JP4032073B2 - Optical connector with shutter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector used for a connection portion of an optical communication cable, and more specifically, safety of handling of a connector plug (hereinafter simply referred to as a plug) and a connector receptacle (hereinafter simply referred to as a receptacle) in connector connection. The present invention also relates to an optical connector with a shutter having improved dust resistance.

  The optical connector is indispensable for the cable connection of an optical cable that enables large-capacity communication in the Internet society. The optical cable is used, for example, for the construction of a LAN between companies or in a company, and the construction of FTTH (Fiber To The Home) for drawing an optical cable to a general household. In this way, since the optical cable is familiar, there are many opportunities for ordinary people to come into contact with the optical connector, and there is a possibility that the optical fiber light will be directly viewed in the general home and the retina may be damaged by the optical energy. However, there is a problem that the amount of optical transmission loss increases due to intrusion of dust or the like.

  In the prior art, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-300985 is known as an openable shutter provided at the opening of a plug or receptacle in an optical connector.

  However, in the optical connector with a shutter, even if there is a shutter at the opening, it is only dustproof, for example, when an infant inserts the finger of his hand, the finger can easily enter the connector. When the shutter is pushed, there is no movement lock mechanism, so that it may be easily retracted and the end of the fiber may be exposed, and the fiber may be broken.

  As described above, the optical connector with a shutter has a problem in sufficiently satisfying the dustproof effect, safety, and its reliability.

The present invention provides an optical connector comprising a connector plug and a connector receptacle to which the plug is inserted and fitted to be connected. When the plug is connected to the receptacle, the connecting end of the fiber is along the optical axis. Each of the shutters is provided with a shutter that allows movement of the fiber and prevents movement of the connecting end of the fiber when not connected , and both shutters are retracted from the optical axis by a retracting means on the connection partner side when connected. Thus, the optical connector with shutter is configured so that the connection end of the fiber in the plug protrudes from the inside of the shutter on the plug side to the outside, so that the optical connector with shutter is connected to the fiber on the receptacle side. .

  Also, a shutter is provided on the slide housing of the plug, and a fibre bar damage prevention rod is disposed inside the shutter to prevent the slide housing from being retracted from the optical axis so as not to damage the fiber connection end. It is established.

Further, the gist of the optical connector with shutter according to the present invention, a connector plug, an optical connector formed of a connector receptacle in which the plug is inserted and fitted connected to said plug and receptacle, when connecting the fiber Each connecting end of the plug is provided with a shutter that allows the connecting end of the fiber to move along the optical axis and prevents the connecting end of the fiber from moving when not connected. Inserted / fitted and retracted from the optical axis to allow the connecting end of the fiber to move along the optical axis for connection, and when disconnected, move from the receptacle to the optical axis A slide housing that prevents the connecting end of the fiber from moving along the optical axis for connection, and also serves as a shutter; The receptacle side is that the return means for returning the slide housing on retraction means and the optical axis to retract from the optical axis is provided.

Further, in the optical connector comprising the connector plug and the connector receptacle to which the plug is inserted and fitted and connected, the connection end of the fiber along the optical axis is connected to the plug and the receptacle. Each of the shutters is provided with a shutter that allows movement and prevents movement of the connecting end of the fiber when not connected. The shutter on the receptacle side is pivotally supported so as to be opened and closed by a plug insertion / extraction action. In addition, it is provided to be inclined to the rear side of the receptacle.

  According to the optical connector with a shutter configured as described above, before the plug is connected to the receptacle, dust or the like is prevented from entering the inside by the shutter, and the connection end of the fiber is mistakenly viewed directly. Is prevented and safe.

  In addition, the fiber damage prevention rod prevents an infant or the like from mischief and withdraws the slide housing from the optical axis to expose the fiber connection side end to the outside, so as not to injure the eyes, etc. Protects against fiber damage.

  Further, the slide housing in the plug can be moved from the optical axis to the retracted position or moved back, so that it can also be used as a shutter, thereby reducing the number of parts.

  Further, by pivotally supporting the shutter on the receptacle side and tilting it to the rear side, even if an infant or the like tries to open the shutter because of mischief, the safety is improved.

FIG. 1 is a plan view (A), a front view (B), left and right side views (C) and (D) of a plug 1 in an optical connector with a shutter according to the present invention.
[FIG. 2] A longitudinal sectional view (A), a transverse sectional view (B), and a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1 (A) of the plug 1 along the line BB in FIG. 1 (A). FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the shutter 1e.
FIG. 3 is a plan view (A), a front view (B), a left side view (C), and a right side view (D) of the receptacle 2 in the optical connector 3 with a shutter according to the present invention.
[FIG. 4] A sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.
[FIG. 5] It is explanatory drawing (A), (B), (C) which shows the connection effect | action in order which is the use condition of the optical connector 3 with a shutter which concerns on this invention.
[FIG. 6] A plan view (A), a front view (B), and a side view (C) showing a part of the plug 9 in the optical connector with shutter according to the second embodiment of the present invention in section.
FIG. 7 is a plan view (A), a front view (B), a right side view (C), and a bottom view (D) of a plug 11 in an optical connector 13 with a shutter according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 8] A plan view (A), a longitudinal sectional view (B), a left side view (C), a right side view (D) of the receptacle 12 in the optical connector 13 with a shutter according to the third embodiment of the present invention, It is a bottom view (E).
[FIG. 9] An explanatory view (A) of the plug 11 and a longitudinal sectional view showing the state of connection in the optical connector 13 with shutter according to the third embodiment of the present invention divided into the first to third stages. (B).

  As an embodiment of the present invention, in an optical connector with a shutter composed of a connector plug and a connector receptacle, the shutter is opened by being fitted to each other, and the shutter is not easily opened. Explain things.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the plug 1 in the optical connector 3 with a shutter according to the first embodiment is made of a synthetic resin, such as a plug housing 1a, a fixed housing 1b, a slide housing 1c, and a synthetic resin shutter. 1e.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a fixed housing 1b for holding the optical cable 7 is fitted in the plug housing 1a. As shown in FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (C), a cylindrical spring guide 1f protruding from the inner wall surface at the center of the fixed housing 1b is cantilevered substantially horizontally in the inner space of the plug housing 1a. Has been. A spring 4 is fitted there.

  The spring 4 is an elastic member that is urged so that one end abuts against the rear wall surface of the slide housing 1c and pushes it forward.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2 (B), a fiber damage prevention rod 1g protrudes forward from the tip of the spring guide 1f. The tip is provided at a position slightly ahead of the position of the shutter 1e.

  Thereby, even when the slide housing 1c is pushed backward at the time of non-connection, the slide housing 1c is prevented from moving backward by colliding with the tip of the fiber damage prevention rod 1g. .

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slide housing 1c is provided with a shutter space 1h that opens upward in the vertical direction on the front side thereof, and in FIG. The shutter 1e shown is housed in a loosely fitted state.

  Then, as shown in FIGS. 2 (C) and 2 (D), the pressing spring 5 acts to hold the shutter 1e so as not to come out upward. In this embodiment, one end of the presser spring 5 is engaged with the notch in the upper center portion of the shutter 1e.

  The shutter 1e is pushed upward by a part (retracting means) of a later-described receptacle 2 to enter an open state that allows movement along the connecting direction of the fiber 6 and the fiber damage prevention rod 1g. Therefore, the shutter 1e only needs to be retracted from the optical axis by the retracting means so as not to interfere with the connection. Therefore, the shutter 1e may be lifted upward and moved obliquely upward or downward.

  In the shutter space 1h, as shown in FIGS. 1C, 2A, and 2B, fiber through holes 1j that are penetrated in the front-rear direction are provided at two positions on the left and right sides. ing. The fiber 6 of the optical cable is inserted into the through hole 1j in a connected state with the receptacle 2.

  A tapered portion is formed at the front end of the slide housing 1c to open and close the shutter on the receptacle 2 side. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, wall surfaces are extended forward from the left and right end portions of the slide housing 1c, and tapered portions 1m and 1n that are inclined downward toward the front are provided. Yes. As shown in FIG. 1C, the wall surface is formed in an L shape in order to maintain the strength of the front end portion. And as shown to FIG. 1 (A), it has given a certain width a and is spaced apart.

  An optical cable 7 is attached to the plug housing 1. The tip of the fiber 6 of the optical cable 7 is disposed near the entrance of the through hole 1j.

Next, the receptacle 2 fitted and connected to the plug 1 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 4, the receptacle 2 is a box made of synthetic resin and opened on one side surface, and the inside of the receptacle 2 is mostly a space for receiving the plug 1.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (A), the upper ceiling is provided with two rectangular through holes, one of which is a hole 2a for forming a shutter housing portion, and the other is a fixed housing 1b. This is a locking hole 2b that engages with the claw 1p (see FIG. 2A).

  As shown in FIGS. 3D and 4, the internal space 2c of the receptacle 2 is provided with a taper portion 2d as a retracting means that inclines upward toward the rear at the center thereof. . The width of the tapered portion 2d in the left-right direction is set to be slightly narrower than the width a since the tapered portion 2d enters the width a of the slide housing 1c shown in FIG.

  A shutter accommodating portion 2e is formed on the lower side of the hole 2a at the rear portion of the tapered portion 2d as shown in FIG. The storage portion 2e is a recess opened in the upper portion, and slits are provided in the left and right side wall portions. The shutter 1e shown in FIG. 3 is the same as the shutter 1e shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the ear 1r of the shutter 1e protrudes out of the storage portion 2e from the slit. This is because the ear 1r abuts against the taper portions 1m and 1n and moves along the inclined surface at the time of connection to move the shutter 1e up and down.

  Further, a pressing spring 2f is provided so that the shutter 1e does not come out of the storage portion 2e.

  Further, at the lower part of the front wall surface forming the storage portion 2e, there are two through holes 2g for the fiber 6 penetrating to the rear wall surface of the receptacle 2 in the front-rear direction, and a through hole for inserting the fiber damage prevention rod 1g One 2h is provided.

  Therefore, when the shutter 1e is stored in the storage portion 2e, the through hole 2h is closed, and when the shutter 1e is lifted upward, the through hole 2h is opened and the fiber damage prevention rod 1g is inserted in the front-rear direction. It becomes possible to make it.

  The shutter 1e of the storage portion 2e is lifted by the taper portions 1m and 1n at the front end portion of the plug 1 coming into contact with the ear portion 1r protruding from the storage portion 2e through the slit to the internal space portion 2c. It is made by the approach.

  In this way, the plug 1 and the receptacle 2 are formed to constitute the optical connector 3 with a shutter. And the state of the connection and fitting is demonstrated along FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the plug 1 is inserted with the slide housing 1 c facing forward toward the opening on the front side of the receptacle 2.

  The slide housing 1c enters the internal space 2c of the receptacle 2, and the tapered portions 1m and 1n abut against the ear 1r of the shutter 1e of the storage portion 2e. At the same time, the lower portion of the tapered portion 2d on the receptacle 2 side comes into contact with the lower end portion of the shutter 1e of the shutter space 1h in the slide housing 1c.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, when the plug 1 is further inserted toward the receptacle 2, the ear portion 1r is pushed up by the taper portions 1m and 1n, and the shutter 1e of the storage portion 2e is It is moved upward against the biasing force of the spring 2f.

  At the same time, the lower end of the shutter 1e on the slide housing 1c side is pushed up against the urging force of the pressing spring 5 by the tapered portion 2d, and retracts in a direction (upward) perpendicular to the connecting direction. Is done.

  In this state, the front wall surface that forms the shutter storage space 1h in the slide housing 1c and the rear wall surface that forms the storage portion 2e of the receptacle 2 come into contact with each other. Until this state, the urging force of the spring 4 allows the slide housing 1c to move forward against the insertion resistance without moving backward with respect to the plug housing 1a.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the plug housing 1a is further pushed in, the spring 4 contracts, and the plug housing 1a and the fixed housing 1b move forward against the biasing force.

  Then, since both shutters 1e in the storage portion 2e and the storage space portion 1h are moved upward, the fiber damage prevention rod 1g protruding from the spring guide 1f moves forward without being obstructed by the both shutters 1e. be able to. The fiber damage prevention rod 1g is inserted through the through hole 2h.

  Similarly, the two fibers 6 (see FIG. 2B) are also inserted from the through hole 1j (see FIG. 2B) to the through hole 2g (see FIGS. 3C and 3D). Is done. The fiber 6 comes into contact with the fiber on the receptacle 2 side with a slight contact force, and an optical signal is transmitted.

  In order to maintain this connected state, the claw 1 p of the fixed housing 1 b is locked in the locking hole 2 b of the receptacle 2. When the connection is released, the locking action of the claw 1p may be released by pressing the button 1s of the fixed housing 1b downward.

  In this optical connector 3 with a shutter, both the shutters 1e are opened and closed by the insertion / removal action of the plug 1 and the receptacle 2 to connect / release, so that not only a dustproof effect but also an infant or the like directly touches the end face of the fiber 6 There is no possibility that the optical signal is damaged by looking through the optical signal, and the fiber 6 is not easily exposed, bent and damaged, and is reliably protected.

  In the optical connector with a shutter according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the ferrule 8 is provided on the fiber 6 in the plug, whereby the fiber damage prevention rod 1g of the first embodiment is omitted. It is an example.

  When the optical cable 7 is attached, the plug 9 fixes the ferrule 8 to the fiber 6 and thereby abuts against the shutter 1e, thereby preventing the slide housing 1c from moving backward. The other parts of the plug 9 have the same configuration as that of the plug 1 and the connecting action with the receptacle 2 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore will be omitted.

  In the connector 10 with a shutter according to the third embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, in the plug 11, the slide housing 11a, particularly the front wall 11b also serves as a shutter.

  For example, the slide housing 11a is prevented from moving backward even when pushed backward by a mischief of an infant or the like. When the slide housing 11a is joined to the receptacle, the slide housing 11a once moves in a direction (upward) perpendicular to the connection direction. It can be evacuated.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the receptacle 12 is provided with a dust-proof shutter 12a and a tapered portion 12j for moving the plug housing 11c upward.

  The plug 11 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 7, a substantially inverted L-shaped guide groove 11d for guiding the slide of the slide housing 11a is provided on the side wall of the plug housing 11c.

  On the other hand, on the side wall of the slide housing 11a, a flat plate-like engagement protrusion 11e that fits into the guide groove 11d is provided. In the state shown in FIG. 7B, the engaging protrusion 11e is locked by the concave portions 11g of a part of the elastic pieces 11f forming the guide groove 11d.

  A through hole 11h for the fiber 6 is provided in the front wall 11b of the slide housing 11a. The fiber 6 is covered in the state shown in FIG. When the slide housing 11a is moved upward and retracted further rearward, the fiber 6 and the height position in the vertical direction match, and the fiber 6 protrudes from the through hole 11h. The entire slide housing 11a serves as a shutter.

  Reference numeral 11j denotes a fixed housing for locking the optical cable 7. On this lower surface, a claw 11k for maintaining connection and a release button 11m are provided.

  Next, in the receptacle 12, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8D, a shutter 12a that fully closes the opening of the internal space is rotatably supported on the rotary shaft 12b at the top. The spring 12c is always urged in the direction of closing the lid. As shown in the drawing, the lower portion of the shutter 12a is in contact with the protrusion 12d and is inclined obliquely backward.

  Further, a tapered portion 12j that is inclined upward as it goes rearward is formed as a retracting means at a substantially central portion on the front side of the projection 12d. This is for pushing up the slide housing 11a.

  On the upper part of the shutter 12a, a locking projection 12e is formed as a return means on the optical axis of the slide housing 11a. The locking projection 12e is developed from the shaft portion in a substantially orthogonal direction. The plug 11 is detached from the receptacle 12. When this occurs, the slide housing 11a is pushed down.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8E, a locking hole 12g is provided on the lower surface of the receptacle body 12f, and the claw 11k of the plug 11 is locked when connected.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8C, a through hole 12h through which the fiber 6 is inserted is provided on the rear wall surface of the receptacle body 12f.

  The connection and removal of the optical connector 13 with the shutter by the plug 11 and the receptacle 12 are performed in three stages as shown in FIGS. 9 (A) and 9 (B). That is, as shown in FIG. 5B, in the first stage, when the slide housing 11a of the plug 11 is inserted into the opening on the front surface of the receptacle 12, the shutter 12a is moved by the spring 12c at the tip of the slide housing 11a. Push up against the biasing force.

  At substantially the same time, the tapered portion 11r formed at the lower center of the slide housing 11a contacts the tapered portion 12j. Accordingly, when the slide housing 11a moves forward, it moves upward along the inclined surface of the tapered portion 12j.

  Further, when the plug 11 is pushed forward in the second stage, the slide housing 11a moves forward, and the shutter 12a is rotated upward to be fully pushed open. The slide housing 11a is also moved upward by the tapered portion 12j. Moving.

  Then, the through hole 11h of the slide housing 11a coincides with the height of the ferrule 11s. Further, a notch 11u (see FIGS. 8C and 8E) on the front wall surface of the slide housing 11a is positioned forward so that the ferrule 11s can move forward. Thus, the movement along the connecting direction (front-rear direction) of the ferrule 11s is allowed.

  Further, as shown in the second stage of FIG. 9A, the height of the engaging protrusion 11e is adjusted to the position of the groove in the front-rear direction above the guide groove 11d, so that it moves in the front-rear direction. Is possible.

  Next, as a third stage, when the front wall surface 11b of the slide housing 11a of the plug 11 comes into contact with the rear wall surface 12m of the receptacle 12, the movement of the slide housing 11a stops, and the plug housing 11c and the fixed housing 11j further move. Advance. The engaging protrusion 11e moves relatively rearward along the guide groove 11d.

  Then, the ferrule 11s passes through the through hole 12h and protrudes from the front wall surface 11b of the slide housing 11a.

  Further, the claw 11k of the fixed housing 11j is locked in the locking hole 12g, and the connection state between the plug 11 and the receptacle 12 is maintained.

  The protruding ferrule 11s comes into contact with the urging force of the spring 11t slightly pushed back and is connected to a ferrule (not shown) on the receptacle 12 side to transmit an optical signal.

  In order to release the connection state, the locking of the claw 11k is released by pressing the button 11m of the fixed housing 11j. Then, the plug housing 11c and the fixed housing 11j are moved backward. The ferrule 11s retreats from the protruding state to the inside of the front wall surface 11b of the slide housing 11a.

  When the slide housing 11a is further pulled out rearward, the slide housing 11a comes into contact with the locking projection 12e as the return means and is moved obliquely downward along the tapered portion 12j.

  As the plug 11 is pulled out, the shutter 12a is expanded downward by the urging force of the spring 12c. When the plug 11 is completely removed from the receptacle 12, the lower portion of the shutter 12a abuts against the protrusion 12d and tilts toward the depth side. The lid is closed with

  Further, since the slide housing 11a moves forward and moves downward, the slide housing 11a is locked by the concave portion 11g and is prevented from moving in the connection direction (front-rear direction). Further, the ferrule 11s is also protected. Of course, a dustproof effect also acts.

  As another embodiment, in the locking relationship between the claws 1p and 11k and the locking holes 2b and 12g in each of the above embodiments, the pulling force within a certain range is resisted by adjusting the depth of the claw shallowly. However, in order to prevent the connector from being destroyed, it is preferable that the locking action is released by releasing it with a force greater than a certain pulling force.

  As described above, the optical connector with a shutter according to the present invention is useful as a connection part of an optical communication cable, and particularly has high safety and dustproofness in the handling of a connector plug and a connector receptacle. Therefore, it is suitable for use in construction of a LAN between companies or in a company, construction of FTTH (Fiber To The Home) for drawing an optical cable to a general home, and the like.

Claims (4)

In an optical connector comprising a connector plug and a connector receptacle to which the plug is inserted / fitted and connected,
When connecting to the plug and receptacle, the connecting end of the fiber is on the optical axis.
Each is provided with a shutter that allows movement along and prevents movement of the fiber connection end when disconnected .
The two shutters are retracted from the optical axis by the retracting means on the connection partner side when connected, and the connection end of the fiber in the plug protrudes from the inside of the shutter on the plug side to the receptacle side. The connection with the fiber of
Optical connector with shutter. A shutter is provided on the slide housing of the plug, and a fiber bar damage preventing rod is disposed inside the shutter to prevent the slide housing from being retracted from the optical axis so as not to damage the connecting end of the fiber. Being
The optical connector with a shutter according to claim 1. In an optical connector comprising a connector plug and a connector receptacle to which the plug is inserted / fitted and connected,
Each of the plug and the receptacle is provided with a shutter that allows the connection end of the fiber to move along the optical axis when connected and prevents the movement of the connection end of the fiber when not connected .
The plug-side shutter is inserted and fitted into the receptacle at the time of connection and retracted from the optical axis to allow the fiber connection end to move for connection along the optical axis and to be disconnected. Sometimes the slide housing that is moved on the optical axis by removal from the receptacle and prevents the connecting end of the fiber from moving for connection along the optical axis also serves as a shutter,
On the receptacle side, a retracting means for retracting the slide housing from the optical axis and a return means for returning to the optical axis are provided,
Optical connector with shutter. In an optical connector comprising a connector plug and a connector receptacle to which the plug is inserted / fitted and connected,
Each of the plug and the receptacle is provided with a shutter that allows the connection end of the fiber to move along the optical axis when connected and prevents the movement of the connection end of the fiber when not connected .
The receptacle-side shutter is pivotally supported so as to open and close by a plug insertion / extraction action, and is provided to be inclined to the rear side of the receptacle;
Optical connector with shutter.

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