JP3406181B2 - Optical branch module, optical wiring method, and work jig - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a PDS (Passive double star) type transmission system using an optical fiber, which has an optical branching module, an optical wiring method, and a working jig which have a high number of cores and a high density. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an optical fiber network, for example, in order to connect an optical cable on the subscriber side and an optical cable on the inside of a station, an optical wiring rack (FTM) in which a large number of optical fibers inside and outside a station are terminated to form a large group. Is used. 9 and 10 are diagrams showing a conventional FTM, in which reference numeral 1 is used.
Is a frame, 2 is a terminal plate, 3 is an optical connector, and 4 is an optical branching module that accommodates optical components such as an optical coupler and an extra connection length.

The frame 1 is formed in a shelf shape which is divided into a plurality of stages at equal intervals by a horizontally arranged partition plate 5, and a plurality of stages for accommodating the optical branching modules 4 are formed. . A terminal plate 2 that substantially covers the opening is fixed to the same side opening of each step of the frame 1.
The terminal board 2 has a hole 6 for mounting the optical adapter 3.
Are arranged side by side, and two or more optical adapters 3 corresponding to the SC type optical connector are arranged and fixed in the hole 6. On both sides of this optical adapter 3, a plurality of SC-type terminals (plugs) not shown with a single-core optical fiber core wire 7 terminated are arranged on the outside, and another optical fiber drawn through the optical branching module 4 is drawn. A plurality of SC-type terminals (plugs) (not shown) terminating a single-core wire 8b obtained by branching the end of the fiber-tape core wire 8 (hereinafter, "tape-core wire") with a branching device 8a It is arranged at a position corresponding to the terminal for the optical fiber core wire 7, and the plugs on both sides are positioned and connected by the positioning ring in the optical adapter 3.

The optical branching module 4 plays a role of an extra length storing portion for accommodating the extra length of the tape core wire 8, and each stage of the frame 1 has a width of, for example, 13.5 mm. About 50 pieces are provided. As shown in FIG. 11, inside the optical branching module 4, the extra length of the tape core wire 8 coded by the reinforcing tube, the optical coupler 9 connected to the tape core wire 8, and the tape core wires 8 themselves. MT connector 10 (Mechanically Tr
and ansferable). By the way, the MT connector is a multi-fiber optical connector as defined in JIS C 5981. The extra connection length of the tape core wire 8 is wound an appropriate number of times and stored in the optical branching module 4.

[0005]

By the way, the optical branching module 4 is a system in which the extra connection length and the optical component are housed in the same case, and the optical branching module 4 and the optical cable side adopting the housing system are adopted. The connection work with the tape core wire 8 will be schematically described as follows. 1. The case of the optical branching module 4 is removed from the FTM. 2. The lid of the case is opened, and the contained tape core wire 8 is taken out. 3. The splicing method may be an optical connector and fusion splicing. When fusion splicing is used, a fusion splicer is installed on the working side, and the fusion splicer is used to form the tape core wire 8 on the termination cable side. And the tape core wire 8 in the case are fusion-spliced. 4. After the fusion splicing, the extra connection length of the tape core wire 8 is housed in the case so as not to be twisted, and the lid is closed. 5. The optical branching module 4 is returned to the original position of the FTM. In the above connection work, since the space between the optical branching modules 4 is narrow and the optical fiber core wire 8 is congested, the case removal and re-storing work and the core wire connection work have been extremely careful. , The number of FTM storage cores has increased,
Along with this, the mounting density of the optical branching modules 4 has been improved, and therefore, a surplus length storage method that is simple in connection work and excellent in workability has been demanded.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the connection work is easy and the work efficiency can be improved, and the storage efficiency of the connection extra length can be improved, and at the time of work such as connection switching. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical branching module, an optical wiring method, and a working jig that can reduce the influence on optical communication as much as possible.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an optical wiring for branching a single-core or multi-core optical fiber into a more multi-core optical fiber by means of an optical coupler. An optical branching module applied to a rack, the module main body having a thin plate-like appearance and having a drawing-in port for drawing an optical fiber into the inside, and a light attached to one side of the module main body in a protruding state. A connector housing is provided inside the module body, and a partition wall defines a coupler housing portion for housing an optical coupler and an optical connection portion for optical fibers and an extra length housing portion for accommodating a connection extra length. A small-diameter storage portion for storing an optical fiber wound with a bending radius larger than a predetermined value, and a large-diameter storage portion capable of storing the optical fiber in a curved radius larger than the small-diameter storage portion in the extra length storage portion. An optical branching module, characterized in that provided to the solutions of the problems.

According to the present invention, the connection surplus length of the optical fiber in the optical branching module is always bent with a bending radius larger than the specified value by using the small-diameter storage portion and the large-diameter storage portion, and is stably stored. . The optical fiber on the optical coupler side, the optical connection part of the optical fiber drawn from the drawing port, and the extra connection length are stored in the extra length storage part. By using the small-diameter storage part and the large-diameter storage part, the splicing surplus length of both optical fibers can be stably curved and stored before and after the connection work. Further, since the coupler housing and the extra length housing are partitioned by the partition wall, it is possible to prevent the influence of work in the extra length housing from affecting optical parts such as optical fibers and optical couplers in the coupler housing. Therefore, it is possible to improve workability of various works in the extra length storage portion.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the portion corresponding to the extra length storage portion of the module body, a work window opened and closed by a removable cover, and a position which can be exposed when the work window is opened. And a connecting portion holder that detachably supports the optical connecting portion, and the connecting portion holder faces the working window in the module body in the extra length storage portion.
The optical fiber can be wired between the face plate located on the roller
It is arranged at a position causing gaps degrees, the cover
The position of the cover when attached to the work window.
Via the connecting portion holder relative to the cover mounting location that
The optical branch module is characterized in that the connection extra length can be accommodated on the opposite side.

According to the present invention, operations such as connection between optical fibers and connection switching are performed by opening the work window. When the working window is opened, the connecting portion holder is exposed, and the optical connecting portion can be easily attached and detached. Also, in the thickness direction of the module main body, a region where the extra connection length can be stored is secured from the work window to the back side of the connection holder of the extra length storage part, and the extra length storage part must not interfere with the connection part holder. It is possible to store the extra connection length.

In the invention according to claim 3, the module main body
The work window formed in the part corresponding to the extra length storage part of
So that the work window can be opened and closed with a removable cover
When the work window is opened, the extra length storage section
An optical interconnection method using an optical branching module according to claim 1 or 2 wherein is exposable configured, module
An optical branching module that is stored in a small-diameter storage part with the extra connection length secured in advance in the optical fiber inside the main body being wound.
And carries the Le in the optical wiring rack inside or near to expose the small diameter housing portion and the large-diameter housing portion, and connecting the another optical fiber has been drawn to the optical fiber and the optical wiring in the rack is taken out from the small-diameter housing portion The optical wiring method is characterized in that after storing the connection surplus length of both connected optical fibers in a large-diameter storage portion, the optical branching module is stored at a desired position in an optical wiring rack, did.

According to the present invention, the radius of curvature of the optical fiber previously housed in the module body prior to the connecting work is kept above the specified value by the small diameter housing portion. By doing so, the optical fiber is housed in a strongly wound state against its own rigidity, so that even if the optical branching module is moved in the transportation process, there is no fear of unwinding and the optical transmission It is possible to maintain stable performance. When connecting optical fibers to each other, first pull out the extra connection length that was stored in the small-diameter storage part for the length necessary for the work, connect it with the optical fiber that was drawn into the optical wiring rack, and then It absorbs the pull-out length by expanding the winding diameter of the extra connection length left in the storage part.

[0013] In the present invention of claim 4, wherein the mounting table light branching module is placed horizontally, removable for detachably attaching the optical wiring rack for accommodating a slack storage section of the mounting base Means and a plurality of support claws that are in contact with the outer peripheral portion of the optical branching module mounted on the mounting table to support the optical branching module in a fixed position on the mounting table, and the supported optical branching module. In the part corresponding to the optical fiber inlet of
The working jig is characterized in that an optical fiber wiring portion for wiring the optical fiber is opened, and is a means for solving the above problems.

According to the present invention, the optical branching module for work is installed at a place where a working space can be secured corresponding to the storage position in the optical wiring rack, and the optical fibers related to the optical branching module are connected to each other. Improve the workability of such work. Further, by moving the installation position, it is possible to deal with all the optical branching modules stored in the optical wiring rack. At this time, the structure can be easily attached to and detached from the structure by the attaching / detaching means, and the relocation is easy, so that the working time of the wiring in the optical wiring rack can be shortened.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, the configuration of the optical branching module of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. In the figure, reference numeral 20 is an optical branching module, and 21 is a module main body. In FIG. 1, the optical branching module 20 is
It has a module main body 21 in the form of a rectangular thin plate which is housed vertically in a rack-shaped optical wiring rack 24 partitioned in multiple stages by partition plates 23 in a vertically placed state. The module main body 21 is a case made of a lightweight material such as plastic, and is sandwiched between the flanges 22 projecting from the partition plate 23 in an array state so as to be supported vertically. ing. As shown in FIG. 2, an optical connector 26 (optical receptacle or optical connector) to which an optical fiber 25 (single-core optical cord) from the outside is connected to the upper part of the front part (left side in FIG. 2) of the module main body 21. (Having the function of an adapter) is mounted in a protruding state.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, this optical connector 2
Reference numeral 6 denotes a structure in which eight receiving ports containing built-in positioning ring sleeves are continuously arranged.
An SC type optical connector plug 27 terminating 5 is inserted from the outside so that it can be inserted and removed. Optical connector 2
A total of eight terminals 28 are attached to the inner surface of the module body 21 of No. 6 corresponding to the receiving ports.
A ferrule 30 that terminates a single-core optical fiber 29 (optical fiber single-core wire) in the module main body 21 is insertably inserted into this. Therefore, the optical connector 26 internally connects the optical fiber 25 inside the station inserted from the outside of the module body 21 and the optical fiber 29 inserted from the inside, and the optical fiber 2 inside the station 2
The connection of both optical fibers 25 and 29 can be switched by replacing 5. The tip of the SC ferrule 30 is APC polished (Advanced Physical Cont
act) and has a very low reflectance.

Positioning engaging claws 32 are provided on both sides of the optical connector 26 so as to engage with the terminal plates 31 installed on each stage of the optical wiring rack 24 when the module body 21 is inserted into the optical wiring rack 24. It is projected. The optical connector 26 and the positioning engagement claw 32 are adapted to engage with the terminal plate 31 by being inserted into the holes 33 opened in the terminal plate 31. In addition, the positioning engagement claw 32 is manually attached to the terminal board 3.
The engagement with 1 can be released.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inside of the module main body 21 is substantially divided into two by a partition wall 34 in the front and rear (left and right in FIG. 2).
It is divided. An area on the front side of the partition wall 34 is a coupler housing portion 36 for housing the optical coupler 35, and inside thereof, a coupler fixing portion 37 to which the optical coupler 35 is adhesively fixed.
And a circular radius maintaining portion 38 that maintains the radius of curvature of the extra length of the optical fiber 29. The optical coupler 35 is
8 single-core optical fibers 29 to 32 optical fibers (8
It is a wavelength-independent quartz substrate waveguide type star coupler that branches into four core optical fiber tape core wires 39, and is housed in the module main body 21 in a state where the optical fibers 29 and 39 are connected. . The optical fiber 29 is coded by a reinforcing tube. Also, the coupler fixing unit 3
In addition to bonding, 7 may have a structure in which the optical coupler 35 is clamped and supported by a clamp claw. Partition wall 34
The radius maintaining portion 38 is a flange projecting from the module main body 21 to the inner surface side, and each of the optical fiber 2 and
By arranging the optical fibers 9 and 39 along each other, the radius of curvature of the optical fibers 29 and 39 can be maintained above the specified value. It should be noted that optical components other than the optical coupler 35 can be accommodated in the coupler accommodating portion 36.

The optical fiber 39 drawn out from the optical coupler 35 is introduced into a surplus length storage section 41 at the rear of the partition wall 34 through a gap 40 opened in the partition wall 34,
In the extra length storage section 41, the optical fiber 43 (8) on the subscriber side, which is drawn from the drawing-in opening 42 at the rear end of the module body 21.
Optical fiber tape core wire) is connected. Extra length storage 4
A plurality of flange-shaped curved walls 45 for accommodating the extra connection length 44 of the optical fiber 39 wound with a curvature radius larger than a prescribed value are provided upright in the central portion of 1. These curved walls 45
Form a small-diameter storage portion 41a that stores the extra connection length 44 so as to be sandwiched between the two concentric circles. A sufficient extra length storage space is secured outside the curved wall 45 in the extra length storage portion 41, and this portion has a connection extra length 44 of the optical fibers 39 and 43 wound with a larger bending radius. , 46 functioning as a large-diameter storage portion 41b.

As shown in FIG. 15, the optical fiber 43 on the subscriber side is drawn out from an optical cable 47 drawn into the optical wiring rack 24, and an optical fiber receiving trough 48 provided at each stage of the optical wiring rack 24. It is drawn into the target optical branching module 20 via. A rubber-made retractor 49 as shown in FIG. 3 is engaged with the pull-in port 42 of the optical branching module 20, and the optical fiber 43 is sandwiched by the slit 50 formed in the retractor 49. By giving the pulling resistance to the pulling force, the influence of the pulling force is prevented from acting on the optical fiber or the optical component in the optical branching module 20. Further, an engaging claw 52 is projectingly provided at the tip of the insertion part 51 which is inserted into the drawing port 42 of the retractor 49, and the inserting part 51 is pushed into the drawing port 42 from the outside so that the engaging claw 52 is a module. Only by engaging with the outer wall 53 of the main body 21, the pulling out of the pulling tool 49 from the pull-in port 42 is restricted.

When the optical fiber 43 is coded with a reinforcing tube, a retractor 54 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is used.
To use. The pulling tool 54 is formed of a material having an appropriate elasticity, such as rubber, in the shape of an elongated spindle, and is pushed into the pull-in port 42 from the outside so that the engaging recessed portion 55 formed in the central portion is inserted into the pull-in port 42. It is fixed by engaging with the outer wall 53 of the module main body 21 which faces. In addition, since the drawing-in port 42 has a rectangular cross-section and the detention tools 49 and 54 also have a rectangular cross-sectional shape corresponding to the drawing-in port 42, if the detention tools 49 and 54 are engaged with the drawing-in port 42, Ingredient 4
9 and 54 do not rotate in the direction around the axis of the optical fiber 43, and the rotation around the axis of the optical fiber 43 itself is restricted.

As shown in FIG. 6, the module main body 21 has a removable lid 56. In this lid 56, engaging protrusions 57 projecting from a plurality of positions on the surface facing the inside of the module body 21 are press-fitted into engagement holes 58 formed in the module body 21 so that they can be inserted and removed. Be attached to.

A work window 59 is opened in a portion of the lid 56 corresponding to the extra length storage portion 41, and an optical connection portion (fusion connection portion) 60 between the optical fibers 39 and 43 is attached and detached. A connecting portion holder 61 that freely clamps and supports, and a pressing piece 62 that presses the optical fibers 39 and 43 laid in the extra length storing portion 41 between the module main body 21 and the working window 59 project from the inside. Has been done. The connection portion holder 61 is arranged at a position displaced from the lid 56 toward the module main body 21 side. However, as shown in FIG.
When the optical fibers 39 and 43 are actually wired in the gap between the face plate 63 and the face plate 63, the gaps between the optical fibers 39 and 43 can be arranged. Performs a similar function. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the connection portion holder 61 has a plurality of clamp claws 64 that clamp and support the optical connection portion 60, and the attachment / detachment work of the optical connection portion 60 is performed from the side opposite to the module body 21. It is supposed to be.

In the portion of the lid 56 corresponding to the inlet 42,
A communication slit 65 through which the optical fiber 43 can pass is opened. The communication slit 65 communicates with the inside and outside of the work window 59, and allows the optical fiber 43 to move into and out of the extra length storage portion 41 even when the lid 56 is attached to the module body 21.

6 and 8, reference numeral 66 is a work window 59.
The cover is attached to the work window 59, and is attached and detached by engaging and disengaging a plurality of locking claws 67 that are provided around the work window 59. A work hole 66a into which a finger can be inserted is opened in the central portion of the cover 66. The cover 66 is preferably formed of a transparent resin, and by doing so, it can be used for confirming the wiring state of the optical fibers 39 and 43 in the extra length storage portion 41.

The operation and effect of the optical branching module 20 will be described below. The optical branching module 2 in which the connection between the optical fibers 39 and 43 and the storage in the optical wiring rack 24 are completed.
When the optical fiber 25 inside the station is connected to the optical connector 26, 0 disperses a total of eight optical lines inside the station into 32 optical lines on the subscriber side through the optical coupler 35. Further, since the entire rear portion of the module main body 21 is the extra length storage portion 41, the extra connection lengths 44 and 46 of the optical fibers 39 and 43 can be efficiently stored, as compared with the conventional optical branching module. It is possible to increase the number of cores and increase the mounting density on the optical wiring rack 24 due to the miniaturization.

Since the optical branching module 20 has the working window 59 in the lid 56, only the cover 66 is removed to perform the working window 59 when the optical fibers 39 and 43 are connected or the connection is switched. If you put your hand from the optical fiber 39, 4 in the extra length storage 41 without removing the lid 56
3 and the optical connection part 60 can be handled, and workability is improved. Moreover, the extra length storage portion 41 is provided through the communication slit 65.
Since the optical fiber 43 can be moved in and out of the optical fiber, the workability is particularly improved in the work including taking out the optical fibers 39 and 43 from the extra length storage portion 41 and storing the optical fibers 39 and 43 from the outside into the extra length storage portion 41. . Further, since the extra length storage section 41 is separated from the coupler storage section 36 by the partition wall 34, there is no concern that the optical coupler 35 or the optical fiber 29 will come into contact during the work in the extra length storage section 41, and the work can be performed. It can be done efficiently.

Next, a working jig 68 used when performing work such as wiring in the optical branching module 20 will be described with reference to FIGS.
2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the working jig 68 functions as a support stand for the optical branching module 20 by being hooked on the optical fiber receiving trough 48, and supports the horizontally arranged optical branching module 20 substantially horizontally. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the working jig 68 includes a flat plate-shaped mounting table 69 and support claws 70 extending in three plane directions.
And attaching / detaching means 71, 72 projecting in a direction in which these supporting claws 70 are not provided. The attaching / detaching means comprises a hook portion 71 and a tilt angle adjusting piece 72. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the hook portion 71 and the tilt angle adjusting piece 72 are provided.
By sandwiching the edge portion 73 of the optical fiber receiving gutter 48 between and, the working jig 68 can be attached to a desired position of the optical wiring rack 24. Further, on the mounting table 69, the optical branching module 20 is placed in a region surrounded by the hook portion 71 and the support claw 70, and the support claw 70 is stably supported by engaging the support claw 70 with the outer peripheral portion of the module body 21. As shown in FIG. 12, the inclination angle adjusting piece 72
May be tilted with respect to the mounting table 69. By doing so, the work surface is tilted when hooked on the optical fiber receiving trough 48, and workability from the outside of the optical wiring rack 24 is improved.

On the working jig 68, the length direction of the optical branching module 20 is made parallel to the optical fiber receiving gutter 48, and the optical fiber 4 taken out from the optical fiber receiving gutter 48 is arranged.
It should be possible to draw the wire 3 into the draw-in port 42 without being bent sharply or making a large detour. Moreover, the hook portion 71 and the support claw 70 closest to the hook portion 71.
Since the optical fiber 43 is separated from the optical fiber receiving module 48, the optical fiber 43 can be inserted through the optical fiber 43 drawn into the drawing-in port 42 of the supported optical branch module 20. It is not necessary to give unnecessary curvature to the optical fiber 43 laid in between. Further, the attachment position of the working jig 68 is not limited to the edge portion 73 of the optical fiber receiving trough 48, and if there is a member that can be clamped between the hook portion 71 and the inclination angle adjusting piece 72, the edge portion may be provided. Like the case of No. 73, it can be easily attached and detached.

FIG. 13 shows a cord holder 74 for holding the coded optical fiber 43. In FIG. 13, the code holder 74 is coded with an engaging portion 75 that is hooked on the edge portion 73 of the optical fiber receiving trough 48, and a holding portion 76 that holds the optical fiber receiving trough 48 between the engaging portion 75. The optical fiber 43 is provided with an optical fiber support portion 77 that detachably supports the optical fiber 43, and is entirely formed of an elastic body such as rubber. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 14, the cord holder 74 is used by hooking it on the edge portion 73 of the optical fiber receiving gutter 48. For example, the optical fiber receiving gutter 4 is used.
The optical fiber cord taken out from 8 is clamped and supported. In addition, the cord holder 74 includes an optical fiber support portion 77.
By changing the structure of the uncoded optical fiber 4
It goes without saying that it can also be applied to the support of 3. Also,
The cord holder 74 can also be integrally provided on the side of the working jig 68.

The operation and effect of the working jig 68 of this embodiment will be described below. Since the working jig 68 can be easily attached to and detached from the optical fiber receiving trough 48, it can be easily installed at a position corresponding to the optical branching module 20 to be worked. As a result, in the optical wiring rack 24, it is possible to improve workability such as connection between the optical fibers 39 and 43 related to the optical branching module 20 and connection switching between them, corresponding to all the optical branching modules 20. Moreover, the working jig 68 supports the optical branching module 20 in the direction along the optical fiber receiving trough 48, and the inlet 42 of the optical branching module 20 can always be located near the optical fiber receiving trough 48. Fiber optic receiving gutter 4
The length of wiring of the optical fiber 43 between the optical fiber 8 and the inlet 42 is shortened, and it is not necessary to draw the optical fiber 43 around the optical branch module 20 supported by the action of the optical fiber wiring portion 68a. The optical fiber 43 can be prevented from interfering with the work related to the branch module 20, and the optical transmission performance of the optical fiber 43 can be stably maintained. Further, if the cord holder 74 is used, the optical fiber 4 which is laid between the optical fiber receiving trough 48 and the inlet 42 is provided.
The optical branching module 20 supported by the working jig 68 can be prevented from hanging down in the middle or from jumping out of the optical wiring rack 24 and hindering the work.
Can be performed more efficiently.

An embodiment in which the optical wiring method of the present invention is applied to the optical branch module 20 will be described below. Regarding the wiring inside the optical branching module 20, the wiring on the side of the optical coupler 35 is carried out in advance, and after being housed in the optical wiring rack 24 once, it is drawn into the optical wiring rack 24 and the optical fiber 43 on the subscriber side is drawn.
Is fusion-spliced with the optical fiber 39 on the optical coupler 35 side, and the connection extra lengths 44 and 46 of both optical fibers 43 and 39 are stored in the extra length storage portion 41 in a curved manner. The wiring on the side of the optical coupler 35 to be carried out in advance is made by housing the optical coupler 35 and the optical fibers 29 and 39 connected to the optical coupler 35 in the optical branching module 20. At this time, the optical fiber 39
The extra connection length 44 previously secured in the
It is wound and stored in the small diameter storage portion 41a therein. By doing so, the connection extra length 44 is maintained in a tightly wound state against its own rigidity, and the wound state cannot be released even when the optical branching module 20 is transported or moved. Therefore, the optical transmission performance is improved. Can be kept stable.

Then, the optical branching module 20 is pulled out to the outside of the optical wiring rack 24, placed on a working jig 68 installed near the pulling position as shown in FIG. The extra connection length 44 of the fiber 39 is taken out. Then, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 15,
In the fusion splicer 78 carried into the optical wiring rack 24,
The optical fiber 43 and the optical fiber 39 taken out from the optical fiber receiving trough 48 are fusion-spliced together,
The optical connection unit 60 and the connection extra lengths 44 and 46 of No. 3 are stored in the extra length storage unit 41.

The fusion splicer 78 can be easily installed in the vicinity (downward) of the work jig 68 by the fusion splicer support base 79 attached to the optical wiring rack 24. This allows
Since the separation distance between the optical branching module 20 and the fusion splicer 78 at the time of fusion work is reduced, the connection extra length 44 of the optical fiber 39 on the optical coupler 35 side and the drawing length of the subscriber side optical fiber 43 are shortened. Therefore, the amount of extra connection lengths 44 and 46 accommodated in the optical branching module 20 after the fusing work can be reduced. Therefore, the optical branch module 2
It is possible to reduce the size to 0 and increase the number of cores, and it is possible to increase the storage density of optical fibers and optical components.

Further, during the fusion work, it is not necessary to take out the total extra length 44 of the optical fiber 39 on the optical coupler 35 side, and the winding portion is pulled out by the length necessary for the work and the small diameter storage portion 4 is used.
1a, after the fusion work is completed, the winding diameter of the winding portion is expanded, and the connection length 46 of the optical fiber 43 on the subscriber side wound with the same winding diameter is stored in the excess length storage portion 41. To store. At this time, the extra connection lengths 44 and 46 are housed so that the winding diameter is made larger than the arrangement circumference on the outside of the curved wall 45 and fitted into the outside of the curved wall 45. By doing so, the extra connection lengths 44 and 46 further expand the winding diameter by their own rigidity, and the outer wall 53 and the partition wall 3 of the module main body 21.
It is stored in a curved shape along the line 4. The extra connection lengths 44 and 46, which are obtained by expanding the winding diameter, are used for the connection portion holder 61 and the pressing piece 6.
2 underneath, and the face plate 63 of the optical branching module 20.
It is held between and. Further, when expanding the winding portion remaining in the small-diameter storage portion 44a of the extra connection length 44 on the optical coupler 35 side, the extension length extracted for the fusion work of the extra connection length 44 is absorbed. The extra length 44 can be easily stored without rewinding.

If the optical fiber 43 is passed through the communication slit 65, the optical fiber 43 can be easily stored in the extra length storing portion 41 without removing the lid 56, so that the workability is improved. The communication slit 65 can also be used when the optical fibers 39 and 43 are taken out from the extra length storage section 41 or stored again,
Workability is improved. The curved wall 45 has a connection extra length 44,
It can be used to wind 46 into a wound state, and it becomes easy to store the extra connection lengths 44 and 46 without twisting.

When the optical connecting portion 60 and the extra connection lengths 44 and 46 have been stored in the extra length storage portion 41, the retractor 49 is inserted into the pull-in port 42, and the cover 66 is reattached to the working window 59 to remove the light. The branch module 20 is stored in the optical wiring rack 24. Hereinafter, while moving the working jig 68 and the fusion splicer 78, the optical branch modules 20 can be sequentially worked to complete all the optical wirings in the optical wiring rack 24.

The operation and effect of the optical wiring method of this embodiment will be described below. According to this optical wiring method, after the optical coupler 35 and the optical fibers 29 and 39 on the optical coupler 35 side are stored in the extra length storage portion 41, the optical branching module 20 is stored in the optical wiring rack 24. By
On the other hand, it is not necessary to separately perform the wiring work of the optical fibers 29 and 39 on the optical coupler 35 side in the optical wiring rack 24, but the wiring work to the inside of the optical branching module 20 should be efficiently performed in a place where a sufficient working space can be secured. Therefore, the wiring work efficiency is significantly improved.

Further, since the extra connection length 44 secured in the optical fiber 39 on the optical coupler 35 side is wound and sandwiched in the small-diameter storage section 41a, the optical fiber 39 cannot be removed unless it is taken out from the extra length storage section 41. It is possible to maintain the radius of curvature above a prescribed value and reliably maintain the optical transmission performance. Moreover, at the time of connection work, since the connection extra length 44 of the optical fiber 39 is pulled out from the extra length storage part 41 by the required length, the remaining part of the connection extra length 44 is maintained in the wound state and the extra length storage part 41 is maintained. Since it does not jump out of the outside, it does not disturb the work and improves the workability of the connection. In addition, increasing the winding diameter of the remaining connection extra length 44 after completion of the connection work is
Since the pull-out length of the extra connection length 44 is automatically absorbed, it is not necessary to separately store the bent portion of the extra connection length 44 to store it in a curved manner. Since there is no concern about entanglement, extra connection length 44
The work efficiency of storage of is improved.

Further, if the optical fiber 39 on the side of the optical coupler 35, which is stored in advance in the small-diameter storage section 41a, is put into a wound state without twisting, the optical fibers 39 and 43 on the side of the subscriber are connected. Only by paying attention to the number of turns of the optical fiber 43, it is possible to store the connection extra lengths 44 and 46 after connection in the extra length storage portion 41 without twisting. Moreover, since the connection extra length 46 of the optical fiber 43 is stored in the curved shape, the rotation of the optical fiber 43 about the axis is restricted by fitting the retractor 49 into the pull-in port 42, so that the excess length can be stored even after the curved storage is completed. Extra connection length 44 in the portion 41,
46 is prevented from being twisted, and the optical fibers 39, 4
The optical transmission performance of No. 3 can be stably maintained over a long period of time.

It is also possible to connect the optical fibers 39 and 43 to each other by a connector. In this case, a connection portion holder for gripping and fixing the optical connector is provided in the extra length storage portion 41. Further, the optical wiring method of the present invention can be applied to various optical wiring racks provided in, for example, a closure or an optical wiring board.

[0042]

As described above, according to the optical branching module of the first aspect, the extra connection length of the optical fiber in the optical branching module is stored in the extra length storage part with a small diameter storage part and a large diameter storage part. Since it is always stored by bending it with a bending radius larger than the specified radius by using the section, (1) it is possible to store the extra connection length stably regardless of its length. It is possible to stably store not only the extra fiber length but also the extra length of the optical fiber before the connection. Further, since the coupler housing and the extra length housing are partitioned by the partition wall, it is possible to prevent the influence of work in the extra length housing from affecting optical parts such as optical fibers and optical couplers in the coupler housing. Therefore, it is possible to improve the workability of various works in the extra length storage portion.

According to the optical branching module of the present invention ,
In the extra length storage part, the extra connection length can be stored without interfering with the connection part holder, and the storage amount of the extra connection length can be increased to improve the storage density and the number of corresponding cores of the optical branching module. It has an excellent effect.

According to the optical wiring method of the present invention, the radius of curvature of the optical fiber previously housed in the module body is kept above the specified value by the small-diameter housing portion before the connecting work, and the optical branching module is installed in the carrying process or the like. Even when the optical fiber is moved, the optical transmission performance of the optical fiber previously stored can be stably maintained. In addition, when connecting optical fibers to each other, pull out the extra connection length previously stored in the small-diameter storage part for the length necessary for the work, and connect it with the optical fiber that has been drawn into the optical wiring rack. Since the winding diameter of the extra connection length left in the small-diameter storage part is expanded and the pull-out length is absorbed,
It is not necessary to rewind the extra connection length, and an excellent effect is achieved that the storage work can be efficiently performed without causing entanglement in the optical fiber.

[0045] According to a working jig according to the present invention, a mounting table light branching module is placed horizontally, detachably to the optical wiring rack for accommodating a slack storage section of the mounting base An attaching / detaching means for attaching and a plurality of supporting claws that are in contact with the outer peripheral portion of the optical branching module mounted on the mounting table and support the optical branching module at a fixed position on the mounting table are provided. Therefore, by using the attaching / detaching means, the optical branching module is installed in a place where a working space can be secured in correspondence with the storage position of the optical branching module for work in the optical wiring rack, and Improve workability of work such as connection. Moreover, since it can be easily attached to and detached from the structure by the attaching / detaching means and is easy to move, it is possible to correspond to all the optical branching modules stored in the optical wiring rack by moving the installation position. The work time for wiring in the rack can be shortened.

Further, an optical fiber wiring portion for wiring the optical fiber is opened at a portion corresponding to the optical fiber inlet of the supported optical branching module, and the optical fiber pulled into the optical fiber inlet is provided with the optical fiber cloth. By inserting the optical fiber into the wire portion, it is not necessary to draw the optical fiber around the work jig or the optical branching module. As a result, the optical fiber is prevented from interfering with the work on the work jig, the workability is improved, and the unnecessary bending of the optical fiber due to the drawing is eliminated, so that the optical fiber during the work can be prevented. It is easy to maintain the radius of curvature of, and the workability can be further improved, which is an excellent effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an optical branching module of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the optical branching module of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a retractor used in the optical branching module of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a retractor corresponding to an optical cord.

5 is a front view showing an optical branching module using the retractor of FIG.

6 is an exploded perspective view showing the optical branching module of FIG. 1. FIG.

7 is a side sectional view showing the vicinity of a working window of the optical branching module of FIG.

8 is an enlarged perspective view of an essential part showing an extra length storage part of the optical branching module of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a working jig of the present invention, and is a perspective view showing a state of being mounted on an optical wiring rack.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the operation of the work jig of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing the operation of the working jig of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing the operation of the working jig of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a cord holder.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing the operation of the cord holder of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an optical wiring method of the present invention, and is a schematic front view showing an optical wiring rack.

FIG. 16 is a side view showing a conventional FTM.

FIG. 17 is a front view showing a conventional FTM.

FIG. 18 is a front view showing an optical branching module.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 ... Optical branch module, 21 ... Module body, 24
… Optical wiring rack, 25… Optical fiber (single-core optical cord),
26 ... Optical connector, 34 ... Partition wall, 35 ... Optical coupler, 36
... coupler storage part, 41 ... extra length storage part, 41a ... small diameter storage part, 41b ... large diameter storage part, 42 ... lead-in port, 43 ... optical fiber (8-core optical fiber tape core wire), 44 ... extra connection length,
46 ... Extra connection length, 59 ... Work window, 60 ... Optical connection part (fusion connection part), 61 ... Connection part holder, 66 ... Cover, 68
Working jig, 69 mounting table, 70 supporting claws, 71 detaching means (hooking portion), 72 detaching means (tilt angle maintaining portion), 68a optical fiber wiring portion.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Tatsuhiko Matsuura 3-19-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Tetsuya Enomoto 3-19-3 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo No. 2 Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Naoki Nakao 3-19-3 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo No. 19-2 Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Masato Kuroiwa 3-chome Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo No. 19-2 Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Shigenori Goto 1-15-5 Botan, Koto-ku, Tokyo Suzuki Giken Co., Ltd. (72) Yoshio Kobayashi 1-15-15 Botan, Koto-ku, Tokyo No. 5 Suzuki Giken Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shuichi Kurihara 1-15-5 Botan, Koto-ku, Tokyo Suzuki Giken Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-3-58005 (JP, A) Kaihei 4-106505 (JP, A) JP 8-152529 (JP, A) JP 9-5532 (JP, A) JP 9-222519 (JP, A) JP 9-236708 ( JP, A) JP-A-55-155317 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 6/24 G02B 6/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An optical branch applied to an optical wiring rack (24) for branching a single-core or multi-core optical fiber (25) into a more multi-core optical fiber (43) by an optical coupler (35). A module main body (21), which is a module (20) and has a thin plate-like appearance and has a drawing port (42) for drawing an optical fiber therein.
And an optical connector (26) attached to one side of the module main body in a protruding state, and inside the module main body, a coupler storage section (36) for storing an optical coupler, and an optical fiber pair. Optical connection part (6
0) and a surplus length storage portion (41) for storing the connection surplus length (44, 46) are defined by a partition wall (34), and the surplus length storage portion is wound with a radius of curvature larger than a prescribed radius. An optical branching module comprising a small-diameter storage portion (41a) for storing an optical fiber and a large-diameter storage portion (41b) capable of storing the optical fiber in a curved radius larger than the small-diameter storage portion. . 2. A work window (59) opened and closed by a removable cover (66) at a portion of the module body corresponding to the extra length storage portion, and a position which can be exposed when the work window is opened. Is provided with a connection portion holder (61) that detachably supports the optical connection portion, and the connection portion holder is installed in the module body in the extra length storage portion .
And a face plate (6 facing the work window).
3) Create a gap between the optical fiber and
Are arranged in that position, said cover in said working window
2. The optical branching module according to claim 1 , wherein an extra connection length can be stored on a side facing the cover attachment position , which is the position of the cover when attached , via the connection portion holder. . 3. Corresponding to the extra length storage portion of the module body.
The work window (59) formed on the part is attached to the work window.
It comes to be opened and closed by the removable cover (66)
And the extra length storage part can be exposed when the work window is opened.
An optical wiring method using the optical branching module according to claim 1 or 2, which is configured to have a small diameter by winding a connection extra length secured in advance in an optical fiber inside the module body in a wound state. the optical branch module which is housed in the housing portion and carried into the optical wiring rack inside or near to expose the small diameter housing portion and the large-diameter housing portion, retracted into the optical fiber and the optical wiring in the rack is taken out from the small-diameter housing portion An optical wiring characterized by connecting another optical fiber, storing the connection extra length of both connected optical fibers in a large-diameter storage part, and then storing the optical branching module at a desired position in an optical wiring rack. Method. 4. A working jig (68) used when performing work in the optical branching module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mounting table (69) is mounted horizontally. )
When a wear optical wiring rack for accommodating a slack storage section of the mounting base <br/> detachably mounting for the detachable means (71, 72),
A plurality of supporting claws (70) that are in contact with the outer peripheral portion of the optical branching module mounted on the mounting table and support the optical branching module in a fixed position on the mounting table, An optical fiber wiring portion (68a) for wiring an optical fiber is opened in a portion corresponding to the optical fiber inlet of (1).