Cleaning Tool Head Geometry Prevents Optical Connector Shutter Catching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The shutter of a shutter-equipped optical connector may get caught on the head of a cleaning tool, preventing its detachment during cleaning operations.
Innovation Solution
The cleaning tool design includes a head with a pressing part and a neck part narrower than the pressing part in the width direction, housed in a housing where the pressing part and neck part protrude, and features ear parts on the pressing part to prevent the shutter from getting caught.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the head of the cleaning tool has a pressing part that protrudes from the housing to effectively clean the optical connector, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the shutter of the optical connector may get caught on the head, preventing detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The head is designed with asymmetric dimensions where the width in the pressing direction (width direction) is smaller than the protrusion length in the pressing direction. This asymmetric geometry ensures that the shutter, which moves in the pressing direction, cannot get caught on the head during insertion or withdrawal, as the head's cross-sectional dimension is smaller than its protrusion distance, preventing the shutter from engaging with the head structure.
2Area of stationary object
If the pressing part is made larger to improve cleaning coverage, then the cleaning area is increased, but the risk of shutter entanglement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The head employs asymmetric dimensional design where the width (cross-sectional dimension in pressing direction) is intentionally made smaller than the protrusion length. This allows the pressing part to have sufficient length for effective cleaning while maintaining a narrow width that prevents shutter entanglement, as the shutter cannot engage with a structure that is narrower than its protrusion distance.
3Length of moving object
If the head protrudes longer from the housing to reach the cleaning surface, then the cleaning reach is improved, but the shutter may get caught on the extended head
Solution Approach 1:
The head's dimensional asymmetry ensures that while the protrusion length is sufficient to reach the cleaning surface, the width in the pressing direction remains smaller than this protrusion length. This asymmetric configuration allows long protrusion for cleaning reach while preventing shutter entanglement, as the shutter cannot catch on a head that is narrower than its protrusion distance.
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning tool includes: a head including: a pressing part that presses a cleaning element against an object to be cleaned in a pressing direction, and having a first dimension in a width direction orthogonal to the pressing direction; and a neck part having a second dimension smaller than the first dimension in the width direction; and a housing that houses the head such that the pressing part and the neck part protrude from the housing in the pressing direction. A length of the housing in the width direction is equal to or greater than a length of protrusion of the pressing part protruding from the housing in the pressing direction.