Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Limited

Takehiko Yamamura

Hayato Yuuki

Shigeto Kawamura

The terminal treatment device for a plastic optical fiber is improved so that void formation between the melt zone of the ferrule and the plastic optical fiber is avoided, leading to the prevention of crack formation. The device constitutes a chamber, the upper side of which is open, a heater in the chamber, a heated element which may be at the top of the chamber, and a base frame and a top frame to secure the heated element to the chamber. The element is a rectangular plate, made of a metal having good thermal conductivity and includes a thicker part and a thinner part surrounding it. At the center of the thicker part, there is provided a blind hole into which the tip of the ferrule is fitted. A plurality of heat evacuation vents is formed around this blind hole and elsewhere in the chamber to facilitate cooling.

Terminal treatment device for a plastic fiber

The optical fiber connector assembly including a clamping member, a holding member, and a connector housing provided with a ferrule and a receiving chamber. The optical fiber to be connected has a coated portion and an exposed end. The clamping member is crimped on the coated portion of the fiber and the fiber is inserted into--and held by--the holding member, thus constituting a fixing device. This device, together with the optical fiber, is inserted into the chamber of the connector housing through the opening in its rear, so that the exposed end of the fiber is secured in the ferrule. The clamping member desirably comprises a cylindrical portion fixed to the coated optical fiber, and a flange, by which the clamping member is fixed to the holding member. The holding member can be formed by a pair of elements. One face of each element is configured so that, when the two elements are in opposing abutment, they cover and retain the clamping member and the coated fiber. The whole structure is then fitted into the connector housing and the exposed end is inserted into the ferrule.

Connector assembly for elongated elements

There is disclosed a ferrule including a sheath holding portion (11) and a core wire holding portion (12) which have inner diameters slightly greater than the outer diameters of a sheath portion (a) and a core wire portion (b) of a plastic fiber (A), respectively. The sheath holding portion (11) is provided with a flange portion (11a) which contacts a coiled spring when mounted in a connector housing, and the core wire holding portion (12) includes a large-diameter portion (13) at a front end thereof for receiving a front end portion of the core wire portion (b) of the plastic fiber (A) softened by hot plate treatment. The large-diameter potion (13) has a tapered inner surface such that an inner diameter thereof increases toward the front end, and the angle of flare thereof is 30 degrees.

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Yokkaichi, Japan

Takehiko Yamamura