JPH1020152A - Optical fiber splicer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To align and fix coated optical fiber and single optical fiber one by one by providing a first guide means for the insertion side of multiple optical fiber, guiding the coated optical fibers while being spread in the direction being away from each other, providing a second guide means in the insertion side of the single optical fiber end guiding the single optical fibers to the coated optical fiber. SOLUTION: The UV cured coated optical fibers 10 are inserted into a tape fiber insertion hole 23 is an arranged state. At that time, the fibers 10 are naturally separated when they are inputted to the respective coated optical fiber housing parts in a main body 2. Thus, the fibers 10 are away from each other by continuing insertion. Since the bending of the fiber 10 is gentle, insertion can smoothly be executed. A tape coating 8 is abutted on the trailing end of the coating storage part. When the respective single optical fibers 6 are inserted into single optical fiber insertion hole 24 one by one, bare fibers 11 are abutted on the bare fibers 13 of the fibers 10. A cap 26 is engaged into a cap hole 25 and the bare fibers 11 and 13 are pressed from above.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector used for connecting a tape-shaped multi-core fiber (hereinafter referred to as "tape fiber") having a plurality of cores and a single-core fiber corresponding to the number of cores. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, there has not been found any optical fiber connector for butt-connecting optical fibers, which is suitable for connecting a tape fiber to a single-core fiber. Therefore, it is conceivable to divert tape fibers used for connection between tape fibers as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-239510.

[0003] The connector disclosed in the publication has a plurality of guide grooves provided in parallel on a substrate. If a core fiber of a tape fiber is placed in these guide grooves and they are abutted from each other in an opposing direction. Connection can be made. By placing multiple single-core fibers instead of tape fiber cores,
Each core wire can be connected to a single-core fiber.

[0004]

However, since the above-mentioned connector is used only for a tape fiber, the guide grooves are adjacent to each other and are very close to each other. May not be acceptable.

[0005] That is, in a tape fiber, relatively thin core wires are arranged with almost no gap in the coating,
The guide grooves are arranged at such a pitch interval as to maintain the state. On the other hand, since the single-core fiber has a relatively thick coating corresponding to the above-described coating of the tape fiber for each one, the outer diameter has to be larger than that of the tape fiber core. Therefore, if the conventional connector is used, the outer diameter of the single-core fiber is naturally limited. Note that, as an example, when the pitch interval between the guide grooves is 250 μm, the outer diameter formed by the coating of the single-core fiber is limited to 250 μm or less.

[0006] Further, since the pitch interval between the guide grooves is narrow, it is difficult to provide a mechanism that allows one by one to be attached and detached.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a multi-core fiber having a plurality of exposed cores and a single-core fiber are inserted from opposite directions, and the core and the single-core fiber are butt-connected to each other. An optical fiber connector provided on the insertion side of the multi-core fiber, the first guide means for expanding and guiding the core wires in a direction away from each other, and provided on the insertion side of the single-core fiber. And a second guiding means for guiding the single-core fiber toward the above-mentioned core wire.

[0010] According to this, the distance between the core wires of the multi-core fiber can be increased by the first guide means.
This makes it possible to apply even large diameter single core fiber,
This is suitable for connection between a multi-core fiber and a single-core fiber.

Further, the present invention provides the optical fiber connector, further comprising an alignment fixing means for aligning the butted core wire and the single-core fiber with each other and removably fixing the same. .

In this manner, centering and fixing can be performed and connection can be made to each of the core wires and the single-core fibers, and the single-core fibers can be individually removed.

[0011]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the entirety of an optical fiber connector according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, an optical fiber connector 1 has a main body 2 composed of a substrate 3 and a cover 4 placed on the substrate 3.
have. At both longitudinal ends of the main body 2, the tape fiber 5 and the plurality of single-core fibers 6 are inserted from opposite directions. Then, in the main body 2, the core wire 7 of the tape fiber 5 and the single fiber 6 are butt-connected one by one. The tape fiber 5 has four fibers, and four single fibers 6 are also prepared.

Prior to insertion into the main body 2, the tape coating 8 and the nylon coating 9 are stripped off in advance from the tape fiber 5 and the single-core fiber 6. , The bare fiber 11 is exposed. In the UV core 10, the coating 12 is further stripped to expose the bare fiber 13. Although the outer diameters of the bare fibers 11 and 13 are the same, the coating 9 of the single-core fiber 6 is thicker than the coating 12 of the UV core 10 to protect the inner bare fiber 11, so that the single-core fiber 6 The diameter is larger than the core wire 10. As one example, the exposed length L of the UV core wire 10 is 30 mm, the outer diameter is 250 μm, and the outer diameter of the single core fiber 6 is 0.6 to 0.9 mm, which is thicker than the conventional one. 13 has an outer diameter of 125 μm.
Cutting and stripping of the tape fiber 5 and the single-core fiber 6 can be easily performed with a commercially available fiber cutter.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the substrate 3. In the figure, the tape fiber 5 is inserted from the left side, and the single fiber 6 is inserted from the right side.

As shown in the figure, a concave portion 14 is provided on the upper surface of the substrate 3 at a position slightly toward the center and slightly to the right. On the left side of the concave portion 14, a tape fiber groove 15a is provided.
However, a single-core fiber groove 16a is provided on the right side.

The tape fiber groove 15a has a tape fiber groove 15, which is formed of a tape coating 8 (made of U
V) comprises a sheath accommodation portion 17 at the left end for accommodating the UV core wire 10, a core wire accommodation portion 18 for accommodating the UV core wire 10, and a bare fiber accommodation portion 19 for accommodating the bare fiber 13.

The coating accommodating portion 17 has a rectangular cross section (A-A cross section), and is adapted to accommodate the flat tape coating 8 of the tape fiber 5.

The core wire accommodating portion 18 has a semicircular cross section (BB cross section) to accommodate the UV core wire 10 having a relatively small diameter. In particular, the cord accommodation portion 18
The same number of four V core wires 10 are branched from the sheath accommodating portion 17 and extend to the right, and in particular, are curved in a crank shape so as to be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval (for example, 4 mm) toward the right. Each of the core wire accommodating portions 18 has the same groove length, so that the end position 18a is located leftward on the outer side in the width direction as compared with the center side in the width direction. In addition, the base ends of the core wire accommodating portions 18 are merged, thereby forming a merged portion 18b having a rectangular cross section with the same depth.

The bare fiber housing portions 19 extend linearly in the longitudinal direction from the end positions 18a of the respective core wire housing portions 18 to reach the concave portions 14. The cross-sectional shape is a V-shape suitable for the bare fiber 13 (CC cross section).

On the other hand, the single-core fiber groove 16a is composed of four single-core fiber grooves 16 extending in the longitudinal direction. And a bare fiber housing 21 for housing the bare fiber 11.

The sheath accommodating portion 20 is formed to have a relatively large semicircular cross section with a relatively large diameter which is adapted to the outer diameter of the single core fiber 6 (D-
D section). As described above, the bare fiber container 21 has a V-shaped cross section that is compatible with the bare fiber 11 (C-
C section), and a straight line extending in the longitudinal direction connecting the coating accommodating portion 20 and the concave portion 14. The left end or the terminal position 20a of each covering container 20 is positioned differently in the longitudinal direction so as to be equidistant from the terminal position 18a of the core wire container 18. And the single-core fiber groove 16 is
They are spaced apart from each other in the width direction at the same interval as the bare fiber container 19.

In the recess 14, four bare fiber connecting grooves 22 connect the bare fiber housing portions 19 and 21 from the longitudinally opposite side.
The bare fiber connection grooves 22 are provided in the bare fiber accommodation portions 19, 21.
Has the same V-shaped cross-sectional shape. However, the depth dimension is smaller than the bare fiber housing portions 19 and 21 by the depth of the concave portion 14.

That is, the bare fiber connection groove 22 and the bare fiber housing portions 19 and 21 are one continuous groove formed on the upper surface of the substrate 3 before the concave portion 14 is formed. However, the upper surface is slightly thinned (for example, cut) to form the concave portion 1.
When 4 is formed, the upper end of the groove is deleted, and the bare fiber connection groove 22 having the same bottom end position and a small depth dimension is completed. Therefore, the bare fiber connection groove 22
The depth dimension from the upper surface of the concave portion 14 is
9 and 21 are smaller than the depth dimension from the upper surface of the substrate 3.

Referring also to FIG. 1, the lower surface of the cover 4 to be put on the substrate 3 is formed in a flat shape, and the tape fiber groove 15, the single fiber groove 16, the concave portion 14, and the bare fiber connection groove 22 are formed. And a gap is formed between them. A tape fiber insertion hole 23 for inserting the tape fiber 5 is formed between the tape fiber groove 15 and the bare fiber connection groove 22, and the tape fiber insertion hole 23 is formed between the tape fiber groove 16 and the bare fiber connection groove 22. Next, a single-core fiber insertion hole 24 for inserting the single-core fiber 6 is defined.

As will be described in detail later, the tape fiber insertion hole 23 guides the UV core wires 10 in a direction in which the UV core wires 10 are spread apart from each other when the tape fiber 5 is inserted.
The single-core fiber insertion hole 24 is inserted into the single-core fiber 6 when the single-core fiber 6 is inserted.
A second guiding means for guiding toward zero is formed.

The cover 4 is fixed to the substrate 3 by an appropriate means. The left end portion is a detachable cover 4a which is detachably fixed.
Can be obscured independently. The cover 4 is provided with a rectangular cap fitting hole 25 corresponding to each bare fiber connection groove 22. Cap fitting hole 2
5 is displaced in the longitudinal direction following the end position 20a of the covering accommodating portion 20 and the like. Cap fitting hole 25
Is fitted with an acrylic cap 26, and the cap 26
Is detachably fixed in the cap fitting hole 25 by lock means (not shown), for example, a holding jig utilizing spring force.

Next, a connection method using the optical fiber connector 1 will be described.

As for the insertion of the tape fiber 5, first, the UV fiber core 10 is aligned and the tape fiber insertion hole 23 is set.
Insert Then, inside the main body 2, each UV core 10 is naturally separated at the time when it enters each core storage unit 18, and by continuing insertion, each UV core 10 is connected to each core storage unit 18.
And spread in the direction away from each other. At this time, since the core wire accommodating portion 18 is gradually bent, the insertion can be performed smoothly. Eventually, the tape coating 8 comes into contact with the end of the coating containing portion 17 and cannot be inserted. At this time, the tip of the bare fiber 13 is positioned so as to be visible from the cap fitting hole 25.

Next, after applying a refractive index matching agent to the tip of each single fiber 6, each single fiber 6 is inserted into each single fiber insertion hole 24 one by one. Then, the bare fibers 11 strike the bare fiber 13 of the UV core 10 at a position visible from the cap fitting hole 25.

After confirming this abutting state, the cap 26 is fitted into the cap fitting hole 25, and the bare fibers 11, 13 are pressed from above on the bare fiber connection groove 22 to fix the cap 26 in that state. . In this case, the bare fibers 11 and 13 are accurately centered and fixed on the bare fiber connection groove 22.

More specifically, the bare fibers 11 and 13 slightly project from the upper surface of the concave portion 14 on the bare fiber connection groove 22. By pressing the protruding portion with the cap 26, the bare fibers 11 and 13 are accurately aligned and fixed on the same groove. As described above, the bare fiber connection groove 22 and the cap 26 form an alignment fixing means for aligning the butted UV cores 10 and the single-core fibers 6 with each other and removably fixing them.

Thus, this configuration is suitable for the connection between the multi-core tape fiber 5 and the single-core fiber 6. In particular, since the tape-fiber insertion hole 23 guides the UV core wires 10 in a direction in which they are separated from each other, a single-core fiber is used. The size and interval of the core fiber insertion hole 24 can be enlarged, and a space for inserting the single fiber 6 can be secured, so that the single fiber 6 having a relatively large outer diameter can be applied. Can be.

Further, a space for providing the cap 26 can be secured, and by providing this, the arbitrary single-core fibers 6 can be freely attached and detached one by one.

Then, since the UV optical fiber 10 is naturally guided in the separating direction only by inserting the tape fiber 5, the insertion is very easy and the workability is good. At the time of this insertion,
Since the split cover 4a can be removed, it can be inserted obliquely from above, and the work becomes easy. After the insertion, the portion of the tape coating 8 of the tape fiber 5 is fitted to the coating accommodation portion 17,
What is necessary is just to pinch and fix with the division | segmentation cover 4a. At this time, the portion of the tape cover 8 is securely clamped, so that the tape cover 8 is prevented from coming off or twisting, and the connecting portion can be protected from external force.

Next, another embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment,
The main body 2 is housed in a case 27. The cap 26 is detachably fitted into the cap fitting hole 25 by a lever 28 provided on the upper surface of the cover 4. The lever 28 rotates around the pin 29 and is lowered to fit the cap 26 into the cap fitting hole 25 and is locked by engaging with the claw member 30. The lever 28 and the claw member 30 form locking means for locking the cap 26 at a fixed position.

In the main body 2, the divided cover 4a is removed, and instead, the tape fiber holder 31 holds the tape coating 8 of the tape fiber 5 (not shown) by sandwiching it from above. . Also cover 4 in the center
Is covered with a lid member 32. Further, the single fiber 6 (not shown) is collectively held by a single fiber holder 33. The cover 4 and the substrate 3 have cutouts 4 for facilitating insertion of the single-core fiber 6.
0 is provided.

The tape fiber holder 31, the cover member 32, and the single-core fiber holder 33 are rotatably supported by the pins 34, and constitute a cover 35 that can open and close the case 27. Each of them integrally has a claw portion 37 that engages with the base portion 36 of the case 27. Base part 3
6, grooves 38 and 39 for seating the tape fiber 5 and the single-core fiber 6 are formed, respectively.

According to this structure, the single fibers 6 can be easily attached and detached one by one by the lever 28 and the single fiber holder 33. Further, since the main body 2 is housed in the case 27, the connection portion can be protected from external force, dust, and the like. Further, since the holders 31 and 33 hold the tape fiber 5 and the single-core fiber 6 on the base end side, the tape fibers 5 and the single-core fibers 6 can be protected from external forces such as pulling and twisting, and the connection portion can be further protected.

In addition to the above embodiments, the present invention is capable of various other embodiments. For example, the main body 2 may be formed integrally, and the tape fiber insertion hole 23 and the single fiber insertion hole 24, that is, the first and second guide means may be formed simultaneously with the molding of the main body 2. The number of cores of the tape fiber is not limited to four, but may be eight, sixteen, or the like. Further, it is possible to make the number of single-core fibers smaller than the number of core fibers of the tape fiber, and to make some of the single-core fiber insertion holes 24 unused or not provided. The tape fiber insertion hole 23 is formed of the core wire accommodating portion 18 which is expanded in a substantially fan shape, but the shape is not limited as long as the tape fiber insertion hole 23 is expanded in a separating direction. Further, the single-core fiber insertion hole 24 is not limited to a straight line but may be curved. And the multi-core fiber is not limited to the tape fiber.

[0041]

The present invention exhibits the following excellent effects.

(1) A single fiber having a relatively large diameter can be used, which is suitable for connecting a multicore fiber to a single fiber.

(2) An arbitrary single fiber can be freely attached and detached.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical fiber connector according to the present invention.

2A and 2B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view illustrating a substrate.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the optical fiber connector according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical fiber connector 5 Tape fiber (multi-core fiber) 6 Single-core fiber 10 UV core wire (core wire) 22 Bare fiber connection groove (alignment fixing means) 23 Tape fiber insertion hole (first guide means) 24 single Fiber insertion hole (second guide means) 26 Cap (alignment fixing means)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber connector for inserting a multi-core fiber having a plurality of exposed core wires and a single-core fiber from opposite directions and butt-connecting the core wire and the single-core fiber to each other. A first guide that is provided on the insertion side of the multi-core fiber and guides the cores by spreading the cores in a direction away from each other.
Guide means, provided on the insertion side of the single fiber,
An optical fiber connector comprising: a second guiding means for guiding the single-core fiber toward the core wire. 2. The optical fiber connector according to claim 1, further comprising an alignment fixing means for aligning the abutted core wire and the single-core fiber with each other so as to be detachably fixed.