Ferrule retention structure

Abstract

A ferrule holding structure (1) includes an optical fiber (11), a ferrule (12) that holds the optical fiber (11) by inserting the optical fiber (11) from the rear end to a connecting end surface (121), which is the front end, a biasing member (13) that biases the ferrule forward from the rear end toward the connecting end surface, a housing (3) that accommodates at least part of the ferrule (12) and the biasing member (13) inside thereof, a support member (4) that engages with the housing (3) and supports the rear end side of the biasing member (13), and a rotation mechanism (5) that is configured by a part of the support member (4) and a part of the housing (3) and rotatably attaches the support member (4) to the housing (3), wherein the support member (4) has a pressing surface (471) that pushes the biasing member (13) forward as the support member is rotated by the rotation mechanism (5) with respect to the housing (3).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a ferrule holding structure. This application claims priority based on Patent Application No. 2021-171545, filed in Japan on October 20, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Optical connectors for connecting optical fibers to each other have been widely used in the past. As optical communication speeds have increased in recent years, optical connectors with multiple optical fibers have come to be used more frequently than optical connectors with a single optical fiber. Patent Document 1 describes a multi-fiber optical connector called an MPO (Multi-fiber Push On) connector. This type of optical connector has a structure in which multiple optical fibers are held in one ferrule, and the ferrule and a biasing member (spring) that biases the ferrule are sandwiched between a housing and a support member (spring push) to hold the ferrule. The biasing force (pressing force) of the biasing member is necessary to press the connection end faces of the ferrules, from which the multiple optical fibers are exposed, against each other to ensure the mechanical connection of each optical connector (i.e., the connection between an optical fiber and another optical fiber). Patent Document 2 discloses an MPO connector similar to that disclosed in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 2 also discloses that the MPO connector is inserted into an adapter in order to connect the MPO connector to another MPO connector or the like. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japan Special Publication No. 2018-508045 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-092125 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The assembly of structures for holding ferrules (ferrule holding structures), such as those in the conventional optical connectors described above, has traditionally been carried out in factories. However, in recent years, this has increasingly been done by workers at the site where the optical fiber is laid. The ferrule holding structure is assembled by sandwiching the ferrule and the biasing member between the housing and the support member that engages with the housing in the extension direction of the optical fiber. Here, in the ferrule holding structure, the magnitude of the pressing force (hereinafter referred to as spring pressure) of the biasing member required increases in proportion to the number of optical fibers (number of cores) held in the ferrule. For example, in a ferrule holding structure (optical connector) in which the ferrule holds 12 optical fibers, the required spring pressure is 10 N. Also, in a ferrule holding structure (optical connector) in which the ferrule holds 24 optical fibers, the required spring pressure is 20 N.

[0005] When assembling the ferrule holding structure in a factory, the ferrule and the biasing member can be sandwiched between the housing and the support member by using an appropriate assembly tool or device (large-scale tool or device). However, if the above-mentioned tool or device cannot be used on-site, it becomes difficult to sandwich the ferrule and the biasing member between the housing and the support member when the spring pressure becomes high. In other words, it may become difficult to assemble the ferrule holding structure.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and provides a ferrule holding structure that can be easily assembled even on-site without the need for special jigs or devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A ferrule holding structure according to one aspect of the present invention comprises an optical fiber, a ferrule that holds the optical fiber by inserting the optical fiber from its rear end to a connection end face which is its front end, a biasing member that biases the ferrule in a forward direction from the rear end toward the connection end face, a housing that accommodates at least a portion of the ferrule and the biasing member, a support member that engages with the housing and supports the rear end side of the biasing member, and a rotation mechanism constituted by a portion of the support member and a portion of the housing and rotatably attaches the support member to the housing, wherein the support member has a pressing surface that presses the biasing member in the forward direction as the support member rotates relative to the housing by the rotation mechanism. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, the ferrule holding structure can be easily assembled on-site without the need for special jigs or devices. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a ferrule holding structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which one support member is not supporting the rear end side of a biasing member. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which one ferrule unit is removed from a housing in the ferrule holding structure of FIG. 1. FIG. [Diagram 5] 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an optical fiber, a biasing member, a cylindrical member, and a spacer member of the ferrule unit of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 2 is an enlarged side view showing a main part of the ferrule holding structure of FIG. 1. [Figure 7] 7 is a side view illustrating a process from the state shown in FIG. 6 until the rear end of the urging member is supported by the supporting member. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state corresponding to FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is a side view showing a process following FIG. 7. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state corresponding to FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is a side view showing the process following FIG. 9 and corresponding to a state in which the supporting member supports the rear end of the urging member. [Figure 12] 12 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 11 and showing a state in which the supporting member supports the rear end of the urging member. FIG. [Figure 13] 12 is a side view illustrating a process from the state shown in FIG. 11 until support of the urging member by the supporting member is released. [Figure 14] 14A to 14C are cross-sectional views showing a process corresponding to FIG. 13. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a side view showing the process following FIGS. 13 and 14. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a ferrule holding structure 1 of the present embodiment constitutes an optical connector that connects optical fibers 11 held by ferrules 12 to each other. The ferrule holding structure 1 includes ferrule units 2 (2A, 2B), a housing 3, support members 4 (4A, 4B), and a rotation mechanism 5. The ferrule unit 2 connects an optical fiber 11 included therein to an optical fiber 11 of another ferrule unit 2. The ferrule holding structure 1 of this embodiment includes two ferrule units 2. The housing 3 is configured as an adapter that connects these two ferrule units 2. In the following description, one of the two ferrule units 2 may be referred to as a first ferrule unit 2A, and the other may be referred to as a second ferrule unit 2B.

[0011] 2 to 4, the first ferrule unit 2A includes an optical fiber 11, a ferrule 12, and a biasing member 13. The first ferrule unit 2A further includes a spacer member 14 and a cylindrical member 15. The ferrule 12 has a connection end surface 121 through which the optical fiber 11 is inserted to expose the tip of the optical fiber 11.

[0012] In the following description, the direction in which the optical fiber 11 is inserted into the ferrule 12 is referred to as the front-rear direction X. In addition, in the first ferrule unit 2A, the side of the connection end face 121 of the ferrule 12 in the front-rear direction X is referred to as the front direction (+X), and the opposite side is referred to as the rear direction (-X). One direction (second orthogonal direction) perpendicular to the front-rear direction X is referred to as the up-down direction Z. Also, one side of the up-down direction Z is referred to as the up direction (+Z), and the other side is referred to as the down direction (-Z). The direction (first orthogonal direction) perpendicular to both the front-rear direction X and the up-down direction Z is referred to as the left-right direction Y.

[0013] The ferrule 12 holds the optical fiber 11 by inserting the optical fiber 11 from the rear end to the connection end face 121, which is the front end. The tip of the optical fiber 11 is exposed at the connection end face 121 of the ferrule 12. The number of optical fibers 11 held by the ferrule 12 (the number of optical fibers 11 exposed at the connection end face 121) may be arbitrary. The ferrule 12 has a guide hole 122 penetrating in the front-rear direction X from the connection end face 121 (front end) to the rear end. A guide pin 16 can be inserted into the guide hole 122. The guide pin 16 positions the ferrule 12 of the first ferrule unit 2A and the ferrule 12 of the second ferrule unit 2B relative to each other. In this embodiment, the guide pin 16 is attached to the ferrule 12 of the first ferrule unit 2A. The guide pin 16 is inserted into the guide hole 122 of the ferrule 12 of the second ferrule unit 2B when the connection end faces 121 of the ferrules 12 of the first and second ferrule units 2A and 2B are butted against each other.

[0014] The biasing member 13 is disposed on the rear end side of the ferrule 12, and biases the ferrule 12 in the forward direction from the rear end toward the connection end face 121 (front end). The specific configuration of the biasing member 13 may be arbitrary. The biasing member 13 in this embodiment is a coil spring. The coil spring in the illustrated example has an elliptical shape with the major axis extending in the up-down direction Z when viewed from the front-rear direction X, but may also be, for example, circular.

[0015] The spacer member 14 is provided between the ferrule 12 and the urging member 13. The spacer member 14 supports the front end of the urging member 13 located on the ferrule 12 side. Although not shown, the spacer member 14 has an insertion hole through which the optical fiber 11 extending rearward (rearward) of the ferrule 12 is inserted rearward. The spacer member 14 of this embodiment also functions as a pin clamp that holds the above-mentioned guide pin 16.

[0016] 2 to 5, the cylindrical member 15 is disposed on the rear end side of the ferrule 12 so that its axial direction extends in the front-rear direction X. The optical fiber 11 extending rearward of the ferrule 12 is inserted into the cylindrical member 15. The cylindrical member 15 is also inserted into the inside of the biasing member 13, which is a coil spring. In this state, the biasing member 13 is located on the outer periphery side of the cylindrical member 15. In this embodiment, the cylindrical member 15 is integrally formed with the spacer member 14.

[0017] 2 and 3, the second ferrule unit 2B has a configuration similar to that of the first ferrule unit 2A described above. However, in the second ferrule unit 2B, the -X direction in the front-rear direction X corresponds to the front direction of the ferrule 12, and the +X direction corresponds to the rear direction of the ferrule 12. In other words, the second ferrule unit 2B faces the opposite side to the first ferrule unit 2A in the front-rear direction X. As a result, the connection end faces 121 of the ferrules 12 of the first and second ferrule units 2A and 2B face each other in the front-rear direction X.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the housing 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction X. The housing 3 accommodates the ferrule 12 and the biasing member 13 therein. In this embodiment, the spacer member 14 and the cylindrical member 15 are also accommodated inside the housing 3. In the illustrated example, the ferrule 12, the biasing member 13, and the spacer member 14 are each entirely accommodated in the housing 3. Also, a part of the cylindrical member 15 is accommodated in the housing 3, and the rear end (remaining part) of the cylindrical member 15 is located outside the housing 3 in the front-rear direction X. The ferrule 12 accommodated inside the housing 3 is restricted by the housing 3 so as not to move forward beyond a predetermined position relative to the housing 3.

[0019] The first ferrule unit 2A is accommodated in the housing 3 by being inserted into the housing 3 with the +X direction as the forward direction. The second ferrule unit 2B is accommodated in the housing 3 by being inserted into the housing 3 with the -X direction as the forward direction. That is, the first and second ferrule units 2A, 2B are inserted into the housing 3 in opposite directions to each other in the front-rear direction X. This allows the connection end faces 121 of the ferrules 12 of the first and second ferrule units 2A, 2B to be butted against each other.

[0020] The support member 4 (spring push) engages with the housing 3 to support the rear end side of the urging member 13. When the support member 4 engages with the housing 3, the ferrule 12 accommodated in the housing 3 and the urging member 13 are sandwiched between the support member 4 and the housing 3 in the front-rear direction X. In this state, the urging member 13 is elastically compressed in the front-rear direction X to urge the ferrule 12 forward.

[0021] The ferrule holding structure 1 of the present embodiment includes two support members 4. Of the two support members 4, a first support member 4A corresponds to the first ferrule unit 2A, and a second support member 4B corresponds to the second ferrule unit 2B. 1 to 3, the first support member 4A is disposed in a position not supporting the rear end of the urging member 13 of the first ferrule unit 2A, i.e., not engaged with the housing 3. Therefore, the urging member 13 of the first ferrule unit 2A is not elastically compressed and does not urge the ferrule 12 of the first ferrule unit 2A in the forward direction (+X direction). On the other hand, the second support member 4B is disposed in a position supporting the rear end of the urging member 13 of the first ferrule unit 2A and engaged with the housing 3. As a result, the urging member 13 of the second ferrule unit 2B is elastically compressed and urges the ferrule 12 of the second ferrule unit 2B in the forward direction (-X direction).

[0022] 1 and 4 is a mechanism for rotatably mounting the support member 4 to the housing 3. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 9 to 12, the support member 4 has a pressing surface 471 that presses the biasing member 13 forward as the support member 4 is rotated relative to the housing 3 by the rotation mechanism 5. The rotation mechanism 5 of this embodiment will be specifically described below.

[0023] 1 and 4, the rotation mechanism 5 is configured by a part of the support member 4 and a part of the housing 3. That is, the rotation mechanism 5 has a first shaft support portion 31 and a second shaft support portion 32 provided in the housing 3, and a first recess 41 and a second recess 42 provided in the support member 4.

[0024] The first shaft support portion 31 and the second shaft support portion 32 of the housing 3 extend in the left-right direction Y (first orthogonal direction). In this embodiment, the first shaft support portion 31 and the second shaft support portion 32 extend outward from outer surfaces on both sides of the housing 3 in the left-right direction Y at ends of the housing 3 in the front-rear direction X. In addition, the first shaft support portion 31 and the second shaft support portion 32 function as rotation central axes for the first recess 41 and the second recess 42 (and a third recess 43 described later), respectively.

[0025] The first shaft support portion 31 and the second shaft support portion 32 are positioned with an interval between them in the front-rear direction X. In this embodiment, the first shaft support portion 31 is positioned rearward relative to the second shaft support portion 32. For example, the first shaft support portion 31 corresponding to the first support member 4A is positioned in the -X direction relative to the second shaft support portion 32. In addition, the first shaft support portion 31 is positioned downward relative to the second shaft support portion 32. A support member 4, which will be described later, is hooked to the first shaft support portion 31 and the second shaft support portion 32 of the housing 3. In a state in which the support member 4 is hooked to the first shaft support portion 31 or the second shaft support portion 32, the support member 4 is rotatable about the first shaft support portion 31 or the second shaft support portion 32 relative to the housing 3.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the first shaft support portion 31 of the housing 3 can be fitted into the first recess 41 of the support member 4. In a state in which the first shaft support portion 31 is fitted into the first recess 41, the support member 4 can rotate around the first shaft support portion 31. Also, as shown in FIG. 11, the second shaft support portion 32 of the housing 3 can be fitted into the second recess 42 of the support member 4. The relative positions of the first recess 41 and the second recess 42 of the support member 4 correspond to the relative positions of the first shaft support portion 31 and the second shaft support portion 32 of the housing 3. That is, the first recess 41 and the second recess 42 are positioned at an interval in a predetermined direction. Also, as shown in FIG. 11, in a state in which the support member 4 is disposed so that the first recess 41 and the second recess 42 are substantially aligned in the front-rear direction X (a state in which the support member 4 is disposed at the second position P3), the first recess 41 is positioned in the rear direction relative to the second recess 42. For example, the first recess 41 of the first support member 4A is located in the -X direction with respect to the second recess 42. In addition, the first recess 41 is located downward with respect to the second recess 42. For this reason, when the support member 4 is disposed at the second position P3, the first shaft support portion 31 can be fitted into the first recess 41 of the support member 4, and the second shaft support portion 32 can be fitted into the second recess 42 at the same time.

[0027] Moreover, the first recess 41 and the second recess 42 are recessed in the same direction. For example, as shown in Fig. 11, when the support member 4 is disposed at the second position P3, the first recess 41 and the second recess 42 are recessed in the front direction. For example, the first recess 41 and the second recess 42 corresponding to the first support member 4A are recessed in the +X direction. As a result, when the support member 4 is disposed at the second position P3, the first recess 41 is located on the front side of the first shaft support portion 31, and the first shaft support portion 31 fits forward into the first recess 41. Similarly, the second recess 42 is located on the front side of the second shaft support portion 32, and the second shaft support portion 32 fits forward into the second recess 42.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, in a state where the first shaft support portion 31 is fitted in the first recess 41, the pressing surface 471 of the support member 4 presses the biasing member 13 forward as the support member 4 rotates about the first shaft support portion 31 from the first position P2 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 to the second position P3 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. In FIGS. 9 to 12, the support member 4 rotates clockwise (in the direction of D3) about the first shaft support portion 31. Then, the support member 4 reaches the second position P3, so that the second shaft support portion 32 fits into the second recess 42 of the support member 4. In this state, the support member 4 is pushed backward by the biasing force of the biasing member 13, so that the first and second shaft support portions 31 and 32 are held in a state where they are fitted into the first and second recesses 41 and 42.

[0029] 11 and 12, the second recess 42 restricts the rotational movement of the support member 4 from the second position P3 to the first position P2 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) around the first shaft support portion 31. Specifically, the second recess 42 has a locking portion 421 that is located on the rear side (front side in the direction D3) of the second shaft support portion 32 that fits into the second recess 42 in the rotational direction of the support member 4 from the second position P3 to the first position P2. Such locking portion 421 restricts the rotational movement of the support member 4 from the second position P3 to the first position P2.

[0030] As described above, when the support member 4 is disposed at the second position P3, the support member 4 is held at a position where the pressing surface 471 presses the urging member 13 forward. In this state, the urging member 13 is sandwiched in a compressed state between the housing 3 and the support member 4. That is, the second position P3 of the support member 4 is an engagement position where the support member 4 engages with the housing 3 to support the rear end side of the urging member 13.

[0031] When the support member 4 is disposed at the second position P3, the rear side of the first shaft support portion 31 fitted in the first recess 41 and the rear side of the second shaft support portion 32 fitted in the second recess 42 are both open. Therefore, the support member 4 can move forward from the state disposed at the second position P3 against the biasing force of the biasing member 13. Note that, by moving the support member 4 forward from the second position P3, the first recess 41 and the second recess 42 can be separated from the first shaft support portion 31 and the second shaft support portion 32 of the housing 3, respectively. This makes it possible to release the engagement state between the housing 3 and the support member 4 and release the clamping of the biasing member 13 between the housing 3 and the support member 4.

[0032] The rotation mechanism 5 of the present embodiment further includes a third recess 43 provided in the support member 4. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the second shaft support portion 32 of the housing 3 fits into the third recess 43, thereby allowing the support member 4 to rotate about the second shaft support portion 32 relative to the housing 3. 11 , when the support member 4 is disposed at the second position P3, the third recess 43 is located downward with respect to the second recess 42, similar to the first recess 41. Moreover, the third recess 43 is located forward with respect to the second recess 42. For example, the third recess 43 of the first support member 4A is located in the +X direction with respect to the second recess 42.

[0033] 7, even if the first recess 41 and the third recess 43 are arranged to be generally aligned in the front-rear direction X with the second shaft support portion 32 fitted into the third recess 43, the first shaft support portion 31 is located rearward of the first recess 41. Therefore, with the second shaft support portion 32 fitted into the third recess 43, the first shaft support portion 31 will not fit into the first recess 41.

[0034] 11, when the support member 4 is disposed at the second position P3, the third recess 43 is recessed in the same forward direction as the first recess 41 and the second recess 42. For example, the third recess 43 corresponding to the first support member 4A is recessed in the +X direction.

[0035] Furthermore, when the support member 4 is disposed at the second position P3, the rear side of the third recess 43 is open, similar to the first and second recesses 41, 42. For this reason, for example, as shown in Fig. 7, the support member 4 can be moved forward (in the +X direction in Fig. 7) from a state in which the second shaft support portion 32 is fitted into the third recess 43 and the support member 4 is disposed so that the first recess 41 and the third recess 43 are generally aligned in the front-rear direction X. This forward movement of the support member 4 allows the first shaft support portion 31 to be fitted into the first recess 41.

[0036] In addition, in the state where the support member 4 is disposed at the position shown in Fig. 7, the pressing surface 471 of the support member 4 does not press the urging member 13 forward as shown in Fig. 8. When the support member 4 is moved forward from the state shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and the first shaft support portion 31 fits into the first recess 41 as shown in Fig. 9, the pressing surface 471 of the support member 4 presses the urging member 13 forward as shown in Fig. 10.

[0037] 1, 3 and 4, the first recess 41, the second recess 42 and the third recess 43 of the support member 4 are formed in side walls 44 of the support member 4 arranged on both outer sides of the housing 3 in the left-right direction Y. This allows the first shaft support portions 31 located on both the left and right sides to be fitted into the first recesses 41 located on both the left and right sides. Also, the first shaft support portion 31 and the second shaft support portion 32 located on both the left and right sides can be fitted into the second recess 42 and the third recess 43 located on both the left and right sides.

[0038] In this embodiment, the second recess 42 and the third recess 43 of the support member 4 are formed on the edge of the same through hole 45 that penetrates each side wall 44 of the support member 4 in the left-right direction Y (the direction in which the second shaft support portion 32 extends). The through hole 45 does not open to the outer edge of the side wall 44 when the side wall 44 is viewed from the left-right direction Y. In addition, the second shaft support portions 32 located on both sides of the housing 3 in the left-right direction Y are inserted into the through holes 45 of each side wall 44 of the support member 4. This suppresses or prevents the support member 4 from coming off the housing 3.

[0039] 11 , when the support member 4 is disposed at the second position P3, the through hole 45 formed in the support member 4 has a first passage 451 extending rearward from the third recess 43, and a second passage 452 extending upward from the rear end of the first passage 451 and connected to the space behind the second recess 42. When the second shaft support portion 32 is moved between the second recess 42 and the third recess 43, the second shaft support portion 32 simply passes through the first and second passages 451, 452 of the through hole 45.

[0040] As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the support member 4 of this embodiment further has a sliding inclined surface 46. The sliding inclined surface 46 is a surface that comes into contact with the first shaft support portion 31 when the support member 4 is rotated to one side (direction D1 in Figs. 6 and 7) about the second shaft support portion 32 so that the first recess 41 of the support member 4 approaches the first shaft support portion 31 of the housing 3 with the second shaft support portion 32 fitted in the third recess 43. The sliding inclined surface 46 is located in front of the first recess 41 in the direction D1. The sliding inclined surface 46 is inclined rearward in the rotation direction (direction D1) of the support member 4 described above with respect to the radial direction about the second shaft support portion 32.

[0041] 7, when the support member 4 is further rotated in the D1 direction from the state in which the sliding inclined surface 46 of the support member 4 is in contact with the first shaft support portion 31, the first shaft support portion 31 slides on the sliding inclined surface 46, causing the support member 4 to move forward (in the D2 direction in FIG. 7), and the second shaft support portion 32 moves rearward away from the third recess 43. This allows the first shaft support portion 31 to be fitted into the first recess 41, as shown in FIG.

[0042] 11 and 12, the pressing surface 471 of the support member 4 pressed against the rear end of the biasing member 13 is a surface facing the front side when the support member 4 is arranged at the second position P3. The pressing surface 471 in this embodiment is a surface perpendicular to the front-rear direction X when the support member 4 is arranged at the second position P3. Note that the pressing surface 471 may include a surface inclined with respect to both the front-rear direction X and the up-down direction Z when the support member 4 is arranged at the second position P3, or may be composed of only an inclined surface.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the support member 4 is movable relative to the housing 3 on the outer circumferential side of the cylindrical member 15 of the ferrule unit 2 accommodated in the housing 3. The support member 4 is configured not to interfere with the cylindrical member 15 even when the support member 4 is moved relative to the housing 3. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a portion (pressing portion 47) including a pressing surface 471 of the support member 4 is located between the side walls 44 at both left and right ends of the support member 4. The pressing portion 47 is also disposed so as to be located on both sides of the cylindrical member 15 in the left-right direction Y. As a result, even when the support member 4 is moved relative to the housing 3, the pressing portion 47 of the support member 4 does not interfere with the cylindrical member 15.

[0044] 2 and 12, in the ferrule holding structure 1 of this embodiment, the housing 3 and the support member 4 have inclined guide surfaces 38, 48. The inclined guide surfaces 38, 48 are surfaces that are inclined in both the front-rear direction X and the up-down direction Z when the support member 4 is disposed at the second position P3. The inclined guide surface 38 of the housing 3 and the inclined guide surface 48 of the support member 4 face each other in the front-rear direction X when the support member 4 is disposed at the second position P3.

[0045] Specifically, the inclined guide surface 38 of the housing 3 is a surface that faces both rearward and upward, and is inclined upward as it approaches the front. The inclined guide surface 48 of the support member 4 is a surface that faces both frontward and downward when the support member 4 is disposed at the second position P3, and is inclined upward as it approaches the front. The inclined guide surface 48 of the support member 4 disposed at the second position P3 is parallel to the inclined guide surface 38 of the housing 3. As a result, when the support member 4, which is disposed at the second position P3 as shown in Figures 11 and 12, is moved forward (in the direction D4 in Figures 11 to 14) as shown in Figures 13 and 14, the inclined guide surfaces 38, 48 of the housing 3 and the support member 4 come into surface contact. When the support member 4 is further moved forward, the inclined guide surfaces 38, 48 of the housing 3 and the support member 4 slide against each other, and the support member 4 is guided upward. That is, the support member 4 moves upward relative to the housing 3.

[0046] The inclined guide surface may be provided on only one of the housing 3 and the support member 4. In this case, the inclined guide surface of the one member may face the other member in the front-rear direction X when the support member 4 is disposed at the second position P3.

[0047] Next, a method for sandwiching the urging member 13 between the housing 3 and the support member 4 in the ferrule holding structure 1 of this embodiment will be described. In the following explanation, a procedure for sandwiching the urging member 13 of the first ferrule unit 2A between the housing 3 and the first support member 4A will be described, but the same applies to the case of the second ferrule unit 2B.

[0048] In this method, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first ferrule unit 2A is inserted and accommodated in the housing 3 in advance. When inserting the first ferrule unit 2A into the housing 3, the first support member 4A is disposed in the retracted position P1. The retracted position P1 of the first support member 4A is a position where the pressing portion 47 (pressing surface 471) of the first support member 4A is retracted from the insertion / removal path of the first ferrule unit 2A relative to the housing 3. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, when the first support member 4A is disposed in the retracted position P1, the second shaft support portion 32 of the housing 3 is fitted into the third recess 43 of the first support member 4A, and the first recess 41 and the pressing portion 47 are located above the third recess 43.

[0049] In order to sandwich the biasing member 13 between the housing 3 and the first support member 4A, first, as shown in Figs. 6 to 8, the first support member 4A is rotated from the retracted position P1 in the direction D1 around the second shaft support portion 32, and the sliding inclined surface 46 of the first support member 4A is brought into contact with the first shaft support portion 31 from above. In this state, the pressing surface 471 of the first support member 4A is positioned rearward of the biasing member 13 with a gap therebetween. In addition, the first recess 41 of the first support member 4A is positioned rearward of the second and third recesses 42, 43, and the second recess 42 is positioned above the third recess 43.

[0050] Next, the first support member 4A is further rotated in the direction D1. At this time, the first shaft support portion 31 slides on the sliding inclined surface 46, and as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the first support member 4A moves forward (in the direction D2). Also, the second shaft support portion 32 moves rearward away from the third recess 43 and is positioned in the first passage 451 of the through hole 45. As a result, the first support member 4A is further rotated in the direction D1, and the first shaft support portion 31 fits into the first recess 41.

[0051] In addition, as the first support member 4A moves in the D2 direction, as shown in FIG. 10, the pressing surface 471 of the first support member 4A is pressed against the rear end of the biasing member 13, and the biasing member 13 is pressed forward. At this time, the length by which the pressing surface 471 presses the biasing member 13 forward is short. Therefore, the biasing force of the biasing member 13 acting on the first support member 4A as the pressing surface 471 presses the biasing member 13 is small. Note that, in the structure of this embodiment, the force rotating the first support member 4A in the D1 direction is converted into a force pushing the biasing member 13 forward by utilizing the principle of leverage. Therefore, even if the force rotating the first support member 4A in the D1 direction is small and the biasing force of the biasing member 13 acting on the first support member 4A as the pressing surface 471 presses the biasing member 13 is large, the biasing member 13 can be pushed forward by the pressing surface 471.

[0052] 9 and 10, the biasing member 13 biases the first support member 4A rearward so that the first shaft support portion 31 fits into the first recess 41. In other words, the biasing force of the biasing member 13 prevents or inhibits the first shaft support portion 31 from coming out of the first recess 41. The position of the first support member 4A shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is the "first position P2" described above.

[0053] 9 to 12, the first support member 4A is rotated to one side (direction D3) around the first shaft support portion 31 so that the second recess 42 of the first support member 4A approaches the second recess 42 of the housing 3 (i.e., so that the front end portion of the first support member 4A moves downward). As the first support member 4A rotates in the direction D3, the second shaft support portion 32 moves upward through the second passage 452 of the through hole 45, and the first support member 4A reaches the second position P3. As the first support member 4A reaches the second position P3, the second shaft support portion 32 fits into the second recess 42 located on the front side at the upper end of the second passage 452.

[0054] 12, by the first support member 4A rotating in the D3 direction, the pressing surface 471 of the first support member 4A is further pressed against the rear end of the biasing member 13, and the biasing member 13 is further pressed forward. Therefore, the biasing force of the biasing member 13 acting on the first support member 4A as the pressing surface 471 of the first support member 4A presses the biasing member 13 is large. However, here, by utilizing the principle of leverage, the force rotating the first support member 4A in the D3 direction is converted into a force pressing the biasing member 13 forward. Therefore, even if the force rotating the first support member 4A in the D3 direction is small, the pressing surface 471 can press the biasing member 13 forward.

[0055] 11 and 12, in a state in which the first support member 4A is disposed at the second position P3, the first support member 4A is pushed rearward by the biasing force of the biasing member 13, so that the first and second shaft support portions 31, 32 are held in a state in which they are fitted into the first and second recesses 41, 42. In this state, the second recess 42, by its locking portion 421, restricts the first support member 4A from rotating around the first shaft support portion 31 in the direction opposite to the direction D1. As a result, the first support member 4A is engaged with the housing 3, and the first support member 4A is held in a state in which it supports the rear end side of the urging member 13. That is, the urging member 13 is held in a state in which it is sandwiched between the housing 3 and the first support member 4A. This completes the method of sandwiching the urging member 13 of the first ferrule unit 2A between the housing 3 and the first support member 4A. Note that Figures 2 and 3 show the state in which the urging member 13 of the second ferrule unit 2B is held in a state in which it is sandwiched between the housing 3 and the second support member 4B.

[0056] Next, a method (release method) for releasing the clamping of the urging member 13 between the housing 3 and the support member 4 in the ferrule holding structure 1 of this embodiment will be described. In the following explanation, a procedure for releasing the clamping of the urging member 13 of the first ferrule unit 2A will be described, but the same applies to the case of the second ferrule unit 2B.

[0057] In order to release the clamping of the biasing member 13, the first support member 4A is moved forward (in the direction D4) as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 from the state in which the first support member 4A is disposed at the second position P3 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. As a result, the first and second recesses 41 and 42 of the first support member 4A are moved forward away from the first and second shaft support portions 31 and 32 of the housing 3, respectively. This allows the first support member 4A to move in the up-down direction Z (particularly upward) relative to the housing 3. For example, when the first support member 4A is moved upward relative to the housing 3, even if the first support member 4A moves rearward due to the biasing force of the biasing member 13, the first shaft support portion 31 of the housing 3 does not fit into the first recess 41 of the first support member 4A as shown in FIG. 15. That is, the clamping of the biasing member 13 can be released.

[0058] In the release method of the present embodiment, by moving the first support member 4A further forward from the state shown in Figures 13 and 14, the first support member 4A can be automatically moved upward relative to the housing 3. This point will be described below. When the first support member 4A is further moved forward, the inclined guide surfaces 38, 48 of the housing 3 and the first support member 4A come into surface contact with each other, as shown in Fig. 14. Then, when the first support member 4A is further moved forward, the inclined guide surfaces 38, 48 of the housing 3 and the first support member 4A slide against each other, and the first support member 4A is guided upward. That is, the first support member 4A automatically moves upward relative to the housing 3.

[0059] As described above, according to the ferrule holding structure 1 of this embodiment, the rotational motion of the support member 4 by the rotation mechanism 5 is utilized to push the urging member 13 forward (in the case of the first ferrule unit 2A, the +X direction). That is, the principle of leverage can be utilized to push the urging member 13 forward. This allows the urging member 13 to be pushed forward with a large force even if the force with which the worker pushes (rotates) the support member 4 is small. This allows the urging member 13, which has a high spring pressure, to be sandwiched between the housing 3 and the support member 4 even with a small force. Therefore, the ferrule holding structure 1 can be easily assembled on-site without any special jigs or devices.

[0060] In the ferrule holding structure 1 of the present embodiment, when the support member 4 is disposed at the second position P3, the pressing surface 471 of the support member 4 is pressed against the rear end of the biasing member 13. As a result, the biasing member 13 is sandwiched between the housing 3 and the support member 4. In addition, in this state, the second shaft support portion 32 of the housing 3 and the second recess 42 of the support member 4 restrict the rotational movement of the support member 4 from the second position P3 to the first position P2. Therefore, the support member 4 can be held in the state disposed at the second position P3 against the biasing force of the biasing member 13.

[0061] In the ferrule holding structure 1 of the present embodiment, the support member 4 can be moved forward from the second position P3 against the biasing force of the biasing member 13 to move the first and second recesses 41, 42 of the support member 4 away from the first and second shaft support portions 31, 32 of the housing 3, respectively. This allows the biasing member 13 to be released from being sandwiched between the housing 3 and the support member 4. Therefore, in the ferrule holding structure 1 of the present embodiment, the ferrule 12 and the biasing member 13 (ferrule unit 2) can be attached to and detached from the housing 3.

[0062] In the ferrule holding structure 1 of this embodiment, the housing 3 and the support member 4 have inclined guide surfaces 38, 48. The inclined guide surfaces 38, 48 move the support member 4 in the vertical direction Z (upward in this embodiment) relative to the housing 3 as the support member 4 moves forward from the second position P3. This allows the first and second recesses 41, 42 of the support member 4 to be positioned offset in the vertical direction Z relative to the first and second shaft support portions 31, 32 of the housing 3, respectively, by simply moving the support member 4 forward from the second position P3. In this state, even if the support member 4 moves backward (in the -X direction in the case of the first ferrule unit 2A) relative to the housing 3 due to the biasing force of the biasing member 13, the first and second shaft support portions 31, 32 of the housing 3 will not fit into the first and second recesses 41, 42 of the support member 4. Therefore, the clamping of the biasing member 13 between the housing 3 and the support member 4 can be easily released.

[0063] In the ferrule holding structure 1 of this embodiment, the rotation mechanism 5 is provided in the support member 4, and further includes a third recess 43 into which the second shaft support portion 32 is fitted, so that the support member 4 can rotate around the second shaft support portion 32. The third recess 43 is located in the vertical direction Z (downward in this embodiment) and forward with respect to the second recess 42 when the support member 4 is disposed at the second position P3. Therefore, after the support member 4 is moved forward from the second position P3 against the biasing force of the biasing member 13, the support member 4 is further moved in the vertical direction Z (upward) with respect to the housing 3. In this state, the support member 4 is moved backward by the biasing force of the biasing member 13, and the second shaft support portion 32 of the housing 3 can be fitted into the third recess 43 of the support member 4. The second shaft support portion 32 is fitted into the third recess 43, so that the support member 4 can rotate around the second shaft support portion 32 with respect to the housing 3. This allows the pressing surface 471 of the support member 4 to be retracted to a position shifted upward from the rear end side of the urging member 13. Therefore, even if the support member 4 is not removed from the housing 3, the ferrule 12 and the urging member 13 (ferrule unit 2) can be easily inserted into and removed from the housing 3 without being hindered by the support member 4.

[0064] In the ferrule holding structure 1 of the present embodiment, the optical fiber 11 located on the rear side of the ferrule 12 is protected by the tubular member 15. The support member 4 is movable relative to the housing 3 on the outer circumferential side of the tubular member 15. Therefore, when the support member 4 is moved relative to the housing 3 on the rear side of the ferrule 12, it is possible to prevent the support member 4 from coming into contact with the optical fiber 11. In other words, the optical fiber 11 can be protected from the support member 4 by the tubular member 15.

[0065] In the ferrule holding structure 1 of the present embodiment, the biasing member 13 is located on the outer circumferential side of the tubular member 15. This makes it possible to prevent the biasing member 13 from contacting the optical fiber 11 on the rear side of the ferrule 12. In other words, the tubular member 15 can protect the optical fiber 11 from the biasing member 13.

[0066] Although the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0067] In the present invention, the housing 3 is not limited to being configured as an adapter to which two ferrule units 2 and the support member 4 are attached, and may be configured, for example, to which only one ferrule unit 2 and support member 4 are attached. In this case, the housing 3, together with the one ferrule unit 2 and support member 4, constitutes an optical connector. In the ferrule holding structure 1 that constitutes the optical connector, the front end portion of the ferrule 12 including the connection end face 121 may be disposed, for example, outside the housing 3. In other words, the housing 3 may be configured to accommodate at least a portion of the ferrule 12. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1...Ferrule holding structure, 3...Housing, 4...Support member, 5...Rotation mechanism, 11...Optical fiber, 12...Ferrule, 13...Pressing member, 15...Cylindrical member, 31...First shaft support portion, 32...Second shaft support portion, 38, 48...Inclined guide surface, 41...First recess, 42...Second recess, 43...Third recess, 121...Connection end surface, 471...Pressing surface, P2...First position, P3...Second position, X...Front-rear direction, Y...Left-right direction (first orthogonal direction), Z...Up-down direction (second orthogonal direction)

Claims

1. An optical fiber; a ferrule for inserting the optical fiber from a rear end to a connection end face which is a front end and holding the optical fiber; a coil spring that biases the ferrule in a forward direction from the rear end toward the connection end face and through which the optical fiber is inserted; a housing that accommodates at least a portion of the ferrule and the coil spring therein; a support member that engages with the housing and supports a rear end side of the coil spring; a rotation mechanism configured by a part of the support member and a part of the housing and rotatably attaching the support member to the housing, The support member has a pressing surface that presses the coil spring in the forward direction as the support member is rotated relative to the housing by the rotation mechanism. Ferrule retention structure.

2. The rotation mechanism includes: a first shaft support portion and a second shaft support portion provided on the housing and extending in a first orthogonal direction perpendicular to a front-rear direction; a first recess that is provided in the support member and into which the first shaft support portion is fitted so that the support member can rotate around the first shaft support portion; a pressing surface of the support member presses the coil spring in the forward direction as the support member rotates from the first position to the second position around the first shaft support portion, 2. The ferrule holding structure according to claim 1, wherein the rotation mechanism further includes a second recess provided on the support member, into which the second shaft support portion fits when the support member reaches the second position, thereby restricting rotational movement of the support member from the second position to the first position.

3. When the support member is disposed at the second position, the first recess is located on the front side of the first shaft support portion, and the second recess is located in the front direction of the second shaft support portion, 3. The ferrule holding structure according to claim 2, wherein the support member is movable in the forward direction from the second position against the biasing force of the coil spring.

4. At least one of the housing and the support member is When the support member is disposed at the second position, the support member has an inclined guide surface that is inclined in both the front-rear direction and a second orthogonal direction that is perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the first orthogonal direction, The ferrule holding structure according to claim 3 , wherein the inclined guide surface faces the other of the housing and the support member in the front-rear direction when the support member is disposed at the second position.

5. the rotation mechanism further includes a third recess that is provided in the support member and into which the second shaft support portion is fitted so that the support member can rotate around the second shaft support portion; the first shaft support portion is located in a rear direction opposite to the front direction with respect to the second shaft support portion, the first recess is located in the rear direction relative to the second recess, 5. The ferrule holding structure according to claim 3, wherein when the support member is positioned at the second position, the third recess is positioned offset from the second recess in a second orthogonal direction that is perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction and the first orthogonal direction, and is positioned in the forward direction relative to the second recess.

6. a cylindrical member disposed on the rear end side of the ferrule and through which the optical fiber extending rearward of the ferrule is inserted; The ferrule holding structure according to claim 1 , wherein the support member is movable relative to the housing on an outer circumferential side of the cylindrical member.

7. a cylindrical member disposed on the rear end side of the ferrule and through which the optical fiber extending rearward of the ferrule is inserted; The ferrule holding structure according to claim 1 , wherein the coil spring is located on an outer circumferential side of the cylindrical member.

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