JP5512636B2 - Optical connector receptacle, optical connection unit and optical outlet - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector receptacle, an optical connection unit using the optical connector receptacle, and an optical outlet using the optical connector receptacle.

As an optical connector, a plug-adapter-plug system is widely used which is used for connector connection between optical fibers. As this optical connector, for example, an SC type optical connector (F04 type optical connector established in JIS C5973, SC: Single fiber Coupling optical fiber connector) can be adopted.
In this optical connector, the optical connector (plug) can be coupled by being inserted and fitted into the optical connector (adapter) from both sides and abutting each other in the optical connector (adapter). In addition, the optical connector (plug) fitted to the optical connector (adapter) can be removed from the optical connector (adapter) by releasing the engagement of the engaging claw of the optical connector (adapter) to the housing. it can.

JP 2007-121859 A JP 2011-150128 A JP 2008-225133 A JP 2009-14960 A

However, the optical connector is not sufficient in terms of dustproof performance, and an optical connector excellent in dustproof performance has been demanded. Another problem is that it is difficult to reduce the size because the structure is complicated.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an optical connector receptacle, an optical connection unit, and an optical outlet that have excellent dustproof performance and a simple structure.

The present invention includes a connector fitting housing having an optical connector insertion hole into which an insertion optical connector is inserted, and a front housing and a rear stop ring which are attached to a rear portion of the connector fitting housing and house a built-in ferrule inside. The front housing has a base portion through which the built-in ferrule and a positioning sleeve inserted therein pass, and a sleeve-like shape that fits into the stop ring. The positioning sleeve can position a ferrule of an insertion optical connector to be inserted into the optical connector insertion hole and abut against the built-in ferrule, and the connector fitting housing includes the optical connector A housing body with an insertion hole opening on the front side and pivotable to the housing body Is connected, and a lid which is capable closing the optical connector insertion hole by the rotation, in one of the base portion and the connector fitting housing of the front housing, extending over the entire circumferential direction An engaging structure that forms a protrusion extending over the entire circumferential direction on the other of the base part and the connector fitting housing, and engages the groove and the protrusion with each other. to provide an optical connector receptacle Ru enhances the dustproof performance of the rear.
Optical connector receptacle of the present invention, the fitting housing body is combined to the main body substrate portion houses a main body substrate portion, a least a part of the front housing between the main body substrate portion A main body cover portion, and when the main body cover portion is combined with the main body substrate portion, the engaging structures formed respectively extend in the circumferential direction. Can do.
In the optical connector receptacle of the present invention, the position in the front-rear direction of the rotation shaft that rotatably supports the lid portion can be closer to the rear than the front edge portion of the side plate portion of the housing body.
In the optical connector receptacle according to the present invention, the main body substrate portion includes a bottom plate portion, and the main body cover portion includes the top plate portion and the front housing in a direction crossing the top plate portion from the top plate portion. A pair of side plate portions erected so as to be sandwiched, and the main body substrate portion includes a protrusion formed on the inner surface of the bottom plate portion over the circumferential direction, and the bottom plate portion from the bottom plate portion to the bottom plate portion, respectively. A pair of extending pieces extending so as to sandwich the front housing in a direction intersecting with each other is formed as the engaging structure, and the main body cover portion is formed on the inner surface of only the top plate portion in the circumferential direction. Thus, the protrusion may be formed as the engagement structure.
The connector fitting housing may include a biasing member that biases the lid in a direction to close the lid.
The difference in the rotation angle of the lid between the opened state and the closed state so as to be parallel to the axial direction of the optical connector insertion hole can be less than 90 °.
The difference in the rotation angle of the lid between the opened state and the closed state so as to be parallel to the axial direction of the optical connector insertion hole can be 90 ° or more.
The present invention provides an optical connector receptacle that is assembled at the distal end of an optical transmission body, and the distal end portion of the optical transmission body is inserted and fixed to the built-in ferrule.
The present invention is assembled at the front end of the optical transmission body, and the coupling unit portion includes a rear end portion of the built-in optical fiber inserted and fixed to the built-in ferrule, and the optical transmission body abutted against the rear end portion. Provided is an optical connector receptacle having a clamp portion that grips a tip portion and maintains the butt connection state.

The present invention comprises: the optical connector receptacle; and an optical connector housing case that can accommodate the optical connector receptacle and that can be installed on a mounting surface of a mounting wall, and the optical connector receptacle from the back side of the mounting surface Provided is an optical connection unit which is assembled at the end of a wired optical transmission body, and wherein the optical connector housing case has an opening into which the insertion optical connector is inserted.
The present invention comprises the optical connector receptacle and an exterior body that can accommodate the optical connector receptacle and can be installed on the mounting surface of the mounting wall, and the optical connector receptacle is wired from the back side of the mounting surface. An optical outlet is assembled at the tip of the optical transmission body, and the exterior body has an opening into which the insertion optical connector is inserted.

According to the present invention, since the connector fitting housing provided with the lid capable of closing the optical connector insertion hole is employed, it is possible to prevent dust from entering the connector fitting housing from the optical connector insertion hole.
Since the coupling unit section has a built-in ferrule that connects the ferrule of the insertion optical connector to face each other, unlike the optical connector that employs the plug-adapter-plug coupling method, the optical connector to be connected to the insertion optical connector Since a structure for fitting is not required, the optical connector receptacle can be miniaturized.
Further, since the structure of the coupling unit portion is simple and the number of parts is small, the assembling work can be facilitated and the cost can be reduced.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the optical connector receptacle of 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a state in which a lid portion of a connector fitting housing of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. 1 is opened. It is a perspective view of the state which closed the cover part of the connector fitting housing of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. (A), (b) is a perspective view of the main-body board | substrate part of the connector fitting housing of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. (A)-(d) is a figure explaining the main body board | substrate part of the connector fitting housing of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. (A)-(d) is a figure explaining the main-body cover part of the connector fitting housing of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. (A), (b) is a perspective view which shows the cover part of the connector fitting housing of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. (A)-(c) is a figure explaining the cover part of the connector fitting housing of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. It is a side view which shows operation | movement of the cover part of the connector fitting housing of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. (A)-(e) is a figure explaining the front housing of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the main body board | substrate part and front housing of the connector fitting housing of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view explaining the structure of the coupling | bonding unit part of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. It is a figure explaining the relationship of the ferrule of the coupling | bonding unit of a front figure, a spring, and a stop ring. It is sectional drawing (side sectional drawing) which shows the structure of the connector fitting part vicinity of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view (planar cross-sectional view) illustrating a fitting state between the optical connector receptacle of FIG. 1 and an optical connector inserted into the optical connector insertion hole. It is a perspective view which shows the optical connector receptacle of FIG. 1, and the insertion optical connector inserted in the optical connector insertion hole. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the optical connector receptacle of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. 17. FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view showing a ferrule with a clamp portion of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. 17, illustrating the relationship between the alignment groove of the rear extension piece and the covering portion storage groove and the two lid members. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the ferrule with a clamp part of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. 17, and is a figure explaining two cover members of a clamp part. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the relationship between the gripping element part of the half-split structure of the clamp part of the ferrule with a clamp part of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. 17 and the insertion piece to be inserted into the gripping element part. It is a perspective view explaining the assembly method which assembles the optical connector receptacle of FIG. 17 to an optical fiber cable terminal. FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a jacket holding member that is assembled to the optical fiber cable terminal as an anchoring fixing member when the optical connector receptacle of FIG. 17 is assembled to the optical fiber cable terminal. FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between an insertion auxiliary slider and a retaining cover of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. 17 and a securing member fixed to the optical fiber cable terminal, in which (a) is a side sectional view and (b) is a side sectional view; It is the figure seen from the rear side. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the insertion optical connector inserted and fitted in the optical connector insertion hole of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the optical connector accommodation case which can accommodate the optical connector receptacle of FIG. 17, and its usage form. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing an optical connector housing case housing the optical connector receptacle of FIG. 17 and an insertion optical connector connected to the optical connector receptacle. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the optical connector accommodation case which accommodated the optical connector receptacle of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the cover part of the optical connector accommodation case of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the cover part of the optical connector accommodation case of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the optical connector receptacle of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 32 is a perspective view showing a connector fitting housing and a front housing of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. 31. FIG. 32 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of a connector fitting housing of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. 31. FIG. 32 is a side view showing a main body substrate portion and a lid portion of the connector fitting housing of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. 31. It is a figure explaining the operation | movement which inserts an insertion optical connector into the optical connector insertion hole of the connector fitting housing of the optical connector receptacle of FIG. FIG. 32 is a perspective view showing an optical connector outlet provided with the optical connector receptacle of FIG. 31. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the outlet for optical connectors of a front figure. It is a perspective view explaining an example of the structure of the optical fiber cable which assembles the optical connector receptacle of FIG.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an optical connector receptacle of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of an optical connector receptacle 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as an optical connector 10) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the optical connector 10.
The optical connector 10 includes a connector fitting housing 20 and a coupling unit portion 50 attached to the rear portion of the connector fitting housing 20.
The optical connector 10 is assembled at the tip of the optical fiber 7 (optical transmission body). The optical connector 10 and the optical fiber 7 constitute an optical transmission body with a connector.
In the following description, the axial direction (axial direction) of the fitting housing body 21 and the opening direction of the optical connector insertion hole 11a (left direction in FIG. 5A) is referred to as the front, and the opposite direction is referred to as the rear. Further, a direction along the main body substrate portion 23 (specifically, a direction along the upper surface 25g of the bottom plate portion 25) and a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 5A) is referred to as a width direction. is there. In addition, a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction and the width direction may be referred to as an up-down direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 5A).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the connector fitting housing 20 includes a rectangular tube-like fitting housing main body 21 in which the optical connector insertion hole 11a opens to the front side, and a lid that can open and close the optical connector insertion hole 11a. And a spring 38 (biasing member) for urging the lid portion 22.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the fitting housing main body 21 includes a main body substrate portion 23 on which the front housing 30 is placed and a main body cover portion 24 combined with the main body substrate portion 23. The fitting housing body 21 is a cylindrical body that surrounds at least a part of the front housing 30.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the main body substrate portion 23 includes a substantially rectangular bottom plate portion 25, side plate portions 26 erected on both side edges thereof, and insertion pieces erected on both side edges of the bottom plate portion 25. 27 (insertion convex part).

At both end portions of the front edge portion 25a of the bottom plate portion 25, bearing convex portions 25b are formed to protrude forward. The bearing convex portion 25b is formed with a bearing port 25c through which a rotation shaft 37 that rotatably supports the lid portion 22 is inserted.
On the front edge portion 25a of the bottom plate portion 25, a bearing convex portion 25e formed with a bearing concave portion 25d into which the rotating shaft 37 is fitted is formed between the bearing convex portions 25b and 25b so as to protrude forward. Yes. The bearing convex portion 25e can be formed away from the bearing convex portions 25b and 25b. In the illustrated example, two bearing convex portions 25e are formed on the front edge portion 25a at intervals in the width direction.
On the lower surface 25f of the bottom plate portion 25, a spring groove portion 25h is formed from the front edge portion 25a to the rear.

On the rear surface of the upper surface 25g (inner surface) of the bottom plate portion 25, an insertion convex portion 25j (a dustproof projection) which is a protrusion having a substantially rectangular cross section is formed extending in the width direction (FIGS. 4 and 4). 5, see FIG. It is preferable that the insertion convex portion 25j is formed in a range covering almost the entire width of the front housing 30. The extending direction of the insertion convex portion 25 j is the circumferential direction of the front housing 30 and the fitting housing main body 21. In addition, if the insertion convex part 25j is formed over the width direction of the baseplate part 25, the extension direction does not necessarily need to correspond with the width direction.
The insertion convex portion 25j can contact or be close to the front housing 30 to narrow the gap between the fitting housing main body 21 and the front housing 30.
The insertion convex portion 25j is an engagement structure that is inserted into a space (groove portion 31c) between the hole inner surface contact protrusions 31a and 31b of the front housing 30 and engages with the protrusions 31a and 31b. The insertion protrusion 25j in the illustrated example is in contact with or close to the front surface of the hole inner surface contact protrusion 31b (see FIG. 14). With this structure, air flow in the front-rear direction within the fitting housing body 21 can be made difficult to occur.
The insertion protrusion 25j and the protrusions 31a and 31b preferably have a structure in which the gap between the fitting housing main body 21 and the front housing 30 is completely closed, but not limited to this, the gap is narrowed, It suffices if the air flow in the front-rear direction in the fitting housing body 21 can be made difficult to occur.
At least a part of the front housing 30 is placed on the upper surface 25 g of the bottom plate portion 25.

The insertion piece 27 (a dustproof protrusion or an insertion protrusion) is a long plate having a substantially rectangular cross section, and is an extension piece extending upward from the upper surface 25g of the rear portion of the bottom plate portion 25. The insertion pieces 27 are formed at positions close to both side edge portions 25i (side portions) of the bottom plate portion 25, respectively. The insertion piece 27 extends in the vertical direction (the circumferential direction of the front housing 30).
The pair of insertion pieces 27 are formed at positions facing one side and the other side of the front housing 30, respectively. That is, the pair of insertion pieces 27 is formed at a position sandwiching the front housing 30.
The insertion piece 27 can contact or be close to the front housing 30 to narrow the gap between the fitting housing body 21 and the front housing 30. It is preferable that the inner surface of the insertion piece 27 is in contact with or close to the base portion 31.
The insertion piece 27 is preferably formed at a position in contact with or close to the insertion convex portion 25j. The insertion piece 27 in the illustrated example is formed continuously with the end portion of the insertion convex portion 25j. It is preferable that the upper end of the insertion piece 27 reaches a position in contact with or close to the lower surface of the insertion projection 28g (see FIG. 14).
The insertion piece 27 has an engagement structure that is inserted into a space (groove portion 31c) between the hole inner surface contact protrusions 31a and 31b of the front housing 30 and engages with the protrusions 31a and 31b. With this structure, air flow in the front-rear direction within the fitting housing body 21 can be made difficult to occur.

The insertion piece 27 in the illustrated example is fitted into the groove 31c (see FIG. 15). Since the insertion piece 27 is fitted into the groove portion 31c, the gap between the fitting housing main body 21 and the front housing 30 can be narrowed, so that the air flow in the front-rear direction in the fitting housing main body 21 is less likely to occur. Is increased. The insertion piece 27 is preferably formed in the entire height range of the groove 31c.
The extending direction of the insertion piece 27 is the circumferential direction of the front housing 30 and the fitting housing main body 21. In addition, as long as the insertion piece 27 is formed over the upper and lower sides, the extending direction may not necessarily coincide with the vertical direction. For example, the extending direction of the insertion piece 27 may be a direction that exceeds 0 ° and intersects at less than 90 ° with respect to the bottom plate portion 25.
The dimension of the insertion piece 27 in the illustrated example in the front-rear direction is approximately equal to or slightly smaller than the distance in the front-rear direction between the hole inner surface abutting protrusions 31a and 31b. The rear surface is in contact with or close to the hole inner surface protrusion 31b.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the main body cover portion 24 includes a top plate portion 28 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and a pair of side plate portions 29 and 29 provided on both side edges thereof. The main body cover portion 24 in the illustrated example includes a top plate portion 28 and side plate portions 29 depending from both side edges.
The top plate portion 28 is formed to face the main body substrate portion 23 (specifically, the bottom plate portion 25), and includes a front portion 28a and a rear portion 28b having an upper surface formed lower than the front portion 28a. Reference numeral 28c is a step formed at the boundary between the front portion 28a and the rear portion 28b.

On the lower surface 28f (inner surface) of the top plate portion 28, insertion protrusions 28g (dust-proof projections), which are protrusions having a substantially rectangular cross section, are formed along the width direction (FIGS. 6D and 14). reference). The insertion protrusion 28g can contact or be close to the front housing 30 to narrow the gap between the fitting housing main body 21 and the front housing 30. The insertion convex portion 28g preferably has a lower surface in contact with or close to the base portion 31. It is preferable that the insertion convex portion 28g is formed in a range extending over almost the entire width of the front housing 30. The insertion convex portion 28g preferably has a lower surface in contact with or close to the base portion 31.
The extending direction of the insertion convex portion 28 g is the circumferential direction of the front housing 30 and the fitting housing main body 21. In addition, if the insertion convex part 28g is formed over the said width direction, the extension direction may not necessarily correspond with the width direction correctly.
The insertion convex portion 28g is an engagement structure that is inserted into a space (groove portion 31c) between the hole inner surface contact protrusions 31a and 31b of the front housing 30 and engages with the protrusions 31a and 31b. With this structure, air flow in the front-rear direction within the fitting housing body 21 can be made difficult to occur.
The insertion protrusion 28g in the illustrated example is fitted in the groove 31c (see FIG. 14). Since the insertion convex portion 28g is fitted into the groove portion 31c, the gap between the fitting housing main body 21 and the front housing 30 can be narrowed, so that air flow in the front-rear direction in the fitting housing main body 21 is less likely to occur. The effect is enhanced.
The front-rear dimension of the insertion convex part 28g in the illustrated example is approximately equal to or slightly smaller than the front-rear distance between the hole inner surface abutting protrusions 31a, 31b. The rear surface is in contact with or close to the hole inner surface contact protrusion 31a, and the rear surface is in contact with or close to the hole inner surface contact protrusion 31b.

The insertion convex portion 25j and the insertion piece 27 of the main body substrate portion 23 and the insertion convex portion 28g of the main body cover portion 24 are formed on the fitting housing main body 21 and the front housing 30 when the main body substrate portion 23 and the main body cover portion 24 are combined. One substantially continuous engagement structure (engagement structure on the fitting housing main body 21 side) extending in the circumferential direction is configured.
In the example of illustration, the insertion convex part 25j, the insertion piece 27, and the insertion convex part 28g are the engagement structures which extend the fitting housing main body 21 and the front housing 30 over a perimeter. Specifically, this engagement structure is a rectangular frame structure in which the insertion convex portion 25j, the insertion pieces 27 and 27, and the insertion convex portion 28g form each side.
The engagement structure on the fitting housing main body 21 side includes, in addition to the insertion convex portion 25j, the insertion piece 27, and the insertion convex portion 28g, other concave portions (groove portions) or convex portions formed on the fitting housing main body 21 ( Ridges) may be included.

In the illustrated example, an insertion convex portion 25j and an insertion piece 27 (insertion convex portion) are formed on the main body substrate portion 23, and an insertion convex portion 28g is formed on the main body cover portion 24. An insertion convex portion may be formed only on one side of 24.
For example, the fitting housing main body 21 may have a structure in which the insertion convex portion 28g is formed on the main body cover portion 24 and one or both of the insertion convex portion 25j and the insertion piece 27 are not formed on the main body substrate portion 23. Further, a structure in which the insertion convex portion 28g is not formed on the main body cover portion 24 and one or both of the insertion convex portion 25j and the insertion piece 27 are formed on the main body substrate portion 23 is also possible.

The side plate portion 29 includes a front portion 29a and a rear portion 29b having an outer surface formed inward of the front portion 29a. Reference numeral 29c is a step formed at the boundary between the front portion 29a and the rear portion 29b.
The pair of side plate portions 29 and 29 are provided so as to sandwich at least a part of the front housing 30 (the front housing 30 in a portion in front of the plug frame portion 35 in the illustrated example). The side plate portion 29 is formed in a direction intersecting the top plate portion 28. In the illustrated example, it is formed in a direction perpendicular to the side plate portion 29.
The front edge portion 29d in the illustrated example is inclined so as to gradually approach the rear side downward. The front edge portion 29d may be in a direction along the vertical direction.

On the inner surface 29e of the side plate portion 29, an abutting convex portion 29g having a front surface 29f along the front edge portion 29d is formed. Since the front edge portion 29d is inclined so as to gradually approach the rear side downward, the front surface 29f of the contact convex portion 29g is also inclined in the same direction.
For this reason, the lid portion 22 at the closed position is inclined so as to gradually approach the rear side downward. Specifically, the inner surface 22f of the lid portion 22 is inclined so as to gradually approach the rear side downward. Due to this inclination, the rotation angle of the lid portion 22 from the closed position to the open position becomes relatively small, so that the operation of opening the lid portion 22 becomes easy.

The upper end of the contact protrusion 29g in the illustrated example reaches the lower surface 28f of the top plate 28. The contact convex portion 29 g extends to the vicinity of the lowermost portion of the side plate portion 29.
The contact convex portion 29g is formed such that the upper end of the front surface 29f is connected to the front edge portion 28d of the top plate portion 28. It is preferable that the front surface 29f of the contact convex portion 29g and the front surface of the front edge portion 28d are flush with each other. The lid portion 22 in the closed position contacts the front surface 29f of the contact convex portion 29g and the front surface of the front edge portion 28d.

The main body cover portion 24 is formed to be able to accommodate a part or all of the front housing 30. The main body cover portion 24 in the illustrated example can accommodate the front housing 30 at a portion in front of the plug frame portion 35. For this reason, the fitting housing main body 21 surrounds the front portion of the front housing 30. The fitting housing body 21 may have a structure surrounding the entire front housing 30.
The fitting housing main body 21 in the illustrated example has a rectangular cross section, but the cross sectional shape of the fitting housing main body 21 is not limited to this, and may be a polygon such as a pentagon, a hexagon, or a semicircle.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the lid portion 22 is formed in a generally rectangular shape in plan view, and a bearing convex portion 22 d is formed on the rear edge portion 22 b of the rectangular plate-like lid body 22 a. A bearing port 22c through which the rotation shaft 37 is inserted is formed in the bearing convex portion 22d. In the illustrated example, two bearing convex portions 22d are formed on the rear edge portion 22b at intervals in the width direction.
A spring groove 22g is formed on the outer surface 22e of the lid main body 22a from the rear edge 22b to the front. Reference numeral 22f denotes an inner surface of the lid body 22a. The inner surface 22f faces the inner surface side of the fitting housing main body 21 in the closed position (FIG. 3).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lid portion 22 is capable of closing the optical connector insertion hole 11 a so as to be openable and closable by rotating about the rotation shaft 37 (connection position). That is, the lid portion 22 in the position for closing the optical connector insertion hole 11a can open the optical connector insertion hole 11a by the rotation, and the lid portion 22 in the position for opening the optical connector insertion hole 11a The optical connector insertion hole 11a can be closed by the rotation.
The lid portion 22 in the illustrated example is rotated to the optical connector position by closing the optical connector insertion hole 11a (see FIG. 3) and rotating outward from the closed position about the rotation shaft 37. It is possible to switch between the open position (see FIG. 2) where the insertion hole 11a is opened. In FIG. 2, the lid portion 22 is parallel to the axial direction (axial direction) of the fitting housing main body 21. In the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the difference in the rotation angle of the lid portion 22 between the open position and the closed position is less than 90 °.
Since the lid portion 22 in the closed position is in contact with or close to the front edge portion 28d of the top plate portion 28 and the contact convex portion 29g of the side plate portion 29, the connector is fitted through the optical connector insertion hole 11a. Air circulation inside and outside the housing 20 can be made difficult to occur.

It is desirable that the position of the rotation shaft 37 in the front-rear direction is closer to the rear than the front edge portion 29 d of the side plate portion 29 of the fitting housing body 21. Thereby, the dust-proof property between the opening end of the fitting housing main body 21 and the cover part 22 can be improved.
Since the front edge portion 29d of the side plate portion 29 is closer to the front than the rotation edge 37 and the front edge portion 28d of the top plate portion 28, the side plate portion 29 is located when the lid portion 22 is in the closed position (FIG. 3). Covers the side portion of the lid portion 22, preventing inflow of outside air from the gap between the lid portion 22 and the side plate portion 29, and improving the dust resistance.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the spring 38 includes a spiral base 38 a that passes through the rotation shaft 37, a main body side extension 38 b that extends from the base 38 a and is inserted into the spring groove 25 h, And a lid-side extending portion 38c extending from the base portion 38a and inserted into the spring groove portion 22g.
The spring 38 urges the lid portion 22 in a direction to return the lid portion 22 from the open position (see FIG. 2) to the closed position (see FIG. 3) by its own elastic force. For this reason, when the insertion optical connector 90 is extracted from the optical connector insertion hole 11a, the optical connector insertion hole 11a can be immediately closed, which is preferable in terms of dust resistance.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the through hole in the fitting housing main body 21 (hereinafter referred to as “housing through hole 21 </ b> A”) has a substantially rectangular (specifically, rectangular) cross section perpendicular to the axis.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, 12, and 13, the coupling unit portion 50 (50 </ b> C) includes a ferrule 57 (built-in ferrule) attached to the distal end portion of the optical fiber 7 in the unit portion housing 51 </ b> C. The spring 58 (coil spring) that elastically biases the ferrule 57 toward the front side of the connector is housed.
The unit housing 51 </ b> C includes a front housing 30 and a sleeve-like stop ring 56 that is fitted to the plug frame portion 35 of the front housing 30 and attached to the front housing 30.
The coupling unit portion 50 </ b> C is assembled at the distal end portion of the optical fiber 7.
The optical fiber 7 is a coated optical fiber such as an optical fiber core, and extends from the rear end opening 56 a at the rear end of the stop ring 56.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the connector fitting housing 20 and the front housing 30 constitute a connector fitting portion 11 into which an optical connector 90 (optical connector plug) can be inserted and fitted. Hereinafter, the optical connector 90 is also referred to as an insertion optical connector.
The optical connector 10 has a connector fitting portion 11 at its front end, and the coupling unit portion 50 projects from the connector fitting portion 11 to the rear side. In other words, the optical connector 10 is configured to have the connector fitting portion 11 at the front end portion of the coupling unit portion 50.
The connector fitting portion 11 can insert and fit an SC type optical connector as the insertion optical connector 90.
This insertion optical connector 90 is shown in FIG.

The connector fitting portion 11 has an optical connector insertion hole 11 a that is a front portion of the housing through hole 21 </ b> A of the connector fitting housing 20 from the base portion 31 of the front housing 30. The optical connector insertion hole 11 a is open to the front side of the connector fitting housing 20.
As shown in FIG. 15, the insertion optical connector 90 is inserted into the optical connector insertion hole 11a inside the connector fitting housing 20 from the front end of the connector fitting portion 11 (front end of the connector fitting housing 20). 11 is fitted.
As the insertion optical connector that can be fitted to the connector fitting portion 11 in the illustrated example, a so-called SC2 type optical connector having a configuration in which a knob (coupling) is omitted from the SC type optical connector can also be adopted.

As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the front housing 30 has a sleeve-like plug frame portion 35 extending rearward from the base portion 31. The front housing 30 in the illustrated example is an integrally molded product made of plastic, and the plug frame portion 35 is a cylindrical protrusion that protrudes rearward from the base portion 31.
The front housing 30 has a protruding cylindrical portion 32 that protrudes forward from the base portion 31. The front housing 30 is formed with a through hole 33 (ferrule insertion hole) that passes through the base portion 31 and opens at the front end of the protruding cylinder portion 32. The through-hole 33 includes an inner hole of the projecting cylinder portion 32 and a portion that penetrates the base portion 31 so as to extend the inner hole to the rear side, and includes the inner hole of the projecting cylinder portion 32. An opening is formed at the rear end of the base portion 31.

  A positioning sleeve 52 is accommodated in the through hole 33 so as to be movable in the axial direction of the through hole 33. Further, a ferrule 61 (built-in ferrule, ferrule main body) of a ferrule 60 with a clamp portion, which will be described later, is inserted inside the positioning sleeve 52.

The base portion 31 of the front housing 30 has two inner peripheries spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction, the inner surface of the housing through hole 21A of the connector fitting housing 20 (the lower surface 28f of the top plate portion 28, the inner surface 29e of the side plate portion 29, Further, hole inner surface contact protrusions 31a and 31b (dust-proof protrusions and positioning protrusions) that are protrusions that contact the upper surface 25g) of the bottom plate portion 25 are provided.
The front housing 30 is positioned in the housing through hole 21A by the hole inner surface abutting protrusions 31a and 31b extending over the entire outer periphery of the base portion 31 contacting the inner surface of the housing through hole 21A over the entire length in the extending direction. Are preferably provided.
The extending direction of the hole inner surface contact protrusions 31 a and 31 b in the illustrated example is the circumferential direction of the front housing 30 and the fitting housing main body 21. In addition, as long as the hole inner surface contact protrusions 31a and 31b are formed over the circumferential direction, the extending direction does not necessarily coincide with the circumferential direction (width direction or vertical direction). .

The hole inner surface abutting protrusions 31a and 31b can narrow the gap between the fitting housing main body 21 and the front housing 30 by contacting the inner surface of the housing through hole 21A in the extending direction.
The hole inner surface abutting protrusions 31a and 31b are preferably in contact with the inner surface of the housing through hole 21A over the entire circumference, but even if a part or all of the hole inner surface abutting protrusions 31a and 31b do not contact the inner surface of the housing through hole 21A. If it is close to the inner surface of the housing through-hole 21A, the gap between the fitting housing main body 21 and the front housing 30 can be narrowed, and air flow in the front-rear direction in the fitting housing main body 21 can hardly occur.
The space between the hole inner surface contact protrusions 31a and 31b is a groove 31c extending in the circumferential direction of the base 31, and the groove 31c also functions as an engagement structure. The insertion protrusion 25j, the insertion piece 27, and the insertion protrusion 28g of the fitting housing main body 21 are inserted into the groove 31c.
Moreover, although the hole inner surface contact protrusions 31a and 31b in the illustrated example extend over the entire outer periphery of the base portion 31, a dustproof effect can be obtained even if formed on only a part of the circumferential direction. For example, even when the hole inner surface abutting protrusions 31a and 31b are formed only on the side surface and the upper surface of the base portion 31 and are not formed on the lower surface, the gap between the lower surface of the base portion 31 and the main body substrate portion 23 is sufficiently narrow. If it is, a sufficient dustproof effect can be obtained.

In the optical connector 10 of the illustrated example, a dustproof effect can be obtained by forming an engagement structure composed of a recess (groove) or a protrusion (projection) on each of the fitting housing main body 21 and the front housing 30. The invention is not limited to this, and the dustproof performance can be enhanced by a structure in which a contact member extending in the circumferential direction is interposed between the fitting housing main body 21 and the front housing 30. Examples of the contact member include an annular body made of an elastically deformable material and in contact with the inner surface of the fitting housing main body 21 and the outer surface of the front housing 30 in a compressed and deformed state.
In addition, a structure in which the fitting housing main body 21 and the base portion 31 are directly or partially adhered in the circumferential direction with an adhesive or the like, or a gap between the fitting housing main body 21 and the base portion 31 in the circumferential direction. A structure filled with a filler over a part or the entire circumference is also possible.
When the fitting housing main body 21 and the base portion 31 are bonded to each other in the circumferential direction, the circumferential direction portion to be bonded is not formed with an engagement structure including a concave portion or a convex portion, and is bonded. It is possible to form an engagement structure consisting of a concave portion or a convex portion only in a circumferential portion that is not present.
In the illustrated optical connector 10, the engagement housing body 21 is formed with an engagement structure (insertion protrusion 25 j, insertion piece 27 and insertion protrusion 28 g). You may form the recessed part (groove part) which the convex part (protrusion) (for example, hole inner surface contact protrusion 31a, 31b) by the side of 30 fits.
In the optical connector 10, convex portions (insertion convex portion 25 j, insertion piece 27 and insertion convex portion 28 g) are formed on the fitting housing main body 21, and the hole inner surface abutting protrusions 31 a and 31 b and the groove portion 31 c are formed on the front housing 30. Although formed, a concave portion (groove portion) or a convex portion (projection) may be provided only in one of the fitting housing main body 21 and the front housing 30.

In the optical connector 10, when the insertion piece 27 is inserted between the hole inner surface abutting protrusions 31 a and 31 b of the front housing 30, the front housing 30 is restricted from moving in the front-rear direction with respect to the connector fitting housing 20.
In addition, the number of locations where the hole inner surface contact protrusions are formed is not limited to the illustrated example, and may be three or more.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the axial direction of the positioning sleeve 52 (split sleeve in the illustrated example) accommodated in the through hole 33 (ferrule hole) is provided on the inner periphery of the front end of the protruding cylinder portion 32 of the front housing 30. A retaining protrusion 32a with which one end abuts is provided. The positioning sleeve 52 is restricted from coming out of the projecting cylindrical portion 32 to the front side by a retaining projection 32a.
A portion of the through hole 33 of the front housing 30 on the rear side from the retaining protrusion 32a is formed in a tapered shape whose inner diameter gradually increases toward the rear side of the coupling unit portion 50A. The inner diameter of the rear end of the through-hole 33 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the front end of the portion (main hole portion) located on the rear side of the through-hole 33 from the retaining protrusion 32a.
The outer diameter of the positioning sleeve 52 is the same as or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the front end of the main hole, which is a portion located behind the retaining protrusion 32a of the through hole 33. Yes.

  The inner hole of the plug frame part 35 is a round hole formed coaxially with the through hole 33 of the front housing 30 and having a larger diameter than the rear end of the through hole 33. A step surface 36 is formed at the boundary between the through hole 33 of the front housing 30 and the inner hole of the plug frame portion 35. The step surface 36 is formed around the entire periphery of the rear end of the through hole 33.

  As shown in FIG. 25, in the insertion optical connector 90, a key 91d protruding on the outer periphery of a sleeve-like knob 91 is extended from the front end to the rear side of the top plate portion 28 of the connector fitting housing 20. It can be inserted into the optical connector insertion hole 11a of the connector fitting portion 11 by being inserted into the formed key insertion recess 28e (see FIGS. 1 and 6).

As shown in FIG. 15, the insertion optical connector 90 positions the ferrule 93 inside the plug frame 92 within the through hole 33 of the front housing 30 by pushing (inserting) the connector fitting portion 11 into the optical connector insertion hole 11a. It can be inserted (press-fit) into the sleeve 52.
Further, the insertion optical connector 90 inserts the ferrule 93 into the positioning sleeve 52 in the through-hole 33 of the front housing 30 of the coupling unit portion 50, so that the plug frame 92 is extrapolated to the protruding cylindrical portion 32 of the front housing 30. And fitted outside.
The insertion optical connector 90 has a ferrule 93 inserted into the positioning sleeve 52 in the through-hole 33 of the front housing 30 and the plug frame 92 is externally fitted to the projecting tube portion 32 of the front housing 30 so that the connector fitting portion 11 can be inserted and fitted.

  The insertion optical connector 90 is assembled at the tip of an optical fiber 94 that is a coated optical fiber such as an optical fiber core or an optical fiber. The tip of the optical fiber 94 is inserted and fixed to the ferrule 93 of the insertion optical connector 90 in the illustrated example. The joint end face 93a at the tip of the ferrule 93 exposes the tip face of the bare optical fiber 94a (see FIG. 15) led out to the tip of the optical fiber 94. The leading end surface of the bare optical fiber 94 a is aligned with the joining end surface 93 a of the ferrule 93 so as to form a surface continuous with the joining end surface 93 a of the ferrule 93.

The positioning sleeve 52 positions the ferrule 93 of the insertion optical connector 90 and the ferrule 61 on the coupling unit portion 50 side with high accuracy so as to be coaxial with each other. For this reason, the optical fibers 94 and 62 inserted and fixed to the ferrules 93 and 61, respectively, by abutting the ferrules 93 and 61 with each other within the positioning sleeve 52 (joining the joining end faces 93a and 61b). A butt connection (optical connection) can be realized.
Specifically, the butt connection between the optical fibers 94 and 62 is inserted and fixed to the bare optical fiber 94 a of the optical fiber 94 in which the insertion optical connector 90 is assembled and the ferrule 61 of the coupling unit portion 50 of the optical connector 10. This is a butt connection with the built-in optical fiber 62.

As shown in FIG. 15 and the like, a pair of front housing 30 is detachably engaged with the housing (specifically, plug frame 92) of insertion optical connector 90 inserted and fitted into optical connector insertion hole 11a. An engaging piece 34 with a claw is projected.
As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the claw engagement piece 34 has an insertion optical connector 90, which is an SC-type optical connector, at the tip of an elastic extension piece 34 a extending (projecting) forward from the base portion 31. This is a configuration in which a projecting claw 34b that projects into the housing (specifically, the plug frame 92) is provided. A pair of engaging pieces 34 with claws are arranged on both sides of the protruding cylinder portion 32.

The inserted optical connector 90 pushed into the optical connector insertion hole 11a from the front side of the connector fitting portion 11 is inserted between the pair of engaging pieces 34 with claws. In the insertion optical connector 90, the protruding claw 34 b at the tip of each engaging piece 34 with claw engages with the engaging protrusions 92 a on both sides of the plug frame 92 via the window holes 91 a on both sides of the knob 91. The insertion optical connector 90 is restricted from being pulled out from the connector fitting portion 11 by the engagement of the claw engaging piece 34, and the fitting state with respect to the connector fitting portion 11 is maintained.
The projecting claws 34b are provided at the tips of the pair of claw-engaging pieces 34 so as to project toward the tips of the mating claw-attaching pieces 34 facing each other.

Note that a slide lock structure is formed between the base portion 31 and the front portion of the front housing 30 with the insertion optical connector 90 in accordance with JIS C 5973.
That is, when the insertion optical connector 90 is inserted and fitted into the connector fitting portion 11, the engagement of the pair of claw engagement pieces 34 and the engagement protrusion 92 a of the plug frame 92 causes the insertion optical connector 90 to The removal from the connector fitting part 11 is locked. Further, when the knob 91 of the insertion optical connector 90 fitted in the connector fitting portion 11 is pulled out from the connector fitting portion 11 in the pulling direction, the pair of claw-engaging engagement pieces 34 are engaged with the plug frame 92. While being released, the insertion optical connector 90 can be detached (removed) from the connector fitting portion 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 10A, 10 </ b> B, 10 </ b> E, and 12, the front end (front end) of the claw-engaging engagement piece 34 has a knob of the insertion optical connector 90 fitted to the connector fitting portion 11. When the 91 is pulled away from the connector fitting portion 11 in the pulling direction, the disengagement protrusion 34c for releasing the engagement of the claw engagement piece 34 with the engagement protrusion 92a of the plug frame 92 is provided. Projected. The disengagement protrusion 34c is perpendicular to the interval between the pair of claw engagement pieces 34 at the front end of each claw engagement piece 34 and in the connector front-rear direction (here, the axial direction of the connector fitting housing 20). Projecting on both sides perpendicular to the axial direction of the through-hole 33). The disengagement projection 34c is formed by pulling the knob 91 of the insertion optical connector 90 fitted in the connector fitting portion 11 away from the connector fitting portion 11 in the pulling direction. The tip of the engaging piece 34 with the claw that is pressed by the engagement releasing taper wall portion 91b (see FIG. 19) formed at a position facing the plug and engaged with the engagement protrusion 92a of the plug frame 92 is plug frame. Displace from 92 and move away from the engagement projection 92a.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the disengaging taper wall portion 91 b of the knob 91 is configured such that when the projection claw 34 b at the tip of the claw engagement piece 34 is engaged with the engagement projection 92 a of the plug frame 92, The optical connector 10 is positioned on the rear side of the projection 34c for disengaging the engagement piece 34 with the claw in the front-rear direction. In the insertion optical connector 90, the projecting dimension from the inner surface facing the plug frame 92 of the knob 91 increases as the engagement releasing taper wall portion 91b moves to the front side of the insertion connector on the joining end surface 93a side of the ferrule 93 tip. It is formed in a tapered shape. Therefore, when the knob 91 of the insertion optical connector 90 fitted to the connector fitting portion 11 is moved in the direction of pulling out from the connector fitting portion 11 by a pulling operation (moving toward the front side of the optical connector 10 in FIG. 11), The disengagement protrusion 34c of the engagement piece 34 is displaced away from the plug frame 92 so as to ride on the disengagement taper wall 91b, and the engagement protrusion 92a of the plug frame 92 has a claw. The engagement of the engagement piece 34 can be released.

  As shown in FIG. 25, the taper wall 91b for releasing the engagement of the insertion optical connector 90 is provided on both sides of the knob 91 corresponding to the protrusions 34c for releasing the engagement on both ends of the clawd engagement piece 34. Two are provided. Further, the elastic extending piece 34a at the tip of the claw engagement piece 34 engaged with the engagement protrusion 92a of the plug frame 92 is located between the two engagement releasing taper wall portions 91b on both sides of the knob 91. It is stored in the secured extended piece storage groove 91c.

As shown in FIG. 13, the ferrule 57 is a ferrule for a single-fiber optical connector, and is obtained by fixing a flange part 57g to a capillary-shaped ferrule body 57f through which a fiber hole 57a passes. The flange part 57g has a sleeve portion that extends from the rear end of the ferrule body 57f to the rear side on a ring-shaped flange portion 57h that is fixed to the rear end of the front end of the ferrule body 57f opposite to the joining end surface 57b. 57i is projectingly provided.
The fiber hole 57a of the ferrule 57 extends from the joint end surface 57b at the front end (front end) of the ferrule body 57f toward the rear side of the ferrule 57, and reaches the rear end surface of the ferrule, that is, the rear end surface of the sleeve portion 57i of the flange part 57h. . In the ferrule 57, the tip end portion of the optical fiber 7 inserted into the fiber hole 57a is inserted and fixed. The distal end portion of the optical fiber 7 inserted into the fiber hole 57a is fixed to the ferrule 57 by, for example, adhesive fixing with an adhesive filled in the fiber hole 57a.

The fiber hole 57a has a positioning hole portion 57c that is a fine hole extending toward the rear side of the ferrule 57 from the joint end surface 57b of the front end (front end) of the ferrule body 57f. A portion of the fiber hole 57a on the rear side from the rear end of the positioning hole portion 57c is a covering portion receiving hole portion 57d formed with a diameter larger than that of the positioning hole portion 57c. The covering portion storage hole 57d extends rearward from the rear end of the positioning hole 57c and reaches the rear end surface of the ferrule.
In the ferrule 57, the bare optical fiber 7a led out from the tip of the optical fiber 7 is inserted and fixed in the positioning hole portion 57c of the fiber hole 57a, and from the bare optical fiber 7a of the optical fiber 7 to the covering portion accommodation hole portion 57d. A covering portion, which is a portion with the rear covering 7b, is inserted and fixed.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a state in which the insertion optical connector 90 is inserted and fitted into the connector fitting portion 11 of the optical connector 10.
In the illustrated example, the insertion optical connector 90 is provided in a cylindrical cover member 95. Since the cover member 95 abuts against the front edge portion of the main body substrate portion 23 or the main body cover portion 24 and is prevented from moving in the insertion direction, only the insertion optical connector 90 is inserted into the optical connector insertion hole 11a.

The optical connector 10 includes a connector fitting housing 20 into which the insertion optical connector 90 is inserted and a coupling unit portion 50 having a ferrule 57. The connector fitting housing 20 can close the optical connector insertion hole 11a. Since the portion 22 is provided, it is possible to prevent dust from entering the connector fitting housing 20 from the optical connector insertion hole 11a.
Since the coupling unit section 50 has a built-in ferrule 57 to which the ferrule 93 of the insertion optical connector 90 is butted and connected, unlike the plug-adapter-plug coupling system, an optical connector to be connected to the insertion optical connector 90 is provided. Since the structure for fitting is not necessary, the optical connector 10 can be downsized.
Further, since the structure of the coupling unit portion 50 is simple and the number of parts is small, the assembling work can be facilitated and the cost can be reduced.

  Since the coupling unit section 50 incorporates a spring 58 that elastically biases the ferrule 57 toward the front side of the connector, even if the insertion optical connector 90 does not have a springback mechanism, a reliable butt connection is possible.

In the optical connector 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and the like, the front surface 29f of the contact protrusion 29g of the side plate portion 29 is inclined so as to gradually approach the rearward side, and thus the lid portion 22 in the closed position. (In detail, the inner surface 22f) is inclined so as to gradually approach the rear side downward. For this reason, the difference of the rotation angle of the cover part 22 of an open position and a closed position is less than 90 degrees (refer FIG. 2 and FIG. 3).
In the present invention, the difference in the rotation angle of the lid portion 22 between the open position (FIG. 2) and the closed position may be 90 ° or more.
For example, if the front surface 29f of the contact convex portion 29g of the side plate portion 29 is formed so as to be gradually inclined toward the front toward the lower side, the lid portion 22 (in detail, the inner surface 22f) in the closed position is It inclines so that it may become gradually toward the front toward the bottom. In this case, the difference in the rotation angle of the lid portion 22 between the open position and the closed position exceeds 90 °.
If the front surface 29f of the contact convex portion 29g is formed along the vertical direction, the lid portion 22 (more specifically, the inner surface 22f) at the closed position is also along the vertical direction, and the lid portion between the open position and the closed position. The difference in the rotation angle of 22 is 90 °.

Next, a second embodiment of the optical connector receptacle of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of an optical connector receptacle 210 (hereinafter simply referred to as an optical connector 210) according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the optical connector 210.
The optical connector 210 of this embodiment is an on-site assembly type optical connector and is assembled at the tip of the optical fiber cable 1 (optical transmission body). The optical connector 210 and the optical fiber cable 1 constitute an optical transmission body with a connector.
In the following description, the same components as those of the optical connector 10 shown in FIG.

The optical connector 210 includes a connector fitting housing 20 and a coupling unit portion 50 in which a ferrule 60 with a clamp portion (described later) is housed in the housing 51.
The housing 51 is obtained by attaching the rear housing 40 to the front housing 30 and is hereinafter also referred to as a unit portion housing.
The coupling unit portion 50 has a schematic configuration in which a unit portion housing 51 contains a ferrule 60 with a clamp portion and a spring 53 that elastically biases the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion toward the front of the connector.
Reference numeral 50A in the figure is added to the coupling unit 50, and reference numeral 51A in the figure is added to the unit housing 51.

As shown in FIG. 38, the optical fiber cable 1 is formed by collectively covering an optical fiber 2 and a flexible linear strength member 4 with a synthetic resin jacket 3 so as to be parallel to each other. is there. Two strength members 4 are provided on both sides of the optical fiber 2 in parallel with each other.
The optical fiber 2 is a coated optical fiber having a configuration in which the outer peripheral surface (side surface) of the bare optical fiber 2a is covered with a coating 2b, and examples thereof include an optical fiber core wire and an optical fiber strand. In this embodiment, the optical fiber 2 is a single-core coated optical fiber. The bare optical fiber 2a is, for example, a quartz optical fiber. The coating 2b is a resin coating in which, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin, a polyamide resin, or the like is coated in one or a plurality of layers in a substantially concentric manner. Examples of the strength member 4 include those made of strength fibers such as aramid fibers, steel wires, and the like. Examples of the optical fiber cable 1 include an indoor cable and a drop cable.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the rear housing 40 has a sleeve-like shape in a block portion 42 in which a fiber introduction hole 42 a for inserting the optical fiber 2 from the rear side is inserted into the unit portion housing 51. A stop ring portion 41 having a cylindrical body portion 41e protruding in the illustrated example, and a U-shaped fixing member receiving portion extending from the block portion 42 to the side (rear side) opposite to the body portion 41e. 43.
Specifically, the unit part housing 51 of the coupling unit part 50 includes a front housing 30 and a stop ring part 41 of the rear housing 40. Reference numeral 50A in the figure is added to the coupling unit section 50, and reference numeral 51A in the figure is added to the unit section housing 51.

  In the present specification, regarding the coupling unit portion 50 and the unit portion housing 51, the side on which the projecting cylindrical portion 32 and the engaging piece 34 with the claw projecting on the front housing 30 are projected is treated as the front, and the opposite side is treated as the rear. . Regarding the coupling unit portion 50A and the unit portion housing 51A, the side on which the projecting cylindrical portion 32 and the engaging piece 34 with the claw project is provided as the front and the side on which the fixing member receiving portion 43 is provided as the rear.

From the rear of the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40, the anchoring fixing member 120 fixed to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 can be pushed in and stored (inserted).
As shown in FIGS. 17 and 22, in the operation of assembling the optical connector 10 to the end of the optical fiber cable 1, the anchoring fixing member 120 fixed to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is pushed into the fixing member receiving portion 43, and the optical fiber By pushing the optical fiber 2 exposed at the end of the cable 1 into the fiber introduction hole 42a penetrating the block portion 42 in the front-rear direction, the optical fiber 2 can be inserted into the unit portion housing 51A.

The unit portion housing 51A is fitted into the plug frame portion 35 with the front end portion of the stop ring portion 41 of the rear housing 40 (the front end portion of the body portion 41e, the end portion opposite to the block portion 42), The front housing 30 and the rear housing 40 are integrated.
The stop ring portion 41 of the rear housing 40 pushes the front body portion 41e into the plug frame portion 35 from the rear side, and the engagement protrusion 41a protruding from the outer periphery of the front end portion of the body portion 41e is connected to the plug frame portion. By fitting into locking holes 35 a formed on both sides of 35, the plug frame 35 is fitted and fixed.

  As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion includes a ferrule 61 in which an optical fiber 62 is inserted and fixed. Hereinafter, the optical fiber 2 inserted and fixed to the ferrule 61 is also referred to as a built-in optical fiber 62. The built-in optical fiber 62 has a portion that protrudes rearward from the ferrule 61 (hereinafter also referred to as a rear protrusion 62a). The front end face of the built-in optical fiber 62 is aligned with the joint end face 61 b at the front end (front end) of the ferrule 61.

The ferrule 60 with a clamp portion includes a rear projecting portion 62a of the built-in optical fiber 62 on the rear side of the ferrule 61, and an optical fiber inserted into the unit housing 51A from the rear side and abutted against the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62. 2 A clamp part 63 is assembled that holds and fixes the tip part and maintains the butt connection state between the optical fibers 62 and 2.
The clamp part 63 has a gripping element part having a half structure composed of a base member 67 (rear extension piece 67) extending rearward from the flange part 64 of the ferrule 61 and lid members 66 and 67. The clamp 63 is disposed between the base member 67 (rear extension piece 67) and the lid members 66 and 67, and the light projecting against the rear protruding portion 62a of the built-in optical fiber 62 and the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62. The tip of the fiber 2 can be sandwiched and held and fixed.

  The rear protrusion 62 a of the built-in optical fiber 62 is disposed between the base member 67 (rear extension piece 67) and the lid members 66, 67 constituting the grip element portion. The optical fiber 2 that abuts against the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62 is inserted between the base member 67 (rear extension piece 67) and the lid members 66 and 67 from the rear side of the clamp portion 63. The built-in optical fiber 62 and the optical fiber 2 (specifically, the bare optical fiber 2a led to the tip) are abutted between the base member 67 (rear extension piece 67) and the lid members 66 and 67. Connected.

  The optical fiber 2 that is inserted into the unit housing 51 </ b> A of the optical connector 10 and butt-connected to the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion is hereinafter also referred to as an insertion optical fiber. In this embodiment, the insertion optical fiber 2 is a portion of the optical fiber 2 of the optical fiber cable 1 that is exposed in a protruding state from the end of the optical fiber cable 1 by removing the outer sheath 3 at the tip of the optical fiber cable 1. Used for insertion into the unit housing 51A.

The ferrule 61 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion is a capillary-shaped single-core ferrule used in an SC type optical connector or the like. Examples of the material of the ferrule 61 include ceramics such as zirconia, and glass.
Here, the built-in optical fiber 62 is a bare optical fiber, for example, a silica-based optical fiber. The built-in optical fiber 62 is inserted into a fiber hole 61a which is a fine hole penetrating coaxially with the axis of the ferrule 61, and is fixed to the ferrule 61 by adhesive fixing using an adhesive or the like.

The rear end portion of the ferrule 61 is integrated with a flange portion 64 that is circumferentially provided (projected) on the outer periphery thereof. The flange portion 64 is formed in a ring shape from metal, plastic, or the like, for example.
The clamp portion 63 includes a rear side extension piece 65 extended from the flange portion 64 to the rear side of the ferrule 61 and lid members 66 and 67, and a metal plate having a C-shaped or U-shaped cross section (in the illustrated example, a cross section). The clamp spring 68 formed into an elongated shape (C shape) is collectively held inside. The clamp spring 68 elastically biases the lid members 66 and 67 toward the rear extension piece 65. The clamp portion 63 includes a rear protruding portion 62a of the built-in optical fiber 62 and the optical fiber 2 butt-connected to the built-in optical fiber 62 between the rear extending piece 65 and the lid members 66 and 67. These are clamped and fixed by the elasticity of the clamp spring 68.
The rear extension piece 65 and the lid members 66 and 67 are for holding a half structure that grips and fixes the rear protruding portion 62a of the built-in optical fiber 62 and the optical fiber 2 abutted against the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62. The element part is configured.

The rear extension piece 65 is formed in an elongated shape with the direction along the axis of the ferrule 61 as the longitudinal direction. The rear extension piece 65 in the illustrated example is formed integrally with the flange portion 64 and is integrated with the ferrule 61.
The clamp part 63 is a front cover member 66 and a rear side of the front cover member 66 (via the front cover member 66 as a cover member for gripping and fixing the optical fibers 62 and 2 between the rear extension piece 65. And the rear cover member 67 on the side opposite to the ferrule 61. These two lid members 66 and 67 are arranged and arranged along the longitudinal direction of the rear extension piece 65.

  The rear extension piece 65 and the cover members 66 and 67 are formed with opposing surfaces facing each other. The clamp spring 68 of the clamp part 63 elastically urges the rear extension piece 65 and the cover members 66 and 67 in the direction in which the opposing surfaces approach each other (that is, the direction in which they are closed together).

The facing surface 65a facing the lid members 66 and 67 of the rear extension piece 65 is a centering groove 69a for positioning the rear protrusion 62a of the built-in optical fiber 62 on the rear extension of the fiber hole 61a of the ferrule 61. , And a groove forming surface on which a covering portion receiving groove 69b extending rearward from the rear end of the aligning groove 69a is formed. Hereinafter, the facing surface facing the lid members 66 and 67 of the rear extension piece 65 is also referred to as a groove forming surface.
The alignment groove 69a is formed in a portion of the groove forming surface 65a facing the front lid member 66, and the covering portion storing groove 69b is formed in a portion of the groove forming surface 65a facing the rear lid member 67. In addition, a covering portion storage groove 69c is also provided on the facing surface 67a of the rear cover member 67 facing the groove forming surface 65a of the rear extension piece 65 at a position corresponding to the covering portion storage groove 69b of the rear extension piece 65. It is formed to extend.

The rear protrusion 62a of the built-in optical fiber 62 is disposed in the alignment groove 69a. The rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62 (rear end of the rear protrusion 62a) is disposed at the center in the longitudinal direction of the alignment groove 69a. The built-in optical fiber 62 is a short optical fiber in which the front end aligned with the joining end surface 61b at the tip of the ferrule 61 and the rear end are both ends in the longitudinal direction.
In the aligning groove 69 a, the bare optical fiber 2 a, which is extracted by removing the coating at the tip of the inserted optical fiber 2, faces the rear extension piece 65 and the rear cover member 67 from the rear side of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion. It inserts via the coating | coated part accommodation grooves 69b and 69c formed in the position where surface 65a, 67a mutually respond | corresponds.

As shown in FIG. 21, the aligning groove 69a is a V-groove, and the rear protruding portion 62a of the built-in optical fiber 62 and the bare optical fiber 2a at the tip of the inserted optical fiber 2 are positioned with high precision so that they can be connected to each other. , Fulfill the function of alignment. As the aligning groove 69a, in addition to the V groove, for example, a U groove, a semicircular groove, or the like can be employed.
The covering portion receiving grooves 69b and 69c are grooves formed to have a slightly larger groove width than the aligning groove 69a so as to store the covered portion (covering portion) of the inserted optical fiber 2. The covering portion receiving grooves 69b and 69c are not particularly limited, and for example, U-grooves, semicircular grooves, V-grooves, and the like can be employed.

  An insertion piece 81 is provided between the rear extension piece 65 and the front lid member 66 to ensure a gap that allows smooth insertion of the bare optical fiber 2a at the tip of the insertion optical fiber 2 into the alignment groove 69a. It is inserted so that it can be removed. Further, an insertion piece 82 (see FIG. 5) that secures a gap between the rear extension piece 65 and the rear lid member 67 that allows the insertion optical fiber 2 to be smoothly inserted into the covering portion receiving grooves 69b and 69c. 18) is removably inserted.

The insertion pieces 81 and 82 in the illustrated example are formed in a thin plate shape. These insertion pieces 81 and 82 are sandwiched between the rear extension piece 65 and the lid members 66 and 67 by the elasticity of the clamp spring 68 of the clamp portion 60.
As shown in FIGS. 17, 18, and 22, the unit portion housing 51 </ b> A has insertion piece insertion holes for passing the insertion pieces 81 and 82 inside and outside at two locations in the axial direction (the connector longitudinal direction). 41b is formed. In the optical connector 10 of the illustrated example, the insertion piece insertion hole 41b specifically penetrates the thickness of the trunk portion 41e at two locations in the axial direction (connector longitudinal direction) of the trunk portion 41e of the rear housing 40. Is formed. The insertion pieces 81 and 82 are inserted through the insertion piece insertion holes 41b and protrude outside the unit housing 51A.

  The insertion piece insertion hole 41b is formed so as to avoid a portion of the body portion 41e covered with the plug frame portion 35. In the illustrated optical connector 10, one of the insertion piece insertion holes 41 b formed at two locations in the axial direction of the body portion 41 e is formed in the plug frame portion 35 so as to be elongated from the rear end toward the front side. It is formed at a position communicating with the long and narrow cutout portion 35c. The other of the two insertion piece insertion holes 41b is formed in a portion of the trunk portion 41e located on the rear side of the plug frame portion 35.

  In addition, the insertion pieces 81 and 82 in the illustrated example are provided with removal operation portions 81a and 82a for facilitating the removal work from the clamp portion 63 in the portion protruding to the outside of the unit portion housing 51A. It has a configuration. The removal operation portions 81a and 82a in the illustrated example have a plate shape perpendicular to the insertion pieces 81 and 82, and are integrated with the insertion pieces. The insertion piece can be easily removed manually from the clamp portion 63 by the operator holding and pulling the extraction operation portions 81a and 82a with fingers. The specific configuration of the extraction operation unit is not limited to a plate shape perpendicular to the insertion piece, and can be changed as appropriate.

The insertion pieces 81 and 82 in the illustrated example are projecting pieces that project from one side of the plate-like extraction operation unit.
The optical connector 10 illustrated in FIG. 22 has insertion pieces 81 and 82 protruding from the operation portions 81a and 82a for removal corresponding to the two lid members 66 and 67 of the clamp portion 63 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion. The optical connector assembling tools 83 and 84 having the above structure are provided one by one (the optical connector 110 with a tool). However, as an optical connector assembling tool having a configuration in which an insertion piece protrudes from the removal operation portion, one removal operation portion corresponds to the two lid members 66 and 67 of the clamp portion 63, The thing of the structure which protruded two insertion pieces is also employable.

  The optical connector 10 is a tool in which an insertion piece of an optical connector assembling tool is removably inserted between a rear extension piece 65 of a clamp portion 63 of a ferrule 60 with a clamp portion and lid members 66 and 67. The attached optical connector 110 can be supplied to the site. In this case, the work of inserting the insertion piece between the rear extension piece 65 and the lid members 66 and 67 at the site can be omitted.

Further, the insertion piece is not limited to a thin plate, and for example, a flexible sheet or the like can be used.
As illustrated in FIG. 22, the plate-shaped (thin plate-shaped) insertion piece formed in a tapered shape with a tapered tip presses against the boundary between the rear extension piece 65 and the lid members 66 and 67. It can be interrupted (inserted) only. For this reason, the operation of inserting (inserting) the insertion piece between the rear extension piece 65 and the lid members 66 and 67 is performed, for example, at the site where the optical connector 10 is assembled to the optical fiber. It is also easy.

  A front end surface 41 f of the body portion 41 e that is fitted and fixed to the plug frame portion 35 is disposed at a position separated from the rear side of the step surface 36 of the front housing 30. The flange part 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part is accommodated in the inner hole of the plug frame part 35 between the stepped surface 36 of the front housing 30 and the front end of the body part 41e.

  The coupling unit portion 50 </ b> A of the illustrated example has a spacer ring 54 that is externally inserted into the ferrule 61 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion and interposed between the positioning sleeve 52 and the flange portion 64 of the ferrule 61. The inner diameter and outer diameter of the spacer ring 54 are substantially the same as the inner diameter and outer diameter of the positioning sleeve 52 (positioning sleeve 52 in which the ferrule 61 is inserted).

The sum of the axial dimension of the positioning sleeve 52 and the axial dimension of the spacer ring 54 is the same as the axial dimension of the rear portion of the through-hole 33 from the retaining projection 32a. In the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion, a position where the flange portion 64 abuts on the step surface 36 of the front housing 30 is a front movement limit position with respect to the front housing 30.
Further, when the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion is in the front side movement limit position, the rear end surface of the spacer ring 54 comes into contact with the flange portion 64 (specifically, the front side surface 64d) of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion, and the front housing 30 One end (front end) in the axial direction of the positioning sleeve 52 comes into contact with the retaining protrusion 32a at the front end of the projecting cylindrical portion 32.

Note that the sum of the axial dimension of the positioning sleeve 52 and the axial dimension of the spacer ring 54 does not need to be exactly the same as the axial dimension of the main hole portion of the through-hole 33. The dimension may be slightly shorter than the dimension in the axial direction.
Further, the coupling unit portion 50A may be configured such that the spacer ring 54 is omitted and a positioning sleeve 52 whose axial dimension is the same as or slightly shorter than the axial dimension of the through-hole main hole is adopted.

  The ferrule 60 with a clamp portion is inserted between the rear end portion of the gripping element portion of the clamp portion 63 housed in the body portion 41 e of the stop ring portion 41 and the block portion 42 of the rear housing 40. The spring 53 is elastically biased toward the front side of the connector and is disposed at the front side movement limit. Moreover, the flange part 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part of a front side movement limit position is arrange | positioned in the position spaced apart from the front part of the trunk | drum 41e to the front side. The ferrule 60 with a clamp part can be pushed rearward from the front side movement limit position to the unit part housing 51A while pushing and shrinking the spring 53 against the elastic biasing force of the spring 53.

  The coupling unit portion 50A in the illustrated example is configured such that when the spring 53 reaches the compression limit by pushing the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion toward the rear side from the front movement limit position with respect to the unit housing 51A, The flange portion 64 does not contact the front end of the body portion 41e of the stop ring portion 41, and a clearance is secured between the flange portion 64 and the front end of the body portion 41e. That is, in the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion, the position when the spring 53 reaches the compression limit is the push limit position with respect to the unit housing 51A.

  The spring 53 is specifically a coil spring, and is formed on the inner side of the rear extension piece 65 of the gripping element portion of the clamp portion 63 and the rear end portion of the rear lid member 67 in a protruding piece shape. Side projections 65b and 67b are accommodated. The rear extending piece 65 and the rear lid member 67 include the rear projecting portions 65b and 67b projecting to the rear side, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, a part of the facing surfaces 65a and 67a of the rear extension piece 65 and the rear lid member 67 facing each other is formed in the rear extension portions 65b and 67b. The rear projecting portions 65b and 67b are formed with tapered opening portions 69bw and 69cw in which the rear end portions of the covering portion storage grooves 69b and 69c are expanded in a tapered shape. The tapered openings 69bw and 69cw of the covering portion receiving grooves 69b and 69c are opened on the rear end surfaces of the rear side overhang portions 65b and 67b.
The rear extension piece 65 and the rear extension portions 65 b and 67 b of the rear lid member 67 protrude from the clamp spring 68 of the clamp portion 63 to the rear side.

  The rear projecting portions 65b and 67b are formed in a protruding piece shape that is narrower than the rear projecting portions 65b and 67b of the rear cover member 67 from the front projecting portions 65b and 67b. On the rear extension piece 65 and the rear lid member 67, step surfaces 65c and 67c are formed at the boundary between the rear extension portions 65b and 67b and the front portion thereof. The step surfaces 65 c and 67 c of the rear extension piece 65 and the rear lid member 67 are formed at the rear end portions of the rear extension piece 65 and the rear lid member 67.

The spring 53 has an inner hole in the body portion 41e of the stop ring portion 41 in a direction parallel to the central axis line of the unit portion housing 51A (in this embodiment, coincides with the central axis line of the through hole 33 of the front housing 30). The rear side extended piece 65 and the stepped surfaces 65c and 67c of the rear lid member 67 and the block portion 42 of the rear housing 40 are inserted.
The step surfaces 65 c and 67 c at the rear end portion of the rear extension piece 65 and the rear lid member 67 function as spring receiving surfaces with which the front end of the spring 53 comes into contact.

  The inner hole of the body part 41e of the stop ring part 41 of the rear housing 40 has a larger cross-sectional area than the fiber introduction hole 42a of the block part 42 and extends coaxially with the fiber introduction hole 42a. Specifically, the inner hole of the trunk portion 41e and the fiber introduction hole 42a of the rear housing 40 of the illustrated example are round holes, and the inner hole of the trunk portion 41e is formed larger in diameter than the fiber introduction hole 42a. . The block portion 42 has a ring-shaped protrusion 42b that protrudes from the central portion of the portion facing the inner hole of the body portion 41e. The front end of the fiber introduction hole 42a opens to the protruding end (front end) of the ring-shaped protrusion 42b.

The rear end portion of the spring 53 is extrapolated to the ring-shaped protrusion 42b of the block portion 42, and is formed in a ring shape by a portion of the front end portion of the block portion 42 facing the inner hole of the body portion 41e around the ring-shaped protrusion 42b. It is in contact with the secured spring receiving surface 42c.
Specifically, the spring 53 is inserted between the stepped surfaces 65c and 67c of the rear projecting portions 65b and 67b of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion and the spring receiving surface 42c of the block portion 42. The spring 53 applies a reaction force to the block portion 42 and elastically biases the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion forward with respect to the unit portion housing 51A.

  When the ferrule 60 with a clamp part is in the front side movement limit position, the rear extension piece 65 and the rear extension part 65b, 67b rear end of the rear cover member 67 are the block part 42 (specifically, ring-shaped protrusion 42b). It is arrange | positioned in the position spaced apart from the front side. At this time, the separation distance c2 between the rear ends of the rear projecting portions 65b and 67b and the block portion 42 is the amount of movement from the front movement limit position to the pushing limit position of the unit housing 51A of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion ( It is set larger (longer) than (movement distance). For this reason, the ferrule 60 with a clamp part is arrange | positioned in the position spaced apart from the block part 42 to the front side, and is not contact | abutted to the block part 42, when it moves to the pushing limit position from the front side movement limit position with respect to the unit part housing 51A. .

  As shown in FIG. 14, the separation distance between the flange portion 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion and the front end of the body portion 41e of the stop ring portion 41 at the front side movement limit position is the unit portion of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion. It is set larger (longer) than the movement amount (movement distance) from the front side movement limit position to the push-in limit position with respect to the housing 51A. The ferrule 60 with a clamp part can move back and forth between the front side movement limit position and the push-in limit position with respect to the unit part housing 51A.

  As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, key grooves 64 a are formed at a plurality of locations (two locations in the illustrated example) on the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion. The ferrule 60 with a clamp portion accommodates a key 35b protruding from the inner surface of the front end portion of the plug frame portion 35 of the front housing 30 in the key groove 64a of the flange portion 64, and prevents rotation with respect to the unit portion housing 51A. Built in.

  The coupling unit portion 50A assembles a rear assembly unit in which the spring 53 and the clamp portion 63 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion are inserted into the body portion 41e of the stop ring portion 41, and the stop ring portion 41 of the rear assembly unit is assembled. An assembling method in which the body portion 41e is pushed into the plug frame portion 35 from the rear side to be fitted can be employed. In this assembling method, the body portion 41e inserted into the plug frame portion 35 is fitted into the plug frame portion 35, whereby the coupling unit portion 50A is placed in a state in which the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion and the spring 53 are accommodated in the unit portion housing 51A. Can be assembled.

  In the case of this assembling method, by inserting the body portion 41e of the stop ring portion 41 of the rear assembly unit into the plug frame portion 35, the portion of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion that protrudes from the front end of the body portion of the stop ring portion 41 is removed. It can be inserted into the plug frame part 35 together with the body part 41e. That is, by inserting the barrel 41e of the stop ring portion 41 of the rear assembly unit into the plug frame 35, the ferrule 61 and the flange 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp can be inserted into the plug frame 35 together with the barrel 41e. .

  For example, the positioning sleeve 52 and the spacer ring 54 are inserted into the through-hole 33 of the front housing 30 together with the ferrule 61 in a state of being extrapolated to the ferrule 61 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the ferrule 61 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion may be inserted into the positioning sleeve 52 and the spacer ring 54 that have been inserted into the through hole 33.

  As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the flange portion 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion in the illustrated example is formed with a protrusion 64 c (hereinafter also referred to as a flange rear key) that protrudes rearward from the rear surface 64 b. . The ferrule 60 with a clamp part in which the clamp part 63 is inserted into the body part 41e of the stop ring part 41 is formed with the flange rear key 64c of the flange part 64 in a notch shape recessed from the front end face 41f of the body part 41e. The rotation stopper recess 41c (see FIG. 17) is inserted to restrict (rotate) rotation of the stop ring 41 in the direction around the axis. Thereby, the direction adjustment of the plug frame part 35 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part in the direction of the axis line direction is adjusted by adjusting the direction of the plug frame part 35 of the stop ring part 41 in which the body part 41e is inserted into the plug frame part 35. Yes. As a result, the work of storing the key 35b inside the front end of the plug frame part 35 in the key groove 64a of the flange part 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part can be easily performed.

  The stop ring portion 41 can adjust the orientation of the plug frame portion 35 in the direction around the axis, with the insertion piece insertion hole 41b formed in the body portion 41e as a mark. The stop ring part 41 in which the clamp part 63 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part is inserted into the body part 41e is the front side of the insertion piece insertion holes 41b formed at two locations in the axial direction of the body part 41e. By setting the position to communicate with the elongated cutout portion 35c of the plug frame portion 35, the operation of storing the key 35b of the plug frame portion 35 in the key groove 64a of the flange portion 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion can be easily performed.

  The rear housing 40 is fitted into the plug frame portion 35 by fitting the engaging protrusion 41a (see FIG. 17) on the outer periphery of the front end of the body portion 41e inserted into the plug frame portion 35 into the locking hole 35a of the plug frame portion 35. To be achieved. However, the engagement protrusion 41a of the body portion 41e is inserted into the locking hole 35a of the plug frame portion 35 by inserting the ferrule 60 with the clamp portion into the through hole 33 of the front housing 30 and the ferrule with the clamp portion. If the key 35b inside the front end of the plug frame portion 35 is not inserted into the key groove 64a of the 60 flange portion 64, this cannot be realized.

  When the rear housing 40 is in the detached state from the plug frame portion 35, the flange portion 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion into which the clamp portion 63 is inserted into the barrel portion 41e is opposite to the block portion 42 from the barrel front end surface 41f. It is arranged at a position separated forward. The pushing limit position of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part with respect to the stop ring part 41 is a position where the spring 53 inserted between the clamp part 63 in the body part 41e and the block part 42 of the rear housing 40 reaches the compression limit. It is. When the ferrule 60 with a clamp part is in the pushing limit position with respect to the stop ring part 41, the rear face 64b of the flange part 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part does not contact the front end face 41f of the trunk part and is forward from the front end face 41f of the trunk part. It is arrange | positioned in the position spaced apart. Further, the rotation preventing recess 41c at the front end of the body portion 41e is configured so that the flange rear key 64c of the flange portion 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion disposed at the push-in limit position is located at the back end (rear end) of the rotation stopping recess 41c. The formation depth from the body front end surface 41f is adjusted so that the inner surface (the back bottom surface 41d) does not abut and is spaced from the back bottom surface 41d to the front side.

In addition, one or more of the plurality of flange rear keys 64c of the flange portion 64 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion can secure an insertion state of the body portion 41e with respect to the rotation preventing recess portion 41c when the spring 53 is not compressed and deformed. Further, a projecting dimension from the rear surface 64b of the flange portion 64 to the rear side is set.
In the coupling unit portion 50A of the illustrated example, the projecting dimensions from the flange portion rear surface 64b of the flange rear portion key 64c projecting at two locations separated from each other in the circumferential direction of the flange portion 64 are different from each other. The coupling unit portion 50A has an insertion state of the body portion 41e with respect to the rotation preventing recess portion 41c in a state where only the flange rear portion key 64c having a larger projecting dimension from the flange portion rear surface 64b is not compressed and deformed. It can be secured.

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the flange rear key 64 c is formed at a plurality of locations (two locations in the illustrated example) in the circumferential direction of the flange portion 64. The key groove 64a of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion in the illustrated example is also cut from the front side surface 64d of the flange portion 64 to the flange rear portion key 64c so as to extend to the rear of the flange portion rear surface 64b.
When the ferrule 60 with a clamp part is at the front side movement limit position, the key groove 64a is arranged so that the key 35b of the plug frame part 35 inserted into the key groove 64a is located on the rear side of the key groove 64a of the flange rear key 64c. The extending length from the front side surface 64d of the flange portion 64 to the rear side is set so as not to be in contact with the portion to be closed and to be spaced apart from the front portion.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the optical connector 110 with a tool is used for the assembly of the optical connector 10 to the end of the optical fiber cable 1. First, as described above, the anchoring fixing member 120 fixed to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is pushed into the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the coupling unit portion 50A of the optical connector 10 (optical connector 110 with a tool). As a result, the optical fiber 2 exposed at the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is inserted into the unit portion housing 51A from the fiber introduction hole 42a (see FIG. 17) passing through the block portion 42 on the front side of the fixing member receiving portion 43. I will send it in.

The anchoring fixing member 120 is provided so as to surround the outer periphery of the terminal of the optical fiber cable 1 and is fixed and integrated with the terminal. The optical fiber 2 exposed at the end of the optical fiber cable 1 protrudes from a cable terminal 1a with a fixing member that includes the end of the optical fiber cable 1 and a securing member 120 for anchoring fixed to the end. The cable terminal 1a with a fixing member is configured such that the optical fiber cable 1 extends from the anchoring fixing member 120 to the rear side, and the optical fiber 2 protrudes from the anchoring fixing member 120 to the front side.
The optical fiber 2 is fed into the fiber introduction hole 42a (see FIG. 17) of the block portion 42 by moving the cable terminal 1a with a fixing member forward from the rear of the fixing member receiving portion 43 so as to approach the block portion 42, and receiving the fixing member. This is realized by pushing into the unit 43.

The block portion 42 of the rear housing 40 in the illustrated example is formed with a tapered recess 42 d that is tapered from the rear end toward the front side. The rear end of the fiber introduction hole 42a of the block portion 42 opens to the front end portion (the deep end portion when the block portion 42 is viewed from the rear side) of the tapered recess 42d.
The tapered recess 42d performs a function of guiding the tip of the optical fiber 2 protruding from the cable terminal 1a with a fixing member to the fiber introduction hole 42a to facilitate insertion into the fiber introduction hole 42a.

  Here, as the optical fiber 2, an optical fiber having a bare optical fiber 2 a at the tip is used in advance. The optical fiber 2 inserted into the fiber introduction hole 42a of the block part 42 is opened to the rear end of the clamp part 63 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part from the front end of the fiber introduction hole 42a through the inside of the spring 53 by feeding to the front side of the connector. It is inserted into the covering portion receiving grooves 69b and 69c. Further, the optical fiber 2 can be inserted into the alignment groove 69a of the clamp part 63 from the covering part receiving grooves 69b and 69c by feeding the optical fiber 2 to the front side of the connector. The optical connector 10 can abut the end of the bare optical fiber 2a against the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62 (but butt-connect) by simply feeding the optical fiber 2 from the rear side of the block portion 42 into the fiber introduction hole 42a. it can.

As shown in FIG. 17, FIG. 22 and the like, the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the block portion 42 extends from the block portion 42 to both sides in the width direction of the elongated plate-like bottom plate portion 43a extending in the longitudinal direction of the connector longitudinal direction. Further, a side plate portion 43b extending along the longitudinal direction of the bottom plate portion 43a is formed in a U-shaped cross section.
Here, as shown in FIG. 22, the operation of inserting the optical fiber 2 into the fiber introduction hole 42a of the block portion 42 is performed by connecting the optical connector 10 with the pair of side plate portions 43b of the fixing member receiving portion 43 on the bottom plate portion 43a. A case where the orientation is performed will be described. The optical connector 10 will be described with the upper side being the upper side and the lower side being the lower side in FIGS. 22, 24 </ b> A and 24 </ b> B. Further, the optical connector 10 and the coupling unit portion 50A will be described with the interval direction of the pair of side plate portions 43b of the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40 as the left-right direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 17 and 22, the rear housing 40 of the coupling unit portion 50 </ b> A of the optical connector 10 in the illustrated example approaches the block portion 42 from the rear of the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the cable terminal 1 a with a fixing member. An insertion assist slider 45 that guides the forward movement is provided. The insertion assisting slider 45 is provided on the bottom plate portion 43a of the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction.

Further, the rear housing 40 is provided with a retaining cover 46 that retains the cable terminal 1 a with a fixing member pushed into the fixing member receiving portion 43 and restricts the falling from the fixing member receiving portion 43 to the rear side.
The unit housing 51A of the coupling unit 50A of the optical connector 10 has a rear unit 44 in which the insertion assisting slider 45 and the retaining cover 46 are provided on the rear housing 40.

  As shown in FIGS. 17, 22, and 24 (a), the insertion assisting slider 45 has an elongated slider body 45 a provided on the bottom plate portion 43 a of the fixing member receiving portion 43 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. doing. The slider body 45a is provided so as to overlap the unit plate housing 51A of the coupling unit portion 50A in the front-rear direction with the slider body 45a being overlapped on the bottom plate portion 43a of the fixing member receiving portion 43, and the front and rear portions on the bottom plate portion 43a. Slide in the direction.

  The insertion assisting slider 45 has a pressing protrusion 45b that protrudes from the rear end of the slider body 45a. The insertion assisting slider 45 can place the cable terminal 1a with a fixing member on a mounting portion 45c that is a portion extending rearward from the pressing protrusion 45b of the slider body 45a. The pressing protrusion 45b has a front end of the anchoring fixing member 120 of the cable terminal 1a with a fixing member placed on the mounting base 45c (opposite of the rear end of the anchoring fixing member 120 from which the optical fiber cable 1 extends). Can be contacted from the rear side of the pressing projection 45b.

As shown in FIG. 24A, the slider main body 45a of the insertion assisting slider 45 can be inserted from the rear side into a slider insertion hole 47 penetrating the lower portion of the block portion 42 in the front-rear direction. In the insertion assisting slider 45, the pressing protrusion 45 b disposed on the rear side of the block portion 42 contacts the rear end of the intermediate wall portion 42 e between the tapered recess 42 d and the slider insertion hole 47 in the block portion 42. The rear housing 40 can be advanced to a contact position. In the insertion assisting slider 45, the position where the pressing protrusion 45b abuts against the block portion 42 (specifically, the rear end of the intermediate wall portion 42e) from the rear side is the front movement limit position with respect to the unit housing 51A. .
The insertion assisting slider 45 is slidable from the front side movement limit position to the rear side with respect to the unit part housing 51A. By this sliding movement, the pressing protrusion 45b and the mounting part 45c are moved rearward from the block part 42. It can be arranged at a position separated to the side.

In the optical connector 10 of the illustrated example, when the insertion assisting slider 45 is disposed at the front movement limit position with respect to the rear housing 40 (unit housing 51A), the rear end of the slider body 45a (the rear end of the mounting portion 45c). ) In the connecting unit portion 50 </ b> A is substantially aligned with the rear end of the bottom plate portion 43 a of the fixing member receiving portion 43.
The operation of feeding the optical fiber 2 from the fiber introduction hole 42a of the block portion 42 into the coupling unit portion 50A using the insertion auxiliary slider 45 is performed as shown in FIGS. 22 and 24A. Is disposed at a position appropriately shifted from the front movement limit position to the rear side with respect to the rear housing 40, and the anchoring fixing member 120 of the cable terminal with a fixing member 1a is placed on the mounting portion 45c of the slider main body 45a. . Then, the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member is advanced so as to reduce the distance from the block part 42, and the optical fiber 2 projected from the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is connected to the coupling unit part from the fiber introduction hole 42a of the block part 42. Send it into 50A.

The cable terminal 1a with the fixing member advances while pressing the pressing protrusion 45b with the front end of the anchoring fixing member 120. For this reason, the insertion assisting slider 45 moves forward relative to the rear housing 40 as the cable terminal 1 a with the fixing member advances.
As will be described later, the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member reaches the advance limit position with respect to the rear housing 40 before the insertion assisting slider 45 reaches the front movement limit position with respect to the rear housing 40. Therefore, when the anchoring fixing member 120 of the cable terminal with a fixing member 1a is placed on the mounting portion 45c of the slider body 45a, the anchoring fixing member 120 of the cable terminal with the fixing member 1a is in the advance limit position. Further, the insertion assisting slider 45 is disposed at a position where a deviation amount from the front movement limit position to the rear side is ensured so as to start moving forward while pressing the pressing protrusion 45b of the insertion assisting slider 45 from behind.

  As shown in FIG. 22, guide protrusions 128 protruding from both sides of the anchoring fixing member 120 are provided. As shown in FIG. 17, the guide protrusions 128 on both sides of the anchoring fixing member 120 are formed on the inner surfaces of the fixing member receiving portions 43 of the rear housing 30 of the example shown in FIG. A protrusion guide groove 43d to be inserted is formed to extend in the front-rear direction. In the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member, the position where the guide protrusion 128 of the anchoring fixing member 120 abuts against the step surface 43e (see FIG. 17) at the front end of the protrusion guide groove 43d is the forward limit position with respect to the rear housing 30. It has become.

  When the cable terminal with a fixed member 1a reaches the advance limit position, the insertion assisting slider 45 does not reach the front movement limit position where the pressing projection 45b contacts the block portion 42 of the rear housing 40. When the cable terminal 1a with a fixing member reaches the advance limit position, the insertion assisting slider 45 has a pressing projection 45b between the retaining member 120 for retention and the block portion 42 of the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member. The housing 40 is arranged to be movable back and forth.

  The optical fiber 2 that protrudes from the cable end 1a with the fixing member is embedded in the bare optical fiber 2a that is led out to the tip of the optical fiber 2 when the cable end 1a with the fixing member reaches the advance limit position by advancement. The protruding length from the end of the optical fiber cable 1 to the end of the bare optical fiber 2a is adjusted so that a butt connection state with respect to the rear end of the optical fiber 62 can be secured.

When the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member is placed on the mounting part 45c of the auxiliary insertion slider 45, the optical fiber 2 protruding from the terminal of the optical fiber cable 1 is extended backward from the fiber introduction hole 42a of the block part 42. It can be placed in a state that extends upward.
When the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member placed on the mounting portion 45c of the insertion assisting slider 45 arranged at a position shifted rearward from the front movement limit position is advanced, the insertion assisting slider 45 is moved to the fixing member receiving portion 43. It advances while being guided by the bottom plate portion 43a and the side plate portions 43b on both sides thereof. As a result, the cable terminal 1 a with the fixing member advances while maintaining the state where the optical fiber 2 protruding from the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is positioned on the rear extension of the fiber introduction hole 42 a of the block portion 42. For this reason, the operation of feeding the optical fiber 2 into the fiber introduction hole 42a using the insertion assist slider 45 is performed, for example, when the optical fiber 2 is moved forward of the cable terminal 1a with a fixing member and the axis of the fiber introduction hole 42a. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent inconveniences such as a large tilt and breakage, and the operation of feeding the optical fiber 2 into the fiber introduction hole 42a can be performed smoothly.

FIG. 23 shows a specific example of the anchoring fixing member 120.
Here, as the anchoring fixing member 120, an outer gripping member is used that is attached to the optical fiber cable 1 terminal by holding the optical fiber cable 1 terminal from both sides thereof.
Hereinafter, when the anchoring fixing member 120 refers to an outer gripping member, the anchoring fixing member 120 is also referred to as an outer gripping member.
The jacket gripping member 120 includes a grip base 121 having a U-shaped cross section formed with a cable fitting groove 122 into which the optical fiber cable 1 is fitted, and side walls on both sides in the groove width direction of the cable fitting groove 122 of the grip base 121. A holding lid 123 pivotally attached to one of the portions 125.

  The jacket gripping member 120 includes a jacket 3 of the optical fiber cable 1 in which a plurality of gripping projections 125 c that are provided on the mutually facing surfaces of the pair of side wall portions 125 of the grip base 121 are fitted in the cable fitting groove 122. The optical fiber cable 1 can be gripped and fixed between the pair of side wall portions 125. The grip base 121 is a U-shaped member in which the cable fitting groove 122 is secured between a pair of side wall portions 125 protruding from one side of the bottom wall portion 124. The groove width direction of the cable fitting groove 122 refers to the interval direction of the side wall portions 125 on both sides via the cable fitting groove 122. Note that the gripping protrusion 125 c of the jacket gripping member 120 in the illustrated example is formed in a triangular cross section extending in the depth direction of the cable fitting groove 122.

  The jacket gripping member 120 grips the pressing lid 123 after the gripping base 121 is externally fitted and fixed to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 in an open state in which the pressing lid 123 is separated from the other side wall portion 125. The opening of the cable fitting groove 122 between the ends opposite to the bottom wall portion 124 of the pair of side wall portions 125 of the base 121 is rotated to a closed position to close the holding lid 123 to the other side wall portion 125. It is locked and attached to the end of the optical fiber cable 1.

  The jacket holding member 120 in the illustrated example is an integrally molded product made of plastic. The pressing lid 123 is connected to a protruding end of one of the pair of side wall portions 125 (hereinafter also referred to as a first side wall portion, denoted by reference numeral 125a in the figure) via a thin portion 126 that functions as a hinge portion. The holding lid 123 is pivotally attached to the first side wall portion 125a of the grip base 121 by the thin portion 126 along an axis along the extending direction of the cable fitting groove 122. Hereinafter, the other of the pair of side wall portions 125 of the grip base 121 is also referred to as a second side wall portion 125b.

  The holding lid 123 of the jacket holding member 120 in the illustrated example is formed in an L-shaped plate shape. The presser lid 123 includes a top plate portion 123a pivotally attached to the first side wall portion 125a of the grip base 121 via the thin portion 126, and an end of the top plate portion 123a opposite to the thin portion 126. And a locking plate portion 123b formed perpendicular to the top plate portion 123a. When the top cover 123 a is placed in a closed position where the top plate 123 a is in contact with the protruding ends of the pair of side walls 125 of the grip base 121 and the opening of the cable fitting groove 122 is closed, the locking plate 123b can be superimposed on the outer surface of the second side wall portion 125b of the grip base 121 opposite to the cable fitting groove 122. Then, the holding lid 123 causes the locking claw 125d protruding from the outer surface of the second side wall portion 125b of the grip base 121 to enter the locking window hole 123c formed in the locking plate portion 123b. As a result, the gripping base 121 is locked and the closed state with respect to the gripping base 121 can be stably maintained.

  The jacket holding member 120 (fixing member for retention) in the illustrated example has a pair of front protruding wall portions 127 protruding from one end in the front-rear direction along the extending direction of the cable fitting groove 122 of the holding base 121. Yes. The pair of front projecting wall portions 127 are formed in a plate-like shape that protrudes from the side wall portions 125 a and 125 b on both sides of the grip base 121 so as to extend the side wall portions 125 a and 125 b along the longitudinal direction of the grip base 121. Yes. Hereinafter, the outer gripping member 120 will be described with the front projecting wall 127 side as the front and the opposite side as the rear.

  A pair of front projecting wall portions 127 of the envelope gripping member 120 in the illustrated example are formed to extend in the front-rear direction on the side plate portions 43b on both sides of the fixing member receiving portion 43 (see FIG. 3) of the rear housing 30. A guide protrusion 128 that is inserted into the portion guide groove 43 d is provided. In the front protruding wall portion 127, the guiding protruding portion 128 protrudes on the outer surface side opposite to the inner surfaces facing each other of the pair of front protruding wall portions 127.

In addition, as a jacket holding member, it is not limited to the structure of the example of illustration. As the outer cover gripping member, for example, a pressing lid is provided, and the engaging plate portion 123b is omitted, and an engagement portion that engages with the protruding end of the second side wall portion 125b of the grip base 121 is provided on the top plate portion 123a. It is also possible to adopt a configuration changed to a holding lid with a different structure. Further, as the outer cover gripping member, a configuration including only a gripping base can be employed. Moreover, as a jacket holding member, it is not limited to the plastic integral molded product, The thing assembled by the multiple member is also employable.
The anchoring fixing member is not limited to the jacket gripping member, and may be a member that is fixed to the outer periphery of the end of the optical fiber cable 1 by adhesive bonding or thermal welding, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the cable terminal 1a with a fixing member configured using the jacket gripping member 120 as a fixing member for retention is configured such that the insertion optical fiber 2 protruding from the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is connected to the coupling unit portion 50A. In the operation of feeding into the fiber introduction hole 42a of the block portion 42, the front protruding wall portion 127 of the jacket gripping member 120 is directed to the front side (block portion 42 side) on the mounting portion 45c of the insertion assisting slider 45. Placed on. The cable terminal 1a with the fixing member is placed on the mounting portion 45c with the front and rear direction of the jacket gripping member 120 (front and rear direction of the grip base 121) aligned with the front and rear direction of the coupling unit portion 50A.

The pressing protrusions 45b of the insertion assisting slider 45 are provided on both sides of the elongated plate-like slider main body 45a in the width direction (coincident with the horizontal direction of the coupling unit portion 50A). The pair of pressing protrusions 45b protruding from the slider body 45a are spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the slider body 45a at an interval corresponding to the interval between the pair of front protruding wall portions 127 of the jacket gripping member 120. It has been. When the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member is placed on the platform 45c and advanced (reducing the distance from the block portion 42), the front end of the front projecting wall portion 127 of the outer gripping member 120 The pair of pressing protrusions 45b of the insertion assisting slider 45 is pressed.
When the cable end with fixed member 1a reaches the advance limit position by advancing, the bare optical fiber 2a at the tip of the optical fiber 2 protruding from the end of the optical fiber cable 1 abuts against the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62 of the ferrule 60 with clamp portion. Connected.

The assembly of the optical connector 10 to the optical fiber cable 1 terminal is performed by first attaching the cable terminal 1a with a fixing member placed on the mounting portion 45c of the insertion assisting slider 45 disposed at a position shifted from the front movement limit position to the rear side. The unit part housing 51A (specifically, the rear housing 40) is advanced to the advance limit position. As a result, the optical fiber 2 protruding from the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is sent from the fiber introduction hole 42a of the block portion 42 into the alignment groove 69a via the covering portion receiving grooves 69b and 69c of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion. Two bare optical fibers 2a are butt-connected to the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62.
The cable terminal 1a with the fixing member is pushed forward toward the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40 toward the front block portion 42 by advancement, and is stored inside the fixing member receiving portion 43 when reaching the advance limit position. The

  Next, the retaining cover 46 is pivotally attached to the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member inside the fixing member receiving portion 43 from the upper side by a turning operation with respect to the rear housing 40 (described later) pivotally attached to the rear housing 40. Cover. As a result, as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 24 (a), the retraction restricting piece 46f (described later) provided on the retaining cover 46 is attached to the retaining member 120 for retaining of the cable terminal 1a with a retaining member (in the illustrated example, the jacket). The rear end of the cable terminal with a fixing member 1a from the forward limit position is regulated by contacting the rear end of the gripping member). As a result, the butt connection state of the optical fiber 2 (specifically, the bare optical fiber 2a opened to the tip thereof) with respect to the built-in optical fiber 62 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion is maintained.

Next, it is inserted from the clamp part 63 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part between the rear side extension piece 65 and the lid members 66 and 67 constituting the half-shaped gripping element part of the clamp part 63. The inserted insertion pieces 81 and 82 are removed.
As a result, the bare optical fiber 2a at the tip of the optical fiber 2 is held and fixed between the rear extension piece 65 and the front lid member 66 by the elasticity of the clamp spring 68 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion, and the rear extension piece A portion (covering portion) with the coating 2 b of the optical fiber 2 is gripped and fixed between the 65 and the rear lid member 67. Thereby, the butt connection state of the optical fiber 2 (specifically, the bare optical fiber 2a opened to the tip thereof) with respect to the built-in optical fiber 62 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion can be kept stable.

  The front cover member 66 is formed with a flat facing surface 66 a that faces the facing surface 65 a of the rear extension piece 65. When the insertion pieces 81 and 82 are removed from between the rear extension piece 65 and the lid members 66 and 67 constituting the half-divided gripping element portion of the clamp portion 63 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp portion, the front lid The member 66 aligns the rear protruding portion 62a of the built-in optical fiber 62 and the bare optical fiber 2a at the tip of the inserted optical fiber 2 abutted against the rear end of the rear protruding portion 62a by a flat facing surface 66a. It is pressed against 69 a and is held and fixed between the rear extension piece 65. As a result, it is possible to maintain a state in which the leading end of the bare optical fiber 2a of the inserted optical fiber 2 is butt-connected to the rear end of the built-in optical fiber 62 with high alignment accuracy.

   The assembly of the optical connector 10 to the end of the optical fiber cable 1 is completed by gripping and fixing the insertion optical fiber 2 to the clamp part 63 of the ferrule 60 with a clamp part.

  As shown in FIGS. 17 and 22, the retaining cover 46 has an elongated plate shape on both sides of the top plate portion 46 a disposed on the cable terminal 1 a with the fixing member pushed into the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40. The cover main body 46H is provided with a cover side plate portion 46b. The cover side plate portions 46b on both sides of the top plate portion 46a are provided so as to protrude perpendicularly to the top plate portion 46a on the one surface 46c side of the top plate portion 46a, and extend parallel to each other with the direction along the one surface 46c as the longitudinal direction. doing.

The pair of cover side plate portions 46b provided on both sides of the top plate portion 46a has one end side in the longitudinal direction protruding from the top plate portion 46a.
The retaining cover 46 has a pair of cover-side plate portions 46b protruding from the top plate portion 46a to the rear housing 40 by means of a rotating shaft 41g (see FIGS. 17, 18, and 22). The housing 100 </ b> H is pivotally attached to the housing 100 </ b> H so as to be rotatable with a rotation axis in the direction of the pair of side plates 43 b of the fixing member receiving portion 43.

The front end portion of the cover side plate portion 46b pivotally attached to the rear housing 40 by the rotation shaft 41g is also referred to as a pivot end portion hereinafter.
In the coupling unit portion 50A of the illustrated example, the rotating shaft 41g protrudes in a protruding shape on both sides in the left-right direction of the rear housing 40, more specifically on both sides in the left-right direction of the block portion 42. The retaining cover 46 is formed on the rear housing 40 with the pivot shaft 41g fitted into a shaft insertion hole 46e formed through the pivot end portion of the pair of cover side plate portions 46b in the thickness direction. It is pivotally mounted so as to be rotatable with a horizontal axis (rotating axis).

  The pivoting structure for the rear housing 40 of the retaining cover 46 is not limited to the illustrated structure. As the pivot attachment structure, for example, a shaft insertion projecting on the left and right sides of the block portion 42 of the rear housing 40 with shaft portions projecting on opposite sides of the pivot end portions of the pair of cover side plate portions 46b. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the retaining cover 46 is inserted into the hole and pivotally attached to the rear housing 40 around the shaft portion so as to be rotatable about its axis (rotation axis).

As shown in FIGS. 17, 18, 24 (a) and 24 (b), the retaining cover 46 is opposite to the rotation shaft 46 d of the cover body 46 H extending from the rotation shaft 46 d (hereinafter referred to as an extension end side). In other words, the retraction restricting piece 46f is included.
The retaining cover 46 is fixed to the fixing member by rotating around the rotating shaft 41g from a state in which the end on the extending end side is separated from the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40. The receiving part 43 can be covered from the upper side. The position of the retaining cover 46 at this time with respect to the fixing member receiving portion 43 is also referred to as a covering position (refer to the solid line in FIG. 18 and FIGS. 24A and 24B).

  The operation of pushing the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member into the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40 from the rear side is performed by extending the retaining cover 46 so as not to obstruct the operation of pushing the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member. This is performed in a state in which the end portion on the protruding end side is sufficiently separated from the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40 and opened to the fixing member receiving portion 43. The retaining cover 46 is disposed at the covering position by rotating around the rotation shaft 41g after the cable terminal 1a with the fixing member is pushed into the fixing member receiving portion 43.

  When the retaining cover 46 is disposed at the covering position with respect to the fixing member receiving portion 43, the top plate portion 46 a is oriented along the bottom plate portion 43 a of the fixing member receiving portion 43. In addition, the retaining cover 46 disposed in the covering position has a bottom plate of the fixing member receiving portion 43 between a pair of cover side plate portions 46b protruding in a rib shape on one side 46c (hereinafter also referred to as an inner surface) side of the top plate portion 46a. The pair of side plate portions 43b protruding from the portion 43a is stored.

  As shown in the phantom line in FIG. 24 (b), the retaining cover 46 arranged at the covering position is such that the inner surface 46c of the top plate portion 46a is opposite to the bottom plate portions 43a of the pair of side plate portions 43b of the fixing member receiving portion 43. It abuts on the end (upper end). Further, when the retaining cover 46 is disposed at the cover position, the retaining cover 46g formed on the cover side plate portions 46b on both sides is fitted to the outer surfaces (a pair of side plate portions 43b of the fixing member receiving portion 43). A locking projection 43c projecting from the side plate 43b opposite to the inner surface facing each other enters and is locked to the fixed member receiving portion 43 at the covering position. As a result, the retaining cover 46 is restricted from rotating in the direction in which the end portion on the extending end side is separated from the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40, and is in a covering position with respect to the fixing member receiving portion 43. The state is kept stable.

As shown by the solid line in FIG. 18 and FIGS. 24 (a) and 24 (b), the retaining cover 46 has the retraction restricting piece 46f at the front movement limit position with respect to the rear housing 40 when it is disposed at the cover position. It can be arranged behind the certain anchoring fixing member 120 and brought into contact with the anchoring fixing member 120.
The cover main body 46H of the retaining cover 46 includes a U-shaped cover portion 46d that includes a pair of cover side plate portions 46b and a top plate portion 46a and extends in a U-shaped cross section. The end of the cover main body 46H on the extending end side is constituted by a U-shaped cover portion 46d.

In the retaining cover 46 of the illustrated example, the retreat restricting piece 46f is a rib-like protrusion projecting along the inner periphery of the end portion of the U-shaped cross section on the extending end side of the cover body 46H, and has a portal shape. Is formed. The retraction restricting piece 46f avoids the optical fiber cable 1 extending rearward from the anchoring fixing member 120 when the retaining cover 46 is placed in the covering position, and the pulling restricting piece 46f is aligned with the right and left direction of the fixing member receiving portion 43. It arrange | positions and contact | abuts on the rear side of the wall part of the right-and-left both sides of the fixing member 120 for fixation. As a result, the cable terminal 1 a with the fixing member can be secured to the optical connector 10 by the retaining cover 46.
The optical fiber cable 1 is passed through the cable insertion recess 46k inside the portal-shaped retraction restricting piece 46f and extends from the retaining cover 46 to the rear side.

  The backward restricting piece 46f is not limited to a gate shape along the inner periphery of the end portion having a U-shaped cross section on the extending end side of the cover body 46H. For example, the retraction restricting piece is configured to protrude only on the inner surfaces facing each other of the end portions on the extension end side of the pair of cover side plate portions 46b of the cover main body 46H, and the protrusion from the top plate portion 46a is omitted. Etc. can also be adopted.

  The retaining means for retaining the anchoring fixing member 120 on the coupling unit portion 50A and holding it at the forward limit position is not limited to the retaining cover described above. As the retaining means, for example, an elastic claw that engages with the anchoring fixing member 120 of the cable terminal with the fixing member 1a pushed into the fixing member receiving portion 43 of the rear housing 40 from the rear side can be adopted.

FIGS. 26 to 30 are views showing an example of the optical connection unit of the present invention. The optical connection unit 130 can accommodate the optical connector 210 and the optical connector 210, and the mounting surface of the mounting wall 140. And an optical connector housing case 150 that can be installed at 140a.
The optical connector 210 is assembled at the tip of the optical fiber cable 1 (optical transmission body) wired from the back side of the mounting surface 140 through the passage port 140b.

The optical connector housing case 150 includes a base portion 151 that can house the optical connector 210 and a cover portion 152 that covers the base portion 151.
The base portion 151 includes an optical connector housing portion 155 having a long plate-like substrate portion 153 and a side plate portion 154 formed on the side edge thereof, and the optical fiber cable 1 of the optical connector 210 in the optical connector housing portion 155. And a lead-out portion 156 for guiding.
The lead-out portion 156 is composed of a pair of positioning plates 156a arranged to face each other at an interval, and the optical fiber cable 1 can pass through the space between the positioning plates 156a.
A plurality of gripping protrusions 156b are provided on the opposing surfaces of the positioning plate 156a. The gripping projection 156b can grip and fix the optical fiber cable 1 with the optical fiber cable 1 interposed therebetween.
The cover part 152 has a long plate-like top plate part 157, a side plate part 158 formed on the side edge thereof, and a top plate part 159 formed on the upper ends thereof.
An opening 160 into which the insertion optical connector 90 is inserted is formed at the lower end of the optical connector housing case 150.

  As shown in FIG. 26, the optical connector housing case 150 can be installed side by side on the optical outlet 170.

Next, a third embodiment of the optical connector receptacle of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 31 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of an optical connector receptacle 310 (hereinafter simply referred to as an optical connector 310) according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 32 and 33 are perspective views of the main part of the optical connector 310. FIG. FIG. 34 is a side view showing the main body substrate portion 223 and the lid portion 222 of the connector fitting housing of the optical connector 310.

The optical connector 310 includes a rectangular tube-shaped connector fitting housing 220 and a coupling unit portion 50 (50A) attached to the rear portion of the connector fitting housing 220.
The optical connector 310 is assembled at the tip of the optical fiber cable 1 (optical transmission body). The optical connector 310 and the optical fiber cable 1 constitute an optical transmission body with a connector.
In the following description, the same components as those of the optical connectors 10 and 210 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 31 to 33, the connector fitting housing 220 includes a rectangular tube-shaped fitting housing body 221 in which the optical connector insertion hole 211a opens to the front side, and a lid that can open and close the optical connector insertion hole 211a. The portion 222 and the lid portion 222 are provided with a spring 238 (biasing member).

The fitting housing main body 221 includes a main body substrate portion 223 and a main body cover portion 224 attached to the main body substrate portion 223.
The main body substrate portion 223 includes a substantially rectangular bottom plate portion 225 and insertion pieces 227 (insertion convex portions and extension pieces) erected on both side edges of the bottom plate portion 225.
A bearing portion 225b on which the rotation shaft 237 of the lid portion 222 is disposed is formed at a position slightly rearward from the front edge portion 225a of the bottom plate portion 225.

The insertion piece 227 has a long plate shape, and extends upward from the upper surface 225g of the rear portion of the bottom plate portion 225. The insertion pieces 227 are formed at positions close to both side edge portions 225i of the bottom plate portion 225, respectively.
The insertion piece 227 is inserted between the hole inner surface contact protrusions 31 a and 31 b of the front housing 30.

The main body cover part 224 has a substantially rectangular top plate part 228 and side plate parts 229 depending from both side edges.
The front edge portion 229d of the side plate portion 229 is inclined so as to gradually approach the front side downward.

  The lid portion 222 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and is closed at a position where the optical connector insertion hole 211a is closed by turning around a turning shaft 237 formed in the front edge portion 22b (see solid lines in FIGS. 32 and 34). And an open position (refer to a virtual line in FIG. 34) where the optical connector insertion hole 211a is opened by turning inward toward the main body cover 224. In the open position shown in FIG. 34, the lid 222 is parallel to the axial direction (axial direction) of the fitting housing body 221. The difference in the rotation angle of the lid portion 222 between the open position and the closed position in the illustrated example is less than 90 °.

As shown in FIG. 34, the spring 238 includes a base portion 238a, a main body side extending portion 238b extending from the base portion 238a and disposed on the upper surface 225g of the bottom plate portion 225, and a base portion 238a extending from the base portion 238a. And a lid portion extending portion 238c disposed on the back side (inner surface side).
The spring 238 urges the lid 222 in a direction to return the lid 222 from the open position (virtual line in FIG. 34) to the closed position (see the solid line in FIG. 34) by its own elastic force.

  As shown in FIG. 35, when the insertion optical connector 90 is inserted into the optical connector insertion hole 211a, the lid portion 222 is pushed by the insertion optical connector 90, and the lid portion 222 is pushed inward against the elastic force of the spring 238. The optical connector insertion hole 211a is opened, and the ferrule 93 of the insertion optical connector 90 is butt-connected to the ferrule 61 of the optical connector 310.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of an optical outlet 180 that is an example of the optical outlet of the present invention, and FIG. 37 is a perspective view of the optical outlet 180 in a partially broken state.
The optical outlet 180 includes an optical connector 310 and an exterior body 190 that can accommodate the optical connector 310 and can be installed on the mounting surface 140 a of the mounting wall 140.
The optical connector 310 is assembled at the tip of the optical fiber cable 1 (optical transmission body) wired from the back side of the mounting surface 140.

  The exterior body 190 includes a base portion 201 on which the optical connector 310 is installed, and a cover portion 202 that covers the base portion 201. The cover part 202 also covers the passage port 140b. The cover portion 202 has an opening 203 into which the insertion optical connector 90 is inserted.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical fiber cable (optical transmission body), 2 ... Optical fiber (insertion optical fiber) (optical transmission body), 7 ... Optical fiber (insertion optical fiber) (optical transmission body) 10, 210, 310 ... Optical connector ( Optical connector receptacle), 11a, 211a ... Optical connector insertion hole (connector hole), 20, 220 ... Connector fitting housing, 21, 221 ... Fitting housing body (housing body), 22, 222 ... Lid, 23, 223 ... Main body substrate part, 24, 224 ... Main body cover part, 25j ... Insertion convex part (engagement structure), 27, 227 ... Insertion piece (insertion convex part) (engagement structure), 28 ... Top plate part, 28g Insertion convex part (engagement structure), 29 ... side plate part, 29d ... front edge part of side plate part, 30 ... front side housing, 31 ... base part, 31a, 31b ... hole inner surface contact protrusion (engagement structure) ), 31c ... groove (engagement) Structure), 35 ... plug frame part, 37 ... rotating shaft (connection position), 38, 238 ... spring (biasing member), 40 ... rear housing, 41 ... stop ring (stop ring part), 50 ... coupling unit 51: Unit housing, 52 ... Positioning sleeve (split sleeve), 55 ... Stop ring, 56 ... Stop ring, 57 ... Built-in ferrule (ferrule), 60 ... Ferrule with clamp, 61 ... Built-in ferrule (ferrule, ferrule) Main body), 63 ... Clamping part, 90 ... Insertion optical connector, 130 ... Optical connection unit, 140 ... Mounting wall, 140a ... Mounting surface, 150 ... Optical connector housing case, 160 ... Opening, 180 ... Optical outlet, 190 ... exterior body, 203 ... opening.

Claims (11)

A connector fitting housing having an optical connector insertion hole into which the insertion optical connector is inserted; and
It is attached to the rear portion of the connector fitting housing, and has a coupling unit portion that is formed by fitting a built-in ferrule inside and fitting the front housing and the rear stop ring,
The front housing has a base portion through which the built-in ferrule and a positioning sleeve inserted therein pass, and a sleeve-like plug frame portion that fits into the stop ring,
The positioning sleeve can position the ferrule of the insertion optical connector to be inserted into the optical connector insertion hole and can match the built-in ferrule,
The connector fitting housing includes a housing main body in which the optical connector insertion hole opens to the front side, and a lid portion rotatably connected to the housing main body and capable of closing the optical connector insertion hole by the rotation. equipped with a,
One of the base portion of the front housing and the connector fitting housing is formed with a groove portion extending over the entire circumferential direction, and the other of the base portion and the connector fitting housing is provided with the entire circumferential direction. extending to ridge is formed, these grooves and the optical connector receptacle Ru enhances the dustproof performance of the rear and projection as the engaging structure for engaging one another over. The fitting housing main body has a main body substrate portion, and said at least a body cover portion which is also combined to the main body substrate portion to accommodate a portion of the front housing between the main body substrate portion,
The optical connector receptacle according to claim 1 , wherein when the main body cover portion is combined with the main body substrate portion, the engagement structures formed on the main body substrate portion extend in the circumferential direction. The optical connector receptacle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a position in a front-rear direction of a rotation shaft that rotatably supports the lid portion is closer to a rear side than a front edge portion of a side plate portion of the housing body. The main body substrate portion includes a bottom plate portion,
The main body cover portion includes a top plate portion, and a pair of side plate portions erected so as to sandwich the front housing in a direction intersecting the top plate portion from the top plate portion, respectively.
The main body substrate portion extends from the bottom plate portion so as to sandwich the front housing in a direction intersecting the bottom plate portion, and a protrusion formed on the inner surface of the bottom plate portion in the circumferential direction. A pair of extending pieces are formed as the engagement structure,
4. The optical connector receptacle according to claim 2, wherein a protrusion is formed on the inner surface of only the top plate portion as the engagement structure in the circumferential direction on the main body cover portion. 5. The optical connector receptacle according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the connector fitting housing includes a biasing member that biases the lid in a direction to close the lid. To any one of claims 1 to 5 difference rotation angle of the lid about the state of closing the open state so as to be parallel to the axial direction of the optical connector insertion hole is less than 90 ° Optical connector receptacle as described. To any one of claims 1 to 5 difference rotation angle of the lid about the state of closing the open state so as to be parallel to the axial direction of the optical connector insertion hole is 90 ° or more Optical connector receptacle as described. Assembled at the tip of the optical transmission body,
Tip of the optical transmission body, an optical connector receptacle according to any one of claims 1-7 which is interpolated fixed to the internal ferrule. Assembled at the tip of the optical transmission body,
The coupling unit portion grips the rear end portion of the built-in optical fiber inserted and fixed to the built-in ferrule and the front end portion of the optical transmission body abutted against the rear end portion, and these butt connection states The optical connector receptacle according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , further comprising: a clamp portion that maintains the condition. An optical connector receptacle according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , and an optical connector housing case capable of housing the optical connector receptacle and installed on a mounting surface of a mounting wall,
The optical connector receptacle is assembled at the tip of an optical transmission body wired from the back side of the mounting surface,
The optical connector housing case is an optical connection unit having an opening into which the insertion optical connector is inserted. The optical connector receptacle according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , and an exterior body that can accommodate the optical connector receptacle and can be installed on a mounting surface of a mounting wall,
The optical connector receptacle is assembled at the tip of an optical transmission body wired from the back side of the mounting surface,
The exterior body is an optical outlet having an opening into which the insertion optical connector is inserted.

Images