JPH10239560A - Optical connector connecting tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector connecting tool capable of simply connecting an optical connector ferrule supported on a housing to another optical connector ferrule. SOLUTION: When an optical connector ferrule 5 is supported on a holder section 26 protruded from a ferrule support member 12 reciprocatably supported on the tool main body 11 of this tool 10 and is merely inserted into a housing 2, the connector ferrule 5 is supported on the elastic pawls 4 of housing 2, and the connected state to an optical connector ferrule 1 on the housing 2 side can be maintained. When a deforming contact section 24 movable relatively to the ferrule support member 12 is thrust into the housing 2, the connected state between the elastic pawls 4 and optical connector ferrule 5 is released, and the optical connector ferrule 5 can be easily extracted from the housing 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector connecting tool, and more particularly to an optical connector connecting tool suitable for application to an optical connector assembled by connecting optical connector ferrules.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an optical connector for switchably connecting optical fibers to each other, for example, a so-called MT type optical connector (Mechanical Optical Connector) defined in JISC5981.
yTransferable) is provided. However, the MT type optical connector requires (1) a dedicated jig for operations such as connection and connection switching, and is unsatisfactory in workability.
(2) In order to prevent the optical connector ferrule from being exposed, it is necessary to provide a protection means such as a cap, and there is a complaint that the handling is troublesome. Also,
In view of this problem, in recent years, a plastic optical connector (a so-called MPO connector) having a structure in which an optical connector ferrule defined in JIS C5981 or the like is housed inside a plastic housing has been provided. However, this plastic optical connector has the following additional problems: (3) the number of components is increased, the assembly is troublesome, the cost is increased, and (4) the size is increased, so that the mounting density cannot be improved. .

The present applicant has already filed an application for an optical connector such as Japanese Patent Application No. 8-325730 in order to solve the problems (1) to (4). FIG. 10 shows an example of this optical connector. This optical connector is JIS C5
A housing 2 for accommodating the optical connector ferrule 1 of the optical connector stipulated in 981 in a split body 2a, 2b having a split shape; a coil spring 3 for urging the accommodated optical connector ferrule 1 toward the outside of the housing 2; A pair of elastic claws 4, 4 projecting from the housing 2 along the biasing direction of the coil spring 3, and another optical connector ferrule 5, which is pushed from the outside and butt-connected to the optical connector ferrule 1, is connected to the coil spring 3. The connection between the two optical connector ferrules 1 and 5 is maintained by being sandwiched between the optical connector ferrules 4 and 4.

[0004]

By the way, in the optical connector as described above, there has been a demand for the development of a dedicated tool for easily inserting and removing the small-sized optical connector ferrule 5 from the housing 2. That is, when there is no special tool, the optical connector ferrule 5 is pushed by hand and connected to the optical connector ferrule 1.
Workability decreases. Further, in order to pull out the optical connector ferrule 5 in the connected state from the housing 2, the engagement state between the optical connector ferrule 5 and the elastic claws 4, 4 must be manually released. Therefore, there is a concern that the workability may be reduced, and there is also a concern that the elastic claws 4 and 4 and the optical connector ferrule 5 may be damaged by an excessive force.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. (A) By simply inserting and removing a ferrule from a housing, another ferrule supported on the housing is attached and detached to connect an optical connector. (B) The number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing can be performed at low cost. (C) Inserting and removing a holder part protruding from a ferrule support part into and from a housing. Since the work is performed, interference with surrounding parts can be avoided, and even when multiple housings are assembled, the optical connector ferrule can be easily connected to the target housing, It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector connection tool that can be disconnected and improves workability.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an optical connector ferrule which can be inserted into and removed from a housing supporting an optical connector ferrule which terminates a butt connection. An optical connector connecting tool for connecting another optical connector ferrule to the tool body, wherein a tool body and a holder part which is supported by the tool body so as to be movable forward and backward and which detachably supports the optical connector ferrule are directed in one direction of movement. A ferrule support component protruded from the tool body and an engaging claw that is removably engaged with an optical connector ferrule supported on the tool body and supported by the holder in the same direction as the ferrule support component. A hooking component provided, an optical connector ferrule and an engagement for urging the ferrule support component and the hooking component to be supported by a holder portion And a stopper that regulates movement by contacting the ferrule support component and the hooking component urged by the urging means, and is supported by the holder portion. The inserted optical connector ferrule is provided with an engaging portion which is removably engaged with an elastic claw protruding from the housing when inserted into the housing, and the tool body comes into contact with the elastic claw when inserted into the housing. And a tapered deformation contact portion for elastically deforming in a direction of releasing the engagement with the engagement portion is provided so that the ferrule support component and the hooking component are pressed against the stopper by the urging force of the urging member. Accordingly, the optical connector connecting tool according to the above-mentioned object is characterized in that the engaging portion and the engaging claw of the optical connector ferrule supported by the holder portion are protruded from the deforming contact portion so as to be able to protrude and retract. It was determined means.

As an optical connector ferrule, for example, J
A ferrule such as a so-called MT optical connector (Mechanically Transferable) defined in ISC5981 is employed. The ferrule support component is provided with support means for supporting the optical connector ferrule. For example, the M
In the case where the optical connector ferrule of the T-shaped optical connector is employed, the guide pin and the guide pin hole accurately position the pair of optical connector ferrules. A configuration is employed in which the optical connector ferrule is supported by being inserted into a guide pin hole. If the shapes of the housing and the ferrule supporting part are appropriately changed, for example, a so-called SC defined in JISC 5973 or the like can be used.
Various optical connector ferrules such as a ferrule of a shaped optical connector can be stored. As the hooking component, a component formed to have elasticity by resin or the like is employed. Thereby, the engaging claw is detachably engaged with the optical connector ferrule by the elastic force of the hook component itself. Further, it is preferable that the engaging claw is disengaged from the engaging portion provided on the optical connector ferrule, whereby the engaging portion is commonly used as an engagement target of the elastic claw and the engaging claw. This simplifies the structure of the optical connector ferrule. As the urging member, it is possible to use springs such as coil springs and leaf springs, as well as highly elastic materials such as rubber.

In this optical connector connecting tool, the optical connector ferrule is supported by the ferrule supporting part and inserted into the housing, thereby connecting to the optical connector ferrule supported by the housing. Before the optical connector connecting tool is inserted into the housing, the ferrule supporting component is urged by the urging member so that the engaging portion of the optical connector ferrule supported by the ferrule supporting component projects from the deformation contact portion. doing. In addition, the engagement of the engaging claw with the optical connector ferrule prevents the optical connector ferrule from being detached from the ferrule support component. In order to connect the optical connector ferrules, the optical connector ferrule supported by the ferrule supporting component is inserted into the housing, and the deforming contact portion does not contact the elastic claw.
Thereby, the elastic claw is engaged with the engaging portion, the optical connector ferrule is held, and the butted state with the optical connector ferrule supported on the housing is maintained.

When the connection between the optical connector ferrules is completed, the optical connector connecting tool is pulled out of the housing. At this time, the engagement between the optical connector ferrule and the engaging claw is released. If the pull-out resistance of the optical connector ferrule from the engaging claw is set to be smaller than the pull-out resistance of the engaging portion from the elastic claw, the optical connector ferrule can be engaged simply by pulling out the optical connector connection tool from the housing. The engagement with the claw is released, the optical connector ferrule is separated from the pulled-out optical connector connection tool, and the separated optical connector ferrule is engaged and supported by the elastic claw. Further, the engagement between the optical connector ferrule and the engaging claw can be released by a deformation projection or the like that elastically deforms the engaging claw that abuts when the optical connector connection tool is inserted into the housing to a target position. is there. In addition, in consideration of the later-described optical connector ferrule removal, it is necessary that the deforming projection does not elastically deform the engaging claw when the deforming contact portion is inserted into the housing.

This optical connector connecting tool is also used when an optical connector ferrule connected to an optical connector ferrule supported on a housing is pulled out of the housing. In this case, the optical connector connecting tool is inserted into the housing to a position where the deforming contact portion comes into contact with the elastic claw and is elastically deformed. As a result, the engagement between the elastic claw and the engagement portion is released, and the optical connector ferrule can be pulled out of the housing. In addition, since the engaging claw is engaged with the optical connector ferrule, the optical connector ferrule is pulled out of the housing together with the optical connector connection tool only by pulling out the optical connector connection tool from the housing. When pulling out the optical connector connection tool from the housing, it is necessary to regulate the engagement between the elastic claw and the engaging portion until the engaging portion is pulled out to a position where the engaging portion does not engage with the elastic claw. Therefore, after the hooking component is engaged with the optical connector ferrule, the engaging portion is retracted to a position where the engaging portion does not protrude from the abutting portion for deformation to regulate the engagement with the elastic claw, and this state is maintained. Pull out the optical connector connection tool from the housing.

The housing to which the optical connector connecting tool is applied preferably has an urging means for urging the optical connector ferrule in a direction toward the inserted holder portion, whereby the optical connector ferrule supported by the housing and the optical connector ferrule are provided. The optical connector ferrule and the optical connector ferrule butt-connected are sandwiched between the elastic claw and the urging means, and the urging force of the urging means gives a butt force between the two optical connector ferrules, and is provided between the two optical connector ferrules. The desired connection loss is obtained. The urging force of the urging means pushes the optical connector ferrule and the hooked component out of the housing when the connected optical connector ferrule is pulled out by the optical connector connection tool. Thereby, when the deforming contact portion comes into contact with the elastic claw and the engagement between the engaging portion and the elastic claw is released, the position where the optical connector ferrule does not protrude from the deforming contact portion due to the urging force of the urging means. As the optical connector connection tool is pulled out to a position where the engaging portion does not engage with the elastic claw while maintaining this state,
The optical connector ferrule can be easily extracted.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an optical connector connection tool according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG.
Reference numeral 10 denotes an optical connector connection tool, and a tool body 11,
Ferrule support part 12, hook part 13, urging member 14
It is provided with. This optical connector connection tool 10
Is for connecting and disconnecting another optical connector ferrule 5 to the optical connector ferrule 1 of the optical connector shown in FIG.

The tool body 11 has a base 15 formed in a slender shape from a material having sufficient rigidity, and a ferrule support component 12 and a hook component 13 sandwiched between the base 15 and supports the tool so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction. And a holding lid 16 having an elongated shape. The holding lid 16 is detachably fixed to the base 15 by screws 17. The base 15 has a stopper 18 at one end in the longitudinal direction. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a groove-shaped storage space for storing the stopper projections 19 and 20 projecting from the ferrule support component 12 and the hooking component 13 is provided between the base 15 and the holding lid 16 fixed to the base 15. 21 are formed. The storage space 21 extends elongated along the longitudinal direction of the base 15 and the holding lid 16, and the stored stopper projections 19 and 20 are movable within the range of their longitudinal dimensions. The stopper 18 projects from the base 15 facing the storage space 21, and the stopper projections 19 and 20 abut to limit the limit position at which the ferrule support component 12 and the hooking component 13 move in the longitudinal one end direction of the base 15. You have set. In addition, storage space 2
In 1, the stopper projection 19 of the ferrule support component 12 is located closer to the stopper 18, and the stopper projection 20 of the hooking component 13 is arranged at a position farther from the stopper 18 than the stopper projection 19, and the order is not reversed.

The biasing member 14 is a coil spring interposed between the supporting wall 16a facing the stopper 18 via the storage space 21 and the stopper projection 19, and moves the stopper projection 19 in the direction of the stopper 18. Energize. Therefore, in normal times, the urging force of the urging member 14
The stopper projections 19 and 20 are pressed against the stopper 18, and the ferrule support part 12 and the hook part 13 are attached to the base 1.
5 is located at the limit position where it can move in the direction of one end in the longitudinal direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the holding lid 16 includes a fixing portion 22 fixed to the base 15 and a position slightly apart from the base 15 when the optical connector connecting tool 10 is assembled, along the longitudinal direction of the base 15. Extending guide portion 23
And a deformation contact portion 24 that protrudes further outward in the longitudinal direction of the base 15 than the stopper 18. A pair of guide portions 23 are arranged apart from each other along both ends in the width direction (direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction) of the base 15, and a gap 25 is interposed between the two guide portions 23.
The deforming contact portion 24 is a tapered protruding wall which, when inserted into the housing 2, comes into contact with the elastic claws 4, 4 and elastically deforms them in a direction away from each other. As shown in FIG. 10, since the elastic claws 4 and 4 also have tapered walls 4a, when the deforming abutting portions 24 are inserted into the housing 2, the deforming abutting portions 24 become tapered walls 4a. And the elastic claw 4 is reliably and stably elastically deformed.

As shown in FIG. 1, a ferrule support part 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes an elongated thin plate made of a material having sufficient rigidity, and includes a stopper projection 19, a holder 26, and an optical fiber groove 2.
7. The slide flange 28 is provided.

The holder 26 is provided at one longitudinal end of the ferrule support component 12, and supports the optical connector ferrule 5 in a detachable manner. That is, the holder 26 has a structure in which the guide pins 30 inserted into the guide pin holes 29 of the optical connector ferrule 5 are held in a protruding state. These guide pins 30 have a length that does not protrude from the joint end face 6 of the optical connector ferrule 5 even when the optical connector ferrule 5 is held by the holder portion 26. The positioning between the optical connector ferrules 1 and 5 to be connected is performed by guide pins 9 and 9 clamped and supported by a pin clamp 8 built in the housing 2 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, when the optical connector connecting tool 10 is assembled, the holder portion 26 is disposed in the gap 25 near the deforming abutment portion 24, and the engaging portion formed on the optical connector ferrule 5 is formed. The portion 7 is supported at a position exposed from the deformation contact portion 24. Engaging part 7
When the ferrule support component 12 moves within the movable range in the longitudinal direction of the base 15, the ferrule support component 12 comes and goes from the deformation contact portion 24. The engaging portion 7 is a flange-shaped projection protruding from a position facing the joining end surface 6 of the optical connector ferrule 5.
4 are engaged.

As shown in FIG. 1, the optical fiber groove 27 is
The optical fiber 31 pulled out from the optical connector ferrule 5 supported by the holder 26 penetrates the ferrule support component 12 over its entire length in the longitudinal direction. The optical fiber 31 may be multi-core or single-core. In the case of multi-core, an optical fiber tape or the like is used. The slide flange 28 protrudes from the longitudinal center of the ferrule support component 12 to both sides in the width direction of the optical fiber groove 27, and when the optical connector connection tool 10 is assembled, the guide portion 2
3 and 23 are arranged outside. Thereby, when the ferrule support component 12 is sandwiched between the base 15 and the holding lid 16, the slide flanges 28, 28 slidably contact the guide portions 23, 23, so that the ferrule support component 12 is not displaced. The optical connector ferrule 5 is stably held by the tool body 11, and the support state of the optical connector ferrule 5 in the holder 26 is also stabilized.

The hooking part 13 is formed in an elongated thin plate shape from a material such as resin having elasticity as a whole.
And an engagement claw 32. The engaging claw 32 is a hook part 13
Provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the optical connector connection tool 10
During the assembly of the housing 2, the housing 2 is
It is located on the outside (lower left in FIG. 1) in the insertion direction, and engages with the optical connector ferrule 5 supported by the holder 26 in a detachable manner. The engaging claw 32 can freely move out of the deforming contact portion 24 when the hooking component 13 moves within the movable range of the base 15 in the longitudinal direction.

The operation and effect of the optical connector connection tool 10 will be described below with reference to the drawings. The optical connector connection tool 10 is used for two operations: a connection operation between the optical connector ferrule 1 on the housing 2 side and the optical connector ferrule 5, and an operation for extracting the connected optical connector ferrule 5 from the housing 2.

First, the connection operation will be described with reference to FIGS. In order to connect the optical connector ferrules 1 and 5, the optical connector ferrule 5 is mounted and supported on the holder 26 as shown in FIG.
The optical connector ferrule 5 and the optical connector ferrule 1 on the housing 2 side are inserted into the housing 2 as shown in FIG.
Are joined by butt-joining. As shown in FIG. 6, the optical connector ferrule 5 pushes the optical connector ferrule 5 into the housing 2 against the urging force of the coil spring 2 until the elastic claws 4 and 4 engage with the engaging portion 7. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, by fitting the guide pin holes 29 of the optical connector ferrule 5 with the guide pins 9 protruding from the joint end surface 6 of the optical connector ferrule 1, the two optical connector ferrules 1,
5 is relatively positioned. At this time, when the optical connector ferrule 5 is pushed into the housing 2 to some extent, the engaging claw 32 comes into contact with the housing 2 as shown in FIG. 11 is pushed into the housing 2 and the pushing is stopped at the same time when the elastic claws 4 and 4 are engaged with the engaging portions 7. The pushing amount of the optical connector connection tool 10 after the engagement claw 32 abuts on the housing 2 is minute, and when the elastic claws 4, 4 are engaged with the engagement portion 7, the deformation abutment portion 24. , 24 are elastic claws 4, 4
Do not abut. Since the engaging claw 32 abuts on the housing 2, the optical connector connection tool 10 is prevented from being pushed more than necessary into the housing 2, so that there is no fear of damaging the optical connector ferrules 1 and 5. After the engagement claws 32 are brought into contact with the housing 2, the slide flanges 28 may be pushed toward the housing 2.
The optical connector ferrule 5 can be engaged with the elastic claws 4, 4.

In the optical connector connecting tool 10, a stopper for restricting the ferrule support component 12 from retreating in the direction opposite to the insertion direction into the housing 2 is provided, and the engaging claw 32 is brought into contact with the housing 2. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the optical connector ferrule 5 can be reliably engaged with the elastic claws 4 when the tool main body 11 is inserted into the housing 2 afterwards. However, in view of the later-described extraction work, the stopper needs to be configured to be capable of switching between the restriction and the permission of the retraction of the ferrule support component 12.

When the optical connector ferrule 5 is engaged with the elastic claws 4, the optical connector connecting tool 10 is pulled out of the housing 2. The pull-out resistance of the engaging portion 7 from the elastic claws 4, 4 is set to be larger than the pull-out resistance of the engaging portion 7 from the engaging claw 32.
At the same time, the engaging claw 32 is separated from the engaging portion 7. As a result, the connected optical connector ferrules 1, 5
Is sandwiched between the coil spring 3 and the elastic claws 4, 4, and the urging force of the coil spring 3 acts as a butting force between the two optical connector ferrules 1, 5.

Next, the operation of extracting the optical connector ferrule 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. To remove the optical connector ferrule 5 in the connected state in the housing 2, first, as shown in FIG. 7, the holder 26 is brought close to the housing 2, and is guided into the guide pin hole 29 of the optical connector ferrule 5. The pins 30, 30 are fitted.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the tool body 11 is further pushed into the housing 2 so that the deforming abutting portion 24 abuts on the elastic claws 4, 4, and the elastic claws 4, 4 are elastically deformed. Release from the engaging portion 7. At this time, the tool main body 11 is pushed deeply into the housing 2 against the urging force of the urging member 14 after the engaging claw 32 comes into contact with the housing 2. The steps are different from those shown. Further, when the deforming contact portion 24 comes into contact with the elastic claws 4, the insertion limit of the ferrule support component 12 into the housing 2 is set by the urging force of the coil spring 3. It is pushed into the housing 2 while relatively moving with respect to the component 12, and finally the holder portion 26 and the engagement portion 7 are inserted into the deformation contact portion 24.
Is stored, and the engaging portion 7 is not exposed from the contact portion 24 for deformation. The engaging claw 32 is engaged with the engaging portion 7. After the engaging claw 32 abuts on the housing 2, the tool main body 11 moves the supporting wall 16 a to the stopper projection 19.
Can be pushed into the housing 2 until the support wall 16a comes into contact with the stopper projection 19, and the pressing force of the support wall 16a is supported by the hooking component 13 and the stopper projections 19 and 20. Therefore, movement to the housing 2 becomes impossible. This prevents the deformation projection 24 from being excessively pushed into the housing 2, and the ferrule 1,
5, the elastic claws 4, 4 and the like can be protected.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, when the tool main body 11 is pulled out of the housing 2, the optical connector ferrule 5 is pulled out.
Is pulled out integrally with the tool body 11 while being supported by the holder portion 26, and the drawing operation is completed. At this time, the optical connector ferrule 5 is pressed by the urging force of the coil spring 3 so that the engagement portion 7 is not exposed from the deformation contact portion 24 until the optical connector ferrule 5 moves outside the housing 2 beyond the elastic claws 4, 4. Since the elastic claws 4 are maintained, the elastic claws 4 do not engage with the engaging portions 7 during the extraction. In addition, if holding means for holding the holder portion 26 in a state of being pulled in the direction of the fixing portion 22 (see FIG. 1) with respect to the deformation contact portion 24 is provided, the engaging portion 7 and the elastic claws 4, 4 are provided. Can be prevented more reliably.

Therefore, the optical connector connection tool 10
According to this, it is possible to simply connect the optical connector ferrule 5 to the optical connector ferrule 1 on the housing 2 simply by supporting the optical connector ferrule 5 on the holder portion 26 and inserting the optical connector ferrule 5 into the housing 2. Further, by inserting the holder 26 into the housing 2 to support the optical connector ferrule 5 supported by the housing 2 and then pulling the optical connector ferrule 5 out of the housing 2, the optical connector ferrule 5 can be easily extracted from the housing 2. Furthermore, since the tool body 11, the ferrule support component 12, and the hook component 13 are elongated, even when a plurality of optical connectors (housings 2) are assembled, the objective connector can be used without interfering with surrounding optical connectors. The optical connector ferrule 5 can be easily inserted into and removed from the optical connector, and workability is improved. Further, since the number of parts is small and the configuration can be simplified, the cost can be easily reduced.

Incidentally, the shape and the like of each component constituting the optical connector connection tool 10 are not limited to the present embodiment, and it goes without saying that various configurations can be adopted. Also, the application object of the optical connector connection tool of the present invention,
The present invention is not limited to the optical connector shown in FIG. 10, and various types of optical connectors and optical connector adapters can be employed. In this case, it goes without saying that the configuration of the optical connector connection tool is also changed in accordance with the configuration of the target optical connector, the optical connector adapter, and the like.

[0029]

As described above, according to the optical connector of the present invention, (a) the optical connector ferrule is supported by the holder protruding from the ferrule supporting part supported by the tool body so as to be able to move forward and backward. Simply by inserting it into the housing, it can be easily connected to the optical connector ferrule on the housing side, and when the tool body is pulled out of the housing after connection, the optical connector ferrule can be left in a state where it is engaged with the elastic claws of the housing. (2) Insert the holder into the housing,
After supporting the optical connector ferrule in the connected state with the housing, simply pull out the tool body from the housing to release the engagement between the optical connector ferrule and the elastic claw and easily remove the optical connector ferrule. (C) Since the optical connector ferrule is supported by the holder protruding from the ferrule support part, even when a plurality of housings are assembled, The optical connector ferrule can be inserted into and removed from a target housing without interfering with the housing, and an excellent effect of improving workability of connection and extraction can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of an optical connector connection tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing the optical connector connection tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an operation of the optical connector connecting tool of FIG. 1 and showing a supporting process of the optical connector ferrule in a connecting operation.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an operation of the optical connector connecting tool of FIG. 1 and showing a step of inserting an optical connector ferrule in a connecting operation.

5 is a front sectional view showing the operation of the optical connector connection tool of FIG. 1, showing a state in which the optical connector ferrule is engaged and supported by an elastic claw in a connection operation.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the operation of the optical connector connecting tool of FIG. 1, showing a state in which the optical connector ferrule is engaged with and supported by an elastic claw in a connection operation.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the operation of the optical connector connection tool of FIG. 1, and showing a step of supporting the optical connector ferrule engaged and supported by the elastic claws with the holder in the extraction operation.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the operation of the optical connector connection tool of FIG. 1 and showing the step of releasing the engaged state between the elastic claws and the optical connector ferrule in the extracting operation.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the operation of the optical connector connection tool of FIG. 1, and showing a step of extracting the optical connector ferrule supported by the holder portion from the housing in the extracting operation.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional optical connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical connector ferrule, 2 ... Housing, 5 ... Optical connector ferrule, 7 ... Engagement part, 10 ... Optical connector connection tool, 11 ... Tool body, 12 ... Ferrule support part, 1
3 ... hooking parts, 14 ... biasing member (coil spring),
18: stopper, 24: contact wall for deformation, 26: holder, 31: optical fiber, 32: engaging claw.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshikazu Nomura 1440 Mutsuzaki, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture Inside Fujikura Sakura Plant

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An optical connector ferrule (1), which terminates an optical fiber (31) in a butt-connectable manner, and is inserted into and removed from a housing (2) supporting an optical connector ferrule (1). An optical connector connection tool for connecting a ferrule (5), comprising: a tool body (11); and a holder part (26) supported by the tool body so as to be able to move forward and backward and detachably supporting the optical connector ferrule. Ferrule support part (1
2) and an engaging claw (32) projectingly supported by the tool body in the same direction as the ferrule supporting part so as to be able to move forward and backward and engaged with the optical connector ferrule supported by the holder portion in a detachable manner. A hooking component (13); an urging member (14) for urging the ferrule support component and the hooking component to press the optical connector ferrule and the engagement claw supported by the holder portion in one direction of the movement direction; A stopper (18) for restricting movement by contacting the ferrule support component and the hooking component urged by the urging means, wherein the optical connector ferrule supported by the holder is inserted into the housing when inserted into the housing. An engaging portion (7) is provided for engaging and disengaging an elastic claw protruding from the housing. The tool body comes into contact with the elastic claw when inserted into the housing to release the engagement with the engaging portion. The ferrule supporting part and the hooking part are pressed against the stopper by the urging force of the urging member, so that the ferrule supporting part and the hooking part are supported by the holder part. An optical connector connection tool (10), characterized in that the engaging portion and the engaging claw of the formed optical connector ferrule are protruded from the deforming contact portion so as to be able to protrude and retract.