Assembling device for assembling plurality of optical fibers in optical fiber connector

An assembling device for assembling optical fibers in the main body includes a support member and a blocking member. The support member includes a top surface. The top surface defines a receiving cavity and a supporting recess communicating with the receiving room. The blocking member includes a blocking surface. The blocking member is partially received in the receiving cavity. The blocking surface is exposed in the supporting recess. The supporting recess is configured for supporting the main body and contacting distal ends of the optical fibers.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to assembly technologies, and particularly to an assembling device for assembling an optical fiber connector.

2. Description of Related Art

An optical fiber connector is used in fiber-optic data transmission. The optical fiber connector includes a main body and a number of optical fibers received in the main body. The optical fibers are optically coupled with and are aligned with optical lenses formed on another mating optical fiber connector. In order to increase the optical coupling efficiency of the two optical fiber connectors, the focal point of each of the optical lenses is positioned at the distal end of each of the optical fibers. However, the optical lenses are formed on a same planar surface using an injection molding process. Accordingly, the distal ends of the optical fibers have to be positioned on a same planar surface when the optical fibers are received in the main body.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide an assembling device for assembling an optical fiber connector, which can overcome or at least alleviate the limitations described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows an assembling device100according to an exemplary embodiment. The assembling device100is configured for assembling an optical fiber connector200(shown inFIG. 4). The assembling device100includes a support member10, a blocking member20, two fixing members30, and two pressing members40.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 6, the optical fiber connector200includes a main body50and four optical fibers60.

The main body50includes an upper surface51, a lower surface52, a front surface53, a back surface54, a first side surface56, a second side surface58, and two protrusions59. The upper surface51and the lower surface52are positioned at opposite sides of the main body50, and the upper surface51is substantially parallel to the lower surface52. The front surface53and the back surface54are positioned at opposite sides of the main body50, and the front surface53is substantially parallel to the back surface54. The first side surface56and the second side surface58are positioned at opposite sides of the main body50, and the first side surface56is substantially parallel to the second side surface58. The front surface53, the back surface54, the first side surface56, and the second side surface58are perpendicularly interconnected between the upper surface51and the lower surface52.

The upper surface51defines a rectangular upper recess510and two receiving recesses512. The upper recess510passes through the back surface54, but does not reach the front surface53. The two receiving recesses512are positioned at opposite sides of the upper recess510, and are in communication with the upper recess510. In this embodiment, the two receiving recesses512are symmetrical to each other across the upper recess510.

The front surface53defines two locating holes530and four receiving holes532. The four receiving holes532are arranged between the two locating holes530in a first straight line (not labeled). The four receiving holes532pass through the front surface53and are in communication with the upper recess510. The longitudinal direction of each of the receiving holes532is perpendicular to the front surface53.

The two protrusions59perpendicularly protrude from the front surface53. Each of the protrusions59includes an outer surface592facing away the front surface53. In this embodiment, the two outer surfaces592are in a same imaginary plane which is parallel to the front surface53.

Each of the optical fibers60includes a main section62and a front section64, both of which are substantially circular in section. Center axes of the main section62and the concentric front section64are aligned with each other. The main section62consists of a core portion, and a cladding portion surrounding the core portion. The front section64consists of the core portion, which is exposed from the main section62. The front section64has a certain critical length.

FIGS. 1 and 2show that the support member10is substantially cuboid. The support member10includes a top surface11, a bottom surface12, a first surface14, a second surface15, a third surface16, and a fourth surface18. The top surface11and the bottom surface12are positioned at opposite sides of the support member10, and the top surface11is substantially parallel to the bottom surface12. The first surface14and the second surface15are positioned at opposite sides of the support member10, and the first surface14is substantially parallel to the second surface15. The third surface16and the fourth surface18are positioned at opposite sides of the support member10, and the third surface16is substantially parallel to the fourth surface18. The first surface14, the fourth surface18, the second surface15and the third surface16are perpendicularly connected end-to-end, and are perpendicularly interconnected between the top surface11and the bottom surface12.

The top surface11defines a receiving cavity110, a supporting recess112, and an accommodating recess114. The receiving cavity110, the supporting recess112, and the accommodating recess114are arranged along a second straight line (not labeled) from the first surface14to the second surface15. In other words, the supporting recess112is located between and communicates with both the receiving cavity110and the accommodating recess114. The depth of the receiving cavity110is larger than the depth of the supporting recess112, and the depth of the supporting recess112is larger than the depth of the accommodating recess114. The supporting recess112includes a bottom wall112a, and two side walls112bperpendicularly extending from the bottom wall112a. The two side walls112bare positioned at opposite sides of the supporting recess112, and are parallel to the third surface16and the fourth surface18. The accommodating recess114passes through the second surface15. A bottom wall115of the accommodating recess114defines two receiving rooms116. The two receiving rooms116are parallel to each other and communicate with the supporting recess112. In this embodiment, the second straight line is located at a middle portion of the top surface11.

The support member10further defines two through holes117, four cutouts118, and four blind holes119. The two through holes117are located at opposite sides of the supporting recess112, and correspond to the supporting recess112. The four cutouts118are divided into two groups each having two cutouts118, and the four blind holes119are divided into two groups each having two blind holes119. Each group of the cutouts118corresponds to a respective group of the blind holes119. In detail, two cutouts118in the same group are positioned at opposite sides of the accommodating recess114. Two blind holes119in the same group are positioned at opposite sides of the accommodating recess114and are between the corresponding two cutouts118. In this embodiment, the two through holes117are symmetrical to each other across the second straight line. Two cutouts118in the same group are symmetrical to each other across the second straight line. Two blind holes119in the same group are symmetrical to each other across the second straight line.

The blocking member20includes a body portion22and a blocking portion24. The body portion22is substantially cuboid. The blocking portion24protrudes from one side of the body portion22and includes a blocking surface242. The blocking surface242is a distal end surface of the blocking portion24and faces away from the body portion22. The body portion22is received in the receiving cavity110, with the blocking portion24being supported on the bottom wall112a. The blocking surface242is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of each of the receiving rooms116. In this embodiment, the blocking member20is made of acrylic material.

The two fixing members30are positioned at opposite sides of the supporting recess112, and correspond to the two through holes117. Each of the two fixing members30includes a restricting portion32, a locking portion34, and a fixing portion36. The restricting portion32includes a cap322, and a post324perpendicularly extending from the cap322. The fixing portion36defines a pivot hole362. The post324passes through the pivot hole362and the through hole117and is locked by the locking portion34at the bottom surface12. The cap322presses the fixing portion36, and the fixing portion36is capable of rotating around the post324if a force is applied to the fixing portion36.

The two pressing members40are detachably mounted on the support member10and cross the accommodating recess114. Each of the pressing members40includes a magnetic plate42and two magnets44. The magnetic plate42includes a plate body422and two engagement portions424. The plate body422includes a contacting surface423and a pressing surface425. The contacting surface423and the pressing surface425are positioned at the same (bottom) side of the plate body422. The pressing surface425protrudes from the contacting surface423, and is positioned at the central portion of the contacting surface423. The two engagement portions424extend from opposite ends of the plate body422, and are located adjacent to two opposite ends of the contacting surface423, respectively. The two engagement portions424engage in the two cutouts118so that the pressing member40is detachably mounted on the support member10. In this situation, the contacting surface423contacts the top surface11, and the pressing surface425extends into the accommodating recess114. The plate body422faces the two blind holes119. The magnets44engage in the blind holes119. An attraction force produced between the magnetic plate42and the magnets44makes the pressing member40mount with maximum tightness on the support member10. In this embodiment, the magnetic plate42is made of metal, such as iron (Fe).

FIGS. 1-6show steps of assembling the optical fiber connector100using the assembling device100. First, the two magnetic plates42are detached from the support member10. The two fixing portions36are rotated around the posts324so that the fixing portions36are positioned clear of the supporting recess112. Second, the four optical fibers60are inserted into the main body50. In detail, the four main sections62are received in the upper recess510, and the four front sections64pass through the four receiving holes532and protrude from the protrusions59. Third, the main body50with the optical fibers60is placed on the top surface11from top to bottom. In detail, the main body50is supported on the bottom wall112a. The portions of the main sections62exposed from the back surface54are received in the receiving rooms116. In detail, the lower surface52contacts the bottom wall112a, and the first side surface56and the second side surface58contact or abut the two side walls112b. Each receiving room116receives two main sections62. Fourth, the main body50with the optical fibers60is moved toward the blocking member20until the outer surfaces592abut against the blocking surface242(shown inFIGS. 7-8). In this situation, distal ends of the front sections64are located on the blocking surface242. That is, the distal ends of the optical fibers60are located on the same surface. Fifth, the two fixing portions36are rotated around the posts324and abut the upper surface51, thereby fixing the main body50in the supporting recess112. Sixth, the two engagement portions424are engaged in the two cutouts118so that the pressing member40is mounted on the support member10. In this situation, the attraction force between the magnetic plate42and the magnets44makes the pressing surface425abut the main section62. Seventh, glue is applied to the optical fibers60in the upper recess510. Even if the glue is used excessively, the excess glue flows harmlessly into the receiving recesses512. In this embodiment, the glue is ultraviolet (UV) curable adhesive. Eighth, the glue is solidified, and thereby the optical fiber connector100is assembled. Ninth, the magnetic plate42is detached from the support member10, the two fixing portions36are rotated around the posts324to be clear of the upper surface51, and the optical fiber connector100is removed from the support member10.