JP2005215045A - Optical connector cleaning tool and optical component cleaning tool - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical connector cleaning tool easily and surely cleaning the connecting end face of an optical connector. <P>SOLUTION: The optical connector cleaning tool 1 for wiping and cleaning the connecting face of the optical connector by the motion of cleaning tapes 2A to 2C is provided with a tool main body 10 and an insertion part 20 which is projecting from the tool main body 10 and is formed so as to be inserted into the connector housing for connecting the optical connector while housing the connector. A head member 23 for securing the abutment area of the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C to the connecting end face is arranged at the tip face of the insertion part 20, and a scraper 80 for removing foreign matters stuck to the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C is abutted on a part 2b which is supplied to the head member 23 among the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector cleaning tool for cleaning a joining end face of an optical connector in a connector housing and an optical part cleaning tool for cleaning an end face of an optical component.

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 the optical fibers facing the joining end faces of the optical connectors.
When the optical connector is inserted into the connector housing and butt-connected, dirt such as dust, dirt, or oil on the joint end surface of the optical connector may cause damage during installation or increase in transmission loss. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the joining end surface prior to the butt connection.

As a cleaner used for this type of application, a protrusion having an opening at which the cleaning tape is exposed is provided at the tip, and the protrusion is inserted into a space (connector accommodation hole) in the optical connector adapter (optical adapter). Thus, the cleaning tape is arranged so as to face and abut the joining end surface of the ferrule of the optical connector plug (optical plug) accommodated in the optical connector adapter, and the joining end surface of the optical plug is moved forward by the cleaning tape. The thing which wiped off and cleaned was proposed (for example, refer patent document 1).
Japanese Patent No. 3350850

However, in the cleaner using the cleaning tape as described above, when foreign matter such as dust in the air or fiber waste generated from the cleaning tape is attached to the cleaning tape, the cleaning tape is brought into contact with the joining end surface of the ferrule. When wiping and cleaning are performed, foreign matter may adhere from the cleaning tape to the joint end surface of the ferrule, and cleaning may not be performed reliably.
In order to remove foreign matter adhering to the cleaning tape, it may be possible to perform operations such as washing the cleaning tape with water or pressing the adhesive surface of the adhesive tape against the cleaning tape before cleaning the optical connector. However, in the case of washing with water, there is a possibility that the cleaning tape absorbs water, the fibers of the cleaning tape are cut, and foreign matter on the cleaning tape is increased. Moreover, when the foreign material is removed from the cleaning tape using the adhesive tape, if the adhesive remains on the cleaning tape, the adhesive remains on the cleaning tape and may adhere to the joining end surface of the ferrule.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical connector cleaning tool capable of easily and reliably cleaning the joining end surface of the optical connector in a state where the optical connector is inserted into the connector housing. It is another object of the present invention to provide an optical component cleaning tool for cleaning an end face of an optical component.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an optical connector cleaning tool for wiping and cleaning a joining end surface of an optical connector by movement of a cleaning tape, the tool main body, and being provided protruding from the tool main body and the optical connector. An insertion portion formed so as to be insertable into a connector housing for housing and connecting the head, and a head for ensuring a contact area of the cleaning tape with the joining end surface at a distal end surface of the insertion portion An optical connector cleaning tool characterized in that a scraper for removing foreign matter adhering to the cleaning tape is in contact with a portion of the cleaning tape that is supplied toward the head member. provide.
The scraper may be provided with a guide groove that prevents the cleaning tape from shifting in the width direction.
A plurality of the cleaning tapes may be provided and supplied from a plurality of supply reels.
In order to prevent sagging of the cleaning tape, a sagging prevention mechanism can be provided.

  The present invention also provides an optical component cleaning tool for wiping and cleaning the end face of an optical component by the movement of a cleaning tape, which is provided so as to protrude from the tool main body and to be inserted into a housing for housing the optical component. A head member for securing a contact area of the cleaning tape with the joining end surface at a distal end surface of the insertion portion, and the head member of the cleaning tape An optical component cleaning tool is provided in which a scraper for removing foreign matter attached to the cleaning tape is in contact with a portion supplied toward the surface.

  According to the cleaning tool of the present invention, by bringing the scraper into contact with the cleaning tape, the foreign material adhering to the cleaning tape can be scraped and removed by the scraper while feeding the tape for cleaning the joining end surface. . As a result, the joining end face of the ferrule can be cleaned using a clean cleaning tape at all times, so that the dirt on the joining end face can be reliably removed.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIGS. 1-24 is a figure which shows one Embodiment of the optical connector cleaning tool (henceforth a "cleaning tool") of this invention.
As shown in FIGS. 21 and 23, an optical connector plug 60 (hereinafter simply referred to as an optical plug) to which the cleaning tool 1 of the present embodiment is applied and an optical connector adapter 70 (connector housing. Here, the adapter may be an MPO optical connector (MPO: Multifiber Push On) defined in JIS C 5982 and the like.

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 C 5981 or the like is made of plastic and accommodated in a distal end portion of a sleeve-like housing 62. It is a plug, and the whole is formed in a cross-sectional shape with a flat outer appearance.
In the following description, the direction corresponding to the short side of the flat shape of the ferrule 61 of the optical plug 60 (the vertical direction in FIG. 21) is the thickness direction, and the direction corresponding to the long side is the width direction (the horizontal direction in FIG. 21). ). Similarly, the optical adapter 70 connected to the optical plug 60 and the insertion portion 20 (described later) of the cleaning tool 1 inserted into the optical adapter 70 corresponding to the thickness direction and the width direction of the ferrule 61 are also the same. , Sometimes referred to as the thickness direction and the width direction.

As shown in FIG. 21, a predetermined number (four in this case) of optical fiber holes 61b (fine holes) are opened in the vicinity of the center position 66 of the joining end surface 61a of the ferrule 61. Here, the optical fiber 63 is a four-core optical fiber ribbon, and the optical fiber 63a (bare optical fiber) formed by removing the resin coating at the tip is inserted into the optical fiber hole 61b of the ferrule 61. Accordingly, the optical plug 60 is terminated so as to be butt-connected to other optical connectors, and penetrates through the optical plug 60 and is drawn out from the rear end of the optical plug 60. The optical fiber 63 drawn out from the rear end of the optical plug 60 is housed in a boot 64 provided on the rear end side in the connection direction of the housing 62 (lower left side in FIG. 23), thereby near the rear end of the optical plug 60. Sudden bending or the like is prevented.
The optical fiber 63 is not particularly limited as long as it is suitable for termination with the optical plug. For example, a single-core or multi-core optical fiber, and this optical fiber is housed in a tube. An optical fiber cord or the like can be used.

  On the joint end face 61a of the ferrule 61, guide pin holes 61c are provided on both sides of the optical fiber hole 61b on the outer side in the width direction. The ferrules 61 are positioned with high accuracy by a well-known guide pin fitting type positioning mechanism via a protruding member 65 (guide pin) provided so as to be inserted into the guide pin hole 61c and protrude from the joining end surface 61a. Thus, the end faces of the optical fiber 63a are butt-joined and connected. As a result, the optical fibers 63 terminated at the ferrules 61 are optically connected to each other.

As shown in FIGS. 23 and 19, the optical adapter 70 is formed in a sleeve shape in which both sides of the connector receiving hole 72 are opened as connector insertion ports 71, and the optical plug 60 is inserted from the connector insertion port 71. Thus, the connector can be accommodated in the connector accommodation hole 72.
The optical adapter 70 referred to in the present invention is a generic term for relay devices that position and fix the optical plugs 60 on both sides. Accordingly, the optical plugs 60 on both sides connected to the optical adapter 70 are not limited to those having the same shape. Even if optical plugs having different shapes can be connected, they are called optical adapters.

When the optical plug 60 is inserted from the connector insertion port 71 of the optical adapter 70, the optical plug 60 is accommodated in the connector accommodation hole 72 while displacement in a direction deviated from the insertion direction is restricted. When the two optical plugs 60 are inserted into the optical adapter 70, the ferrules 61 are abutted in the optical adapter 70 so that the optical fibers 63 terminated by the ferrules 61 are optically connected to each other. It has become.
In this type of optical connector 60, the ferrule 61 is urged by a spring (not shown) built in the housing 62 when fitted in the optical adapter 70, so that a pressing force acts between the ferrules 61. It has become.

  In this optical adapter 70, a key groove 72 a that can be fitted to a key 62 a formed in the housing 62 of the optical plug 60 is provided on the inner wall 70 a of the optical adapter 70, as in the known MPO connector. The key 62a and the key groove 72a are formed only on one of the side surfaces on both sides in the thickness direction of the housing 62 of the optical plug 60 and the connector insertion port 71 of the optical adapter 70. The key 62a and the key groove 72a The optical plug 60 cannot be inserted into the connector insertion port 71 of the optical adapter 70 unless the orientation of the optical adapter 60 is aligned. As a result, when the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 is subjected to oblique polishing (such as oblique flat surface polishing), an error (reverse insertion) that the optical plug 60 is inserted in the optical adapter 70 with the direction of the thickness direction reversed. ) Is prevented.

Further, although not particularly shown, the optical adapter 70 is elastically engaged with an engaging claw formed at the tip of the optical adapter 70 so as to extend along the inner wall 70a of the optical adapter 70 toward the connector insertion port 71, as is well known. A piece is provided. Further, on both side surfaces of the optical plug 60 in the width direction of the housing 62, engagement recesses that can be engaged with the engagement claws of the elastic engagement piece of the optical adapter 70 are provided.
When the engaging claw and the engaging recess are engaged with each other on the outer periphery of the housing 62 of the optical plug 60, the elastic engaging piece is pressed from the outside to release the engagement with the engaging recess. A coupling 68 is installed to prevent this.

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, and the like. 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 surfaces of the optical fibers 63 a fixedly held by the ferrule 61 in the optical adapter 70 are abutted with each other. The fibers 63 are optically connected to each other.

The cleaning tool 1 that can be applied to the cleaning of the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 includes a tool body 10 in which cleaning tapes 2A to 2C are housed, as shown in FIGS. An insertion portion 20 is provided so as to protrude from the tool body 10 and can be inserted into the connector accommodation hole 72 of the optical adapter 70.
The tool body 10 has a tapered shape toward the insertion portion 20, and the insertion portion 20 is formed at the protruding tip (left end in FIG. 1A) of the elongated portion 19 at the tip of the tool body 10. Yes.

As shown in FIG. 1A, here, the tool body 10 is divided into two parts by first and second case halves 11 and 12 made of plastic such as polystyrene (PS) or polyoxymethylene (POM, polyacetal). It has a structure.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the case halves 11 and 12 are, for example, fitting pins 13 a formed so as to face each other inside the first case half 11 and the second case half 12. ˜13e and fitting holes 14a to 14e are configured to be integrated. The configuration of the tool body 10 is merely an example, and is not intended to limit the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 19, the insertion portion 20 is inserted into the optical adapter 70, so that the contact portion 2 a of the cleaning tapes 2 </ b> A to 2 </ b> C disposed facing the opening 26 opened at the distal end of the insertion portion 20. Can be positioned and brought into contact with the joining end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60.
The contact part 2a of the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C is a part located on the front end surface 24 of the head member 23 (details will be described later), and the contact part 2a is moved in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning tape by the feed movement of the cleaning tape. It will change along.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 22, the cleaning tape includes a guide 2 </ b> A for cleaning a central region E <b> 1 that is a portion located between the guide pin holes 61 c in the joining end surface 61 a of the optical connector shown in FIG. 19, and a guide. Three pieces (tapes separated from each other) are used in combination with 2B and 2C for cleaning the outer regions E2 and E2 located outside the central region E1 through the pin holes 61c. The widths of the cleaning tapes 2A, 2B, 2C are adjusted to the widths of the areas E1, E2 to be cleaned. Here, the width of the cleaning tape 2A for cleaning the central region E1 is wider than the width of the cleaning tapes 2B and 2C for cleaning the outer region E2.
The cleaning tapes 2A to 2C (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “tapes”) are not particularly limited, and a known appropriate cleaning cloth (nonwoven fabric or woven cloth) processed into a tape shape can be employed. . Examples thereof include those made of ultrafine fibers such as polyester and nylon. The structure is also a general one with a substantially constant width.
In addition, although the form which has three tapes 2A, 2B, and 2C is illustrated here, in this invention, the number of cleaning tapes is not specifically limited, What is necessary is just one or more.

  The cleaning tapes 2A, 2B, and 2C are tapes separated from each other. As shown in FIG. 22, there is a gap 5 between the central cleaning tape 2A and the cleaning tapes 2B and 2C on both sides. Thereby, even in the case of the optical connector 60 in which the guide pin 65 is inserted into the guide pin hole 61c and protrudes from the joining end surface 61a, the guide pin 65 escapes into the gap 5 between the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C, and the joining end surface 61a The central region E1 and the outer regions E2, E2 can be efficiently cleaned simultaneously. That is, the gap 5 functions as a protruding member escape portion.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a protruding wall 19 a for reinforcing the elongated portion 19 is provided inside the elongated portion 19 of the tool tip. According to this protruding wall 19a, the path of the upstream portion 2b (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "upstream portion") of the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C to be cleaned, which is directed from the supply reel 30 to the head member 23, and the head member Since the path of the downstream portion 2c (hereinafter also referred to as “downstream portion”) of the cleaning tape 2A to 2C contaminated by the wiping cleaning toward the take-up reel 31 is separated from the cleaning tape 2A to 2C. There is also an effect of suppressing the migration of dirt.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 23, the insertion portion 20 has a split structure like the tool body 10, and the insertion portion halves 20 a and 20 a formed integrally with the respective case halves 11 and 12. 20b is formed by integrating the case halves 11 and 12 together.
On both sides of the outer surface of the insertion portion 20 in the width direction, when the insertion portion 20 is inserted into the optical adapter 70, a recess for avoiding interference with the engaging claws (described above) of the elastic engagement piece of the optical adapter 70. A place 21 is formed. The recess 21 is not particularly essential.
Further, a key 22 that can be fitted into the key groove 72 a of the optical adapter 70 protrudes from the insertion portion 20 so that reverse insertion with respect to the optical adapter 70 is prevented.

As shown in FIGS. 10, 11, 15, 16, 22, etc., the head for bringing the cleaning tape 2 a into contact with the joining end surface 61 a of the ferrule 61 is provided at the tip of the cleaning tool including the insertion portion 20. A head composite 4 having a member 23 is attached.
The head composite 4 includes a head member 23 having a front end surface 24 facing the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 to be cleaned at the time of cleaning, and a back surface 27 of the head member 23 opposite to the front end surface 24 from the head member 23. And a support mechanism 40 that supports the head member 23.

Here, the head composite 4 is formed by integrally molding the head member 23 and the support mechanism 40, and can be manufactured from a plastic such as polyoxymethylene (POM) using an appropriate molding method.
The head composite 4 includes an upstream portion 2b of the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C on the supply reel 30 side with respect to the head member 23, and a downstream portion 2c of the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C on the take-up reel 31 side with respect to the head member 23. It is arranged between. For this reason, the head complex 4 does not hinder the feeding movement of the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C.

  As shown in FIGS. 15 and 22, the head member 23 has a substantially square tip surface 24 and can effectively ensure a contact area with the joining end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60. The distal end surface 24 is provided on the insertion distal end side of the head member 23 (the left side in FIGS. 15A and 15B), and is exposed to the opening 26 at the distal end of the insertion portion 20.

  The head member 23 is formed with a pair of guide pin insertion holes 23a on both sides in the width direction of the insertion portion 20 as a protruding member escape portion through which a protruding member (guide pin) 65 protruding from the joining end surface 61a can be inserted. Yes. The guide pin insertion hole 23 a penetrates from the front end surface 24 of the head member 23 to the back surface 27. Thereby, when the insertion part 20 is inserted in the optical adapter 70, interference with the head member 23 and the guide pin 65 can be avoided.

The head member 23 has a distal end surface on the upstream side (here, the lower side of FIG. 15B, FIG. 22) and the downstream side (here, the upper side of FIG. 15B, FIG. 22) of the cleaning tape. Guide grooves 25 </ b> A, 25 </ b> B, and 25 </ b> C are provided so as to guide the feeding of the cleaning tapes 2 </ b> A to 2 </ b> C so as to oppose each other via 24. These guide grooves 25A, 25B, and 25C function as a tape positioning mechanism.
Three pairs of guide grooves 25A, 25B, and 25C are provided corresponding to the respective cleaning tapes 2A, 2B, and 2C. The width of the guide grooves 25A, 25B, 25C is adapted to the width of the cleaning tapes 2A, 2B, 2C. The cleaning tapes 2A, 2B, 2C are wound around the head member 23 by a pair of guide grooves 25A, 25B, 25C on the upstream side and the downstream side of the front end surface 24.
As described above, the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C are disposed in the guide grooves 25A, 25B, and 25C, so that even if the head member 23 is tilted, the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C are displaced or detached from the head member 23. Is suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the guide pin insertion hole 23a is disposed on the tip surface 24 of the head member 23 so as to open in the gap 5 between the cleaning tapes 2A, 2B, and 2C guided by the guide grooves 25A, 25B, and 25C. Has been. Thereby, the guide pins 65, 65 can avoid the interference of the cleaning tapes 2A, 2B, 2C, and can be inserted between the cleaning tapes 2A, 2B, 2C into the guide pin insertion holes 23a.

The support mechanism 40 includes a tilting spring 41 protruding from a recess 27 a formed on the back surface 27 of the head member 23, a compression spring 42 connected to the tilting spring 41, and a tilting spring 41 of the compression spring 42. And a plate-like base portion 43 connected to the opposite side.
The base portion 43 is attached to a mounting recess 29 formed in a cleaning tool case (specifically, the inner surface of the elongated portion 19 of the tool body 10).
The compression spring 42 functions as a connecting portion that connects the tilting spring 41 and the base portion 43 so as to extend and contract.

The tilting spring 41 is not particularly limited in shape or the like, but here, as shown in FIG. 15, it is formed into a waveform having a plurality of rotation center axes 41a, 41b, 41c by a bent portion or the like. Yes. These rotation center shafts 41a, 41b, and 41c all extend in the width direction of the insertion portion 20 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 15B).
At least one of these rotation center axes (here 41b) is arranged at a position displaced in the thickness direction of the insertion portion 20 (vertical direction in FIG. 15B). Then, with respect to the straight line G extending in the insertion direction of the optical connector 60 (here, the right direction in FIG. 15B) from the center position 24c of the front end surface 24 of the head member 23, a twisted position (two straight lines in the space). The positional relationship is not crossing and not parallel.
The bent portion 41b is rounded and there is no fear of being damaged even if the cleaning tape (downstream portion) 2c hits. Further, even if the cleaning tape 2c hits the bent portion 41b, there is no problem that dirt is transferred because it is the back surface opposite to the surface on the side where the ferrule 61 is cleaned.

As shown in FIG. 15 (a), the compression spring 42 has a pair of wave springs arranged symmetrically in the width direction of the insertion portion 20 (vertical direction in FIG. 15 (a)). The side corners 42 c are accommodated in a pair of slide grooves 28 provided on the inner walls on both sides in the width direction of the insertion portion 20. The slide groove 28 extends in the insertion / removal direction of the insertion portion 20 (the left-right direction in FIGS. 15A and 15B), and at the distal end side of the insertion portion 20 (FIGS. 15A and 15B). It has an end wall 28a that closes the left end).
When the pressing force does not act on the front end surface 24 of the head member 23, the compression spring 42 urges the corner portion 42 c of the compression spring 42 against the end wall 28 a of the slide groove 28 by its own elastic force. It is in contact. The corner 42 c of the compression spring 42 can slide in both directions along the slide groove 28 by the expansion and contraction of the compression spring 42.

The base portion 43 is formed as a plate-like member that substantially blocks the inner cross section of the insertion portion 20. The base portion 43 is accommodated in a pair of mounting recesses 29 that are recessed to face both sides in the thickness direction of the elongated portion 19 at the tip of the tool. The base portion 43 has a substantially semi-cylindrical fitting portion 43 a that fits into a fitting groove 29 a formed in one of the mounting recesses 29.
When the case halves 11 and 12 are fitted together, the head complex 4 accommodates the compression spring 42 in the slide groove 28 and the base portion 43 in the mounting recess 29, whereby the compression spring 42 is compressed. By the urging force of the compression spring 42, it is mounted between the end wall 28a of the slide groove 28 and the protruding wall 29b protruding to the rear end side of the mounting recess 29. The head complex 4 is attached such that the fitting portion 43a is fitted in the fitting groove 29a.

As shown in FIG. 10D and the like, the base portion 43 is provided with elongated holes 44A, 44B, and 44C through which the cleaning tape is inserted. Here, three pairs of the long holes 44A, 44B, 44C are provided corresponding to the three cleaning tapes 2A, 2B, 2C. The tape 2b on the upstream side and the tape 2c on the downstream side of the head member 23 are inserted into each pair of the long holes 44A, 44B, and 44C.
By allowing the cleaning tapes 2A, 2B, and 2C to pass through the elongated holes 44A, 44B, and 44C, the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C are not detached from the head complex 4 when the cleaning tool 1 is assembled. Even if there are a plurality of 2B and 2C (here, 3), the mounting workability is improved.
The long holes 44A, 44B, 44C are not arranged in a line in the width direction of the insertion portion 20, and are stepped corresponding to the thickness direction of the insertion portion 20 (vertical direction in FIG. 10D). The reason is that the long holes 44A, 44B, 44C are not connected to each other, and can be secured sufficiently larger than the width of the cleaning tapes 2A, 2B, 2C through which the dimension in the width direction is inserted.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, in the head complex 4, when the pressing force against the head member 23 is transmitted to the compression spring 42, the head member 23 moves away from the insertion portion 20 (FIGS. 16 and 17). To the right).
FIG. 16 shows a case where the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 is polished at right angles to the optical axis (left-right direction in FIG. 16). FIG. 17 shows a case where the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 is polished obliquely with respect to the optical axis.

  In the case of the optical plug 60 having the joint end face 61a that is obliquely polished, as shown in FIG. 17, the head member 23 is unevenly arranged on the upper end edge 24a side and the lower end edge 24b side of the front end face 24. When the pressing force acts, the tilting spring 41 is elastically deformed so that the distal end surface 24 can tilt upward or downward (up and down in FIG. 17) in the thickness direction of the insertion portion. FIG. 17 shows a state in which the head member 23 is tilted upward.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, in the case where the joining end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60 is obliquely polished, when the front end surface 24 of the head member 23 faces and contacts the joining end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60, the head member The angle formed between the feeding direction of the upstream cleaning tape 2b supplied toward the head 23 and the feeding direction of the cleaning tape 2a moving along the tip surface 24 of the head member 23 (hereinafter referred to as an angle α). There is an acute angle. Further, an angle formed by the feeding direction of the cleaning tape 2a moving along the front end surface 24 of the head member 23 and the feeding direction of the downstream cleaning tape 2c delivered from the head member 23 (hereinafter referred to as an angle β). Is obtuse. That is, the angle α is smaller than the angle β (α <β).
In the cleaning tool 1 of the present embodiment, the key 62a of the optical plug 60 and the key groove 72a of the optical adapter 70 are fitted, and the key 22 of the insertion portion 20 of the cleaning tool 1 and the key groove 72a of the optical adapter 70 are fitted. For example, the relationship between the angles α and β is prevented from satisfying α> β by fitting the key and the key groove to prevent reverse insertion.

  Thus, with respect to the cleaning tape, since the angle α is smaller than the angle β (α <β), the cleaning tape is guided from the guide grooves 25A to 25B of the head member 23 on the upstream side 2b from the front end surface 24. It comes into contact with 25C and is slightly lifted from the guide grooves 25A to 25C of the head member 23 on the downstream side 2c. For this reason, when the cleaning tapes 2a to 2c are fed in the feeding direction (the direction indicated by the straight arrows in FIG. 18), the head member 23 is cleaned by the friction between the upstream portion 2b of the cleaning tape and the head member 23. It rotates in the feed direction of 2a-2c, and acts so that the cleaning tape 2a may be pressed against the joining end surface 61a. Further, the friction between the cleaning tape 2c and the head member 23 is relatively small on the downstream side of the front end surface 24, and the rotating action in the direction of separating the head member 23 and the cleaning tape 2a from the joining end surface 61a is small. Therefore, the cleaning tape 2a is in good contact with the joining end surface 61a, and the cleaning efficiency of the joining end surface 61a is improved.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, when the joining end face 61 a of the optical plug 60 is brought into contact with the tip end face 24 of the head member 23, the rotation axis of the bent portion 41 b is set to be the joining end face 61 a of the optical plug 60. And a straight line F extending in the insertion direction of the optical connector 60 (here, the right direction in FIGS. 16 and 17) from the center position 66 of the optical fiber 60, and a twisted position (in the positional relationship of two straight lines in space, (Position relationship that is not parallel).
Accordingly, when the head member 23 is tilted, the center position 66 of the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 can be in a positional relationship that matches the center position 24c of the tip end surface 24 of the head member 23, so In other words, the pressing force to the joining end surface 61a acts sufficiently evenly. Therefore, the joining end face 61a can be evenly cleaned with the cleaning tape.
Further, a distance (rotation radius) between the straight line F and the rotation axis of the bent portion 41b is ensured, and torque generated around the rotation center axis by the pressing force applied from the joint end surface 61a to the tip surface 24 of the head member 23 is ensured. The head member 23 is easily rotated smoothly, and the front end surface 24 of the head member 23 easily follows the direction of the joining end surface 61a.

Here, in the optical connector cleaning tool 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4, 12, 13, etc., a portion of the cleaning tape that is supplied toward the head member 23 (upstream portion 2b of the tape). A scraper 80 is abutted against the surface. In this embodiment, the scraper 80 is disposed at a position between the supply reel 30 and the head member 23 in the path of the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C.
Here, the scraper 80 is composed of, for example, a base 82 integrated into the case of the tool body 10 and a protruding plate portion 81 protruding from the base 82 toward the internal space of the case, and has a substantially L-shaped cross section. Is formed. The scraper 80 may be formed by resin molding integrally with one of the case halves 11 and 12, or the case halves 11 and 12 are integrated with the case by bonding or the like. There may be.
The direction in which the protruding plate portion 81 of the scraper 80 protrudes from the base portion 82 is the feed direction of the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C (from left to right in FIG. 12), as shown in FIG. Slightly inclined to the downstream side. Note that the protruding direction of the protruding plate portion 81 is not particularly limited, and may be inclined upstream with respect to the feeding direction of the tapes 2A to 2C, or perpendicular to the feeding direction of the tapes 2A to 2C. There may be.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13A, a guide groove 83 is formed at the tip of the protruding plate 81 of the scraper 80 to prevent the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C from shifting in the width direction. Here, three guide grooves 83 are provided corresponding to the respective cleaning tapes 2A, 2B, 2C. The width of the guide groove 83 is adapted to the width of the cleaning tapes 2A, 2B, 2C. As described above, the cleaning tapes 2 </ b> A to 2 </ b> C are guided by the guide grooves 83, thereby preventing the cleaning tapes 2 </ b> A to 2 </ b> C from being displaced or detached from the scraper 80.
As shown in FIG. 13B, the scraper 80 may have a flat front end portion 84 of the protruding plate portion 81 with which the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C abut.

  The tip of the scraper 80 is in contact with the cleaning surfaces of the cleaning tapes 2 </ b> A to 2 </ b> C (the outer surface in the tape path, the side in contact with the joining end surface 61 a, the lower surface in FIG. 12). When the scraper 80 is in contact with the cleaning tape, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 12, the upstream portion 2b of the tape stretched between the head member 23 and the guide pin 36 is moved inside the tape path by the scraper 80. It is pushed a little (upward in FIG. 12). Thereby, a contact force is ensured between the tape and the scraper 80, and the foreign matter attached to the cleaning tape is scraped off by the scraper 80 with the feeding operation of the cleaning tapes 2 </ b> A to 2 </ b> C.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 20, the guide cap 50 includes a guide main body 51 formed in a substantially sleeve shape (cylindrical shape) by plastic or the like, and a lid 55 connected to one end of the guide main body 51 by a hinge 56. And have. The lid 55 is formed with a fitting hole 55a for fitting with a protrusion 51a protruding from the guide main body 51. The hinge 56 is bent to fit the protrusion 51a of the guide main body 51 and the fitting hole 55a of the lid 55. By fitting, the lid 55 can be kept closed.
A connector insertion opening 52 (plug insertion opening) into which the optical plug 60 is inserted opens at one end on the lid 55 side of the guide main body 51, and the cleaning tool 1 is inserted at the other end facing the plug insertion opening 52. An insertion portion insertion port 53 into which the portion 20 is inserted is opened. The plug insertion port 52 and the insertion portion insertion port 53 communicate with each other through an internal space 54 of the guide cap 50.

The guide cap 50 is cleaned by inserting the optical plug 60 from the plug insertion port 52 and inserting the insertion unit 20 of the cleaning tool 1 from the insertion unit insertion port 53, thereby cleaning the distal end portion including the joining end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60. The insertion part 20 of the tool 1 can be accommodated in the internal space 54 of the guide cap 50 in a state of being opposed to each other.
On the inner wall of the guide main body 51 on the plug insertion port 52 side, a key groove 57a that can be fitted with a key 62a protruding from the outer surface of the housing 62 of the optical plug 60 is provided. Further, a key groove 57 b that can be fitted to the key 22 protruding from the outer surface of the insertion portion 20 of the cleaning tool 1 is provided on the inner wall of the guide main body 51 on the insertion portion insertion port 53 side.
For this reason, in this guide cap 50, the optical plug 60 and the insertion portion 20 of the cleaning tool 1 cannot be inserted into the guide body 51 unless the directions of the keys 62a and 22 and the key grooves 57a and 57b match. . Thereby, when the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 is obliquely polished, an error (reverse insertion) that the optical plug 60 is inserted into the guide cap 50 with the direction of the thickness direction of the optical plug 60 reversed is prevented.

  The guide cap 50 is detachably attached to the insertion portion 20. That is, when the optical plug 60 is not cleaned, the guide cap 50 can be in a state where the insertion portion 20 of the cleaning tool 1 is inserted into the insertion portion insertion port 53. Furthermore, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 14A, by closing the lid 55 that closes the plug insertion opening 52 of the guide cap 50, dust, dust, moisture, etc. are put in the internal space 54 of the guide cap 50. Intrusion is suppressed, and the internal space 54 can be always maintained in a normal state.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the storage space 35 in the tool body 10, a tape feed mechanism (hereinafter referred to as “tape feed mechanism 3”) that feeds and moves the cleaning tapes 2 </ b> A to 2 </ b> C as the drive mechanism 3. There is).
The tape feed mechanism 3 is configured to feed the cleaning reels 2A to 2C, the supply reel 30 around which the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C are wound, the take-up reel 31 that winds and collects the used cleaning tapes 2A to 2C, and the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C. An operation dial 34 is provided for operation.
The supply reel 30, the take-up reel 31, and the operation dial 34 can be manufactured by molding from plastic such as polystyrene (PS) or polyoxymethylene (POM, polyacetal) with a mold.

Inside the first case half 11 (the side facing the storage space 35), a supply reel support shaft 32 on which a supply reel 30 is rotatably mounted, a take-up reel 31 and an operation dial 34 are rotatable. The mounted take-up reel support shaft 33 is provided so as to protrude toward the second case half 12 side.
Here, the supply reel support shaft 32 and the take-up reel support shaft 33 are formed integrally with one case half 11. The ends of the support shafts 32 and 33 are inserted into the fitting holes 32 a and 33 a provided in the other case half 12, thereby connecting the case halves 11 and 12 in the storage space 35. The supply reel 30 and the take-up reel 31 can be held without dropping.

Between the supply reel 30 and the take-up reel 31, the cleaning tapes 2 </ b> A to 2 </ b> C are stretched in the storage space 35 along the pin-shaped tape guide 36. In the middle of this, the head member 23 accommodated in the insertion portion 20 is wound around. As shown in FIG. 2, here, the tape guide 36 is provided as an outer peripheral surface of the fitting pins 13 a and 13 b protruding from the first case half 11.
On the outer periphery of the supply reel support shaft 32 and the take-up reel support shaft 33, ratchet grooves 32c and 33c extending in the axial direction of the reel support shafts 32 and 33 are provided. These ratchet grooves 32c and 33c can be engaged with protrusions of ratchet arms of a supply reel 30 and a take-up reel 31, which will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the supply reel 30 and the take-up reel 31 are provided in the same number (three in this case) as the number of the tapes 2A, 2B, and 2C, respectively. These reels 30 and 31 are supported side by side by a supply reel support shaft 32 and a take-up reel support shaft 33, respectively.

FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B, and FIG. 9 show an example of the take-up reel 31 around which the cleaning tape 2A is wound. In the take-up reel 31, a hollow cylindrical core 31a and side plate portions 31b and 31b formed at both ends of the core 31a are integrally formed from plastic or the like. One winding reel 31 is adapted to wind one cleaning tape. The interval between the two side plate portions 31b and 31b is set according to the width of the cleaning tape wound around the side plate portions 31b and 31b.
The winding core portion 31a is formed with an insertion hole 31h (through hole) that opens toward the outer peripheral surface 31g of the winding core portion 31a, and the insertion hole 31h includes a narrowed portion 31k. A method for attaching the end portion of the cleaning tape to the take-up reel 31 is not particularly limited. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, one end of the cleaning tape 2 </ b> A inserted through the insertion hole 31 h of the take-up reel 31. A method of making a knot-shaped knot 2d and preventing the knot 2d from coming off from the narrowed portion 31k can be mentioned.

A ratchet arm 31 c is formed on the inner surface of the winding core 31 a of the take-up reel 31. A substantially semi-cylindrical protrusion 31d is formed at the tip of the ratchet arm 31c toward the radial center of the take-up reel 31. A recess 31e is formed on the inner surface of the core 31a so as to accommodate the ratchet arm 31c. The ratchet arm 31c can swing the protrusion 31d in the radial direction of the take-up reel 31 by elastic deformation.
When the take-up reel 31 is supported by the take-up reel support shaft 33, the protrusion 31d of the ratchet arm 31c is engaged with a ratchet groove 33c provided around the take-up reel support shaft 33. . When the take-up reel 31 rotates, the protrusion 31d repeatedly engages and disengages with the ratchet groove 33c due to elastic deformation of the ratchet arm 31c. Is granted. As a result, a certain tensile force is required for the movement of the cleaning tape, and slipping of the take-up reel 31 is suppressed. That is, the ratchet arm 31 c of the take-up reel 31 and the ratchet groove 33 c of the take-up reel support shaft 33 function as a rotation resistance applying mechanism 7 that applies a rotation resistance to the rotation of the take-up reel 31.
The constant tensile force that allows the feed movement of the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C is such that the elongation of the cleaning tape due to the tension of the tape feed mechanism 3 does not adversely affect the cleaning, and for example, the cleaning tool 1 is shaken. It is said that the tape cannot be sent when it is carried around.

The take-up reel 31 around which the cleaning tapes 2B and 2C are wound can adopt the same configuration as the take-up reel 31 for the cleaning tape 2A shown in FIG. 8 except that the interval between the side plate portions 31b and 31b is different. Therefore, illustration is omitted.
Further, as the supply reel 30, the same one as the take-up reel 31 can be used. Similarly to the take-up reel 31, the supply reel 30 is provided with a ratchet arm having a protrusion that engages with a ratchet groove 32c provided around the supply reel support shaft 32, and the rotation resistance applying mechanism is configured. Yes.

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.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the operation dial 34 includes a hub part 34 a penetrating the take-up reel support shaft 33, a rim part 34 c having a knurled surface on the outer periphery, and the hub part 34 a and the rim part 34 c. A plurality of spoke portions 34b for connecting the two are integrally formed of plastic or the like. One of the plurality of spoke portions 34b is provided with a ratchet arm 37 having a locking claw 37b protrudingly formed at the tip of an arm portion 37a extending in the circumferential direction of the operation dial 34. Further, the other spoke portion 34b is provided with a hammer arm 38 having a striking portion 38b projectingly formed at the tip of an arm portion 38a extending in the circumferential direction of the operation dial 34. The arm portions 37a and 38a of the ratchet arm 37 and the hammer arm 38 are elastically deformable.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the operation dial 34 is partially exposed outside the tool body 10 from a window 11 a provided on the side surface of the tool body 10.
The operation dial 34 and the take-up reel 31 are coupled together by fitting a pin 34 p provided on the operation dial into an insertion hole 31 p formed in the take-up reel 31.
The radius of the operation dial 34 is larger than the radius of the take-up reel 31. As a result, the length that the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C are wound around 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. . For this reason, a minute feed amount of the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C is easily achieved.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the tape feeding mechanism 3 can be driven by operating the operation dial 34 with fingers and rotating it in a predetermined direction. That is, when the operation dial 34 is rotated, the take-up reel 31 is rotated to take up the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C, and the unused cleaning tapes 2A to 2C are fed out from the supply reel 30 and moved. Since the operation dial 34 opens from the window 11a to the side surface of the tool body 10, the operation dial 34 can be easily moved by the finger of the hand holding the cleaning tool 1 even when the cleaning tool 1 is held by one hand. Can be operated.

As shown in FIG. 2, an annular wall 16 is formed on the inner surface of the first case half 11 so as to surround the take-up reel support shaft 32. On the outer periphery of the annular wall portion 16, a plurality of (six locations in FIG. 2) climbing protrusions 17 are formed along the periphery of the annular wall portion 16. Further, a large number of ratchet teeth 16 b are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the annular wall portion 16.
The riding protrusion 17 has an inclined surface 17a that forms an acute angle with respect to the outer peripheral surface 16a of the annular wall portion 16 in a front view shown in FIGS. The inclined surface 17a is provided on the side facing each rotation protrusion 17 in the direction of rotation of the take-up reel 31 (counterclockwise method in FIG. 24).

  The operation dial 34 is configured such that the reverse rotation of the operation dial 34 is prevented by the engagement claw 37 b of the ratchet arm 37 engaging with the ratchet teeth 16 b of the annular wall portion 16. That is, the ratchet teeth 16b and the ratchet arm 37 function as a reverse feed prevention mechanism 6 that prevents the reverse feed of the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C (a reverse rotation prevention mechanism that prevents reverse rotation of the take-up reel). Therefore, the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C can be stably fed and moved in a predetermined direction, and the sagging of the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C can be suppressed.

When the operation dial 34 is mounted on the take-up reel support shaft 33, the striking surface 38c of the striking portion 38b of the hammer arm 38 is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface 16a of the annular wall portion 16 as shown in FIG. It is in contact.
When the operation dial 34 rotates, the striking portion 38b rides up to the top portion 17b along the inclined surface 17a of the climbing protrusion 17, as shown in FIGS. When the operation dial 34 further rotates, as shown in FIG. 24 (d), the support of the climbing protrusion 17 is lost, and the hammer arm 38 causes the striking portion 38b to be moved to the annular wall portion 16 by the elastic force of the arm portion 38a. As a result, the striking surface 38c of the striking portion 38b collides with the outer peripheral surface 16a, so that a hitting sound is generated. Thus, the amount of feed of the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C can be notified to the operator by the hitting sound generated each time the amount of feed of the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C reaches a certain amount.
That is, in the cleaning tool 1 of the present embodiment, a feed amount notifying mechanism for notifying the feed amounts of the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C is configured by the climbing protrusion 17 of the annular wall portion 16 and the hammer arm 38 of the operation dial 34. ing. Thereby, it becomes easy to feed and operate the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C as much as necessary for cleaning, and it is possible to perform reliable cleaning, and it is possible to suppress wasteful use of the cleaning tape.
In addition, the feed amount of the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C corresponding to one hitting sound can be a feed amount required for one cleaning of the optical connector. Further, a plurality of hitting sounds can be set to a feed amount corresponding to one cleaning of the optical connector. Depending on the degree of contamination of the optical connector, the number of hitting sounds corresponding to one cleaning of the optical connector may be changed as appropriate.

As an example of a method of using the cleaning tool 1, an example of a procedure for cleaning the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 accommodated in the optical adapter 70 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 19, when the insertion portion 20 of the cleaning tool 1 is inserted from the connector insertion port 71 of the optical adapter 70, the insertion portion 20 enters the connector accommodation hole 72 while the outer surface is positioned by the inner wall 70 a of the optical adapter 70. By doing so, the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C are positioned and brought into contact with appropriate positions (here, the optical fiber hole 61b and the periphery thereof) of the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60.
Even when the guide pin 65 protrudes from the joining end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60, the guide pin 65 is accommodated in the guide pin insertion hole 23 a provided in the head member 23. It can be accommodated in the connector accommodation hole 72 without interference.

When the operation dial 34 is rotated by a predetermined amount, the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C move in conjunction with the rotation of the take-up reel 31, and the cleaning end surfaces 61a are wiped and cleaned by the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C. Dirt such as adhering dust, dust and oil is reliably wiped off by the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C.
Since the wiped dirt adheres to the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C and moves in the direction of being taken up by the take-up reel 31, the used cleaning tape (downstream part) 2c no longer has the opening 26 of the insertion part 20. Are not exposed, and there is no possibility that dirt will adhere to the joining end surface 61a again.
Therefore, the joining end surface 61a can be cleaned extremely cleanly.
After cleaning, the insertion portion 20 can be easily pulled out by pulling in the opposite direction (withdrawal direction) when the cleaning tool 1 is inserted.

Next, an example of a procedure for cleaning the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 outside the optical adapter 70 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 20, by inserting the insertion portion 20 of the cleaning tool 1 into the insertion portion insertion port 53 and removing the lid 55 of the guide cap 50 and inserting the optical plug 60 into the plug insertion port 52 opened. The optical plug 60 enters the inner space 54 of the guide cap 50 while the outer surface of the housing 62 is positioned by the inner wall of the guide cap 50. By pushing the optical plug 60 in this manner, the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C are positioned and brought into contact with appropriate positions (here, the optical fiber hole 61b and the periphery thereof) of the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60. .
As described above, since the butting between the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 and the abutting portion 2a of the cleaning tape of the insertion portion 20 is appropriately guided by the guide cap 50, the joining end surface of the optical plug 60 in the guide cap 50 is provided. The cleaning of 61a can be performed in the same manner as in the case of the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 in the optical adapter 70.

That is, according to the cleaning tool 1 of the present embodiment, the joint end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 in the optical adapter 70 can be cleaned while being accommodated in the optical adapter 70, and the insertion portion 20 By attaching the guide cap 50 to the optical adapter 60, the joint end face 61a of the optical plug 60 outside the optical adapter 70 can be cleaned. Since any optical plug can be cleaned with one type of cleaning tool, the number of articles required for the work can be reduced.
By bringing the scraper 80 into contact with the cleaning surfaces of the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C, the foreign matter attached to the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C can be scraped off and removed by the scraper 80. As a result, since the joining end face of the ferrule can be cleaned using a clean cleaning tape at all times, the joining end face can be reliably removed.
Further, since the cleaning tape that contacts the scraper 80 is guided by the guide groove 83 formed at the tip of the scraper 80, the displacement of the cleaning tape in the width direction is suppressed. For this reason, the scraper is brought into contact with the cleaning tape with a uniform contact force, and the foreign matter adhering to the cleaning tape can be scraped off more reliably.

According to the sagging prevention mechanism comprising the reverse feed blocking mechanism 6 for blocking the reverse feed of the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C and the rotational resistance applying mechanism 7 for applying rotational resistance to the rotation of the reels 30, 31, the cleaning tape 2A Even when there are a plurality of .about.2C, the cleaning tapes 2A to 2C can be stably fed and moved in a predetermined direction, and fluctuations in the tape feed amount can be suppressed. Therefore, sagging of the tape is prevented, and a certain cleaning condition can be maintained and wiping and cleaning can be performed reliably.
By preventing sagging of the cleaning tapes 2 </ b> A to 2 </ b> C, fluctuations in the tape feed amount and the pressing force on the joining end surface 61 a of the tape are suppressed. Therefore, the joining end surface 61a of the optical connector can be more reliably cleaned.

  When the lid 55 of the guide cap 50 is closed and attached to the insertion portion 20, the guide cap 50 exposes the cleaning tapes 2 </ b> A to 2 </ b> C from the opening 26 of the insertion portion 20 when not used (cleaning work). It functions as a cap to prevent the contamination of the inside of the guide cap 50 and the cleaning tapes 2 </ b> A to 2 </ b> C while the cleaning tool 1 is stored or carried.

  Since the head member 23 can tilt with respect to the pressing force when the front end surface 24 abuts on the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60, the joining end surface 61a is polished at right angles as shown in FIG. Even when the ferrule 61 is abutted, even when the ferrule 61 whose joint end surface 61a is obliquely polished as shown in FIG. 17 is abutted, the direction of the front end surface 24 is the same as the direction of the joint end surface 61a. In addition, the cleaning tape 2a on the front end surface 24 can be brought into contact with the joining end surface 61a more uniformly and reliably. Further, even if an operator having the cleaning tool 1 shakes during cleaning, the head end face 24 of the head member 23 is aligned with the direction of the joining end face 61a of the ferrule 61, following the vibration. Since the state where the tapes 2A to 2C are in surface contact can be maintained, the pressing force is more evenly applied between the front end surface 24 of the head member 23 and the joining end surface 61a of the ferrule 61 without locally concentrating the pressing force. It acts, and the joining end surface 61a can be reliably cleaned evenly.

The head complex 4 relieves the pressing force of the ferrule 61 against the head member 23 by the elastic force of the compression spring 42 and the like retreating in the direction opposite to the insertion direction by the pressing force of the ferrule 61 of the optical plug 60. can do. Therefore, when the insertion portion 20 is inserted from the connector insertion port 71 and the head member 23 is pressed against the ferrule 61, the pushing force is not directly applied strongly, and the head member 23 is used for tilting the force from the ferrule 61. Since the pressure can be received while being relaxed by the spring 41, damage to the joining end surface 61a and the end surface of the optical fiber 63a can be suppressed. Even if an operator having the cleaning tool 1 shakes the hand during cleaning, the head member 23 reduces fluctuations in the pressing force that presses the ferrule 61, and an excessive pressing force acts on the joining end surface 61a. Can be suppressed, and damage to the joining end face 61a and the end face of the optical fiber 63a can be suppressed. Further, dust is prevented from being stuck to the ferrule 61 on the optical connector 60 side, and the dust can be easily wiped off.
Further, since the compression spring 42 can secure the backward displacement amount of the front end surface 24 of the head member 23, for example, it can be applied to optical components such as optical plugs and optical transceivers having different optical reference plane positions. Cleaning can be performed by aligning the position of the cleaning tape 2a with the end face.

The head composite 4 is configured so that the tip surface 24 of the head member 23 is not substantially displaced in the vertical direction (the vertical direction in FIGS. 16 and 17) in the tilt direction. The center position of 61a and the front end surface 24 of the head member 23 is shifted, and the cleaning tape 2a does not come into good contact with the joint end surface 61a, or the contact force with which the joint end surface 61a contacts the cleaning tape 2a becomes uneven. Is suppressed, and the contamination of the joining end surface 61a can be more reliably removed.
Since the insertion portion 20 is positioned in the connector receiving hole 72 of the optical adapter 70 even during cleaning, the joining end surface 61a can be wiped and cleaned with a uniform pressing force by the contact portion 2a of the cleaning tape without being displaced. . Moreover, the insertion part 20 can be supported in the optical adapter 70 with a very light force, and workability is good.
Since the cleaning tool of this embodiment can be assembled and manufactured from a combustible material such as POM or PS without using metal parts such as screws, it can be incinerated without being disassembled after use. .

  Although the present invention has been described based on the preferred embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

(1) As shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7, etc., the cleaning tool of the above embodiment is such that the tip surface of the head portion is in the thickness direction of the insertion portion (for example, in the left-right direction in FIG. 8) due to the elastic deformation of the spring portion. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this. For example, the tip surface of the head portion may be tiltable in the width direction of the insertion portion (for example, the left-right direction in FIG. 8).
Further, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the insertion portion can be tilted both in the thickness direction and in the width direction. In this case, the direction of the head part of the insertion part and the direction of the joining end face of the ferrule can be matched better, and the joining end face can be cleaned better.
Furthermore, like the above-described cleaning tool, it is preferable that the pressure applied to the ferrule can be moderate when the head portion can be retracted in the direction opposite to the joining end surface (the direction of separation). .
(2) The insertion portion is formed with unit insertion portions that are positioned in the connector housing by insertion into different connector housings at a plurality of locations in the protruding direction, and each unit insertion portion of the insertion portion is It can be formed so that it can be inserted into all the connector housings that can accommodate the unit insertion portion whose position in the protruding direction is relatively rearward. According to such a cleaning tool, each unit insertion portion can be inserted so that the insertion portions are positioned with respect to different connector housings, and a plurality of different connector housings can be used with one cleaning tool. The joining end face of the optical connector in the connector housing can be cleaned in accordance with the type and size of the connector.

(3) An insertion part can also be comprised as what can replace | exchange several types of insertion parts with respect to a tool main body. Thereby, the joining end face of the optical connector in the connector housing can be cleaned only by changing the insertion portion without changing the tool body, corresponding to the type and size of the connector housing.
(4) The drive mechanism (tape feed mechanism) for feeding and moving the tape is not limited to one driven manually, and may be driven by power such as a motor or a spring. Further, manual and power driving may be used in combination or may be switched as necessary.

(5) In the cleaning tool of the above embodiment, the insertion portion covers the cleaning tape completely except for the opening formed at the distal end of the insertion portion, but is not necessarily limited thereto. When the insertion portion is inserted into the connector housing, the shape and structure are not particularly limited as long as the cleaning tape can be prevented from coming into contact with the inner wall of the connector housing and being contaminated, and the shape is not necessarily sleeve-shaped.
(6) The feed amount notification mechanism is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and for example, by generating a signal such as sound or lighting / flashing of a lamp corresponding to the feed amount of the cleaning tape, cleaning is performed. Any mechanism that notifies the tape feed amount can be employed.

(7) The cleaning tool of the above embodiment is an optical waveguide (can be an optical fiber) as an optical component cleaning tool used for optical components such as an optical fiber array, a substrate-type optical waveguide (Planar Lightwave Circuit), and an optical transceiver. It can also be used for cleaning the end face of the optical component on which the end face is disposed.
In the optical fiber array, an optical fiber is held in a positioning groove such as one or a plurality of V grooves formed in parallel on the substrate, and the positioning groove extends to at least one end of the substrate. The end face of the optical fiber is arranged at one end of the substrate, and the end face is exemplified. Various configurations of optical components having a substrate-type optical waveguide are also known. According to the optical component cleaning tool of the present invention, even when the end surface of the optical component is disposed in a recess such as a housing, the end surface of another optical component, that is, the optical fiber, instead of the joining end surface of the optical connector. The end face such as the end face or the substrate can be cleaned with a cleaning tape wound around the head.

  The present invention can be used, for example, to clean a joining end face of an optical connector or an optical component before optically connecting the optical connector or the optical component to another optical connector or an optical component.

It is (a) top view and (b) front view which show the appearance of the optical connector cleaning tool concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing in alignment with the (a) II-II line | wire and (b) front view which show the 2nd case half body which concerns on the cleaning tool of FIG. It is the sectional view which followed the (a) III-III line which shows the 1st case half concerning the cleaning tool of Drawing 1, and (b) is a front view. It is sectional drawing which shows the inside of the cleaning tool of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the inside of the cleaning tool of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the dial of this cleaning tool (a) VI-VI line, and (b) Front view. It is a perspective view of the dial of FIG. It is sectional drawing in alignment with the (a) front view and (b) VIII-VIII line which show an example of the supply reel and winding reel of this cleaning tool. FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the supply reel and the take-up reel illustrated in FIG. 8 are mounted on a support shaft. It is (a) front view, (b) top view, (c) left side view, (d) right side view of the tape contact member of this cleaning tool. It is a perspective view of the tape contact member shown in FIG. It is a partial expanded sectional view near a scraper. (A) It is the elements on larger scale near the scraper which shows an example of a scraper. (B) It is the elements on larger scale near the scraper which shows the modification of a scraper. It is (a) front view, (b) top view, (c) left side view, (d) right side view of the guide cap of this cleaning tool. It is the (a) top view sectional view and (b) front view sectional view of the tool tip part of this cleaning tool. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the state which the tape contact mechanism of this cleaning tool can take. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of the state which the tape contact mechanism of this cleaning tool can take. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of the state which the tape contact mechanism of this cleaning tool can take. It is the schematic which shows the state which the joining end surface by which the diagonal polishing of the optical connector plug contact | abutted to the front end surface of the head member. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the state by which the insertion part and optical connector plug of this cleaning tool were inserted in the guide cap. It is a front view which shows an example of the ferrule of an optical connector plug. It is a front view which shows the front end surface of the head member with which the cleaning tape was mounted | worn. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the state by which the insertion part and optical connector plug of this cleaning tool are inserted in an optical connector adapter. (A)-(d) is a figure explaining operation | movement of the feed amount alerting | reporting mechanism which concerns on this cleaning tool.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cleaning tool (optical connector cleaning tool, optical component cleaning tool), 2A-2C ... Cleaning tape, 2b ... Part supplied to head member among cleaning tapes, 10 ... Tool body, 20 ... Insertion part, 23 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Head member, 24 ... Front end surface of head member, 30 ... Supply reel, 60 ... Optical connector (optical component), 61a ... Joining end surface (end surface of optical component), 70 ... Connector housing (optical connector adapter, optical adapter), 80 ... scraper, 83 ... guide groove.

Claims (5)

An optical connector cleaning tool for wiping and cleaning the joining end surface (61a) of the optical connector (60) by the movement of the cleaning tape (2A to 2C),
A tool body (10), and an insertion portion (20) provided so as to protrude from the tool body and inserted into a connector housing (70) for receiving and connecting the optical connector;
In the insertion portion, a head member (23) for securing a contact area of the cleaning tape with the joining end surface is disposed on the front end surface (24),
An optical connector cleaning tool characterized in that a scraper (80) for removing foreign matter adhering to the cleaning tape is in contact with a portion (2b) supplied toward the head member of the cleaning tape. (1).   The optical connector cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the scraper is provided with a guide groove (83) for preventing the cleaning tape from shifting in the width direction.   The optical connector cleaning tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of the cleaning tapes are provided and supplied from a plurality of supply reels (30).   The optical connector cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a sagging prevention mechanism for preventing sagging of the cleaning tape. An optical component cleaning tool for wiping and cleaning the end surface (61a) of the optical component (60) by the movement of the cleaning tape (2A to 2C),
A tool body (10), and an insertion portion (20) provided so as to protrude from the tool body and insertable into a housing for housing the optical component,
In the insertion portion, a head member (23) for securing a contact area of the cleaning tape with the joining end surface is disposed on the front end surface (24),
An optical component cleaning tool characterized in that a scraper (80) for removing foreign matter adhering to the cleaning tape is in contact with a portion (2b) supplied toward the head member of the cleaning tape. (1).

Images