JPH1020153A - Manufacturing method of multi-core optical connector ferrule - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] In a method of manufacturing a multi-core optical connector ferrule in which optical fiber holes are formed in a two-stage arrangement, upper and lower mold blocks do not directly contact upper and lower mold bodies, respectively.
Fixed with small gaps. A minute gap of 5 μm to 200 μm is provided between the upper mold block and the mold body. The block is fixed to the mold body by a screw passed through a pipe longer than the thickness of the mold at the block mounting portion of the mold body. The upper and lower mold blocks are fixed to each mold body at two or more places. [Effect] When the upper and lower molds are clamped, the gap is used to free the block in the mold body, and the hole forming pin positioning mechanism is floated at the position of the hole forming pin. The position of the hole forming pin positioning mechanism can be adjusted more precisely.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a multi-fiber optical connector ferrule which positions and holds a plurality of optical fibers in optical communication and realizes collective connection. In detail, according to the method of the present invention, since the upper and lower mold blocks are fixed with a small gap without directly contacting the mold body, the positions of the opposed hole forming pin positioning mechanisms can be more accurately determined. A method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector ferrule that can be combined can be provided.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A one-dimensional arrangement (linear arrangement) is generally used as an arrangement of optical fiber holes on an end face of an optical connector ferrule of a multi-core optical connector which is coupled using two guide pins. A mold for manufacturing an optical connector ferrule in which such optical fiber holes are arranged one-dimensionally mainly has a hole-forming pin holding surface provided on one of the upper mold block and the lower mold block. It is structured to hold down and fix on the flat surface. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a pin forming mechanism for forming a hole of a conventional mold for manufacturing a one-dimensionally arrayed optical connector ferrule.

An upper block 6 and a lower block 6 '
Are combined through positioning pins 12 in positioning pin holes 11 (through holes) provided respectively. Actually, since it is difficult to machine the positioning pin holes 11 provided in the upper die block 6 and the lower die block 6 ′ at exactly the same position, both the upper die block 6 and the lower die block 6 ′ Deviation will occur. However, even if the upper block 6 and the lower block 6 ′ are displaced by the displacement of the positioning pin holes 11 between the upper block 6 and the lower block 6 ′, the position of the pin 1 for forming the guide hole is reduced. The position of the optical fiber hole forming pin 2 does not change. Accordingly, regarding the positional deviation between the upper die block 6 and the lower die block 6 'in the arrangement direction of the hole forming pin positioning mechanism, the position of the hole forming pin itself is shifted from the structure in which the hole forming pin is pressed down on a plane. Never. Therefore, the position of the optical fiber hole relative to the position of the guide hole is not affected.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a hole-forming pin positioning mechanism of a conventional mold for manufacturing a two-dimensionally arrayed optical connector ferrule. On the other hand, a mold for manufacturing an optical connector ferrule in which optical fiber holes are arranged in two stages between two guide holes on the end face of the optical connector ferrule is provided with hole forming pins in both the upper block 6 and the lower block 6 '. A positioning mechanism is provided, and the upper optical fiber hole forming pin 2 is used as an optical fiber hole forming pin positioning mechanism of the upper mold block 6 by:
The lower optical fiber hole forming pin 2 'is connected to the lower block 6'.
Positioning by the optical fiber hole forming pin positioning mechanism of
It is structured to be fixed on the plane of the spacer 3 provided between the upper and lower optical fiber hole forming pins 2 and 2 '.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, positioning pin holes 1 provided in upper block 6 and lower block 6 'are provided.
The position deviation of 1 (through hole) is inevitably caused by the opposing hole forming pin positioning mechanisms provided in the upper block 6 and the lower block 6 ′, and the upper and lower optical fiber hole forming pins positioned in these. The positions 2 and 2 'are shifted in the arrangement direction of the hole forming pin positioning mechanism. That is, the positioning pin holes 11 of the upper block 6 and the lower block 6 '
The upper block 6 and the lower block 6 '
, The positions of the optical fiber hole forming pins 2 and 2 ′ with respect to the position of the guide hole forming pin 1 are shifted by the upper mold block 6 and the lower mold block 6 ′. Therefore, at present, the position of the optical fiber hole with respect to the position of the guide hole is formed at a position shifted vertically.

[0006]

In the method of positioning the upper block and the lower block using the positioning pins as in the prior art, it is necessary to strictly control the processing accuracy of the through holes through which the positioning pins pass. It is difficult to process the through hole at exactly the same position of the upper block and the lower block, and the positions of the opposed hole forming pin positioning mechanisms provided on the upper block and the lower block are the upper die, There was a problem of displacement in the lower mold.

[0007]

As a result of various studies on the above problems, the present inventor has found that a minute gap is provided between the upper die block and the lower die block and any one of the upper die and the lower die main body. By fixing, it was found that the positions of the pin forming mechanisms for hole formation provided in the upper and lower mold blocks did not shift, and the present invention was completed. That is, the present invention provides: a guide hole forming pin positioning mechanism and an optical fiber hole forming mechanism, wherein two guide hole forming pins and two optical fiber hole forming pins arranged in the direction connecting the centers of the guide hole forming pins are arranged. Positioning and fixing with spacers provided between the upper and lower mold blocks having the pin positioning mechanism for use and the optical fiber hole forming pins arranged in two stages, and connecting the centers of the guide holes of the optical connector ferrule by the molding means. In the method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector ferrule in which two stages of optical fiber holes are formed in the directions, the upper mold block and the lower mold block do not directly contact the upper mold body and the lower mold body, respectively. Provided is a method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector ferrule fixed with a large gap. Also,

The two guide hole forming pins and the optical fiber hole forming pins arranged in two stages in the direction connecting the centers of the guide hole forming pins are provided with a guide hole forming pin positioning mechanism and an optical fiber hole forming pin positioning. It is positioned and fixed by a spacer provided between the upper block and the lower block having a mechanism and the optical fiber hole forming pins arranged in two stages, and is formed in a direction connecting the center of the guide hole of the optical connector ferrule by the forming means. In the method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector ferrule in which a stepped optical fiber hole is formed, any one block of the upper mold block and the upper mold body or the lower mold block and the lower mold body directly contacts the mold body. Provided is a method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector ferrule that is fixed with a small gap without performing. Another feature is that the minute gap provided between the upper mold block and the mold body is 5 μm to 200 μm.
In addition, the block fixed without directly contacting the mold body is fixed to the mold body by a screw passed through a pipe longer than the thickness of the mold at the block mounting portion of the mold body. Has features. It is also characterized in that the upper and lower mold blocks are fixed to each mold body at two or more locations.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a method of aligning one upper and lower blocks according to the present invention. In the case where a gap is provided between both blocks and a mold main body, a pin positioning mechanism for forming a hole of a mold before mold clamping is performed. It is sectional drawing. FIG. 2 shows one method of aligning one upper and lower blocks according to the present invention. The mold of the pin positioning mechanism for forming holes in a mold when a gap is provided between both blocks and the mold body. It is sectional drawing after fastening. FIG.
FIG. 4 illustrates another method of aligning upper and lower blocks according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a mold hole forming pin positioning mechanism before mold closing when a gap is provided between one of the blocks and the mold body. FIG. 4 shows another method of aligning the upper and lower blocks according to the present invention, after the mold has been clamped by the hole forming pin positioning mechanism of the mold when a gap is provided between one block and the mold body. It is sectional drawing.

1 to 4, 1 is a guide hole forming pin, 2 is an optical fiber hole forming pin, 3 is a spacer, 4 is a guide hole forming pin positioning mechanism, and 5 is an optical fiber hole forming pin positioning mechanism. , 6, and 6 'are the upper block, respectively.
The lower mold block 7, 7 'is an upper mold body, the lower mold body 8 is a pipe, and 9 is a screw.

[Action]

(i) In the present invention, in the mold having both the upper mold block and the lower mold block having the hole forming pin positioning mechanism, the upper mold block and the lower mold block have the misalignment of the opposing hole forming pin positioning mechanism. To reduce, without using the conventional method of aligning the upper and lower mold blocks with positioning pins, the upper and lower mold blocks do not directly contact the upper and lower mold bodies, respectively. ,
Fixing with a small gap (claim 1) or without directly contacting either the upper block and the upper mold body or any one of the lower block and the lower mold body with the mold body It is fixed with a minute gap (claim 2).

(Ii) With the present invention, the upper and lower molds are clamped in the left and right direction until the gap provided in the vertical direction is eliminated by the mold clamping, that is, until the block and the mold body come into direct contact. The block is set free in the mold body by the gap provided, and the upper and lower blocks are positioned by positioning (floating) the hole forming pin positioning mechanism of the block in accordance with the position of the hole forming pin (floating). It is possible to more accurately match the positions of the opposing hole forming pin positioning mechanisms. (iii) In addition, if the minute gap provided between the block and the mold main body is made small, the gap may disappear due to the expansion of the mold when the mold is raised to the molding temperature.
5 μm or more, preferably 10 μm or more, more preferably 10 to 200 μm is good. If the size exceeds 200 μm, molding resin injected from the outside of the block into the block may flow into the gap (claim 3).

(Iv) A block fixed without directly contacting the mold body is fixed to the mold body by a screw passed through a pipe longer than the thickness of the mold at the block mounting portion of the mold body. Until the clamping of the upper and lower molds is completed, the block can be kept free in the mold body, and the floating amount can be adjusted by changing the length and diameter of the pipe ( Claim 4). (V) When each of the upper and lower blocks is fixed to the mold body at one place, each block may rotate with respect to each mold body by a gap provided around the mounting fixing portion as an axis. Therefore, it is better to fix at two or more places (claim 5).

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described specifically with reference to the drawings, but these do not limit the scope of the present invention. 1 and 2,
One embodiment of a method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector ferrule in which optical fiber hole forming pins are arranged in two stages (4 × 2 stages) between two guide hole forming pins according to the present invention will be described.
The blocks to be floated are both the upper block 6 and the lower block 6 '.
m (the length of the pipe 8 is set to the upper and lower mold bodies 7, 7 '
25μm longer than the thickness of the mold at the block mounting part)
And fixed so as to have a gap of 10 μm in the left-right direction. A total of eight fixing points were used, and the rotational components of the upper block 6 and the lower block 6 'in the mold bodies 7, 7' were removed.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show two optical fiber hole forming pins between the two guide hole forming pins according to the present invention (4 × 4).
An embodiment of a method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector ferrule arranged in two stages will be described. The upper block 6 was the only block to be floated, and the lower block 6 ′ was fixed to the lower die body 7 ′ with screws 9 at four places without providing a gap. The upper mold block 6 has a gap of 25 μm in the vertical direction with respect to the upper mold body 7 (the length of the pipe 8 is made 25 μm longer than the thickness of the mold of the block mounting portion of the upper mold body 7), and is 10 μm in the left-right direction. Was fixed so as to have a gap of. 4 fixing points
The rotation component in the upper die body 7 of the upper die block 6 was removed.

[0015]

As described above, in the present invention,
In a method of manufacturing a multi-core optical connector ferrule in which a two-stage optical fiber hole is formed in a direction connecting a center of a guide hole on an end face of an optical connector ferrule, both or one of an upper mold block and a lower mold block is attached to each mold body. On the other hand, without direct contact, by fixing with a small gap,
When closing the upper and lower molds, the gap is used to free the block in the mold body, and the hole forming pin positioning mechanism is floated at the position of the hole forming pin, so that both the upper and lower mold blocks can be used. The positions of the opposing hole forming pin positioning mechanisms provided in the holes can be adjusted more accurately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a method of aligning one upper and lower blocks according to the present invention, and shows a method of positioning a pin-forming pin positioning mechanism for forming holes in a mold when a gap is provided between both blocks and a mold body. It is sectional drawing.

FIG. 2 shows one of the positioning methods of one upper and lower blocks according to the present invention, and shows a mold of a pin positioning mechanism for forming holes in a mold when a gap is provided between both blocks and a mold body. It is sectional drawing after fastening.

FIG. 3 shows another method of aligning upper and lower blocks according to the present invention, in which a pin hole forming pin positioning mechanism for a mold before a mold is closed when a gap is provided between one block and a mold body. It is sectional drawing.

FIG. 4 shows another method of aligning the upper and lower blocks according to the present invention, after the mold is closed by the pin positioning mechanism for forming a hole in the mold when a gap is provided between one block and the mold body. It is sectional drawing.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a hole forming pin positioning mechanism of a conventional mold for manufacturing a one-dimensionally arrayed optical connector ferrule.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a hole-forming pin positioning mechanism of a conventional two-dimensional arrayed optical connector ferrule manufacturing mold.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Guide hole forming pin 2 Optical fiber hole forming pin 3 Spacer 4 Guide hole forming pin positioning mechanism 5 Optical fiber hole forming pin positioning mechanism 6 Upper die block 6 'Lower die block 7 Upper die body 7' Lower die Mold body 8 Pipe 9 Screw

Claims (5)

[Claims] An optical fiber hole forming pin arranged in two stages in a direction connecting two guide hole forming pins and the center of the guide hole forming pin is provided with a guide hole forming pin positioning mechanism and an optical fiber hole forming pin. A direction in which the upper and lower mold blocks having a pin positioning mechanism are positioned and fixed by spacers provided between the two-stage arranged optical fiber hole forming pins, and the molding means connects the centers of the guide holes of the optical connector ferrule. In a method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector ferrule in which a two-stage optical fiber hole is formed, the upper mold block and the lower mold block are not in direct contact with the upper mold body and the lower mold body, respectively. A method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector ferrule, wherein the ferrule is fixed with a gap. 2. A guide hole forming pin positioning mechanism and an optical fiber hole forming mechanism, comprising two guide hole forming pins and two optical fiber hole forming pins arranged in a direction connecting the centers of the guide hole forming pins. A direction in which the upper and lower mold blocks having a pin positioning mechanism are positioned and fixed by spacers provided between the two-stage arranged optical fiber hole forming pins, and the molding means connects the centers of the guide holes of the optical connector ferrule. In the method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector ferrule in which a two-stage optical fiber hole is formed, any one block of the upper block and the upper mold body or the lower block and the lower mold body and the mold body are A method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector ferrule, wherein the ferrule is fixed with a small gap without direct contact. 3. The method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector ferrule according to claim 1, wherein a minute gap provided between the block and the mold body is 5 μm to 200 μm. 4. The block fixed without directly contacting the mold main body is fixed to the mold main body by a screw passed through a pipe longer than the thickness of the mold at the block mounting portion of the mold main body. The method for manufacturing a multi-core optical connector ferrule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 5. The method of manufacturing a multi-core optical connector ferrule according to claim 1, wherein the upper mold block and the lower mold block are fixed to each mold body at two or more locations.