JP4347115B2 - Optical fiber connection opening member, optical connector, optical fiber connector and optical fiber butt connection confirmation method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an optical fiber connection opening member used for connecting optical fibers , an optical connector, an optical fiber connector, and an optical fiber butt connection confirmation method.

In recent years, as an optical connector that can be assembled to the tip of an optical fiber at a connection site other than a factory, a ferrule in which the optical fiber is fixed in advance and the tip surface is polished, and the rear portion of this ferrule (tip A clamp part disposed at a position facing the surface), and the optical fiber on the ferrule side in this clamp part and another optical fiber for connection abutting against this optical fiber are divided in half. It is known that an optical connector can be assembled in a short time by maintaining the butt connection state by clamping to the element (for example, Patent Document 1).
In addition, as an optical fiber connector for butt-connecting optical fibers, optical fibers inserted from opposite sides are aligned and butt-connected between two-split elements, and further attached to the outside of the elements There is provided a configuration (clamp portion) that holds the optical fiber by clamping it with the clamping force of a clamp spring and maintains the connection state (for example, Patent Document 2).
In this type of optical connector and optical fiber connector, by inserting a wedge-shaped insertion member (also simply referred to as a wedge) between elements, the gap between the elements is pushed open, and the optical fiber can be inserted and removed between the elements. The possible state can be maintained.

As a method of confirming the abutting state of the optical fiber in the clamp part of the optical connector, as shown in FIG. 22, the optical connector 101 to be assembled is connected to the light source 103 via the test optical fiber 102. The optical connector 104 is connected to the optical connector 104, and the test light (visible light) from the light source 103 is introduced into a connecting optical fiber 101a that is preliminarily built in a ferrule (not shown) in the optical connector 101. After inserting another optical fiber 105 butt-connected to the connecting optical fiber 101a into a clamp portion (not shown) in the optical connector 101, the other optical fiber 105 is bent and bent. At this time, if the connection optical fiber 101a and the other optical fiber 105 are appropriately connected, the test light from the light source 103 reaches the bent portion 105a of the other optical fiber 105, and the outer side of the optical fiber is caused by the bending loss. Therefore, the state of butting between the optical fibers can be confirmed by observing light leakage from the bent portion 105a.
In addition, it has been considered that the optical connector itself is partially transparent to provide translucency. However, forming the optical connector with a different material may cause deterioration of characteristics and cost increase.
JP-A-10-206688 JP-A-9-61655

  However, in the conventional optical connector and optical fiber connector, the optical fiber butting state cannot be confirmed at the clamp portion, and is confirmed by giving a deflection to the optical fiber 105. It is necessary to thin the coating of the optical fiber 105, which may damage the optical fiber 105. In addition, when the coating of the optical fiber 105 (resin coating) is deeply colored, the amount of test light transmitted through the coating is small, and light leakage may not be visually observed (completion of butt connection between optical fibers cannot be confirmed).

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and there is no fear of damaging the optical fiber, and an optical fiber connection opening member , an optical connector, and an optical fiber that can easily check the butt connection state of the optical fiber. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for confirming a fiber connector and an optical fiber butt connection.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention is to open a clamp portion for holding a butt connection state of optical fibers that are butt-connected inside by being sandwiched between halved elements and clamped by the elasticity of a clamp spring. An opening member having an insertion member for securing a state, wherein at least the insertion member has translucency, and the test light emitted from any one of the optical fibers inserted between the elements of the clamp portion An optical fiber connecting opening member characterized by being able to transmit to the outside of the clamp part.
The optical fiber connection opening member includes a holder portion that holds the clamp portion inside, and a ring-shaped insertion member drive portion that protrudes outward from the holder portion, and the holder portion in the insertion member drive portion. The insertion member is formed at a distal end of an insertion member support portion that protrudes toward the holder portion from a movable end portion that is an end portion on the opposite side of the insertion member, and the insertion member drive portion Is deformed elastically so that the distance between the movable end portion and the holder portion is increased by the side pressure applied from both sides facing the portion located between the holder portion and the holder portion. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the inserted member can be extracted from between the elements.

Moreover, in the optical fiber connection opening member of the present invention , it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the insertion member is formed on the edge of the plate-like insertion member support portion .

  Further, the present invention relates to the connection optical fiber protruding from the rear end side of the ferrule on the rear end side facing the joining end surface of the ferrule in which the connection optical fiber is preliminarily installed, and the connection optical fiber. A clamp portion for clamping and holding the butt connection state with the other optical fiber to be butt-connected by the elasticity of the clamp spring (16) between the halved elements; Is inserted with an insertion member of an opening member for ensuring the open state of the clamp portion, and at least the insertion member has translucency, and the opening member is inserted between the elements of the clamp portion. There is provided an optical connector characterized in that the test light emitted from any one of the optical fibers can be transmitted to the outside of the clamp portion.

The present invention also provides a clamp portion for clamping and holding a butt connection state between optical fibers that are inserted from both sides and are butt-connected inside by means of the elasticity of a clamp spring between the halved elements, and the clamp An opening member having an insertion member for ensuring the open state of the portion, and the insertion member is inserted between the elements of the clamp portion, and at least the insertion member is transparent to the opening member And an optical fiber connector characterized in that the test light emitted from any one of the optical fibers inserted between the elements of the clamp part can be transmitted to the outside of the clamp part. provide.
In this optical fiber connector, the opening member is an opening member for connecting an optical fiber according to claim 2, and the holder part of the opening member is assembled to the outside of the base holding the clamp part, The holder part can also employ a configuration having an engaging part that engages with the outside of the base.

According to the present invention , an insertion member is inserted between the halved elements clamped by the elasticity of the clamp spring, and an open state between the elements is secured by the insertion member . A method for confirming that both optical fibers are butt-connected when butt-connecting to the optical fiber, wherein a member having translucency is used as the insertion member , and the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber the test light is transmitted to one of the optical fiber, the presence or absence of light leakage between the first optical fiber and second optical fiber, and observed through the insertion member inserted between said elements, said light leakage It is confirmed that the both optical fibers are butt-connected due to the disappearance of the optical fiber.

Further, the present invention is incorporated in an optical connector having a clamp portion for holding a butt connection state between optical fibers to be butt-connected inside between halved elements and clamping them by the elasticity of a clamp spring. The first optical fiber is a method for confirming that both optical fibers are butt-connected when butt-connecting the second optical fiber between the halved elements, wherein the optical connector includes the optical connector, An opening member having an insertion member for ensuring the open state of the clamp portion is provided, at least the insertion member of the opening member has translucency, and the optical connector is connected to a light source via another optical connector. The test light from the light source is transmitted to the first optical fiber via the other optical connector, and the end face of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are The presence or absence of leakage of light between the surface was observed through an insert member which is inserted between the elements, abutting the optical fiber, characterized in that to ensure that the the two optical fibers are butt connected by the loss of light leak Provides a method for checking the connection.

  According to the present invention, before the optical fiber is butt-connected, leakage light leaking from the end face of the optical fiber can be observed through the open member (spacing holding member, light guide member), and the optical fiber is butt-connected. After this, the test light is transmitted to the other optical fiber, so that the light leakage disappears. Thereby, the state of the butt connection of the optical fibers can be easily confirmed.

  In the present invention, “having translucency” is used to mean that light can be transmitted to such an extent that light leakage from the optical fiber can be visually confirmed outside the clamp portion. Here, “translucency” means “transparency” (when the scattering of transmitted light is negligible and the object on the other side of the material can be identified) and “translucency” (when the scattering of transmitted light is negligible) (If it is difficult or impossible to identify an object across the material). For example, even if the light is colored white or the like, if light is transmitted to the outside of the clamp part and leakage light can be visually confirmed, this is included in the definition of “translucency” in the present invention.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 to 8 are views showing an optical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire optical connector. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the opening member. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the wedge of the opening member is inserted between the elements of the clamp portion. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the wedge of the opening member is removed from between the elements of the clamp portion. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the optical connector body. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the optical connector body. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a ferrule with a clamp portion built in the optical connector body. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a mating surface of each element constituting the clamp part of the ferrule with a clamp part of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the optical connector 3 (optical connector with an opening member) of this embodiment has a configuration in which an opening member 20 is mounted on the outside of an optical connector plug as the connector body 30. The optical connector plug 30 in the illustrated example is a so-called SC2 type optical connector, from an SC type optical connector (SC: Single fiber Coupling optical fiber connector; F04 type optical connector (optical connector plug) established in JIS C 5973). The knob attached to the outside of the plug frame 33 (see FIG. 5) of the SC type optical connector is omitted. The connector body 30 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as an optical connector plug) is not limited to the above-described SC2 type optical connector, and various single-core or multi-fiber optical connector plugs can be employed.

First, the connector main body 30 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as an optical connector plug 30) will be described.
5 and 6 are views showing the structure of the optical connector plug 30, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view. 5 and 6, the optical connector plug 30 includes a ferrule 31, an optical fiber 32 inserted and fixed to the ferrule 31 (sometimes referred to as a connecting optical fiber for distinction), and the ferrule 31. A clamp portion 10 disposed on the rear end side facing the joining end surface 31a, and a sleeve-like plug frame 33 which is mounted so as to accommodate the ferrule 31 and restrict rotation around the axis of the ferrule 31 so as to accommodate the ferrule 31; And a stop ring 34 which is engaged with and attached to the rear end (right side in FIG. 6) of the plug frame 33 and accommodates the clamp portion 10, and a spring 35 incorporated in the stop ring 34.
In the side portion of the stop ring 34, insertion ports 34 a and 34 b into which the wedges 51 (see FIG. 4 and the like) of the opening member 50 are inserted are opened. An elastomer boot 36 is attached to the rear end of the stop ring 34.

  The clamp portion 10 has a configuration in which a plurality of members are attached to the extending portion 11 extending from the flange portion 31 b of the ferrule 31 toward the rear end side of the connector main body 30, and is integrated with the ferrule 31. Hereinafter, the ferrule 31 in which the clamp part 10 is assembled may be referred to as a “ferrule 37 with a clamp part”.

The clamp part 10 of the ferrule 37 with a clamp part is accommodated in the stop ring 34 so as to be movable in the axial direction of the sleeve-like stop ring 34. The spring 35 takes a reaction force at the rear end portion of the stop ring 34 and presses the clamp portion 10 toward the distal end side (left side in FIG. 6) of the optical connector plug 30, thereby the entire ferrule 37 with a clamp portion is optical connector plug 30. For example, when the optical connector plug 30 is inserted into an optical connector adapter or the like and connected to another optical connector, the ferrule 31 is connected to the optical connector on the connection partner side. It fulfills the function of giving a butt force.
Note that the ferrule 37 with a clamp portion has a flange portion 31b of the ferrule 31 abutting against a stopper projection 33a projecting in the plug frame 33, so that the optical connector plug 30 with respect to the stop ring 34 is more than the distal end side. Movement (relative movement with respect to the stop ring 34) is restricted.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the clamp part 10 includes an extension part 11 extending from the flange part 31 b of the ferrule 31, and lid-side elements 12 and 13 disposed on the mating surface 11 a of the extension part 11. Is housed inside a sleeve-shaped clamp spring 16 (here, a C-shaped spring) having a C-shaped cross section. Various shapes such as a U-shaped cross section can be used for the clamp spring 16.

The extension part 11 is one of the half elements constituting the clamp part 10 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the base element 11), and the two lid-side elements 12 and 13 are half the elements constituting the clamp part 10. The other part of the element is configured, and the clamp unit 10 is configured to clamp the optical fiber between the base element 11 and the lid-side elements 12 and 13.
The two lid-side elements 12 and 13 are arranged so that one element 12 (hereinafter may be referred to as a front lid) is closer to the ferrule 31 than the other element 13 (hereinafter may be referred to as a rear lid). The connector body 30 is arranged in the front-rear direction (left and right in FIG. 6).

In the clamp spring 16, a slit 16 a is formed in the vicinity of the boundary between the two lid-side elements 12 and 13, and the elasticity of the clamp spring 16 is separately provided to the two lid-side elements 12 and 13 by the slit 16 a. To act on. However, the set of one lid side element 12 and the extension portion 11 and the set of the other lid side element 13 and the extension portion 11 can also function as independent clamp portions.
Note that the two insertion holes 34 a and 34 b of the stop ring 34 are opened at positions corresponding to the two clamp portions corresponding to the two lid-side elements 12 and 13.

On the mating surfaces 11 a and 12 a where the base element 11 and the front lid 12 are overlapped, as an alignment mechanism, an alignment groove 14 for positioning and aligning the optical fiber is provided from the rear end of the ferrule 31 of the base element 11. It is provided so as to extend in the extending direction.
As shown in FIG. 8, the alignment groove 14 is formed on the mating surface 11 a of the base element 11 here. However, the alignment groove 14 is not limited to this, and the alignment groove 14 is formed on the mating surface 12 a on the front lid 12 side. The formed structure and the structure formed in both the base element 11 and the front cover 12 are also employable. The cross-sectional shape of the aligning groove 14 is, for example, a V-groove, but may be a U-groove, a round groove (a groove having a semicircular cross section), or the like. Alignment grooves 14 (here, one) are provided for each pair of optical fibers to be connected (for the number of cores).

Here, as illustrated in FIG. 7, a single-core optical fiber is adopted as the optical fiber 1. In addition, as an optical fiber, it is not limited to an optical fiber core wire, For example, an optical fiber strand, an optical fiber cord, etc. are employable.
The connecting optical fiber 32 protrudes from the rear end of the ferrule 31 toward the clamp portion 10, and the protruding portion 32 a is disposed in the aligning groove 14. When the optical fiber 1 is inserted between the base element 11 and the lid-side elements 12 and 13 from the rear end side of the clamp portion 10, the bare optical fiber 1a exposed at the tip end portion of the optical fiber 1 becomes the connecting optical fiber. It can butt-connect to 32 protrusions 32a.

A guide groove 15 that guides the optical fiber toward the alignment groove 14 is formed on the mating surfaces 11 a and 13 a on which the base element 11 and the rear lid 13 are overlapped. The guide groove 15 communicates with both ends of the alignment groove 14 and communicates with the optical fiber insertion opening 18 opened at the rear end facing the ferrule 31 of the clamp portion 10. The guide groove 15 accommodates the distal end portion of the optical fiber inserted into the clamp portion 10 and firmly clamps the optical fiber when the base element 11 and the rear lid 13 are clamped by the clamp spring 16. It has a shape that can be done.
Between the aligning groove 14 and the guide groove 15, the diameter of the optical fiber 1 guided by the guide groove 15 from the guide groove 15 toward the aligning groove 14 is introduced as an optical fiber introducing portion for introducing the optical fiber 1 into the aligning groove 14. The taper portion (reference numeral omitted) is reduced.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a wedge 21 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) of the opening member 20 is inserted into one side edge of the mating surface of the base element 11 and the lid side elements 12 and 13. An insertion recess 17 is formed. The clamp portion 10 can press open between the base element 11 and the lid side elements 12 and 13 against the clamping force of the clamp spring 16 by press-fitting the wedge 21 into the wedge insertion recess 17. It has become. Then, when the wedge 21 is pulled out from the wedge insertion recess 17, the space between the base element 11 and the lid side elements 12 and 13 can be closed, and the integrated state can be obtained by the clamping force of the clamp spring 16 again.
Thereby, the clamp part 10 functions as a holding member that holds the optical fibers 1 and 32 between the halved elements 11 to 13 and holds the butt connection.

Next, the opening member 20 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the opening member 20 has five plate-like movable pieces 22 a, 22 a, 22 b, 22 b, and 22 c connected in a ring shape via elastic hinges 23 b, 23 b, 23 c, and 23 c. The insertion member drive unit 22 is connected to both ends of the insertion member drive unit 22 via elastic hinges 23a and 23a, and the holder unit 24 is assembled to the outside of the connector body 30. In addition, the holder part from the movable piece 22c located at the end opposite to the holder part 24 of the insertion member drive part 22 (hereinafter, this may be particularly distinguished in the movable piece and may be referred to as the movable end part 22c). An insertion member support portion 21 a projects toward 24. The insertion member support portion 21a is a plate-like protruding piece, and the insertion member 21 is formed at the tip portion thereof.
Here, the insertion member has a wedge shape. Hereinafter, the insertion member may be referred to as a wedge, the insertion member support portion may be referred to as a wedge support portion, and the insertion member drive portion may be referred to as a wedge drive portion.
In the case of the opening member 20 of this embodiment, two wedge support portions 21a protrude from the movable end portion 22c, and one wedge 21 is formed at the tip of each wedge support portion 21a.

Here, the opening member 20 can be manufactured as an integrally molded product made of synthetic resin. Alternatively, a plurality of members can be combined.
Of the opening member 20, at least the wedge 21 has translucency. The opening member 20 has translucency from the wedge 21 to the portion reaching the outside of the clamp portion 10. Preferably, it has translucency from the wedge 21 to the part reaching the outer surface of the opening member 20, and more preferably, the entire opening member 20 has translucency. The translucent part of the opening member 20 can be formed in the wedge 21 and the wedge support part 21a, for example. Further, a light transmitting part may be formed from the wedge 21 to the movable end part 22c via the wedge support part 21a. Moreover, it can also be set as the structure which the whole open member 20 has translucency by shape | molding the whole open member 20 with resin which has translucency.

The holder portion 24 is configured to have a U-shaped cross section, and the inside thereof serves as an accommodation recess 25 that accommodates the connector main body 30 so as to be removable.
The holder portion 24 is bent in an L-shape from the respective end portions 23a of the wedge driving portion 22 so as to protrude perpendicularly to each other, and the side walls 24a and the bottom wall 24b, and from the front end of each side wall 24a toward the opposite side wall 24a. And a bent end 24c having a shape.

  In the optical connector 3, the opening member 20 accommodates the connector main body 30 in the accommodating recess 25, and the wedge 21 is press-fitted into the wedge insertion recess 17 of the clamp portion 10 of the connector main body 30 so that the connector main body is inserted. 30 is assembled to the outside of the optical connector 3 to constitute a part of the optical connector 3. The opening member 20 can be assembled to the connector main body 30 later. When assembling the opening member 20 to the connector main body 30 by retrofitting, for example, an operation of detaching the optical connector already assembled at the tip of the optical fiber from the optical fiber, or opening the closed clamp part and attaching a new optical fiber. The opening member 20 can be used for the work of preparing for the above.

Furthermore, the holder part 24 can hold | maintain the connector main body 30 stably by holding the connector main body 30 arrange | positioned in the accommodation recess 25 between the both-side walls 24a.
The bottom wall 24b abuts the housing 21 (such as the plug frame 33) containing the ferrule 31 and the clamp part 10 of the optical connector plug 30 on both sides via the wedge insertion recesses 17, so that the wedge 21 is attached to the clamp part 10. When pulling out from the wedge insertion recess 17, the wedge 21 can be pulled straight without forcibly or biasing the wedge 21 or the connector main body 30.

  Note that the bottom wall 24 b of the holder portion 24 is divided into two through a slit 26, and the wedge 21 protrudes into the receiving recess 25 through the slit 26, but the wedge 21 is received from the wedge driving portion 22. The configuration for projecting into the recess 25 is not limited to the slit 26 that bisects the bottom wall 24b, and may be, for example, a small hole or a long hole drilled in the bottom wall 24b.

Specifically, the wedge drive unit 22 includes a movable end portion 22c and a pair of connecting wall portions 27 and 27 that connect both sides of the movable end portion 22c and both sides of the holder portion 24. It is configured. Each of the connecting wall portions 27 and 27 is configured by movable pieces 22a and 22b connected in a “<” shape by a hinge 23b, and the bent portion of the hinge 23b projects outwardly with respect to the holder portion 24 side. Protruding.
The movable end 22c has a plate shape, and the projecting tips of the connecting walls 27, 27 from the holder 24 are connected to opposite sides of the movable end 22c via hinges 23c.
The movable end portion 22 c is supported by a pair of connecting wall portions 27, 27 so as to be substantially parallel to the plate-like bottom wall 24 b of the holder portion 24.

The wedge drive part 22 and the bottom wall 24b of the holder part 24 constitute a sleeve having a substantially hexagonal cross section. Here, specifically, the wedge drive part 22 has a substantially C shape protruding from the holder part 24.
In the present invention, the “ring shape” indicating the shape of the wedge drive unit 22 refers to all shapes bulged from the holder unit 24 such as a circle, an ellipse, a rhombus, and a C-shape. However, as a configuration of the wedge drive unit, both side portions (connection wall portions in the present embodiment) that connect between the holder portion 24 and the movable end portion 22c are connected between the holder portion 24 and the movable end portion 22c. It is formed so as to project on both sides, and the distance between the holder portion 24 and the movable end portion 22c is increased by bringing both side portions (connection wall portions) closer to each other by pressing force (side pressure) from opposite sides. A configuration is adopted in which the wedge 21 is driven in a direction to increase and reduce the projection dimension to the receiving recess 25 (or to eliminate the projection). Further, the shape of the wedge drive unit includes a sleeve shape.

As described above, in the optical connector 3, the wedge 21 of the opening member 20 is inserted between the extension portion 11 and the lid-side elements 12 and 13, and the extension portion 11 and the lid-side elements 12 and 13. The gap is slightly pushed open against the elasticity of the clamp spring 16. In this state, as shown in FIG. 7, the optical fiber 1 can be inserted into and removed from the pair of elements of the clamp portion 10 from the rear end side of the ferrule 37 with a clamp portion.
The two wedges 21 protruding from the movable end 22c side of the opening member 20 into the receiving recess 25 of the holder portion 24 are connected to the base element via the two insertion ports 34a and 34b of the stop ring 34. 11 and the front lid 12, and between the base element 11 and the rear lid 13, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, when the wedge 21 of the opening member 20 is inserted into the wedge insertion recess 17 between the elements 11, 12, 13 of the clamp portion 10, the base element 11 and the lid-side elements 12, 13 are connected. The gap is slightly opened against the elasticity of the clamp spring 16 so that a gap is formed in the aligning groove 14 so that the bare optical fiber 1a exposed at the tip of the optical fiber 1 can be inserted. That is, the opening member 20 also functions as an interval holding member that holds an interval between the elements 11 to 13 of the clamp unit 10.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the connecting wall portions 27, 27 of the wedge drive unit 22 are pressed from both sides (elastic hinge 23 b side), the deformable deformation such that the movable end 22 c moves away from the holder unit 24. Thus, the wedge 21 is extracted from the wedge insertion recess 17.

Next, a procedure for assembling the optical connector plug 30 at the distal end portion of the optical fiber 1 by the optical connector 3 of this embodiment will be described.
First, a refractive index matching agent (matching oil) is injected into the alignment groove 14 of the clamp part 10. Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 9A, the connector plug 30 is connected to the test optical connector 7 connected to the light source 5 via the test optical fiber 6, and the test light (visible light) from the light source 5 is visible. Light) is introduced into the connecting optical fiber 32 inserted in the ferrule 31. As a result, the test light from the light source 5 is emitted from the end surface of the connection optical fiber 32 on the protruding portion 32a side, scattered by the refractive index matching agent, and leaks from the gap between the elements of the clamp portion. This light leakage is transmitted to the outside of the clamp portion 10 through the opening member 20, and can be confirmed by an operator visually.
That is, the opening member 20 also functions as a light guide member that guides leakage light from the connection portion between the optical fibers 1 and 32 to the outside of the connector main body 30.

  If light leakage is confirmed, the front-end | tip part of the optical fiber 1 will be inserted toward the alignment groove | channel 14 from the optical fiber insertion port 18 of the clamp part 10 rear end. As shown in FIG. 9B, when the optical fiber 1 and the connecting optical fiber 32 are abutted against each other, the light leakage to the side of the connector body 30 disappears. Thereby, even when the wedge 21 is press-fitted into the clamp portion 10, the butted state of the optical fibers 1 and 32 can be easily observed from the outside of the connector main body 30.

After confirming the abutment between the optical fibers 1 and 32, the wedge drive unit 22 is operated to drive the wedge 21 and extract it from the wedge insertion recess 17 of the clamp unit 10. Thereby, the optical fibers 1 and 32 are clamped and fixed by the elasticity of the clamp spring 16 so that the optical fibers 1 and 32 are sandwiched between the base element 11 and the lid-side elements 12 and 13. Thereby, the connection state of the optical fibers 1 and 32 is maintained stably.
Further, the connector body 30 is detached from the housing recess 25 of the opening member 20. Since the wedge 21 is pulled out from the wedge insertion recess 17 of the clamp portion 10 and the fitting of the opening member 20 to the connector main body 30 is released, the detaching operation of the connector main body 30 from the opening member 20 pulls them apart. Just good.
As described above, the optical connector plug 30 can be assembled at the tip of the optical fiber 1.

  According to the optical connector, it is possible to observe light leakage from the end face of the optical fiber through the opening member before the optical fiber is butt-connected. In addition, after the optical fibers are butt-connected, the test light is transmitted to the other optical fiber, so that the light leakage disappears. Thereby, the butt | matching state of an optical fiber can be confirmed easily. Further, since there is no need to bend the optical fiber as in the conventional method for confirming the matching, there is no possibility of damaging the optical fiber.

The light leakage of the optical fiber can be guided from the inside of the clamp portion to the outside without particularly changing the structure of the connector main body used as the optical connector plug. Therefore, application to a conventional optical connector plug having a clamp portion is also easy.
If there is a defect on the tip surface of the optical fiber, leakage light does not disappear even if the optical fibers are brought into contact with each other, so that it is possible to prevent the connection work from being completed while the optical fiber is lost. In this case, the end face of the optical fiber can be cut again or the optical fiber can be replaced.

  Since the opening member has a very simple structure and can be manufactured at a low cost, the cost can be significantly reduced as compared with the case of using a dedicated tool. Furthermore, the assembly of the optical connector plug to the tip of the optical fiber can be realized simply by removing the optical connector plug from the opening member after inserting the optical fiber into the clamp part, after assembling the open member to the optical connector plug. Assembly work is also very easy.

11 to 18 are views showing an optical fiber connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a front view of the optical fiber connector. FIG. 12 is a front view showing the connector main body. FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the connector main body. FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing one half of the connector main body. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a clamp portion in the connector main body. FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing one half of the optical connector connector. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the wedge of the opening member is inserted between the elements of the clamp portion. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the wedge of the opening member is removed from between the elements of the clamp portion.

As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the optical fiber connector 4 (optical fiber connector with an open member) of the present embodiment is a connector main body 60 (hereinafter referred to as a mechanical splice) in which a clamp portion 40 is mounted on a base 61. And an opening member 50 for ensuring the open state of the clamp part 40, and the opening member 50 is attached to the outside of the connector main body 60 in advance.
As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the clamp portion 40 includes an elongated base element 41 and three lid-side elements 42, 43, and 43 disposed on the mating surface 41 a of the base element 41. The sleeve is housed inside a C-shaped sleeve-like clamp spring 46 (here, a U-shaped spring). The clamp spring 46 may have various shapes such as a C-shaped cross section.

  The lid-side elements 42 and 43 include a single central lid 42 and a pair of end lids 43 and 43 provided on both sides of the central lid 42 in a state where the lid-side elements 42 and 43 are attached to the mating surface 41 a of the base element 41. The lid-side elements 42 and 43 are arranged in series along the longitudinal direction of the base element 41. The clamp unit 40 has a structure for clamping the optical fiber between the base element 41 and the lid-side elements 42 and 43.

  In this embodiment, the optical fibers 1 and 2 can be optical fiber core wires in which the outer periphery of the bare optical fibers 1a and 2a is provided with a coating (for example, synthetic resin). In the present invention, the optical fibers 1 and 2 are not limited to optical fiber core wires, but various single-core or multi-core optical fibers, optical fiber cords, optical fiber cables (for example, drop cables and indoors). Cable etc.) can be employed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the base element 41 and the lid-side elements 42 and 43 are integrated by overlapping the mating surfaces 41 a of the base element 41 and the mating surfaces 42 a and 43 a of the lid-side elements 42 and 43. They are combined in a rod shape (here, a prismatic shape but may be a cylindrical shape or the like). The base element 41 and the lid side elements 42 and 43 of the present embodiment can be made of plastic or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, a clamp spring 46 having a U-shaped or C-shaped cross section is attached to the outside of the elements 41, 42, and 43. The clamp spring 46 can be made of a metal having elasticity, for example.
In the clamp spring 46, a slit 46a is formed in the vicinity of the boundary between the lid side elements 42 and 43 adjacent to each other, and the elasticity of the clamp spring 46 is given to the lid side elements 42 and 43 by the slit 46a. They are designed to act separately.

As shown in FIG. 15, the bare optical fibers 1 a and 2 a exposed at the distal ends of the optical fibers 1 and 2 (for example, optical fiber cores) are butted at the longitudinal center of the mating surface 41 a of the base element 41. A centering groove 44 as a centering mechanism for positioning to be connectable is provided so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the base element 41 (left and right direction in FIG. 15). The central lid 42 is provided at a position corresponding to the alignment groove 44 on the mating surface 41 a of the base element 41.
Here, the alignment groove 44 is formed on the mating surface 41a of the base element 41. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which the alignment groove 44 is formed on the alignment surface 42a on the central lid 42 side, The structure formed in both 41 and the center lid | cover 42 is also employable. The cross-sectional shape of the aligning groove 44 is a V-groove here, but may be a U-groove, a round groove (a groove having a semicircular cross-section), or the like. Alignment grooves 44 (here, one) are provided for each pair of optical fibers to be connected (for the number of cores).

A guide groove 45 for guiding the optical fibers 1 and 2 inserted from both sides of the clamp part 40 to the alignment groove 44 is formed on the mating surfaces 41a and 43a where the base element 41 and the end cover 43 are overlapped. Has been. The guide groove 45 communicates with both ends of the alignment groove 44 and is formed to extend on the extension of the alignment groove 44.
Between the aligning groove 44 and the guide groove 45, an optical fiber introducing portion for introducing the optical fibers 1 and 2 guided by the guide groove 45 into the aligning groove 44 is directed from the guide groove 45 to the aligning groove 44. Thus, a tapered portion (reference numeral omitted) having a reduced diameter is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, optical fiber insertion openings for inserting the optical fibers 1 and 2 between the base element 41 and the lid-side elements 42 and 43 are provided on both opposite sides 40 a of the clamp portion 40. 48 is opened. The optical fiber insertion ports 48 communicate with the alignment grooves 44 through the guide grooves 45, respectively.
The aligning groove 44 accommodates the bare optical fibers 1a and 2a exposed by removing the coating (resin coating) on the tip ends of the optical fibers 1 and 2. Further, the optical fibers 1 and 2 (parts having a coating) are accommodated in the guide groove 45.
That is, the center lid 42 is configured to sandwich the bare optical fibers 1 a and 2 a inserted in the alignment groove 44 or in the vicinity thereof with the base element 41. Further, the end cover 43 sandwiches the optical fibers (coated optical fibers) 1 and 2 inserted into the guide groove 45 between the base element 41 and the end cover 43.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, a wedge insertion recess 47 into which the wedge 51 of the opening member 50 is inserted is formed at one side edge of the mating surface of the base element 41 and the lid side elements 42 and 43. Yes. The clamp portion 40 can push the gap between the base element 41 and the lid side elements 42 and 43 against the clamping force of the clamp spring 46 by press-fitting the wedge 51 into the wedge insertion recess 47. It has become. Then, when the wedge 51 is pulled out from the wedge insertion recess 47, the base element 41 and the lid side elements 42 and 43 are closed, and the integrated state can be obtained again by the clamping force of the clamp spring 46.
Thereby, the clamp part 40 functions as a clamping member which hold | maintains the state which clamped and connected the optical fibers 1 and 2 between the half elements 41-43.

Next, the base 61 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, the base 61 engages with both ends of the elongated plate-like board 62 and the clamp part 40 placed on the upper surface 62 a of the board 62 to grip the clamp part 40. A pair of engagement arms 63 and a pair of contact plates 64 that regulate the positions of both ends 40 a of the clamp portion 40 so as not to be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the base 61 are provided. The engagement arm 63 and the contact plate 64 protrude from two positions on the upper surface 62a of the board 62 (corresponding to both sides of the clamp portion 40).
The engagement arm 63 is elastically deformed and warps outward in the width direction of the board 62 (upper left to lower right in FIG. 14), thereby receiving the clamp portion 10 between the engagement arms 63 facing each other. Thus, as shown in FIG. 13 and the like, the clamp portion 40 is gripped. In order to remove the clamp part 40 from the base 61, the engagement arm 63 may be opened to disengage the clamp part 40.
The contact plate 64 is formed with a notch-shaped recess 65 through which the optical fibers 1 and 2 can be inserted.

Next, the opening member 50 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, the opening member 50 has five plate-like movable pieces 52 a, 52 a, 52 b, 52 b, 52 c connected in a ring shape via elastic hinges 53 b, 53 b, 53 c, 53 c. And a holder portion 54 that is coupled to both ends of the wedge drive portion 52 via elastic hinges 53a and 53a and assembled to the outside of the connector main body 60. In addition, the holder piece 54 from the movable piece 52c located at the end opposite to the holder part 54 of the wedge drive part 52 (hereinafter, this may be particularly distinguished in the movable piece and may be referred to as the movable end part 52c). A wedge support 51a protrudes toward the end. The wedge support portion 51a is a plate-like protruding piece, and a wedge 51 is formed at the tip thereof.
In the case of the opening member 50 of this embodiment, one wedge support portion 51a protrudes from the movable end portion 52c, and the tip end portion of the wedge support portion 51a is divided into two, and the wedge 51 is formed at the tip end. . That is, two (a plurality) wedges 51 are formed at the tip of one wedge support portion 51a.

Here, the opening member 50 can be manufactured as an integrally molded product made of synthetic resin. Alternatively, a plurality of members can be combined.
Of the opening member 50, at least the wedge 51 has translucency. The opening member 50 has translucency from the wedge 51 to a portion reaching the outside of the clamp portion 40. Preferably, it has translucency from the wedge 51 to the part which reaches the outer surface of the opening member 50, More preferably, the whole opening member 50 has translucency. For example, the translucent part of the opening member 50 can be formed in the wedge 51 and the wedge support part 51a. Further, a light transmitting portion may be formed from the wedge 51 to the movable end portion 52c via the wedge support portion 51a. Moreover, the whole open member 50 can also be set as the structure which has translucency by shape | molding the whole open member 50 with resin which has translucency.

The holder portion 54 is configured to have a U-shaped cross section, and the inside thereof is an accommodation recess 55 that accommodates the connector main body 60 so as to be removable.
The holder portion 54 is bent in an L-shape from the respective end portions 53a of the wedge driving portion 52 so as to protrude perpendicularly to each other, and from the front end of each side wall 54a toward the other side wall 54a. And a bent end portion 54c (engagement portion with respect to the base 61).

In the optical fiber connector 4 of this embodiment, the opening member 50 houses the connector body 60 in the housing recess 55, and the wedge 51 is press-fitted into the wedge insertion recess 47 of the clamp portion 40 of the connector body 60. As a result, it is assembled to the connector main body 60 and constitutes a part of the optical fiber connector 4. The opening member 50 can be assembled to the connector main body 60 later. When assembling the opening member 50 to the connector main body 60 by retrofitting, for example, the operation of removing the optical fiber from the optical fiber connector already used for connecting the optical fiber, or opening the closed optical fiber connector is performed. Thus, the opening member 50 can be used for work for preparing a new optical fiber.
As shown in FIG. 11, the opening member 50 includes one for opening and closing between one side and one end cover 43 of the central lid 42 and the base element 41, and the other side and the other end of the central lid 42. A total of two pieces are provided, one for opening and closing between the part lid 43 and the base element 41.

Further, the holder portion 54 holds the connector main body 60 disposed in the housing recess 55 between the side walls 54a, and the bottom wall 54b is on the side surface of the clamp portion 40 (specifically, the side surface on the wedge insertion recess 47 side). The connector main body 60 can be stably held by abutting and engaging the bent end portion 54 c with the engagement recess 62 b provided on the rear surface side edge of the board 62 of the base 61.
When the wedge 51 is pulled out from the wedge insertion recess 47 of the clamp portion 40 by the bottom wall 54b coming into contact with both sides (left and right in FIGS. 17 and 18) of the clamp portion 40 via the wedge insertion recess 47. The wedge 51 and the clamp part 40 can be pulled straight without being forced or biased.

  The bottom wall 54 b of the holder portion 54 is divided into two through a slit 56, and the wedge 51 protrudes into the receiving recess 55 through the slit 56, but the wedge 51 is received from the wedge driving portion 52. The configuration for projecting into the recess 55 is not limited to the slit 56 that bisects the bottom wall 54b, and may be, for example, a small hole or a long hole drilled in the bottom wall 54b.

Specifically, the wedge drive unit 52 includes a movable end portion 52c and a pair of connecting wall portions 57 and 57 that connect both sides of the movable end portion 52c and both sides of the holder portion 54. It is configured. Each of the connecting wall portions 57, 57 is configured by movable pieces 52a, 52b connected in a “<” shape by a hinge 53b, and the bent portion of the hinge 53b is projected outward from the holder portion 54 side. Protruding.
The movable end portion 52c has a plate shape, and the projecting tips of the connecting wall portions 57, 57 from the holder portion 54 are connected to opposite sides of the movable end portion 52c via hinges 53c.
The movable end portion 52 c is supported by a pair of connecting wall portions 57, 57 so as to be substantially parallel to the plate-like bottom wall 54 b of the holder portion 54.

The wedge drive part 52 and the bottom wall 54b of the holder part 54 constitute a sleeve having a substantially hexagonal cross section. Here, specifically, the wedge drive part 52 is substantially C-shaped protruding from the holder part 54.
The configuration of the wedge drive unit 52 can be the same as the above-described opening member for an optical connector.

  Two wedges 51 protrude into the housing recess 55 of the holder portion 54 at the wedge support portion 51 a of the opening member 50. These wedges 51 can be inserted between the base element 41 and the central lid 42 and between the base element 41 and the end lid 43, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 20, when the wedge 51 of the opening member 50 is inserted into the wedge insertion recess 47 between the elements 41, 42, 43 of the clamp portion 40, the base element 41 and the lid-side elements 42, 43 are separated from each other. The gap is slightly opened against the elasticity of the clamp spring 46, and a gap is created in which the bare optical fibers 1a and 2a exposed at the tips of the optical fibers 1 and 2 can be inserted into the aligning groove 44. That is, the opening member 50 also functions as an interval holding member that holds an interval between the elements 41 to 43 of the clamp unit 40.
Further, as shown in FIG. 18, when the connecting wall portions 57, 57 of the wedge driving portion 52 are pressed from both sides (the elastic hinge 53b side), the extension deformation such that the movable end portion 52c moves away from the holder portion 54. Thus, the wedge 51 is extracted from the wedge insertion recess 47.

Next, a procedure for connecting the optical fibers 1 and 2 to each other by the connector main body 60 using the optical fiber connector 4 of this embodiment will be described.
First, a refractive index matching agent (matching oil) is injected into the alignment groove 44 of the clamp portion 40. Then, one optical fiber 2 inserted from one optical fiber insertion port 48 of the clamp unit 40 is connected to the light source 5. The mode of connecting one optical fiber 2 and the light source 5 is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 19A, one optical fiber 2 is inserted from one side of the clamp portion 40, The end of the optical fiber 2 opposite to the side inserted into the clamp portion 40 is connected to the test optical connector 7 connected to the light source 5 via the test optical fiber 6.
Thereby, the test light from the light source 5 is emitted from the end face in the clamp part 40 of one optical fiber 2, is scattered by the refractive index matching agent, and leaks from the gap between the elements of the clamp part 40. This light leakage is transmitted to the outside of the clamp part 40 through the opening member 50, and can be confirmed visually by an operator.
That is, the open member 50 also functions as a light guide member that guides leakage light from the connection portion between the optical fibers 1 and 2 to the outside of the clamp portion 40.

  When light leakage is confirmed, the tip of the other optical fiber 1 is inserted from the other optical fiber insertion port 48 of the clamp part 40 toward the alignment groove 44. As shown in FIG. 19B, when both the optical fibers 1 and 2 are abutted against each other, light leakage to the side of the connector main body 60 disappears. Thereby, even when the wedge 51 is press-fitted into the clamp portion 40, the abutting state between the optical fibers 1 and 2 can be easily observed from the outside of the connector body 30.

After confirming the abutment between the optical fibers 1 and 2, the wedge drive unit 52 is operated as shown in FIG. 18 to drive the wedge 51 and extract it from the wedge insertion recess 47 of the clamp unit 40. As a result, the optical fibers 1 and 2 are clamped and fixed between the base element 41 and the lid-side elements 42 and 43 by the elasticity of the clamp spring 46. Thereby, the connection state of the optical fibers 1 and 2 is stably maintained.
Further, the connector main body 60 is detached from the housing recess 55 of the opening member 50. Since the wedge 51 is pulled out from the wedge insertion recess 47 of the clamp portion 40 and the fitting of the opening member 50 to the connector main body 60 is released, the detachment operation of the connector main body 60 from the opening member 50 is Just pull apart.
As described above, the optical fibers 1 and 2 can be connected via the connector main body 60.

  According to the above optical fiber connector, before the optical fibers are butt-connected, it is possible to observe light leaking from the end face of the optical fiber through the opening member. In addition, after the optical fibers are butt-connected, the test light is transmitted to the other optical fiber, so that the light leakage disappears. Thereby, the butt | matching state of an optical fiber can be confirmed easily. Further, since there is no need to bend the optical fiber as in the conventional method for confirming the matching, there is no possibility of damaging the optical fiber.

The light leakage of the optical fiber can be guided from the inside of the clamp portion to the outside without particularly changing the structure of the connector main body used as the mechanical splice. Therefore, application to a conventional mechanical splice is easy.
If the optical fiber leakage can be seen from the outside by making the element transparent and forming a see-through window in the clamp spring, the elastic characteristics of the clamp spring will change due to the opening in the clamp spring. As a result, sufficient clamping characteristics may not be obtained. In contrast, in the present invention, sufficient clamping characteristics can be obtained, and the optical fiber butt state between the elements can be stably maintained.
If there is a defect on the tip surface of the optical fiber, leakage light does not disappear even if the optical fibers are brought into contact with each other, so that it is possible to prevent the connection work from being completed while the optical fiber is lost. In this case, the end face of the optical fiber can be cut again or the optical fiber can be replaced.

  Since the opening member has a very simple structure and can be manufactured at a low cost, the cost can be significantly reduced as compared with the case of using a dedicated tool. Furthermore, since the open member is assembled to the optical fiber connector, and the optical fiber is inserted into the clamp part, the mechanical splice can be connected to the optical fiber simply by removing the mechanical splice from the open member. It will also be very easy.

FIG. 21 is a view showing a modified example of the optical fiber connector of the present invention.
The optical fiber connector 72 includes the clamp portion 40 and the opening member 70 as described above. Here, the clamp unit 40 may be the one shown in FIG. 15, FIG. 20, etc., and redundant description will be omitted.
In the opening member 70, a wedge-shaped insertion member (wedge) 71 that is inserted between the elements 41, 42, and 43 of the clamp portion 40 is formed at the edge of the plate-shaped wedge support portion 71a. In such an opening member 72, at least the wedge 71 has translucency. The translucent part of the opening member 72 has translucency from the wedge 71 to the part reaching the outside of the clamp part 40. Preferably, it has translucency from the wedge 71 to the part reaching the outer surface of the wedge support part 71a, and more preferably, the entire opening member 70 has translucency.

  According to the optical fiber connector having such a configuration, the same effect as that of the optical fiber connector of FIG. 11 can be obtained except that the opening member does not have the wedge drive unit or the holder unit. That is, before the optical fiber is butt-connected, light leakage from the end face of the optical fiber can be observed through the opening member. In addition, after the optical fibers are butt-connected, the test light is transmitted to the other optical fiber, so that the light leakage disappears. Thereby, the butt | matching state of an optical fiber can be confirmed easily.

Although the present invention has been described based on the best mode, the present invention is not limited to the above-described best mode, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
The specific configurations of the holding member, the opening member, the optical connector, and the optical fiber connector are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes can be made.
The clamping member is not limited to a system in which an optical fiber is sandwiched between halved elements, and can be applied to various configurations that employ a system in which an optical fiber is clamped by a spring.

The number of wedge support portions and wedges protruding from the movable end portion of the opening member is not limited to the illustrated configuration. The number of wedges may be only one or plural. When the number of wedges is one, for example, a single plate-like wedge or the like in which the portion (tip) inserted into the clamp portion extends along the alignment axis by the alignment groove can be employed.
In the opening member illustrated in the above embodiment, the tip position of the wedge (projecting dimension from the movable end portion) is the same, and the insertion depth of the holder portion with respect to the housing recess is also the same. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a plurality of wedges have different projecting dimensions from the movable end.
In addition, the plurality of wedges are not limited to a configuration in which the thickness of the portion (tip) inserted into the receiving recess is uniform, and may be varied according to the opening interval of the element when inserted into the element. It is also possible to adopt the configuration.

The present invention provides an opening member having a wedge, a holder portion for holding a clamp portion, and supporting the release member toward the clamp portion held by the holder portion, and inserting the wedge between elements and / or elements. A dedicated tool (such as a conventional optical connector assembling tool) having a wedge driving unit that drives extraction from between can also be used.
In this case, the opening member may be a member having a simple structure in which, for example, a wedge-shaped protrusion that is inserted between the elements is formed at the tip (edge) of the plate-like member. In such an opening member, the translucent part can be formed on all or part of the wedge (the wedge-shaped protrusion) and the plate-like member.

  In addition, optical connectors (optical connector plugs, optical fiber receptacles, etc.) and optical fiber connectors (mechanical splices, etc.) that are applied to the present invention are not limited to single-fiber connectors, but multi-fiber connectors are also used. Is possible. In the case of multi-core, a configuration in which a plurality of aligning grooves formed in the element of the clamp part is employed. Further, in the case of multi-core, various usage methods can be used depending on the situation and purpose, such as a method using a multi-fiber optical fiber and a method using a plurality of single-core optical fibers.

  The present invention can be applied to various optical connectors, optical fiber connectors, and the like for the purpose of simply and quickly assembling an optical connector at the tip of the optical fiber and connecting the optical fiber. Moreover, it is applicable also to the optical connector etc. which were integrated in the apparatus and the apparatus.

It is a perspective view which shows the optical connector which concerns on the example of 1 form of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the open member of the optical connector of FIG. In the optical connector of FIG. 1, it is sectional drawing which shows the state in which the wedge of the open member was interrupted between the elements of a clamp part. In the optical connector of FIG. 1, it is sectional drawing which shows the state by which the wedge of the open member was extracted from between the elements of a clamp part. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the connector main body of the optical connector of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the optical connector main body of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the ferrule with a clamp part incorporated in the optical connector main body of FIG. It is a figure which shows the mating surface of each element which comprises the clamp part of the ferrule with a clamp part of FIG. It is a figure explaining the method to confirm the butt | matching state of the optical fiber in the optical connector of FIG. 1, (a) before inserting another optical fiber, (a) inserts another optical fiber, and is light for connection It is the schematic which shows after matching with a fiber. It is a schematic sectional drawing explaining the transmission through the wedge of the light leakage from the end surface of an optical fiber. It is a front view which shows the optical fiber connector which concerns on the example of 1 form of this invention. It is a front view which shows the connector main body of the optical fiber connector of FIG. It is a top view which shows the connector main body of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the one side half of the connector main body of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the clamp part in the connector main body of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the one side half of the optical connector connector of FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the wedge of the opening member is inserted between the elements of the clamp portion in the optical fiber connector of FIG. 11. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the wedge of the opening member is removed from between the elements of the clamp portion in the optical fiber connector of FIG. 11. It is a figure explaining the method to confirm the butt | matching state of the optical fiber in the optical fiber connector of FIG. 11, (a) inserts another optical fiber before inserting another optical fiber, (a) inserts and connects It is the schematic which shows after match | combining with the optical fiber for use. It is a schematic sectional drawing explaining the transmission through the wedge of the light leakage from the end surface of an optical fiber. It is drawing which shows the modification of the optical fiber connector of this invention. It is drawing explaining the method to confirm the butt | matching state of the optical fiber in the conventional optical connector.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 ... Optical fiber, 3 ... Optical connector, 4 ... Optical fiber connector, 5 ... Light source, 7 ... Other optical connector (test optical connector), 10 ... Clamp part (clamping member), 11 ... Element (base) Element (extension part), 12 ... Element (lid side element, front lid), 13 ... Element (lid side element, rear lid), 16 ... Clamp spring, 20 ... Opening member (interval holding member, light guide member) 21 ... Insertion member (wedge), 21a ... Insertion member support part (wedge support part), 22 ... Insertion member drive part (wedge drive part), 22c ... Movable end part, 24 ... Holder part, 31 ... Ferrule, 31a ... Bonding end face, 32 ... optical fiber for connection, 40 ... clamp part (clamping member), 41 ... element (base element), 42 ... element (center cover), 43 ... element (end cover), 46 ... clamp spring, 50 ... Opening members (interval holding members, light guide members), 51 ... inserting members (wedges) 51a: Insertion member support part (wedge support part) 52 ... Insertion member drive part (wedge drive part), 52c ... Movable end part, 54 ... Holder part, 54c ... Engagement part (bend end part), 61 ... Base .

Claims (8)

A clamp for holding a butt connection state between optical fibers to be butt-connected inside between the half-divided elements (11-13, 41-43) and clamping them by the elasticity of the clamp springs (16, 46) An opening member having an insertion member (21 , 51 , 71 ) for securing the open state of the portion (10, 40),
At least the insertion member has translucency so that the test light emitted from any one of the optical fibers inserted between the elements of the clamp part can be transmitted to the outside of the clamp part. An optical fiber connection opening member (20 , 50 , 70 ). A holder part (24, 54) for holding the clamp part inside, and a ring-shaped insertion member driving part (22, 52) projecting outward from the holder part, and the holder part in the insertion member driving part movable end portion is an end portion of the opposite side is that the (22c, 52c) insert support portion projecting toward said holder portion from (21a, 51a) said insertion member to the distal end of (21, 51) Formed,
The insertion member driving unit is elastic so that the distance between the movable end and the holder increases due to a side pressure applied from both sides facing a portion located between the movable end and the holder. 2. The optical fiber connection opening member (20, 50) according to claim 1, wherein the insertion member is deformed and the insertion member inserted between the elements can be extracted from between the elements. The opening member has an open member for optical fiber connection according to claim 1, wherein the insertion member (71) is made is formed on the edge of the plate-shaped insert member support (71a) (70). The connecting optical fiber protruding from the rear end side of the ferrule and the connecting light on the rear end side facing the joining end surface (31a) of the ferrule (31) in which the connecting optical fiber (32) is preliminarily installed. For clamping and holding the butt connection state with another optical fiber (1) butt-connected to the fiber between the halved elements (11, 12, 13) by the elasticity of the clamp spring (16) A clamp (10) is provided;
Between the elements of the clamp part, an insertion member (21) of an opening member (20) for securing the open state of the clamp part is inserted,
The open member is such that at least the insertion member is translucent, and can transmit the test light emitted from any one of the optical fibers inserted between the elements of the clamp part to the outside of the clamp part. An optical connector (3) characterized by comprising: The butt connection state between the optical fibers (1, 2) inserted from both sides and butt-connected inside is clamped and held between the halved elements (41, 42, 43) by the elasticity of the clamp spring (46). A clamping part (40) for performing, and an opening member (50, 70) having an insertion member (51, 71) for securing the opened state of the clamping part,
The insertion member is inserted between the elements of the clamp part,
The open member is such that at least the insertion member is translucent, and can transmit the test light emitted from any one of the optical fibers inserted between the elements of the clamp part to the outside of the clamp part. An optical fiber connector (4, 72).   The opening member is an opening member for connecting an optical fiber according to claim 2, and a holder portion of the opening member is assembled to the outside of a base (61) holding the clamp portion, 6. The optical fiber connector according to claim 5, further comprising an engaging portion (54c) that engages with the outside of the base. Insertion members (21, 51, 71) are inserted between the half-divided elements (11-13, 41-43) clamped by the elasticity of the clamp springs (16, 46), and between the elements by the insertion member A method of confirming that both optical fibers are butt-connected when butt-connecting the first optical fiber (1) and the second optical fiber (2, 32) in a state in which an open state is secured ,
A member having translucency is used as the insertion member , test light is transmitted to one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, and the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber the presence or absence of light leakage between, and observed through the insertion member inserted between said elements, the butt connection of optical fibers, characterized in that to ensure that the two optical fibers are butt connected by the disappearance of the light leakage Confirmation method. A clamp portion (10) is provided for holding a butt connection state between optical fibers to be butt-connected inside between the halved elements (11 to 13) and clamping them by the elasticity of the clamp spring (16). When the first optical fiber (32) built in the optical connector (3) is butt-connected to the second optical fiber (1) between the halved elements, both the optical fibers are butt-connected. The method of confirming,
The optical connector includes an opening member (20) having an insertion member (21) for ensuring an open state of the clamp portion, and at least the insertion member of the opening member has translucency ,
The optical connector is connected to the light source (5) via another optical connector (7), and the test light from the light source is transmitted to the first optical fiber via the other optical connector, The presence or absence of light leakage between the end face of the optical fiber and the end face of the second optical fiber is observed through an insertion member inserted between the elements , and it is confirmed that the two optical fibers are butt-connected by the disappearance of the light leakage. A method for confirming a butt connection of an optical fiber, characterized by confirming.

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