JPS63231305A - Device for changing over optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent intrusion of dust, etc., into the spacing between the end faces of optical connectors and to improve the reliability of a changing-over operation by constituting a titled device in such a manner that the end faces of the optical connectors are wiped by wipers at the time of changing over the optical connectors. CONSTITUTION:It is assumed here that the 1st and 2nd optical connectors 11A, 11B are held connected and that the 3rd optical connector 11C is set along side the 2nd optical connector 11B. A moving base 22 is moved from this state so that the 1st optical connector 11A and the 3rd optical connector 11C are butted against each other. The deposits on the end face of the 1st optical connector 11A are wiped away by the wiper 41 and the deposits on the end face of the 3rd optical connector 11C are wiped away by the wiper 38 in this movement. The end faces of the 1st and 3rd optical connectors 11A, 11C are consequently butted against each other in a clean state. The reliability of the changing-over operation is thus improved.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] 〔Technical field〕 The present invention relates to an optical connector switching device.

[Prior art and its problems]

Recently, a method of switching some sections of the optical communication line from the current line to a switching line for a different route is being considered.
This is done by instantly switching the optical connectors that connect the lines.

To switch the optical connector, after disconnecting the first optical connector and the second optical connector that connect the working line, connect the first optical connector (the optical connector that cannot be switched) to the first optical connector (the optical connector that cannot be switched).
This is done by connecting a third optical connector that has been attached to the end of the switching line in advance.

The problem here is that the end face of the optical connector is exposed to the atmosphere (work atmosphere) during switching.The end face of the optical connector must be kept extremely clean before connection; If it is exposed to the atmosphere, even temporarily, there is a risk that fine dust floating in the atmosphere may adhere to the end face. In particular, if matting oil is applied to the end faces, there is a high risk of dust or air bubbles being drawn in during switching.If dust or air bubbles are drawn between the end faces of the optical connector during switching, this will result in an increase in connection loss after switching. becomes.

[Means for solving problems and their effects]

In order to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, the present invention aims to change the state in which the first optical connector and the second optical connector are connected to the state in which the first optical connector and the third optical connector are connected. In the optical connector switching device, the first stand sets the first optical connector, and the second stand sets the second optical connector and the third optical connector with their end faces aligned in the same direction. One of the first stand and the second stand is a fixed stand, and the other is a movable stand that moves in the direction of the end face of the second and third optical connectors, and the fixed stand and This device is characterized in that the movable base is equipped with a wiper that wipes the end face of the optical connector set on the other base when the movable base moves.

In this device, the end faces of the optical connectors are wiped with a wiper when the movable base moves, that is, at the moment of switching, so there is no risk of dust getting caught between the end faces of the optical connectors during switching.

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

In FIGS. 1 and 2, IIA is a first optical connector, IIB is a second optical connector, and 11C is a third optical connector. The first and second optical connectors 11A and IIB are attached to the ends of the optical fiber core wires 12A and 12B of the current line, respectively, and their axes are made to coincide with each other by fitting pins 13 that pass through both sides. Butt connected in the state. Further, the third optical connector IIC is attached to the end of the optical fiber core wire 12C of the switching line.

In other words, this device connects the first and second optical connectors IIA/I
Completely disconnect IB and connect the first and third optical connectors IIA and
11C connection. Optical fiber heart!
12A to 12C are usually tape-shaped multi-core optical fibers, but may also be single-core optical fibers.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a fixed base for setting the first optical connector IIA in a fixed position, and 22 a movable stand for setting the second optical connector IIB and the third optical connector IIG in a fixed position. In this device, the third optical connector 11C is set beside the second optical connector IIB with its end surfaces aligned with the second optical connector 11B. The movable base 22 connects the second and third optical connectors I along a guide rail 23 installed below.
It is movable in the direction of the end face of IB/IIG. Movable stand 22
The movement is performed by actuators 24 and 25.

26A is the mating pin 1 from the rear of the first optical connector IIA.
27 is a movable block that holds the pin push rod 26A, and 28 is a motor that moves the movable block 27 forward and backward along the guide frame 29 by engaging the rack and the pinion. Further, 26B is a pin push rod for pushing the mating pin 13 from the rear of the second optical connector IIB, and 26C is a pin push rod for pushing the mating pin (empty in the illustrated state) from the rear of the third optical connector 11C. A pin push rod, 30 is a slider that holds the pin push rods 26B and 26C, 31 is a guide frame that guides the slider 30 in the axial direction of the fitting pin 13 on the movable base 22, 32 is a rod for pushing the slider 30, 33 is a movable block that holds the rod 32, and 34 is a motor that moves the movable block 32 forward and backward along the guide frame 35 by engaging the rank and the pinion.

Further, 36 is a coil spring that pushes back the slider 30.

Next, 37 and 38 are wipers that are fitted into holes on both sides of the fixing base 21 so that their tips protrude, and 39 and 40 are coil springs that push out the wipers 37 and 38. Further, 41 is a wiper that is fitted into a hole between the two optical connector mounting positions of the movable base 22 so that its tip protrudes, and 42 is a coil spring that pushes out the wiper 41. Wipers 37 and 38 on the fixed base 21 side
The tip of the wiper 41 of the movable base 22 projects slightly in front of the end surface of the first optical connector 11A, and the tip of the wiper 41 of the movable base 22 is connected to the second and third optical connectors 1.
It projects slightly in front of the end face of IB/IIC. The wipers 37, 38, and 41 are made of a liquid-absorbing soft material such as felt. Wiper 37/38
・41 is impregnated with a cleaning agent such as ethyl alcohol when the end face of the optical connector is simply cleaned, and with matching oil when it is necessary to apply matching oil to the end face of the optical connector. Let it be impregnated with.

Next, the operation of this device will be explained with reference to FIG. Third
Figure (11) shows the same state as in Figure 1, with the first and second optical connectors IIA and 11B connected, and the third optical connector IIC placed next to the second optical connector IIB. be. From this state, the slider 30 is moved forward as shown in the figure (Fig.
into the first optical connector 11A.
As shown in c+, return the slider 30 to its original position and remove the bottle push rod 26 from the second and third optical connectors 11B/IIC.
B.26G is pulled out and the movable base 22 (see FIG. 1) is moved so that the first optical connector IIA and the third optical connector IIC are butted against each other.

During this movement, the deposits on the end face of the first optical connector IIA are wiped off by the wiper 41, and the deposits on the end face of the third optical connector IIC are wiped off by the wiper 3. Therefore, the first and third optical connectors IIA and II
C will be butted against each other with their end surfaces clean. Finally, as shown in (d), move the bottle pushing rod 26 on the fixed base side forward to push the fitting bottle 13 halfway into the third optical connector 11C, and then move the bottle pushing rod back to its original position. Then, the connection between the first and third optical connectors IIA/11C is completed.

In the above embodiment, the table for setting the first optical connector was a fixed table, and the table for setting the second and third optical connectors was a movable table. The table for setting may be a movable table, and the table for setting the second and third optical connectors may be a fixed table.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, since the device of the present invention wipes the end faces of the optical connectors with a wiper when switching the optical connectors, there is no chance of dust getting caught between the end faces of the optical connectors, and the This enables highly efficient switching work.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view of an optical connector switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the device, and FIG.
t to (d) are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the device. 11A~first optical connector, IIB~second optical connector, IIC~third optical connector, 13~fitting pin, 21~
Fixed stand, 22~movable stand, 26A/26B/26C~pin push rod, 37/38/41~wiper.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In an optical connector switching device that switches from a state where the first optical connector and the second optical connector are connected to a state where the first optical connector and the third optical connector are connected, the first optical connector A first stand for setting a connector, and a second stand for setting a second optical connector and a third optical connector with their end faces aligned in the same direction, One of them is a fixed base, and the other is a movable base that moves in the direction of the end face of the second and third optical connectors. An optical connector switching device characterized by being equipped with a wiper that wipes the end face of a set optical connector. (2) The device according to claim 1, wherein the wiper is impregnated with a cleaning agent for cleaning the end face of the optical connector. (3) The device according to claim 1, wherein the wiper is impregnated with matching oil.