JPH0527143A - Manufacture of multiple optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an optical connector excellent in precision and quality and easily manufactured at low cost. CONSTITUTION:Plural optical fibers are arrayed in parallel to form an array type ribbon 1 of optical fibers. The jacket of the intermediate part of the ribbon of optical fibers 1 is removed by a certain length and two array jigs 7 which have plural V grooves 8 for optical fiber clamping and are isolated in parallel are pressed against side parts to perform the primary small-scale injection molding of only the fiber parts between the array jigs 7 on the whole, thereby forming a precise array part 15. After this primary molding, the array jigs 7 are detached and secondary large-scale injection molding is performed so that the precise array part 15 and the fiber jacket parts on both sides are united, fixing them including the jacket part of the ribbon 1 of optical fibers. Then the secondary molding part 19 is cut into two at the center so that the precise array part 15 is bisected in a longitudinal direction, thus constituting end parts of the ribbon of optical fibers.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a multi-fiber optical connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a so-called tape fiber of an array type in which a large number of optical fibers are arranged in parallel, the fiber terminal structure is usually formed by stripping the outer sheath (coating) at the end of the tape fiber and sandwiching each optical fiber. It is configured by sandwiching this portion from above and below with a pair of aligning members having a large number of V-grooves.

[0003]

This alignment member must be made of an expensive material such as silicon, and must have a large number of V-grooves with high precision, and it is itself incorporated in the optical connector. Because it is a kind of consumable product,
There is a problem of lack of economy. Also, because the coating is stripped from the end of the tape fiber during manufacturing,
The optical fibers inevitably scatter, and the work of properly aligning them and sandwiching them with the aligning member is troublesome and troublesome, which requires man-hours.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a multi-fiber optical connector in which an end portion of an array type tape fiber in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in parallel is formed. A part of the coating of the middle part of the tape fiber is removed, and a plurality of V-grooves for sandwiching the optical fiber are provided on the part of the optical fiber from which the coating is peeled off.
Press the alignment jigs separated in parallel from the side,
Each optical fiber is fitted into the corresponding V groove of the aligning jig, and only the fiber portion between the aligning jigs is injection-molded to a small scale as a whole to form a precision aligning portion. ,
After this primary molding, the alignment jig is removed, and a secondary large-scale injection molding is performed so that the precision alignment part and the fiber coating parts on both sides are integrated, and the tape fiber coating part is included. The tape molding is characterized in that the secondary molding portion is cut in two from the center so as to be hardened and then the precision alignment portion is separated into two in the longitudinal direction.

[0005]

In order to remove the coating on the middle portion of the tape fiber, there is almost no disturbance in the alignment of the optical fibers, and after the optical fibers are positioned by the alignment jig, they are injection molded in two steps, and their primary molding is performed. As a result, a precision alignment section having a required precision is formed, so that a predetermined precision can be secured. Furthermore, the alignment jig can be removed and used any number of times, and since the center is cut after two injection moldings, two end portions of the tape fiber forming one side of the optical connector are completed at once, making it economical. is there.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-fiber optical connector separated from each other according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a manufacturing process of the multi-fiber optical connector of the embodiment. In this embodiment, the array type tape fiber 1 is applied and the optical connector 2 is formed on the tape fiber 1. However, the idea of the present invention is not limited to this, and another Any type of multi-core optical fiber can be targeted.

Further, the fiber end portion forming the essential part of the optical connector is sandwiched between the above-mentioned conventional ones by an aligning member having a large number of V-grooves for sandwiching the fiber, and that portion is fixed as it is with resin or the like. However, in this embodiment, the structure and process are completely different from the conventional one. The manufacturing process of the structure of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 2. First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the outer skin of the intermediate portion of the tape fiber 1 is removed by a certain length.

As a method of removing the coating, for example, a thin blade (not shown) is used to make a cut only in the coating layer of the tape fiber 1, and the two coatings are separated from each other with the cut as a boundary while heating. Alternatively, it may be possible to physically remove it using a drug. still,
Since the coating of the tape fiber 1 is removed in such a manner that the coating is left on both sides, the alignment of the optical fibers 4 alone can be performed as compared with the conventional manufacturing process in which the coating is completely stripped off from the fiber end. It is efficient and practical because it is unlikely to be disturbed significantly.

Then, two alignment jigs 7 spaced apart in parallel are pressed against the optical fiber portion from which the coating has been peeled off from the lower side, and each optical fiber 4 has a corresponding V groove 8 in the alignment jig 7. Try to fit in. At this time, the optical fiber 4
The guide pins 10 are similarly set in the corresponding V grooves 11 of the alignment jig 7 so that the guide pins 10 are located at the predetermined positions on both sides. Then, the entire tape fiber 1 is appropriately pulled right and left so that the exposed optical fiber portion in the center is straight,
The fiber portion (including the guide pins) between the alignment jigs 7 is sandwiched from above and below by a primary molding die 13 (shown by a broken line) to perform injection molding, and this portion is temporarily resin, for example,
Accurately hardens with thermosetting resin.

After molding, the alignment jig 7 and both guide pins 1
0 is removed, and the primary molding portion (precision alignment portion) 15 is further sandwiched by another large mold 17 from above and below so that the primary molding portion 15 and the fiber coating portions (tape fiber 1) on both sides are integrated. Next, injection molding is performed, and the tape fiber 1 is hardened in a form including the coating portion. Then, the secondary molding portion 19 is cut into two along the central cutting line so that the primary molding portion 15 is separated into two in the longitudinal direction.

After this cutting, a predetermined guide pin 21 is inserted into the holes of the guide pin marks on both sides removed after the above-mentioned primary molding, so that the detachable multi-fiber optical connector 2 structure as shown in FIG. Will be inexpensive and highly accurate. It should be noted that both guide pins 10 may be removed after the secondary molding instead of after the primary molding, and another guide pin may be inserted therein instead of this.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
Unlike the conventional case, the expensive aligning member itself is not incorporated to form the connector, and this aligning member can be used as a jig (in the illustrated embodiment, it is drawn as a dedicated jig) and can be used any number of times. Since this jig can be used repeatedly, it is economical. In addition, since the optical fiber connection end face portion, which is particularly required to have positional accuracy between the fibers, is obtained by cutting the small and precise solidified portion 15 by the primary molding, the connector can be manufactured inexpensively and easily. Despite the fact that it can be constructed, it can be finished to the same or higher than the conventional one with respect to its manufacturing accuracy, which is extremely preferable in terms of product quality and production efficiency.

In addition, it is rational because a pair of multi-fiber optical connectors can be completed in one manufacturing process.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, an inexpensive and easy-to-manufacture optical connector excellent in accuracy and quality can be obtained, which is extremely practical and practical.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of mutually separated multi-fiber optical connectors according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a manufacturing process of the multi-fiber optical connector of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tape fiber 4 ... Optical fiber 7 ... Alignment jig 8 ... V groove 15 ... Primary molding part (precision alignment part) 19 ... Secondary molding part

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. A method for manufacturing a multi-fiber optical connector, which comprises forming a plurality of optical fibers at the ends of an array type tape fiber arranged in parallel, the intermediate part of the tape fiber (1). The coating is removed by a certain length, and two parallel alignment jigs (7) having a plurality of V-grooves (8) for sandwiching the optical fiber are provided for the optical fiber portion from which the coating is peeled off. Pressing from the side so that each optical fiber (4) fits into the corresponding V groove (8) of the alignment jig (7), and only the fiber part between the alignment jig (7) To form a precision alignment portion (15) by primary small-scale injection molding, and after this primary molding, the alignment jig (7) is removed, and the precision alignment portion (15) and the fiber coating portions on both sides are removed. Secondary injection molding is carried out on a large scale so that The secondary molding part (19) is divided into two parts from the center so that the precision alignment part (15) is separated into two parts in the longitudinal direction. A method for manufacturing a multi-fiber optical connector, which comprises cutting to form an end portion of a tape fiber.