JP4219049B2 - Optical fiber wiring members - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is, for example, an optical fiber wiring that takes in a large number of optical fibers drawn indoors from the outside and connects the optical fibers to a wiring board of an optical communication device or the like, or draws and arranges optical fibers inside the optical communication device. It is related with improvement of a member.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 10, the general structure of the optical fiber 1 includes a core 1a that allows light to pass through the center, a clad 1b that surrounds the periphery of the core 1a, and an outer skin 1c that covers the outer surface. 1b uses a material having a lower refractive index than that of the core 1a, and is configured to reflect light (signal) incident on the clad 1b side into the core 1a.
[0003]
The core 1a and the clad 1b are generally made of optical glass such as silica, and the outer skin 1c is made of one or more layers of soft resin or rubber, such as silicone rubber, polyethylene, or polyurethane. The clad 1b generally has a diameter of 100 to 150 [mu] m, and the outer skin 1c has a diameter of about 0.8 to 0.9 mm.
[0004]
There are two types of optical fibers: synthetic resin and glass. In particular, glass optical fibers are excellent in light transmission, but they are brittle and weak against bending, and have a delicate and delicate structure. Since the wire cannot be bent freely like a wire made of wire, it is necessary to bend it with a curvature that does not damage the optical fiber. In this sense, the optical communication device must be wired so as to draw a loose curve while holding the plurality of optical fibers at predetermined positions around and inside the optical communication device.
[0005]
Therefore, in order to wire the optical fiber at a predetermined position on the wiring board, for example, a clamp 2 made of synthetic resin such as nylon as shown in FIG. 11 is used. The clamp 2 is formed in an open ring shape, and can be fixed to a mounting surface (not shown) such as a wiring board by fitting or bonding, and extends from the holding portion 2a and has a spherical portion 2b at the tip. It is formed by the engaging part 2c curved in the shape of a bowl. In use, the optical fiber 1 is arranged in the holding portion 2a in the ring-opened state, and as shown in FIG. 12, the engaging portion 2c is twisted and entangled with each other to close the ring-opening portion of the holding portion 2a. It is.
[0006]
As described above, the optical fiber 1 is formed of a thin line including the outer skin, and is inherently weak against bending, so that it should not be bent as much as possible without giving a large local force during use. Since it is necessary to hold it softly, the clamp is loosely held. Therefore, there is a problem that the optical fiber cannot be securely fixed at a predetermined position.
[0007]
In addition to the clamp, a fiber optic wiring member has been proposed, but it has a structure in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in an orderly manner and cannot be securely gripped. It is difficult to fix at a predetermined position. Therefore, it is difficult to securely fix the optical fiber by pulling it to a predetermined position without damaging the optical fiber.
[0008]
In order to improve the drawbacks of the conventional optical fiber wiring member, the present inventors have formed a bottom plate and two wall plates that are orthogonal to both sides of the bottom plate and extend opposite to each other in a U shape in front view. Using a synthetic resin frame body, a structure having a structure in which a gripping member capable of elastically gripping an optical fiber is inserted into the frame body was developed.
[0009]
Then, an elastic member such as a synthetic resin foam such as polyurethane is used as a gripping member, and a slit is formed in the central vertical direction. It has been found that this optical fiber wiring member is excellent in positioning as compared with the conventional clamp, and is excellent in that a large number of optical fibers can be wired in a narrow space.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the wiring member developed by the inventors also has a problem. In other words, a frame with a U-shaped cross section is a synthetic resin molded product such as nylon, and it is necessary to form a thin wall plate. From the letter shape, it was found that the free ends of the two wall plates gradually approached each other and deformed into a trapezoidal shape. When the tip portions of the two wall plates approach each other in this way, the elastic member does not easily enter the frame when inserting and fixing the elastic member for gripping the optical fiber between them, which makes the assembly work efficient. Cannot be done automatically.
Further, when this frame body is fixed on the mounting base, the assembly workability such as positioning is poor.
[0011]
More specifically, the wiring member is formed by fixing a plurality of frames with screws or the like at predetermined positions on the mounting base to form an “assembly: assembly”. The elastic member is inserted between the wall plates. As described above, the end portions of the two wall plates are close to each other, and the elastic member is a foam. Since the material which is considerably swollen more than the interval between the two wall plates is compressed and inserted, there is a problem that this elastic member cannot be easily inserted and the operation becomes complicated. Note that the pressing force of the elastic member is important in the sense of performing the action of securely grasping and fixing the optical fiber.
[0012]
Therefore, the first object of the present invention is to fix even a taper between the two wall plates forming the frame on the mounting base. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber wiring member using a frame that is configured so that it can be held in an accurate U shape (in a molded state) at the stage of “three-dimensional”.
[0013]
Furthermore, the second object of the present invention is that the structure is simple, the assembly is excellent, the operation of inserting and holding a plurality of optical fibers in parallel is extremely easy, and the gripped optical fibers are wired. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber gripping device which is excellent in workability when wiring to a panel or the like, and can be easily and accurately attached to a mounting base, and is inexpensive.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an optical fiber wiring member according to the present invention is configured as follows.
[0015]
1) It is provided with a plurality of synthetic resin molded frame bodies 3 for holding optical fibers, and a mounting base 4 for fixing the plurality of frame bodies 3 together. The frame body 3 includes a bottom plate 3A, , two walls plate 3B which orthogonally from both ends of the bottom plate 3A is extended to face the same direction, and a 3C, is formed into U-shaped open topped in a front view, further, the frame In a state where a plurality of 3 are mounted and fixed to the mounting base 4 , a gripping member 5, which is a flexible elastic body made of a synthetic resin or synthetic rubber foam , is fitted and fixed inside the frame 3. A male part 3a having a slit 5a in the vertical direction at the center of the optical fiber without causing local stress to the optical fiber and having a protrusion on the outer surface of the upper part of one wall plate 3B, and the other wall plate female-like portion to be engaged with the male-like portion 3a of the adjacent wall plate 3B on the top of the outer surface of the 3C b and are formed integrally, further to the outer surface of the bottom plate 3A, a positioning protrusion 3c to be inserted into the positioning hole 4a which is opened in the mount 4 is characterized in that it is formed integrally Yes.
[0017]
In the optical fiber wiring member according to the present invention, a gripping member made of an elastic material is fitted to the frame, and a slit for inserting and gripping an optical fiber is opened in the gripping member, and a plurality of slits are formed in the slit. Since the optical fiber is pushed in and softly held so that local stress is not generated, the optical fiber can be held at a predetermined position and wired in a predetermined path.
In particular, by using a urethane home or a synthetic rubber foam as the grip member, the optical fiber can be securely gripped while preventing any damage to the optical fiber.
[0018]
Further, by engaging and connecting the wall plates of the arranged frame bodies, the deformation of the wall bodies can be prevented, and the operation of inserting and fixing the gripping member becomes easy.
Further, the projections on the lower surface of the bottom plate of the frame body can be inserted into the positioning holes on the mounting base so that each frame can be accurately fixed at a predetermined position on the mounting base.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an optical fiber wiring member of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is a side view of an optical fiber wiring member, FIG. 2 is a plan view from the top surface in the AA direction of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the wiring member.
As shown in these drawings, the optical fiber wiring member 10 of this embodiment includes a frame 3, a mounting base 4 for fixing the plurality of frames 3, and a gripping member made of an elastic member provided inside the frame 3. 5. The frame 3 is formed by integrally molding a bottom plate 3A and wall plates 3B and 3C extending in the same direction perpendicular to both ends of the bottom plate 3A into a U-shape in a front view using synthetic resin. .
[0020]
Next, as described above, the plurality of frames 3 arranged side by side on the metal plate mounting base 4 are arranged on the upper portions of the side surfaces of the wall plates 3B and 3C facing each other at the time of the parallel arrangement, as shown in FIGS. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, a male part 3a and a female part 3b that can be connected to each other are provided so as to slightly protrude from the surface of the wall plate.
The male part 3a and the female part 3b may be engaged by pressing two wall plates in a stacked state, or may be engaged by sliding each other. In any case, it is necessary that the two wall plates have an action to be integrated by the engagement.
[0021]
Further, a reinforcing rib 3d is formed in the vertical direction from the lower part to the bottom part of the male part 3a and the female part 3b so as to prevent the wall plates 3B and 3C from warping. Furthermore, one screw insertion hole 3e is opened at the center of the bottom plate 3A. Further, a small triangular rib 3f is provided at the joint between the bottom plate 3A and the both wall plates 3B, 3C to reinforce the wall plates 3B, 3C so that they do not fall down.
[0022]
When the plurality of frame bodies 3 are arranged side by side on the mounting base 4 to form an “assembly”, the upper portions are opened by engaging and connecting the male portions 3a and the female portions 3b. Each frame 3 made of an injection-molded product made of a U-shaped resin is in a state where adjacent wall plates 3B and 3C are connected to form a single sheet, so that the wall plate 3B of the adjacent frame 3 , 3C are prevented from being deformed with each other, and both wall plates 3B, 3C do not fall into the inside and deform into a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front. Will do.
[0023]
Next, for example, a gripping member 5 made of an elastic foam such as urethane sponge is fitted and fixed in the plurality of frames 3. At the center of the gripping member 5, a plurality of optical fibers 1 are pushed in and inserted as shown in FIG. 3, and a slit 5a that is softly and securely gripped by the elastic compressive force of the foam is provided.
[0024]
Further, the bottom plate 3A of each frame 3 is integrally provided with two protrusions 3c on both ends of the lower surface thereof, corresponding to the hole 4a opened at a predetermined position on the mounting base 4. By inserting each of the projections 3c, the plurality of frames 3 are positioned at appropriate positions on the upper surface of the mounting base 4, and a hole provided in the center of the bottom plate 3A as shown in FIG. It can be accurately fixed on the mount 4 through screws 3e.
[0025]
In the present invention, an elastic body made of a foamed material such as urethane sponge is preferably used as the gripping member 5 to be brought into direct contact with the optical fiber 1, and a slit 5a formed in the vertical direction at the center is used. Yes. Although the slit 5a is shown in the drawing when it is formed to be almost full length, the slit is not provided in a part of the portion close to the bottom plate 3A. If the gripping member 5 is divided into two parts, it may be difficult to attach the gripping member 5 to the frame 3, or the gripping member 5 may be displaced from the frame 3 when the optical fiber 1 is moved.
[0026]
Although not shown, a protrusion is formed along the inner surface of the wall plates 3B and 3C, and the protrusion is bitten into the side surface of the gripping member 5 to counter the force when moving the optical fiber. The gripping member 5 can be held in a predetermined position. Further, for example, when an elastic material having a hardness higher than that of the foam is used, the protrusions are accommodated in the longitudinal direction on both sides of the slit 5a and the protrusions are accommodated. It is also possible to form a concave groove so that both can be fitted to each other, and to use this protrusion and the concave groove to hold the optical fiber 1 softly and reliably.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
According to the optical fiber wiring member of the present invention described above, a plurality of optical fibers can be easily fixed at a predetermined position while being softly gripped by simply inserting the plurality of optical fibers into the slits of the gripping member provided in each frame. Can do. Moreover, the removal is also easy.
[0028]
In particular, when the gripping member is made of a foam made of an elastic material such as polyurethane or synthetic rubber, it is elastically soft, but it can be gripped by applying a pressing force from the periphery of the optical fiber. The optical fiber can be fixed accurately.
[0029]
And the frame which comprises the wiring member for optical fibers of this invention is made into a synthetic resin molded article, the engagement connection part is formed in the outer surface of the wall board, and the wall boards of several frame bodies are mutually connected. Even if, for example, the shape of the original frame is deformed, the original shape of the frame (with the wall plate orthogonal to the bottom plate) is maintained when multiple frames are connected. Therefore, the space between the wall plates can be accurately maintained, and therefore, the work of pushing and fixing the gripping member made of an elastic material into the frame can be performed efficiently.
[0030]
Furthermore, when fixing the frame body to the mounting base, the projection formed on the bottom surface of the frame body is inserted into a hole on the mounting base and fixed with a screw or the like, so that it is fixed at an accurate position by a simple operation. can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of an optical fiber wiring member of the present invention.
2 is a plan view seen from the upper surface in the AA direction of FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which an optical fiber is inserted and held in the wiring member of FIG. 1;
4 is a front view of a frame constituting the wiring member of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a plan view in the BB direction of FIG. 4;
6 is a side view in the CC direction of FIG. 4;
7 is a plan view seen from the lower surface in the DD direction of FIG. 6. FIG.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a coupling engagement portion viewed from the EE direction in FIG. 6;
9 is an enlarged plan view of a coupling engagement portion indicated by an arrow F in FIG.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a partially broken outline of the structure of an optical fiber used conventionally.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state before use of an example of a conventionally used optical fiber clamp.
12 is a perspective view showing a state in which the clamp of FIG. 11 is in use. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical fiber 3 Frame 3a Male member 3b Female member 3c Protrusion 4 Mounting base 4a Hole 5 Gripping member 5a Slit

Claims (1)

A plurality of synthetic resin molded frame bodies 3 for holding optical fibers, and a mounting base 4 for fixing the plurality of frame bodies 3 together .
The frame body 3, a bottom plate 3A, the bottom plate 3A 2 sheets of wallboard 3B which orthogonally from both ends extended to face the same direction, and a 3C, U-shaped open topped in front view Molded into
A male portion 3a having a protrusion on the outer surface of the upper portion of one wall plate 3B, and a female portion 3b that engages with the male portion 3a of the wall plate 3B adjacent to the outer surface of the upper portion of the other wall plate 3C. And are integrally formed,
A plurality of frames in a state in which a plurality of frame bodies 3 are provided side by side with a male part 3a of one wall plate 3B and a female part 3b of the other wall plate 3C and fixed to a mounting base 4. A gripping member 5, which is a flexible elastic body made of a synthetic resin or synthetic rubber foam , is fitted and fixed inside the body 3, and a slit for gripping the central portion of the gripping member 5 without generating local stress on the optical fiber. 5a is formed in the vertical direction,
Furthermore, a positioning projection 3c to be inserted into a positioning hole 4a opened in the mounting base 4 is integrally formed on the outer surface of the bottom plate 3A.

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