Optical connector cleaner and method of cleaning end face of optical connector

Abstract

To provide an optical connector cleaner capable of reducing an uncleaned part nearby a guide pin hole.SOLUTION: An optical connector cleaner comprises a pad which has a first surface and is elastic at least on the first surface, and a cleaning cloth which is arranged on the first surface of the pad and extends in a first direction. The pad has a first cut which is formed in the first surface and extends in the first direction, and a second cut which is formed in the first surface and extends in the first direction side by side with the first cut. The cleaning cloth is divided at least in part in the first direction with a first division line overlapping with the first cut and a second division line overlapping with the second cut.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an optical connector cleaner and a method for cleaning the end face of an optical connector. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose optical connector cleaning tools. In the optical connector cleaning tool of Patent Document 1, pressing a lever activates a tape running mechanism to wind up the cleaning sheet tape, revealing an unused, uncontaminated cleaning sheet tape in the cleaning window. The end face of the optical connector is rubbed with the cleaning sheet tape placed on an elastic pad. This wipes away any dirt from the end face of the optical connector. In the optical connector cleaning tool of Patent Document 2, a base made of an elastic or non-elastic material is provided below the cleaning sheet. The base has an elongated hole through which a mating pin is inserted. The elongated hole may be either a through hole or a non-through hole. To facilitate relative movement between the cleaning sheet and the optical connector, the width of the elongated hole is larger than the outer diameter of the mating pin. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-290722 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-156552 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-185883 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An MPO optical connector has a ferrule that holds the ends of multiple optical fibers. The tip faces of the multiple optical fibers are exposed from the end face of the ferrule. The optical fibers are connected to each other by pressing the end faces of the ferrules of two optical connectors together. Two guide pins protrude from the end face of the ferrule of one of the two optical connectors. The two guide pins are positioned so that the tip faces of the multiple optical fibers are sandwiched between them. The end face of the ferrule of the other of the two optical connectors has two guide pin holes into which the two guide pins are inserted. When two optical connectors are connected to each other, the two guide pins are inserted into the two guide pin holes to position the ferrules relative to each other.

[0005] When cleaning the end face of an optical connector, a cleaning cloth (cleaning sheet) placed on an elastic pad is pressed against the end face of the optical connector and the cleaning cloth is rubbed against the end face. The presence of guide pins in the optical connector presents a problem. If the elastic pad is convex to avoid the guide pins, the cleaning cloth will not come into contact with the area around the guide pins and the area outside the guide pins, resulting in incomplete wiping. Furthermore, if a slot is provided in the base as described in Patent Document 2, when cleaning the end face of the ferrule of an optical connector without a guide pin, the cleaning cloth will not be supported by the elastic pad over the slot, and the cleaning cloth will not be pressed against the end face of the ferrule. This results in incomplete wiping near the guide pin hole on the end face of the ferrule.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an optical connector cleaner and a method for cleaning the end face of an optical connector that can reduce the amount of unwiped residue near the guide pin holes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An optical connector cleaner according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a pad having a first surface and elasticity on at least the first surface, and a cleaning cloth disposed on the first surface of the pad and extending in a first direction. The pad has a first notch formed on the first surface and extending in the first direction, and a second notch formed on the first surface and extending in the first direction alongside the first notch. The cleaning cloth is divided in at least a portion of the first direction by a first dividing line overlapping the first notch and a second dividing line overlapping the second notch. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an optical connector cleaner and a method for cleaning the end face of an optical connector that can reduce areas near guide pin holes that are left unwiped. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an optical connector cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross section of the optical connector cleaner perpendicular to the first direction. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing how the film is fixed to the cleaning cloth. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a process of cleaning the end face of the ferrule by rubbing the end face with a cleaning cloth. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration described in Patent Document 2. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the problem that occurs when no film is provided. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, the contents of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. [1] An optical connector cleaner according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a pad having a first surface and having elasticity on at least the first surface, and a cleaning cloth disposed on the first surface of the pad and extending in a first direction. The pad has a first notch formed on the first surface and extending in the first direction, and a second notch formed on the first surface and extending in the first direction alongside the first notch. The cleaning cloth is divided in at least a portion of the first direction by a first dividing line overlapping the first notch and a second dividing line overlapping the second notch.

[0011] When using the optical connector cleaner [1] to clean the end face of an optical connector ferrule by rubbing it with a cleaning cloth, if the optical connector has a first guide pin and a second guide pin protruding from the end face, the end face can be scrubbed while inserting the first guide pin from the first parting line into the first notch and the second guide pin from the second parting line into the second notch. Because the pad is elastic at least on the first surface, the first guide pin and the second guide pin can push open the first notch and the second notch, respectively. Therefore, the entire end face of the ferrule can be scrubbed with the cleaning cloth regardless of the presence of the first guide pin and the second guide pin. Furthermore, if the optical connector does not have a first guide pin and a second guide pin, the first notch and the second notch are closed by the pad's elasticity, so the cleaning cloth is supported by the pad even over the first notch and the second notch, and the cleaning cloth is pressed against the end face of the ferrule. This reduces the amount of unwiped area near the guide pin holes on the end face of the ferrule.

[0012] [2] In the optical connector cleaner described above in [1], the first and second notches do not have to have gaps. For example, in this case, it is possible to reduce the amount of unwiped area near the guide pin holes on the end face of the ferrule.

[0013] [3] In the optical connector cleaner of [1] above, the width of the gap of the first notch and the width of the gap of the second notch in a cross section perpendicular to the first direction may be smaller than the diameter of the guide pin of the optical connector. Even in this case, it is possible to reduce the amount of unwiped area near the guide pin hole of the end face of the ferrule.

[0014] [4] The optical connector cleaner of [1] to [3] above may further include a film disposed between the first surface of the pad and the cleaning cloth and fixed to the cleaning cloth. The film may have a plurality of first slits and a plurality of second slits. The plurality of first slits may be provided intermittently in the first direction, and each of the plurality of first slits may extend in the first direction while overlapping with the first dividing line. The plurality of second slits may be provided intermittently in the first direction, and each of the plurality of second slits may extend in the first direction while overlapping with the second dividing line. By including such a film in the optical connector cleaner, the divided portions of the cleaning cloth are fixed together by the film, preventing the divided portions from overlapping or entangling with each other.

[0015] [5] A method for cleaning an end face of an optical connector according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes the steps of: placing a cleaning cloth extending in a first direction on a first surface of a pad having elasticity on at least the first surface; and rubbing the end face of a ferrule of the optical connector with the cleaning cloth to clean the end face. The first surface of the pad has a first notch extending in the first direction and a second notch extending in the first direction parallel to the first notch. The cleaning cloth is divided along at least a portion of the first direction by a first parting line overlapping the first notch and a second parting line overlapping the second notch. In the cleaning step, if the optical connector has a first guide pin and a second guide pin protruding from the end face, the end face is scrubbed while inserting the first guide pin from the first parting line into the first notch and inserting the second guide pin from the second parting line into the second notch.

[0016] In the cleaning method [5] above, if the optical connector has a first guide pin and a second guide pin protruding from the end face, the first guide pin is inserted from the first parting line into the first notch, and the second guide pin is inserted from the second parting line into the second notch while scrubbing the end face. Because the pad is elastic at least on the first surface, the first guide pin and the second guide pin can push open the first notch and the second notch, respectively. Therefore, the entire end face of the ferrule can be scrubbed with the cleaning cloth regardless of the presence of the first guide pin and the second guide pin. Furthermore, if the optical connector does not have a first guide pin and a second guide pin, the first notch and the second notch are closed by the pad's elasticity, so the cleaning cloth is supported by the pad even over the first notch and the second notch, and the cleaning cloth is pressed against the end face of the ferrule. This reduces the amount of unwiped area near the guide pin holes on the end face of the ferrule.

[0017] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. In the following description, the same elements in the description of the drawings will be given the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical connector cleaner 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a view showing a cross section of the optical connector cleaner 1 perpendicular to a first direction 6. The optical connector cleaner 1 is a tool for cleaning an end face 51 of a ferrule 5 of an optical connector. The optical connector is, for example, an MPO-type optical connector, and the ferrule 5 is, for example, an MT ferrule. The optical connector cleaner 1 includes a pad 2, a cleaning cloth 3, and a film 4.

[0019] The pad 2 has a flat first surface 21. At least the first surface 21 of the pad 2 is elastic. The first surface 21 of the pad 2 is made of a soft material such as urethane rubber or silicone rubber. The pad 2 has a first notch 22 and a second notch 23. The first notch 22 is formed on the first surface 21 and extends in the first direction 6. The second notch 23 is formed on the first surface 21 and extends in the first direction 6 alongside the first notch 22. The lateral widths of the first notch 22 and the second notch 23 in a plane perpendicular to the first direction 6 are substantially zero. In other words, the first notch 22 and the second notch 23 do not have any gaps. The depths of the first notch 22 and the second notch 23 along the normal direction of the first surface 21 are, for example, within a range of 2 mm to 10 mm.

[0020] The cleaning cloth 3 is disposed on the first surface 21 of the pad 2. The cleaning cloth 3 is made of, for example, polyamide resin or PET resin. The cleaning cloth 3 extends along a first direction 6. The cleaning cloth 3 is wound around a reel and sequentially unwound in the first direction 6 by a traveling mechanism (not shown), and moves along the first surface 21 of the pad 2 in the first direction 6. The cleaning cloth 3 is divided along at least a portion of the first direction 6 by a first division line 34 and a second division line 35, thereby including three portions 31, 32, and 33. The first division line 34 and the second division line 35 extend along the first direction 6 and are parallel to each other. The first division line 34 is positioned so as to overlap the first notch 22 when viewed from the normal direction of the first surface 21. The second division line 35 is positioned so as to overlap the second notch 23 when viewed from the normal direction of the first surface 21.

[0021] The film 4 is disposed between the first surface 21 of the pad 2 and the cleaning cloth 3. The film 4 is made of, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene. The film 4 is closely attached to the cleaning cloth 3 and integrated with the cleaning cloth 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing how the film 4 is attached to the cleaning cloth 3. As described above, the cleaning cloth 3 includes three portions 31, 32, and 33 extending along the first direction 6 (see part (a) of FIG. 3). These three portions 31, 32, and 33 are separated from one another. As shown in part (b) of FIG. 3, the film 4 has a plurality of first slits 41 and a plurality of second slits 42. The plurality of first slits 41 are provided intermittently in the first direction 6. Each of the plurality of first slits 41 extends in the first direction 6. The plurality of second slits 42 are provided intermittently in the first direction 6. Each of the plurality of second slits 42 extends in the first direction 6.

[0022] As shown in part (c) of Figure 3, the cleaning cloth 3 and film 4 having the above-described configuration are overlapped with each other, and the film 4 is adhered to the cleaning cloth 3. At this time, each of the multiple first slits 41 overlaps with the first dividing line 34, which is the boundary between the portion 31 and the portion 32. Also, each of the multiple second slits 42 overlaps with the second dividing line 35, which is the boundary between the portion 32 and the portion 33. As a result, as shown in Figure 2, when viewed from the normal direction of the first surface 21, the multiple first slits 41 overlap with the first incisions 22, and the multiple second slits 42 overlap with the second incisions 23.

[0023] The end face cleaning method of this embodiment is performed using, for example, an optical connector cleaner 1. The end face cleaning method of this embodiment and a method for using the optical connector cleaner 1 are described below. This end face cleaning method includes the steps of placing a cleaning cloth 3 on the first surface 21 of the pad 2 (see FIG. 2 ) and cleaning the end face 51 of the ferrule 5 by rubbing the end face 51 with the cleaning cloth 3 (see FIG. 4 ). If the ferrule 5 has a first guide pin 52 and a second guide pin 53 protruding from the end face 51, as shown in part (a) of FIG. 4 , the cleaning step involves inserting the first guide pin 52 from the first parting line 34 into the first notch 22 and the second guide pin 53 from the second parting line 35 into the second notch 23 while pressing the ferrule 5 against the cleaning cloth 3 and moving it along the first direction 6, thereby rubbing the end face 51 with the cleaning cloth 3. Therefore, the width of each first slit 41 in a direction perpendicular to the first direction 6 is greater than the diameter of the first guide pin 52. Furthermore, the width of each second slit 42 in the direction perpendicular to the first direction 6 is greater than the diameter of the second guide pin 53 .

[0024] Furthermore, when the ferrule 5 does not have a first guide pin 52 and a second guide pin 53 protruding from the end face 51, in other words, when the ferrule 5 has a first guide pin hole 54 and a second guide pin hole 55 into which the first guide pin 52 and the second guide pin 53 are inserted, respectively, in the cleaning process, as shown in part (b) of Figure 4, the ferrule 5 is pressed against the cleaning cloth 3 and moved along the first direction 6, thereby scrubbing the end face 51 with the cleaning cloth 3.

[0025] The effects obtained by the optical connector cleaner 1 and end face cleaning method of the present embodiment described above will be described together with the problems of the conventional technology. Part (a) of Figure 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating the embodiment described in Patent Document 2. As shown in the figure, elongated holes 71 and 72 into which the first guide pin 52 and the second guide pin 53 are inserted, respectively, are formed in the base 7. Portions 31, 32, and 33 of the cleaning cloth 3 are placed on this base 7. To facilitate relative movement between the cleaning cloth 3 and the ferrule 5, the widths of the elongated holes 71 and 72 are formed larger than the outer diameters of the first guide pin 52 and the second guide pin 53.

[0026] However, as shown in part (c) of FIG. 5 , when cleaning the end face 51 of the ferrule 5 of the optical connector that does not have the first guide pin 52 and the second guide pin 53 (i.e., the ferrule 5 having the first guide pin hole 54 and the second guide pin hole 55), the cleaning cloth 3 is not supported by the base 7 over the elongated holes 71 and 72, and the cleaning cloth 3 is not pressed against the end face 51 of the ferrule 5. As a result, areas near the first guide pin hole 54 and the second guide pin hole 55 on the end face 51 of the ferrule 5 remain unwiped. Furthermore, if a base 7 without elongated holes 71 and 72 is used when the ferrule 5 does not have the first guide pin 52 and the second guide pin 53, two types of bases 7 must be used depending on whether the ferrule 5 has the first guide pin 52 and the second guide pin 53, which makes it cumbersome to distinguish between the different bases 7.

[0027] When using the optical connector cleaner 1 of this embodiment to clean the end face 51 of the ferrule 5 by rubbing it with the cleaning cloth 3, if the ferrule 5 has a first guide pin 52 and a second guide pin 53, the end face 51 is rubbed while the first guide pin 52 is inserted from the first parting line 34 into the first notch 22 and the second guide pin 53 is inserted from the second parting line 35 into the second notch 23. At this time, because the pad 2 has elasticity at least on the first surface 21, the first guide pin 52 and the second guide pin 53 can push open the first notch 22 and the second notch 23, respectively. Therefore, the entire end face 51 of the ferrule 5 can be rubbed with the cleaning cloth 3 regardless of the presence of the first guide pin 52 and the second guide pin 53. Furthermore, when the optical connector does not have the first guide pin 52 and the second guide pin 53 (when the ferrule 5 has the first guide pin hole 54 and the second guide pin hole 55), the first notch 22 and the second notch 23 are closed by the elasticity of the pad 2, so that the cleaning cloth 3 is supported by the pad 2 even on the first notch 22 and the second notch 23, and the cleaning cloth 3 is pressed against the end face 51 of the ferrule 5. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to reduce unwiped areas near the first guide pin hole 54 and the second guide pin hole 55 of the end face 51 of the ferrule 5. Therefore, according to this embodiment, an optical connector cleaner can be provided that can sufficiently clean the end face 51 of the ferrule 5 regardless of whether the ferrule 5 has the first guide pin 52 and the second guide pin 53, and therefore there is no need to use two types of pads.

[0028] As described above, the first notch 22 and the second notch 23 do not have to have any gaps. In such a case, for example, it is possible to reduce the amount of unwiped areas near the first guide pin hole 54 and the second guide pin hole 55 on the end face 51 of the ferrule 5.

[0029] As in the present embodiment, the film 4 may be disposed between the first surface 21 of the pad 2 and the cleaning cloth 3 and fixed to the cleaning cloth 3. The film 4 may have a plurality of first slits 41 and a plurality of second slits 42. The plurality of first slits 41 may be provided intermittently in the first direction 6, and each of the plurality of first slits 41 may extend in the first direction 6 while overlapping with the first dividing line 34. The plurality of second slits 42 may be provided intermittently in the first direction 6, and each of the plurality of second slits 42 may extend in the first direction 6 while overlapping with the second dividing line 35.

[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates the issues that arise when the film 4 is not provided. The cleaning cloth 3 is made of a flexible material to allow storage in a wound state and feeding using a feeding mechanism. Therefore, without the film 4, the mutually separated portions 31, 32, and 33 are likely to become uneven, or the portions 31, 32, and 33 are likely to overlap or become entangled. If the positions of the first dividing line 34 and the second dividing line 35 of the cleaning cloth 3 are misaligned with the positions of the first notch 22 and the second notch 23, respectively, due to the unevenness of the portions 31, 32, and 33, the first guide pin 52 and the second guide pin 53 cannot be inserted into the first notch 22 and the second notch 23, respectively, during cleaning. Therefore, cleaning work cannot be performed smoothly. The optical connector cleaner 1 includes the film 4, which secures the portions 31, 32, and 33 of the cleaning cloth 3 together. This makes it possible to prevent the portions 31, 32, and 33 from becoming misaligned, and to prevent the portions 31, 32, and 33 from overlapping and entangling with each other, thereby enabling the cleaning work to be carried out smoothly.

[0031] In the cleaning method of the present embodiment, when the ferrule 5 has a first guide pin 52 and a second guide pin 53 protruding from the end face 51, the end face 51 is rubbed while the first guide pin 52 is inserted from the first parting line 34 into the first notch 22 and the second guide pin 53 is inserted from the second parting line 35 into the second notch 23. At this time, because the pad 2 has elasticity at least on the first face 21, the first guide pin 52 and the second guide pin 53 can push open the first notch 22 and the second notch 23, respectively. Therefore, regardless of the presence of the first guide pin 52 and the second guide pin 53, the entire end face 51 of the ferrule 5 can be rubbed with the cleaning cloth 3. Furthermore, when the ferrule 5 does not have the first guide pin 52 and the second guide pin 53, the first notch 22 and the second notch 23 are closed by the elasticity of the pad 2, so the cleaning cloth 3 is supported by the pad 2 also on the first notch 22 and the second notch 23, and the cleaning cloth 3 is pressed against the end face 51 of the ferrule 5. This makes it possible to reduce areas of the end face 51 of the ferrule 5 that are left unwiped near the first guide pin hole 54 and the second guide pin hole 55.

[0032] The optical connector cleaner and the method for cleaning the end face of an optical connector according to the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various other modifications are possible. For example, in the above embodiment, the film 4 is disposed between the pad 2 and the cleaning cloth 3, and the portions 31, 32, and 33 of the cleaning cloth 3 are fixed to one another by the film 4. However, for example, when the first dividing line 34 and the second dividing line 35 of the cleaning cloth 3 are formed intermittently, and there is little risk that the portions 31, 32, and 33 will overlap or become entangled, the film 4 may be omitted.

[0033] In the above embodiment, the first notch 22 and the second notch 23 do not have a gap, and the width of the first notch 22 and the second notch 23 is substantially zero. This is not limiting, and the first notch 22 and the second notch 23 may have a gap. In this case, the width of the gap of the first notch 22 and the width of the gap of the second notch 23 in a cross section perpendicular to the first direction 6 are formed to be smaller than the diameters of the first guide pin 52 and the second guide pin 53 of the ferrule 5. Even in such a case, it is possible to reduce the amount of unwiped area near the first guide pin hole 54 and the second guide pin hole 55 of the end face 51 of the ferrule 5. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1...Optical connector cleaner 2...Pad 3…Cleaning cloth 4...Film 5...Ferrule 6…First direction 7...Pedestal 21…Front page 22...First cut 23...Second cut 31, 32, 33...part 34...First dividing line 35…Second dividing line 41...First slit 42...Second slit 51...End face 52...First guide pin 53...Second guide pin 54...First guide pin hole 55...Second guide pin hole 71,72…long hole

Claims

1. a pad having a first surface and having elasticity at least on the first surface; a cleaning cloth disposed on the first surface of the pad and extending in a first direction; The pad is a first notch formed on the first surface and extending in the first direction; a second notch formed on the first surface and extending in the first direction alongside the first notch; the cleaning cloth is divided in at least a part of the first direction by a first division line overlapping the first incision and a second division line overlapping the second incision; Optical connector cleaner.

2. the first notch and the second notch do not have any voids; 2. The optical connector cleaner according to claim 1.

3. a width of the gap of the first notch and a width of the gap of the second notch in a cross section perpendicular to the first direction are smaller than a diameter of a guide pin of an optical connector; 2. The optical connector cleaner according to claim 1.

4. a film disposed between the first surface of the pad and the cleaning cloth and secured to the cleaning cloth; the film has a plurality of first slits and a plurality of second slits; the plurality of first slits are provided intermittently in the first direction, and each of the plurality of first slits extends in the first direction while overlapping with the first dividing line; the second slits are provided intermittently in the first direction, and each of the second slits extends in the first direction while overlapping with the second dividing line; 4. The optical connector cleaner according to claim 1.

5. a step of placing a cleaning cloth extending in a first direction on a first surface of a pad having elasticity on at least the first surface; and cleaning the end face of the ferrule of the optical connector by rubbing the end face with the cleaning cloth, the first surface of the pad has a first notch extending in the first direction and a second notch extending in the first direction alongside the first notch; the cleaning cloth is divided in at least a part of the first direction by a first division line overlapping the first cut and a second division line overlapping the second cut, In the cleaning step, when the optical connector has a first guide pin and a second guide pin protruding from the end face, the first guide pin is inserted from the first dividing line into the first notch, and the second guide pin is inserted from the second dividing line into the second notch while rubbing the end face.

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