Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-19
2002-04-09
Healy, Brian (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
C385S076000, C385S077000, C385S078000, C385S080000, C385S139000, C385S141000, C385S134000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06367986
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY
The present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing a low cross-linking-density gel used to connect optical fibers, and an optical fiber connector for connecting end faces of optical fibers.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
An optical fiber connector, a fixed connecting device, a light combining/splitting device or like device has been generally used to connect end faces of optical fibers.
A mechanical contact method is mainly used to connect end faces of optical fibers in an optical fiber connector. According to this mechanical contact method, ferrules are respectively fitted on cores of both optical fibers and are inserted into fitting holes, which are formed in the opposite side surfaces of a connector main body to communicate with each other in linear alignment with each other, from the opposite sides of the connector main body, and the end faces of the two cores having the ferrules fitted therearound are fixed in abutment against each other to be connected with each other.
Besides the above mechanical contact method, for example, there have been proposed the use of a lens as an optical conductor at a joint portion and the use of a matching oil in the optical fiber connector as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. 56-110912 and No. 56-81807, respectively.
On the other hand, matching oil, matching grease, epoxy resin or the like is used as an optical conductor for the connection of optical fibers in a fixed connecting device or light combining/splitting device.
It is basically required in the connection of the optical fibers to maximally eliminate the diffusion of light at the joint portion of the two end faces.
However, according to the method for mechanically bringing the end faces of the optical fibers into contact with each other, an air layer is inevitably present between the end faces due to its mechanical construction. Since this air layer and the cores of the optical fibers have different refractive indices, light is diffused due to a difference in refractive index, resulting in a loss of light.
An arrangement of an optical conductor between the end faces has been proposed and put into practice in order to eliminate the air layer and prevent the loss of light.
However, the prior art method using a lens as the optical conductor necessitates a complicated construction and the use of a large-sized apparatus and has a problem in reliability during the attachment and detachment of the optical fibers. Thus, this method has low industrial applicability.
The prior art method using matching oil as the optical conductor has problems of flow-out and oxidation of the oil resulting from increase and decrease of temperature, and a problem of a short life. Particularly, if silicone oil is used as the matching oil, it is difficult to prevent the silicone oil from flowing out due to its creeping characteristic. Thus, the use of the matching oil compels an exchange of oil after a certain period of time and, therefore, has low industrial applicability.
On the other hand, the method using grease as the optical conductor has been proposed in order to avoid the above problems of flow-out and oxidation of oil. Grease can certainly avoid an undesirable event of flow-out due to its high viscosity, but cannot avoid problems of changes in characteristics caused by temperature and a difference in refractive index between a thickening agent and a composition and has a lower light transmittance as compared to the case where the matching oil is used. Further, grease has a fatal problem of being unable to restore (eliminate) air bubbles produced by a displacement of the two end faces at the joint portion. Therefore, grease also has low industrial applicability.
According to the prior art method using an epoxy resin as the optical conductor, the epoxy resin is cured by heating or air-cured, and displays a satisfactory performance over a long period of time. However, this method has an unavoidable problem of coloring due to oxidation. In view of operability, mixing of a curing agent, removal of air bubbles, curing by heating, etc. are necessary during the manufacturing process. Further, in the case of defective connection of the end faces, the optical fibers have to be thrown away and the whole process has to be resumed from the beginning. This method is used despite its poor yield, but has low industrial applicability.
On the other hand, the inventors of the present application invented the filling of a gelatinous material having a refractive index similar to that of the cores of the optical fibers. However, there is no dispenser for dispensing a very tiny predetermined amount of this gelatinous material. Thus, despite the finding of the inventive gelatinous material, it cannot be dispensed by a predetermined amount into an optical conductor. Therefore, there is a demand for an improved dispenser.
The present invention was developed in view of the above situation, and a main object thereof is to provide a dispenser which can dispense a low cross-linking-density gel used to join end faces of optical fibers.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber connector which can join end faces of optical fibers while effectively suppressing the diffusion of light despite its simple construction.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber connector which can suppress the diffusion of light by maintaining its working performance over a long period of time.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the aforementioned problems and accomplish the above objects, a dispenser, comprising;
an outer tube having one end formed with an insertion hole and the other end being open, and extending straight along a specified longitudinal axis,
a syringe having one end to which a nozzle insertable into the insertion hole is attached, and being adapted to contain a low cross-linking-density gel which has been produced therein,
a piston head slidably provided in the syringe along a longitudinal direction for sealing the low cross-linking-density gel therein, and
a dispensing means mounted on the outer tube for coming into contact with the piston head through the open other end of the syringe to push it, thereby dispensing the low crosslinking-density gel in the syringe through the nozzle.
In the inventive dispenser, a cap for sealing the inside of the syringe is mounted on the syringe instead of the nozzle when the low cross-linking-density gel is produced in the syringe.
In the inventive dispenser, the piston head seals the inside of the syringe as a sealing packing when the low cross-linking-density gel is produced in the syringe.
In the inventive dispenser, the dispensing means is so constructed as to dispense a predetermined amount of the low cross-linking-density gel.
In the inventive dispenser, the dispensing means includes:
a piston rod which is movably mounted on the outer tube along the longitudinal direction and whose leading end can be brought into contact with the piston head,
a first engaging means provided between the piston rod and the outer tube for moving the piston rod along the longitudinal direction as the piston rod is rotated,
a rotary tube rotatably mounted on the outer surface for covering the piston rod,
a second engaging means which is provided between the rotary tube and the piston rod and is engaged to rotate the piston rod together as the rotary tube is rotated and permit the movement of the piston rod along the longitudinal direction, and
a rotation locking means for locking the rotary tube such that the rotary tube is rotatable by a specified angle every time it is turned.
In the inventive dispenser, the rotary tube is transparent so that the inside thereof is visible from outside.
In the inventive dispenser, the outer circumferential surface of the rotary tube is so graduated as to indicate a remaining amount of the low cross-linking-density gal in the syringe,
In the inventive dispenser, the outer tube is integrally mounted with a mount block having a center hole which penetrates the mount
Inagaki Takeo
Sakai Naomi
Healy Brian
Uren John Russell
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