JP2003322808A - Removal method of robot hand and optical connector plug - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [PROBLEMS] To provide a robot hand and an optical connector plug detaching method capable of detaching an optical connector plug locked to an optical adapter without abrading an engaging portion thereof. A robot hand (1) includes a moving mechanism (17) movable toward an optical adapter (2) and a pair of finger portions (1).
1, 11 and an opening and closing drive mechanism 16 for opening and closing the finger portions 11 and 11. And the finger part 11,
Reference numeral 11 denotes a body 3 of the optical connector plug 3 in the closed state.
1 and a pressing abutting portion which abuts on the locking hook 24 of the optical adapter 2 in all states from the closed state to the open state, and elastically deforms the locking hooks 24, 24 in the separating direction. And a projection 14 that comes into contact with the flange 33 of the optical connector plug 3 in an intermediate state between the closed state and the open state.
The projection 14 is formed so as to protrude forward from the pressing contact portion, and is located on the side of the flange portion 33 of the optical connector plug 3 in the open state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a robot hand used in an optical fiber connection switching device and a method for disconnecting an optical connector plug connected to an optical adapter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an optical fiber connection switching device (hereinafter, referred to as a "switching device") has an arbitrary input side optical fiber and an arbitrary output side optical fiber for a plurality of input / output optical fiber groups. It has a function of connecting or disconnecting, and various configurations have been proposed.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of a switching device. The illustrated switching device includes an optical connection board 6 having a plurality of optical adapters 2, a robot hand 100 for inserting / removing an input side optical connector plug 3 of an input side optical fiber FI, and although not shown, an optical connection is made by sandwiching the robot hand 100. A robot which is installed at a position facing the connection board 6 and which aligns the input-side optical fibers FI, and a winding device which is arranged behind the alignment board and winds the cord of the input-side optical fibers FI. Input side optical fiber F by hand 100
The connection position of I is automatically switched.

At the end of the input side optical fiber FI, an input side optical connector plug 3 composed of a body portion 31, a ferrule 32 and a flange portion 33 is attached.
At the end of the output side optical fiber FO, an output side optical connector plug 4 including a body portion 41 and a ferrule 42 is provided.
Is attached.

The optical adapter 2 is composed of tubular portions 22 and 23 in which the split sleeve 5 is fitted and a pair of locking hooks 24 and 24 opposed to each other with the tubular portion 22 sandwiched therebetween. It is attached to an opening 62 formed in the board 6.

The robot hand 100 includes a finger portion 111 formed at the lower ends of a pair of left and right arm portions 115,
Opening / closing drive mechanism 1 for driving the arm portion 115 vertically and horizontally
16 and a moving mechanism 117 for moving the above-mentioned respective parts vertically and horizontally. Here, the moving mechanism 117
The vertical guide 117D, the vertical slide portion 117C that moves along the vertical guide 117D, and the horizontal guide 11 that extends from the vertical slide portion 117C in a direction orthogonal to the vertical guide 117D.
7B and a lateral slide portion 117A that moves along the lateral guide 117B, and an opening / closing drive mechanism 116 is attached to the lower surface of the lateral slide portion 117A. That is, by appropriately moving the moving mechanism 117, the finger portion 111 can be moved to an arbitrary position. Although not described in detail, the robot hand 111 includes a control unit (not shown) that controls the moving direction and the moving amount of the robot hand 111 based on the position information measured by the photoelectric sensor 7. 116, horizontal slide unit 1
17A and the vertical slide portion 117C are provided with drive means such as a motor (not shown) controlled by the control means.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the finger portion 111 has a holding portion 112 for holding the input side optical connector plug 3 on the surface facing the other finger portion 111.
And the recess 112a is formed, and as shown in FIG. 10 (b), the opposing surfaces of the finger portions 111, 111 are butted (hereinafter, referred to as "closed state"), whereby the input side optical connector plug 3 is fixed. Can be gripped. Also,
On the front surface of the finger portion 111, pressing contact portions 113a and 113b that contact the claw portion 25 of the optical adapter 2 to be described later are formed, respectively.

Next, the procedure for connecting the input side optical connector plug 3 to the optical adapter 2 using the robot hand 100 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, in the output side optical connector plug 4, the body portion 41 is mounted in advance in the opening portion 62 of the optical connection board 6, and the ferrule 42 is inserted in the tubular portion 23 of the optical adapter 2. (See FIG. 11A). A coil spring 44 is contained inside the body 41 of the output-side optical connector plug 4, and biases the ferrule 42 in the distal direction thereof via the flange 43a.

In order to connect the input side optical connector plug 3 to the optical adapter 2, first, the optical adapter 2 is selected from a plurality of input side optical connector plug groups arranged on an alignment board (not shown). The input side optical connector plug 3 to be connected to is selected, and the body part 31 is connected to the finger part 11
The optical adapter 2 is held and moved to the rear of the optical adapter 2.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11C, the finger portion 111 is moved forward toward the optical adapter 2, and the ferrule 32 of the input side optical connector plug 3 is moved to the cylindrical portion 22.
To insert. At this time, the flange portion 33 formed on the base end portion of the ferrule 32 comes into contact with the claw portion 25, and further, the locking hook 24 is spread outward as the finger portion 111 moves forward.

When the flange portion 33 passes the claw portion 25,
As shown in FIG. 11E, the locking hook 24 is restored to the shape before the deformation, and the flange portion 33 is locked by the claw portion 25. After that, the finger portions 111, 111 are separated from each other, the input side optical connector plug 3 is separated, and further both finger sections 111 are retracted to complete the work of connecting the input side optical connector plug 3 to the optical adapter 2.

At this time, the tip of the ferrule 32 of the input side optical connector plug 3 comes into contact with the tip of the ferrule 42 of the output side optical connector plug 4. Also, the ferrule 32
Is the cylindrical portion 22 against the biasing force of the coil spring 44.
The ferrule 32 is urged toward the base end (right side in the drawing) of the ferrule 32.

Next, a procedure for detaching the input side optical connector plug 3 from the optical adapter 2 using the robot hand 100 will be described with reference to FIG. First, FIG. 12 (a)
As shown in FIG. 3, finger portions 111, 111 are provided behind the input side optical connector plug 3 to be detached from the optical adapter 2.
To move. At this time, as shown in FIG.
It is made larger than the outer diameter of 3 (open state).

Next, while keeping the finger portion 111 in the open state (see FIG. 12D), the finger portion 111 is moved forward toward the optical adapter 2. At this time, as shown in FIG. 12C, the pressing contact portions 113a and 113b of the finger portion 111 abut on the claw portions 25 of the locking hooks 24 respectively. The stop hook 24 is gradually spread outward.

Then, when the distance between the facing claw portions 25, 25 becomes equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the flange portion 33, FIG.
As shown in, the engagement between the flange portion 33 and the claw portion 25 is released, and the ferrule 32 of the input side optical connector plug 3 is pushed out from the tubular portion 22 by the biasing force of the coil spring 44. After that, the finger portions 111, 1
11 is moved backward and the finger portions 111, 1
11 is moved to the closed state (see FIG. 12 (h)), the body portion 31 of the input side optical connector plug 3 is gripped, and this is conveyed to a predetermined position, so that the input side optical connector plug 3 can be detached. Complete.

[0016]

By the way, when the input side optical connector plug 3 is detached from the optical adapter 2,
As described above, the pressing abutting portions 113a and 113b of the finger portions 111 and 111 are pressed against the claw portions 25 of the locking hooks 24 and pushed apart in a direction of separating them, but at this time, as shown in FIG. Abutment surface 33 of the flange portion 33
The a is always in contact with the vertical surface 25a of the claw portion 25 by the biasing force of the coil spring 44 (see FIG. 12). Then, when the engagement between the flange portion 33 and the claw portion 25 is released, the biasing force is concentrated on the peripheral edge portion of the flange portion 33, and the claw portion 25 is moved to the rear while being in contact with the urging force. If the side optical connector plug 3 is repeatedly inserted and removed, the peripheral edge portions of the flange portion 33 and the claw portion 25 are immediately worn. As such wear progresses, the function of locking them is naturally deteriorated, so that the input side optical connector plug 3 is attached to the coil spring 44 (see FIG. 1).
(Refer to 2) Only the urging force may cause disconnection, and dust generated by abrasion may reduce reliability of optical connection.

Therefore, the present invention provides a robot hand and an optical connector plug detaching method capable of detaching an optical connector plug retained by an optical adapter without abrading an engaging portion thereof. That is, it is an object of the present invention to provide a robot hand and an optical connector plug detaching method capable of realizing highly reliable optical connection.

[0018]

In order to solve such a problem, the invention of claim 1 is an optical connector having a pair of locking hooks facing each other, and an optical connector attached to the end of an optical fiber. When the ferrule of the plug is connected in a state of being urged toward the base end direction, and the flange portion formed at the base end portion of the ferrule is locked by the locking hook, the locking is performed. A robot hand for releasing the optical connector plug from the optical adapter while releasing the engagement between the hook and the flange portion, the moving mechanism being movable toward the optical adapter, and a pair of finger portions. And an opening and closing drive mechanism for driving the finger section to open and close, the finger section being in contact with the body section of the optical connector plug in the closed state, A pressing contact portion that abuts on the locking hook of the optical adapter in all the states from the open state to the open state, and elastically deforms the locking hook in the separating direction; And a protrusion that abuts the flange of the optical connector plug, and the protrusion is
It is formed so as to project more toward the front side than the pressing contact portion, and is located on the side of the flange portion of the optical connector plug in the open state.

According to such a robot hand, both finger portions of the robot hand are opposed to each other with the optical connector plug interposed therebetween, and both finger portions are placed in an intermediate state between the open state and the closed state (hereinafter, referred to as "intermediate open state"). When it is moved forward toward the optical adapter while holding it, the protrusion of the finger portion comes into contact with the flange portion of the optical connector plug,
The pressing contact portion contacts the locking hook of the optical adapter. When the finger portion is moved further forward, the flange portion is pushed forward by the protrusion, and the engagement between the flange portion and the locking hook is released. Then, after pushing the opposing locking hooks apart until the separation distance becomes equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the flange portion, the finger portion is moved from the intermediate state to the open state, and the protruding portion is positioned on the side of the flange portion. Then, since the ferrule of the optical connector plug is biased toward the base end, the optical connector plug is pushed out rearward and the flange portion moves to the outside of the locking hook. Thereafter, the finger portion is moved backward, the optical connector plug is grasped by closing the finger portion at an appropriate position, and the optical connector plug is conveyed to a predetermined position, whereby the removal of the optical connector plug from the optical adapter is completed.

The pressing abutting portion is formed so as to abut the locking hook even when the finger portion is opened.
That is, even when the flange portion of the optical connector plug moves to the outside of the locking hook, the locking hook is held in a state of being separated from the outer diameter of the flange portion or more. The "closed state" of the finger part means that the holding part is in contact with the body part of the optical connector plug, and the "open state" means that the protruding part of the finger part is located on the side of the flange part. And the state in which the pressing contact portion contacts the locking hook,
The "intermediate open state" refers to a state in which the holding portion does not come into contact with the body portion of the optical connector plug and the protruding portion comes into contact with the flange portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the ferrule of the optical connector plug attached to the end of the optical fiber is urged toward the base end of the optical adapter having the pair of locking hooks facing each other. When connected and when the flange portion formed on the base end portion of the ferrule is locked by the locking hook, the engagement between the locking hook and the flange portion is released by a robot hand. A method of detaching an optical connector plug for detaching the optical connector plug from the optical adapter, wherein the optical connector has a protrusion formed on the front side of a pair of fingers facing each other with the optical connector plug interposed therebetween. The step of abutting on the flange portion of the plug, and the pushing of the flange portion forward by the projection portion, the engagement between the locking hook and the flange portion. Releasing, a step of deforming the pair of locking hooks in a direction in which the pair of locking hooks are separated by a pressing contact portion formed on the rear side of the protrusion, and the pair of locking hooks being provided on the flange portion of the optical connector plug. A distance larger than the outer diameter of the flange, and maintaining the state by the pressing contact portion, and positioning the protrusion on the side of the flange portion.

According to such a method of detaching the optical connector plug, when detaching the optical connector plug from the optical adapter, first, the flange portion engaged with the engaging hook of the optical adapter is pushed forward to make the engaging hook concerned. The engagement between the and the flange portion is released. That is, when the optical connector plug is detached from the optical adapter, the locking hook and the flange portion do not come into direct contact with each other, so that the locking hook and the flange portion are not worn.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical fiber connection switching device using a robot hand according to the present invention.

In the robot hand 1 according to the present invention, the input side optical connector plug 3 is detached from the optical adapter 2 mounted on the optical connection board 6 in the optical fiber connection switching device (hereinafter referred to as "switching device"), or , For connecting the input side optical connector plug 3 to the optical adapter 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the moving mechanism 17 movable toward the optical adapter 2 and the input side optical connector plug 3 are sandwiched therebetween. It is composed of a pair of opposed finger portions 11 and 11 and an opening / closing drive mechanism 16 for driving the finger portions 11 and 11 vertically and horizontally. The finger portions 11 and 11 are protruded to the front surface side more than the pressing contact portion. The present invention is characterized in that the protrusion 14 formed by the above is formed. However, in the following, the robot hand 1 according to the present invention will be described after the switching device is described in detail. It will be a detailed description of have.

As shown in FIG. 1, the switching device includes, in addition to the robot hand 1 according to the present invention, an optical connecting board 6 and an aligning board (positioned at a position facing the optical connecting board 6 with the robot hand 1 interposed therebetween). (Not shown), and a winding device (not shown) arranged behind the aligning board to wind the cord of the input side optical fiber FI.

The optical connection board 6 is made up of a housing 61 having a plurality of openings 62 arranged in a plurality of steps (two steps in the drawing), and the optical adapter 2 is mounted in each opening 62. Further, photoelectric sensors 7, which are position detection sensors for detecting the position of the robot hand 11, are arranged at the left end and the right end of the housing 61, respectively.

The optical adapter 2 has a mounting portion 21 mounted on the inner wall of the opening portion 62 of the housing 61, cylindrical portions 22 and 23 protruding on both sides of the mounting portion 21, and facing each other with the cylindrical portion 22 interposed therebetween. And a pair of locking hooks 24, 24. The locking hook 24 is made of a plate-shaped body protruding from the mounting portion 21, and has a claw portion 25 protruding inward at its tip. The locking hook 24 functions as a so-called leaf spring, that is, in the case of FIG. 1, elastically deforms in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 8, the claw portion 25 has a vertical surface 25.
The a and the inclined surface 25b form a substantially triangular cross section. The inclined surface 25b is the other opposing inclined surface 25b.
It is formed such that the distance from the point becomes larger toward the tip. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the split sleeve 5 is fitted inside the tubular portions 22 and 23. Split sleeve 5
The diameter is formed to be slightly smaller than the diameters of the ferrules 32 and 42, but since the slits are provided along the axial direction, the ferrules 32 and 42 can be inserted and removed, and the tightness can be appropriately adjusted. Can be held at.

An input side optical connector plug 3 is attached to the end of the input side optical fiber FI. The input side optical connector plug 3 includes a cylindrical body portion 31, a body portion 3
It is composed of a ferrule 32 projecting from No. 1 and a flange portion 33 formed at the base end portion of the ferrule 32. In the present embodiment, the flange portion 33 has a disc shape and has an outer diameter dimension larger than the outer diameter dimension of the body portion 31. Further, the body portion 31 has a convex portion 31a on its peripheral surface.
Are formed (see FIG. 4A).

The output side optical fiber FO has an output side optical connector plug 4 attached to the end thereof. The output side optical connector plug 4 is composed of a rectangular tube-shaped body 41 and a ferrule 42 protruding from the body 41. A coil spring 44 is included in the body portion 41 (see FIG. 4A), and the ferrule 42 is moved in the front end direction (see FIG. 4) via a flange portion 43a formed at the base end portion of the ferrule 42. (A) Middle right). Here, as an example, a general-purpose MU type optical plug is used for the output side optical connector plug 4.

Next, the robot hand according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 is a perspective view showing a finger portion of the robot hand, FIG. 3 (a) is a front view thereof, and FIG. 3 (b) is a side sectional view thereof.

The robot hand 1 is, as shown in FIG.
A pair of left and right finger portions 11, an arm portion 15 standing upright from the rear end of the finger portion 11, an opening and closing drive mechanism 16 for driving the arm portion 15 vertically and horizontally, and the finger portion 1.
1, a movement mechanism 17 for moving the arm portion 15 and the opening / closing drive mechanism 16 vertically and horizontally.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the finger portion 11 is provided with a holding portion 12 having a semicircular cross section, a concave portion 12a and an enlarged diameter portion 12b on the surface facing the other finger portion 11. Further, on the surface facing the optical connection board 6, pressing contact portions 13a and 13b are formed at the upper end and the lower end thereof, and the pressing contact portions 13a and 13b are further directed toward the optical connection board 6. Protruding protrusions 14, 14 are formed. The pressing contact portions 13a and 13b are aligned with the inclination of the inclined surface 25b (see FIG. 8) forming the claw portion 25 of the optical adapter 2.

The holding portion 12 is the input side optical connector plug 3
When the left and right finger portions 11 and 11 are abutted with each other (see FIG. 2B),
It contacts the outer peripheral surface of the body portion 31. The concave portion 12a is formed to have a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the convex portion 31a of the input side optical connector plug 3 (see FIG. 4A).
, The convex portion 31a is housed in the concave portion 12a,
That is, the convex portion 31a of the input side optical connector plug 3 is
It engages with the holding portion 12 formed to have a diameter smaller than that of the convex portion 31a. The expanded diameter portion 12b is formed to be slightly larger than the diameter of the holding portion 12.

The size and shape of the protrusion 14 are determined in consideration of the size and shape of the locking hook 24 and the claw 25 of the optical adapter 2 and the size and shape of the flange 33 of the input side optical connector plug 3. That is, the protruding portion 14 has the pressing contact portion 13
The a and 13b are formed in such a size that they are brought into contact with the inclined surface 25b of the claw portion 25 or at the same time as they are brought into contact with the contact surface 33a of the flange portion 33 before they are brought into contact with the inclined surface 25b.

The opening / closing drive mechanism 16 supports the upper end portion of the arm portion 15 and, although not shown, is provided with a driving means such as a motor therein to drive the arm portions 15 and 15 vertically and horizontally. Further, the finger portions 11 and 11 are opened and closed by driving the arm portions 15 and 15 to the left and right. Although detailed description is omitted, the robot hand 11 is provided with a control unit (not shown) that controls the moving direction and the moving amount of the robot hand 11 based on the position information measured by the photoelectric sensor 7. , Is controlled by the control means.

The moving mechanism 17 includes a vertical guide 17D, a vertical slide portion 17C which moves along the vertical guide 17D, a horizontal guide 17B extending from the vertical slide portion 17C in a direction orthogonal to the vertical guide 17D, and a horizontal guide 17B. It is composed of a lateral slide portion 17A that moves along. Although not described in detail, the horizontal slide portion 17A and the vertical slide portion 17C are provided with driving means such as a motor (not shown) controlled by the control means.
Then, the horizontal slide portion 17A and the vertical slide portion 17C
The finger portion 11 moves to an arbitrary position by driving.

Next, the procedure for using the robot hand 1 to detach the input side optical connector plug 3 from the optical adapter 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. In addition,
In each of FIGS. 4 to 7, (a) is a horizontal sectional view of the optical adapter portion, (b) is a vertical sectional view thereof, and (c) is a front view of a finger portion of the robot hand.

In the following description, the finger portion 11
The "closed state" means that the mutually facing surfaces of the finger portions 11 and 11 are butted against each other, and the holding portion 12 is in contact with the body portion 31 of the optical connector plug 3 (Fig. 2 (b), Fig. 7 ( c))), "open state" means finger parts 11, 1
1 are separated from each other, and the protrusions 14 and 14 are flange portions 33.
Is located on the side of (see FIG. 4 (c)). Even when the fingers 11 and 11 are in the "open state", the pressing contact portions 13a and 13b can contact the claw portions 25 of the locking hook 24 (see FIG. 6). Further, the “intermediate open state” is an intermediate state between the “open state” and the “closed state”, and is a state in which the front surfaces of the protrusions 14 and 14 can contact only the flange portion 33 (FIG. 5). (See (c)). Further, in the "intermediate open state", since the finger portions 11 and 11 are separated from each other,
The holding portion 12 does not come into contact with the convex portion 31a of the optical connector plug 3.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the input side optical connector plug 3 is connected to the optical adapter 2 with the end of the ferrule 32 abutting against the end of the ferrule 42 of the output side optical connector plug 4. That is, ferrule 3
2 is urged toward the base end direction (right side in the drawing) by the coil spring 44 via the ferrule 42, and the flange portion 33
Is locked to the claw portion 25 of the optical adapter 2.

In order to detach the input side optical connector plug 3 from the optical adapter 2 using the robot hand 1, as shown in FIG. 4, first, the finger portion is provided behind the input side optical connector plug 3 to be detached. Move 11 At this time, the finger portions 11 and 11 are held in the open state. Then, while maintaining the open state, both finger portions 11,
11 is moved forward. At this time, both finger parts 11,
11 are opposed to each other with the optical connector plug 3 interposed therebetween.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, both finger portions 1
1 is narrowed, that is, the finger portions 11, 11
After moving from the open state to the intermediate open state, the finger portions 11 and 11 are further moved forward toward the optical adapter 2 while maintaining the intermediate open state, and the protrusion portion 14 causes the flange portion 33 to move.
Push forward to lock the hook 24 and the flange 33.
To disengage from.

When the finger portion 11 is moved further forward, the pressing contact portion 13a formed on the rear side of the protrusion 14
13b abuts on the claw portion 25 of the locking hook 24, and as the finger portion 11 moves forward, the locking hook 2
4 and 24 are spread apart in the direction of separation (Fig. 5 (b)).
reference). In this case, since the flange portion 33 and the locking hook 24 do not come into contact with each other, the locking hook 24 and the flange portion 33 are not worn by this operation.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the locking hooks 24, 24 are separated from each other by a distance larger than the outer diameter of the flange portion 33 of the input side optical connector plug 3, and at the pressing contact portions 13a, 13b. While maintaining this state, the protrusion 1
4 is located on the side of the flange portion 33. That is, with the claw portions 25, 25 separated from each other by the outer diameter of the flange portion 33 or more, the finger portions 11, 11 are moved from the intermediate open state to the open state (see FIGS. 6A and 6C), and the protrusions are formed. When the portion 14 is positioned to the side of the flange portion 33, the ferrule 32 of the optical connector plug 3 is biased toward the proximal end, so that the optical connector plug 33 is pushed rearward and the flange portion 33 is locked. Move to the outside of the hooks 24, 24. Further, since the claw portions 25, 25 are spaced apart from each other by a larger diameter than the outer diameter of the flange portion 33, the flange portion 33 is fixed to the locking hook 24.
The flange portion 33 does not come into contact with the claw portion 25 when it is pulled out from the flange portion 33.
Does not wear out. Even if the fingers 11, 11 are moved from the intermediate open state to the open state, the pressing contact portion 13
The a and 13b contact the inclined surface 25b of the claw portion 25, that is, even when the flange portion 33 moves to the outside of the locking hook 24, the claw portions 25 and 25 are separated from each other by a distance larger than the outer diameter of the flange portion 33. It is retained in the state of being.

After that, as shown in FIG.
The optical adapter of the input side optical connector plug 3 is moved by moving 1 to the backward position and shifting to a closed state at an appropriate position to grip the body portion 31 of the input side optical connector plug 3 and transporting it to a predetermined position. Removal from 2 is completed.

As described above, according to the robot hand 1 of the present invention, when the optical connector plug 3 is detached from the optical adapter 2, the locking hook 24 or the claw portion 25 of the optical adapter 2 and the flange of the optical connector plug 3 are provided. There is no contact with the portion 33.

Next, the procedure for connecting the input side optical connector plug 3 to the optical adapter 2 using the robot hand 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

The input side optical connector plug 3 is connected to the optical adapter 2
To connect to the optical adapter 2, first, from the plurality of input side optical connector plug groups arranged on the alignment board, the optical adapter 2
The input side optical connector plug to be connected to is selected, the body portion 31 is gripped by the holding portion 12 of the finger portion 11, and the moving mechanism 17 is operated to move the optical adapter 2 to the rear side.

Next, the finger portion 11 is moved forward toward the optical adapter 2, and the ferrule 32 of the input side optical connector plug 3 is inserted into the tubular portion 22. At this time, the flange portion 33 formed on the base end portion of the ferrule 32 is attached to the claw portion
Since it abuts on the finger portion 11, as the finger portion 11 moves forward,
The locking hook 24 is gradually expanded.

Then, when the flange portion 33 exceeds the claw portion 25, the locking hook 24 restores its original shape, and the flange portion 33 is locked by the claw portion 25. After that, the both finger portions 11 are separated and retracted to complete the connection of the input side optical connector plug 3 to the optical adapter 2.

[0050]

According to the robot hand of the present invention, the optical connector plug locked to the locking hook of the optical adapter is
Since the flange portion of the optical connector plug and the locking hook of the optical adapter do not come into contact with each other when releasing the engagement and releasing the engagement, the flange portion and the locking hook do not wear. Therefore, even if the optical connector plug is repeatedly inserted and removed, the locking hook of the optical adapter and the flange portion of the optical connector plug are always reliably engaged, and
Since the optical connection is not hindered by dust or the like generated due to wear, it is possible to realize a highly reliable optical connection. Further, since the life of the optical adapter and the optical connector plug is extended, the maintenance work of the optical fiber connection switching device can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical fiber connection switching device using a robot hand according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged perspective view showing an open state of a finger portion of the robot hand according to the present invention, and FIG. 2B is an enlarged perspective view showing the same closed state.

3A is a front view showing a finger portion of the robot hand according to the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a side view of the same.

FIG. 4A is a transverse sectional view for explaining a procedure for detaching the optical connector plug, FIG. 4B is a longitudinal sectional view, and FIG. 4C is a front view.

5A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a procedure for removing the optical connector plug, FIG. 5B is a vertical cross-sectional view, and FIG. 5C is a front view.

6A is a horizontal cross-sectional view illustrating a procedure for removing the optical connector plug, FIG. 6B is a vertical cross-sectional view of the same, and FIG. 6C is a front view of the same.

7A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a procedure for disconnecting the optical connector plug, FIG. 7B is a vertical cross-sectional view of the same, and FIG. 7C is a front view of the same.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side view showing a protrusion of the robot hand according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an optical fiber connection switching device using a conventional robot hand.

10 (a) and 10 (b) are enlarged perspective views showing finger portions of a conventional robot hand.

11 (a), (c) and (e) are vertical cross-sectional views for explaining a connection procedure of a conventional optical connector plug, and (b) (d).
Similarly, (f) is a front view.

12 (a), (c), (e), and (g) are vertical sectional views for explaining a conventional procedure for detaching an optical connector plug, and (b).
(D) (f) (h) is a front view similarly.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view showing a tip of a finger portion according to a conventional robot hand.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 robot hand 11 Finger part 12 Holder 12a recess 12b Expanding part 13a, 13b Press contact part 14 Projection 15 Arm 16 Open / close drive mechanism 17 Moving mechanism 17A Horizontal slide part 17B Side guide 17C Vertical slide 17D vertical guide 2 optical adapter 21 Mounting part 22,23 Cylindrical part 24 Locking hook 25 nails 25a vertical surface 25b slope FI input side optical fiber 3 Input side optical connector plug 31 torso 31a convex part 32 ferrules 33 Flange 33a contact surface FO output side optical fiber 4 Output side optical connector plug 41 torso 42 ferrule 43a Flange part 44 coil spring 50% sleeve 6 Optical connection board 61 case 62 opening 7 Photoelectric sensor 100 Conventional robot hand

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A ferrule of an optical connector plug attached to the end of an optical fiber is connected to an optical adapter having a pair of locking hooks opposed to each other, with the ferrule being biased toward the proximal end thereof, and When the flange portion formed at the base end portion of the ferrule is locked by the locking hook, the optical hook is released from the optical adapter while releasing the engagement between the locking hook and the flange portion. A robot hand for detaching a connector plug, comprising: a moving mechanism capable of moving toward the optical adapter, a pair of finger portions, and an opening / closing drive mechanism for driving the finger portions to open / close. A holding portion that abuts the body portion of the optical connector plug in the closed state, and a locking hook of the optical adapter in all states from the closed state to the open state Contact,
A pressing contact portion that elastically deforms the locking hook in the direction of separating, and a protrusion that abuts the flange portion of the optical connector plug in an intermediate state between the closed state and the open state, the protrusion portion including: A robot hand, which is formed so as to project to the front side from the pressing contact portion and is located laterally of the flange portion of the optical connector plug in the open state. 2. A ferrule of an optical connector plug attached to an end of an optical fiber is connected to an optical adapter having a pair of locking hooks facing each other in a state of being biased toward a proximal end thereof, and In the case where the flange portion formed on the base end portion of the ferrule is locked by the locking hook, the engagement between the locking hook and the flange portion is released by a robot hand, and the optical adapter is removed from the optical adapter. An optical connector plug detaching method for detaching an optical connector plug, wherein a protrusion formed on the front surface side of a pair of fingers facing each other with the optical connector plug sandwiched therebetween is applied to a flange portion of the optical connector plug. And a step of pushing the flange portion forward with the protrusion to release the engagement between the locking hook and the flange portion. And a step of deforming the pair of locking hooks in a direction in which the pair of locking hooks are separated from each other by a pressing contact portion formed on the rear side of the protrusion, and the pair of locking hooks being larger than an outer diameter of a flange portion of the optical connector plug. The step of locating the protrusion on the side of the flange while maintaining this state by the pressing contact portion, and a method of disconnecting the optical connector plug.