Ferrule for optical connector, optical connector, and method for manufacturing optical connector

1 . A method for manufacturing an optical connector, comprising:

preparing a ferrule for an optical connector comprising:

a body portion having:

fiber holes into which optical fibers are inserted; and

a connecting end face through which the fiber holes are opened, wherein

the fiber holes include:

first fiber holes disposed at a predetermined pitch in a first direction on the connecting end face; and

second fiber holes disposed at the predetermined pitch in the first direction and at positions different from positions of the first fiber holes in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction,

the positions of the second fiber holes are shifted by substantially half the predetermined pitch in the first direction with respect to the positions of the first fiber holes,

an upper side of the body portion is closer to the first fiber holes in the second direction than to the second fiber holes,

a lower side of the body portion is closer to the second fiber holes than to the first fiber holes,

a rear side of the body portion is opposite to the connecting end face in an insertion direction of the fiber holes,

the body portion further has, inside:

first guide grooves extending rearward from respective rear end portions of the first fiber holes and opening upward in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the insertion direction; and

second guide grooves extending rearward from respective rear end portions of the second fiber holes and opening upward in the cross-sectional view, and

the second guide grooves are longer in the insertion direction than the first guide grooves;

inserting second optical fibers into the second fiber holes along the second guide grooves; and

moving first optical fibers while in contact with surfaces of the second optical fibers that had been inserted into the second fiber holes such that the first optical fibers reach the first guide grooves and inserting the first optical fibers into the first fiber holes individually.

2 . The method for manufacturing an optical connector according to claim 1 , wherein, during the moving of the first optical fibers and the inserting of the first optical fibers, the first optical fibers contact an upper surface of the second optical fibers in a concave portion formed by the upper surface of the second optical fibers.