JP3004221B2 - Optical fiber core wire connection method and connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for connecting single-core or multiple-core optical fibers, and an improvement of a connector used in the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical fiber core used in a telephone office building or the like generally has a connector which is preliminarily processed and attached at both ends thereof. These optical fibers are
It is bundled and used as a cable. However, an extra length is always expected so as to always be able to cope with the determination of the line length. Therefore, when the cable is laid in the telephone office building, the optical cable becomes excessive.

[0003] The excess cable portion becomes an obstacle when adding cables due to an increase in telephone subscribers and the like. Therefore, the excess cable portion is cut and removed, and the cut optical fiber cores on both sides are cut off at the site. There have been various attempts to quickly connect to each other.

[0004] One method of connecting two optical fiber core wires in this manner is to insert the optical fiber core into the V-groove or the core alignment hole of the connector while aligning the optical fiber core and the end faces of these optical fiber cores. This is a non-fusion splicing method in which a small space therebetween is filled with an index matching medium and connected.

In this method, the gap between the end faces of the two optical fiber cores to be connected needs to be kept to a minimum. However, when tension is applied to the optical fiber core, the gap between the end faces of the optical fiber core is reduced. There is a disadvantage that the light transmission efficiency tends to be large and the light transmission efficiency is reduced. Further, it is necessary to manage the deviation of the optical axis of the optical fiber core in units of μm, but such management is structurally impossible, and the light transmission efficiency of the connecting portion cannot be improved.

In order to connect an optical fiber core with minimum transmission loss, a butt portion of an optical fiber core is arranged between a pair of discharge electrodes, and a high voltage is discharged between these discharge electrodes to generate an optical fiber. Fusion welding of cores has been performed. The fusion spliced optical fiber is protected from the outside by reinforcing the fusion spliced portion with an appropriate reinforcing material.

In order to facilitate reinforcement of a fusion spliced portion of an optical fiber, two optical fiber cores to be connected to a core insertion hole formed in an axial direction of a cylindrical connector are inserted. A pair of discharge electrodes is inserted into an electrode insertion hole provided in the middle of the connector, and a discharge is performed between the discharge electrodes to fusion-splice the optical fiber core. It has been proposed to fill and use this connector as a protective jacket (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-37613).

[0008] In this connection method, in order to confirm that the optical fiber cores are aligned with each other in the connector, a microscope is applied to a monitoring hole provided at an intermediate portion of the connector, and the optical fiber core is connected to the monitor. It monitors the butted part.

[0009] However, since this connector only has a core insertion hole for simply inserting and positioning two optical fiber cores, if the core insertion hole is not formed with considerably high accuracy, the optical fiber core is not provided. Cannot be surely aligned. In addition, since the optical fiber is merely fixed with the adhesive filled in the connection device, if tension is applied to the optical fiber from outside, the fusion spliced portion of the optical fiber is damaged. There was a fear.

[0010]

One object of the present invention is to easily manage the deviation of the optical axis of an optical fiber core of an optical fiber core held in a connector in units of μm. And a method for connecting an optical fiber core.

Another problem to be solved by the present invention is that, after fusion splicing of an optical fiber, the optical fiber is processed so that the fusion spliced portion is not broken even when tension is applied. To provide a connection method.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a connector suitable for use in a method for connecting an optical fiber, which can solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first object of the present invention is to hold two optical fiber core wires to be connected to each other in a connector, abut the optical fiber cores, and traverse the connector. Two optical fiber cores joined by a discharge between a pair of provided discharge electrodes are fusion-spliced,
Thereafter, in a method of connecting an optical fiber core, the connecting member is fixed to the optical fiber core as a protective jacket for the connection part of the optical fiber core, the connecting member has a flexible portion around a butt portion of the optical fiber core. An optical fiber core, wherein the two optical fiber cores are fusion-spliced after two-dimensionally fine-adjusting the two optical fiber cores with a flexible portion of the connector and axially aligning the two optical fiber cores. To provide a connection method.

In the first means for solving the problems, the connecting device is held by a fusion splicer having a connecting device position adjusting mechanism, and the connecting device is adjusted by one side of a flexible portion of the connecting device. The connecting part can be moved relative to the other connecting part to fine tune the two optical fiber cores.

The connecting device has a V-groove into which the two optical fiber cores are inserted, and is composed of upper and lower halves which hold the two optical fiber cores from above and below. When adjusting the gap between the two optical fiber cores, the upper half of the connecting part on the side holding one optical fiber core is attached to the corresponding part of the lower half by a spacer. Is adjusted, the spacer can be removed to fix this one optical fiber core to the connector.

It is desirable that the flexible portion of the connecting device be a thin portion in which a portion of the connecting device body is made thin and the connecting portions on both sides thereof can be two-dimensionally adjusted with respect to each other. It can also be formed by other means. Also, after the optical fiber core is connected, the optical fiber core can be hooked and fixed so that the covering portion of the optical fiber core can resist the tension to the connector.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector body for holding an optical fiber core of two optical fiber cores to be connected to each other in an aligned manner, wherein the connector body is provided therein. And an electrode insertion hole into which a pair of discharge electrodes is to be inserted for fusion-splicing the two optical fiber cores held and abutted with each other. In a connecting device for an optical fiber core used as a protective jacket for a connecting portion of a fiber core, a connecting body is two-dimensionally aligned with the axis of the two optical fiber cores around a butt portion of the two optical fiber cores. An object of the present invention is to provide a connector for connecting an optical fiber, which has a flexible portion that allows fine adjustment.

In the second means for solving the problems, the connector body has a V-groove into which the two optical fiber cores are inserted, and is formed of upper and lower halves which hold the two optical fiber cores from above and below. The flexible portion may be provided between the upper and lower half portions sandwiching the two optical fiber cores.

It is desirable that the flexible portion of the connecting part be a thin part in which a part of the connecting part main body is made thin and the connecting parts on both sides thereof can be mutually adjusted two-dimensionally. It can also be formed by other means. In addition, the connecting member main body has a hook fixing portion for fixing the covering portion of the optical fiber core by hooking after connecting the optical fiber core of the optical fiber core so that the covering portion of the optical fiber core can be resistant to tension. Things.

Thus, the connector has a flexible portion around the butted portion of the optical fiber core, and the two optical fiber cores are finely adjusted two-dimensionally by the flexible portion of the connector. When the two optical fiber cores are fusion-spliced after being aligned with each other, the optical axis of the optical fiber core is inserted in fine units such as μm in a state where the optical fiber core is inserted and held in the connector. It can be adjusted dimensionally, so that the light transmission efficiency of the connection portion of the optical fiber core wire does not decrease.

In this way, if the connector can be fine-adjusted by the flexible portion and the axis can be aligned while the optical fiber core is held in the connector, the fusion device having the connector position adjusting mechanism can be provided. The optical fiber core can be axis-aligned while the connector holding the optical fiber core is inserted in the connection machine, and the axis alignment work can be performed efficiently.

This connecting device has a V-groove into which two optical fiber cores are inserted, and is composed of upper and lower halves which hold the two optical fiber cores from above and below. When adjusting the gap of the optical fiber core, when the upper half portion of the connecting part on the side holding one optical fiber core is attached to the corresponding portion of the lower half portion via a spacer, the gap of the optical fiber core is reduced. It can be easily adjusted. Also, after adjusting the gap, the spacer can be removed to easily position the optical fiber core in the corresponding connector part.

If the flexible portion of the connecting device is formed of a thin portion of the connecting device, the flexible portion can be easily formed at the time of molding the connecting device.

Further, after the optical fiber core is connected to the optical fiber core, the coated portion of the optical fiber core is fixed to the connector by hooking so as to resist the tension. The spliced portion of the optical fiber can be obtained without breaking the fusion spliced portion even if it is subjected to tension, and without lowering the light transmission efficiency.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The optical fiber cores 1A, 1A to be connected by the optical fiber core connecting method according to the present invention are described below.
As shown in FIG. 1 (A), each end of B has a primary coating (for example, an ultraviolet curable resin) 2A, 2B and a secondary coating (for example, PVC) 3A, 3B that are peeled off in a stepwise manner to obtain an optical fiber core 4A. , 4B, and the thus treated optical fiber cores 1A, 1B are provided with a heat-shrinkable protective tube 5 for protecting the connection portion and a portion extending from the connection tool as described later. Cover the bending protectors 6A and 6B to be protected from the ends, and protect these protective tubes 5 and the bending protectors 6A and 6A.
6B is moved along the length direction in a direction away from the end so as not to hinder the connection work of the optical fiber cores 1A and 1B (see FIG. 1B). As can be seen from FIG. 1B, the protective tube 5 is composed of the two optical fiber cores 4A and 4A.
Since it is put over the connection portion of B, only one protective tube 5 is brought close to one optical fiber core 1A (or 1B).

The method of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, includes two optical fiber cores 1A, 1B to be interconnected in a connector 12 held on a fusion splicer 10. The optical fiber cores 4A and 4B are inserted and butted, and the optical fiber cores 4A and 4B are fusion-spliced to each other. Although it is used as it is as a jacket, its details will be described below one by one.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting member 12 includes two optical fiber cores 1A and 1B to be connected in the illustrated embodiment.
V-groove 14 into which exposed portions of primary coatings 2A and 2B are inserted
A, 14B and upper and lower halves 16, 16 'for holding the two optical fiber cores 1A, 1B sandwiched from above and below.
Consists of These upper and lower halves 16, 1
6 'is molded from a thermoplastic resin such as a vinyl chloride resin or polypropylene. The upper half part 16 is
2 (A) is shown with the inner surface up and the lower half 16 'is shown in FIG. 2 (B) with the inner surface up and this lower half 16' is shown. FIG. 2 (C) shows a side surface obtained by sectioning a half of the vertical direction of '. FIG. 2B shows an upper surface (inner surface) of the lower half portion 16 ′.
(A) The upper surface (inner surface) of the upper half part 16 is joined and combined to form the connector 12.

The upper and lower half portions 16 and 16 'are provided at the middle portion in the vertical direction with two side portions (right and left connecting portions) 12A and 12B of the half portions 16 and 16'. A flexible portion 18 that allows for dimensional displacement,
18 'and in the illustrated form these flexible portions 1
8, 18 'are formed from the thin portions 18A, 18'A. These thin portions 18A and 18'A are formed into a ball-like shape when the upper and lower half portions 16 and 16 'are joined (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the half portions 16 and 16 'are provided inside the V-grooves 14A and 14B for each of the left and right connector portions 12A and 12B, and the optical fiber core 4A and The enlarged recesses 20A and 20B in which 4B is located (FIG. 9)
), And enlarged recesses 22A, 22B provided outside the V-grooves 14A, 14B and into which the secondary coatings 3A, 3B of the optical fiber cores 1A, 1B are engaged. As shown in FIG. 9, the secondary coating enlarged recesses 22A and 22B are wedge-shaped hook fixing portions 24A and 24 that bite the secondary coatings 3A and 3B of the optical fiber core wires 1A and 1B and hook and fix them.
B.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connecting device 12 has connecting device fixing means 26 for engaging and fixing the upper and lower half portions 16 and 16 'with each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting member fixing means 26 is provided for each of the left and right connecting member portions, and the protrusions 28 with the engaging claws 28a that mesh with each other.
And a concave portion 30 with an engaging claw 30a in which the protruding portion 28 engages and engages with the engaging claw 28a.
Engages with the concave portion 30 while resiliently meshing with the concave portion 30, and meshes and fixes the upper and lower half portions 16, 16 'with each other. In the illustrated example, a protrusion 28 is provided on the right connector part 12B of the upper half part 16 (FIGS. 3A and 3B).
(See FIG. 3 (C)), and a concave portion 30 is provided in the right connector portion 12B of the lower half portion 16 '(see FIG. 3 (B)). ')
The left connector part 12A is provided with a protrusion 28 (see FIGS. 3A 'and 3').

Therefore, these upper and lower half portions 16,
When the upper half 16 is joined, the protrusion 28 on the right side of the upper half 16 resiliently meshes with the recess 30 on the right side of the lower half 16 ′, and the recess 28 on the left side of the upper half 16. 3
0 resiliently meshes with the left projection 28 of the lower half 16 so that the upper and lower half 16, 16 ′ are fixed to each other. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3 (E), the meshing claws 28a of the protruding portions 28 mesh with the meshing claws 30a of the concave portion 30, and these are mutually locked.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the fusion splicer 10 is provided on a base 32 and a movable base 34 movably held on the base 32 in the longitudinal direction thereof. 12
Left and right connector holders 36A and 36B respectively holding left and right connector portions 12A and 12B. On the movable base 34, the left and right connector parts 12A, on the outside corresponding to the left and right connector holders 36A, 36B, respectively.
It has fiber fixtures 38A, 38B for fixing the optical fibers 1A, 1B to be held in 12B. As shown in FIG. 5, the fiber fixtures 38A and 38B can be clamps that are openably and closably supported by hinges or the like, or any other form.

The fusion splicer 10 has a pair of discharge electrodes 4 provided in the middle of the base 32 so as to face each other in the width direction.
0, 40 '(see FIG. 7) and the discharge electrodes 40, 40'.
The illumination 4 for irradiating the connection portion held below the base 32 between
2 (see FIGS. 6 and 10). Discharge electrode 4
0, 40 'are lateral holes (electrode insertion holes) formed by the intermediate flexible portions 18, 18' of the connector 12 held by the fusion splicer 10 and holding the optical fiber cores 1A, 1B described later. ) Optical fiber core wire 1 passing through 19, 19 '
A and 1B are arranged to face each other on both sides of a gap 4g serving as an abutting portion. In addition, the illumination 42 for irradiating the connection portion is provided with an irradiation hole 34 a of the movable base 34 of the fusion splicer 10 and a flexible portion in the middle of the lower half 16 ′ of the connection tool 12 held by the fusion splicer 10. It has a function of irradiating the butted portions of the optical fiber core wires 1A and 1B through the irradiation hole 18'a of the conductive portion 18 '. The discharge electrodes 40 and 40 'are connected to an appropriate fusion power supply 58 through lead wires 56 and 56' and the base 32, as shown in FIG.

In the fusion splicer 10, the left and right connection tool holders 36A and 36B are further moved in the longitudinal direction (X
−X-ray direction) to move the fiber fixtures 38A, 38B.
4g, which is the butted portion of the optical fiber cores 4A and 4B of the optical fiber cores 1A and 1B fixed by
A discharge electrode alignment position adjusting mechanism 44 for adjusting the positions of the connector holders 36A and 36B together with the movable base 34 so that the optical fibers are aligned with the discharge electrodes 40 and 40 ';
For example, the fiber fixing member 38A for fixing 1A is moved with respect to the other optical fiber fixing member 38B in the longitudinal direction of the base 32 (the XX line direction in FIGS.
A core gap adjusting mechanism 4 for adjusting the gap between A and 4B
6 and one of the connector holders, for example, the right connector holder 36B, is moved in the width direction of the base 32 (the YY line direction in FIG. 7), and the optical fiber cores 4A and 4B are moved in the width direction of the base 32. The first position adjustment mechanism 48 for axial alignment, which adjusts the position of the connector, and the connector holder 36B on the right side are moved in the vertical direction of the base 32 (the direction of the line Z-Z in FIGS. A second axial position adjusting mechanism 50 for adjusting the fiber cores 4A and 4B so as to be aligned in the height direction. First
And the second axis alignment position adjusting mechanisms 48 and 50 adjust the position of one connector part two-dimensionally with respect to the other connector part, and align the optical fiber cores 4A and 4B. Configure the adjustment mechanism.

6 and 7, the knobs 44A, 46A, 48 of the position adjusting mechanisms 44, 46, 48, 50 are shown.
A, 50A, and only adjustment shafts 44B, 46B, 48B, 50B rotated by these knobs 44A to 50A are shown. For example, as shown in FIG. The rotating adjustment shaft 44B is screw-coupled to the movable bracket 35 of the movable base 34 to adjust the position of the movable base 34, and the adjusting shaft 46B rotated by the knob 46A of the core gap adjustment mechanism 46 is
The position of the connector holder 36A is adjusted by screw connection with the movable bracket 37 of the connector holder 36A (actually attached to the fiber fixture 38A corresponding to the connector holder 36A).

The knob 4 of the first shaft alignment position adjusting mechanism 48
The adjustment shaft 48B rotated by 8A is screw-coupled to a movable bracket (not shown) of the right connector holder 36B to adjust the position of the connector holder 36B, and is rotated by the knob 50A of the second shaft alignment position adjusting mechanism 50. The adjusting shaft 50B is screw-coupled to a movable bracket (not shown) of the right connector holder 36B to adjust the position of the connector holder 36B so as not to interfere with the first axis alignment position adjusting mechanism 48.

As shown in FIG. 6, a microscope for inspection 52 is supported on a pivotal support bracket (not shown) of the fusion splicer 10, and this microscope 52 pivotally connects the pivotable support bracket. Of the optical fiber cores 1A and 1B from the viewing window 18a of the flexible portion 18 above the connector 12 held by the fusion splicer 10 by being moved so as to face the upper part illumination light 42. It has a function to inspect the situation of the person.

Next, the operation in the case where the method of the present invention is carried out using the apparatus shown in the figure will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. As already described in detail with reference to FIG. 1, the primary coating 2 at each end of the optical fiber cores 1A and 1B.
A, 2B and the secondary coatings 3A, 3B are peeled off in a stepwise manner to expose the optical fiber cores 4A, 4B. The bending protection devices 6A and 6B for protecting the bending of the protection tube 5 and the optical fiber cores 1A and 1B are covered from the ends, and these protection tubes 5 and the bending protection devices 6A and 6B are connected to the optical fiber cores 1A and 1B. Along the length direction in a direction away from the connection end (see FIG. 1B).

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the left and right connector parts of the lower half 16 'of the connector 12 are respectively attached to the left and right connector holders 36A and 36B on the movable base 34 of the fusion splicer 1. 12A and 12B, and the lower half portion 16 ′
The optical fiber cores 1A, 1B are sequentially inserted on the left and right connector parts 12A, 12B. As shown in FIG. 5, the outer ends of the left and right connector portions 12A and 12B of the lower half portion 16 'are held so as to be located inside the fiber fixing devices 38A and 38B.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, in the lower half portion 16 ', the optical fibers 1A to be interconnected are connected.
1B, and the upper half portion 16 is joined thereto, and the upper and lower half portions 1 on the left side of the connector portion 12A are held.
A wedge-shaped spacer 54 whose thickness gradually increases toward the outside is sandwiched between 6, 6 '.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the optical fiber core wires 1A and 1B are such that the secondary coatings 2A and 2B, which are exposed after the secondary coatings 3A and 3B are peeled, are engaged with the V-grooves 14A and 14B. , The ends of the optical fiber cores 4A and 4B serving as butting portions are connected to the flexible portions 18 and 1 via the enlarged recesses 20A and 20B.
It is fixed by the fiber fixing members 38A and 38B so as to be located in the middle of 8 ′ and to be the center of the discharge electrodes 40 and 40 ′.
The right optical fiber core 1B is in a fully fixed state. The upper half part 16 is for temporarily fixing the optical fiber cores 1A and 1B,
It is joined after permanent fixing. The right optical fiber core 1B
Is permanently fixed to the connector part 12B, so that the secondary coating 3B may also be hooked and fixed to the hook fixing part 24B.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 11, the spacer 54 extends outward from the inner end portion (the portion indicated by symbol 12i in FIG. 9) adjacent to the flexible portions 18 and 18 'of the connecting device 12. It is formed in a wedge shape so that the thickness gradually increases from the inner end portion 12i to the outer end portion 12o over the end portion (the portion indicated by the symbol 12o in FIG. 9). As shown in FIG. 10A, the spacer 54 substantially corresponds to the planar shape of the connecting part 12A on the left side of the lower half part 16 'of the connecting part 12 shown in FIG. 2B. It is possible to have a planar shape excluding the V-groove 14A, the concave portions 20A and 22A, and the protruding portion 28 from this planar shape. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
Are divided into two in the width direction (Y-Y line direction) crossing the center of. When the upper and lower halves 16, 16 'are joined, the spacer 54 is not sandwiched so that the left connector portion 12A completely holds the optical fiber core 1A. 1A is the connecting part 12A
If it has a function of holding the secondary coating 3A with a margin (floating the secondary coating 3A from the V-groove 14A) so that the position can be adjusted to the X-X line in any of the plane shapes, Good.

In this manner, the optical fiber core 1A is temporarily fixed in the connecting member 12, the optical fiber core 1B is permanently fixed, and the optical fiber cores 1A and 1B are held. To move the optical fiber fixture 38A to X-
By adjusting the position in the X-ray direction and displacing the temporarily fixed optical fiber core 1A with respect to the permanently fixed optical fiber core 1B, the optical fiber cores 4 of the two optical fiber cores 1A and 1B are displaced.
The gap 4g of A and 4B is adjusted to an optimum state (FIG. 1).
1 (A)). The optical fiber core 1 </ b> A is
The optical fiber core 1A can be freely displaced in the connecting part 12A of the connecting part 12 because it is loosely held between the upper and lower half parts 16 and 16 '.

Thereafter, the discharge electrode alignment position adjusting mechanism 44
By operating the movable table 34 and the connector 12, the center of the core gap 4 g of the optical fiber cores 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B is
0A, 40A 'so as to be aligned between the optical fibers 1A,
1B is adjusted in the X-X line direction (see FIG. 11B), and the first and second axis adjusting position adjusting mechanisms 48,
The connector 1 is operated so that the optical fiber cores 4A and 4B of the left and right optical fiber cores 1A and 1B are axially aligned by operating 50.
2 and the left connector part 12A.
The position is finely adjusted two-dimensionally in units of μm in the YY line direction (width direction) and the ZZ line direction (height direction) (see FIG. 11C). In this case, the left and right connector parts 1
It can be seen that the two-dimensional fine adjustment is possible because the flexible parts 18, 18 'can displace the two parts 2A, 12B in mutually free directions.

The gap adjustment by the core gap adjustment mechanism 46, the discharge electrode alignment position adjustment mechanism 44, the first and second axis alignment position adjustment mechanisms 48, 50, the discharge electrode 40,
The alignment with the optical fiber cores 4A and 4B is performed while the flexible part 1 is illuminated by the light from the inspection light 42 through the viewing hole 18'a of the flexible part 18 '.
The observation is performed by the microscope 52 through the viewing window 18 a of the microscope 8.

Thereafter, the fusion power supply device 58 is connected to the discharge electrode 4.
0 and 40 ', and a high voltage is applied to the discharge electrodes 40 and 40' to fuse the optical fiber cores 4A and 4B. After fusion, the optical fiber cores 4A, 4A
Check the fusion state of B.

If the connection shape of the optical fiber cores 4A and 4B is defective, it is determined that the connection is defective and the gap 4g of the optical fiber cores 1A and 1B is adjusted, and the discharge electrode 4
All work steps of alignment with 0, 40 ', core axis alignment and fusion are performed again.

If it is confirmed that the fusion state of the optical fiber cores 4A and 4B is good, the spacer 5
4 is divided into upper and lower halves 16, 1 on the connecting part 12A side.
6 ', the upper and lower half portions 16 and 16' of the connecting tool 12 are pressed by a pressing tool (not shown),
As shown in FIG.
The protrusions 28 and the recesses 30 are engaged with each other,
At 0a, they are engaged with each other and fixed, and then the connecting tool 12 is taken out of the fusion splicer 10 together with the optical fiber cores 1A and 1B. In this case, the secondary coating 3A of the optical fiber core 1A, which was in the temporarily fixed state, is hooked and fixed to the hook fixing portion 24A.

Next, the flexible portions 18, 1
8 'viewing window 18a, viewing hole 18'a, side hole 19, 1
9 'is closed with an adhesive tape or the like, and an adhesive filler is injected into one of the unsealed holes or windows into the fitting 12 including the flexible portions 18 and 18', and then cured. 12 and the optical fiber cores 1A and 1B,
2 to prevent bending. The hole or window for injecting the adhesive filler is also closed with an adhesive tape or the like after the injection.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 9, the bend protectors 6A and 6B previously brought to the respective optical fiber cores 1A and 1B are returned to the outer end of the connector 12 and resiliently engaged. Then, the heat-shrinkable protective tube 5 placed on one of the optical fibers 1 </ b> A is covered over the entire length of the connector 12, and the heat-shrinkable protective tube 5 is placed with a hot gun (not shown). Heat shrinks and adheres closely to the connector 12;
The connection of the optical fiber cores 1A, 1B is formed over all surfaces including the holes or windows of the flexible portions 18, 18 '.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 11, the case where the single-core optical fibers 1A and 1B are connected has been described. However, as shown in FIGS. 100A and 100B are connected in exactly the same manner. Connector 1 used in this embodiment
12 is a V-groove 14 of the connector 12 for holding the single-core optical fibers 1A and 1B, as can be seen from FIGS.
A, 14B, multi-core optical fiber core 100A,
Primary coating 200A, 200B for each optical fiber of 100B
(The 200A is not shown in the drawing) is substantially the same as the connector 12 except that it has multi-row V-grooves 114A and 114B, respectively, and the connection method is also shown in FIGS. Since the method is exactly the same as that of the embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted. 1 to 11
The same parts as those of the third embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals obtained by adding 100, but the upper half part 116 and the corresponding parts (reference numerals 118, 118A, 118a) are not shown. Moreover, the optical fiber cores 100A, 100
The secondary coating of B is 300A, 300B (300A in the drawing)
Are not shown), and the optical fiber cores are shown by 400A and 400B (400A is not shown in the drawing).

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 11, after adjusting the gap 4g of the optical fiber cores 4A and 4B of the optical fiber cores 1A and 1B, the gap 4g is
Adjust the position of the connector 12 so that it is aligned with 0, 40 ',
Finally, the position of the connector portion 12B was adjusted in the YY line direction (the width direction of the connector 12) and the ZZ line direction (the height direction) so that the optical fiber cores 4A and 4B were aligned.
The order of the gap adjusting work, the aligning work with the discharge electrode, and the aligning work of the optical fiber cores 4A and 4B can be appropriately changed. Also in the embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13, the work order can be freely changed.

In the above embodiment, the connecting device 1
2, 112 are upper and lower halves 16, 16 ', 11
6, 116 ′, which can pass through the optical fiber cores 1A, 1B and 100A, 100B, and the optical fiber cores 4A, 4B and 400A,
As long as the gap of 400B can be adjusted, the gap does not necessarily have to be formed by half.

Further, the optical fibers 1A, 1B and 10
The alignment of 0A and 100B is performed by connecting the right connector 12
B and 112B were finely adjusted in position, but may be performed by adjusting the position of the left connecting parts 12B and 112B, or both connecting parts 12A, 12B, 112A and 1B.
The position of 12B may be adjusted.

[0055]

According to the present invention, as described above, the butting portions of the two optical fiber cores are fusion-spliced by the discharge between the pair of discharge electrodes inserted through the holes of the connector. The wire is connected and then the connector is secured to the fiber optic as a protective jacket for the fiber optic connection, but the connector has a flexible portion around the butt of the fiber optic core. After the two optical fiber cores are fine-tuned two-dimensionally with this flexible portion of the connector and are axially aligned with each other, the two optical fiber cores are fusion-spliced.
With the optical fiber core inserted and held in the connector, the optical axis of the optical fiber core can be adjusted two-dimensionally in fine units such as μm, so that the optical fiber core can be adjusted with high precision. Since they can be matched, there is no decrease in light transmission efficiency at the connection portion of the optical fiber core.

Also, if the connector can be finely adjusted by the flexible portion and the axis can be aligned while holding the optical fiber core in the connector, a position adjusting mechanism for the optical fiber core and the connector is provided. The optical fiber core can be axially aligned and aligned with the discharge electrode while the splicer holding the optical fiber core is inserted into the fusion splicer, so that preparation work before fusion splicing can be performed efficiently. Can be.

Further, if the connecting device has a V-groove into which two optical fiber cores are inserted and is composed of upper and lower halves for holding the two optical fiber cores from above and below, the optical fiber The core can be easily held in the connector,
In particular, the upper half portion of the optical fiber core side connector which is movable when adjusting the gap is attached to the corresponding portion of the lower half portion via the spacer, so that the gap of the optical fiber core of the optical fiber core is When adjusting the optical fiber, the optical fiber can be freely displaced in the connector, so that the gap can be easily adjusted, and therefore, after the spacer is removed, the optical fiber is appropriately connected. The position can be easily set in the tool part.

In particular, when the connecting part is formed of a halved part and the flexible part is formed of a thin part, the connecting part having the flexible part can be easily formed, so that the connecting part is economical. Can be obtained.

Further, after the optical fiber core is connected, the optical fiber core is fixed to the connector by the hook fixing part so that the fiber coating part can resist the tension. A spliced portion of a high-quality optical fiber can be obtained in which the fusion spliced portion does not break even under tension and the light transmission efficiency does not decrease.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a processing state of a single-core optical fiber cable to be connected by the connection method of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (A) is a side view of a state where a primary coating and a secondary coating are stepped off, and FIG. (B) is a side view of the optical fiber core wire of FIG.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a two-piece connector used in the method of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a bottom view of an upper half part, and FIG. 2B is a top view of a lower half part thereof; FIG. 3C is a side view showing a half of the lower half portion of FIG.

3A and 3B show a cross section and an end face of the connecting device of FIG. 2; FIG. 3A is a right end view of FIG. 2A, and FIG.
2B is a right end view, FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B′-B ′ of FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view taken along line C′-C ′ of FIG. 2B, and FIG. ) Is a sectional view taken along line DD, FIG. 2 (D ′) is a sectional view taken along line D′-D ′ in FIG. 2 (B), and FIG. 2 (E) is a state in which the optical fiber core is held by the connector. It is a right end view which shows a part by cross section.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a fusion splicer used in the method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the fusion splicer holding a lower half portion of the connector.

6 is a side view of the fusion splicer in a state in which the optical fiber core is held in the lower half of the connector in the state of FIG. 5 and the upper half of the connector is joined.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the fusion splicer in the state of FIG.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side view of the connector holding the optical fiber in the state of FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a connection portion of an optical fiber core formed by fusion splicing with a fusion splicing machine together with a coupling device, in which only a lower half portion is shown. is there.

10A and 10B show a spacer used in the present invention, FIG. 10A is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 10B is a side view thereof.

FIGS. 11A and 11B show the movement of the optical fiber when the optical fiber is connected by the method of the present invention. FIG. 11A is an explanatory view of a gap adjusting operation, and FIG. FIG. 2C is an explanatory view of an alignment operation, and FIG. 2C is an explanatory view of an alignment operation of an optical fiber core.

FIG. 12 is an end view showing a cross section of a part of a connection portion of the optical fiber when the method of the present invention is applied to a multi-core optical fiber.

FIG. 13 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the connecting portion of the multi-core optical fiber cable of FIG. 12 in the same manner as in FIG. 9 and showing only the lower half portion of the connecting tool.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1A Optical fiber core wire 1B Optical fiber core wire 2A Primary coating (for example, ultraviolet curing resin) 2B Primary coating (for example, ultraviolet curing resin) 3A Secondary coating (for example, PVC, nylon, etc.) 3B Secondary coating (for example, PVC, nylon, etc.) 4A Optical fiber core 4B Optical fiber core 4g Gap 5 Heat-shrinkable protective tube 6A Bend protector 6B Bend protector 10 Fusion splicer 12 Connector 12A Left connector 12B Right connector 12i Connector 12A Inner end part 12o Outer end part of connector part 12A 14A V groove 14B V groove 16 Upper half part 16 'Lower half part 18 Flexible part 18' Flexible part 18A Thin part 18a Viewing window 18 'A Thin part 18'a Irradiation hole 19 Side hole for discharge electrode 40 (electrode insertion hole) 19' Side hole for discharge electrode 40 '( Electrode insertion hole) 20A Enlarged concave portion 20B Enlarged concave portion 22A Enlarged concave portion for secondary coating 22B Enlarged concave portion for secondary coating 24A Hook fixing portion 24B Hook fixing portion 26 Connector fixing means 28 Projection portion 28a Mesh claw 28a 30 Recess 30a Mesh claw 32 Base 34 Movable table 34a Irradiation hole of movable table 34 35 Movable bracket 36A Left connector holder 36B Right connector holder 37 Movable bracket 38A Fiber fixture 38B Fiber fixture 40 Discharge electrode 40 'Discharge electrode 42 Monitoring illumination 44 Discharge electrode alignment position adjustment mechanism 44A knob 44B adjustment axis 46 core gap adjustment mechanism 46A knob 46B adjustment axis 48 First axis alignment position adjustment mechanism 48A knob 48B adjustment axis 50 Second axis alignment position adjustment mechanism 50A knob 50B Adjustment axis 52 Visual microscope 54 Spacer 56 Lead wire for discharge electrode 40 56 'Lead wire for discharge electrode 40' 58 Fusion power supply 100A Multi-core optical fiber 100B Multi-core optical fiber 200A Primary coating 200B Primary coating 300A Secondary coating 300B Secondary coating 400A Optical fiber core 400B Optical fiber core 400g Gap 500 Heat-shrinkable protective tube 600A Bend protector 112 Connector 112A Left connector 112B Right connector 114A Multi-row V-groove 114B Multi-row V-groove 116 Upper half part 116 'Lower half part 118 Flexible part 118' Flexible part 118A Thin part 118a Viewing window 118'A Thin part 118'a Irradiation hole 119 Side hole for discharge electrode 140 (electrode insertion hole) ) 119 'Horizontal hole for discharge electrode 140' (electrode insertion) Entrance hole) 120A Enlarged concave portion 120B Enlarged concave portion 122A Enlarged concave portion for secondary coating 122B Enlarged concave portion for secondary coating 124A Hook fixing portion 124B Hook fixing portion 126 Connector fixing means 128 Projecting portion 128a Meshing claw 130 Recess 130a Meshing claw 140 Discharge electrode 140 'discharge electrode

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 6/24-6/255 G02B 6/36-6/40

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. An optical fiber core held by a connector and holding two optical fiber core wires to be connected to each other, butted against each other,
The two butted optical fiber cores are fusion-spliced by a discharge between a pair of discharge electrodes provided across the connector, and then the connector is connected to a protective jacket of a connection portion of the optical fiber core. In the method for connecting an optical fiber core fixed to the optical fiber core as described above, the connecting device has a flexible portion around a butt portion of the optical fiber core, and connects the two optical fiber cores to the connecting device. After two-dimensional fine adjustment with the flexible part of
A method for connecting optical fiber cores, wherein the two optical fiber cores are fusion-spliced. 2. The method for connecting optical fiber ribbons according to claim 1, wherein the connecting tool is held by a fusion splicer having the connecting tool position adjusting mechanism, and the connecting tool is adjusted by the connecting tool position adjusting mechanism. The connecting part on one side of the flexible part of the pair of connecting parts is movable with respect to the other connecting part, and finely adjusted so that the two optical fiber cores are aligned. To connect optical fiber cores. 3. The method for connecting optical fiber core wires according to claim 1, wherein the connecting tool has a V-shaped groove into which two optical fiber cores are inserted, and the two optical fiber cores are vertically moved. When adjusting the gap between the butted portions of the two optical fiber cores, the upper half of the connector on the side that holds at least one optical fiber core is The one optical fiber core is attached to a corresponding portion of the lower half via a spacer, and the position of the one optical fiber core is adjusted with respect to the other optical fiber core to adjust the gap of the optical fiber cores of the two optical fiber cores. And then removing the spacer and fixing the one optical fiber core to a corresponding connector part. 4. A method for connecting an optical fiber core according to claim 1, wherein said flexible portion comprises a thin portion of a connector body. How to connect core wires. 5. The method for connecting an optical fiber core according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber core is connected to the optical fiber core after the optical fiber core is connected. A method of connecting an optical fiber core wire, wherein the optical fiber core wire is hooked and fixed. 6. A connector body for holding an optical fiber core of two optical fiber cores to be connected to each other in an aligned manner, wherein said connector body is inserted into said two butted butted ends. 1 for fusion splicing of optical fiber core
An electrode insertion hole into which a pair of discharge electrodes are to be inserted, wherein the connector main body is used as a protective sheath for a connection portion of the optical fiber core after the optical fiber core is connected; Wherein the connector body has a flexible portion around the abutting portion of the two optical fiber cores, which allows two-dimensional fine adjustment in aligning the two optical fiber cores. Optical fiber cable connection connector. 7. The optical fiber core connector according to claim 6, wherein the connector main body has a V groove into which the two optical fiber cores are engaged. It is characterized by comprising upper and lower halves for holding the core from above and below, and wherein the flexible portion is provided between the upper and lower halves for sandwiching the two optical fiber cores. Connector for connecting optical fibers. 8. The optical fiber core connector according to claim 6, wherein the flexible portion comprises a thin portion of the connector main body. Connection fittings. 9. The optical fiber cable connecting device according to claim 6, wherein the connecting device main body has a hook fixing portion for hooking and fixing the optical fiber cable. An optical fiber connection connector, characterized in that: