Ferrule for a multi fiber optical connector and method of manufacturing the multi fiber optical connector

A ferrule for a multi fiber optical connector comprising:

• an entry into which a multi fiber tape is insertable;
• guide groove arrays in which a plurality of guide grooves that guide the respective optical fibers that make up the multi fiber tape inserted from the entry are arranged in plural parallel lines;
• and
• fiber hole arrays in which a plurality of fiber holes into which the respective optical fibers guided by the respective guide grooves are inserted are arranged in plural parallel lines;
• wherein a ceiling of the entry is notched to form an opening so that an inclination of the multi fiber tape is not regulated by the upper side of the entry when a leading end of each of the optical fibers is pressed against the corresponding guide groove while the multi fiber tape inserted from the entry is inclined toward the upper side of the entry.

A method of manufacturing a multi fiber optical connector comprising:

• an entry into which a multi fiber tape is insertable;
• guide groove arrays in which a plurality of guide grooves that guide the respective optical fibers that make up the multi fiber tape inserted from the entry are arranged in plural parallel lines;
• and
• fiber hole arrays in which a plurality of fiber holes into which the respective optical fibers guided by the respective guide grooves are inserted are arranged in plural parallel lines, in which a ferrule for the multi fiber optical connector having said guide groove arrays and said fiber hole arrays laminated at plural stages in a single ferrule and having a distance of from a straight line that connect middle points between the center axes of the fiber holes that make up a fiber hole array at one end side in a laminating direction and the center axes of the fiber holes that make up a fiber hole array at another end side to an upper side of the entry longer than a distance of from the straight line to a lower side of the entry is fitted to the multi fiber tape;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• providing an angle between each of the optical fibers of multi fiber tape and a plane extending in the arrangement direction of said guide grooves by inclining said multi fiber tape obliquely and downward when inserting the multi fiber tape into the ferrule for the multi fiber optical connector from the entry of the ferrule.