Optical wiring frame

Abstract

To provide an optical wiring frame which prevents disconnection of an optical fiber by a small animal.SOLUTION: An optical wiring frame includes: a plurality of terminating units; and a branch unit which branches an optical cable having a plurality of optical fibers into the plurality of optical fibers connected to the plurality of terminating units. The branch unit has a body, an introduction port, a branch section, and a derivation port. The introduction port introduces the optical cable from the outside of the body to the inside. The branch section is provided in the body and branches the optical cable into the plurality of optical fibers. The derivation port derives the branched optical fibers from the inside to the outside.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to optical distribution frames. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an optical distribution frame equipped with a hooking member and an excess length absorbing section. The hooking member hooks the optical fiber introduced from the introduction section and absorbs the difference in the wiring length of the optical fiber. The hooking members are arranged in multiple stages vertically on the optical distribution frame body corresponding to the termination units provided in multiple stages vertically. The excess length absorbing section bends the excess length of the optical fiber between each hooking member and the wiring stage. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-222731 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Optical fiber termination racks are often installed in basements or wiring closets on low floors of buildings. These places have few people coming and going, and various pipes are wired on the floor and ceiling, so it is easy for small animals such as mice to get into the room. If such small animals get into the optical fiber termination rack, they may chew on the optical fiber and break it.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an optical distribution frame that prevents optical fibers from being broken by small animals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The optical distribution frame disclosed herein comprises a plurality of termination units and a branching unit that branches an optical cable having a plurality of optical fibers into a plurality of optical fibers that are connected to the plurality of termination units, and the branching unit has a housing, an inlet for introducing the optical cable from the outside of the housing to the inside, a branching section provided in the inside of the housing that branches the optical cable into the plurality of optical fibers, and an outlet for leading the branched optical fibers from the inside to the outside. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, an optical distribution frame is provided that prevents optical fibers from being broken by small animals. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an optical distribution frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a branching unit of the optical distribution frame of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the branching unit of the optical distribution frame of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the inside of the optical distribution frame as viewed from the right side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] (Description of one embodiment of the present disclosure) First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. An optical fiber distribution frame according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: (1) A fiber optic cable comprising a plurality of termination units and a branching unit that branches an optical cable having a plurality of optical fibers into a plurality of optical fibers that are connected to the plurality of termination units, the branching unit having a housing, an inlet for introducing the optical cable from the outside of the housing to the inside, a branching section provided in the inside of the housing that branches the optical cable into the plurality of optical fibers, and an outlet for leading the branched optical fibers from the inside to the outside.

[0010] In the optical distribution frame disclosed herein, the branching unit that branches the optical cable into multiple optical fibers has a housing. This makes it difficult for small animals such as mice to enter the inside of the branching unit. Furthermore, the branching section that branches the optical cable into multiple optical fibers is provided in a closed space inside the housing. This makes it possible to prevent small animals from gnawing at the branched optical fibers and breaking them.

[0011] (2) In the above item (1), a surface of the housing on which the inlet is provided and a surface of the housing on which the outlet is provided may be different surfaces of the housing.

[0012] The branching unit may be provided in the upper interior of the optical distribution frame, or in the lower interior of the optical distribution frame. In each case, the position at which the optical cable is easily introduced into the branching unit and the position at which the optical fiber branched from the branching unit is easily led out may vary. According to the present disclosure, the inlet and outlet are on different sides of the housing, so that the orientation of the branching unit relative to the optical distribution frame can be easily changed. Therefore, whether the branching unit is provided in the lower interior of the optical distribution frame or in the upper interior of the optical distribution frame, the branching unit is easy to arrange in the optical distribution frame.

[0013] (3) In the above item (2), a surface of the housing on which the inlet is provided and a surface of the housing on which the outlet is provided may face each other.

[0014] In the present disclosure, the surface of the housing on which the inlet is provided and the surface of the housing on which the outlet is provided face each other. Therefore, whether the branching unit is provided in the upper interior of the optical distribution frame or in the lower interior thereof, the branching unit can be easily inverted upside down and positioned relative to the optical distribution frame.

[0015] (4) In any one of (1) to (3) above, the branching unit may further include a fixing portion for fixing the optical cable.

[0016] According to the present disclosure, the branching unit has a fixing portion for fixing the optical cable, which makes it possible to prevent the optical cable from coming off the branching unit due to a small animal pulling on the optical cable.

[0017] (5) In any of (1) to (4) above, the optical distribution frame may further include a wiring duct provided between the plurality of termination units and the branching unit, the wiring duct covering the optical fiber led out from the lead-out port.

[0018] The optical distribution frame of the present disclosure includes a distribution duct that covers the branched optical fibers, and therefore the optical fibers that are branched at the branching section of the branching unit and led out from the lead-out port can be protected from small animals.

[0019] (Details of one embodiment of the present disclosure) A specific example of an optical cable termination unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the terms "upward", "downward", "leftward", "rightward", "forward", and "rearward" are relative directions set for the optical distribution frame 1 shown in Fig. 1 for the sake of convenience. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is indicated by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0020] Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an optical distribution frame 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 1 illustrates a state in which a door attached to the front of the optical distribution frame 1 is open. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the optical distribution frame 1 includes a frame 2, a door 3, a plurality of termination units 4, a branching unit 5, and a rack inlet 6.

[0021] The frame 2 supports a door 3, a plurality of termination units 4, and a branching unit 5. The door 3 is a double door, and the pair of doors open and close around hinges attached to the frame 2. The plurality of termination units 4 are placed inside the frame 2 along the vertical direction.

[0022] The vertical direction in this embodiment is the direction in which multiple termination units 4 are placed. In each figure, "U" indicates upward and "D" indicates downward. The front and rear directions in this embodiment are perpendicular to the vertical direction. The direction in which the door 3 is provided is the front direction, and the direction from the door 3 to the inside of the optical distribution frame 1 is the rear direction. In each figure, "F" indicates the front, and "B" indicates the rear. The left and right directions in this embodiment are directions perpendicular to both the vertical and front directions, and are the width directions of the optical distribution frame 1. In each figure, "L" indicates the left direction, and "R" indicates the right direction.

[0023] The multiple termination units 4 are mounted on the upper interior portion of the frame 2. In this embodiment, four termination units 4 are mounted side by side in the vertical direction, but the number of termination units 4 is not limited to this. Each termination unit 4 is configured to connect each of the multiple optical fibers to the other optical fibers.

[0024] More specifically, a plurality of optical fibers are housed inside each termination unit 4. An adapter panel 41 having a plurality of adapters attached thereto is provided on the front surface of each termination unit 4. Each adapter of the adapter panel 41 is connected to each of the plurality of optical fibers housed inside the termination unit 4. Through the adapters of the adapter panel 41, other optical fibers with connectors can be connected from the outside to the plurality of housed optical fibers.

[0025] The branching unit 5 is provided at the lower interior of the frame 2, between the multiple termination units 4 and the rack inlet 6. The branching unit 5 is configured to branch the optical cable led from the rack inlet 6 into multiple optical fibers to be connected to the multiple termination units 4. The optical cable has multiple optical fibers. The multiple optical fibers may be optical fiber ribbons. Details of the branching unit 5 will be described later.

[0026] The rack inlet 6 is provided at the bottom of the frame 2. The rack inlet 6 is configured to guide an optical cable from the outside to the inside of the optical distribution frame 1. In this embodiment, four rack inlet s 6 arranged in the width direction of the optical distribution frame 1 are provided in two rows in the rear direction from the closed door 3, but the number and arrangement of the rack inlet s 6 are not limited to this.

[0027] Next, the branching unit 5 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the branching unit 5. Fig. 3 illustrates a front view of the branching unit 5. Figs. 2 and 3 show a state in which two optical cables are introduced from the outside of the branching unit 5 from below, and three optical fibers branched from the optical cables are led out to the outside of the branching unit 5 from above. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the branching unit 5 has a housing 51, an inlet 52, a fixing portion 53, a branching portion 54, and an outlet 55.

[0028] Housing 51 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape made up of a combination of multiple plate-like members. The outer surfaces of the plate-like members forming housing 51 include an upper surface 51U, a lower surface 51D, a left side surface 51L, a right side surface 51R, and a rear surface 51B. These outer surfaces are arranged so that adjacent surfaces are spaced apart from each other with no gaps. The plate-like members forming housing 51 are made of, for example, metal.

[0029] A part of the outer surface (front surface) forming the housing 51 is composed of a transparent plate TB. The transparent plate TB is configured to close an opening 51O provided in the front of the housing 51. The transparent plate TB is fixed to flanges 51F provided on the upper surface 51U and the lower surface 51D. The transparent plate TB is fixed without any gaps to the upper surface 51U, the lower surface 51D, the left side surface 51L, and the right side surface 51R. When an optical cable is branched into a plurality of optical fibers, the transparent plate TB is removed from the flange 51F and the opening 51O can be opened. Except during such branching work, the opening 51O is closed by the transparent plate TB. In other words, except during branching work, the inside of the housing 51 is a closed space.

[0030] The inlet 52 is provided on the bottom surface 51D of the housing 51. In this embodiment, a plurality of inlets 52 are provided on the bottom surface 51D. In this embodiment, four inlets 52 arranged in the width direction of the optical distribution frame 1 are arranged in two rows from the closed door 3 to the rear direction, but the number and arrangement of the inlets 52 are not limited to this. The inlets 52 are configured to introduce an optical cable from the outside to the inside of the housing 51. The inlet 52 in this embodiment has an opening 52O through which the optical cable can be inserted, and the optical cable is introduced into the inside of the housing 51 by inserting the optical cable into the opening 52O.

[0031] The fixing portion 53 is configured to fix the optical cable led from the inlet 52. The fixing portion 53 has an outer sheath fixing portion 53A and a tension member fixing portion 53B.

[0032] The outer sheath fixing part 53A is provided in the introduction port 52, and is configured to fix the outer sheath of the optical cable guided to the introduction port 52. The outer sheath fixing part 53A of the present embodiment narrows the opening 52O of the introduction port 52, thereby fixing the outer sheath of the optical cable inserted through the opening 52O.

[0033] The tension member fixing portion 53B is provided inside the housing 51, between the upper surface 51U and the lower surface 51D. The tension member fixing portion 53B is configured to fix the tension member protruding from the optical cable. The tension member fixing portion 53B of this embodiment has a pair of fixing plates, and fixes the tension member by inserting and sandwiching the tension member between the pair of fixing plates.

[0034] The branching section 54 is provided inside the housing 51, which is a closed space, between the inlet 52 and the outlet 55. The branching section 54 is a region where a plurality of optical fibers are branched off from the optical cable introduced into the inlet 52.

[0035] The outlet 55 is provided on the upper surface 51U of the housing 51. In this embodiment, a plurality of outlets 55 are provided on the upper surface 51U. In this embodiment, four outlets 55 arranged in the width direction of the optical distribution frame 1 are arranged in two rows in the rear direction from the closed door 3, but the number and arrangement of the outlets 55 are not limited to this. The outlet 55 is configured to lead the branched optical fiber from inside the housing 51 to the outside. The outlet 55 in this embodiment has an opening 55O through which the optical fiber can be inserted, and the optical fiber is led to the outside of the housing 51 by inserting the optical fiber into the opening 55O.

[0036] As described above, the surface of the housing 51 on which the inlet 52 is provided and the surface of the housing 51 on which the outlet 55 is provided are different surfaces of the housing 51. Specifically, the inlet 52 is provided on the lower surface 51D of the housing 51, and the outlet 55 is provided on the upper surface 51U of the housing 51. In this manner, in this embodiment, the lower surface 51D of the housing 51 on which the inlet 52 is provided and the upper surface 51U of the housing 51 on which the outlet 55 is provided face each other.

[0037] Next, the use of the optical distribution frame 1 will be described. In particular, the use of the branching unit 5 will be described. First, an optical cable having a plurality of optical fibers is led from the lower exterior of the optical distribution frame 1 to the interior, particularly to the branching unit 5 inside the optical distribution frame 1, through the rack inlet 6. The optical cable is further led from the exterior to the interior of the housing 51 through the inlet 52 of the branching unit 5. At this time, the outer sheath of the optical cable is fixed by the outer sheath fixing part 53A provided in the inlet 52.

[0038] When the optical cable is to be branched into a plurality of optical fibers, the worker removes the transparent plate TB of the branching unit 5 from the flange 51F and opens the opening 51O of the housing 51. This allows the worker to access the inside of the housing 51, and the worker can perform the task of branching the optical cable into a plurality of optical fibers at the branching section 54 provided inside the housing 51. Specifically, the worker takes out the plurality of optical fibers and the tension body housed in the jacket from the end of the optical cable introduced from the introduction port 52, and branches the plurality of optical fibers so as to correspond to each of the termination units 4, which are the desired wiring destinations. The tension body is fixed by the tension body fixing section 53B. The branched optical fibers are led to the outlet 55. All of the branched optical fibers may be led to one outlet. Of the branched optical fibers, some may be led to one outlet and the other part may be led to another outlet. The branched optical fibers are led from the inside of the housing 51 to the outside. After completing the branching operation, the worker fixes the transparent plate TB to the flange 51F and closes the opening 51O of the housing 51.

[0039] The optical fiber led out from the outlet 55 of the branching unit 5 is led to the corresponding termination unit 4. In this embodiment, the optical fiber is led from the rear of the multiple termination units 4 to the inside, and a part of the optical fiber is housed inside the corresponding termination unit 4 (FIG. 1). When another optical fiber with a connector is inserted from the outside into the adapter of the adapter panel 41 provided in front of the termination unit 4, the other optical fiber with connector is connected to the multiple optical fibers housed therein. The optical fiber led from the branching unit 5 into the termination unit 4 may be connected to other optical fibers in the termination unit 4 by fusion splicing or the like, and the other optical fibers may be connected to the rear surface of the adapter panel 41 in the termination unit 4.

[0040] As described above, in the optical distribution frame 1 of this embodiment, the branching unit 5 has a housing 51. The outer surfaces forming the housing 51, including the transparent plate TB, are provided without any gaps, and the inside of the housing 51 is a closed space. This makes it difficult for small animals such as mice to enter the inside of the branching unit 5. Furthermore, the branching section 54 that branches the optical cable into a plurality of optical fibers is provided in the closed space inside the housing 51. This makes it possible to prevent small animals from gnawing at the branched optical fibers and breaking them.

[0041] The optical cable may be wired from the outside below the optical distribution frame 1 to the inside as in this embodiment, or from the outside above to the inside. Therefore, the branching unit 5 may be provided inside the optical distribution frame 1 at the inside below as in this embodiment, or at the inside above. In each case, the position at which the optical cable can be easily introduced into the branching unit and the position at which the optical fiber branched from the branching unit can be easily led out may vary. For example, unlike this embodiment, when the branching unit 5 is provided inside the optical distribution frame 1 at the inside above, the optical cable is led from the outside above to the inside, and the branched optical fiber is led from the inside of the branching unit to the outside below.

[0042] In the branching unit 5 of this embodiment, the inlet 52 is provided on the bottom surface 51D of the housing 51, and the outlet 55 is provided on the top surface 51U of the housing 51. Since the inlet 52 and the outlet 55 are thus on different surfaces of the housing 51, it is easy to change the orientation of the branching unit 5 relative to the optical distribution frame 1. Therefore, whether the branching unit 5 is provided on the lower interior or upper interior of the optical distribution frame, the branching unit 5 is easy to arrange in the optical distribution frame 1.

[0043] In the branching unit 5 of this embodiment, the lower surface 51D of the housing 51 on which the inlet 52 is provided and the upper surface 51U of the housing 51 on which the outlet 55 is provided face each other. Therefore, the arrangement direction of the branching unit 5 with respect to the optical distribution frame 1 can be easily inverted upside down, and the branching unit 5 can be easily arranged in the optical distribution frame 1.

[0044] The branching unit 5 of this embodiment includes a fixing portion 53 having an outer sheath fixing portion 53A that fixes the outer sheath of the optical cable, and a tension member fixing portion 53B that fixes the tension member of the optical cable. In this way, the outer sheath and tension member of the optical cable are fixed by the fixing portion 53, so that the optical cable is unlikely to come off from the branching unit 5. Even if a small animal such as a mouse pulls on the optical cable, the problem of the optical cable coming off from the branching unit 5 can be suppressed.

[0045] In addition to the above-mentioned configuration, the optical distribution frame 1 may include a wiring duct 7. FIG. 4 illustrates a partial schematic diagram of the inside of the optical distribution frame as seen from the right side. FIG. 4 illustrates the state in which the door 3 of the optical distribution frame 1 is closed. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the wiring duct 7 is provided between a plurality of termination units 4 and the branching unit 5. The wiring duct 7 is configured to accommodate optical fibers led from the outlet 55 of the branching unit 5 to the corresponding termination unit 4. The wiring duct 7 is formed of, for example, a flexible hard resin or metal material. It may have a bendable structure having a bellows structure. In a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wiring duct 7, the thickness of the wiring duct is preferably 1 mm or more.

[0046] The wiring duct 7 can protect the optical fibers branched at the branching portion 54 of the branching unit 5 from the outlet 55 to the corresponding termination unit 4 from small animals. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1 Optical wiring rack 2 Frames 3 Doors 4 Termination Unit 41 Adapter Panel 5 Branch Unit 51 Case 51U top 51D bottom surface 51L Left side 51R Right side 51B Back TB transparent plate 51F Flange 51O opening 52 Introduction 52O opening 53 Fixed part 53A Outer cover fixing part 53B Tensile strength body fixing part 54 Branch 55 Outlet 55O opening 6 Rack inlet 7 Wiring duct

Claims

1. A plurality of termination units; a branching unit for branching an optical cable having a plurality of optical fibers into the plurality of optical fibers connected to the plurality of termination units; The branching unit comprises: A housing and an introduction port through which the optical cable is introduced from the outside to the inside of the housing; a branching unit provided inside the housing and branching the optical cable into the plurality of optical fibers; and an outlet for leading the branched optical fiber from the inside to the outside.

2. 2. The optical distribution frame according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the housing on which the inlet is provided and a surface of the housing on which the outlet is provided are different surfaces of the housing.

3. The optical distribution frame according to claim 2 , wherein a surface of the housing on which the inlet is provided and a surface of the housing on which the outlet is provided face each other.

4. The optical distribution frame according to claim 1 , wherein the branching unit further comprises a fixing portion for fixing the optical cable.

5. 5. The optical distribution frame according to claim 1, further comprising a wiring duct provided between the plurality of termination units and the branching unit, the wiring duct covering the optical fibers led out from the optical fiber outlet.

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