Patent ID: 6877906

Claim:
An optical fiber cross-connection apparatus comprising: a connection block having a plurality of optical adapters arranged in a predetermined alignment, to first ends of which are inserted stationary-side optical connector plugs joined to front ends of stationary-side optical fiber cords and to second ends of which are removably inserted operated-side optical connector plugs for optical connection with the stationary-side optical connector plug; a plurality of locking members provided to the connection block to lock the operated-side optical connector plugs to the optical adapters; an optical connector plug alignment block having a plurality of guide passages formed therein in a predetermined alignment which allow a plurality of operated-side optical fiber cords to pass therethrough so that the operated-side optical connector plugs are lain between the optical connector plug alignment block and the connection block; and a handling device to act on the locking member to unlocking the operated-side optical connector plug from the optical adapter, and to grip the operated-side optical connector plug held in the optical connector plug alignment block and insert it into the given optical adapter; wherein the optical connector plug has: an inserted portion removably inserted into one end of the optical adapter; a plug body joined to a front end of the optical fiber cord; a locking portion formed between the plug body and the inserted portion and engaged by the locking member; and a rotational phase reference surface formed in the plug body away from the inserted portion and gripped by the handling device.