JP4631513B2 - Optical fiber connecting jig and optical connector with the jig - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fiber connecting jig, an optical connector with the jig, and an optical connector assembling method using the jig. For example, the optical fiber can be easily used at a connection site, and the optical fiber can be used reliably and easily. The present invention relates to an optical fiber connecting jig that can be connected to the optical fiber, an optical connector with the jig, and an optical connector assembling method using the jig.

Conventionally, a dedicated tool for connecting an optical fiber to a mechanical splice type optical connector has been described (for example, see Patent Document 1).
As shown in FIG. 7, an optical fiber connecting jig 100 disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided with a tool body 106 at the center of a tool base 101, and a mechanical splice 102 is attached to the tool body 106. A mechanical splice installation portion 103 for holding is provided. Optical fiber holders 105a and 105b for holding the optical fibers 104a and 104b are provided on both the left and right sides of the mechanical splice installation portion 103 so as to be able to reciprocate.

  On the other hand, the tool body 106 is provided with an operation button 107, and the operator can move the operation button 107 to the tool body 106 side by grasping the operation button 107 with one hand. Yes. In conjunction with the operation button 107, a wedge member 108 for opening the mechanical splice 102 and allowing the optical fibers 104a and 104b to be inserted is provided so as to be able to advance and retract.

Therefore, when the operator holds the optical fiber connecting jig 100 with one hand and moves the operation button 107 to the tool body 106 side, the wedge member 108 is pushed into the mechanical splice 102 to provide a gap, and the left and right light The fiber holders 105a and 105b move to the center side of the mechanical splice 102 to bring the end faces into contact with each other. When the operation button 107 is gripped more strongly, the wedge member 108 is retracted, the mechanical splice 102 is closed, and the optical fibers 104a and 104b are connected.
JP 2002-71999 A (FIG. 3)

  By the way, since the optical fiber connecting jig 100 described in Patent Document 1 is composed of a large number of precision parts interlocking with each other, errors are likely to occur, and connection reliability may be reduced. In addition, because of the heavy complex and weight also mechanism, it was not something that can be easily used in connection site. Furthermore, it was very expensive.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber connecting jig that can be easily used at a connection site and can reliably and easily connect optical fibers. and to provide a method of assembling an optical connector with a jig equipped optical connector and the jig.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the first feature of the optical fiber connecting jig according to the present invention is an optical connector holding portion for holding an optical connector having a built-in optical fiber, and a connection with the built-in optical fiber. A wedge protrusion for expanding the diameter of the optical fiber holding hole of the optical connector into which the optical fiber to be inserted is inserted, and the wedge protrusion integrally formed so that the wedge protrusion is inserted into and removed from the optical connector of the optical connector holding portion. An operation lever and an optical fiber gripping plate for gripping the optical fiber inserted into the optical fiber holding hole, and the optical fiber gripping plate is inclined downward with respect to the bottom surface of the optical connector holding portion. by there, the optical fiber inserted optical fiber holding hole flexed upward by utilizing elastic force possessed by the optical fiber, the built-in optical fiber distal end surface of the optical fiber It is to be gripped in a state pressed against the rear end face.

  In the optical fiber connecting jig configured as described above, the operation lever is operated, and the wedge protrusion provided on the operation lever is inserted into the optical connector held by the optical connector holding portion to hold the optical fiber. The diameter of the hole is expanded, and the tip of the optical fiber held by the optical fiber holding plate is inserted into the optical fiber holding hole. The distal end surface of the case an optical fiber will be pressed against the rear end face of the internal optical fiber inside the optical fiber holding hole. Therefore, also in connection site, so that can be connected by a simple device, a reliable optical fiber.

In addition, by tilting the angle of the optical fiber holding plate with respect to the bottom surface of the optical connector holding portion, the optical fiber can be appropriately bent upward, and the operator can easily hold it during work.

A second feature of the optical fiber connecting jig according to the present invention is the optical connector according to the first feature, wherein the operation lever is rotatably coupled to a side wall portion of the optical connector holding portion. The wedge protrusion is inserted and removed from the side with respect to the optical connector held by the holding portion.

  In the optical fiber connecting jig configured as described above, since the operation lever is rotatably supported on the side wall of the optical connector holding portion, the operator can visually observe the wedge projection of the operation lever while viewing the optical connector. It can be inserted into or removed from the battery, improving operability.

The third aspect of the optical fiber connecting fixture according to the present invention, the direction of removal Oite the first or second feature described above, the wedge protrusion the operating lever to the tip of the optical connector It has an inclined surface inclined in the direction.

  In the optical fiber connecting jig configured as described above, when the wedge protrusion provided on the operation lever is extracted from the optical connector, the operator can easily operate the operation lever with his finger.

The fourth feature of the optical fiber connecting jig according to the present invention is that, in the third feature described above, the inclined surface has a non-slip projection formed on the surface.

  In the optical fiber connecting jig configured as described above, the inclined surface provided at the tip of the operation lever is formed with a non-slip projection on the surface, so that it is easy to operate.

The optical connector with the optical fiber connection jig | tool concerning this invention is an optical connector which has the said built-in optical fiber in the said optical connector holding | maintenance part of the optical fiber connection jig | tool as described in any one of Claim 1 to 4. Is held.

  The optical connector with the optical fiber connecting jig configured in this way is in a form in which the optical fiber connecting jig is attached to the optical connector, so there is no need to prepare a separate jig, which is convenient, The worker can easily perform the optical fiber connection work at the connection site.

An optical connector assembling method using the optical fiber connecting jig according to the present invention is an optical connector assembling method using the optical fiber connecting jig according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Expanding the diameter of the optical fiber holding hole by inserting the wedge protrusion of the optical fiber connection jig into the optical fiber holding hole of the optical connector attached to the optical connector holding portion; Inserting the optical fiber into the optical fiber holding hole, gripping the optical fiber on the optical fiber gripping plate in a bent state, and moving the operating lever in a direction in which the wedge protrusion is separated. It is characterized by having.

  The method of assembling the optical connector configured as described above is to insert the optical fiber into the optical fiber holding hole with respect to the optical connector held in the optical connector holding part using the optical fiber connecting jig at the connection site, and to move the operation lever. By operating, the optical connector can be easily and reliably attached to the optical fiber.

  According to the present invention, the optical fiber is held by the optical fiber holding plate, and the front end surface of the optical fiber is pressed against the rear end surface of the built-in optical fiber inside the optical fiber holding hole. This eliminates the need for a device that presses the optical fiber against the built-in optical fiber, and enables easy connection by turning the operation lever. A fiber can be connected.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1A is a perspective view when the operation lever of the optical fiber connecting jig according to one embodiment of the present invention is rotated, FIG. 1B is a perspective view when the operation lever is closed, FIG. (A) is a plan view of a jig for optical fiber connection, (B) is a side view seen from the B direction in (A), (C) is a side view seen from the C direction in (A), (D) is (A) End view as viewed from the direction D in the middle, (E) is an end view as viewed from the direction E in (A), and FIG. 3 (A) is an operation lever of the optical fiber connecting jig according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a perspective view when the operation lever is closed, and FIG. 4A is a plan view of the optical fiber connecting jig with the optical connector attached. (B) is a side view seen from the B direction in (A), (C) is a side view seen from the C direction in (A), (D) is an end view seen from the D direction in (A), ( ) Is a perspective view showing the (A) end view as seen from the medium-E direction, Fig. 5 (A) and (B) is connected process using an optical fiber connection tool.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an optical fiber connecting jig 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention holds an optical connector 20 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) having a built-in optical fiber (not shown). The optical connector holding part 11 and the optical fiber holding hole 21 (see FIGS. 4A and 4E) of the optical connector 20 into which the optical fiber 30 (see FIG. 5) connected to the built-in optical fiber is inserted are expanded. The wedge protrusion 12a for causing the optical fiber 30 to be inserted into and removed from the optical connector 20 of the optical connector holding portion 11, and the optical fiber 30 inserted into the optical fiber holding hole 21 can be held in a bent state. And an optical fiber gripping plate 13. The operation lever 12 is rotatably coupled to the optical connector holding portion 11.

  The optical connector holding part 11 for storing and holding the optical connector 20 has an overall U-shape with the bottom plate 11a and the left and right side walls 11b and 11c, and corresponds to the size and shape of the optical connector 20 inside. Has a storage space. A pair of left and right guide blocks 11g are provided behind the storage space (on the right side in FIG. 1), and a guide groove 11f through which the optical fiber 30 to be connected is passed is formed between the guide blocks 11g and 11g. ing.

One side wall 11c of the side walls 11b and 11c has a notch 11d formed and removed so that the side surface of the optical connector 20 can be exposed when the optical connector 20 is stored and held in the optical connector holding part 11. (See FIG. 3A). The other side wall 11b is provided with a notch 11h for positioning the optical connector 20 to be accommodated, and a positioning protrusion 22 provided on the side surface of the optical connector 20 is fitted. (See FIGS. 4A and 4C).
Further, a pair of upper and lower brackets 14 and 14 are provided on the side wall 11c where the notch 11d is provided, and the operation lever 12 is hingedly connected by the hinge pin 14a. Thus, since the operation lever 12 is rotatably supported by the optical connector holding part 11 by the hinge pin 14, the operator inserts or removes the wedge protrusion 12a of the operation lever 12 into or from the optical connector 20 while visually observing. And the operability is improved.

An optical fiber gripping plate 13 is provided at the rear end portion (right end portion in FIG. 1) of the optical connector holding portion 11, and this optical fiber gripping plate 13 is against the bottom plate 11 a as the bottom surface of the optical connector holding portion 11. The rear end portion is inclined downward. This inclination angle is preferably 15 degrees or more and 35 degrees or less. Thereby, while being able to give the optical fiber 30 moderate bending upward mentioned later, it becomes an angle that an operator can easily hold at the time of work.
The optical fiber holding plate 13 is provided with an extension 11e (see FIG. 2 (c)) by extending the bottom plate 11a of the optical connector holding portion 11 rearward, and bending the extension 11e at the angle described above. It can be provided by being integrated with the extension 11e. Further, the entire shape of the optical fiber gripping plate 13 is widened on the rear end side so that the operator can easily grip it. Moreover, the attachment hole 13a for a strap can also be provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 2 (A), a pair of wedge protrusions 12a and 12a project from the surface of the operation lever 12 on the side facing the optical connector holding portion 11, and the operation lever When 12 is rotated to the optical connector holding part 11 side, the wedge protrusion 12a protrudes from the notch 11d of the optical connector holding part 11 into the storage space. The base end side of the operation lever 12 is rotatably supported by the bracket 14 of the optical connector holding portion 11 by a hinge pin 14a, and the wedge protrusion 12 is removed from the optical connector 20 at the distal end side (FIG. 1A). ) It has an inclined surface 12b inclined in the middle arrow A direction). The inclined surface 12b is desirably formed at an angle of 20 degrees or more and 50 degrees or less, and it is desirable to form a non-slip protrusion 12c on the surface on the optical connector holding portion 11 side. Thereby, when the wedge projection 12a provided on the operation lever 12 is pulled out from the optical connector 20, the operator can easily operate the operation lever 12 with his finger.

Next, based on FIG. 5, the connection operation | work of the optical fiber 30 used as the assembly method of an optical connector is demonstrated.
First, as shown in FIG. 1 (A), the operation lever 12 is rotated to empty the optical connector holding part 11, and as shown in FIG. 3 (A), the optical connector 20 is placed in the storage space of the optical connector holding part 11. Storing. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, the operating lever 12 is rotated to the optical connector holding portion 11 side, the wedge projection 12a is pushed into the optical connector 20, and the diameter of the optical fiber holding hole 21 is increased.

  5A, the tip of the optical fiber 30 is inserted into the optical fiber holding hole 21 of the optical connector 20, and the thumb and the optical fiber gripping plate 13 are bent in the upward direction. gripping the optical fiber gripping plate 13 to sandwich the optical fiber 30 between. At this time, since the optical fiber gripping plate 13 is appropriately inclined, the optical fiber 30 can be easily bent and easily gripped. Thereby, the front end surface of the optical fiber 30 is always pressed against the rear end surface of the built-in optical fiber (not shown) of the optical connector 20.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, the tip of the optical fiber connecting jig 10 is sandwiched with the optical connector 20 between the thumb and middle finger of the left hand, and the index finger is pulled on the inclined surface 12b of the operation lever 12. Hang it and turn it in the direction of the arrow. At this time, since the inclined surface 12b of the operation lever 12 is inclined in the rotating direction, the operation lever 12 can be easily rotated. As a result, the wedge protrusion 12a of the operation lever 12 is extracted from the optical connector 20, so that the optical fiber holding hole 21 is reduced in diameter and the optical fiber 30 is fixed and connected in a state where both end faces are in contact.

  As described above, according to the optical fiber connecting jig 10 described above, the optical fiber connecting jig 10 is grasped with the right hand, and at the same time, the optical fiber 30 is bent upward and the elastic force of the optical fiber 30 is used to bend. It is possible to fix the optical fiber 30 to the optical connector 20 by holding the front end surface of the optical fiber 30 pressed against the rear end surface of the built-in optical fiber of the optical connector 20 and rotating the operation lever 12 with the left hand. Therefore, the optical fiber 30 and the optical connector 20 can be reliably connected with a simple device even at the connection site.

  Incidentally, the optical connector 20 (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4) having the built-in optical fiber (not shown) is held in the optical connector holding portion 11 of the optical fiber connecting jig 10 described above, in other words, the optical connector. If the optical fiber connecting jig 10 is attached to the product 20 in the form of a product, the operator does not need to prepare a separate jig, which is convenient, and the optical fiber connecting jig 10 can be easily connected at the connection site. Connection work can be performed.

The optical fiber connecting jig of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and appropriate modifications and improvements can be made.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, a case where a right-handed worker performs a connection work has been described. However, a left-handed worker can easily perform a connection work as well. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the direction of the optical fiber connecting jig 10 is opposite to the above-described direction, and the optical fiber holding plate 13 is bent in the state where the optical fiber 30 is bent with the thumb and index finger of the left hand. The optical fiber connecting jig 10 and the optical connector 20 are sandwiched between the thumb and middle finger of the right hand. Then, the inclined surface 12b of the operation lever 12 is pushed in the direction of the arrow with the index finger of the right hand. In this way, connection work can be performed exactly as in the case of right-handed.

  In the above embodiment, the optical connector has been described with respect to the SC connector that enables low cost and high-density mounting. However, the present invention is not limited to this and is also applicable to mechanical splices and the like. Is possible.

  As described above, in the optical fiber connecting jig according to the present invention, the optical fiber is gripped in a bent state, and the bent portion tends to extend, so that the tip surface of the optical fiber is inside the optical fiber holding hole. It will be pressed against the rear end face of the built-in optical fiber. For this reason, there is an effect that the optical fiber can be reliably connected with a simple device even at the connection site, it can be easily used at the connection site, and the optical fiber can be securely and easily connected. It is useful as a jig for connecting optical fibers.

(A) is a perspective view when the operation lever of the optical fiber connecting jig according to the embodiment of the present invention is rotated, and (B) is a perspective view when the operation lever is closed. (A) is a plan view of a jig for optical fiber connection, (B) is a side view seen from the B direction in (A), (C) is a side view seen from the C direction in (A), (D) is (A) End view seen from the middle D direction, (E) is an end view seen from the (E) middle E direction. (A) is a perspective view when the optical connector is housed in the optical fiber connection jig according to the embodiment of the present invention and the operation lever is rotated, and (B) is a perspective view when the operation lever is closed. It is. (A) is a plan view of an optical fiber connecting jig with an optical connector attached, (B) is a side view seen from the B direction in (A), and (C) is seen from the C direction in (A). A side view, (D) is an end view seen from the direction D in (A), and (E) is an end view seen from the direction E in (A). (A) and (B) is a perspective view showing a connection process using the optical fiber connecting fixture. It is a perspective view which shows the operation | work by the left-handed worker. It is a front view which shows the conventional jig for optical fiber connection.

Explanation of symbols

10 Optical fiber connection jig 11 Optical connector holding part 11a Bottom plate (bottom surface)
11c Side wall 12 Operation lever 12a Wedge protrusion 12b Inclined surface 12c Anti-slip protrusion 13 Optical fiber gripping plate 14a Hinge pin (hinge)
20 Optical connector 21 Optical fiber holding hole 30 Optical fiber

Claims (6)

An optical connector holding portion for holding an optical connector having a built-in optical fiber, a wedge projection for expanding the diameter of the optical fiber holding hole of the optical connector into which the optical fiber connected to the built-in optical fiber is inserted, and An operation lever that integrally has a wedge protrusion and inserts and removes the wedge protrusion with respect to the optical connector of the optical connector holding portion, and an optical fiber gripping plate for gripping the optical fiber inserted into the optical fiber holding hole. The optical fiber gripping plate is inclined downward with respect to the bottom surface of the optical connector holding portion, so that the optical fiber inserted into the optical fiber holding hole is bent upward and the elasticity of the optical fiber is obtained. A jig for connecting an optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber can be held in a state where the front end surface of the optical fiber is pressed against the rear end surface of the built-in optical fiber using force .   The operation lever is rotatably coupled to a side wall portion of the optical connector holding portion, and the wedge protrusion is inserted and removed from a side with respect to the optical connector held by the optical connector holding portion. The optical fiber connecting jig described.   The optical fiber connection jig according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation lever has an inclined surface inclined in a direction in which the wedge protrusion is removed from the optical connector at a tip.   The jig for optical fiber connection according to claim 3, wherein the inclined surface has a non-slip protrusion formed on the surface.   An optical connector having the built-in optical fiber is held in the optical connector holding portion of the optical fiber connecting jig according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Optical connector with tools.   An optical connector assembling method using the optical fiber connecting jig according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the optical fiber holding hole of the optical connector attached to the optical connector holding portion is provided. Inserting the wedge protrusion of the optical fiber connecting jig to expand the diameter of the optical fiber holding hole; inserting the optical fiber into the expanded optical fiber holding hole; and bending the optical fiber. A method for assembling an optical connector, comprising: a step of gripping the optical fiber on the optical fiber gripping plate in a bent state; and a step of moving the operating lever in a direction in which the wedge protrusion is separated.

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