JP5427445B2 - Optical transmission body with connector, optical connector, and optical connector assembly method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is an optical fiber cord or an optical fiber cable, and an optical connector is assembled at the tip of an optical transmission body in which an optical fiber and a tensile body extending along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber are covered with an outer sheath. More particularly, the present invention relates to an optical transmission body with connector, an optical connector, and an optical connector assembling method, and more particularly, to an optical transmission body with connector, an optical connector, and an optical connector assembling method adopting fusion splicing.

Conventionally, as an example of a structure capable of assembling an optical connector at the tip of an optical fiber at a connection site, the optical fiber and a built-in optical fiber inserted in a ferrule are connected by fusion. (For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
Patent Document 1 discloses an optical connector having a structure in which a fusion reinforcing portion in which a fusion splicing portion between optical fibers is reinforced with a reinforcing body such as a resin is accommodated in a connector housing. This structure can protect the fusion splicing portion with the connector housing.
Patent Document 2 discloses an optical connector having a structure in which a fusion splicing portion is disposed in a slot formed in a ferrule.

JP 2002-82257 A US Pat. No. 5,748,819

In the optical connector described in Patent Document 1, since the fusion reinforcing portion is accommodated in the connector housing, for example, the optical fiber extended from the rear end of the optical connector is extended from the end of the optical fiber cord or the optical fiber cable. Compared to the configuration in which the end of the optical fiber is fusion-spliced (in this case, the fusion reinforcing portion is disposed outside the optical connector), it is more effective in terms of protecting the fusion splicing portion. However, in this optical connector, since the fusion reinforcing portion is free (swingable) in the housing, when the ferrule is pushed into the housing when the connector is connected, the ferrule and the fusion reinforcing portion There has been a problem that excessive bending may occur in the optical fiber between them (built-in optical fiber).
In addition, the inner space of the housing can accommodate the fusion reinforcing portion corresponding to the variation in the size and shape of the fusion reinforcing portion caused by the variation in the size of the fusion splicing portion or the uneven distribution of the reinforcing resin. From the necessity, the size is set such that a sufficient margin can be secured with respect to the assumed size of the fusion reinforcing portion. For this reason, in many cases, the fusion reinforcing portion is housed in a free (swingable) state in the housing.

  The optical connector disclosed in Patent Document 2 requires a fusion work at a position close to the ferrule. For this reason, if a general-purpose discharge electrode is used for the fusion work, there is a possibility that the ferrule may be adversely affected, so that a general fusion splicer cannot be used and the fusion work is not easy. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is a connector that is easy to perform fusion splicing work and can prevent problems such as excessive bending of the optical fiber between the fusion splicing portion in the housing and the ferrule. It is an object to provide an attached optical transmission body, an optical connector, and an assembly method of the optical connector.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following configuration.
The invention according to claim 1 is an optical transmission with a connector in which an optical connector is assembled at the tip of an optical transmission body in which an optical fiber and a tensile body extending in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber are covered with an outer sheath. The optical connector includes a ferrule in a housing, a portion protruding from a rear end opposite to a joint end surface on the front end side of the ferrule of a built-in optical fiber inserted and fixed to the ferrule, and the optical connector. A connection reinforcing portion in which a fusion splicing portion with an optical fiber exposed at a terminal of the optical transmission body is embedded in a resin provided inside a reinforcing sleeve containing the fusion splicing portion; and the elasticity of the ferrule An urging spring, and one end of the reinforcing sleeve of the connection reinforcing portion is fixed by being externally fixed to a cylindrical sleeve fixing portion of a rear end portion of the ferrule, Serial are integrated and connected reinforcing unit, said housing is sleeve-like, in the housing, the direction being arranged so as to surround the both sides or the connecting reinforcement portion of the connecting reinforcement portion along the center axis of the housing A slider that is movable in the front-rear direction is provided, and the slider is interposed between a flange portion of the ferrule and the spring provided at a position spaced rearward from the ferrule. An optical transmission body with a connector is provided, wherein an urging force is transmitted to the ferrule via the slider .
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the tensile body extending from the end of the optical transmission body is embedded and fixed in a resin inside a reinforcing sleeve of the connection reinforcing portion. An optical transmission body with a connector according to Item 1, is provided.
The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the tip of the strength member is sandwiched between the sleeve fixing portion and the reinforcing sleeve of the ferrule. provide.
The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that a convex portion or a concave portion for increasing a pulling resistance of the reinforcing sleeve from the sleeve fixing portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve fixing portion of the ferrule. to provide a connector-equipped optical transmission body according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a terminal of the optical transmission body is inserted and fixed to the other end of the ferrule of the ferrule opposite to one end fixed to the sleeve fixing portion. The ferrule, the connection reinforcing portion, and the end of the optical transmission body are integrally movable in the central axis direction of the sleeve-shaped housing. to provide a connector-equipped optical transmission body according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that.
The invention according to claim 6, wherein the reinforcing sleeve is heat-shrinkable tube, the resin is to provide a connector-equipped optical transmission body according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a thermoplastic resin .
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the housing includes a sleeve-like plug frame and a sleeve-like stop ring attached to the plug frame, and the slider is on the opposite side of the ferrule side end. The rear end portion is an insertion portion accommodated in the stop ring so as to be movable in the front-rear direction of the housing, and the retaining portion engaged with the retaining portion formed in the stop ring at the insertion portion. For engaging projections,
The connector according to claim 1, wherein the spring is housed in the stop ring, and the slider can be elastically biased toward the ferrule by the spring. Provided is an optical transmitter.
In the invention according to claim 8 , a reinforcing core material extending in a longitudinal direction of the reinforcing sleeve is embedded in the reinforcing sleeve, and an end portion of the reinforcing core material provided at one end of the reinforcing sleeve is the reinforcing sleeve. The optical transmission body with a connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the optical transmission body is attached to the sleeve fixing portion of the ferrule together with one end of the sleeve.
The invention according to claim 9 is an optical connector which is assembled at the tip of an optical transmission body in which an optical fiber and a tensile body extending along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber are covered with an exterior covering, The fusion-bonded connection between the portion of the built-in optical fiber inserted and fixed to the ferrule, which protrudes from the rear end opposite to the joint end surface of the ferrule, and the optical fiber exposed at the end of the optical transmission body A reinforcing sleeve for storing the portion, a spring for elastically biasing the ferrule, and one end of the reinforcing sleeve storing the fusion splicing portion are attached to a cylindrical sleeve fixing portion at the rear end portion of the ferrule. A ferrule with a connection reinforcing portion assembled by embedding the fusion connecting portion in a resin which is inserted and fixed and provided inside the reinforcing sleeve, and a housing for storing the spring And the housing includes a sleeve-like plug frame and a sleeve-like stop ring attached to the plug frame. After assembling the ferrule with the connection reinforcing portion, the stop ring is attached to the plug frame. By attaching, the ferrule with a connection reinforcing portion and the spring can be accommodated, and the housing has a sleeve shape, and is disposed in the housing so as to surround both sides of the connection reinforcing portion or the connection reinforcing portion. A slider movable in the front-rear direction, which is a direction along the central axis of the housing, is provided, and the slider is interposed between the flange portion of the ferrule and the spring provided at a position spaced rearward from the ferrule. The urging force of the spring is It provides an optical connector, wherein being configured to be transmitted to the ferrule through the da.
Invention, characterized in that the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve fixing portion of the ferrule, projections or recesses for increasing the pullout resistance from the sleeve fixing part of the reinforcing sleeve is formed according to claim 1 0 An optical connector according to claim 9 is provided.
The invention according to claim 1 1, before Symbol slider, its an end of the ferrule side is an insertion portion which is housed a movable in the longitudinal direction of the housing rear end opposite to the stop ring, After assembling the ferrule with the connection reinforcing portion, by engagement of the stop ring, a retaining engagement protrusion projecting from the insertion portion, and a retaining engagement portion formed on the stop ring wherein by mounting said slider provided with retained against the stop ring, the pre kiss top ring of the spring pressure application unit consisting of the spring housed in said stop ring on the plug frame housing The ferrule with a connection reinforcing portion and the spring can be stored in the housing. An optical connector according to claim 9 or 10 is provided.
The invention according to claim 1 2, according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the reinforcing sleeve is characterized in that the laminar thermoplastic resin is provided on the inner surface of the heat shrinkable tube An optical connector is provided.
The invention according to claim 1 3, the reinforcing sleeve is embedded a reinforcing core extending longitudinally of the reinforcing sleeve of the reinforcing core at one end which is extrapolated to the sleeve fixing part of the reinforcing sleeve to provide an optical connector according to any one of claims 9-12, characterized in that the end portion is provided.
The invention according to claim 1 4, the terminal of the optical fiber and the optical transmission member and the tension member extending along the longitudinal direction is covered with an exterior coating of the optical fiber, a stop ring in the ferrule and the plug frame An assembly method for assembling an optical connector comprising a sleeve-shaped housing that is assembled by mounting and housing the ferrule, wherein the front end side of the ferrule of a built-in optical fiber that is inserted and fixed to the ferrule of the optical connector A fusion splicing step of fusion splicing a portion protruding from the rear end opposite to the joining end surface of the optical fiber and the optical fiber exposed at the end of the optical transmission body, and after the fusion splicing step, A reinforcing sleeve is extrapolated to the fusion spliced portion of the fiber and the optical fiber of the optical transmission body, and one end of the reinforcing sleeve is connected to the ferrule sleeve. Extrapolated to a tube fixing part, and after the thermoplastic resin is heated and melted in a state where the fusion splicing part and the thermoplastic resin are housed in the reinforcing sleeve, the thermoplastic resin is solidified by lowering the temperature, The fusion splicing portion is embedded in the solidified thermoplastic resin, and one end of the reinforcing sleeve is fixed to the sleeve fixing portion by the thermoplastic resin interposed between the one end and the sleeve fixing portion of the ferrule. As a result, a connection reinforcing portion is formed by reinforcing the fusion spliced portion with the thermoplastic resin and the reinforcing sleeve to obtain a ferrule with a connecting reinforcing portion in which the connecting reinforcing portion is integrated with the ferrule. After the part assembly process and the connection reinforcement part assembly process, the stop ring is attached to the plug frame, so that While accommodating Lumpur and said spring, so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction is a direction along the central axis of the disposed so as to surround the both sides or the connecting reinforcement portion of the connecting reinforcing portion said housing, said ferrule A housing assembly configured such that a slider is interposed between the flange portion and the spring provided at a position spaced rearward from the ferrule, and the urging force of the spring is transmitted to the ferrule via the slider. And a method of assembling the optical connector.
The invention according to claim 1 5, in the connection reinforcing portion assembling process, as well as accommodating the fusion splice and the thermoplastic resin into the reinforcing sleeve, extending from the terminal of the optical transmission body wherein the strength member is heated and melted the thermoplastic resin in a state retracted into the reinforcing sleeve to claim 1 4, characterized in that to fix embed the strength members to the heat plastic resin that is solidified by subsequent cooling A method for assembling the described optical connector is provided.
The invention according to claim 1 6, heating the thermoplastic resin tip of retracted the tension member in the reinforcing sleeve in a state of being interposed between the sleeve fixing part at one end and the ferrule of the reinforcing sleeve The method of assembling an optical connector according to claim 15, wherein the optical connector is melted.
The invention according to claim 17 is characterized in that, in the connection reinforcing portion assembling step, the other end of the reinforcing sleeve opposite to one end of the ferrule that is externally fixed to the sleeve fixing portion is connected to the terminal of the optical transmission body. It said outer extrapolated outside the interpolation covered by the thermoplastic resin is interposed between the sleeve fixing part of the end and the ferrule of claim 14 to 16, characterized in that to fix the sleeve fixed part of the An optical connector assembling method according to any one of the above items is provided.
Invention, the a reinforcing sleeve heat shrinkable tube, the optical connector according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that to heat shrinkage in the connection reinforcing portion assembly process according to claim 1 8 An assembly method is provided.
According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the reinforcing sleeve is embedded with a reinforcing core material extending in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing sleeve, and an end portion of the reinforcing core material is fitted to one end of the reinforcing sleeve that is extrapolated to the sleeve fixing portion. are those provided, the optical connector according to any one of claims 14 to 18 to fix one end of the reinforcing sleeve at the connection reinforcing portion assembling process together with the reinforcing core on the sleeve fixing part An assembly method is provided.
The invention according to claim 2 0, wherein in the housing assembly process, and the stop ring, said a stop the spring housed in the ring, consists of a pre-kissing rider, provided retained on the stop ring The optical connector according to any one of claims 14 to 19, wherein the stop ring of a spring pressure applying unit configured to press the spring into the stop ring by a slider is attached to the plug frame. An assembly method is provided.

According to the present invention, the fusion spliced portion between the built-in optical fiber inserted and fixed to the ferrule and the optical fiber of the optical transmission body is housed in the reinforcing sleeve and embedded in the resin provided inside the reinforcing sleeve. The connection reinforcing portion is housed in the housing of the optical connector. The connection reinforcing portion is connected to the ferrule by externally fixing one end of the reinforcing sleeve to the cylindrical sleeve fixing portion at the rear end portion of the ferrule. Integrated. As a result, when the ferrule is pushed into the housing (when pushed into the optical transmission body) during connector connection, the optical fiber (built-in optical fiber) between the ferrule and the fusion splicing portion is bent. This can prevent the deterioration of the optical characteristics of the built-in optical fiber.
Further, if the connection reinforcing portion is integrated with the ferrule as described above, to ensure workability of the fusion splicing between the built-in optical fiber inserted and fixed to the ferrule and the optical fiber of the optical transmission body. Of course, even if the protruding length of the built-in optical fiber from the ferrule to the rear side is increased, it is possible to prevent the optical fiber (built-in optical fiber) between the ferrule and the fusion splicing portion from being bent. No. For this reason, good workability can be ensured in the fusion splicing work.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the optical fiber cord with a connector (optical transmission body with a connector) of FIG. It is a figure which shows the optical fiber cord with a connector (optical transmission body with a connector) which is one Embodiment which concerns on this invention, Comprising: (a) is sectional drawing, (b) is a side view. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the optical connector of the optical fiber cord with a connector of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the spring pressure application mechanism of the optical connector of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the spring pressure application mechanism of FIG. It is a figure explaining the fusion splicing process in the assembly method of the optical connector which concerns on this invention. It is a figure explaining the connection reinforcement part assembly process in the assembly method of the optical connector which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of an optical fiber cord, and is a perspective view which shows the state which extended the optical fiber and the tension body to the terminal (exposed). (A), (b) is a figure explaining another aspect of the sleeve fixing | fixed part of the ferrule of the optical connector of the optical transmission body with a connector which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing explaining another aspect of a reinforcement sleeve. It is sectional drawing explaining an example of the connection reinforcement part assembled using the reinforcement sleeve of FIG. It is a figure explaining the other aspect of an optical transmission body, Comprising: It is a perspective view which shows the structure of an optical fiber cable. (A) is a cross-sectional perspective view explaining another aspect of a reinforcement sleeve, (b) is a cross-sectional perspective view explaining another aspect of the reinforcement sleeve with resin for embedding. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the optical connector of the optical fiber cord with a connector which concerns on this invention, and is a figure explaining another aspect of a slider especially.

Hereinafter, an optical transmission body with a connector, an optical connector, and an assembly method of the optical connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, with reference to FIGS. 1-5, the structure of the optical fiber cord 1 with a connector (optical transmission body with a connector) which is 1 embodiment which concerns on this invention is demonstrated.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), this optical fiber cord with connector 1 is obtained by assembling an optical connector 10 at the end of an optical fiber cord 2 (optical transmission body).
In the following description, the left side in FIGS. 2A and 2B may be referred to as “front” or “tip direction”, and the right side may be referred to as “rear”. That is, in the optical fiber cord 1 with a connector, the side on which the ferrule 40 (described later) is provided is the front side, and the opposite side is the rear side. Further, with respect to the ferrule 40, the side of the joint end surface 41 a at the tip of the capillary portion 41 is the front side, and the opposite side is the rear side.

As shown in FIG. 8, the optical fiber cord 2 has a tube shape in which an optical fiber 2a such as an optical fiber core and a tensile body 2b extending along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber 2a are made of a resin such as polyethylene. For example, a general optical fiber cord can be exemplified. In the illustrated optical fiber cord 2, only one single-core optical fiber is housed in the outer sheath 2c as the optical fiber 2a.
As the strength member 2b, an aramid fiber is preferably used, but a glass fiber, a carbon fiber, or the like can also be used.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 (a), 3 and 4, the optical connector 10 terminates the optical fiber 2a so that it can be connected to a connector, and is a sleeve-shaped (specifically, rectangular tube-shaped) plug. In a sleeve-like housing 30 comprising a frame 31 and a sleeve-like stop ring 32 mounted on the rear end side of the plug frame 31, a ferrule 40 and the ferrule provided on the rear side of the ferrule 40 are provided. 40, a connection reinforcing portion 20 (described later), an elastic biasing spring 50 (specifically a coil spring) of the ferrule 40, and a slider 60 (described later).

The optical connector described here is a single-fiber optical connector. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 3, the ferrule 40 is extrapolated and fixed to a cylindrical capillary portion 41 and a rear end portion 41 b opposite to the joining end surface 41 a at the tip of the capillary portion 41. A metal flange part 42 and a built-in optical fiber 43 inserted into a fiber hole 41c (fine hole) penetrating the capillary part 41 are provided.
The capillary portion 41 is made of ceramic such as zirconia or glass, for example. These materials can be selected and used according to the use environment.

The flange part 42 includes a ring-shaped flange portion 42a that is externally fixed to the rear end portion 41b of the capillary portion 41, and a cylindrical sleeve fixing portion 42b that extends rearward from the flange portion 42a. .
The flange portion 42 a functions as a flange portion of the ferrule 40.
One end of a reinforcing sleeve 21 of a connection reinforcing portion 20 to be described later is externally fixed to the sleeve fixing portion 42b.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the built-in optical fiber 43 is inserted into a fiber hole 41c (fine hole) that penetrates the capillary section 41, and the sleeve fixing that communicates with the fiber hole 41c. It protrudes to the rear side of the ferrule 40 through the inner space of the portion 42b.
The fiber hole 41c of the capillary part 41 is formed so that the center axis thereof coincides with the center axis of the capillary part 41, and the center axis of the inner space of the sleeve fixing part 42b is also the center of the fiber hole 41c. It is coincident with the axis.

As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the built-in optical fiber 43 is a single-core optical fiber, and the central portion in the longitudinal direction is a core portion 43a covered with a covering material, and is formed on both sides of the core portion 43a. The configuration is such that a bare optical fiber, which is a portion where there is no coating material and the cladding is exposed, is extended.
The core wire portion 43a is accommodated in the sleeve fixing portion 42b (that is, the inner space of the sleeve fixing portion 42b).
In the fiber hole 41c of the capillary portion 41 of the ferrule 40, one of the bare optical fibers (interpolated fiber portion 43b) extending from the core wire portion 43a on both sides is inserted.
Further, a fusion extending portion 43c, which is a bare optical fiber on the side opposite to the insertion fiber portion 43b, extends from the ferrule 40 to the rear side from the core wire portion 43a.

The built-in optical fiber 43 is provided by bonding and fixing the insertion fiber portion 43b inserted into the fiber hole 41c of the capillary portion 41 using an adhesive. However, the built-in optical fiber 43 is, for example, only bonded and fixed to the flange part 42 of the core wire part 43a, or fixed to the flange part 42 of the core wire part 43a and bonded to the capillary part 41 of the interpolated fiber part 43b. Both fixing may be applied.
The built-in optical fiber 43 may have a configuration in which, for example, the core portion 43a does not exist, and the entire length is a bare optical fiber.

As shown in FIG. 2A, a stopper projection 31 a that abuts the flange portion 42 a of the ferrule 40 is provided on the inner surface side of the front end portion of the plug frame 31.
The ferrule 40 is restricted from further movement in the distal direction by the flange part 42 coming into contact with the stopper projection 31a of the plug frame 31 from the rear side.
The stopper protrusion 31 a is provided so as to protrude over the entire inner periphery of the plug frame 31. The capillary portion 41 of the ferrule 40 is inserted into a capillary housing hole secured inside the front end of the plug frame 31 (in the illustrated example, inside the stopper protrusion 31a).

As shown in FIG. 4, the stop ring 32 includes a main body housing 32a having a rectangular tube shape and a cylindrical portion 32b extending rearward from the main body housing 32a.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the spring 50 is accommodated in the main body housing 32a. The stop ring 32 has a sleeve shape in which the inner space of the cylindrical portion 32b and the inner space of the main body housing 32a are communicated with each other.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the spring 50 is a coil spring whose inner diameter is equal to or larger than the inner diameter of the inner space of the cylindrical portion 32 b. One end of the inner space of the cylindrical portion 32b is opened at the center of the rear wall portion 32c on the rear end side (cylindrical portion 32b side) of the main body housing 32a. The spring 50 has a square tube portion 32d extending forward from the outer periphery of the back wall portion 32c, so that the entire circumference of one end (one end in the central axis direction) is the inner space of the cylindrical portion 32b in the back wall portion 32c. It is positioned so as to be seated on a portion located around the opening of the cylindrical portion 32 so as not to overlap the opening of the inner space of the cylindrical portion 32b.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the slider 60 is formed in a sleeve shape.
The slider 60 includes a cylindrical main body 61 formed in a cylindrical shape, and one end (rear end) of the cylindrical main body 61. The slider 60 is disposed in a main body housing 32 a of the stop ring 32. And a cylindrical insertion portion 62 housed so as to be movable in the direction along the central axis of the tube.
The inner space of the slider 60 is a through-hole 63 having a circular cross section that substantially coincides with the inner space of the cylindrical portion 32 b of the stop ring 32.

  The insertion portion 62 is formed in an external rectangular tube shape having an outer peripheral surface having a shape substantially coinciding with the inner peripheral surface of the rectangular tube portion 32d of the main body housing 32a of the stop ring 32. It moves in the front-rear direction of the housing 30 (back-and-forth movement) with respect to the stop ring 32 while sliding on the peripheral surface. Further, the slider 60 restricts the rotational displacement around the central axis of the sleeve-like stop ring 32 with respect to the stop ring 32 by the contact between the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 62 and the inner peripheral surface of the rectangular tube portion 32d. Has been.

  Further, the slider 60 has a rear end that projects from the front side to a slider stopper protrusion 32h (see FIG. 5; not shown in FIG. 2A) that protrudes into the body housing 32a of the stop ring 32. The contacted position is a rear limit position for the stop ring 32. The slider stopper protrusions 32h protrude from the four corners of the inner peripheral surface of the rectangular tube section 32d having a rectangular cross section of the main body housing 32a, and do not contact the springs 50 housed in the main body housing 32a. 50 elastic deformation is not prevented.

In the slider 60, a retaining engagement protrusion 64 for retaining the stop ring 32 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 62. The retaining engagement protrusion 64 is inserted into an engagement window 32e formed in the rectangular tube portion 32d of the stop ring 32.
The portion of the square tube portion 32d of the stop ring 32 that is located on the front side of the engagement window 32e is engaged with the retaining projection 64 for preventing the slider 60 from being engaged, so that the portion to the front side of the slider 60 is further increased. , And functions as a retaining engagement portion 32 i for retaining the slider 60 from the stop ring 32. In the optical connector 10, the slider 60 is attached to the stop ring 32 by engagement of a retaining engagement protrusion 64 protruding from the insertion portion 62 and a retaining engagement portion 32 i of the stop ring 32. On the other hand, it is provided to prevent it from coming off.

As shown in FIG. 3, the slider 60 is disconnected when the stop ring 32 of a spring pressure application unit 33 (described later) constituted by the stop ring 32, the spring 32, and the slider 60 is not connected to the plug frame 31. The position where the stop engaging protrusion 64 abuts (engages) from the rear side with the retaining portion 32 i of the stop ring 32 from the rear side is the forward limit position for the stop ring 32.
When the optical connector 10 is assembled by connecting (attaching) a stop ring 32 of a spring pressure application unit 33 (described later) to the plug frame 31, it abuts against a stopper projection 31a (see FIG. 2A) of the plug frame 31. The abutting position where the slider 60 (specifically, the front end surface 65) abuts against the flange portion 42a of the ferrule 40 from the rear side is a movement limit position of the slider 60 with respect to the housing 30 relative to the front side. The slider 60 has a stopper protrusion 31a (see FIG. 2A) of the plug frame 31 before the locking engagement protrusion 64 comes into contact (engagement) from the rear side with the locking engagement part 32i of the stop ring 32. This position is abutted against the flange portion 42a of the ferrule 40 that is abutted to the reference), and this position becomes the forward limit position.

  The engagement window 32e of the stop ring 32 has a clearance C (see FIG. 3) with the engagement protrusion 64 for preventing the slider 60 from being inserted in order to allow the slider 60 to move back and forth with respect to the stop ring 32. The slider 60 is formed from the rear side to the flange portion 42a of the ferrule 40 that is formed in a size that can be secured (dimension in the front-rear direction) but is in contact with the stopper protrusion 31a of the plug frame 31 (see FIG. 2A). (Specifically, the front end face 65) abuts the contact position (the limit position of the slider 60 moving forward with respect to the housing 30), and the slider 50 after the slider 50 with respect to the slider stopper projection 32h (FIG. 5). The movable range in the front-rear direction with respect to the stop ring 32 of the slider 60 determined by the contact position of the end is the clearance. Smaller than the front-rear direction dimension of.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the slider 60 has a rear end face (rear end face, that is, a rear end face of the insertion portion 62) in contact with the spring 50 from the front side. The inner diameter of the opening of the through hole 63 on the rear end surface of the slider 60 is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the spring 32, and the rear end surface of the slider 60 is brought into contact with the front end of the spring 50 over the entire circumference. Yes.

As shown in FIG. 3, the optical connector 10 includes the stop ring 32, the slider 60 provided to prevent the stop ring 32 from being detached, and the spring 50 housed in the stop ring 32. A spring pressure application unit 33 is provided. Further, in the spring pressure application unit 33, as described above, the slider 60 is provided so as not to be detached from the stop ring 32, so that the spring 50 is detached from the stop ring 32 by the slider 60. Is regulated.
For this reason, when the housing 30 is assembled by attaching (assembling) the stop ring 32 to the plug frame 31, the housing of the spring 50 and the slider 60 constituting the spring pressure applying unit 33 can be completed. That is, there is no need to individually house the spring 50 and the slider 60 in the housing 30, which is advantageous in terms of improving workability in assembling the housing 30. Thereby, the assembly work of the optical connector 10 to the optical fiber cord 2 terminal at the site can be easily performed.

  The boot 11 may be fixed by fitting the stop ring 32 into the plug frame 31 and then fitting it into the stop ring 32. However, the spring pressure application unit 33 in the illustrated example is fitted into the stop ring 32. Since the boot 11 fixed in this way is also included, the stop ring 32 can be fitted and attached to the plug frame 31 and the installation of the boot 11 can be completed at the same time.

  The retaining protrusion 64 is a slider that corresponds to an engagement window 32e formed on each of a pair of parallel sidewalls of the four sidewalls of the square frame-shaped square tube portion 32d of the stop ring 32. However, the number of the retaining protrusions 64 and the engagement windows 32e is not limited to this, and can be changed as appropriate.

The housing 30 of the illustrated optical connector 10 employs a so-called LC type optical connector (trade name of Lucent), and latches detachably engaged with the plug frame 31 to a positioning housing such as an optical connector adapter. 31b protrudes, and the stop ring 32 is provided with a lever 32f for releasing the engagement of the latch 31b with the positioning housing.
However, the configuration of the optical connector according to the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an SC type optical connector (F04 type optical connector established in JIS C 5973; SC: Single fiber Coupling optical fiber), MU type optical The present invention can also be applied to a connector (F14 type optical connector established in JIS C 5983. MU: Miniature-Unit coupling optical fiber connector).

As shown in FIG. 2A, the slider 60 has a fusion extending portion 43 c protruding from the rear end of the ferrule 40 of the built-in optical fiber 43 inserted and fixed in the ferrule 40 in the through-hole 63. The connection reinforcing portion 20 having a structure in which the fusion splicing portion 3 with the optical fiber 2a exposed at the end of the optical fiber cord 2 is embedded in a resin provided inside the reinforcing sleeve 21 in which the fusion splicing portion 3 is accommodated. Is to be stored.
In this optical connector 10, since the slider 60 is disposed so as to surround the connection reinforcing portion 20, the connection reinforcing portion 20 can be double protected by the housing 30 and the slider 60. More reliable protection can be realized against collisions of colliding objects with the optical connector 10.
Further, since the slider 60 also functions as a reinforcing material for reinforcing the housing 30, the so-called side pull (an optical transmission body (here, the optical fiber cord 2) extending from the rear end of the optical connector 10) is inclined with respect to the central axis of the housing 30. The deformation of the housing 30 against the action of a pulling force in the direction in which the force is large) can be suppressed, and this is also advantageous for protecting the connection reinforcing portion 20.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the projecting claw 66 protruding from the end surface 65 (hereinafter also referred to as the front end surface) of the cylindrical body 61 of the slider 60 is a ring-shaped flange portion of the ferrule 40. The outer periphery of 42 a is in contact with a notch portion 42 c (notch surface) formed partially flat, and functions as a detent protrusion that restricts the rotation of the ferrule 40 around the axis.

  In the optical connector 10, the front end surface 65 of the cylindrical body 61 of the slider 60 is in contact with the flange portion 42 a of the ferrule 40 from the rear side, and the spring of the spring 50 is interposed via the slider 60. Pressure can be applied to the ferrule 40. When the optical connector 10 is connected to the connector, when the ferrule 40 is pushed into the housing 30 (moves rearward with respect to the housing 30), the slider 60 is also moved rearward and the spring 50 is compressed and deformed. In the optical connector 10, since the slider 60 can be elastically biased toward the ferrule 40 by the spring 50 of the spring pressure application unit 33, the spring pressure of the spring 50 is thereby ferruled through the slider 60. 40, the butting force between the ferrules when the connector is connected can be secured.

  That is, the slider 60 is interposed between the flange portion 42a of the ferrule 40 and the spring 50 provided at a position spaced rearward from the ferrule 40. The optical connector 10 includes the spring 50. The urging force is transmitted to the ferrule 40 via the slider 60. The slider 60 also functions as an urging force transmission member that transmits the urging force of the spring 50 to the ferrule 40.

Next, the connection reinforcing part 20 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2A, as described above, the connection reinforcing portion 20 is a fusion extending portion protruding from the rear end of the ferrule 40 of the built-in optical fiber 43 that is inserted and fixed to the ferrule 40. 43c and the optical fiber 2a exposed (extended) from the end of the optical fiber cord 2 are embedded in the resin 22 provided inside the reinforcing sleeve 21 in which the fusion connection part 3 is accommodated. It has a configuration. In the connection reinforcing portion 20, the mechanical strength of the connection portion between the optical fibers is improved (reinforced) by the reinforcing sleeve 21 and the resin 22.

  One end of the reinforcing sleeve 21 of the connection reinforcing portion 20 is externally fixed to the sleeve fixing portion 42b of the rear end portion of the ferrule 40, and the other end is the end of the optical fiber cord 2 (the front end portion of the jacket 2c). ) Is fixed by extrapolation. For this reason, in the optical connector 10 and the optical fiber cord 1 with a connector, the ferrule 40 and the connection reinforcing portion 20, and the optical fiber cord 2 terminal and the connection reinforcing portion 20 are integrated.

In the optical connector 10 of the optical fiber cord 1 with connector of the illustrated example, the end of the optical fiber cord 2 (tip of the outer cover 2c) is the rear end of the housing 30 (specifically, the rear end of the stop ring 32). The optical fiber cord 2 is inserted into a boot through-hole 11a penetrating in the longitudinal direction of an elongated boot 11 assembled by extrapolating to the cylindrical portion 32b of the stop ring 32. However, the optical fiber cord 2 is not fixed to the boot 11 but is movable along the longitudinal direction of the boot 11.
The connection reinforcing portion 20 is inserted in the slider 60, the spring 50, and the stop ring 32 accommodated in the housing 30 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction.
For example, when the ferrule 40 is pushed into the housing 30 by the connector connecting operation of the optical connector 10 (when moved to the rear side), the optical fiber cord with connector 1 includes the ferrule 40 and the connection reinforcing portion. 20 and the optical fiber cord 2 end are moved together with respect to the housing 30.

  As described above, the ferrule 40A with a connection reinforcing portion, in which the connection reinforcing portion 20 is integrally provided on the ferrule 40, is used for the retaining engagement of the slider 60 with respect to the retaining engagement portion 32i of the stop ring 32. The slider 60 is movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the stop ring 32, which is determined by the contact position (engagement position) of the protrusion 64 and the contact position of the rear end of the slider 50 with respect to the slider stopper protrusion 32h (FIG. 5) of the stop ring 32. It can move back and forth with respect to the housing 30 within a range.

Further, according to the optical fiber cord 1 with a connector, for example, in a state where the optical connector 10 is fitted to an adapter (optical connector adapter), an optical connector receptacle or the like, the optical fiber cord 2 is rearward from the optical connector 10. When a tensile force is applied to the extended portion, the rear end of the slider 50 abuts against the slider stopper protrusion 32h (FIG. 5) of the stop ring 32, so that the ferrule 40A with connection reinforcing portion is rearward with respect to the housing 30. Further movement to is restricted. As a result, the connector connection is released, that is, the distance between the ferrule 40 of the optical connector 10 of the optical fiber cord 1 with a connector and the ferrule on the other side where the ferrule 40 is abutted is separated in the adapter or the receptacle. Can be prevented.
With this configuration, according to the optical fiber cord with connector 1, when the optical connector 10 is inserted into and fitted into a positioning housing such as an optical connector adapter or an optical connector receptacle, the optical connection within the positioning housing is performed. The distance between the reference surface and the mechanical reference surface can be kept below the minimum value of the standard.

Here, the heat-shrinkable tube is used as the reinforcing sleeve 21, and the reinforcing sleeve 21 is firmly fixed by tightening the sleeve fixing portion 42b of the ferrule 40 and the end of the optical fiber cord 2 by the contraction force of the heat-shrinkable tube. Has been.
As the reinforcing sleeve 21, one made of a heat-shrinkable resin is used, and for example, polyolefin that shrinks at 100 to 160 ° C. can be used.

The resin 22 is a thermoplastic resin here.
As the thermoplastic resin 22, a hot melt resin (hot melt adhesive) can be suitably used. Examples of the hot melt resin include ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), polyethylene, polyisobutylene, polyamide, and ethylene-acrylic acid ester copolymer.
The thermoplastic resin 22 is preferably softened at the contraction temperature of the reinforcing sleeve 21. This softening temperature is, for example, 100 to 160 ° C.

  When assembling the connection reinforcing portion 20, as shown in FIG. 3, as the reinforcing sleeve 21, the one provided with the thermoplastic resin on the inner surface side thereof (the reinforcing sleeve with embedded resin 21 </ b> A) is preferably used. Can do. Specifically, the reinforcing sleeve 21 has a configuration in which a thermoplastic resin is attached to the inner surface side thereof. Specifically, the thermoplastic resin is attached to the inner surface of the reinforcing sleeve 21 in a layered manner by a coating layer, molding, or the like to form a thermoplastic resin layer 22a. The thermoplastic resin layer 22 a is not limited to the one that is attached to the inner surface of the reinforcing sleeve 21, and may be a tube-like one that is separate from the reinforcing sleeve 21.

The connection reinforcing portion 20 is a state in which a thermoplastic resin is housed in the reinforcing sleeve 21 together with the fusion splicing portion 3 (in this embodiment, the reinforcing sleeve 21A with the embedding resin is used to melt the thermoplastic resin into the reinforcing sleeve 21. By simply storing the splice connection portion 3, the thermoplastic resin is also stored), and the entire reinforcing sleeve 21 and its contents (the fusion splicing portion 3 and the thermoplastic resin) are heated to provide the thermoplastic resin 22 (heat The plastic resin layer 22a) is melted and the reinforcing sleeve 21 is heat-shrinked for assembly.
Here, the molten thermoplastic resin 22 is inserted between the sleeve fixing portion 42b of the ferrule 40 and a portion (one end) of the reinforcing sleeve 21 that is extrapolated to the sleeve fixing portion 42b, and the end of the optical fiber cord 2 (in detail). Is inserted between the portion (the other end) of the reinforcing sleeve 21 that is extrapolated to the end of the optical fiber cord 2 and the thermoplastic resin 22 is solidified by cooling. With the resin 22, the reinforcing sleeve 21 can be fixed to the sleeve fixing portion 42 b of the ferrule 40 and the optical fiber cord 2 end.

  The use of the reinforcing sleeve 21 provided with the thermoplastic resin on the inner surface side is such that the molten thermoplastic resin 22 is extrapolated to the sleeve fixing portion 42b of the ferrule 40 and the sleeve fixing portion 42b of the reinforcing sleeve 21 (one end). ) And between the end of the optical fiber cord 2 (specifically, the tip of the outer sheath 2c) and the portion of the reinforcing sleeve 21 that is extrapolated to the end of the optical fiber cord 2 (the other end). It goes without saying that it is advantageous.

Thus, between the sleeve fixing portion 42b of the ferrule 40 and the portion (one end) of the reinforcing sleeve 21 that is extrapolated to the sleeve fixing portion 42b, the optical fiber cord 2 terminal (specifically, the tip portion of the jacket 2c) and The reinforcing sleeve 21 is attached to the sleeve fixing portion 42b of the ferrule 40 and the two ends of the optical fiber cord by a thermoplastic resin interposed between the portion (the other end) of the reinforcing sleeve 21 that is extrapolated to the end of the optical fiber cord 2. As long as the structure can be fixed, the fixing can be performed without using a heat-shrinkable tube as the reinforcing sleeve.
For this reason, the present invention also includes a configuration in which a sleeve other than the heat shrinkable tube (resin tube having heat shrinkability), for example, a resin tube having no heat shrinkability, is used as the reinforcing sleeve 21. Further, as the reinforcing sleeve 21, the one having the thermoplastic resin (for example, the above-described thermoplastic resin layer 22 a) on the inner surface side (the reinforcing sleeve 21 </ b> A with the embedding resin) is used as the reinforcing sleeve 21. It is preferable.
The reinforcing sleeve is preferably flexible. Here, as the reinforcing sleeve 21, one having flexibility before and after thermal contraction is employed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3 and the like, a groove 42d (concave portion) for increasing the pulling resistance of the reinforcing sleeve 21 from the sleeve fixing portion 42b is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve fixing portion 42b of the ferrule 40. Is formed.
In the illustrated example of the sleeve fixing portion 42b, annular grooves 42d (annular grooves) extending in the circumferential direction of the sleeve fixing portion 42b are formed at a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction (center axis direction) of the sleeve fixing portion 42b. Has been.

However, the concave portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve fixing portion 42b in order to increase the pulling resistance of the reinforcing sleeve 21 from the sleeve fixing portion 42b is not limited to the annular groove 42d. For example, FIG. The spiral groove 42e as shown in FIG. Moreover, as shown in FIG.9 (b), it is good also as a structure which formed the recess 42f (recessed part) in the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve fixing | fixed part 42b so that it may be scattered in many places. It is also effective to project one or a plurality of convex portions on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve fixing portion 42b instead of the concave portion.
In the figure, reference numeral 42b1 is added to the sleeve fixing part 42b in FIG. 9A, and reference numeral 42b2 is added to the sleeve fixing part 42b in FIG. 9B.

  In this way, if the concave and convex portions are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve fixing portion 42b, the pull-out resistance of the reinforcing sleeve 21 from the sleeve fixing portion 42b can be improved mechanically, and the sleeve fixing portion 42b. The thermoplastic resin 22 is easily interposed between the reinforcing sleeve 21 and the reinforcing sleeve 21, which is advantageous in terms of securing the fixing force of the thermoplastic resin 22.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, in the optical fiber cord 1 with a connector, the tensile body 2b extended from the end of the optical fiber cord 2 is provided inside the reinforcing sleeve 21 of the connection reinforcing portion 3. It is embedded and fixed in resin 22 (thermoplastic resin). Further, the tip of the strength member 2 b is sandwiched between the sleeve fixing portion 42 b of the ferrule 40 and the reinforcing sleeve 21.
Thereby, the pulling-out proof strength from the connection reinforcement part 3 of the optical connector 10 of the optical fiber cord 1 with a connector is improved significantly.

The tensile body 2b does not have its front end sandwiched between the sleeve fixing portion 42b of the ferrule 40 and the reinforcing sleeve 21, and the resin 22 (thermoplastic resin) inside the reinforcing sleeve 21 of the connection reinforcing portion 3 is used. If it is embedded and fixed in the interior, it effectively contributes to an improvement in the pulling strength of the optical fiber cord 2 from the connection reinforcing portion 3 of the optical connector 10. In the present invention, the tip of the strength member 2b is not sandwiched between the sleeve fixing portion 42b of the ferrule 40 and the reinforcing sleeve 21, and is embedded and fixed in the resin 22 (thermoplastic resin) inside the reinforcing sleeve 21. Including the configuration performed.
If the tip of the strength member 2b is sandwiched and fixed between the sleeve fixing portion 42b of the ferrule 40 and the reinforcing sleeve 21, the strength member 2b is embedded in the resin 22 inside the reinforcing sleeve 21, Compared to the case where the sleeve fixing portion 42b and the reinforcing sleeve 21 are not clamped only by fixing, the pulling-up strength is effectively improved.

  Next, an assembling method for assembling the optical connector 10 on the optical fiber cord 2 terminal (an assembling method of the optical connector) will be described. It goes without saying that an optical fiber cord with a connector (optical transmission body with a connector) can be obtained by assembling the optical connector 10 at the end of the optical fiber cord 2 by this assembling method. For this reason, in other words, this assembly method can also be said to be an assembly method of an optical transmission body with a connector.

  In this assembling method, a fusion splicing step (FIG. 6) is performed in which the fusion extending portion 43 c of the built-in optical fiber 43 of the ferrule 40 and the optical fiber 2 a extending from the end of the optical fiber cord 2 are fusion-connected. Thereafter, the connection reinforcing portion 20 is assembled to perform the connection reinforcing portion assembling step (see FIG. 7) to obtain the ferrule 40A with the connection reinforcing portion, and then the housing 30 is assembled by attaching the stop ring 32 to the plug frame 31. The housing assembly process for housing the ferrule 40A with connection reinforcing portion and the spring 50 in the housing 30 is performed. Upon completion of the housing assembly process, the optical connector 10 is assembled to the end of the optical fiber cord 2, and the optical fiber cord 1 with connector (optical transmission body with connector) is obtained.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the fusion splicing step, the fusion extending portion 43c of the built-in optical fiber 43 of the ferrule 40 and the optical fiber 2a extending from the end of the optical fiber cord 2 (here, a single optical fiber) The bare optical fiber 2d exposed by removing the coating on the tip of the core wire) is fusion-connected by, for example, an arc discharge-type fusion splicer using a discharge electrode.
This fusion splicing operation is performed in a state in which the reinforcing sleeve 21, the stop ring 32, the spring 50, the slider 60, and the boot 11 are extrapolated in advance to the optical fiber cord 2 and are arranged at positions that do not interfere with the operation.

  In the connection reinforcing portion assembling step, as shown in FIG. 7, first, a reinforcing sleeve 21 (here, a resin for embedding is attached) to the fusion splicing portion 3 between the built-in optical fiber 43 of the ferrule 40 and the optical fiber 2a of the optical fiber cord 2 is used. The reinforcing sleeve 21A) is extrapolated, one end of the reinforcing sleeve 21 is extrapolated to the sleeve fixing portion 42b of the ferrule 40, and the other end of the reinforcing sleeve 21 is extrapolated to the end of the optical fiber cord 2. Further, the strength member 2b extended from the end of the optical fiber cord 2 is also accommodated in the reinforcement sleeve 21, and the tip of the strength member 2b is connected to one end of the reinforcement sleeve 21 and the sleeve fixing portion 42b of the ferrule 40. It is placed in between.

  Next, the reinforcing sleeve 21 and its contents (the fusion connecting portion 3 and the thermoplastic resin) are heated in a state where the fusion splicing portion 3 is housed in the embedding resin-equipped reinforcing sleeve 21 </ b> A. The thermoplastic resin (thermoplastic resin layer 22a) is heated and melted, and the reinforcing sleeve 21, which is a heat shrinkable tube, is heat shrunk. This heating is performed to a temperature higher than the heat shrinkage temperature of the reinforcing sleeve 21 and the melting temperature of the thermoplastic resin.

  In this connection reinforcing portion assembling step, the reinforcing sleeve 21A with the embedding resin is used, so that the reinforcing sleeve 21A with the embedding resin can be melted inside the reinforcing sleeve 21 simply by extrapolating the fusion sleeve 21A. Although it is possible to easily obtain a state in which the landing connection portion 3 and the thermoplastic resin are accommodated, the present invention does not use the reinforcing sleeve 21A with the embedding resin, and does not use the reinforcing sleeve 21A in the connection reinforcing portion assembly process. It also includes storing a thermoplastic resin separately. As the thermoplastic resin stored in the reinforcing sleeve 21, for example, a rod-shaped one or a granular one can be adopted. However, as described above, if the configuration using the reinforcing sleeve with embedded resin 21A in which the thermoplastic resin layer 22a is provided on the inner surface side of the reinforcing sleeve 21, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of storing work, so on site work, preferable.

After the reinforcing sleeve 21 and its entire contents are heated, the reinforcing sleeve 21 is thermally contracted and the thermoplastic resin is heated and melted, and then cooled (cooled down), for example, by being left at room temperature, to solidify the thermoplastic resin. The fusion-bonding portion 3 is embedded in the thermoplastic resin 22 thus solidified, and one end of the reinforcing sleeve 21 is interposed between the one end and the sleeve fixing portion 42b of the ferrule 40. To be fixed to the sleeve fixing portion 42b. Further, the tensile body 2b is fixed in the thermoplastic resin while being embedded. The end of the strength member 2b disposed between one end of the reinforcing sleeve 21 and the sleeve fixing portion 42b of the ferrule 40 is also fixed to the sleeve fixing portion 42b.
Further, the other end of the reinforcing sleeve 21 is fixed to the sleeve fixing portion 42b by the thermoplastic resin 22 interposed between the other end and the optical fiber cord 2 end.

In the housing assembling step, after the connecting reinforcing portion assembling step, the stop ring 32 is attached to the plug frame 31 and the housing 30 is assembled to assemble the ferrule 40A with connecting reinforcing portion, the spring 50, and the slider 60 into the housing 30. Storing.
The optical connector 10 of the optical fiber cord 1 with the connector includes a spring pressure application unit 33 (see FIG. 3). By attaching (assembling) the stop ring 32 of the spring pressure application unit 33 to the plug frame 31, The operation of housing the ferrule 40A with connection reinforcing portion, the spring 50, and the slider 60 in the housing 30 can be easily performed.

In addition, the attachment (assembly) of the stop ring 32 to the plug frame 31 of the optical fiber cord 1 with the connector and the optical connector 10 is specifically engaged by pushing the stop ring 32 into the plug frame 31 from the rear side. This is realized.
As shown in FIG. 3, the stop ring 32 is inserted into the plug frame 31, and the engaging protrusions 32 g that are provided on both sides of the main body housing 32 a of the stop ring 32 are formed on the wall portions on both sides of the rear end of the plug frame 31. By engaging with the engagement window 31 c and engaging with the plug frame 31, the withdrawal of the stop ring 32 from the plug frame 31 is restricted, and the stop ring 32 is assembled to the plug frame 31.

  According to the present invention, the fusion splicing portion 3 between the built-in optical fiber 43 inserted and fixed to the ferrule 40 and the optical fiber 2 a of the optical transmission body (here, the optical fiber cord 2) accommodates the fusion splicing portion 3. The connection reinforcing portion 20 embedded in the resin 22 provided inside the reinforcing sleeve 21 is accommodated in the housing 30 of the optical connector 10, and the connection reinforcing portion 20 has one end of the reinforcing sleeve 21 at the ferrule. The ferrule 40 is integrated by extrapolating and fixing to a sleeve fixing portion 42 b at the rear end portion of the 40. Thereby, when the ferrule 40A is pushed into the housing 30 (when pushed into the optical transmission body) during connector connection, the optical fiber (in this embodiment) between the ferrule 40A and the fusion splicing portion 3 is used. The bending extension 43c) of the built-in optical fiber can be prevented from being bent, and the optical characteristics of the built-in optical fiber 43 can be prevented from deteriorating.

  If the connection reinforcing portion 20 is integrated with the ferrule 40 as described above (ferrule 40A with connection reinforcing portion), the built-in optical fiber 43 inserted and fixed to the ferrule 40 and the optical fiber of the optical transmission body In order to ensure the workability of the fusion splicing with 2a, even if the protruding length of the built-in optical fiber 43 from the ferrule 40 to the rear side is increased, the optical fiber between the ferrule 40 and the fusion splicing portion 3 ( Needless to say, in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the bending extension portion 43c) of the built-in optical fiber from being bent. For this reason, good workability can be ensured in the fusion splicing work.

(Modification)
As the reinforcing sleeve, for example, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, a configuration in which a reinforcing core member 23 a extending in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing sleeve is embedded may be employed. In the figure, reference numeral 23 is given to this reinforcing sleeve. The reinforcing core material 23 a is embedded over the entire length of the reinforcing sleeve 23.
10 and 11 exemplify a reinforcing sleeve with an embedding resin having a configuration in which a thermoplastic resin layer 22 a is provided on the inner surface side of the reinforcing sleeve 23.

  The reinforcing core material 23a is, for example, a rod-shaped tensile body made of stainless steel such as SUS304, and this tension is reduced by relaxing the tension applied to the bare optical fibers 43c and 2d including the fusion splicing portion 3. This effectively contributes to preventing the optical fiber from being broken due to the above. Needless to say, the reinforcing core member 23a effectively contributes to prevention of bending and bending of the connection reinforcing portion 20A assembled integrally with the ferrule 40 using the reinforcing sleeve 23 with respect to bending stress.

Further, in terms of preventing bending and bending of the connection reinforcing portion 20A against bending stress, as shown in FIG. 11, one end of the reinforcing sleeve 23 is connected to the sleeve fixing portion of the ferrule 40 together with the reinforcing core material 23a in the connection reinforcing portion assembling step. It is preferable to fix to 42b.
This configuration is effective in securing the rigidity of the portion where the front end portion (end portion on the ferrule 40 side) of the connection reinforcing portion 20A, in particular, the front end (one end) of the reinforcing sleeve 23 is externally fixed to the sleeve fixing portion 42b of the ferrule 40. Yes, it is possible to prevent the front end portion of the connection reinforcing portion 20A from being bent or broken.

Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist thereof.
(1) As an optical transmission body according to the present invention, an optical fiber cord may be used as long as the optical fiber and a tensile body extending along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber are covered with an outer sheath. It is not limited to two. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, an optical fiber 4a and a tensile body 4b disposed on both sides of the optical fiber 4 and extending along the optical fiber 4a are embedded in a covering material 4c (exterior covering). An optical fiber cable 4 or the like having a configuration can also be used. Examples of the optical fiber cable 4 having such a configuration include an optical drop cable and an optical indoor cable. As the optical fiber 4a, an optical fiber core, an optical fiber, or the like is used. As the tensile body 4b, for example, a tensile member (tensile fiber) excellent in tensile strength and elasticity such as aramid fiber and FRP is employed.

(2) As the reinforcing sleeve with resin for embedding, like the reinforcing sleeve with resin for embedding 25 shown in FIG. 13 (a), an outer tube 25b (flexible resin) that houses the inner tube 25a made of thermoplastic resin. A tensile sleeve (strength fiber 25c) having excellent tensile strength and elasticity such as aramid fiber, FRP, etc., as a tensile body is provided along the longitudinal direction of the outer tube 25b (vertical length). Attached) Like an embedded structure or a reinforcing sleeve 26 with an embedded resin shown in FIG. 13B, an inner tube 26a made of thermoplastic resin and an outer tube 26b (flexible) for accommodating the inner tube 26a Reinforcement sleeves, such as heat-shrinkable tubes (for example, heat-shrinkable tubes), tensile strength of aramid fibers, FRP, etc. Can be employed those degrees and elasticity excellent strength members (tensile strength fiber 26c) along the longitudinal direction of the inner tube 26a and an outer tube 26b (Tatesoe) configuration are interposed so extend.
In the reinforcing sleeve 25 with embedded resin in FIG. 13A, a number of tensile strength fibers 25c are provided over the entire cross-section of the outer tube 25b. In the reinforcing sleeve 26 with embedded resin in FIG. 13B, a number of tensile strength fibers 26c are provided between the inner tube 26a and the outer tube 26b over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction.
When a bending stress is applied to the connection reinforcing portion, a tensile force acts on the outer peripheral side of the bending of the connection reinforcing portion due to the bending stress. However, the tensile strength member vertically attached to the reinforcing sleeve like the above-described reinforcing sleeve If the (strength fiber) is provided over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the reinforcing sleeve, the tensile force acting on the outer peripheral side of the bending of the connection reinforcing portion due to bending stress is applied to the tensile body (particularly, the bending of the connecting reinforcing portion). The tensile force applied to the internal optical fiber can be alleviated by the burden of the tensile body located on the outer peripheral side. Needless to say, the bending of the connection reinforcing portion can be alleviated.

(3) The slider may have any structure as long as it can transmit the elastic biasing force of the spring to the ferrule. In this regard, for example, instead of a cylindrical tubular body, a plurality of rod-like or elongated plate-like pressing pieces 67 extending from the insertion portion 62 (such as the pressing piece 67 in the illustrated example is a slider 60A shown in FIG. 14). It is also possible to adopt a configuration having a long plate shape. The pressing piece 67 of the slider 60 </ b> A illustrated in FIG. 14 has a tip surface 67 a that comes into contact with the flange portion 42 a of the ferrule 40 from the rear side. Further, a projecting claw 66 that abuts on a notch 42c (notch surface) of the flange portion 42a of the ferrule 40 is provided so as to project from the tip end surface 65a.
In the case where the number of the pressing pieces 67 is two, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the two pressing pieces 67 are configured to face each other on both sides of the connection reinforcing portion 20, so that the ferrule is evenly pressed. However, it is preferable. When there are three or more pressing pieces, the pressing pieces are preferably arranged so as to surround the connection reinforcing portion.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical transmission body with connector (optical fiber cord with connector), 2 ... Optical transmission body (optical fiber cord), 2a ... Optical fiber, 2b ... Tensile body (strength fiber), 2c ... Outer sheath (outer coating), 2d ... Bare optical fiber, 3 ... Fusion splicer, 4 ... Optical transmission body (optical fiber cable), 4a ... Optical fiber, 4b ... Tensile body, 4c ... Outer sheath (coating material),
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Optical connector, 11 ... Boot, 20, 20A ... Connection reinforcement part, 21 ... Reinforcement sleeve, 22 ... Thermoplastic resin, 22a ... Thermoplastic resin (thermoplastic resin layer), 23 ... Reinforcement sleeve, 23a ... Reinforcement core material, 25 ... Reinforcement sleeve with embedding resin, 25a ... Thermoplastic resin (inner tube), 25b ... Reinforcement sleeve (heat shrink tube, outer tube), 26 ... Reinforcement sleeve with embedding resin, 26a ... Thermoplastic resin (inner tube) , 26b ... Reinforcing sleeve (heat shrinkable tube, outer tube), 30 ... Housing, 31 ... Plug frame, 32 ... Stop ring, 33 ... Spring pressure application unit, 40 ... Ferrule, 40A ... Ferrule with connection reinforcement, 42a ... Flange Part, 42b, 42b1, 42b2 ... sleeve fixing part, 42d ... concave part (annular groove), 42e ... concave (Hadakasenmizo), 42f ... recess, 43 ... built-in optical fiber, 43c ... fusing extending portion, 50 ... spring, 60 ... slider.

Claims (20)

Of the optical transmission body (2, 4) in which the optical fiber (2a, 4a) and the tensile body (2b, 4b) extending along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber are covered with the outer sheath (2c, 4c). An optical transmission body with a connector in which an optical connector (10) is assembled at the tip,
The optical connector includes a ferrule (40) in the housing (30), and a rear end opposite to the joint end surface (41a) on the front side of the ferrule of the built-in optical fiber (43) inserted and fixed to the ferrule. Reinforcement sleeve (21) in which a fusion splicing part (3) between the part protruding from the optical fiber (2, 4a) and the optical fiber (2a, 4a) exposed at the end of the optical transmission body (2, 4) accommodates the fusion splicing part ) And a connection reinforcing portion embedded in a resin provided inside, and a spring (50) for elastic biasing of the ferrule,
One end of the reinforcing sleeve of the connection reinforcing portion is fixed by extrapolating to a cylindrical sleeve fixing portion (42b) at the rear end portion of the ferrule, and the ferrule and the connection reinforcing portion are integrated .
The housing has a sleeve shape, and a slider is provided in the housing so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, which is disposed on both sides of the connection reinforcing portion or around the connection reinforcing portion, and is along the central axis of the housing. The slider is interposed between a flange portion (42a) of the ferrule and the spring provided at a position spaced rearward from the ferrule, and the urging force of the spring is interposed through the slider. An optical transmission body with a connector (1), which is configured to be transmitted to a ferrule .   2. The optical transmission with a connector according to claim 1, wherein the tensile body extending from the end of the optical transmission body is embedded and fixed in a resin inside a reinforcing sleeve of the connection reinforcing portion. body.   The optical transmission body with a connector according to claim 2, wherein a tip of the tensile strength body is sandwiched between the sleeve fixing portion of the ferrule and the reinforcing sleeve. 4. A convex portion or a concave portion for increasing a pulling resistance of the reinforcing sleeve from the sleeve fixing portion is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the sleeve fixing portion of the ferrule. An optical transmission body with a connector according to claim 1 . A terminal of the optical transmission body is inserted and fixed to the other end of the reinforcing sleeve opposite to the end fixed to the sleeve fixing portion (42b) of the ferrule, and the terminal of the optical transmission body and the connection are connected. A reinforcing portion is integrated, and the ferrule, the connection reinforcing portion, and the end of the optical transmission body are integrally movable in a central axis direction of the sleeve-shaped housing. connectorized optical transmission body according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The reinforcing sleeve is heat shrinkable tube, a connector-equipped optical transmission body according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the resin is characterized in that it is a thermoplastic resin. The housing comprises a sleeve-like plug frame (31) and a sleeve-like stop ring (32) attached to the plug frame,
The slider has an insertion portion in which a rear end portion opposite to an end portion on the ferrule side is housed in the stop ring so as to be movable in the front-rear direction of the housing, and the insertion portion is formed in the stop ring. A retaining protrusion for retaining to be engaged with the retaining portion that is retaining,
The connector according to claim 1, wherein the spring is housed in the stop ring, and the slider can be elastically biased toward the ferrule by the spring. With optical transmission. A reinforcing core material extending in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing sleeve is embedded in the reinforcing sleeve, and an end portion provided at one end of the reinforcing sleeve of the reinforcing core material together with one end of the reinforcing sleeve, the ferrule connectorized optical transmission body according to any one of claim 1 7, characterized in that fixed to the sleeve fixing part. Of the optical transmission body (2, 4) in which the optical fiber (2a, 4a) and the tensile body (2b, 4b) extending along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber are covered with the outer sheath (2c, 4c). An optical connector assembled at the tip,
A ferrule (40), a portion of the built-in optical fiber (43) inserted and fixed to the ferrule, protruding from the rear end opposite to the ferrule joining end surface (41a), and the optical transmission body (2 4) a reinforcing sleeve (21) for accommodating a fusion splicing part (3) with the optical fiber (2a, 4a) exposed at the end of the terminal, and a spring (50) for elastically biasing the ferrule. One end of the reinforcing sleeve (21) containing the fusion splicing portion is fixed to the cylindrical sleeve fixing portion (42b) at the rear end portion of the ferrule and fixed to the inside of the reinforcing sleeve. A ferrule with a connection reinforcing portion that is assembled by embedding the fusion spliced portion and a housing (30) for housing the spring,
The housing includes a sleeve-like plug frame (31) and a sleeve-like stop ring (32) to which the plug frame is attached. After assembling the ferrule with the connection reinforcing portion, the stop ring is attached to the plug frame. By attaching, it is possible to store the ferrule with connection reinforcement and the spring ,
The housing has a sleeve shape, and a slider is provided in the housing so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, which is disposed on both sides of the connection reinforcing portion or around the connection reinforcing portion, and is along the central axis of the housing. The slider is interposed between a flange portion (42a) of the ferrule and the spring provided at a position spaced rearward from the ferrule, and the urging force of the spring is interposed through the slider. An optical connector configured to be transmitted to a ferrule . The light according to claim 9 , wherein a convex portion or a concave portion for increasing a pulling resistance of the reinforcing sleeve from the sleeve fixing portion is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the sleeve fixing portion of the ferrule. connector. The slider has an insertion portion in which the rear end portion opposite to the ferrule end portion is housed in the stop ring so as to be movable in the front-rear direction of the housing,
After assembling the ferrule with the connection reinforcing portion, by engagement of the stop ring, a retaining engagement protrusion projecting from the insertion portion, and a retaining engagement portion formed on the stop ring wherein by mounting said slider provided with retained against the stop ring, the pre kiss top ring of the spring pressure application unit consisting of the spring housed in said stop ring on the plug frame housing The optical connector according to claim 9 or 10, wherein a ferrule with a connection reinforcing portion and the spring can be stored in the housing. The optical connector according to any one of claims 9-11, wherein the reinforcing sleeve in which layered thermoplastic resin is provided on the inner surface of the heat shrinkable tube. A reinforcing core material extending in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing sleeve is embedded in the reinforcing sleeve, and an end portion of the reinforcing core material is provided at one end of the reinforcing sleeve that is extrapolated to the sleeve fixing portion. the optical connector according to any one of claims 9-12, wherein. An optical fiber (2a, 4a) and a tensile body (2b, 4b) extending along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber are covered with an outer sheath (2c, 4c). 40) and an assembly method for assembling an optical connector comprising a sleeve-shaped housing (30) for housing the ferrule by being assembled by attaching a stop ring to the plug frame,
A portion of the built-in optical fiber (43) inserted and fixed to the ferrule (40) of the optical connector, protruding from the rear end opposite to the joint end surface (41a) of the ferrule, and the optical transmission body A fusion splicing step of fusion splicing the optical fibers (2a, 4a) exposed at the terminals of (2, 4);
After the fusion splicing step, a reinforcing sleeve (21) is extrapolated to a fusion splicing portion (3) between the built-in optical fiber and the optical fiber of the optical transmission body, and one end of the reinforcing sleeve is connected to the ferrule. Extrapolating to the sleeve fixing portion (42b), the thermoplastic resin is heated and melted in a state where the fusion splicing portion and the thermoplastic resin are housed in the reinforcing sleeve, and then the thermoplastic resin is solidified by lowering the temperature. The sleeve is embedded by the thermoplastic resin in which the fusion splicing portion is embedded in the solidified thermoplastic resin and one end of the reinforcing sleeve is interposed between the one end and the sleeve fixing portion (42b) of the ferrule. This connection reinforcement is made by assembling a connection reinforcing portion formed by reinforcing the fusion spliced portion with the thermoplastic resin and the reinforcing sleeve by fixing to the fixing portion. A connection reinforcing portion assembly process but to obtain a connection reinforcing portion ferrule which is integral with the ferrule,
After the connection reinforcing portion assembling step, by attaching the stop ring to the plug frame, the ferrule with the connection reinforcing portion and the spring for elastic biasing of the ferrule with the connection reinforcing portion are housed , and the connection reinforcing portion The flange part (42a) of the ferrule and a position separated rearward from the ferrule so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, which is arranged so as to surround both sides or the connection reinforcing part and is along the central axis of the housing. An optical connector comprising: a housing assembling step , wherein a slider is interposed between the spring provided and a biasing force of the spring is transmitted to the ferrule via the slider. Assembly method. In the connection reinforcing portion assembling step, the fusion splicing portion and the thermoplastic resin are accommodated in the reinforcing sleeve, and the strength member extended from the end of the optical transmission body is drawn into the reinforcing sleeve. I the thermoplastic resin heated and melted in a state, the assembly method of the optical connector according to claim 1 4, characterized in that to fix embed the strength members in the thermal plastic resin solidified by subsequent cooling. The thermoplastic resin is heated and melted in a state in which a tip portion of the strength member drawn into the reinforcing sleeve is disposed between one end of the reinforcing sleeve and a sleeve fixing portion (42b) of the ferrule. method of assembling the optical connector according to claim 1 5. In the connection reinforcing portion assembling step, the other end of the reinforcing sleeve opposite to the end fixed to the sleeve fixing portion (42b) of the ferrule is connected to the outer covering of the terminal of the optical transmission body. extrapolating outside, it claims 14 to 16, characterized in that to fix the sleeve fixing part by said thermoplastic resin is interposed between the sleeve fixing part of the end and the ferrule (42b) 1 The method for assembling the optical connector according to item . The reinforcing sleeve is heat shrinkable tube, the assembly method of the optical connector according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that to heat shrinkage in the connection reinforcing portion assembling process. The reinforcing sleeve is embedded with a reinforcing core material extending in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing sleeve, and an end portion of the reinforcing core material is provided at one end of the reinforcing sleeve that is extrapolated to the sleeve fixing portion. method of assembling the optical connector according to any one of claims 14 to 18 to be fixed to the sleeve fixing part at one end with said reinforcement core of the reinforcing sleeve at the connection reinforcing portion assembling process. Wherein in the housing assembly process, and the stop ring, the composed and stop the spring housed in the ring, a front kiss rider, said stop ring retainer and the stop ring the spring by the slider which is provided method of assembling the optical connector according to any one of claims 14 to 19 in front kiss top ring of the spring pressure application unit for configuration, characterized in that attached to the plug frame that pressing down within.

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