Optical cable termination unit and termination unit laminate

Abstract

An optical cable termination unit (1) is provided with: a housing (10); a plurality of module accommodation sections (12) which are provided in a lateral direction within the housing and which detachably accommodate adapter modules; and a plurality of core wire accommodation sections (13) which are provided in the lateral direction within the housing and which accommodate optical fiber core wires connected to the adapter modules. The plurality of module accommodation sections (12) are segmented in the lateral direction. The plurality of core wire accommodation sections (13) are segmented in the lateral direction.

Description

Optical cable termination unit and termination unit laminate

[0001] This disclosure relates to a termination unit and a termination unit laminate for an optical cable. This application claims priority to Japanese Application No. 2024-010165, filed on January 26, 2024, and incorporates by reference all of the contents of said Japanese application.

[0002] A plurality of termination units are known that are mounted on an optical distribution rack. The termination units are stacked in the optical distribution rack along the vertical direction of the optical distribution rack (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Each termination unit may detachably support an adapter module that has a plurality of adapters attached thereto, each of which connects to a plurality of optical connectors (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

[0003] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-224892 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-526013

[0004] The optical cable termination unit disclosed herein comprises a housing, a plurality of module accommodating sections arranged horizontally within the housing for detachably accommodating adapter modules, and a plurality of core wire accommodating sections arranged horizontally within the housing for accommodating optical fiber core wires to be connected to the adapter modules, wherein the plurality of module accommodating sections are separated in the horizontal direction, and the plurality of core wire accommodating sections are also separated in the horizontal direction.

[0005] Fig. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating an optical cable termination unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a partial rear perspective view illustrating the termination unit. Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged schematic view of the termination unit illustrating a state in which the door is open and the cover of the rightmost module housing section is open. Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing a state in which multiple termination units are stacked vertically in an optical distribution rack.

[0006] (Problem to be Solved by the Present Disclosure) Multiple optical connectors can be connected to adapters provided in multiple different termination units depending on the application and connection destination. Even if the number of optical connectors to be connected is small, if the optical connectors are to be connected to adapters of different termination units for each application, it is necessary to secure a large space in the optical distribution rack to accommodate multiple termination units according to the number of applications. As a result, it is difficult to effectively utilize the space in the optical distribution rack.

[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an optical cable termination unit that can achieve space saving in an optical wiring rack.

[0008] (Description of an embodiment of the present disclosure) First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. (1) An optical cable termination unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a housing, a plurality of module accommodating sections arranged laterally within the housing, each accommodating a removably adaptor module, and a plurality of core wire accommodating sections arranged laterally within the housing, each accommodating an optical fiber core wire to be connected to the adaptor module, wherein the plurality of module accommodating sections are separated in the horizontal direction, and the plurality of core wire accommodating sections are separated in the horizontal direction.

[0009] According to the present disclosure, a plurality of module accommodating sections and a plurality of fiber accommodating sections are arranged in the horizontal direction. In particular, the present disclosure allows optical fibers to be separated by application and connected to a plurality of adapter modules accommodated in the horizontal direction via optical connectors. As a result, optical fibers for a plurality of applications can be connected to a single termination unit. Therefore, compared to a case where optical fibers for a plurality of applications are connected to a plurality of termination units, it is possible to achieve space saving in the vertical direction of the optical distribution rack.

[0010] Furthermore, the multiple module accommodating sections are separated horizontally. Therefore, when inserting or removing an optical connector into or from one adapter module, an operator is unlikely to come into contact with another horizontally adjacent adapter module, its optical connector, or the optical fiber connected to that optical connector. Similarly, the multiple fiber accommodating sections are separated horizontally. Therefore, it is easy to prevent optical fiber cores connected to one adapter module from being mixed with optical fiber cores connected to another adapter module.

[0011] (2) In the above (1), the plurality of module accommodating sections may be provided in the front part of the housing in a depth direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction, and the plurality of core wire accommodating sections may be provided in the rear part of the housing in the depth direction.

[0012] According to the present disclosure, the multiple module accommodating sections are provided in the front portion of the housing, and the multiple core wire accommodating sections are provided in the rear portion of the housing. The multiple module accommodating sections and the multiple core wire accommodating sections are arranged separately across the depth direction of the housing, making it easy to perform wiring work, etc.

[0013] (3) In the above (1) or (2), the number of the plurality of module accommodating sections may be the same as the number of the plurality of core wire accommodating sections.

[0014] According to the present disclosure, the number of multiple module accommodating sections and the number of multiple core wire accommodating sections are the same, so that even if adapter modules are accommodated in all of the multiple module accommodating sections, it is possible to prevent the mixing of optical fiber core wires connected to these adapter modules.

[0015] (4) In any one of the above (1) to (3), each of the module housing sections may be provided with a cover that is movable relative to the module housing section.

[0016] According to the present disclosure, each module housing is provided with a movable cover, which makes it difficult for a worker to touch an adjacent adapter module or its optical connector during wiring work.

[0017] (5) In any of (1) to (4) above, the optical cable having a plurality of the optical fiber cores may further include a branching section that covers and branches the lead-out portions of the plurality of optical fiber cores from the optical cable.

[0018] According to the present disclosure, the branching section covers the lead-out section of the optical cable having the optical fiber cores connected to the adapter module, thereby protecting the lead-out section. Furthermore, because the branching section is provided, even when all of the optical fiber cores are not in use, it is easy to connect some of the optical fiber cores to an optical cable from outside.

[0019] (6) In any of (1) to (5) above, the optical fiber cable may further include a cable holder that holds an optical cable having a plurality of the optical fiber cores and is attached so as to be movable forward and backward.

[0020] According to the present disclosure, a cable gripping portion is provided that grips an optical cable and is attached so as to be movable forward and backward. Therefore, when the termination unit of the present disclosure is mounted in an optical distribution rack, the gripping position of the optical cable connected to the termination unit in the optical distribution rack can be easily adjusted, and cross-connection with other optical cables can be easily prevented.

[0021] A termination unit stack according to one aspect of the present disclosure is (7) a termination unit stack comprising a first unit group having at least one termination unit described in (6) above, and a second unit group having at least one termination unit described in (6) above and arranged below the first unit group, wherein a second length between the core wire accommodating portion and the cable holding portion in a termination unit of the second unit group may be longer than a first length between the core wire accommodating portion and the cable holding portion in a termination unit of the first unit group.

[0022] According to the present disclosure, the second unit group is provided below the first unit group, and a second length between the optical fiber accommodating portion and the cable gripping portion in the termination unit of the second unit group is longer than a first length between the optical fiber accommodating portion and the cable gripping portion in the termination unit of the first unit group. Therefore, when the termination unit stack of the present disclosure is mounted in an optical distribution rack, the optical cables connected to the first unit group and the optical cables connected to the second unit group are separated from each other in the optical distribution rack, preventing cross-connection and improving wiring work efficiency.

[0023] (Effects of the Present Disclosure) According to the present disclosure, an optical cable termination unit that can achieve space saving in an optical wiring rack is provided.

[0024] (Details of an 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" refer to relative directions set for the convenience of explanation with respect to the termination unit 1 shown in FIG. 1. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0025] Fig. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating an optical cable termination unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 1 shows a state in which a door 11 attached to the front of the termination unit 1 is closed. Fig. 2 is a partial rear perspective view illustrating the optical cable termination unit 1. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the termination unit 1 includes a housing 10, a door 11, a plurality of module accommodating sections 12, and a plurality of fiber accommodating sections 13.

[0026] In this embodiment, the depth direction of the termination unit 1 is defined as the direction toward which the door 11 is provided, and the direction from the door 11 toward the inside of the termination unit 1, as the rear. In each figure, "F" indicates the front, and "B" indicates the rear. The lateral direction in this embodiment is a direction perpendicular to the depth direction, and is the width direction of the termination unit 1. In each figure, "L" indicates the left, and "R" indicates the right. The vertical direction in this embodiment is a direction perpendicular to both the depth direction and the lateral direction, and is the height direction of the termination unit 1. In each figure, "U" indicates the upside, and "D" indicates the downside. Note that "perpendicular" includes not only cases where two straight lines are strictly perpendicular, but also cases where two straight lines are evaluated to be substantially perpendicular.

[0027] First, the multiple module accommodating sections 12 will be described in detail. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the multiple module accommodating sections 12 are provided at the front in the depth (front-rear) direction within the housing 10. Furthermore, multiple module accommodating sections 12 are provided in the horizontal (left-right) direction within the housing 10. In this embodiment, four module accommodating sections 12 are lined up in the horizontal direction.

[0028] Each of the multiple module accommodating sections 12 is configured to detachably accommodate an adapter module M. More specifically, each module accommodating section 12 has an accommodating space 121 and a pair of guide rails 122. The pair of guide rails 122 extend in the depth direction within the accommodating space 121. The adapter module M is accommodated in and removed from the accommodating space 121 by sliding in the depth direction along the pair of guide rails 122.

[0029] The multiple module accommodating sections 12 are separated in the horizontal direction. More specifically, a partition wall 123 is provided between each accommodating space 121 and another accommodating space 121 adjacent to it in the horizontal direction. For example, one partition wall 123 is provided between the accommodating space 121 located on the far right and the accommodating space 121 located adjacent to it on the left. In this embodiment, three partition walls 123 are provided so as to separate each of the four accommodating spaces 121 in the horizontal direction.

[0030] Each module housing section 12 is provided with a cover 124 that is movable relative to the module housing section 12. Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged schematic view illustrating a state in which the door 11 is open and the cover 124 of the rightmost module housing section 12 is open.

[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the cover 124 is provided at the front of the module accommodating section 12. The number of module accommodating sections 12 and the number of covers 124 are the same. In this embodiment, four covers 124 are provided. Each cover 124 has a plate shape, and the size of the plate shape can be set according to the number and size of each module accommodating section 12. Each cover 124 is provided to rotate around a hinge provided at the front of the corresponding module accommodating section 12. By rotating the cover 124, the cover 124 opens and closes with respect to the accommodating space 121 of the corresponding module accommodating section 12. When the cover 124 is open, the accommodating space 121 is exposed to the front. When the cover 124 is closed, at least a portion of the accommodating space 121 is covered.

[0032] When the cover 124 is closed, the front part of the accommodation space 121 does not have to be completely covered by the cover 124. In other words, the accommodation space 121 does not have to be sealed by the cover 124. If the front part of the accommodated adapter module M is covered by the cover 124 when the cover 124 is closed, the possibility that an operator will accidentally touch the optical fiber or optical connector connected to the adapter module M can be reduced.

[0033] In addition to the cover 124, a plate portion 125 may be provided at the front of each module accommodating portion 12. The plate portion 125 has a plate shape and is provided below the cover 124. The plate portion 125 stands upright from the bottom surface 10D of the housing 10. When the cover 124 is closed, the cover 124 and the plate portion 125 are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. The plate portion 125 may have a plurality of slits at positions corresponding to the cover 124 in the closed state.

[0034] Next, returning to Figures 1 and 2, the multiple core wire accommodating sections 13 will be described in detail. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the multiple core wire accommodating sections 13 are provided at the rear in the depth direction within the housing 10. In this embodiment, the multiple core wire accommodating sections 13 are located below and behind the multiple module accommodating sections 12. Furthermore, multiple core wire accommodating sections 13 are provided in the horizontal direction within the housing 10. In this embodiment, four core wire accommodating sections 13 are lined up in the horizontal direction.

[0035] In this embodiment, the number of the plurality of module accommodating sections 12 is equal to the number of the plurality of core wire accommodating sections 13. One core wire accommodating section 13 is provided to correspond to one module accommodating section 12. One module accommodating section 12 and one corresponding core wire accommodating section 13 are adjacent to each other in the depth direction.

[0036] Each of the multiple core wire accommodating sections 13 is configured to accommodate an optical fiber core wire to be connected to the adapter module M. More specifically, each core wire accommodating section 13 has a bottom surface 131, a pair of standing walls 132, and a pair of small pieces 133.

[0037] The bottom surface 131 has a plate shape and is provided on the bottom surface 10D of the housing 10. The pair of standing walls 132 stand upright from the bottom surface 131 and are spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction. Each of the pair of standing walls 132 has a plate shape, and these plate shapes face each other in the horizontal direction. The pair of small pieces 133 are provided on the upper part of the standing wall 132 and are spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction. Each of the pair of small pieces 133 has a flat surface facing the bottom surface 131.

[0038] The optical fiber core wire to be connected to the adapter module M can be introduced between the pair of small pieces 133 and accommodated inside the core wire accommodating section 13, which is surrounded by the bottom surface 131, the pair of vertical walls 132, and the pair of small pieces 133.

[0039] The multiple fiber conductor accommodating sections 13 are separated in the horizontal direction. More specifically, a standing wall 132 is provided between two fiber conductor accommodating sections 13 adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction. For example, two standing walls 132 are provided between the leftmost fiber conductor accommodating section 13 and the fiber conductor accommodating section 13 adjacent to the leftmost fiber conductor accommodating section 13 on the right. One of the two standing walls 132 is the rightmost standing wall 132 of the pair of standing walls 132 in the leftmost fiber conductor accommodating section 13. The other of the two standing walls 132 is the leftmost standing wall 132 of the pair of standing walls 132 in the adjacent fiber conductor accommodating section 13 on the right. These two standing walls 132 may be in contact with each other or may be spaced apart in the horizontal direction. The standing wall 132 between two adjacent fiber conductor accommodating sections 13 may be a single, common standing wall 132.

[0040] Next, a method for using the termination unit 1 will be described. First, a method for installing the adapter module M will be described. As shown in Figure 2, the adapter module M is inserted into the accommodation space 121 from the rear of the module accommodation section 12. More specifically, the adapter module M is slid from rear to front along a pair of guide rails 122 and accommodated in the accommodation space 121 of the module accommodation section 12.

[0041] An optical fiber core is connected to the rear of the adapter module M housed in the module housing section 12 (not shown). The connected optical fiber core is housed in the core wire housing section 13 corresponding to the module housing section 12 housing the adapter module M. More specifically, the connected optical fiber core is housed in the core wire housing section 13 adjacent to the rear of the module housing section 12 housing the adapter module M. The optical fiber core housed in the core wire housing section 13 is part of a plurality of optical fiber cores contained in the optical cable 15 led from the outside rear of the termination unit 1. In this way, the adapter module M and the optical cable 15 are connected via the optical fiber core.

[0042] Each cable accommodating section 13 containing an optical fiber is separated from other laterally adjacent cable accommodating sections 13 by a vertical wall 132. This prevents the contained optical fiber from entering another cable accommodating section 13. Furthermore, each cable accommodating section 13 is provided with a pair of small pieces 133 having a flat surface facing the bottom surface 131. The pair of small pieces 133 make it difficult for the contained optical fiber to jump out upward from the cable accommodating section 13.

[0043] Next, we will explain the wiring work to the adapter module M. Except when wiring work is being performed, the door 11 is closed and all covers 124 are closed. At this time, at least a portion of the accommodation space 121 of the module accommodation section 12 is covered by the cover 124 so as not to be exposed forward.

[0044] When performing wiring work, the worker opens the door 11 and also opens the cover 124 of the module housing section 12 that houses the adapter module M to which the wiring is to be connected. By opening the cover 124, the front part of the housed adapter module M is exposed to the front. The worker inserts and removes an optical connector into the front part of the housed adapter module M.

[0045] At this time, horizontally adjacent module accommodating sections 12 are separated by partition walls 123. Furthermore, the covers 124 of horizontally adjacent module accommodating sections 12 are closed. This reduces the possibility that a worker will accidentally touch the adapter module M or its optical connector of a horizontally adjacent module accommodating section 12 during wiring work.

[0046] After connecting the optical connector to the front part of the adapter module M, the worker closes the open cover 124. Then, the optical fiber core wire connected to the optical connector is led out from between the cover 124 and the plate part 125. The optical fiber core wire connected to the optical connector may be positioned in a slit in the plate part 125.

[0047] Furthermore, if there is an adapter module M to be wired, the worker opens the cover 124 of another module accommodating section 12 that accommodates the target adapter module M, and performs the wiring work described above. If there is no adapter module M to be wired, the worker closes the open door 11 and completes the wiring work.

[0048] As described above, according to the termination unit 1 of this embodiment, a plurality of module accommodating sections 12 and a plurality of core wire accommodating sections 13 are provided along the horizontal direction. In particular, in this embodiment, a plurality of adapter modules M are accommodated in each of a plurality of module accommodating sections 12, and optical fibers can be separated by application and connected to these adapter modules M via optical connectors. As a result, optical fibers for a plurality of applications can be connected to a single termination unit 1. Therefore, compared to a case in which optical fibers for a plurality of applications are connected to a plurality of termination units, it is possible to achieve space saving in the optical wiring rack 100 in the vertical direction.

[0049] Furthermore, the multiple module accommodating sections 12 are separated in the horizontal direction by partition walls 123. Therefore, when inserting or removing an optical connector into or from one adapter module M, an operator can easily distinguish between another horizontally adjacent adapter module M, its optical connector, and the optical fiber connected to that optical connector, thereby reducing the possibility of accidentally touching them. Similarly, the multiple fiber accommodating sections 13 are separated in the horizontal direction by vertical walls 132. Therefore, it is easy to prevent optical fiber cores connected to one adapter module M from being mixed with optical fiber cores connected to another adapter module M.

[0050] In a configuration in which only optical connectors connected to optical fibers for a single purpose are connected to one termination unit, unlike the present embodiment, the possibility of problems occurring even if optical fiber cores connected to adapter modules are mixed within the termination unit is small, and the core accommodating section does not need to be separated. On the other hand, in a configuration in which multiple module accommodating sections 12 are provided in one termination unit and optical connectors connected to optical fibers are connected to each module accommodating section 12 for each optical fiber purpose, optical fiber cores for multiple purposes may be mixed within the termination unit 1, which may lead to incorrect wiring. In this embodiment, multiple core accommodating sections 13 are provided horizontally, and these multiple core accommodating sections 13 are horizontally separated by vertical walls 132, thereby preventing the mixing of optical fiber cores for multiple purposes.

[0051] The multiple module accommodating sections 12 are provided in the front depth direction of the housing 10, and the multiple core wire accommodating sections 13 are provided in the rear depth direction of the housing 10. An operator installs the adapter modules M in the front portion of the housing 10, and performs wiring to the adapter modules M in the rear portion of the housing 10. Because the multiple module accommodating sections 12 and the multiple core wire accommodating sections 13 are arranged side by side and separately in the depth direction of the housing 10 in this way, an operator can easily divide the tasks in the depth direction and proceed with each task separately.

[0052] The number of the plurality of module accommodating sections 12 is equal to the number of the plurality of core wire accommodating sections 13. Therefore, even when adapter modules M are accommodated in all four module accommodating sections 12, all of the optical fiber core wires connected to each adapter module M can be accommodated separately in the four core wire accommodating sections 13. This makes it possible to prevent these optical fiber core wires from being mixed together.

[0053] Each module accommodating section 12 is provided with a cover 124 that is movable relative to the module accommodating section 12. When an operator inserts or removes an optical connector into or from one adapter module M, the operator opens the cover 124 of the module accommodating section that accommodates the adapter module M to which the wiring is to be connected. At this time, the covers 124 of other module accommodating sections 12 that are horizontally adjacent to the module accommodating section 12 where the wiring work is to be performed are closed. This makes it difficult for the operator to touch the other adjacent adapter modules M or their optical connectors.

[0054] The number of module accommodating sections 12 and the number of multiple fiber accommodating sections 13 do not have to match. For example, one termination unit 1 may be provided with four module accommodating sections 12 and two fiber accommodating sections 13. In this case, optical fibers connected to two adjacent module accommodating sections 12 on the left are accommodated in a corresponding left fiber accommodating section located behind and to the left of these two module accommodating sections 12. Optical fibers connected to two adjacent module accommodating sections 12 on the right are accommodated in a corresponding right fiber accommodating section located behind and to the right of these two module accommodating sections 12. The left and right fiber accommodating sections are separated from each other by a vertical wall 132, which prevents optical fibers from being mixed on the left and right sides.

[0055] It is not necessary to have the standing wall 132 located to the left of the leftmost core wire accommodating section 13 or the standing wall 132 located to the right of the rightmost core wire accommodating section 13. Since there are no other core wire accommodating sections 13 to the left of the leftmost core wire accommodating section 13 or to the right of the rightmost core wire accommodating section 13, the core wire accommodating sections 13 are divided even if there are no standing walls 132 in these areas.

[0056] The optical fiber accommodating section 13 does not necessarily have the pair of small pieces 133. The pair of standing walls 132 may be provided so as to be inclined with respect to the bottom surface 131 so that their upper portions approach each other, rather than being perpendicular to the bottom surface 131. Of the pair of standing walls 132, the standing wall 132 located on the left may have a curved surface that is convex toward the left, and the standing wall 132 located on the right may have a curved surface that is convex toward the right. These structures also make it possible to prevent the optical fiber accommodated in the optical fiber accommodating section 13 from slipping out upward.

[0057] The shapes and configurations of the cover 124 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 are merely examples and are not limited thereto. The number of module accommodating sections 12 and the number of covers 124 do not have to match. For example, in an example in which the cover 124 rotates to open and close the accommodating space 121 of the corresponding module accommodating section 12, one cover 124 may be rotatably provided for two adjacent module accommodating sections 12. When performing wiring work for one of the two adjacent module accommodating sections 12, the cover may be rotated to cover the front portion of the other adjacent module accommodating section 12. For example, the cover 124 may have a plate portion sized to cover the front portion of one module accommodating section 12 and may be slidably provided laterally relative to the two adjacent module accommodating sections 12. When performing wiring work for one of the two adjacent module accommodating sections 12, the cover may be slid to cover the front portion of the other adjacent module accommodating section 12. Even with this configuration, the possibility of accidentally touching other adjacent adapter modules M or their optical connectors can be reduced.

[0058] The termination unit 1 may further include a branching section 14 ( FIG. 1 ) in addition to the multiple module accommodating sections 12 and the multiple fiber accommodating sections 13. The branching section 14 is provided at the rear of the housing 10. The branching section 14 is located behind the multiple fiber accommodating sections 13.

[0059] An optical cable 15 having a plurality of optical fiber cores is led from the rear outside of the termination unit 1. The branching section 14 is configured to cover the end of this optical cable 15. In other words, the branching section 14 is configured to cover and branch the lead-out portions of the plurality of optical fiber cores in the optical cable 15 from the optical cable 15. The branching section 14 may have, for example, a rectangular housing and be provided so as to surround the lead-out portions of the plurality of optical fiber cores from the optical cable 15.

[0060] The branching section 14 covers the end of the optical cable 15, which has multiple optical fiber cores and is connected to the adapter module M, thereby protecting the end. Furthermore, because the branching section 14 is provided, not all of the optical fiber cores in the optical cable 15 need be in use. For example, multiple optical fiber cores are led out from the optical cable 15 and housed in the respective core fiber housing sections 13. When an adapter module M is housed in the module housing section 12, the optical fiber cores housed in the core fiber housing section 13 corresponding to the module housing section 12 in use are connected to the adapter module M and used. On the other hand, when an adapter module M is not housed in the module housing section 12, the optical fiber cores housed in the core fiber housing section 13 corresponding to the unused module housing section 12 are not used because they have no connection destination and can remain housed in the core fiber housing section 13. In this way, the branching section 14 allows the multiple optical fiber cores to be in two states: in use and unused.

[0061] The termination unit 1 may further include a cable gripping portion 16 (FIG. 1). The cable gripping portion 16 is located at the rear of the housing 10, behind the plurality of wire receiving portions 13.

[0062] The cable gripping portion 16 is configured to grip the optical cable 15. Specifically, the cable gripping portion 16 has a comb-like plate and extends laterally. In this embodiment, the comb-like plate has deep notches in the depth direction, like the teeth of a comb. These notches preferably have a shape that is continuous in the horizontal direction. The cable gripping portion 16 may have both a front notch extending from the front to the rear and a rear notch extending from the rear plate portion to the front. The cable gripping portion 16 grips the optical cable 15 by fastening the optical cable 15 with a cable tie or the like passed through the notches in the comb-like plate. Because the cable gripping portion 16 extends laterally, it can grip the optical cable 15 at various positions in the horizontal direction.

[0063] The cable gripping portion 16 can be attached at different positions in the front and rear directions. Specifically, the termination unit 1 of this embodiment includes a pair of guide portions 17 that extend in the depth direction and are spaced apart in the laterally direction. The cable gripping portion 16 is attached between the pair of guide portions 17.

[0064] Each guide portion 17 is attached to the rear of the left side surface portion 10L and the rear of the right side surface portion 10R that constitute the housing 10. Each guide portion 17 has a plurality of fixing holes 171 arranged along the depth direction. The pair of guide portions 17 are fixed to the housing 10 by inserting fixing portions such as screws into some of the fixing holes 171 and fixing the pair of guide portions 17 to the rear of the left side surface portion 10L and the rear of the right side surface portion 10R. In this way, since the pair of guide portions 17 can be attached to different positions relative to the housing 10 in the front and rear directions, the cable gripping portion 16 attached between the pair of guide portions 17 can also be attached to different positions in the front-to-rear direction.

[0065] As described above, according to this embodiment, the cable gripping portion 16 is provided which grips the optical cable 15 and can be attached at different positions in the front and rear directions. Therefore, when the termination unit 1 is mounted in the optical distribution rack 100, it is easy to adjust the gripping position of the optical cable 15 connected to the termination unit 1 in the optical distribution rack 100, and it is easy to prevent cross-connection with other optical cables in the optical distribution rack 100.

[0066] 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a plurality of the above-described termination units 1 are stacked vertically in an optical distribution rack 100. As shown in FIG. 4, a termination unit stack 110 including a plurality of unit groups each having at least one termination unit 1 is housed in the optical distribution rack 100.

[0067] More specifically, the termination unit stack 110 includes a first unit group 111, a second unit group 112, a third unit group 113, a fourth unit group 114, a fifth unit group 115, and a sixth unit group 116. Each unit group has at least one termination unit 1. The second unit group 112 is provided below the first unit group 111. The third unit group 113 is provided below the second unit group 112. The fourth unit group 114 is provided below the third unit group 113. The fifth unit group 115 is provided below the fourth unit group 114. The sixth unit group 116 is provided below the fifth unit group 115. Although the termination unit stack 110 of this embodiment includes six unit groups, the number of unit groups is not limited to this.

[0068] In the termination units 1 of the first unit group 111, the wire accommodating section 13 and the cable gripping section 16 are arranged so that the length from the front of the wire accommodating section 13 to the rear of the cable gripping section 16 is a first length L1. In the termination units 1 of the second unit group 112, the wire accommodating section 13 and the cable gripping section 16 are arranged so that the length from the front of the wire accommodating section 13 to the rear of the cable gripping section 16 is a second length L2. The second length L2 is longer than the first length L1. More specifically, the cable gripping section 16 of the termination units 1 of the second unit group 112 is located rearward of the cable gripping section 16 of the termination units 1 of the first unit group 111.

[0069] As described above, according to the termination unit stack 110 of this embodiment, the second unit group 112 is provided below the first unit group 111. The second length L2 between the fiber accommodating section 13 and the cable gripping section 16 in the termination unit 1 of the second unit group 112 is longer than the first length L1 between the fiber accommodating section 13 and the cable gripping section 16 in the termination unit 1 of the first unit group 111. Within the optical wiring rack 100, the optical cables 15 connected to the first unit group 111 and the optical cables 15 connected to the second unit group 112 are spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction, preventing these cables from becoming entangled and improving wiring work efficiency.

[0070] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Termination unit 10 Housing 10D Bottom surface 10L Left side surface portion 10R Right side surface portion 11 Door 12 Module accommodating section 121 Accommodating space 122 Guide rail 123 Partition wall 124 Cover 125 Plate portion 13 Core wire accommodating section 131 Bottom surface 132 Pair of standing walls 133 Pair of small pieces 14 Branching section 15 Optical cable 16 Cable gripping section 17 Guide portion 171 Fixing hole 100 Optical wiring rack 110 Termination unit stack 111 First unit group 112 Second unit group 113 Third unit group 114 Fourth unit group 115 Fifth unit group 116 Sixth unit group M Adapter module L1 First length L2 Second length

Claims

1. A termination unit comprising: a housing; a plurality of module accommodating portions provided horizontally in the housing for detachably accommodating adapter modules; and a plurality of core wire accommodating portions provided horizontally in the housing for accommodating optical fiber core wires connected to the adapter modules, wherein the plurality of module accommodating portions are separated in the horizontal direction, and the plurality of core wire accommodating portions are separated in the horizontal direction.

2. The termination unit according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of module accommodating portions are provided at a front portion in a depth direction orthogonal to the horizontal direction in the housing, and the plurality of core wire accommodating portions are provided at a rear portion in the depth direction in the housing.

3. The termination unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the number of the plurality of module accommodating portions is the same as the number of the plurality of core wire accommodating portions.

4. The termination unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the module accommodating portions is provided with a cover movable with respect to the module accommodating portion.

5. The termination unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a branching portion that covers and branches a lead-out portion of the plurality of optical fiber core wires from the optical cable having the plurality of optical fiber core wires.

6. The termination unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a cable gripping portion that grips the optical cable having the plurality of optical fiber core wires and is attached so as to be movable in the forward and backward directions.

7. A termination unit laminate comprising: a first unit group having at least one termination unit according to claim 6; and a second unit group having at least one termination unit according to claim 6 and provided below the first unit group, wherein a second length between a core wire accommodating portion and a cable gripping portion in the termination unit of the second unit group is longer than a first length between the core wire accommodating portion and the cable gripping portion in the termination unit of the first unit group.

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