JP4159968B2 - Optical fiber connection tool - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention uses an optical fiber connector that clamps and fixes an optical fiber butt connection portion between optical fibers, which are aligned and positioned so that the optical fibers can be butt-connected to each other, sandwiched between two split structure elements by the elasticity of a spring attached to the element. The present invention relates to an optical fiber connecting tool for connecting the optical fibers together.

  7 and 8 are views showing an example of an optical fiber connector called a so-called mechanical splice. FIG. 7 is a plan view, and FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view along the longitudinal direction. This optical fiber connector 1 has a split structure elements 2 and 2 arranged with their longitudinal directions aligned with each other, and sandwiching the elements 2 and 2 from both sides to provide a clamping force between the elements 2 and 2. It is composed of a U-shaped spring 4 that holds and fixes optical fibers (optical fiber single-core wires) 3 and 3. The one and the other optical fibers 3 and 3 are aligned at the center of the elements 2 and 2 with the bare fibers 3A and 3A exposed by removing the coating of the tips of the optical fibers 3 and 3, respectively. In this state, the optical connection (butt connection) is made by matching.

The elements 2 and 2 have a structure in which a prism-shaped base-side element 5 and a prism-shaped lid-side element 6 are combined, and the lid-side element 6 is disposed opposite to the first lid-side element 6A. The second lid side element 6B and the third lid side element 6C are divided into three. The base side element 5 and the lid side elements 6B and 6C are formed with guide grooves 2a such as V grooves and U grooves extending in the longitudinal direction of the elements 2 and 2 (here, formed on the base side element 5). The optical fiber 3 is guided from the end of the guide groove 2a into the guide groove 2a and guided to the alignment groove 2c formed at the center in the longitudinal direction of the element 2, and the base side element is formed in the alignment groove 2c. The end faces of the optical fibers 3 and 3 inserted from both longitudinal ends of the lid 5 and the lid side element 6 are precisely aligned and positioned. The guide groove 2a exists on both sides of the alignment groove 2c, and accommodates and positions the covering portion of the optical fiber 3 (optical fiber core wire). Of the three lid-side elements 6A, 6B, 6C, the first lid-side element 6A located at the center sandwiches the bare optical fibers 3A, 3A inserted into the alignment groove 2c with the base-side element 5. The first lid-side element 6B and the third lid-side element 6C on both sides of the second lid-side element 6A are configured so that the covering portion of the optical fiber 3 inserted into the guide groove 2a is used as the base-side element. 5 between them.
Here, the spring 4 is not limited to a U-shaped cross section, and may have a C-shaped cross section. Further, the elements 2 and 2 are not limited to prismatic ones, and may be a two-part structure having a circular cross section when integrated. Further, the optical fiber connector 1 is not limited to a single-fiber connector, but may be a multi-fiber connector.

  In this optical fiber connector 1, for example, a wedge is inserted from a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (the direction of arrow X in FIG. 7), so that the base against the urging force of the spring 4 by the wedge is inserted. The side element 5 and the lid side element 6 can be pushed apart in a direction away from each other to open the space between the elements 2 and 2 (see FIGS. 9A and 9B). This facilitates operations such as insertion of the optical fiber 3 from the longitudinal direction side of the optical fiber connector 1, extraction of the optical fiber 3 from the longitudinal direction side of the optical fiber connector 1, or replacement of the optical fiber 3. To be achieved. In addition, on the side surfaces of the elements 2 and 2, an opening 2b (recess) for inserting a wedge is formed along the mating surface of the elements 2 and 2. The opening 2b is located on the opening 4a side of the "U" -shaped cross section of the spring 4, and the spring does not interfere with the press-fitting of the wedge.

However, in the conventional optical fiber connector 1 described above, since the size is small, in order to insert a wedge between the base side element 5 and the lid side element 6, Very high accuracy is required for positioning the wedge. Accordingly, various types of optical fiber connection tools that can easily perform the insertion / removal operation of the wedge between the base side element 5 and the lid side element 6 of the optical fiber connector have been proposed and put into practical use. As this optical fiber connecting tool, for example, as shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b), a wedge part 101 with a lever having a wedge body 105 provided at the tip is adopted. A wedge support mechanism 100 having a configuration in which the plate-like portion 102 is slidably supported so as to be sandwiched between the support base 103 and the presser plate 104 is employed. The wedge support mechanism 100 operates the lever 106 attached to the rear end (the end opposite to the wedge main body 105) of the plate-like portion 102 of the wedge-equipped wedge component 101, whereby the wedge-equipped wedge-shaped component. 101 can be moved forward and backward with respect to the optical fiber connector 1 supported on the element base 107. By pushing the wedge part 101 with lever, the tip of the wedge part 101 with lever is pushed. The wedge body 105 can be inserted into the opening 2b of the element 2 of the optical fiber connector 1, inserted between the elements 2 and 2, and the elements 2 and 2 can be opened apart from each other (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .)
JP 2001-215353 A

  In the optical fiber connecting tool described in Patent Document 1 described above, since the wedge body must be inserted between the opening and the element with high accuracy, it is necessary to form a support component for supporting the wedge with high accuracy. In other words, if the wedge is misaligned with respect to the element, the wedge becomes difficult to push in, and there is a risk that the element will be damaged or deformed or misaligned due to excessive pushing. For this reason, in the case of the above-mentioned wedge support mechanism 100, it is necessary to form a highly accurate sliding surface for allowing the wedged part 101 with the lever to slide without rattling on both the support base 103 and the holding plate 104. In addition, in order to accurately position the wedge body 105 with respect to the elements 2 and 2, it is necessary to ensure the formation accuracy of the entire support base 103 with high accuracy. There is a problem that it takes time and cost. Even if the wedge support mechanism described above is employed, the wedge body 105 may still be difficult to enter between the elements 2 and 2, thereby eliminating problems such as damage, deformation and misalignment of the elements 2 and 2 due to excessive pushing. There was a case that could not be done.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber connecting tool that has a simple structure, is excellent in operability, and realizes cost reduction.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention proposes the following means.
The invention according to claim 1 is a work for connecting optical fibers using an optical fiber connector that clamps and fixes the butt connection portion between optical fibers between the elements having a split structure and the elasticity of a spring attached to the elements. An optical fiber connection tool used for disconnection work, wherein the tool is inserted between a support base for supporting the optical fiber connector and an element of the optical fiber connector to resist the elasticity of the spring. And a wedge support mechanism that supports the optical fiber connector supported by the support base so as to be able to advance and retreat. The wedge support mechanism supports the wedge on the support base. and has to be able to change the angle of inclination with respect to the mating surface of the element of the optical fiber connector, the swing support portion for swingably supported is provided, wherein the wedge supporting mechanism includes a wedge support base, the A plate-like portion of the wedge is accommodated between a lid member mounted on a support base, and the wedges are vertically moved when inserted into the element between the wedge support base and the lid member. The clearance is configured so as to be able to swing, and the clearance is formed so that the height of the tip of the wedge can be changed according to the height position of the mating surface of the element. An optical fiber connecting tool characterized by the above.
The invention according to claim 2 is the optical fiber connecting tool characterized in that the swing angle is set in an angle range of −5 ° to 5 ° with respect to the mating surface of the element.

  According to the present invention, the insertion angle of the wedge with respect to the optical fiber connector can be adjusted by swinging the wedge by the swing support portion. That is, by swinging the wedge by the swing support part and adjusting the angle so that it can be easily inserted into the opening of the optical fiber connector, or by repeatedly swinging while applying a pushing force to the element to the wedge, Since the wedge can be smoothly inserted into the element without forcibly applying a strong pushing force, the element can be prevented from being damaged, deformed or displaced. Moreover, unlike the conventional optical fiber connection tool, a high-precision part that supports the wedge is not required, and since the structure can be simplified, it is possible to provide an optical fiber connection tool that achieves cost reduction.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 is a plan view showing an optical fiber connecting tool of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a wedge, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the optical fiber connector in FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1. (a) is a cross-sectional view when pulled upward, (b) is a cross-sectional view when pressed downward, and FIG. 6 is a diagram. 1 is a side view showing a method for installing an optical fiber holder in FIG. In these drawings, the same components as those in FIGS. 7 and 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 14 denotes a support base that supports the optical fiber connector 1, and reference numeral 15 denotes a holder mounting base, on which the optical fiber holder 16 is detachably mounted and is provided on both sides of the support base 14. ing. The optical fiber connection tool 11 has a structure in which a support base 14 and a holder mounting base 15 are mounted on a plate-like base 17.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 12 denotes a wedge part with a lever. As shown in FIG. 2, a wedge body 13 (wedge, hereinafter simply wedge) having a blade body 23 inserted at the tip between the elements 2 and 2 of the optical fiber connector 1. The lever 22 is attached to a rear end portion (also referred to as an end portion opposite to the front end). Reference numeral 21 denotes a screw for fixing the lever 22 to the wedge body 13.
The optical fiber connection tool 11 has a wedge support mechanism 10. This wedge support mechanism 10 is supported by a support 14 by a wedge 14 that opens between the elements 2 and 2 against the elasticity of the spring 4 by being inserted between the elements 2 and 2 of the optical fiber connector 1. The optical fiber connector 1 supports the optical fiber connector 1 so as to be able to move forward and backward, so that the inclination angle of the elements 2 and 2 of the optical fiber connector 1 supported by the support base 14 can be changed. , And a swinging support portion 42 that supports the swingable motion.

  The wedge part 12 with a lever is supported by a swing support part 42 (described later) provided on the support base 14. As shown in FIG. 3, an engagement hole 25 into which the first engagement pin 45a and the second engagement pin 45b shown in FIG. A through hole 24 (small hole) drilled in the rear end of the wedge 13 is an insertion hole for the screw 21 for attaching the lever 22. When the blade body 23 is inserted between the elements 2 and 2 through the opening 2b from the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber connector 1, the elements 2 and 2 are opposed to each other against the biasing force of the spring 4. It spreads in the direction of separating.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support base 14 is provided at the center of the base 17. A connector housing groove 32 for mounting the optical fiber connector 1 is formed in the upper part of the support base 14. Here, the optical fiber connector 1 is placed in the connector housing groove 32 so that the opening 2b of the elements 2 and 2 and the opening 4a of the spring 4 biasing the elements 2 and 2 face the wedge 13. The inner surface of the connector housing groove 32 is supported in a stable state in the connector housing groove 32. The openings 2b of the elements 2 and 2 are positioned above the connector housing groove 32 so that the support 14 does not interfere with the insertion and removal of the wedge 13 between the elements 2 and 2. .

Of the support base 14, the vicinity of the connector storage groove 32 functions as an element base for supporting the optical fiber connector 1. Further, the vicinity of the sliding groove 33 that supports the lever-wedge component 12 supported by the connector housing groove 23 so as to be slidable in the advancing and retreating direction with respect to the optical fiber connector 1 serves as a wedge support base for supporting the lever-equipped wedge component 12. Function. The element table and the wedge support table may be separate.
A slide groove 33 for sliding the wedge 13 is formed on the support base 14, and the slide surface 34 of the slide groove 33 is inserted into the optical fiber connector 1 by the wedge 13. The sliding surface 34 slides in the drawing direction. The swing support portion 42 includes a support base 14 and a lid member 41 that is fixed on the support base 14 and placed on the sliding groove 33. The lid member 41 is positioned above the sliding surface 34 of the sliding groove 33 via a clearance of about several mm, for example. The wedge 13 is guided by the sliding groove wall portions 33B and 33C on both sides (left and right sides in FIG. 4) of the sliding groove 33, so that the support base 14 does not rattle in the lateral direction (left and right direction in FIG. 4). The connector housing groove 32 is advanced and retracted.

  The wedge part 12 with lever is supported by the swing support part 42 in a state where the plate-like part 26 between the blade body 23 at the front end and the lever 22 at the rear end is accommodated in the clearance 44. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the height of the sliding groove wall portions 33B and 33C on both ends of the sliding groove 33 of the support base 14 is set slightly higher than the cross-sectional thickness of the wedge 13. A bottom surface 43 of the lid member 41 is installed on the upper end surfaces of the sliding groove wall portions 33B and 33C. Thus, the swing support portion 42 formed by the sliding groove 33 and the lid member 41 shown in FIG. 2 has a slight gap between the wedge 13 and the bottom surface 43 of the lid member 41 when the wedge 13 is inserted. The clearance 44 is secured, and the wedge 13 can be given a tilt angle within the clearance 44. As shown in FIG. 4, the height h of the clearance 44 is set to be within an angular range of −3 ° to + 1 ° with respect to the reference direction P in which the wedge 13 is inserted into the opening 2 b of the optical fiber connector 1. Yes.

Here, the tilt angle of the wedge 13 is obtained by operating the wedge part 12 with lever 12 up or down as shown in FIG. 5, and the lever 22 is moved as shown in FIG. When pulled up, the plate-like portion 26 of the wedge-equipped wedge part 12 is tilted so that the lever 22 side is higher than the blade body 23 side of the wedge 13. The tilt angle in this case is such that the end of the plate-like portion 26 on the lever 22 side contacts the lid member 41 (in FIG. 5A, the rear end 35A of the lid member 41 (opposite to the connector housing groove 32). In this embodiment, the tilt angle θ _{1 of} 3 ° at the maximum with respect to the reference direction P (the tilt angle obtained by moving the lever 22 upward is displayed as a minus sign). The above 3 ° is “−3 °”). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, the lever-attached wedge part 12 is moved downward by pushing down the lever 22, and the rear end of the support base 14 (the end on the side opposite to the connector housing groove 32). That is, by rotating the blade body 23 around the rear end 35 </ b> B of the sliding surface 34 of the sliding groove 33, the plate-like portion 26 of the wedge part 12 with lever is moved toward the blade body 23 side of the wedge 13. In comparison, the lever 22 can be tilted so as to be lowered. In this case, the tilt angle is maximum when the end portion (tip portion) of the plate-like portion 26 is in contact with the lid member 41. In this embodiment, the maximum tilt angle is 1 with respect to the reference direction P. The tilt angle θ _{2 of} ° (the tilt angle obtained by moving the lever 22 downward is indicated as plus. 1 ° is “+ 1 °”) is obtained. The range of the tilt angle is not limited to -3 ° to 1 ° and can be set as appropriate. However, a range of -5 ° to 5 ° is appropriate. If the tilt angle is too large, the pushing force of the wedge 13 onto the element 2 acts as a force that gives distortion or deformation to the element 2, and therefore the inclination angle with respect to the reference direction P is preferably 5 ° or less. In addition, in order to obtain the effect of facilitating pushing the wedge 13 between the elements 2 and 2 by swinging (or tilting), the tilt angle with respect to the reference direction P is preferably set to 0.5 ° or more (however, Even if the inclination angle is less than 0.5 °, the effect of facilitating insertion can be obtained by repeated rocking or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the engagement pins 45 a and 45 b inserted into the engagement holes 25 of the wedge 13 are provided across the clearance 44 so as to be laid between the lid member 41 and the support base 14. It has been. Further, the positions of the engagement pins 45 a and 45 b are shifted in the insertion direction of the wedge 13 with respect to the optical fiber connector 1. The first engagement pin 45a sets the movement limit position (push-in limit position) of the wedge 13 with respect to the optical fiber connector 1, and the second engagement pin 45b is the optical fiber connector 1 of the wedge 13. The movement limit position (retraction limit position) in the pulling direction with respect to is set. In FIG. 2, the engagement pins 25 a and 25 b are screws that pass through the lid member 41 and are screwed to the support base 14. However, the push-in limit position and the retreat limit position of the wedge 13 can be set. There is no particular limitation as long as it is, for example, a protrusion protruding from the lid member 41 may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the holder mounting base 15 has a guide portion 51 that is a protrusion that exists on the extension of the central axis of the optical fiber connector 1 supported by the connector housing groove 32. The optical fiber holder 16 to which 3 and 3 are fixed can be slid toward the optical fiber connector 1 stored in the support base 14 while being guided by the guide portion 51 while being placed on the holder mounting base 15. it can.

  In order to butt-connect the optical fibers 3 and 3 using the optical fiber connection tool 11, the optical fiber connector 1 is accommodated in the connector accommodating groove 32 of the support base 14, and thereafter, FIG. The component 12 is pushed toward the optical fiber connector 1 on the support base 14. Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the blade body 23 of the wedge 13 reaches the opening 2b of the optical fiber connector 1, the blade body 23 is opened while applying a pushing force to the wedge component 12 with a lever. It is swung within the range of the clearance 44 so that it can be easily inserted into the portion 2b.

  At this time, the wedge 13 can be tilted or swung with respect to the insertion reference direction P into the opening 2b, whereby the wedge 13 is inserted into the blade body 23 between the elements 2 and 2 (push-in angle). Can be changed freely. Therefore, even when the blade body 23 of the wedge 13 is difficult to enter between the elements 2 and 2, the wedge 13 can be press-fitted smoothly and easily between the elements 2 and 2 by adjusting the insertion angle or repeatedly swinging. . As a result, it is possible to avoid inconveniences such as damaging the element 2 due to unreasonable pushing or giving the element 2 a position shift, and stabilizing the mechanical characteristics (alignment accuracy, clamping force stability, etc.) of the optical fiber connector 1. Can be maintained. Even when the positional relationship between the sliding groove 33 and the opening 2b of the optical fiber connector 1 is slightly deviated, the wedge 13 is swung or the angle is automatically adjusted to adjust the opening 2b. Another advantage is that the gap between the elements 2 and 2 can be opened.

  As shown in FIG. 9B, when the wedge 13 is inserted between the elements 2 and 2 through the opening 2 b from the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber connector 1, the element is resisted against the biasing force of the spring 4. 2 and 2 are pushed apart in a direction away from each other. As shown in FIG. 2B, when the inner surface of the engagement hole 25 formed in the wedge 13 abuts on the first engagement pin 45a, the further insertion operation of the wedge 13 is restricted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the blade body 23 of the wedge 13 from being inserted too much between the elements 2 and 2.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the optical fiber holders 16 placed on the holder platforms 15 on both sides of the support base 14 are slid in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber connector 1, so The portion that has been protruded from the fiber holder 16 is inserted into the guide groove 2a of the elements 2 and 2 from the end in the longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the optical fiber connector 1 and is exposed at the tip of the optical fiber 3 The fibers 3A and 3A are abutted with each other at the alignment groove 2c. While maintaining this abutted state, the lever 22 is moved backward to pull out the wedge 13 from between the elements 2 and 2.
When the wedge 13 is pulled out from the optical fiber connector 1, the bare fibers 3 </ b> A and 3 </ b> A of the optical fibers 3 and 3 are aligned and abutted with each other, and the optical fibers 3 and 3 are connected to the element 2 by the biasing force of the spring 4. The clamp is fixed between the two, whereby the connection state between the optical fibers 3 and 3 is maintained. In addition, the optical fiber 3 and 3 are clamped and fixed between the elements 2 and 2 while the covering portions of the optical fibers 3 and 3 are housed in the guide grooves 2a, thereby restricting the extraction of the optical fiber 3 from the optical fiber connector 1. Is done.

According to the optical fiber connection tool 11 of the present embodiment, the clearance 44 is formed between the bottom surface 43 of the lid member 41 and the wedge 13 with the wedge 13 placed on the sliding surface 34 of the sliding groove 33. As a result, the wedge 13 can be swung (or tilted) and inserted into the opening 2b, so that a high-precision component such as a conventional optical fiber connecting tool is not required, and the structure can be simplified. The optical fiber connecting tool 11 that realizes cost reduction can be provided.
In addition, the optical fiber 3 and 3 can be aligned and butt-connected with a simple operation by simply moving the wedge-shaped part 12 with lever to the support base 14 by the swinging support part 42. Can be improved and work efficiency can be improved.

In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, A various change is possible.
The optical fiber connector 1 and the optical fiber holder 16 are not limited to those for a single core but may be for a multi-core. In the case of a multi-fiber optical fiber connector, many springs have a strong clamping force. Therefore, by using the optical fiber connection tool of the present invention, the element can be opened smoothly without damaging the element by an excessive pushing force. The effect is particularly effective.
As the optical fiber 3, various types of single-core or multi-core can be adopted, and other than single-core optical fiber, for example, an optical fiber, an optical fiber cord, etc. may be used. May be multi-minded.
As an optical fiber connector, what was assembled | attached to the optical connector etc. may be sufficient, for example. This is a so-called on-site optical connector, and the optical fiber connector is provided on the rear end side of the ferrule (opposite to the end face for butt connection), and after the ferrule of the optical fiber that is inserted and fixed to the ferrule. A part protruding to the end side is accommodated, and a butt connection part between the optical fiber on the ferrule side and an optical fiber inserted from the side opposite to the ferrule is clamped and fixed to the optical fiber connector. is there. In this case, the support base of the optical fiber connection tool has a connector housing groove having a structure suitable for stable support of the optical connector (on-site optical connector).

It is a top view which shows the optical fiber connection tool for single core wires of this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of FIG. It is a top view of the wedge in FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the BB line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of FIG. 1, (a) is sectional drawing when it pulls up upwards, (b) is sectional drawing when it pushes down downward. It is the side view which showed the installation method of the optical fiber holder in FIG. It is a top view which shows an example of the conventional optical fiber connector for single core wires. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view along the longitudinal direction in FIG. It is an expanded sectional view of an optical fiber connector. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the conventional optical fiber connection tool.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical fiber connector, 2 ... Element, 3 ... Optical fiber, 4 ... Spring, 10 ... Wedge support mechanism, 11 ... Optical fiber connection tool, 12 ... Wedge part with a lever, 13 ... Wedge, 14 ... Support stand, 26 ... Plate-like part, 42 ... Oscillating support part, 44 ... Clear

Claims (2)

The optical fiber connector (1) is used in which the butt connection between the optical fibers (3, 3) is sandwiched between the split element (2, 2) and clamped by the elasticity of the spring (4) attached to the element. An optical fiber connection tool (11) used for connecting or disconnecting optical fibers,
A support base (14) that supports the optical fiber connector, and a wedge (13) that opens between the elements against the elasticity of the spring by being inserted into the element of the optical fiber connector, are attached to the support base. A wedge support mechanism (10) for supporting the optical fiber connector supported by the optical fiber connector so as to freely advance and retract,
The wedge support mechanism includes a swing support unit that swingably supports the wedge so that an inclination angle of the optical fiber connector supported by the support base with respect to the mating surface (7) of the element can be changed. (42) is provided,
The wedge support mechanism accommodates the plate portion (26) of the wedge between a wedge support base and a lid member (41) attached on the wedge support base, and the wedge support base and the wedge support base A clearance (44) is provided between the lid member and the lid member to allow the wedge to swing up and down when inserted into the element.
The clearance is formed such that the tip height of the wedge can be changed according to the height position of the mating surface of the element .   The optical fiber connecting tool according to claim 1, wherein the swing angle is set in an angle range of -5 ° to 5 ° with respect to the mating surface of the element.

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