JPH08240742A - Optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve the efficiency of on-site work and to facilitate disassembly and reassembly by fixing optical fibers into the positioning grooves in a ferrule by a press fixing member. CONSTITUTION: The connection of the ferrule 30 and the coated optical fibers 20 is executed by inserting the coated optical fibers 20 subjected to leading into the ferrule 30 from behind and inserting the optical fibers 22 into the V- grooves 38. The tapered part 44 of a wedge 42 is inserted into a cross hole 36 of a ferrule body 32. A spring 48 is put between the rear surface of the wedge 42 and a main body 32 to apply forward force on the wedge 42. As a result, the optical fibers 22 are pressed by the lower plane of the wedge 42 and are fixed in the V-grooves 38. The wedge 42 and the main body 32 are respectively provided with grooves 47, grooves 35 to prevent the disengagement of the spring 48. The front surface of the ferrule body 32 is polished to complete the assembly.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector, and more particularly, to a connector having a ferrule, in which the ferrule and the optical fiber are fixed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various types of optical connectors using a ferrule, and a well-known MT connector will be taken as an example to describe a method for fixing a ferrule and an optical fiber. FIG. 3A is a front view of the ferrule 10, and its B cross section is shown in FIG. 12 is its body, 14 is a guide hole, 16
Is an optical fiber hole, and its position is precisely determined with reference to the center of the guide hole 14. 18 is a bottomed hole.

The optical fiber core wire 20 is fixed to the ferrule 10 as follows. The optical fiber core wire 20 is inserted into the ferrule 10, and the portion of the optical fiber 22 excluding the coating is inserted into the optical fiber hole 16 (FIG. 7C). An adhesive 24 is poured from the hole 18 to fix the optical fiber core wire 20 ((d) in the figure).

[0004]

In the above-mentioned method using the adhesive, it is not possible to proceed to the next step until the adhesive is cured. Thus, especially when assembling the connector in the field, it feels uncomfortable. It is difficult to disassemble, for example, when the assembly fails, and the optical fiber core wire must be cut.

[0005]

As illustrated in FIG. 1,
A wedge 42 is fitted in the ferrule 30, the optical fiber 22 inserted in the ferrule 30 is fixed by the wedge 42, and the optical fiber 22 is pressed and fixed in a positioning groove such as a V groove of the ferrule 30.

[0006]

[Operation] At the time of assembling the optical fiber, if the optical fiber core wire 20 is fixed by the wedge 42, an adhesive agent becomes unnecessary. The optical fiber core wire 20 in the ferrule 30 is wedge 4
When the optical fiber core wire 20 is fixed at 2, it is possible to prevent the optical fiber core wire 20 from being pulled out. Easy to disassemble.

[0007]

EXAMPLE Referring to FIG. (A) is a perspective view of a ferrule and a used component, and (b) is a vertical sectional elevation view of a ferrule body. Reference numeral 30 denotes the entire ferrule and 32 denotes the main body. Like the conventional MT connector, the main body 32 is manufactured by resin integral molding, and the main body is hollow at the center.
The essential difference from the connector is that the front side is open and the front side of the inner wall is an inclined surface. M
Similar to the T-connector, a bottomed, for example, square hole 34 is provided at approximately the center of the upper surface of the main body 32. In the MT connector, an adhesive curing agent is filled from this hole 34 to fix the inserted optical fiber. A rectangular lateral hole 36 is formed through the hole 34 to the front surface of the main body 32 and opens to the front surface. Side hole 3
The width of 6 is approximately equal to the width of the hole 34, and the height is approximately equal to the width of the wedge. A V groove 38 is provided on the bottom surface of the lateral hole 36. Each V-groove 38 has an optical fiber 22 housed in it.
Precision molding is performed so as to occupy a predetermined position accurately with respect to the guide hole 33 of the positioning pin for positioning between the abutting ferrules. The upper surface 39 of the lateral hole 36, which is the upper inner wall surface of the ferrule body, is tapered downward. Further, a rectangular lateral hole 40 (for inserting the optical fiber core wire 20) communicating from the hole 34 to the rear surface of the body 32 is also provided.

Reference numeral 42 is a wedge as an example of a pressing and fixing member, in which the tip side is narrow, the bottom surface is flat, and the top surface is inclined toward the tip side, and the whole is fitted into the hole 34. Sized to be inserted through the hole 34 into the lateral hole 36, and has a tapered portion 44 and a knob 46. Four
Reference numeral 8 is a leaf spring.

The ferrule 30 and the optical fiber core wire 20 are connected as follows. The optical fiber core wire 20 that has been exposed is attached to the ferrule 30.
The optical fiber 22 is inserted into the V groove 38 from the rear (FIG. 1C). Connect the tapered portion 44 of the wedge 42 to the ferrule body 3
It is inserted in the lateral hole 36 of the second. At this time, the knob 46 is held by an appropriate tool so that the tip of the wedge 42 is fed into the lateral hole 36 through the hole 34. A spring 48 is inserted between the rear surface of the wedge 42 and the main body 32 to apply a forward force to the wedge 42. As a result, the optical fiber 22 is pressed by the lower plane of the wedge 42 and fixed in the V groove 38. The wedge 42 and the main body 32 are provided with a groove 47 and a groove 35, respectively, so that the spring 48 does not come off. The front surface of the ferrule body 32 is polished and the assembly is completed.

When disassembling the ferrule 30 once assembled, the spring 48 is removed, and force is applied to the knob 46 to move the wedge 42 rearward. In this way, the optical fiber core wire 20 can be easily pulled out from the ferrule 30.

[Another Embodiment 1] The spring 48 as the pressing and fixing member is not limited to the above. Any material may be used as long as it can apply a forward force to the wedge 42 stably for a long time. For example, a coil spring, an elastic rubber, or a foamed rubber filled in place of the spring 48 may be used.

[Second Embodiment] The V groove 38 of the ferrule 30 is not an essential requirement. As shown in FIG. 2, the conventional optical fiber hole 16 may be left at the tip end thereof, a horizontal hole 36 (the upper surface 39 is tapered) may be provided halfway, and the wedge 42 may be pressed therein. Further, since the member for pressing and fixing the optical fiber in the V groove may be such that the tip side is tapered,
There are various modified examples other than this example.

[0013]

Since it is not necessary to use an adhesive for fixing the optical fiber in the ferrule body at the time of manufacture,
There is no need to move to the next step until the adhesive is hardened, which improves the efficiency of field work in particular. Further, since it is only fixed by the wedge-shaped pressure fixing parts, disassembly and reassembly are easy. Further, since the tip has a wedge shape, the pressing force in the pressing and fixing can be increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B relate to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a ferrule 30 and assembly parts, FIG. 1B is a vertical sectional elevation view of a ferrule body 32, and FIG. .

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a conventional ferrule assembly.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ferrule 12 ferrule main body 14 guide hole 16 optical fiber hole 18 hole 20 optical fiber core wire 22 optical fiber 24 adhesive 30 ferrule 32 ferrule main body 33 guide hole 34 hole 35 groove 36 lateral hole 38 V groove 39 upper surface 40 lateral hole 42 pressing fixing member As a wedge 44 Taper portion 46 Knob 48 Spring

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An optical connector having a ferrule in which an optical fiber is inserted and fixed in the ferrule, wherein the optical fiber is fixed in a positioning groove in the ferrule with a pressing fixing member. There is an optical connector.