JP5325955B2 - Optical fiber connection unit, optical fiber connection device, and optical fiber connection method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber connecting unit, an optical fiber connecting device and a method for connecting an optical fiber capable of suppressing breakage of an optical fiber drawn out from a terminal of an optical fiber cable, and improving handleability of an optical fiber cable. <P>SOLUTION: An optical fiber connecting unit 10 comprises: a cable gripping member 70 for gripping an optical fiber cable 24; a mechanical splice 30 capable of gripping and fixing optical fibers by abutting and inserting the fibers between elements 31 and 32 divided into halves; a splice holder part 60 for holding the mechanical splice 30; splice tools 40 and 80 having an insertion member inserted so as to insert the optical fibers between the elements 31 and 32 divided into halves; and a gripping member holding part 50 for holding the cable gripping member 70. The gripping member holding part 50 holds the cable gripping member 70 so that the member can move along a longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fiber connecting unit, an optical fiber connecting device, and an optical fiber connecting method.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an optical fiber connector for connecting ends of optical fiber cables gripped by a cable gripping member in a state of abutting each other along a certain direction. A pair of clamping members that clamp the ends of the optical fiber, a spring member that presses the pair of clamping members with elastic force, a guide that mounts and guides the cable gripping member, and a cable mounted on the guide A restraining cover that restrains the gripping member, a plurality of insertion units that hold the pair of sandwiching members in a separated state, and a lock unit that locks the guide to the housing when the cable gripping member is accommodated in the housing. An optical fiber connector is described.

JP 2010-145951 A

  The present invention provides an optical fiber connecting unit, an optical fiber connecting device, and an optical fiber connecting method capable of suppressing breakage of an optical fiber drawn from an end of an optical fiber cable and improving the handleability of the optical fiber cable. The issue is to provide.

According to the present invention, a cable gripping member for gripping an optical fiber cable and an extended optical fiber drawn out from the end of the optical fiber cable are brought into contact with an insertion optical fiber that is another optical fiber and sandwiched between half-divided elements. A mechanical splice that can be held and fixed, a splice holder portion that holds the mechanical splice, and a longitudinal end of the mechanical splice so that the extended optical fiber can be inserted between the halved elements. A first splicing tool having an interrupted first insertion member and a second splicing tool inserted between the half-split elements on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice. A second splicing tool having two insertion members, and a tip end portion of the extending optical fiber, The gripping member holding portion that holds the cable gripping member, the splice holder portion, and the gripping member holding portion are integrated at a position that is inserted between the half-divided elements from one end side in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve. A unit base, wherein the gripping member holding portion holds the cable gripping member so as to be movable along a longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice , and the first splicing tool is provided with the mechanical member of the cable gripping member. A spacer for stopping movement of the splice along the longitudinal direction at a predetermined distance with respect to the mechanical splice; and by pulling out the first insertion member from between the half elements of the mechanical splice, The distal end portion of the extended optical fiber is sandwiched and fixed between the halved elements, and the cable gripping portion Is further closer to one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice, so that it is possible to form a bending deformation in the extended optical fiber between the cable gripping member and one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice. ,
An optical fiber connecting unit is provided.

In the present invention, the splice holder portion is slid in a direction approaching the fiber holder on a rail portion formed on a device base portion that holds a fiber holder that holds an insertion optical fiber that abuts the extended optical fiber. The optical fiber connecting unit including a slider guided so as to be movable is provided .
Further, according to the present invention, the spacer is press-fitted into a spacer accommodating portion formed between a positioning projection provided in the holding member holding portion and a positioning recess provided in the splice holder portion, and the positioning projection is The optical fiber connecting unit has an elastic member that presses the spacer toward one end in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice.

In the present invention, the gripping member holding portion holds the rear end portion of the cable gripping member so as to be retracted by rotating about the axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice. The optical fiber connecting unit includes a lever member that is rotatable between a restricting position that restricts and a standby position that does not restrict the backward movement of the cable gripping member.
Further, according to the present invention, the lever member has a locking projection for holding the lever member in the standby position by locking the first splicing tool to the first splicing tool, By pulling the splice from between the half-split elements, the locking by the locking projection is released, and the lever member can be rotated to the restricting position. provide.

According to the present invention, the second splicing tool includes a ring-shaped insertion member driving portion for pulling out the second insertion member from between the half elements, the splice holder portion, and the slider . A holding wall portion that holds and holds, and by applying a lateral pressure to the insertion member driving portion, the second insertion member is pulled out from between the half-divided elements and opened between the holding wall portions. And providing the optical fiber connecting unit capable of separating the slider from the splice holder.
Further, according to the present invention, the gripping member holding portion has an insertion hole having a substantially square cross section into which a fitting portion protruding to the front side of the cable gripping member is inserted, and the cable gripping member has the extension light Provided is the optical fiber connecting unit that can be fitted into the gripping member holding portion in a plurality of directions different from each other by 90 ° about the axial direction of the fiber.

The present invention also includes an optical fiber connection unit attached to a terminal of an optical fiber cable, and a device base for holding a fiber holder that holds an inserted optical fiber that abuts the extended optical fiber drawn from the terminal. The optical fiber connection unit includes a cable gripping member for gripping an optical fiber cable, and an extended optical fiber drawn from the end of the optical fiber cable, butted with an insertion optical fiber that is another optical fiber, and is a half element. A mechanical splice that can be sandwiched and fixed between the splice holder portion, a splice holder portion that holds the mechanical splice, and the extended optical fiber between the halved elements at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice. The first screw having the first insertion member inserted so that it can be inserted A rice tool, and a second splicing tool having a second insertion member inserted so that the insertion optical fiber can be inserted between the half-divided elements on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice A gripping member holding portion for holding the cable gripping member at a position where a distal end portion of the extended optical fiber is inserted between the half-divided elements from one longitudinal end side of the mechanical splice; and the splice A holder base and a unit base that integrates the holding member holding portion, and the holding member holding portion holds the cable holding member movably along the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice, The apparatus base includes a rail portion that slides the optical fiber connection unit or the fiber holder in a direction approaching each other ,
The first splicing tool includes a spacer that stops the movement of the cable gripping member along the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice at a predetermined distance from the mechanical splice.
By pulling out the first insertion member from between the half-split elements of the mechanical splice, the distal end portion of the extended optical fiber is sandwiched between the half-split elements to be held and fixed, and the cable gripping member Is further closer to one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice, so that it is possible to form a bending deformation in the extended optical fiber between the cable gripping member and one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice. An optical fiber connection device is provided.

A cable gripping member for gripping an optical fiber cable and an extended optical fiber drawn out from the end of the optical fiber cable are brought into contact with an insertion optical fiber that is another optical fiber and sandwiched between halved elements to be gripped and fixed. A mechanical splice capable of supporting the mechanical splice, a splice holder portion for holding the mechanical splice, and a first splicing portion inserted in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice so that the extended optical fiber can be inserted between the half-split elements. A first splicing tool having one insertion member, and a second insertion member that is inserted on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice so that the insertion optical fiber can be inserted between the half elements. A second splicing tool having a distal end portion of the extended optical fiber is a longitudinal portion of the mechanical splice. A gripping member holding part for holding the cable gripping member at a position inserted between the half-divided elements from one end side in the direction, and a unit base for integrating the splice holder part and the gripping member holding part The holding member holding portion holds the cable holding member movably along the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice , and the first splicing tool holds the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice of the cable holding member. A spacer for stopping movement along a direction at a predetermined distance with respect to the mechanical splice; and by extending the first insertion member from between the half elements of the mechanical splice, the extended optical fiber The tip end of the cable is sandwiched between the halved elements to be gripped and fixed, and the cable gripping member is By further closer to one longitudinal end of Nikaru splice between one longitudinal end of the mechanical splice between the cable gripping member, it is possible to form a flexural deformation in the extension exiting fiber, optical Using a fiber connection unit, the cable holding member holding the optical fiber cable is held by the holding member holding portion, and the extended optical fiber is arranged at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice. An optical fiber connecting unit that is inserted between the halved elements and pulled out from between the halved elements so that the extended optical fiber is sandwiched between the halved elements and held and fixed. Provide a method.

The present invention also provides a cable gripping member for gripping an optical fiber cable and an extended optical fiber drawn from the end of the optical fiber cable with an insertion optical fiber, which is another optical fiber, between the halved elements. The extended optical fiber can be inserted between the half-split elements at a mechanical splice that can be sandwiched and held, a splice holder portion that holds the mechanical splice, and one longitudinal end of the mechanical splice. The first splicing tool having the first insertion member inserted in this manner and the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice so that the insertion optical fiber can be inserted between the half-split elements. A second splicing tool having a second insertion member and a tip portion of the extended optical fiber, The gripping member holding portion that holds the cable gripping member, the splice holder portion, and the gripping member holding portion are integrated at a position inserted between the half-divided elements from one end side in the longitudinal direction of the price. A unit base, wherein the gripping member holding portion holds the cable gripping member so as to be movable along a longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice , and the first splicing tool is provided with the mechanical member of the cable gripping member. A spacer for stopping movement of the splice along the longitudinal direction at a predetermined distance with respect to the mechanical splice; and by pulling out the first insertion member from between the half elements of the mechanical splice, The distal end portion of the extended optical fiber is sandwiched between the halved elements to be held and fixed, and the cable When the holding member further approaches one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice, it is possible to form a bending deformation in the extended optical fiber between the cable gripping member and one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice. Using the optical fiber connecting unit, the cable holding member holding the optical fiber cable is held by the holding member holding portion, and the extended optical fiber is at one end in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice, Inserting between the half-divided elements, pulling out the first insertion member from between the half-divided elements, sandwiching the extended optical fiber between the half-divided elements, and holding and fixing, then inserting An optical fiber is inserted between the half elements of the mechanical splice from the other end in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice. The end of the optical fiber is abutted against the extended optical fiber, the second insertion member is pulled out from between the half-divided elements, and the butted portion of the extended optical fiber and the insertion optical fiber is located between the half-divided elements. Provided is a method for connecting optical fibers that is sandwiched and held and fixed.

The present invention also includes an optical fiber connection unit attached to a terminal of an optical fiber cable, and a device base for holding a fiber holder that holds an inserted optical fiber that abuts the extended optical fiber drawn from the terminal. The optical fiber connection unit includes a cable gripping member for gripping an optical fiber cable, and an extended optical fiber drawn from the end of the optical fiber cable, butted with an insertion optical fiber that is another optical fiber, and is a half element. A mechanical splice that can be sandwiched and fixed between the splice holder portion, a splice holder portion that holds the mechanical splice, and the extended optical fiber between the halved elements at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice. The first screw having the first insertion member inserted so that it can be inserted A rice tool, and a second splicing tool having a second insertion member inserted so that the insertion optical fiber can be inserted between the half-divided elements on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice A gripping member holding portion for holding the cable gripping member at a position where a distal end portion of the extended optical fiber is inserted between the half-divided elements from one longitudinal end side of the mechanical splice; and the splice A holder base and a unit base that integrates the holding member holding portion, and the holding member holding portion holds the cable holding member movably along the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice, device base, the optical fiber connecting unit or the fiber holder comprises a rail portion for sliding in a direction approaching each other, The first splicing tool includes a spacer that stops the movement of the cable gripping member along the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice at a predetermined distance with respect to the mechanical splice, and the first insertion member is moved to the mechanical splice. By pulling out from between the half-spliced elements of the splice, the end portion of the extended optical fiber is sandwiched between the half-split elements to be held and fixed, and the cable gripping member has one end in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice. By further approaching the side, it is possible to form a bending deformation in the extended optical fiber between the cable gripping member and one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice. The cable holding member holding the optical fiber cable is held by the holding member holding portion. The extending optical fiber is inserted between the half elements at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice, and the first insertion member is pulled out from between the half elements, After holding the light emitting fiber between the half-divided elements and holding and fixing, the optical fiber connecting unit or the fiber holder is slid along the rail portion in a direction approaching each other, so that the fiber holder The insertion optical fiber gripped on the other side of the mechanical splice is inserted between the half-split elements of the mechanical splice, and the tip is abutted against the extended optical fiber, and the second insertion member Is pulled out from between the half-divided elements, and the butted portion of the extension optical fiber and the insertion optical fiber is sandwiched between the half-divided elements. Crowded by grasping the fixed, it provides a method of connecting an optical fiber.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the damage of the optical fiber pulled out from the terminal of an optical fiber cable can be suppressed, and the handleability of an optical fiber cable can be made favorable.

It is a perspective view which shows the unit for optical fiber connection of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the unit for optical fiber connection of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows an example of a cable holding member. It is a perspective view which shows the state which open | released the cover body of the cable holding member of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the tool for the 1st splice. It is a perspective view which shows an example of a slider. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that a cable holding member is inserted in a holding member holding part. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that the cable holding member was inserted in the holding member holding part. (A)-(c) is a cross-sectional view of the holding member holding part which inserted the cable holding member. It is a side view which shows a mode that the spacer provided in the tool for 1st splices stopped the advancement of the cable holding member. It is a side view which shows an example of the latching protrusion provided in the lever member. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the elastic protrusion which presses the tool for 1st splices along the longitudinal direction of a mechanical splice. It is sectional drawing which shows a mode that the 1st insertion member was inserted between the elements of the half of mechanical splice. It is sectional drawing which shows a mode that a 1st insertion member is extracted from between the elements of the half of a mechanical splice. (A) A cross-sectional side view showing a state in which the spacer provided in the first splicing tool stops the advancement of the cable gripping member, and (b) a state in which the cable gripping member further advances and a deflection deformation is formed in the extended optical fiber. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the unit for optical fiber connection which hold | gripped and fixed the extended optical fiber. It is a perspective view which shows an example of a mechanical splice. It is a disassembled perspective view explaining the structure of the mechanical splice of FIG. It is sectional drawing explaining the insertion and holding state of the optical fiber in the mechanical splice of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows a mode that the 2nd insertion member was inserted between the elements of the half of mechanical splice. It is sectional drawing which shows the attachment state of the 2nd insertion member in the tool for 2nd splices. It is sectional drawing which shows a mode that a 2nd insertion member is extracted from between the elements of the half of a mechanical splice. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the optical fiber connection apparatus provided with the unit for optical fiber connection of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the base part main body of the optical fiber connection apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows an example of a fiber holder. It is a perspective view explaining operation | movement of the fiber holder of FIG. It is a perspective view explaining operation | movement of the optical fiber connection apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of an example of an optical fiber cable. It is a side view which shows an example of the optical connector attached to the optical fiber cable. It is a side view which shows an example of the installation state of the unit for optical fiber connection after the connection of an extension optical fiber and an insertion optical fiber.

The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical fiber connecting unit 10 includes a cable gripping member 70 that grips the optical fiber cable 24 and an extended optical fiber 21 drawn from the end of the optical fiber cable 24. A mechanical splice 30 that can be sandwiched between the half-split elements 31 and 32 while being in contact with the insertion optical fiber 1 (see FIG. 19), and a splice holder portion 60 that holds the mechanical splice 30; A gripping member holding portion 50 for holding the cable gripping member 70 at a position where the distal end portion of the extended optical fiber 21 is inserted between one half of the elements 31 and 32 from one longitudinal end of the mechanical splice 30; A unit base 11 that integrates the splice holder 60 and the holding member holding unit 50.

  The optical fiber connection unit 10 will be described with the upper side in FIGS. 1 and 23 as the upper side and the lower side as the lower side.

As shown in FIGS. 17 to 19, the mechanical splice 30 is a pressing member constituted by an elongated plate-shaped base member 31 and three lid members 321, 322, and 323 arranged and arranged along the longitudinal direction of the base member 31. The lid 32 is configured to be collectively held inside an elongated clamp spring 33 extending in a U-shaped cross section or a C shape (in the illustrated example, a U-shaped cross section).
The mechanical splice 30 has a half-grip member 34 composed of a base member 31 (base-side element) and lid members 321, 322, and 323 (lid-side elements). The base member 31 and the lid members 321, 322, and 323 are elastically biased in the closing direction by the elasticity of the clamp spring 33. Hereinafter, the mechanical splice is also referred to as a splice.

As shown in FIG. 19, the end of the extended optical fiber 21 is inserted from one end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated half-shaped gripping member 34 of the splice 30 to the center in the longitudinal direction.
A portion of the extended optical fiber 21 that is inserted between the base member 31 and the pressing lid 32 that constitute the half-gripping member 34 is also referred to as an insertion end portion hereinafter.

  In the present specification, the splice 30 will be described with the side in which the extended optical fiber 21 is extended (left side in FIG. 19) as the rear and the opposite side (right side in FIG. 19) as the front in the longitudinal direction. The extended optical fiber 21 extends from the rear end of the half gripping member 34 of the splice 30.

  Of the three lid members (lid-side elements) 321, 322, and 323 constituting the holding lid 32 of the splice 30, the lid member with the reference numeral 321 located at the rearmost side is hereinafter referred to as the rear lid member and located at the frontmost side. Hereinafter, the cover member denoted by reference numeral 323 is also referred to as a front cover member. In addition, the lid member indicated by reference numeral 322 positioned between the rear lid member 321 and the front lid member 323 is hereinafter also referred to as an inner lid member.

  As shown in FIGS. 17 to 19, the clamp spring 33 having a U-shaped cross section is formed by molding a single metal plate from both sides of the elongated plate-like back plate portion 33 a. The side plate portion 33b is formed so as to protrude perpendicularly to the back plate portion 33a over the entire length in the longitudinal direction. The base member 31 and the three lid members 321, 322, and 323 of the splice 30 have opposed surfaces 31 a, 321 a, 322 a, and 323 a that are substantially perpendicular to the interval direction of the pair of side plate portions 33 b of the clamp spring 33. It is held between the pair of side plate portions 33b in the direction. One of the pair of side plate portions 33 b contacts the base member 31, and the other side plate portion 33 b contacts the holding lid 32.

At the insertion end of the extended optical fiber 21, the portion of the bare optical fiber 21a at the tip is disposed between the base member 31 of the splice 30 and the inner lid member 322, and the portion having the coating 21b is the base member 31 of the splice 30. And the rear lid member 321.
By inserting another optical fiber 1 between the base member 31 and the inner lid member 322 from the front side of the splice 30, the tip of the optical fiber 1 (hereinafter also referred to as an inserted optical fiber) is extended to the tip of the optical fiber 21 ( Butts can be connected to the end of the insertion end. Further, the extended optical fiber 21 and the insertion that abuts against the optical fiber 21 between the half elements of the splice 30, that is, between the base member 31 (base side element) and the pressing lid 32 (lid side element). The optical fiber 1 can be held and fixed by the elasticity of the clamp spring 33.

As shown in FIG. 28, for example, the optical fiber cable 24 is embedded in a resin coating material 25 (hereinafter also referred to as a jacket) together with a pair of linear strength members 26 vertically attached to the optical fiber 21. And an optical fiber cable having a substantially rectangular cross section, and is used as an optical drop cable, an optical indoor cable, or the like.
The optical fiber 21 is disposed at the center of the cross section of the optical fiber cable 24, and the pair of strength members 26 are disposed at positions separated from the optical fiber 21 on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the optical fiber cable 24. The optical fiber 21 is a coated optical fiber such as an optical fiber core or an optical fiber.

The extension optical fiber 21 and the insertion optical fiber 1 are coated optical fibers such as an optical fiber core and an optical fiber. In the illustrated example, a single-core optical fiber is used as the extended optical fiber 21 and the insertion optical fiber 1.
A bare optical fiber 21 a is led out at the distal end (front end) of the insertion end of the extended optical fiber 21. Butt connection between the extended optical fiber 21 and the insertion optical fiber 1 at the splice 30 is performed by a butting between the bare optical fiber 1a led out at the tip of the insertion optical fiber 1 and the bare optical fiber 21a at the tip of the insertion end of the extension optical fiber 21. Realized.

  As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the base member 31 of the splice 30 is formed with an opposing surface 31 a that faces the lid members 321, 322, and 323 extending over the entire length in the longitudinal direction. At the center in the longitudinal direction (extending direction) of the facing surface 31 a of the base member 31, a bare optical fiber 21 a led to the tip of the extended optical fiber 21 and a bare optical fiber 1 a led to the tip of the inserted optical fiber 1 are provided. Aligning grooves 31b for positioning and aligning with high accuracy so that they can be connected to each other (optical connection) are formed. The alignment groove 31 b is a V groove formed to extend along the longitudinal direction of the base member 31. However, the aligning groove 31b is not limited to the V-groove, and for example, a semicircular cross-sectional groove or a U-groove can be employed.

The alignment groove 31b is formed in a portion of the base member 31 that faces the inner lid member 322 of the facing surface 31a.
Cover portion insertion grooves 31c and 31d having a groove width larger than that of the alignment groove 31b are formed in a portion of the base member 31 facing the rear lid member 321 and a portion facing the front lid member 323. Has been. The covering portion insertion grooves 31 c and 31 d are formed to extend along the longitudinal direction of the base member 31 on both sides of the alignment groove 31 b in the longitudinal direction of the base member 31.
Between the covering portion insertion grooves 31c and 31d and the aligning groove 31b, tapered taper grooves 31e and 31f having a groove width that decreases from the covering portion insertion grooves 31c and 31d toward the aligning groove 31b are formed. Has been. Each coating | coated part insertion groove | channel 31c, 31d is connected with the alignment groove | channel 31b via the said taper groove | channel 31e, 31f.
In the illustrated splice 30, the covering portion insertion grooves 31c and 31d are V-shaped grooves (see FIG. 20 for the covering portion insertion groove 31d). However, the covering portion insertion grooves 31c and 31d are not limited to V-grooves, and for example, semi-circular grooves or U-grooves can be employed.

The insertion end portion of the extended optical fiber 21 is formed on the opposing surfaces 31a and 321a of the back cover member 321 and the base member 31 facing each other, with the covering portion being the portion where the outer periphery of the bare optical fiber 21a is covered with the covering 21b. The bare optical fiber 21a which is inserted into the covering portion insertion grooves 31c and 321b and protrudes from the end of the covering portion is inserted into the alignment groove 31b, and is provided between the base member 31 and the pressing lid 32. .
The insertion end portion of the extended optical fiber 21 is gripped and fixed by the elasticity of the clamp spring 33 between the rear cover member 321 and the base member 31.

  The covering portion insertion groove 31 c of the rear cover member 321 is formed at a position corresponding to the covering portion insertion groove 31 c of the base member 31 on the facing surface 321 a of the rear cover member 321. Further, the covering portion insertion grooves 31 c and 321 b of the rear cover member 321 and the base member 31 are formed between the rear cover member 321 and the base member 31 in view of the outer diameter of the covering portion of the extending optical fiber 21. The depth is adjusted so that the covering portion can be firmly held and fixed. In other words, the depths of the covering portion insertion grooves 31c and 321b of the rear lid member 321 and the base member 31 are adjusted so that the total depth is smaller than the outer diameter of the covering portion of the extended optical fiber 21. Yes.

As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the covering portion insertion groove 31d formed on the front side of the alignment groove 31b has a covering portion that is a portion where the outer periphery of the bare optical fiber 1a of the insertion optical fiber 1 is covered with the covering 1b. Is inserted.
Further, the splice 30 in the illustrated example has a covering portion insertion groove in which the covering portion of the insertion optical fiber 1 is inserted into the facing surface 323a of the front lid member 323 at a position corresponding to the covering portion insertion groove 31d of the base member 31. 323b is formed. The insertion optical fiber 1 is inserted into the covering portion insertion grooves 31d and 323b from the front side of the splice 30 in a state where the bare optical fiber 1a is previously extracted at the tip thereof.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first splicing tool 40 has two insertion members 41.
One of the two insertion members 41 (indicated by reference numeral 41A in the figure) is inserted between the rear end of the inner lid member 322 of the splice 30 and the base member 31, and the other (reference numeral 41B in the figure). Is attached between the rear cover member 321 and the base member 31. Between the middle lid member 322 and the base member 31 of the splice 30 and between the rear lid member 321 and the base member 31 are opened against the elasticity of the clamp spring 33 by the insertion members 41A and 41B. .
The insertion member 41A inserted between the rear end portion of the middle lid member 322 of the splice 30 and the base member 31 is hereinafter referred to as the first insertion member 41A, the rear lid member 321 and the base member 31. Hereinafter, the insertion member 41B interposed therebetween is also referred to as a second insertion member 41B.
Details of the first splicing tool 40 will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 21, the second splicing tool 80 has two insertion members 81.
One of the two insertion members 81 (indicated by reference numeral 81A in the figure) is inserted between the front end portion of the inner lid member 322 of the splice 30 and the base member 31, and the other (indicated by reference numeral 81B in the figure). Is inserted between the front lid member 323 and the base member 31. Between the middle lid member 322 of the splice 30 and the base member 31, and between the front lid member 323 and the base member 31, the insertion members 81A and 81B are opened against the elasticity of the clamp spring 33. .
The insertion member 81A inserted between the front end portion of the middle lid member 322 of the splice 30 and the base member 31 is hereinafter referred to as the first insertion member 81A, between the front lid member 323 and the base member 31. Hereinafter, the insertion member 81 </ b> B interposed between the two is also referred to as a second insertion member 81 </ b> B.
Details of the second splicing tool 80 will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the front lid member 323 and the base member 31 are separated (opened) from the front side of the splice 30 so that the covering portion of the insertion optical fiber 1 can be easily inserted into the covering portion insertion grooves 31d and 323b. Has been. The front end portion of the inner lid member 322 and the base member 31 are separated (opened) to such an extent that the bare optical fiber 1a led out from the distal end of the insertion optical fiber 1 can be easily inserted into the alignment groove 31b. In FIG. 19, a symbol FS is added to the accommodation space of the optical fiber 1 including the covering portion insertion grooves 31 d and 323 b.

In the insertion member 81 of the second splicing tool 80 in the illustrated example, a tip portion 81 a formed in a plate shape is inserted between the base member 31 of the splice 30 and the pressing lid 32.
The amount of opening between the front lid member 323 and the base member 31 and between the front end portion of the middle lid member 322 and the base member 31 is set by the thickness dimension of the plate-like distal end portion 81 a of the insertion member 81.
The separation distance between the front end portion of the inner lid member 322 and the base member 31 opened by the first insertion member 81A is such that the bare optical fibers 21a and 1a are aligned with the alignment groove 31b and the facing surface 322a of the inner lid member 322. It is set in a range that does not leave the space.
The separation distance between the front lid member 323 and the base member 31 opened by the second insertion member 81B is a range in which the insertion optical fiber 1 (its covering portion) does not separate from between the covering portion insertion grooves 31d and 323b. Set to

In addition, as an insertion member, the front-end | tip part (insertion piece part) to be interrupted between the base member 31 of the splice 30 and the pressing lid 32 is not limited to a plate shape.
As an insertion piece part of an insertion member, a sheet-like thing, a rod-like thing, etc. are employable, for example.

The insertion member main body 83 of the insertion member 81 illustrated in FIG. 20 has a plate-shaped tip part 81a as an insertion piece part. Hereinafter, the plate-like distal end portion 81a of the insertion member main body 83 is also referred to as an insertion piece portion.
The portion other than the insertion piece portion 81a of the insertion member main body 83 is formed in a plate shape having a larger plate thickness (thickness dimension) than the insertion piece portion 81a.
The plate-like insertion piece 81a of the insertion member 81 has a tapered shape with a tapered tip. After the insertion member 81 is removed from the half gripping member 34 of the splice 30, the insertion piece portion 81a is pushed between the base member 31 and the pressing lid 32 to be inserted (splice with an insertion member). Can be assembled).
Further, the optical fiber connecting unit 10 is supplied to the site with the insertion member removed from the splice 30, and at the site, between the middle lid member 322 of the splice 30 and the base member 31, and the front lid member 323. A splice with an insertion member may be assembled by inserting an insertion piece portion of the insertion member between the base member 31 and the base member 31.

  The covering portion insertion grooves 31d and 323b of the front lid member 323 and the base member 31 are arranged such that when the insertion member 81B is removed from between the front lid member 323 and the base member 31, the front lid member 323 and the base member 31 The depth is adjusted in view of the outer diameter of the covering portion of the insertion optical fiber 1 so that the covering portion of the insertion optical fiber 1 can be firmly held and fixed between the two. That is, the depths of the covering portion insertion grooves 31d and 323b of the front lid member 323 and the base member 31 are adjusted so that the total depth is smaller than the outer diameter of the covering portion of the inserted optical fiber 1. Yes.

In the illustrated splice 30, the covering portion insertion grooves 321 b and 323 b of the rear lid member 321 and the front lid member 323 are V-grooves (see FIG. 20 for the covering portion insertion grooves 323 b of the front lid member 323). However, the covering portion insertion grooves 321b and 323b are not limited to V-grooves, and for example, semicircular cross-section grooves, U-grooves, and the like can be employed.
Further, the covering portion insertion groove is not necessarily formed in both of the rear cover member 321 and the base member 31 facing each other. As the splice, a configuration in which a covering portion insertion groove is formed in one of the facing portions of the rear cover member 321 and the base member 31 can be employed.
The same applies to the portions of the front lid member 323 and the base member 31 that face each other. As the splice, a covering portion insertion groove is formed on one of the portions of the front lid member 323 and the base member 31 that face each other. A configuration can also be employed.

As shown in FIG. 17, the insertion member 81 is inserted into the side surface of the half-grip member 34 of the splice 30 that is exposed on the side opposite to the back plate portion 33a of the clamp spring 33 (hereinafter referred to as the open side). The insertion member insertion hole 35 for opening is opened. As shown in FIG. 18, the insertion member insertion hole 35 is formed at positions corresponding to each other on the opposing surfaces 31a, 321a, 322a, and 323a of the base member 31 and the three lid members 321, 322, and 323. The member insertion grooves 31g, 321c, 322c, and 323c are secured between the base member 31 and the lid members 321, 322, and 323.
The insertion member insertion hole 35 is formed at a depth that does not reach the alignment groove 31b and the covering portion insertion grooves 31c, 31d, 321b, and 323b from the open side of the half-gripping member 34.
Moreover, as the insertion member insertion hole 35, the structure ensured by the insertion member insertion groove formed only in one side of the base member 31 and the cover members 321, 322, and 323 is also employable.

  As shown in FIG. 17, in the illustrated splice 30, the insertion member insertion hole 35 has two locations corresponding to the rear end portion and the front end portion of the inner lid member 322, and the rear lid member 321 and the front lid member 323. The base member 31 is formed at a total of four positions at positions corresponding to the central portion in the front-rear direction along the longitudinal direction. The insertion members 81 </ b> A and 81 </ b> B have insertion member insertion holes 35 (indicated by reference numeral 35 a in FIG. 17) formed at positions corresponding to the front end portion of the inner lid member 322 among the four insertion member insertion holes 35. The insertion member insertion hole 35 (indicated by reference numeral 35b in FIG. 17) formed at a position corresponding to the central portion in the front-rear direction of the front lid member 323 is inserted.

  As shown in FIG. 19, a flat facing surface 322 a is formed in a portion of the inner lid member 322 that faces the alignment groove 31 b of the base member 31. When the first interposing member 81 </ b> A inserted between the inner lid member 322 and the base member 31 is removed, the inner lid member 322 is attached to the tip of the extended optical fiber 21 by the elasticity of the clamp spring 33. The bare optical fiber 21a and the bare optical fiber 1a of the insertion optical fiber 1 abutted against the tip of the bare optical fiber 21a can be pressed by the facing surface 322a and pressed into the alignment groove 31b.

  As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the pair of side plate portions 33 b of the clamp spring 33 is divided into three portions corresponding to the three lid members 321, 322, and 323 of the pressing lid 32 of the splice 30, respectively. The side plate portion 33b (upper side plate portion 33b in FIGS. 18 and 19) that contacts the holding lid 32 is a boundary between the rear lid member 321 and the middle lid member 322, and a boundary between the middle lid member 322 and the front lid member 323. Are divided into three portions corresponding to the three lid members 321, 322, and 323, respectively, by slit-shaped cut portions 33 d formed at positions corresponding to. The side plate portion 33b that comes into contact with the base member 31 has three lid members 321, 322, and 323 formed by a cut portion 33d that is formed at a position corresponding to the cut portion 33d of the side plate portion 33b that comes into contact with the cover members 321, 322, and 323. It is divided into three parts corresponding to.

The clamp spring 33 includes a first clamp spring portion 331 that holds the rear lid member 321 and the base member 31, a second clamp spring portion 332 that holds the middle lid member 322 and the base member 31, and a front lid member 323. And a third clamp spring portion 333 that holds the base member 31. The first to third clamp spring portions 331 to 333 function as clamp springs independent of each other.
In FIGS. 18 and 19, the pair of side plates of the first clamp spring portion 331 has a reference numeral 331 b, the pair of side clamp portions of the second clamp spring portion 332 has a reference number 332 b, and the pair of side plates of the third clamp spring portion 333. Reference numeral 333b is added to the part.

The splice 30 has three clamp portions corresponding to the three clamp spring portions.
That is, the splice 30 includes a first clamp portion that holds the rear lid member 321 and the base member 31 inside the first clamp spring portion 331, and an intermediate lid member 322 and a base member inside the second clamp spring portion 332. And a third clamp part that holds the front lid member 323 and the base member 31 on the third clamp spring part 333 side.
Each of the three clamp portions has an optical fiber between the halved elements (base member 31 (base side element) and lid member (lid side element)) due to the elasticity of the clamp spring portion corresponding to each clamp portion. Can be gripped and fixed.

  The first clamp portion of the splice 30 can grip and fix the covering portion of the extended optical fiber 21 between the rear lid member 321 and the base member 31 by the elasticity of the first clamp spring portion 331. For example, even if the splicing member 30 is opened and closed by inserting and removing the insertion member between the inner covering member 322 and the base member 31 (that is, opening and closing of the second clamping portion), The holding and fixing state of the extended optical fiber 21 is maintained stably. In addition, the opening and closing of the third clamp portion by inserting and removing the insertion member does not affect the gripping and fixing state of the extended optical fiber 21 of the first clamp portion.

The splice 30 includes splicing tools 40 and 80 in which insertion members 41 and 81 are inserted between the half elements 31 and 32.
The first splicing tool 40 has a first insertion member 41 that is inserted on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the splice 30 so that the extended optical fiber 21 can be inserted between the half elements 31 and 32. The second splicing tool 80 has a second insertion member 81 that is inserted on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the splice 30 so that the insertion optical fiber 1 can be inserted between the half elements 31 and 32.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 13, and 14, the first splicing tool 40 includes two splicing tools 30 having a tip portion (insertion piece portion 41 a) interposed between the base member 31 and the pressing lid 32 of the splice 30. It has the insertion member 41 and the insertion member drive part 42 to which this insertion member 41 was attached.
The insertion member driving unit 42 includes an insertion member support unit 43 that supports the insertion member 41 and a pair of insertion member operation units 44 and 44 disposed on both sides thereof. Between the insertion member support part 43 and the insertion member operation part 44, there is a gap 45 along the longitudinal direction of the insertion member support part 43, but the base 46 on one end side in the longitudinal direction (upper right in FIG. 5). , The end of the insertion member operation portion 44 is bent toward the insertion member support portion 43 and is connected to the insertion member support portion 43. A thin hinge 47 is provided between the base 46 and the insertion member support 43. The hinge portion 47 is recessed on the side of the insertion member forming surface 43f in which the insertion member 41 is provided on the insertion member support portion 43 (side facing the splice 30), and the insertion member has the base portion 46 as a fulcrum. The support part 43 can be rotated in a direction away from the splice 30.

The two insertion members 41 </ b> A and 41 </ b> B are attached to the insertion member support portion 43 so as to be separated from each other in the direction of the axis (center axis Q ₁ ).
In addition, about the 1st splicing tool 40, the axial direction of the insertion member support part 43 is hereafter demonstrated as a front-back direction. The insertion member 41 is attached so that the plate-like thickness direction is perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the insertion member support portion 43.

Then, the first splicing tool 40 inserts the tip 41a protruding outside the insertion member support 43 of the insertion member 41 between the base member 31 of the splice 30 and the presser lid 32, and splices the splice 30. 30 is attached. The splicing tool 40 is provided with its front-rear direction aligned with the front-rear direction of the splice 30.
The insertion member 41 is held between the base member 31 and the pressing lid 32 with a relatively strong force by the elasticity of the clamp spring 33 of the splice 30.
The insertion member support portion 43 has a pressing protrusion 48 that protrudes on the opposite side of the insertion member forming surface 43f. As shown in FIG. 10, the pressing projections 48, 48 are respectively formed at corresponding positions on the opposite side of the insertion members 41, 41, and the insertion member 41 is spliced by pressing the pressing projections 48. It becomes easy to interrupt between the 30 base members 31 and the pressing lid 32.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 13, the width (in the left-right direction in FIG. 13) of the insertion member support portion 43 extends from the splice 30 on the side surface 43 a of the insertion member support portion 43 that faces the insertion member operation portion 44. A slope 43b is formed which becomes wider as the distance increases. In addition, the side surface 44 a of the insertion member operation unit 44 facing the insertion member support unit 43 has a slope 44 b in which the width of the insertion member operation unit 44 (in the left-right direction in FIG. 13) decreases as the distance from the splice 30 increases. A protrusion 44c is formed.
This first splicing tool 40 has a cross section perpendicular to the direction of the axis (center axis Q ₁ ) of the interposer member support part 43 and both sides (the left and right directions in FIG. a portion located on the description to) as the left-right direction of the tool 40 giving the pressing (lateral pressure P ₁₎ to be to close to each other, as shown in FIG. 14, the slope 44b of the insertion member operation unit 44 is insertion members A pressing force is applied in the normal direction of these inclined surfaces in contact with the inclined surfaces 43 b of the support portion 43. By combining the pressing forces applied to the inclined surfaces 44b on both sides of the insertion member support portion 43, the insertion member support portion 43 is deformed in a direction away from the splice 30, and the insertion member 41 is changed to the splice 30 (in detail). Can be removed from the half gripping member 34).
At this time, the insertion member support portion 43 rotates with the base portion 46 as a fulcrum as described above, so that the first insertion member 41A located on the side far from the base portion 46 is located on the side closer to the base portion 46. The distance from the splice 30 is increased before the insertion member 41B. This splicing tool 40 realizes time-lag removal, in which the first insertion member 41A is removed from the second clamp portion prior to the removal of the second insertion member 41B from the first clamp portion. it can.
Insertion member drive section 42 to one another to approximate the left and right side portions provide lateral pressure P _1, the through work overtake from insertion member 41 splice 30, for example, operator intervention with one hand finger insertion member drive section 42 It can be done by grasping.

As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the second splicing tool 80 includes two insertion members in which a tip end portion (insertion piece portion 81 a) is inserted between the base member 31 of the splice 30 and the pressing lid 32. 81 and a sleeve-like insertion member driving unit 82 to which the insertion member 81 is attached.
The insertion member 81 has a plate-like insertion member main body 83 that protrudes outside the insertion member drive unit 82 through a notch 82 a formed in the insertion member drive unit 82. The insertion piece portion 81a of the insertion member 81 constitutes a distal end portion of the insertion member main body 83 that protrudes to the outside of the insertion member drive portion 82 through the notch portion 82a.
The second splicing tool 80 has a pressure receiving portion that is a wall portion where the notch portion 82a is formed in the insertion member driving portion 82 on the base end side opposite to the insertion piece portion 81a of the insertion member 81. It is configured to be attached to a locking wall portion 85 facing the wall portion 86.

The pressure receiving wall portion 86 has a configuration in which a projecting protruding wall portion 86b that protrudes toward the outside of the insertion member driving portion 82 is provided on the flat plate-like main wall portion 86a in which the cutout portion 82a is formed. It has become.
The abutment protruding wall portion 86b of the pressure receiving wall portion 86 is formed at the center of the plate-like main wall portion 86a extending along the front-rear direction of the insertion member driving portion 82. It is a rib-like projecting wall projecting perpendicular to the extending direction (front-rear direction) of the portion 86a. Further, the projecting wall portion 86b for abutment includes a pressure receiving wall portion 86 (specifically, a plate-like main wall portion 86a) and a locking wall portion 85 (more specifically, a plate-like main wall described later) in the insertion member driving portion 82. Are formed extending in the left-right direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 20), which is the distance direction of the drive-part side wall portions 88 on both sides.

The notch portion 82a is formed on the plate-like main wall portion 86a of the pressure receiving wall portion 86 so as to extend from the both ends in the front-rear direction to be elongated along the front-rear direction. The abutment protruding wall portion 86 b of the pressure receiving wall portion 86 is located between the front and rear cutout portions 82 a in the front-rear direction of the insertion member drive portion 82.
The two insertion members 81 of the second splicing tool 80 are provided such that the insertion member main body 83 is passed through the front and rear cutouts 82a through the abutting projection wall 86a.

The insertion member main body 83 of the insertion member 81 has an abutting wall portion 83a that is brought into contact with the locking wall portion 85 from the pressure receiving wall portion 86 side on the base end side opposite to the insertion piece portion 81a. Have
The locking wall portion 85 of the insertion member driving portion 82 of the second splicing tool 80 in the illustrated example is formed on the plate-like main wall portion 85a formed in parallel to the plate-like main wall portion 86a of the pressure receiving wall portion 86. A protruding wall portion 85b protruding from the plate-like main wall portion 85a toward the pressure receiving wall portion 86 is provided.
The abutting wall portion 83a of the insertion member 81 can abut on the end surface of the projecting wall portion 85b of the locking wall portion 85 from the pressure receiving wall portion 86 side.

  The insertion member 81 extends from the proximal end portion (abutment wall portion 83a) of the insertion member main body 83 to the side opposite to the insertion piece portion 81a (the proximal end side of the insertion member 81). It has the engagement piece 84 taken out. The insertion member 81 passes the engaging piece 84 through a through hole 85c that penetrates the locking wall portion 85, and on the outside of the locking wall portion 85 (on the side opposite to the pressure receiving wall portion 86). An insertion claw 84a protruding from the side surface of the tip end (extension end) of the protruding engagement piece 84 is disposed so as to be engageable with the locking wall portion 85, and the insertion member drive unit 82 is attached.

  One end of the through hole 85c of the locking wall portion 85 of the insertion member drive portion 82 of the second splicing tool 80 in the illustrated example is open to the end surface of the protruding end of the protruding wall portion 85b. The other end of the through hole 85c opens into a recessed portion 85d formed in the locking wall portion 85 so as to be recessed from the outer surface of the plate-like main wall portion 85a (the surface opposite to the inside of the insertion member driving portion 82). . The recess 85d is formed in a hole shape in which the other end of the through hole 85c is expanded. The engagement claw 84a of the engagement piece 84 of the insertion member 81 is an engagement piece 84 that protrudes outward from the step surface 85e at the boundary between the other end of the through hole 85c and the recess 85d. It protrudes on the side of the tip. The engaging claw 84a can be engaged with the step surface 85e from the side opposite to the pressure receiving wall portion 86.

  In the illustrated insertion member 81, the length (axial dimension) of the through hole 85c of the locking wall portion 85 between the engagement claw 84a of the engagement piece 84 and the contact wall portion 83a. A slightly longer separation distance is secured than Accordingly, the insertion member 81 secures a slight movable range in the axial direction of the through hole 85c with respect to the locking wall portion 85, so that the insertion member drive portion 82 (specifically, the locking wall portion 85). ).

  As a splicing tool, the separation distance between the engaging claw 84a of the engaging piece 84 of the insertion member 81 and the contact wall portion 83a is made equal to the length of the through hole 85c of the locking wall portion 85. A configuration in which the insertion member 81 is attached to the insertion member drive unit 82 (specifically, the locking wall portion 85) is also employed. In the case of this configuration, the insertion member 81 sandwiches the locking wall portion 85 between the engagement claw 84a of the engagement piece 84 and the abutting wall portion 83a, thereby inserting the insertion member drive portion 82 (specifically, the engagement member portion 82a). It attaches in the state which controlled the displacement to the axial direction of the said through-hole 85c with respect to the stop wall part 85).

The two insertion members 81 </ b> A and 81 </ b> B are attached to the insertion member drive unit 82 so as to be separated from each other in the direction of the axis (center axis Q).
The second splicing tool 80 will be described below in which the axial direction of the insertion member driving unit 82 is the front-rear direction. The insertion member 81 is attached to the insertion member drive unit 82 such that the thickness direction of the plate-like insertion member main body 83 is perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the insertion member drive unit 82.

Then, the second splicing tool 80 has a distal end portion of the insertion member 81 that protrudes outside the insertion member driving portion 82 of the insertion member main body 83 between the base member 31 of the splice 30 and the pressing lid 32. And is attached to the splice 30. The second splicing tool 80 is provided with its front-rear direction aligned with the front-rear direction of the splice 30.
The insertion member main body 83 is gripped between the base member 31 and the pressing lid 32 with a relatively strong force by the elasticity of the clamp spring 33 of the splice 30.

  As shown in FIG. 20, the half gripping member 34 of the splice 30 protrudes from the clamp spring 33 to the open side (the side opposite to the back plate portion 33 a). The second splicing tool 80 is attached to the splice 30 such that the abutment protruding wall portion 86b of the pressure receiving wall portion 86 abuts against the half gripping member 34 of the splice 30.

The second splicing tool 80 has both sides (left and right sides in FIG. 20; left and right sides in FIG. 20) in the cross section perpendicular to the axis (center axis Q) direction of the insertion member drive unit 82 via the insertion member 81. , Which will be described below as the left-right direction of the second splicing tool 80), by pressing (applying a side pressure P) and bringing them closer to each other, the pressure receiving wall portion 86 of the insertion member driving portion 82 and A separation distance from the locking wall portion 85 is increased. As a result, the second splicing tool 80 can remove the insertion member 81 from the splice 30 (specifically, the half gripping member 34).
For example, the operator can remove the insertion member 81 from the splice 30 by applying a lateral pressure P to the insertion member drive unit 82 to bring the left and right side portions closer to each other. You can hold it.

Further, the second splicing tool 80 is inserted through both sides of the pressure receiving wall portion 86 through the notch portion 82a, that is, through the notch portion 82a in a direction perpendicular to the pressure receiving wall portion 86. A pair of engaging wall portions (holding wall portions) 87 protruding outward from the insertion member drive portion 82 from both sides (right and left sides in FIG. 20) via the main body 83 in a direction parallel to the insertion member main body 83. Have.
Then, the second splicing tool 80 is configured so that the projecting claws 87a projecting from the projecting end portions of the pair of engaging wall portions 87 toward the inner surfaces facing each other of the pair of engaging wall portions 87 are provided on the slider 120. The slider 120 is attached to the lower end of the side wall 122. The second splicing tool 80 is less likely to be displaced with respect to the slider 120 by engaging the engaging wall portion 87 with the slider 120.

However, the second splicing tool 80 applies a lateral pressure P to the insertion member drive unit 82 from both the left and right sides to remove the insertion member 81 from the splice 30. Even after the separation distance between the pressure receiving wall portion 86 and the locking wall portion 85 becomes maximum, the deformation of the insertion member driving portion 82 by the side pressure P is continued, so that a pair of engagement wall portions 87 can be disengaged from the slider 120.
Engagement and disengagement of the pair of engagement wall portions 87 with respect to the slider 120 will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the unit base 11 of the optical fiber connecting unit 10 includes a splice holder portion 60 for detachably holding the splice 30 and a cable for detachably holding the jacket 25 of the optical fiber cable 24 terminal 24a. A gripping member holding unit 50 that holds the gripping member 70 is provided.
The unit base 11 can have a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, for example.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 13, the splice holder portion 60 includes a base portion 61 that is a part of the unit base 11, a one-side protruding wall portion 62 erected on one side edge of the base portion 61, and a base The other side protruding wall part 63 erected on the other side edge of the part 61, a pair of front side protruding wall parts 64 provided on both sides of the front end part, and a pair of rear side protrusions provided on both sides of the rear end part And wall portion 65.
The protruding wall portions 62 to 65 are formed to protrude from the upper surface side of the base body portion 61.
The splice holder portion 60 stores the splice 30 by storing the splice 30 in a splice storage space 67 secured between the one side protruding wall portion 62 and the other side protruding wall portion 63.

A locking claw 62 c that protrudes toward the inner surface is formed on the inner surface of the one-side protruding wall 62. Similarly, a locking claw 63c protruding to the inner surface side is formed on the inner surface of the other protruding wall portion 63. The lifting of the splice 30 can be restricted by the locking claws 62c and 63c.
The splice 30 enters the lower side of the locking claws 62c and 63c by being pushed into the splice storage space 67, and the upward lifting is restricted.

  The separation distance between the front projecting wall portion 64 and the rear projecting wall portion 65 is set in accordance with the longitudinal dimension of the splice 30, and the splice 30 is a base body formed by the front projecting wall portion 64 and the rear projecting wall portion 65. The positional deviation in the front-rear direction with respect to the portion 61 is restricted.

When the insertion member is removed from the splice 30, the separation distance between the pair of side plate portions 33 b of the clamp spring 33 is reduced, so that the splice 30 can be easily taken out from the splice holder portion 60.
For this reason, the splice holder part 60 can hold | maintain the splice 30 so that attachment or detachment is possible.
The release of the locking of the splice 30 by the locking claws 62c and 63c of the one-side protruding wall portion 62 and the other-side protruding wall portion 63 is performed, for example, by the operator with the fingers. It can also be performed by elastically deforming the parts 63 in directions away from each other.

As shown in FIGS. 17 to 19, in the splice 30, the direction perpendicular to the facing surface 31 a of the base member 31 is hereinafter also referred to as the width direction.
Engagement surfaces 31k and 323e on both sides of the front end engagement protrusions (front end protrusions 31j and 323d) of the half-grip member 34 of the splice 30 are located on both sides in the width direction of the front end engagement protrusions and are engaged with the rear ends. Engagement surfaces 31i and 321e on both sides of the protrusions (rear end projecting portions 31h and 321d) are located on both sides in the width direction of the rear engagement protrusion. Further, the side plate portions 33 b on both sides of the clamp spring 33 are arranged on both sides in the width direction via the half-grip members 34.

  The projecting dimensions of the rear end protruding portion 31h and the front end protruding portion 31j from the back surface with which the side plate portion 33b of the clamp spring 33 of the base member 31 of the splice 30 abuts are the thickness of the side plate portion 33b of the clamp spring 33. It is slightly larger than. Further, the projecting dimension of the rear end projecting portion 321d from the back surface where the side plate portion 33b of the clamp spring 33 of the rear lid member 321 abuts, and the side plate portion 33b of the clamp spring 33 of the front lid member 323 abuts. The protruding dimension of the front end protruding portion 323d from the rear surface is also slightly larger than the plate thickness of the side plate portion 33b of the clamp spring 33.

  The thickness of the plate-shaped inner lid member 322, that is, the distance between the opposing surface 322a of the inner lid member 322 and the back surface against which the side plate portion 33b of the clamp spring 33 abuts, and the rear end protruding portion of the rear lid member 321 The thickness of the plate-like portion other than 321d and the thickness of the plate-like portion other than the front end protruding portion 323d of the front lid member 323 are aligned with each other.

  As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the front cover member 323 and the base member 31 are tapered at the front end of the half gripping member 34 of the splice 30 so as to taper from the front end surface to the rear side. A tapered opening 34a made of a formed recess is opened. The rear end (back end) of the tapered opening 34a communicates with the covering portion insertion grooves 323b and 31d.

Further, the insertion optical fiber 1 to be inserted into the covering portion insertion grooves 323b and 31d of the splice 30 held by the splice holder portion 60 from the front side of the splice holder portion 60 is interposed between the front protruding wall portions 64. A fiber introduction recess 66 that smoothly guides to the tapered opening 34a that opens to the end is secured. The fiber introduction recess 66 is a groove formed in a taper shape in which the groove width decreases from the front side toward the rear side.
The insertion optical fiber 1 inserted into the splice 30 from the front side can be guided to the splice 30 held by the splice holder portion 60 through the fiber introduction recess 66.

As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the rear cover member 321 and the base member 31 are formed at the rear end of the half gripping member 34 of the splice 30 so as to taper as they go from the rear end surface to the front side. A tapered opening 34b made of a recessed portion is opened. The front end (back end) of the tapered opening 34b communicates with the covering portion insertion grooves 321b and 31c.
As shown in FIG. 2, the peripheral edge of the taper opening 34b at the rear end of the base member 31 is brought into contact with the rear protruding wall portion 65 from the front side.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cable gripping member 70 includes a gripping base 71 having a U-shaped cross section formed with a cable fitting groove 71 a into which the optical fiber cable 24 is fitted, and a cable fitting groove of the gripping base 71. A pressing lid 72 pivotally attached to one of the side wall portions 71b and 71c on both sides in the groove width direction of 71a.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the cable gripping member 70 is a light in which a plurality of gripping protrusions 71 f that protrude from a pair of side walls 71 b and 71 c of the grip base 71 are fitted in the cable fitting groove 71 a. The optical fiber cable 24 can be gripped and fixed between the pair of side wall portions 71b and 71c by biting into the jacket 25 of the fiber cable 24. The grip base 71 is a U-shaped member having a pair of side wall portions 71b and 71c projecting from one side of the bottom wall portion 71d and a cable fitting groove 71a secured between them (see FIG. 7). . The groove width direction of the cable fitting groove 71a indicates the interval direction between the side wall portions 71b and 71c on both sides facing each other through the cable fitting groove 71a. The gripping protrusion 71f of the cable gripping member 70 in the illustrated example is a protrusion having a triangular cross section extending in the depth direction of the cable fitting groove 71a.

  The cable gripping member 70 is fixed by fitting the grip base 71 to the end of the optical fiber cable 24 in an open state in which the press cover 72 is separated from the side wall portion 71c. It rotates to the closed position which closes the opening part of the cable fitting groove 71a between 71c upper end parts, this presser cover 72 is latched by the side wall part 71c, and it is attached to the optical fiber cable 24 terminal.

  The cable gripping member 70 in the illustrated example is an integrally molded product made of plastic. The pressing lid 72 is connected to the protruding end of one of the pair of side wall portions 71b and 71c (first side wall portion 71b) via a thin portion 73 that functions as a hinge portion. The pressing lid 72 is pivotally attached to the first side wall portion 71b of the grip base 71 by the thin-walled portion 73 along the axis line along the extending direction of the cable fitting groove 71a. The other of the pair of side wall portions 71b and 71c of the grip base 71 is also referred to as a second side wall portion 71c.

  The holding lid 72 of the cable gripping member 70 in the illustrated example is formed in an L-shaped plate shape. The presser lid 72 has a top plate portion 72a pivotally attached to the first side wall portion 71b of the grip base 71 via the thin wall portion 73, and a ceiling plate 72a from the end opposite to the thin wall portion 73 of the top plate portion 72a. And a locking plate portion 72b formed perpendicular to the plate portion 72a. When the top cover 72a is placed at a closed position where the top plate 72a abuts against the protruding ends of the pair of side walls 71b and 71c of the grip base 71 and the opening of the cable fitting groove 71a is closed, 72b can be superimposed on the outer surface of the second side wall 71c of the grip base 71 opposite to the cable fitting groove 71a. The presser lid 72 allows the locking claw 71e protruding from the outer surface of the second side wall 71c of the grip base 71 to enter the locking window hole 72c formed in the locking plate 72b. Therefore, the closed state with respect to the grip base 71 can be stably maintained.

When the terminal 24a of the optical fiber cable 24 is fitted into the cable fitting groove 71a, a plurality of grips are respectively provided on the surfaces (inner surfaces) of the pair of side wall portions 71b and 71c facing the cable fitting groove 71a. The projection 71f comes into contact with the side surface of the jacket 25 of the optical fiber cable 24, and the end 24a of the optical fiber cable 24 is held and fixed between the pair of side wall portions 71b and 71c.
In addition, as described above, the L-shaped lid 72 is locked by the locking claw 71e on the outer surface of the second side wall 71c to maintain the closed state, so that the optical fiber from the cable fitting groove 71a is maintained. The detachment of the cable 24 can be reliably prevented, and the fixing state of the cable gripping member 70 to the end 24a of the optical fiber cable 24 can be kept stable.
The cable gripping member 70 can be removed from the optical fiber cable 24 by opening the lid 72 and taking out the optical fiber cable 24 from the cable fitting groove 71a. That is, the cable gripping member 70 can be attached to and detached from the optical fiber cable 24.
The cable gripping member 70 is preferably an integrally molded product made of plastic.

The cable gripping member 70 in the illustrated example has a front projecting portion 75 that projects from one end in the front-rear direction along the extending direction of the cable fitting groove 71 a of the grip base 71. The extended optical fiber 21 can be placed in the optical fiber holding groove 74 formed in the front protrusion 75.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, a grip member holding portion 50 that holds the cable grip member 70 is provided at one end of the unit base 11.

As shown in FIG. 7, the holding member holding part 50 has an insertion hole 51 into which the front protruding part 75 of the cable holding member 70 can be fitted. As shown in FIG. 8, by inserting the front protruding portion 75 into the insertion hole 51, the front protruding portion 75 of the cable holding member 70 can be fitted and held by the holding member holding portion 50.
An optical fiber that guides the tip of the extended optical fiber 21 protruding from the front protruding portion 75 of the cable holding member 70 toward the tapered opening 34b of the splice 30 between the holding member holding portion 50 and the splice holder portion 60. A guide part 13 is provided. Accordingly, when the cable gripping member 70 is inserted into the gripping member holding portion 50, the tapered opening portion of the splice 30 is surely secured even if the distal end of the extended optical fiber 21 is difficult to see inside the gripping member holding portion 50. 34b can be guided.
The optical fiber guide portion 13 includes a slope 13a that slopes toward the center of the tapered opening 34b and a U-shaped groove 13b that opens upward. The upper end of the slope 13a is the lower end 13c of the U-shaped groove 13b. It is consistent with the height. The height of the lower end 13c of the U-shaped groove 13b substantially coincides with the height of the groove into which the optical fiber is inserted in the half gripping member 34 of the splice 30. In the illustrated example, the optical fiber guide portion 13 is formed integrally with the rear protruding wall portion 65 of the splice holder portion 60, and the U-shaped groove 13 b is disposed close to the tapered opening portion 34 b of the splice 30. Yes.

As shown in FIG. 9, the front projecting portion 75 of the cable gripping member 70 has a substantially square cross-sectional outer shape. The insertion hole 51 of the holding member holding part 50 is also substantially square in cross section so that it can be fitted. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 9, the cable gripping member 70 can be fitted to the gripping member holding portion 50 in a plurality of directions different from each other by 90 ° with respect to the axial direction of the optical fiber (specifically, the extended optical fiber 21). Is possible. The outer surface of the front projecting portion 75 includes at least four portions that are in surface contact with the four inner surfaces of the insertion hole 51, thereby causing rattling in the vertical and horizontal directions and wobbling at a small angle (for example, less than several degrees). In addition to being suppressed, it is possible to stably fit in a plurality of directions different by 90 °. In any direction, the front protrusion 75 can be fitted into the insertion hole 51 by moving the cable gripping member 70 straight toward the gripping member holding portion 50.
If the cross-sectional shape of the front protrusion 75 that is a fitting portion with respect to the insertion hole 51 is a shape inscribed in a square, one or more notches or You may have chamfering. For example, in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the same cable gripping member 70 is inserted into the gripping member holding portion 50. In FIG. 9A, the bottom portion 75d of the front protruding portion 75 faces the left side. In contrast, in FIG. 9B, the bottom 75d of the front protrusion 75 is directed downward.

9A and 9B, the front protrusion 75 has an L-shaped cross section so that the optical fiber holding groove 74 opens upward, regardless of the arrangement of the cable gripping member 70 shown in FIGS. Yes. This is because the holding member 50 of the illustrated example has a viewing window 52 (see FIG. 8) on the upper side so that the inside of the holding member holding unit 50 can be visually confirmed. Even if the bottom 75d of the front protruding portion 75 faces the viewing window 52, it does not adversely affect the function of the optical fiber connecting unit 10, but the extended optical fiber 21 is held by the front protruding portion 75 as an optical fiber. When the work is carried on the groove 74, the situation in which the optical fiber holding groove 74 opens downward can be suppressed.
The first splicing tool 40 in the illustrated example has a notch 40a that extends from the base 46 to a part of the insertion member support 43 and is continuous with the observation window 52 (see FIGS. 1 and 7, etc.). Thereby, it becomes easy to see the state of the extended optical fiber 21 inside the holding member holding part 50.
9 (a) and 9 (b) show a configuration in which the optical fiber holding groove 74 can be arranged to open upward in two ways, but as shown in FIG. 9 (c). There may be only one arrangement in which the optical fiber holding groove 74 opens upward.

  As shown in FIG. 28, the cable gripping member 70 in the illustrated example is applied to the optical fiber cable 24 having a flat cross-sectional shape of the jacket 25, and as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. It is preferable that the optical fiber can be attached to the optical fiber connecting unit 10 in two orientations with different rotation angles of 90 ° with the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber as the central axis. That is, in the case of the flat optical fiber cable 24, the jacket 25 is more likely to bend in the short side direction (left and right direction in FIG. 28) than in the long side direction (up and down direction in FIG. 28). In the case of the illustrated example, when the cable gripping member 70 is attached as shown in FIG. 8 corresponding to FIG. 9A, the optical fiber cable 24 is easily bent in the vertical direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber connection unit 10. Become. When the cable gripping member 70 is attached as shown in FIG. 9B, the optical fiber cable 24 can be easily bent in the left-right direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber connection unit 10. When the optical fiber connection unit 10 is accommodated in a narrow space such as a termination box, the optical fiber cable 24 can be bent by selecting either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction. ) Becomes easier.

  The gripping member holding portion 50 in the illustrated example inserts and fits the cable gripping member 70 (specifically, the front protruding portion 75) into the insertion hole 51 having the same cross section in the longitudinal direction. 70 can be held movably along the longitudinal direction of the splice 30.

  As a modification, the gripping member holding unit 50 may have a plate-shaped guide member (not shown) that is slidably provided on the cable gripping member 70. This type of guide member protrudes from the end surface 51a of the insertion hole 51 of the gripping member holding part 50, thereby receiving the cable gripping member 70. The guide member moves forward together with the cable gripping member 70, whereby the gripping member holding part 50. Can be housed inside. In this case, even if the cable gripping member 70 does not have a portion that fits into the insertion hole 51, the guide member fits into a groove-shaped guide member receiving portion (not shown) formed in the gripping member holding portion 50. By moving and housed, slide movement without wobbling can be realized.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, the first splicing tool 40 includes a spacer 49 that stops the movement of the cable gripping member 70 along the longitudinal direction of the splice 30 at a predetermined distance with respect to the splice 30. In the illustrated example, the spacer 49 is configured as a protrusion protruding from the base 46 of the first splicing tool 40. For this reason, when the cable gripping member 70 is inserted into the gripping member holding portion 50 as shown in FIGS. 7 to 8, the front end surface 75a of the front protrusion 75 abuts against the spacer 49, and FIG. 10 and FIG. As shown, the advancement of the cable gripping member 70 can be stopped. At this time, the splice 30 is in a state in which the extending optical fiber 21 is only inserted into one end side in the longitudinal direction and the insertion optical fiber 1 is not yet inserted into the other end side in the longitudinal direction.

By having the spacer 49, the forward movement of the cable gripping member 70 can be stopped at the position where the tip of the extended optical fiber 21 is substantially in the center in the longitudinal direction of the splice 30. The gripping member holding part 50 has gaps S ₁ and S ₂ that allow the cable gripping member 70 to be further advanced after the spacer 49 is removed.
As shown in FIG. 15B, when the first splicing tool 40 is removed, the cable gripping member 70 can be brought closer to one end side in the longitudinal direction of the splice 30. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15, the forward movement of the cable gripping member 70 is stopped by the stopper portion 70 a of the cable gripping member 70 coming into contact with the end surface 51 a around the insertion hole 51 of the gripping member holding portion 50. .
As described above, the removal of the first splicing tool 40 is performed by causing the distal end portion of the extension optical fiber 21 to abut the distal end portion of the insertion optical fiber 1 and then inserting the insertion member 41 of the first splicing tool 40 into the splice 30. This is performed when the distal end portion of the extended optical fiber 21 is sandwiched between the halved elements 31 and 32 by being pulled out from between the halved elements 31 and 32.
By bringing the cable gripping member 70 closer to one end side in the longitudinal direction of the splice 30 in a state where the distal end portion of the extended optical fiber 21 is abutted with the insertion optical fiber 1 and the outer sheath 25 is gripped and fixed to the cable gripping member 70, As shown in FIG. 15B, it is possible to form a bending deformation T in the extended optical fiber 21 between the cable gripping member 70 and one end side in the longitudinal direction of the splice 30. As a result, when the extended optical fiber 21 is sandwiched between the halved elements 31 and 32 and held and fixed, a sufficient pressing force (abutting force) is applied to maintain the butting with the inserted optical fiber 1. It can be applied to the fiber 21.

In order to position the spacer 49 at an appropriate position, in the illustrated example, the spacer 49 is positioned between the positioning protrusion 53 provided on the holding member holding portion 50 side and the positioning recess 14 provided on the splice holder portion 60 side. By press-fitting the spacer 49, the spacer 49 can be reliably positioned. Specifically, the dimensions K ₂ of the spacer housing portion 15 between the positioning projections 53 and positioning recesses 14 shown in FIG. 15 (b), is slightly smaller than the dimension K ₁ of the spacer 49.
The holding member holding portion 50 includes an elastic member 54 that presses the spacer 49 toward one end side in the longitudinal direction of the splice 30. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 15, the elastic protrusion 54 is provided on the front surface of the positioning protrusion 53. The elastic member 54 is elastically contracted when the spacer 49 is press-fitted into the spacer accommodating portion 15 to ensure a dimension for receiving the spacer 49. In the illustrated example, the first splicing tool 40 is connected to the unit base 11 only at a location where the spacer 49 is accommodated in the spacer accommodating portion 15, and the first splicing tool 40 is connected to the unit base at other portions. 11 is not connected. For this reason, the first splicing tool 40 is separated from the unit base 11 when the insertion member 41 is pulled out from between the half elements 31 and 32 and the spacer 49 is pulled out from the spacer accommodating portion 15.
The spacer 49 is provided in the base 46 portion of the first splicing tool 40 so as to avoid the portions of the insertion member 41 and the insertion member driving portion 42 that move when gripping and fixing. Thereby, when driving the insertion member 41 for holding and fixing, the influence on the press-fitted state of the spacer 49 can be suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 8, FIG. 11, FIG. 15, etc., the optical fiber connecting unit 10 in the illustrated example is centered on an axis X in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the splice 30 (left-right direction in FIG. 11). By rotating, a restriction position 150A (position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 11) that holds the rear end portion 70b of the cable gripping member 70 and restricts the backward movement thereof, and a standby position 150B that does not restrict the backward movement of the cable gripping member 70. A lever member 150 is provided that can be rotated between (a position indicated by a chain line in FIG. 11).
The lever member 150 has a configuration in which a cover plate 151 covering the cable gripping member 70 held by the gripping member holding portion 50 and elongated rotary arms 152 and 152 are provided in parallel to each other on both sides thereof. The pair of rotating arms 152 have bearing holes 152 a into which the rotating shafts 55 projecting from both sides of the holding member holding unit 50 are inserted. When the rotation shaft 55 is inserted into the bearing hole 152a, the lever member 150 is pivotally attached to the gripping member holding portion 50 so as to be rotatable with the rotation axis X in the left-right direction.
Here, the bearing hole 152a is a through-hole penetrating the rotating arm 152 in the thickness direction, but may be a bottomed hole. In addition, the specific structure of the pivoting portion is not particularly limited, and a configuration in which a bearing hole is formed in the gripping member holding portion 50 and a rotation shaft protrusion is formed in the rotating arm 152 can be employed.

As shown in FIG. 11, the cover plate 151 can be covered on the cable gripping member 70 held by the gripping member holding portion 50 by rotating the lever member 150 about the rotation shaft 55 (FIG. 15 ( b)). The position of the lever member 150 with respect to the gripping member holding part 50 at this time (solid line part in FIG. 11) is also referred to as a covering position.
Before the cable gripping member 70 is inserted into the gripping member holding part 50 as shown in FIG. 7, the lever member 150 is opened so that the cable gripping member 70 can be easily inserted into the gripping member holding part 50. The position of the lever member 150 with respect to the gripping member holding part 50 at this time (the chain line part in FIG. 11) is also referred to as an open position. In the illustrated example, even after the cable gripping member 70 is inserted into the gripping member holding portion 50, the lever so that the cable gripping member 70 can be operated until the butt connection between the extended optical fiber 21 and the insertion optical fiber 1 is completed. The member 150 is maintained in the open position.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the lever member 150 has a locking protrusion 153 that locks to the first splicing tool 40. Accordingly, the lever member 150 can be restricted from moving from the standby position (open position) 150B to the restriction position (cover position) 150A, and the lever member 150 can be held at the standby position 150B.
In the illustrated example, by pulling out the insertion member 41 of the first splicing tool 40 from between the half elements 31 and 32 of the splice 30, the locking by the locking projection 153 is released and the lever member 150 is regulated. It can be rotated to the position 150A. Thus, the lever member 150 can be reliably restricted from moving to the restriction position (covered position) 150A until the insertion optical fiber 1 is inserted into the splice 30 and the butting operation with the extended optical fiber 21 is performed. it can.
The locking protrusion 153 is locked to the base 46 portion of the first splicing tool 40, avoiding the portion of the insertion member 41 and the insertion member driving portion 42 that move when gripping and fixing. . Thereby, when driving the insertion member 41 for gripping fixation, the influence on the holding state of the lever member 150 can be suppressed.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, etc., when the lever member 150 is disposed at the cover position, the retraction restricting piece 154 protruding from the rear end side is disposed at the rear side of the cable gripping member 70. Can do.
As shown in FIG. 15B, the backward movement of the cable gripping member 70 relative to the unit base 11 can be restricted by arranging the backward movement restriction piece 154 on the rear side of the cable gripping member 70. Since the optical fiber cable 24 protruding from the rear side of the cable gripping member 70 is disposed in the notch 155 between the receding restricting pieces 154, the receding restricting pieces 154 are provided on both the left and right sides of the optical fiber cable 24. A wider area at the rear end of 70 can be covered.
The rotation arm 152 of the lever member 150 has an engagement hole 152b that engages with the engagement protrusion 50b that protrudes from the outer surface 50a of the gripping member holding portion 50. By engaging the engaging protrusion 50b with the engaging hole 152b, the lever member 150 can be maintained in the covering position with respect to the holding member holding portion 50.
By arranging the lever member 150 in the covering position, it is possible to perform a pulling operation for restricting the retraction of the cable gripping member 70 with respect to the unit base 11. Thereby, the state in which the cable gripping member 70 and the unit base 11 are integrated is maintained.

  The unit base 11 is preferably formed integrally with the holding member holding part 50 and the splice holder part 60. For example, the unit base 11 can be an integrally molded product made of plastic.

Note that the outer gripping portion is not limited to the configuration in the illustrated example. As the outer cover gripping portion, for example, a holding lid having a structure in which the locking plate portion 72b is omitted and the top plate portion 72a is provided with an engaging portion that engages with the protruding end of the second side wall portion 71c of the gripping base 71 is also provided. It can be adopted. In addition, as the outer cover gripping part, a configuration including only a gripping base can be employed. Moreover, as a jacket holding | grip part, it is not limited to a plastic integral molded product, The thing assembled by the multiple member is also employable.
The jacket gripping part may be, for example, a member that is fixed to the outer periphery of the end of the optical fiber cable 24 by adhesive fixing with an adhesive, heat welding, or the like.

The modified envelope gripping portion does not include a lid, and includes a grip base in which side wall portions 71b and 71c on both sides protrude from the bottom wall portion 71d in parallel with each other via a cable fitting groove 71a. . At the projecting ends of the side wall portions 71b and 71c, detachment prevention protrusions are formed that prevent the optical fiber cable 24 from coming off by restricting the upward movement of the optical fiber cable 24 by protruding inward.
The outer gripping portion having this configuration has a simple structure because there is no cover, and an operation for fitting the optical fiber cable 24 into the cable fitting groove 71a is easy. Further, since the structure is simple, the manufacturing is easy and the cost can be reduced.

Next, an optical fiber connecting unit 20 in which the extended optical fiber 21 is held and fixed to one end side of the splice 30 as shown in FIG. 16 and an assembling method thereof will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cable holding member 70 holding the optical fiber cable 24 is inserted into the holding member holding portion 50, and the extended optical fiber 21 is inserted into one end of the splice 30 as shown in FIG. To do.
Next, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, when the side pressure P ₁ is applied to the insertion member driving portion 42 of the first splicing tool 40 from both the left and right sides, and the insertion members 41A and 41B are removed from the splice 30, The first clamp portion grips and fixes the covering portion of the extended optical fiber 21 between the base portion 31 and the rear lid member 321 by the elasticity of the clamp spring 33 (specifically, the first clamp spring portion 331).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the splicing tool 40 in the illustrated example has the first insertion member on the side far from the base portion 46 by rotating the insertion member support portion 43 with the base portion 46 as a fulcrum as described above. 41A increases the distance from the splice 30 prior to the second insertion member 41B on the side closer to the base 46. Accordingly, it is possible to realize the time difference removal in which the first insertion member 41A is removed from the second clamp portion prior to the removal of the second insertion member 41B from the first clamp portion.

Further, in the illustrated example, as shown in FIG. 15, when the first splicing tool 40 is removed, the advancement of the cable gripping member 70 by the spacer 49 is released from the restriction, and the cable gripping member 70 can be advanced.
The insertion member 41 of the first splicing tool 40 is pulled out from between the half elements 31 and 32 of the splice 30, and the distal end portion of the extended optical fiber 21 is sandwiched between the half elements 31 and 32 and held and fixed. In this case, by bringing the cable gripping member 70 closer to one end side in the longitudinal direction of the splice 30, as shown in FIG. 15B, between the cable gripping member 70 and one end side in the longitudinal direction of the splice 30, A deflection deformation T can be formed in the portion of the extended optical fiber 21 having the coating 21b.

In the illustrated example, even if the operator forgets to advance the cable gripping member 70 after the first splicing tool 40 is removed and the advancement of the cable gripping member 70 by the spacer 49 is released from the restriction, the lever member When the 150 is rotated from the retracted position to the restricting position, the inclined surface 154a (see FIGS. 8 and 15B) of the retreat restricting piece 154 comes into contact with the rear end portion 70b of the cable grasping member 70, and the cable grasping member A pressing force that advances to 70 can be applied. Thereby, between the cable holding member 70 and the splice 30, the bending deformation T can be reliably formed in the portion having the coating 21b of the extended optical fiber 21.
In the illustrated example, the bending deformation T is formed after the extended optical fiber 21 is gripped and fixed by the splice 30, so that the elastic force due to the bending deformation T does not act on the bare optical fiber 21 a at the tip of the extending optical fiber 21. However, the abutting force between the optical fibers 1 and 21 can be ensured by forming a bending deformation in the inserted optical fiber 1 between the fiber holder 90 and the splice 30.

  This bending deformation T is caused by the end portion of the extended optical fiber 21 inserted into the half gripping member 34 being gripped and fixed to the splice 30 and the cable gripping member 70 gripping the jacket 25 being held by the lever member 150. It is protected by. By forming such a bending deformation T, the extended optical fiber 21 is drawn into the outer cover 25 due to a difference in linear expansion coefficient between the outer cover 25 and the extended optical fiber 21 and a change in environmental temperature. Even if a force is generated in the direction, it is possible to suppress excessive tension from acting on the extended optical fiber 21 and to prevent damage to the optical fiber.

In addition, the position of the tip of the extended optical fiber 21 that is inserted first into the splice 30 is important in order to form an appropriate bending deformation in the inserted optical fiber 1 between the fiber holder 90 and the splice 30. The lengths of the two optical fibers 1 and 21 are set so that the ends of the optical fibers 1 and 21 meet at the center in the longitudinal direction of the splice 30. If the position of the tip of the extended optical fiber 21 to be inserted first does not reach the center in the longitudinal direction of the splice 30, there is a possibility that the butting with the inserted optical fiber 1 will be incomplete. Conversely, when the position of the tip of the extended optical fiber 21 inserted first exceeds the longitudinal center of the splice 30, the bending deformation formed in the inserted optical fiber 1 when the inserted optical fiber 1 is abutted is excessive. May grow.
Since the position of the tip of the extended optical fiber 21 can be aligned with the center in the longitudinal direction of the splice 30 by the spacer 49, the connecting operation of the optical fiber can be performed reliably.

  The lever member 150 that holds the rear end portion 70b of the cable gripping member 70 and restricts the retreat thereof has a locking projection 153 that locks the first splicing tool 40, so that the optical fiber 21 extended by the splice 30 is provided. The lever member 150 can be held at the standby position before gripping and fixing. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the first splicing tool 40 from being accidentally removed before the insertion and gripping / fixing operations of the insertion optical fiber 1 are completed.

  The optical fiber connecting unit 20 in the illustrated example uses the extended optical fiber 21 of the optical fiber cable 24 as a step before inserting the insertion optical fiber 1 into the splice 30 when using the optical fiber connecting unit 10 in FIG. A cable gripping member that is inserted into one end of the splice 30, removes the first splicing tool 40, grips and fixes the extended optical fiber 21 at one end of the splice 30, and grips the jacket 25 of the optical fiber cable 24. 70 is fixed to the holding member holding part 50. Thereby, damage of the optical fiber 1 pulled out from the end of the optical fiber cable 24 can be suppressed, and the handleability of the optical fiber cable 24 can be improved in the operation of inserting and gripping the inserted optical fiber 1 into the splice 30. .

  In the optical fiber connecting unit 20 in which the extended optical fiber 21 is held and fixed to one end of the splice 30, the insertion optical fiber 1 is inserted into the other end of the splice 30 from the fiber introduction recess 66, and then the second splicing tool 80. Is removed and the inserted optical fiber 1 is gripped and fixed to the other end of the splice 30, thereby realizing optical connection between the extended optical fiber 21 and the inserted optical fiber 1.

As shown in FIG. 29, the portion of the optical fiber 21, the optical fiber cable 24, and the optical connector 22 that are extended from one end in the longitudinal direction of the splice 30 may be called a pigtail 23 with a connector. That is, in the optical fiber connecting unit 20 shown in FIG. 16, the splice 30 in which the extended optical fiber 21 is held and fixed to one end side of the splice 30 has a structure in which the pigtail 23 with a connector extends from the splice 30.
At this time, the splice 30 has a second splicing tool 80 in which the insertion member 81 is inserted and attached to the half gripping member 34.

  The space between the front lid member 323 and the base member 31 of the splice 30 and between the front lid member 323 and the base member 31 are opened against the elasticity of the clamp spring 33 by the insertion members 81A and 81B. In addition, no insertion member is inserted between the rear lid member 321 and the base member 31 and between the rear end portion of the middle lid member 322 and the base member 31. For this reason, the inner lid member 322 moves from the rear side (left side in FIG. 19) where the extended optical fiber 21 is held and fixed toward the front side (right side in FIG. 19) where the insertion member 81 is inserted. It inclines with respect to the base member 31 so that the distance from the member 31 may increase. The bare optical fiber 21 a led out to the distal end of the insertion end of the extended optical fiber 21 is held and fixed between the rear end of the elongated plate-shaped inner lid member 322 along the longitudinal direction of the base member 31 and the base member 31. However, it is not gripped and fixed between the portion on the front side from the rear end of the inner lid member 322 and the base member 31.

  The optical fiber connection device 100 shown in FIG. 23 is matched to the optical fiber connection unit 20 attached to one end 24a of the optical fiber cable 24 and the extended optical fiber 21 drawn from the end 24a as shown in FIG. And an apparatus base 110 that holds a fiber holder 90 that holds the inserted optical fiber 1.

As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the device base 110 of the optical fiber connecting device 100 holds a fiber holder 90 that holds the inserted optical fiber 1, and includes a substantially tray-shaped base main body 130, and a base main body. And a slider 120 that is slidably mounted on the slider 130.
The base body 130 includes a main part 131, a first rail part 132 extending in one direction from the main part 131, and a second rail part 142 extending from the main part 131 in a direction opposite to the first rail part 132. And have.
The main portion 131 is formed with an elastic locking piece 136 for locking the slider 120 and an elastic locking piece 146 for locking the fiber holder 90.

The first rail portion 132 has a schematic configuration in which guide wall portions 135 and 135 for guiding the slider 120 are respectively provided on both side edges of a base portion 134 on which a slide surface 133 for sliding the slider 120 is formed. Yes.
The pair of guide wall portions 135 are formed to extend in the forming direction (front-rear direction) of the first rail portion 132, and the side edge portions 121 a of the substrate portion 121 of the slider 120 placed on the slide surface 133 are in contact with each other. By making contact, the slider 120 can be positioned in the width direction.

The elastic locking piece 136 is a mechanism in which the locking protrusion 127 of the slider 120 enters the tip of the curved plate portion 136a protruding to the slide surface 133 side from the overhanging portion 138 protruding on both sides of the main portion 131 in the width direction. A plate-like engagement piece portion 136b in which a joint recess 136c is formed is projected.
The curved plate portion 136a is formed in an arc plate shape that is curved with an axis line along the front-rear direction of the first rail portion 132. The protruding end of the curved plate portion 136 a is located above the slide surface 133 formed from the first rail portion 132 to the main portion 131.
The engagement piece portion 136b is projected on the slide surface 133 inward from the protruding end of the curved plate portion 136a.

The engagement recess 136c of the engagement piece portion 136b is formed in a notch shape that is recessed from the protruding end of the engagement piece portion 136b at the front and rear central portions of the engagement piece portion 136b.
The elastic locking piece 136 moves in the front-rear direction of the slider 120 relative to the first rail portion 132 when the locking protrusion 127 of the slider 120 enters the engaging recess 136c and engages with the locking protrusion 127. Can be regulated.
In this state, the elastic locking piece 136 sandwiches the slider 120 by the elasticity of the curved plate portion 136a, and stably holds the slider 120.
The elastic locking piece 136 functions as a splice locking mechanism that engages with the slider 120 advanced along the first rail portion 132 and restricts the backward movement.

Side wall portions 137 and 137 are erected on both side edges of the first rail portion 132.
The side wall portion 137 is formed in a partial range in the length direction of the first rail portion 132, and a groove portion 137 a that restricts the lifting of the slider 120 is formed on the lower inner surface of the side wall portion 137. The groove portion 137a is formed along the formation direction (front-rear direction) of the first rail portion 132, and when the both side edge portions 121a of the substrate portion 121 enter, the lift of the slider 120 can be restricted.

The second rail portion 142 has a schematic configuration in which a pair of guide wall portions 145 for guiding the fiber holder 90 are provided on both side edges of the base portion 144 on which the slide surface 143 for sliding the fiber holder 90 is formed. Yes.
The pair of guide wall portions 145 are formed to extend in the forming direction (front-rear direction) of the second rail portion 142, abut against both side edges of the fiber holder 90 placed on the slide surface 143, and hold the fiber holder 90. Can be positioned in the width direction.

In the elastic locking piece 146, the locking projection 98 of the fiber holder 90 enters the tip of the curved plate portion 146 a that protrudes toward the slide surface 143 from the overhanging portion 148 that protrudes on both sides in the width direction of the main portion 141. A plate-like engagement piece 146b in which an engagement recess 146c is formed protrudes.
The curved plate portion 146a is formed in an arc plate shape that is curved with an axis along the longitudinal direction of the second rail portion 142. The protruding end of the curved plate portion 146a is located above the slide surface 143 formed from the second rail portion 142 to the main portion 141.
The engaging piece portion 146b projects on the slide surface 143 from the protruding end of the curved plate portion 146a inward.

The engagement recess 146c of the engagement piece portion 146b is formed in a notch shape recessed from the protruding end of the engagement piece portion 146b in the front and rear central portion of the engagement piece portion 146b.
The elastic locking piece 146 is formed in the longitudinal direction of the fiber holder 90 with respect to the second rail portion 142 when the locking protrusion 98 of the fiber holder 90 enters the engaging recess 146c and engages with the locking protrusion 98. Can be controlled.
In this state, the elastic locking piece 146 sandwiches the fiber holder 90 by the elasticity of the curved plate portion 146a and stably holds the fiber holder 90.
The elastic locking piece 146 functions as a splice locking mechanism that engages with the fiber holder 90 advanced along the second rail portion 142 and restricts the retreat thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 23 and 6, the slider 120 includes a pair of substrate portions 121, a pair of side wall portions 122 erected on the inner edge portion thereof, and a bottom wall portion 123 formed between the side wall portions 122. And have.
The slider 120 functions as a unit holding member that holds the optical fiber connection unit 10 by storing the optical fiber connection unit 20 in the unit storage space 126 secured between the side wall portions 122.
The slider 120 and the optical fiber connection unit 10 held by the slider 120 constitute a moving unit that can slide on the first rail portion 132 (see FIGS. 1, 23, and 27).

A pair of positioning protrusions 124 </ b> A and 124 </ b> B are formed on the outer surface of the side wall portion 122 at an interval in the front-rear direction. The engaging wall portion 87 of the second splicing tool 80 is disposed between the positioning protrusions 124A and 124B, and the positioning protrusions 124A and 124B define the position of the engaging wall portion 87 in the front-rear direction.
On the outer surface of the side wall portion 122, a locking projection 127 that engages with the engagement recess 136 c of the elastic locking piece 136 of the base body 130 is formed to protrude outward from the positioning projection 124 </ b> A. Has been. The shape of the locking projection 127 in plan view is preferably a tapered shape (for example, a triangular shape, see FIG. 6) in which the front-rear dimension increases from the protruding end toward the proximal end.
A long hole 125 into which the engaging wall portion 87 is inserted is formed in the substrate portion 121.

As shown in FIG. 20, the second splicing tool 80 has a pair of engaging wall portions 87 inserted into the long holes 125, and the protruding claws 87 a of the engaging wall portions 87 are engaged with the lower ends of the side wall portions 122. The splice holder 60 and the slider 120 are attached together.
By attaching the second splicing tool 80 to the splice holder portion 60 and the slider 120, the movement of the splice holder portion 60 in the front-rear direction with respect to the slider 120 is restricted and positioned.

  As shown in FIG. 2, both projecting wall portions 62 and 63 of the splice holder portion 60 are engaged recesses 68 </ b> A and 68 </ b> B that engage with positioning projecting portions 128 </ b> A and 128 </ b> B formed on the inner surfaces of both side wall portions 122 of the slider 120. Have In the illustrated example, the engaging recesses 68A and 68B are cutout portions from which the entire thickness of the protruding wall portions 62 and 63 are removed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and from the outer surface of the protruding wall portions 62 and 63, A bottomed recess having a reduced thickness may be used.

As shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the optical fiber holder 90 is a holder for holding an optical fiber, and includes a base portion 91 and a lid 92 that is rotatably coupled to the base portion 91 by a hinge portion 91a. The insertion optical fiber 1 on the base portion 91 can be held and fixed to the base portion 91 by the lid 92.
A first holding wall portion 93 having a positioning recess 93 a for accommodating the insertion optical fiber 1, a second holding wall portion 94 having a positioning recess 94 a, and a pair of positioning projections 95 are formed on the upper surface 91 b of the base portion 91. Has been.
The second holding wall portion 94 is formed in front of the first holding wall portion 93 and spaced from the first holding wall portion 93, and the positioning projection 95 is in front of the second holding wall portion 94 and the second holding wall portion 94. It is formed away from.
On the upper surface of the base portion 91, a linear positioning groove 96 that passes between the pair of positioning projections 95 from the positioning recess 93a through the positioning recess 94a is formed. The positioning groove 96 is a groove portion for positioning the insertion optical fiber 1 and may be, for example, a substantially V-shaped cross section, a substantially U-shaped cross section, a semicircular cross section, or the like.
On the outer surface of the base portion 91, a locking protrusion 98 that engages with the engaging recess 146 c of the elastic locking piece 146 of the base body 130 is formed to protrude outward (see FIGS. 23 and 26). reference). The shape of the locking projection 98 in plan view is preferably a tapered shape (for example, a triangular shape) in which the front-rear dimension increases from the protruding end toward the proximal end.

As shown in FIG. 26, the lid 92 is disposed between the holding wall portions 93 and 94 when the lid 92 is placed on the upper surface 91 b of the base portion 91 (closed state).
A locking protrusion 92c formed on the distal end 92b side which is the end opposite to the base end 92a provided with the hinge 91a of the lid 92 is a locking recess (not shown) formed on the base 91. ) Can be freely engaged and disengaged.
In a state where the upper surface 91b of the base portion 91 is covered (closed state), the engaging protrusion 92c is engaged with an engaging recess (not shown) of the base portion 91, whereby the inserted optical fiber 1 is pressed onto the base portion 91. Can be gripped and fixed.

As shown in FIG. 29, as the optical connector 22, for example, a connector having a configuration including a connector main body 22a and a retaining mechanism 22b for holding the optical fiber cable 24 to the connector main body 22a can be used.
The connector body 22a includes a housing 22d that houses an optical ferrule 22c (hereinafter simply referred to as a ferrule 22c), and a knob 22e that is mounted on the outside of the housing 22d.
In the housing 22d, for example, a connection mechanism (not shown) for connecting the built-in optical fiber of the ferrule 22c and the optical fiber drawn from the optical fiber cable 24 by a butt connection or the like is provided.
The retaining mechanism 22f includes a main body (not shown), a cable gripper (not shown) that grips the terminal 24b of the optical fiber cable 24, and a retaining cover 22g that holds the cable gripper.
The connector body 22a includes, for example, an SC type optical connector (see JIS C 5973), an LC type optical connector (trademark of Lucent), an MU type optical connector (see JIS C 5983), and an SC2 type optical connector (from the SC type optical connector). It is possible to adopt a structure such as

  Next, an operation (optical fiber connection method) for connecting (optical connection) the extended optical fiber 21 and the insertion optical fiber 1 using the optical fiber connection device 100 will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the insertion optical fiber 1 is disposed in the positioning groove 96 of the base portion 91, and is pressed and fixed to the base portion 91 by the lid 92. The insertion optical fiber 1 is secured to the fiber holder 90 with a predetermined forward projecting length.
As shown in FIG. 23, the insertion optical fiber 1 has a splice of the optical fiber connecting unit 20 in a state where the coating of the tip portion of the portion protruding forward from the fiber holder 90 is removed and the bare optical fiber 1a is exposed. It is used for insertion into the splice 30 held by the holder portion 60 and butt connection with the extended optical fiber 21.
The protruding length of the insertion optical fiber 1 from the fiber holder 90 is slightly longer than the distance from the extended optical fiber 21 in the splice 30 to the bare optical fiber 21a, so that the elasticity of the deflection formed in the insertion optical fiber 1 is increased. In addition, the bare optical fibers 1a and 21a can be butted and connected to each other by securing the abutting force between the bare optical fibers 1a and 21a.

  The fiber holder 90 is placed on the slide surface 143 of the second rail portion 142 of the base body 130, and the locking protrusion 98 is engaged with the engagement recess 146 c of the elastic locking piece 146. As a result, the fiber holder 90 is positioned on the slide surface 143 in a state where the fiber holder 90 is sandwiched by the elastic locking pieces 146 and stably held.

As shown in FIG. 23, the optical fiber connecting unit 20 and the slider 120 that accommodates it are placed on the slide surface 133 of the first rail portion 132 of the base body 130. The slider 120 is positioned in the width direction by bringing both side edge portions 121 a of the substrate portion 121 into contact with the guide wall portions 135 on both sides in the width direction of the first rail portion 132.
The slider 120 on the first rail portion 132 is advanced toward the fiber holder 90.

  In the process of moving the optical fiber connecting unit 20 and the slider 120, the side edge portions 121a of the substrate portion 121 enter the groove portions 137a formed on the inner surface of the side wall portion 137, so that the lift of the slider 120 is restricted. Accurate positioning with respect to the fiber 1 is possible.

By the advancement of the optical fiber connecting unit 20, the insertion optical fiber 1 can be inserted into the covering portion insertion grooves 31 d and 323 b of the splice 30 through the fiber introduction recess 66 opened at the front end of the splice holder portion 60.
The bare optical fiber 1a led out at the distal end of the insertion optical fiber 1 is inserted into the alignment groove 31b via the covering portion insertion grooves 31d and 323b and abuts against the distal end of the extension optical fiber 21 (butt connection) can do.

As shown in FIG. 27, the optical fiber connecting unit 20 and the slider 120 are further advanced, and the locking projection 127 is engaged with the engagement recess 136 c of the elastic locking piece 136. As a result, the fiber holder 90 is positioned on the slide surface 143 in a state where the fiber holder 90 is sandwiched by the elastic locking pieces 146 and stably held. The positions of the optical fiber connecting unit 20 and the slider 120 are referred to as advance limit positions.
When the optical fiber connecting unit 20 reaches the advance limit position, the bare optical fiber 1a inserted into the alignment groove 31b of the splice 30 is abutted against the tip of the bare optical fiber 21a of the extended optical fiber 21, and the covering portion insertion groove It will be in the state by which the coating | coated part was inserted in 31d and 323b.
The insertion optical fiber 1 is bent, and the elasticity of the insertion optical fiber 1 ensures the abutting force between the bare optical fibers 1a and 21a, so that the bare optical fibers 1a and 21a can be butt-connected.

Next, as shown in FIG. 20, a lateral pressure P is applied to the insertion member driving portion 82 of the second splicing tool 80 from both the left and right sides, and the insertion members 81 </ b> A and 81 </ b> B are removed from the splice 30.
When the insertion members 81A and 81B are removed from the splice 30, the second clamp portion of the splice 30 is caused by the elasticity of the clamp spring 33 (specifically, the second clamp spring portion 332) and the base portion 31 and the inner lid member 322. In the meantime, the bare optical fibers 1a and 21a are held and fixed while keeping the butted state. Further, the third clamp portion grips and fixes the covering portion of the inserted optical fiber 1 between the base portion 31 and the front lid member 323 by the elasticity of the clamp spring 33 (specifically, the third clamp spring portion 333). . Thereby, the operation | work which butt-connects the optical fiber 21 and the insertion optical fiber 1 with the splice 30 (optical connection) is completed.
The extended optical fiber 21 and the insertion optical fiber 1 that have been connected are gripped and fixed to the half gripping member 34 of the splice 30. As a result, the butted state of the bare optical fibers 1a and 21a can be stably maintained.

As described above, the second splicing tool 80 deforms the insertion member driving portion 82 with the lateral pressure P from the left and right, and between the pressure receiving wall portion 86 and the locking wall portion 85 of the insertion member driving portion 82. By increasing the separation distance, the insertion members 81A and 81B can be removed from the splice 30.
As shown in FIG. 20, the drive portion side wall portions 88 on both the left and right sides connecting the pressure receiving wall portion 86 and the locking wall portion 85 of the insertion member drive portion 82 of the second splicing tool 80 are inserted. The three plate portions 88a arranged in the circumferential direction of the member driving portion 82 are connected via a thin portion 88b. Moreover, the drive part side wall part 88 and the pressure receiving wall part 86 and the drive part side wall part 88 and the locking wall part 85 are also connected via the thin part 88b.
In addition, each plate part 88a of the locking wall part 85, the pressure receiving wall part 86, and the drive part side wall part 88 is formed in the elongated plate shape extended in the axial direction in the sleeve-like insertion member drive part 82. .

The lateral pressure P that deforms the insertion member drive unit 82 is a portion of the drive unit side wall portions 88 on both the left and right sides that has the largest protrusion to the left and right sides via the central axis Q of the insertion member drive unit 82, that is, drive. Of the three plate portions 88a constituting the partial side wall portion 88, the central plate portion 88a between the plate portions 88a at both ends in the circumferential direction of the insertion member drive portion 82 is caused to act. Hereinafter, the central plate portion 88a is also referred to as a pressing plate portion. Further, reference numeral 88c in the figure is added to the pressing plate portion.
The insertion member drive unit 82 applies the lateral pressure P to the left and right pressing plate portions 88c from both the left and right sides to reduce the separation distance between the left and right pressing plate portions 88c, so that the thin portion 88b is hinged. As a result, the separation distance between the pressure receiving wall portion 86 and the locking wall portion 85 increases.

Further, as shown in FIG. 22, the insertion member drive unit 82 is configured such that the separation distance between the pressure receiving wall portion 86 and the locking wall portion 85 is maximized by applying the lateral pressure P from the left and right. By continuing the deformation of the insertion member driving portion 82 by the side pressure P, the left and right driving portion side wall portions 88 are deformed into a generally arcuate shape having the pressing plate portion 88c as the portion closest to the central axis Q. And the insertion member drive part 82 deform | transforms the pressure receiving wall part 86 in the circular arc plate shape in which the center part is located in the outer side of the insertion member drive part 82 compared with the circumferential direction both ends of the insertion member drive part 82. As a result, in the second splicing tool 80, with the deformation of the pressure receiving wall portion 86, the relative orientation between the pair of engagement wall portions 87 changes so as to increase the distance between the tips (projections). The engagement of the pair of engagement wall portions 87 with respect to the side wall portion 122 is released.
The second splicing tool 80 can be easily removed if the engagement of the pair of engaging wall portions 87 with the side wall portion 122 is released.

  As shown in FIG. 21, in the illustrated second splicing tool 80, the abutting wall portion 83a of the insertion members 81A and 81B is brought into contact with the locking wall portion 85 (specifically, the protruding end of the protruding wall portion 85b). A separation distance c1 between the engagement claw 84a of the engagement piece 84 of the insertion member 81 and the locking wall portion 85 (specifically, the step surface 85e) of the insertion member drive unit 82 when contacted; c2 are not the same, but different from each other. In the illustrated second splicing tool 80, the separation distance c1 of the first insertion member 81A inserted into the second clamp portion of the splice 30 is set to the second insertion member 81B inserted into the third clamp portion. It is shorter than the separation distance c2.

  For this reason, the second splicing tool 80 has the first insertion member 81A removed from the second clamp portion of the splice 30 when the insertion member driving portion 82 is deformed by the lateral pressure P from the left and right. The removal of the second insertion member 81B from the third clamp portion is completed. This second splicing tool 80 performs the time difference removal, in which the removal of the first insertion member 81A from the second clamp portion is performed prior to the removal of the second insertion member 81B from the third clamp portion. Can be realized.

The optical fiber connection unit that has completed the connection work between the extended optical fiber 21 and the insertion optical fiber 1 can be taken out from the apparatus base 110 and used. Specifically, after the optical fiber connecting unit and the slider 120 are removed from the base body 130, the optical fiber connecting unit can be taken out from the slider 120 and used.
The extended optical fiber 21 can be connected to another optical fiber by using the optical connector 22. Thereby, the insertion optical fiber 1 and another optical fiber with a connector can be optically connected via the extended optical fiber 21.

FIG. 30 shows an installation example of the optical fiber connection unit that has completed the connection work with the insertion optical fiber 1. In the optical fiber connecting unit (indicated by reference numeral 10A in FIG. 30), the splicing tools 40 and 80 and the slider 120 are removed, and the lever member 150 holds the cable at the restricting position shown in FIG. The member 70 is covered. The optical fiber connecting unit 10A is easily installed by engaging the engaging claws 16 projecting from the lower portion of the unit base 11 with the plate-like portion 200 which is a part of the optical connecting box. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the unit base 11 has an engaging convex portion 17a at the lower portion of the front end portion and an engaging concave portion 17b at the upper portion of the front end portion. As shown in FIG. 30, by engaging the engaging projection 17a of the upper unit 10A with the engaging recess 17b of the lower unit 10A to form the connecting portion 17, a plurality of units 10A can be arbitrarily set up and down. Can be integrated in a stacked state, which is advantageous for efficient installation and space saving.
In addition, in the optical fiber connection units 10 and 20 before the connection work is completed, as shown in FIGS. It can be accommodated in an accommodation recess 123 a formed in the bottom wall portion 123.

A usage example of the optical fiber connecting unit 10A will be described.
The inserted optical fiber 1 drawn out from the optical fiber cable is connected to the extended optical fiber 21 by the connection method described above.
The optical fiber cable is, for example, a trunk optical fiber cable laid in a vertical hole (for example, an elevator hoistway) over each floor in a building having a plurality of floors.

An optical fiber connection unit 10A to which the insertion optical fiber 1 is connected is housed in an optical fiber connection box (for example, a so-called optical termination box), and another optical fiber (not shown) is connected to the optical connector 22 as necessary. By connecting the connectors, the insertion optical fiber 1 and another optical fiber with a connector (not shown) can be optically connected.
The other optical fiber (not shown) to be connected to the optical fiber connection unit 10A is not particularly limited, and may be an optical fiber wired indoors, an optical fiber wired to an optical composite electronic device, or the like.

In the optical fiber connecting unit 10, since the splice holder 60 and the cable gripping member 70 are integrated, the relative position between the terminal 24a of the optical fiber cable 24 and the splice 30 is always constant.
For this reason, an excessive force is not applied to the optical fiber 21 between the terminal 24a and the splice 30 during the storing operation in the optical fiber connection box or the like, and damage can be prevented. Therefore, the handleability is improved.
The optical fiber connection unit 10 is simple in structure and can be miniaturized, so that it can be used as it is in an optical connection box (optical termination box or the like).

The optical fiber connecting unit 10 has both the splice holder 60 and the cable gripping member 70 provided on the upper surface side of the unit base 11, so that the structure is simple and the size can be reduced.
Moreover, since the external force from the lower surface side of the unit base 11 does not easily reach the splice holder portion 60, the cable gripping member 70, and the optical fiber 21, durability can be improved.

  The optical fiber connection unit 10 can efficiently and easily realize connection between optical fibers using mechanical splices (connection between the insertion optical fiber 1 and the extended optical fiber 21). Further, the optical fiber connecting unit 10 can easily realize the simplification of the structure and the cost reduction as compared with the optical fiber connecting tool described in Patent Document 1 described above.

  Further, the optical fiber connection unit 10 can be easily reduced in size, which is advantageous for insertion into a narrow space. The operation of connecting the extended optical fiber 21 to the optical fiber (inserted optical fiber 1), and the extension The present invention can be widely applied to work (optical fiber relay connection method) for connecting optical fibers via the outgoing light fiber 21.

  Moreover, the structure which employ | adopted the insertion member 81 of the 2nd splicing tool 80 as stated above as the insertion member of the splice with the insertion member has the sleeve-like insertion member driving portion 82 of the second splicing tool 80. Since the insertion member 81 can be removed from the splice 30 by being deformed by the side pressure P from both sides, the insertion member from the splice 30 can be obtained by securing a small space on the second splicing tool 80. Can be removed. That is, the adoption of the second splicing tool 80 is, for example, as compared to the case where the insertion member is configured to be pulled out from the splice 30 by the operator pulling it directly away from the splice 30 with fingers. Only a small space is required on the second splicing tool 80. This is advantageous in that the optical fiber connecting unit 10 is inserted into a narrow space and used to connect the extended optical fiber 21 and the inserted optical fiber 1.

In addition, as the insertion member of the splice with the insertion member, a structure in which the operator pulls the splice 30 away from the splice 30 by pulling it directly with fingers is possible. As the insertion member of this configuration, for example, the base end side opposite to the insertion piece portion on the distal end side inserted between the base member 31 and the pressing lid 32 of the splice 30 is protruded from the splice 30. It is possible to adopt a part provided with a removal gripping part for an operator to grip the insertion member with fingers and pull it in a direction away from the splice 30.
Examples of the gripping part for removal include, for example, the insertion member main body at the proximal end portion of the insertion member main body that extends toward the proximal end side that protrudes outward from the insertion piece portion on the distal end side. A protrusion or the like that protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction can be employed.

In the above connection method, after the insertion optical fiber 1 is positioned with respect to the base body 130, the optical fiber connection unit 10 is brought close to the insertion optical fiber 1 to connect the optical fiber 21 and the insertion optical fiber 1. In the present invention, conversely, after positioning the optical fiber 21 with respect to the base main body 130, the fiber holder 90 is slid in the direction approaching the optical fiber 21 on the second rail portion 142, so Connection to the fiber 1 can also be performed.
That is, after the optical fiber connecting unit 10 and the slider 120 are advanced to the advance limit position, the fiber holder 90 is slid on the second rail portion 142 in a direction approaching the optical fiber connecting unit 10. it can.

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.
For example, the specific configurations of the mechanical splice, the splice with an extended optical fiber, the insertion member, the optical connector, and the fiber holder are not limited as long as they conform to the technical idea of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Insertion optical fiber, 10 ... Unit for optical fiber connection, 11 ... Unit base, 21 ... Extension optical fiber, 24 ... Optical fiber cable, 30 ... Mechanical splice, 31, 32 ... Half element, 40 ... 1st splice Tool 41... First insertion member 49. Spacer 50. Holding member holding portion 54. Elastic member 60 Splice holder 70 Cable holding member 80 Second splicing tool 81. 2 Interposing members, 82... Interposing member driving portions, 87... Holding wall portions, 90... Fiber holders, 120... Sliders, 132 and 142.

Claims (11)

A cable gripping member for gripping the optical fiber cable;
A mechanical splice capable of gripping and fixing the extended optical fiber drawn out from the end of the optical fiber cable, butting it with an insertion optical fiber that is another optical fiber, and being sandwiched between halved elements;
A splice holder portion for holding the mechanical splice;
A first splicing tool having a first insertion member inserted so that the extended optical fiber can be inserted between the half-split elements at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice;
A second splicing tool having a second insertion member inserted so that the insertion optical fiber can be inserted between the half-split elements on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice;
A gripping member holding portion that holds the cable gripping member at a position where the distal end portion of the extending optical fiber is inserted between the half-divided elements from one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice;
A unit base for integrating the splice holder part and the holding member holding part;
With
The gripping member holding portion holds the cable gripping member movably along the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice ,
The first splicing tool includes a spacer that stops the movement of the cable gripping member along the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice at a predetermined distance from the mechanical splice.
By pulling out the first insertion member from between the half-split elements of the mechanical splice, the distal end portion of the extended optical fiber is sandwiched between the half-split elements to be held and fixed, and the cable gripping member Is further closer to one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice, so that it is possible to form a bending deformation in the extended optical fiber between the cable gripping member and one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice. ,
Unit for optical fiber connection. The splice holder portion is guided so as to be slidable in a direction approaching the fiber holder on a rail portion formed on a device base portion that holds a fiber holder that holds an insertion optical fiber that abuts the extended optical fiber. With a slider,
The optical fiber connecting unit according to claim 1. The spacer is press-fitted into a spacer accommodating portion formed between a positioning protrusion provided on the holding member holding portion and a positioning recess provided on the splice holder portion,
The positioning protrusion includes an elastic member that presses the spacer toward one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice.
The optical fiber connecting unit according to claim 1 or 2 . In the holding member holding portion, by rotating about the axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice, a restriction position for holding the rear end portion of the cable holding member and restricting its retreat, A lever member that can rotate between a standby position that does not restrict retraction of the cable gripping member;
The unit for optical fiber connection of any one of Claims 1-3. The lever member has a locking projection for holding the lever member in the standby position by locking to the first splicing tool,
By pulling out the first insertion member from between the halved elements of the mechanical splice, the locking by the locking protrusion is released, and the lever member can be rotated to the restricting position. Become,
The optical fiber connecting unit according to claim 4 . The second splicing tool includes a ring-shaped insertion member driving portion for pulling out the second insertion member from between the halved elements, and a holding wall that holds and holds the splice holder portion and the slider. The second insertion member is pulled out from between the halved elements by applying a lateral pressure to the insertion member drive unit, and the space between the holding wall portions is opened, and the slider is Can be separated from the splice holder part,
The optical fiber connecting unit according to claim 2. The gripping member holding portion has an insertion hole having a substantially square cross section into which a fitting portion protruding to the front side of the cable gripping member is inserted, and the cable gripping member is centered on the axial direction of the extended optical fiber It is possible to fit the gripping member holding part in a plurality of directions different by 90 ° as
The optical fiber connecting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6 . An optical fiber connecting unit attached to a terminal of an optical fiber cable, and an apparatus base for holding a fiber holder that holds an insertion optical fiber that abuts an extended optical fiber drawn from the terminal,
The optical fiber connecting unit is:
A cable gripping member for gripping the optical fiber cable;
A mechanical splice capable of gripping and fixing the extended optical fiber drawn out from the end of the optical fiber cable, butting it with an insertion optical fiber that is another optical fiber, and being sandwiched between halved elements;
A splice holder portion for holding the mechanical splice;
A first splicing tool having a first insertion member inserted so that the extended optical fiber can be inserted between the half-split elements at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice;
A second splicing tool having a second insertion member inserted so that the insertion optical fiber can be inserted between the half-split elements on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice;
A gripping member holding portion that holds the cable gripping member at a position where the distal end portion of the extending optical fiber is inserted between the half-divided elements from one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice;
A unit base for integrating the splice holder part and the holding member holding part;
With
The gripping member holding part holds the cable gripping member movably along the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice,
The device base includes a rail portion that slides the optical fiber connecting unit or the fiber holder in a direction approaching each other ,
The first splicing tool includes a spacer that stops the movement of the cable gripping member along the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice at a predetermined distance from the mechanical splice.
By pulling out the first insertion member from between the half-split elements of the mechanical splice, the distal end portion of the extended optical fiber is sandwiched between the half-split elements to be held and fixed, and the cable gripping member Is further closer to one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice, so that it is possible to form a bending deformation in the extended optical fiber between the cable gripping member and one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice. ,
Optical fiber connection device. A cable gripping member for gripping the optical fiber cable;
A mechanical splice capable of gripping and fixing the extended optical fiber drawn out from the end of the optical fiber cable, butting it with an insertion optical fiber that is another optical fiber, and being sandwiched between halved elements;
A splice holder portion for holding the mechanical splice;
A first splicing tool having a first insertion member inserted so that the extended optical fiber can be inserted between the half-split elements at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice;
A second splicing tool having a second insertion member inserted so that the insertion optical fiber can be inserted between the half-split elements on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice;
A gripping member holding portion that holds the cable gripping member at a position where the distal end portion of the extending optical fiber is inserted between the half-divided elements from one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice;
A unit base for integrating the splice holder part and the holding member holding part;
With
The gripping member holding portion holds the cable gripping member movably along the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice ,
The first splicing tool includes a spacer that stops the movement of the cable gripping member along the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice at a predetermined distance from the mechanical splice.
By pulling out the first insertion member from between the half-split elements of the mechanical splice, the distal end portion of the extended optical fiber is sandwiched between the half-split elements to be held and fixed, and the cable gripping member Is further closer to one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice, so that it is possible to form a bending deformation in the extended optical fiber between the cable gripping member and one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice. ,
Using an optical fiber connection unit
The cable holding member holding the optical fiber cable is held by the holding member holding portion, and the extended optical fiber is inserted between the halved elements at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice,
The first insertion member is pulled out from between the half elements, and the extended optical fiber is sandwiched between the half elements and held and fixed.
Assembly method for optical fiber connection unit. A cable gripping member for gripping the optical fiber cable;
A mechanical splice capable of gripping and fixing the extended optical fiber drawn out from the end of the optical fiber cable, butting it with an insertion optical fiber that is another optical fiber, and being sandwiched between halved elements;
A splice holder portion for holding the mechanical splice;
A first splicing tool having a first insertion member inserted so that the extended optical fiber can be inserted between the half-split elements at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice;
A second splicing tool having a second insertion member inserted so that the insertion optical fiber can be inserted between the half-split elements on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice;
A gripping member holding portion that holds the cable gripping member at a position where the distal end portion of the extending optical fiber is inserted between the half-divided elements from one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice;
A unit base for integrating the splice holder part and the holding member holding part;
With
The gripping member holding portion holds the cable gripping member movably along the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice ,
The first splicing tool includes a spacer that stops the movement of the cable gripping member along the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice at a predetermined distance from the mechanical splice.
By pulling out the first insertion member from between the half-split elements of the mechanical splice, the distal end portion of the extended optical fiber is sandwiched between the half-split elements to be held and fixed, and the cable gripping member Is further closer to one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice, so that it is possible to form a bending deformation in the extended optical fiber between the cable gripping member and one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice. ,
Using an optical fiber connection unit
The cable holding member holding the optical fiber cable is held by the holding member holding portion, and the extended optical fiber is inserted between the halved elements at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice,
The first insertion member is pulled out from between the half elements, and the extended optical fiber is sandwiched between the half elements and held and fixed.
The insertion optical fiber is inserted from the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice between the half-split elements of the mechanical splice, and the tip is abutted against the extended optical fiber,
The second insertion member is pulled out from between the half-divided elements, and the butted portion of the extension optical fiber and the insertion optical fiber is sandwiched between the half-divided elements and held and fixed.
Optical fiber connection method. An optical fiber connecting unit attached to a terminal of an optical fiber cable, and an apparatus base for holding a fiber holder that holds an insertion optical fiber that abuts an extended optical fiber drawn from the terminal,
The optical fiber connecting unit is:
A cable gripping member for gripping the optical fiber cable;
A mechanical splice capable of gripping and fixing the extended optical fiber drawn out from the end of the optical fiber cable, butting it with an insertion optical fiber that is another optical fiber, and being sandwiched between halved elements;
A splice holder portion for holding the mechanical splice;
A first splicing tool having a first insertion member inserted so that the extended optical fiber can be inserted between the half-split elements at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice;
A second splicing tool having a second insertion member inserted so that the insertion optical fiber can be inserted between the half-split elements on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice;
A gripping member holding portion that holds the cable gripping member at a position where the distal end portion of the extending optical fiber is inserted between the half-divided elements from one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice;
A unit base for integrating the splice holder part and the holding member holding part;
With
The gripping member holding part holds the cable gripping member movably along the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice,
The device base includes a rail portion that slides the optical fiber connecting unit or the fiber holder in a direction approaching each other ,
The first splicing tool includes a spacer that stops the movement of the cable gripping member along the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice at a predetermined distance from the mechanical splice.
By pulling out the first insertion member from between the half-split elements of the mechanical splice, the distal end portion of the extended optical fiber is sandwiched between the half-split elements to be held and fixed, and the cable gripping member Is further closer to one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice, so that it is possible to form a bending deformation in the extended optical fiber between the cable gripping member and one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice. ,
Using an optical fiber connection device
The cable holding member holding the optical fiber cable is held by the holding member holding portion, and the extended optical fiber is inserted between the halved elements at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice,
The first insertion member is pulled out from between the half elements, and the extended optical fiber is sandwiched between the half elements and held and fixed.
The optical fiber connection unit or the fiber holder is slid in a direction approaching each other along the rail portion, so that the inserted optical fiber held by the fiber holder is moved to the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the mechanical splice. Inserted between the half-split elements of the mechanical splice, and the tip of the mechanical splice abuts the extended optical fiber,
The second insertion member is pulled out from between the half-divided elements, and the butted portion of the extension optical fiber and the insertion optical fiber is sandwiched between the half-divided elements and held and fixed.
Optical fiber connection method.

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