JP4173402B2 - Optical connector cleaning tool and optical connector cleaning method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention relates to an optical connector cleaning tool that can be applied to cleaning a joining end face (end face) of an optical component such as an optical connector.And optical connector cleaning methodRelated.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As is well known, connection between optical connectors in a connector housing such as an adapter or a receptacle is realized by abutting and joining the end faces of the optical fibers facing the joining end faces of the optical connectors.
When the optical connector is inserted into the connector housing and butt-connected, dirt such as dust, dirt, or oil on the joint end surface of the optical connector may cause damage during installation or increase in transmission loss. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the joining end surface prior to the butt connection.
[0003]
As a cleaner used for this type of application, as shown in FIG. 30, a protrusion 110 having an opening 116 through which the cleaning tape 102 is exposed is provided at the tip, and this protrusion 110 is connected to an optical connector adapter 170 ( When the tape 102 is inserted into a space (connector accommodation hole 172) in the optical adapter), the tape 102 faces the joining end surface 161a of the ferrule 161 of the optical connector plug 160 (optical plug) accommodated in the optical connector adapter 170. It has been proposed that the contact end surface 161a of the optical plug 160 is wiped and cleaned by 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 (contact surface) of the head portion 112 pivotally attached to the pivot 111. The orientation of the head portion 112 is variable by pivoting around 111, and the joining end surface 161a of the ferrule 161 can be received at various angles (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 3350850
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, as an optical connector ferrule, for example, an MT type optical connector ferrule (for example, one established in JIS C 5981, etc., MT: Mechanically Transferable), etc., a protruding member protrudes from the joining end surface. However, in the case of such a ferrule, there is a problem in that the protruding member becomes an obstacle and causes the cleaning of the joint end face to be left uncleaned. In the case of the above-described MT-type optical connector ferrule, as is well known, two guide pins for positioning at the time of butt connection are projected from the joining end surface, and an area (between the two guide pins ( Hereinafter, it is difficult to clean the central region). If there is a cleaning residue, there will be a problem that dust or the like left after removal will be caught when the optical connector is butt-connected, resulting in an increase in loss due to a slight misalignment of the optical axis.
[0006]
By the way, as a technique for cleaning the joining end face of the MT type optical connector ferrule, most of the conventional techniques clean the central region located between two guide pins. It has been found that the presence of dust or the like in a portion located outside the central region (hereinafter also referred to as the outer region) of the end face has a great influence on the optical characteristics at the time of butt connection. In addition, cleaning residue is likely to occur near the base of the two guide pins (that is, the base end protruding from the joint end surface of the guide pin). Those located on the outer region side of the joining end face are considered to have a great influence on the optical characteristics at the time of butt connection. However, there are few suitable techniques for effectively and efficiently cleaning the outer region so far, and after the central region is cleaned using a cleaning tool such as the cleaner illustrated in FIG. If the outer area is separately cleaned, it takes time for cleaning, and cleaning of the outer area may cause the dust in the outer area to be pushed out to the central area. There is a possibility that it cannot be obtained.
[0007]
  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems,
(1) Even when a protruding member is present on the joining end face of the optical connector, the joining end face can be effectively cleaned.
(2) The vicinity of the base of the protruding member (protruding base end from the joint end face) can also be efficiently cleaned.
(3) About an optical connector having a configuration in which two guide pins protrude from the joining end face, it is possible to effectively clean the area other than the area located between the two guide pins in the joining end face.
(4) An area located between the two guide pins (center area) and an area outside the area can be simultaneously and efficiently cleaned.
Optical connector cleaning toolandIt is an object to provide an optical connector cleaning method.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a connector housing in which both optical connectors are optically connected by accommodating a pair of optical connectors inserted from the connector insertion openings on both sides in the connector accommodating holes. An optical connector cleaning tool for wiping and cleaning the joining end surface of an optical connector by feeding movement of a cleaning tape. The optical connector cleaning tool is provided so as to protrude from the tool body and to be inserted into the connector housing hole of the connector housing. The insertion portion has a contact surface for securing a contact area with the joint end surface at the tip, and is drawn from the tool body of the cleaning tape to the insertion portion. A head portion that is wound around the contact surface, and the cleaning tape is attached to the optical tape by the head portion. A plurality of contact cleaning parts pressed against the joining end face of the connector are arranged side by side through the protruding member escape parts that escape the protruding members protruding from the joining end face of the optical connector. It becomes the composition extended in parallel along the directionAnd the protruding member escape portion of the cleaning tape is an easily breakable portion formed so as to connect the contact cleaning portions to each other,When the insertion portion is inserted into the connector housing hole of the connector housing, a recess for avoiding interference between the head portion and the protruding member protruding from the joining end surface is recessed from the contact surface of the head portion. Provided,By penetrating the projecting member into the easily breakable portion, the contact cleaning portion can be pressed against the joining end surface of the optical connector, and the feeding movement of the cleaning tape to the joining end surface of the optical connector can be performed easily. An optical connector cleaning tool is provided, wherein the protruding member that is pierced by the destruction portion can be made while breaking the easy-destruction portion and separating the contact cleaning portions.
[0009]
  In the present invention,Using the optical connector cleaning tool according to claim 1,With respect to the optical connector in which the positioning guide pins are protruded from two positions separated from each other on the joining end face, a central region which is a portion located between the guide pins in the joining end face, and the center via the guide pins An optical connector cleaning method is provided in which the central region and the outer region are cleaned by feeding and moving a cleaning tape pressed against an outer region located outside the region.
[0011]
  In additionThe protruding member escape portion is formed by the same member as the contact cleaning portion constituting the cleaning tape (in this case, all the contact cleaning portions and the protruding member relief portions constituting the cleaning tape are formed by the same member. However, in order to facilitate breakthrough along the longitudinal direction of the cleaning tape, for example, what is formed of a material different from the contact cleaning portion, What was formed with materials, such as a film weaker than a contact cleaning part (easy-to-break part), etc. may be sufficient. As an easily breakable part formed by the same member as the contact cleaning part, for example, a part in which the same member as that constituting the contact cleaning part is formed thin (including a part that is easily cut by forming a thin groove) A region in which small holes such as perforations are formed at a high density (however, this region extends along the longitudinal direction of the cleaning tape) and a slit extending along the longitudinal direction of the cleaning tape The groove is a region that is continuous in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning tape via a connecting part that connects the contact cleaning parts, and has a lower strength than the contact cleaning part (such as a protruding member or cleaning) It is an area formed (easy to break along the longitudinal direction of the tape).
[0012]
  The present inventionOptical connector cleaning tool and optical connector cleaning methodMentioned aboveCleaning tapeTheBy adopting, it is possible to improve the cleaning efficiency.
  If it is the cleaning tape mentioned above, it can implement | achieve easily pressing the some contact cleaning part of a cleaning tape to a joining end surface by the protrusion member's penetration | invasion to the protrusion member escape part, accommodation, etc. FIG. Further, if the protruding member escapes into the protruding member, or if the protruding member is configured to be accommodated, the contact cleaning portion can be disposed on both sides of the protruding member facing each other. Both opposing sides of the protruding member can be cleaned simultaneously. In particular, in the configuration in which the protruding member penetrates the protruding member escape portion, the contact cleaning portions on both sides of the protruding member escape portion can be easily brought into contact with the protruding member by sticking and attached to the protruding member. Debris can be easily removed. And it becomes easy to make a contact cleaning part contact also the protrusion base end part (root) vicinity from the joining end surface of a protrusion member, and it can clean efficiently.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments.
  1 to 11 areReference example 1Optical connector cleaning tool (hereinafter simply referred to as "cleaning tool")TheFIG.
  6 is a perspective view corresponding to the state shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view corresponding to the state shown in FIG.
[0016]
  BookReference exampleAn optical connector plug 60 (hereinafter simply referred to as an optical plug) and an optical connector adapter 70 (connector housing; hereinafter simply referred to as an optical adapter) to which the cleaning tool 1 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, an MPO optical connector (MPO: Multifiber Push On) defined in JIS C 5982 and the like.
  The optical plug 60 is an optical connector having a configuration in which an MT type optical connector ferrule 61 (MT: Mechanically Transferable; hereinafter simply referred to as a ferrule) defined in JIS C 5981 or the like is made of plastic and accommodated in a distal end portion of a sleeve-like housing 62. It is a plug, and the whole is formed in a cross-sectional shape with a flat outer appearance.
  In the following description, the direction corresponding to the short side of the flat shape of the optical plug 60 and the ferrule 61 (vertical direction in FIG. 10) is the thickness direction, and the direction corresponding to the long side is the width direction (left and right in FIG. 10). Direction). The same applies to the optical adapter 70 connected to the optical plug 60 and the insertion portion 20 of the cleaning tool 1 inserted into the optical adapter 70 corresponding to the thickness direction and the width direction of the optical plug 60 and the ferrule 61. In addition, the thickness direction and the width direction may be referred to.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 10, a predetermined number (four in this case) of optical fiber holes 61b are opened in the joining end surface 61a of the ferrule 61 so as to be arranged. Here, the optical fiber 63 is a four-core optical fiber ribbon, and an optical fiber 63a (bare optical fiber) obtained by removing the resin coating at the tip of the optical fiber 63 is used as an optical fiber hole 61b (fine hole) of the ferrule 61. By being inserted into the optical plug 60, the optical connector 60 is terminated so as to be butt-connected to another optical connector, and penetrates the inside of the optical plug 60 and is drawn out from the rear end of the optical plug 60. The optical fiber 63 drawn out from the rear end of the optical plug 60 is housed in a boot 64 provided on the rear end side in the connection direction of the housing 62 (left side in FIG. 11), so that it is near the rear end of the optical plug 60. A sudden bend of the material is prevented.
The optical fiber 63 is not particularly limited as long as it is suitable for termination with the optical plug. For example, a single-core or multi-core optical fiber, and this optical fiber is housed in a tube. An optical fiber cord or the like can be used.
[0018]
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.
[0019]
The optical adapter 70 is formed in a sleeve shape having connector insertion ports 71 on both sides, and is formed inside the optical adapter 70 by inserting the optical plug 60 from the connector insertion port 71. It can be accommodated in the connector accommodation hole 72 that communicates with the connector.
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.
[0020]
Although not shown in particular, an elastic engagement piece is provided along the inner wall 70a of the optical adapter 70 and extending toward the connector insertion port 71, and having an engagement claw at its tip, as in the known MPO connector. ing. 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.
Furthermore, when the engagement claw and the engagement recess are engaged with each other on the outer periphery of the housing 62, the elastic engagement piece is pressed from the outside to prevent the engagement with the engagement recess from being released. A coupling 68 is installed.
[0021]
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.
[0022]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a cleaning tool 1 applicable to cleaning the joining end face 61 a of the optical plug 60 includes a generally case-shaped tool body 10 in which a cleaning member 2 is housed, and the tool body. 10 is provided so as to project from the connector 10 and to be inserted into the connector receiving hole 72 of the optical adapter 70.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 1B, here, the tool body 10 has a two-part structure composed of first and second case halves 11 and 12 made of plastic or the like. Although the case halves 11 and 12 are not particularly illustrated, for example, a fitting pin that protrudes inside the first case half 11 and a boss that protrudes inside the second case half 12 are provided. It is comprised so that it can integrate, by fitting with the provided fitting hole. The configuration of the tool body 10 is merely an example, and is not intended to limit the present invention.
[0024]
Here, the cleaning member 2 is a tape, and the tape 2 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.
[0025]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the storage space 35 in the tool body 10 is provided with a tape feeding mechanism for feeding and moving the tape 2.
The tape feeding mechanism 3 includes a supply reel 30 around which the tape 2 is wound, a take-up reel 31 that takes up and collects the used tape 2, and an operation dial 34 that operates the tape 2.
[0026]
A supply reel support shaft 32 on which a supply reel 30 is rotatably mounted and a take-up reel 31 are rotatably mounted on the inner surface (side facing the storage space 35) of the first case half 11. A take-up reel support shaft 33 is provided so as to protrude toward the second case half 12 side.
Between the supply reel 30 and the take-up reel 31, the tape 2 is stretched in the storage space 35 along the pin-shaped tape guide 36. In the middle of the process, it is wound around a later-described head unit 23 accommodated in the insertion unit 20.
[0027]
An operation dial 34 is mounted on the outer periphery of the take-up reel support shaft 33 so as to be concentric with the take-up reel 31.
The operation dial 34 is partially exposed outside the tool body 10 from the window 11 a provided on the side surface of the first case half 11.
The radius of the operation dial 34 is larger than the radius of the take-up reel 31. As a result, the length by which the 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 tape 2 is easily achieved.
[0028]
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 tape 2, and the unused tape 2 is fed out from the supply reel 30. Since the window 11a is opened on the side surface of the tool body 10, the operation dial 34 can be easily operated with the finger of the hand holding the cleaning tool 1 even when the cleaning tool 1 is held with one hand.
[0029]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cleaning tool 1 includes an insertion portion 20 that is provided so as to protrude from the tool main body 10 and that can be inserted into the optical adapter 70. The insertion portion 20 is inserted into the optical adapter 70 so that the abutting portion 2a of the cleaning member 2 (tape) disposed facing the opening 26 opened at the distal end of the insertion portion 20 is inserted into the optical plug 60. It can be positioned and brought into contact with the joining end surface 61a.
That is, the tool body 10 is tapered toward the insertion portion 20, and the insertion portion 20 is formed at the tip of the small diameter portion 19 (left side in FIG. 1A).
As will be described later, the contact portion 2 a of the tape 2 is a portion located on the contact surface 24 of the head portion 23, and the contact portion 2 a is moved along the longitudinal direction of the tape 2 by the feed movement of the tape 2. I will change.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 2, a protruding wall 19 a for reinforcing the small diameter portion 19 is provided inside the small diameter portion 19. According to this projecting wall 19a, the path of the cleaning tape 2b (2) to be cleaned going from the supply reel 30 to the head part 23 and the cleaning contaminated by wiping cleaning going from the head part 23 to the take-up reel 31. Since the path of the tape 2c (2) is partitioned, an effect of suppressing the transfer of dirt on the cleaning tape 2 is also achieved.
[0031]
The insertion portion 20 is provided with a step 15 on the tool body 10 side. When the insertion portion 20 is inserted into the connector receiving hole 72 of the optical adapter 70, the step 15 contacts the peripheral edge 71 a of the connector insertion port 71 of the optical adapter 70. This is to prevent the depth of entry into the receiving hole 72 from becoming too deep.
[0032]
Here, as shown in FIG. 9, the insertion portion 20 has a split structure similar to the tool body 10, and the insertion portion halves 20 a and 20 b formed integrally with the respective case halves 11 and 12, The case halves 11 and 12 are formed by being integrated together.
On both sides in the width direction of the outer surface of the insertion portion 20, when the insertion portion 20 is inserted into the optical adapter 70, it is formed so as to be engageable with the engaging claws (described above) of the elastic engagement piece of the optical adapter 70. An engagement recess 21 is formed. The front edge 21a of the engagement recess 21 (the side near the distal end of the insertion portion 20, the left edge in FIG. 6) is a slope, and the engagement claw of the optical adapter 70 is engaged with the engagement recess 21. When the insertion portion 20 is pulled out in the disengagement direction (leftward downward in FIG. 6) in the joined state, the engagement claw gets over the front edge portion 21a and is disengaged from the engagement recess 21 with a relatively small force. It has become so.
[0033]
A tape contact mechanism 4 for bringing the tape 2 into contact with the joining end surface 61 a of the ferrule 61 is provided in the insertion portion 20. The tape abutment mechanism 4 includes a head portion 23 having an abutment surface 24 disposed to face the joining end surface 61a in a state where the insertion portion 20 of the cleaning tool 1 is inserted into the optical adapter 70, and the head portion 23. It comprises a head tilting mechanism 40 that tilts the abutting surface 24 so that the abutting surface 24 can change its orientation with respect to the insertion direction of the tape 2.
[0034]
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the contact surface 24 is provided on the insertion direction side of the head portion 23 (left side in FIGS. 4 and 5). As shown in FIG. 8, the contact surface 24 has a substantially square shape, and when the head portion 23 is inserted into the optical adapter 70, a protruding member (guide pin) 65 protruding from the joining end surface 61 a is inserted, Guide pin insertion holes 22 and 22 are formed on both sides of the insertion portion 20 in the width direction as recesses for avoiding interference with the guide pins 65.
Here, the contact surface 24 is located on the back side (the right side in FIGS. 4 and 5) from the edge 26 a of the opening 26 of the insertion portion 20. However, depending on conditions such as the shape of the optical connector to be cleaned, the contact surface 24 may protrude from the end edge 26a of the opening 26 to the insertion direction side (left side in FIGS. 4 and 5).
[0035]
  As shown in FIG. 8, the head portion 23 guides the tape 2 so as to face the upstream side (lower part in FIG. 8) and the downstream side (upper part) in the tape feeding direction via the contact surface 24. Guide grooves 25A, 25B, and 25C are provided. These guide grooves 25A, 25B, 25C,It functions as a tape positioning mechanism. However, the tape positioning mechanism is not limited to this, and various configurations such as a guide guide wall can be employed. Further, the tape positioning mechanism only needs to be provided in the insertion portion, and the installation position in the insertion portion is not limited, and is not necessarily provided in the head portion.
  Here, as shown in FIG. 13, the tape 2 (cleaning tape) has two slits S1 and S2 formed in parallel over the entire length in the longitudinal direction excluding both ends in the longitudinal direction of one tape-like cleaning cloth. A total of three contact cleaning portions 2A, 2B, and 2C separated by the two slits S1 and S2 are formed. The slit functions as a protruding member escape portion. The three contact cleaning parts 2A, 2B, and 2C are arranged at the center part in the width direction (left and right direction in FIG. 8) of the tape insertion part 20 and at both side parts of the insertion part 20 in the width direction. 2B and 2C.
[0036]
Three pairs of guide grooves 25A, 25B, and 25C are provided corresponding to the respective contact cleaning portions 2A, 2B, and 2C. The widths of the guide grooves 25A, 25B, 25C are adapted to the widths of the contact cleaning parts 2A, 2B, 2C. The contact cleaning portions 2A, 2B, and 2C are wound around the head portion 23 by the upper guide grooves 25A, 25B, and 25C, the contact surface 24, and the lower guide grooves 25A, 25B, and 25C. .
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 8, in the contact surface 24, the guide pin insertion holes 22, 22 are arranged so as to open between the contact cleaning portions 2A, 2B, 2C guided by the guide grooves 25A, 25B, 25C. ing. Accordingly, the guide pin 65 can be inserted into the guide pin insertion holes 22 and 22 through the contact cleaning portions 2A, 2B, and 2C while avoiding interference between the contact cleaning portions 2A, 2B, and 2C.
[0038]
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the head tilting mechanism 40 is connected at one end to a back surface 27 opposite to the contact surface 24 of the head portion 23 by elastically deforming portions 42 and 42 having a reduced thickness. A pair of slide portions 41a and 41b which are arranged in parallel and extend substantially in the insertion and removal directions (left and right in FIGS. 4 and 5) of the insertion portion 20 and are displaceable in the extending direction; A connecting portion 44 that connects the other end of the slide portions 41a and 41b opposite to the head portion 23 via elastic deformation portions 43 and 43, and the slide portions 41a and 41b slide in the extending direction. And a guide 45 for guiding the displacement.
[0039]
Furthermore, the connecting portion 44 is provided with a movement restricting portion (stopper) 46 for restricting the movement of the inserting portion 20 in both the inserting direction and the detaching direction, which is the opposite direction, and the slide portions 41a and 41b. And a bridging portion 48 bridging in the vertical direction (vertical direction in FIGS. 4 and 5). The bridging portion 48 is also elastically deformable with respect to the displacement of the slide portions 41a and 41b (elastic deformation portion).
The slide portions 41a and 41b correspond to the upper end edge 24a and the lower end edge 24b of the contact surface 24 of the head portion 23 on the upper side and the lower side (upper and lower sides in FIGS. 4 and 5) of the head portion 23. Each is connected.
[0040]
The head portion 23, the pair of slide portions 41a and 41b, and the connecting portion 44 constitute a rectangular frame-shaped component 47 (head complex).
More specifically, the head portion 23, the slide portions 41a and 41b, the connecting portion 44, the elastic deformation portions 42, 42, 43, and 43, and the bridging portion 48 are integrally formed of plastic or the like. A head complex 47 is formed.
The head complex 47 is held in the insertion portion 20 by inserting the guide 45 and the stopper 46 into the space 49 between the slide portions 41a and 41b and the stopper insertion hole 44a.
[0041]
The guide 45 has a substantially square cross-sectional shape, and extends from the inner wall 28 arranged in the width direction of the insertion portion 20 between the pair of slide portions 41a and 41b (see FIG. 4). , In a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG.
The stopper 46 has a substantially round cross-sectional shape and protrudes from the inner wall 28 disposed in the width direction of the insertion portion 20. The connecting portion 44 is formed with a stopper insertion hole 44 a between the portions connected to the elastic deformation portions 43, 43. The stopper 46 is inserted into the stopper insertion hole 44a.
The displacement of the connecting portion 44 is restricted by the stopper 46 in the inserting direction and the detaching direction of the inserting portion 20 and is substantially not displaced in any direction.
[0042]
The head tilting mechanism 40 is disposed between the tape 2 (2b) located closer to the supply reel 30 than the head portion 23 and the tape 2 (2c) located closer to the take-up reel 31 than the head portion 23. Thereby, the head part 23 can be tilted stably without obstructing the feeding movement of the tape 2.
A recess 50 for avoiding interference with the tape 2 is formed at a location of the connecting portion 44 close to the tape 2 (upper and lower surfaces of the connecting portion 44, and upper and lower in FIGS. 4 and 5). The recess 50 corresponds to the guide grooves 25A, 25B, and 25C, and is located at three locations (50A, 50B, and 50C) behind these guide grooves (in the direction of detachment of the insertion portion 20. The direction toward the upper right in FIGS. 6 and 7). Is provided.
[0043]
The head complex 47 can be deformed by the elasticity of the elastic deformation portions 42, 42, 43, 43 and the bridging portion 48, and the head portion 23 is in contact with the pressing force against the contact surface 24 of the head portion 23. The surface 24 is configured to be allowed to tilt. That is, the non-uniform pushing force acts on the contact surface 24 of the head portion 23 on the upper edge 24 a side and the lower edge 24 b side, so that the slide portions 41 a and 41 b The contact surface 24 can be tilted by being displaced in the direction of insertion and removal.
[0044]
It should be noted that when the tape 2 is fed in the feeding direction, the head composite 47 has a frictional force acting between the tape 2 and the head portion 23 so as to adversely affect cleaning. The direction is not changed. The threshold of the pushing force that allows the contact surface 24 to tilt can be adjusted by the ease of elastic deformation of the elastic deformation portions 42, 42, 43, 43, the presence / absence of the bridging portion 48, and the like. That is, the bridging portion 48 is not essential.
Although not particularly illustrated, a cap or a cover for protecting the head portion 23 facing the opening 26 and the tape 2 is attached to the distal end of the insertion portion 20, and the tape 2 when the cleaning tool 1 is not used. Of course, it may be possible to protect the like.
[0045]
An example of how to use the cleaning tool 1 will be described.
When the insertion portion 20 of the cleaning tool 1 is inserted from the connector insertion 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 70a of the optical adapter 70. By pushing the insertion portion 20 until the step 15 hits the peripheral edge portion 71a of the connector insertion port 71, the cleaning member 2 is placed at an appropriate position of the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60 (here, the optical fiber hole 61b and its periphery). ) And are brought into contact with each other.
Even when the guide pin 65 protrudes from the joining end surface 61 a of the optical plug 60, the guide pin 65 is accommodated in the guide pin insertion hole 22 provided in the head portion 23. It can be accommodated in the connector accommodation hole 72 without interference.
[0046]
When the operation dial 34 is rotated by a predetermined amount, the tape 2 moves in conjunction with the rotation of the take-up reel 31, and the joining end surface 61a is wiped and cleaned by the tape 2, so that the dust adhering to the joining end surface 61a Dirt such as dust and oil can be reliably wiped off with the tape 2.
The dirt wiped off adheres to the tape 2 and moves in the direction of being wound around the take-up reel 31, so that the tape 2 after use is no longer exposed from the opening 26 of the insertion portion 20, and becomes dirty. There is no risk of reattaching to the joining end face 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.
[0047]
  BookReference exampleAccording to the cleaning tool 1, since the tape 2 wound around the head portion 23 is guided by the guide grooves 25A to 25C, the shift in the width direction is suppressed. For this reason, the joining end surface 61a can be brought into contact with the tape 2 with a uniform contact force, and the tape 2 can be smoothly fed. Therefore, the cleaning can be reliably performed so that no dirt remains on the joining end surface 61a.
  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the contact cleaning portions 2A, 2B, 2C of the tape 2 are disposed in the guide grooves 25A, 25B, 25C, so that the head portion 23 tilts and changes its direction. Even then, the tape 2 does not contact the inner walls 29a and 29b (upper and lower inner walls in FIGS. 4 and 5) of the insertion portion 20 in the tilting direction of the head portion 23.
[0048]
Since the head portion 23 can tilt with respect to the pushing force when the contact surface 24 contacts the joining end surface 61a of the optical plug 60, the joining end surface 61a has a right angle as shown in FIG. Even when the polished ferrule 61 is brought into contact, as shown in FIG. 5, even when the ferrule 61 whose contact end surface 61a is obliquely polished is brought into contact, the direction of the contact surface 24 is set to the direction of the joint end surface 61a. According to the orientation, the tape 2 on the contact surface 24 can be contacted to the joining end surface 61a more evenly and reliably.
In FIG. 5, when a part of the front surface of the ferrule 61 is formed to face an angle different from the joining end surface 61a (here, the right angle polishing portion 61d), the tape 2 comes into contact with the right angle polishing portion 61d. Although this is not the joining end face 61a of the ferrule 61, there is no particular problem.
[0049]
Moreover, the head tilting mechanism 40 is configured so that the contact surface 24 is not substantially displaced in the vertical direction (the vertical direction in FIGS. 4 and 5) in the tilting direction. It is possible to prevent the tape 2 from coming into good contact with the joint end surface 61a due to the center position of the head portion 23 and the contact surface 24 of the head portion 23 being shifted, or the contact force with which the joint end surface 61a contacts the tape 2 from becoming uneven. As a result, the contamination of the joining end face 61a can be more reliably removed.
Since the insertion portion 20 is positioned in the connector housing hole 72 of the optical adapter 70 even during cleaning, the joining end surface 61a can be wiped and cleaned by the tape 2 with an equal pressing force 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.
[0050]
  Next, a cleaning tape applicable to the present inventionExampleWill be described.
  In the cleaning tape 201 shown in FIG. 14, two slits S11 and S12 are formed in parallel over the entire length in the longitudinal direction of one tape-shaped cleaning cloth 201a, and the total is divided by the two slits S11 and S12. Three contact cleaning parts 201A, 201B, and 201C are formed, and further, the three contact cleaning parts 201A, 201B, and 201C are joined by a connecting film 201b that is joined and integrated so as to be stacked on the cleaning cloth 201a. It is integrated. Adjacent contact cleaning parts are connected only by the connecting film 201b. The connecting film 201b is, for example, a synthetic resin film or the like. However, the connecting film 201b is easily broken by being pressed against the guide pin 65 protruding from the ferrule 61 so that the guide pin 65 can be penetrated. Therefore, the breaking strength is weaker than that of the contact cleaning parts 201A, 201B, 201C. Of the connecting film 201b, a portion located between adjacent contact cleaning portions, that is, a portion located in the slits S11 and S12 functions as a protruding member escape portion and an easily breakable portion.
[0051]
The three contact cleaning parts 201A, 201B, and 201C are arranged at the center part in the width direction (left and right direction in FIG. 8) of the tape insertion part 20 and at both side parts of the insertion part 20 in the width direction. It can be made to function as thing 201B, 201C.
In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the connecting film is not limited to the configuration in which the three contact cleaning parts 201 </ b> A, 201 </ b> B, and 201 </ b> C are bonded together, and exists only at the slits S <b> 11 and S <b> 12. You may fulfill | perform the function which connects between adjacent contact cleaning parts.
In addition, the slits S11 and S12 may be narrower than the diameter of the guide pin. In this case, the contact cleaning part comes into contact with the guide pin that penetrates the connecting film as the easily breakable part from both sides. The guide pin itself can be cleaned. The vicinity of the protruding proximal end portion from the joint end face of the guide pin can be effectively cleaned evenly over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the guide pin.
[0052]
  Next, another reference example of the cleaning tape will be described.
  The cleaning tape 202 shown in FIG. 15 has concave forming portions 202a formed in a concave shape at two locations in the width direction of the cleaning cloth in parallel with each other over the entire length in the longitudinal direction of a single tape-shaped cleaning cloth. It has a total of three contact cleaning parts 202A, 202B, 202C separated by the concave forming part 202a. The concave forming portion 202a forms a protruding member accommodating groove 202b capable of accommodating the protruding member on the inside, and functions as a protruding member escape portion. The concave forming portion 202 a and the protruding member accommodating groove 202 b are formed continuously along the longitudinal direction of the cleaning tape 202.
[0053]
FIG. 16 shows an example of the head portion 23A to which the cleaning tape 202 is applied. The head portion 23 </ b> A accommodates the concave formed portion 202 a formed continuously along the longitudinal direction of the cleaning tape 202, so that the molded portion guide groove 24 d for guiding it crosses the contact surface 24. Unlike the head portion 23 described with reference to FIG. 9 and the like described above, the point of the cleaning tape 202 is that the cleaning tape 202 is formed so as to cross the contact surface 24 along the extending direction of the cleaning tape 202. The feed movement is stable. The other configuration is the same as that of the head portion 23, but the stability of the feed movement is ensured by the molding portion guide groove 24d, so that the formation of the guide grooves 25A, 25B, and 25C can be omitted. In this configuration, the tape is fed and moved while the guide pin is housed in the protruding member housing groove 202b, so that the entire outer surface of the guide pin can be efficiently and reliably cleaned. That is, of the joint end surface 61a of the ferrule 61, a central region E1 that is a portion located between the two guide pins 65 and an outer region E2 that is located outside the central region E1 via the guide pins 65. By feeding and moving the pressed cleaning tape 202, the central region and the outer region can be efficiently cleaned simultaneously.
[0054]
  next,Reference example 2An example of the cleaning tool will be described.
  Figure 17 shows the bookReference exampleIt is (a) front view which shows an example of the winding reel used for (b), and (b) one side sectional drawing. 18 is a cutaway perspective view of the take-up reel shown in FIG.
  FIG. 19A is a front view and FIG. 19B is a perspective view showing an example of a supply reel. FIG. 20 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the supply reel shown in FIG. 19 is mounted on the supply reel support shaft. FIG. 21A is a front view and FIG. 21B is a half sectional view showing an example of a dial.
  22 is a front view showing an example of the first case half, and FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the first case half shown in FIG.
  FIG. 24 is a front view showing an example of the second case half, and FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the second case half shown in FIG.
  Figure 26 shows a bookReference exampleIt is (a) front view and (b) perspective view which show the external appearance of the optical connector cleaning tool.
  27 and 28 are booksReference exampleIt is sectional drawing which shows the inside of the optical connector cleaning tool of.
  FIGS. 29A to 29D are diagrams illustrating the operation of the rotation amount notification mechanism.
[0055]
  As shown in FIGS.Reference exampleThe cleaning tool 301 includes a tool main body 310 that is tapered toward the insertion portion 320, and an insertion portion 320 that is formed at the tip (left side in FIG. 27) of the small-diameter portion 319 of the tool main body 310. , Mentioned aboveReference example 1The cleaning tool 1 is configured in the same manner.
  As shown in FIG. 27, a protruding wall 319 a for reinforcing the small diameter portion 319 is provided inside the small diameter portion 319. The projecting wall 319a causes a path of the upstream portion 302b (hereinafter referred to as "upstream portion") of the cleaning tapes 302A to 302C to be cleaned from the supply reels 340A to 340C toward the head portion 323, and the head portion 323. The path of the downstream portion 302c (hereinafter referred to as the “downstream portion”) of the cleaning tapes 302A to 302C contaminated by wiping and cleaning is separated from the winding reel 350 toward the take-up reel 350.
[0056]
As shown in FIG. 28, as the cleaning tapes 302A, 302B, 302C, the central region E1 that is a portion located between the guide pin holes 61c in the joining end surface 61a of the optical connector shown in FIG. 10 is cleaned. The three separated from each other are used together with the cleaning of the outer regions E2, E2 located outside the central region E1 through the guide pin hole 61c. Each of the tapes 302A, 302B, and 302C is not particularly limited, and a known appropriate clean 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.
The width of the tapes 302A, 302B, 302C is adjusted to the width of the area to be cleaned. Here, the width of the tape 302A for cleaning the central region E1 is wider than the widths of the tapes 302B and 302C for cleaning the outer region E2.
Each of the three tapes 302A, 302B, and 302C functions as a contact cleaning unit. The protruding member escape portion is a gap 305 between the tape 302A and the tape 302B and between the tape 302A and the tape 302C.
As a tape contact mechanism (not shown) including the head portion 323, the above configuration can be used.
[0057]
The tool body 310 has a two-part structure composed of first and second case halves 311 and 312 made of plastic or the like. The case halves 311 and 312 are configured to be integrated by fitting the fitting pin 313 and the fitting hole 314.
The storage space 335 in the tool body 310 is provided with a tape feeding mechanism 303 that feeds and moves the tapes 302A to 302C. The tape feeding mechanism 303 includes supply reels 340A to 340C around which the tapes 302A to 302C are wound, a take-up reel 350 that takes up and collects the used tapes 302A to 302C, and an operation dial that operates the tapes 302A to 302C. 360 is provided.
[0058]
The supply reel support shaft 332 on which the supply reels 340A to 340C are rotatably mounted and the take-up reel 350 are rotatable on the inner surface (side facing the storage space 335) of the second case half 312. A take-up reel support shaft 333 to be mounted is provided so as to protrude toward the first case half 311 side.
Through holes 337 and 338 are formed in the first case half 311 at positions facing the supply reel support shaft 332 and the take-up reel support shaft 333 on the second case half 312 side. That is, by inserting the leading end portions of the supply reel support shaft 332 and the take-up reel support shaft 333 into these through-holes 337 and 338, the supply reel support shaft 332 and the take-up reel support shaft 333 are connected to each other in the first case half. A bridge is formed between the body 311 and the second case half 312 so that the supply reels 340A to 340C and the take-up reel 350 can be held without dropping.
A ratchet groove 332 a extending in the axial direction of the supply reel support shaft 332 is provided around the outer periphery of the supply reel support shaft 332. The ratchet groove 332a has a substantially semicircular cross section and can be engaged with a protrusion 345 (described later) of the ratchet arm 344 of the supply reels 340A to 340C.
[0059]
As shown in FIG. 27, between the supply reels 340 </ b> A to 340 </ b> C and the take-up reel 350, the tapes 302 </ b> A to 302 </ b> C are stretched in the storage space 335 along the pin-shaped tape guide 336. It is wound around a head portion 323 (see FIG. 26B) accommodated in the insertion portion 320. The head portion 323 is disposed so as to face an opening 326 opened at the leading end of the insertion portion 320 protruding from the tool body 310.
As shown in FIGS. 22 to 25, the tape guide 336 is a pin protruding from the second case half 312, and the tip of the pin is formed on the side surface of the first case half 311. The fitting hole 336a is fitted.
[0060]
An operation dial 360 is attached to the outer periphery of the take-up reel support shaft 333 so as to be concentric with the take-up reel 350. The operation dial 360 includes a hub part 361 penetrating the take-up reel support shaft 333, a rim part 363 having a knurled surface on the outer periphery, and a plurality of spoke parts 362 connecting the hub part 361 and the rim part 363. However, it is integrally molded from plastic or the like. A gear 364 is integrally formed with the rim portion 363. One of the spoke portions 362 is provided with a ratchet arm 365 having a locking claw 366 at the tip. The ratchet arm 365 is elastically deformable.
A part of the operation dial 360 is partly exposed to the outside of the tool body 310 from a window 310a provided on the side surface of the tool body 310, and a predetermined forward feed direction (clockwise direction in FIG. ) Can be rotated by operating. The tape feeding mechanism 303 is driven by the rotation of the operation dial 360.
[0061]
Step portions 316 and 317 are formed at the bases of the supply reel support shaft 332 and the take-up reel support shaft 333. A large number of ratchet teeth 316a are provided around the outer peripheral surface of the step 316 on the supply reel support shaft 332 side. The operation dial 360 is attached so that the locking claw 366 of the ratchet arm 365 can be engaged with the ratchet teeth 316a and the reverse rotation of the operation dial 360 can be prevented. That is, the ratchet teeth 316a and the ratchet arm 365 function as a reverse feed blocking mechanism 306 that blocks the reverse feed of the tapes 302A to 302C (a reverse rotation prevention mechanism that prevents reverse rotation of the take-up reel). In this case, it is possible to stably feed and move the tapes 302A to 302C in a predetermined direction, thereby suppressing the sag of the tapes 302A to 302C.
[0062]
As shown in FIG. 28, supply reels 340A, 340B, and 340C are provided in the same number (three in this case) as the number of tapes 302A, 302B, and 302C, and these are supported side by side on supply reel support shaft 332.
FIG. 19 shows an example of a supply reel 340A around which the tape 302A is wound. In the supply reel 340A, a hollow cylindrical core part 341 and side plate parts 342 and 342 formed at both ends of the core part 341 are integrally formed from plastic or the like. One supply reel 340A is configured to wind one tape 302A. The interval between the two side plate portions 342 and 342 is set in accordance with the width of the tape 302A wound around the side plate portions 342 and 342.
The supply reels 340B and 340C around which the tapes 302B and 302C are wound are the supply reels shown in FIG. 19 except that the distance between the two side plate portions 342 and 342 is narrowed according to the width of the tapes 302B and 302C. Since it is the same as 340A, illustration of a specific configuration is omitted.
[0063]
As shown in FIG. 20, a ratchet arm 344 is formed on the inner surface of the core portion 341 of the supply reels 340A to 340C. A substantially semi-cylindrical protrusion 345 is formed at the tip of the ratchet arm 344 toward the radial center of the supply reels 340A to 340C. A concave portion 346 is formed on the inner surface of the winding core portion 341 so as to accommodate the ratchet arm 344. The ratchet arm 344 can swing the protrusion 345 in the radial direction of the supply reels 340A to 340C by elastic deformation.
The protrusion 345 of the ratchet arm 344 engages with the ratchet groove 332a when the supply reels 340A to 340C are supported by the supply reel support shaft 332. When the supply reels 340A to 340C rotate, the protrusion 345 repeatedly engages and disengages from the ratchet groove 332a due to elastic deformation of the ratchet arm 344, so that the rotation resistance against the rotation of the supply reel 340A Is granted. A constant tensile force is required for the feeding movement of the tapes 302A to 302C, and slipping of the supply reels 340A to 340C is suppressed. That is, the ratchet arm 344 of the supply reels 340A to 340C and the protrusion 345 of the supply reel support shaft 332 function as a rotation resistance applying mechanism 308 that applies rotation resistance to the rotation of the supply reels 340A to 340C.
The constant pulling force that allows the feed movement of the tapes 302A to 302C is such that the elongation of the tape caused by the pull of the tape feed mechanism 303 does not adversely affect the cleaning, and for example, the cleaning tool 301 is shaken or carried. In such a case, the tape cannot be sent.
[0064]
As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the take-up reel 350 includes a hollow cylindrical core portion 351, side plate portions 352 and 353 formed at both ends of the core portion 351, and both side plate portions 352 and 353. It has partition plate portions 354 and 354 formed therebetween, and is integrally molded from plastic or the like. The side plate portions 352 and 353 and the partition plate portions 354 and 354 have a substantially disk shape concentric with the core portion 351. The partition plate portions 354 and 354 partition the side plate portions 352 and 353 into three, and the tapes 302A to 302C are wound around the partitioned spaces.
A gear 355 is integrally formed on the side portion of one side plate portion 352. The gear 355 meshes with the gear 364 of the operation dial 360. These gears 355 and 364 function as a driving force transmission mechanism 339 for transmitting the driving force generated by the rotation operation of the operation dial 360 to the take-up reel 350 and winding the tape 2.
[0065]
  In addition, bookReference exampleThe cleaning tool 301 includes a feed amount notification mechanism 307 that notifies the feed amounts of the tapes 302A to 302C. Here, as will be described in detail later, the feed amount notification mechanism 307 is configured by a lifting protrusion 372 of the annular wall portion 370 and a hammer portion 357 of the take-up reel 350.
[0066]
As shown in FIG. 22, an annular wall portion 370 is formed on the inner surface of the first case half 311 so as to surround a through hole 338 into which the take-up reel support shaft 333 is inserted. On the outer periphery of the annular wall portion 370, a plurality (six locations in FIG. 22) of riding protrusions 372 are formed at equal intervals along the periphery of the annular wall portion 370.
The climbing protrusion 372 has an inclined surface 372a that forms an acute angle with the outer peripheral surface 371 of the annular wall portion 370 when viewed from the front as shown in FIGS. The inclined surface 372a is provided on the side of the riding protrusion 372 that faces the rotation direction of the take-up reel 350 (counterclockwise method in FIG. 29).
[0067]
As shown in FIG. 17, the hammer portion 357 is provided on the outer peripheral surface 353 a of the other side plate portion 353 of the take-up reel 350, and the arm portion 357 a extending along the outer periphery of the side plate portion 353, And a striking portion 357b formed at the tip of the arm portion 357a. On the outer peripheral surface 353a of the other side plate portion 353, a recessed groove portion 356 that is recessed facing the striking portion 357b is formed. In a state where no load is applied to the hammer portion 357, the striking surface 357c of the striking portion 357b is located in the concave groove portion 356 that is inside the outer peripheral surface 353a of the side plate portion 353.
[0068]
In a state where the take-up reel 350 is mounted on the take-up reel support shaft 333 and the leading end of the take-up reel support shaft 333 is fitted into the through hole 338, the arm portion 357a has a side plate as shown in FIG. The striking surface 357 c of the striking portion 357 b comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface 371 of the annular wall portion 370.
When the take-up reel 350 rotates, as shown in FIGS. 29B and 29C, the striking portion 357b rides up to the top 372b along the inclined surface 372a, and further, as shown in FIG. 29D. The hammer portion 357 loses the support of the riding protrusion 372 and swings down the striking portion 357b toward the outer peripheral surface 371 of the annular wall portion 370 by its own elasticity, and the striking surface 357c of the striking portion 357b is As a result of the collision with the outer peripheral surface 371, a hitting sound is generated. Thus, the operator can be notified of the feed amount of the tape 2 by the hitting sound generated each time the feed amounts of the tapes 302A to 302C reach a certain amount.
The feed amount of the tapes 302A to 302C corresponding to one hitting sound can be set to a feed amount required for one cleaning of the optical connector. Further, a plurality of hitting sounds can be set to a feed amount corresponding to one cleaning of the optical connector. Depending on the degree of contamination of the optical connector, the number of hitting sounds corresponding to one cleaning of the optical connector may be changed as appropriate.
[0069]
  BookReference exampleThe optical connector cleaning method using the cleaning tool 301 is as described above.
  As explained above, the bookReference exampleAccording to the cleaning tool 301, since a plurality of cleaning tapes 302A, 302B, and 302C are supplied from a plurality of supply reels 340A, 340B, and 340C, the feed amounts of the cleaning tapes 2 are different from each other. Can be. Therefore, even if the amount of elongation differs depending on the thickness or strength of the tape, the tension of the plurality of tapes 302A, 302B, 302C can be maintained evenly, and the tapes 302A, 302B, 302C can be stably fed and moved. be able to.
  Since a plurality of tapes 302A, 302B, and 302C are wound by one take-up reel 350, the tape feeding mechanism 303 does not need to be provided for each of the tapes 302A, 302B, and 302C, and the configuration is simple. In addition, a plurality of tapes 302A, 302B, and 302C can be easily operated collectively.
[0070]
Since the feed amount notification mechanism 307 for notifying the feed amounts of the tapes 302A, 302B, and 302C is provided, it is easy to feed the tapes 302A, 302B, and 302C as much as necessary for cleaning, and it is possible to perform reliable cleaning. In addition, useless use of the tape 2 can be suppressed.
According to the sagging prevention mechanism comprising the reverse feed blocking mechanism 306 for blocking the reverse feed of the tapes 302A, 302B, and 302C and the rotational resistance applying mechanism 308 for applying rotational resistance to the rotation of the supply reels 340A to 340C, the tape Even when there are a plurality of 302A to 302C, the tapes 302A to 302C can be stably fed and moved in a predetermined direction to suppress fluctuations in the tape feed amount. Therefore, sagging of the tape is prevented, and it is possible to perform wiping and cleaning with certainty while maintaining a certain cleaning condition.
By preventing the slack of the tapes 302A to 302C, fluctuations in the feed amount of the tapes 302A to 302C and the pressing force on the joining end surface 61a are suppressed. Therefore, the joining end surface 61a of the optical connector can be more reliably cleaned.
[0071]
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.
For example, it is not essential that the stopper is inserted into the stopper insertion hole formed in the connecting portion. As shown in a modified example of the head tilting mechanism 40 in FIG. 12, the front and rear of the connecting portion 44 (where the insertion portion 20 is located in the inserting direction and the detaching direction in the connecting portion 44; left and right in FIG. 12) are sandwiched. By disposing the stoppers 46a and 46b protruding from the inner wall 28 disposed in the width direction of the insertion portion 20, the displacement of the insertion portion 20 in the insertion direction and the detachment direction can be restricted. Here, the connecting portion 44 is provided with receiving portions 44b and 44b so as to be brought into smooth contact with the stoppers 46a and 46b, but this is not essential in the present embodiment.
[0072]
In the head tilting mechanism, both opposing edges of the contact surface of the head portion differ with respect to the insertion and removal directions of the insertion portion by an elastic body such as a spring that is connected to the back surface of the head portion and biases it. A configuration in which the head portion is held so as to be displaced by a displacement amount is also possible. Even with such a configuration, the head portion can be allowed to tilt due to the elastic deformation of the elastic body.
[0073]
The insertion portion is formed with unit insertion portions that are positioned in the connector housing by being inserted into different connector housings at a plurality of locations in the protruding direction, and each unit insertion portion of the insertion portion is provided in the protruding direction of the insertion portion. It can be formed so that it can be inserted into all the connector housings that can accommodate the unit insertion portion positioned 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.
[0074]
Moreover, 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.
[0075]
The drive mechanism that feeds and moves the tape is not limited to one that is manually driven, but may be one that is 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.
[0076]
In the cleaning tool of the above-described embodiment, the insertion portion covers the cleaning member completely except for the opening formed at the distal end of the insertion portion, but is not necessarily limited thereto. As long as the cleaning member can be prevented from coming into contact with the inner wall of the connector housing and being contaminated when inserting the insertion portion into the connector housing, the shape and structure are not particularly limited, and the shape is not necessarily sleeve-shaped.
[0077]
The rotation resistance application mechanism that applies rotation resistance to the supply reel is not limited to a mechanism that applies rotation resistance between the core portion of the supply reel and the supply reel support shaft. For example, rotational resistance can be applied to the outer periphery of the supply reel. Further, if the supply reel support shaft rotates in conjunction with the supply reel, a rotation resistance can be applied to the supply reel support shaft. The method for imparting the rotation resistance is not limited to the elastic force of the ratchet arm, and it is also possible to use contact friction obtained by roughening the contact surface, viscous resistance by a viscous material such as grease, or the like.
It also has a function to give the supply reel a rotational force that is strong enough not to obstruct the tape winding in the direction opposite to the rotation feeding direction of the supply reel at all times or at least when the tape winding is stopped. You may have.
[0078]
  Reference exampleAs another configuration example of the cleaning tape, for example, as a modification of the tape 2 shown in FIG. 13, one end of the slits S1 and S2 is cut to one end of the cleaning cloth, and only at the other end of the slits S1 and S2. A connected cleaning tape configuration can also be employed. Such a tape can be used for a cleaning tool having one take-up reel and a plurality of supply reels as shown in FIG. By winding the end on the side where the contact cleaning unit is separated around a plurality of different supply reels and supplying them to the head unit, it is possible to make the feed amount of each cleaning tape different from each other and to suppress slack of the tape. .
[0079]
In the cleaning tool of the above embodiment, an end face of an optical waveguide (which may be an optical fiber) is disposed as an optical component cleaning tool used for optical components such as an optical fiber array and a substrate type optical waveguide (Planar Lightwave Circuit). It can also be used for cleaning the end faces of optical components. 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 the optical fiber and the end surface of the substrate are cleaned by the cleaning tape wound around the head. can do.
[0080]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the following excellent effects can be obtained.
(A) Even when a protruding member is present on the joining end face of the optical connector, the joining end face can be effectively cleaned.
(B) The vicinity of the base of the projecting member (protruding base end portion from the joining end surface) can also be efficiently cleaned.
(C) About the optical connector of the structure by which the two guide pins protrude from the joining end surface, areas other than the region located between the two guide pins can be effectively cleaned.
(D) The region (center region) located between the two guide pins and the outer region can be efficiently cleaned simultaneously.
[Brief description of the drawings]
[Figure 1]Reference Example 1It is (a) front view and (b) perspective view which show the external appearance of an optical connector cleaning tool.
2 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of the optical connector cleaning tool shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of the optical connector cleaning tool shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a state where an insertion portion of the optical connector cleaning tool shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into a connector housing. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a state in which the insertion portion of the optical connector cleaning tool shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into the connector housing.
6 is a half-sectional perspective view showing another example of a state that the tape contact mechanism of the optical connector cleaning tool shown in FIG. 1 can take. FIG.
7 is a half sectional perspective view showing another example of a state in which the tape contact mechanism of the optical connector cleaning tool shown in FIG. 1 can be taken.
8 is a front view showing an insertion part of the optical connector cleaning tool shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged perspective view of an insertion portion of the optical connector cleaning tool shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 10 is a front view showing an example of a ferrule of an optical connector plug.
11 is an exploded perspective view showing a state where the insertion portion of the optical connector cleaning tool shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into the connector insertion hole of the connector housing in which the optical connector is accommodated. FIG.
FIG.Modification exampleIt is sectional drawing which shows the inside of the insertion part of the optical connector cleaning tool which concerns on.
FIG. 13According to reference examplesIt is a figure which shows an example of a cleaning tape, (a) is a top view, (b) is sectional drawing.
FIG. 14Used in the optical connector cleaning tool of the present inventionCleaning tapeOne case(A) is a top view, (b) is sectional drawing.
FIG. 15According to reference examplesIt is a figure which shows the other example of the cleaning tape, (a) is a top view, (b) is sectional drawing.
16 is a view showing an example of a head portion to which the cleaning tape of FIG. 15 is applied, (a) is a perspective view, and (b) is a plan sectional view.
FIG. 17Reference example 2It is (a) front view which shows an example of the winding reel which concerns on the cleaning tool of (b), and (b) one side sectional drawing.
18 is a cutaway perspective view of the take-up reel shown in FIG.
FIG. 19Reference example 2It is (a) front view and (b) perspective view which show an example of the supply reel which concerns on this cleaning tool.
20 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the supply reel shown in FIG. 19 is mounted on a supply reel support shaft.
FIG. 21Reference example 2It is (a) front view which shows an example of the dial which concerns on this cleaning tool, (b) One side sectional drawing.
FIG. 22Reference example 2It is a front view which shows an example of the 1st case half body which concerns on this cleaning tool.
23 is a perspective view of the first case half shown in FIG. 22. FIG.
FIG. 24Reference example 2It is a front view which shows an example of the 2nd case half which concerns on this cleaning tool.
25 is a perspective view of a second case half shown in FIG. 24. FIG.
FIG. 26Reference example 2It is (a) front view and (b) perspective view which show the external appearance of the optical connector cleaning tool.
FIG. 27Reference example 2It is sectional drawing which shows the inside of the optical connector cleaning tool of.
FIG. 28Reference example 2It is sectional drawing which shows the inside of the optical connector cleaning tool of.
FIG. 29 (a) to (d)Reference example 2It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the feed amount alerting | reporting mechanism which concerns on the cleaning tool.
FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a state in which a conventional cleaner is inserted into a connector housing.
[Explanation of symbols]
1... Optical connector cleaning tool (cleaning tool),10... Tool body,20... insertion part, 22 ... recessed part (guide pin insertion hole),23... head part, 24 ... contact surface,60 ... optical connector (optical plug), 61a ... joining end face, 65 ... projecting member (guide pin), 70 ... connector housing (optical adapter),71 ... Connector insertion slot, 72 ... Connector accommodation hole, 201 ... Cleaning tape, 201A-201C ... Contact cleaning part,201b ... Easily destructible part (connecting tape),E1... Central region of the joining end surface, E2..

Claims (2)

In the connector housing (70) in which a pair of optical connectors (60) inserted from the connector insertion ports (71) on both sides are accommodated in the connector accommodation hole (72) so that the optical connectors are optically connected. An optical connector cleaning tool for wiping and cleaning the joining end surface (61a) of the optical connector (60) by feeding movement of the cleaning tape (201),
A tool main body (10); and an insertion portion (20) provided so as to protrude from the tool main body and capable of being inserted into the connector housing hole of the connector housing. A contact surface (24) for securing a contact area with respect to the joining end surface is provided, and a portion of the cleaning tape drawn out from the tool body to the insertion portion is wound along the contact surface. A head part (23) is provided,
In the cleaning tape, the contact cleaning part (201A to 201C) pressed against the joining end face of the optical connector by the head part escapes the projecting member (65) projected from the joining end face of the optical connector. It is arranged in a plurality, side by side via the escape portion (201b), and extends in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the cleaning tape,
The protruding member escape portion of the cleaning tape (201) is an easily breakable portion (201b) formed so as to connect the contact cleaning portions to each other,
When the insertion portion is inserted into the connector housing hole of the connector housing, a recess (22) for avoiding interference between the head portion and a protruding member protruding from the joining end surface is formed from the contact surface of the head portion. It is provided with a recess,
By penetrating the protruding member through the easily breakable portion, the contact cleaning portion can be pressed against the joining end surface of the optical connector, and the feeding movement of the cleaning tape to the joining end surface of the optical connector can be performed easily. The optical connector cleaning tool (1), wherein the protruding member that is pierced by the destruction portion can be made while breaking the easy-destruction portion and separating the contact cleaning portions. With respect to the optical connector in which the positioning guide pins protrude from the two spaced apart positions on the joining end surface using the optical connector cleaning tool according to claim 1 , the position is between the guide pins in the joining end surface. And moving the cleaning tape pressed against the central region (E1) which is a portion to be moved and the outer region (E2) located outside the central region via the guide pin, thereby moving the central region and the outer region A method of cleaning an optical connector, comprising:

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