JP4422669B2 - Optical fiber terminal processing tool and field assembly type optical connector assembly method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is related to field assembly type optical connector.

  In the field of communication, an optical fiber capable of high-speed and large-capacity transmission has become the mainstream of transmission lines, and FTTH (Fiber To The Home), which uses an optical fiber for the transmission path from the trunk line to each home, has been spreading. In constructing this FTTH, the optical fibers are butted inside the V-groove on the substrate and aligned, and the optical fiber cores are fixed in this state, so that the optical fiber cores are easily connected to each other. Optical fibers are connected using a mechanical splice (see Patent Document 1).

  However, if the optical fiber is connected using a mechanical splice, in order to isolate it at the time of failure, the optical fiber is cut once and connected to the device, and then the mechanical splice is reconnected. There was a problem that it took a lot of work.

  Therefore, in order to improve the maintainability and operational efficiency of the transmission path, the formation of an optical connector at the connection point in the connection of the optical fiber is being studied. As a method for this purpose, an on-site assembly type optical connector using a mechanical splice, in which an optical fiber (first optical fiber) is fixed in advance in a ferrule inside the optical connector, has been developed.

  This field assembly type optical connector is composed of an optical fiber (first optical fiber) protruding from the rear end of a ferrule having a built-in optical fiber fixed and polished at the tip, and another optical fiber (second optical fiber). ) Are aligned and connected in a state where the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are butted together, and the field assembly type optical connector and the optical fiber (second optical fiber) are fixed. A mechanical splice with a ferrule having a connection mechanism for maintaining a connection state between optical fibers and a housing for housing the mechanical splice with a ferrule are provided.

By the way, in the assembly method of the above-mentioned field assembly type optical connector, the terminal processing of the optical fiber (second optical fiber) to be connected is performed, for example, as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). After using the optical fiber holder 40 to remove the optical fiber (second optical fiber), hold the optical fiber (second optical fiber) by hand and insert it into the optical connector. The second optical fiber) was bent to confirm the match, and the optical fiber was connected and assembled by a mechanical splice with a ferrule (see Patent Document 2).
JP 2000-241660 A JP 2003-172845 A

  Here, the optical fiber holder 40 includes an optical fiber holder (main body portion) 41 provided with a groove 42 for holding the optical fiber core wire 45 straight (the groove 42 is often V-shaped). And covers 43a and 43b attached to the groove forming surface side of the main body 41 so as to be freely opened and closed. A magnet 48 is embedded in the groove forming surface of the main body 41, and the main body 41 and the covers 43 a and 43 b are magnetized by the magnet 48, and as a result, the optical fiber core wire 45 is held.

  In addition, a pressing rubber member 44 for pressing the optical fiber core wire 45 is provided at a contact portion of each cover 43a, 43b with the groove 42, and each pressing rubber member 44 is provided inside the groove 42. Is prevented from shifting in the extending direction of the groove 42 of the optical fiber 45 accommodated in the optical fiber. As described above, the optical fiber holder is an assembly of various parts and is very expensive.

  Also, since the optical fiber (second optical fiber) is inserted by hand and assembled for assembly work, the optical fiber (second optical fiber) can be inserted into the optical connector in an unstable work place such as on a pillar. The result of the matching check depends on the skill level of the operator, and there is a problem that it is difficult to perform an easy and stable connection operation.

The present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, a cheap means, even in an unstable workplace easily in and and stable connection work can be realized Turkey.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 includes a first optical fiber built in and fixed to a ferrule inside a field assembly type optical connector, and the field assembly type light from the outside of the field assembly type optical connector. A second optical fiber to be inserted into the connector is positioned and aligned, and the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are connected in a face-to-face relationship, and the field assembly type optical connector and the second optical fiber are connected. An optical fiber terminal processing tool used when fixing the optical fiber of the optical fiber, and a core wire gripping tool for gripping the second optical fiber having a main body portion and a cover attached to the main body portion; And a groove for accommodating the second optical fiber gripped by the core wire gripper on an extension of the groove for storing the core wire gripper. Is formed And a folder having a scan unit and a lid member mounted openably on the upper surface of the base portion, the core wire gripper is made of an elastic member, said second optical fiber by applying an external force from the outside And the groove for accommodating the second optical fiber is formed from the end of the core wire gripper accommodated in the base portion to the end of the base portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first optical fiber built in and fixed to a ferrule inside the field assembly type optical connector, and from the outside of the field assembly type optical connector to the inside of the field assembly type optical connector. Positioning and aligning the second optical fiber to be inserted, connecting the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber in contact with each other, the field assembly type optical connector and the second optical fiber, A method of assembling an on-site assembly type optical connector for fixing a second optical fiber using the optical fiber terminal processing tool according to claim 1 , wherein the second optical fiber is housed in a core wire gripping tool. After the fiber end processing is performed and the core wire gripping tool is taken out of the optical fiber terminal processing tool, the on-site assembly type is maintained while the second optical fiber is held by the core wire gripping tool. Optical connector And inserting the second optical fiber is intended to be connected against the said first optical fiber.

According to the present invention, in inexpensive means, even in an unstable workplace, Ru can be realized at low cost easily and stable connection work.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a cord gripping tool according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the core wire gripper according to the embodiment of the present invention is for simplifying the assembly of an optical fiber to an optical connector, and is made of an elastic material in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber. It has a main body portion 101 that is elongated along.

  In the main body 101 of this embodiment, a substantially V-shaped groove 102 for accommodating an optical fiber (second optical fiber) is formed, and a cover 103 is attached to the groove forming surface side of the main body 101 so as to be freely opened and closed. ing. The cover 103 is formed with a convex portion 104 for gripping the optical fiber housed in the groove 102.

  In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the state in which the cover 103 is combined with the main body 101 is formed substantially equivalent to the cross-sectional shape (about 2 mm × about 3 mm) of the single-core drop cable.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the core wire gripper 210 according to the present embodiment is distributed in the market when terminal processing (cover removal and end face cutting) of the optical fiber (second optical fiber) 220 is performed. For example, a folder 201 can be used for terminal processing of a single-core drop cable (for example, coating removal of the optical fiber (second optical fiber) 220, end face cutting). The folder 201 includes a base portion 202 and a lid 203 attached to the upper surface side of the base portion 202 so as to be freely opened and closed. A groove 204 for setting a single core drop cable is formed in the base portion 202.

  In the present embodiment, the optical fiber (second optical fiber) 220 housed in the groove 212 formed in the main body 211 of the core wire gripper 210 is sandwiched by the cover 213, and this state The core wire gripping tool is elastically deformed by being disposed in the groove 204 of the folder 201 (applying an external force from the outside), and a gripping force for gripping the optical fiber is generated in the core wire gripping tool.

  As a result, it is possible to prevent the optical fiber (second optical fiber) 220 from shifting in the extending direction of the groove 212 during the end processing of the optical fiber (coating removal, end face cutting), and smooth the appropriate end processing. It can be carried out.

  A method for assembling an on-site assembly type optical connector using the core wire gripping tool of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 2 described above, the core wire gripper of the present embodiment performs an optical fiber terminal process, and takes out the core wire gripper 210 from the folder 201.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the guide groove formed on the assembly jig 310 toward the field assembly type optical connector 320 set on the assembly jig 310 with the core wire gripping tool 301 sandwiched between fingers. Slide along 311. The tip of the optical fiber 302 is inserted into the optical connector 320, and the optical fiber 302 is butt-connected to the optical fiber (first optical fiber) that is built in and fixed to the ferrule inside the optical connector 320. At this time, the optical fiber 302 is gripped inside the groove 303 by sandwiching the core wire gripping tool 301 with a finger. Further, since the core wire gripping tool 301 can be slid along the guide groove 311 on the assembly jig 310, a simple connection / assembly can be realized.

It is a perspective view of the core wire grasping tool which shows one Example of this invention. (A) thru | or (c) is the perspective view which showed the terminal process of the optical fiber which uses the core wire holding | gripping tool by this invention. (A) And (b) is the perspective view which showed the assembly method of the field assembly type optical connector by this invention. (A) And (b) is the perspective view which showed the terminal process of the optical fiber by a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

41 Optical fiber holder (main body)
42 Groove 43a Cover 43b Cover 44 Holding rubber member 45 Optical fiber core wire 101 Main body portion 102 Groove 103 Cover 104 Convex portion 201 Folder 202 Base portion 203 Lid body 204 Groove 210 Core wire gripper 211 Main body portion 212 Groove 213 Cover 220 Optical fiber (Second optical fiber)
301 optical fiber gripper 302 optical fiber (second optical fiber)
303 groove 310 assembly jig 311 guide groove 320 optical connector

Claims (2)

The first optical fiber built in and fixed to the ferrule inside the field assembly type optical connector and the second optical fiber inserted into the field assembly type optical connector from the outside of the field assembly type optical connector are positioned and adjusted. The end of the optical fiber used when the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are connected in a state of being abutted and the field assembly type optical connector and the second optical fiber are fixed. A processing tool,
A core wire gripper having a main body portion and a cover attached to the main body portion and gripping the second optical fiber;
A groove for storing the core wire gripper is formed, and a groove for storing the second optical fiber gripped by the core wire gripper is formed on an extension of the groove for storing the core wire gripper. A folder having a base portion formed and a lid attached to the upper surface side of the base portion so as to be freely opened and closed;
The core wire gripper is made of an elastic member, and the second optical fiber is gripped by applying an external force from the outside,
The groove for accommodating the second optical fiber is formed from the end of the core wire gripping tool accommodated in the base portion to the end of the base portion, characterized in that the end processing tool of the optical fiber is provided. . The first optical fiber built in and fixed to the ferrule inside the field assembly type optical connector and the second optical fiber inserted into the field assembly type optical connector from the outside of the field assembly type optical connector are positioned and adjusted. The assembly method of the field assembly type optical connector for fixing the field assembly type optical connector and the second optical fiber by connecting the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber in a face-to-face relationship. Because
Using the optical fiber terminal processing tool according to claim 1 , the terminal processing of the second optical fiber is performed in a state where the second optical fiber is accommodated in the core wire gripping tool, and the optical fiber terminal processing tool is used. After removing the core wire gripper, the second optical fiber is inserted into the field assembly type optical connector while maintaining the state where the second optical fiber is gripped by the core wire gripper. A method of assembling an on-site assembly type optical connector, comprising butt-connecting with an optical fiber.

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