JP5863501B2 - Optical adapter fixing structure and optical adapter mounting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical adapter fixing structure for fixing an optical adapter for connecting optical connectors of optical fiber cables used in an optical communication system to a panel, and an optical adapter mounting apparatus including the optical adapter fixing structure.

The conventional optical adapter fixing structure has a locking piece having a spring property and a flange having flanges provided on both sides, and has a plate thickness substantially the same as the dimension between the locking piece and the flange, and an insertion port is provided. Panel. Then, the optical adapter is inserted into the insertion port of the panel, and the locking piece is hooked on the panel, whereby the panel is sandwiched between the locking piece and the flange, and the optical adapter is fixed to the panel (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, there is also known one in which another component 300 having an insertion port 3001 is attached to the panel 200 and the optical adapter 100 is inserted into the insertion port 3001 of the separate component 300 to be fixed. Reference numeral 1001 is a locking piece having a spring property provided in the optical adapter 100, and reference numeral 1002 is a flange provided in the optical adapter 100.

JP 2003-43296 A

  However, since the dimension between the locking piece and the flange of the optical adapter is unbiased, in the conventional optical adapter fixing structure, it is necessary to select a panel having substantially the same thickness as the dimension. In particular, there is no means other than the above structure when fixing an optical adapter that does not have a screw fixing hole in the flange, such as an LC connector. Therefore, in order to match the dimension between the locking piece and the flange, it is necessary to unnecessarily increase the thickness of the panel or to additionally install another part having a predetermined thickness. Therefore, the increase in cost and assembly man-hour due to the above design constraints has been a problem.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. An optical adapter fixing structure capable of fixing an optical adapter even with a panel having an arbitrary thickness, and an optical adapter provided with the optical adapter fixing structure. The purpose is to provide mounting equipment.

The optical adapter fixing structure according to the present invention is provided integrally with the panel, and is provided on a pair of engagement flanges disposed at substantially the same interval as the width between both side surfaces of the optical adapter, and the engagement flange, An engaging portion that restricts movement of the optical adapter in a direction other than the insertion direction by engaging with the locking piece, and one end surface of the engaging flange is formed when the locking piece is engaged with the engaging portion. In addition, the movement of the optical adapter in the insertion direction is restricted by contacting the flange.

  According to this invention, since it comprised as mentioned above, even if it is a panel of arbitrary board thickness by providing the engagement dimension required in order to fix an optical adapter in an engagement flange integral with a panel. The optical adapter can be fixed.

It is a whole operation explanatory view showing the optical adapter fixation structure concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the dimensional relationship of the optical adapter fixing structure which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, (a) It is a side view which shows the time of optical adapter insertion, (b) It is a side view which shows an optical adapter fixed state. . It is explanatory drawing of the optical adapter fixing structure which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention, (a) It is a side view, (b) It is the sectional view on the AA line of (a). It is whole operation explanatory drawing which shows the optical adapter fixing structure which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the dimensional relationship of the optical adapter fixing structure which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention, (a) It is a side view which shows the time of optical adapter insertion, (b) It is a side view which shows an optical adapter fixed state is there. It is a whole explanatory drawing of the optical adapter mounting apparatus concerning Embodiment 4 of this invention, (a) It is a top view, (b) It is a side view. It is principal part explanatory drawing of the optical adapter mounting apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a whole connection diagram of the optical adapter mounting apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the conventional optical adapter fixation structure, (a) It is a perspective view which shows the time of optical adapter insertion, (b) It is a side view which shows an optical adapter fixation state.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 is an overall operation explanatory view showing an optical adapter fixing structure according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a dimensional relationship of the optical adapter fixing structure.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical adapter fixing structure fixes an optical adapter 1 that connects optical connectors of optical fiber cables used in an optical communication system, and is provided on the panel 2.

On both side surfaces of the optical adapter 1, there are provided locking pieces 11 having spring properties and capable of being immersed in the optical adapter 1. The locking piece 11 is configured to be inclined so as to protrude from the panel insertion side of the optical adapter 1 toward the rear side.
Further, flanges 12 are integrally provided on both side surfaces of the optical adapter 1 so as to be arranged at a predetermined interval on the rear side of the locking piece 11.

  On the other hand, the panel 2 is provided with a pair of engagement flanges 21 arranged substantially in parallel with the width between both side surfaces of the optical adapter 1 and substantially in parallel with the panel surface. Yes. In FIG. 1, the engagement flange 21 is configured by cutting and raising from the panel 2, but is not limited thereto. Further, the engaging flange 21 is provided with an engaging portion 22 that engages with the locking piece 11 when the optical adapter 1 is inserted. The engagement portion 22 can restrict movement of the inserted optical adapter 1 in a direction other than the insertion direction. The rear end surface of the engagement flange 21 (the right side surface in FIG. 2) is a contact surface 23 that comes into contact with the flange 12 when the optical adapter 1 is inserted and the engagement piece 11 engages with the engagement portion 22. is there. The contact surface 23 can restrict movement of the inserted optical adapter 1 in the insertion direction.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the dimension L 11 between the rear end surface of the locking piece 11 of the optical adapter 1 and the front end surface of the flange 12, and the distance between the rear end surface of the engaging portion 22 of the engaging flange 21 and the contact surface 23. The dimension L21 is substantially the same. The dimension L12 between the bottom surface of the optical adapter 1 and the top surface of the locking piece 11 and the dimension L22 between the bottom surface of the engagement flange 21 and the top surface of the engagement portion 22 are configured to be substantially the same.

Next, an operation when the optical adapter 1 is fixed to the panel 2 in the optical adapter fixing structure configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.
When the optical adapter 1 is fixed to the panel 2, as shown in FIG. 2, the optical adapter 1 is inserted from the direction of the arrow while sliding on the bottom surface of the panel 2. Thereafter, the locking piece 11 of the optical adapter 1 comes into contact with the contact surface 23 of the engagement flange 21. When the optical adapter 1 is further inserted, the locking piece 11 is immersed in the inner side of the optical adapter 1 due to the spring property by being pressed by the contact surface 23. Thereby, the optical adapter 1 can be further inserted into the panel 2 side.

  Then, when the rear end of the locking piece 11 reaches the rear end of the engaging portion 22 of the engaging flange 1, the pressure on the locking piece 11 is released, so that the locking piece 11 is springy and the optical adapter 1 Protrudes from the inside. At this time, the rear end surface of the locking piece 11 and the rear end surface of the engaging portion 22 abut, and at the same time, the front end surface of the flange 12 abuts the contact surface 23 of the engagement flange 21. As described above, when the locking piece 11 and the flange 12 of the optical adapter 1 sandwich the space between the rear end surface of the engaging portion 22 of the engaging flange 21 and the contact surface 23, the movement of the optical adapter 1 in the vertical and horizontal directions is restricted. Is done.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, since the optical adapter 1 is fixed by the engagement flange 21 provided on the panel 2, the dimension between the locking piece 11 and the flange 12 of the optical adapter 1. Therefore, it is not necessary to unnecessarily increase the thickness of the panel 2 or to attach another component having a predetermined thickness. That is, since the optical adapter 1 can be fixed even with the panel 2 having an arbitrary thickness, an increase in cost and assembly man-hour can be avoided.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an optical adapter fixing structure according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The optical adapter fixing structure according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is obtained by adding a guide piece 24 to the optical adapter fixing structure according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. Other configurations are the same, and the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted.

  The guide piece 24 is provided integrally with the engaging flange 21 so as to surround the optical adapter 1 to be inserted, and guides the insertion of the optical adapter 1.

Next, an operation when the optical adapter 1 is fixed to the panel 2 in the optical adapter fixing structure configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.
When the optical adapter 1 is fixed to the panel 2, the optical adapter 1 is inserted while sliding on the bottom surface of the panel 2, as shown in FIG. At this time, since the movement of the optical adapter 1 is guided by the guide piece 24, the assembling property is improved. Since other operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the guide flange 24 that guides the insertion of the optical adapter 1 is provided on the engagement flange 21. In addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the optical adapter 1 is Since it can be positioned easily, the mounting operation can be automated, and the number of assembly steps can be reduced.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the first and second embodiments, the optical adapter fixing structure for fixing by inserting the optical adapter 1 in the horizontal direction with respect to the panel surface has been described. On the other hand, the third embodiment shows an optical adapter fixing structure for fixing by inserting the optical adapter 1 in a direction perpendicular to the panel surface.

4 is an overall operation explanatory view showing an optical adapter fixing structure according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a dimensional relationship of the optical adapter fixing structure.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the optical adapter fixing structure fixes the optical adapter 1 that connects optical connectors of optical fiber cables used in the optical communication system, and is provided on the panel 2b. The optical adapter 1 in the third embodiment is the same as the optical adapter 1 in the first and second embodiments, and a description thereof is omitted.

  On the other hand, the panel 2b is provided with a pair of engaging flanges 21b arranged substantially in parallel with the width between both side surfaces of the optical adapter 1 and substantially in parallel with the panel surface. Yes. The engagement flange 21b is configured by cutting and raising from the panel 2b, and the insertion port 25 through which the optical adapter 1 can be inserted is configured by this cutting and raising. Further, the engaging flange 21b is provided with an engaging portion 22b that engages with the locking piece 11 when the optical adapter 1 is inserted. The engagement portion 22b can restrict the movement of the inserted optical adapter 1 in a direction other than the insertion direction. The rear end surface (the right side surface in FIG. 5) of the engagement flange 21b is a contact surface 23b that comes into contact with the flange 12 when the optical adapter 1 is inserted and the locking piece 11 is engaged with the engagement portion 22b. is there. The contact surface 23b can restrict the movement of the inserted optical adapter 1 in the insertion direction.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the dimension L 11 between the rear end surface of the locking piece 11 of the optical adapter 1 and the front end surface of the flange 12, and the distance between the rear end surface of the engaging portion 22 of the engaging flange 21 and the contact surface 23. The dimension L23 is substantially the same. Further, the thickness dimension L13 of the locking piece 11 of the optical adapter 1 and the thickness dimension L24 of the engagement portion 22 of the engagement flange 21 are configured to be substantially the same.

Next, an operation when the optical adapter 1 is fixed to the panel 2b in the optical adapter fixing structure configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.
When the optical adapter 1 is fixed to the panel 2b, the optical adapter 1 is inserted into the insertion port 25 of the panel 2b from the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. At this time, since the movement of the optical adapter 1 is guided by the insertion opening 25, the assembling property is improved. Thereafter, the locking piece 11 of the optical adapter 1 comes into contact with the contact surface 23b of the engagement flange 21b. When the optical adapter 1 is further inserted, the locking piece 11 is immersed in the inner side of the optical adapter 1 due to the spring property by being pressed by the contact surface 23b. Thereby, the optical adapter 1 can be further inserted in the panel 2b side.

  Then, when the rear end of the locking piece 11 reaches the rear end of the engaging portion 22b of the engaging flange 11, the pressure on the locking piece 11 is released. Protrude from. At this time, the rear end surface of the locking piece 11 and the rear end surface of the engaging portion 22b come into contact with each other, and at the same time, the front end surface of the flange 12 and the contact surface 23b of the engaging flange 21b come into contact with each other. As described above, when the locking piece 11 and the flange 12 of the optical adapter 1 sandwich the space between the rear end surface of the engaging portion 22b of the engaging flange 21b and the contact surface 23, the movement of the optical adapter 1 in the vertical and horizontal directions is restricted. The

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, even if the optical adapter 1 is inserted and fixed from the vertical direction with respect to the panel surface by the engagement flange 21b provided on the panel 2b, As in the first mode, in order to match the dimension between the locking piece 11 and the flange 12 of the optical adapter 1, the thickness of the panel 2b is increased unnecessarily, or another component having a predetermined thickness is additionally attached. There is no need to do it. That is, since it becomes possible to fix the optical adapter 1 even if it is the panel 2b of arbitrary board thickness, the increase in cost and an assembly man-hour can be avoided.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
In the first to third embodiments, the optical adapter fixing structure for fixing the optical adapter 1 to the panel 2 has been described. On the other hand, Embodiment 4 shows an optical adapter mounting device to which these optical adapter fixing structures are applied.
FIG. 6 is an overall explanatory view of an optical adapter mounting apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a main part (extra length processing panel 2c) of the optical adapter mounting apparatus, and FIG. It is a whole connection diagram of adapter mounting equipment.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, optical modules 4 and 5 are mounted on the substrate 3 of the optical adapter mounting device and are electrically connected by soldering or the like. Further, on the substrate 3, a surplus length processing panel 2 c for housing the optical fiber cables 41 and 51 provided in the optical modules 4 and 5 is attached. On this surplus length processing panel 2c, the optical adapter fixing structure according to any one of the first to third embodiments (the optical adapter fixing structure according to the first embodiment in FIGS. 6 and 7) is provided, and the optical adapter 1 is fixed. Has been. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the optical adapter 1 on the extra length processing panel 2 c is used to connect the optical connector 42 of the optical fiber cable 41 on one end side of the optical module 4 and the optical fiber cable 51 on one end side of the optical module 5. An optical connector 52 is connected.

  A panel 2d is attached to the substrate 3. Two optical adapters 1 are fixed to the panel 2d by the optical adapter fixing structure according to any one of the first to third embodiments (the optical adapter fixing structure according to the third embodiment in FIG. 6). As shown in FIG. 8, the optical connector 43 of the optical fiber cable 41 on the other end side of the optical module 4 is connected to one optical adapter 1, and the light on the other end side of the optical module 5 is connected to the other optical adapter 1. The optical connector 53 of the fiber cable 51 is connected.

  The method of fixing the optical adapter 1 to the extra length processing panel 2c and the panel 2d is as described in the first to third embodiments, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the surplus length processing panel 2c and the panel 2d are provided with the engagement flange 21 (21b), and the optical adapter 1 is fixed. The plate thickness of 2c and the panel 2d can be freely selected, and it is not necessary to increase the plate thickness of the panels 2c and 2d unnecessarily or to attach another part having a predetermined plate thickness. Therefore, increase in cost and assembly man-hour can be avoided.

  In the present invention, within the scope of the invention, any combination of each embodiment, any modification of any component of each embodiment, or any component in each embodiment can be omitted. .

  1 optical adapter, 2, 2b, 2d panel, 2c extra length processing panel, 3 substrate, 4, 5 optical module, 11 locking piece, 12 flange, 21, 21b engaging flange, 22, 22b engaging portion, 23, 23b Contact surface, 24 guide pieces, 25 insertion port, 41, 51 optical fiber cable, 42, 43, 52, 53 optical connector.

Claims (5)

In the optical adapter fixing structure for fixing the optical adapter provided with the locking pieces and flanges having spring properties on both sides to the panel,
A pair of engagement flanges provided integrally with the panel and disposed at substantially the same interval as the width between both side surfaces of the optical adapter;
An engagement portion that is provided on the engagement flange and regulates movement in a direction other than the insertion direction of the optical adapter by engaging with the locking piece;
One end surface of the engagement flange regulates movement of the optical adapter in the insertion direction by contacting the flange when the locking piece engages with the engagement portion. Adapter fixing structure. The optical adapter fixing structure according to claim 1, further comprising a guide piece that is provided on the engagement flange and guides insertion of the optical adapter. The optical adapter fixing structure according to claim 1, further comprising an insertion port that is provided between the pair of engaging flanges of the panel and into which the optical adapter can be inserted. An optical adapter mounting device comprising the optical adapter fixing structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Panel of the optical adapter fixing structure, the optical adapter mounting apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the extra length handling panel for accommodating the optical fiber cable.

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