Abstract: An optical connector is provided where an biasing device 26 which biases a ferrule 24 having an optical fiber 22 secured thereinside and a tip end face 23 which has been polished, in a tip end face 23 direction, is located to the rear of a connection mechanism 25 for connecting the optical fiber 22 on the ferrule 24 side and a separately inserted optical fiber 22a, at a rear end side of the ferrule 24 opposite to the front end face 23. The connection mechanism 25 has a construction which uses a mechanical splice, and is opened and closed by a release member inserted into an insertion opening 39 which is opened along an alignment axis direction. Hence the opening and closing operation does not interfere with the biasing device 26, so that operability is improved. Moreover, for this type optical connector there is provided an optical connector housing 21 which accommodates the ferrule.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector comprising a base and a lid member constituting an element having a doubly split structure which forms a roughly rod-like shape when united, and a spring for housing the base and lid member and applying pressure for pressing them together, wherein centering grooves for positioning and centering optical fibers for adjoinment and connection are provided in at least one or between the opposing faces of the base and lid member which are put together. In a mode wherein the element is inserted into a C-shaped spring having a rod shape with a C-shaped cross section, the optical fibers which are inserted from both ends of the element are pushed to the centering groove and adjoined into connection. By inserting or withdrawing wedges into wedge insertion grooves formed between the base and the lid member, it is possible to open or close the element.

Abstract: Productivity of switching optical connections is improved significantly with the mechanical splice presented. A single fiber cable or a fiber tape, with the bare fiber exposed at the tip, is inserted from the terminal ends of an aligner element, and are clamped between a lid and a base member of the aligner element, A U-shaped spring clamp is coupled to the aligner element to secure the cables clamped in the aligner element. After the aligner element is closed and coupled into the spring clamp, wedge insertion openings provided in the front face of the aligner element enable to lift the lid member from the base member sufficiently to enable removal of one or both of the cables. The mechanical splice is constructed simply and ruggedly so that cables can be connected or disconnected manually by coupling the aligner element into or decoupling from the spring clamp.