JP4327063B2 - Optical connector with shutter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector with a shutter for connecting an optical cable, for example.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in an optical connector used for connecting an optical cable, a dustproof shutter is provided in each opening of a receptacle and a plug constituting the connector. In optical communication, when connecting the core wires by matching the receptacle and plug ferrule, if dust or dust enters the housing and adheres to the end face of the ferrule, optical signal transmission is achieved. This is a big obstacle.

In addition, in recent years, the plug side has also been provided with a shutter, the output of the optical signal has increased, and the optical cable has been installed in the home, the optical signal has entered the human eye, This is because the risk of vision loss and blindness has increased. In view of this, a cap or the like is provided on the plug, but in order to save the trouble of attaching and detaching the cap, there is known one provided with a shutter that automatically opens and closes when mated with a receptacle (Patent Document 1). reference).
JP 2004-246096 A

  However, in the conventional optical connector with a shutter, the shutter opening / closing mechanism is large and complicated, and it takes time for assembly. In addition, it is inconvenient because it is not compatible with existing ones. Furthermore, since the optical connector is used in general households and the opportunities for the elderly and infants to touch increase, it is necessary to devise a mechanism so that the shutter on the plug side cannot be opened easily. The optical connector according to the present invention has been proposed in order to solve such a problem.

  The gist of the optical connector with a shutter according to the present invention for solving the above problems and achieving the object is an optical connector in which a plug is fitted to a receptacle, and the plug is rotatably supported by a plug frame. A pair of substantially spire-shaped shutters that surrounds the plug-side ferrule and opens outwardly with a substantially axial center as a boundary, an engaging portion that prevents rotation of the shutter and maintains a closed state, and a receptacle-side There is provided a shutter stopper that has a retraction projection that abuts against the frame and is retracted along the axial direction, and is slidable in the axial direction, and an elastic body that constantly biases the shutter stopper toward the connection side. The front end of the plug frame is locked on the receptacle side when the fitting movement of the plug frame is completed, and the pair of shutters are double-opened. It is that the lock opening means is provided.

  On the receptacle side, there is provided a pair of shutters that close the opening of the receptacle housing and open the inside of the housing. The shutters are inclined inward and closed in a triangular shape. Is included.

  According to the optical connector with a shutter of the present invention, a pair of shutters are kept closed by a shutter stopper on the plug side, and free rotation of the shutters is prevented. In addition to preventing intrusion of dust, dust, etc., damage to human eyes due to optical signals is prevented. By simply fitting the plug into the receptacle, the plug-side shutter is automatically opened by the lock opening means, and the fitting state between the plug and the receptacle is locked by the lock opening means at the same time.

  In addition, since the receptacle-side shutter is inclined to the inside of the receptacle housing and closed with a triangular cross section, for example, even if a plug without a conventional shutter is fitted to the receptacle, the front end surface of the plug The tip end portion of the ferrule slightly protruding from the inside is accommodated in the space having the triangular cross section, and as a result, the ferrule tip portion does not come into contact with the shutter surface, and adhesion and damage of dust and the like are prevented.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the optical connector 1 with a shutter according to the present invention includes a plug 2 for connecting an optical cable 4 and a receptacle 3 fitted to the plug 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the plug 2 has a support portion 5 a that supports the shutter 6 with a long and narrow cylindrical body, and also has a lock portion 5 b when fitted. There is a plug frame 5 made of synthetic resin.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the plug frame 5 is inserted into a stop ring 15 to which a synthetic resin hood 14 is attached from the front side and locked in place. As shown in FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B), a pair of receiving portions 5c of triangular recesses are provided on the side of the support portion 5a. By this receiving portion 5c, the positioning projection 6b (see FIG. 5) of the shutter 6 is engaged when the lid is closed, and the both shutters 6 and 6 are positioned along the axis a. The back surface of the receiving portion 5c is the lock portion 5b. Further, the rear hole is a lock hole 5d, and a lock claw protruding from the rear of the stop ring 15 enters and engages therewith.

  There is a pair of substantially spire-shaped shutters 6 that are supported by a support pin 5a of the plug frame 5 by a fixed pin 9 so as to be rotatable and surround the plug-side ferrule 7 and open outwardly with the axis a as a boundary. . A detailed view of the shutter 6 is shown in FIG.

  The shaft further includes an engaging portion 8a that prevents the shutter 6 from rotating and maintains a closed state, and a retraction protrusion 8b that abuts the frame on the receptacle side and retreats along the axial direction. There is a shutter stopper 8 made of synthetic resin that is slidable in the core direction. A detailed view of the shutter stopper 8 is shown in FIG.

  The shutter stopper 8 has a rectangular cylindrical shape and surrounds the outside of the plug frame 5. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the engaging portion 8 a is a protrusion protruding from the front end surface, and even if the shutter 6 tries to rotate about the fixed pin 9 in the upward or downward direction, the shutter 6 side corner | angular part 6a collides with the said engaging part 8a, and does not open.

  When the plug 2 is fitted into the receptacle 3, the retraction protrusion 8 b abuts a part of the frame of the receptacle 3, for example, the opening end face of the frame, and retreats backward along the axis a. It is something to be made. Therefore, when the retraction protrusion 8b is pushed rearward when the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are fitted, the engagement portion 8a is also retreated, and does not collide with the corner portion 6a. It will be movable.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an elastic body 10 such as a coil spring that constantly urges the shutter stopper 8 toward the connection side (front) is provided behind the shutter stopper 8. As shown in FIG. 2, as a reaction material of the elastic body 10, a stopper plate 13 is erected and press-fitted at two positions symmetrically in the rear part of the plug frame 5.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a knob 11 made of a synthetic resin and having a rectangular tube shape is provided outside the shutter stopper 8 so as to be slidable along the direction of the axis a. The knob 11 is provided with an elongated plate-like lever 12 interposed between the left and right side walls of the plug frame 5 and the shutter stopper 8. The rear end portion 12a of the lever 12 is bent at a right angle from the main body portion and is in contact with and adhered to the rear end surface of the knob 11. In this way, the lever 12 and the knob 11 slide together in the front-rear direction.

  Therefore, when the plug 2 is removed from the fitting state of the plug 2 and the receptacle 3, the lever 12 is moved backward as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C by pulling the knob 11 backward. It is pulled backward through the end 12a. Thereby, the locking claw piece (lock piece 18e) on the receptacle 3 side is bounced outward by the taper-like unlocking portion 12b of the lever 12 that appears from the same plane of the pair of lock portions 5b, 5b, The engagement is released.

  On the receptacle 3 side, as shown in FIG. 7, there are receptacle housings 3a and 3b which are formed by fitting each other in a rectangular tube shape. Shutters 16a and 16b are provided. A torsion spring 17 is provided to urge the shutters 16a and 16b to return to their original positions when they are opened in the vertical direction.

  Further, a synthetic resin sleeve 18 shown in FIG. 8 is press-fitted from the rear opening and fixed inside the receptacle housing 3b. The sleeve 18 is provided with a guide cylinder portion 18a into which the plug-side ferrule 7 is inserted. On the side thereof, there is a lock opening means that engages with a lock portion 5b at the tip of the plug frame 5 on the plug side so as not to come off and opens the pair of shutters 6 and 6 on the plug 2 side. Certain lock opening pieces 18b and 18c are provided.

  The lock opening pieces 18b and 18c are formed of a lock piece 18e facing a pair of leg portions 18d extending along the axial direction, and an opening 18f protruding forward in a triangular shape. Yes. The triangular tapered portion in the open portion 18f is the lower surface 6d or the upper surface 6e of the guide portion 6c on the side wall of the shutter 6, 6 on the plug 2 side that has been inserted during fitting (see FIGS. 5 and 6A). The shutters 6 and 6 are opened in the vertical direction.

  Further, at the rear part of the sleeve 18, a flange lock piece 18g for locking the ferrule flange 19 on the receptacle side shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the shutter-equipped connector 1 prevents dust and dust from entering by the shutters 6 and 6 on the plug 2 side. In addition, since the shutter stopper 8 is urged forward by the elastic body 10 to prevent the shutter 6 from opening the door, there is no possibility that an elderly person or a child will open the shutter 6 and damage the eyes. .

  Then, in the fitting between the plug 2 and the receptacle 3, as shown in FIG. 9A, the plug 6 is inserted into the opening on the receptacle 3 side with the shutter 6 at the head. The shutter 6 having a triangular shape opens the shutters 16 a and 16 b against the urging force of the torsion spring 17.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C, the retraction protrusion 8b on the side of the front end of the shutter stopper 8 comes into contact with the front end surface of the receptacle housing 3a, and is relatively inserted by inserting the plug 2. Move backwards. As a result, the engaging portion 8a of the shutter stopper 8 is retracted, and rotation about the fixing pin 9 of the shutter 6 becomes possible.

The lock opening pieces 18b and 18c on the receptacle 3 side come into contact with the lower surface 6d and the upper surface 6c of the guide portion 6c of the shutter 6, and the shutters 6 and 6 are opened in a vertical direction.
Thereafter, the lock opening pieces 18b and 18c engage with the lock portion 5b at the tip end portion of the plug frame 5 to lock the plug 2 so that it does not come out rearward.

  Thus, as shown in FIGS. 9D and 9E, the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are fitted, the ferrules of both come into contact with each other with a required pressure, the optical fiber is connected, and the optical signal is transmitted. . On the contrary, in order to detach and attach the plug 2 and the receptacle 3, the knob 11 is pulled backward from the fitted state shown in FIGS. 9D and 9E. Then, the lever 12 is also pulled rearward, and the taper-shaped unlocking portion 12b moves rearward, and the locking pieces 18e of the lock opening pieces 18b and 18c are ejected outward to release the engaging action.

  When the plug 2 is pulled rearward, as shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C, the plug 2 and the receptacle 3 are separated from each other, and the shutter stopper 8 is pushed back forward by the elastic body 10, and its engaging portion 8a pushes the corner 6a of the shutter 6, and the shutters 6 and 6 are closed. The shutters 16a and 16b on the receptacle 3 side are also urged by the torsion spring 17 and automatically closed. Thus, the original state shown in FIG.

  In this way, the shutters 6 and 6 are prevented from being easily opened by the shutter stopper 8, and surround the ferrule on the plug 2 side to prevent dust and dust from entering.

  In another embodiment of the connector 1 with a shutter according to the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG. 6 (B), lock portions 8c and 6f between the shutter stopper 8 and the shutter 6 are provided to reliably open in the vertical direction. Can not be.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the concave and convex portions 6 g and 6 h to be fitted are provided on the mating surface of the front end portion of the shutter 6, whereby light leakage from the ferrule 7 can be completely prevented. This is because when the shutter 6 is closed with the fixing pin 9 as the center, the positioning projection 6b shown in FIG. 5 is formed on the receiving portion 5c of the triangular recess provided on the front surface of the plug frame 5 shown in FIG. However, due to dimensional errors and assembly errors of parts, a gap may be formed on the mating surfaces of the pair of shutters 6 and 6, and light may leak, which is an improvement.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, in the receptacle 3, a pair of receptacle housings 3a are closed to open the inside of the housing 3a, and are opened inwardly, and are inclined inward and closed in a triangular shape. Shutters 16c and 16d are provided.

  As a result, a triangular space is formed inside the opening of the housing 3a, and when the conventional type plug 20 is fitted, the ferrule end portion 21 protruding from the front end surface on the plug side is also provided. The direct contact with the shutters 16c and 16d is prevented. Therefore, dust and the like are protected from adhering to the ferrule end surface 21a on the plug side.

It is the perspective view (A) and (B) which changed and showed the direction which looks at the optical connector 1 with a shutter which concerns on this invention. It is the top view (A) which made the part of the plug 2 in the optical connector 1 with a shutter of this invention the broken surface, and the front view (B) which made the upper half a cross section. FIG. 4 is a perspective view (A) of the plug frame 5 in the plug 2, a perspective view (B) in a state seen from the rear excluding the shutter stopper 8, and a perspective view (C) showing a state at the time of removal from the receptacle side. . FIG. 4 is a plan view (A), a front view (B), and a side view (C) in which a part of the shutter stopper 8 in the plug 2 is sectioned. A longitudinal sectional view (A), a plan view (B), a side view (C), (D), a bottom view (E), and a longitudinal sectional view (A) of the shutter 6 in the plug 2 are viewed from a predetermined arrow direction. It is a view (F). It is the partially expanded detail front view (A) of the plug 2, and the partially expanded front view (B) which concerns on another Example. It is the top view (A) which made some receptacle 3 a cross section, the longitudinal cross-sectional view (B), and the perspective view (C) which fractured 1/4. 3 is a perspective view of a sleeve 18 in the receptacle 3. FIG. It is explanatory drawing (A), (B), (C) explaining the use condition of the optical connector 1 with a shutter which concerns on this invention. It is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view in the use condition of the shutter 6 in the plug 2 which concerns on another Example. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view according to another embodiment of the receptacle 3.

Explanation of symbols

1 Optical connector with shutter,
2 plugs,
3 receptacle, 3a, 3b receptacle housing,
4 Optical cable,
5 Plug frame, 5a Support part,
5b lock part, 5c receiving part,
5d lock hole,
6 shutter, 6a corner,
6b positioning protrusion, 6c guide part,
6d bottom surface, 6e top surface,
6g, 6h uneven part,
7 Ferrule,
8 Shutter stopper, 8a Engagement part,
8b Retraction protrusion,
9 Fixing pin,
10 elastic body,
11 Knob,
12 lever, 12a rear end,
12b unlocking part,
13 Stopper plate,
16a, 16b shutter,
17 Torsion spring,
18 sleeve, 18a guide tube,
18b, 18c Lock opening piece, 18d Leg,
18e lock piece, 18f opening,
18g flange lock piece,
19 flange,
20 Conventional plug 21 Ferrule end, 21a Ferrule end face.

Claims (2)

In optical connectors that fit plugs into receptacles,
The plug is rotatably supported by a plug frame, surrounds a plug-side ferrule and surrounds a substantially shaft-shaped shutter that opens outwardly with a substantially axial center as a boundary, and prevents the shutter from rotating. And a shutter stopper that is slidable in the axial direction, having an engaging portion that is maintained in the closed state and a retraction protrusion that is brought into contact with the frame on the receptacle side and is retracted along the axial direction, An elastic body that always urges the shutter stopper toward the connection side,
A lock opening means is provided on the receptacle side so as to lock the tip of the plug frame when the fitting movement of the plug frame is completed and to open the pair of shutters in a double-tone manner;
Optical connector with shutter. On the receptacle side, there is provided a pair of shutters that close the opening of the receptacle housing and open the inside of the housing, and the shutters are inclined inward and closed in a triangular shape,
The optical connector with a shutter according to claim 1.

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