JP5466899B2 - Optical connector 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 a feed movement of a cleaning body.

When an optical connector is inserted into a connector positioning housing such as an adapter or a receptacle to make a butt connection, dirt on the joint end face of the optical connector may cause damage during installation or an increase in transmission loss. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the joint end face prior to the butt connection.
As an optical connector cleaning tool, there is a tool for cleaning by bringing a cleaning body into contact with a joining end face of the optical connector (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-90576 A

The joining end face of the optical connector may be formed in a convex curved shape.
Due to the shape of the joint surface of the convex curved surface, the contact of the cleaning body may be only in a partial region, and there has been a demand for an optical connector cleaning tool that can reliably clean a wide range.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector cleaning tool that can reliably clean the joint end surface even when the connection end surface of the optical connector to be cleaned is formed in a convex curved surface shape. It is said.

The present invention is an optical connector cleaning tool for wiping and cleaning a convex curved joint end surface of an optical connector by feeding movement of a cleaning body, wherein a feeding mechanism for supplying and winding the cleaning body is incorporated in a case body. A tool body and an insertion portion inserted into the connector accommodation hole of the connector positioning housing, the insertion portion being inserted into the connector accommodation hole, and a head member inserted through the insertion barrel. The tool body is provided with a rotation mechanism that rotates the head member in a direction around the axis with respect to the insertion cylinder, and the head member has the joint end surface in the connector housing hole. There is provided an optical connector cleaning tool having a pressing surface to be pressed against, and the pressing surface being formed in a concave curved shape with a central portion set back corresponding to the convex curved joint end surface.
It is preferable that a guide portion that is an opening for guiding the cleaning body to the pressing surface is formed in the head member.
The pressing surface is preferably formed in a concave curved surface that forms part of a spherical surface .
The front end portion of the head member has a main body portion and a movable pressing member provided at the front end, and the movable pressing member is a pressing surface having a concave curved surface at the front end surface. It is preferable that it is tiltable with respect to the main body so as to change the direction of the main body.

The present invention is an optical connector cleaning tool for wiping and cleaning a convex curved joint end surface of an optical connector by feeding movement of a cleaning body, wherein a feeding mechanism for supplying and winding the cleaning body is incorporated in a case body. A tool body and an insertion portion inserted into the connector accommodation hole of the connector positioning housing, the insertion portion being inserted into the connector accommodation hole, and a head member inserted through the insertion barrel. The tool body is provided with a rotation mechanism that rotates the head member in a direction around the axis with respect to the insertion cylinder, and the head member has the joint end surface in the connector housing hole. has a pressing surface for pressing the said pressing surface, for and feed movement direction of the cleaning element reference to joining end face of the convex curved so as to concave shape, form a concavely curved central portion is retracted It is to provide an optical connector cleaning tool are.
It is preferable that a guide portion that is an opening for guiding the cleaning body to the pressing surface is formed in the head member.
The pressing surface is preferably formed in a concave curved surface that forms part of a spherical surface.
The front end portion of the head member has a main body portion and a movable pressing member provided at the front end, and the movable pressing member is a pressing surface having a concave curved surface at the front end surface. It is preferable that it is tiltable with respect to the main body so as to change the direction of the main body.

It is a perspective view of 1st Embodiment of the optical connector cleaning tool of this invention. It is the perspective view which expanded the principal part of the cleaning tool. It is a disassembled perspective view of a cleaning tool. It is a perspective view which shows a support body. It is a perspective view which shows a head member. It is a sectional side view showing a head member. It is a top view which shows a head member. It is a side view which shows a head member. It is sectional drawing which shows the front-end | tip part of a head member. It is a perspective view which shows the rotating shaft of a rotating mechanism. It is a top view of the partial cross-section state which shows the rotating shaft and the head member attached to the front-end | tip. It is a side view of the partial cross-section state which shows a rotating shaft and the head member attached to the front-end | tip. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows a feed mechanism. It is process drawing which shows the usage method of an optical connector cleaning tool. It is process drawing following a previous figure. It is process drawing following a previous figure. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of a head member. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of a head member. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of a rotating shaft. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of a rotating shaft. It is explanatory drawing which shows the usage method. It is a perspective view which shows the head member of 2nd Embodiment of the optical connector cleaning tool of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows a head member. It is a sectional side view showing a head member. It is a top view which shows a head member. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of a head member. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of a head member. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of the head member of 3rd Embodiment of the optical connector cleaning tool of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of a head member.

Hereinafter, an optical connector cleaning tool (hereinafter also simply referred to as “cleaning tool”) embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, an optical connector plug 60 (optical connector; hereinafter simply referred to as an optical plug) to which the cleaning tool 1 is applied and an optical connector adapter 70 (connector positioning housing; hereinafter also simply referred to as an optical adapter) will be described.

As shown in FIG. 21, the optical plug 60 is an optical connector plug having a configuration in which a ferrule 61 (optical ferrule) is accommodated in a distal end portion of a sleeve-shaped housing 62.
An optical fiber hole 61b (fine hole) is opened at the center of the joining end surface 61a of the ferrule 61. The optical fiber 63 is inserted into the optical fiber hole 61b, and the tip of the optical fiber 63 is exposed to the joining end surface 61a.
As will be described later, the joining end surface 61a is formed in a convex curved surface shape (see FIG. 17 and the like). For example, the joining end surface 61a may be a curved surface forming a part of a spherical surface. The curvature radius of the joining end surface 61a can be set to, for example, 0.05 to 0.46 mm.

  The optical fiber 63 is, for example, a bare optical fiber from which the coating resin at the tip end portion of the optical fiber core wire is removed. The optical fiber 63 is thus terminated so as to be butt-connected to another optical connector. Here, a cylindrical ferrule 61 is illustrated. As the ferrule, a known single-core optical ferrule, for example, an LC ferrule, an SC ferrule, or the like can be used.

The optical adapter 70 is formed in a sleeve shape having a connector receiving hole 72, and the optical plug 60 can be inserted into the connector receiving hole 72.
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.
The optical adapter 70 is configured such that when two optical plugs 60 are inserted from both ends, the ferrules 61 are abutted and the optical fibers 63 are optically connected.
Reference numeral 73 denotes a positioning split sleeve generally used in an optical adapter.

Hereinafter, the structure of the cleaning tool 1 will be described.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning tool 1 which is a first embodiment of the optical connector cleaning tool of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the cleaning tool 1. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cleaning tool 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the support 51. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the head member 23. FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing the head member 23. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the head member 23. FIG. 8 is a side view showing the head member 23. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a tip portion of the head member 23 indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the rotating shaft 52 of the rotating mechanism 5. FIG. 11 is a plan view in a partially sectional state showing the rotating shaft 52 and the head member 23 attached to the tip of the rotating shaft 52. FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the rotary shaft 52 and the head member 23 attached to the tip of the rotary shaft 52. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing the feed mechanism 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cleaning tool 1 includes a tool body 10 and an insertion portion 20 that is inserted into the optical adapter 70. In the following description, as shown in FIG. 1, the distal end direction (insertion direction) of the insertion portion 20 may be referred to as the front and the opposite direction may be referred to as the rear.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the tool body 10 is provided with a feed mechanism 3 that supplies and winds the cleaning body 2 and a rotation mechanism 5 that rotates the head member 23 in the case body 11. .
The case body 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a substantially rectangular cross section, and a positioning opening 12 into which the positioning convex portion 57 is inserted is formed at one rear portion of the four side plate portions 11a.
The positioning opening 12 is formed in a slit shape along the front-rear direction. First and second fitting recesses 13 and 14 into which the positioning protrusions 57 are fitted are formed on the front and rear side edges of the positioning opening 12.
An insertion port 11 c through which the insertion portion 20 is inserted is formed at the front end of the case body 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rotation mechanism 5 includes a support body 51 that is positioned with respect to the case body 11 and a rotation shaft 52 that can rotate about an axis.
As shown in FIG. 4, the support 51 includes a long plate-like substrate 53 extending in the front-rear direction, an insertion convex portion 54 formed to protrude from the inner surface 53 a of the front end portion of the substrate 53, and both side edges of the substrate 53. And a rear end plate 58 formed so as to extend from the rear edge of the substrate 53 to the inner surface 53a side.
On one side plate 55, a sawtooth gear receiving portion 56 is formed.
The gear receiving portion 56 includes a plurality of receiving tooth portions 56 a that are formed on one side plate portion 55 so as to protrude toward the other side plate 55. The receiving tooth portions 56 a are arranged in the length direction (front-rear direction) of the support body 51.
A holding convex portion 59 is formed on the front surface 58 a of the rear end plate 58.

The insertion convex portion 54 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and its protruding height and outer diameter are set so as to be fitted in the cam groove 85 of the rotary cylinder portion 82.
A plate-like elastic piece 65 is formed at the rear portion of the substrate 53, and a positioning convex portion 57 is formed to protrude upward (outward) on the upper surface (outer surface) of the rear end portion of the elastic piece 65 (FIG. 3). FIG. 4).

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 10 to 12, the rotating shaft 52 includes a rotating cylinder part 82 and a guide cylinder part 81 extending forward from the front end of the rotating cylinder part 82.
An insertion hole 83 through which the cleaning body 2 is inserted is formed in the rotation shaft 52 from the front end of the guide cylinder portion 81 to the rear end of the rotation cylinder portion 82.
The guide tube portion 81 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the insertion portion 91 of the head member 23 can be inserted into the insertion hole 83 at the front end portion. On the inner surface of the front end portion of the guide tube portion 81, a rotation stop portion 84 having a flat inner surface is formed.

As shown in FIG. 10, the rotating cylinder part 82 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a cam groove 85 into which the insertion convex part 54 of the support 51 is inserted is formed on the outer surface thereof.
The cam groove 85 is formed so as to be at least partially inclined with respect to the axial direction of the rotating cylinder portion 82 in the front-rear direction. Therefore, as will be described later, when the rotating shaft 52 moves in the front-rear direction, the rotating cylinder portion 82 moves along the cam groove 85, whereby the rotating shaft 52 rotates around the axis. In the illustrated example, the cam groove 85 is formed in a spiral shape.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, the head member 23 includes an insertion portion 91 that can be inserted into the insertion hole 83 of the guide cylinder portion 81, a flange portion 92 formed at the front end of the insertion portion 91, and the flange portion 92. And a substantially cylindrical tip 28 extending forward from the front surface.
The distal end surface of the distal end portion 28 is a pressing surface 24 that presses the cleaning body 2 against the joining end surface 61a.

As shown in FIG. 5, guide opening portions 25 </ b> A and 25 </ b> B (guide portions) that are openings through which the cleaning body 2 is inserted are formed on the pressing surface 24.
One guide opening 25A guides the cleaning body 2 from the feeding mechanism 3 to the pressing surface 24, and the other guide opening 25B guides the cleaning body 2 that has passed through the pressing surface 24 to the feeding mechanism 3. It is. The guide opening portions 25A and 25B can prevent the cleaning body 2 from being detached from the pressing surface 24.
Since the guide opening portions 25 </ b> A and 25 </ b> B are formed at positions that are rotationally symmetric with respect to the center of the pressing surface 24, the cleaning body 2 passes through the central portion of the pressing surface 24.
In the illustrated example, a configuration is employed in which the cleaning body 2 is prevented from falling off by the guide opening portions 25A and 25B. However, the guide portion only needs to have a structure that can prevent the cleaning body 2 from dropping off. The groove part formed in the outer surface of 28 can also be used as a guide part of the cleaning body 2.

As shown in FIG. 9, the pressing surface 24 is formed in a concave curved surface shape corresponding to the joining end surface 61 a of the ferrule 61 formed in a convex curved surface shape. The pressing surface 24 can be, for example, a curved surface forming a part of a spherical surface.
By forming the pressing surface 24 into a concave curved surface shape, the cleaning body 2 can be pressed against a wide range of the joining end surface 61a.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, guide grooves 26 </ b> A and 26 </ b> B that guide the feed movement of the cleaning body 2 are preferably formed on the side surface of the distal end portion 28. The guide grooves 26 </ b> A and 26 </ b> B are also formed on the side surfaces of the flange portion 92 and the insertion portion 91.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the insertion portion 91 is formed with a flat portion 93 having a shape conforming to the rotation stop portion 84 formed on the guide tube portion 81, and the flat portion 93 is the rotation stop portion 84. Therefore, the head member 23 does not rotate with respect to the guide tube portion 81. In the illustrated example, the flat portion 93 is formed on one and the other surfaces of the insertion portion 91.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, an opening 93 a is formed at the rear portion of one flat portion 93 of the insertion portion 91, and an elastic piece 93 b extending forward is formed at the rear edge of the insertion portion 91. An engaging claw 93 c that protrudes with respect to the flat portion 93 is formed at the tip.
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the engagement claw 93c can be locked to the front edge of the engagement opening 81a (engagement recess) formed in the guide cylinder 81, and the engagement claw 93c is engaged. By engaging with the front edge of the joint opening 81a, the forward movement of the head member 23 is restricted, and the head member 23 can be prevented from falling off.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 11, and 12, the cleaning member 2 drawn out from the supply reel 30 is wound around the head member 23.
In the illustrated example, the cleaning body 2 passes from the supply reel 30 in the tool body 10 through the insertion hole 83 of the rotary shaft 52, passes through the guide groove 26 </ b> A of the head member 23, the guide opening 25 </ b> A, and reaches the pressing surface 24. It reaches the take-up reel 31 through the guide opening 25B and the guide groove 26B.

  The cleaning body 2 is not particularly limited, and a known appropriate cleaning cloth (nonwoven fabric or woven cloth) processed into a thread shape (or string shape), a tape shape, or the like can be employed. For example, what was comprised by ultra fine fibers, such as polyester and nylon, can be illustrated.

  Reference numeral 94 in FIGS. 11 and 12 denotes an urging means (for example, a coil spring) provided between the front end of the guide tube portion 81 and the flange portion 92. The urging means 94 urges the head member 23 forward when the head member 23 is pressed against the joining end surface 61a.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the feed mechanism 3 has a supply reel 30 around which the cleaning body 2 is wound, a take-up reel 31 that winds and collects the used cleaning body 2, and these are rotatably mounted. A support portion 35, a gear 38 attached to the take-up reel 31, a holding cylinder portion 39 formed in the support portion 35, an urging means 40 (for example, a coil spring) attached to the holding cylinder portion 39, and a presser Part 34.

  The support part 35 is provided on the inner surface 41a of the substrate 41, a supply reel support shaft 32 on which the supply reel 30 is rotatably mounted, and a take-up reel support on which the take-up reel 31 is rotatably mounted. A shaft 33, a partition plate 42 formed at the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the substrate 41, a rear end plate 43 formed at the rear end portion of the substrate 41, and a side plate 44 formed at the side edge of the substrate 41 It has.

The board 41 is formed with two extending plates 45, 45 extending perpendicularly to the radial direction of the reels 30, 31, and the ends of the extending plates 45, 45 are directed toward the reels 30, 31, respectively. Projecting locking claws 45a, 45a are formed. The extension plate 45 can be elastically bent and deformed, and the locking claw 45a can move in a direction approaching and separating from the reels 30 and 31.
At the front end of the substrate 41, a notch 41b into which the main cylinder 16 is fitted is formed.

  The holding portion 34 is for preventing the reels 30 and 31 and the gear 38 from falling off, and is fitted to the reel support shafts 32 and 33 at the front end and the rear end of the long plate-like main body portion 34a extending in the front-rear direction. Possible fitting portions 34b and 34c are formed.

The partition plate 42 is formed with a passage recess 42a through which the cleaning body 2 passes.
The supply reel 30 and the take-up reel 31 include a body portion 47 around which the cleaning body 2 is wound, a first end plate 48 provided at one end of the body portion 47, and a second end provided at the other end of the body portion 47. And a plate 49.
A plurality of locking recesses (not shown) arranged along the circumferential direction are formed on the outer surface of the first end plate 48, and the locking claws 45a of the extension plate 45 are engaged with the locking recesses. This prevents the reels 30 and 31 from rotating in the reverse direction. On the outer surface of the second end plate 49, a plurality of locking projections 49a arranged along the circumferential direction are formed.
The reels 30 and 31 are attached to the support portion 35 by inserting the support shafts 32 and 33 through the body portion 47.

The gear 38 includes a disk-shaped substrate 87 and a gear portion 88 formed on one surface of the substrate 87. On the other surface of the substrate 87, a locking projection 87 a that locks with the locking projection 49 a of the take-up reel 31 is formed.
The gear portion 88 has a plurality of tooth portions 88 a arranged along the circumferential direction, and these tooth portions 88 a are formed so as to mesh with the receiving tooth portions 56 a of the gear receiving portion 56 of the support 51.
The gear 38 is installed so as to overlap the second end plate 49 of the take-up reel 31. Since the locking protrusion 87 a of the substrate 87 is locked to the locking projection 49 a of the second end plate 49, the take-up reel 31 also rotates as the gear 38 rotates.
The locking projection 87a is formed so as not to be locked to the locking projection 49a when the gear 38 rotates in the direction opposite to the winding direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the insertion unit 20 includes an insertion cylinder 21 that is inserted into the connector accommodation hole 72 (see FIG. 21) of the optical adapter 70 and a head member 23 that is inserted through the insertion cylinder 21. I have.
The insertion cylinder 21 includes a cylinder base 15 and a main cylinder 16 provided on the distal end side thereof.

As shown in FIG. 13, the cylindrical body base 15 includes a holding frame portion 97 and a cylindrical connecting tube portion 96 extending forward from the front end of the holding frame portion 97.
The holding frame portion 97 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a rectangular cross section, and can accommodate the rotating cylinder portion 82 of the rotating shaft 52 therein.
A slit 100 into which the insertion convex portion 54 of the support 51 is inserted is formed in the side plate 99a, which is one of the four side plates 99 constituting the holding frame portion 97, along the front-rear direction.

The connection cylinder part 96 has a substantially cylindrical shape through which the guide cylinder part 81 of the rotary shaft 52 can be inserted.
A fitting claw 96 a that fits into the locking opening 16 a formed in the main cylinder 16 is formed on the outer surface of the connecting cylinder part 96.
The main cylinder 16 includes a cylindrical large-diameter portion 16b and a small-diameter portion 16c extending forward from its front end.

As shown in FIG. 1, the insertion portion 20 is movable in the front-rear direction (stretching direction) with respect to the case body 11.
In this figure, although the insertion part 20 is located comparatively back, the insertion part 20 can also be located ahead.

As shown in FIG. 3, a cap 102 can be attached to the distal end of the insertion portion 20. The cap 102 has a guide main body 103 formed in a sleeve shape (cylindrical shape), and a lid 104 connected to one end of the guide main body 103 by a hinge 105.
A connector insertion slot 106 (plug insertion slot) into which the optical plug 60 is inserted is opened at one end on the lid 104 side of the guide body 103, and the optical plug 60 is joined by inserting the optical plug 60 therein. The end surface 61a can be wiped and cleaned by the cleaning body 2.
The cap 102 is connected to the case body 11 via the holding string portion 107.

Next, an example of how to use the cleaning tool 1 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, when the case body 11 is gripped and the main cylinder body 16 of the insertion portion 20 is inserted from the connector insertion port 71 of the optical adapter 70, the main cylinder body 16 becomes the inner wall of the optical adapter 70. The connector 70 enters the connector receiving hole 72 while being positioned by 70a (see FIG. 21).
As shown in FIG. 21, the cleaning body 2 on the pressing surface 24 comes into contact with an appropriate position (here, the optical fiber hole 61 b and its periphery) of the joining end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60.
As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, since the pressing surface 24 has a concave curved surface shape along the joining end surface 61a of the convex curved ferrule 61, the cleaning body 2 is pressed against a wide range of the joining end surface 61a. .

As shown in FIG. 16, when the case body 11 is moved in the insertion direction, the distal end of the insertion cylinder 21 receives a reaction force from the wall portion 70b of the optical adapter 70 (see FIG. 21).
As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the insertion cylinder 21 moves rearward relative to the case body 11, so that the rotation shaft 52 is pushed relative to the support 51 by being pushed by the insertion cylinder 21. Move backwards. Therefore, the rotary cylinder portion 82 moves in the circumferential direction along the cam groove 85, and the rotary shaft 52 rotates around the axis.
As shown in FIG. 21, the rotation of the rotary shaft 52 causes the head member 23 to rotate about the axis. Therefore, the cleaning body 2 rotates about the axis of the head member 23 while being in contact with the bonding end surface 61a. The end surface 61a is wiped and cleaned.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 13, since the support 51 moves relative to the feed mechanism 3, a rotational force is applied to the gear portion 88 of the gear 38 by the gear receiving portion 56. Since the take-up reel 31 is also rotated by the rotation of the gear 38, the cleaning body 2 is taken up.
Along with this, the cleaning body 2 is pulled out from the supply reel 30 and fed through the pressing surface 24 of the head member 23.
By the feed movement of the cleaning body 2, dirt such as dust, dust and oil adhering to the joining end surface 61 a is surely wiped off.
When the insertion portion 20 is pulled out from the optical adapter 70, the insertion portion 20 moves relative to the case body 11 (ie, in the extending direction) relative to the case body 11 by the elastic force of the biasing means 40.

In the cleaning tool 1, since the pressing surface 24 is a concave curved surface shape along the joining end surface 61a of the convex curved ferrule 61, the cleaning body 2 is pressed against a wide range of the joining end surface 61a.
Therefore, the joining end surface 61a can be reliably cleaned over a wide range.

Next, a second embodiment of the optical connector cleaning tool of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a head member 123 used in the optical connector cleaning tool of the second embodiment. FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing the head member 123. FIG. 24 is a plan view showing the head member 123. FIG. 25 is a side view showing the head member 123. FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view showing a tip portion of the head member 123 indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG.

This optical connector cleaning tool has the same configuration as the cleaning tool 1 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 22 to 26, the distal end portion 128 of the head member 123 has a cylindrical main body portion 127 and a disc-shaped distal end plate portion 129 provided at the distal end.
The distal end plate portion 129 is provided substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the main body portion 127 and is formed so as to be able to be bent and deformed so that the central portion moves in the thickness direction.
The distal end plate portion 129 is connected to the main body portion 127 via the connecting portion 130 at two positions on the peripheral edge portion thereof, and can be bent and deformed in the thickness direction. Since the distal end plate portion 129 is separated from the main body portion 127 by the space portion 131, the bending deformation is allowed.
As shown in FIG. 26, guide opening portions 25 </ b> A and 25 </ b> B that are openings through which the cleaning body 2 is inserted are formed in the distal end plate portion 129.
The head member 123 can be formed of a material that can be bent and deformed, for example, a synthetic resin material.

In the normal state shown in FIG. 26, the front end plate portion 129 is not deformed and has a flat plate shape.
The cleaning body 2 passes from the supply reel 30 through the guide groove 26A and the guide opening 25A to the pressing surface 124 which is the front surface (front end face) of the front end plate portion 129, and is wound through the guide opening 25B and the guide groove 26B. Reel 31 has been reached.

As shown in FIG. 27, the main cylinder 16 of the insertion portion 20 is inserted into the connector accommodation hole 72 of the optical adapter 70 (see FIGS. 14 and 15), and the cleaning body 2 on the pressing surface 124 is attached to the optical plug 60. When brought into contact with the joining end surface 61a, the front end plate portion 129 is bent and deformed in a direction in which the central portion retreats by being pressed by the joining end surface 61a, and becomes a concave curved surface shape along the joining end surface 61a. For this reason, the cleaning body 2 is pressed against the wide range of the joining end surface 61a.
Therefore, the joining end surface 61a can be reliably cleaned over a wide range.

Next, a third embodiment of the optical connector cleaning tool of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view showing a head member 133 used in the optical connector cleaning tool of the third embodiment.
This optical connector cleaning tool has the same configuration as the cleaning tool 1 shown in FIG. 1 except for the head member 133.
The front end portion 138 of the head member 133 has a cylindrical main body portion 137 and a movable pressing member 139 provided at the front end.
The movable pressing member 139 is for pressing the cleaning body 2 against the joining end surface 61a, and is made of rubber or the like. The movable pressing member 139 extends vertically from the disk-shaped pressing portion 141 and the pressing surface 141 from the rear surface. And a support part 142 to be used.
The pressing surface 134 that is the front surface (tip surface) of the pressing portion 141 is formed in a concave curved surface shape that matches the joining end surface 61 a of the ferrule 61.
The movable pressing member 139 is rotatably attached to the main body portion 137 at the shaft portion 143, and the direction of the pressing surface 134 can be changed by the rotation.

  The cleaning body 2 reaches the pressing surface 134 of the pressing portion 141 from the supply reel 30 through the guide groove 26A and the guide opening portion 25A, and reaches the take-up reel 31 through the guide opening portion 25B and the guide groove 26B.

In the example shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, the joining end surface 61a is so-called obliquely polished (for example, APC polishing (Angled Physical Contact)), and the joining end surface 61a is formed to be inclined.
As shown in FIG. 29, the main cylinder 16 of the insertion portion 20 is inserted into the connector accommodation hole 72 of the optical adapter 70, and the cleaning body 2 on the pressing surface 134 is brought into contact with the joining end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60.
Since the movable pressing member 139 is rotatable, the movable pressing member 139 tilts in accordance with the inclination of the joining end surface 61a, and the pressing surface 134 is oriented in accordance with the joining end surface 61a.
Since the pressing surface 134 has a concave curved surface shape along the joining end surface 61a, the cleaning body 2 is pressed against a wide range of the joining end surface 61a.
Therefore, the joining end surface 61a can be reliably cleaned over a wide range.

  The present invention can be applied to various types of optical fiber connectors. For example, an LC type optical connector (trade name of Lucent), an SC type optical connector established by JIS C 5973 (SC: Single fiber Coupling optical fiber connector). ), MU type optical connector (MU: Miniature-unit coupling optical fiber connector) established in JIS C 5983, SC2 type optical connector and the like. The SC2 type optical connector is obtained by omitting the knob attached to the outside of the housing from the SC type optical connector.

In the illustrated example, the optical adapter 70 and the optical plug 60 are targeted. However, the object of the cleaning tool of the present invention is not limited to this, and the optical connector receptacle (specifically, the receptacle housing) functions as a connector positioning housing. It is also possible to adopt a configuration that has been adopted.
In this case, the ferrule incorporated in the sleeve-like receptacle housing functions as the optical connector according to the present invention. By inserting the insertion part of the cleaning tool into the connector receiving hole which is the inner space of the receptacle housing, the joining end face of the ferrule can be cleaned.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical connector cleaning tool, 2 ... Cleaning body, 3 ... Feed mechanism, 10 ... Tool main body, 11 ... Case body, 20 ... Insertion part, 21 ... Insertion cylinder Body, 23... Head member, 24, 124, 134... Pressing surface, 60... Optical plug (optical connector), 61a. Accommodating hole, 127, 137 ... main body, 129 ... tip plate, 138 ... tip, 139 ... movable pressing member.

Claims (4)

An optical connector cleaning tool for wiping and cleaning the convex curved joint end surface of the optical connector by feeding movement of the cleaning body,
A tool body in which a feeding mechanism for supplying and winding the cleaning body is incorporated in a case body;
An insertion portion to be inserted into the connector receiving hole of the connector positioning housing,
The insertion portion has an insertion cylinder inserted into the connector housing hole, and a head member inserted through the insertion cylinder,
The tool body is provided with a rotation mechanism that rotates the head member in a direction around an axis with respect to the insertion cylinder,
The head member has a pressing surface that presses the cleaning body against the joining end surface in the connector housing hole,
The optical connector is characterized in that the pressing surface is formed in a concave curved surface with a central portion set back so as to conform to the convex curved joint end surface and to have a concave shape in the feed movement direction of the cleaning body. Cleaning tool.   The optical connector cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein a guide portion that is an opening that guides the cleaning body to the pressing surface is formed on the head member.   The optical connector cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the pressing surface is formed in a concave curved surface that forms a part of a spherical surface. The distal end portion of the head member has a main body portion and a movable pressing member provided at the distal end thereof,
4. The movable pressing member is characterized in that a distal end surface is the concave curved pressing surface and is tiltable with respect to the main body so as to change a direction of the pressing surface. The optical connector cleaning tool of any one of these.

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