JPH0954220A - Connector for optical fiber and tool to be exclusively used for attachment and detachment used for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perfect respective mechanisms for axial aligning, pressing, checking and holding, to improve holding force and structure, to perfect corresponding mechanisms and to provide a remedy for stress relief. SOLUTION: The connector 1 for optical fibers is composed of first parts 3 which are formed of transparent plastics, etc., to a polygonal bar shape in section, second parts 5 which consists of a rigid material and are formed to a bar shape having a polygonal section and are formed with grooves making prescribed changes in the depth in a longitudinal direction on the surfaces in contact with the first parts 3 and third parts 7 which press the first parts 3 and the second parts 5 from above in the superposed state and consist of elastic materials of a C shape in the section. In addition, the third parts 7 are provided with plural notched parts 11, second notched parts 13 and peep windows 9 by acting the respective parts as independent springs at suitable intervals in their longitudinal direction. The tool to be exclusively used for attachment and detachment used for attaching and detaching the connector 1 for optical fibers is constituted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector used for attaching and detaching an optical fiber in an optical signal line, and a detachable special tool used for the connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, there are two methods for connecting signal lines in a signal line, such as a permanent connection method in which once a connection is made immediately after wiring, the connection state is maintained permanently, and disconnection and reconnection are made several times after connection. There is a removable connection method that can For example,
In connection of a trunk line with an optical fiber, there is a permanent connection with a connector, but a fusion splicing method in which optical fibers are melted to be connected is a typical permanent connection method.
On the other hand, a detachable connection method that allows reconnection and switching connection is often adopted around the terminal device. Currently, as a detachable connection method, both optical fiber ends are respectively reinforced and fixed by ferrules, the end surfaces are mirror-polished, and both optical fiber ends are mechanically pressed together with both ferrules to bring them into contact with each other. A method is known in which the ends of both optical fibers are abutted in one guide component and the optical fiber portion is held and fixed from the outside in this state.

[0003]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional method, in both optical fibers to be connected, each end is inserted into a tubular reinforcing component usually called a ferrule and fixed with an adhesive or the like. . Next, the end face of the fiber is polished with the reinforcing component with high precision. Both ferrules polished and finished with the optical fiber are inserted from both sides into a body having a guide function and abutted against each other so that the axes can be accurately aligned. The butt portion is fixed via a spring so that a butt force is always applied.

Although it is possible to make a connection with high characteristics, a device for performing high-precision polishing is required at the work site, the work itself is complicated, the number of parts constituting the connector is large, and high-precision processing is required. There are some drawbacks.

In the conventional method, the connecting ends of both optical fibers are directly butted in one guide part,
It is a holding structure. A thin tube or a narrow groove (V groove or the like) is used as the guide component. This method is characterized in that it has a simple structure and structure, does not require an expensive connecting device, and is economical.

However, in the conventional products including the products that have been put into practical use, (a) the axial alignment between the optical fibers is uncertain at the connection butt portion,
It is difficult to obtain the prescribed connection characteristics. -(Each mechanism for axis alignment, pressing, checking, and holding is incomplete) (b) The tensile strength between both optical fibers at the connection is insufficient. −
(Insufficient holding power and structure) (c) Detachment is practically impossible or very difficult. −
(Corresponding mechanism is incomplete) (d) Connection characteristics change over time. -(Sufficient stress relaxation measures) etc.

The object of the present invention is to complete the axial alignment, pressing, confirmation, and holding mechanisms to improve the holding force and structure,
Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber connector with a corresponding mechanism perfected, and a stress relaxation measure, and a dedicated tool for attachment / detachment.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an optical fiber connector according to the present invention according to claim 1 is provided with:
A first part made of transparent plastic or the like and having a polygonal cross section and a hard material made of a polygonal bar and having a predetermined depth change in the length direction on the surface in contact with the first part. A second part having a groove formed therein and the first part
It is characterized in that the third component is composed of an elastic body having a C-shaped cross section which is always pressed from above in a state where the component and the second component are overlapped with each other.

In the above structure, the first part and the second part are incorporated into the third part to form an integrated structure.
Each optical fiber is inserted from both ends into the groove provided in the second component, and the tips are butted and connected to each other and held.

The optical fiber connector of the present invention according to claim 2 is the optical fiber connector according to claim 1, wherein
It is characterized in that the third component is provided with a plurality of first cut portions that allow each portion to independently act as a spring at appropriate intervals in the lengthwise direction.

In the above structure, since the plurality of first notches are provided in the lengthwise direction of the third part, each part of the third part having the first notches as a boundary independently acts as a spring. And is held with a uniform holding force.

An optical fiber connector according to a third aspect of the present invention is the optical fiber connector according to the first and second aspects, wherein the third component is provided with a viewing window through which the first component is visible. It is characterized by that.

In the above structure, since the third component is provided with the viewing window which can be visually recognized through the first component, it is easy to confirm from the viewing window whether the end portions of the optical fibers are butted and securely connected. To be done.

An optical fiber connector according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the optical fiber connector according to the first, second and third aspects, wherein a plurality of tools can be attached to the third component at appropriate intervals in the length direction thereof. It is characterized in that it is provided with a second cut portion.

In the above structure, since the plurality of second notches are provided at appropriate intervals in the lengthwise direction of the third component, a detachable dedicated tool is attached to each of the second notches and released. It

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exclusive tool for attachment / detachment, wherein one handle and the other handle are rotatably provided via a fulcrum, and optical fiber connectors are respectively provided at the tips of the one handle and the other handle. It is characterized in that it is provided with a mounting portion that is mounted on the notch portion provided in.

In the above structure, when the operator grips the one handle and the other handle and presses the mounting part in a state where the mounting part is mounted on the notch part of the optical fiber connector, the mounting parts rotate in the direction in which they separate from each other. Then the notch opens, so
Butt and connection of optical fibers are easily performed.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, an optical fiber connector 1 is made of a transparent plastic, a first component 3 having a polygonal cross section, and a hard material. The first part 3 has a polygonal rod-shaped cross section
The second part 5 having a V groove 5V, for example, as a groove whose length changes in a predetermined direction is formed on the surface in contact with the second part 5, and the first part 3 and the second part 5 are constantly pressed in a stacked state. The section to be attached is composed of a third part 7 made of a C spring as an elastic body having a C shape.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a peep window 9 is provided in the third component 7 so that the inside can be seen through. Also,
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, a plurality of first parts from the seam edges of the third part 7 are provided on the third part 7.
A cut portion 11 is provided. Although the C spring which is the third component 7 is a series of springs by the first cut portion 11, the P section, the Q section and the R section operate as independent springs, respectively, as shown in FIG. Is.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the third part 7 is formed with a plurality of second notches 13 from the C spring joint edge which is the third part. Each of the second notches 13 has a first part in the C spring which is the third part 7.
When inserting the component 3 and the second component 5 or attaching / detaching the optical fiber, this is a part to which a dedicated optical fiber attachment / detachment tool described later for opening the C spring is applied. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the optical fiber F is sandwiched between the first component 3, the second component 5 and the center.

Next, each component of the above-mentioned first component 3, second component 5, and third component 7 will be described in more detail. First, the first component 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 (A), (B), ( As shown in C), the cross section is, for example, a pentagon and is made of transparent plastic. The M surface is a smooth flat surface that contacts the second part 7, and the L surface is a circular arc cross section. Yes Has an optical lens effect (the same principle as a glass thermometer).
Also, since the first component 3 is made of plastic or the like,
At the time of connecting an optical fiber, which will be described later, a small change in outer diameter of each part of the fiber and familiarity with the outer circumference of the fiber are improved.

The second part 5 is shown in FIGS. 7 (A), (B) and (C).
As shown in FIG. 5, a V-shaped groove 5V made of a hard material such as metal is formed on the N surface in contact with the first component 5 and having a different shape in the length direction. That is, the S section has a shape corresponding to holding the optical fiber main body,
The T section has a shape corresponding to holding it from above the coating of the optical fiber F. The U portion is structured so that the optical fiber F can be easily inserted into the optical fiber connector 1 when connecting the fibers. In the V groove 5V in the S section, the ends of both the optical fibers F to be connected are projected and partly accommodated, and the M surface of the first component 3 is pressed to be clamped. This pressing force is the third
It is given by the spring force in the Q section of the part 7. Similarly, T
In the V groove 5V in the section, the optical fiber F is sandwiched from above the coating. The clamping force in this T section is the P section or R of the third component 7.
It is given by the spring force of the section.

The C spring, which is the third component 7, can be understood from FIGS. 1 to 5, but the details are shown in FIG.
(B), (C), (D), and (E). The C spring of the third component 7 maintains the contact state of the connecting portions of both optical fibers F itself in the Q section in the state where the optical fiber F is connected, and the both light beams in the connector connecting section in the P and R sections. It is designed and manufactured so that a clamping force that satisfies a predetermined tensile strength between the fibers F is generated. Note that in FIGS. 8B and 8C, 1
Reference numeral 5 is a joint of the third component 7.

As the attachment / detachment tool 17 used for the above-mentioned optical fiber connector 1, FIGS.
, One handle 19 and the other handle 21 approach each other with the pin 23 as a fulcrum,
Alternatively, they are separated. A spring 25 is interposed between the handle 19 and the handle 21 near the pin 23, and the handle 19 and the handle 21 are connected to each other.
Are always separated from each other by the urging force of the spring 25.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, plates 27 and 29 extending in the vertical direction in FIG. 9 are integrated with the tips of the handles 19 and 21, respectively.
9, a plurality of mounting portions 31, 33 are provided at appropriate intervals in the vertical direction of the plates 27, 29.
A pressing portion 35 such as a leaf spring for pressing the optical fiber connector 1 is attached to the plate 29.

Further, guide portions 37 and 39 for passing the optical fiber F are provided at the front and rear of the plates 27 and 29 in FIG. The guides 37, 39 have pins 41, 4
3, plates 45 and 47 are attached, and guides 49 and 51 for passing another optical fiber F are integrated with the plates 45 and 47.

With the above structure, the connection process will be described.
(I), the initial state of the optical fiber optical connector 1 is shown in FIG.
As shown in Figure 1, the first part in the third part 7 (C spring)
The component 3 and the second component 5 are assembled and integrated.

(II) When the mounting portions 31 and 33 of the special tool 17 are applied to the respective second cut portions of the third component 7 (C spring) and the handles 19 and 21 are gripped and pressed, the pin 23 is pressed.
With the fulcrum as a fulcrum, the handles 19 and 21 approach each other against the biasing force of the spring 25, the mounting portions 31 and 33 move away from each other, and the third component 7 (C spring) is opened by a predetermined amount. The optical fiber connector 1 is held by the holding portion 35.

(III) In this state, the optical fiber F is guided through the guide portions 49, 51; 37, 39, and the ends of the optical fiber F subjected to the terminal treatment are inserted from the fiber introducing portions at both ends of the second component 5. (IV), third part 7 (C spring)
When it is confirmed from the upper viewing window 9 that the tips of both optical fibers F are butted at the center, the handles 19 and 21 of the detachable tool 17 are loosened, and the spring 2
When the handles 19 and 21 are returned to their original positions by the urging force of 5, and the mounting portions 31 and 33 are closed to return the opening of the third component 7 (C spring), the optical fiber F becomes the fiber connector 1
Will be held and the connection will be terminated.

When the work is suspended with one optical fiber F connected to the optical fiber connector 1,
(V), as in the case of (II) of the above operation
Opens the C spring. (VI) After that, as in (III), the optical fibers F to be connected are inserted from the optical fiber introducing portions at both ends of the second component 5, and the tip end is on the central portion of the optical fiber connector 1 and on the C spring. Make sure that you have reached the bottom of the viewing window 9.

(VII) In this state, the exclusive tool 17 for attachment / detachment is loosened, and when the opening of the C spring is returned, the optical fiber F is held by the optical fiber connector 1. When the optical fiber F on the other end side is connected later (or later), the optical fiber F to be connected is first held together with the optical fiber connector 1 by the attachment / detachment dedicated tool 17 (II) to (IV). The operation will complete the connection.

(VIII) When the connected optical fiber F is to be removed by changing the connection or the like, the C spring 7 is opened with the exclusive tool 17 for attachment / detachment, the holding force is released, and the optical fiber F is removed. Also, in the case of reconnection, the same operation as in the case of new connection is performed.

Therefore, in the centering mechanism portion, a series of highly reliable V-grooves 5V are formed on the hard (metal, ceramics, etc.) second part 5, and the V-grooves 5V are used for guiding and holding. be able to. As a confirmation mechanism, the third component 7 (C spring) has a viewing window 9 formed therein, and the first component 3 is penetrated through the M surface of the first component 3 and the V groove 5V of the second component 5. It is possible to visually check the state of the tips of both optical fibers F inserted into the space from both sides.

With respect to the holding mechanism, the abutting portion is connected to the first part 3 and the second part 5 in a state where the above-mentioned abutting is confirmed.
It is held and fixed by spring force via. The holding force is kept constant for a long time by the spring. At the time of this pressure application, the first component 3 made of plastic or the like deforms and fits in correspondence with the slight difference in outer diameter of each optical fiber F. As a result, the second
The optical fiber F is evenly pressed against the V-groove 5V side wall of the component 5 to achieve accurate depth and lateral positioning.

In the state where the connection is completed, the optical fiber F is clamped from above the coating by the spring force of the C spring 7 in each section in the P section and the R section. The clamping force (pressing force) by the C spring 7 is set so that a predetermined tensile strength is generated. Further, the C spring 7 also copes with the deformation of the fiber coating due to the creep, so that a constant tensile strength can be maintained for a long time.

A spring force is used to hold and fix the optical fiber F. The pressing force of this spring is the exclusive tool for attachment / detachment 1
The optical fibers F on both sides can be easily attached and detached by temporarily releasing them by 7. Of course, the spring can be used repeatedly.

In the optical fiber connector 1 which achieves the connection by the mechanical structure, the contact pressure of the connection part is lowered or the positional relationship is changed due to the long-term creep and deformation of the optical fiber connector 1 and each part of the optical fiber F. Then, the connection characteristics may deteriorate. In particular, in the mechanism of sandwiching and holding from above the coating, when the coating material flows out due to external pressure or a displacement occurs between the coating material and the fiber main body, the connection characteristics are affected, but the C spring 7 causes deformation of the coating. Following this, a constant holding force is given over a long period of time, so that deterioration of characteristics can be suppressed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be embodied in other modes by making appropriate changes. Although the field of application in this embodiment is mainly for connecting glass optical fibers, it can also be applied for connecting plastic fibers if the dimensions of each part are changed based on the same principle. Further, as a structural modification, a coil spring may be used instead of the C spring. In other words, it is conceivable to use the difference in inner diameter between the state where the coil spring is extended and the state where the coil spring is compressed. Instead of the C spring, a coil spring having an inner diameter and a structure capable of applying a predetermined pressure to the first and second parts 3 and 5 in a constantly extended state is compressed (the inner diameter is enlarged) to the first and second coil springs. After mounting on the second parts 3 and 5, release them. The attachment / detachment of the optical fiber F is performed with the coil spring compressed. In the connected state, the coil spring is extended (released state) and
Tightening pressure is always applied to the parts 3 and 5. Further, the transparent plastic has been described as an example of the first product 3, but a glass material may be used.

[0040]

As will be understood from the examples of the embodiment as described above, according to the inventions of claims 1 to 4, the following various effects can be obtained.

Since the number of constituent parts is small and the structure is simple, no work error occurs.

Since the optical fiber holding mechanism includes the spring mechanism, it is possible to follow the creep of the optical fiber coating or the like for a long period of time and suppress the characteristic deterioration.

Since the number of constituent parts is small and the structure is simple, economic effects of the product can be expected.

Even if the attachment / detachment operation is repeated, there are no consumable parts, and workability and economy are good.

Since connection work can be performed with a small and convenient dedicated tool, work in high places becomes easy.

The state of the optical fiber tip butting is visually observed,
Since you can check, you can make a reliable connection.

According to the invention of claim 5, the optical fiber can be easily and easily connected and fixed to the optical fiber connector and can be removed by a simple mechanism.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical fiber connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view on arrow IV in FIG.

5 is a view on arrow V in FIG.

6A is a plan view of the first component, FIG. 6B is a front view of the first component, and FIG. 6C is a side view of the first component.

7A is a plan view of a second component, FIG. 7B is a front view of the second component, and FIG. 7C is a side view of the second component.

8A is a plan view of a third component, FIG. 8B is a front view of the third component, FIG. 8C is a side view of the third component, and FIG.
6A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a special tool for attachment / detachment.

FIG. 10 is a front view of FIG.

11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Optical Fiber Connector 3 1st Component 5 2nd Component 5V V Groove (Groove) 7 3rd Component 9 Viewing Window 11 1st Notch 13 13 2nd Notch 17 Detachable Tool

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Masahiro Shibata 1-5-1, Kiba, Koto-ku, Tokyo Kyoei Line Materials Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A first part formed of transparent plastic or the like having a polygonal rod-shaped cross section, and a hard material formed of a polygonal bar-shaped cross-section and having a depth in the lengthwise direction on a surface in contact with the first component. A second component in which a groove having a predetermined change is formed, and a third component which is an elastic body having a C-shaped cross section which is constantly pressed from above in a state where the first component and the second component are overlapped with each other, An optical fiber connector characterized in that 2. The light according to claim 1, wherein the third component is provided with a plurality of first notches that allow the respective components to independently act as springs at appropriate intervals in the lengthwise direction. Fiber connector. 3. A peep window through which the first part can be seen through is provided in the third part.
2. The optical fiber connector described in 2. 4. The optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the third component is provided with a plurality of second notches in which tools can be mounted at appropriate intervals in the length direction. connector. 5. One handle and the other handle,
A detachable tool, which is rotatably provided via a fulcrum, and is provided with mounting portions at the ends of the one and the other handles, which are mounted on the notches provided in the optical fiber connector.