JP2004271766A - Optical connector cleaning tool - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector cleaning tool with which a splicing end of an optical connector can easily and securely be cleaned while the optical connector is inserted into a connector housing. <P>SOLUTION: The optical connector cleaning tool 1 is equipped with a tool body 10 and an insert part 20 which is provided projecting from the tool body 10 and and can be inserted into the connector housing. The tool body 10 is mounted rotatably with a payoff reel wound with a tape 2 and a take-up reel wound with a tape having been used to collect it, and the insert part 20 is equipped with a head part 23 which has an abutting surface 24 for securing abutting area for the splicing end of the optical connector at the tip and is wound with the tape 2 supplied from the payoff reel along the abutting surface 24; and the head part 23 has guide grooves 25A, 25B and 25B, preventing the tape from shifting along the width, upstream and/or downstream from the abutting surface 24 in the travel direction of the tape. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical connector cleaning tool for cleaning a joint end surface of an optical connector in a connector housing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As is well known, connection between optical connectors in a connector housing such as an adapter or a receptacle is realized by abutting and joining the end faces of optical fibers facing the joining end faces of the optical connectors.
When the optical connector is inserted into the connector housing and butt-connected, if dirt, dust, oil, or other dirt adheres to the joint end surface of the optical connector, it may cause damage during attachment / detachment and increase transmission loss. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the joint end surface before the butt connection.
[0003]
As shown in FIG. 13, a cleaner used for this type of application includes a protruding portion 110 having an opening 116 at the tip end where the cleaning tape 102 is exposed, and this protruding portion 110 is connected to the optical connector adapter 170 ( When the tape 102 is inserted into the space (connector receiving hole 172) in the optical adapter), the tape 102 faces the joint end surface 161a of the ferrule 161 of the optical connector plug 160 (optical plug) received in the optical connector adapter 170, and contacts the tape 102. A configuration has been proposed in which the optical plug 160 is disposed so as to be in contact with the optical plug 160 and is wiped and cleaned by advancing the tape 102. In this cleaner 101, the tape 102 for wiping and cleaning the joint end surface 161a of the optical plug 160 is provided so as to pass over the tip end surface 112a (contact surface) of the head portion 112 pivotally attached to the pivot 111. The orientation of the head portion 112 is made variable by pivotal rotation about the center 111, and the joint end surface 161a of the ferrule 161 can be received at various angles (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 3350850 [0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described cleaner, when the direction of the distal end surface 112a of the head portion 112 changes due to the pivotal rotation of the head portion 112, the tape 102 wound around the head portion 112 is moved in the width direction (to the paper surface in FIG. 13). (Vertical direction). As a result, the contact force at which the joining end face 161a contacts the tape 102 becomes uneven, or the tape 102 cannot be fed smoothly, so that the cleaning is not reliably performed and the dirt remains partially on the joining end face 161a. There was a problem that there is.
[0006]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector cleaning tool that can easily and reliably clean the joint end surface of the optical connector in a state where the optical connector is inserted into the connector housing.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is an optical connector cleaning tool for wiping and cleaning a joint end face of an optical connector in a connector housing by movement of a cleaning member, and is provided with a tool main body and a tool protruding from the tool main body. , An insertion portion formed to be insertable into the connector housing, wherein the cleaning member is a tape, and the tool body is provided with a supply reel on which the tape is wound, and a tape after use. And a take-up reel that is rotatably mounted. The insertion portion has a contact surface at the tip end for securing a contact area with the joining end surface, and the insertion portion is provided along the contact surface. A head unit is provided such that the tape supplied from the supply reel is wound around the head unit. The head unit has a guide groove for preventing the tape from shifting in the width direction. Respect, to provide an optical connector cleaning tool, characterized in that it is formed on the upstream and / or downstream side of the tape in the flow direction.
[0008]
The present invention is particularly effective when a head tilting mechanism configured to allow tilting of the head portion with respect to a pushing force on the head portion is provided.
In the present invention, when the insertion portion is inserted into the connector housing, a concave portion for avoiding interference between the head portion and a protruding member protruding from the joint end surface is recessed from a contact surface of the head portion. The tape guided by the guide groove may be configured to allow insertion of the projecting member into the recess.
[0009]
Further, the present invention is an optical connector cleaning tool for wiping and cleaning a joint end face of an optical connector in a connector housing by a movement of a cleaning member, wherein the optical connector cleaning tool is provided so as to protrude from the tool main body and is inserted into the connector housing. The cleaning member is a tape, and the insertion portion has a contact surface at its tip to secure a contact area with the joint end surface. A head portion is provided such that the tape is wound along a contact surface, and a guide groove for preventing the tape from shifting in the width direction is provided on the head portion with respect to the contact surface. Thus, an optical connector cleaning tool is provided which is formed on the upstream side and / or the downstream side in the flow direction of the tape.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments.
FIGS. 1 to 11 are views showing an embodiment of an optical connector cleaning tool (hereinafter, simply referred to as “cleaning tool”) of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view corresponding to the state shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view corresponding to the state shown in FIG. Here, since the insertion portion 20 is symmetrical with respect to the center surface in the width direction, FIGS. 6 and 7 show only one side of the insertion portion 20 in the width direction.
[0011]
The optical connector plug 60 (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as an optical plug) and the optical connector adapter 70 (connector housing, hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as an optical adapter) to which the cleaning tool 1 of the present embodiment is applied are herein referred to. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, it is an MPO type optical connector (MPO: Multifiber Push On) defined in JIS C5982 and the like.
[0012]
The optical plug 60 is an optical connector having a configuration in which an MT-type optical connector ferrule 61 (MT: Mechanically Transferable, hereinafter simply referred to as a ferrule) defined in JIS C5981 or the like is housed in a tip end of a sleeve-shaped housing 62 made of plastic. It is a plug, the whole of which has a flat cross section.
In the following description, the direction corresponding to the short side of the flat shape of the optical plug 60 and the ferrule 61 (the vertical direction in FIG. 10) is the thickness direction, and the direction corresponding to the long side is the width direction (the left and right in FIG. 10). Direction). The same applies to the optical adapter 70 connected to the optical plug 60 and the insertion portion 20 of the cleaning tool 1 inserted into the optical adapter 70, corresponding to the thickness direction and the width direction of the optical plug 60 and the ferrule 61. In some cases, the thickness direction and the width direction may be used.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 10, a predetermined number (four in this case) of optical fiber holes 61b are opened in the joint end face 61a of the ferrule 61 so as to be arranged. Here, the optical fiber 63 is a four-core optical fiber ribbon, and the optical fiber 63 a (bare optical fiber) formed by removing the resin coating at the tip is replaced with the optical fiber hole 61 b (fine hole) of the ferrule 61. By being inserted into the optical plug 60, the optical plug 60 is terminated so as to be butt-connected to another optical connector, and is pulled out from the rear end of the optical plug 60 through the inside of the optical plug 60. The optical fiber 63 pulled out from the rear end of the optical plug 60 is housed in a boot 64 provided on the rear end side (the left side in FIG. 11) of the housing 62 in the connection direction. Is prevented from being sharply bent.
The optical fiber 63 is not particularly limited as long as it is suitable for being terminated with the optical plug. For example, a single-core or multi-core optical fiber core, and this optical fiber core is housed in a tube. An optical fiber cord or the like can be adopted.
[0014]
A guide pin hole 61c is provided on both sides of the joint end face 61a of the ferrule 61 on the outer side in the width direction of the optical fiber hole 61b. The ferrules 61 are positioned with high precision by a well-known guide pin fitting type positioning mechanism via a protruding member 65 (guide pin) provided to be inserted into the guide pin hole 61c and protrude from the joint end face 61a. Thus, the end faces of the optical fibers 63a are connected by butt joining. Thus, the optical fibers 63 terminated to each ferrule 61 are optically connected to each other.
[0015]
The optical adapter 70 is formed in a sleeve shape having connector insertion ports 71 on both sides, and is formed inside the optical adapter 70 by inserting the optical plug 60 from the connector insertion port 71, and the connector insertion port 71 is formed. It can be accommodated in the connector accommodation hole 72 communicating with the connector.
When the optical plug 60 is inserted from the connector insertion opening 71 of the optical adapter 70, the optical plug 60 is accommodated in the connector accommodation hole 72 while the displacement in the direction shifted from the insertion direction is regulated. When the two optical plugs 60 are inserted into the optical adapter 70, the ferrules 61 abut each other in the optical adapter 70, so that the optical fibers 63 terminated to each ferrule 61 are optically connected to each other. Has become.
[0016]
Although not particularly shown, like the well-known MPO connector, an elastic engaging piece is formed extending along the inner wall 70a of the optical adapter 70 toward the connector insertion port 71 and having an engaging claw at the tip. ing. Further, on the side surfaces on both sides in the width direction of the housing 62 of the optical plug 60, there are provided engagement recesses which can be engaged with the engagement claws of the elastic engagement pieces of the optical adapter 70.
Further, on the outer periphery of the housing 62, when the engaging claw and the engaging recess are engaged with each other, the elastic engaging piece is pressed from the outside to prevent disengagement from the engaging recess. Coupling 68 is mounted.
[0017]
When the optical plug 60 is inserted into the optical adapter 70 from the connector insertion port 71, the displacement in the direction deviated from the insertion direction is restricted by the engagement between the engagement recess and the engagement claw. It is accommodated in the accommodation hole 72.
In a state where both optical plugs 60 are inserted into the optical adapter 70, the end faces of the optical fibers 63 a fixed and held on the ferrule 61 in the optical adapter 70 abut against each other, whereby the light terminated on each ferrule 61 is formed. The fibers 63 are optically connected to each other.
[0018]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a cleaning tool 1 applicable to cleaning the joint end face 61 a of the optical plug 60 has a roughly case-shaped tool body 10 in which a cleaning member 2 is housed, and this tool body. And an insertion portion 20 protruding from the optical adapter 10 and formed to be insertable into the connector housing hole 72 of the optical adapter 70.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 1B, the tool main body 10 has a split structure including first and second case halves 11 and 12 made of plastic or the like. Although not particularly shown, the case halves 11 and 12 include, for example, a fitting pin formed to protrude inside the first case half 11 and a boss protruding inside the second case half 12. It is configured so as to be integrated by fitting the provided fitting holes. Note that the configuration of the tool main body 10 is merely an example, and is not intended to limit the present invention.
[0020]
Here, the cleaning member 2 is a tape, and the tape 2 is not particularly limited, and may be a known suitable cleaning cloth (nonwoven fabric or woven fabric) processed into a tape shape. For example, those made of ultrafine fibers such as polyester and nylon are exemplified.
[0021]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a tape feed mechanism that feeds and moves the tape 2 is provided as a drive mechanism 3 in a storage space 35 in the tool main body 10.
The tape feed mechanism 3 includes a supply reel 30 on which the tape 2 is wound, a winding reel 31 for winding and collecting the used tape 2, and an operation dial 34 for operating the tape 2.
[0022]
A supply reel support shaft 32 on which the supply reel 30 is rotatably mounted and a take-up reel 31 are rotatably mounted on the inner surface of the first case half 11 (the side facing the storage space 35). The take-up reel support shaft 33 is provided to protrude toward the second case half 12.
Between the supply reel 30 and the take-up reel 31, the tape 2 is stretched in a storage space 35 along a pin-shaped tape guide 36. Then, on the way, it is wound around a later-described head portion 23 housed in the insertion portion 20.
[0023]
An operation dial 34 is mounted on the outer periphery of the take-up reel support shaft 33 so as to be concentric with the take-up reel 31.
The operation dial 34 is partially exposed to the outside of the tool body 10 from a window 11 a provided on a side surface of the first case half 11.
The radius of the operation dial 34 is larger than the radius of the take-up reel 31. As a result, the length of the tape 2 wound on the take-up reel 31 is smaller than the operation amount of the operation dial 34 (the amount of displacement along the outer periphery of the operation dial 34) by the radius ratio. Therefore, a minute feed amount of the tape 2 can be easily achieved.
[0024]
The tape feed mechanism 3 can be driven by operating the operation dial 34 with a finger or the like and rotating it in a predetermined direction. That is, the rotation of the operation dial 34 causes the take-up reel 31 to rotate and take up the tape 2, and the unused tape 2 is fed out from the supply reel 30 and fed. Since the window 11a is open on the side surface of the tool main body 10, the operation dial 34 can be easily operated with the finger of the hand holding the cleaning tool 1 even when holding the cleaning tool 1 with one hand.
[0025]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cleaning tool 1 includes an insertion portion 20 provided to protrude from the tool body 10 and formed to be insertable into the optical adapter 70. The insertion portion 20 inserts the contact portion 2 a of the cleaning member 2 (tape) facing the opening 26 opened at the distal end of the insertion portion 20 by inserting the optical plug 70 into the optical adapter 70. It can be positioned and brought into contact with the joining end face 61a.
That is, the tool body 10 has a tapered shape toward the insertion portion 20, and the insertion portion 20 is formed at the tip of the small diameter portion 19 (left side in FIG. 1A).
As will be described later, the contact portion 2a of the tape 2 is a portion located on the contact surface 24 of the head portion 23, and the contact portion 2a moves along the longitudinal direction of the tape 2 due to the feeding movement of the tape 2. I will take turns.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 2, a projecting wall 19 a for reinforcing the small diameter portion 19 is provided inside the small diameter portion 19. According to the protruding wall 19a, the path of the cleaning tape 2b (2) to be clean from the supply reel 30 to the head unit 23, and the cleaning contaminated by the wiping cleaning from the head unit 23 to the take-up reel 31. Since the path of the tape 2c (2) is partitioned, the effect of suppressing the transfer of dirt on the cleaning tape 2 is also achieved.
[0027]
The insertion portion 20 is provided with a step 15 on the tool body 10 side. When the insertion portion 20 is inserted into the connector accommodating hole 72 of the optical adapter 70, the step 15 comes into contact with the peripheral edge 71 a of the connector insertion port 71 of the optical adapter 70, and the connector 15 of the insertion portion 20 This is for preventing the penetration depth into the accommodation hole 72 from becoming too deep.
[0028]
Here, as shown in FIG. 9, the insertion portion 20 has a split structure like the tool body 10, and insert portion halves 20 a and 20 b formed integrally with the case halves 11 and 12, respectively. It is formed by integrating the case halves 11 and 12 together.
On both sides in the width direction of the outer surface of the insertion portion 20, when the insertion portion 20 is inserted into the optical adapter 70, it is formed so as to be able to engage with the engagement claw (described above) of the elastic engagement piece of the optical adapter 70. An engagement recess 21 is formed. The front edge 21a (the side near the tip of the insertion portion 20, the left edge in FIG. 6) of the engagement recess 21 is a slope, and the engagement claw of the optical adapter 70 is engaged with the engagement recess 21. When the insertion portion 20 is pulled out in the detaching direction (downward left in FIG. 6) in the combined state, the engaging claw gets over the front edge portion 21 a and is detached from the engaging recess 21 with a relatively small force. It has become so.
[0029]
A tape abutting mechanism 4 for abutting the tape 2 on the joint end face 61 a of the ferrule 61 is provided in the insertion section 20. The tape contact mechanism 4 includes a head portion 23 having a contact surface 24 that is disposed to face the joining end surface 61a in a state where the insertion portion 20 of the cleaning tool 1 is inserted into the optical adapter 70; A head tilt mechanism 40 that tilts the contact surface 24 so that the contact surface 24 can change its orientation with respect to the insertion direction of the tape 2.
[0030]
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the contact surface 24 is provided on the side in the insertion direction of the head portion 23 (the left side in FIGS. 4 and 5). As shown in FIG. 8, the contact surface 24 has a substantially square shape, and when the head portion 23 is inserted into the optical adapter 70, a projecting member (guide pin) 65 projecting from the joining end surface 61 a is inserted therethrough. Guide pin insertion holes 22, 22 are formed on both sides in the width direction of the insertion portion 20 as recesses for avoiding interference with the guide pins 65.
Here, the contact surface 24 is located on the inner side (right side in FIGS. 4 and 5) of the edge 26 a of the opening 26 of the insertion section 20. However, depending on conditions such as the shape of the optical connector to be cleaned, the contact surface 24 may project from the edge 26a of the opening 26 toward the insertion direction (left side in FIGS. 4 and 5).
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 8, the head unit 23 guides the tape 2 on the upstream side (lower part in FIG. 8) and the downstream side (upper part) in the tape feeding direction so as to face each other via the contact surface 24. Guide groove 25 is provided.
Here, the tape 2 includes a tape 2A disposed at the center of the insertion portion 20 in the width direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 8) and tapes 2B and 2B disposed at both sides in the width direction of the insertion portion 20. is there. Also, corresponding to the tapes 2A, 2B, 2B, the guide grooves 25 are also arranged at the center of the insertion section 20 in the width direction, and the guide grooves 25 are arranged at both sides of the insertion section 20 in the width direction. 25B. Hereinafter, the respective tapes 2 and the guide grooves 25 may be distinguished and described by different reference numerals 2A, 2B, 2B and 25A, 25B, 25B.
In the present invention, the tape 2B and the guide groove 25B arranged on both sides in the width direction of the insertion section 20 are not essential.
[0032]
Three pairs of guide grooves 25A, 25B, 25B are provided corresponding to the respective tapes 2A, 2B, 2B. The width of the guide grooves 25A, 25B, 25B is adapted to the width of the tapes 2A, 2B, 2B. The tapes 2A, 2B, 2B are wound around the head section 23 by the upper guide grooves 25A, 25B, 25B, the contact surface 24, and the lower guide grooves 25A, 25B, 25B.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 8, in the contact surface 24, the guide pin insertion holes 22, 22 are arranged so as to open between the tapes 2A, 2B, 2B guided by the guide grooves 25A, 25B, 25B. . Thus, the guide pins 65 can be inserted into the guide pin insertion holes 22, 22 while avoiding the interference between the tapes 2A, 2B, 2B and passing between the tapes 2A, 2B, 2B.
[0034]
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the head tilting mechanism 40 has one end connected to the back surface 27 on the side opposite to the contact surface 24 of the head portion 23 by elastic deformation portions 42, 42 having a reduced thickness, and A pair of slide portions 41a and 41b which are arranged in parallel and extend substantially in the insertion and removal directions (left and right in FIGS. 4 and 5) of the insertion portion 20 and are displaceable in this extension direction. A connecting portion 44 connecting the other ends of the sliding portions 41a and 41b opposite to the head portion 23 via elastic deformation portions 43 and 43, and the sliding portions 41a and 41b slide in the extending direction. And a guide 45 for guiding to be displaced.
[0035]
Further, a movement restricting portion (stopper) 46 for restricting the connecting portion 44 from moving in both directions of the insertion direction of the insertion portion 20 and the detaching direction opposite thereto, and the slide portions 41a and 41b are formed by the thickness of the insertion portion 20. And a bridging portion 48 bridging in the vertical direction (vertical direction in FIGS. 4 and 5). The bridging portion 48 is also elastically deformable with respect to the displacement of the slide portions 41a and 41b (elastic deformation portion).
The slide portions 41a and 41b are located above and below the back surface 27 of the head portion 23 (up and down in FIGS. 4 and 5) corresponding to the upper end edge 24a and the lower end edge 24b of the contact surface 24 of the head portion 23. Each is connected.
[0036]
The head portion 23, the pair of slide portions 41a, 41b, and the connecting portion 44 constitute a square frame-shaped component 47 (head composite).
More specifically, the head part 23, the slide parts 41a and 41b, the connecting part 44, the elastic deformation parts 42, 42, 43 and 43, and the bridging part 48 are integrally formed of plastic or the like. The head complex 47 is formed.
The head complex 47 is held in the insertion portion 20 by inserting the guide 45 and the stopper 46 into the space 49 between the slide portions 41a and 41b and the stopper insertion hole 44a.
[0037]
The guide 45 has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, and is disposed between the pair of slide portions 41a and 41b from the inner wall 28 arranged in the width direction of the insertion portion 20 in the width direction of the insertion portion 20 (FIG. 4). , In a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 5). The guide 45 guides the slide of the slide portions 41a and 41b by its upper surface 45a and lower surface 45b (upper and lower sides in FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively).
The stopper 46 has a substantially round cross-sectional shape, and protrudes from the inner wall 28 arranged in the width direction of the insertion portion 20. A stopper insertion hole 44a is formed in the connecting portion 44 between the portions connected to the elastically deforming portions 43, 43. The stopper 46 is inserted through the stopper insertion hole 44a.
The displacement of the connecting portion 44 is restricted by the stopper 46 in the insertion direction and the detachment direction of the insertion portion 20, and is substantially not displaced in any direction.
[0038]
The head tilting mechanism 40 is disposed between the tape 2 (2b) closer to the supply reel 30 than the head 23 and the tape 2 (2c) closer to the take-up reel 31 than the head 23. Thereby, the head part 23 can be tilted stably without obstructing the feeding movement of the tape 2.
A concave portion 50 for avoiding interference with the tape 2 is formed in a portion of the connecting portion 44 close to the tape 2 (upper and lower surfaces of the connecting portion 44, upper and lower in FIGS. 4 and 5). The concave portions 50 correspond to the guide grooves 25A, 25B, and 25B, and are located at three places (50A, 50B, and 50B) behind the guide grooves (the direction in which the insertion portion 20 is removed; the direction to the upper right in FIGS. 6 and 7). Is provided.
[0039]
The head complex 47 can be deformed by the elasticity of the elastically deforming portions 42, 42, 43, 43 and the bridging portion 48, and tilts the head portion 23 in response to a pushing force of the head portion 23 against the contact surface 24. It is configured to allow. In other words, uneven pressing force acts on the head portion 23 on the side of the upper edge 24a and the side of the lower edge 24b of the contact surface 24, so that the slide portions 41a and 41b The contact surface 24 can be tilted by being displaced in the direction of insertion and disengagement.
In addition, the shape of each part supporting the head part 23 in the head composite 47 can be an appropriate shape such as a pillar shape, a wall shape, a plate shape, or the like.
[0040]
In addition, the head composite 47 has a sufficient frictional force acting between the tape 2 and the head portion 23 when the tape 2 is fed in the feed direction, so that the abutting surface 24 is so badly affected that cleaning. The orientation does not change. The threshold value of the pushing force that allows the contact surface 24 to tilt can be adjusted by the ease of elastic deformation of the elastic deformation portions 42, 42, 43, 43, the presence or absence of the bridging portion 48, and the like. That is, the bridging portion 48 is not essential.
Although not shown, a cap or a cover for protecting the head 23 and the tape 2 facing the opening 26 is attached to the distal end of the insertion portion 20 so that the tape 2 can be used when the cleaning tool 1 is not used. Needless to say, it may be possible to protect the data.
[0041]
An example of how to use the cleaning tool 1 will be described.
When the insertion portion 20 of the cleaning tool 1 is inserted from the connector insertion opening 71 of the optical adapter 70, the insertion portion 20 enters the connector housing hole 72 while the outer surface is positioned by the inner wall 70a of the optical adapter 70. By pushing the insertion portion 20 until the step 15 hits the peripheral edge portion 71a of the connector insertion port 71, the cleaning member 2 is moved to an appropriate position on the joint end face 61a of the optical plug 60 (here, the optical fiber hole 61b and its periphery). ) Is positioned and brought into contact.
Even when the guide pin 65 protrudes from the joint end face 61a of the optical plug 60, the guide pin 65 is housed in the guide pin insertion hole 22 provided in the head portion 23. The connector can be accommodated in the connector accommodation hole 72 without interference.
[0042]
When the operation dial 34 is rotated by a predetermined amount, the tape 2 moves in conjunction with the rotation of the take-up reel 31, and the tape 2 wipes and cleans the bonding end face 61a. Dirt such as dust and oil is securely wiped off by the tape 2.
Since the wiped dirt adheres to the tape 2 and moves in a direction in which the dirt is wound on the take-up reel 31, the used tape 2 is no longer exposed from the opening 26 of the insertion portion 20, and Does not adhere to the joining end face 61a again.
Therefore, the joining end surface 61a can be cleaned extremely cleanly.
After the cleaning, the insertion portion 20 can be easily pulled out by pulling the cleaning tool 1 in the opposite direction (removal direction) from that when the cleaning tool 1 was inserted.
[0043]
According to the cleaning tool 1 of the present embodiment, since the tape 2 wound around the head portion 23 is guided by the guide grooves 25A, 25B, 25B, the displacement in the width direction is suppressed. For this reason, the joining end face 61a can contact the tape 2 with an even contact force, and the tape 2 can be fed smoothly. Therefore, cleaning can be reliably performed so that dirt does not remain on the joint end surface 61a.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tape 2 (2A, 2B, 2B) is disposed in the guide grooves 25A, 25B, 25B, so that even when the head portion 23 tilts and changes direction. The tape 2 does not come into contact with the inner walls 29a and 29b (the upper and lower inner walls in FIGS. 4 and 5) of the insertion portion 20 in the tilting direction of the head portion 23.
[0044]
Since the head portion 23 can tilt with respect to the pushing force when the contact surface 24 contacts the joint end surface 61a of the optical plug 60, the joint end surface 61a has a right angle as shown in FIG. Even when the polished ferrule 61 abuts, as shown in FIG. 5, even when the joining end face 61a is obliquely polished and the ferrule 61 abuts, the direction of the abutting face 24 is changed to the direction of the joining end face 61a. In accordance with the orientation, the tape 2 on the contact surface 24 can be more uniformly and reliably brought into contact with the joining end surface 61a.
In FIG. 5, when a part of the front surface of the ferrule 61 is formed so as to face a different angle from the joint end face 61a (here, the right-angle polishing portion 61d), the tape 2 comes into contact with the right-angle polishing portion 61d. However, since this is not the joint end face 61a of the ferrule 61, there is no particular problem.
[0045]
In addition, the head tilting mechanism 40 is configured so that the contact surface 24 is not substantially displaced in the vertical direction (the vertical direction in FIGS. 4 and 5) in the tilting direction. It is possible to prevent the tape 2 from being in good contact with the joining end face 61a due to the misalignment of the center position between the tape 2 and the contact face 24 of the head portion 23, or the contact force at which the joining end face 61a contacts the tape 2 becomes uneven. Thus, the dirt on the joint end face 61a can be more reliably removed.
Since the insertion section 20 is positioned in the connector accommodating hole 72 of the optical adapter 70 even during cleaning, the joining end face 61a can be wiped and cleaned by the tape 2 with a uniform pressing force without displacement. Further, the insertion portion 20 can be supported in the optical adapter 70 with a very small force, and the workability is good.
[0046]
As described above, the present invention has been described based on the preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to only the embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, it is not essential that the stopper be inserted into a stopper insertion hole formed in the connecting portion. As shown in a modified example of the head tilting mechanism 40 in FIG. 12, the front and rear of the connecting portion 44 (where the connecting portion 44 is located in the insertion direction and the detaching direction of the insertion portion 20 in the connecting portion 44. Also, by arranging the stoppers 46a and 46b protruding from the inner wall 28 arranged in the width direction of the insertion portion 20, the displacement of the insertion portion 20 in the insertion direction and the detachment direction can be regulated. Here, the connecting portion 44 is provided with the receiving portions 44b, 44b for making smooth contact with the stoppers 46a, 46b, but this is not essential in the present embodiment.
[0047]
In the present invention, the form of the head is not particularly limited. For example, a conventional head as shown in FIG. 13 can be used.
The head tilting mechanism is configured such that opposite end edges of a contact surface of the head portion are different from each other in directions of insertion and removal of the insertion portion by an elastic body such as a spring connected to and biasing the back surface of the head portion. A configuration in which the head portion is held so as to be displaceable by a displacement amount is also possible. With such a configuration, the head portion can be allowed to tilt due to the elastic deformation of the elastic body.
The head tilting mechanism may have a configuration other than a frame shape by selecting a material. In addition, there may be a configuration in which the head portion is allowed to tilt by elastic deformation of the head portion itself.
[0048]
In the insertion portion, unit insertion portions positioned in the connector housing by being inserted into different connector housings are formed at a plurality of places in the protruding direction, and each unit insertion portion of the insertion portion is formed in the protruding direction of the insertion portion. It can be formed so as to be insertable into all the connector housings that can accommodate the unit insertion portion whose position is located relatively behind. According to such a cleaning tool, the insertion unit can be inserted by each unit insertion portion so as to be positioned with respect to the different connector housings. According to the type and size of the optical connector, the joining end face of the optical connector in the connector housing can be cleaned.
[0049]
Further, the insertion portion may be configured such that a plurality of types of insertion portions can be exchanged with respect to the tool body. Thus, the joint end face of the optical connector in the connector housing can be cleaned according to the type and size of the connector housing only by changing the insertion portion without changing the tool body.
[0050]
The drive mechanism for feeding and moving the tape is not limited to a mechanism driven manually, and may be a mechanism driven by power such as a motor or a spring. Further, manual driving and driving by power may be used in combination, or may be switched as necessary.
[0051]
In the cleaning tool of the above-described embodiment, the insertion portion completely covers the cleaning member except for the opening formed at the tip of the insertion portion, but is not necessarily limited to this. The shape and structure are not particularly limited as long as the cleaning member can be prevented from coming into contact with the inner wall or the like of the connector housing and being contaminated when the insertion portion is inserted into the connector housing.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the optical connector cleaning tool of the present invention, the guide groove for preventing the tape from shifting in the width direction is provided on the head portion with respect to the abutting surface on the upstream side and / or the downstream side in the tape flow direction. Since it is provided on the side, the tape wound around the head portion is guided by the guide groove, and displacement in the width direction is suppressed. For this reason, the joining end surface can contact the tape with an even contact force, and the tape can be fed smoothly. Therefore, cleaning can be performed reliably so that no dirt remains on the joint end surface.
[0053]
When a head tilting mechanism configured to allow tilting of the head portion with respect to a pushing force on the head portion is provided, the center position between the bonding end surface of the optical connector and the contact surface of the head portion is shifted, and the bonding end surface is shifted. This prevents the tape from being in good contact with the tape, and prevents the joining end face from contacting the tape with uneven contact force, thereby making it possible to more reliably remove dirt from the joining end face. In addition, even when the head portion is tilted, the displacement of the tape in the width direction is suppressed.
[0054]
When the insertion portion is inserted into the connector housing, a concave portion for avoiding interference between the head portion and a protruding member (for example, a guide pin in an MPO optical connector) protruding from the joint end surface is provided in contact with the head portion. In the case where the tape is provided so as to be recessed from the surface, and the tape guided by the guide groove is configured to allow insertion of the projecting member into the recess, even if the projecting member is present at the joining end surface of the optical connector. The cleaning can be performed by bringing the cleaning member into contact with the joint end surface.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a front view and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the appearance of an optical connector cleaning tool according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the inside of the optical connector cleaning tool shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the inside of the optical connector cleaning tool shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a state where an insertion portion of the optical connector cleaning tool shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into a connector housing.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a state where an insertion portion of the optical connector cleaning tool shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into a connector housing.
FIG. 6 is a half sectional perspective view showing another example of a state that the tape contact mechanism of the optical connector cleaning tool shown in FIG. 1 can take;
FIG. 7 is a half sectional perspective view showing another example of a state that the tape contact mechanism of the optical connector cleaning tool shown in FIG. 1 can take;
FIG. 8 is a front view showing an insertion portion of the optical connector cleaning tool shown in FIG.
9 is a partially enlarged perspective view of an insertion portion of the optical connector cleaning tool shown in FIG.
FIG. 10 is a front view showing an example of a ferrule of the optical connector plug.
11 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which an insertion portion of the optical connector cleaning tool shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into a connector insertion hole of a connector housing in which the optical connector is stored.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of an insertion portion of an optical connector cleaning tool according to a modification of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a state where a conventional cleaner is inserted into a connector housing.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical connector cleaning tool (cleaning tool), 2, 2A, 2B ... Cleaning member (tape), 10 ... Tool main body, 20 ... Insertion part, 22 ... Depression (guide pin insertion hole), 23 ... Head part, 24 ... Contact surface, 25A, 25B: guide groove, 30: supply reel, 31: take-up reel, 40: head tilting mechanism, 60: optical connector (optical plug), 61a: joining end face, 65: projecting member (guide pin) , 70 ... connector housing (optical adapter).

Claims (4)

An optical connector cleaning tool for wiping and cleaning a joint end face (61a) of an optical connector (60) in a connector housing (70) by movement of a cleaning member (2, 2A, 2B).
A tool body (10), and an insertion portion (20) protruding from the tool body and formed to be insertable into the connector housing;
The cleaning member is a tape, and a supply reel (30) around which the tape is wound and a take-up reel (31) for winding up and collecting used tape are rotatably mounted on the tool body. Has been
The insertion portion has a contact surface (24) at its tip for ensuring a contact area with the joining end surface, and the tape supplied from the supply reel is wound along the contact surface. Head portion (23) is provided,
Guide grooves (25A, 25B) for preventing the tape from shifting in the width direction are formed in the head portion on the upstream side and / or the downstream side in the tape flow direction with respect to the contact surface. An optical connector cleaning tool (1), characterized in that: The optical connector cleaning tool according to claim 1, further comprising a head tilting mechanism (40) configured to allow tilting of the head portion with respect to a pushing force on the head portion. A concave portion (22) for avoiding interference between the head portion and a protruding member (65) protruding from the joining end surface when the insertion portion is inserted into the connector housing is recessed from a contact surface of the head portion. It is provided as
The optical connector cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the tape guided by the guide groove is configured to allow insertion of the protruding member into the recess. An optical connector cleaning tool for wiping and cleaning a joint end face (61a) of an optical connector (60) in a connector housing (70) by movement of a cleaning member (2, 2A, 2B).
A tool body (10), and an insertion portion (20) protruding from the tool body and formed to be insertable into the connector housing;
The cleaning member is a tape,
The insertion section has a contact surface (24) at its tip for securing a contact area with the joint end surface, and the head is wound along the contact surface. Part (23) is provided,
Guide grooves (25A, 25B) for preventing the tape from shifting in the width direction are formed in the head portion on the upstream side and / or the downstream side in the tape flow direction with respect to the contact surface. An optical connector cleaning tool (1), characterized in that:

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