JPH02250019A - Connector attaching and detaching device for optical switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable stable fitting operation by providing an aligning means which aligns the fitting position of a 2nd connector with that of a 1st connector automatically. CONSTITUTION:When an elevation means 44 which fits the 2nd connector 32 to the 1st connector 21 is put in operation, a holding means 42 which holds the 2nd connector 32 moves down together with the aligning means 43. When the 2nd connector 32 abuts on the 1st connector 21, the holding means 42 is elevated and also swings, and then while the fitting position of the 2nd connector 32 is aligned with that of the 1st connector 21, the 2nd connector 32 is fitted to the 1st connector 21 so that the abutting surface of both the connectors abut on each other. Consequently, the structure is simple and the stable fitting operation is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a connector attachment/detachment device used when switching optical paths in an optical switch device.

(Prior Art) As an optical switch device used in a monitoring system that monitors an optical line consisting of a large number of optical fibers without affecting the current optical communication, for example, a plurality of optical switch devices having pin holes for fitting are used. The multi-core connectors are arranged and fixed in a matrix on the connector holder, and the required multi-core connectors on the connector holder have fitting bins that fit into the pin holes,
A mask connector with 0 optical fiber terminals connected,
The applicant has proposed an optical switch device that switches and connects optical lines while being controlled by a control device.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In optical switch devices, since optical connections are made by butting connectors together, it is an important issue to minimize optical loss at the butting surfaces of both connectors.

Some of the connectors of such optical switch devices are connected by mating pins and pin holes into which the mating pins fit to ensure optical connection. The inner diameter of the pin hole of the mask connector and the pin diameter of the mating pin of the mask connector are determined to minimize optical loss.
However, due to the large number of multi-fiber connectors arranged in the connector holder, manufacturing errors of the connector holder, installation errors when installing the multi-fiber connectors, etc., there is a small dimensional error between the two connectors. Errors may occur during assembly,
In the fitting operation of both connectors, the pin hole may be damaged by the fitting pin, resulting in damaged pieces or the like. For this reason,
There has been a problem in that the abutting surfaces of the connectors cannot be brought into contact with each other and fitted together due to damaged pieces, and optical loss at the abutting surfaces of both connectors increases.

Additionally, the pin holes of the multi-core connector and the mating pins of the master connector must be arranged perpendicularly to the mating surfaces of both connectors, but even if such arrangement is slightly offset, the connectors may There is a problem similar to that described above in that the connectors cannot be abutted and fitted, and optical loss increases at the abutting surfaces of both connectors.

In order to solve this problem, it is also possible to individually adjust the mating position of the mask connector to each multi-core connector, and in parallel with such adjustment, for example, to perform a teaching process on the control device of the optical switch device. However, it requires a considerable amount of time and is complicated. On the other hand, if an attempt is made to solve this problem by increasing the mechanical processing precision of the connector holder and both connectors, there is a problem that the optical switch device becomes expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a connector attachment/detachment device for a hanging optical switch device that has a simple structure and realizes stable mating operation without using an expensive positioning mechanism.

(!l!Means for solving the problem) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a plurality of first
a connector holder in which connectors are arranged and fixed; an attachment/detachment device for attaching and detaching a second connector to a desired connector in the plurality of first connectors; and a second connector attached to the attachment/detachment device. a moving device for moving the first connector to the required first connector position, and optically switches and connects the second connector to the plurality of first connectors by sequentially butting and fitting the second connector to the plurality of first connectors. In the attachment/detachment device, the attachment/detachment device includes a holding means for holding the second connector, supports the holding means so as to be able to move up and down, and swing freely, and automatically adjusts the fitting position of the second connector with respect to the first connector. The aligning means for aligning and the cough aligning means are moved up and down in the direction in which the second connector approaches and separates from the required first connector, and the second connector is moved toward the required first connector. The structure includes a lifting means for attaching and detaching the connector to and from the connector.

(Operation) When the elevating means is operated to fit the second connector into the first connector, the holding means holding the second connector descends together with the alignment means. When the second connector comes into contact with the first connector, the holding means lifts and swings, and while the mating position of the second connector with respect to the first connector is self-aligned, the second connector is , are fitted to the first connector with the abutting surfaces of both connectors in contact with each other.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on FIGS. 1 to 5.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the optical switch device includes a connector holder 20 arranged on a pedestal 10, in which pxq multi-core connectors 21 are arranged and fixed in a matrix, and the required connectors on the connector holder 20. Switch to multi-core connector 21.
A mask connector 32 (FIG. 1) to which five optical fiber terminals are connected, and a connector attaching and detaching device 40 that holds the mask connector 32 and attaches and detaches it to a required multi-core connector 21 on the connector holder 20. , the attachment/detachment device 40
a moving device 50 that moves the mask connector 32 in two-dimensional directions on the connector holder 20; a control device 60 that controls the movement of the mask connector 32 and the attachment/detachment operation; and a selection that selects a predetermined multi-core connector 21 from the plurality of multi-core connectors 21. A selection means 70 for outputting a signal is provided.

As shown in FIG. 4, the multi-fiber connector 21 has a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped main body 2 in which the end of the tape fiber 80 is embedded and held.
A stepped portion 21b for a stopper when fitting into the connector holder 20 is provided on both sides in the width direction of 1a.

21b is formed, and each core wire end face 8 of the tape fiber 80 is formed on the connecting end face 21c of the front part of the main body 21a.
0a is exposed, and pin holes 21d, 21d are bored on both longitudinal sides of the connection end surface 21c with the core wire end surfaces 80a in between. Note that 21e is a rubber boot provided at the rear of the main body 21a to protect the tape fiber 80 from bending.

As shown in FIG. 5, the master connector 32 is constructed in substantially the same manner as the multi-core connector 21, and the main body 32a has stepped portions 32b, 32b for stoppers, and each of the tape fibers 30 has a polished end surface. The core wire end face 30a is the main body 32a
Fitting pins 32d, 32d with tapered tips are exposed on the front connecting end face 32c and installed at positions corresponding to the pin holes 21d, 21d on the connecting end face 32c, to protect the tape fiber from bending. The rubber boots 32e that
It is provided at the rear of a.

The moving device 50 moves the attachment/detachment device 40 in two-dimensional directions on the connector holder 20, and as shown in FIGS. A movable stage 52 is installed on the movable stage 52 on which the base 51 is placed so as to be movable in the lateral direction indicated by the arrow χ-X in FIG.
A first drive motor 53 for moving the first drive motor 53, and a rail 54a disposed on the left and right sides of the pedestal 10 to horizontally support the movable stage 52 so as to be movable in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow Y-Y in FIG.

Rail stands 54, 55 on which 55a is laid, movable stage 5
The movable stage 52 is moved vertically (
It has a ball screw 56 that moves the ball screw 56 in the Y-Y direction, and a second drive motor 57 that rotationally drives the ball screw 56.

The control device 60 is connected to the attachment/detachment device 4o and the movement device 5° by connection lines 61 extending from the pedestal 10, and controls the movement and attachment/detachment operations of the master connector 32 described above. is used. This computer device ECU has a connector holder 2.
The sequence of attaching and detaching the mask connectors to and from the multi-core connectors 21 arranged on the multi-core connectors 21 and the accompanying operating procedures of the attaching and detaching device 40 and the moving device 50 are programmed and stored in advance.

The selection means 70 uses an operation panel of the control device 60 that is provided adjacent to the control device 60 and is equipped with a selection switch for selecting a predetermined multi-core connector 21; A selection device may be provided, or an appropriate selection device may be separately provided in the computer device ECU.

The connector attachment/detachment device 40 of the present invention used in the optical switch device described above is attached to a movable base 51 of a moving device 5o, and as shown in FIG. A holding means 42 that holds the master connector 32, an alignment means 43 that supports the holding means 42 so as to be able to move up and down and swing freely, and that automatically aligns the fitting position of the mask connector 32 to the multi-core connector 21; It has an elevating means 44 that moves the holding means 42 and the alignment means 43 up and down to connect the end face of the mask connector 32 to a selected predetermined multi-core connector 21.

The support member 41 is a plate-shaped member vertically installed on one side of the movable table 51. A switch bracket 41b is attached to the vertical support member 41a provided at the bottom of the support member 41.
A fitting detection switch 41c using a proximity sensor for detecting fitting between the mask connector 32 and the multi-core connector 21 is disposed at b.

Furthermore, a guide rail 41d is attached to the back surface of the vertical support member 41a to guide the lifting and lowering operation of the lifting means 44. Further, a cylinder bracket 41e to which a cylinder 44c of the elevating means 44 is attached is provided obliquely above the vertical support member 41a.

The holding means 42 includes an upper block 42a and a lower block 4.
The lower end of a position adjustment member 43a, which will be described later, is attached to the upper block 42a. On the other hand, a mounting groove 42c for mounting the mask connector 32 is formed in the lower block 42b, and the mask connector 32 mounted in the mounting groove 42c is fixed to the lower block 42b by a fixing plate 42d. Further, on the side surface of the holding means 42 facing the switch bracket 41b, a detected member 42e, which is detected as a mating position between the master connector 32 and the multi-core connector 21 by the mating detection switch 41c, is provided in a protruding manner. There is.

The alignment means 43 includes a position adjustment member 43a and a support block 43b that supports the position adjustment member 43a.
The position adjustment member 43a is attached to a slide 43c of a lifting means 44, which will be described later, and is a member in the shape of an inverted pyramid that expands upward, and has a projection 4 projecting upward in the center of its upper part.
3c is formed and connected to the lower block 42a of the holding means 42 by a rod-shaped portion 43d protruding from the lower end. Further, the support block 43b is a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped member, and an inverted pyramid-shaped storage groove 43e for housing the position adjustment member 43a is formed in the substantially central portion of the support block 43b. is accommodated. Thereby, the holding means 42 is supported by the alignment means 43 so as to be able to move up and down and swing freely.

The elevating means 44 includes a plunger block 44a1, a slide guide 44b for guiding the elevating operation of the plunger block 44a and a support block 43b, and a slide guide 44b for guiding the elevating operation of the block 4.
A cylinder 44c for raising and lowering the cylinder 4a is provided.

A cylindrical recess 44d that opens upward is formed in the plunger block 44a, and a small diameter through hole 44e that is bored toward the alignment means 43 is formed at the bottom of the recess 44d. A plunger 44f whose tip protrudes downward from the through hole 44e is fitted into the recess 44d so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, and a spring 44g that biases the plunger 44f downward is connected to the open end of the recess 44d. The cover plate 44h is installed in the upper part of the cover plate 44h. and,
Due to the biasing force of the spring 44g, a slight gap exists between the tip end surface of the plunger 44f projecting downward from the through hole 44e and the tip end of the projection 43c of the position adjustment member 43a.

Moreover, the plunger block 44a and the position adjustment member 43a
The holding means 42 is connected via a position adjustment member 43a between the
A biasing spring 441 that biases downward is provided. Therefore, in the mask connector 32, the master connector 32 is positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the lower block 43b due to the biasing force of the biasing spring 1 and the weight of the holding means 42. Furthermore, spring 4
3g is a mask connector 32 held by the holding means 42;
It is desirable to use a spring with a small elastic constant so that the biasing force applied to the multi-core connector 21 and the master connector 32 is small, and the amount of change in the biasing force is small. When mating with the connector, a substantially constant biasing force can be applied without damaging both connectors.

The slide guide 44b is attached to the guide rail 41d of the support member 41 so as to be able to move up and down, thereby aligning the aligning means 4 that supports the plunger block 44a and the holding means 42.
3 are moved up and down along the guide rail 41d.

The cylinder 44c is vertically installed on the cylinder bracket 41e, and the tip of the piston is connected to the cover plate 4 of the elevating means 44.
It is connected to 4h.

The connector attachment/detachment device configured as described above is used as follows.

First, the selection means 70 is operated to select the multi-core connector 21 to which the master connector 32 is to be fitted, and the control device 60 moves the moving device 50 to the selected predetermined multi-core connector 21.
After moving, the elevating means 44 of the attaching/detaching device 40 is activated. Then, the cylinder 44c starts operating, and the piston of the cylinder 44c is moved downward. As a result, the elevating means 44 starts descending while being guided by the slide guide 44b that is vertically movable along the guide rail 41d.

As the elevating means 44 descends, the holding means 42 holding the mask connector 32 descends. At this time, the fitting pin 32d of the master connector 32 fits into the pin hole 21d of the multi-core connector 21, so that the fitting pin 32d guides the mask connector 32 to the joining position of the multi-core connector 21.

At this time, even if the axis of the fitting pin 32d and the axis of the pin hole 21d are slightly misaligned, the tapered surface of the tip of the fitting pin 32d allows the mask connector 32 to be aligned with the pin hole 21d of the connector 21.
1d, both connectors 21.32 are smoothly fitted. On the other hand, when the deviation between both axes is large, when the fitting pin 32d of the mask connector 32 comes into contact with the multi-core connector 21, the position adjustment member 43a of the alignment means 43 is lifted from the support block 43b, and the position adjustment member 43a A gap is formed between the storage groove 43e of the support block 43b and the storage groove 43e of the support block 43b. This gap allows the position adjustment member 43a to swing slightly relative to the support block 43b, thereby automatically aligning the mating position of the mask connector 32 held by the holding means 42 to the multi-core connector 21, and allowing the mask The connector 32 and the multi-core connector 21 are smoothly fitted together.

When the fitting pin 32d of the master connector 32 is inserted a predetermined amount into the pin hole 21d of the multi-core connector 21, the holding means 42 is lifted by the reaction force from the multi-core connector 21. Then, the position adjustment member 43a separates from the storage groove 43e of the support block 43b, and the protrusion 4 on the upper part
3c lifts the plunger 44f of the elevating means 44. As a result, the mask connector 32 has a plunger 44f,
A constant biasing force of about 1 kg is applied from the spring 44g via the core means 43 and the holding means 42, and this biasing force causes the final fitting of both connectors 21 and 32. When this fitting is completed, the detected member 4
2e operates the fitting detection switch 41c, and the control device 6
A signal indicating that the mating operation has been completed is output to
Stop 0. In this way, the mask connector 32 is fitted into a predetermined multi-core connector 21.

Next, when unfitting the mask connector 32 and the multi-core connector 21, the attaching and detaching device 40 is removed by reversing the above procedure.
The holding means 42 is pulled upward to remove the master connector 32 from the multi-core connector 21.

The above-mentioned attachment/detachment operation is controlled by the control device 60, and the attachment/detachment device 40 repeats the above-mentioned operation according to the operation procedure programmed and stored in advance in the control device 60, and sequentially attaches/disconnects the mask connector 32 to each multi-core connector 21. In this way, the optical path is switched.

Further, FIGS. 6 to 9 show the connector attachment/detachment device 40.
This figure shows another embodiment of the present invention in which the centering means is modified, and the same components as in the previous embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

The alignment means 45 includes a center shaft 46 serving as a position adjustment member, and a support block 47 that supports the center shaft 46 so that it can move up and down and swing freely.

The center shaft 46 has four guide pins 46a protruding radially outwardly attached to it approximately at the center in the vertical direction by bolts 46b, respectively (FIGS. 8 and 9).
, the lower end of the shaft 46 is connected to the upper block 42a of the holding means 42. In addition, the center shaft 4
A pressing shaft 48 that presses the plunger 44f of the elevating means 44 upward is screwed onto the upper part of the elevating means 6. This pressing shaft 48 is screwed into a screw hole 46c formed in the axis of the center shaft 46 by a mounting shaft 48a at the lower part thereof, and a projection of the position adjusting member 43a of the above embodiment is provided on the upper part of the pressing shaft 48. A protrusion 48b similar to 43c is provided.

The support block 47 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped member, and has an opening 47a in the center that vertically passes through the center shaft 46 and loosely fits therein (FIG. 8), and each side accommodates the guide pin 46a. (2) A groove 47b is formed.

Thereby, the center shaft 46, and therefore the holding means 42, are guided and supported at a predetermined position relative to the support block 47.

In this embodiment, since the alignment means 45 of the connector attachment/detachment device 40 is configured as described above, the biasing spring 44i compressed between the plunger plotter 44a and the pressing shaft 48 is The master connector 32 is positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the support block 47 by the biasing force and the weight of the holding means 42 . In the switching operation of the mask connector 32 to the multi-core connector 21, the center shaft 46 is connected to the support block 4.
7, the mask connector 32 is automatically aligned with the mating multi-core connector 21, and the master connector 32 and the multi-core connector 21 are mated together. The meeting will be carried out smoothly.

(Effects of the Invention) As detailed above, according to the present invention, a connector holder in which a plurality of first connectors are arranged and fixed, and a second connector are attached to the connector holder, and a plurality of first connectors are attached. an attachment/detachment device for attaching/detaching the second connector attached to the attachment/detachment device to a required first connector position; In an optical switch device that sequentially butts and fits into a first connector to optically switch and connect, the attachment/detachment device includes a holding means for holding the second connector;
an aligning means that supports the holding means so as to be able to move up and down and swing; and an alignment means that automatically aligns the fitting position of the second connector with respect to the first connector; the UR centering means; and the second connector. Since the structure is provided with an elevating means that moves up and down in the direction toward and away from the required first connector and connects and detaches the second connector to and from the required first connector, the structure is simple. It is possible to provide an inexpensive connector attachment/detachment device for an optical switch device that can realize stable mating operation without using an expensive positioning mechanism or the like. Moreover,
Since the connector attachment/detachment device can automatically adjust the mating position of the second connector to the first connector by 4 degrees, it is also possible to automate the optical switch device, which greatly reduces labor in the switching operation of the optical line. It has excellent effects such as contributing to

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a front view showing a connector attachment/detachment device of an optical switch device, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the optical switch device, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the multi-core connector, FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing the mask connector, and FIG. 6 is a front view of the optical switch device.
9 to 9 show other embodiments of the connector attachment/detachment device for the optical switch device of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a front view showing the main parts of the connector attachment/detachment device, and FIG. 7 is the connector attachment/detachment device shown in FIG. 6. A plan view showing the alignment means of the device, Figure 8 is the same as ■-■ in Figure 7.
The sectional view and FIG. 9 are plan views with the pressing shaft removed from the connector attachment/detachment device shown in FIG. 7. 20...Connector holder, 21...Multi-core connector (
32... mask connector (second connector), 40... connector attachment/detachment device, 41...
Supporting member, 42... Holding means, 43... Aligning means,
43a...Position adjustment member, 43b...Support block, 44...Elevating means, 45...Aligning means, 46...
- Center shaft (position adjustment member), 47... Support block, 50... Moving device, 60... Control device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a connector holder in which a plurality of first connectors are arranged and fixed; a detachable device for attaching and detaching a second connector to a desired connector in the plurality of first connectors; and a detachable device attached to the detachable device. a moving device that moves the second connector to the required first connector position, and optically switches and connects the second connector by sequentially butting and fitting the plurality of first connectors. In the optical switch device, the attachment/detachment device includes a holding means for holding the second connector, supports the holding means so as to be able to move up and down, and swing freely, and the attachment/detachment device includes a holding means that holds the second connector, and a holding means that supports the holding means so as to be able to move up and down and swing freely, and that allows the fitting of the second connector to the first connector. an aligning means for automatically aligning the mating position; and an aligning means that moves the second connector up and down in a direction in which the second connector approaches and separates from the required first connector, and moves the second connector to the required position. 1. A connector attachment/detachment device for an optical switch device, comprising: elevating means for attaching/detaching the connector to/from a first connector.