JPH0524885Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) This invention relates to an optical connector suitable for use in optical communications, and particularly to an optical connector with full lock coupling using a lock lever.

(Prior Art) Generally, in optical communications, optical condensers are used to connect signal transmission media such as optical fiber cables. This optical connector consists of a plug connected to one end of an optical fiber cable and a plug holder for receiving the plug, and both are detachably connected. Examples of the plug holder include an adapter in which a plug is inserted on both sides, and a receptacle in which a light emitting element or a light receiving element is built.

Usually, a plug is equipped with lock levers having locking parts at the tips on both sides of the plug body, and a plug receiver, such as an adapter, has a locking part that connects to the locking part of the lock lever. When the plug is inserted into the adapter, the locking portion of the lock lever is coupled to the locking portion of the adapter and locked.

(Problems to be solved by this invention) By the way, an example of an optical connector that conventionally locks the plug by providing a double locking mechanism on the locking lever of the plug when connecting the above-mentioned plug to a plug holder, such as an adapter. However, when using many optical connectors at the same time, it is necessary to check the lock.
It was also desired that the lock lever be structured so that it would not become unlocked even if a person or object accidentally touched the lock lever.

The object of this invention is to provide an optical connector that has a simple structure, has a double lock, can confirm the lock at the same time, and can remove the plug in one step.

[Structure of the device] (Means for solving the problem) This device includes a plug equipped with a lock lever having a locking portion at the tip, and a plug receiver having a locking portion that engages with the locking portion of the lock lever. An optical connector for removably coupling a plug and a plug holder, characterized in that a means for regulating the movement of the lock lever is provided, the means being movably disposed on the lock lever. It consists of a slide stopper having a protrusion, a locking ridge formed on the plug body and which the protrusion comes into contact with when the slide stopper moves, and a fitting groove following the locking ridge, and when the slide stopper moves forward. , so that when the protrusion passes over the lock peak and fits into the fitting groove to stop the movement of the lock lever, and later moves, the protrusion does not come off from the fitting groove and impede the movement of the lock lever. I have to.

(Operation) When locking, insert the plug into the plug holder and engage the locking part of the lock lever with the latching part of the plug holder. Next, push the slide stopper forward to lock it into the plug body, making sure that the lock lever is locked. If the slide stopper cannot be locked, the lock lever is not locked.

When releasing the lock, open the lock lever while lowering the slide stopper.

As a result, according to this invention, locking by a lock lever can be double locked by a simple mechanism, and the locking can be confirmed at the same time. Furthermore,
This has the effect of making it possible to remove the plug in one step.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of this invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

That is, the optical connector according to this invention is shown in FIG.
The first
FIGS. 2A and 2B are a plan view including a side surface and a partial cross section of the plug, and FIGS. 2A and 2B are a plan view and a side view including a partial cross section of a plug receiver (for example, an adapter).

That is, the optical connector of this invention consists of a plug 30 and a plug holder, such as an adapter 40 , and the plug 30 and adapter 40 are detachably connected.

First, to explain the plug 30 , as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, an optical fiber cable 60 is connected to the plug body 50, and the optical fiber (not visible in the figure) of this optical fiber cable 60 is
It reaches into the pair of ferrules 1 protruding from the tip 2 of the plug body 50. Furthermore, the plug body 50
Lock levers 3 are attached to both sides of each of the lock levers 3, which are shaped like long strips and have a locking portion 4 formed of a through hole near the tip. In this case, the lock lever 3 is rotatable about a pin 5 and biased in a certain direction (the direction of the ferrule 1) by a spring 6.

Further, in this invention, means for regulating the movement of the lock lever 3 is provided. That is, a slide stopper 7 is disposed at the rear of the lock lever 3 (behind the pin 5) so as to be movable back and forth using the lock lever 3 as a guide. A corrugated portion 14 is formed on the surface of the slide stopper 7 to prevent fingers from slipping during operation, and a protrusion 9 is formed on the back surface. Furthermore, a pair of fitting holes 11 are formed in the slide stopper 7 to correspond to protrusions of the stopper, which will be described later. The slide stopper 7 is a means for regulating the movement of the lock lever 3, and at the same time, it also serves as an operating section since the finger is placed on the slide stopper 7 when the lock lever 3 is operated.

Corresponding to such a slide stopper 7, the side surface of the plug body 50 is provided with a locking ridge 13 with which the protrusion 9 contacts when the slide stopper 7 moves, and a fitting groove 10 following the locking ridge 13. ,
It is formed in one piece.

A stopper 8 for restricting the movement of the slide stopper 7 is provided at the rear end of the lock lever 3, and a pair of projections 12 are formed on the stopper 8. When the slide stopper 7 moves backward, the protrusion 12 fits into the fitting hole 11 to restrict movement.

Next, the adapter 40 , which is a plug holder,
As shown in Figures a and b, an opening 21 is formed on one side of the adapter body 20, and an opening 21 is formed on both sides, corresponding to the locking part 4 of the lock lever 3.
A claw-like locking portion 22 is provided in a protruding manner. Note that the ferrule 1 of the plug 30 is located inside the adapter body 20.
A pair of insertion holes 23 are provided.

Now, when the plug 30 and the adapter 40 are connected, the tip 2 including the ferrule 1 of the plug 30 enters the opening 21 of the adapter 40 , and the locking tool 4 of the lock lever 3 on both sides of the plug body 50 is inserted into the opening 21 of the adapter 40.
is locked by engaging with the claw-like locking portion 22 of the adapter body 20. In this case, the lock lever 3 rotates around the pin 5 and is pushed outward by the force of the spring 6, so that the lock lever 3 is held when engaged.

Furthermore, in order to apply a double lock, when the slide stopper 7 is moved forward, the protrusion 9 passes over the lock crest 13 and fits into the fitting groove 10,
The movement of the lock lever 3 stops. In other words, the tip of the lock lever 3 (near the locking part 4)
However, its movement was restricted to prevent it from opening outward, creating a double lock. Note that if the slide stopper 7 cannot be locked, the lock lever 3 is not locked.

To release the lock, it is sufficient to move the slide stopper 7 backward to open the lock lever 3. At this time, the protrusion 9 comes out of the fitting groove 10, and the lock lever 3 becomes free to move. In addition, when the slide stopper 7 moves backward, the stopper 8
It can be stopped by. At this time, slide stopper 7
A pair of fitting grooves 11 provided in the slide stopper 8 fit into the protrusions 12 of the stopper 8 to prevent the slide stopper 7 from moving back and forth.

[Effects of the invention] As detailed above, according to this invention, the locking by the lock lever 3 can be double-locked by a simple mechanism, and the locking can be confirmed at the same time. Furthermore, there is an effect that the plug 30 can be removed in one step.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1A and 1B are a side view and a partially sectional plan view showing a plug constituting an optical connector according to an embodiment of the invention, and FIGS. 2A and 2B also show a plug holder (adapter). FIG. 2 is a plan view and a side view including a partial cross section. 3... Lock lever, 4... Locking part, 7... Slide stopper, 8... Stopper, 9... Projection, 10... Fitting groove, 11... Fitting hole, 12...
Projection, 13...Lock ridge, 20...Adapter body, 22...Locking portion, 30 ...Plug, 40 ...
Adapter (plug holder), 50...Plug body.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) A first main body in which a ferrule is provided at the leading end and an optical cable is inserted into the rear end;
a shaft provided corresponding to the right end and left end of the main body, and a first locking portion at the tip;
A lock lever that is attached to the shaft so as to be rotatable about the axis, a spring that is attached to the first body and applies rotational force to the lock lever, and a protrusion that moves to the lock lever. a slide stopper that can be attached freely; a locking crest that is formed on each of the first main bodies and comes into contact with the protrusion when the slide stopper moves; and a fitting groove that follows the locking ridge and fits into the protrusion. a second main body; a plug provided corresponding to the insertion hole of the ferrule provided in the second main body; and a first locking portion of the tip of the lock lever; and a second locking part that engages with the locking part of the plug, and when the plug and the plug socket are coupled, the first locking part is engaged with the first locking part by the force of the spring. and the second locking portion are locked, and when the protrusion of the slide stopper is fitted into the fitting groove, the movement of the lock lever is fixed;
The optical connector allows the lock lever to move freely when the protrusion of the slide stopper is out of the fitting groove. (2) The optical connector according to claim (1) of the utility model registration, characterized in that a stopper for regulating movement of the slide stopper is provided at the rear end of the lock lever.