JP3406857B2 - Cleaning jig for optical connector plug - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector plug cleaning jig used for cleaning the end face of an optical fiber before connecting the optical connector plug.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various optical connectors have been used to connect optical fibers. Since the optical fiber is very fragile, its outer circumference is protected by the ferrule. The connection between the optical connectors is made by butting the ferrules together. If the end surface of the ferrule (end surface of the optical fiber) is dirty at the time of connection, the optical performance deteriorates. Therefore, it is essential to clean the end surface of the ferrule prior to connection. Under such a background, a conventional optical connector cleaning instrument has been invented (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-171706).
No.). This conventional optical connector cleaning instrument is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

The optical connector cleaning instrument shown in FIG. 12 comprises a tape-shaped cleaning cloth 62 wound around a reel 61, and an elastic member 63 which receives a force by which the ferrule 71 of the optical connector 7 presses the cleaning cloth 62. The optical connector cleaning instrument 6 shown in FIG. 13 has a structure shown in FIG. 7 to which a holder 64 for holding the optical connector 7 is added.

On the other hand, for reasons such as downsizing of optical connectors,
The present applicant has proposed an optical connector plug that directly abuts optical fibers without using a ferrule (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 10-182156). This optical connector plug is shown in FIGS.

The optical connector plug 8 is connected to a mating optical connector plug (shown in the figure) of the same type through an adapter (not shown). The optical connector plug 8 includes an outer shell member 81, two tape fibers 82, and an alignment member 83.
And a biasing member 84. The outer shell member 81 has a substantially rectangular tube shape. The direction parallel to the center line direction of the outer shell member 82 is referred to as "fitting / disengaging direction d". Each tape fiber 82 is composed of a plurality of optical fibers 821 and a coating 822 that covers these optical fibers 821. At the end of the tape fiber 82, the coating 822 is peeled off,
The plurality of optical fibers 821 are exposed. The plurality of optical fibers 821 exposed at the end portions of the tape fiber 82 are inserted into the outer shell member 81, and the tips of these optical fibers 821 are inserted into the outer shell member 8.
It projects a predetermined length from the end face of No. 1 in the mating / disengaging direction.

The aligning member 83 is movable in the outer shell member 81 along the fitting / removing direction d so as to be movable between an initial position (position shown in FIG. 8) and a fitting position (position shown in FIG. 9). It is arranged. Further, a plurality of through holes 83b which are parallel to each other are formed at the tip of the alignment member 83. Each through hole 83b
A plurality of optical fibers 821 are aligned by inserting the optical fibers 821 into the optical fiber 821. Further, the alignment member 83 covers the tip of the optical fiber 821 at the initial position and exposes (projects) the tip of the optical fiber 821 at the fitting position.
Let As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the biasing member 84 is arranged between the outer shell member 81 and the aligning member 83, and always biases the aligning member 83 in the direction in which the aligning member 83 maintains the initial position. .

The optical fiber 82 of the optical connector plug 8
Since 1 is very fragile, the alignment member 83 is kept at the initial position by the urging force of the urging member 84 as described above when it is not connected to the mating optical connector plug. The front end of 821 is covered and protected by the alignment member 83. Then, when the optical connector plug 8 is fitted to the adapter in order to connect with the mating optical connector plug, the shoulder portions 83a on both sides of the alignment member 83 are pressed by the protrusions formed inside the adapter, and the alignment member 83. Resists the urging force of the urging member 84 and retreats toward the fitting position. At this time, the tip portion of the optical fiber 821 projects from the alignment member 83, and this portion is inserted into the sleeve built into the adapter, and directly abuts against the tip surface of the optical fiber of the mating optical connector plug therein.

[0008]

There is no cleaning tool for an optical connector plug of the type in which an optical fiber is directly connected without using the above-mentioned ferrule, and the cleaning tool shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is used. Is the current situation.

However, when the above-mentioned optical connector plug is cleaned using the cleaning tool shown in FIG. 12, the optical fiber 82
It was necessary to push back the aligning member 83 with the fingertip so that the tip of No. 1 slightly protrudes from the aligning member 83, which is difficult to adjust. That is, unless the tip of the optical fiber 821 projects from the alignment member 83, the optical fiber 82
No. 1 cannot be cleaned and, conversely, the optical fiber 82
When the tip end of No. 1 projects more than necessary from the alignment member 83,
The tip of the optical fiber 821 may be caught by the cleaning cloth 62 and broken. In addition, when cleaning the above-mentioned optical connector plug using the cleaning tool shown in FIG.
There was the same problem as when using the cleaning device shown in 2.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to expose the tip end portion of an optical fiber from an alignment member by an appropriate length when cleaning an optical connector plug. Cleaning the optical fiber without damaging it.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning jig for an optical connector plug, wherein an outer shell member is inserted into the outer shell member, and a front end portion of the outer shell member extends from one end surface in a fitting / removing direction. A plurality of optical fibers that are projected, and arranged in the outer member so as to be movable between an initial position and a fitting position along the fitting / removing direction, aligning the plurality of optical fibers, and An alignment member that covers the tip of the optical fiber at the initial position and exposes the tip of the optical fiber at the mating position, and is arranged in the outer shell member, and the alignment member is always at the initial position. A cleaning jig for an optical connector plug including a biasing member that biases the optical connector plug to a side, the cleaning jig for an optical connector plug for pressing the optical connector plug against a cleaning member supported by a base, Previous A holding portion that holds the outer shell member, and a regulating portion that is provided at an end portion of the holding portion on the cleaning member side and that regulates movement of the outer shell member toward the cleaning member are provided, and the tip of the optical fiber is regulated. It is characterized in that a predetermined length is projected from the lower surface of the portion in the fitting / removing direction.

When the holding portion to which the optical connector plug is fitted is pressed against the cleaning member, the aligning member retracts into the outer member against the urging force of the urging member. Is projected from the lower surface of the restriction portion by a predetermined length in the fitting / removing direction, the tip of the optical fiber is slightly exposed from the end surface of the holding portion on the cleaning member side to the cleaning member side.

A cleaning jig for an optical connector plug according to a second aspect of the present invention is the cleaning jig for an optical connector plug according to the first aspect, wherein the end of the holding portion on the cleaning member side is in surface contact with the cleaning member. It is characterized in that legs are provided.

The cleaning jig maintains a right angle to the cleaning member,
Since the optical connector plug does not fall, the tip of the optical fiber does not break.

A cleaning jig for an optical connector plug according to a third aspect of the present invention is the cleaning jig for an optical connector plug according to the first or second aspect, wherein a pressing member for pressing the outer shell member against the regulating portion holds the holding member. It is characterized by being attached to the section.

The pressing member presses the outer shell member against the restriction member, eliminating the need to manually press the outer shell member against the restriction member.

A cleaning jig for an optical connector plug according to claim 4 is the cleaning jig for an optical connector plug according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the optical fiber has a resin film or a metal film on its surface. It is characterized by being.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a usage state of a cleaning jig for an optical connector plug according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG.

A cleaning jig 1 for an optical connector plug according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 8 to 11.

This cleaning jig 1 is a cleaning jig for the optical connector plug 8 shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, and is used to press the optical connector plug 8 against the cleaning member 3 placed on the base 2. It is a thing. The cleaning jig 1 for the optical connector plug 8 includes a holding portion 11, a regulating portion 12, and a leg portion 13.

The holding portion 11 has a substantially rectangular tube shape, and holds the outer shell member 81 of the optical connector plug 8 so that it can be inserted and removed. With the optical connector plug 8 inserted in the holding portion 11, the center line of the holding portion 11 is parallel to the fitting / removing direction d of the optical connector plug 8.

The restricting portion 12 has a substantially rectangular frame shape, and is integrally provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cleaning member side end portion 11a of the holding portion 11.

The upper surface of the restriction portion 12 contacts the end surface of the outer shell member 81 of the optical connector plug 8 inserted in the holding portion 11. The lower surface of the restriction portion 12 comes into contact with the cleaning member 3 when the optical connector plug 8 inserted in the holding portion 11 is pressed against the cleaning member 3 on the base 2. The thickness (dimension in the fitting / removing direction d) b of the restriction portion 12 is slightly smaller than the length a from the upper surface of the restriction portion 12 to the end surface of the optical fiber 821. The value a-b is the amount of protrusion of the optical fiber tip portion from the end surface of the alignment member when the optical connector plug 8 is cleaned. This value is specifically ab = 0.1 mm, for example.
Is. The optical fiber 821 will not be broken if the protrusion amount is in this range.

The legs 13 have a flat plate shape and are integrally provided on both side surfaces of the cleaning member side end portion 11a of the holding portion 11. The lower surface of the leg portion 13, the lower surface of the holding portion 11, and the lower surface of the restricting portion 12 are flush with each other, and one plane formed by the respective lower surfaces makes surface contact with the cleaning member 3.

Next, a cleaning tool for an optical connector plug equipped with the above-mentioned cleaning jig will be described.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a cleaning tool for an optical connector plug provided with the cleaning jig shown in FIG.

The cleaning tool 4 for this optical connector plug is
The base 2 and the cleaning member 3 are provided.

The base 2 is a block-shaped rigid body (may be an elastic body). The base 2 is arranged in a housing (not shown).

The cleaning member 3 is a tape-shaped cloth woven with ultrafine fibers. The cleaning member 3 is a first reel (not shown).
Drawn out from the first and second guide reels 41, 4
The second reel (not shown) passes over the base 2 by means of 2
To be wound up. When the cleaning of the first optical connector plug 8 is completed, the second reel winds the cleaning member 3 for a predetermined length. As a result, the unused portion of the cleaning member 3 is set on the base 2.

The cleaning jig 1 is fixed to the housing with the upper end of the holding portion 11 protruding from the housing.
The distance in the fitting / removing direction d does not change. The cleaning member 3 is interposed between the cleaning jig 1 and the base 2, and there is almost no gap between the cleaning jig 1 and the base 2.

Next, a cleaning operation of the optical connector plug 8 using the cleaning tool 4 will be described.

First, the cleaning member 3 is wound around the second reel for a certain length, and the portion that has been soiled by the previous cleaning is removed from the base 2.
Remove from the top and set the unused part on the base 2.

Next, the optical connector plug 8 is inserted into the holding portion 11 of the cleaning jig 1. When the optical connector plug 8 is inserted, first, the end surface of the alignment member 83 of the optical connector plug 8 strikes the cleaning member 3, and then only the outer shell member 81 moves to the cleaning member 3 side, and then the outer shell member 81 is regulated. Part 1
Hit 2 At this time, the distance from the end surface of the outer shell member 81 to the end surface of the alignment member 83 is substantially equal to the thickness dimension b of the restriction portion 12. The thickness dimension b of the restriction portion 12 is slightly smaller than the distance a from the end surface of the outer shell member 81 to the end surface of the optical fiber 821.
The length is such that the tip of the optical fiber 821 projects from the end face of the. Since the protruding length of the optical fiber 821 is 0.1 mm as described above, the optical fiber 821 hardly breaks with such a protruding length.

Then, the motor is driven to move the cleaning member 3. As a result, the end surface of the optical fiber 821 is rubbed and cleaned by the cleaning member 3.

Finally, the operation of the motor is stopped and the optical connector plug 8 is pulled out from the cleaning jig 1.

According to the first embodiment, when cleaning the optical connector plug 8, the tip of the optical fiber 821 can be exposed from the alignment member 83 by an appropriate length, and the optical fiber 821 is damaged. Can be cleaned without.

Further, since the cleaning jig 1 keeps a right angle to the cleaning member 3 and the optical connector plug 8 does not fall down, the end face of the optical fiber 821 can be cleaned without breaking the tip of the optical fiber 821. .

In this embodiment, the cleaning jig 1 is fixed to the housing, and the cleaning member 3 is moved by the motor for cleaning. However, the cleaning jig 1 is not fixed to the housing, and cleaning cleaning is manually performed. Ingredient 1
You may move and clean.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state before the optical connector plug is fitted into the cleaning jig for the optical connector plug according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is the optical connector plug shown in FIG. It is a perspective view showing a state after fitting an optical connector plug into a cleaning jig for cleaning. The same parts as those of the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The cleaning jig 1 for an optical connector plug according to the second embodiment is provided with a pressing member 14 for maintaining a state in which the outer shell member 81 of the optical connector plug 8 abuts against the regulating portion 12 of the cleaning jig 1. ing.

The pressing member 14 is formed by bending an elastic material (metal plate). The pressing member 14 is the main body 1
41, a pair of pressing pieces 142 connected to one end of the main body 141, and a pair of engaging pieces 143 provided on both side edges of the main body 141.

When the pressing member 14 is attached to the cleaning jig 1 into which the optical connector plug 8 is fitted, the end surface of the outer shell member 81 is pressed against the upper surface of the regulating portion 12 by the pressing piece 142. The engagement piece 143 engages with the step portion 11 b formed on both side surfaces of the holding portion 11, and the pressing member 14 is attached to the cleaning jig 1.

According to the cleaning jig of the second embodiment,
The same effect as that of the cleaning jig of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the end face of the outer shell member 81 is pressed against the upper surface of the restriction portion 12 by the pressing member 14, and the outer shell member 8 is manually pressed.
It is not necessary to press 1 against the regulation unit 12.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state before the optical connector plug is fitted in the cleaning jig for the optical connector plug according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is an optical connector plug shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state after the optical connector plug is fitted to the cleaning jig for use in the present invention. The same parts as those of the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The third embodiment and the second embodiment are different in the shape of the pressing member 14. The pressing member 14 of the cleaning jig 1 according to the third embodiment includes a main body 141 and the main body 1
A pair of pressing pieces 142 connected to one end of the main body 41;
41 has a pair of pivotally attached pieces 144 provided on both side edges thereof.

The main body 141 and the pressing piece 142 have the same functions as the main body 141 and the pressing piece 142 of the cleaning jig 1 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The pivot piece 144 has a hole 144a. The pressing member 14 is attached to the cleaning jig 1 so that the shafts 11c formed on both side surfaces of the holding portion 11 are inserted into the holes 144a. The pressing member 14 is rotatable around the shaft 11c.

Before the optical connector plug 8 is fitted in the holding portion 11, the pressing piece 142 of the pressing member 14 is separated from the outer shell member 81, and the optical connector plug 8 is fitted in the holding portion 11. At this time, the pressing member 14 is rotated to hook the pressing piece 142 on the outer shell member 81.

According to the cleaning jig of the third embodiment,
The same effect as the cleaning jig of the second embodiment can be obtained, and the pressing member 14 can be handled easily.

The optical fibers in the first, second and third embodiments described above may be made of metal (for example, carbon, nickel, gold, silver, etc.) even if they are plastic coated fibers coated with resin. A coated metal-coated fiber may be used.

[0051]

As described above, according to the cleaning jig for the optical connector plug of the first aspect, when cleaning the optical connector plug, the tip of the optical fiber is separated from the alignment member by an appropriate length. It can be projected and can be cleaned without damaging the optical fiber.

According to the cleaning jig for the optical connector plug of the second aspect, the cleaning jig keeps a right angle to the cleaning member and the optical connector plug does not fall down. Therefore, the tip of the optical fiber is not broken. The end face of the optical fiber can be cleaned.

According to the cleaning jig for the optical connector plug of the third aspect, the outer member is pressed against the restricting portion by the pressing member, and it is not necessary to manually press the outer member against the restricting portion.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a usage state of a cleaning jig for an optical connector plug according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a cleaning tool for an optical connector plug including the cleaning jig shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state before the optical connector plug is fitted into the cleaning jig for the optical connector plug according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a perspective view showing a state after the optical connector plug is fitted to the cleaning jig for the optical connector plug shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state before the optical connector plug is fitted into the cleaning jig for the optical connector plug according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state after the optical connector plug is fitted to the optical connector plug cleaning jig shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a state before the optical connector plug is fitted.

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a state after fitting the optical connector plug.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of an optical connector plug.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a state where an optical fiber of an optical connector plug is omitted.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a cleaning tool for an optical connector plug including a ferrule.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a cleaning tool for an optical connector plug including a ferrule.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Cleaning jig for optical connector plug 11 holding part 11a Cleaning member side end 11b Step portion 11c axis 12 Regulation Department 13 legs 14 Pressing member 141 main body 142 Pressing piece 143 engagement piece 144 pivot piece 2 bases 3 cleaning members 4 Cleaning tools for optical connector plugs 41 First Guide Reel 42 Second guide reel 8 Optical connector plug 81 Outer member 82 tape fiber 821 optical fiber 822 coating 83 Alignment member 83a shoulder 84 biasing member

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Nobuo Sato 3-19-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Inside Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Mitsuo Usui 3-19-3 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo No. 2 Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (56) Reference JP-A-9-105835 (JP, A) JP-A-2-171706 (JP, A) JP-A-3-293304 (JP, A) 54-23655 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 6/36 G02B 6/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An outer shell member, and an outer shell member inserted through the outer shell member,
Inside the outer shell member, a distal end of which is movable between an initial position and a fitting position along with the plurality of optical fibers protruding from one end face of the outer shell member in the fitting / separating direction. And an alignment member that aligns the plurality of optical fibers, covers the tip of the optical fiber at the initial position, and exposes the tip of the optical fiber at the fitting position, A cleaning jig for an optical connector plug, which is disposed in an outer shell member and includes a biasing member that constantly biases the aligning member toward the initial position side, wherein the optical connector is attached to a cleaning member supported by a base. In a cleaning jig for an optical connector plug for pressing a plug, a holding portion for holding the outer shell member and a cleaning member side end portion of the holding portion are provided for moving the outer shell member to the cleaning member side. Regulation And a regulating portion for cleaning jig for an optical connector plug, characterized in that the tip of the optical fiber is protruded by a predetermined length from the lower surface of the restricting portion to the fitting and removing direction. 2. The cleaning jig for an optical connector plug according to claim 1, wherein a leg portion that comes into surface contact with the cleaning member is provided at an end portion of the holding portion on the cleaning member side. 3. The cleaning jig for an optical connector plug according to claim 1, wherein a pressing member that presses the outer shell member against the restriction portion is attached to the holding portion. 4. The optical fiber has a surface coated with a resin film or a metal film.
Cleaning jig for the optical connector plug described.