JP4100505B2 - Optical fiber connection switching device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical fiber connection switching device that automatically connects and disconnects optical fibers in an optical fiber network or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional example of an optical fiber connection switching device will be described below.
In general, an optical fiber connection switching device has a function of connecting or disconnecting an arbitrary primary side optical fiber and an arbitrary secondary side optical fiber to a plurality of primary side and secondary side optical fiber groups. is there.
For example, an optical fiber connection switching device that automates connection switching using a robot hand has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
The configuration of a conventional optical fiber connection switching device is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, the connection board 6 and the alignment board 7 are arranged to face each other, and a moving mechanism 11 that moves the robot hand mechanism 9 to a desired position of the connection board 6 and the alignment board 7 is provided.
[0004]
The connection board 6 is provided with a plurality of optical adapters 5 for optically connecting the secondary side optical connector plug 4 of the secondary side optical fiber cord 3 and the primary side optical connector plug 2 of the primary side optical fiber cord 1.
The aligning board 7 is provided with a plurality of aligning holes for aligning and holding the secondary side optical connector plug 4 of the secondary side optical fiber cord 3.
[0005]
The robot hand mechanism 9 grips the secondary side optical connector plug 4 and pulls out the secondary side optical fiber cord 3, and connects / disconnects the secondary side optical connector plug 4 to / from the optical adapter 5. .
Further, on the rear side of the alignment board 7, a winding mechanism 10 having a roller for winding the secondary side optical fiber cord 3 from which the secondary side optical connector plug 4 has been removed from the optical adapter 5, and the secondary side wound up A surplus length storage portion 8 for storing the optical fiber cord 3 is provided.
[0006]
An optical fiber cord connection switching process by a conventional optical fiber connection switching device will be described.
First, the secondary optical connector plug 4 is disconnected from the connection panel 6 by the robot hand mechanism 9, and the secondary optical fiber cord 3 from which the secondary optical connector plug 4 is disconnected is provided in the winding mechanism 10. The secondary optical connector plug 4 is aligned and held on the alignment board 7 as shown in FIG.
[0007]
Next, the secondary side optical connector plug 4 of the secondary side optical fiber cord 3 is pulled out from the alignment board 7 again by the robot hand mechanism 9 and is connected again to an arbitrary optical adapter 5 on the connection board 6.
The connection switching of the secondary side optical fiber cord 3 is performed by this series of operations.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-7-318820 [0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When connecting and fitting the primary side optical connector plug 2 and the secondary side optical connector plug 4 via the connection panel 6 by the optical fiber connection switching device, the direction of the secondary side optical connector plug 4 is aligned, It is necessary to use a special connector plug that can be connected and fitted to the primary optical connector plug 2 in any orientation as the secondary optical connector plug 4.
[0010]
However, the direction in which SC connector plugs and MU connector plugs already in the market are fitted is determined, and preparing a special connector plug for the optical fiber connection switching device is expensive.
In addition, in order to improve the return loss at the connector connection point, an oblique polishing (APC polishing) connector is used, but this connector has a predetermined fitting direction, and the connector plug of the optical fiber connection switching device. There was a problem that could not be used.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide means for aligning the orientation of the secondary side optical connector plug in a certain direction using the secondary side optical fiber cord and the alignment board. .
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An optical fiber connection switching device according to claim 1 of the present invention that achieves such an object includes a primary side optical connector plug attached to the tip of a primary side optical fiber cord and a secondary attached to the tip of a secondary side optical fiber cord. accommodating a connection board for optically connecting the side optical connector plugs through the optical adapter, and the optical fiber cord sorting board for holding in alignment of the secondary-side optical connector plug, the extra length of the secondary-side optical fiber cord in the optical fiber connection switching apparatus and a slack storage unit, the secondary-side optical fiber cord of the outer shape is rotationally asymmetrical shape, before Symbol secondary side optical connector plug is the a tip of the secondary-side optical fiber cord and the axial circumferential position is mounted so as to be constant position relative to the secondary-side optical fiber cord of the outer shape, slidably held to the secondary-side optical fiber cord of the sorting board Alignment holes, the so said same rotation asymmetric shape der and the secondary side optical fiber cord is, the axial circumferential positions of the secondary-side optical connector plug to be accommodated in the alignment plate has a desired position axial circumferential positions of the alignment holes is characterized that you have been set.
[0013]
The optical fiber connection switching device according to claim 2 of the present invention that achieves the above object is the optical fiber connection switching device according to claim 1, wherein the rotationally asymmetric shape is an isosceles triangle shape. And
[0014]
An optical fiber connection switching device according to a third aspect of the present invention that achieves the above object is the optical fiber connection switching device according to the first aspect, wherein the rotationally asymmetric shape is formed by partially overlapping two large and small circles. It is characterized by a combined shape.
[0015]
[Action]
According to the present invention, the direction of the secondary side optical connector plug can be aligned in a certain direction using the optical fiber cord and the alignment board.
Then, the SC connector plug and the MU connector plug, which are general-purpose products, can be used for the optical fiber connection switching device, and the cost can be reduced.
Furthermore, it is possible to use a connector plug of oblique polishing (APC polishing), and it is possible to improve the return loss at the connector connection point.
In addition, there is no mistake in the direction in which the cords are stored in the alignment board when the apparatus is manufactured.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[Example 1]
A first embodiment according to the present invention is shown in FIGS.
The outer shape of the secondary side optical fiber cord 12 according to the present embodiment is an isosceles triangle as shown in FIG.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 2, the alignment board 13 has a plurality of isosceles triangular alignment holes 14 for accommodating the secondary optical fiber cord 12, and is covered with a lid 15. .
Other configurations are the same as those of the prior art shown in FIG.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, when the secondary side optical fiber cord 12 is pulled in the direction of the arrow, the secondary side optical connector plug 16 is always stored in the alignment board 13 in a fixed direction.
[0018]
Thereafter, the secondary optical connector plug 16 is held by the robot arm and connected to the primary optical connector plug in a fixed direction.
Further, in this embodiment, since the direction in which the secondary side optical fiber cord 12 can be stored in the alignment board 13 is determined, the direction in which the code is stored in the alignment board is not mistaken when the apparatus is manufactured.
[0019]
[Example 2]
A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the outer shape of the secondary side optical fiber cord 17 according to the present embodiment is a shape in which a cord 19 for determining the orientation is connected to a normal circular optical fiber cord 18 in a vertical manner, that is, 2 The shape is a partial overlap of two large and small circles.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 5, the alignment board 20 according to the present embodiment has a shape in which two large and small circles for accommodating the secondary side optical fiber cord 17 are partially overlapped, that is, a so-called daruma-shaped cross section. A plurality of alignment holes 21 are cut, and a lid 22 is provided from above.
Other configurations are the same as those of the prior art shown in FIG.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 6, when the secondary side optical fiber cord 17 is pulled in the direction of the arrow, the secondary side optical connector plug 23 is always housed in the alignment board 20 in a fixed direction.
Thereafter, the secondary side optical connector plug 23 is gripped by the robot arm and connected to the primary side optical connector plug in a fixed direction.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 7, the cord 19 for determining the orientation can be easily cut off, and the boot 24 of the secondary side optical connector plug 23 is for a normal circular optical fiber cord. Can be used.
In the present embodiment, since the direction in which the secondary side optical fiber cord 17 can be stored in the alignment board 20 is determined, there is no mistake in the direction in which the code is stored in the alignment board at the time of manufacturing the apparatus.
[0023]
As described above, according to the present invention, in the operation of switching the optical fiber connection, the outer shape of the secondary side optical fiber cord is a rotationally asymmetric shape such as an isosceles triangle or a daruma shape. Optical fiber connection switching characterized in that the side optical connector plug is fitted in the same orientation and the alignment hole of the alignment board has a rotationally asymmetric cross-sectional shape similar to that of the secondary optical fiber cord. Thus, the direction in which the secondary side optical connector plug is fitted can be aligned in a certain direction, and the automation and mechanization of the optical fiber connection switching operation can be easily realized.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail based on the embodiments, according to the present invention, the direction of the secondary optical connector plug can be aligned in a certain direction by using the optical fiber cord and the alignment board.
Then, the SC connector plug and the MU connector plug, which are general-purpose products, can be used for the optical fiber connection switching device, and the cost can be reduced.
Furthermore, it is possible to use a connector plug of oblique polishing (APC polishing), and it is possible to improve the return loss at the connector connection point.
In addition, there is no mistake in the direction in which the cords are stored in the alignment board when the apparatus is manufactured.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a secondary side optical fiber cord in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alignment board in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an alignment board in which secondary-side optical connector plugs are housed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a secondary side optical fiber cord in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alignment board in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an alignment board in which secondary side optical connector plugs are housed in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a side view of a secondary side optical connector plug and a secondary side optical fiber cord in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
8A and 8B are related to a conventional optical fiber connection switching device, in which FIG. 8A is a plan view and FIG. 8B is a side view thereof.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alignment board of a conventional optical fiber connection switching device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Primary side optical fiber cord 2 Primary side optical connector plug 3 Secondary side optical fiber cord 4 Secondary side optical connector plug 5 Optical adapter 6 Connection board 7 Alignment board 8 Extra length storage part 9 Robot hand mechanism 10 Winding mechanism 11 Movement mechanism 12 Secondary side optical fiber cord 13 Alignment board 14 Alignment hole 15 such as an isosceles triangle etc. Lid 16 Secondary side optical connector plug 17 Secondary side optical fiber cord 18 Normal circular optical fiber cord 19 Code 20 for determining the direction Alignment board 21 Alignment hole 22 with Daruma-shaped cross section Lid 23 Secondary side optical connector plug 24 Boot

Claims (3)

A connection board for optically connecting the primary side optical connector plug attached to the tip of the primary side optical fiber cord and the secondary side optical connector plug attached to the tip of the secondary side optical fiber cord via the optical adapter, and the secondary side an optical fiber cord sorting board to hold in alignment an optical connector plug, the optical fiber connection switching apparatus and a slack storage portion for accommodating the extra length of the secondary-side optical fiber cord,
The outer shape of the secondary side optical fiber cord is a rotationally asymmetric shape ,
Before SL secondary side optical connector plug is mounted such that the axis circumferential position relative to the outer shape of the secondary-side optical fiber cord to the tip of the secondary-side optical fiber cord is constant in position,
The array board of the secondary-side optical fiber cord alignment hole for slidably holding, the Ri same rotationally asymmetric shape der and the secondary side optical fiber cord, the secondary-side light received in the sorting board optical fiber connection switching apparatus according to claim Rukoto axial circumferential position of the connector plug is configured with axial circumferential positions of the alignment holes to a desired position. The optical fiber connection switching device according to claim 1, wherein the rotationally asymmetric shape is an isosceles triangle shape. 2. The optical fiber connection switching device according to claim 1, wherein the rotationally asymmetric shape is a shape obtained by partially overlapping two large and small circles.

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