JP4689552B2 - Optical connector cleaning tool, optical component cleaning tool - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical connector cleaning tool for cleaning a joining end surface of an optical connector in a connector positioning housing by feeding movement of a cleaning tape, and an optical component cleaning tool for cleaning an end surface of an optical component.

As is well known, optical connectors in connector positioning housings (hereinafter also referred to as positioning housings) such as adapters and receptacles are connected to each other by joining the end faces of the optical fibers facing the joining end faces of the optical connectors. It is realized with.
When an optical connector is inserted into the connector positioning housing and butt-connected, dirt such as dirt, dust, 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 face prior to the butt connection.

As a cleaner used for this type of application, a cleaning type is widely provided in which a cleaning tape is brought into contact with a joining end face of an optical connector (for example, Patent Documents 1-4).
Further, as this type of cleaner, an elongated protrusion having a tape pressing head wound with a cleaning tape is inserted into a positioning housing such as an optical connector adapter, and the optical connector in the positioning housing is inserted. The thing of the structure which makes a cleaning tape contact and cleans a joining end surface is widely provided (for example, patent document 1, nonpatent literature 1).

The above-described type of cleaner that cleans the cleaning tape wound around the tape pressing head at the tip of the protruding portion by bringing it into contact with the joining end surface of the optical connector is described in, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 5 described above. As in the above technique, a technique has been proposed in which the head can be tilted, and the cleaning tape can be pressed against the joint end surface of the optical connector that has been obliquely polished.
For example, as shown in FIG. 23, the cleaner disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a protruding portion 110 having an opening 116 from which a cleaning tape 102 (cleaning tape) is exposed at the tip. When the tape 102 is inserted into a space (connector accommodation hole 172) in the connector adapter 170 (optical adapter), the joining end surface 161a of the ferrule 161 of the optical connector plug 160 (optical plug) accommodated in the optical connector adapter 170 is obtained. The joint end surface 161a of the optical plug 160 is wiped and cleaned by the forward feeding of the tape 102. In this cleaner 101, the tape 102 for wiping and cleaning the joining end surface 161 a of the optical plug 160 is provided so as to pass over the front end surface 112 a of the head portion 112 pivotally attached to the pivot 111, and the pivot 111 is the center. The direction of the head portion 112 is variable by pivoting rotation, and the joining end surface 161a of the ferrule 161 can be received at various angles.
JP 2000-284147 A JP-A-9-197182 JP-A-9-285766 JP 2000-503780 gazette JP 2004-347792 A “MPO Cleaner”, [online], Fujikura Co., Ltd. [Search on July 7, 2006] Internet <URL: http://www.fujikura.co.jp/cnc/pdf_files/future_a/mpo_clk_aj.pdf>

In the cleaner 101 of Patent Document 1 described above, when the head part 112 pressed toward the joining end face of the optical connector that has been polished obliquely rotates, the orientation of the front end face 112a of the head part 112 changes, Since the position of the tip surface 112a also changes due to the pivoting rotation of the head portion 112, the center position of the joint end surface 161a of the optical plug 160 and the tip end surface 112a of the head portion 112 is shifted (per one piece), and the joint end surface 161a There is a problem in that the tape 102 does not contact well or the pressing force pressing the tape 102 against the joining end surface 161a becomes uneven, and the cleaning is not performed reliably, and the joining end surface 161a may be partially soiled. was there.
On the other hand, the optical connector cleaning tool of Patent Document 5 described above is the same as the cleaner of Patent Document 1 in that the head portion for pressing the tape against the optical connector is tiltable. The part is supported by a curved spring-shaped spring part so that it can be tilted, and the head part is elastically deformed when the head part is pressed toward the joint end face of the optical connector that has been obliquely polished. Tilt. Even if the head portion tilts, there is little (or no) displacement of the center position between the joining end surface of the optical connector and the tip end surface of the head portion, and there is no problem of contact between the joining end surface of the optical connector and the head portion. Further, compared with the technique of Patent Document 1, uneven distribution of the pressing force that presses the cleaning tape against the joining end surface of the optical connector by the tape pressing surface of the head portion can be reduced, and equalization can be achieved.

Incidentally, as in Patent Document 5, in the optical connector cleaning tool in which the head portion is supported so as to be tiltable by the elastically deformable spring portion, the head portion is pressed toward the joining end surface of the optical connector. The tape pressing surface is perpendicular to the tape pressing direction with respect to the joining end surface of the optical connector, more specifically, the connector hole for accommodating the optical connector (optical connector plug) of the connector positioning housing into which the head portion is inserted. A configuration in which the spring is supported in a direction perpendicular to the central axis is common.
However, when such a cleaning tool is used for the joint end face of the optical connector that has been obliquely polished, depending on the inclination direction of the joint end face of the optical connector, the tape pressing surface of the head portion may have a cleaning tape applied to the joint end face of the optical connector. It has been found that it may be difficult to eliminate the uneven distribution of pressing force.
This point will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 24A shows an example of the insertion portion 130 projecting from the above-described optical connector cleaning tool.
In FIG. 24 (a), the insertion portion 130 includes a head component 121 assembled to a protrusion 131 protruding from an optical connector cleaning tool. The tape 122 is wound.
24A to 24D, the insertion portion 130 will be described with the left side as the front, the right side as the rear, the upper side as the upper side, and the lower side as the lower side.

The head component 121 includes a head support portion 123 attached to the protrusion 131 of the optical connector cleaning tool, an elastically deformable arc plate-like spring portion 124 protruding from the tip of the head support portion 123, and the spring. And a head plate 125 supported by a protruding tip 124a (front end) of the portion 124 from the head support portion 123.
The head plate 125 has an end surface (front end surface; hereinafter referred to as a tape pressing surface 126) facing the optical connector (ferrule 140; see FIGS. 24B to 24D) to be cleaned. It is supported by the head support 123 in a direction perpendicular to the direction.
The cleaning tape 122 is wound around the head plate 125 so as to contact the tape pressing surface 126 of the head plate 125.

The spring portion 124 supports the central portion of the head plate 125 in the vertical direction on the protruding tip 124 a from the head support portion 123.
In the head plate 125, the side of the curved top portion 124b of the spring portion 124 from the protruding tip 124a of the spring portion 124 (the portion above the protruding tip 124a in FIGS. 24A to 24D) is hereinafter referred to as “spring. Hereinafter, the “top side” and the opposite side (the lower side from the protruding tip 124a in FIGS. 24A to 24D) will be described as the “spring back side”.

FIGS. 24B to 24D are views showing a state in which the cleaning tape 122 is pressed by the head component 121 against the joint end surface of the ferrule 140 tip by the insertion portion of the cleaning tool described above.
However, illustration of the protrusion 131 is omitted in FIGS.
24 (b) and 24 (c), when the ferrule 140 has an obliquely polished joining end surface 141a (hereinafter, this ferrule is denoted by reference numeral 141), FIG. 24 (d) shows the ferrule 140. Is provided with a joined end face 142a (a joined end face polished perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber 140a built in the ferrule 140). Hereinafter, this ferrule is denoted by reference numeral 142).
The joining end surface 141a of the ferrule 141 in FIGS. 24B and 24C is an inclined surface inclined by 8 degrees compared to the joining end surface 142a of the ferrule 142 in FIG. However, in FIG. 24B and FIG. 24C, the inclination direction of the joint end surface 141a is reversed.

According to the verification by the present inventors, among FIGS. 24B to 24D, in the case of FIGS. 24C and 24D, the head plate 125 is attached to the joining end surfaces 141a and 142a of the ferrules 141 and 142. Although equalization of the pressing force for pressing the cleaning tape 122 can be sufficiently realized, in the case of FIG. 24 (b), there is a case where the uneven distribution of the pressing force is larger than that in FIGS. 24 (c) and 24 (d). I understand.
This cause is considered to be derived from the structure of the head component 121 although there are unclear points to be solved.

In the case of FIGS. 24C and 24D, the entire spring portion 124 is deformed by the pressing force that the head plate 125 presses the cleaning tape 122 against the joining end surfaces 141a and 142a of the ferrules 141 and 142. Equalization can be realized.
In the case of FIG. 24C, a head plate 125 perpendicular to the optical axis (hereinafter, this head plate) is formed on the joint end surface 141a inclined with respect to the optical axis of the optical fiber 140a built in the ferrule 141. The direction of 125 is also referred to as “flat” with respect to the inclination of the joint end face of the ferrule), but the orientation of the head plate 125 follows the inclination of the joint end face 141a by deformation of the spring part 124 as a whole. Thus, it is possible to sufficiently equalize the pressing force from the tape pressing surface 126 to the joining end surface 141a.

On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 24B, the portion of the ferrule 141 tip on which the joining end surface 141a inclined with respect to the optical axis of the optical fiber 140a is formed projects to the insertion portion 130 side is the largest. The pressing force from the head plate 125 to the ferrule 141 tends to act more strongly than other parts.
In this case, when the head plate 125 is pressed against the protruding tip of the ferrule 141, the spring top portion side of the head plate 125 is pushed rearward in the pressing direction, the spring portion 124 is deformed, and the orientation of the head plate 125 is The head plate 125 changes like a rotation around the center between the spring top side end and the spring back side end, and is perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber 140a built in the ferrule 141. From the state, the ferrule 141 is inclined along the joining end surface 141a.
The spring back side portion of the head plate 125 moves to the front side in the pressing direction while tilting as the direction of the head plate 125 changes.

In FIG. 24C, the head plate 125 changes its direction (tilt) from the state perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber 140a built in the ferrule 141 by pressing the head plate 125 against the ferrule 141. The spring portion 124 formed in an arch shape that bridges between the head plate 125 and the head support portion 123 is deformed so as to reduce the radius of curvature (the distance between the front and rear ends of the spring portion 124 is reduced). It is because.
The spring back side portion of the head plate 125 is a portion of the head plate 125 that extends from the protruding tip 124a of the arched spring portion 124 to the spring back side so as to extend the spring portion 124. When the spring back side portion of the head plate 125 is pushed rearward relative to the spring top side portion by the tip, the spring portion 124 is deformed to reduce the bending radius.
The elastic restoring force of the spring portion 124 acts as a pressing force of the head plate 125 against the joining end surface 141a.

  On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 24B, the spring top side portion of the head plate 125 is pushed to the rear side in the pressing direction relative to the spring back side portion by the pressing of the head plate 125 to the ferrule 141. Following the change in the orientation of the head plate 125 as it moves, the orientation of the spring portion 124 near the protruding tip 124a changes. As a result, compared to the portion of the spring portion 124 on the side of the protruding tip 124a from the curved top portion 124b, the protruding tip 124a side is pushed forward with respect to the curved top portion 124b and curved compared to before pressing the ferrule 141 of the head plate 125. A deformation that increases the radius is given.

However, when the deformation that enlarges the bending radius as described above occurs from the curved top portion 124b of the spring portion 124 to the protruding tip 124a side, the elastic return force of the spring portion 124 against the deformation causes the spring of the head plate 125 to spring. On the back side, it acts in the direction opposite to the pressing force of the head plate 125 to the ferrule 141.
Therefore, in the case of FIG. 24B, the pressing force from the spring back side of the head plate 125 to the ferrule 141 tends to be weaker than the spring top side due to the elastic restoring force of the spring portion 124. Conceivable.

In the case of FIG. 24B, the uneven distribution of the pressing force from the head plate 125 to the joining end surface 141a of the ferrule 141 is slight, and if the insertion portion is held in a predetermined direction in the positioning housing, the cleaning ability is improved. The effect is not a problem.
However, when the operator forcibly tilts the cleaning tool during manual operation or the like, the uneven distribution of the pressing force from the head plate 125 to the joining end surface 141a of the ferrule 141 increases, or due to the action of vibration, etc. There is a possibility that the spring back side portion of the head plate 125 slightly floats from the joining end surface of the ferrule.
For this reason, the development of a technique capable of sufficiently equalizing the pressing force of the cleaning tape on the joint end surface is required for the tilting operation of the cleaning tool by the operator and the action of external force such as vibration.

  In the case of FIG. 24C, a bending deformation is applied to the portion of the spring portion 124 on the protruding tip 124a side from the curved top portion 124b so as to push the protruding tip 124a side forward with respect to the curved top portion 124b. Since the phenomenon does not occur, the entire spring portion 124 is smoothly deformed, and sufficient followability to the joining end face can be ensured.

By the way, as described above, the type of cleaner having an insertion part in which a tape pressing head wound with a cleaning tape is incorporated at the tip of a protruding part protruding from the tool body is positioned at the tip of the insertion part inserted into the positioning housing. A configuration in which the tape pressing head is positioned with respect to the joining end surface of the optical connector in the positioning housing by positioning in the housing, that is, a configuration in which the insertion portion is plug compatible is often adopted. .
For example, as described in Non-Patent Document 1 above, a cleaner used for cleaning the joining end face of a ferrule of an MPO optical connector (F13 optical connector established in JIS C 5982; MPO: Multifiber Push-On) is already a product. It has become. In the case of this cleaner, the plug-compatible insertion portion is positioned by being inserted into a positioning housing such as an adapter or a receptacle, like an MPO optical connector (optical connector plug; hereinafter also referred to as MPO plug).

However, as is well known, the MPO plug is plug-compatible with a key formed on the MPO plug and a key groove formed on the inner wall of the positioning housing such as an adapter and a receptacle, with the direction of insertion into the positioning housing being normal and reverse. The insertion direction of the cleaner to be used is determined in the same direction as the MPO plug in the positioning housing. In other words, the insertion direction (insertion direction) of the protrusion of the cleaner was normal.
For this reason, the operator must check the direction of the key and the key groove every time. However, if it is difficult to check the direction of the key groove depending on the installation location and orientation of the positioning housing, the workability may be reduced. There was also a problem.

  Also, if it is difficult to check the keyway direction depending on the installation location and orientation of the positioning housing, when the cleaning tool is inserted into the positioning housing and the cleaning tool is operated, It is easy to tilt, and this also tends to cause a problem that the cleaning ability by the cleaning tool is not fully exhibited.

  Even if a cleaning tool with an insertion part that eliminates the reverse direction of the insertion direction is developed for a positioning housing that has an insertion directionality of the optical connector plug by a keyway or the like, a high cleaning ability can be reliably obtained. If so, the development of technology that can improve the followability of the head plate to the joining end face of the optical connector (optical plug) and ensure high cleaning ability regardless of whether the insertion portion is inserted in the positioning housing. is necessary.

  In view of the above-described problems, the present invention provides an optical connector cleaning tool and an optical component cleaning tool that can ensure high cleaning ability regardless of whether the insertion portion is inserted in the housing in which the optical connector or other optical component is accommodated. The purpose is to provide.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following configuration.
In the first invention, an optical connector cleaning tool for wiping and cleaning the joining end surface of the optical connector by feeding movement of the cleaning tape, the tool main body incorporating a tape feeding mechanism for supplying and winding the cleaning tape; And an insertion portion that protrudes from the tool body and is inserted into a connector positioning housing for receiving and connecting the optical connector, and the insertion portion is pulled out from the tool body of the cleaning tape. A tape pressing mechanism in which a wound portion is wound, and the tape pressing mechanism has a tape pressing surface for securing a contact area of the cleaning tape with the joining end surface of the optical connector. And a head support portion that supports the head member in a direction in which the tape pressing surface is inclined with respect to the pressing direction to the optical connector. The head support part includes a support part body attached to a projecting part projecting from the tool body, and an arcuate or corrugated tilting spring projecting from a front end of the support part body in the pressing direction to the optical connector. And the head member is supported on the tip of the tilting spring projecting from the support body so as to be tiltable by elastic deformation of the tilting spring, and the head member is supported by the tilting spring. Extending from the projecting tip of the support portion body to the spring top side which is the side of the curved top closest to the head member of the tilting spring and the spring back side which is the opposite side. said tape pressing surface, the following from the spring top end of the head member toward the distal end of the spring back, is inclined so that the pressing direction front side to the optical connector, inclination of the tape pressing surface The angle is equal to or greater than the angle of inclination of the obliquely polished joining end face of the optical connector, and the head member is polished perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber where the joining end face is exposed at the joining end face. The optical connector can be closed against the joining end surface of the optical connector and a cleaning tape can be sandwiched between the optical connector and the optical connector can be closed against the obliquely polished joining end surface and cleaned between the joining end surface. Provided is an optical connector cleaning tool characterized by being able to sandwich a tape .
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the optical connector cleaning tool according to the first aspect, wherein the tilting spring has an arc plate shape or a corrugated plate shape.
In a third aspect of the invention, the support portion body is provided between an attachment portion fixed to the protruding portion and the attachment portion and the tilting spring, and presses the head member against the joining end surface of the optical connector. providing a first or second inventions of the optical connector cleaning tool characterized by comprising a compression spring which is contracted pressed by the pressing force.
In the fourth aspect of the invention, the tape pressing mechanism, any one of the first to 3, characterized in that said head member and the head supporting portion is integrally molded product made of synthetic resin formed integrally An optical connector cleaning tool according to the present invention is provided.
In the fifth invention, the compression spring is formed in a corrugated shape, and an elastic bridging portion that bridges between the attachment portion and the tilting spring by the two compression springs provided in parallel. An optical connector cleaning tool according to the third or fourth aspect of the invention is provided.
In a sixth aspect of the invention, the cleaning tape is wound around the head member so that the back side of the spring of the head member is on the upstream side of the cleaning tape in the flow direction of the cleaning tape. An optical connector cleaning tool according to any one of the first to fifth inventions is provided.
In the seventh invention, a guide groove for preventing a displacement in the width direction of the cleaning tape is formed at the end of the head portion on the spring top side and the spring back side via the tape pressing surface, and the cleaning tape An optical connector cleaning tool according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the upstream and downstream portions in the flow direction are accommodated in the guide groove via the tape pressing surface.
In the eighth invention, the connector positioning housing is formed in a connector housing hole for housing the optical connector, and in a groove shape extending along the central axis direction of the connector housing hole on the inner surface of the connector housing hole, A key groove into which a key protruding from the side of the optical connector is inserted, and the tape pressing mechanism is incorporated at the tip of the protruding portion of the tool body so that the key can be inserted into the connector positioning housing. The configured insertion portion can be inserted only into the connector accommodation hole among the connector accommodation hole and the key groove of the connector positioning housing, and the insertion portion includes the key groove side and the key. The connector receiving hole having a symmetrical cross-sectional shape on the side opposite to the groove can be inserted in two normal and reverse insertion directions by reversing the front and back. To provide a optical connector cleaning tool of any one invention of the first through 7, characterized in that is a Mengaikei.
In the ninth invention, an optical component cleaning tool for wiping and cleaning the end face of the optical component by moving the cleaning tape, a tool main body incorporating a tape feeding mechanism for supplying and winding the cleaning tape; projecting to the tool body, comprising an insertion portion and which is inserted into the optical component accommodating bore of the housing having an optical component accommodating hole for accommodating the optical component, the insert, the tool of the cleaning tape A tape pressing mechanism in which a portion pulled out from the main body is wound is provided, and the tape pressing mechanism is formed with a tape pressing surface for ensuring a contact area of the cleaning tape with the end surface of the optical component. A head member, and a head support portion that supports the head member in a direction in which the tape pressing surface is inclined with respect to the pressing direction to the optical component, and the head support portion includes: Comprising a support body attached to the serial collision detecting portion projecting from the tool body, and a tilting spring of the support portion projecting from the arc-shaped or wave in the pressing forward end to said optical component main body, The head member is supported on the tip of the tilting spring protruding from the support body by the elastic deformation of the tilting spring, and the head member is supported by the tilting spring. from the protruding tip from said extended so as to protrude in the spring top side the is the side nearest the curved top on the head member of the tilting spring and the spring back that is opposite side of the tape pressing surface The head member is inclined from the end on the spring top side to the end on the spring back side so as to be on the front side in the pressing direction against the optical component, and the inclination angle of the tape pressing surface is Containment The head member has the same or larger inclination angle than the obliquely polished end surface inclined with respect to the end surface in the case of polishing perpendicular to the central axis of the optical component receiving hole of the optical component. The optical tape can be closed against the end surface polished perpendicular to the central axis of the optical component receiving hole of the optical component, and a cleaning tape can be sandwiched between the end surface and the optical component can be closed against the obliquely polished end surface of the optical component. An optical component cleaning tool characterized in that a cleaning tape can be sandwiched between the end face and the end surface .
The optical connectors according to the first to eighth inventions can be regarded as an example of the optical component in the ninth invention.
In this regard, the configurations of the second to eighth inventions can be applied to the ninth invention by replacing the optical connector with an optical component, the joining end face with an end face, and the connector positioning housing with a housing.

According to the present invention, the head member for pressing the tape is provided at the tip of the tilting spring of the tape pressing mechanism incorporated in the protruding portion protruding from the tool body, and the tape pressing surface formed on the head member is From the end of the tilting spring on the side of the top of the curve closest to the head member to the end of the back of the spring on the opposite side, the front side in the direction of pressing the optical connector or optical component; It is supported in an inclined posture.
The optical connector cleaning tool will be described. When cleaning the joining end face of the optical connector having the obliquely polished joining end face (joining end face inclined with respect to the optical axis when the connector is connected), the protrusion protruding from the tool body is provided. The tape pressing mechanism is incorporated into the portion, and the portion to be inserted into the connector positioning housing (hereinafter referred to as the insertion portion) is oriented so that the tape pressing surface of the head member of the insertion portion is inclined along the joining end surface where the optical connector is inclined. Alternatively, on the contrary, the tape pressing surface is inserted into the connector positioning housing in such a direction that the inclination of the tape pressing surface is opposite to the inclination of the joining end surface of the optical connector.
Regardless of whether the insertion direction of the insertion portion with respect to the connector positioning housing is normal or reverse, when a pressing force is applied from the head member toward the joining end surface of the optical connector, the head member is deformed by the elastic deformation of the tilting spring. The tape pressing surface has high followability with respect to the inclined joining end surface, can sufficiently equalize the pressing force of the cleaning tape on the joining end surface of the optical connector (optical connector plug), and has a high cleaning ability. You can definitely get it.
Also for the optical component cleaning tool, when the insertion portion of the cleaning tool is inserted into the optical component accommodation hole of the housing that accommodates the optical component, and the end surface inclined with respect to the central axis of the optical component accommodation hole of the optical component is cleaned, Similar to the optical connector cleaning tool described above, a high cleaning capability can be reliably obtained. In this case, the inclined tape pressing surface of the head member is oriented along the inclination of the end face of the optical component, or in the opposite direction to the inclination of the end face of the optical component.

Hereinafter, an optical connector cleaning tool (optical component cleaning tool) embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIGS. 1-22 is a figure which shows one Embodiment of the optical connector cleaning tool (henceforth a "cleaning tool") of this invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 19 and 21, an optical connector plug 60 (optical connector; hereinafter also simply referred to as an optical plug) and an optical connector adapter 70 (connector positioning housing; hereinafter) to which the cleaning tool 1 of the present embodiment is applied. Here, it may be simply referred to as an optical adapter) is an MPO type optical connector (MPO: Multifiber Push On) defined in JIS C 5982 and the like here.

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 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. 19) is the thickness direction, and the direction corresponding to the long side is the width direction (the horizontal direction in FIG. 19). ). The same applies to the optical plug 60 in which the ferrule 61 is accommodated in the housing 62 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. In addition, the thickness direction and the width direction may be referred to.

The optical plug 60 and the ferrule 61 also function as optical components to which the optical component cleaning tool according to the present invention is applied.
Further, the optical adapter 70 also functions as an optical component housing in which an insertion portion formed by incorporating a tape pressing mechanism is inserted into a protruding portion protruding from the tool body of the optical component cleaning tool according to the present invention. .

As shown in FIG. 19, a predetermined number (four in this case) of optical fiber holes 61 b (fine holes) are opened near the center position 66 of the joining end surface 61 a of the ferrule 61. Here, the optical fiber 63 is a four-core optical fiber ribbon, and an 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 accommodated in a boot 64 provided on the rear end side in the connection direction of the housing 62 (lower left side in FIG. 21), 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 accommodated 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. 21 and 17, the optical adapter 70 is formed in a sleeve shape in which both sides of a connector accommodation hole 72 (optical component accommodation hole) are opened as connector insertion openings 71. By inserting the plug 60, the plug 60 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, when the ferrule 61 is fitted in the optical adapter 70, it is biased by a spring (not shown) built in the housing 62 so that a pressing force acts between the ferrules 61. It has become.

  In this optical adapter 70, a key 62a formed in the housing 62 of the optical plug 60 can be fitted into an inner wall 70a that forms an inner surface facing the connector receiving hole 72 of the optical adapter 70, as in the known MPO connector. A keyway 72a is provided. 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 direction is aligned. This prevents an error (reverse insertion) that the optical plug 60 is inserted into the optical adapter 70 with the direction of the thickness direction reversed.

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 for preventing this is mounted and constitutes a known slide lock mechanism.

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 applicable to cleaning the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 includes a tool body 10 in which a cleaning tape 2 is housed, as shown in FIGS. 10 includes a tape feed mechanism 3 incorporated into the tool body 10 and a head unit 4 incorporated into a tip 19A of a projection 19 projecting from the tool body 10.
The head unit 4 includes a head member 23 for pressing the cleaning tape 2 against the joining end surface 61a. The cleaning tape 2 is wound around the head member 23.
The protrusion 19 projecting from the tool body 10 and the head unit 4 incorporated in the tip 19 </ b> A of the protrusion 19 constitute the insertion part 20 formed so as to be inserted into the connector accommodation hole 72 of the optical adapter 70. is doing.
The tool body 10 includes a case-like feeding mechanism built-in part 10A in which the tape feeding mechanism 3 is incorporated, and the elongated cylindrical projecting part 19 projecting outward from the feeding mechanism built-in part 10A. The taper shape is tapered from the feeding mechanism built-in portion 10 </ b> A toward the protruding portion 19. The head unit 4 is provided at the tip of the elongated cylindrical projection 19 at the tip of the tool body 10 (tip 19A, the left end in FIG. 1A).

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. ˜13d and fitting holes 14a to 14d are configured to be integrated.
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 21, the projecting portion 19 that is a part of the tool body 10 is also a projecting portion half 19 a and 19 b that is a projecting piece projecting from the case halves 11 and 12, respectively. And is opened and closed by opening and closing the case halves 11 and 12.
The configuration of the tool body 10 is merely an example, and is not intended to limit the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a tape feeding mechanism 3 that feeds and moves the cleaning tape 2 is provided in the accommodation space 35 in the tool body 10.
The tape feed mechanism 3 includes a supply reel 30 around which the cleaning tape 2 is wound, a take-up reel 31 that takes up and collects the used cleaning tape 2, and an operation dial 34 that operates the feed movement of the cleaning tape 2. , And the winding reel 31 can be rotated to take up the cleaning tape 2 by rotating the operation dial 34 provided partially exposed to the outside of the tool body 10. Unwinding of the cleaning tape 2 is also performed.
The details of the tape feeding mechanism 3 of the cleaning tool 1 in the illustrated example will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 17, the head unit 4 having a head member 23 at the front end for pressing the cleaning tape 2 against the joining end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60 is incorporated in the tip 19 A of the protrusion 19. Yes.
The cleaning tape 2 drawn between the supply reel 30 and the take-up reel 31 is wound around the head member 23 of the head unit 4. The cleaning tape 2 is wound around the head member 23 so as to be wound around the tape pressing surface 24 which is the front end surface of the head member 23.
The cleaning tape 2 is passed through the cylindrical protrusion 19 so as to pass through the tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23 of the head unit 4 between the supply reel 30 and the take-up reel 31. , Is being stretched.

The head unit 4 around which the cleaning tape 2 is wound and the distal end portion 19 </ b> A of the protruding portion 19 in which the head unit 4 is incorporated constitute an insertion portion 20 that can be inserted into the optical adapter 70.
The head member 23 at the front end of the head unit 4 is provided so as to protrude slightly forward from the opening 26 opened at the tip of the protrusion 19.
When the insertion portion 20 is inserted into the connector accommodation hole 72 of the optical adapter 70, the portion of the cleaning tape 2 disposed on the tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23 is pressed against the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60. It can be made to contact.

The insertion portion 20 (here, in particular, the distal end portion 19A of the protruding portion 19) is formed so that the outer shape is inserted into the connector receiving hole 72 and positioned. It is compatible.
However, the insertion portion 20 has an outer shape that is inserted only into the connector accommodation hole 72 of the optical adapter 70, and there is no protrusion that is inserted into the key groove 72 a formed inside the optical adapter 70. That is, the protrusion of the protrusion corresponding to the key 62a protruding from the side surface 62a of the housing 62 of the MPO optical connector plug is omitted.
Further, on the both sides in the width direction of the outer surface of the protrusion tip 19A, when the protrusion 19 is inserted into the optical adapter 70, interference with the engaging claws (described above) of the elastic engagement pieces of the optical adapter 70 occurs. A concave groove 21 (see FIG. 21) for avoidance is formed so as not to engage with the elastic engagement piece of the optical adapter 70. The concave groove 21 is not particularly essential.

The connector accommodation hole 72 of the optical adapter 70 has an elongated cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the MPO type optical connector plug except for the key 62a of the plug frame, and is inserted into the connector accommodation hole 72. The insertion portion 20 to be positioned also has an elongated outer shape having a width direction dimension slightly larger than the thickness direction dimension corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the connector receiving hole 72.
For this reason, the insertion part 20 has a normal / reverse direction in the insertion direction with respect to the connector housing hole 72 by reversing the front and back (both sides in the thickness direction).
However, the cross-sectional shape of the connector receiving hole 72 is symmetric on the key groove 72a side and the opposite side, and the cross-sectional outer shape of the insertion portion 20 is also symmetric on both sides in the thickness direction. The connector housing hole 72 can be inserted in either the forward or reverse direction.

  The cleaning tape 2 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “tape”) is not particularly limited, and a known appropriate cleaning cloth (nonwoven fabric or woven fabric) 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.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a protruding wall 19 c for reinforcing the protruding portion 19 is provided inside the protruding portion 19 at the tip of the tool. According to the projecting wall 19c, the path of the upstream portion 2b (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “upstream portion”) of the cleaning tape 2 to be cleaned from the supply reel 30 toward the head member 23, and the head member 23. Since the path of the downstream portion 2c of the cleaning tape 2 contaminated by the wiping cleaning toward the take-up reel 31 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “downstream portion”) is partitioned, the transfer of dirt on the cleaning tape 2 is suppressed. Effect is also produced.

(Head unit)
As shown in FIGS. 10, 11, 13 (a), 13 (b), 14 (a), (b), 15 (a) to 15 (d), etc., the tip of the cleaning tool including the protrusion 19 The head unit 4 having the head member 23 for bringing the cleaning tape 2 into contact with the joining end surface 61a of the ferrule 61 is attached to the part.
The head unit 4 includes a head member 23 having a tape pressing 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 of the head member 23 that is the opposite side of the head member 23 to the tape pressing surface 24. The head support portion 40 is connected to the side of the head 23b and supports the head member 23.

The head unit 4 functions as a tape pressing mechanism according to the present invention.
In this specification, regarding the head unit 4, the left side of FIGS. 10A and 10C, the left front side of FIG. 11 and the left side of FIGS. 13A and 13B are “front” and the opposite side is “front”. It will be described as “after”. Also, in FIGS. 10B to 10D, FIG. 11, FIG. 13B, and FIG.

Here, the head unit 4 is formed by integrally molding the head member 23 and the head support portion 40, and can be manufactured from a plastic such as polyoxymethylene (POM) using an appropriate molding method.
The head unit 4 is disposed between the upstream portion 2 b of the cleaning tape 2 that is closer to the supply reel 30 than the head member 23 and the downstream portion 2 c of the cleaning tape 2 that is closer to the take-up reel 31 than the head member 23. ing. For this reason, the head unit 4 does not hinder the feeding movement of the cleaning tape 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 14A, the head member 23 has a substantially square tape pressing surface 24, and can effectively ensure a contact area with the joining end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60. . The tape pressing surface 24 is an end surface of the head member 23 on the insertion distal end side (front end side, left side in FIGS. 13A and 13B), and is exposed to the opening 26 at the distal end of the protrusion 19.

  The head member 23 is formed with a pair of guide pin insertion recesses 23a on both sides in the width direction of the projecting portion 19 as a projecting member escape portion through which a projecting member (guide pin) 65 projecting from the joining end surface 61a can be inserted. ing. The guide pin insertion recess 23a penetrates from the tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23 to the back surface 23b. Thereby, when the protrusion part 19 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 is provided with guide grooves 25 </ b> A and 25 </ b> B that guide the feeding of the cleaning tape 2 at both upper and lower ends via the tape pressing surface 24. These guide grooves 25A and 25B function as a tape positioning mechanism.
The lower guide groove 25A accommodates the upstream side in the feed direction from the tape pressing surface 24 of the cleaning tape 2 wound around the head member 23 and the downstream side in the upper guide groove 25B.

The widths of the guide grooves 25 </ b> A and 25 </ b> B are adapted to the width of the cleaning tape 2. The cleaning tape 2 is wound around the head member 23 by a pair of guide grooves 25 </ b> A and 25 </ b> B on the upstream side and the downstream side of the tape pressing surface 24.
As described above, the cleaning tape 2 is arranged in the guide grooves 25 </ b> A and 25 </ b> B, so that the position of the cleaning tape 2 is prevented from being displaced or detached from the head member 23 even if the head member 23 is tilted. The

  Further, as shown in FIG. 14A and the like, the upper and lower ends of the head member 23 in the illustrated example prevent the cleaning tape 2 disposed in the guide grooves 25A and 25B from dropping from the guide grooves 25A and 25B. Projecting pieces (drop-off prevention pieces 25a) project from both sides of the width of the guide grooves 25A, 25B, and both ends in the width direction of the cleaning tape 2 are formed between the bottoms of the guide grooves 25A, 25B and the drop-off prevention pieces 25a. Since it is stored in between, it is possible to reliably prevent the cleaning tape 2 from falling off the guide grooves 25A and 25B.

  As shown in FIG. 14A and the like, on the tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23, the guide pin insertion recesses 23a are opened on both sides of the width of the cleaning tape 2 guided by the guide grooves 25A and 25B. Has been placed. Thereby, the guide pins 65 and 65 can avoid the interference with the cleaning tape 2, and can be inserted in the guide pin insertion recess 23a.

As shown in FIGS. 10A to 10D, FIG. 11, and the like, the head support portion 40 includes a tilting spring 41 for tiltably supporting the head member 23 and an optical plug 60 (details) of the head member 23. Includes a compression spring 42 for elastically urging the ferrule 61) and a plate-like attachment portion 43 for attaching the head unit 4 to the protruding portion 19.
In the head support portion 40, a portion other than the tilting spring 41, that is, a portion on the rear side from the tilting spring 41 corresponds to the support portion main body 44 according to the present invention.

The plate-like attachment portion 43 is fitted into a pair of attachment recesses 29 that are provided so as to be opposed to both sides in the thickness direction of the protrusion 19 at the tip of the tool so as to substantially block the inner cross section of the protrusion 19. Provided.
In addition, the fitting portion 43 has a substantially semi-cylindrical fitting portion that fits into a fitting groove 29a formed in one of the two attachment concave portions 29 on one of both end portions that are fitted into the pair of mounting concave portions 29. 43a protrudes and the direction which can be fitted with respect to a pair of attachment recessed part 29 is decided.
In the head unit 4, the mounting portion 43 is assembled to the projecting portion 19 and incorporated into the projecting portion 19, so that the front-rear direction of the head unit 4 is the projecting direction of the projecting portion 19 from the tool body 10, more specifically. The cylindrical protrusions 19 are aligned in the direction along the central axis.

As shown in FIG. 13A, the compression springs 42 are wave springs here, and a pair of them are arranged symmetrically in the width direction of the protrusions 19 (vertical direction in FIG. 13A).
Each of the pair of compression springs 42 has a front end connected to the connecting plate 42 c and a rear end connected to the attachment portion 43.
The two compression springs 42 and the connecting plate 42 c provided in parallel constitute an elastic bridging portion 45 that bridges between the mounting portion 43 and the tilting spring 41.

The compression spring 42, which is a wave spring, is a rod-shaped or belt-shaped molded portion that curves so as to meander on one plane, and is formed into a shape in which a plurality of S-shapes or S-shapes are continuous. Two compression springs 42 provided in parallel are curved on the same plane. The connecting plate 42c is also formed on the same plane as the pair of compression springs 42.
The elastic bridging portion 45 has a generally elongated plate shape as a whole.

The pair of compression springs 42 are formed perpendicular to the plate-like attachment portion 43.
For this reason, the elastic bridging portion 45 is disposed so as to extend in the protruding portion 19 along the longitudinal direction along the central axis direction of the protruding portion 19 (in other words, the protruding direction from the tool body 10). .
The head unit 4 includes a pair of front end portions of the elastic bridging portion 45 (specifically, the connecting plate 42 c and the front end portions of the pair of compression springs 42) provided on the inner walls on both sides in the width direction of the protruding portion 19. It is accommodated in the slide groove 28. The slide groove 28 extends in the direction in which the protruding portion 19 is inserted and removed (the left-right direction in FIGS. 13A and 13B), and at the tip side of the protruding portion 19 (in FIGS. 13A and 13B). It has an end wall 28a that closes the left end).
When the pressing force does not act on the tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23, the compression spring 42 urges the connecting plate 42c to abut against the end wall 28a of the slide groove 28 by its own elastic force. Yes. The connecting plate 42c can slide in both directions along the central axis direction of the protruding portion 19 along the slide groove 28 by expansion and contraction of the compression spring 42.

  However, the elastic bridging portion 45 is not necessarily configured to include the connecting plate 42c. For example, the front ends of the pair of compression springs 42 are connected to both ends of the width of the tilting spring 41, respectively. The compression spring 42 itself may constitute the elastic bridging portion 45.

The tilting spring 41 projects from the front end of the support portion main body 44, that is, from the front end of the connecting plate 42c to the front side.
The tilting spring 41 has a circular arc plate shape, and has an arch shape that bridges the front end of the support portion main body 44 and the head member 23. The head member 23 is connected to a projecting tip 411 from the support portion main body 44 of a tilting spring 41 extending in an arch shape from the front end of the support portion main body 44.
More specifically, in the illustrated head unit 4, the projecting tip 411 of the tilting spring 41 is connected to the central portion in the vertical direction of the head member 23, and the head member 23 is pushed backward from the front side of the head unit 4. When the pressure acts, the tilting spring 41 is elastically deformed. Further, the head member 23 can be tilted by elastic deformation of the tilting spring 41.
Further, a recess 27 is formed on the back surface 23 b of the head member 23 to accommodate the protruding tip 411 of the tilting spring 41. The head member 23 is provided with the tilting spring 41 accommodated in the recess 27. It is supported by the protruding tip 411.

The protruding tip 411 of the tilting spring 41 is located on the extension of the plate-like elastic bridging portion 45. The arch-shaped tilting spring 41 protrudes from the extension of the plate-like elastic bridging portion 45 to one side (the upper side in FIGS. 10B to 10D, FIGS. 11, 13B, and 15). Is so curved.
In the present specification, with respect to the head unit 4, the plate-like elastic bridging portion 45 and the extension thereof as a reference, the side on which the curved top portion 412 of the tilting spring 41 is present, that is, FIGS. 11, FIG. 13 (b) and FIGS. 15 (a) to 15 (d), the upper side is referred to as “spring top side” and the opposite side (lower side) is referred to as “spring back side”.

The head member 23 extends from the protruding tip 411 of the tilting spring 41 so as to protrude vertically, that is, on the spring top side and the spring back side.
However, the head member 23 is not oriented so that the tape pressing surface 24 is perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the head unit 4 (for example, the state of FIG. It is supported by the projecting tip 411 of the tilting spring 41 in a direction slightly tilted from a vertical plane (virtual vertical plane S; see FIG. 13B) with respect to the extending direction of the extending elastic bridge portion 45. . Here, the inclination angle θ1 with respect to the vertical plane is 8 degrees (or 7 to 9 degrees), but is not limited thereto.
The tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23 supported by the protruding tip 411 of the tilting spring 41 is inclined so as to become the front side as it goes from the spring top side to the spring back side.

The cleaning tape 2 is wound around the head member 23 so that the spring back side of the head member 23 is on the upstream side in the flow direction of the cleaning tape 2 compared to the spring top side.
As shown in FIG. 10 (d) and the like, tape grooves 43 b through which the cleaning tape is inserted are provided at both upper and lower ends of the attachment portion 43. In each tape groove 43b, the upstream tape 2b and the downstream tape 2c of the head member 23 are inserted.

(Guide cap)
As shown in FIGS. 12 and 18, 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. In addition, a keyway for accommodating insertion of an insertion portion in which a key protrudes from a side surface of a protruding portion from the tool body, as in Patent Document 5, on the inner wall of the guide body 51 on the insertion portion insertion port 53 side. 57b is provided, but since the insertion portion 20 of the cleaning tool 1 illustrated in the present embodiment omits the protrusion of the key, a configuration in which the key groove 57b is omitted also as the guide cap 50 can be employed. . With the guide cap 50 without the keyway 57b, when the insertion portion 20 of the cleaning tool 1 is accommodated, the adhesion between the inner wall surface of the guide cap and the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 20 can be improved. Contributes to improved dust resistance.
The insertion part 20 of the cleaning tool 1 can be inserted into the guide cap 50 so that it can be inserted and removed in either the forward or reverse direction, as in the case of the optical adapter 70.

  The guide cap 50 is detachably attached to the distal end portion 19A of the protruding portion 19. 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. Further, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 12A, 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.

(Tape feed mechanism)
Next, details of the tape feeding mechanism 3 of the cleaning tool 1 in the illustrated example will be described.
However, the tape feeding mechanism is not limited to that of the present embodiment as long as it can realize the feeding movement of the cleaning tape 2, and it goes without saying that various configurations can be adopted.

  The tape feed mechanism 3 includes a supply reel 30 around which the cleaning tape 2 is wound, a take-up reel 31 that takes up and collects the used cleaning tape 2, and an operation dial 34 that operates the feed movement of the cleaning tape 2. , And the winding reel 31 can be rotated to take up the cleaning tape 2 by rotating the operation dial 34 provided partially exposed to the outside of the tool body 10. Unwinding of the cleaning tape 2 is also performed.

  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.

On the inner side of the first case half 11 (side facing the accommodation 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 accommodation 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 tape 2 is stretched in the accommodation space 35 along the pin-shaped tape guide 36. In the middle of this, the head member 23 accommodated in the protrusion 19 is wound around. As shown in FIG. 2, here, the tape guide 36 is provided as an outer peripheral surface of the fitting pin 13 a that protrudes 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 2. 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.

8A, 8B, and 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 that applies a rotation resistance to the rotation of the take-up reel 31.
The constant pulling force that permits the feed movement of the cleaning tape 2 is such that the elongation of the cleaning tape due to the pull of the tape feed mechanism 3 does not adversely affect the cleaning, and for example, the cleaning tool 1 is shaken or carried. In such a case, the tape cannot be sent.

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 tape 2 is wound around the take-up reel 31 is smaller than the operation amount of the operation dial 34 (the displacement amount along the outer periphery of the operation dial 34) by the radius ratio.
For this reason, a minute feed amount of the cleaning tape 2 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 tape 2, and the unused cleaning tape 2 is 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. A number of ratchet teeth 16 b are provided around the inner peripheral surface of the annular wall portion 16.
The ride-up 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. 22).

  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 that prevents the reverse feed of the cleaning tape 2 (a reverse rotation prevention mechanism that prevents reverse rotation of the take-up reel). Therefore, the cleaning tape 2 can be stably fed and moved in a predetermined direction, and the sagging of the cleaning tape 2 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. 22 (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 operator can be notified of the feed amount of the cleaning tape 2 by the hitting sound generated each time the feed amount of the cleaning tape 2 reaches a certain amount.
That is, in the cleaning tool 1 of the present embodiment, a feed amount notifying mechanism for notifying the feed amount of the cleaning tape 2 is configured by the climbing protrusion 17 of the annular wall portion 16 and the hammer arm 38 of the operation dial 34. .
Note that the feed amount of the cleaning tape 2 corresponding to one beating sound can be the 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. 17, 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. As a result, the cleaning tape 2 is positioned and brought into contact with an appropriate position (here, the optical fiber hole 61b and its periphery) 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 recess 23 a provided in the head member 23. Without interfering with the connector housing hole 72.

When the operation dial 34 is rotated by a predetermined amount, the cleaning tape 2 moves in conjunction with the rotation of the take-up reel 31, and the joining end face 61a is wiped and cleaned by the cleaning tape 2, so that it adheres to the joining end face 61a. Dirt such as dust, dust and oil is reliably wiped off by the cleaning tape 2.
The wiped dirt adheres to the cleaning tape 2 and moves in the direction of being taken up by the take-up reel 31, so that the used cleaning tape (downstream part) 2 c is no longer exposed from the opening 26 of the protrusion 19. There is no possibility that the dirt adheres again to the joining end surface 61a.
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. 18, 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 tape 2 is positioned and brought into contact with an appropriate position (here, the optical fiber hole 61b and its periphery) of the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60.
Thus, the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 and the cleaning tape contact portion 2a of the insertion portion 20 (the portion disposed on the tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23 in the cleaning tape 2 wound around the head member 23). ) Is appropriately guided by the guide cap 50, and therefore, the cleaning of the joining end face 61a of the optical plug 60 in the guide cap 50 is the same as the case of the joining end face 61a of the optical plug 60 in the optical adapter 70. Can be done.

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.
The cap 50 prevents the cleaning tape 2 from being exposed from the opening 26 of the protruding portion 19 when the lid 55 of the guide cap 50 is closed and attached to the insertion portion 20 when not used (cleaning work). It is possible to prevent the inside of the guide cap 50 and the cleaning tape 2 from being contaminated while the cleaning tool 1 is stored or carried.

  The head member 23 can be tilted with respect to the pressing force when the tape pressing surface 24 comes into contact with the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60. Therefore, as shown in FIG. Even when the ferrule 61 whose 61a is subjected to right angle polishing (flat polishing) is in contact, as shown in FIGS. 15B and 15C, when the ferrule 61 whose contact end surface 61a is obliquely polished is contacted In this case, the direction of the tape pressing surface 24 is matched with the direction of the joining end surface 61a, and the cleaning tape 2a on the tape pressing surface 24 can be brought into contact with the joining end surface 61a more evenly and reliably. In addition, an operator having the cleaning tool 1 inadvertently shakes the cleaning tool 1 during cleaning, or the insertion portion 20 is placed on the optical axis of the optical fiber (bare optical fiber 63a) exposed on the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60. Even if it is tilted so as to be inclined, the cleaning tape 2 is brought into surface contact with the direction of the tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23 in accordance with the direction of the joining end surface 61a of the ferrule 61 following the deflection. Therefore, the pressing force acts more evenly between the tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23 and the joining end surface 61a of the ferrule 61 without locally concentrating the pressing force, and the joining end surface 61a. Can be cleaned evenly.

In the head unit 4, the head member 23 is retracted in the direction opposite to the insertion direction due to the elastic deformation of the compression spring 42 and the like by the pressing force of the ferrule 61 of the optical plug 60, whereby the ferrule 61 with respect to the head member 23 is retracted. The pressing force can be relaxed. 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.
That is, in the head unit 4, when a rearward pressing force is applied to the head member 23, the head member 23 is moved to the base end side of the projecting portion 19 (the tool main body by the elastic deformation of the tilting spring 41 and the compression spring 42. 10 side (backward in the right direction in FIGS. 14 (b) and 15 (a) to 15 (d)).
For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 15A to 15D, 16, and 17, when the head member 23 is pressed against the joint end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60, the optical plug 60 is against the joint end surface 61 a. The biasing means that the pressing force of the head member 23 is prevented from becoming excessive more than necessary, and the tilting spring 41 and the compression spring 42 elastically bias the head member 23 to the joining end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60. Function as.

Further, the tilting of the head member 23 reduces the fluctuation of the pressing force with which the head member 23 presses the ferrule 61 even if an operator having the cleaning tool 1 shakes the hand during cleaning, and the joint end surface 61a Excessive pressing force can be prevented from acting, and damage to the joining end surface 61a and the optical fiber 63a end surface 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.
In addition, since the compression spring 42 can secure the amount of backward displacement of the tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23, for example, it is also suitable for optical components such as optical plugs and optical transceivers having different optical reference plane positions. The cleaning tape 2a can be aligned with the joining end face for cleaning.

The head unit 4 is hardly (or not) displaced in the vertical direction (the vertical direction in FIGS. 15A to 15D) when the head member 23 is tilted. For this reason, the center position of the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 and the tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23 shifts, and the cleaning tape 2a does not contact the joining end surface 61a well, or the joining end surface 61a contacts the cleaning tape 2a. It is possible to suppress the contact force from becoming uneven, and it is possible to more reliably remove the dirt on the joining end surface 61a.
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.

Here, the tilting of the head member 23 in the head unit 4 will be described in more detail.
In FIG. 17, the insertion portion 20 of the cleaning tool 1 is inserted into the connector accommodation hole 72 of the optical adapter 70, and the cleaning tape 2 is pressed against the joining end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60 by the head member 23 of the head unit 4. Indicates the state.
15A to 15D are diagrams schematically showing the vicinity of the head member 23 and the tilting spring 41 in the head unit 4.

FIG. 15A shows a state in which the cleaning tape 2 is pressed against the optical plug 60 before the cleaning tape 2 is pressed against the optical plug 60 by the head member 23.
15B to 15D, the inclination of the tape pressing surface 24 before being pressed by the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 is such that the tape pressing surface 24 in FIG. 15 shows a case where the insertion portion 20 having the same inclination as in FIG. 15A is inserted into the optical adapter 70 and the head member 23 is pressed against the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60.
The insertion portion 20 is inserted into and removed from the connector accommodation hole 72 of the optical adapter 70 by moving on the axis line obtained by extending the optical axis of the optical fiber 63 a built in the ferrule 61.

15B and 15C show an optical plug 60 having an obliquely polished joining end face 61a, and FIG. 15D shows a flat-polished joining end face 61a (an optical fiber 63a built in the ferrule 61). The case of the optical plug 60 having (joint end surface polished perpendicularly to the optical axis in FIG. 16) is shown.
The joining end face 61a of the optical plug 60 in FIGS. 15B and 15C is an inclined face inclined by 8 degrees compared to the joining end face 61a of the optical plug 60 in FIG.
Here, the inclined angle θ2 (see FIG. 16) of the bonded end surface 61a subjected to the oblique polishing with respect to the bonded end surface in the case of flat polishing is matched with the inclined angle θ1 (see FIG. 13B) of the tape pressing surface 24. Yes.

However, in FIG. 15B and FIG. 15C, the inclination direction of the joining end face 61a is reversed.
In FIG. 15B, the joint end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60 is aligned with the tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23 of the insertion portion 20 inserted into the optical adapter 70.
In FIG.15 (c), the inclination of the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 is reverse to FIG.15 (b).
FIG. 17 also shows the case where the joint end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 and the tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23 of the insertion portion 20 inserted into the optical adapter 70 are aligned, as in FIG. 15B. Yes, FIG. 15B schematically shows the state of FIG.

  In the case of FIG. 15B, since the direction of the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 and the tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23 of the insertion portion 20 inserted into the optical adapter 70 are aligned, If the head adapter 23 is pushed into the optical adapter 70 toward the plug 60, the head member 23 hardly tilts (or at all) and the cleaning tape 2 is sandwiched between the joint end surface 61a and the joint end surface 61a. It will be closed. At this time, the entire portion (contact portion 2a) of the cleaning tape 2 disposed along the tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23 can be pressed against the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 with an equal pressing force. it can.

As shown in FIGS. 15C and 15D, when the directions of the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 and the tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23 do not match, the pressing force is applied from the head member 23 to the optical plug 60. When applied to the head member 23, the upper end edge 24a (the end portion on the spring top side) and the lower end edge 24b (the end portion on the spring back side) of the tape pressing surface 24 are uneven. When the pressing force is applied, the tilting spring 41 is elastically deformed and the head member 20 is tilted.
The head member 20 tilts so as to follow the joint end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 due to elastic deformation of the tilting spring 41 as the insertion portion 20 inserted into the optical adapter 70 is pushed toward the optical plug 60. Finally, the optical plug 60 is closed with respect to the joining end surface 61a, and the cleaning tape 2 is sandwiched between the joining end surface 61a.

In the case of FIGS. 15C and 15D, the upper end of the optical plug 60 (specifically, the ferrule 61) is moved from the optical plug 60 (specifically, the ferrule 61) to the lower end edge 24 b of the tape pressing surface 24 by pressing the joining end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60. Compared with the edge 24a, a pressing force relatively rearward acts, and the tilting spring 41 is elastically deformed so that both ends in the front-rear direction approach each other. 15C and 15D, the distance between both ends in the front-rear direction of the arch-shaped tilting spring 41 is reduced, so that the tilting spring 41 is vertically elongated compared to the state of FIG. 15A. It becomes a shape.
Further, the lower end edge 24b of the tape pressing surface 24 is displaced rearward relative to the upper end edge 24a, whereby the head member 23 changes in the direction in which the upper end edge 24a of the tape pressing surface 24 is displaced forward. As a result, the tape pressing surface 24 on the spring top side presses the cleaning tape 2 against the joining end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60.

Here, the change in the orientation of the head member 23 in the cases of FIGS. 15C and 15D is realized by the deformation of the entire tilting spring 41 as in the case of FIGS. 24C and 24D. .
In the case of FIGS. 15C and 15D, the phenomenon described with reference to FIG. 24B, that is, the curved top 412 is moved from the curved top 412 of the tilting spring 41 to the protruding tip 411 side. On the other hand, there is no phenomenon in which deformation is applied such that the protruding tip 411 side is pushed forward to expand the curvature radius. For this reason, the entire tilting spring 41 is smoothly deformed, and the followability of the tape pressing surface 24 with respect to the joining end surface 61a can be sufficiently ensured.
As a result, the pressing force from the tape pressing surface 24 to the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 can be sufficiently equalized, and the portion 2a (hereinafter referred to as abutting) disposed on the tape pressing surface 24 of the cleaning tape 2 can be realized. Can also be pressed evenly against the joining end face 61a, and a high cleaning ability can be obtained.

According to this cleaning tool 1, the tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23 supported by the protruding tip 411 of the tilting spring 41 is inclined so as to be the front side as it goes from the spring top side to the spring back side. According to the configuration, when the cleaning tape 2 is pressed against the joining end surface 61a by the head member 23, the joining end surface is formed on the tape pressing surface 24 by the elastic deformation of the tilting spring 41 regardless of the inclination direction of the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60. High followability to 61a can be secured. For this reason, the part arrange | positioned at the tape press surface 24 of the cleaning tape 2 can be pressed against the joining end surface 61a with equal pressing force, and high cleaning capability can be obtained reliably.
As a result, regardless of the insertion direction of the insertion portion 20 with respect to the optical adapter 70 (forward / reverse switching), a high cleaning capability can be reliably obtained. Since the tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23 has high followability with respect to the inclination direction of the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60, the tape with respect to the joining end surface 61 can be obtained by the tilting operation of the cleaning tool 1 by the operator of the cleaning tool 1. Even when the direction of the pressing surface 24 varies, a high cleaning ability can be stably obtained. It goes without saying that the cleaning tape 2 can be kept in close contact with the joining end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60.

  The inclination angle θ1 of the tape pressing surface 24 is the same as or larger than the inclination angle θ2 (see FIG. 16) of the obliquely polished joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 (that is, θ2 ≦ θ1). This is preferable in that the above-described effects can be reliably obtained.

(Relationship between tape feeding direction and tape pressing surface inclination)
As shown in FIGS. 15B to 15D, FIG. 16 and the like, the feeding direction of the cleaning tape 2 by the tape feeding mechanism 3 is determined by the end portion on the spring back side of the head member 23 around which the cleaning tape 2 is wound. It is preferable from the viewpoint of ensuring high cleaning performance stability that the direction upstream and the direction of the top of the spring are downstream in the feed direction (in the tape pressing surface 24, the feed movement is from the back of the spring toward the top of the spring). .

This is because the head unit 4 incorporated in the insertion portion 20 supports the arch-shaped tilting spring 41 and the head member 23 in a cantilever manner at the front end of the support portion main body 44 supported by the protruding portion 19. This is due to the structure.
The head member 23 follows the cleaning tape 2 by contact resistance with the cleaning tape 2 wound around the head member 23 when the cleaning tape 2 is fed and moved by the operation of the tape feeding mechanism 3. Thus, a displacement force downstream of the cleaning tape 2 in the feed direction is received. Thereby, a deformation force is applied to the tilting spring 41.

If the feeding direction of the cleaning tape 2 is the direction from the back of the spring toward the top of the spring in the head member 23, the tilting spring is applied to the spring back end of the head member 23 due to the contact resistance between the head member 23 and the cleaning tape 2. The rotational force to the front centered on the protruding tip 411 of 41, and the displacement force to the rear side act on the end portion on the spring top side.
Here, in order to actually cause a rotational displacement to the front side around the protruding tip 411 of the tilting spring 41 at the end of the back side of the spring of the head member 23, as described with reference to FIG. Phenomenon, that is, the arch-shaped tilting spring 41 is deformed so as to expand the curved radius by pushing the projected tip 411 side forward with respect to the curved top 412 from the curved top 412 to the protruding tip 411 side. This is accompanied by a phenomenon in which the protruding tip 411 is displaced to the front side in the pressing direction to the ferrule 61 relative to the curved top 412.

However, as shown in FIGS. 15B to 15D, in the state where the cleaning tape 2 is pressed and brought into close contact with the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 by the pressing force from the head member 23, an arch-shaped tilting spring is provided. Since the displacement of the head member 23 supported by the front end (projecting tip 411) of the spring 41 to the front side of the spring back side portion is regulated by the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60, the curved top portion of the arch-shaped tilting spring 41 412 is deformed to expand the bending radius by pushing the protruding tip 411 side forward with respect to the curved top portion 412 to the protruding tip 411 side, and the protruding tip relative to the curved top portion 412. There is no room for the phenomenon that 411 is displaced forward in the pressing direction to the ferrule 61. For this reason, even when the cleaning tape 2 is fed and moved in a state where the joining end surface 61a of the ferrule 61 and the tape pressing surface 24 of the head member 23 are closed so as to sandwich the cleaning tape 2, the direction of the head member 23 is maintained. Will not change. Further, a pressing state in which the cleaning tape 2 is uniformly pressed against the joining end surface 61a by the pressing force from the tape pressing surface 24 can be stably obtained.
However, when the feeding direction of the cleaning tape 2 is the direction from the spring back side to the spring top side in the head member 23, the uniform pressing state of the cleaning tape 2 to the joining end surface 61a by the tape pressing surface 24 can be stably maintained. High cleaning ability can be obtained stably.

On the other hand, suppose that the cleaning tape 2 is fed by the operation of the tape feeding mechanism 3 in the direction from the top of the spring toward the back side of the tape pressing surface 24 (that is, in FIGS. 15B to 15D and FIG. 16). In the case of the movement opposite to the tape feeding direction indicated by the arrow), for example, the head unit 4 is moved to the rear end of the head member 23 toward the rear side of the head unit 4 by contact with the cleaning tape 2. When a strong displacement force that exceeds the pressing force of the head member 23 against the joint end surface 61a by the tilting spring 41 and the compression spring 42 is applied, there is a possibility that the head unit 4 is displaced rearward.
The spring back side portion of the head member 23 can be displaced rearward by the elastic deformation of the tilting spring 41 and the compression spring 42. For this reason, when a strong displacement force toward the rear side of the head unit 4 acts on the spring back side end portion of the head member 23 by the feed movement of the cleaning tape 2, the head is moved by the elastic deformation of the tilting spring 41 and the compression spring 42. Displacement to the rear side of the unit 4 may occur.
At this time, the front-side displacement of the head top portion of the head member 23 is restricted by the joining end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60. The displacement of the back side portion of the head member 23 toward the rear side of the head unit 4 is caused by the rotational displacement of the head member 23 around the end of the top of the spring of the head member 23.

  Therefore, according to this cleaning tool 1, the end on the spring back side of the head member 23 around which the cleaning tape 2 is wound is upstream in the feed direction, and the top of the spring is downstream in the feed direction (on the tape pressing surface 24 from the back side of the spring). In any case shown in FIGS. 15 (b) to 15 (d), it is advantageous in terms of ensuring a stable high cleaning capability.

10A to 10D, FIG. 11, FIG. 13, FIG. 15A to FIG. 15D, etc., a back surface 23b perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the head unit 4 is used as the head member, and the back surface 23b. Although the triangular block-shaped head member 23 having the tape pressing surface 24 inclined with respect to the head is illustrated, as the head member, as illustrated in FIGS. It is also possible to employ a plate-like head member 23 having a parallel back surface 23c. Also in this case, the behavior of the head unit 4 such as tilting of the head member when the cleaning tape 2 is pressed against the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 that has been flat polished or obliquely polished by the tape pressing surface 24 is a triangular block shape. This is the same as the case of the head member 23.
The direction of the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 in FIGS. 20B to 20D corresponds to FIGS. 15B to 15D.

  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., in the cleaning tool of the above embodiment, the tape pressing surface of the head member is in the thickness direction of the insertion portion (for example, FIG. In this cleaning tool, the head member has the tape pressing surface in the width direction of the insertion portion (for example, the figure) due to the elastic deformation of the tilting spring and the compression spring. It can also tilt in the left-right direction (8).
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.
However, the present invention does not exclude a configuration in which the head member can be tilted so that the tape pressing surface tilts only in the thickness direction of the insertion portion (for example, the left-right direction in FIG. 8).
(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-described embodiment, the insertion portion is a cleaning tape (in which a head unit is incorporated in a cylindrical projection 19 projecting from the tool body and wound around the head member of the head unit). However, although the structure which accommodated except the contact part vicinity arrange | positioned at a tape press surface was illustrated, this invention is not necessarily limited to this. When the insertion portion is inserted into the connector housing, the shape and structure of the protruding portion 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. For example, the projecting portion may be a projecting piece having an elongated plate shape or a channel shape.
(6) The feed amount notification mechanism is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment. Any mechanism that notifies the tape feed amount can be employed.

(7) In the above-described embodiment, an insertion part without a key (an insertion part in which a key to be inserted into the key groove of the MPO adapter is not provided at the tip 19A of the protrusion 19) is illustrated. This does not exclude the insertion part with the key.
(8) The tilting spring is not limited to the circular plate shape exemplified in the above-described embodiment, and may be, for example, an S shape, a wave shape, or the like.
With respect to the tilting spring having two or more curved tops, the side of the curved top located closest to the head member on both sides of the tilting spring through the protruding tip is the “spring top side”, and the opposite side is “ It will be referred to as “spring back side”.
(9) In the above embodiment, the head unit 4 has the front-rear direction of the head unit 4 aligned with the protruding direction of the protruding portion 19 from the tool body 10, more specifically, the central axis of the cylindrical protruding portion 19. Although the insertion part of the structure incorporated in the protrusion part 19 in the direction aligned with the direction along was illustrated, this invention is not limited to this, For example, a head unit is the front-back direction of this protrusion part 19. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the tape pressing surface of the head member is inclined at a desired angle with respect to the central axis of the protrusion 19 by being inclined with respect to the central axis and being incorporated in the protrusion 19.
Also in this case, with respect to the direction along the central axis of the protrusion 19, the spring back side of the head member is relatively front compared to the spring top side (front side in the pressing direction to the end face of the optical component such as an optical connector). Tilt to be.

(10) 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 an 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 figure which shows the external appearance of the optical connector cleaning tool which concerns on one embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view. It is a figure which shows the 2nd case half body which concerns on the cleaning tool of FIG. 1, Comprising: (a) is sectional drawing which follows the II-II line of FIG.2 (b), (b) is a front view. It is a figure which shows the 1st case half body which concerns on the cleaning tool of FIG. 1, Comprising: (a) is sectional drawing which follows the III-III line of FIG.3 (b), (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 a figure which shows an example of the dial of this cleaning tool, Comprising: (a) is sectional drawing which follows the VI-VI line of FIG.6 (b), (b) is a front view. It is a perspective view of the dial of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the supply reel and winding reel of this cleaning tool, Comprising: (a) is a front view, (b) is sectional drawing which follows the VIII-VIII line of Fig.8 (a). 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 head unit of this cleaning tool. It is a perspective view of the head unit shown in FIG. 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 (a) plane sectional view and (b) front sectional view of the tool tip part of this cleaning tool. It is a figure which shows the insertion part vicinity of this cleaning tool, Comprising: (a) is a figure which shows the structure seen from the head member side, (b) is a front view. It is a figure explaining the behavior of the head unit when pressing the cleaning tape against the joint end face of the optical plug by the head member of the cleaning tool, (a) before pressing, (b), (c) are oblique views of the optical plug Pressing on the polished joining end face, (d) shows pressing on the flat polished joining end face of the optical plug. It is a figure which shows the state which pressed the cleaning tape against the joining end surface by which the optical plug was diagonally polished with the head member of the head unit of this cleaning tool. 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. When the head member of the head unit of this cleaning tool is plate shape, it is a figure explaining the behavior of a head unit at the time of pressing a cleaning tape on the joining end surface of an optical plug with the said head member, (a) is pressing Previously, (b) and (c) show the pressing of the optical plug against the obliquely polished joining end face, and (d) shows the pressing of the optical plug against the flat polished joining end face. 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. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the state which inserted the conventional cleaner in the positioning housing for connectors. It is a figure explaining the behavior of a head unit when pressing a cleaning tape against the joint end face of an optical plug by a head plate of a conventional cleaner head unit, (a) before pressing, (b), (c) are light Fig. 4D shows the pressing of the plug against the obliquely polished joining end surface, and Fig. 6D shows the pressing of the optical plug against the flat polished joining end surface.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cleaning tool (optical connector cleaning tool, optical component cleaning tool), 2 ... Cleaning tape, 3 ... Tape feed mechanism, 4 ... Head unit, 10 ... Tool main body, 19 ... Projection part, 19A ... Tip part of a projection part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Insertion part, 23 ... Head member, 24 ... Tape press surface, 24c ... Center position of the front end surface of a head member, 25A, 25B ... Guide groove, 40 ... Head support part, 41 ... Tilt spring, 411 ... Tilt use Projection tip of spring, 412 ... Curved top of tilting spring, 42 ... Compression spring, 43 ... Mounting portion, 44 ... Support body, 50 ... Guide cap, 60 ... Optical connector (optical component), 61a ... Joining end surface ( Optical component end face), 70... Connector positioning housing (optical connector adapter, optical adapter), 72. Connector housing hole, 72 a.

Claims (9)

An optical connector cleaning tool for wiping and cleaning the joining end surface of the optical connector by feeding the cleaning tape,
A tool main body incorporating a tape feeding mechanism for supplying and winding the cleaning tape, and an insertion portion protruding from the tool main body and inserted into a connector positioning housing for receiving and connecting the optical connector The insertion portion is provided with a tape pressing mechanism around which a portion of the cleaning tape drawn out from the tool body is wound, and the tape pressing mechanism is configured to support the optical connector with respect to the joining end surface. A head member on which a tape pressing surface for securing a contact area of the cleaning tape is formed, and a head support portion that supports the head member in a direction in which the tape pressing surface is inclined with respect to the pressing direction to the optical connector. The head support portion includes a support portion main body that is attached to a protruding portion that protrudes from the tool main body, and the optical connector of the support portion main body. An arcuate or corrugated tilting spring projecting at the front end in the pressing direction, and the head member is elastically deformed at the projecting tip of the tilting spring from the support body. The head member is supported by the head of the tilting spring from the tip of the tilting spring projecting from the main body of the support, and the top of the tilting spring is the side of the curved top closest to the head member. extends so as to protrude into the spring back which is the side of the opposite, the tape pressing surface, toward from the spring top side of the end portion of the head member to the end of the spring back, to the optical connector Is inclined so as to be on the front side in the pressing direction, and the inclination angle of the tape pressing surface is equal to or larger than the inclination angle of the obliquely polished joining end surface of the optical connector,
The head member can be closed against the joining end face of the optical connector polished perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber whose joining end face is exposed at the joining end face, and a cleaning tape can be sandwiched between the joining end face And an optical connector cleaning tool characterized in that the cleaning tape can be sandwiched between the optical fiber connector and the bonded end surface of the optical connector that is obliquely polished .   The optical connector cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the tilting spring has an arc plate shape or a corrugated plate shape. The support portion body is provided between an attachment portion fixed to the projecting portion and the attachment portion and the tilting spring, and is compressed by a pressing force that presses the head member against the joining end surface of the optical connector. optical connector cleaning tool according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a compression spring which is. It said tape pressing mechanism, the optical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, said head member and the head supporting portion is characterized in that it is a single piece made of synthetic resin formed integrally Cleaning tool. The compression spring is formed in a corrugated shape, and an elastic bridging portion that bridges between the attachment portion and the tilting spring is constituted by the two compression springs provided in parallel. The optical connector cleaning tool according to claim 3 or 4 . The cleaning tape is wound around the head member such that the spring back side of the head member is upstream in the flow direction of the cleaning tape as compared to the spring top side. The optical connector cleaning tool according to any one of 1 to 5 . Guide grooves for preventing the cleaning tape from shifting in the width direction are formed at the end of the head portion on the spring top side and the spring back side through the tape pressing surface, and the tape pressing surface of the cleaning tape is The optical connector cleaning tool according to claim 6, wherein upstream and downstream portions in the flow direction are accommodated in the guide groove. The connector positioning housing is formed into a connector housing hole for housing an optical connector, and a groove shape extending along the central axis direction of the connector housing hole on the inner surface of the connector housing hole, and is formed on a side portion of the optical connector. A keyway into which the protruding key is inserted,
The tape pressing mechanism is incorporated at the tip of the projecting portion of the tool body, and the insertion portion configured to be inserted into the connector positioning housing includes the connector receiving hole and the key groove of the connector positioning housing. The insertion portion can be inserted only into the connector accommodation hole, and the insertion portion is symmetric with respect to the connector accommodation hole in which the key groove side and the opposite side to the key groove have a cross-sectional shape. , that can be inserted in two insertion directions of the forward and reverse by reversing the optical connector cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that has a cross-sectional profile of the front and rear symmetrical. An optical component cleaning tool for wiping and cleaning the end face of an optical component by feeding a cleaning tape,
A tool main body incorporating a tape feeding mechanism for supplying and winding the cleaning tape, and an optical component receiving hole of a housing protruding from the tool main body and having an optical component receiving hole for receiving the optical component. A tape pressing mechanism around which a portion pulled out of the tool body of the cleaning tape is wound,
The tape pressing mechanism includes a head member formed with a tape pressing surface for ensuring a contact area of the cleaning tape with the end surface of the optical component, and the tape pressing surface is attached to the optical component. and a head support portion for supporting in an inclined orientation with respect to the pressing direction, the head support portion includes a support body attached to the tool main body collision detecting portion projecting from the said of the support body An arcuate or corrugated tilting spring projecting from the front end of the optical component in the pressing direction, and the head member is disposed at the projecting tip of the tilting spring from the support portion body of the tilting spring. The head member is supported so as to be tiltable by elastic deformation, and the head member is on the side of the curved top portion closest to the head member of the tilting spring from the protruding tip of the tilting spring from the support body. It extends so as to protrude in the spring top side and the spring back is the opposite side of the tape pressing surface, toward from the spring top side of the end portion of the head member to the end of the spring back, An end face in the case of polishing which is inclined so as to be on the front side in the pressing direction to the optical component, and the inclination angle of the tape pressing surface is perpendicular to the central axis of the optical component receiving hole of the optical component received in the housing The head member is closed with respect to the end surface polished perpendicularly to the central axis of the optical component receiving hole of the optical component. In addition, a cleaning tape can be sandwiched between the end face and the cleaning tape can be sandwiched between the end face and the end face polished obliquely. Cleaning tool.

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