JP2566966B2 - Method for assembling a ferrule of a multi-fiber optical connector - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a ferrule assembling method for a multi-fiber optical connector, and in particular, eliminates misalignment of the optical fibers when fixing the optical fibers in the ferrule. It relates to the assembling method.

"Prior Art" In a multi-fiber optical connector, a plurality of optical fiber terminals are respectively held by a pair of ferrules, and both ferrules are abutted to each other so that mutual optical fiber core wires are brought into a connected state. It is a thing. Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the ferrule 1 has a vertically split structure, and a plurality of optical fibers 3 arranged in parallel with each other are provided between the half members 2A and 2B. The tape core wire 6 covered with the tape coating 5 in a state of being covered with the optical fiber coating 4 is fixed in a sandwiched state.

When assembling such a ferrule 1, the tape coating 5 and the optical fiber coating 4 at the end of the tape core wire 6 are removed so that the optical fiber 3 is exposed as shown in FIG. After arranging, half member
It is held between 2A and 2B.

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" However, when the tape core wire 6 is held, local bending occurs, whereby relative movement in the lengthwise direction occurs in each optical fiber 3 and the tip thereof is displaced. easy. For this reason,
After fixing the optical fiber 3 to the ferrule 1, the tip of each optical fiber 3 is flushed by polishing the tip integrally with the ferrule 1. Before the polishing, the tip of the optical fiber 3 is aligned. It takes time and effort to position the ferrule 1 so that it is substantially flush with the end face of the ferrule 1, and since a device for this polishing is required, it tends to take time, and in particular, it is urgently assembled at a construction site or the like. Problems occur when it is necessary.

The present invention effectively solves the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to eliminate misalignment of an optical fiber, improve assembly workability, and shorten assembly time.

"Means for Solving Problems" The present invention provides a ferrule with a tape core wire formed by collectively coating a plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel with each other in a state of being covered with an optical fiber coating. A method of fixing and assembling a ferrule of a multi-core optical connector, comprising the steps of removing a tape coating and an optical fiber coating at an end of a tape core wire to expose an optical fiber, and exposing an end of the exposed end of the optical fiber. The process of fixing in a state in which a long supporting member made of a material having a rigidity higher than that of the tape core wire is attached to the end of the cut and tape coating, and a tongue piece integrally formed from the optical fiber to the tip of the supporting member. Holding a part or all of the supporting member between the ferrules by adjusting the mounting position of the supporting member to the ferrule within the range of the tongue. A member is a long flat plate portion extending along the tape coating, a rising portion projecting from the flat plate portion and abutting against a side portion of the tape coating, and a flat plate portion and a projecting portion from a longitudinal end portion. And a tongue piece which is brought into contact with one surface of the tape coating.

"Operation" The assembling method of the present invention, by attaching the supporting member to the tape core wire in a state of being attached thereto, imparts rigidity to the tape core wire and can support it in a long range,
It is possible to prevent the occurrence of local bending and prevent the occurrence of displacement between the optical fibers. Therefore, the cut and aligned state can be reliably maintained by simply cutting and aligning the ends of the optical fibers. Moreover, the tip position of the optical fiber can be finely adjusted with respect to the ferrule by adjusting the range of the tongue that the ferrule holds, and it becomes easy to position the optical fiber at the target position near the end face of the ferrule.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the assembling method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, an example of the supporting member 11 used for carrying out the assembling method of the present invention will be described. The supporting member 11 is made of a material having higher rigidity than the tape core wire 6, for example, the same plastic as the ferrule 1, ceramic, or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the rising portions 13 are integrally formed on both sides of the elongated flat plate portion 12, and both ends of the flat plate portion 12 are extended beyond the rising portion 13 to The tongue pieces 14 are formed at both ends. The opposing interval between the both rising portions 13 is set to be substantially the same as the width dimension of the tape core wire 6, and the height of the rising portion 13 is set to be substantially the same as the thickness dimension of the tape core wire 6. Is.

Next, a method of assembling the ferrule of the optical connector by using the supporting member 11 thus configured will be described.

In advance, the tape coating 5 and the optical fiber coating 4 at the end of the tape core wire 6 are removed to leave the optical fiber 3 exposed, and the supporting member 11 is added to the end portion of the tape coating 5, and The tape core wire 6 is housed in the recess formed by the rising portion 13 and the flat plate portion 12, and the tape core wire 6 and the support member 11 are fixed to each other with an adhesive.

Then, after the tips of the optical fibers 3 are cut and aligned, they are placed on one half-split member 2B of the ferrule that has been split in two, and the optical fibers 3 are inserted one by one into the holes 7 at the tips. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, one tongue piece 14 of the support member 11 is placed on the base end of the half member 2B.

Finally, stack the two half members 2A and 2B together,
The tongue piece 14 and the end of the tape coating 5 of the tape core wire 6 are fixed in a sandwiched state.

That is, in this assembling method, the supporting member 11 vertically attached to the tape core wire 6 gives rigidity near the end of the tape core wire 6, and the tape core wire 6 is handled while gripping the supporting member 11. Thus, it is possible to support the tape core wire 6 in a long range, regulate the occurrence of local bending, and thus prevent the occurrence of displacement between the optical fibers 3. Moreover, by adjusting the range of the tongue piece 14 sandwiched between the two half members 2A and 2B, the tip position of the optical fiber 3 inserted into the hole 7 is finely adjusted, and the ferrule 1
It becomes easy to position the end face substantially flush with the end face, and the polishing work can be omitted. At this time, since the rising portion 13 contacts the ferrule 1, the support member 11
Since an excessive amount of the ferrule 1 inserted into the inside of the ferrule 1 is prevented, the optical fiber 3 is positioned at a substantially appropriate position without extremely protruding from the end face of the ferrule 1. Therefore, the support member 11 is attached to the optical fiber
After trimming the tips of the ferrules 1, the trimmed state can be reliably maintained, and since it is easy to position the tip of the optical fiber 3 substantially flush with the end face of the ferrule 1, polishing after fixing to the ferrule 1 is performed. The work can be omitted, and the assembly can be easily performed even in an environment where the equipment is not prepared, such as a construction site, and the time can be shortened.

On the other hand, FIG. 3 shows another example of the supporting member. The support member 15 is made of a plastic material such as aluminum, and a rising portion 13 is formed on one side of the flat plate portion 12, and a pressing portion 16 is formed on the rising portion 13 in parallel with the flat plate portion 12. As a result, the overall cross-sectional shape is U-shaped.
Then, the tape core wire 6 can be integrally fixed by interposing the tape core wire 6 between the flat plate portion 12 and the pressing portion 16 and caulking it.

In the assembling method of the present invention, after fixing the supporting member to the tape coating, the tip of the exposed end of the optical fiber is trimmed or the tip of the exposed end of the optical fiber is trimmed and then the supporting member is attached to the tape coating. It is arbitrary whether or not to fix.

[Advantages of the Invention] As is apparent from the above description, according to the ferrule assembly method of the present invention, rigidity is imparted to the tape core wire by fixing the tape core wire together with the supporting member. At the same time, by handling the tape core wire while gripping the support member, the tape core wire can be supported in a long range, local occurrence of bending can be restricted, and deviation of the optical fibers from each other can be prevented. Moreover, by adjusting and fixing the mounting position of the support member to the ferrule within the range of the tongue, it becomes easy to position the tip of the optical fiber at the target position near the end face of the ferrule. Therefore, just by trimming the tip of the optical fiber, the trimmed state can be reliably maintained, and the positioning of the tip of the optical fiber is facilitated, so that the polishing work after fixing the ferrule can be omitted, and the equipment can be omitted. This has the effect of facilitating the work even at a laying site where the work is not organized, and shortening the assembly time.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a perspective view showing a ferrule in the process of assembling by the assembling method of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a supporting member used for assembling the ferrule of FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another example of the supporting member, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a structural example of the ferrule. 1 ... Ferrule, 2A / 2B ... Half-divided member, 3 ... Optical fiber, 4 ... Optical fiber coating, 5 ... Tape coating, 6
…… Tape core wire, 7 …… hole, 11 …… supporting member, 12 …… flat plate part, 13 …… standing part, 14 …… tongue piece, 15 …… supporting member, 16 …… pressing part.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A tape comprising a ferrule (1) and a plurality of optical fibers (3) arranged in parallel with each other, which are covered with a tape coating (5) in a state of being covered with an optical fiber coating (4). A method of assembling a ferrule of a multi-core optical connector by fixing a core wire (6), the step of removing the tape coating and the optical fiber coating at the end of the tape core wire to expose the optical fiber, and the optical fiber. A long support member (11, 1) made of a material having higher rigidity than the tape core wire is provided by cutting the exposed ends of the
5) The step of fixing in the state where it is attached, and the part or all of the tongue piece (14) integrally formed at the tip of the supporting member from the optical fiber is sandwiched by the ferrule to support within the range of the tongue piece. A step of adjusting the mounting position of the member to the ferrule and fixing the member, wherein the supporting member has an elongated flat plate portion (12) extending along the tape coating, and the tape coating projecting from the flat plate portion. Comprising a rising portion (13) that abuts against the side of the tape and a tongue piece that projects from the longitudinal end of the flat plate portion and abuts against one surface of the tape coating. Optical connector ferrule assembly method.