JP5191949B2 - Optical connector with assembly member, method for assembling the same, and optical connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector with an assembly member to be attached to a coated optical fiber having a coating on the outer periphery of a glass fiber, an assembling method thereof, and an optical connector.

  An optical connector attached to a coated optical fiber at a work site needs to obtain desired optical characteristics and connection reliability with a simple connection operation. In order to realize these requirements, an optical connector having a bending space that maintains a stable connection state, a coating removal unit that does not require coating removal work, and a refractive index matching sheet that provides good connection characteristics has been proposed. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  The optical connector 500 including the bending space 501, the coating removal unit 503, and the refractive index matching sheet 505 shown in FIG. 8 is simply inserted in the local coated optical fiber 509 so that the bending 507 occurs in the bending space 501. The distal end portion of the glass fiber 511 that has been pressed and removed by the restoring force of the bent optical fiber is always pressed against the refractive index matching sheet 505, so that a stable connection state can be maintained.

  Further, by inserting the coated optical fiber 509 through the ferrule 513 without removing the coating, the coating is removed from the end by the coating removing unit 503, and the labor for removing the coating is saved, so that the optical connector 500 can be assembled in the field. Can work easily. Further, the refractive index matching sheet 505 is provided so as to cover the fiber insertion hole opened at the front end face of the ferrule 513, so that the end face of the glass fiber 511 is pressed against the refractive index matching sheet 505, and the end face of the glass fiber 511 and the refractive index Adhesiveness with the alignment sheet 505 can be improved. Thereby, the loss and reflection of light due to the gap between the refractive index matching sheet 505 and the glass fiber 511 are suppressed, and the optical fibers are simply brought into close contact with each other regardless of whether or not the end face of the optical fiber is polished. Connection characteristics can be obtained.

JP 2008-292709 A JP 2008-292710 A

  However, in the optical connector 500 having the coating removal function, it is necessary to press the coated optical fiber 509 against the coating removal unit 503 with a certain load or more (about 400 g). This load is also applied when the glass fiber 511 is pressed with a load of 400 g or more and comes into contact with the refractive index matching sheet 505. If the refractive index matching sheet 505 is pressed with a load of 400 g or more, there is a possibility that the refractive index matching sheet 505 may be damaged, and desired optical characteristics and connection reliability may not be obtained. When the pressing load is large, the protruding amount of the glass fiber 511 (the length of the glass fiber 511 protruding from the end surface of the ferrule 513) also increases in proportion. In this state, the refractive index matching sheet 505 has a large internal stress, or frequently comes in contact with and separates from the end face of the ferrule, and even if there is no problem in the optical characteristics (initial characteristics) immediately after assembly, the connector Repeated attachment and detachment may cause fatigue and damage to the film.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and provides an optical connector with an assembly member that can reduce the pressing load of a fiber against a film and prevent excessive fiber protrusion, an assembly method thereof, and an optical connector, Accordingly, it is an object to improve optical characteristics and connection reliability.

The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following configuration.
(1) A coating removal unit that removes the coating of the coated optical fiber that is inserted into the fiber insertion hole that is formed through the ferrule, and a bending space that deflects the coated optical fiber into a predetermined shape. An optical connector with an assembly member in which a transparent body is attached so as to cover the fiber insertion hole opened in the distal end surface,
An assembly member is detachably provided in the bending space,
The optical connector with an assembly member, wherein the assembly member is formed in a structure that changes the size of the bending space.

  According to this optical connector with an assembly member, the size of the bending space can be varied by the assembly member inserted into the bending space. For example, by increasing the size of the bending space, the lower limit value of the load causing the bending is reduced. The restoring force of the coated optical fiber bent by a load that generates a small amount of bending becomes small. Thus, if the bending space is increased after the coating removal at the coating removing unit, the coated optical fiber is easily bent by a load that causes a small bending, and the pressing load of the glass fiber to the transparent body is also reduced.

(2) The optical connector with an assembly member according to (1),
The optical member with an assembly member, wherein the assembly member is formed so as to vary the length of the bending space in the fiber axis direction.

  According to this optical connector with an assembly member, it is possible to control the pressing load by varying the length in the axial direction of the bending deformation that bends in the direction orthogonal to the axis when the coated optical fiber is pressed in the axial direction. . That is, it becomes possible to form flexures having different bending rates. A long deflection in the axial direction has a large bending radius and a small restoring force, and a short bending in the axial direction has a small bending radius and a large restoring force.

(3) An optical connector with an assembly member according to (1) or (2),
The optical connector with an assembly member, wherein the assembly member is integrally provided with a stopper portion that regulates an insertion amount of the coated optical fiber into the optical fiber insertion hole.

  According to this optical connector with an assembly member, immediately after the coating is removed at the coating removal portion, insertion of the coated optical fiber is restricted at the stopper portion, and further insertion of the coated optical fiber becomes impossible, As a result, the glass fiber is prevented from being pressed against the transparent body by a large first pressing load during coating removal.

(4) An assembly method of an optical connector with an assembly member using the optical connector with an assembly member according to any one of (1) to (3),
A wire gripping step of gripping a predetermined position near the tip of the coated optical fiber;
A sheath removing step of inserting the gripped optical fiber into the fiber insertion hole, and abutting the fiber tip surface against the sheath removing portion with a first pressing load to remove the sheath;
Removing a part of the assembly member in the bending space to expand the bending space;
After expanding the bending space, the step of abutting the coated optical fiber tip against the transparent body and bending the coated optical fiber to the first bending amount with a second pressing load lower than the first pressing load. When,
Removing the assembly member remaining in the bending space and bending the coated optical fiber to a second bending amount smaller than the first bending amount. Assembly method.

  According to this method of assembling an optical connector with an assembly member, after the coating is removed, the bending space is widened, so that the lower limit value of the load that causes the bending is reduced, and the coated optical fiber is bent with a load that causes a small bending. , Its restoring force is also reduced. Thereby, it abuts on the transparent body with a second pressing load smaller than the load that the glass fiber removes. In addition, after the abutment, the assembly member is removed, so that the bending space is further expanded, and the first bending amount becomes a more moderate second bending amount, and the pressing load of the fiber against the film is further reduced.

(5) The assembly method of (4),
A method of assembling an optical connector, comprising performing a step of bringing the wire gripping portion into contact with the stopper portion after the covering removal step.

  According to this method of assembling an optical connector with an assembly member, immediately after the coating is removed at the coating removal portion, the wire gripping portion comes into contact with the stopper and the further insertion of the coated optical fiber becomes impossible. The glass fiber is prevented from being pressed against the transparent body by the large first pressing load at the time. The stopper part is moved to a position where it does not interfere with the wire gripping part at the same time as the partial removal operation of the assembly member when allowing the first deflection amount.

(6) An optical connector assembled by the assembly method of (4) or (5).

  According to this optical connector, the coated optical fiber that is connected does not press the transparent body with the first pressing load, so that no damage history remains in the transparent body. In addition, by removing the assembly member, the bending space is maximized and expanded, and the second bending amount that is gentler than the first bending amount reduces the pressing load of the fiber against the film, which is necessary. The above fiber protrusion is prevented.

  According to the optical connector with an assembly member according to the present invention, the assembly member can be inserted into and removed from the flex space, and the assembly member is formed in a structure that changes the size of the flex space. Can be reduced to reduce the pressing load of the fiber against the film. As a result, optical characteristics and connection reliability can be improved.

  According to the method of assembling an optical connector with an assembly member according to the present invention, the coating is removed by the first pressing load, a part of the assembly member in the flex space is removed to widen the flex space, and the tip of the optical fiber is made transparent. Since the coated optical fiber is bent to the first bending amount by the second pressing load, the assembly member is pulled out and bent to the second bending amount, so that it is smaller than the load to remove the coating. It is possible to abut against the transparent body with the second pressing load, and after the abutment, the fiber pressing load against the film can be reduced as a moderate second deflection amount to prevent unnecessary fiber protrusion. As a result, optical characteristics and connection reliability can be improved.

  According to the optical connector of the present invention, since it is assembled by the assembling method according to claim 4 or 5, it is provided with a coating that reduces the pressing load of the optical fiber tip against the transparent body and prevents unnecessary fiber protrusion. Optical fiber connection can be realized. As a result, optical characteristics and connection reliability can be improved.

It is sectional drawing by the surface containing the axis line of the fiber penetration hole of the optical connector with an assembly member which concerns on this invention. It is an expanded sectional view of a coating removal part and a coated optical fiber. It is a top view showing an example of an assembly member. It is assembly process explanatory drawing which represented the assembly procedure of the optical connector which concerns on a comparative example by (a)-(f). It is the principal part enlarged view which represented the relationship between the pressing load and protrusion amount of the optical connector which concerns on a comparative example with (a) (b). It is assembly process explanatory drawing which represented the assembly procedure of the optical connector with an assembly member which concerns on this Embodiment with (a)-(g). It is the principal part enlarged view which represented the relationship of the pressing load and protrusion amount of the optical connector with an assembly member which concerns on this Embodiment with (a) (b). It is sectional drawing by the surface containing the axis line of the fiber penetration hole of the conventional optical connector.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a surface including an axis of a fiber insertion hole of an optical connector with an assembly member according to the present invention.
The optical connector 100 with an assembly member according to the present embodiment can be attached to a coated optical fiber in the field with a simple connection operation, and desired optical characteristics and connection reliability can be obtained. In addition to having the bending space 11, the coating removal part 13, and the refractive index matching sheet 15 which is a transparent body, the assembly member 17 is provided.

  In this specification, the optical connector 100 with an assembly member is the one before the coated optical fiber is attached, and the optical connector 200 is connected with the coated optical fiber.

  The optical connector 100 with an assembly member is formed by, for example, fixing a cylindrical ferrule 21 coaxially to the distal end side of a prismatic base member 19. The base member 19 is provided with a notch 23 with the upper half notched at the center, and the notch 23 forms an intermediate plane 25 at the bottom. In the center of the intermediate plane 25, a fiber insertion hole 27 for positioning along the insertion direction of the coated optical fiber is formed. A fixed portion 29 and a lid member 31 for forming the bending space 11 are attached to the intermediate plane 25 from above.

  The fixing portion 29 is provided at the rear end portion of the base member 19. The fixing portion 29 fixes the coated optical fiber by being pressed against the intermediate plane 25 of the base member 19 by a fixing portion clamper (not shown). The fixed portion 29 and the base member 19 are accommodated in a housing (not shown).

  A ferrule mounting hole 33 is formed at the front end of the base member 19, and the ferrule mounting hole 33 fixes the base end of the ferrule 21. The ferrule 21 is provided with a glass fiber insertion hole 35 at the center which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the glass fiber along the axial direction.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the coating removal portion and the coated optical fiber.
The ferrule 21 is formed with a fiber insertion hole 27 (see FIG. 1) coaxially with the glass fiber insertion hole 35 at the rear end, and the coating removal portion 13 is provided at the boundary between the glass fiber insertion hole 35 and the fiber insertion hole 27. . The coating removing unit 13 peels and removes the coating 39 from the glass fiber 37 by pressing the end surface 39a of the coating 39 on the end surface 41a of the coated optical fiber 41 having the coating 39 on the outer periphery of the glass fiber 37.

  The coated optical fiber 41 has, for example, a glass fiber 37 with an outer diameter d3 = 125 μm at the center, and a coating 39 with an outer diameter d1 = 250 μm is provided so as to cover the outer periphery thereof. The glass fiber 37 is a glass fiber having a core and one or more clads, and a glass fiber having any refractive index distribution such as a single mode fiber or a multimode fiber is applicable.

  The coating 39 includes a first coating layer 43 having an outer diameter d2 that is provided in the innermost layer and is in contact with the glass fiber 37, and a second coating layer 45 that is an outer cover that covers the outside of the first coating layer 43. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a single-layer structure or two-layer structure or more may be used. Moreover, the colored layer may be provided in the outermost layer. In addition, resin which comprises the coating | cover 39 is ultraviolet curable resin, such as urethane acrylate, and physical properties, such as an elasticity modulus, are suitably set with the additive. The first coating layer 43 in contact with the glass fiber 37 has a lower elastic modulus (that is, softer) than the second coating layer 45.

  The glass fiber insertion hole 35 can be, for example, a V-shaped space in addition to a round hole, a square hole, or a regular polygonal hole. Here, a case of a round hole will be described as a preferred example. If it is a round hole, a force is easily applied uniformly in the circumferential direction of the coated optical fiber 41, and the coating removal property is good. The inner diameter D1 of the glass fiber insertion hole 35 is larger than the outer diameter d3 of the glass fiber 37 of the coated optical fiber 41 and smaller than the outer diameter of the coating 39 (that is, the outer diameter of the coated optical fiber 41) d1. Thereby, when the end surface 41a of the coated optical fiber 41 is pressed around the glass fiber insertion hole 35 of the ferrule 21, the distal end portion 35b of the insertion port 35a of the glass fiber insertion hole 35 abuts on the end surface 39a of the coating 39, It will not contact the glass fiber 37.

  In addition, the inner diameter of the distal end portion 35 b of the glass fiber insertion hole 35 is preferably smaller than the outer diameter d2 of the first coating layer 43 constituting the coating 39 and larger than the outer diameter d3 of the glass fiber 37. Thereby, when the end face 41 a of the coated optical fiber 41 is pressed around the glass fiber insertion hole 35, the tip 35 b comes into contact with the soft first coating layer 43, and the glass fiber against the first coating layer 43. The force to peel from 37 can be applied directly, and the removability is good. When the end face of the coated optical fiber 41 is pressed around the insertion port 35a of the ferrule 21, it comes into contact with the end face 39a of the cover 39 and does not come into contact with the glass fiber 37. Only the glass fiber 37 is inserted into the glass fiber. It will be inserted into the hole 35.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a refractive index matching sheet 15 for matching the refractive indexes of optical fibers at the time of connection with the optical connector of the connection partner is formed on the tip surface 21 a of the ferrule 21 with a glass fiber insertion hole 35. Covered and stuck. This refractive index matching sheet 15 is a transparent body having a refractive index equivalent to that of the core of the glass fiber 37, and is formed in a sheet shape having a thickness of 5 to 30 μm, for example, on the side contacting the tip surface 21 a of the ferrule 21. An adhesive material is applied to the surface and stuck to the ferrule 21.

  The refractive index matching sheet 15 needs to be in close contact with the end face of the glass fiber 37 without a gap. For that purpose, the adhesive force to the glass fiber 37 is set to a certain value or more. This is because if there is no adhesive force, a gap may open between the glass fiber 37 and the refractive index matching sheet 15 when the optical connector 100 with an assembly member is repeatedly attached and detached. The glass fiber 37 from which the coating 39 has been removed by the coating removing unit 13 is abutted against the refractive index matching sheet 15. The refractive index matching sheet 15 may be pushed up slightly by being pushed by the glass fiber 37.

  Further, the refractive index matching sheet 15 may be composed of a soft layer and a hard layer. In this case, the resin of either the soft layer or the hard layer is stretched to a predetermined thickness to form a sheet (rolled at a high temperature or melted with a solvent and stretched to fly away the solvent). The other is applied and hardened into a sheet. It is obtained by punching it to a predetermined size.

  The optical connector 100 with an assembly member includes a bending space 11 that can be accommodated in a state where the optical fiber 41 with coating is bent between the fixing portion 29 and the coating removing portion 13. The coated optical fiber 41 is bent behind the glass fiber 37 inserted into the ferrule 21 in the bending space 11, and the coated optical fiber 41 is fixed by the fixing portion 29, so that the elasticity toward the front side of the front end surface of the glass fiber 37 is obtained. A biasing force is applied. Thereby, the connection state of the glass fiber 37 and the refractive index matching sheet 15 is stably maintained.

  The bending space 11 can be formed by attaching a lid member 31 to an intermediate plane 25 formed by cutting out the base member 19. The cover member 31 is a block member having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. A concave portion 47 extending upward from the center of the lower surface is formed along the longitudinal direction of the base member 19, and the coated optical fiber 41 inserted therethrough has a predetermined shape upward. A recess 47 is formed so that it can be bent. The concave portion 47 has a low height at the front and rear end portions and a high portion at the central portion. The lid member 31 is sandwiched together with the base member 19 by a clamper (not shown). In the bending space 11 between the lid member 31 and the intermediate plane 25, the assembly member 17 is mounted from the side of the base member 19 so that it can be inserted and removed.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an example of the assembly member.
In an example of the present embodiment, the assembly member 17 is formed of a strip-shaped plate material, and a plurality of cuts having different depths are made from one side portion in the direction along the longitudinal direction. Restricting pieces 49a, 49b, 51a, 51b are formed. The restricting pieces 49 a and 49 b protrude from the one side portion of the assembly member 17 by the protrusion length W. The restricting pieces 51a and 51b protrude with a protrusion length S shorter than the restricting pieces 49a and 49b.

  The restricting pieces 49a and 49b are separated by a deflection interval L. Between the regulation pieces 49a and 49b, a regulation piece 51a is formed continuously with the regulation piece 49a. A gap K is formed between the regulating piece 51a and the regulating piece 49b. The restricting piece 51b is separated from the restricting piece 49b by a separation distance A rearward (in the direction opposite to the insertion direction a of the coated optical fiber 41).

  The restricting pieces 49a and 49b constitute a first wedge 49 for controlling the bending length, and the restricting pieces 51a and 51b constitute a second wedge 51 for controlling the bending length. In the present embodiment, the first wedge 49 for deflection length control and the second wedge 51 for deflection length control are integrally formed, but the first wedge 49 for deflection length control and the second wedge 51 for deflection length control are different. It may be formed on the body. The assembly member 17 can be a disposable member.

  The assembly member 17 is inserted into the bending space 11 in the insertion direction b, which is the protruding direction of the regulation pieces 49a, 49b, 51a, 51b. In the inserted assembly member 17, the first wedge 49 for bending length control and the restriction piece 51 a are inserted into the bending space 11. The restricting piece 51 b is disposed behind the fixed portion 29. Hereinafter, the restriction piece 51b is referred to as a stopper 51b.

  The assembly member 17 is formed in a structure that changes the size of the bending space 11. In the present embodiment, the assembly member 17 is formed so as to vary the length of the bending space 11 in the fiber axis direction. In a state where the assembly member 17 is completely inserted in the insertion direction b, the first wedge 49 for controlling the bending length and the regulating piece 51a are disposed in the bending space 11, and the length of the bending space 11 in the fiber axis direction is the gap K. Become. On the other hand, when the assembly member 17 is pulled out in the direction opposite to the insertion direction b by the protruding length S of the restriction piece 51a, the length in the fiber axial direction of the bending space 11 becomes the bending interval L.

  Thereby, the bending deformation length in the axial direction when the coated optical fiber 41 is pressed in the axial direction can be varied, and the pressing load on the refractive index matching sheet 15 can be controlled. That is, it becomes possible to form flexures having different bending rates. A long deflection in the axial direction has a large bending radius and a small restoring force, whereas a short bending in the axial direction has a small bending radius and a large restoring force.

  Further, the assembly member 17 includes a stopper 51 b that regulates the amount of the coated optical fiber 41 inserted into the fiber insertion hole 27. Immediately after the coating 39 is removed by the coating removal unit 13, the insertion of the coated optical fiber 41 is restricted by the stopper 51b, and further insertion of the coated optical fiber 41 becomes impossible. As a result, the glass fiber 37 is prevented from being pressed against the refractive index matching sheet 15 by a large load (first pressing load described later) when removing the coating.

  Thus, in the optical connector 100 with an assembly member, the size of the flex space 11 can be varied by the assembly member 17 inserted into the flex space 11. For example, by increasing the size of the bending space 11, the lower limit value of the load causing the bending is reduced. The restoring force of the coated optical fiber 41 bent by a load that generates a small amount of bending becomes small. Thereby, if the bending space 11 is enlarged after the coating removal at the coating removing unit 13, the coated optical fiber 41 is easily bent by a load that causes a small bending, and therefore the glass fiber 37 is applied to the refractive index matching sheet 15. The pressing load can be reduced.

  The assembly member 17 is applied to a mechanical splice, and can also serve as a wedge member that allows optical fibers to be connected to each other by opening the mechanical splice by being inserted into the mechanical splice.

Next, a method for assembling the optical connector 100 with the assembly member having the above configuration will be described. Prior to describing the method of assembling the optical connector 100 with the assembly member according to the present embodiment, an optical connector assembling method according to a comparative example in which the pressing load is not reduced will be described.
FIG. 4 is an assembly process explanatory diagram showing the assembly procedure of the optical connector 400 according to the comparative example as (a) to (f), and FIG. It is a principal part enlarged view represented by (b).
The optical connector 400 according to the comparative example includes a deflection length control wedge 401. The bending length control wedge 401 is not formed in a structure that changes the size of the bending space 11. The coated optical fiber 41 can be inserted into the fixing portion 29 and the bending space 11 of the optical connector 400. In order to connect the coated optical fiber 41 to the optical connector 400, the coated optical fiber 41 is inserted from the rear part of the optical connector 400 as shown in FIG.

  The coated optical fiber 41 is gripped and inserted by a strand gripping holder 53 which is a strand gripping portion shown in FIG. The coated optical fiber 41 is pushed in with a pressing load of 400 g or more. As a result, the coated optical fiber 41 whose tip is in contact with the coating removing unit 13 is removed from the coating 39 (see FIG. 2), and the glass fiber 37 is inserted into the glass fiber insertion hole 35. As shown in FIG.4 (c), the coated optical fiber 41 is pushed in with the pressing load of 400 g or more after that.

  As shown in FIG. 4D, when the glass fiber 37 reaches the refractive index matching sheet 15, the refractive index matching sheet 15 is pressed with a pressing load of 400 g or more. As shown in FIG. 4 (e), the coated optical fiber 41 is further pushed, and the coated optical fiber 41 is bent in the gap 403 provided in the bending length control wedge 401 of the bending space 11. As shown in FIG. 4 (f), the bending length control wedge 401 is finally removed from the bending space 11, thereby increasing the bending 405 and reducing the pressing load on the refractive index matching sheet 15 (50 g or less). ) To complete the assembly.

  In the optical connector 400 according to this comparative example, even if the glass fiber 37 reaches the refractive index matching sheet 15, the refractive index matching sheet 15 is pressed with a large pressing load F of 400 g or more as shown in FIG. It is. When the pressing load by the glass fiber 37 is large, as shown in FIG. 5B, the protruding amount T of the glass fiber 37 increases, and the deformation amount of the refractive index matching sheet 15 increases. For this reason, when the connector is repeatedly attached and detached, contact and separation frequently occur with the end face of the ferrule 21, which may cause film damage.

FIG. 6 is an assembly process explanatory diagram showing the assembling procedure of the optical connector 100 with an assembly member according to the present embodiment in (a) to (g), and FIG. 7 is an illustration of the optical connector 100 with an assembly member according to the present embodiment. It is the principal part enlarged view which represented the relationship between pressing load and protrusion amount by (a) (b).
On the other hand, in assembling the optical connector 100 with the assembly member according to the above embodiment, a predetermined position near the tip of the coated optical fiber 41 is gripped by the strand gripping holder 53, as shown in FIG. The gripped optical fiber 41 is inserted into the fiber insertion hole 27.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the coated optical fiber 41 is pushed in with a pressing load of 400 g or more which is the first pressing load. As a result, the coated optical fiber 41 whose tip is in contact with the coating removing unit 13 is removed from the coating 39 (see FIG. 2), and the glass fiber 37 is inserted into the glass fiber insertion hole 35. As shown in FIG. 6C, the removal of the covering 39 starts until the tip of the glass fiber 37 reaches the refractive index matching sheet 15. As shown in FIG. Of the coated optical fiber 41 is stopped.

  That is, immediately after the removal of the coating 39 by the coating removal unit 13, the strand gripping holder 53 comes into contact with the stopper 51b and further insertion of the coated optical fiber 41 becomes impossible. The glass fiber 37 is prevented from being pressed against the refractive index matching sheet 15 by the pressing load. The stopper 51b is moved to a position where it does not interfere with the wire gripping holder 53 simultaneously with the partial removal operation of the assembly member 17 when allowing the first deflection amount R1 (see FIG. 6F). .

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6D, the bending length control second wedge 51 (regulating piece 51 a), which is a part of the assembly member 17 in the bending space 11, is removed to widen the bending space 11. Thereby, the bending space 11 becomes large to the bending space | interval L, and the pressing load which is a buckling load of the coated optical fiber 41 becomes small (200 g or less). That is, the lower limit value of the load causing the bending is reduced. At this time, at the same time, the regulating piece 51 b is also moved to a position where it does not interfere with the strand gripping holder 53.

  As shown in FIG. 6 (e), when the coated optical fiber 41 is further inserted, the glass fiber 37 reaches the refractive index matching sheet 15. At this time, the load with which the refractive index matching sheet 15 is pushed is 200 g or less. Further, by pushing the coated optical fiber 41, as shown in FIG. 6F, a part of the coated optical fiber 41 is formed by a bending interval L formed by the restriction pieces 49a and 49b of the first wedge 49 for controlling the bending length. It enters and bends while bending inside.

  That is, after expanding the bending space 11, the tip of the glass fiber 37 with the coating removed is abutted against the refractive index matching sheet 15, and the coated optical fiber 41 is moved with the second pressing load lower than the first pressing load. 1 is bent to a bending amount R1.

  Finally, as shown in FIG. 6G, the first wedge 49 for controlling the bending length of the assembly member 17 remaining in the bending space 11 is removed. The bent state of the portion of the regulating pieces 49a and 49b that has entered the bending interval L is loosened, and is bent to a second bending amount R2 that is smaller than the first bending amount R1. When the bent state is loosened, the pressing force of the glass fiber 37 against the refractive index matching sheet 15 is reduced to a small pressing force. Thereby, damage to the refractive index matching sheet 15 due to excessive pressing of the glass fiber 37 to the refractive index matching sheet 15 is prevented.

  In this assembling method, after the coating is removed, the bending space 11 is expanded, so that the lower limit value of the load that causes the bending is reduced, and the coated optical fiber 41 is bent by the load that causes the small bending, and the restoring force is also reduced. . As shown in FIG. 7A, the glass fiber 37 is abutted against the refractive index matching sheet 15 with a second pressing load f smaller than the pressing load at the time of coating removal. Thereby, as shown in FIG.7 (b), the protrusion amount of the glass fiber 37 can be suppressed and durability of connector attachment / detachment can be improved. In addition, after the abutment, the assembly member 17 is removed, so that the bending space 11 is further expanded, and the first bending amount R1 becomes the second bending amount R2 that is gentler. The pressing load of 37 is further reduced.

  In the optical connector 200 assembled in this way, the connected coated optical fiber 41 does not press the refractive index matching sheet 15 with the first pressing load. Does not remain. Further, by removing the assembly member 17, the bending space 11 is maximized and expands, and the first bending amount R 1 is changed to a more gentle second bending amount R 2, so that the glass for the refractive index matching sheet 15 is increased. Since the pressing load of the fiber 37 is reduced, unnecessary fiber protrusion is prevented.

  Therefore, according to the optical connector 100 with an assembly member, the assembly member 17 is provided in the bending space 11 so that the assembly member 17 can be inserted and removed, and the assembly member 17 is formed in a structure that changes the size of the bending space 11, so that the bending occurs. By reducing the lower limit value of the load, the pressing load of the glass fiber 37 against the refractive index matching sheet 15 can be reduced. As a result, optical characteristics and connection reliability can be improved.

  Further, according to the method of assembling the optical connector 100 with an assembly member, the coating is removed by the first pressing load, a part of the assembly member 17 in the flex space 11 is removed to widen the flex space 11, and the glass fiber 37 The front end is abutted against the refractive index matching sheet 15 and the coated optical fiber 41 is bent to the first bending amount R1 by the second pressing load, and then the assembly member 17 is pulled out to remove the second bending amount R2. Therefore, the refractive index matching sheet 15 can be abutted against the refractive index matching sheet 15 with a second pressing load smaller than the pressing load for removing the coating. The pressing load of the glass fiber 37 against the lowering can be lowered to prevent the fiber from protruding more than necessary. As a result, optical characteristics and connection reliability can be improved.

  Furthermore, the optical connector 200 assembled by the above assembling method can realize the connection of the coated optical fiber 41 that reduces the pressing load of the tip of the glass fiber 37 against the refractive index matching sheet 15 and prevents unnecessary fiber protrusion. As a result, optical characteristics and connection reliability can be improved.

11 Deflection space 13 Cover removal part 15 Refractive index matching sheet (transparent body)
17 Assembly member 21 Ferrule 21a Ferrule tip 27 Fiber insertion hole 39 Covering 41 Covered optical fiber 51 Second wedge for controlling deflection length (part of assembly member in space)
51b Stopping part 53 Wire gripping holder (wire gripping part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Optical connector with an assembly member 200 Optical connector F 1st press load f 2nd press load R1 1st bending amount R2 2nd bending amount

Claims (4)

A coating removing unit that removes the coating of the coated optical fiber that is inserted into the fiber insertion hole that is formed through the ferrule, and a bending space that deflects the coated optical fiber into a predetermined shape. An optical connector with an assembly member in which a transparent body is attached to cover the opened fiber insertion hole,
An assembly member is detachably provided in the bending space,
An optical connector with an assembly member, wherein the assembly member is formed in a structure that changes the length of the bending space in the fiber axial direction by insertion and extraction . The assembly member with the optical connector of claim 1 Symbol placement,
The optical connector with an assembly member, wherein the assembly member is integrally provided with a stopper portion that regulates an insertion amount of the coated optical fiber into the optical fiber insertion hole. An assembly method of an optical connector with an assembly member using the optical connector with an assembly member according to claim 1 or 2 ,
A wire gripping step of gripping a predetermined position near the tip of the coated optical fiber;
A sheath removing step of inserting the gripped optical fiber into the fiber insertion hole, and abutting the fiber tip surface against the sheath removing portion with a first pressing load to remove the sheath;
Removing a part of the assembly member in the bending space to expand the bending space;
After expanding the bending space, the step of abutting the coated optical fiber tip against the transparent body and bending the coated optical fiber to the first bending amount with a second pressing load lower than the first pressing load. When,
Removing the assembly member remaining in the bending space and bending the coated optical fiber to a second bending amount smaller than the first bending amount. Assembly method. The assembly method according to claim 3 ,
A method of assembling an optical connector, comprising performing a step of bringing the wire gripping portion into contact with the stopper portion after the covering removal step.

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