JPH0123124Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a fixing structure for an optical communication unit.
In particular, the present invention relates to a structure for preventing erroneous operation of the unit.

Since the development of low-loss optical fibers in recent years,
Optical communication technology is rapidly developing, and various optical communication systems are being put into practical use. This optical communication system uses various devices, including devices such as an optical transmission system, an optical reception system, and an optical relay system.

Conventionally, these devices are usually formed by storing multiple optical communication units with predetermined functions inside a housing, attaching them in a removable manner for maintenance and inspection needs, and further wiring them together. There are many cases where In addition, these optical communication units (hereinafter simply referred to as units) usually have optical semiconductor elements, optical components, etc. mounted inside a box whose outer surface is surrounded by a panel, and perform predetermined functions, such as transmitting electrical signals. It is configured to have functions such as converting it into an optical signal and transmitting it. Furthermore, in order to perform optical wiring from one unit to another unit or device, an optical module (or optical adapter) is usually attached to the top or bottom of the unit, and the optical module is connected to the optical module. The fiber connector is connected by means such as screw fixation. In this case, the optical fiber (or optical fiber cable) extending from the optical fiber connector is held and fixed at a predetermined location of the casing with a minimum extra length. Therefore, maintenance and inspection,
When operating the unit to replace parts, etc.,
To prevent damage to the optical fiber, it is necessary to first remove the optical fiber connector from the optical module or optical adapter on the unit side, and then pull out the unit from the housing. Conventional units of this type are only provided with a normal unit insertion/extraction handle having a locking claw as a means for fixing the unit to the housing. That is, this unit insertion/extraction handle is of course used for inserting/extracting the unit, but when the unit is inserted, the locking claw provided on the handle is automatically engaged by the spring means with the receiving claw on the housing side. They are formed so as to engage and fix the unit to the housing. When pulling out the unit from the housing, rotate the handle of the insertion/extraction handle approximately 90 degrees to the left or right to release the engagement between the lock pawl and receiving pawl, and then move the insertion/extraction handle toward you in this state. The unit can be easily pulled out by pulling it to the side.
However, at this time, it is necessary to pull out the unit after removing the optical fiber connector from the unit as described above, but even an inexperienced worker or a skilled worker may accidentally attach the optical fiber. I often forget to remove the connector and accidentally pull out the unit with it still connected. When the unit is pulled out in this manner, an unreasonable tensile force is applied to the optical fiber still connected to the unit, which may damage or even break the optical fiber. As is clear from the above description, the conventional unit fixing structure has a problem in that it inevitably causes the above-mentioned erroneous operation of the unit not only by inexperienced workers but also by experienced workers.

Therefore, in view of the above points, the purpose of the present invention is to improve the fixing structure of the unit so that it has a simple structure and is easy to operate, and also to prevent the above-mentioned erroneous operation of the unit in any case. It is an object of the present invention to provide a structure for preventing erroneous operation of an optical communication unit, which can perform normal operations at all times.

In order to achieve this purpose, according to the present invention,
In a casing in which an optical communication unit equipped with an optical module or an optical adapter for connecting an optical fiber connector is removably housed, an erroneous operation prevention plate having an insertion hole for the connector is provided on the casing side,
The connector is connected to the optical module or optical adapter through the insertion hole, and when the connector is connected, the unit cannot be pulled out, and the unit can be pulled out only when the connector is removed. A structure for preventing erroneous operation of an optical communication unit is provided.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 3 are views showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a side view, FIG. 2 is a front view seen from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1, and FIG. Arrow B
It is a top view seen from the direction. In the figure, only a part of the housing 1 is shown, and it is assumed that the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1 is the rear direction, and the opposite direction is the front direction. Therefore, when facing in the direction of arrow A, the left hand side is called the left direction, and the right hand side is called the right direction. In FIG. 1, fixing members 1b and 1'b are vertically arranged and fixed at a predetermined distance from each other on the rear wall 1a of the housing 1, and the fixing members 1
Holding plates 3 and 3' are mounted and fixed on the insides of b and 1'b, facing each other at upper and lower positions, and an electrical connector 5 is mounted between the fixing members 1b and 1'b facing the rear wall 1a. It's tied up. Further, the holding plates 3, 3' are further held and fixed at their front ends by holding frames 7, 7' from above and below, respectively. The holding frames 7, 7' extend in the left-right direction of the housing 1, and their ends (not shown) are fixed to the side walls (not shown) of the housing 1. Holding plate 3, 3'
The guide rails 3a, 3' extend in the front-back direction on the inner lower surface and the inner upper surface facing each other and have a concave cross section.
a (see FIG. 2) is provided. unit 9
has a box-like appearance, and its dimensions are often about 50 mm in left and right width, about 200 mm in height, and about 180 mm in depth. This unit 9 is provided with convex rails 9a and 9'a extending in the front-rear direction on its upper and lower surfaces, respectively, and these rails correspond to the guy rails 3a and 3'a of the holding plates 3 and 3', respectively. and are configured to slidably fit together. Therefore, the unit 9 is inserted into the housing 1 from the front opening of the housing 1 through these guide rails 3a, 3'a, and then the electrical connector 9b provided on the back side of the housing is inserted into the housing at a predetermined position. It is electrically and mechanically fitted and connected to the electrical connector 5 on the body 1 side. An L-shaped unit insertion/extraction handle 11 is provided at the lower front of the unit 9, and the unit 9 is inserted or extracted in the front-rear direction via the handle. In addition, the insertion/extraction handle 1
The unit 9 is fixed to the housing 1 by a locking claw 11a provided at the tip of the horizontal portion of the unit 9 engaging with a receiving claw 13 on the housing 1 side. The lock pawl 11a and the receiving pawl 13 are configured to automatically engage with each other by known spring means when the unit 9 reaches a predetermined insertion position. The engagement state between the lock pawl 11a and the receiving pawl 13 is released by rotating the handle portion 11b of the insertion/extraction handle 11 approximately 90 degrees to the left or right.If the handle portion 11b is pulled forward in this state, the unit 9 is released. Extracted from body 1.
An optical module 14 (or an optical adapter) is attached to the front upper part of the unit 9, and an optical fiber connector 15 is connected to the optical module 14 by screwing means. The connector 15 is a known one, and its connecting portion 15b is formed separately from the body 15a, and is rotatably incorporated into the body 15a, and a female screw (not shown) provided inside the tip end is connected to the body 15a. It is formed to be screwed into a male thread (not shown) provided on the protrusion of the module 14. The optical fiber 15c (or optical fiber cable) connected to the optical fiber connector 15 and extending from its rear end is held on the overhead terminal board 17 near the rear wall 1a of the housing 1 with the minimum necessary length. fixed (not shown) and guided to other optical circuits. The overhead terminal board 17 is arranged to extend in the left-right direction of the housing 1 at a distance above the optical fiber connector 15 (see FIG. 2), and the optical fiber connector 15 is placed below the front end of the overhead terminal board 17. A temporary fixing holding member 19 is provided for use. The holding member 19
As shown in Fig. 2, the spring plate consists of a pair of spring plates facing each other, the longitudinal middle part of which is curved into an outwardly protruding arc, and the free end thereof is formed to expand outward. , the optical fiber connector 15 which has been removed from the unit 9 can be easily and temporarily held. In the holding and fixing structure of the unit 9 configured as described above, the erroneous operation prevention plate 21 according to the present invention is attached and fixed to the upper side of the holding frame 7 by means such as screw fixing or brazing. The free end side (front end side) is provided so as to pass through the optical fiber connector 15 and extend forward to a desired position. Further, on the front end side of the erroneous operation prevention plate 21, an insertion hole 21a (see FIG. 3) into which the optical fiber connector 15 can be inserted is provided at a position corresponding to the optical fiber connector 15.
is provided, and the connector 15 is connected to the optical module 14 (or optical adapter) through this insertion hole 21a. The prevention plate 21 has a rectangular planar shape as shown in FIG. 3, and is easily formed from a material such as a thin iron plate by punching or the like.

Therefore, due to the necessity of maintenance and inspection, it is necessary to simply release the lock pawl 11a of the insertion/extraction handle 11 by mistake in the state shown in FIG. 1 (that is, with the connector 15 still connected to the optical module 14). Even if the unit 9 is pulled forward, the optical fiber connector 15 is blocked by the insertion hole 21a of the erroneous operation prevention plate 21, so the unit 9 cannot be pulled out as it is. Therefore, the above connector 1
5 from the unit 9 side and then pull out the unit 9. In other words, optical fiber connector 1
Since it is impossible to pull out the unit 9 from the housing 1 unless the unit 5 is first removed from the unit 9 side, erroneous operation of the unit 9 in the prior art is completely prevented. Also, unit 9 can be placed in case 1.
When connecting the optical fiber connector 15 to the optical module 14 on the unit 9 side, the connector 15 must necessarily be connected through the insertion hole 21a provided in the erroneous operation prevention plate 21. Therefore, when the unit is inserted, the optical fiber connector 15 always passes through the insertion hole 21a and is connected, as shown in FIG.
As mentioned above, in the conventional unit fixing structure, there is no means to prevent the above-mentioned erroneous operation, and preventing erroneous operation of the unit depends only on the operator's attentiveness. The optical fibers (or optical fiber cables) were often damaged due to incorrect operation by workers. This also involves the additional expense and effort of having to repair damaged optical fibers (or optical cables).

As is clear from the above explanation, the structure for preventing erroneous operation of the optical communication unit according to the present invention has an extremely simple structure and is easy to operate. Erroneous operation is completely prevented and normal operation is always possible.

In the above embodiment, the optical fiber connector 1
5 is connected to the upper part of the unit 9, but the connector 15 is connected to the upper part of the unit 9.
The present invention can be easily implemented even when the device is connected to the bottom or side of the device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front view seen from the direction of arrow A in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of the present invention.
It is a top view seen from the arrow B direction of the figure. 1... Housing, 3, 3'... Holding plate, 3a,
3'a... Concave guide rail, 7,7'... Holding frame,
9... Optical communication unit, 14... Optical module (or optical adapter), 15... Optical fiber connector,
15c...optical fiber (or optical fiber cable),
21... Misoperation prevention plate, 21a... Insertion hole.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a case in which an optical communication unit equipped with an optical module or an optical adapter for connecting an optical fiber connector is removably housed, an erroneous operation prevention plate having an insertion hole for the connector is provided on the side of the case, and the insertion hole For optical communication, the connector is connected to the optical module or the optical adapter through the connector, and the unit cannot be pulled out when the connector is connected, and the unit can be pulled out only when the connector is removed. Structure to prevent unit misoperation.