JPS58108508A - Production of optical fiber connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the tip surface of an optical fiber clean and smooth and to make the work easy and simple without polishing by fixing the optical fiber with a core and then melting the tip surface with heat. CONSTITUTION:The jacket and coat 2 is removed from the optical fiber 1, the point of the optical fiber 1 is inserted into the hole of the core 11 and the tip is abutted on a plate-like tool 31. A highly adhesive two-layered thermal tube 5 is heated at a notched part 26 to temporally fit the optical fiber 1 to the core 11 and then the tip is heated by a point or other means to melt the tip with heat, so that the tip is made clean and smooth and the physical characteristics are stabilized. Subsequently an adhesive 32 is poured from the inlet 25 of the core 11. A supporting body, fastening fittings, nuts, etc. are fitted to the core to assemble the body of the optical fiber 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an optical fiber connector used to connect an optical fiber to an element such as an optical fiber or a light source.

Conventionally, optical fiber connectors of various structures have been proposed, but all of them are assembled using the following procedure. ■Assembling the optical fiber and optical connector core and pouring adhesive into the core, ■Curing the adhesive, ■Cutting the optical fiber, ■Polishing the end face of the optical fiber, ■Polishing the optical fiber and
Assembling the entire connector. If the assembly is performed using such a procedure, there is a drawback that a complicated device and a skilled worker are required to polish the end face of the optical connector. Moreover, since time is essential for the adhesive to harden between operations, there is a drawback that the assembly operation of the optical connector becomes complicated and takes a long time.

This invention provides the following features in the optical fiber connector manufacturing process:
To provide a method for manufacturing an optical fiber connector, which is easy to manufacture and can be completed in a short time by omitting adhesive curing time between operations and eliminating the need for polishing the end face of the optical fiber. purpose.

To achieve this objective, the method for manufacturing an optical fiber connector according to the present invention includes removing the coating from the optical fiber;
a first step of cutting the exposed end of the optical fiber to a predetermined length; after the first step, inserting the optical fiber into the core;
A second step is to temporarily fix the optical fiber core to the optical fiber core with the tip of the optical fiber aligned with the tip of the core. After the second step, a third step is to melt and smooth the end surface of the optical fiber. After the second step, a fourth step of pouring adhesive into the core, and a fifth step of assembling the entire optical connector using the optical fiber core and the core. Either the third step or the fourth step may be performed first. Furthermore, the IJ3 process can be performed after the fifth process.

An example of the method of the present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the entire optical fiber connector, and FIG. 2 shows the core used in the connector. Optical fiber (1
1, as is well known, consists of a core and a cladding layer provided around the core. This optical fiber (1) is
Covered by a plastic sheath (2), roughly covered by a kedera (4) and an outer sheath (3), an optical fiber cable is constructed. The optical fiber connector has a core αD that fixes the optical fiber (1),
This core αD is screwed into a support tube (J2) that holds the core OD. It consists of a connecting nut I rotatably mounted on the outside of the annular projection (21).An optical fiber cable is inserted through the base end of the fastening fitting a3, and the tip of the fitting a3 The part is screwed into the proximal end of the support tube @.Then, an annular Kepra stopper (I
s is provided, and a kedera (4) is fixed between this kedera stop (I51 and the support tube α).A connecting nut α
Φ has an annular portion (161) projecting inward, and a pressing spring αa is provided between this annular portion (1G) and the annular protrusion Wa of the core αυ via a washer αη.

An optical fiber insertion hole with an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the optical fiber (1) is drilled at the center of the core αυ at the tip of the annular protrusion of the core aD. is slightly expanded (indicated by @). This widened part takes into consideration that the tip of the five-piece optical fiber (1) becomes slightly thicker when it is heated and thermally melted, as shown later. An insertion hole (material) with an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the optical fiber covered by the coating (2) is drilled in the center of the part, and is connected to the insertion hole ■.The support of the core αυ An adhesive injection hole is drilled in the part where the male thread that is screwed into the hole is formed.Furthermore, the part near the base end of the core all from this injection hole (C) is used for temporary fixing. About half of the drawing is cut out (indicated by @), and the insertion hole (goods) is cut out.
is open.

FIG. 3 shows the procedure for manufacturing such an optical fiber connector. First, the outer sheath (3) of the optical fiber is peeled off and the N (2) to be covered is removed to expose the tip of the optical fiber (1), and then the exposed optical fiber (1) is cut with a stress cutting cutter. Cut to a predetermined length (Fig. 3(a)).

If necessary, after this, remove minute scratches on the open side of the optical fiber (1) that occurred during the coating removal process by uniformly and slightly heating and melting the open side of the optical fiber (1). .

Next, insert this optical fiber (1) into the insertion hole of the core αB.
■In order to insert the fiber into the core (Fig. 3(b)), use a plate-shaped jig (9) made of a material softer than the optical fiber (1) to insert the tip of the optical fiber (1) and the tip of the core aII. match. Then, fit a highly adhesive two-layer heat shrink tube (5) into the core αυ, and attach this tube (5) to the incision (
By heating and shrinking the part 1). Temporarily fix the optical fiber (1) to the core Qll (Figure 3 (C))
.

Next, the end surface of the optical fiber (1) is heated by flame or other means to thermally melt the end surface of the optical fiber (1), thereby making it smooth without scratches and stabilizing its physical properties (third step Figure (d)). Also, pour the adhesive (support) from the injection port (c) of the core 01) (Figure 3 (e))
. Either of the thermal melting operation of the optical fiber tip surface and the adhesive injection operation may be performed first. Finally, the core αυ and the support body (2) are screwed together, the fastening fitting α3 and the connecting nut aΦ are attached, and the optical fiber main body is assembled. Thereafter, the optical fiber connector is placed in the adapter or otherwise left until the adhesive hardens. If necessary, wash the adhesive seeping out from the tip of the core αD with a solvent. The optical fiber (1) is temporarily fixed with a heat shrink tube, so you don't have to wait for the adhesive to harden.
The end face of the optical fiber (1) can be thermally melted and an optical fiber connector can be assembled. The adhesive agent may be one that hardens over a long period of time. It is necessary not to apply strong tension to the optical fiber until the adhesive ■ is completely cured.

In the above example, the jig (9) is used to align the tip of the optical fiber and the tip of the core.
2) may be performed by moving the optical fiber while observing with a microscope or the like. Further, although flame is used as a means for thermally melting the tip end face of the optical fiber, it is also possible to use other methods such as discharge heating, carbon, nichrome wire, laser, etc.

Furthermore, although a two-layer heat-shrinkable tube is used as a means for temporarily fixing the core and the optical fiber, other fixing methods such as an instant adhesive or a split pin with one spring can also be used.

An example of another structure of the core a11, which is convenient when using a heat shrink tube or an instant adhesive as a temporary fixing means, is shown in Fig. IJ4. In (-), a hole (to) facing in the radial direction and connected to the insertion hole (2) is bored at the base end of the core Ql). In (b), the proximal end of the core αυ has a groove (
In (C), a slit is formed in the longitudinal direction from the proximal end of the core α]. If the fixing force of the temporary fixing can be weak, use the method shown in Fig. 4(d) (
As shown in e), instant adhesive is injected between the core aυ and the optical fiber without forming any holes, grooves, or slits in the core aIl, or the core 011 and the optical fiber are injected. The fiber may also be held down with a heat shrink tube (support).

As described above, in the method for manufacturing an optical fiber connector according to the present invention, since the optical fiber is temporarily fixed to the core with the tip of the optical fiber and the tip of the core aligned, the subsequent The process can be carried out immediately, there is no need to provide time for the adhesive to harden between operations, and the operations can be completed in a short time. In addition, after fixing the optical fiber and core, the optical fiber tip is thermally melted to obtain a smooth, scratch-free tip.
There is no need for polishing (this makes the work simple and easy).

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of the optical fiber connector, Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of the core. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the manufacturing procedure of the optical fiber connector, and Figure 4 is the core. It is a figure which shows another example. (1)...Optical fiber, +21 (31...Coating, α
υ...core, 151@...heat shrink tube, ■...
・Long-time curing adhesive, (to) instant adhesive. Patent applicant: Tateishi Electric Co., Ltd. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 8

Claims (1)

[Claims] A first step of removing the coating of the optical fiber and cutting the exposed end of the optical fiber to a predetermined length; after the first step,
A second step of inserting the optical fiber into the core and temporarily fixing the optical fiber to the core with the tip of the optical fiber and the tip of the core aligned. After the second step, the tip of the optical fiber is An optical fiber connector consisting of a step of melting and smoothing the surface, a step of pouring adhesive into the core after the second step, and a step of assembling the entire fiber optic connector using the optical fiber and the core. manufacturing method.