Loose core optical cable core insertion structure and core insertion method

Abstract

The loose core optical cable insertion core structure comprises an insertion core, a limiting sleeve and a plurality of optical fiber cores, the front end of the insertion core is provided with a plurality of optical fiber holes, the rear end of the insertion core is provided with an insertion port, the optical fiber holes are communicated with the insertion port, the limiting sleeve comprises a plurality of through holes which are transversely arranged side by side, and the through holes are communicated with the insertion port. The through holes penetrate through the front end and the rear end of the limiting sleeve, the optical fiber cores penetrate through the through holes in a one-to-one correspondence mode, the front ends of the optical fiber cores extend towards the front side of the limiting sleeve by a preset length, the front end of the limiting sleeve is inserted into the insertion port, and the optical fiber cores penetrate through the optical fiber holes in a one-to-one correspondence mode. Compared with the prior art, core insertion can be completed only by executing alignment and insertion operation, assembly is easy, the core insertion efficiency is high, positioning of the optical fiber core is more accurate, and application requirements are well met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a connection device for loose-core optical cables, and more particularly to a loose-core optical cable insert structure and inserting method. Background Technology

[0002] When connecting loose-core optical cables to fiber optic connectors, multiple fiber cores need to be arranged horizontally in sequence, and adhesive is applied to the top and bottom sides of the fiber cores. For relevant adhesive application equipment, please refer to Chinese Patent Publication No. CN220444219, entitled "An adhesive application device for fiber optic slots in fiber optic array substrates." Existing technology uses adhesive to fix multiple fiber cores horizontally. The adhesive application should be applied to the main body of the fiber core, and a certain length should be reserved at the front end of the fiber core for insertion into the corresponding hole. During assembly, the fiber cores are aligned with the hole, and the entire row of fiber cores is inserted synchronously until the fiber cores pass through the hole. Finally, the end faces of the multiple fiber cores are flush through grinding. This insertion method has problems such as complex operation and low efficiency. Furthermore, the manual adhesive application method also suffers from inaccurate positioning and low insertion yield. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a ferrule structure and ferrule method for loose-core optical cables that is efficient, accurate in positioning, and easy to operate, in order to address the shortcomings of the prior art.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution.

[0005] A loose-core optical cable ferrule structure includes a ferrule, a limiting sleeve, and multiple optical fiber cores. The front end of the ferrule has multiple optical fiber holes, and the rear end of the ferrule has a plug interface. The optical fiber holes are connected to the plug interface. The limiting sleeve includes multiple through holes arranged horizontally side by side. The through holes pass through the front and rear ends of the limiting sleeve. The optical fiber cores pass through the through holes one by one, and the front end of each optical fiber core extends a predetermined length towards the front of the limiting sleeve. The front end of the limiting sleeve is inserted into the plug interface, and the optical fiber cores are inserted into the optical fiber holes one by one.

[0006] Preferably, the front end of the optical fiber core is provided with a polished end face that is flush with the front end of the limiting sleeve.

[0007] Preferably, a spacer is provided between two adjacent through holes.

[0008] Preferably, a connecting opening is provided between two adjacent through holes.

[0009] Preferably, the limiting sleeve includes an insertion portion and a protrusion portion, wherein the height of the protrusion portion is greater than the height of the insertion portion.

[0010] Preferably, the top of the insert has an opening that communicates with the insertion interface.

[0011] Preferably, the bottom of the opening is formed with an inner step, and the inner step is provided with a plurality of horizontally arranged V-shaped guide grooves, which correspond one-to-one with the optical fiber holes and are interconnected with each other.

[0012] Preferably, the limiting sleeve is a rigid limiting sleeve.

[0013] Preferably, the aperture of the optical fiber hole is 0.126mm-0.127mm.

[0014] A method for inserting multiple fiber optic cores into a loose-core optical cable includes: passing multiple fiber cores one-to-one through multiple through holes, wherein the diameter of the through holes matches the diameter of the fiber cores, serving to position the multiple fiber cores laterally and side-by-side; during insertion, aligning a limiting sleeve with the insertion interface and inserting it inward; based on the positioning function of the through holes, the multiple fiber cores correspond to the multiple fiber holes and are inserted into place one by one; when the end of a fiber core passes through the fiber hole, cutting off the longer portion of the end of the fiber core; and then grinding the end face of the fiber core.

[0015] The loose-core optical cable ferrule structure disclosed in this invention involves assembling multiple optical fiber cores one-to-one through multiple through holes. The diameter of the through holes matches the diameter of the optical fiber cores, thus providing lateral and side-by-side positioning for the multiple optical fiber cores. During ferrule insertion, the limiting sleeve is aligned with the insertion interface and inserted inward. Based on the positioning function of the through holes, multiple optical fiber cores are respectively inserted into the multiple optical fiber holes. When the end of an optical fiber core passes through the optical fiber hole, the longer portion of the end of the optical fiber core is cut off, and the end face of the optical fiber core is then ground before subsequent insertion operations. Compared with the existing technology that uses glue for lateral positioning and arrangement, this invention only requires alignment and insertion operations to complete the ferrule insertion, which is not only easier to assemble but also has high ferrule insertion efficiency and more accurate positioning of the optical fiber cores, thus better meeting application requirements. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the loose-core optical cable ferrule structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the loose-core optical cable ferrule structure of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a diagram of the front end structure of the limiting sleeve; Figure 4 This is a sectional view of the limiting sleeve; Figure 5 This is a diagram of the front end structure of the ferrule; Figure 6 This is a structural diagram of the front end of the limiting sleeve in the second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7This is a structural diagram of the third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a structural diagram of the limiting sleeve in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0018] This invention discloses a loose-core optical cable ferrule structure; please refer to [link / reference]. Figures 1 to 5 It includes a ferrule 1, a limiting sleeve (also known as a BOOT) 2, and multiple optical fiber cores. The front end of the ferrule 1 is provided with multiple optical fiber holes 10, and the rear end of the ferrule 1 is provided with a plug interface 11. The optical fiber holes 10 are connected to the plug interface 11. The limiting sleeve 2 includes multiple through holes 20 arranged horizontally side by side. The through holes 20 pass through the front and rear ends of the limiting sleeve 2. The optical fiber cores pass through the through holes 20 one by one, and the front end of the optical fiber cores extends a predetermined length towards the front of the limiting sleeve 2. The front end of the limiting sleeve 2 is inserted into the plug interface 11, and the optical fiber cores pass through the optical fiber holes 10 one by one.

[0019] During assembly, multiple fiber optic cores are passed through multiple through holes 20, one by one. The diameter of the through holes 20 matches the diameter of the fiber optic cores, thus providing lateral and side-by-side positioning for the multiple fiber optic cores. During insertion, the limiting sleeve 2 is aligned with the insertion interface 11 and inserted inwards. Based on the positioning function of the through holes 20, multiple fiber optic cores are inserted into the corresponding fiber optic holes 10 one by one. When the end of a fiber optic core passes through the fiber optic hole 10, the longer portion of the end of the fiber optic core is cut off, and the end face of the fiber optic core is then ground before subsequent insertion operations. Compared to the existing technology that uses adhesive for lateral positioning and arrangement, this invention only requires alignment and insertion operations to complete the insertion, which is not only easier to assemble but also has high insertion efficiency and more accurate positioning of the fiber optic cores, better meeting application requirements.

[0020] To ensure reliable optical path connection, in this embodiment, the front end of the optical fiber core is provided with a polished end face that is flush with the front end of the limiting sleeve 2.

[0021] As a preferred embodiment, a spacer 21 is provided between two adjacent through holes 20. The spacer 21 can separate the two through holes 20, thereby reliably positioning the optical fiber core.

[0022] Further, please see Figures 1 to 4The limiting sleeve 2 includes a plug-in portion 23 and a protrusion portion 24, the height of which is greater than the height of the plug-in portion 23. The plug-in portion 23 is used to plug into the plug-in interface 11, and the protrusion portion 24 improves the overall structural strength of the limiting sleeve 2, thereby reliably fixing the optical fiber core.

[0023] Please see Figure 1 The top of the ferrule 1 is provided with an opening 12 that communicates with the insertion interface 11. One function of the opening 12 is to make the ferrule insertion process visible, so that the operator can easily observe the positioning of the fiber core end. Another function of the opening 12 is to inject adhesive into it, and use the adhesive to fix the fiber core, the limiting sleeve 2 and the ferrule 1.

[0024] In this embodiment, an inner stepped portion 13 is formed at the bottom of the opening 12. The inner stepped portion 13 is provided with a plurality of horizontally arranged V-shaped guide grooves 14. Each V-shaped guide groove 14 corresponds to and communicates with one of the optical fiber holes 10. The V-shaped guide grooves 14 guide the optical fiber core, facilitating the insertion of the optical fiber core into the corresponding optical fiber hole 10.

[0025] As a preferred embodiment, the limiting sleeve 2 is a rigid limiting sleeve. Specifically, the limiting sleeve 2 is injection molded from rigid plastic. Further, the aperture of the fiber optic hole 10 is 0.126mm-0.127mm. Existing limiting sleeves (BOOT) are only suitable for 0.25mm fiber cores, while the structure of this invention can achieve 0.2mm and 0.18mm fibers.

[0026] As an alternative to the present invention, in the second embodiment, please refer to Figure 6 A connecting port 22 is provided between two adjacent through holes 20. In practical applications, since the diameter of the optical fiber core is about 0.125mm and the aperture of the through hole 20 matches the diameter of the optical fiber core, it cannot be guaranteed that the gap between the two through holes 20 can achieve sufficient mechanical strength during the manufacturing process. Therefore, in this embodiment, the two adjacent through holes 20 are directly connected to form the connecting port 22. By setting the connecting port 22, not only is the limiting sleeve 2 easier to injection mold, but the multiple optical fiber cores are also arranged closely together, which helps to ensure positioning accuracy.

[0027] In the third embodiment of the present invention, as Figure 7 As shown, the limiting sleeve may also have double rows of through holes for inserting double rows of optical fiber cores. Correspondingly, the number of optical fiber holes in the connector can also be set to single or double rows, and the number can be selected as 4 cores, 8 cores, etc., with the specific density being flexibly selectable.

[0028] In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, as Figure 8 As shown, the rear end of the protrusion 24 has a beveled portion 240, and the through hole 20 has a beveled opening 241 at one end of the beveled portion 240. The advantage of this embodiment in setting the beveled portion 240 and the beveled opening 241 is that the operation can be visualized when inserting the optical fiber, thereby improving the efficiency of optical fiber insertion.

[0029] Based on this, the present invention also discloses a method for inserting loose-core optical cables. This method is implemented based on the aforementioned insert structure. The insert method includes: passing multiple optical fiber cores one-to-one through multiple through holes 20, the diameter of which matches the diameter of the optical fiber core, providing lateral and side-by-side positioning for the multiple optical fiber cores; during insertion, aligning the limiting sleeve 2 with the insertion interface 11 and inserting it inwards; based on the positioning function of the through holes 20, the multiple optical fiber cores correspond to the multiple optical fiber holes 10 and are inserted into place one by one; when the end of the optical fiber core passes through the optical fiber hole 10, the longer portion of the end of the optical fiber core is cut off, and then the end face of the optical fiber core is ground. Compared with traditional products, the present invention avoids the manual gluing process, reduces the use of dummy fibers, and greatly reduces application costs.

[0030] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions or improvements made within the technical scope of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A loose-tube fiber optic cable ferrule structure, comprising: The ferrule (1) is provided with a plurality of fiber holes (10) at the front end, and is provided with a plug-in interface (11) at the rear end, the fiber holes (10) are communicated with the plug-in interface (11), the limiting sleeve (2) comprises a plurality of through holes (20) arranged transversely side by side, the through holes (20) penetrate the front and rear ends of the limiting sleeve (2), the fiber cores pass through the through holes (20) one by one, and the front ends of the fiber cores extend to the front side of the limiting sleeve (2) by a preset length, the front end of the limiting sleeve (2) is inserted into the plug-in interface (11), and the fiber cores are arranged in the fiber holes (10) one by one.

2. The loose-tube cable ferrule structure of claim 2, wherein, The front end of the fiber core is provided with a grinding end face flush with the front end of the limiting sleeve (2).

3. The loose-tube cable ferrule structure of claim 1, wherein, A spacing portion (21) is arranged between the two adjacent through holes (20).

4. The loose-tube cable ferrule structure of claim 1, wherein, A communication port (22) is arranged between the two adjacent through holes (20).

5. The loose-tube cable ferrule structure of claim 1, wherein, The limiting sleeve (2) comprises a plug-in portion (23) and a protruding portion (24), and the height of the protruding portion (24) is greater than that of the plug-in portion (23).

6. The loose-tube cable ferrule structure of claim 1, wherein, The top of the ferrule (1) is provided with an opening portion (12) communicated with the plug-in interface (11).

7. The loose-tube cable ferrule structure of claim 1, wherein, The bottom of the opening portion (12) is formed with an inner step portion (13), a plurality of V-shaped guide grooves (14) are arranged transversely side by side on the inner step portion (13), and the V-shaped guide grooves (14) correspond to the fiber holes (10) one by one and are communicated with each other.

8. The loose-tube cable ferrule structure of claim 1, wherein, The limiting sleeve (2) is a hard limiting sleeve, and the aperture of the fiber hole (10) is 0.126-0.127mm.

9. The loose-tube cable ferrule structure of claim 5, wherein, The rear end of the protruding portion (24) is formed with a bevel portion (240), and the through hole (20) is formed with a bevel port (241) at one end of the bevel portion (240).

10. A method of ferruleing a loose tube optical cable, the method comprising: The method is based on the ferrule structure of claim 1, and the ferrule method comprises the following steps: a plurality of fiber cores pass through a plurality of through holes (20) one by one, the aperture of the through hole (20) matches the diameter of the fiber core, the fiber cores are transversely and side by side positioned, the limiting sleeve (2) is aligned with the plug-in interface (11) and inserted inward during the ferrule process, based on the positioning effect of the through hole (20), the plurality of fiber cores correspond to the plurality of fiber holes (10) respectively and are inserted into place one by one, when the end of the fiber core passes through the fiber hole (10), the longer part of the end of the fiber core is cut off, and then the end face of the fiber core is ground.

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