JPH04234714A - Optical fiber connecting method and optical fiber connecting structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent an increase in the time for connecting optical connectors and the deterioration in service characteristics, such as maintenance, and to enhance the flexibility of coated fibers. CONSTITUTION:The optical connectors 2, 12 mounted at the ends of optical fibers are laminated and tentatively fixed in assembling members 3. The laminated optical connectors 2, 12 are connected to each other while these connectors are positioned by means of pins 6, by which optical fiber tapes 1 are collectively connected. To change over the connection of only a part of the optical fiber tapes 1, an operator opens cap parts 7 of the assembling members 3 and removes a part of the optical connectors 2, 12 from the inside of the assembling members 3. The connection is then changed over and the changed over optical connectors 2, 12 are returned into the assembling members 3 after the changeover.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber connecting method and an optical fiber connecting structure for easily connecting optical fibers by stacking and temporarily fixing optical fiber connectors.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to connect optical cables with connectors, the optical cables were connected by connecting individual connectors. For example, in the well-known 8-fiber optical fiber tape constituting a 1000-fiber optical cable, the well-known 8-fiber M
If each T connector is installed, the corresponding 8-core M
The total number of T connectors is 125. Conventionally, in order to connect such optical cables with connectors, the connectors are individually fitted, but in this case, it takes about 2 minutes for each connector. Therefore, in order to mate all 125 connectors, 2
It requires more than 50 minutes. Furthermore, when 125 connectors are individually attached, it is also necessary to wind up the extra length of the 125 optical fiber tapes and individually store them in the storage section.

0003

By the way, in a typical day, only about 6 hours can be devoted to actual work, excluding work preparation time. Therefore, there was a drawback that it was impossible to connect the 1000-fiber optical cable mentioned above in one day's work. Further, if the work cannot be completed in one day, it is necessary to temporarily store the cable in order to protect the connection point, which is extremely inefficient.

[0004] As one means of solving this drawback, a multi-core connector in which the ends of a large number of optical fibers are assembled into one connector has been considered. Currently known multi-core connectors include 50 to 20 fibers in one connector.
There is a collection of zero-core optical fibers. However, when manufacturing this connector, if, for example, all 50 fibers cannot achieve good connection characteristics, it becomes a defective product, so the yield is extremely poor, and the current situation is that it is not suitable for practical use. . Furthermore, even if the connector could be put into practical use, it would have extremely poor flexibility in switching the fibers after connection, and in order to switch one optical fiber or one optical fiber tape, all the fibers would have to be switched. It had the disadvantage of extremely poor service quality, as it required accommodations such as moving.

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to reduce connection time and improve serviceability, which could not be achieved using conventional techniques.
An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber connection method and an optical fiber connection structure that ensure flexibility of the core wire.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A first optical fiber connection method according to the present invention connects a plurality of optical connectors at once by connecting connector units formed by stacking and temporarily fixing a plurality of optical connectors. After that, when changing the connection of a specific optical connector from among the plurality of connected optical connectors, take out only the required optical connector from the connector unit and change the connection of the optical connector. It is characterized by performing the following.

A second optical fiber connection method according to the present invention is characterized in that a connector unit is re-formed using the optical connector that has been reconnected and another optical connector that has not been reconnected.

A third optical fiber connection method according to the present invention is to take out the optical connector to be reconnected from the connector unit, and then fit a part having the same shape as the optical connector into the connector unit to form the connector unit again. It is characterized by:

The optical fiber connection structure according to the present invention includes: an optical connector that is attached to the end of an optical fiber and can connect the optical fiber to another optical fiber; a storage section in which a plurality of the optical connectors having the same shape are stacked; The optical connector is characterized by comprising an assembly member having a lid portion for temporarily fixing the optical connector in the storage portion.

0010

[Operation] The operation of the optical fiber connection method according to the present invention is as follows.

A plurality of optical connectors are stacked and temporarily fixed to form a connector unit. By connecting the connector units, a plurality of optical connectors are connected at once. After the connection, a specific optical connector is taken out from the connector unit, and the taken out optical connector is reconnected. After the reconnection, the optical connector is returned to the connector unit again to form a part of the connector unit. Furthermore, if the optical connector to be reconnected is not returned to the connector unit, a part having the same shape as the optical connector is fitted into the connector unit.

The operation of the optical fiber connection structure according to the present invention is as follows.

[0013] The optical connectors attached to the ends of the optical fibers are stacked in the storage part of the assembly member and are temporarily fixed by closing the lid part. By connecting the connector units formed in this way, a plurality of optical connectors are connected at once. When reconnecting only some optical fibers, open the lid, remove some of the optical connectors from the assembly member, and reconnect.

[0014]

[Embodiment] An embodiment according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, and the embodiment will be explained based on these figures.

The optical fiber connection structure of this embodiment is as follows.

As shown in FIG. 1, optical connectors 2 for connecting optical fibers are attached to the ends of optical fiber tapes 1 each extending from an optical cable 5 and having a plurality of optical fibers bundled inside. . Further, a plurality of optical connectors 2 are stacked in a storage section 3a having a U-shaped cross section and forming an assembly member 3, and the lid portion 7 of the assembly member 3 is closed and temporarily fixed. That is, the optical connector 2 and the assembly member 3 as described above constitute a connector unit 4, and another connector unit 1 located on the right side in FIG.
It faces to connect with 4. Pins 6 for aligning the axis of the connector are provided on both sides of the optical connector 2, and the pins 6 are fitted into holes (not shown) formed in the optical connector 12 of the opposing connector unit 14 to connect the optical connector. 2 and 12 to determine their mutual positional relationship.

The other connector unit 14 located on the right side in FIG. 1 only has the pin 6 of the optical connector 2 as a hole, and the other parts have the same structure, and similarly connects the optical cable. It is attached to the end of the optical fiber tape 1 extending from the optical fiber tape 5.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the optical connector 2 is supported by being pressed against the connection side of the assembly member 3 by a coil spring 9.
It will be temporarily fixed without rattling. Further, the lid part 7 of the collecting member 3 made of a material such as plastic is rotatably attached to the storage part 3a side via a hinge 10, and a claw part 16 is attached to the tip side of the lid part 7. is formed. Therefore, the notch 15 formed in the storage part 3a and the claw part 16 engage with each other, so that the lid part 7 can be fixed. That is, as shown in the front view of the assembly member 3 shown in FIG. 5(a) and the side view of the assembly member 3 shown in FIG. After housing the optical connector 12 on the unit 14 side, when the lid part 7 is closed, the claw part 16 engages with the notch 15, and the lid part 7 is fixed. Furthermore, when taking out the optical connectors 2 and 12, the claw portion 16 is raised to open the lid portion 7. Note that since the claw portion 16 is made of a flexible material such as plastic, the engagement and pulling of the claw portion 16 can be easily performed.

From the above, by stacking a plurality of optical connectors 2 and 12 and placing them in the assembly member 3 and closing the lid 7, the connector units 4 and 14 in which the optical connectors 2 and 12 are aligned are formed. become.

Next, an embodiment of an optical fiber connection method using the above-described optical fiber connection structure will be described.

In other words, when connecting the connector units 4 and 14, a plurality of optical connectors 2 and 12 are connected at once.
can be connected, greatly reducing connection work time. Furthermore, if it becomes necessary to switch a specific core wire, the connector unit 4 can be disassembled and the optical connectors 2, 1
Optical connectors 2 and 12 for recombination or purpose
It is possible to switch by removing only the FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating replacement of the connectors 2a and 12a where the connection described above has been redone or should be redone. In FIG. 2, the lid 7 of the assembly member 3 is opened and the switched optical connectors 2a, 12a are connected to the connector units 4, 1.
4 shows how it has been re-formed. By using such a method, there is an advantage that the flexibility of the core wire is not impaired and serviceability is improved.

Furthermore, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing another usage, in which the optical connectors 2 and 12 are connected to each other for switching.
A schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of an optical fiber connection method in which a component 8 having the same shape as the optical connectors 2 and 12 is fitted into the assembly member 3 after being taken out from the connector units 4 and 14 to form the connector units 4 and 14 again. It is a diagram. By doing so, the connector units 4 and 14 can be connected to each other without changing their configurations, so there is an advantage that efficient switching work is possible.

Note that FIG. 6 shows a hinge portion 13 that utilizes elastic deformation of plastic instead of the hinge 10 in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example in which For example, if the assembly member 3 is integrally molded from plastic, a hinge portion 13 that can be opened and closed as shown can be created.

[0024]

Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the optical fiber connection method and optical fiber connection structure of the present invention, a plurality of optical connectors can be collectively formed into a connector unit. connection is possible, and the number of optical connectors formed in the connector unit is proportional to the number of optical connectors formed in the connector unit.
Connection work time can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, deterioration in the flexibility of optical fibers caused by grouping a plurality of optical connectors together can be eliminated by removably temporarily fixing the optical connectors when unitizing the optical connectors. That is, by disassembling the connector units after connecting them to each other, it becomes possible to easily take out any optical connector, which is extremely effective and easy to handle.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing how the switched optical connector is re-formed into a connector unit according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which components having the same shape as an optical connector are assembled into a connector unit.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state in which an optical connector is assembled into an assembly member according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an assembly member according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a hinge portion of an assembly member according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Optical fiber tape 2 Optical connector 3 Assembling parts 3a Storage department 4 Connector unit 5 Optical cable 6 pin 7 Lid part 8 Parts with the same shape as the connector 12 Optical connector 14 Connector unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A plurality of optical connectors are collectively connected by stacking and temporarily fixing a plurality of optical connectors to each other, and then,
When changing the connection of a specific optical connector from among the plurality of connected optical connectors, only the required optical connector is taken out from the connector unit and the connection of the optical connector is changed. Optical fiber connection method. 2. The optical fiber connecting method according to claim 1, wherein the connector unit is re-formed using the optical connector after the connection has been changed and another optical connector that has not been connected. 3. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein after the optical connector to be reconnected is taken out from the connector unit, parts having the same shape as the optical connector are fitted into the connector unit to form the connector unit again. Fiber connection method. 4. An optical connector that is attached to the end of an optical fiber and can connect the optical fiber to another optical fiber, a storage part in which a plurality of the optical connectors having the same shape are stacked, and the optical connector is placed in the storage part. 1. An optical fiber connection structure comprising: a gathering member having a lid portion for temporary fixation.