Optical fiber connector and an assembly method for the same

The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector whereby an operator can easily couple optical fibers on site, and to an assembly method for the same. More specifically the invention relates to: an optical fiber connector wherein a guide ferrule bush is provided between a ferrule and a coil spring so as to be able to solve a problem whereby a ferrule optical fiber between a ferrule body and a reinforcing sleeve is bent, and a problem whereby contact between the ferrule body and the ferrule optical fiber is broken due to frequent movement, when the ferrule moves within a range of movement provided for by a resilient member due to the resilient member; and to an assembly method for the same.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 371 application of International Application No. PCT/KR2010/005713, filed Aug. 25, 2010, which in turn claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0065973, filed Jul. 8, 2010, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector and a method for assembling the same, and in particular to an optical fiber connector and a method for assembling the same which are directed to installing a guide ferrule bush between a ferrule and a coil spring in an attempt to overcome the problems that an adhesion state of an adhesion part between a ferrule body and a ferrule optical fiber or a ferrule expander and a ferrule optical fiber due to a frequent movement when a ferrule moves within a permitted (given) range due to a ferrule elastic member is broken or a ferrule optical fiber between a ferrule body and a reinforcing sleeve is bent.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, FTTH (Fiber To The Home) designed to provide diverse information including broadcast information, communication information, etc. by connecting an optical fiber to an ordinary home is increasingly used at an apartment home and an ordinary housing. The optical cable in the FTTH system is extended to a home, one end of which is terminated with an optical fiber connector. The FTTH worker sets an optical cable a little longer about a few meters than an actual length in consideration with a splice between optical fibers and then is extended to a home. The worker cuts off an optical fiber by a needed length, and assemblies an optical fiber connector at its end and connects the connector with an optical adapter, thus installing the optical fiber.

The prior art patents 1 to 6 discloses diverse technologies with respect to an optical fiber connector coupled to an optical adapter.

One of the ordinary optical fiber connector is disclosed in a construction site assembling type optical connector of Korean patent registration publication No. 10-0669947 the invention of which is directed to connecting an end of a ferrule optical fiber with an end of a main optical fiber. The above patent discloses a splice method formed of a mechanical splice method connecting a main cable alignment member accommodating an end of a ferrule optical fiber and a, end of a main optical fiber, and a fusion splice method fusion-connecting an end of a ferrule optical fiber and an end of a main optical fiber by using an is optical fiber fusion connector and reinforcing a fusion splice part with a reinforcing sleeve formed of a thermal contraction tube (refer to prior arts 3 to 6).

The present invention is directed to a fusion splice method, and the optical fiber connector of the fusion splice method comprises a ferrule1formed of a ferrule optical fiber, an elastic member2elastically supporting the ferrule, a plug frame4accommodating the ferrule and elastic member, a stopper3installed at the plug frame and fixing the ferrule and the elastic member at the plug frame, a reinforcing sleeve5reinforcing the fusion splice part of an end of the ferrule optical fiber and an end of the main optical fiber, a plug handle6, and a boot7.

The optical fiber connector of the fusion splice method is characterized in that the ferrule I elastically by an elastic member, thus moving within a range set by the elastic member2. When the ferule moves within a range set by the elastic member, an adhesion state between the ferrule body1aand the ferrule optical fiber1bmight be worsened, or the ferrule optical fiber might be disconnected, which leads to a faster bending of part1cof the ferrule optical fiber.

As shown inFIG. 1B, when the ferrule moves within a range set by the elastic member2by means of an external force, part1b′ of the ferrule optical fiber1bbetween the ferrule body1aand the reinforcing sleeve5bends, and the frequent movement of the ferrule body1acontributes to causing a failure in the adhesion state between the ferrule body and the ferrule optical fiber, and the ferrule optical fiber might be disconnected, and when external force is applied to the ferrule body1a, part of the ferrule optical fiber bends, and part of the shorter ferrule optical fiber bends, which expedites bending, thus causing a lot of problems in the efficiency of the optical fiber.

In the optical fiber connector of a conventional fusion splice method, when a fusion splice part is reinforced by heating a reinforcing sleeve formed of a thermal contraction tube, an adhesive used to integrally form a ferrule body and a ferrule optical fiber melts down, which leads to a transformation. In order to prevent the above problem, it is needed to make the ferrule exposed in minimum when assembling the optical fiber connector.

The cold peeling (at room temperature) is mainly performed when peeling a ferrule optical fiber in such a manner that the ferrule can be exposed, in minimum, to heat, so an adhered part of the ferrule might hurt as a large force (weight) is applied in the course of peeling of the ferrule optical fiber or the ferrule optical fiber is disconnected.

The problems of the conventional art will be described using the cited prior arts.

The optical fiber disclosed in the cited prior art 3 of Korean patent publication number 10-2009-0083373 is directed to obtaining compactness. A ferrule7and a reinforcing sleeve15are very close to each other. When it is intended to heat for a thermal contraction of a reinforcing sleeve, an adhesive used to integrally form an optical fiber to a ferrule used to be transformed.

The optical fiber disclosed in Japanese patent publication number 2008-225461 in the cited prior art 6 is characterized in that a protruded portion of a fixture coupled to a frame is provided, and an integrated construction is achieved in the course of a thermal contraction of a reinforcing sleeve, thus enhancing a tensional force. When a reinforcing sleeve is thermally contracted and then becomes integral with the protruded portion of the fixture, the fixture and the optical fiber of the ferrule become integral by means of the reinforcing sleeve. As shown inFIG. 1, when force (weight) is applied to the ferrule of the front side of the connector, the ferrule moves in a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber by means of the elastic member. At this time, a bending phenomenon occurs at a part1b′ of the shorter ferrule optical fiber1b, so the optical fiber is disconnected, and short circuit problem occurs. Since a sharp angle bending occurs, a signal transmission loss might fast increase.

Te optical connectors of the prior art documents 3, 5 and 6 are directed to peeling the optical fibers at the factory, assembling to a ferrule with an adhesive and cutting and supplying the same to a construction site. When they are supplied in a non-peeled state, the ferrule optical fiber formed of ferrule and optical fiber which are bonded by an adhesive is needed to be peeled off at a construction site. In this case, a bonded portion becomes weak due to the weight occurring during peeling, so a transformation or short circuit problem occurs.

In addition, when the ferrule is peeled off from an optical fiber at a factory and an adhesive is bonded, and a necessary cutting is performed and supplied to a construction site, a manufacture cost increases due to a hard work, and a short circuit problem might occur when doing such works at the construction site.

The peeled optical fiber might be exposed to the air for a long time, so it might be contaminated by moisture or optical pollutant materials.

In order to overcome the above-described problems, the Japanese patent publication number 2009-69607 of the prior art document 5 discloses an invention on a packing technology providing a peeled optical fiber. In case that the optical fiber is supplied in a packed state, the manufacture cost increases, and since the entire volume of the products increase, which results in increasing transportation cost.

The reinforcing sleeve ofFIG. 2is directed to using a conventional optical connector formed of a double tube structure consisting of two thermal contraction tubes of an inner side tube5aand an outer side tube5bin which a thermal contraction time increases.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

(Prior art document 1) Prior at document 1: Koran patent registration publication number 10-0669947

(Prior art document 2) Prior at document 2: Korean patent registration publication number 10-2009-0078350

(Prior art document 3) Prior at document 3: Korean patent registration publication number 10-2009-0083373

(Prior art document 4) Prior at document 4: Korean patent registration publication number 10-2007-0045972

(Prior art document 5) Prior at document 5: Japanese patent publication number patent laid-open hei 2009-69607

(Prior art document 6) Prior at document 6: Japanese patent publication number patent laid-open hei 2008-225461

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber connector and a method for assembling the same which overcome the problems encountered in the conventional art and in which a ferrule optical fiber is supplied in a non-peeled state and is peeled off at a construction site and is assembled, thus preventing a unit cost increase problem.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber connector which makes it possible to prevent a transformation of a ferrule due to a transformation of an adhesive between a ferrule body and a ferrule optical fiber due to a heat occurring when a reinforcing sleeve is heated in order to reinforce a fusion splice part of an optical fiber connector.

It is further another object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber which makes it possible to prevent a bending of a ferrule optical fiber between a ferrule body and a reinforcing sleeve when a ferrule moves within a moving range of an elastic member as it is supported by an elastic member, thus preventing the decrease of a short circuit and efficiency of a ferrule optical fiber occurring due to a bending of a ferrule optical fiber.

It is still further another object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber which makes it possible to overcome a problem that heating time for a thermal contraction of a reinforcing sleeve is long by making a double tube formed of a thermal contraction tube in a single tube type reinforcing sleeve.

It is still further another object of the present invention to provide a method for assembling an optical fiber connector at a construction site by using a thermal splice unit.

To achieve the above objects, there is provided an optical fiber connector which fusion-splices a ferrule optical fiber enclosed in a ferrule elastically supported by means of an elastic member, and a main optical fiber by using a fusion splice unit, and the fusion splice part is reinforced by a reinforcing sleeve, thus connecting a main optical fiber and a ferrule optical fiber, comprising a guide ferrule bush installed between the ferrule and the elastic member; and the guide ferrule bush and the optical fiber fusion splice part being integral by means of a reinforcing sleeve.

There is provided an optical fiber connector which fusion-splices a ferrule optical fiber enclosed in a ferrule elastically supported by means of an elastic member, and a main optical fiber by using a fusion splice unit, and the fusion splice part is reinforced by a reinforcing sleeve, thus connecting a main optical fiber and a ferrule optical fiber, comprising a guide ferrule bush installed between the ferrule and the elastic member; and the ferrule and the guide ferrule bush being movable within a range set by the elastic member.

There is provided an optical fiber connector which fusion-splices a ferrule optical fiber enclosed in a ferrule elastically supported by means of an elastic member, and a main optical fiber by using a fusion splice unit, and the fusion splice part is reinforced by a reinforcing sleeve, thus connecting a main optical fiber and a ferrule optical fiber, comprising a guide ferrule bush installed between the ferrule and the elastic member, the guide ferrule bush being elastically supported by means of the elastic member.

The ferrule and a ferrule optical fiber are supplied to a construction site in a ferrule assembly type that a coating of a ferrule optical fiber is not peeled, so the peeling of the same is conducted at a construction site.

A protrusion is formed at an end of the guide ferrule bush, and one end of the reinforcing sleeve surrounds the protrusion, so the ferrule, the guide ferrule bush and the reinforcing sleeve are integral.

There is provided an optical fiber connector which fusion-splices a ferrule optical fiber enclosed in a ferrule elastically supported by means of an elastic member, and a main optical fiber by using a fusion splice unit, and the fusion splice part is reinforced by a reinforcing sleeve, thus connecting a main optical fiber and a ferrule optical fiber, comprising the reinforcing sleeve being formed of a thermal contraction tube having a thermal adhering layer in the interior of the same.

There is provided a method for assembling an optical fiber connector which is fusion-spliced in such a manner that a ferrule optical fiber and another main optical fiber are fusion-spliced by using a fusion splice unit, comprising a step for engaging a ferrule assembly of a ferrule optical fiber the coating of which is not peeled off, at a holder; and a step for engaging the holder at the holder engaging part of the peeling device and performing a hot peeling procedure.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

The optical fiber according to the present invention makes it possible to prevent a transformation of a ferrule by means of heat in such a manner that heat transferred to ferrule when heating a reinforcing sleeve is interrupted by a guide ferrule bush installed between a ferrule and an elastic member in such a manner that a ferrule and an elastic member do not contact with each other, so a hot peeling performed after heating is possible, thus preventing the damages of a ferrule which occurs due to a cold peeling.

In the conventional art, a ferrule optical fiber is peeled and then supplied in order to prevent a breaking of a boned portion between a ferrule body and a ferrule optical fiber occurring due to a cold peeling or a short circuit of a ferrule optical fiber, but when a peeled ferrule optical fiber is provided, it is exposed to the air for a long time, so the quality of the optical fiber changes, and it is hard to prevent the damages of a peeled optical fiber in the course of storage and movement. In the present invention, a hot peeling can be possible with the aid of a guide ferrule bush belonging to an optical fiber connector, so it does not need to supply a peeled ferrule optical fiber.

In addition, the guide ferrule bush is integrally formed with a reinforcing sleeve along with a ferrule bush, so it moves within a movement range of an elastic member, thus preventing a problem that a ferrule optical fiber is bent or becomes short circuit.

In the present invention, the reinforcing sleeve is formed of a thermal contraction tube with a thermal bonding layer in the interior in a single tube structure, so the storage and movement are easy, and the use of the same is convenient, and workability can be enhanced.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The terms and words used in the descriptions and the claims are not intended to be interpreted as a conventional or limited meaning, and such terms and words should be preferably interpreted as having meaning and concepts matching with the technical concepts of the present invention based on the principles that the concepts of the words can be defined in a proper manner for the inventor to describe his own invention in the best mode.

Therefore, the embodiments and constructions of the descriptions of the present invention are for only illustrative purposes, not representing the technical concepts of the present invention, so it is obvious that there might be diverse equivalents and modifications which can substitute the inventions at the time of the application.

As shown inFIGS. 3 to 5, the optical fiber connector C according to the present invention comprises a ferrule10, a guide ferrule bush20enclosing part of the ferrule10, an elastic member30installed at an outer side of the guide ferrule bush20, a plug frame40enclosing the ferrule10, the guide ferrule bush20and the elastic member30, a stopper50which is engaged to the plug frame40and fixing the ferrule10, the guide ferrule bush20and the elastic member30which are encased in the plug frame40, a connector grip70enclosing the plug frame40, a reinforcing sleeve60reinforcing the ferrule optical fiber13of the ferrule10and the fusion splice of the main optical fiber90, and a boot80engaged to the stopper50.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 6to8, the ferrule10is formed of a ferrule body11, a ferrule diameter expander12, and a ferrule optical fiber13. The ferrule body11, the ferrule diameter expander12and the ferrule optical fiber13are bonded by an adhesive in an integral form, and the end of the ferrule optical fiber13is provided a non-peeled state and is peeled off using a peeling unit installed at a fusion splice unit at a construction site.

As shown inFIG. 8, the ferrule10has first and second adhering parts14and15bonded by an adhesive, and the first adhering part14is integral with the ferrule body11and the ferrule optical fiber13, and the second adhering part15is integral with the ferrule diameter expander12and the ferrule optical fiber13.

As shown inFIG. 8, the first adhering part14is positioned at an inner side of the ferrule diameter expander12, and the second adhering part15is positioned at the inner side of the guide ferrule bush20. With the above construction, it is possible to prevent the head, which occurs when the ferrule optical ferrule13is peeled or the reinforcing sleeve is installed, from being transferred to the adhering parts14and15.

As shown inFIG. 6, the ferrule diameter expander12has a short shaft12a, and the short shaft12ais inserted into the installation groove21of the guide ferrule bush20.

Reference numeral11′ represents a ferrule protection cap.

As shown inFIGS. 6 to 8, the guide ferrule bush20is formed in a tube type for the end of the ferule optical fiber13to pass through the same, and an installation groove21is formed at an inner side at a certain depth, so the short shaft12ahaving the length same as the length of the ferrule diameter expander12can be inserted into, and the engaging shoulder22and the guide part23are installed at the outer side for the coil spring shaped elastic member30to be installed, and the protrusion part24is formed at the portion opposite to the opening into which the ferrule10is inserted. At least one plane surface is formed at the outer surface of the guide part23so that the guide ferrule bush20can move in the longitudinal direction of the ferrule optical fiber13, but cannot rotate about the ferrule optical fiber13. The plane surface comes into contact with the plane surface formed at the inner surface of the guide hole52of the stopper50. As shown inFIG. 10, the protrusion part24is surrounded by the end of the reinforcing sleeve60, so the guide ferrule bush20and the reinforcing sleeve60become integral.

The elastic member30is made of a metallic coil spring, and as shown inFIGS. 6 to 8, it is installed at the guide part23of the ferrule bush20.

As shown inFIGS. 6 to 8, the plug frame40comprises a shoulder41which passes through and catches the ferrule diameter expander12of the ferrule10at the inner side, an engaging groove42for engagement with the stopper50, and an engaging protrusion43for engagement with the connector grip70at an outer side.

As shown inFIGS. 6 to 8, the stopper50is engaged to the plug frame40as its one side is inserted into the plug frame40and fixes the ferrule10inserted in the plug frame40and has its other end engaged with the boot80and comprise an installation groove51formed at the inner side for the installations of the ferrule bush20and the elastic member30, and a guide hole52installed for the guide part23of the guide ferrule bush20to pass through. At an inner surface of the guide hole52is formed a plane surface corresponding to the plane surface formed at the guide part23of the guide ferrule bush20, the plane surface coming into contact with the plane surface formed at the guide part23of the guide ferrule bush20, thus allowing the guide ferrule bush20to move in the longitudinal direction of the ferrule optical fiber13, not permitting rotating about the ferrule optical fiber13. At the outer side is formed an engaging protrusion53for engagement with the plug frame40.

As shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, the reinforcing sleeve60is directed to surrounding the fusion splice part connected with the ferrule optical fiber13and the main optical fiber90, thus reinforcing the same. The reinforcing sleeve60is formed in a single tube structure formed of a thermal contraction tube61, and a thermal adhering layer62formed at an inner side of the heat contraction tube61by means of a thermal adhesive like a hot melt. The reinforcing sleeve60might include an elongated reinforcing pin which can bend with an elastic property.

The single tube shaped reinforcing sleeve60in which the thermal adhering layer62is formed at its inner side makes it possible to seal the fusion splice parts of the ferrule optical fiber13and the main optical fiber90by means of the thermal adhering layer62during heating.

Even though the metallic reinforcing pin used in the conventional reinforcing sleeve is removed, a bending at the portion of the reinforcing sleeve60can be obtained. As shown inFIG. 12B, when an external force is applied in the direction of the ferrule10, the ferrule10and the guide ferrule bush20integrally move with a moving range permitted by the elastic member30and bend at the portion of the reinforcing sleeve60.

Instead of using the metallic reinforcing pin which is conventionally used to prevent bending, an elongated reinforcing pin which can bend with an elastic force can be used. Namely, the elongated reinforcing pin should be elastically bent without having a transformation in a longitudinal direction, thus providing a bending of an optical fiber in the reinforcing sleeve, not allowing a transformation in a longitudinal direction.

When it is bent at the portion of the reinforcing sleeve60, it is possible to prevent the reinforcing pin from being sharply bent since it is longer than the ferrule optical fiber13in the plug frame40.

The boot80is engaged with the stopper50and surrounds the portions of the reinforcing sleeve60. As shown inFIGS. 4 and 11, the boot80has an engaging groove to be engaged with the engaging protrusion of the stopper50at an outer side. At an end of the same (where the main optical fiber is inserted) is formed a clamp device81for preventing the force, applied in the direction of the main optical fiber90, from being transferred in the direction of the ferrule10by clamping the main optical fiber90.

The clamping device81comprises a clamp part82formed at an end of the boot body with the diameter of the clamp part changing when an external force is applied, and a pressing ring83installed at an outer side of the clamp part82for thereby applying an external force so that the diameter of the clamp part82changes.

The clamp part82is formed of at least one cut-away part82aat an end portion so that the diameter of the same can change when an external force is applied, and a clamp protrusion82bis formed at an inner side for enhancing a clamping force.

The pressing ring83has a taper (slope surface)83aat its inner surface for applying an external force thus changing the diameter of the clamp part82.

At an outer surface of the clamp part82is formed a male thread groove, and at an inner surface of the pressing ring83is formed a thread groove, so the clamp part82and the pressing ring83are thread engaged with each other.

As shown inFIG. 13, it is preferred that a ferrule assembly (a), a connector grip70, a reinforcing sleeve60and a boot80keep separated from one another when they are supplied, thus forming an optical fiber connector C.

As shown inFIGS. 6 to 8, the ferrule assembly (a) is formed in an integral structure formed of a ferrule10having a ferrule optical fiber13the end of which is not peeled, and a guide ferrule bush20, an elastic member30, a plug frame40, and a fixture50.

As they are supplied in the form of the ferrule assembly (a), the worker can peel the end of the ferrule optical fiber13by using a fusion splice unit at the construction site, while preventing the losses of the small elastic member30, the fixture50or other elements.

FIGS. 14 and 15show the optical fiber fusion splice100. The optical fiber fusion splice100comprises a peeling device110for peeling the optical fiber, a cutting device120for cutting an end of the optical fiber peeled by the peeling device110, a fusion splice unit130for fusion splicing the core ends of the ferrule optical fiber13cut by the cutting device120and the main optical fiber90, a heating device140for reinforcing the fusion splice part fusion-spliced by the fusion splice device130with the reinforcing sleeve, a monitor part150, a washing device160washing the optical fiber ends cut by the cutting device120, and a holder170which encloses the ferrule assembly (a) and installs the peeling device110or the fusion splice device130.

The technology concerning the optical fiber fusion splice unit100is provided in various forms. The same applicant of the present invention has filed a Korean patent registration number 10-0951427 entitled a portable optical fiber fusion splice unit.

As shown inFIG. 17, the ferrule assembly (a) integrally formed of a ferrule10in which a ferrule optical fiber13is installed, a guide ferrule bush20, an elastic member30, a plug frame40, and a fixture50, is enclosed in a holder170formed of a holder body171having a V-shaped groove171afor fixing a ferrule optical fiber13and a cover172, and the holder170is detachably fixed at the peeling device110and the fusion splice unit130, respectively.

As shown inFIGS. 15 and 16, an installation part is provided at the portions of the peeling device110and the fusion splice device130for enclosing the ferrule assembly (a) that is to detach the holder (170).

As shown inFIGS. 16 to 18, the peeling device110comprises a slide part111in which the holder170having a ferrule assembly (a) is enclosed and which slides, a heating peeling part112for peeling the ferrule optical fiber13of the ferrule assembly (a), and a transfer motor113having a transfer shaft114for reciprocating the slide part111.

At each of the slide part111and the heating peeling part112are disposed at covers111aand112a, respectively.

As shown inFIG. 19, the holder170having the ferrule assembly (a) is installed at the slide part111of the peeling device110, and the covers111aand112aare covered, and the heating peeling part112is heated, and the transfer motor113is driven, and the slide part111is moved. As a result, as shown inFIG. 19, the end of the fiber is peeled so that the core13aof the ferrule optical fiber13of the ferrule assembly (a) enclosed in the holder170is exposed.

The core13aof the ferrule optical fiber13of the ferrule assembly (a) which was peeled, is cut by the cutting device120, and then is washed by means of the washing device160and is fusion-spliced with the main optical fiber90at the fusion splice device130.

The peeling work for peeling the end of the optical fiber is classified into a cold (lot temperature) peeling performed without heating, and a hot (heating) peeling performed by heating.

First, the cold (low temperature) peeling is directed to peeling at a room temperature without heating, which has a disadvantage that large load (weight) is applied to the optical fiber during peeling. Namely, the ferrule diameter expander12and the adhering parts14and15of the ferrule optical fiber13might be damaged by the force during peeling, or the ferrule optical fiber13might be disconnected (short circuit).

Second, the hot (heating) peeling is directed to peeling by heating, which has an advantage that force (weight) is less applied to the optical fiber, but the ferrule diameter expander12and adhering parts14and15of the ferrule optical fiber13might be melted down by means of the heat.

As shown inFIG. 8, in the present invention, the guide ferrule bush20surrounds the ferrule diameter expander12and the adhering parts14and15of the ferrule optical fiber13and is spaced-apart from the adhering parts14and15and the protrusions24of the guide ferrule bush20, and the guide ferrule bush20insulates the heat transferred to the adhering parts14and15during heating for a hot (heating) peeling, so that it is possible to prevent the transforms of the adhering parts14and15due to the heat.

In case of peeling, the ferrule assembly (a) is installed at the holder170, and a necessary work is performed, and at this time, the ferrule optical fiber13is clamped by means of the V-shaped groove171aformed at the holder body171and the cover172, so that the weight occurring during the peeling is not transferred to the adhering parts14and15, thus preventing transformation and short circuits.

The optical fiber connector C according to the present invention has a hot peeling during the peeling work of the ferrule optical fiber13, so it does not need to supply in a peeled state of the ferrule optical fiber13, namely, the peeling is possible at the construction site.

FIG. 21is a view of an assembling procedure of the optical fiber connector C in a state that the peeling work, the cutting work and the washing work with respect to the end of the ferrule optical fiber13of the ferrule assembly (a) are all finished, but some of the procedures might be changed in their sequences.

As shown inFIG. 21A, the end of the ferrule optical fiber13of the ferrule assembly (a) and the end of the main optical fiber90are processed, at the construction site, with the peeling, cutting and washing works by using the peeling device110of the optical fiber fusion splice unit100, the cutting device120and the washing device160.

As shown inFIG. 21B, the cores of the ends of the ferrule optical fiber13and the main optical fiber90having finished the peeling, cutting and washing processes are arranged to be opposite to each other, and the cores are processed with the fusion splice procedures by using the fusion splice device130of the fusion splice unit100, thus fusion-splicing the ferrule optical fiber13and the main optical fiber90.

As shown inFIG. 21C, a reinforcing sleeve60is disposed at the ferrule optical fiber13and the fusion splice portion of the main optical fiber90, and the thermal contraction procedure is performed using the heating device140of the fusion splice unit100, and then the reinforcing sleeve60is installed at the fusion splice portion of the ferrule optical fiber13and the main optical fiber90.

As shown inFIG. 10, one end of the reinforcing sleeve60installed at the fusion splice portion surrounds the protrusion24of the guide ferrule bus20, and the other end of the same surround an outer coating of the main optical fiber90, thus heating and contracting.

As shown inFIG. 12, the ferrule10moves within a range permitted by the elastic member30, and as shown inFIG. 12B, while the ferrule10is being moved, the guide ferrule bush20moves together, so it is possible to prevent the bending of the ferrule optical fiber13.

The ferrule optical fiber13, the guide ferrule bush20and the reinforcing sleeve60become integral by means of the reinforcing sleeve60. While the ferrule10is being moved, the bending of the ferrule optical fiber13positioned in the guide ferrule bush20can be prevented.

As shown inFIG. 21D, the ferrule assembly (a) and the boot80are engaged, and the main optical fiber90is clamped by means of the boot80by using the clamp device81installed at the boot80.

As shown inFIG. 21E, the assembly of the ferrule assembly (a) and the boot80is engaged with the connector grip70, thus assembling the optical fiber connector C.