes a tape-shaped multi-core optical fiber core, and reference numeral 12 denotes a ferrule attached to an end thereof. In this embodiment, six ferrules 12 are used as shown in FIG. 2 to collectively connect six multi-core optical fibers. A plurality of optical fibers 11a of a multi-core optical fiber 11 are arranged at a predetermined pitch on the end face of each ferrule 12, and a pin 13 and a pin hole 14 are provided on both sides thereof.
Is provided.

Each of the six ferrules 12 is held by a holder 15 so as to be movable in the axial direction. Each ferrule 12 has a flange portion 16 at an intermediate portion.
, And an individual pressing spring 18 is inserted in a compressed state between the inner wall 17 and the back wall 17 of the holder 15. For this reason, each ferrule 12 is always pressed forward by an individual pressing spring 18, and the end face A of the ferrule 12 becomes the end face B It will be in a state protruding forward.

The holder 15 is held by a cylindrical housing 19 so as to be movable in the axial direction. Holder 15 and housing
The key 19 and the key groove 22 prevent the key 19 from rotating relatively. The end face of the holder 15 is provided with a pin 23 and a pin hole 24 for alignment with the counterpart holder. A collective pressing spring 26 is interposed between the rear surface of the holder 15 and the step 25 at the back of the housing 19 in a compressed state. For this reason, the holder 15 is always pressed forward by the collective pressing spring 26, and the end face B of the holder 15 is set to the end face It becomes a state protruding before C.

The connector 31 thus configured is inserted into the adapter 32 and butt-connected to a mating connector having the same structure. For this reason, an adapter 32
A coupling nut 28 screw-coupled to an end of the adapter 32, a projection 29 for preventing relative rotation with the adapter 32, and an O-ring 30 for maintaining airtightness with the adapter 32 are provided. The adapter 32 has an axial groove 33 corresponding to the projection 28.

When the connector 31 as described above is inserted into the adapter 32 from both sides, first, the pins 23 of the holder 15 are inserted into the pin holes 24 of the counterpart holder, and the holders 15 are aligned. As a result, each ferrule 12 almost exactly faces the other ferrule, and then the pin 13 of the ferrule 12 is inserted into the pin hole 14 of the other ferrule, and the ferrules 12 are aligned. Next, the end faces of the ferrule 12 contact each other,
A pressing force is applied to the ferrule 12 by the individual pressing spring 18. When the holder 15 is further pressed, the end faces of the holder 15 come into contact with each other, and a pressing force is applied to the holder 15 by the collective pressing spring 26. Thus, a plurality of ferrules 12
Are easily matched.

In the above embodiment, a pin is placed on one side of the ferrule end face,
Although the case where the pin holes are provided on the opposite side has been described, pins (or pin holes) may be provided on both sides of the ferrule, in which case the pin holes (or pins) are provided on both sides of the other ferrule. . The same applies to the relationship between the pins of the holder and the pin holes.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of multicore optical fiber core ferrules can be easily butted and connected together at a time, and even after the connection, when a bending force is applied to the connection portion, Since each ferrule is double-pressed by the individual pressing spring and the collective pressing spring, there is no possibility that a gap is generated between the end faces, and the connection state can be stably maintained. Further, the use of the individual push springs and the collective push springs can reduce the dimensional accuracy of the housing and the holder to some extent, and has an advantage that processing and assembly are facilitated. Furthermore, by positioning the tip of the pin of the holder so as to protrude ahead of the tip of the pin of the ferrule, the holder is first aligned with the ferrule at the time of connection, and then the ferrule is aligned with the ferrule. There is an advantage that the alignment can be performed smoothly without applying excessive force.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a multi-core optical fiber collective connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an end view of a holder portion of the connector. 11: multi-core optical fiber, 12: ferrule, 13: pin, 14:
Pin hole, 15: Holder, 18: Individual push spring, 19: Housing, 23: Pin, 24: Pin hole, 26: Batch push spring, 27: Coupling nut, 31: Connector, 32: Adapter, A: Ferrule 12 , B: end face of holder 15, C: end face of housing 19.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Etsuo Tanabe 6th Yawata Kaigandori, Ichihara-shi, Chiba Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. Chiba Works (56) References JP-A-62-70805 (JP, A) Showa 53-148456 (JP, A) Actual opening Showa 63-162304 (JP, U) Actual opening Showa 54-23654 (JP, U) Actual opening Showa 64-13011 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of ferrules (12) attached to ends of a plurality of multi-core optical fibers (11), and a holder (11) for holding each of these ferrules (12) so as to be movable in the axial direction. 15) and a housing (19) for holding the holder (15) so as to be movable in the axial direction and not to rotate in the circumferential direction, and between each ferrule (12) and the holder (15). Is inserted with an individual pressing spring (18) for pressing the ferrule (12) so that its end face (A) projects forward from the end face (B) of the holder (15), and the holder (15) and the housing ( A collective pressing spring (26) for pressing the holder (15) so that its end surface (B) projects forward from the end surface (C) of the housing (19) is interposed between the holder (15) and the holder (15). Each ferrule (12) and the holder (15) are connected to the other Pin for centering of the rule and the holder (13, 23) is provided, the holder (15)
The multi-core optical fiber collective connector, wherein the tip of the pin (23) is positioned so that the tip of the pin (23) projects forward from the tip of the pin (14) of the ferrule (12).