Assembling Jig for Optical-Fiber Connectors with Inter-Connectible Sleeve Halves
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of optical-fiber connectors becomes complicated due to the need for different accessory components for round and flat fiber cables, and the small size of the components makes manual handling difficult, especially when inserting the strain relief sleeve and casing into the connector housing.
Innovation Solution
An assembling jig with inter-connectible sleeve halves and mating elements that form a sleeve body, including a strain relief sleeve holding groove and a cable passage groove, which facilitates the assembly by providing a grip portion for applying forces to the strain relief sleeve, allowing for easy insertion of the fiber cable and ferrule into the connector housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If manual assembly is used for small optical-fiber connector components, then the connector size can be kept small, but the handling and assembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an assembly tool as an intermediary device between the operator and the small connector components. The tool includes a holding portion with a groove that secures the strain relief sleeve and casing, and a transmission portion that transmits user-applied force to these small components. This intermediary tool enables easy manual handling and assembly of the otherwise difficult-to-grip small components while maintaining the compact connector design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different accessory components are used for round and flat fiber cables, then the connector can accommodate different cable types, but the assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the assembly tool with universal functionality to handle both round and flat fiber cables. The holding portion includes a groove structure that can securely hold the strain relief sleeve and casing regardless of whether a round or flat cable is used. The tool integrates multiple functions (holding, aligning, and assembling) into a single device, eliminating the need for different assembly procedures or tools for different cable types, thus reducing assembly complexity while maintaining cable type versatility.
3Ease of manufacture
If the strain relief sleeve and casing are inserted manually, then no additional tools are needed, but the assembly precision and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly tool serves as an intermediary that improves both ease of operation and insertion precision. The holding portion with its groove structure securely holds the strain relief sleeve and casing in the correct position, while the transmission portion provides controlled force application. This ensures precise insertion of the components into the connector housing without requiring complex manual dexterity, combining tool-assisted precision with user-friendly operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An assembling jig for an optical-fiber connector includes two sleeve halves inter-connectible to form a sleeve body. Each of the sleeve halves includes a front half section, a rear half section extending rearwardly and longitudinally from the front half section, an abutment face extending longitudinally from the front half section to the rear half section, a strain relief sleeve holding groove opens at a front end face of the front half section and a cable passage groove opening at a rear end face of the rear half section. When the abutment faces abut with each other, the strain relief sleeve holding grooves cooperatively form a strain relief sleeve holding hole, and the cable passage grooves cooperatively form a cable passage hole.